I often get asked what I miss most about California. It's a hard thing to pin point a lot of the time. I have friends, loved ones, memories and experiences that are so deeply rooted in me -- they've shaped me into who I am today and I'm forever grateful for it. But if there was something tangible that I could pluck about California it would be her wildness. A beckoning call to drive for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, all day sometimes down long stretches of coastal roads, amongst redwood trees and aside dizzyingly high cliffs. That feeling of silence when you step out of the car wherever you are -- the sun kissing your skin and the wind whipping your hair so it wraps and hugs your face. You breathe it in. Her untamed song.
I wish I could bottle that and take it with me wherever I go.
While San Francisco may not be my stomping grounds anymore, I always get this beautiful feeling of familiarity when I return to visit. Driving north on the 101 from SFO, winding through traffic toward the city, the bay to your right and patchy fog ahead. The feeling that you get when you turn that last bend past Candlestick Park and you see her peek through, her hills rolling, with all these little homes precariously stacked neatly on top of them. Admittedly, I sometimes go into autopilot once I see that view. I'll start changing lanes to get ready for my upcoming exit for Octavia, think about where I want to grab dinner that evening on Hayes Street (perhaps Absinthe?) and start to curse parking because there's nothing worse than parking in San Francisco. And I'll start to think of my Friday evening at home in Hayes Valley at my little studio apartment with double bay windows at 600 Fell Street.
And then I stop. Listen to my GPS directions and remember, oh, I'm heading somewhere else this time.
Luckily for me, just this past week, I was headed to the Loews Regency, located in downtown San Francisco. You may recall, I've spent more than my fair share hopping around downtown SF, snapping photos near Union Square, Maiden Lane, the cable cars on California Street and my ultimate favorite, Grace Cathedral. So when the folks at Loews asked me if I was planning on returning to San Francisco anytime soon, I took my friends' Juanjo and Nicole's wedding in Carmel as an excuse to extend my stay in the city for a long weekend.
If you're familiar with San Francisco and her downtown scape, you may remember the Loews Regency as the previously managed and owned Mandarin Oriental. I never had the pleasure of staying here while I lived in the city, but I was always curious about the views it must boast (it's situated right next to the Transamerica Pyramid) and is among one of the taller high rises in the area (48 stories to be exact!). You can imagine when I walked into my junior suite that Friday evening, I was blown away by my view (seen in the photo above). On a clear day, you can spot the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge and all of the Russian Hill area. On a not so clear day, you can see the fog literally roll in and consume the city. It's breathtaking.
The hotel itself is stunning -- refined elegance at its best. The in-hotel restaurant and bar, Brasserie S&P is among the city's favorites each year -- but don't overlook the many top-rated restaurants and bars that are literally a stone's throw away from their front doors (The Battery, Wayfare Tavern, Barbacco, Rickhouse to name a few).
A personal highlight for me though? I love retracing my steps whenever I get back into town. I spent a better portion of Sunday walking around the downtown area, hopping over to the Ferry Building, going for a run on the Embarcadero and finally catching the California cable car line up to Grace Cathedral to sit on the steps and listen to a good playlist on repeat. The only thing missing was Elvis by my side.
Huge thanks to the folks at Loews Regency for hosting me! I had a beautiful time!
I recently read an article in this month's Fast Company issue (with none other than Queen Bey herself on the cover), that basically summed up why millennial women are the new target demographic among luxury goods that were once marketed almost exclusively to men. I found the numbers to be the most interesting (but perhaps not all that surprising either). Since 2000, one-third more women than men have graduated from college, thereby outpacing them in wage growth, with many analysts predicting that by the year 2020, women's wages will overtake men's.
Of course, we still can't deny the fact that women earn 79 cents for every dollar our male counterparts make -- but it's exciting to see that perhaps, in some ways (heck, a lot of ways) this reality won't last and can't last, much longer. I'm not denying there are a lot of other factors (like class divisions, access to education etc.) that also play a huge role in this future that require social and political climate changes, but it's there nonetheless.
Where am I going with all of this? The article cited how car companies are no longer casting the female for commercials necessarily as the "girlfriend" or "wife" role -- although this stereotyping does largely still exist. But a lot of companies are focusing on women more so as the driver. The decision maker. The boss. The owner of the car. And it's about f*cking time.
So I guess once I touched down in San Francisco and picked up my BMW rental for the weekend, I couldn't help but smile at that thought.
Just a quick little PSA (but I promise it's for a great cause!). If you guys spotted this outfit on Instagram, you'll probably recognize that I wore it a ton while I was traveling through Italy. I love the open shoulder peek-a-boo, the tie detail and the oxford blue color. But what I love possibly even more is the brand's mission and commitment to providing school uniforms to girls in need where gender inequality is prevalent. For every dress sold, a certain number of the proceeds go toward sourcing these uniforms, in hopes that it encourages girls to continue their education. In fact, it was found in a study done in Kenya, that by providing school uniforms to children who did not previously own one, reduced school absenteeism by 64%. I'll let that sink in. Sixy-four percent. That's incredible, isn't it?
I'll also disclose this: I partnered with Rallier NYC on an Instagram post, but I wanted to share and reiterate here how easy it is to help such a big and oftentimes, overwhelming problem. One where it's easy to feel like you can't make a difference -- that the problem is much too big for you -- but it doesn't have to be that way. I was given this particular dress for the sake of my Instagram post, but I've already purchases several others (like this guy and this guy). And currently considering this dress for layering in the fall.
I'll be right back, hopping out of town one last time this month to the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas to be exact. While the past few weeks have been unbelievably beautiful and eye opening in Italy and Ireland (and I'm so grateful for it!), I'm looking forward to sitting on a beach with nothing but the ocean to accompany my thoughts. Sometimes, you just need that.
You all know I love any and every excuse to hop back to the west coast from time to time -- but especially if it involves a wedding or two. Truth be told, if and when I get married, I'd probably err more on the side of a city hall nuptial ceremony (and head to the airport immediately afterward for some amazing trip), but I do love attending my friends' weddings. It's such a treat to see everyone that loves them just so selflessly happy for the couple. The speeches, the sweet glances between the bride and groom, the slight gasp of admiration when the bride starts her walk down the aisle and god, the dancing! With any luck, lots of dancing.
Of course, this means, the right shoes have to come into the picture. Since my summer is pretty jam packed with weddings, I've been searching for a pair or two that goes the extra mile from the ceremony to 3am Funky Chicken sessions. You guys first saw these Imagine Vince Camuto wedges when I brought them along with me to Rome a few weeks ago and this time around, they worked out perfectly for a jaunt down to Carmel for my friends' Juanjo and Nicole's ceremony. The white lace detailing adds the perfect amount of elegance to an otherwise very summer style shoe and the dainty ankle strap helps give the illusion of longer, leaner legs.
As for the ceremony itself -- there's something so wildly untamed and romantic about the Carmel area. The mist that settles in and hugs the whole area, the dramatic seaside-scapes, the rolling hills of Dr. Seuss-esque trees. It's hard not to get swept up in it while you're there, especially to celebrate something as special as two people declaring their love for each other.
Congrats Juanjo and Nicole! So happy for you both!
This post was in collaboration with Vince Camuto. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
As I've mentioned before, this is my first proper visit to Italy since living here in the country almost 10 years ago. And while it's usually safe to assume a lot can change in a city over 10 years, I really wanted to believe a lot would be the same, especially in a city like Rome. I'm happy to report that this was exactly the case. Of course, construction and renovations may have changed the and lifted the city in some much needed ways, but the overall feeling I had when I was there: that same exact surreal magic that I experienced over 10 years ago.
Walking past the Trevi Fountain, past the Pantheon, looping around the winding streets that lead you to ruins and eventually the colosseum. Ducking into unmarked alleyways for the promise of gelato. Hearing the gentle, low hum of nearby church bells. The sun setting over the Vatican, blazing the sky in pinks and reds and oranges. I was left in awe, much like I was left in awe all those years ago.
What made it extra special for me this time, was that I chose to walk everywhere, even to spots that were clear on the other side of the city. I felt like if I was in Rome, I had to see Rome and do Rome, just as the Romans do. For that reason, I exhausted more than my fair share of espadrilles and sandals (naturally), but when my friend Angie met up with me on her first night in town, we decided to make a special evening of it. I had these lace Imagine Vince Camuto wedges (originally scooped up for a wedding that I have later this summer) packed just for this reason -- they were exactly what I needed to elevate the outfit, but also navigate the cobblestone streets with ease. I even had a few local women stop to ask me who my shoes were by -- which in my book, when a stylish Italian woman covets your shoes, it's the highest form of flattery.
This post was in collaboration with Imagine Vince Camuto. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Before I go on any big trip that I know I need to pack a solid wardrobe for, I like to immerse myself in some film inspiration. Naturally, for this trip, the classics were thrown on. La Dolce Vita. Roman Holiday. Both great for that Italian glamour I was hoping to evoke while I was over here. But the dark horse this time around actually surprised me -- an old favorite that I haven't watched in years -- The Talented Mr. Ripley, which if you recall, actually bounces around all over Italy, Mangia, Venice, Rome, the Amalfi Coast. It's 1950s sun-drenched Italy at it's sartorial best -- from Matt to Jude, from Gwyneth to Cate.
And while Marge definitely steals the show as our leading lady (remember her dress for the opera night -- divine!), it's Cate Blanchett's character, Meredith, that stuck with me most this time around. Albeit, her role is secondary, but her outfits were always on point -- silk scarves tucked into her collared shirts, perfectly coifed, softly waved hair, little cardigan sweaters buttoned all the way up. But her summer suits were my favorite! So sharp and clean. And very much the inspiration for this all all white summer suit from the Edition Collection via Express you see here.
We had originally intended to shoot this outfit at the Spanish Steps, to pay homage to where the cast often met to talk about Dickie Greenleaf, but unfortunately they were closed for renovations. We did luck out though at a nearby hotel, Hotel de Russie, which had the exact carefree, sunny Italian vibe I was hoping for -- and this little short suit (and darling lace shorts!) was the perfect complement. Crisp and cool, to beat the afternoon heat, and easy to transition to an evening out near Piazza Popolo, where we ended the evening sipping rose on a rooftop. I like to think Meredith would approve.
This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Alisha and I shot these photos at the Dream Downtown Hotel before I jumped over the pond to Italy, but I have to say, the Amalfi Coast was definitely on my mind during this shoot. I've always been a big fan of two piece swimsuits, bikinis and the like, but there's something very old-school glamour about a one piece swimsuit -- especially when worn with just the right amount of dainty gold jewelry. Something about it reminds me of the opening scenes of Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, when he's describing the beach scene at the oceanfront hotel -- bronzed men and women lounging in the mid-summer heat, sipping aperol spritz, gossiping about their fellow hotel guests, each person wondering who's partaking in a love tryst and with whom.
I'm currently writing this (quick) post from a very busy JFK, waiting for my oversold flight to Venice to start boarding. Fingers crossed I make it and by the time this post goes live, I'm riding in a gondola on the Grand Canal.
If not, I'll be sipping wine from another airport, determined to hop over the pond still. Either way, Italy, I'm coming for you! I hope you're ready.
In the meantime, if you guys have any restaurant, bar, cafe recommendations for Venice and Rome, I would love to hear them! Until then, arrivederci! Baci!
I must warn you. This is a long, and somewhat rambling post. But when Dove asked me to be part of their #LoveYourHair campaign, encouraging women to embrace whatever it is they want about their hair, natural or not, and own it -- well, it made me want to tell this story...
Back at one of my first writing jobs, I distinctly remember my editor telling me one afternoon, "Women really shouldn't have long hair past a certain age. It makes you look young."
Of course, at the time, I was a spry 22 year old, eager to work long, late nights on deadline and do anything I could to get the best story. The best photo for page 1. The best source for the best quote. Oh, and I happened to have long hair. And for the first time, I was actually very painfully aware of how something seemingly trivial, like my hair, could possibly stand in my way, professionally speaking. It seemed odd and relatively counterintuitive to me that my hair could possibly stand in my way of doing my best on the job, because someone might treat me like a child. Or so I was told.
It wasn't until years later, while working at a different job, that I actually mustered the courage to cut off my long hair. 12 inches to be exact. While I wouldn't say the motivation was necessarily to look "older" on the job, or like a more "trust worthy employee," I'd be lying if I didn't feel a hint of both after taking the plunge. If you're a longtime reader of this blog, you might remember that hair style of mine. The lob bob that I called my own for about 4 years, styled with a slight wave.
And truth be told, I loved that hair style. As someone with very thick, dry hair, my mermaid length was getting to be more work than it was worth to me at that point in time. I wanted a change -- and that's the exact beauty of hair, isn't it? It allows us to express ourselves in ways that have far less repercussions than say, a tattoo when you're feeling liberated and inspired at 17 years old.
That's when life threw me a curve ball.
After dating the same guy for 4 years, we broke up. Amicably, mind you (but that's a different story, for another day) the point is this, I was single for the first time in at least 6 years (yeah, I have a bad habit of immediately getting into relationship after relationship). Of course, none of this detail has anything to do with my hair, except for this: I was now thrown into the world of dating apps, where I no longer could rely on mutual friends introducing me to their semi-eligible single dude roster, but rather I was now 6, seemingly meaningful profile photos. Each meant to convey a unique part of my personality and attitude that would hopefully attract a compatible guy. But in actuality, let's be honest. They're 6 photos kinda/sorta/basically meant to convince you that I'm easy on the eyes.
I'll pause here for a crossroads: if you want to chat about online dating, hop to this post I wrote a while back. If you'd like to see where I'm going with this story about hair and self-image, keep trucking along.
So what did this newly single Krystal do? She snapped up her best 6 photos, threw them onto Tinder (yikes, I know), and started swiping. I'll fast forward and save you the awkward first date stories and inevitable drunken not-so-intelligent decisions that may or may not have involved a traditional German boot of beer (hanging head in shame), to get to my point. I distinctly remember a guy I had started dating making an off-hand comment about the length of hair (which at that point, was a little past chin-length). The sentiment was to the effect of: "Oh, the length of your hair makes sense now."
Confession: When I'm confused, I don't hide it well. It's all over my face. And I like to ask a lot of probing questions when I'm confused. This instance was no exception.
"And what exactly does that mean? You mean, you too, have gone through an existential self-reflection period where you ultimately decided to cut off 12 inches of hair as well? Do share!"
He didn't appreciate my sarcasm here.
"No, I mean, it makes sense you cut your hair short while you were dating ex. I feel like a lot of girls do that once they get into relationships. I assume you'll be growing your hair out now that you're single and dating?"
Another confession: I don't have tolerance for people who assume. Needless to say, I didn't call him back after this date. But that wasn't before I probed for a few more answers from him. Spoiler alert: what follows is going to be a bit of a sweeping generalization, and I hate making those, but for the sake of this story, let's just all agree that not ALL men think this way. His reasoning was that men preferred longer hair on women, namely because it made them look younger and, quite frankly, more attractive.
Of course, I realize I'm painting him in somewhat of an unfair light -- what he was saying isn't necessarily far off from what mainstream media tells us is beautiful as far as women's hair goes. Long, shiny, mermaid length with zero split ends, catches the light just perfectly and, oh yeah, bounces. Literally bounces with practically no movement from the gal whose head it's attached to. Has this ever baffled anyone else while they're watching shampoo commercials? Also worth noting, is the lack of diversity in hair types (and subsequently) women in said commercials, but I digress.
Suddenly, sitting there on this date, on the brink of my 30s, an intelligent and self-motivated woman, I was amazed that we were actually having a conversation about the length of my hair and my subsequent ability to attract someone. On one hand, I had a former editor in my head saying, "short hair makes you look more professional and mature", this dude telling me "long hair makes you look more attractive" and then mainstream media saying, "YOUR HAIR NEEDS TO BOUNCE MORE!"
It's exhausting, huh? And this is just hair, we're talking about. Just hair. Not foreign policy. Not climate change. Not gun control. Just the dead material that's essentially sitting on top of our heads, day after day.
But I get it, at the same time. As someone who writes about personal style and fashion, hair is arguably an extension of that personal expression. A statement of who you are, what you stand for or don't stand for, and you can change it whenever you damn well feel like it.
What I realized though, was this: I was sick of the narrative about women and their hair. There's too many "toos" to it. You don't want to look "too" old. You don't want to look "too" young. You don't want to look "too edgy" or "too vanilla" or "too fake" or "too bossy" or "too extreme" or, god forbid, "too different." Just watch Dove's video here to see what I'm talking about.
You know what this girl thinks? Forget the "toos." Between the two sexes, need I remind you, we're the ones who retain more of our hair as we age, so instead of nitpicking it apart, why don't we celebrate it more? Why don't we take risks with it? Why don't we embrace it as something that sets us apart? Why don't we show more types of beautiful hair in advertisements? Why don't we have a cartoon heroine with a pixie cut or an afro or a shaved head or just anything aside from long, waist length blonde hair? Why don't we love it more?
Granted, I think you all might agree this is part of a larger self-image discussion about how women are widely portrayed in mainstream media (just in America, mind you), but for the sake of this post regarding hair, let's start changing the conversation. Together.
So tell me, what do YOU love about your hair?
This post was in collaboration with Dove Hair. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
In less than 48 hours, I'll be boarding a red eye flight to Italy, hopping to Venice first, followed by Rome (with a little jaunt up to Ireland afterward). I'm beyond excited for two big reasons. The first? My last proper visit to Italy was over 10 years ago when I studied abroad in northern Italy (Torino to be exact), so you can imagine how ready I am to dive back into the food, the culture, the language, the adorable Vespas at every corner! And second? I'm going solo. Completely alone. By myself. And, contrary to popular belief, I'm really looking forward to it.
Admittedly, this trip didn't start out as an "Eat, Pray, Love" sort of soul-searching adventure. I had been planning to go with an old friend but unfortunately, or perhaps serendipitously, they backed out at the last minute. I seriously contemplated canceling the first portion of the trip (some of which I had already booked accommodations for), and instead, just head up to Ireland for my friends' wedding, as originally planned. But I hesitated. Something about the idea of strolling through the Eternal City without a companion in tow sounded rather liberating. Planning out my days exactly the way I want them. Lingering perhaps too long in curious shops and galleries in Venice. Ordering another plate of pasta because, why the hell not? Sitting on the Spanish Steps and reading a book at sunset, listening to the chatter of crowds go by. Taking one too many gondola rides at sunset. I didn't cancel a thing -- updated the number of adults from 2 to 1 for each room -- and called it a day.
Granted, this isn't my first foray into solo travel (I cruised around London a few years ago by myself), but I'm looking forward to the next two weeks -- my longest time traveling solo. I'm already anticipating a lot of random asking of fellow tourists to take my photo (no shame!) but I'm looking to snag a good selfie stick before leaving (sigh, yep, it's happening!).
One of my friends from Canada likes to travel to the US solo quite often so she has given me plenty of solo traveling tips. She has quite an adventurous past, but she does not let that get in the way of her travels. Recently she told me all about how she managed to secure a Canadian Pardon so that she could get her criminal record suspended and still cross the border without any issues. All she had to do was reach out to an experienced pardons Canada service provider and they took care of everything for her. I was absolutely fascinated by this. No one should let their past mistakes stop them from getting to see the world I suppose.
Do you guys travel alone often? Any tips you'd like to share?
As promised in yesterday's post, here's round two for these cropped wide leg Hudson jeans -- this time with a few trusty classics that have been hanging around my closet for quite some time now, including this striped shirt from Amour Vert. When I grabbed it off the hanger the other day to wear with these jeans, I realized just how sad my striped shirt collection is looking these days. Perhaps it's just me, but I feel like every other day there's another person confessing how many striped shirts they own (25! 42! 109!). OK, perhaps that's a slight exaggeration, but you get the picture.
Clearly, somewhere along the way, I lost the race, but I'm looking to stock up on a few newbies to freshen things up. Any favorites of yours you would recommend? Merci!
I recently scooped up these cropped wide leg jeans thanks to Hudson for a concert they treated us to (hello, Florence + The Machine) and admittedly was a bit stumped as to how to style them. When this happens, I usually text Christine. She's spot on when it comes to sorting out proportions to an outfit and I loved her suggestion of a cropped top (I threw in a little off the shoulder action for good measure).
Stay tuned tomorrow -- I'll be styling these jeans a bit differently! In the meantime, I've rounded up my favorite cropped flared/wide leg jeans of the season, in case you're in the market for a pair yourself, just scroll to the end of this post.
If you've been following along for my New York transition over the past year, you've probably noticed I have a major soft spot for the West Village. And I think it's something a lot of New Yorkers are guilty of -- we hand collect our neighborhood haunts, spots that never let us down, and we stick to them (all usually within a 5 minute walk from our stoop). The West Village certainly doesn't disappoint in this regard -- between The Spotted Pig, Fedora, Cafe Cluny, Cafe Minerva...the list goes on and on, each more charming than the last, making it doubly hard sometimes to venture out to different neighborhoods, or gasp, date someone who lives in a different borough than you.
But there's something else I think New Yorkers crave. We pride ourselves in being New Yorkers. And that means discovering parts of this city that are always changing, evolving or perhaps even revisiting institutions that never let us down. It's the desire to experience this city that never stops challenging and surprising us. Sometimes we just need a reminder to get out and do it.
So naturally, when Gilt City approached me about test driving their "Get Out" campaign to encourage New Yorkers to do just that -- get out and enjoy everything their city has to offer -- I realized I could use a bit of a kick start out of my own routine. For fitness. For dining. For skipping out of town, when necessary.
Up first? I ventured out for a pilates class at BK Pilates in Flatiron. Now, granted, I love taking workout classes, but it takes me a great deal of encouragement to venture out and try a different type or course. You all know I love my high intensity training classes -- they're perfect for my marathon training and it's just the right amount of butt kicking that keeps me coming back for more each week. When it comes to pilates though, I think I've always been intimidated by the technique (and my lack of knowledge of it) and the machines involved (I mean, the reformer doesn't exactly look friendly). After last week's class though, I'm convinced it all boils down to the instructor and their patience. The folks at BK Pilates were exactly that -- the class was very intimate and adjusted to our individual abilities.
Later that week, I headed up to Blue Fin for dinner at the W Hotel (a perfect location if you happen to be hopping to a Broadway show afterward!). The Summer at Sea menu didn't disappoint, our favorite being the tortellini, with a few glasses of rose, set under their signature string lights strung across the dining area. There's something about string lights that just scream summer, isn't there? But of course, the piece de resistance was, hands down, the bar -- fitting for a dirty martini and a tall, handsome date, no?
We rounded out the week with a weekend jaunt out to the wineries of Long Island, courtesy of Hampton Luxury Liner. As a former Bay Area and Napa/Sonoma enthusiast, this was a treat for me to finally check out some of the local vineyards in the area. We couldn't have lucked out with a more beautiful day, the kind begging for a road trip. We hopped aboard the Hampton Luxury Liner to visit three wineries, Duck Walk, Osprey and Baiting Hollow, and enjoyed a day of sipping some refreshing white wines and running around in the open air, ducking in between rows upon rows of sunkissed vineyards. I didn't realize how much I missed wine country back on the West Coast until we made it out there, but I'm so glad I finally got to see it for myself out East -- it was a lovely pocket that reminds me of my California home, one that I have a feeling I'll be heading out to often to visit.
Huge thanks to Gilt City for helping me mix up my routine last week -- it was a great reminder that New York City is always capable of surprising us. We just need to say, "I'm game."
If you're looking to shake up your routine as well, you can snag any of the above activities (and many more in your city) with an extra 20% off your first purchase with Gilt City experience. And if you end up at Blue Fin, let me know -- perhaps I'll meet you for a dirty martini.
This post was in collaboration with Gilt City. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
While I love group brunches as much as the next warm-blooded gal, you can give me a corner table for one on a slow Saturday morning and I'm probably one of the happiest girls around. It's funny, dining alone has an unfair stigma -- and perhaps it's the slightly introverted Pisces in me, but I love dining out by myself every once and a while. It gives me a good chance to people watch, collect my thoughts, read a book and eat slowly (without anyone rushing or distracting me because I'm a really slow eater. It actually annoys most of my dates). And on those perfect, lingering New York mornings, it's all I need to really kick off my weekend.
I know I'm a bit late (in Instagram terms) as far as it comes to trying out the latest coffee shop craze in Nolita, Cha Cha Matcha, but I like to think I made up for it with my semi-coordinated "I'm heading out on the next flight to Cuba" ensemble, no?
In all seriousness though, definitely go check out Cha Cha Matcha. I love me a good matcha latte, but their whole menu is pretty spot on. The matcha lemonade and the matcha soft serve ice cream are as delicious as they are photo-worthy (that is to say, extremely both). Fair warning though, this place is still sporting that new haunting ground packed vibe, so space to sit (especially on beautiful New York days like we've been having) is a bit hard to come by.
When I first was looking to move to New York last year, I lucked out with an amazing broker, Carlos, who I worked with, more often than not, from San Francisco, while he was hitting the ground here in New York. And by amazing, I mean, he answered my crazy emails at 2, 3, sometimes 4am with questions, remarks about certain property links he had sent me and just general requests for my new dream place ('it has to be dog friendly, lots of closet space and in the West Village!' -- his response to which was, 'yeah, you and every other Carrie Bradshaw incarnate.') But that aside, he and I went on some pretty intense full day treks when I visited one weekend, simply looking at places in and around the West and Greenwich villages.
When you're buying or selling a home, it's so important to get a good broker and real estate agent. It can make a stressful process run smoothly if you get it right. I knew how important it would be because my friend recently moved to North Carolina and she spent a long time choosing her Winston Salem real estate agent. She advised me it was well worth it and to be fair, the whole thing went very quickly so she must have picked a good one!
I recall the very first apartment Carlos took me to was on 5th Avenue, where it dumps into Washington Square Park at the arch. The apartment itself wasn't anything memorable but I do remember thinking what my life would be like right next to Washington Square Park, which by itself is a pretty funny junction point. It's where NYU students blend with tourists, blend with the more waspy 5th Avenue run off crowd, blend with the creative village folks who then blend with street musicians. It's a collision of uptown and downtown worlds and it's such a treat to sit on a bench in the park to watch it unfold.
And while that apartment didn't work out (but my amazing little studio in the West Village did), I've really come to appreciate the melting pot that is downtown life. And when I stumble across pieces for my wardrobe that allow me to dress for each lifestyle accordingly, I scoop them up. Take this jacket from St. John for instance. At first glance, it reads very classic, perfect with tailored pants and a silk bow blouse, but with the right accessories, it can transition to happy hour drinks with casual jeans or it can serve as the perfect resort cover up paired with a breezy summer dress. As someone with limited closet space (just ask Carlos -- he knows my square footage!), I appreciate items that I know go the extra mile for my wardrobe and a little knit jacket like this fits the bill perfectly.
This post was in collaboration with St. John. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
When it comes to date nights here in New York (that I'm in charge of planning!), I like to opt for something past the dinner and drinks routine. An art gallery opening. A comedy show. An underground jazz performance. An impromptu picnic in the park. But my favorite, usually come summer time, is hopping to one of the many museum exhibits opening in the coming months, followed by drinks out on a breezy patio.
Since I'm in the West Village, I'm partially biased to the Whitney Museum, but for good reason. They're constantly changing out their resident exhibits (and there's always lots of Warhol on hand!), the multiple outdoor decks make for great sunset moments and it's perfectly nestled next to one of my favorite restaurants in Meatpacking, Santina. So when Express asked me what might be my ideal date night outfit and date, I asked them if they were available on Friday for a little rendezvous (luckily, they said yes!).
For starters, let's talk about the outfit. As someone who usually opts for more demure midi-length dresses, especially for date nights, I loved the idea of shaking things up a bit, with a dash of sex appeal. That's where this Express bodysuit comes in. I've shied away from this trend mainly out of fear my long torso would just look exaggerated in it, but I think I struck the right balance with a pair of higher waisted denim, also by Express. Both fit like a glove, with a little bit of lace up detailing in the front that, if my date knows me and my style well, will pleasantly surprise him. On top, we have this suede leather jacket, which I've been looking to invest in for a few months now, and love that this particular one is 100% real leather, at a fraction of the cost of some of my previous contenders. Literally, as we were sitting down at Santina, two of the waitresses came up and asked me where the jacket was from.
Speaking of Santina, if you haven't been, GO. And order the squash carpaccio, the avocado trapanese chickpea pancakes, the sea bass and the "View from Positano" cocktail. Sharing with your date is optional for all of the above (but highly discouraged -- make him get his own!). 🙂 If the weather is just right, you should have a slight summer breeze, so opt for an outdoor table if you can under their many darling blue and orange umbrellas and chat your date (or your friends!) up about who your favorite contemporary American artists are.
What's your ideal date night like? And what do you wear for the occasion?
This post was in collaboration with Express. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
She ran after adventure, like she ran after most other things in life. Quickly and with intention, gaze fixed ahead, eyes locked, heart reassuringly pounding in time with each step forward. And just as she was surely out of sight, her silhouetted shape just a hint of a person now, her head turned ever so slightly to look back -- not to regret what she had left behind, but more to appreciate what she had ahead. She smiled. And pressed on.
What adventure is calling you? And will you run after it?
Do you guys remember the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, based on the novel by John Berendt under the same namesake? I recently re-watched it the other day, on one of those heavy, muggy, rainy New York afternoons that call for something a bit moodier than usual. And while the movie didn't disappoint (and Kevin Spacey was so young!), it was more the cinematic atmosphere that struck me the most this time around. Savannah, Georgia in the thick of summer, a scandalous murder case hanging in the air, relics of the deep south and southern gothic in tone, overgrown gardens rife with dark hiding spots for secrets and magic. In short: hauntingly beautiful.
I guess you could say, when I borrowed this gown from Plan de Ville, I was taken by the movie and wanted to shoot it somewhere a bit different. Lydia suggested Prospect Park and I'm so glad she did. Unlike Central Park, which I think has a certain lightness and airiness to it, I immediately fell in love with Prospect Park for it's more somber qualities. Thicker, taller trees. Less manicured paths and smaller trails that lead off into winding routes. Hidden pockets and groves that seem to reveal themselves only by mere chance, no map seems to bring you there. It has a certain wild beauty to it, untamed and yet enchantingly inviting. Beckoning almost.
"Life has puffed and blown itself into a summer day, and clouds and spring billow over the heavens as if calendars were a listing of mathematical errors." ~ Zelda Fitzgerald
I'm quite guilty of reading multiple books at a time, especially during the summer, which is usually when I designate each book for a particular activity. A book for when I'm traveling. A book for when I'm on a beach. A book for when I'm hopping around New York City or sitting in Washington Square Park. At the moment, I'm nose deep in Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (a perfect park book) and it's every bit captivating as you would expect from both writers, particularly Zelda. She wrote with such a beautiful pain that's hard to pinpoint -- slightly ethereal and yet, heavy, as if soaked in her own tears.
I have to admit, at times, it's made me want to write a love letter or two myself. And maybe revisit a few love letters (er, emails) of yesteryear that I've received from previous boyfriends. And in a way, while "checking in" on an ex via Instagram or Facebook gives you peace of mind as to why things ended, a love letter is a beautiful way of revisiting how things used to be between you two -- not for the sake of lamenting or regretting something that's now done. But more celebrating what it was and what it meant to both of you.
If you've been a longtime reader of this site, or perhaps even semi-long term, or heck, maybe we've only gone on a few dates and you're still deciding whether or not to text me back or ghost me, you've probably noticed that I love The RealReal. As someone who has a penchant for designer items but can't seem to afford/justify the price tag all the time, I've lucked out with some nothing short of incredible pieces from their site, all in mint condition, at a fraction of the price.
Without sounding like a broken record here, I truly think this differentiator comes down to the team they've built and the quality standards they've established when curating. And after meeting their editorial director, Lauren Bradshaw and their Senior Director of Authentication, Graham Wetzbarger, a few weeks ago for the video you'll see at the end of this post, well let's just say I was drinking the kool-aid at that point -- they know their stuff, inside and out. Plus, I basically want Graham to authenticate everything else in my wardrobe (that man is a walking encyclopedia of incredible, little-known facts about designer pieces and how to spot them -- in other words, he would KILL at a fashion trivia night).
At this point, I'll stop my rambling and let these behind the scenes snaps and ultimately the video below (keep scrolling) do the talking. Enjoy!
And just like that. Summer is upon us. HOT. MUGGY. HUMID. And begging for some new bathing suits to escape the city in. This past weekend, I happened to pop into a few boutiques in my neighborhood to browse the bikini racks. Everything I brought into the dressing room with me happened to be white, which meant I had my work cut out for me when it came time to getting a tan on Monday at the Dream Hotel pool. What a cruel catch-22 that is, isn't it? I love the idea of a white crochet bikini like this one here, but I just hate the idea of wearing it at the beginning of summer, when I'm still banishing my pale winter skin.
That said, I rounded up a few other options here that should hopefully suit whatever state your tan (or lack thereof) happens to be in.
If you're a frequent rider of the NYC subways, like yours truly, perhaps you'll recall a series of "subway etiquette" posters the MTA had released on most trains. The do's and don'ts of the subway, if you will. Most are pretty obvious (offer your seat to elderly and pregnant passengers) and some just make me laugh (like the one urging men to stop 'spreading' their legs wide, thereby taking up multiple seats, which by the way, fellas, WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO THIS?).
And while I like to think I'm a pretty obedient (heck, perhaps even a model subway citizen), there's one rule I always break. The no primping rule. But let me clarify. I don't do my makeup. I don't file or clip my nails (yikes, gross!), but almost always during the summer, I'll apply and reapply hair oil to help with my frizz and split ends. There, I said it. Guilty as charged.
Let me back up a bit though.
As someone with pretty dry, coarse and, let's just add insult to injury here, very thick hair, I've struggled to tame my locks for most of my life. Add to that, I pretty consistently curl my hair close to every day, so the styling damage doesn't help the situation at all.
While I was living in San Francisco (and had much shorter hair) a few girlfriends introduced me to hair oil routines (pre-shampooing, before heat styling and as needed on-the-go touch ups). And it's been a habit that's stuck since, especially once I decided to grow my hair out in perhaps one of the most muggy and humid cities to live in during the summer (hello New York!). So when Living Proof asked me try out their latest product launch, the No Frizz Nourishing Oil, I was up for the challenge.
Oddly enough, I'm a newbie to the Living Proof family (so I indulged in their online product selector just to make sure I was ordering complimentary products that would work well together for my hair), the lineup of which you can see here. All shampoos, conditioners and hair masks meant for my type of dry and somewhat styling/coloring damaged hair, ending with a cap off from the No Frizz Nourishing Oil. I incorporated the oil much as I would my regular oil routine: post-washing on damp hair before towel drying, a light layer that I comb through with my fingers before curling my hair and then, I brought it with me during the day for on the go, mainly surface layer touch ups.
The results? Let's just say it's been New York rain, humidity and subway tested now, and it passed. Beautifully. My hair is far from perfect (and I'm due for a trim as you can see my split ends in these photos here), but I love how the No Frizz Nourishing Oil really helped keep my curls in tact without weighing them down (an easy territory to slip into when applying oils) and kept frizzy, flyaways at bay for a better majority of the day. It didn't feel like the product was simply sitting on top of my hair or at the ends, but more so was being absorbed to really moisturize -- a big differentiator for someone who has dry hair but doesn't necessarily need the additional volume or weight.
Added bonus? A few fellow subway riders actually really liked the smell of it (it's good!) and asked where they could pick it up themselves.
I guess that's one point for Krystal. Zero for the MTA.
Have you guys tried it out yet? What are your thoughts?
This post was in collaboration with Living Proof. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice, " the Queen said. "When I was your age, I always did it for a half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
~ Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
What's your impossible thing? And how are you going to make it possible today?
There are three photos that are currently saved in a folder on my iPhone. I snapped them back in January of this year, sans makeup, without my hair done, sitting at my desk in relatively awful selfie light, just a few days before I was going to meet with my dermatologist for the first time here in New York.
And God, I hated taking those photos. In fact, I can hardly look at them now.
To back up a bit, if you recall, I shared my recent struggles with hormonal acne back in February with you all. I said it in that post, and I'll say it again in this post, it was extremely therapeutic to write and to connect with you guys in a way that went beyond what dress I was wearing or what pair of shoes I recently bought. I felt vulnerable after hitting that publish button, afraid that I might be saying all of this aloud to the internet with no one to answer me or to connect with. Afraid that I would be standing alone, no more the wiser about what I was going through and how to combat it. Afraid to admit that I was going through something different than what's typically shared on other blogs.
And you all made me realize, I had nothing to really fear. The emails, the comments, the messages of support, of advice, of commiserating together -- none of it went unnoticed or unappreciated. Which is why I wanted to check back in, exactly three months later, with an update of how things are progressing for my skin and how I'm feeling about everything. Please note, it's a journey that's far from over but I'm learning all the time from it and wanted to share what little newfound wisdom I could, in hopes that it might help someone else.
It all boils down to four big lifestyle and routine changes...
ONE: Found a dermatologist that I trusted, that I liked, that listened to me. I can't emphasize this probably very obvious point enough. What's made all the difference for me, these past few months, is having a doctor that not only knows what they're doing, but cares about how I feel through the process of it. I've had a number of dermatologists in my spotty (pun intended) past, most of them would sit down with me for 10 minutes at most, mutter that my skin issues probably have something to do with hormones and write down a list quick list of cleansers and birth controls for me to try, before hopping out of the room to the next patient (one doctor barely looked at my face!). It was demoralizing and frustrating, to say the least. I wanted to discover more about my skin and it's problems, not be rushed out of the office.
So when I first met Dr. Tara Rao at TriBeCa Skin Center, I was half expecting the same rushed "get 'em in, get 'em out" sort of treatment. But the minute she sensed I was about to cry (and then eventually started to cry) in her office when I was describing to her why I was seeing her that day, she closed her folder, looked me dead in the eye and told me, "We're going to figure this out together." Suddenly, I felt like I had someone in my corner, rooting for me. And it's made all the difference since then.
TWO: Started taking Spironolactone and birth control. Now, I know this next one can be rather controversial, and I'll be the first to admit, I was really hoping for a solution that avoided a prescription of some sort, mainly because I try to solve things as naturally and as hormone-free as possible. The issue with my type of acne, as Dr. Rao pointed out, is that it's driven by my hormone spikes, and while my many lifestyle changes (restricting dairy intake, drinking more water etc.) were all admirable steps in the right direction, my body may need a stronger kick in the butt to keep my hormones in check. She then went on to tell me that she has plenty of female patients, my age, dealing with similar severity acne as mine, and how just a few short months on spironolactone made all the difference in clearing it up for them.
So I did what any self-respecting, tech-savvy girl would do. I WebMD'ed that shit and read about all of the pros, cons, side effects and yes, horror stories (because let's be honest, every prescription comes with a horror story or two). I wanted to be informed about what I may possibly start putting into my body before I started it. And from what I could gather and what Dr. Rao told me to expect, it seemed worth a shot, as long as I remained extremely aware of how my body was reacting over time. It's important to note that the original usage of the drug is to treat high-blood pressure, the side effects of which may include lowering of blood pressure (and mine is already pretty low to begin with), increased urination as it's a diuretic and it can also cause you to retain potassium (so I avoid consuming too much of it and I make a point to check in with my GP every couple of months). How does it work for acne? It essentially blocks the hormone aldosterone, an excess of which can cause acne.
I'll stop here and remind you that I'm not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination, so you should definitely consult yours thoroughly before starting anything yourself. OK, disclaimer over.
But I'll continue to say this: I credit much of how my skin has improved over the past few months to a combination of spironolactone at 100mg daily and a low-hormone birth control. Hands down. I'm lucky in this sense because I know so many women who struggle to find the best birth control medication that can help with this specific need, as well as with their skincare. Although this all changed for some of them when they came across a site like Blink Health that has a wide array of medications that can help with a number of conditions. This is good - it means they finally have the opportunity to see their skin improve. Granted, I will also say this, it took about three months to kick in for me, so don't expect it to happen all at once. Meaning for three months, I wasn't really seeing a huge difference. In fact, for a brief period in February (my second month in), I felt myself going through the "it's getting worse before it gets better" phase, and started to break out even more on my cheeks and then my neck, which had never happened before. On top of that, I was using a Retin-A cream, which dries out your skin to encourage cell turnover, so my face was a hot mess of painful cystic breakouts and dry, peeling skin, all during a New York winter and Fashion Week. NOT FUN, folks.
It wasn't until mid to late March that I remember turning a corner. I was washing my face one evening after thoroughly removing my makeup, lathering my cleanser all over my face, when I noticed that I felt FAR fewer bumps on my face. This may sound trivial, but only a few short months prior, I couldn't run my fingertips over my cheeks and jawline without feeling a very bumpy terrain. And now, I felt nothing. NOTHING. I wanted to laugh and jump up and down at the same time, but refrained since that meant I would probably get cleanser in my eyes. But you get the picture. I felt like I was regaining control, taking back land that had been invaded, by a foreign enemy. God, I'm dramatic sometimes, but it definitely felt like a mini victory!
We're now a total of 5 months in and combined with the birth control, I feel really happy with how things are progressing. I breakout FAR less often and when I do, the lone pimple really only lasts for a few days, as opposed to a few weeks like before. For now, I'm still at 100mg daily, but will likely reduce the dosage in a few months to start weening off of it. Dr. Rao thinks it's worthwhile for me to stay on spironolactone for the remainder of this year, and unless anything drastic happens, I'll stay this path.
As far as side effects, knock on wood, I've had minimal. The first month or so, I definitely noticed some increased fatigue at the end of the day, which Dr. Rao warned me about, as well as some frequent bathroom breaks at night, but otherwise, no complaints. A lot of the reviews I read mentioned hair loss and weight fluctuation, neither of which, I experienced. A few reviews also mentioned increased breast size, which I unfortunately, didn't experience. Le sigh. Can't win 'em all, right?
THREE: Bye bye dairy and hello water. I can't say I'm perfect at either of these two changes, but they've been top of mind for me the past few months. I cut out dairy back in January pretty drastically, even refusing to eat foods that had been prepared with small amounts of it, which of course, makes eating out kinda tricky. Since then, I've relaxed, but whenever possible, I try to avoid eating excess amounts of it (so pizza is a rare indulgence for me, unfortunately). I also went on a pretty strict no soda and only one coffee a day rule, meaning, I chug A LOT of water. At first, it was cumbersome and I had to remind myself to drink it. But now, I have a rotation of six 1 liter Smart Water bottles that I fill up every day with tap water and I challenge myself to finish all of them before I go to bed that evening. My skin not only feels more supple, but I have way more energy than I recall ever having. Win, win!
FOUR: Exercise, exercise, exercise. During all of this skin investigation, I was also training for my Paris marathon in April, which meant, that no matter how I felt about my skin that day, I was forcing myself to head out the door and run 10, 11, 12 miles at a time. And I'm so glad I did. It was a great stress reliever for me and in some ways, when there are things you feel like you just can't control, it's nice to know there are some things you have absolute control over, like whether or not you kill those 10 miles today. Of course, with any regular exercise, your body starts to regroup itself, and mine did just that -- I can't say running necessarily improved my skin, but it improved my overall well-being and I think if there's anything I've learned about skin, it's all part of a very fine, lifestyle balance. The key is figuring out what levers work for you. If you're just starting out on your own fitness journey, or you're looking for a change-up, you may want to check out such things as power life by tony horton to see how you can be supported, before you know it you'll be running a Paris marathon!
And there you have it -- four lifestyle changes that I think have made a huge impact on my skin and my outlook. As I mentioned, my skin is far from perfect, I have a handful of scars left behind and I definitely have makeup on in these lovely photos Lydia shot for me. But I felt so confident when we were taking them, which is drastically different from the girl I snapped on my iPhone back in January. Perhaps I'll get up the courage to share those shots here eventually. Until then, I'm always more than happy to answer whatever questions you guys may have about the above journey. Or perhaps you have other lifestyle changes that have made a difference for you and your skin that you'd like to share? Either way, let's chat. Because you're not alone, so there's no reason to go through it alone.
Whenever my mom calls to check in (which is pretty much close to every day), she enjoys having me answer the question, "what's on your agenda today?" Mainly because a.) it's a very obligatory mom question, they all love asking it and b.) she knows how happy it makes me to have each day feel a little different. And it's true. Having worked the past 5 years in a pretty corporate environment, where my commute, my meeting schedule and even my emails started to feel a little routine (don't get me wrong, I still loved that job and the people I worked with), I've now realized just how much I thrive in environments that are always changing. It's a huge part of the reason I got into writing and eventually print journalism in the first place. It gave me an excuse to leave the newsroom every couple of hours to talk to a new source, research a new subject, trespass to get just the right shot for A1 (and avoid getting arrested in doing so).
It was constantly different. It was always evolving. It was very me.
So when New York Magazine's The Cut recently came along and stole my mom's question, well I had to take them along for a bit of a whirlwind day, didn't I? If you're interested in the better written story, make sure you hop over to The Cut right here. If you're looking for the crude play by play, keep reading below...
6:00 AM: My alarm goes off, but to be completely honest, I'm usually up a few minutes before. I'm trying to break this habit, especially since I can be a bit of a night owl most evenings. I need more sleep. Period.
6:10 AM: Elvis pokes his head over my side of the bed, licking my hand, as I'm now skimming through my email on my phone. I scoop him up onto the bed while I continue to flip through Instagram, a bit of Snapchat and eventually read The Skimm, before getting out of bed to take him out for a walk.
6:30 AM: Confession time. I love Starbucks. For a number of reasons really, but mainly, they're the only coffee shop often at this time. So Elvis and I stop here, I get an ice coffee (always, even if it's snowing outside), and we continue our walk around the West Village. If we're lucky, we'll see our friend Ruckus, a little Westie, who lives in the neighborhood. They're best friends.
7:00 AM: I wash my face with a gentle cleanser by CereVe that my dermatologist recommended. It's meant for normal to oily skin and I love how it leaves my face feeling cleansed without feeling stripped (which sometimes other cleansers meant for oily skin tend to do). I then lather on my daily moisturizer cocktail mix (I say cocktail mix because I like changing the lineup from time to time). A girlfriend recently introduced me to the Drunk Elephant brand and this hydration gel is a great morning pick me up -- cool and refreshing once it dries and soaks in. Depending on how puffy my eyes look, I'll then dab some under eye cream or a serum, like this one by Ole Henrickson and apply some cold spoons that have been in the refrigerator over night over my eyes, kinda like Margot Robbie here. KIDDING. I haven't tried this step. Yet. Has anyone else tried it? 😉
7:15 AM: Quick breakfast of a banana, some string cheese and granola. Or if I'm bad, I'll get a bagel from Hudson Bagels. YIKES, BUT THEY'RE SO GOOD, GUYS.
7:30 AM: Work day starts. I kick things off by starting a new To-Do spreadsheet in an ongoing Google Doc I have (aptly titled 'Get Shit Done'), all prioritized individually. P0's need to happen ASAP because stuff is on FIRE. P1's need to happen by end of day. and P2's need to happen by end of week. And then sometimes I give myself low hanging fruit (like hunt for cheap Beyonce tickets on Stubhub) so I can have the satisfaction of crossing one extra thing off the list. It's the little things, people. Emails get fired off at this time. I schedule out my social media content for the morning to promote the blog post that's now up. I'll also get caught up on the news, skimming CNN and The New York Times. And sometimes post a little rant about Trump on Snapchat.
9:00 AM: Break time. I head out to the Hudson River running path and clock a good 3-5 mile run. Keeps me sane.
10:00 AM: Back at home, post shower, the day could go in a few different directions. If I'm shooting that day, I'll prepare my outfits, hair, makeup, the works and grab my laptop in case I need to be out for a few hours. If it's more of an admin day with video conference meetings and scheduling out content, I'll throw on a chambray shirt, boyfriend jeans and my hair in a high, high pony tail and either work from home, a nearby coffee shop or my work space at Thompson Square Studios in SoHo. I'll also skip makeup on these days, because I like letting my skin breathe when I can. Except for mascara. I'll almost always put on mascara.
12:00 PM: After shooting or working, I'll grab a quick lunch, usually in whatever neighborhood I'm in. If I'm in the West Village, I love popping over to Extra Virgin or Cafe Minerva for a quick bite and I'll usually stay in Minerva to work for the afternoon. They have this parmesan asparagus plate that is my absolute salvation. Oh, and that spot at the window near Woody Allen? If it's free, I'll almost always claim that seat. Great for people watching, when you need a small email distraction.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: I affectionately call this the "zone." I'll order my second cup of coffee (usually a small cappuccino) and hammer out that To-Do list I mentioned earlier. This includes going through photo selects from recent shoots to narrow down my top picks, writing out posts for the week and updating pitch decks.
4:10 PM: Come up for air. Watch something silly on YouTube. Or keep hunting for those Bey tickets on Stubhub!
4:15 - 7:00 PM: BACK IN THE ZONE, baby. Werk. Werk. Werk.
7:30 PM: Depending on the day and the evening lineup of events (or lack there of), I'll either hop out for networking dinner and drinks right after taking Elvis out for an evening walk. Or I'll stay in and make dinner at home with Elvis. Another confession time: I'm a horrible cook. So most evenings, if I'm being completely honest, it's a rotation of a vegetable and lentil soup, simple pasta dishes or salads. If I'm trying to impress someone (like a hot date) I'll attempt to make something fancier and then pray that I don't poison them with undercooked meat (usually why all my steak dinners are prepared VERY WELL done).
8:30 PM: Shower. I love evening showers. Mainly because I hate drying my hair so I'd rather have it air dry over night. And also, I love the ritual of lighting my favorite candle and putting on some fun music while I'm in there, an indulgence that's just too hard to do when it's in the morning and you're feeling rushed.
9:00 PM: Jump into bed, usually in this matching pajama set from Margiot, with a charcoal face mask on. This one by Boscia has been fun to try lately because the black charcoal sucks out the impurities and the white charcoal. I leave this on for about an hour (I like leaving my masks on for a bit longer than recommended to really let it soak in), while I get caught up on more email and start prepping the final touches to the next day's blog post.
11:00 PM: Read. Right now on my nightstand, I have Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, which you think I would have read by now but it somehow escaped me.
12:oo AM - 1:30AM: Drift off to sleep. With Elvis next to me.
And there you have it! That's my day in a 12-hour nutshell. Technically, this was a bit longer than 12 hours (sorry for the run over!) but you get the picture. 🙂
This post was in collaboration with New York Magazine's The Cut and Sephora. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
New York has been one indecisive lady as of late -- one minute it's warm and folks are sitting outside sipping rosé, the next afternoon, we have sporadic rain, thunder (and even some brief hail!) storms.
Instead of rant about global warming (let's save that for another day, another post, folks), I figured I would rather gather my favorite outfits from last summer (11 to be exact), in hopes that a little Field of Dreams action could happen here. If you wear spring dresses, warm weather will come.
When it comes to buying and investing in jewelry. I have the white shirt rule.
What's the white shirt rule, you ask? It's simple. When I'm considering a new piece, be it earrings, a necklace, or a ring, I try to imagine how that item would make me feel if I were only wearing a simple, white button down shirt and casual, Saturday jeans. Nothing fussy or overdone about the outfit. Just me in my most bare and comfortable element.
If the answer is: it feels natural and easy, like a second skin. Then I'm all over it. If the answer is: it feels too overdone or distracting, I pass.
Over the years, I like to think the above "bar test" has helped streamline my jewelry cases. Of course, I've splurged on the occasional statement or trend necklace and collected more than my fair share of the "arm party" pieces, but over time, I've really come to edit my go-tos. My daily arsenal of dainty, gold jewelry that pairs just as easily with a little black dress for evening as it does for Sunday morning coffee when I'm running outside without makeup. If your jewelry box is void of gold pieces, maybe you should consider making an investment in some - you will find some helpful information at adinasjewels.com on some delightful jewelry to start you off.
As you can imagine, this means I keep the lineup tight knit, making sure each piece works (and plays!) nicely with the others. So when I recently discovered Monica Vinader after a girlfriend introduced me to the brand, I knew I had found my latest must-have addition to the rotation. The aesthetic is clean, simple and elegant. Just the right amount of dainty and personal. And her iconic Baja bracelets are easy to wear alone or stack for a higher impact look. To round it out, all the stones are ethically sourced and hand cut in India, with the diamonds in particular following the Kimberly Process, which prevents the distribution of conflict diamonds. A designer after my own heart.
When she asked me to style a few of her pieces, I (shamelessly) requested a little bit of everything to borrow and haven't really taken them off since (you've probably spotted them in previous outfit posts actually). And granted, while I'm wearing a white dress here, I like to think each item really stands the white shirt rule -- meaning I should probably expand my definition to include white dresses as well. 😉
This post was in collaboration with Monica Vinader. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
