Impulses, impulses… got a random piercing

This is going to be a short one. I’ve always wanted an ear piercing higher up on my ear. I hemmed and hawwed for years where finally I just impulsively got it pierced at a random mall.

Anti climactic piercing

The sucker stings though I admit. There’s an overpriced saline solution that they upsell. (Yes I bought it lol).

Overpriced saline solution

So yeah, it was a good experience overall. They say I need to leave it for 6 months so that the hole doesn’t close up. I got a 3mm stud earring and I’m looking forward to getting a second.

What impulsive (but super permanent lol) things have you tried?

How My Husband Gave Me a Slice of My City Back

You may have been routed here from A Neux Chapter, or just stumbled here. Either way, glad you made it. This post is about how my husband, an Estonian citizen, showed me how to enjoy where I live for the first time. To actually look up, breathe, take in and slooooow down. It sounds silly, but the pace in New York City is not so vicious as everyone imagines. It’s worse.

Snap to a few years ago, accidental dating phase between my husband and I. See, he was my Japanese tutor initially ( yes, really. More on that later) and for one of our lessons we decided to try outdoors. We went to the Sheep Meadow section of Central Park

Beautiful scenic Sheep Meadow, so named for well, sheep.

I felt like I was in a snow globe. A beautiful dome of peace. The honking, city cacophony and general background was muted somehow. The sun shone and I looked, really looked around me. I saw people laughing, sun bathing, playing with their dogs and LIVING.

I almost wept.

I had not felt such inner quiet in so long. Regrettably, I had never stepped foot this far into to park. I did not understand the point of wasting time laying around. Surely its for people with the means to do so? Not for people hustling, moving from one part time job to the next in a string of 18 hour shifts that become so maddening Carbon Monoxide no longer seems as scary.

I digress. Mr.Trendyblackgirl, let’s call him Ursa (his real name means bear anyways lol) bemoaned the lack of nature in the city. He told me of how he missed towering trees, the sounds of animals and people getting along. To which I responded with:

So yeah, we made more trips there. As I slowly discovered parts of the city that I had been too “busy” to notice, Ursa empowered me to enjoy my surroundings.

What do you like best about your city?

乘风破浪的姐姐 – Sisters Who Make Waves TV Show

This has been my latest binge obsession. I’ve always liked competitive reality TV, but coupled with my Chinese studies and it is even more fun!


So the show is about current celebrities and women who have “aged out” of the industry by committing the sin of being 30 or older. The name of the show itself is an idiom ride the wind and cleave the waves; advance rapidly – 乘风破浪。

There are 30 contestants battling it out to become part of a girl group. The program began airing in June 2020, but I’ve only just begun watching in Aug 2020.

In my own way of plucking along and studying one of the most difficult languages on the planet, I get my listening practice in by watching these types of shows.

If you have something you are pursuing that is difficult, just keep going. I’ve been exposed to Chinese for 6 years, but have only seriously studies it for 2 years. My current short-term goal is to pass the HSK3 and continue on towards fluency.

Becoming a K-Pop Fan!

Once Upon a time, there was an army. An army of street-smart girls who somehow have managed to purchase thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and music, even with no job. To get into this world is no easy feat. You have to take an exam based on every sliver of media ever made about the group in question. In this case, I am talking about BTS.


I am a TOTAL noob, BUT I have managed to attend their May concerts in NJ every May. My seat gets better every time and my appreciation for their music deepens. But there is ALOT to learn, just to have a basic grasp on the world of fangirling. There is an entire vernacular and “know-how” stuff that you’ve just GOTTA know. And I have been slogging through it, one day at a time.

Everything I know about KPOP is extremely outdated. A lot of my original favorites are no long famous, or worse– in jail! I have compiled a list of what I think I know about myself:

  • BTS , (Ultimate) Bias: Jungkook
    • Biaswrecker: Rap Monsta
  • CNBlue , Bias : Kang MinHyuk
  • BAP , Bias: Bang Yongguk
    • Favorite Artists –
  • Jungkook ( BTS)
  • T.O.P
  • Taeyang

So I have chosen to stan (worship lol / be a fan of) Jungkook, largely because his symbol in the group is a bunny and I LOVE bunnies. So it makes practical sense to buy his merch. My other reasons, as shameful as it is, is because I saw a music video called “DOPE” and I thought the cutest one was Jungkook in his police uniform. Too bad he was like 15! Man I felt dirty.

So I remained ambivalent until I went to a concert in 2019. I CRIED during the Fake Love song, and screamed my head off anytime Jungkook came on stage. At the end, they gave us a teary farewell and my heart was moved.



I also have this ignorant borderline racist thing going on where I keep mixing some of them up. I know, I know — unforgivable. But hey, it is what it is.


So while I still consider myself a casual fan, I am really hype for this concert in May 2020 . I spent boat loads of money for two decent tickets.

I’m going in May! Decent seats too.

I learned from the last concert that you have to bring cash and come early to get your hands on any decent merch.

I have a pretty non-existent trove: a pen, some socks and lots of pink accessories. I am thinking of wearing white overalls, and a pink crop top for the outfit. Like a cute bunny. Did I mention I am almost 30? You’re never too old for Kpop 🙂


Stay Trendy, Stay You
— TBG

Refreshing my Kurly Klip Extensions

Gotta stay fresh!

This is the before, DRY and SAD

A list of things I use:
https://melaninhaircare.com/collections/all-products
https://kurlyklips.com/collections/my-fro/products/ponytail-fro

  • Melanin Haircare Multipurpose
  • Water lol
  • Melanin Haircare Oil
  • Kurly Klips Mermaid Fro Clip-in Extensions

That’s umm, about it. Lol. Water, conditioner and hang dry before installation.


Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG

Valyin Goes to the Vet ~

Valyin is about 6.5 weeks old. Too young for her shots and spaying. Took her to check her out anyway. We went to Bond Vet, which I remain neutral about. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and the pricing is fair ($15 first time, $75 for regular visits , lab work and treatments extra).

One particular staff person irritated the life out of me and as a result I will probably never go back. She is wonderful with animals, but she seems new, defensive and just plain off-putting. Even Val got annoyed with her and she likes everyone.


Overall the hours are great and the UES location is clean and attractive. The doctors are very personable and I trust my pet to their care. I do NOT however trust some (namely one) nurse with my pet who are more concerned with their pride than bedside manner.

Stay Trendy, Stay You,
— TBG

Women’s Day 2020

Last year, I watched Captain Marvel to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year, I was in a bit of a funk and almost stayed home.

My partner convinced me to get some air, and a give minute trip to the store became a full blow blown triathalon! We biked, took a ferry, walked, dodged traffic and just took in the city.

I was glowing! Sometimes New York City takes you by surprise. It fills you up and overwhelms you with the rhythm of life. Its beautiful. But it also makes me feel a bit jaded.

Back to the point, today ended up being an impromptu exploration of my senses, my city and myself. I learned new things about myself and revisited some not so savory aspects of who I am.

I’m proud of my growth and can continue this year with renewed vigor. I rarely post on my days off but I couldn’t let women’s day pass without a mention of how I take steps to become a more fully realized one.

Thanks for reading, I hope you are able to find things around you that inspire a second look at yourself.


Stay Trendy, Stay You TBG