For as long as I can remember, I've been told I have champagne taste on a beer budget. And admittedly, I will say that's 99% true. For most of my life, I've always admired things, experiences, clothing, places that were all a little bit out of my price range. And in some ways, I think that explains why I ended up working really hard to live in a city like New York -- we're all in that same boat together, huh Manhattan? We can somehow justify paying almost half our monthly income on a small apartment, but hey, Magnolia Bakery is right there on the corner and Carrie used to "live" just down the block! (I say all of that only half sarcastically, because, really, I love living here -- no complaints!).
The funny thing is, I've always loved my "beer" budget experiences too. My friends often tease me that I'm very much a guys' girl. I can just as easily spend a day at the ballpark, eating hot dogs and drinking beer as I can hopping over to Lincoln Center for a ballet performance afterward. Just give me at least two at bats to change, I'm ready to roll.
So when certain events come along that call for a little bit of both worlds -- that being glamour and grit -- I love mashing the two together. And the Kentucky Derby is exactly that. This past weekend, I threw a little Run for the Roses fête with my favorite ladies, lots of statement hats and plenty of Stella Artois Cidre on hand. Given that the weather took a bit of a turn on us at the last minute, my originally planned rooftop party moved indoors with my friends at Thompson Square Studios, which turned out to be the perfect spot for our glamorous little afternoon of races.
On tap? We nibbled on the perfect personal sized Magnolia Bakery cheesecakes (what can I say, love Magnolia!), my favorite array of cheeses (Humboldt Fog, Truffle Tremor and a new-to-me Roomano) and sipped our cidre, channeling our best ladies of leisure. But really, these gals are anything BUT ladies of leisure. Among us we have a lawyer, an independent event planner and fellow blogger, a YouTube account executive and an up and coming PR mogul -- so when conversation moved from fitness and weekend plans to the upcoming election and immigration law, I couldn't help but smile. I love me some bad ass women. Who work hard. And play even harder.
And in the spirit of the day, I asked everyone to pick their winning horse (or come up with their future horse name for when we're all millionaires and have our own horses in the Derby). I've included their answers throughout...keep scrolling!
This post was in collaboration with Stella Artois. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
With every step on the pavement, my hip was throbbing, like a pendulum keeping time with my body. I'd breathe in, step, the dull ache nudging my side, breath out, step. Repeat. To my left and to my right, my fellow runners were walking, running, gasping, wincing from pain just as I was, and yet here we were, at mile 20. Six more to go. Making our way back to the start line near the Arc du Triumph in the city of light. Paris. And my body was keeping time, with every step of the way.
I rounded the narrow park corner, making sure to pay attention to route signs indicating when my next water station would be, when a fan sign caught my eye, glitter and puffy paint; it's owner waving it excitedly back and forth. I thought to myself, "How very American of them..."
I squinted (mainly because at this point, the sun was pretty high and sweat was already dripping down my forehead, making it hard to focus on much of anything), to make out the following:
"If Britney Spears can survive 2007, you can survive this race."
And suddenly, I couldn't help but laugh. Out loud. And my very obviously American friends cheered at my recognition of the pop culture reference going on here, high fived me and yelled, "You got this, Krystal!"
At this point, I had to remind myself, my name was very clearly written on my race bib on my chest, but for a second, I almost felt like these people knew me and knew I could make it just six more miles.
So I told myself, "You run six miles all the time. You can do this."
Without hesitating, I turned to my now blasting Spotify playlist, and switched to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" as we approached the Bois de Boulogne, the final leg of the race. My body keeping time to my hip, my breathing and now, Freddie Mercury's anthem-worthy voice.
If you're curious what else I listened to for the rest of the race, keep scrolling! My full Spotify playlist is below...
Huge thanks to Equinox for helping me get race-day ready and to the Paris Marriott Champs-Élysées Hotel for being the best home base a marathon runner could hope for while traveling.
And an even bigger thanks to all of you guys who sent me encouraging tweets, messages, emails, DMs and Snapchats during the race! It made all the difference, every step of the way!
There's a wash and fold business on 6th Avenue that I always pass when I'm walking over to SoHo and I mainly remember it for the sign they have in front that reads:
"When I said 'I do,' I didn't mean laundry."
It always makes me giggle. And nod my head a bit, as it sums up most of my adult-life relationship with doing laundry. If you're anything like me, that means you usually let it pile up to an embarrassing height where you're apologizing to your significant other every time they enter the bathroom where the hamper resides and you'll usually get around to it late Sunday night, cursing yourself for not doing it earlier in the weekend (or on a Thursday night when LESS of the machines are being used). Of course, that means I've had a few nights that kind of looked like this -- not totally complaining about it either!
As of late though, my attitude has shifted a bit. I don't know if this is the onset of my 30s, the inability to stay up until 3am to do laundry while also getting caught up on work, but I have a hunch it's neither. It boils down to this: I like to invest in my clothes. And I was starting to realize that the investment goes past just buying them. I was tired of shirts fading, of pilling, of colors slowly becoming dingy and don't get me started on the second hamper dedicated to JUST dry cleaning. Suddenly, all this money I was pumping into my closet for things that I truly loved, weren't really getting the love they deserved.
Now, I'm by no means a domestic goddess and while I love Gwyneth as much as the next gal, I'll never tout myself as a Goop-level expert in this area. But I have no qualms with seeking out people or brands who make it approachable, affordable and easy to integrate into my daily lifestyle, which is exactly where The Laundress comes in.
I've been a fan of their detergent line for years actually, discovering it first while I was working on a photo shoot with Google for our same day delivery product, Google Express. I started with their Denim Wash, then quickly moved to their Signature Detergent, their Delicate Wash and Wool and Cashmere Shampoo. All of them are extremely gentle on my clothes and specific to the fabric they're treating -- meaning a little bit of sorting goes an extremely long way for the longevity of your items. And then I discovered their Le Labo collaboration line -- an ultimate game-changer for me -- as all my sheets and bedding now smell like Santal 33. In one word: heaven.
Of course, without sounding like a brand junkie, I'm thrilled to be adding their full home cleaning line to my rotation as well. Many of the products are multi-purposed (wonderful for someone like me who doesn't want to spend time diagnosing a "mess") and it means my under sink area is much less cluttered. Yep. I think that's the most adult sentence I've written in a while.
Lastly, let's just state the obvious here. Their aesthetic and brand mission are totally on point for me. A well-defined and discerningly made brand started by two women? Sign. Me. Up.
If you're new to the brand, or already a fan like me, you'll be happy to know their products will be featured in a slew of upcoming events at all Container Stores nationwide as part of the retailer's Kiss Clutter Goodbye campaign. Starting this weekend, Saturday April 23rd and Sunday, the 24th and continuing the following weekend Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st, Goodwill donation centers will be on hand to receive all your gently used items as you start your spring cleaning efforts. There will be special guest appearances by the experts at The Laundress at select Container Store locations, performing live demonstrations and how-to's -- with a special treat for those in New York and the San Francisco area, as the founders themselves will be hosting. Check out the details below in case you want to mark your calendar now and make sure to hop over to the Container Stories blog now to see if The Laundress team is coming to The Container Store near you.
New Yorkers, join co-founder Lindsey Boyd
April 24, from 12-4pm: The Container Store, 6th Avenue
April 30, fron 12-4pm: The Container Store, 58th & Lexington
San Franciscans, join co-founder Gwen Whiting
April 23, from 11am-1pm: The Container Store, Palo Alto
April 23, from 3-5pm: The Container Store, San Jose
April 24, from 11am-1pm: The Container Store, Walnut Creek
April 24, from 3-5pm: The Container Store, Corte Madera
This post was in collaboration with The Laundress and The Container Store. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
I've started this post 6 different times, with 6 different intros and I've hated each more than the last. But I think the only appropriate anecdote I can throw in here to accurately describe how I'm feeling at this moment has to do with skydiving. So indulge me for a moment.
About 2 years ago, I traveled to New Zealand for a several week long trip through both the north and south islands. While the bulk of this trip is irrelevant to this post topic, I will say it was one of the biggest life changing trips I had gone on to date, the culmination of which, ended in me jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at 12,000 feet above Paradise Valley just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand.
Now for anyone who has skydived before, you may be able to relate to this, and for those who haven't, trust me when I say, nothing prepares you for that moment the side hatch door opens, revealing you and your fellow thrill seekers to rushing wind and the deafening sound of the propellers less than 20 feet away. Suddenly, what small metal framework that was separating you from 12,000 feet of open air is gone, and if you happen to be in my shoes, a 6'5" Scottish man named Russell is strapped to your back, instructing you how to pose like banana once it's your turn to "go." All the while, there's a GoPro shoved in your face and yes, you force that smile. Even though, on the inside, you're screaming for your life. And maybe shitting your pants. And by maybe, I mean you're definitely doing both, as you sit inside the world's smallest plane, climbing higher and higher all the while.
One by one, I watched members of my group saddle up reluctantly to the open side door, their tandem partners yelling instructions, before WHOOSH -- they were sucked right out -- one minute smiling and nodding nervously and the next, just vanished literally into thin New Zealand air. Being in the back of the plane, meant I had the privilege of going last, or in other words, Russell's favorite slot because the pilot actually goes a bit higher for you since the plane is lighter at this point. (File this under: things you should NOT tell your tandem partner the minute before you jump.)
Finally, as my turn approached, Russell started tightening more straps that I didn't even realize were attached to us and I peeked out the door. With each tug and pull from Russell as he prepared us to jump, I felt the control freak in me push and shove right back. As my face braced for the blanket of cold air whirling all around me, my eyes struggling to focus on the small landmarks below, I realized just how not in control of the situation I was. And that I had two choices. I could be OK with it. Or I could kick and scream and fight it.
That's when I heard Russell rather violently scream in my ear, "Ready to get into your banana pose?! We're jumping in 3, 2..."
And that fucker never got to 1. He had us jump on 2. And I kind of love him for it.
To make this already rambling long story, short, the next initial 3-5 seconds were terror (when you're climbing to terminal velocity) and then the next 45 seconds or so of free falling before the shoot opens was magical, but still terrifying. You're weightless at this point and it truly does feel like flying. Unlike any feeling I will probably ever experience again. Needless to say, we were blessed with an incredible view for the ride down -- expansive green valleys all around, flanked by beautiful mountain ranges on either side (and yes, home to Isengard for all my Lord of the Rings buffs). It's so beautiful in fact, you almost forget that your life now depends on whether or not someone showed up to work today to properly pack that parachute that's now strapped to your best friend, Russell's back.
Operative word there is: almost. You almost forget that detail.
To cut to the chase: SURPRISE! We landed. I survived. I hugged Russell the minute we glided back down at base camp and I even did the cliche kissing of the ground. And despite the oncoming feeling of slight vertigo, I had never felt more alive in my life as I did in that moment.
If you've made it this far into my story, first of all, thank you! Secondly, kudos! And thirdly, where am I going with all of this? Here's where:
All my life, I've waited for the countdown. 3. 2. 1. GO. Preparing, analyzing, overanalyzing and preparing some more. And then I've likely waited for another countdown, because I assumed the first countdown was a practice run. Or that I just wasn't ready for the next jump. This isn't to say I've lived in fear. God, no. Just that I've always taken the most calculated route I could for most things, professionally and personally. Both a blessing and a curse, really. And I can't complain as to where it's brought me. I've accomplished and worked on some big things, for some big companies and learned more about myself and my abilities (and my limitations) than I care to admit in this post.
And then this past year, as if I were making up for lost time, I changed a lot about my life. With very little downtime, no breathing room in between and certainly not a single countdown uttered. I moved across the country (as you well know), I went through some rough breakups (as I've alluded to on social media) and I then left my very secure job of 5 years to pursue This Time Tomorrow full time back in September (which I'm telling you guys now, for the first time, ever).
Whoa. It feels weird to type that last sentence. And at the same time, god damn exhilarating. Because it still blows me away that something I started on a whim in college in the middle of a terrible recession, is now what I wake up every day excited to work on. Rest assured, I'll be sharing my story documenting the thought process behind leaving Google on another day but here's the spoiler alert: it was a more than amicable breakup and I will always love that company.
Now, I'm not sharing any of this with the expectation of fanfare or praise or even a pat on the back. I'm by no means curing cancer or helping children in the third world. At the end of the day, I'm just another writer thrilled and humbled to be able to do what I'm doing and have it (sorta) pay the bills. I'm sharing this with you all because 1.) I love you dearly for humoring me and following this little corner of the internet for close to 7 years so you deserve to be filled in and 2.) we all need a reminder sometimes that it's OK to not wait for the countdown. Planning and analyzing get you so far, but at a certain point, sometimes you just have to jump on 2, otherwise you might miss your window entirely.
That said, if things look a little different around here, that's because they are! I hope you enjoy this mini-facelift as much as I do (it was long overdue, not to mention, my old URL was just plain ugly). I look forward to creating more and writing even more for you guys here. As always, thank you. For everything. Truly.
Time for another deep breath. Because, well, here goes nothing.
(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.
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.
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!
Confession: I've always had a love/hate relationship with Sundays. On one hand, they're a great bookend to the weekend, perfect for sleeping in, recovering from Saturday and on particular rainy ones, they're practically made for marathons of Blacklist or Downton Abbey (depending on my mood, of course).
On the other hand, I secretly dread them. When you have a slew of early Monday morning meetings, most of which are presentation heavy, that means Sunday afternoons can be spent toiling away in front of a laptop late into the evening.
My name is Krystal and I suffer from the Sunday Blues.
Lately though, I've been trying to turn this around with a few little updates to my routine. While I can't necessarily do anything about the amount of work that still needs to get done before Monday morning, I'm changing the way I go about approaching it. Perspective is everything, after all. Starting with, of course, how I dress for the day.
Ever since I was little, I've had a special soft spot for Hanes. They're a powerhouse for unbeatable, affordable basics and I may have stolen more than my fair share of broken in Hanes undershirts from past boyfriends. (Sorry, not sorry -- the slouch is just too good!) Even today, I love how easily they slip into the every day routine, even if that routine is say, lounging around in boy short underwear and a comfy tee and reading magazines, which is to say, what my Sunday morning looks like before my coffee run. From there, depending on the errands that need to be run that day, I'll frequent between different states of reading in bed, catching up on blog and work emails before noon until finally slipping on boyfriend jeans to take Elvis for a long walk on the beach.
Slipping in just these little moments of "me" time as made all the difference in the world and I usually end up approaching that amount of work I "need" to get done later that day with a renewed sense of purpose so I can finish early (and tuck myself into a good guilty pleasure TV marathon). Oh, and if there's a date night in the works for that evening, I may slip into a little dance session around the house (kinda like the gals here). Dance like no one's watching, right?
How do you spend your Sundays?
This post was in collaboration with Hanes. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!
A couple of months back I welcomed one of my favorite home decor sites, Apartment Therapy into my little studio for quick photoshoot. Needless to say, after laying out all of my shoes around the apartment, snacking on delicious chocolates from Miette and gabbing with the lovely Leela, I've been dying to share the finished results ever since! Click on over to their site to see the full tour de force -- would love to hear what you think!
Just wanted to share some quick snaps from my friends Irene and Charles' wedding last weekend at Maui's Olowalu Plantation House. Between the Pacific Ocean sunset, the darling design touches (I still cannot get over that cake!) and of course, how incredibly beautiful Irene looked, this was definitely an evening to remember.
Special thanks to the bride and groom (who are en route to Kenya as we speak for their honeymoon!) for allowing me to join on such a special day!
It's funny how something like decorating a room never feels quite done. There's always something to change, modify, add or just rearrange completely. Much like personal style, interior decor seems to constantly evolve with a person over time.
Disclaimer aside, here are just a few things I've been craving to add to my apartment lately, you know, to spruce and liven things up a bit.
I've been Glitter Guide'd and I couldn't be more honored, flattered or downright excited about it! Want to see the full post? (Spoiler: there are peeks into my closet and lots of shoes, shoes, shoes!) Well, then I suggest you click, click away!
1.) The beginning of my window garden party. Here's to hoping I don't kill any of them off! 2.) Received some goodies courtesy of Lulu's the other day. Can't wait to start wearing this pretty pink tulle skirt! 3.) Freshly painted drawers with new crystal knobs. 4.) Rereading old favorites from high school freshmen year English class. (No, I don't need the magnifying glass to read -- I just love the look of it on my coffee table.)
1.) Fresh picked hydrangeas from the garden. (Thanks Dave and Gina!) 2.) Yummy little lace dress and cross body scooped up from Zara -- can't wait to wear this week for our unexpected heat wave (read: temps in the mid 70s). 3.) Painting some chest of drawers -- can't wait to add these crystal knobs. 4.) Experimenting with this oval gold frame I picked up at the Alameda Flea Market a few weeks ago. I think it's now friends with my antlers. 5.) Anyone else addicted to coffee table books? I can't stop adding to my pile!
Been getting my feet quite wet at the flea markets and antique stores in town -- wanted to share some of my studio inspiration for the big makeover, photos to follow soon.
To see more of my home decor picks -- visit my Pinterest boards here!
Do you ever just have one of those days where everything feels off? I've been battling a cold for the past few days and I forgot how much these things WIPE you out. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically.
I rolled out of bed this morning, fresh from a deep Nyqil sleep, threw this outfit on (in hopes to recreate this outfit) and ended up feeling uncomfortable all day in it.
I actually have lots of days like this (more than I would like to admit, actually). I usually tend to not document them on here, but figured I would own up to it -- an outfit flop. There. I said it! We're only human, right? It happens.
But...
To see how a lady like jacket like this should be worn, check out this little lady. She did it right.
And now, sweatpants are calling my name.
Jacket: Tweed suit jacket, Urban Outfitters Blouse: Polka dot sheer blouse, Therapy in SF Shorts: Jean cut off shorts, vintage Levis Boots: Black suede over the knee boots, Topshop
Well, here we are folks! The last official day of 2010! And what a ride it's been! As I was flipping through my archives finding my favorite posts from each month, it really hit me how much has changed since we were saying goodbye to 2009.
I was unemployed. Then went to New York City for job interviews, only to get a job in San Francisco, four or so hours from Reno. Worked at Like.com, went through an acquisition and now work at Google. Went to my first NY Fashion Week in February. Helped with our launch party in NYC in November. Have made some amazing friends and have welcomed some awesome sponsors along the way.
It doesn't seem like much typed out like that, but it made my head spin when I was reminiscing over each photo. It's been said before on lots of other blogs lately, but it truly is crazy how much I remember about each day just by looking at a particular photo. What I was doing, feeling, thinking, worrying about, looking forward to. This blogging business is the best journal I've ever stayed faithful to and I can't wait to flip through it when I'm 80.
So to all new and old readers, thanks for stopping by and sharing this with me. I look forward to 2011 with you!
This weekend left me realizing that summer really does come in a bite size package that San Francisco likes to call September. Saturday was 80 degrees and Sunday, whew, I lost count. Originally a desert rat (for those of you who remember, I'm from Nevada) this kind of weather shouldn't phase me. I've melted in much worse. But this weekend I was a wilting flower, complaining about the heat. Does this make me an official San Franciscan now?
Either way, I seized the weekend and went to Golden Gate (in heels mind you!) and then the wharf for some clam chowder and Ghirardelli for ice cream. Absolutely beautiful.
Blouse: White lace top, BB Dakota via Wasteland Skirt: Maxi skirt, Forever 21 Shoes: Tan oxford wedges, Steve Madden
It's always so crazy to me to meet bloggers in real life. It's as if I know this person, on the other side of the computer screen is a living, breathing, functioning member of society somewhere in the world, just not MY world.
Cue my story from earlier this week.
I was hurring, no scratch that, busting my ass to run up Hayes to catch the bus to work. What kind of sick idiot wears platform clogs to run to the bus? Oh right, this sick idiot. With only 5 minutes to get there and extremely short of breath from both running and cursing myself for being so out of shape, I heard someone randomly call my name out from the street as they were driving by.
Rachael, a sweet reader of this little ol' blog of mine, was waving out the window, yelling. Talk about a wake up call for me! First of all, thank you for saying hi. And secondly, thank you for the ride to the bus. It was much appreciated! And surreal at the same time.
Any fun stories you guys have about meeting bloggers IRL? Would love to hear them!
Shirt: Nude button up blouse, Queen's Wardrobe Skirt: Green brocade print skirt, Forever 21 Shoes: Wedge mary jane heels, Jeffrey Campbell, courtesy of Shopbop
This, folks, is the result of me coming home slightly early with an unfinished bottle of wine at my disposal. One cute little one shoulder, floral embellished dress (from ModCloth!), three different ways. Oh, and let's give some credit where credit is due: these boots that I've had FOREVER.
In other news, I'm proud to announce that Weardrobe's parent company, Like.com, has been acquired by Google. On behalf of the Weardrobe team, we are beyond excited and cannot wait for what lies ahead for us! You can check out our full announcement here.
Cheers and, above all else, HAPPY FRIDAY!
Dress: Flower and the City Dress, courtesy of ModCloth Jeans: Black skinny jeans, BDG Jacket: Jean jacket, Old Navy Shorts: Jean cut off shorts, Levis Shoes: Tan ankle boots, Aldo
First, a sincere apology. Sometimes, you just have to take a break. For sanity's sake. The good news dear readers, if I haven't bored you all to death already, is that I feel much better. Thanks for sticking with me. I don't deserve it.
Second, in efforts to make amends, please find the attached nutella/strawberry/banana/blueberry crepe awesomeness/dream/orgasm.
Friends again?
I have more crepes where that came from if not.
Happy Monday everyone. Let's keep it rockin'.
Shirt: Floral blouse, Kimchi Blue Shorts: Vintage levi's cut offs Boots: Tan riding boots, vintage
This has to be one of the most random skirts I own, covered in the alphabet. And in case you were wondering, yes, sometimes fashion allows you to channel your inner 2nd grade teacher.
As for the lack of posts lately (apologies for not answering e-mails lately either, I'm digging through that inbox as we speak), I have to say that things have come to a rather screeching halt here at This Time Tomorrow. Hopefully, with a little luck and willing standby photographers, posting will return to normal. And if I'm really lucky, my sleeping habits will follow suit. I'm not holding my breath, though.
On a lighter note, how was everyone else's weekend? I went for a relaxing hike outside of the city. The fresh air (and climbing some rather epic trees) worked wonders.
Blazer: Tan boyfriend blazer, Zara Shirt: White button top blouse, A&F Skirt: Pleated maxi skirt, H&M Shoes: Nude platform heels, Aldo
What's a French Toast Orgy, you ask? Well the above plate of sugary goodness, topped with loads of honey, oatmeal and an assortment of fruit and (long pause of drooling)....oh sorry, getting distracted looking at this photo ... Ahem, perfect Sunday breakfast after waking up to the sound of Bay to Breakers outside my window (read: naked, drunk people attempted to run a marathon). Wow, this post keeps getting more and more X rated...
Thus on to more PG-13 related things, spent the rest of the day cruising around parts of the city and casual book shopping.
Beautiful Sunday. All in all. How was everyone else's weekend?
Jacket: Black leather jacket, H&M Dress: Black and white striped maxi dress, H&M Shoes: Black wedges, Aldo Sunglasses: Tortoise shell sunglasses, Fred Flare
Has anyone else experienced the wonder that is Plants vs. Zombies? I highly recommend this game. Perhaps with a glass of wine. And a spare 7 hours of your life. Because you won't regret it.
Thanks Jamie, for this unhealthy addiction tip. Whatever social life I had before, thanks you as well.
On an unrelated plant or zombie note, I've been slowly finding my way around the eatery spots in my neighborhood. Found the most amazing bagel place this morning and last night, I about died for a gnocchi dish I ordered at a local Italian restaurant. There is no quicker way to my heart than a meal with red wine and some hearty gnocchi pasta. And cream sauce. Or pesto sauce. Or both.
Speaking of which, I'm going back for more. Tonight. Then maybe round two with Plants vs. Zombies.
Happy Saturday, everyone!
Dress: Black tulle ballerina dress, Target Blazer: Tan blazer, Zara Shoes: Nude platform pumps, Aldo Purse: Black leather handbag, Old Navy Necklace: Turquoise necklace, Urban Outfitters
Just spent a lovely weekend feeling like a San Franciscan. Cruised around the panhandle and settled on taking a nap in Duboce Park, had an awesome tuna melt at a diner, walked across the Golden Gate (which I've never done before!) and bundled up in light layers for the winds that inevitably picked up at the beach.
I feel completely relaxed.
On another note, today marks This Time Tomorrow's one year birthday! Exactly a year ago today, I was muddling my way through Blogspot, trying to figure out what I was going to blog about and generally wondering if anyone out there (besides my parents) would ever read this. So much has happened and changed since then and I can't believe sometimes how quickly it has all gone by. I've been lucky enough to do some pretty incredible things because of this blog and I have you, dear readers, to thank for it.
With that said, thank you. Seriously. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.
Jacket: Leather black jacket, H&M Blouse: Slip worn as a shirt, vintage Skirt: Maxi dress worn as a skirt, Target Shoes: Stampede Open Toe Clogs, Jeffrey Campbell via Shopbop
Shopbop is a lovely sponsor of This Time Tomorrow.
There's something about the color of this dress that induces the phrase: "Oh, it feels like spring today." Warm cherry tomato red, which admittedly I don't wear very often, but whenever I do, I feel like I should wear it everyday, all the time. Live in it, even.
As for other matters, thanks for all the San Francisco apartment tips! I really, truly appreciate all your help. I'm still on the hunt, but the neighborhood suggestions help tremendously. I'm no stranger to the SF area, but don't have a good grasp of the "vibe" so to speak of different parts. Instead, I tend to just be sold on the first cute photo of bay windows I see on Craigslist. Probably not the most practical criteria, but hey, I've always wanted bay windows.
So in other words, keep the suggestions coming! Oh, and happy spring, albeit, a bit belated.
Trench: Ruched shoulders trench coat, Zara Dress: Cherry tomato red ruffled dress, Old Navy Shoes: Platform heels, Michael Kors Sunglasses: Tortoise shell sunnies, Fred Flare
So yet again, I'm turning to you dear readers. Krystal needs an apartment in San Francisco. Like by the end of this month. Nine days. NINE DAYS. Eeek. Any neighborhood suggestions/tips/advice/possible roommate leads would be much, much appreciated. Thus far, my co-worker has suggested Mission Dolores as a good fit for my personal style. I would love to live by Golden Gate Park, but am open to most (somewhat nice) areas. I do have to commute everyday to work though, so somewhat painless access to the 101 would be awesome too, but not a complete deal breaker.
Thanks guys! You're the best!
Cardigan: Waterfall drape cardigan, Urban Outfitters Shirt: White V-neck t-shirt, American Apparel Shorts: Trouser shorts, Zara Belt: Vintage leather belt Shoes: Brown leather gladiator heels, Simply Vera
OK, really only two items on the list, so I'm not sure if it qualifies as a legitimate order of business, but here goes nothing:
1.) I'm actually looking forward to going to the movies by myself tonight. Yes. I said it. Has anyone else see the episode of Friends where Rachael learns to eat lunch by herself and enjoys it? That's how I'm feeling right now. Social norms be damned (on a Friday, date night mind you!) I'm looking forward to it! Big popcorn to myself. Big soda to myself. And, my favorite part, the only person I have to consult as to what movie to see, is myself.
Although that last part might be hard to narrow down. It's between "The Runaways" and "Remember Me," which is altogether really surprising as all three main actors in the two movies made for horrible co-stars in a horribly comical movie that shall remain unnamed. (I hope I didn't offend too may "Twilight" fans out there, damn, I said it). In my defense, a.) Robert Pattinson is yummy and I think he might actually be a decent actor (but when you're that yummy, who cares?) and b.) I could use a decent rock and roll, drug addiction story line today.
Tough, tough choice.
2.) I got flowers at work today. Sorry. Just had to gloat a little. They're beautiful orchids and have brightened up our little corner at work tremendously. To the person who sent them, thank you! You've put a big smile on my face and given me bragging rights for the day. Although I don't think you read this blog, so I'll send you a text right now…as I head out the door. To the movies, I go!
Happy Friday, everyone!
Blazer: Navy boyfriend blazer, Charlotte Ronson for JCPenny Bustier: Black zip up bustier, Urban Outfitters Skirt: White lace mini skirt, Frederick's of Hollywood (OLD) Shoes: Stampede Open Toe Clogs, Jeffrey Campbell courtesy of Shopbop
Shopbop is a lovely sponsor of This Time Tomorrow.
