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Amy Chen

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Real Talk: The Specialist vs. The Generalist

July 15, 2015

For awhile, I was convinced that I needed to limit my love to one thing - but I'm learning to accept the fact that I love a lot of things, and that it's okay. It's okay to be some sort of creative nomad, and it's okay that I'm not the ultimate master at any one particular thing. It's okay to explore and immerse myself in a number of things, and it's okay that I don't have it all figured out just yet.

"Love what you do and do what you love."

You hear it all the time, but what the hell are you supposed to do when you don't exactly know what that thing that you love is? We graduate from high school and are expected to narrow that thing we love down to a college major. When we graduate from college, we are expected to then turn that college major into a job. With this societal mindset, we're trained to believe that that thing we do for a living, that thing that sets our soul on fire, that thing that we love has to be one thing - one thing that we decide upon in those exact moments -- but what if we don't know what that thing is when those times come? And what happens when you can't quite pinpoint just one thing? What happens when you love a lot of things?

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In real talk, design Tags the struggle is real, James Victore, burning questions

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summer arrivals @shopamyventures πŸŒžπŸšβ›΅οΈπŸβœ¨

#shopsmall #vintagehome #etsyvintage #summer
my last stop in cape may was @gooddeedsmarket to pick up a couple new @inciardi mini prints for my growing collection πŸ₯² regretted not bringing more quarters (and had to break a $20 πŸ˜…), but was so excited to see a different collection of prints avai
first beachcombing haul of the season 🧜‍β™€οΈπŸšπŸŒž

#capemay #capemaynj #jerseycollective #southjerseyadventures #jerseyshore #summer #beachcombing #beachcombingfinds
some more from @takearecess in cape may 🌞 (take me back) 

icymi: my code “amyventures” now gets you 25% off for a limited time thru June 27 πŸΉπŸ’¦πŸ“ (15% off after that)

** I make a small commission off of every purchase made through thi
took a recess to cape may yesterday in celebration of the summer solstice 😎

started at higbee beach (took some fun photos for @takearecess 🌾, had a picnic lunch πŸ“, and beach combed 🐚), stopped at the lighthouse (because I always have to say hi t
strawberry picking and everything I made with said strawberries now on substack βœ¨πŸ“βœ¨ (link in bio)

#strawberries #strawberrypicking #pyostrawberries #upickstrawberries #jerseycollective #longvalley #longvalleynj #northjerseyadventures #strawberryrec
so glad I made it to @longvalleypeonies this year πŸ₯Ή the fields are a dream to walk through with over 65 varieties of peonies to see / smell ✨🌸✨

I believe today is the last day of the season to visit this year, so stop by if you can! πŸ’•

#longvalle
the most joyful + sparkly little shop I ever did see 😍 ty for existing @susan_alexandra πŸ₯ΉπŸ’–πŸŒˆπŸŒΌπŸ¦‹βœ¨ 

#susanalexandra #nyc #nycshopping #lowereastside #les #thingstodoinnyc #orchardstreet #orchardst #charmjewelry #joyspotting
the matcha stop of the day was @12.matcha 🍡 (expect a line no matter what time you go, but I thought it was worth the wait) - quite possibly the best and smoothest matcha I’ve ever had πŸ₯Ή (zero clumps, not bitter, not too sweet, sooooo green)
still dreaming about this rose pistachio croissant from @libraebakery 🀀πŸ₯πŸŒΉ (pretty sure the birds are too πŸ˜‚)

next time I’ll have to order a few more things to try so I can take them home in a cute butter yellow box 😏 (was trying to pace my
a little camera roll dump from last saturday morning’s walk up bowery in pursuit of sweet treat(s) & matcha πŸ™ƒ

#nyc #igersnyc #bowery #eastvillage #noho #joyspotting
sunday reset by the sea with my best girl πŸ₯ΉπŸΎπŸšβ˜€οΈπŸ¦ had to visit one of our favorite places before the summer season fee kicks in mdw πŸ₯² - we walked nearly 10 miles (from lot c to the lighthouse and back + a bit of the bayside beach πŸ˜…)

a much need
cake club last weekend at @reccreate_collective πŸ°πŸŒΈπŸ“ with @sarabryn for ✨dog moms day out✨

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#westvillage
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#unionsquaregreenmarket #un
some photos from saturday’s plant & seed swap at @thelilliehouse ✨🌱🌸 I made little origami seed packets to share some from my collection, and picked up some new things to add to the garden this year πŸ‘©πŸ»‍🌾 - I think I’m most ex
summer arrivals @shopamyventures πŸŒžπŸšβ›΅οΈπŸβœ¨

#shopsmall #vintagehome #etsyvintage #summer my last stop in cape may was @gooddeedsmarket to pick up a couple new @inciardi mini prints for my growing collection πŸ₯² regretted not bringing more quarters (and had to break a $20 πŸ˜…), but was so excited to see a different collection of prints avai first beachcombing haul of the season 🧜‍β™€οΈπŸšπŸŒž

#capemay #capemaynj #jerseycollective #southjerseyadventures #jerseyshore #summer #beachcombing #beachcombingfinds some more from @takearecess in cape may 🌞 (take me back) 

icymi: my code “amyventures” now gets you 25% off for a limited time thru June 27 πŸΉπŸ’¦πŸ“ (15% off after that)

** I make a small commission off of every purchase made through thi
the only way to survive the heatwave for the next few days is with this strawberry rose coconut mint mocktail πŸ˜ŒπŸ“πŸΉπŸŒΏπŸ₯₯🌹

blended up frozen strawberries with coconut water & a small sprig of mint, topped it off with @takearecess strawberry rose
took a recess to cape may yesterday in celebration of the summer solstice 😎

started at higbee beach (took some fun photos for @takearecess 🌾, had a picnic lunch πŸ“, and beach combed 🐚), stopped at the lighthouse (because I always have to say hi t
nothing more satisfying than a good matcha pour 😌 

thickened strawberry juices, vanilla soy milk, coconut whip, matcha, + ice πŸ‘ŒπŸ“πŸ΅πŸ₯₯✨

#matcha #matchalatte #strawberryseason #strawberrymatcha #summer #sweettreat
strawberry picking and everything I made with said strawberries now on substack βœ¨πŸ“βœ¨ (link in bio)

#strawberries #strawberrypicking #pyostrawberries #upickstrawberries #jerseycollective #longvalley #longvalleynj #northjerseyadventures #strawberryrec
pancakes on a random week day (for lunch at 2 pm) because why not? 😏 peanut butter between the layers, served with maple syrup & coconut whip, and topped with strawberries (cooked down with a little lemon juice and sugar just til they’re s
so glad I made it to @longvalleypeonies this year πŸ₯Ή the fields are a dream to walk through with over 65 varieties of peonies to see / smell ✨🌸✨

I believe today is the last day of the season to visit this year, so stop by if you can! πŸ’•

#longvalle the most joyful + sparkly little shop I ever did see 😍 ty for existing @susan_alexandra πŸ₯ΉπŸ’–πŸŒˆπŸŒΌπŸ¦‹βœ¨ 

#susanalexandra #nyc #nycshopping #lowereastside #les #thingstodoinnyc #orchardstreet #orchardst #charmjewelry #joyspotting the matcha stop of the day was @12.matcha 🍡 (expect a line no matter what time you go, but I thought it was worth the wait) - quite possibly the best and smoothest matcha I’ve ever had πŸ₯Ή (zero clumps, not bitter, not too sweet, sooooo green)
still dreaming about this rose pistachio croissant from @libraebakery 🀀πŸ₯πŸŒΉ (pretty sure the birds are too πŸ˜‚)

next time I’ll have to order a few more things to try so I can take them home in a cute butter yellow box 😏 (was trying to pace my a little camera roll dump from last saturday morning’s walk up bowery in pursuit of sweet treat(s) & matcha πŸ™ƒ

#nyc #igersnyc #bowery #eastvillage #noho #joyspotting sunday reset by the sea with my best girl πŸ₯ΉπŸΎπŸšβ˜€οΈπŸ¦ had to visit one of our favorite places before the summer season fee kicks in mdw πŸ₯² - we walked nearly 10 miles (from lot c to the lighthouse and back + a bit of the bayside beach πŸ˜…)

a much need cake club last weekend at @reccreate_collective πŸ°πŸŒΈπŸ“ with @sarabryn for ✨dog moms day out✨

got to decorate mini cakes in this hidden gem of a creative community space just a short walk from @prattinstitute (where I graduated 11 years ago) πŸ˜… so mu got matcha lattes from @matchaful 🍡 and ogled over the stickers and fun things at @greenwichletterpress πŸ‘€ and @bignightshop πŸ… 

(a few stops and sights along the way in the west village before heading to brooklyn to decorate cake 🍰)

#westvillage saturday at @unsqgreenmarket 😍 (forever one of my favorite farmer’s markets to walk through; it doesn’t get old) ✨ stopped to smell the flowers (duh) πŸ’ and then grabbed a chocolate croissant for breakfast πŸ₯

#unionsquaregreenmarket #un
spring in the garden state πŸ₯ΉπŸŒ·πŸŒΈπŸŒΏβœ¨

#spring #newjersey #jerseycollective #njisntboring #njisallgood #locallivingnj #flowers #april #northjerseyadventures #gardenstate
some photos from saturday’s plant & seed swap at @thelilliehouse ✨🌱🌸 I made little origami seed packets to share some from my collection, and picked up some new things to add to the garden this year πŸ‘©πŸ»‍🌾 - I think I’m most ex

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