February 14, 2018No Comments

the february love list

4 minute read

4 minute read Holly Golightly taught us the mean reds. Let's talk about the grinning yellows today.

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January 19, 2018No Comments

life is what happens when…

6 minute read

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Let's get personal.

I feel like this has been happening to me quite a bit lately, but this post started off much differently.

My original post (that's still sitting in my WordPress draft folder screaming 'publish me instead') was a much more straightforward and informational essay on the state of my financial health as a small business owner. Now, before you yawn and get ready to swipe through this article, my intentions were this: One of the most frequently asked questions I get, is around how I decided to finally take the plunge to quit Google and to work on This Time Tomorrow full time -- an answer that often gets condensed in conversation but in reality, there was a lot of number crunching, soul searching and, well, ugly spreadsheets.

Spreadsheets for tracking my overall growth. Spreadsheets for tracking projections. Spreadsheets for tracking my expenses to incomings. Spreadsheets for the spreadsheets! What was it all for? Financial peace of mind -- something that wasn't taught to me in any university class, but something that I spent a lot of time Googling and re-Googling, something that I listened to tons of Ted Talks about. In that original post, we were going to talk about financial peace of mind. How to get it. Why we (meaning millennials) seem to be lacking it. And why we don't ever really talk about it with our family and loved ones. We all make money in different ways, whether it's from our own companies, working for someone else, or even answering online surveys via Lifepoints but we rarely want to talk about our income with anyone which seems bizarre.

And to be clear, we're still going to talk about those things. But that's where this post takes a detour.

I'm currently writing this from a hospital back in my hometown of Reno, Nevada. It's 6:05 am PST on Tuesday and my mom is currently recovering from a hip replacement surgery from the day before. The past 48 hours have been a blur of last minute flights, pre-op appointments and the dreaded waiting room dance, where you can't decide if you get another cup of coffee or survey the food options in the caffeteria one more time, as if they've miraculously changed. It's been nerve wracking -- feeling both helpless and responsible at the same time -- for someone like a parent, who is normally the one taking care of you.

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To be clear, my mom is recovering quite well and is already walking around a bunch, with her doctor estimating she'll be up and ready in no time. Today's post isn't looking for sympathy about this experience (although I'd love to write something longer about it specifically as perhaps we can all relate to times when roles are reversed with parents?), but it did get me thinking a lot about statistics that I've read recently. Consider the following:

  • The majority of Americans are worried that they would be financially crippled by a major life event, but aren't actively preparing for it. Over half would not be able to come up with $400 for an emergency.
  • 50% of Americans have more credit card debt than they do savings. Building credit is something that many people struggle with so if you need some help or advice on the matter, it may be worth learning how to establish credit, particularly if you live in the U.S.
  • Only 15% of the population is on track to fund even one year of retirement.
  • Money is, quite unsurprisingly, the number one source of stress, yet 70% of Americans find it rude to discuss money in public settings.

The first and last points get me here, especially as I find myself in the position that I'm in, dealing with a major life event. Thankfully, there aren't any hiccups to report -- the surgery, while still major, is practically routine at this point, her doctor has been amazing and it's thankfully all covered by insurance. I financially planned to take this trip, putting work and life on hold to a certain extent to help out as much as possible here back at home -- a reality that may not always be the case for someone who perhaps doesn't work independently/for themselves.

But what if any of the above weren't true? What if I hadn't put enough extra aside for this particular major life event? What if something complicates (God forbid) the recovery process? What if her insurance ultimately decides to file this differently than expected thereby covering less? They're all things we would inevitably take in stride, but it does make you stop and think: how well prepared am I?

Now, I'm not someone who likes to sit at home worrying about every little thing that could go wrong. After all, life is a series of things that happens when you're not looking, right? But it wasn't until I sat down to write this post in collaboration with Intuit (the makers of Mint and Turbo Tax) for their financial health app Turbo, that I realized, I don't know if I fully understand my financial state of the union, so to speak. Sure, I run my own business, and I like to think I'm doing all the "appropriate adult" things I should be doing for retirement, savings etc. but am I really?

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For the past few weeks leading up to heading back home, I've been taking a good, hard look at my financial situation, my spending to saving ratio, my overhead expenses (both business and personal) -- the whole works -- via the Turbo app, which brings together your IRS-verified income, credit score (you may find this article helpful when looking for your credit report) and debt-to-income ratio to produce a holistic picture of your financial standing. In the past, I've viewed many of these things separately in silos, so the ability to assess the lay of the land all in one place has been eye-opening. If you do see that you have outstanding debts but they were taken out many years ago, you may want to ask yourself "can a debt collector collect after 10 years?" this could potentially decrease your debt total expenditure for the future.

This year, one of my biggest personal goals is to better understand my true financial health, starting first with debunking this idea we shouldn't talk about money. I've found sometimes the things that give us the most anxiety or fear, tend to be the things we shy away from sharing with anyone -- making for feelings of isolation or embarrassment that we're doing something wrong. Perhaps its the effect of this hospital or the onset of my 30s talking here, but I find that to be a terrible waste of time. And perhaps you do, too?

So let's start that now. What are some of your financial goals -- big or small -- this year? And how are you working toward them?

This post was in collaboration with Turbo. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!

January 15, 201822 Comments

2018 reader survey results

13 minute read

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Drumroll please...

Alright, ladies (and perhaps a handful of gentlemen?), the results are in from our very first reader survey here on This Time Tomorrow! The votes have been cast. The remarks have been noted. And I have lots of charts and graphs to show for it, that I wish I could muster together into a really cool, viral-worthy infographic for you. But, alas, in the interest of time (and my sanity), I figured I'd spare you all that. The important thing to focus on here is: WOW, this was incredibly insightful!

First things first, for everyone who took the time to fill out this online survey here (20 questions total) or the condensed, shortened version available in my Insta Stories (5 questions), I cannot begin to thank you enough. Seriously. I know this is a very oversatured market, so the fact you took time out of your day to do this for me, truly means the world. I'm so glad that you all have been paying so much attention to my Instagram page and my Instagram link in bio too! Furthermore, for everyone who filled out the open ended response questions, which I intentionally made optional as I didn't want to burden anyone with writing out their answers, even BIGGER props to you! Each note, comment, constructive criticism, paragraph, and in some cases, mini novel, while all completely anonymous, didn't go unnoticed or unappreciated or unfelt (in the best way possible!). It was humbling to know you cared enough to let me know what you really think! And yes, that means, the good, the bad and the ugly, as it pertains to both what I'm doing here specifically on This Time Tomorrow and your thoughts on the influencer space as a whole.

Secondly, I wanted to give a bit of context as to the catalyst behind this survey. While there were many things I valued about working at Google, I always really appreciated the transparency and the iterative nature of the company the most, from the products we were building to how teams were functioning. Each year, we'd fill out a multi-part survey (anonymously) weighing in on how we felt about a wide range of topics, including our immediate team productivity, group vision, manager relations, etc. and months later, the results would be aggregated, interpreted and shared, making for a really great, actionable roadmap for what was working, what wasn't and everything in between. I loved that it forced us to be critical of what we were doing, to celebrate with pats on the back when it seemed to be supported and to pivot when we really needed to.

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So here I am, hoping to do the same for This Time Tomorrow. Because if there's one thing that was very clear in the open ended feedback responses, you guys are craving more realness from the influencers you follow -- a fair request if you ask me as I often feel that way too, as an influencer myself. And I think the first step in that direction, is figuring out what I'm doing right and where I'm perhaps missing the mark.

With all that in mind, I'm cutting my mic off (because seriously, I'm rambling now), so we can get down on to the results! (Keep scrolling!)

About you!

  • Slice of the Pie: Between the Google Form survey here (2o questions) and the condensed Insta Stories polls (5 questions), we had well over 1,500 responses! Obviously, everything that follows is considered a population subset -- it's not truly reflective of the ENTIRE group but it's a good indicator. Think of it as a slice of the pie, so to speak.
  • Who are you?: Well, 80% of you are NOT content creators/bloggers/influencers/YouTubers yourselves. This surprised me, as a lot of you did seem to know a lot about the influencer space though, so perhaps some of you should look into the best way of becoming an influencer! TikTok is very popular at the moment, so it might be worth taking a look at tiktokpalace.com, but there are plenty of platforms that you could use to get started so take your time whilst finding the right one(s). I am glad such a high percentage of you were not content creators, as it is nice to hear from people who I may not otherwise hear from.
  • Personal style: When it comes to your personal style, I noticed there was a healthy majority of those in the Madewell + J.Crew, "girl next door camp" (44.7%) and those in the high and low mixing camp (47.9%), which I can admit, I haven't done the best job of staying true to in my personal style posts I've shared here in recent years (but more on that later!).
  • What draws you to blogs? As far as your main motivation behind following a given influencer, it quite unsurprisingly boiled down to style/beauty inspiration (52.7%), followed by a desire to feeling connected to like-minded women and men (17.6%) -- another area I'd like to iterate on, but more on that later!

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OUTFIT DETAILS: Suistudio coat (similar style here) // Zara turtleneck (similar style here) // Sunglasses (found at a vintage store in Melbourne, but similar style here) // Levis Wedgie jeans // Tibi heels // Cafune bag

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General habits

  • Reading blogs: A thing of the past? When it comes to consuming content on blogs, many of you confessed to reading primarily at least a few times a week (38.3%), if not daily (42.6%), but when it comes to your favorite platform to follow said influencers on, the overwhelming majority of you said Instagram. While it's a bit conflicting, I can relate to this breakdown, as I spend way more time on Instagram following ALL the influencers on my radar, and spend a select amount of time on the few blogs I care to read on a daily basis (this is a huge shift for me, compared to when I started this site over 9 years ago, when I would read A TON of blogs every day on my blog roll (oh man, anyone remember those?!). This, of course, begs the question, what makes a blog worthy of that limited time you DO spend reading? More on that later...
  • Time of Day: There's almost an equal size grouping of my early birds (those who love checking blogs/social media early in the morning) coming in at 41.2% and my night owls coming in at 42.2%. I'm toying around with the idea of publishing twice a day several times a week, and kinda love the idea of night time programming to compliment the early morning sartorial inspiration dose. Thoughts?
  • Like To Know It: Not many of you ACTUALLY use Like To Know It (63.8%), which is practically music to my ears. Not that I have anything against the platform, it's just that since its launch, I think it's safe to say it's cut into a lot of bloggers' traffic, since the incentive to visit a site for further outfit information is practically removed. One of my biggest professional goals this year (as it is every year) is to increase my overall traffic and the stickiness of my site -- so when it comes to shopping my Instagrams, you can simply visit my Shop My Instagram page here.

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Let's talk about the elephant in the room: INSTAGRAM

  • iPhone or DSLR?: This question seems to get asked a TON in all the Insta Stories polls I've been seeing lately (for good reason) and the results came in as I expected. When asked to choose, most people prefer iPhone photos over high fidelity photos from a DSLR or equivalent camera (69.7% vs. 30.3%). By now, I've sure you've all heard plenty of anecdotal stories as to why iPhone photos perform better on Instagram -- including possible algorithm favoring -- but I think in general, it indicates a return to when Instagram first launched with more candid, raw, off the cuff sort of posting behavior (Eva Chen brought this up back in April when the introduced the first of several algorithm changes). While I don't necessarily see most content creators completely returning to that, I do think there's value in prioritizing this feedback to see how it resonates with you all. Of course, you can still expect high fidelity photos here, on the blog, which of course, may find their way over to Instagram from time to time, but in general, I'd like to try this for a good month to see how it goes.
  • Instagram posts or Insta Stories?: I'm actually really keen to ask this question in about 6 months to see how much it's changed (if at all). As of right now though, actual Instagram posts sneak by as the winner over Insta Stories (56.4% vs. 43.6%).
  • Live Videos or Insta Stories?: This was a landslide. Nearly 92% of you prefer Insta Stories over Live Videos, and I have to say, I agree. Very rarely do I get a notification for a live video and actually click through to watch in that moment. Most of the time, it boils down to the fact I'm busy and in the middle of something else so I can't necessarily "tune in" for that show.

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General thoughts on the influencer space

  • The Good: These questions were positioned as optional, open ended responses, so I'll be generalizing the overall sentiment here. When it comes to the type of content folks love seeing on blogs, it really boils down to one main underlying goal: being relatable. I think now, more than ever, you dear readers appreciate it when a blogger shows that they are more than a perfectly curated feed -- that they're real, they have flaws, they have hardships, they have quirks, and above all, they're human. To quote, (and don't worry, we'll have lots of quotes down below), one person wrote that they wished more bloggers would keep "being honest about their failures as well as their successes." You all had a bunch of thoughts that laddered back up into this umbrella idea: creating relatable outfits (at price points that didn't ONLY feature luxury items), being candid on Insta Stories, sharing actionable tips and tricks to fellow bloggers, creating thought provoking essays that perhaps go beyond an outfit and make people want to get to know you more.
  • The Bad: As far as the types of content you wish bloggers would leave BEHIND in 2o17? Well, here's a condensed list of themes/subjects that came up repeatedly and it goes something like this: loop giveaways (understandable), sponsored beauty content especially when it goes live the same day as a bunch of other bloggers' posts (fair point), unboxing videos on Insta Stories (makes sense), business of blogging posts (unless there's a unique value add), overt sponsorships that don't fit their brand and saying "Hi guys" at the beginning of videos (this one made me laugh and nod my head a tiny bit!).
  • The UGLY: Sale roundups. Hands down, the most requested thing to STOP recapping, resharing, rounding up and generally, just talking about in the blog world. And you know what? I gotta say I agree. As someone who has consistently blogged about the aforementioned sale that shall remain unnamed and can see and understand as to why it's a big revenue source for bloggers, I can also recognize when enough is enough and it sounds like you guys, dear readers, tend to tune out during this time anyway. Gift guides came in as a close second.
  • Finish this sentence..."When I decide to follow a blogger, it's important to me that they..." There were so many wonderful, thought-provoking answers to this one, but my favorite was: "When I decide to follow a blogger, it's important to me that they mirror some aspect of my life that I hold dear." I mean, after all, we're all looking to connect, right?

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This Time Tomorrow feedback

  • The top 4 requested content categories (in order of preference): Daily outfits, personal essays (about relationships, about hardships, about LIFE etc.), travel guides and a tie for 4th place between fitness/wellness and interviews with inspiring women (like my Woman Crush Wednesday series). Personally, I'm excited this question affirmed a lot of what I want to refocus on this year, that being more relatable outfit content and more personal writing.
  • When it comes to style of photography, the majority of you would prefer approachable content (more candid, on the street, heading to coffee/meetings/work moments) over aspirational (more editorialized, stylized moments), coming in at 85.1% vs. 14.9%. I have lots of thoughts on this -- and promises around it -- down below in the "But what does this all mean for 2018?" section.
  • As far as what you guys want me to KEEP doing, we have: long form personal essay writing, more video content, more photos without sunglasses on, travel photography and guides, more casual, every day outfits, fitness and marathon training, ELVIS BUTT WIGGLE STORIES! God guys, with all these essays you're requesting, I might have to get someone to write essays for me! Although I hear they're very helpful, I do love writing for you guys and I don't think I could pass that role onto someone else.
  • On the flip side, the most common things you guys think I should STOP doing are: too many editorialized shoots that end up being too aspirational, sale round ups and including too many photos in a post (fair enough!).

Letters to the editor

So many of you wrote thoughtful, detailed and actionable feedback (the trifecta!), that I wanted to share some of the highlights, praise and constructive criticism alike!

  • "The one thing I think you should STOP doing is over the top fashion posts. Again, LOVE your style and find it so so beautiful. But sometimes I really wonder where you are wearing these things. They're beautiful to photograph, but not as "inspirational" for someone who has a desk job and a morning commute. I still go back to your San Fran, Google blogger days to draw inspiration for my work and personal life."
  • "First of all, MAJOR congratulations on running the NYC Marathon -- it's a huge accomplishment and you should be so proud! That said, as someone who runs distance races and knows what it's like to run a marathon, I found your blogging about the process to miss the mark and I didn't think you gave a realistic picture of what is required to train for a marathon (or what to wear to do it!)."
  • "Less editorial type photos. They're beautiful but not as interesting as candid photos"
  • "Opening up about life, fashion, Elvis, NYC. You have a unique perspective on life, on moving across country, on relationships. The 'girl chat' mentality of blogging is really nice, especially with the increase of cultivated social media, its nice to connect with a blogger because you share similar interest and paths in life."
  • "The thoughtful essays. It's been a rough year and we have 3 more ahead, so keep on with the woman power."
  • "Writing! I love the way you write. I love that you can talk about fun and slightly more frivolous stuff like fashion and beauty but you also have such a unique voice and are very well written. I discovered your blog several years ago while still in college and your blog made me want to write."

But what does this all mean for 2018?

Of course, everything above is just great feedback until you put it to work -- and that's exactly what I want to do. So here's what I'm gearing up for, content wise in 2018 -- I'm pretty excited for all of it, and I hope you are, too!

  • More personal writing: If one thing is very clear to me now, it's that you guys are craving a more personal, one-on-one narrative here, to show that there's plenty more past the highlight reel of Instagram. I, like many of you, have thoughts, concerns, desires, fears, anxieties and problems like the rest of humanity. Will we get into all of it? Nah, there aren't enough hours in the day and I don't want to DRAG you down that much. But, I'm excited to open up with more personal posts -- the good and the bad -- in hopes it creates more of a sense of community around these parts. You guys brought up my previous dating posts here and here, my adult acne and self-image struggle posts here, my career posts here and even some of my politically charged posts here and here as favorites. The key here to remember is that it's quality over quantity -- I want to make sure I'm producing content that I'm proud of and that I think adds distinct value to your day.
  • More everyday outfit inspiration: My next biggest takeaway? Get back to my roots. While there's something I really enjoy about being able to style a shoot that's aspirational and editorial in nature, I can also recognize that it can be alienating if done too often. I think somewhere along the way, I really got hooked on flexing my stylist muscle that I failed to share more of my every day, running around the city/heading to work looks that brought a lot of you here in the first place. This coming year, I like to think we can find a really nice balance of the two, perhaps with a dedicated hub here on my site to house more of my "styling work" -- where I'd ideally love to style actual models for conceptualized shoots. I've always toyed with this idea with different photographers and I think now is the time to try it.
  • More fitness: As one reader pointed out above, my NYC Marathon training was a bit lacking, and she was, for the most part, correct. Due to a crazy travel schedule the months leading up to the marathon itself, I wasn't quite realistic with myself as to what was feasible, both from a physical training standpoint and from a content production standpoint. While I haven't officially signed up for the NYC Marathon again this year, I'm already planning on it and this time around, I'd love to create a more detailed series as to how I prep leading up to race day. Would you be interested in forming a virtual running club -- essentially we would keep each other accountable for mileage/work outs etc.?
  • More personal Insta Stories: OK, so I need to get over this weird phobia I have of just sitting there and talking to the camera -- most of the time, I just hate the sound of my voice and get oddly anxious over the 15 seconds cutting my sentences off at weird points that I end up refilming way more than its worth. That said, you guys want more candid, real peeks into every day life so I'll give it a go!
  • More video: As you guys know, this was a big focus for the second half of 2017 for me and while the learning curve is steep and I still really have no idea what I'm doing, I'm enjoying the challenge! From my set of current videos, I can tell you guys liked the chattier ones -- both the 73 Questions and my first haul video -- so I'm already planning on a more quippy Q&A series as well as styling tips and tricks videos.
  • Building up my newsletter: My newsletter was another big focus for the second half of 2017, and another one where the learning curve was (and still is!) steep, but I do think my newsletter is going to become an even bigger focus in 2018 as I start releasing longer format writing and hopefully more editorial styling with models.

And that's all I have from this year's 2018 survey -- did I miss or gloss over anything? Did you find this helpful at all? Please let me know in the comments below!

Photos by Alisha Siegel

January 1, 2018No Comments

stop and go: my one goal for 2018

4 minute read

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In true New Year's Day form, I sat down to write this post all about my resolutions for the year. This, of course, got me thinking: isn't it funny that resolutions are so often framed around stopping or starting something? Starting a diet. Quitting a bad habit. Picking up a new hobby. Putting an end to your shoe budget. It's one extreme or the other. You either stuck to it. Or you didn't. Which is, largely why I like to think we believe we come up short on the last day of the year when we realize perhaps we didn't stick to that one extreme or the other. Black or white. There's no gray area. There's no work in progress area. There's no room for forgiveness.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like a very kind way to start the year. There are plenty of things I'd love to start AND stop this year. But there are also a lot of things that I'd like to keep just plain DOING -- they haven't just started this year and they're not about to stop, but rather they're the things I'd like to make the commitment to keep up. I'm not resolving to do anything -- I'm committing to make time for the things I know I want to keep doing.

This is all probably a long rambling way of saying I like to think of my resolutions as commitments -- promises to myself that I'll keep dedicating precious time to the things I know I want to make time for. For me, that's always been writing -- one of the biggest reasons I started this blog in the first place was to collect my writing in one proverbial corner of the internet, and while numerous other platforms and content consumption trends since then have perhaps made this industry more visually focused, I know I'm happiest when I write something that I'm particularly proud of. After looking back on 2017, I don't think I made enough of a commitment to sharing my writing here and that's something I'd like to focus on this year -- longer format personal essays. Don't get me wrong -- I love sharing and photographing what I'm wearing, but I want you to come to This Time Tomorrow knowing that you'll leave with way more than outfit inspiration. It's about sharing the personal (the good and the bad), the professional triumphs and failures (and what I've learned from them both) and my thoughts on what it means to be a 30 something woman living in the world we live in (and how I'm attempting to make sense of it all). Perhaps that's a vague direction and I'm OK with that. I'm actually really looking forward to the defining of it as I go along -- a process I'd love for you to join me on.

I mentioned this before in a previous post, but I've been doing a lot of reflecting while traveling around Australia -- about this industry I find myself in and the particular content I enjoy creating. It's been an interesting exercise in reviewing, critiquing and yes, even meditating on the things I think have worked well, what hasn't and what I think I'm holding back (all while driving through some incredible countryside in Western Australia). I like to think of it as a cathartic road trip of sorts -- examining who I am at this moment as a creative and figuring out what parts I want to focus on as my work in progress. I don't want to think of it as black or white. Stop or go. Start or stop. I want to think of it as BEING -- and all the messiness and beauty and truth that comes with it.

What's one thing you'd like to keep doing this year?

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Photos by Ty Johnson // Shot on location at The Pinnacles National Park in Western Australia

December 30, 20175 Comments

17 of 2017

8 minute read

Well, here we are! Another year coming to an end -- a new one just about to begin. I always find this time of year -- the span between Christmas and New Year's -- to be an interesting "in between" period. It's as if we're all collectively waiting for some proverbial shoe to drop, a sigh of relief we're looking to release at any minute. Your days kind of get a bit blurred together, between family get togethers and late night cocktail parties with friends. And you reflect. A lot. Or at least I do.

It's part of the reason why I love writing these end of year posts so much. During our drive yesterday between Perth and Margaret River (where we're spending New Year's), I dug through my archives over the course of this year and pulled my personal highlights and favorites -- a reel of my highs (and even some lows) that meant a lot to me these past 12 months. The opportunities. The trips. The career moves. And of course, I have all of you to thank for it. So thank you. For following along this year, for reading, for supporting, and most importantly, for being my friends.

Wherever you are this New Year's Eve, I hope you ring in the new year with love and hope, as I know I will. And as for 2018, let's f-ing do this. I'm ready for ya.

What kind of content do you want to see in 2018?

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1. Speaking on panels: One of my biggest personal goals this year was to take on more speaking engagements. Public speaking has always been a point of contention for me — I tend to shy away from being the center of attention, especially if a microphone is involved. This year alone, I told myself every speaking engagement that popped into my inbox, I would take on — 5 in total.

The biggest pinch me moment was when I was invited to speak on a panel about women disrupting the digital media landscape at the Samsung space in Meatpacking. Walking in that evening and seeing my photo span a 2 story high screen was a pretty incredible feeling -- both humbling and frightening at the same time. But, of course, with any fear, practice always helps and I've found that usually once I get started, I love the adrenaline rush of it all. And the questions from all of you!

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2. NYC Marathon: After pulling out of the NYC marathon the year before, tackling the race this year was a big fitness goal for me. I documented my training process along the way — and I cannot begin to thank you all enough for the words of encouragement along the way. While my time wasn’t necessarily anything to brag about (I had to walk quite a bit), I was ecstatic to just have finished the race and been a part of something that literally the city comes together to support. Huge props to my boyfriend who also tried to run me down for the last 6 miles to give me a new set of headphones (my Apple AirPods died around mile 18).

3. Japan: My trip to Japan was a dream trip come true — one that had been in the works for several years with my good friend, Heather. We both were dying to see the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom and managed to schedule the trip perfectly, hitting Tokyo, Kyoto and Naoshima at just the right time to witness it all.

4. Scotland: Even though this was probably one of my shortest international trips (less than 5 full days), I walked away with some of my all-time favorite images of the year, including the one you see here, of me in the red dress up at the Isle of Skye.

5. Australia X 2!: This year, I chocked up two separate trips down under — both very different from each other. The first was spent trekking through New South Wales with their state tourism board, experiencing Sydney, Bondi, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. The second — where I am currently — has been spent exploring Melbourne and Western Australia with my guy. I just have to say -- I've been spoiled with SUCH good coffee and avo smash here that it's gonna be really hard to leave.

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6. South of France: For ages now, I’ve wanted to visit the south of France. We hopped over back in August and I was basically in heaven as we drove through some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen — lavender and sunflower fields and all. I still need to post my recap posts from this trip so look out for those in early January!

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7. Instagram engagement tips: Ah, the algorithm heard around the world. Thanks to Facebook, we’ve all felt the effects of the algorithm change introduced back in March — and for better or for worse, we’re stuck with it. I’m not going to lie, it’s really changed the way I look at the platform and the credence and weight I give it, when it comes to my business. That said, I loved starting this conversation with you all — tips and tricks — on how to best handle the changes, if for nothing else than to give a bit of transparency to something that tends to be kept as an industry secret.

8. How to handle a breakup: The start of 2017 hit a pretty low note for me — the guy I had been dating at the time decided to call it quits at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I took the first month or so of the year to really reflect on how I handled that heartbreak. What came of it was this post, where I shared 6 ways to handle a breakup — it was extremely therapeutic to share this with you guys and hopefully it helped someone else along the way.

9. Glamour Magazine: While this photoshoot actually happened at the end of 2016, it wasn’t until March of 2017 that I saw this finished ad for Clinique in Glamour Magazine. These photos are some of my favorite snaps in print — I still have to pinch myself when I see them.

10. International Women’s Day with BHLDN: Celebrating International Women’s Day with these badass babes for a collaboration with BHLD. Also, this dress made many appearances over the year — it’s probably one of my favorites.

11. Launching YouTube and my weekly newsletter: I’ve been pushing myself to launch both my YouTube channel and my weekly newsletter and toward the second half of this year, I was able to do both! It’s been a really rewarding experience challenging myself to learn and develop two different platforms and I’m looking forward to growing the two even more in 2018.

12. Nora, my editorial assistant: One of my big professional goals for 2017 was to hire an editorial assistant to help with some of my day over day workload. While I’ve managed direct reports before while at Google, this time felt infinitely different as the business is that much more personal. The minute I met Nora though, I knew my brand was in good hands. Not only is she meticulous, organized and good at making sure I eat lunch during the day (I sometimes just forget and power through until dinner), she’s an amazing writer and photographer. Our holiday dress edit lookbook is some of her finest work yet, I think. Thank you, Nora for everything. You're a badass.

13. Funny Face: Sometimes I do weird things for photoshoots. Including walking around Washington Square Park at 6:30am with multicolored balloons to recreate a scene from Funny Face. Was it worth it though? I think so!

14. Underneath it All: This year I partnered with a few of my favorite lingerie brands, Adore Me and Third Love, both I think are great at hitting the sweet spot for women of all sizes and shapes — a surprising anomaly in a market dominated by angel wing models. Like many of you I’m sure, I have body hang ups and insecurities, which is why I loved shooting this campaign to tackle those head on. I’ve never thought of lingerie as something for men — it’s much more a gift to myself. The gift of feeling comfortable in my own skin and embracing my sexuality, however I choose to express it, which I'm sure many women from the likes of www.hdpornvideo.xxx and other sites would agree with as well!

15. Mulberry: As we draw 2017 to a close, I’m extremely grateful for the roster of wonderful brand partners I’ve worked with the past few months. My career highlight though was working with Mulberry back in November for their Amberley Bag launch.

16. Sarah Seven: I’ve never been the girl who’s dreamt about what her wedding dress would look like. If, or when I get married, I like to think I’d probably wear a really simple, elegant white midi dress. But when I worked with bridal designer Sarah Seven on her contemporary dress line, Leone, I was rather tempted to borrow of of her gowns, just to see what all the fuss is about. The result? I get it now.

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17. Paris in the Rain: Out of all my outfits this year, there’s something about this black and white number with a red umbrella in front of the New York Public Library that just felt so cinematic. It’s my current Instagram profile photo and I just can’t bring myself to change it.

November 21, 2017No Comments

5 tips for getting out of a creative rut

6 minute read

This past weekend, I watched the "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold" documentary on Netflix. As someone who has loved Didion's work over the years, it was just the message I had been looking for lately. In it, Didion talks a lot about the feeling of writing at a young age when her mother gave her one of her first notebooks, encouraging her to write down her thoughts.

"I didn't really have any clear picture on how to do it, but I do remember having a very clear sense that I wanted this to continue."

Didion is known for a lot of things throughout her career, many of which are just the tip of the iceberg as to why I admire her and her work so much. Her take on literary journalism and the essay as a modern novel of sorts (especially in regards to numerous social forces of her time) are all a huge reason as to why I was drawn to journalism in the first place. And after watching her documentary -- it really got me thinking about why we write down and share thoughts at all.

If I'm being perfectly honest, there have been many moments since staring This Time Tomorrow where I've hit certain walls. Walls where I felt like I didn't have enough time to work on this space. Walls where I felt like I didn't have anything meaningful to add. Walls where I felt like what I added didn't make a difference. They're the worst walls to hit -- walls of self-doubt.

And usually, after a fair bit of reflection and some time spent doing the things I've listed below, I'm able to reconnect with what it is that I really love about doing what I do -- the thing that gives me a "very clear sense that I want it to continue."

Whether you work in a creative field like me (perhaps you're your own boss, as well?) or not, moments of self-doubt creep in for everyone, and after this most recent bout I've gone through, I figured I'd share a few of my tried and true ways I face creative ruts head on. Because, sometimes the biggest comfort (and catalyst for getting out of them) is to realize that you're not alone.

1. Remind yourself, you're not alone. This one is seemingly easy. But I assure you, a lot of the time, it isn't. Especially in an industry where there's a never ending stream of content -- great content, too -- it's that all too familiar feeling of thinking everyone else has their shit figured out, except for you. I'm extremely guilty of falling down this rabbit hole, to the point my anxiety can get the best of me, standing in the way of my own productivity. Suddenly, I can't seem to move forward with step one of project one, because I'm overwhelmed by the 19th step in project 5.

And then, I force myself to remember: for every beautifully curated feed, video, or post, there's someone behind it who feels just as vulnerable as you at times. Who doesn't know exactly what they're doing ALL the time. Who's just trying to make it LOOK like they have it together. The truth is, once you can accept everyone else is trying their best to make it look like they have it together, you can start to accept your own process of getting there, too.

2. Feed your brain, your heart, your soul, whatever needs FEEDING. This one means a lot of different things to me at different times, for different creative ruts, but the underlying point is always the same. I try to listen to what part of me is lacking, be it my creative writing, my photography, my voice, my vision, and I try to make a conscious effort to feed it. That means, instead of binge watching certain shows in my downtime (don't get me wrong, I love Riverdale, too!), I try to turn something on that adds a bit of substance while I work, like the Joan Didion documentary I watched last weekend.

Of course, the more I dive into the logistics of managing my own business, making time to read JUST FOR ME, is also hard to come by. Lately, I've been making more of a point to read poetry before bed. I find there's a lot of solace in being able to digest a poem or two before bed -- it requires less reacquainting than some of the novels that I'm also reading, but it actually also gives my imagination a lot to mull over before I fall asleep. I feel much more satiated because of it.

Sometimes, when the weather permits it, this means I also opt to just walk as much as possible. There's something about walking around New York that always manages to make me see things differently, be it the people I meet along the way, a building I hadn't noticed before or the way the sunset casts interesting shadows at a certain intersection. Does New York have to be your backdrop? Of course not. The point is to find the beauty already around you, no matter where you are.

3. Reflect. More often than not, the best way to move forward, is to (briefly) look back at how far you have come. Honestly. Give it a try. I used to be deathly afraid of quitting my full time marketing job. Then I did. Now that I'm past that hurdle, I have to remind myself I was capable of doing it in the first place, and there's no valid reason why I can't pass the next hurdle.

4. Don't be precious about it. This one is about perspective -- the easiest thing to lose when you get wrapped up in your own world and your own creative work. I find, the longer I concentrate and overthink something, the more I end up feeling directionless with it. Essentially, the more I want it to be perfect, the less perfect it becomes. Instead, I allow myself to get, well, messy with it. I take what might be a traditional approach to a project, and I try to turn it on its head. I'll give myself very random writing prompts (most of which don't make it on here, but perhaps they should?) just to allow my head the time to roam wildly for a minute. I also like to research ways to improve my writing. For example, just the other day a friend of mine showed me this guide to some different types of editing. Whether you are writing a novel, or a blog post, editing is fundamental. It's an incredibly freeing feeling to make something that you're not smothering along the way -- even if it comes out slightly strange or different or not what you normally see in an Instagram feed or perhaps it doesn't get shared at all -- the choice is yours! But make it. And let it be weird. And strange. And different. And odd. And I bet you'll probably have some fun along the way and come up with a whole slew of new ideas to try out for your next creative endeavor.

5. Find collaborators who are hungry like you! Nothing gets me invigorated to work and create like meeting other like-minded creatives! Seriously. It's quite possibly the best medicine I prescribe to you. Ask your literary agents to help you find some new talent if you can't find it on your own. They know your writing style and genres and could easily pair you up with someone who's just as creative as you. Whenever I'm feeling a bit drained or in need of a creative revival, I start digging around for new blood -- new brands to approach for styling editorials, new photographers I admire on Instagram who might be open to working together, new influencer friends who might be up for grabbing coffee and shooting together. You'll be surprised how far it propels you and makes you see things with a whole new light.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Ted Baker coat // Ted Baker sweater // Ted Baker jeans // Self-Portrait heels // Celine sunglasses // The Daily Edited bag

Photos by Ashley Batz

November 20, 20176 Comments

because i’m a lady

4 minute read

Have you ever looked up the word "lady" in the dictionary? Well, if you're like me, and haven't done so EVER, I've gone ahead and saved you the trouble: Click right here.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Surprised? Yeah, me too. There are 12 definitions of the word "lady."  And they range from extremely antiquated (like a 'female feudal superior') to unsurprisingly worthy of an eye roll or two (like 'a woman who is the object of chivalrous devotion'). For the sake of this argument, the first definition suffices here as it is the most commonly understood meaning of the word. It reads:

"A lady is a woman who is refined, polite and well-spoken."

Seemingly simple enough, right? I suppose so. Until we start diving into the semantics of the words "refined," "polite" and "well-spoken" especially in the context of how society associates them with women. I'll spare you all the exercise of looking up each of these words, but I imagine you can see where my point is going. We have a hard enough time pinpointing the word "lady" as it is -- so the waters get murkier when we throw in other words that carry a fair amount of subjectivity to them. Grace Kelly was refined. And so is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Princess Diana was on all accounts polite. And yet, she politely gave the middle finger to the royal establishment by breaking it's stuffiness and making more contact with the public through her prolific charity work. Charlotte Bronte was certainly well-spoken. And so is Malala Yousafzai. The list goes on.

I think it's safe to say, in a society that, on many accounts is still struggling to even the playing field between the sexes (a subject for another post, for another day), we as women have been going through a drawn-out identity crisis, blurring and redefining the lines of what it means to be a woman, a lady and, heck, a human being in 2017. It hardly boils down to three adjectives. It boils down to far too many adjectives to list here in a single blog post.

And it's this very idea that Talbots has been tackling head on in their "Because I'm a Lady" campaign. When their team first approached me about working together on this, I was intrigued to see how they were positioning the word "lady," a word that amongst millennial and GenZ generations tends to get tossed around both positively and negatively. What I found was a refreshing take on grace, intelligence, humility, tact, poise, confidence and leadership -- all redefined, challenging traditional conventions, unapologetically and boldly. And it's a lady I think we can all identify with -- regardless of age and background. She prides herself in being assertive in the office. She dines alone, because she enjoys her own company. She laughs heartily with friends, unafraid of how she appears to others. She moves with grace, in a way that's unabashedly her own, dancing to the beat of her own god damn drummer (perhaps to the chagrin of her partner). Seriously, go watch their reel of campaign videos here, it will only take a few minutes. 

I'll wait right here.

Naturally, when they asked me to choose an aspect of the campaign that spoke the most to me, I realized I actually couldn't choose -- and I don't think I need to. Just as we have 12 different definitions of the word lady (and likely more to be added in the coming years and generations), I think the beauty of being a lady is that it means a multitude of many different things to many different women. And WE, as women, get to define that. For no one else, but ourselves.

Now tell me, what does being a lady mean to you?

OUTFIT DETAILS: Sui Studio coat // Talbots turtleneck // Talbots skirt // Steve Madden boots // Olympia Le-Tan clutch

Photos by Lydia Hudgens // Editing by Nora Varcho

This post was in collaboration with Talbots. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!

 

April 15, 2016No Comments

turning the sunday scaries around

4 minute read
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When it comes to my weekly routines, I've had a touch and go relationship with Sundays. In fact, I used to hate them. Don't believe me? I've written about it quite affectionately several times in the past, here and here. And I'm probably not preaching anything new here to y'all. Sunday scaries, otherwise known as an excuse for millenials to brunch way late in the day, spend a lot of time on social media into the evening and then wonder how they're going to get everything done before Monday morning meetings start. Until eventually saying "f- it" and picking up a cheap bottle of wine instead.

I've definitely succumbed to this. Heck, I still do from time to time. We're only human after all. And us humans like to get distracted.

But you know what? I think I've finally turned a corner. It only took me 30 years to realize that Sundays aren't ALL that bad.

For me, it all comes down to little pleasures and routines that I can look forward to. Sundays are usually my day for both rest and catch up. I don't run or exercise on Sunday (my one day a week to just veg), I usually have a longer phone conversation with my mom (it's hard to fit in during the week sometimes with the time difference), laundry gets done, Elvis gets an extra long walk to Washington Square Park and I spend a bit more time in bed in the morning reading the Sunday New York Times.

I try not to focus on work-related catch up until later in the afternoon/early evening when I'm more settled inside for the rest of the day. That's when Elvis and I put on some tunes (either country music or Michael Jackson) and the laptop comes out. I'll get caught up on email, edit photos, organize my editorial calendar for the week -- all the while, usually with a face mask on and House of Cards playing in the background.

We've talked about skin a great deal lately (my last post here) and I have another big skin update coming your way soon, namely about some hormonal prescriptions my dermatologist has me on, but the general spoiler alert is this: I'm slowly getting more comfortable in my early 30s skin. Granted, no one warned me that things might shift and change in this department, post teenage years, but hey, there's a lot of things you don't get warned about in life -- sh*t happens and you gotta roll with it.

So rolling with it, I am.

What does this mean for my Sundays exactly then? It's my chance to pamper my skin and have my own little girls night in with Elvis. If I can avoid it, I'll forgo makeup for the day, lather on some of my best body creams and slap on an ionic clay mask, like this one by Botanics. Since my skin has been on the oiler side in recent years, I love using a clay mask once a week -- it's much more absorbent and effective at drawing out impurities in my skin, like blackheads and the early stages of zits. This particular mask contains willowbark (a natural, friendlier form of salicylic acid), which I've found has really made a difference in tightening and minimizing my pores (because, hey, I got big pores and I cannot lie).

The downside though? Elvis hates it when I wear my masks -- it's as if he doesn't recognize me. I guess he's the one with the Sunday Scaries now.

If you're looking to revamp your Sunday routine (or maybe just want to update your mask game in general for a little Botanics Mask Night), Botanics is giving away their latest ionic clay mask to lucky readers in honor of #EarthWeek. Simply head over to their Instagram now, follow their account and be sure to leave a comment on their #EarthWeek giveaway post. Best of luck!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

This post was in collaboration with Botanics Beauty. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!

February 29, 201634 Comments

10 things I learned from tinder {modern romance, dating and the infamous swipe right}

13 minute read
Dress: Line by K; Shoes: Henri Lepore Dezert; Sunglasses: Celine; Bag: Chanel; Lips: Marc Jacobs "Amazing"

This past weekend I finally got around to watching Aziz Ansari's Live from Madison Square Garden stand up act (if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you Netflix and chill soon). I've always been a fan of his writing, his stand up delivery and, as this live act reminded me, his musings on dating in today's mixed up, muddled up world of apps, texting and ghosting. In fact, this very post is an all too-delayed response to his summer New York Times bestseller, Modern Romance. I toted my copy with me all over New York, but primarily to the dog park with Elvis, where I proceeded to sit on a bench, devouring each page and from time to time, smacking my forehead laughing (by myself, mind you) at an all too-true point he had made. On several occasions, I'm pretty sure I said aloud (again, to myself, by myself), "Oh my god, I HATE when guys do that!" or "Guys like profile photos like that?!"

Yep. My fellow dog park attendees thought I was insane.

And perhaps I was (am?). If we evaluate my love life in 2015, it would be a messy, tell-all album, that is all too fitting for a Taylor Swift 1989 analogy. I welcomed myself to New York. I had recently gone through a pretty pivotal breakup. Luckily, we hadn't made any serious commitments so there were no legal complications to go through, just a clean break. However while I'm on the topic of this, I have recently heard that a number of law firms like Peters and May (visit Peters And May.com for more info) now offer emotional as well as legal support which I think is a brilliant idea; I'd welcome support from anyone to help me through something so traumatic. Anyway, my solution at the time was to go on a dating spree like I had a blank space to fill. I had to shake it off, when it came to a few relationships that I just knew, despite our best intentions, weren't going anywhere. And then there was some downright, nasty, all around no good, bad, bad blood.

But, alas, it wasn't in vain! I learned a lot. About myself. About what I want in a partner. About life. About this crazy world of dating in today's fast-paced, instant gratification seeking, environment. And while I by no means have it all figured out (ha, does anyone really?), I like to think I've gleaned a few lessons along the way. Ten to be exact. Because the alliteration was too good to pass up and I think the SEO might be higher for "10 things I learned from Tinder" as opposed to "7 things I learned from Tinder." But, I digress.

Before we start with our Tinder Truths, let's get a few housekeeping items out of the way. First, to any and all of my exes who may still read this corner of the internet, rest assured, this is not a kiss and tell. I won't be referring in great detail to the specifics of our relationship (if at all, really). So you'll have to look elsewhere if you're trying to figure out how to have the best sex in the higher consciousness, or for saucy details. I won't be shaming you either, because, hey, we learned a lot from each other -- thanks for that! I won't even use your name. Except for you, Matt. Women need to be warned about you. (Kidding! Kidding! There's no Matt. Or is there?) 😉

Next, I'm not a relationship expert. By any stretch of the imagination. Everything that follows here is my bumbling experience dating as a late 20 something (and now 30 year) old! So proceed with caution. And buckle your safety belt. I wasn't the most experienced online dater when I first got Tinder but after a friend suggested it, I had to try it out. She's been on almost every online dating site I can think of, including Geek Dating! I didn't even know that was a thing until she showed me but then I saw all of the guys she was talking with and had to get in on the action.

With that out of the way, let's begin!

1. The app landscape, you reap what you sow. This might be the most obvious place to start, and perhaps the most cliché, but either way, you certainly don't need me to tell you. There's a shit ton of dating apps. (And yes, the swearing was necessary there for emphasis). Seriously, I've lost count of how many times I've had a friend say, "Oh, have you tried this app yet?" and then proceeded to boast as to why the men were more a. normal b. responsive or c. (my favorite) less creepy. Because that's where we're setting the bar these days. Creeps need not apply, and yet someone keeps letting them into the party! (Insert groan here.)

And while I'll usually download each to give it a fair shot, I'm never all that impressed with the differences between them. Yes, perhaps I can message you first on this one. And on this one, your profile has been vetted by some faceless brand team (in San Francisco? in New York? in India?) to make sure you're of a certain education and employment pedigree. And on this one, I see how many friends (or 11th connection friends) we have in common on Facebook. But at the end of the day, we're just looking at each other's faces and how witty our one tagline is about ourselves. And then we wait for a match. And then hopefully one of us gets the guts up to send a first message. Tomat-OH. Tom-AH-to.

I have friends who bemoan dating apps, saying that it never goes anywhere. And part of me can relate to that. It's a lot of sifting and casting the net (but ideally not too wide), in hopes that there's a bite from a normal, over 6 foot guy, who loves puppies and can just as easily crack a joke about Bernie Sanders' hair as they can intelligently discuss their stance on why the United States should or not get involved in the situation in Syria. Not asking for too much, you know, the usual. But it doesn't happen right away. It takes some digging. What I've found is that the amount of time you're willing to invest in the digging, is a proxy for how much you'll actually like the good ones you do find. Because they're out there. Hiding. But they're there.

2. Ghosting, who ya gonna call (or not call)? I recently heard a stand up comedian joke about "ghosting," the act of just not responding to someone after you've been dating/seeing/talking to each other consistently. His punchline was that it's really not an appropriate name for it, being that, if they were "ghosting" you, they'd call you every night at midnight and let out a blood curdling scream.

Botched jokes aside, I think Aziz sums it up best in his stand up act. He asks the audience to respond (by applause), how they typically handle it when there's someone they don't want to continue seeing, the options being a. silence b. pretending to be busy or c. tell them the truth. As you can imagine, most folks opted to clap for the a. silence category. But when asked how they would hope someone would handle the situation if roles were reversed, unsurprisingly everyone clapped for the truth.

So at the risk of sounding like an after school special, let's be honest with each other. Because it sucks when people aren't honest with you. Or worse yet, just don't say anything at all and leave you wondering if their phone is permanently broken.

3. Playing games is like the Hunger Games, if you allow it. Let's get this one out of the way. Games suck. But maybe they're one of those necessary evils. Within reason, of course. Everyone has different ways of navigating them and how they want to balance them. I can be a really responsive texter or I can be a bit aloof, depending on how busy I happen to be that week with work and other commitments. If I ever don't feel like myself though, I try to cut it out. Fine, we both want to take hours to text each other back? OK, I got stuff I can get done in that time. But the minute I'm obsessing over whether my last text sounded "too eager" or had one too many exclamation points, then we have a problem. And I'll take a step back. As Efie would say, may the odds be ever in your favor.

4. If you have to make up excuses for them, then it's probably over before it started. We've all been there. We pass a phone around, asking our girlfriends to read a series of text exchanges with our latest "match" asking them to make sense of it all. "What did he mean by that?" and "Did I sound too eager there?" get thrown around, as if we need to diagnose the sick relationship. Usually, at this point, I'll look around the table at my friends. All of them confident, successful women. And I wonder why we're arguing over text semantics, especially when said semantics involve emojis.

The bottom line is this: If you're both genuinely into each other, it'll feel easy and unforced. And if you don't respond back to me for several days when I ask you to hang out, while I would love to make up excuses about how maybe you are out saving the lives of underprivileged children in the third world and somehow forgot to bring your phone, I know better. Your phone is sitting in your pocket and you would just rather not see me. Of course, there are exceptions here and there, but you can generally get the feeling when someone is giving you the slip. Don't waste your time making excuses for them. On to the next.


5. You both apparently need secretaries. Because, damn! Scheduling is hard! It's a frantic dance of "How does your week look?" // "Oh, maybe we can grab drinks on Thursday?" // "Shoot, I'm busy on Thursday and leaving town after work on Friday. Maybe next week?" // "Great! Tuesday perhaps? I know a great spot in the East Village." // Tuesday might work, let's check in on Monday."

And then Monday rolls around and you never hear from them again.

Aziz cites this in Modern Romance, urging that dating apps aren't actually dating apps at all. They facilitate you meeting potential dates. Whether you actually end up dating some of them, all depends typically within the first few days of exchanges. My MO: vet them long enough to get a sense of their humor (and decide if you like it) and try to throw in a few unexpected questions in the lineup to see how they respond (one guy asked me once 'what's something about you that I wouldn't be able to tell from your photos?' which I thought was vastly more refreshing than 'what do you do?'). Total time span: 2-3 days of texting back and forth max before one of you should suggest a meet up. Suggest a few dates that actually work for you and, assuming you're into him, stick to it (even if Netflix and wine sounds better for your Friday, you'll thank yourself later for just getting out there, I promise).

6. The text dance is a really complicated tango. And it takes two. Maybe this is another obvious one, but texting is the name of the game, isn't it? We don't call each other. We don't meet in real life right away. To me, you're a contact in my phone (usually saved with the last name of 'Tinder') and all we can do is make judgements based on social media presence and how articulate we come across via text. Personally, I appreciate creativity, humor and, yes, good grammar in my text conversations. And trust me, I will strive to do the same for you. Bonus points if you can throw in relevant current events and talk about things aside from what gym you go to.

Again, this comes down to asking engaging question that go beyond "what are you up to right now?" and try to get to the core of why either one of us should care what the other person is doing. This goes for guys and girls -- let's not bore each other, OK? Find some questions for a good conversation and ask your date some of your favourites!

7. Call! Just call! So you know that thing you use EVERY DAY for Instagram, SnapChat and texting? Well it's capable of calling people. You know, that thing we used to do where we exchanged messages in real time, voice to voice? As wrapped up as we are with our phones, it's funny to me that we almost never use them for actually calling someone. We could be in a burning building and would probably want to text 911 instead.

Don't get me wrong, I know I'm just as guilty of this as the next millennial but it's something I'm actively trying to work on. I remember the first time a guy I had been seeing called out of the blue and my initial knee-jerk reaction was to assume something was wrong. I answered the phone in a confused panic, anticipating him to tell me he had been in an accident of some sort, when in reality, he was just saying hi and that he was in the neighborhood and wanted to know if I'd like to grab a drink.

After the texting courtship, it's so nice to move to a little voice action -- you get to hear their laugh, their cadence in speaking and their comfort in moving from topic to topic that you wouldn't otherwise get to appreciate via text message. It's the subtleties that make all the difference.

8. Feast or famine? Depends on your attitude. Aziz talks about this a lot in Modern Romance and I think it's one of my biggest complaints about dating today. As easy as it is to meet a ton of singles at the swipe of an app, it's also our downfall, too, especially in large, metropolitan cities like San Francisco, New York and LA, where your potential matches are seemingly endless. In a city of primarily young, successful professionals looking for love, your soul mate could be waiting around the corner. And then a new one around the corner after that. And then another. And then another.

You get the picture.

You could literally be lining up your next 3 Tinder dates while en route to one.

In an age where meeting someone cute and new is as easing as binge watching How to Make a Murderer in one afternoon, we've gotten a bad case of dating ADD. We don't give the same time and attention to getting to know someone anymore -- and as a result -- we go on an endless carousel of first dates because we don't want to commit too quickly to the first person we really like. What about those 10,000 other singles waiting for me? I don't know about you, but that just sounds exhausting to me.

The fact is, you're probably going to go on a lot of first dates and that's important! Some good, some bad, some downright scary. And then you'll have a few GEMS, where you really hope to hear from them again. My two cents? Forget the games. If I've had a great date with someone and I hope they ask me out for a second, I'll follow up (with a text) either that night or the following morning letting them know I had a great time and thanking them for the evening.

With any luck, they feel the same and if they don't, at least you know you made it clear you were interested. There's nothing worse than leaving something unsaid.

9. Speak your truth, the good and the bad and the ugly. I went on a series of dates with this guy in San Francisco late last year and I really liked him. Like really liked him. I thought we had good chemistry, never ran out of things to talk about, and hey, he was pretty easy to look at. So when it ended rather unceremoniously as most fresh relationships do (by someone just not responding anymore), I was disappointed and a bit crestfallen. I didn't try reaching out after my last unanswered text and figured it wasn't meant to be. I left it alone.

Fast forward a few months when I randomly reconnected with said former date and he informed me he actually did like me but was bummed I didn't seem to feel the same way. Being confused, I told him I thought it was the other way around -- I was convinced he wasn't all that into me. And just like that, our games and "acting cool" had gotten in the way of two people who maybe liked each other, from actually liking each other.

Moral of the story? Don't beat around the bush. If you like someone (or don't), make it known (in whatever manner you're comfortable with, of course). And if they don't reciprocate your feelings, at least you can walk away knowing that you were honest with yourself and with them. You'll respect yourself, as will they and you won't have to sit around wondering, months later, "what if...?"

10. Don't forget about the old fashioned ways of meeting people! This one is my favorite bit of advice, because let's face it: you may have 20 apps on your phone, but it doesn't mean you should ignore some of the people sitting right under your nose. Ask around your group of friends or maybe your coworkers (if you feel comfortable) if they have any single friends that might be a good fit for you. Chances are, they know your personality and their cute friend's personality pretty well, that they'll match make you better than Tinder can. Heck, I even had an ex-Tinder date set me up with his friend, and despite it sounding kinda scammy, it worked out pretty decently. We even dated for a few months!

And then there's the super old fashioned way of meeting someone new: when you're out and about in the city! I know that sounds easier said than done, because who really goes up to total strangers anymore to give them a compliment, but I assure you, it happens, and maybe you need to be the one who initiates it!

Case in point: just this past summer, I was walking Elvis around the neighborhood when a guy I didn't know came up to me to tell me how much he liked my outfit. I was caught off guard but he made me blush, we continued to chat and, had I not been in a long distance relationship at the time, I would have given him my number. While it didn't work out for obvious reasons, before we parted ways, I told him how much I appreciated him taking the time to go out of his way to come talk to me. And having been single since then, I think it's something that should be paid forward. And I have on numerous occasions.

Because the bottom line is this: It's not a matter of he said/she said and blaming the opposite sex for being too complicated, or too aloof, or too non-committal. After all, we're all human beings looking for the same thing: companionship of some sort. So we should stop trying to outsmart, outwit, outmaneuver each other and ourselves and just be honest. Or as Aziz puts it:

"There's something uniquely valuable in everyone, and we'll be much happier and better off if we invest the time and the energy it takes to find it. But seriously, if the person doesn't clip their toenails or wear clean socks, look elsewhere. There are plenty of options."

February 24, 201620 Comments

family heirlooms

3 minute read
Fur coat: Vintage (my mom gave it to me); Sweater: Lou & Grey; Jeans: Levis; Boots: Stuart Weitzman; Beanie: Jennifer Behr; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Sunglasses: Celine; Gloves: Hestra (gift)
When I was much younger, I remember, every few months, my parents would go out for a nice dinner and possibly a theater date. My sister and I, with toys in tow, would be dropped off at our grandparents' house for a few hours. I remember loving these visits, because not only did it mean we could sneak a few extra cookies after dinner (at the approving wink of my grandpa) and stay up a bit later than normal (again, thanks grandpa!), but because I got to see my mom in this beautiful fur coat. There was something so elegant about it to me, almost queen-like, and I had to resist the urge to steal it from her closet on numerous occasions.
Fast forward a few (OK, a lot of years), and amidst packing up my life in San Francisco to head east to New York, my mom surprised me with this coat of hers. I was speechless. Not only is it still stunning in my eyes, but it reminded me of a little girl in awe of something seemingly out of reach. It goes without saying, it's the softest thing I own in my closet and on a few frigid days here in NYC during NYFW, it's proven it's functionality, too.
Whenever I can, I will always opt for faux. I can't speak to how the animals were treated in the making of this coat and I can't say that it's been passed down many generations. But I can say, I would like to start that tradition. I'd like to be able to someday pass this coat on to someone who appreciates it just as much as my mom did and as much as I will. I know that doesn't justify much, but with any luck, it won't have been in vain.
Shop my favorite faux fur coats right this way...

 

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February 23, 201615 Comments

a thank you note

2 minute read
Sweater: White &Warren (similar style here); Skirt: Gayeon Lee borrowed from Plan de Ville; Shoes: Henri Lepore Dezert; Bag: Olympia Le-Tan; Sunglasses: Celine
Where to start?
Well, let's start with the fact that I'm utterly blown away. Blown away by the response to yesterday's post. Blown away by your sweet and kind words of support, encouragement and positivity. Blown away by your emails (I'm still going through them -- sorry for the delay!). Blown away by how good it feels to be so open and vulnerable about something like this and to know that, at the end of the day, we can all relate to each other.
And for that, I want to say thank you. Thank you for reminding me how much I love to write, especially about things I'm passionate about and thank you for reminding me that it's OK to not be perfect, despite what the internet might tell us. I, for one, am far from perfect and need to remind myself from time to time, that no expects me to be. And as one imperfect person to another, I don't expect you to be perfect either. In fact, here's to being perfectly imperfect! It feels pretty darn good, huh? Like a sigh of relief. A perfect sigh of relief.

February 22, 201629 Comments

lessons in self-love and acceptance {my struggle with hormonal acne}

8 minute read

First things first. I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, that I truly appreciate all your kind words and birthday wishes last Friday. To feel genuine connections today is rare and the fact I can share my little corner of the internet with you day to day and have it mean something to both of us -- to connect, to discuss, to commiserate, to support, to advise, to just BE, well that's nothing short of amazing to me. Truly. Thank you.

Secondly, but on a very related and open note, I wanted to talk about something that I've been dealing with and thinking about lately and that's self-image. Now, before this starts to sound like an eye-roll inducing after school special, I'd like to clarify a few things. This isn't where I get on a soap box and tell you the importance of self-image and self-worth. Because at the end of the day, I think we can all recognize just how important these things are and how very little they should depend on how we actually look and where we are in life, but our perspective on them. The tricky part, especially as I'm entering this phase where a lot of things in my life really are falling into place after years of hard work (knock on wood!), is how to address it when your perspective shifts. When things you can't control throw you a curve ball. When telling yourself that you're beautiful no matter what, gets a bit harder because of some new insecurity, big or small. When you just can't quiet the doubts that creep in, whether they're warranted or not.

Where am I going with this? Well in the spirit of being open and honest with you all, for the past two years, I've been struggling with some persistent hormonal acne, primarily along my jawline. What started out as seemingly normal breakouts around that time of the month, has now progressed into something a bit more concerning and cystic in nature. As someone who historically never really dealt with acne as a teenager, aside from the typical pimple that showed up from time to time, this has thrown me for a loop. A complete loop.

Now, you may be wondering as to why it hasn't ever really been a topic here on This Time Tomorrow, or perhaps all that noticeable in my photos. And that's the beauty of makeup coverage and strategic hair placement and me just generally shying away from closeups of my face (I get really nervous when Lydia gets too close to me with her camera). For that, I want to say that I wasn't intentionally trying to mislead anyone about my appearance. At the end of the day, I wanted my outfits to be the focus, and the fact my face happens to pop in from time to time, is just a byproduct.

In the whole scheme of things, I also realize my acne is by no means debilitating, and after many, many, many Google image searches looking for answers and explanations, I realize I'm much more on the mild to moderate side of the severity spectrum. Hence why it doesn't look all that obvious or noticeable in my photos. Does that mean my self-doubt doesn't creep in regularly? Of course not. Or that my insecurity doesn't control me sometimes? It definitely can and does - I've certainly considered visiting this dermatologist in beverly hills. Or that some self-loathing, despite my better judgement, doesn't get the best of me? Oh god, it certainly does. More than I would like to admit.

A bit dramatic? Perhaps. But isn't that the frustrating thing about insecurities? Sometimes, the things no one else really notices or cares about, are the things you blow out of proportion in our head. What used to be routine, like say, going to the coffee shop sans makeup, becomes an inner struggle of thinking everyone is staring JUST at your face. And your latest breakout.

It can be isolating to say the least -- especially when a lot of your friends (or perhaps amongst my circle of friends), aren't necessarily going through the same thing, you can really start to feel alone. I find this particularly interesting, given that, after a lot of internet research and chatting with my dermatologist at great length, this is actually a really common problem among women my age (due to a long list of hormonal factors that I'm not really qualified to write or speak about).

Now, I don't intend for this post to turn into a complete skin care routine write up as I'm still very much in the stages of sorting out possible causes and treatments, including but not limited to diet changes and a prescribed medication from my dermatologist. (That said, if you would find it helpful if I documented this experience here, please do let me know in the comments below!) Instead, I want this post to help anyone who's struggling with a self-image problem of their own, be it acne or not, to know that you're not alone. And despite how difficult it might get to remind yourself at the end of the day, it really is true: you are enough. You are. You are more than enough. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And especially don't let yourself tell you otherwise. If you are struggling with self-image issues, don't worry - there are lots of things you can do to fix these! For example, if you're conscious about acne or wrinkles, visit a dermatologist on the upper east side (or one local to you.) Or if you're self conscious about your weight, why not visit a personal trainer? There are always other options!

Easier said than done, of course. Especially in an age of over-sharing and over-editing, when you can easily compare yourself to this person or that celebrity -- trust me, I get it. And in some ways, I feed into it -- it's the nature of this world I work in. Guilty as charged. But just as that saying goes, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle," you gotta be kind to yourself first. You owe that to YOU.

And in the spirit of self-love, I've partnered with my favorite facial oil, Biossance, to help celebrate their latest product launch, The Nourisher. As someone with, oddly enough, very dry skin despite my recent onslaught of breakouts, I've toyed with the idea of facial oils off and on the past few years, afraid it would just add too much "oil" to my already seemingly "oily" face. I've now fully incorporated them into my evening routine at the recommendation of my dermatologist, who has me on several cleansers and creams that are extremely drying on the skin to help combat my acne. One of these creams is a CBD cream which I decided to try after my friend sent me this CBDistillery Coupon Code, although I've found that this one doesn't dry my skin out like the others. It would make sense that CBD is helping clear up my skin, as it is a cannabinoid from the cannabis plant, which has evidence to prove that it greatly helps clear up acne. Many prefer to actually smoke marijuana strains, like blue god, instead of using CBD products. It's completely up to you how you choose to treat your acne/skin issues, but ensure that it is having a positive effect on your spots and not worsening the problem. It doesn't help that winter is in full swing here in NYC and my skin has never been dryer. Never. It's been extremely uncomfortable and unsettling -- almost to the point that I've noticed my skin becoming a bit dull and less firm than I'm used to, particularly on my lower jawline and neck, where a lot of recent breakouts have been occurring. I'm trusting in the process that my dermatologist has outlined for me (and urge you to consult yours first before you start subscribing to this routine for your skin), but have relished in the fact I can lather on just a few drops of a gentle facial oil like Biossance's Nourisher combined with a gentle moisturizer like CereVe, and start to feel my old skin texture again, despite the necessary skin peeling from my cleansing routine.

If you'd like to share your own self-love story, Biossance is hosting a giveaway over on their Instagram account. Simply upload an image of your own, share your self-love journey and tag Biossance and you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a Nourisher sample.

I also want to say that this post was extremely therapeutic for me to write -- and while I'm still very much in the thick of struggling with acne, I feel immensely better for getting this off my chest. It's something that I've wanted to discuss here on This Time Tomorrow for a while now, but the timing always seemed off and I had a million excuses as to why I didn't want to openly admit this thing that I'm extremely insecure about. But when Biossance shared their latest campaign story with me -- that of self-love -- I felt it would be amiss of me to not take this opportunity to stare this thing down in the face, once and for all, especially with a product that my dermatologist and I feel is a good fit for me and my skin right now.

Of course, part of me is still afraid to hit publish -- because us silly human beings hate being vulnerable -- but I also recognize that if this reaches just one other person who might be going through something similar, than I fully believe it was worth it. And if you happen to be that one other person still reading this very long and rambling post and want to talk about it -- hit me up! I'm all ears: krystalannebick@gmail.com.

Eep. Hitting that publish button...now...

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

This post was in collaboration with Biossance. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!

Top: Ellery borrowed from Plan de Ville; Pants: St. John; Shoes: Oscar de la Renta via The RealReal; Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine; Bracelet: Tiffany's

February 19, 201624 Comments

flirty 30

4 minute read

Dress: Georine (borrowed); Jacket: Alexander McQueen (similar style here); Shoes: Henri Lepore Dezert; Lips: Marc Jacobs "Amazing"; Bag: Chanel
Thirty.
Whew. 
I said it.
(Looks over shoulder to see if anyone is listening.)
THIRTY!
Whew.
There. I yelled it! And you know what? I'm fucking pumped about it.
Am I surprised to say that I'm pumped? I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm a tiny bit surprised. Perhaps it's just me, but it seems when anyone brings up the idea of turning 30, a few phrases get thrown at you. "Now you're an adult!" or "Time to get serious." or my personal favorite, "30 is the new 20." Almost as if the past 10 years were a test run -- a practice round. 
I'd like to officially go on the record to say, I sure as hell hope my 30s are nothing like my 20s. Not that I didn't enjoy my 20s (as you'll soon see in the bulk of this post, I loved my 20s), but because I've been there! I've done that. I've challenged myself in ways I never thought possible during my 20s and I don't want to look at this next decade as a repeat by any means. I want it to represent the uncharted. The frightening. The different. The new. The untamed. The fucking weird. And the fucking beautiful.
At this point, I would apologize for the swearing, but my soon to be 30-year old self doesn't want to ring in this year with an apology. She'd like to take a few shots of tequila tonight, romp around this city that she loves to the wee hours of the morning and rock and roll into the next 10 years. But before she does that, she'd like to take a moment and bid adieu to her 20s in perhaps the best way any 80s baby knows how: a montage highlight reel. 
So dim the lights. Grab the popcorn. Silence your phones (OK, you don't really have to do that last one, but you catch my drift.)
My 20s in 2 minutes or less: Lived in two big cities that I've dreamed of living in ever since I was a little girl. Started a blog on a complete and utter whim in college, only to stick with it almost 7 years later. Worked at a few start up companies that are the cause of my early grey hairs (not complaining). Later worked at arguably one of the best companies in the world to work for -- and fell in love with the culture and the people. About 5 years later, I worked up the nerve to leave said job, to take another leap of faith (but that's another blog post, for another day). 
I've fallen in love (several times). I've had my heart broken (several times). And each time I learned something new about myself and what I want in a partner. I've also learned to never settle. I've traveled to distant countries where I reveled in the differences that make this world so beautiful and varied. I've become a mom to one wonderful pup, Elvis. I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane (and landed safely). I ran my first marathon (and am looking forward to my second in a few months as a 30 year old!). I made new friends. I made some best friends. I lost some friends, too. I was reckless with my health. And then I was made painfully aware of it, for the better. I lost people I cared deeply for. And I miss their presence all the time. 
I lived in Italy for a few months. I've eaten the most amazing pizza in Torino. I've heard a symphony play in the Sydney Opera House. I've touched the Western Wall. I've looked up at the vaulted ceilings of Haghia Sophia mosque. I've looked down at Horseshoe Bend. I've driven down the coast of California in a convertible and loved every minute of the wind in my hair. I've ridden in a hot air balloon over Turkey. I've gotten lost in Yosemite. I grew the most in San Francisco. I've found my home here in New York. 
Here's to my 20s; they were a wild and crazy ride. And here's to my 30s, may they be even wilder, crazier and, with with any luck, I hope they bring the unexpected. I'm ready for it.

May 11, 201517 Comments

such lengths {the great hair debate}

2 minute read

If you've been following along here on This Time Tomorrow for a while now, you may recall this post from 2012. Where I chopped  off my hair. About 12 inches to be exact. 
As someone who had long hair for most of her life, I remember sitting in the hairdresser's chair in San Francisco (hey, Deb!), literally going white and panicking. Confession: I probably rescheduled that appointment four times until eventually asking a friend to go with me to make sure I actually followed through. My friend stayed. And she cut it. And I felt so liberated. 
Isn't it funny that something like hair can have such control over us? Personally, I'm not one to take many chances with my hair -- before that big cut in 2012, I went through my Zooey Deschanel phase (like everyone else) with blunt bangs and up until a few weeks ago, I had never really colored my hair either. 
But really. It's just hair. And it grows. 
This is a really rambling way of saying: I'm growing my hair out again. Don't get me wrong. I still love my current long bob cut. It's been good to me over the past few years and it still feels really me at the end of the day. 
But it's good to mix things up, right? And no better time to mix things up than in the midst of a lot of other change. After all, I've secretly been missing messy, undone beachy waves, loose ponytails and fishtail braids. Heck, even my celebrity doppelgänger is growing hers outAll of which I can enjoy, in oh, about a year from now. 
In the meantime, I've been gathering a few inspiration images here on Pinterest, with a subtle balayage touch, to hold me over. Have you guys recently grown your hair out? What did you do about the awkward in between phases?
See the original posts here: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

April 17, 201525 Comments

30 before 30 {ready, set, go!}

4 minute read

Admittedly I'm a bit behind on posting this. OK, it's been approximately 1 month and about 29 days since I turned the big 2-9, but who's counting? To be completely honest, I've had this list drafted for a while now, well before my 29th year struck, but there was something about the first item on my list that kept me from posting, that being this whole New York ride I'm on now. I guess I was afraid of jinxing something I've wanted so badly, that it felt strange to publish it, so, well, permanently.
But that's the point of this whole thing, isn't it?
To really own up to what I've realized I know about myself (all thanks to my 20s) and to really look long and hard at what I want to accomplish next (hello, 30s!). Sure, some of these are moonshots. I may not get through every last one of them. But I'm not going to beat myself up over it, either. Regardless, the next year is full of so many exciting firsts, that I really want this list to serve as a mini testament to the things I don't want to put off any longer. Some small. Some monumental. Some silly. Some that will take me a great deal of courage.
And I'm beyond excited to try them all.
Let's kick things off, shall we?
1. Finally, finally, finally move to New York City. (Done! As of April 6, 2015)
2. Once I'm there, become a pro at the subway (i.e. stop relying on Google Maps as much).
3. Start those piano lessons I talked about last year, and the year before that.
4. Write. A lot more. It's one of the main reasons I started this blog and I resent the fact I don't always get as much time to put the energy I'd like into every post. But I want to make an effort to change that.
5. Redesign this blog. It's more or less looked like this for far too long. It's time to bring it from 1999 to 2015.
6. Explore the East Coast as much as possible. High on my list this summer? Boston. Philadelphia. Washington D.C.
7. Run the New York Marathon.
8. With #7 in mind, I'd like to refocus on my overall fitness. I've gone back and forth between different fad diets like the keto diet, but haven't really stuck at any. People always ask if I recommend the keto diet and it's hard to say as everyone is different, but what I would say before you start it is research keto and sleep supplements as a lot of people struggle with sleeping whilst they are trying this diet. Anyway, despite these diets I haven't stuck with a general workout regimen for more than a few weeks or so. Now that I have far less commute time on the clock, it's all about getting strong and fit!
9. Visit Japan, chase the cherry blossoms via a rented motorcycle (technically to do that, I'll be 30 when spring rolls back around, but close enough).
10. Go to New Orleans. (Trip is booked for Christine's birthday later in June!)
11. Volunteer. Have been volunteering at a women's shelter.
12. Take ballet classes.
13. Go to a Knicks game. Or two.
14. Also, go to a Mets game (maybe when they play the Giants later in June!). Done! The Giants lost though 🙁
15. Take the ferry to Brooklyn.
16. Speaking of, explore Brooklyn.
17. Make time to read every day. Taking a crack at this list here.
18. Surfing lessons. Funny how I move away from California, and this winds up on my list. Done! In Mexico! And it was a blast!
19. Visit all the museums in New York City. Apparently there's 83, so I got my work cut out for me.
20. Have friends over for dinner once a month. And actually make dinner as opposed to ordering it.
21. Go on weekend trips with friends up to Montauk as much as possible this summer.
22. Learn how to drive a motorcycle.
23. Visit Chicago. I've never been -- isn't that crazy?! Twice! Boom! Love that city!
24. Learn how to fly fish. Luckily I have a pretty great guide right here. Trip was canceled.
25. Find a reason to celebrate at Eleven Madison Park.
26. Go hiking in Utah, and then hop over to Arizona so I can finally see this up close and personal.
27. See a Broadway show at least once a month. February: If/Then // March: None // April: The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder // May: None // June: An American in Paris and Matilda // July: None //
28. Already did the skydiving thing in New Zealand back in 2013, so how about bungee jumping? This is an experience that I would love to give a go. A friend of mine recently went bungee jumping and she mentioned how this was something that I would love to do, especially as I had already tried sky diving. I already knew from my previous experience that if I was to go bungee jumping, I would need to look into the idea of life insurance. You'd think this would put me off, but you'd be wrong. It does make sense as to why this should be something worth thinking about, as this activity involved a high level of risk. If you are like me and are contemplating bungee jumping, why not check out sites such as https://www.moneyexpert.com/life-insurance/, to learn more information on why this would be a requirement. Once you've got this sorted, you can finally make your decision as to whether you are actually going to go bungee jumping!
29. Buy a stranger their morning coffee. Because, well, I've always wanted to! Did it!
30. Weather permitting, make a point to read a book out in Central Park as often as possible.
All in all, I think this list feels fairly actionable -- and I'm ready to start checking things off, one by one throughout this coming year. Ready, set, go!

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