Remember all the dished up drama from Bravo’s reality TV show, Vanderpump Rules? Although there wasn’t any table flipping like we’ve seen on The Real House Wives Of New Jersey, the tables turned once Stassi Schroeder made the decision to excuse herself from Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant, Sur, and therefore leaving the hit show (can you say, check please?!)  Well, I recently caught up with the Fashionista and had my very own reality check. While chatting at the cozy cafe, The Smile, on the Lower East Side, Stassi shared with me how taking a leap of faith and being courageous can result in true happiness. Her move to New York to focus on her new fashion venture had her smiling from ear–to-ear.

How has the transition been for you moving from Los Angeles to New York?
It has been really nice and only solidifies my choice to be here instead of LA.  I have found that New Yorkers are super friendly and open minded, so it hasn’t been difficult to meet new people. It has been so much easier than I imagined it would be to make new friends and develop business relationships.  I also love being downtown, walking to SoHo and creating new experiences!

Can you describe your typical day?
I wouldn’t say that I necessarily have a routine; maybe just a morning schedule that I follow. Since I am now on my boyfriend’s schedule I wake up around 7:30am, catch up on my favorite fashion blogs and then hit the gym for about an hour. My afternoons are usually spent running errands and meeting with different designers and accessory brands. I consider each day to be a new adventure, and don’t have any expectations as I did when I was living in California. I don’t know what lies ahead, but right now I am in the midst of developing my own blog and am very excited about that.

 You seem in such a good place right now. Is it due to your new relationship?
Being in such a healthy and normal relationship makes it easy to be happy. My boyfriend, Patrick, has helped me realize what I am worth and that I deserve happiness. Being with him has helped me find myself, and I am now in this amazing city where I feel very much at home.  I am also finally doing what I have always wanted to do, which is so refreshing, since in Cali I didn’t have all the opportunities that I have now living in NY.

How has your beauty routine changed since moving to New York?
Well, the biggest change has to be that I cut my hair short and have recently found different ways to style it. I am finally getting used to that major change. Also, when it comes to a beauty routine, I have to say my skin is so dry in NY that I definitely need to moisturize much more often than I used to in LA.

What beauty tips do you swear by to get bikini ready for Spring/Summer?
The detox wrap you saw me get on Vanderpump Rules takes about an hour and afterwards you feel like you just had a great work out. It’s so insanely hot and really hard to sit through; but in the end, it’s so worth it. You lose so much water weight; it’s truly euphoric and feels like you spent the day at a spa. Something else I swear by is…SPRAY TANNING! I used to spray tan once a week or 2-3 times a month when I was living in LA, but when I moved here, I realized that people don’t really go tanning. So, I didn’t spray tan for two months, and then I finally gave in and went hunting for a Mystic Tan. Now I feel I am myself just living in NY. I brought the California girl to New York. So to answer your question, definitely get yourself a spray tan…and maybe a good wax!

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