Moments of Musing

Legally Blogging + Oahu Favorites

Filed Under: hawaii, linkup, travel //

What do Legally Blogging & my favorites on Oahu have in common? Well, not much … except today I am blogging about BOTH!
When I came across Jackie Jade’s blog, I was ecstatic to learn that she is an attorney! I also noticed she was a part of a neat legal blogging series so I was very excited when she asked if I’d participate … Here I go!

The Legally Blogging idea was dreamed up by three ladies who all met in blog-land and instantly clicked.  You could say it was love at first sight.  The immediate connection stemmed from the one thing they had in common: Law.  Obviously, as time went on, they discovered they had much more in common than just law, but that was a great starting point.

Here they are!

They decided to join forces and start a blogging series, to show that lawyers aren’t always what you’d expect.  The main goal of the series is to connect with other legal ladies out there and meet some great new people.  Every week, the hope is to showcase a new person in the series.

Series so far:
If you’re interested in participating in the Legally Blogging Series, just send an email to Jackie: jjstoughton[AT] gmail [DOT] com. 
We’d love to have you on board!

 
Today I am am participating in the series!

Hello there! I’m Jackie from City Girl Finding Her Place in the World. You can read all about the significance of my blog name here. I am very excited to be a part of the Legally Blogging Series!

I went to Penn State for undergrad and moved back home to NYC for law school. I was the first person in my family to graduate college and as such, I will be the first lawyer in our family, as well. I wanted to go to law school for as long as I could remember but my desire was definitely cemented in high school. I was enrolled in my high school’s Law Institute so I was able to take law classes and I loved them! I was also an orator on our moot court team and our team was proud to have placed 2nd in NYC’s Mentor Moot Court Competition! 
 
I’m currently in my last year of school and graduate in May! I’m both excited and nervous – excited for the next chapter in my life and nervous because I am still interviewing for jobs AND I don’t really know anything but school since I went straight from undergrad. I really am looking forward to the “real world” though 🙂

Now here are a few introductory questions I was asked to answer as part of this blogging series 🙂

1. Why did you start blogging? 

I started blogging in July 2012 while my wonderful boyfriend (pictured below), a Navy sailor, was deployed. We’ve maintained a long distance relationship since my 1L year. It’s been tough but it’s also provided a good balance and he’s very supportive. I am grateful to have him especially during the stressful law school times i.e. exam time, moot court competitions, etc. So anyway, I started blogging while he was deployed as an outlet for missing him. I don’t know many people, especially law school students, who are in similar situations so I figured blogging might help. I only posted a few times, though, because I was more focused on tumblr. In January, however, I decided to start blogging more regularly to connect with women whom I share common interests and experiences with 🙂 I’ve done so and I now love blogging.

 
 
2. What do you like to do when you’re not blogging? 

I enjoy working out and I absolutely love traveling. I’ve studied abroad in Barcelona and I travel multiple times a year. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends – my best times are spent with them. I also looove reading (non-law school books that is, haha) on my free time. Some of my favorite books are:
 

SarahMy Sister
 
 
3. What do you find is the biggest misconception about lawyers? 

I think the biggest misconception is that lawyers are liars who only want to work for the big bucks. I don’t think this could be further from the truth. First, lawyers are held to a very high standard of ethics. There’ll always be those few rotten apples in every profession. Members of society just shouldn’t let those rotten few ruin their trust in all lawyers.
Furthermore, many lawyers do not start out making 6 figures and make partner at large firms. I’d always wanted to go to the school to pursue a career in public service and that’s what I plan to. This means I won’t be making those “big bucks” and I’m okay with that. People also tend to forget that law students graduate with a lot of debt. It’ll pay off, though…  I am sure of that.
 
 

 
 
4. What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on? 

There’s so many. I’ve loved Hawaii and Aruba because they’re beautiful; China especially because climbing the Great Wall of China in Beijing was an amazing experience; and Las Vegas because I met my best friend/boyfriend there 😉 (you can read all about that here).


 
 
5. What’s your best and worst home reno project? 

My answer to this question is unfortunately boring… Since law school is so expensive, I moved home with my parents and little brother. Therefore, I haven’t taken on any home reno projects. One of the things I am looking most forward to after school is living on my own again and making a home for myself. 
 
 
 
 
& now to my Oahu faves.. 
 
Since I leave to visit T in Hawaii very soon, I figured I’d talk about my Oahu favorites, including some photos of mine, for my Travel Tuesdays linkup 🙂
 
Lanikai Beach – it is my favorite beach ever. So peaceful and the view is gorgeous.

 
Kailua – I love this little town. From a quick trip to the post office or a restaurant or to the mall, it’s so cute and reminds me of an itty bitty tropical city. 
 
Champa Thai – The Honolulu Advertiser’s Best of the Best Tastiest Thai in Town (2010). Timmy is thoughtful in his picks for our dates. He surprised me with this pick on my last night in town in January 2012. He did some research on good Thai restaurants near Kailua and came across this gem. Thai was always one of my favorite cuisines and I think this place has definitely won him over, as well 🙂
 
Hanauma Bay – Not only is the history behind this snorkeling destination is cool... it’s beautiful.
 
Pali Lookout – it’s a bit of a hidden spot but again, an amazing view.

 
Crepes No Ka ‘Oi –  Honolulu Magazine’s “Best Crepes.“ Again, this was a pick of Timmy’s after research regarding a good creperie since crepes are another one of my favorite foods. This place is sure not to disappoint.

Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail – this was such a relaxing hike. It is all pavement and has beautiful views. We really enjoyed our time and ability to have a conversation -as opposed to huffing and puffing- during this hike.
 
 
Waikiki – Timmy and I love to go out. We’ve done classy at Rumfire at the Sheraton (below) and we’ve danced like yougin’s at Playbar and Maddogs. We’ve eaten at and taken part in Margaritaville’s Luau Happy Hour. And we’ve spent the night twice there to be able to enjoy ourselves throughout the night without paying a $70 cab ride (yep, our New Year’s Eve 2012 cab was at least that much haha) or one of us not being able to indulge because of having to drive home.

  (not my photo because I didn’t get a picture of the bar when we went)
 
Swimming with the Sharks with North Shore Shark Adventures – this was such an amazing, fun and exciting experience! LOVED it!
 
 
This visit, Timmy and I will hopefully go to some of our favorites, as well as Haleiwa Joe’s near Kaneohe while I’m there and I’m looking very forward to it 🙂 
 

Helene in Between

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It’s Okay … My Blog Name is Long

Filed Under: blog name, linkup, travel //

Today, I’m intertwining 2 fun linkups!
Its Ok Thursdays

It’s okay that my blog name, City Girl Finding Her Place in the World, is quite long. I promise it suits me well. And it tells a bit about me. I am a female from NYC, hence “city girl.” I was born and raised here and I came back after college to attend law school here. If I were to move, it’s a 90% chance it’d have to be to an urban city, as well because I love diversity and (most of the time) the constant hustle and bustle.

…Now for the more complicated part of my blog name. As for “finding my place in the world,” while I love NYC, I’m not sure this is the place for my 24-year-old self to be right now and it’s okay to feel this way. It’s so crowded and expensive and my job prospects might take me to another U.S. city.

I love traveling. You’ll often read about my travels and see photos from them. I’ve lived in 3 cities – 2 American (State College, PA and NYC) and 1 European (Barcelona). I have been to 15 American states, 12 countries, and 3 continents. I hope to make it to all 50 states, as well as all 7 continents one day. I have a tendency to fall in love with (almost) every place I visit and it’s okay. I am always sad to leave a destination and I come back wanting to move there. I think each place was better than the last. But I think the biggest pieces of my heart are here in NYC (obviously); in State College where I went to Penn State for college; Barcelona, where I studied abroad for 4 months; and VA. Beach, where T lived for the first 10 months of our relationship and where we created so many great memories. He’s currently in Hawaii so I say my heart is there too, but while Hawaii is BEAUTIFUL, I don’t feel the same connection with it as I do VA. Beach – probably because I go every few months as opposed to every month. See what I mean when I say I fall in love with places??

Ultimately, I am looking very forward to “finding my place,” and having T join me next year. I don’t know just yet where that is but it’s okay 🙂 This favorite quote of mine explains my feelings quite perfectly:

“I accepted it’s okay to not be totally sure about where you live. It’s okay to be somewhere with most of your heart when a piece of it is somewhere else. It’s okay to love and appreciate where you are while still knowing that one day you’re going to want to try to be somewhere else, and it’s okay to not know when that will be.” 
— Amber Fox

What does your blog name mean? And what are you okay with?