As some of you may remember, a few weeks back, I hopped up north to explore New Hampshire. Given that I'm a longtime West Coaster, I've definitely been missing those long weekend getaways that California just lends itself so well to. I also miss having a car and finding every and any excuse to go on a road trip (but I don't miss paying for car maintenance!). That said, this year, I've been making more of an effort to sneak out of the city late on a Thursday to explore nearby states, all in the spirit of "hitting the road."

Perhaps, also quite fittingly, I've been missing a good excuse to find fresh snowy slopes (I grew up in the Reno/Tahoe area where, at any given time, you had at least six different world-class ski resorts nearby). So when it came time to actually plan out our 4 day trip in New Hampshire, I knew I wanted plenty of snow adventures and the folks over at the tourism board for the state certainly didn't disappoint.

If you've ever been up to New Hampshire or the New England area for that matter, you'll probably nod your head to this next sentiment: It's pristinely beautiful in the winter. I can't tell you how many times when we were driving between our different destinations when a certain vista or a forest clearing revealing a river beyond the road made us gasp (and often, pull off to the side of the road to take photos). The fresh mountain air was exactly what was I craving at the beginning of February and I cannot begin to thank the tourism board enough for setting up some of the most amazing experiences and arranging the most darling bed and breakfast accommodations. Here's a quick rundown of our trip, in case you're looking to book a quick getaway yourself!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK:

The Common Man Roadside: We flew out pretty early from New York so by the time we were on the road and heading north through the state, we were STARVING. Thankfully, we were able to stop off at what is perhaps the nicest roadside stop I've ever been to. All of the vendors' food are locally sourced and made, surprise, surprise, with fresh, natural ingredients. Nora and I split the most delicious Ruben and grilled cheese sandwich.

Tamworth Distilling: When I lived in California, I loved heading out to Napa and Sonoma for a day of wine tasting and leisurely long lunches. So of course, I'm always on board for an afternoon of tastings of all kinds, especially when it comes to niche liqueurs and alcohol. Toward the end of our first day in town, we stopped off at Tamworth Distilling (which fun side note: they were recently featured in The New York Times here), and it was very clear as to why they were featured. Each team member there is passionate about their craft. We tried out a few flights (white whiskey and elderflower infused gin) and I ended up leaving with a bottle of their Sweet Lips, a rye whiskey/apple brandy blend that apparently was a favorite of George Washington himself!

Schilling Beer Company: Located in Littleton, this was perhaps one of my favorite late lunch breaks of the trip. The brewery itself is situated right next to the Ammonoosuc River in a renovated 18th century mill. Entirely family run by a band of brothers and friends (and one dad!), Schilling was a great reminder as to why it's wonderful to support your local small businesses. The food was delicious, all the beers on tap are influenced by traditional German style brewing techniques and it made for the perfect pit stop before snowmobiling later in the day.

Woodstock Inn & Brewery: We stopped here after a day of snowmobiling and I loved how quaint the restaurant and the whole town of Woodstock is. Perfect for a tall IPA (theirs is called the 'Frosty Goggles.')

WHAT TO DO:

This is where things get adventurous!

Wildcat Mountain: This was our first ski resort of the trip and I loved how laid back and unpretentious the property felt. What does that mean specifically? In short, it felt like everyone up on the mountain that day had been going to Wildcat for years, possibly even learned how to ski on that very mountain . Most skiers knew each other's names, the instructors there all seemed to be longtime locals and knew most of the kids. And for someone who's much more comfortable on the bunny hills, I appreciated how many easy to moderate runs were available.

Loon Mountain: We stopped here on our last day in town, which just so happened to be Super Bowl Sunday. Oddly enough, I think that made the day for us. Everyone was out in their Patriots gear (New England pride!) and I stumbled upon one of those amazing, deserted moderate runs that I went down all day. Plus, the view at the top of the gondola ride is stunning -- you can see Mount Washington right across the way.

Northern Extremes Snowmobiling: As someone who has gone ATVing a lot in her life, I've been DYING to go snowmobiling for ages now. Thankfully, the folks at Northern Extremes set us up with a private hour long tour and I loved every minute. Confession: You do end up feeling like you're part of the training montage in Rocky IV, set in Russia. And that's always a win in my book.

Ice Castles in Lincoln: We hopped over the Ice Castles in the evening (which is certainly stunning, as it's completely lit up in different colors) and it was hard not to feel a bit giddy while walking around the property. It's an extremely family-friendly destination, with a lot of slides and tunnels for kids to play around in) but even as someone older, sans kids, it's an awe-inspiring sight and reminded me of how I pictured parts of Narnia when I read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as a little girl.

Lincoln Woods Trail: As part of our last hurrah in town, we decided to go on a short hike through the Lincoln Woods, which is where all these suspension bridge shots are take at. The bridge spans the Pemigewasset River, which is undoubtedly beautiful in the summer, but there's something so breathtaking about seeing a river partially frozen over in the winter. Still and quiet, almost regal looking.

WHERE TO STAY:

The Wentworth: We stayed at The Wentworth for our first night and loved how it was the perfect introduction to New England inn charm. Boasted as a "Grand Hotel" in the European tradition, The Wentworth embodies old world charm and hospitality to a T, with a lovely modern twist (our room had a jacuzzi and I was KICKING myself for not bring a bathing suit on the trip). If you happen to be staying here, definitely make a point to dine in their main dining hall. Dinner here was delicious and the wine menu was certainly extensive.

Adair Country Inn: Idyllic is probably an understatement for this quaint New England inn. We actually arrived here for our second night of the trip and, as luck would have it, it started to snow late that afternoon. Not a crazy, white out storm. But the charming, big flake flurry kind, fitting for a Christmas tale or bedtime story. We had to turn off one of the major highways down a winding driveway and were blown away when we saw the former family home turned inn come into view. Offering many fireside nooks great for curling up with a book, a cozy library pub and sprawling acres worth of land, perfect for snowshoeing if you're up for a little exploring -- the Adair Country Inn is definitely marked on my list as "come back here for a romantic getaway with my Ryan Gosling look alike man friend." 😉

Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain: Situated right next to the White Mountains (and specifically Loon Mountain ski resort), we enjoyed a beautiful suite here for our last evening of the trip. It truly does feel like a basecamp, as it sits at the foot of some of the most breathtaking mountain ranges I've seen, with plenty of trail heads just a stone's throw away.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Moose Knuckles jacket // Coach jacket // Ear muffs (Got them in Montreal and lost them! But here's a similar pair.) // Express beanie (similar style here) // Sorel boots

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

Photos by Nora Varcho (my amazing editorial assistant and travel companion!)

As some of you may recall the other week, I made a quick hop over the pond to Frankfurt with the Lufthansa team. As some of you also then later asked once you saw my Instagram Stories on the return flight home, the Lufthansa team pulled off something I've never seen any airline do: a full-on, produced fashion show at 36,000 feet above ground.

Let me start by backing up a bit. My history with Lufthansa is a sweet one. Back in college, I spent a semester in Turin, Italy and it was my first, true "big girl trip." Without parents. Without close friends. Outside of the US. I remember feeling excited and nervous and anxious and probably a good deal of uncertain at the time, as I boarded my, yep, you guessed Lufthansa flight en route to Frankfurt, Germany before finally landing in Italy. I'm sure I completely glanced past the Frankfurt part (I hadn't been studying German after all), but I do remember we had a several hour layover at the Frankfurt airport, where I would eventually meet up with all the other students in my same program. Slowly, one by one, these other students made their way over to our departure gate to Turin, many bags in tow, and we sat in a collective excited, energy. Meekly smiling at each other at first, exchanging names later, comparing flight times over, until we eventually were laughing and joking, uncertain about what lay ahead and but glad we had each other to go through it all.

And while I didn't actually spend anytime in Frankfurt the city for that particular visit those many years ago, it was an amazing feeling walking through the Frankfurt airport this past time just a few weeks ago and thinking of how I must have felt as that 20 year old college kid. Excited for that first big stamp in my passport, ready to take on a world way outside of Reno, Nevada.

It made me smile as I met up with the Lufthansa team, walking through that vast airport. I could almost picture my younger self somewhere near by, toting far too many bags, searching for her connecting gate.

Luckily for me, this time around, we had about a day to explore the city, which was just enough time to walk around some of the more historic parts of Frankfurt, hunt down some apfelwein (apple wine), some cheese spaetzle and the schnitzel (with the green sauce, of course!). I had heard all about the city's escorts, (see them at https://www.escortdirectory.com/escorts-frankfurt-197/) but decided that wasn't for me. I imagine there is a lot of people who require that sort of company on a trip there though! Naturally, it was just enough to make me really want to head back to Frankfurt. And soon.

The return flight home though is what made this trip, though. As part of their ongoing Flying Lab series, the Lufthansa team has been scheming ways to pull off a fully produced fashion show during a flight, and this particular Fashion Week season, they decided to kick things off. Yours truly got to sit up in business class (a rarity for me when I travel, but man, the Lufthansa business class makes it HARD to go back to any other section of the plane, ever again!) where I got to take in a lot of the backstage madness. The show started with a rundown of flight attendants uniforms over the decades, starting first with the 50s. Can I just say, I think we need to bring back those chic, little capes? Talk about "Catch Me If You Can."

Next, the Lufthansa team tapped renown designer Rubin Singer to add some of his latest spring/summer looks to the lineup, which closed out the show. The deep navy blue dress in a few photos below this was my absolute favorite. Given that Fashion Week was literally starting the day after we arrived in New York, it was a fitting way to kick off the week in style, champagne glasses clinking as we saw the New York skyline come into view.

Huge thanks again to the Lufthansa team for hosting me and hats off to a wonderfully produced show, mid-flight no less! It was such a treat to be immersed in the Lufthansa world and I hope to explore more of Germany very soon!

Hope you guys enjoy these photos -- their team's photographer Gabriel Tamez is a genius! You should check out more of his work here.

Photos by Gabriel Tamez

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

Have you ever had one of those trips that you wish you could just do over? Perhaps it's for the sake of watching that sunset over the ocean just one more time. Or perhaps it's to enjoy another decadent cocktail with your nose in a book. Or maybe you want to run into the waves again, reckless and laughing all the while. That feeling of waking up with salt in your hair and the sun warming your face after a mid-afternoon nap? Yep, you want to do that again, too. Next time around you'll wake up earlier for a sunrise. Next time around you'll check your phone less. Next time around you'll swing longer in that hammock. Next time around, you'll listen to more Leonard Cohen while sitting in the jacuzzi, as a full moon shines down on your face. Next time around you'll savor every minute just a bit tighter and just a bit longer, because you can and you should.

If I could, I would jump at the chance to hop back down to Curtain Bluff down in Antigua. For all the reasons above. And many more.

Hope you enjoy this little photo diary! Huge thanks to the Curtain Bluff team for having me!

OUTFIT DETAILS: Vix swimsuit // Foberini blue dress and white dress // Lola hat

Now that we're in the thick of winter here on the East Coast, it's given me a bit of downtime to actually review and start editing some photos from trips that just haven't seen the light of day here on This Time Tomorrow. Case in point, back in September, hot off the heels of Fashion Week, I hopped over to the Bahamas to stay at the incredibly beautiful Cove resort in Eleuthera. It was the perfect recharge getaway -- lots of sun, sand, sea and sweet cocktails. The kind folks there snagged me one of their ocean-facing cabanas, which made for the perfect excuse to wake up leisurely each morning to the sound of the ocean and fall back asleep, again to the sound of the waves, in the evening.

The property itself is stunning, intimately quiet with just the right amount of adventure a stone's throw away (like cliff jumping, paddle boarding, snorkeling and a dedicated boat that's available for all guests to take out for a spin). Truth be told, I'm tempted to head back for a post-Fashion Week round two. Anyone wanna join? 🙂

I'm a sucker for weekend getaways, especially ones here in my own backyard. And given that I still consider myself pretty new to town, it's given me some great excuses to explore around New York and the East Coast in general.

Just a few weeks ago, the folks over at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge invited me out to experience their recently renovated property, complete with a total branding overhaul and decor revamp, in addition to a little SIA concert the first evening over at Barclay's Center. I had a phenomenal time. The trip over there was extremely easy (just hopped on the A train from the West Fourth Street Station, which took me straight to Jay Street stop nearby) and upon arriving, I was completely smitten with the moodier ambiance they had set in all their rooms. The dark drapes and deep wall color, the industrial yet modern accent touches and the subtle crisp marble throughout the room -- everything felt quintessentially Brooklyn. A nod to the past, with an undercurrent of innovation and modernity. I just love when hotels evoke a feeling of where they're set and the Brooklyn Marriott strikes just that.

Plus, they make a mean Manhattan downstairs in their lounge bar. Perhaps meaner than they make them in Manhattan. Who knew? 😉

Have you guys stayed out at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge? Would love to hear your thoughts! And huge thanks again to the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge for hosting me! I hope to be back very soon!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

If you've been following along for the past few months, you've been seeing a lot of my OtterBox cases, especially while I'm traveling. (You can see my first two installments here and here.) And this time around, we're keeping the bus moving, all the way down to the Big Easy: New Orleans.

Admittedly, I've never been to New Orleans or Louisiana for that matter, which just about blew my mind and everyone else's mind I met while I was hopping around town. It's been a longtime dream of mine to finally check this little spot in the south off my list and one thing is for certain: I'm already itching to go back! Between the jazz and the architecture, the po' boys and the purple drinks, this New York City gal has already been busy planning a return trip for this April (hopefully for Jazz Fest itself!). Oh, I might have also been practicing my souther drawl a la Scarlett O'Hara, but I digress.

Luckily, for my first time in town, I had two of the best tour guides around, Andi of Oui We and my girl, Christine, of My Style Pill (who's basically an honorary New Orleanian because she's visited so many times). We were all invited to town as part of W Hotels' What She Said speaker series, participating in a panel discussion with a few other female entrepreneurs. It was such a delight getting to connect with so many like-minded ladies to talk about what inspires us, how we stay motivated, how we can lift each other up to help change our respective industries for the better. I won't lie -- it's easy to feel discouraged at times in this industry (and a lot of other industries), but I definitely left our panel feeling rejuvenated and inspired.

As for the rest of our trip, I must say, the tourism board for New Orleans spoiled us rotten. We indulged in more than our fair share of DELICIOUS meals, hopped around different neighborhoods for walking tours, listened to live jazz and scared ourselves silly looking up different ghost stories originating from New Orleans. I've included an itinerary recap below, including all restaurants, bars and sightseeing stops we made time for, in case you're planning your very own trip to Nola soon.

And if you happen to be an architecture nerd like me, I cannot recommend simply walking everywhere if you can, especially in the French Quarter. I generally do this whenever I visit somewhere new -- I'll usually reserve my last morning in town to wake up super early, grab my DSLR and phone to snap the early morning light around town. I managed to snag the new iPhone 7 before heading out of town so, naturally, I was excited to try out the new camera and my new floral OtterBox case to boot!

And while we're on the topic, it goes without saying, but I really rely on my iPhone while I'm traveling and a lot of you guys have asked what apps I rely on while I'm out of town, which to be honest, there's an embarrassing amount. I've included my go-tos in my guide below, so be sure to keep reading!

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK: (Because, let's face it, you can eat REALLY WELL in Nola)

Cavan: This was likely one of my favorite meals of the trip. Cavan serves up very traditional southern American comfort food. Think hush puppies. Grits. And the most delicious gumbo I've ever had. But the cherry on top? It's nestled right next to the Garden District (where you'll see some incredible homes!) in a gorgeous two-story Victorian home. The decor is true to the New Orleanian flare: eclectic and classically vintage (all the chairs in the restaurant are tufted dusty pink velvet), plus, as we found out after leaving that night, it's apparently haunted!

Peche: Having just been award not one, but two James Beard Foundation Awards for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef, Andi was most excited to share Peche with us. And the seafood certainly didn't disappoint. I highly recommend the fried bread with sea salt, the smoked tuna dip, the smothered catfish and don't forget a side of the fried brussels sprouts!

Parkway Tavern: Two words. Poor Boys. Or one word, depending if you spell it po'boy. 🙂 Andi and Christine raved about the fried shrimp po'boy, so I went with that. Couple with a local brew (I snagged an Andigator), it was the perfect southern lunch!

Cafe du Monde: We swung by here for our obligatory beignet breakfast. Is there anything better than a beignet breakfast? I think not, and Cafe du Monde's lovely outdoor patio seating made for just the warm November morning brunch spot we were looking for. Also highly recommend getting a cup of coffee, but make sure to ask for the chicory kind!

SoBou: Located in the W Hotel in the French Quarter, SoBou (which stands for south of Bourbon) made for a no-brainer first dinner spot choice and I love how it set the tone for the rest of our meals down south. Their menu is the perfect blend of modern meets traditional southern style cooking, and we spent a long time picking out multiple plates that we all wanted to split. Don't miss the Cochon de Lait Cuban sandwich (to die for!) and the Chef's Gumbo (they serve it over mashed potatoes, which I'm tempted to make myself this weekend!).

St. Roch Market: We stopped by here after our walking tour of the Treme district and for those of you from the Bay Area, it reminded me a lot of San Francisco's Ferry Building. A high-ceiling, open air market with lots of little artisan vendor booths and a common seating area in the middle. We split a few things here, namely gumbo (surprise, surprise!), rice and beans (so simple, yet so delicious!) and some shrimp and grits (YUM!). Man, just writing this section out has made me SO HUNGRY.

Lafitte's: So, understandably, no visit to New Orleans would be complete without two things. An obligatory stop off at Bourbon Street (which we did briefly just to experience it) and having an infamous Voodoo Daiquiri, or as the locals call, a "Purple Drink." Side note: If you want to sound like you know what you're doing, ask for a "Purple" when ordering. The bartender will appreciate it. Each night before heading out, we stopped off at Lafitte's for our round of purples, which we promptly took in to-go cups out to the street (I don't think I'll ever quite get used to their open container policy strolling around town with a drink in hand, but it sure was fun!). If you're in town, I absolutely loved Lafitte's. Set up in what used to be an old blacksmith's shop, it's one of the oldest, continuously running bars in America (meaning at no point as it ever shut down, apparently even during Hurricane Katrina). There's no electric lighting in the place either, which means lots of candlelight and if you head there in the evening, there's a woman who comes EVERY night to play the piano and take song requests.

WHAT TO DO:

Walking tours: You all know me. I love to walk everywhere in a new place, if I can. And New Orleans just happens to be the perfect walking town, especially in November. The weather was just right, a tad unseasonably warm according to locals, but we were content in summer dresses during the day and light jackets at night. We chocked up two walking tours while in town, but I think I definitely would love to do more the next time I return. It's a great way to learn the history of certain buildings and gives a great excuse to peer into little alleyways that pop up along the way. Plus, each tour guide gives their own unique local perspective on a neighborhood, which I always find so fun. We went through the Treme District, America's oldest African American neighborhood as well as the birthplace of jazz, and later we went through the Garden District, a well-preserved neighborhood full of antebellum mansions where plenty of celebrities live (like Sandra Bullock and Eli and Peyton Manning) as well as famous writers of years past (Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams).

Ghost tours: I've mentioned this before here on the blog, but I love a good ghost story. I mentioned it recently on my trip down to Charleston and unsurprisingly, New Orleans has a lot of that same history, that lends itself well to ghosts and the supernatural. We didn't actually have time to sneak in a true ghost tour, but if you walk around town enough and have a local with you, it's fascinating to just Google the history and folklore behind certain buildings as you pass them.

The one that sent chills down my spine though? Hands down that would have to be the LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter. In the early 1800s, Delphine LaLaurie, a notable New Orleanian socialite became infamous as it was found out by the local townspeople she had been brutally torturing, maiming and killing her slaves, all locked and chained away in the slaves' quarters. Once the authorities found out what she had done, she was chased out of town and likely fled back to Paris. One recounting in particular details a young slave girl (likely 12) who jumped out of the third story window to her death to flee punishment from Madame LaLaurie. Since then, the window pane has been replaced time and time again, only for it to shatter unexpectedly each time. The window is now cemented over, which you can see from the street when passing it (I've included a photo here, look for the dark grey building) and all other tenants since then have moved out almost over night after only a short time staying in the building. The last tenant? Nicolas Cage himself, who, like others before him, moved out almost immediately after moving in, citing strange disturbances that his family couldn't explain.

For all my American Horror Story fans, if the storyline sounds familiar, it's because Kathy Bates played Madame LaLaurie in the "Coven" season. Try walking past the mansion at night. It will chill you to the bone.

Preservation Hall: If you're into jazz, like me, make sure you reserve tickets for a performance at Preservation Hall. The Preservation Hall Band is a mainstay in New Orleanian culture and you'll often see a long line out in front of the hall. Get there early, buy your tickets in advance if you can and snag a purple drink before heading in (they don't serve alcohol in the hall itself). Then, get ready to tap your feet and sing! Some of the most incredibly talented musicians around.

The Shops at Canal Place: A perfect mid-afternoon pick me up. We swung by here to enjoy a few cocktails at the Green Bar and shop around, namely at Saks, Aveda, Mignon Faget, Jeantherapy and Rhino Gallery (a great gallery to see local art!).

Voodoo shops: As you might guess, there are a lot of voodoo shops around town. We stopped into Island of Salvation to pick up a few energy candles and peruse through the artwork. You can get readings done here (just make sure to schedule in advance).

UAL: We stopped in here on our last day and I'm so glad we did. I managed to snag the Olympia Le-Tan clutch you see in the photos here at a fraction of the retail price. Lots of other great designer pieces to be had, all seriously discounted.

Marie Laveau's grave: Many folks will tell you to head to Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau's grave, namely so you can perform a little ritual that has been done for many years since her death. First, you bring a small bottle of rum as an offering that you place on top of her grave and, using red lipstick, draw three red X's on the tombstone, while making a wish. Legend has it that she will grant you your wish. But what legend doesn't tell you, is that the cemetery she's buried in actually stopped allowing folks in, because of the damage it was causing to her grave and to others. If you want access to the cemetery, you need to purchase tickets for a specific tour group.

WHERE TO STAY

W Hotel in the French Quarter: Given the type of sightseeing we were doing for most of the trip, we couldn't have asked for a better hotel and location. Situated in the French Quarter, the W was a stones throw from all the restaurants we were dying to check out, boutique shops and, of course, the iconic French Quarter architecture didn't disappoint. Huge thanks to their team for hosting us -- we had a blast and we hope to be back very soon!

GO-TO APPS

For photo editing: I rely on slew of these, so take a deep breath! VSCO, FaceTune, Snapseed, TouchReTouch (a new favorite!) and for a consistent theme edit, I always apply the iPhone filter "Fade" to my images to give them a nice desaturated, high contrast look. Also, I live and breathe by Planoly. If you don't have it yet, download it now. It's been amazing to plan out my Instagram feed this way.

For tunes: I love creating new playlists when I'm in a new city, especially ones that are so lively and known for their music like New Orleans is. If you happen to use Spotify, you can check out my New Orleans Beats playlists here (complete with Louis Armstrong, the Preservation Hall Band and Ella Fitzgerald)!

For everything else: Luckily, the tourism board for New Orleans prepared an amazing itinerary for us but that didn't mean we weren't also spying Yelp for little fun bars and restaurants to duck into in between our stops. I also recently discovered the app Fever, which populates events in your area -- think of it as a Time Out New York, that generates a fun weekend list tailored to where you are. Venmo is amazing for splitting tabs easily (which is inevitable when you travel with friends). If you are like me, and your phone is full of files and photos and whatever else, then you might also want a file manager for iOS devices. I don't currently have one, but I have been researching the best ones and the Filza Download from kubadownload.com appears to be the most advanced one available.

Have you guys been to New Orleans? Any recs?

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

Photos of me by Christine Cameron and Andi Eaton

Back in college, I studied abroad for a semester in northern Italy -- Turin to be exact. It was the winter of 2006 (wow, I just dated myself!) and the Winter Olympics were in full swing in our pocket of the Piedmont region, nestled next to the Alps. In the months leading up to the Opening Ceremony, I remember walking around the many piazzas in town, admiring the busy, and at times, frantic construction. Men and women rushing around to make the city camera-ready for the world to see. Stages and podiums. Impressive billboards and stadium seating. But as the big date got closer and closer, I started to wonder, "When are they going to finish all of this?" thinking to myself they were cutting it awfully close.

At the time, we lived above the cutest pizzeria, gelateria and butcher shop. I'd often pop into the butcher shop, even if I wasn't buying anything, because the owner loved speaking Italian with me, as long as I spoke a little English with him. He and I would often discuss when construction would be finished for the Olympics and his response was always the same, "Domani, domani," which literally translates to, "tomorrow, tomorrow." And I couldn't help but smile each time. Of course, it's a somewhat self-deprecating joke Italians have about themselves, that being, they would much rather enjoy the day then rush things along. It was a little motto I fully embraced for my time in Italy -- I let go of my American tendencies to cram as much as possible into a day, and instead, focused on enjoying little pleasures. A ripe tomato. A sunny bench in a piazza. Hearing the church bells ring throughout town.

So when our Jewel of the Seas docked in Naples, I was excited to embrace this way of life all over again, particularly here along the Amalfi Coast, offering some of the most beautiful seaside views in the world. During my time studying abroad back in college, I hadn't made it further south than Rome, so finding myself in ol' Napoli was a treat as we hopped onto a bus to take us straight to Positano, nicknamed quite fittingly, "the jewel of the Amalfi Coast."

If you've never been to Positano, I cannot recommend it enough. It's quintessential Italy -- quaint and charming -- but it has this really beautiful untouched feeling to it. As if time has no effect here. Here you go shopping each day for just the day's meals ahead at your local vendors. Here you go talk to your neighbors right across the way, by opening your window and cooing "Ciao!" Here you go enjoy a glass (or a bottle!) of wine on a warm afternoon, with nothing on your agenda but a book. Here you go enjoy the view because it would be a shame not to. Here you talk with your hands. Like really talk with your hands.

And it's every bit of a postcard town as you would imagine. Darling, pastel homes, stacked ever so neatly on seaside cliffs. Sparkling, enticing waters with tanned swimmers splashing around. Cheery umbrellas peppering the rocky beaches. Sweeping terraces on every building. Narrow, winding roads that leave you wondering what's around the next bend. It's a sleepy little dream town -- one that I hope to visit again very soon!

Plus, as luck would have it, I learned my new favorite Italian motto here from our tour guide -- "Piano, piano," -- which literally translates to "slowly, slowly." So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to start my Monday with an Italian frame of mind. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these little postcards from Positano and stay tuned for more recap posts from my cruise with Royal Caribbean!

OUTFIT DETAILS: Suno dress (from a few seasons ago, but I LOVE this low back dress here) // M. Gemi sandals (sold out, similar style here) // Celine sunglasses // Bali woven crossbody bag gift from my friend Heather

Photos by Angie Silvy

For those of you who have followed This Time Tomorrow for a while now, you know I've gone on a handful of cruises and each time, I walk away bit renewed and surprised, in some of the best ways possible. It's not that I don't consider myself a cruiser, because I think at this point, it's safe to say, I love being out on the open waters -- I'm a Pisces after all. It's just that each experience is a little different, depending on the company, the crew and obviously, the destinations along the way.

And while my previous cruises with Princess and Celebrity (both here and here respectively), left me relaxed and tanned (no complaints from this girl!), this past cruise with Royal Caribbean aboard their Jewel of the Seas, truly spoke to my wanderlust spirit. At my core, I'm a very curious person and my friends tease me often that if left to my own devices, I'd be a nomad -- a global citizen of the world, calling no particular place home. Of course, I do call a particular place home and I'm happy to do so -- my heart soars each and every time I fly back into JFK and I see that skyline, knowing that my friends and loved ones are waiting for me. It's an amazing thing to have a place to call home -- one that many people don't have the luxury of saying they have. It grounds you, it gives you a sense of belonging and it gives you perspective about your place in the world when you do venture out into it.

As for this past time I ventured out? My curiosity was not disappointed. We sailed to three countries, each more distinct and culturally unique than the last: Italy, Greece and Turkey. We explored. We spoke languages we didn't know how to speak. We tasted local cuisines. We danced with villagers. We witnessed sunsets in amazing pockets of the world. We were left speechless after sunrises over new-to-us waters. We revered in our similarities with strangers we met and similarly, we celebrated our differences. And we loved every minute of it.

And perhaps most important of all: This past cruise with Royal Caribbean was not only a feast for the senses, but it was a beautiful reminder for me, as to why I love traveling so much, which is perhaps better summed up in a quote I often turn to by Lisa St. Aubin de Teran:

"Traveling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go. This is my station."

I'll be sharing each stop of our cruise for the next few days, so I do hope you'll stay along for the ride! In the meantime, my good friend Angie and I snapped these photos on our first sailing day, which is always the perfect excuse for a little sunset champagne toast, don't you think?

OUTFIT DETAILS: St. Roche dress (sold out, similar style here) // M. Gemi sandals (sold out, similar style here) // Celine sunglasses // Movado watch // Miansai bracelet

Photos by Angie Silvy 

Let's play everyone's favorite game: "Tell Me About the Last Time You Dropped Your Phone." I'll go first.

If you recall, I was in Paris back in April for the Paris Marathon, visiting the city after what seemed like years, with my mom. We managed to snag a room at the Marriott right on the Champs-Élysées, conveniently located next to the Metro and, as luck would have it, the marathon start line. It was going to be a week of museum hopping, macaron eating, boutique shopping mother/daughter fun.

Until I dropped my phone that is.

It happened as we were heading downstairs at the Metro station, ducking out of a sudden downpour (so very Paris, right?). I was glancing down at our Google Maps instructions, taking note of what stop we were to take next and BAM. I tripped, lost and regained my balance, but not before my phone fell down several stairs, face down on the bottom level. My mom and I both approached the phone like a wounded bird. "Is it ok?" "Do you think it can fly again?" "Does Twitter still work on it?"

Naturally, I was too afraid to do the dirty deed. So I had my mom flip the phone over, thereby confirming my worst travel nightmare: IT WAS SHATTERED. And I'm not talking about a cracked screen here. I'm talking obliterated into pieces. I knew immediately that it would be a big job for the Cell Phone Repair Bridgewater shop, that's if it could even be repaired. The camera lens was dangling off to the side, I immediately cut my finger on shards of the broken screen, and to top things off, it was doing this crazy flashing meltdown straight out of the Poltergeist. As for me? I was crying. Yep, the silly American tourist crying over her broken phone in Paris. All that was missing was a sad violinist playing nearby. On reflection, I should have had a phone case on my phone and it was very silly for me not to have one. I remember a couple of weeks before our trip, a friend was showing me a personalized phone case (Personalisierte Handyhülle as they'd say in German!), that she had made. It looked beautiful and it protected her phone really well. I remember that after seeing her case, I was going to order one for myself. However, I completely forgot! I'm such a fool!

So what did we do? Thankfully my mom was there, who, naturally, stepped into mom mode. She looked up the closest Apple store on her phone (at the Louvre, who knew!?) and insisted that I buy a better phone case for myself or look online on a site like Mobile Mob for a trendy new case. I told her that I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a new case so we didn't bother visiting the Apple store in the end. Actually, the way she suggested it went more like this:

Mom: "You need one of those cases, you know, the ones that are named after a water animal. Seals? Dolphins...?"

Me: "Oh, you mean OtterBox."

Mom: "YES! A cute little OtterBox!"

Fast forward a very uncomfortable me explaining my situation to the folks at the Apple store in broken French, until eventually getting a new phone with said OtterBox and I haven't turned back since. I even went as far as adding the shatterproof screen to it (side note: totally worth it) and I can't imagine leaving home without it.

So needless to say, when OtterBox approached me about working together as their brand ambassador, particularly in relation to my travels, I couldn't imagine a better fit. Especially when you consider how much we depend on our phones while traveling alone -- between taking photos, to checking flight times and reservation confirmation emails, to using Google Translate (such a godsend) and, of course, using far too many social media apps -- our phones are right up there with our passports -- they're indispensable. And with my recent 10-day Mediterranean cruise with Royal Caribbean, I couldn't imagine a better way to test out their latest travel accessory line: the uniVERSE case system.

As you likely already spied on Instagram, we bounced around to three different countries for the cruise: Italy, Greece and Turkey. And while I had my DSLR handy at all times and even my photographer friend, Angie Silvy by my side, I knew I was going to rely on my phone A TON throughout the day for quick photos and Instagram/Snapchat purposes. So I came prepared with a few of their key travel pieces, that made all the difference throughout the day: a portable attachable charger, a wallet clip that attaches directly to the back of the phone and several clip on camera lenses. Coupled with the fact the case itself is pretty resilient when dropped on centuries-old marble tiles among the ruins of Ephesus and Athens, you could say I was feeling pretty prepared, and unlike that girl crying in the Paris Metro, nothing was going to slow me down.

Your turn to spill -- when was the last time you REALLY dropped your phone? And on a related note, have you guys tried out OtterBox yet? 🙂

Everything here in this post, unless it has my iPhone in it, was snapped with my iPhone to illustrate how much I rely on it while traveling. And be sure to stay tuned -- this is just a sampling of photos from my cruise with Royal Caribbean! More to come soon!

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

All photos of my iPhone are by Angie Silvy // All other shots are from my iPhone

As a very typical Pisces, sometimes I wonder why I don't live on a tropical island. Why's that you ask? Every time I visit one, like this past visit to St. Lucia in the Caribbean with the Heidi Klein team, I'm drawn to the water. Swimming, diving, cliff jumping, rope swinging. You name it. I'll find a way to splash around. Even if that means climbing into a volcanic run off waterfall. Yep. That happened. And I loved every minute of it.

You might have spied on Instagram all said activities just this last month (wow, time has flown since then!) all thanks to the luxury swimwear line, Heidi Klein. As a newcomer to the brand, I was so excited to spend a few days literally in paradise not just with their amazing PR guru Samantha (in a few of the photos here), but with designer Heidi Gosman herself (also in a few of these photos), to really experience the collection first hand. To say the two of them are both gracious and fun-loving would be a severe understatement -- and those Brits certainly showed our slightly jetlagged team of bloggers a beautiful time.

For starters? We checked into Capella at Marigot Bay as our home away from home, a breathtaking resort nestled next to it's own personal harbor and the rolling green hills of St. Lucia itself. Side note: many of us agreed that upon driving to the resort, we felt transported to what can only be described as Jurassic Park. I'd be lying if there wasn't a small part of me that wished a pterodactyl would fly over ahead. But I digress.

If you're planning a stay in St. Lucia, I cannot recommend Capella at Marigot Bay enough. Each room feels like it's own private villa -- with a balcony overlooking the water. I woke up each morning to tropical birds cooing me away and the grounds are stunning. It's like living in your own private jungle oasis, where there happens to be an infinity pool and a renown sushi bar nearby. What's not to love?

As for our time there? Well this is where all my favorite water and adventure activities come in. We hopped on and off boats, went hiking out to Sapphire Falls in nearby Soufriere, splashed around in the many pools on property, swung on rope swings and generally put our Heidi Klein gear to the test. As someone who loves being able to play in my swimwear, not just lounge around, I'm happy to report all of Heidi Klein's pieces not only look and feel amazing on, but I can just as easily see myself surfing in them (which I hope to do soon!).

But enough of my rambling, I'll let the photos do the talking. Plus, I've rounded up a few of my favorite Heidi Klein pieces at the end, in case you're planning a tropical getaway once we start hunkering down into winter. I don't know about you, but this Pisces is already thinking of her next getaway in Heidi Klein -- Bali, perhaps?

Huge thanks again to the Heidi Klein team for hosting us -- I know Jenny Ong, Lisa, Jenny Tsang and I had a wonderful time! And another huge thanks to the Capella at Marigot Bay team for welcoming us with open arms. I wish I could wake up at this resort every morning!

Photos by Jesse and James of Wavemaker Photography

If I had to describe Ireland, I'd probably fail. Miserably. Which is what I'm about to do, starting...now. Of course, the reason for this mainly comes back to the feeling I had while I was driving around the northern parts along the coast. Simply put: Ireland doesn't feel real.

Imagine any fairy tale, any princess attempting to break a spell, any knight on a nearly impossible mission, any forlorn kingdom under enchantment and I promise you, you can't shake this feeling that every last one must have been set in Ireland. (It also made me realize why it's the perfect location for filming Game of Thrones, but I digress). There's a lonely type of beauty everywhere you look -- one with sweeping coastlines, fierce winds that shake you to your bones, rolling green hills as far as the eye can see, with the occasional farming town popping up along the way.

On multiple occasions, I would just pull off to the side of the road and sit. Letting the ocean air rush past me, looking to my left (and seeing no one) and looking to my right (and seeing no one), often thinking of one of my favorite James Joyce quotes: "Shut your eyes and see." Which, truth be told, I did often on this trip. And given that I drove most of this trip completely solo, it was the perfect chance to get inside my own head and outside of it, too. Where Italy, only a few days prior, had been this chorus-like cacophony of sounds and people and crowds and church bells -- a sensory overload, if you will -- Ireland was the welcomed opposite. Quite and austere. Brooding and serious. Pensive and slightly melancholy (in a really beautiful way, of course!).

If you recall from earlier this summer, I hopped over to Ireland after my stint in Italy for my good friends' wedding in Carrickfergus. This trip marked my first visit ever to the country and I was really looking forward to getting lost. Each day was a bit of an adventure, one part research, two parts flying by the seat of my pants. Here's a little run down of the trip, including a full itinerary below. Hope you enjoy!

BEFORE YOU GO: Let's get a little housekeeping out of the way, shall we? I, for one, am all for a little spontaneity in life, but there were a few things I wish I had known or prepared for before landing in Dublin.

1. While there are many ways to see and experience Ireland, I cannot recommend renting a car enough. But there's a catch. If you don't know how to drive a stick shift (like me!), check with your rental car service to make sure they have enough automatic vehicles on the lot to loan out. The day I checked in they literally had one automatic left on property, which meant the silly American girl was in luck! If you're just staying in Dublin, then make sure you've got a Dublin train map or things can get a little confusing. Silly American girl remember!
2. Speaking of driving, Ireland, like the rest of the UK, drives on the left side of the road. Seems relatively easy enough at first, right? WRONG. Especially if you happen to be jetlagged still from your jaunt in Italy AND you happen to be alone in the car, with no one to scream at you, "Tight left, wide right!" Let's just say, I had a few close calls.
3. If you're planning on road tripping it through the country, be prepared to have two types of money on you. Pounds for Northern Ireland. Euro for the Republic of Ireland. You will get a funny look from bartenders if you attempt to pay with the wrong currency.
4. But stinkeyes from bartenders aside, everyone in Ireland is absolutely lovely. You just may have a hard time understanding them. At first, I was afraid I would offend someone if I asked them to repeat themselves because of our differing accents, only to realize, they had to ask me multiple times to repeat myself. Potat-oh, pot-ah-to.
5. And speaking of speaking (ha!), see if you can find the Gaelic radio stations while you're driving. It's really beautiful to listen to.

THE ITINERARY:

Flew into Dublin from Rome: Rented my trusty steed (a tiny little European car -- I can't remember the make of it now!).

Drove from Dublin to Carrickfergus: About a two hour drive, almost killed myself trying to remember which side of the road to stay on. Note to self: Take a nap first after a long flight before attempting this again.

Carrickfergus: My good friends, Cody and Bronagh, were getting married in Carrickfergus, her hometown, and I took the opportunity to bounce around this cute little coastal area during my downtime. The countryside is just so quaint here -- sheep literally everywhere! Added bonus: I booked a castle for my stay -- a haunted one at that!

Drove from Carrickfergus toward Letterkenny: Stopped at Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-A-Rede Bridge along the way, both definitely worth a few hours visit for the views! I also wanted to stop off at Dunluce Castle, which is apparently really close to the Carrick-A-Rede Bridge and is said to have inspired C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia, but I ran out of daylight, unfortunately.

Letterkenny: The town itself is cute, but it's more the surrounding park areas that I was attracted to. I drove over to Glenveagh National Park, stopping off at a few castle ruins along the way, before finally settling on Glenveagh Castle (fitting, right?). If you happen to be planning a trip through the area, I cannot recommend this castle enough. Granted, you'll definitely get your fill of castles in Ireland, but this one definitely impressed me. Built in the 19th century, it's been completely renovated multiple times and it's had the likes of Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe all stay on property at one time or another. Plus, the surrounding garden area makes you feel like you're roaming around your own secret garden.

Letterkenny to Galway: Drove along the Wild Atlantic Way, which is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. As a longtime fan of Highway 1 in California, I have to say the views along this drive are pretty unbeatable. I would drive stretches of miles (er, kilometers), without seeing another car or person, then suddenly a lonely lighthouse, then nothing again but sea and cliffs and a far off island in the distance. You really do feel like you're driving through a dream. Before stopping in Galway for the evening, I headed straight to the Cliffs of Moher. As someone who loves National Parks and dizzying heights of all kinds, I loved the Cliffs of Moher -- it's a long walking path stretched alongside these dramatic seaside cliffs, many spots of which, have little or no railing or barrier. You can hear the ocean crashing below, the sea spray almost kissing your face, and just for a moment, you think you can get a bit closer to the end, until a gust of wind thinks otherwise. Of course, the view is incredible and for those who like to scare themselves a bit, you can crawl up to the end of a few rock slab overhangs to peek over the side. Just make sure you crawl on your stomach -- you'll lose your balance and fall otherwise. Tempted to see the Cliffs of Moher for yourself? Check out dublintourcompany.com to book a tour.

Galway: One of the larger towns I visited during this trip, Galway was definitely a blast. It's such an amazing place and if I ever come back, I think I'll stay in somewhere like the twelve hotel galway since it looked amazing! Known as a college town with a bustling nightlife, I met up with the wedding crew for one night of drinking and dancing through the cobblestone streets. Let's just say that it was a night that I won't forget anytime soon. It turns out that we weren't the only people having a good time that evening, lots of other drinkers had also decided to hit the town. Thinking about it, most of them looked too young to be drinking, maybe they had decided to look for a fake id maker that would help them to buy a drink in the best places? Or maybe they just looked young for their age? I didn't really think too much about it at the time, because I was too busy having a lot of fun with the wedding crew on the streets. Hint: Look for a place called The Front Door.

Galway to Dublin: I booked it across the country so I could have as much time as possible in Dublin. And for my 24 hours there, I think I made the most of it! Stopped off at Trinity College to see the campus and the Book of Kells, swung by St. Patrick's Cathedral and popped into Dublin's oldest pub, The Brazen Head, for a pint of the black stuff, Guinness.

THE PACKING LIST: Just as you might imagine, Ireland can get downright cold, blustery with a very good chance of sudden downpours (this happened to me at Giant's Causeway, sans umbrella or poncho!). For this portion of the trip, I relied on a few great basics from my friends at Taylor Stitch. My favorites included this trench, this dress and this men's plaid jacket (which looks like it's sold out now, but lots of other goodies here). If you decide to go with a men's item, for reference, I ordered the Small and I'm 5'5". Oh, and bring Hunter wellies with you EVERYWHERE YOU GO. There will be mud. You will need to be prepared for it.

And there you have it! That wraps up my first trip (but hopefully not last!) to Ireland. Have you guys been before? Where did you go?

There's a scene in Roman Holiday where Princess Ann first meets Joe Bradley, the reporter dying to conduct a secret interview with the Princess. Both think they're outsmarting the other person, pretending to be what they're not.

Joe: Live dangerously. Take the whole day off.

Princess Ann: I could do some of the things I've always wanted to do.

Joe: Like what?

Princess Ann: Oh, you can't imagine. I'd do just whatever I liked all day long.

Joe: You mean things like having your hair cut, eating gelato...

Princess Ann: Yes, and I'd sit at a sidewalk cafe and look in shop windows. Walk in the rain, have fun and maybe some excitement. Doesn't seem much to you, does it?

While I've only been to Rome a handful of times (3 to be exact), I love this feeling that comes over me every time I find myself walking around the main city center. It's a sprawling, bustling, winding city and no matter how many times I think I have my wits about me, there's another street that I haven't noticed before. Another gelato shop right around the corner. Another store owner waving me into her boutique to oggle vintage jewelry of years past. I feel like sprinting everywhere and leisurely walking everywhere, all at the same time.

My last visit to Rome this past July was perhaps my favorite visit to date -- as I strolled around the city largely by myself, much like say Princess Ann might have done (had she not run into Joe, of course!). Each day was a new excuse to get lost, look into curious windows, daydream about what apartment window would be mine and eat more than my fair share of nocciola gelato. And while I didn't cut my hair on this trip, it felt largely liberating, as I imagine it did for Audrey Hepburn's character to go solo through the streets of Rome. The crowning glory, of course, came when a few seemingly lost tourists (German, if I had to guess based on the accent), asked me in their best broken Italian where the Spanish steps were. I smiled and gave them directions in my best Italian. Perhaps they could tell immediately that I wasn't necessarily Italian, but I love that they gave me reason to pretend (even just for a little bit like Princess Ann).

My two big recommendations for Rome right now? Make sure you visit the restaurant Osteria Margutta, near the Spanish Steps (a favorite of Woody Allen and Fellini alike!) and Castel Sant'Angelo (for a breathtaking view of St. Peter's just a stone's throw a way).

"Venice, it's temples and palaces, did seem like fabrics of enchantment piled to heaven." ~ Shelley

It's a funny thing, carrying two suitcases through Venice. Of course, there's the obstacle of cobblestone streets, much like any other, older European city. And of course, there's the onslaught of gondoliers at every corner, who offer you a great ride discount, but no hand to help you while you're toting more than your own body weight in luggage. And of course, there's the fact every 50 feet or so, there's another canal bridge, with no ramp, but uneven steps to lug each bag up and then down the other side.

That's when it hits you the hardest. Venice is a city of impracticalities. Winding labyrinth streets that make no logical sense. A weaving river that divides the city in perplexing ways. The uncanny ability to lose all track of time, until you find yourself randomly in the Piazza San Marco with pigeons begging you to feed them and no recollection of how you got there. It's like finding yourself in the most bizarre half dream -- a mad hatter world of alleyways that seem to lead nowhere and everywhere, where men rowing boats are akin to sea sirens, their song slowly fading in and out as they turn the next bend, and where the promise of romance always seems to be waiting at the next cafe.

And you know what? It's absolutely intoxicating.

Venice, you are a city of many contradicting beauties -- and I hope to return to you often, if only to get lost in your grips again.

Hope you enjoy these snaps of my recent visit! Have you guys been to Venice? What did you think?

Although I've lived in New York now for over a year (can you believe that?!) I still feel very much the tourist while in town. And given that everyone has a different definition as to when you become a true New Yorker, sometimes I think I'm destined to always feel "new in town."

And I'm actually not upset about that. At all. In fact, I hope I never lose this feeling of awe and wonder when I'm walking around the city, a feeling I'm sure doesn't go away even when you earn that New Yorker badge, but you catch my drift. It's the curiosity that leads you to opt walking home instead of taking the subway on a crisp, end of summer day, just to see a few new-to-you street corners. It's the serendipitous discovery of a favorite new coffee shop, in a neighborhood far from your own. It's that feeling you get when you fly into JFK on just the right route that brings you over the city, with Central Park down below looking like a toy garden.

Of course, one of my most often asked questions as simultaneous new New Yorker and tourist, is where in the city to stay. In recent years when I lived in California and visited the city often, I stayed with friends whenever possible, with hotel stays being an infrequent occurrence. Now, having lived here, I'm starting to collect my little fair share of staycation recommendations, either from traveling friends or experiencing them myself first hand.

Rewind a few short weeks ago, right before the NYFW madness hit, and the folks over at The Smyth in TriBeCa invited me out for a quick weekend getaway. At the time, I had just returned from a few other far-flung trips so the idea of relaxing in hotel robes in a new part of town sounded exactly like what I needed. While TriBeCa isn't far from my West Village stomping grounds, it's amazing how new a neighborhood can feel once you start walking around looking for dinner spots and morning coffee. Long story short -- I need to get my butt to TriBeCa more often! It's too charming not to!

As far as The Smyth goes, we checked into a beautiful suite with a sweeping balcony outside, just in time to see one of those late summer sunsets that burn the sky. You know the kind. After enjoying a few drinks out on our balcony, we hopped to dinner nearby at Locande Verde, opting for an outdoor patio spot to really take in the evening air. To wrap up the evening, we swapped out our evening clothes for fuzzy robes and enjoyed a bottle out on our balcony, enjoying some Sinatra ("Start spreading the news...").

All in all, it was the perfect little routine mix-up to help me feel energized before Fashion Week. I highly recommend checking out The Smyth for your next visit to New York -- the decor is on point and Little Park, the corner restaurant downstairs, makes a mean breakfast.

Photos by Ashley Batz

For years now, my friends have been encouraging me to go visit the South, specifically Charleston, South Carolina (with New Orleans as a close follow -- more to come on that later!). And ever since moving to the East Coast, it's been high on my travel list. Scratch that actually -- make that extremely high on my travel list.

Yet, funny enough -- it's evaded me. Either work was just too busy or there was something in New York calling my name, there really hasn't been a perfect time to go visit. Until a few weeks ago that is.

Let's just say a certain Tinder date turned into something more serious and suddenly, we happened to be planning a Charleston getaway for two, train ride from New York and all. While I'll save the Tinder date story for another day (gotta keep you guessing!), here's a rundown of where we stayed, what we ate/drank and what we did while in the Holy City.

Where to Eat/Drink:

You don't need me to tell you, Charleston is a BIG foodie town. Admittedly, I might have cheated and scoped out Grace's list here (the girl knows her Charleston hot spots!).  Here were our favorites:

Husk: So let's just get this guy out of the way. Husk is a tad bit overrated, but for good reason. The large farmhouse setup is so quintessentially Charleston that it made for the perfect late Southern lunch -- complete with a wrap around porch situation. It had me at hello, before we even TRIED the food. The wait was a bit crazy, but the hush puppies and boiled peanuts (pronounced "bowwwled" peanuts) are completely worth it.

Cru Cafe: This lunch spot was off the beaten path for us (and actually didn't come from any of my recommended lists, but my fella's!). I cannot recommend the fried green tomatoes enough. They will forever haunt my dreams.

Five Church: We stumbled upon this spot right off the main market drag before heading to a Ghost Tour (more to come on that!) and I'm so glad we did! Situated in an old renovated church, the main dining area alone is breathtaking. The high vaulted ceilings and stained glass harken of centuries gone by, while the modern art on the wall and passages from "The Art of War" written over head bring you back to 2016. The tuna tartare and the wasabi crusted salmon are absolutely delicious.

Henry's House: Laid back and perhaps a bit touristy -- great spot for jazz, a sazerac and rooftop conversation. What more do you need?

Rooftop bar at the Vendue: Given that most of the spots we frequented had a very historic southern vibe to them (in both service and architecture) I'm glad we mixed things up a bit at the Vendue. It's a modern, boutique hotel -- chock full of local artists' work and the sunset from their rooftop? Breathtaking. And it's here I actually understood the nickname "The Holy City." Their entire skyline is peppered with church after church (and man, the sound of those bells ringing on the hour? Magical!).

Where to Stay:

We split our time between two beautifully restored mansions under the same ownership, The John Rutledge House Inn and the Wentworth Mansion. Since I'm a sucker for all things historic and with a good ghost story or two, I was beyond giddy about both.

The John Rutledge House Inn: For my fellow history buffs, our first hotel was a major treat, as it was actually witness to the writing of drafts of the Constitution of the United States. For my bed and breakfast lovers, it has all the quaint, yet modern luxuries of a world-class renown hotel. And for my architecture lovers, we actually stayed in a completely renovated carriage house toward the back of the property, separated from the main house by a beautiful courtyard. Each time we came back for the evening, I felt like I was stepping back in time. Plus, their staff was my first REAL introduction to Southern hospitality. They even went the extra mile to help my guy pull off a surprise flower delivery for me (hydrangeas -- boy did well!).

The Wentworth Mansion: Truth be told, I could have explored The Wentworth Mansion all day long. Multiple staircases. Long hallways. A wrap around enclosed tea terrace. Port, sherry and brandy out as refreshments. Tiffany glass in each window. It's a 126-year old marvel and I, for one, hope to return soon! Be sure not to miss their rooftop cupola -- a spiral staircase leads you up to an observation deck with 360 degree views of the city. It's absolutely breathtaking.

What to Do:

I think one of the biggest reasons my friends tell me I need to visit the south more often, revolves around my fascination with ghost stories and historical mysteries. Long story short, I love a good ghost tour and there's something about certain pockets of the south, particularly Charleston, that just exudes that supernatural allure. Perhaps it's the influence of voodoo and creole culture with just the plain weird twists in our nation's oftentimes far less than savory history -- but whatever the reason, I can't get enough of it. So naturally, I might have steered our activities as such.

The Old Charleston Jail: Yep. This was my favorite of the trip. We actually walked by the jailhouse earlier in the day, not realizing they offered organized tours until later in the evening, when they only had night time slots left. Of course, I opted for the very last one of the night, 11:30pm. Named to be among the top ten most haunted buildings in America, it's interesting to observe even the neighbors around it. Local tour guides mentioned that the neighboring communities WILL NOT walk through the property, during the day and definitely not at night, and most have their entry way ceilings painted "haint blue" to ward off the spirits (a common Southern superstition).

The jail itself is rife with history, 99% of which is not for the faint of heart. Tales of betrayal, murder, torture and lingering souls.

It's not uncommon for folks on the tour to feel harassed by the spirits in the jail -- think hair pulling, leg grabbing etc. None of that happened to me, but it did to several of the other women with us.

City Market: On a lighter note, if you want a great day activity that doesn't involve ghosts, check out the City Market. Lots of local vendors, artists and food stands to please everyone in your group.

Carriage Tour: I'm not usually one for VERY organized day trips like a bus tour or a carriage tour, but I have to say, the local companies that run through Charleston feel very niche and offer a great, local and southern paced way to see and experience the city. Our tour ran through the Broad Street and Slightly North of Broad area (S.N.O.B area as they like to call it) through some absolutely beautiful residential streets, each house more historic than the last. It's on this tour I also learned that Bill Murray calls Charleston home and Stephen Colbert is a local!

Concert at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center: We lucked out and managed to snag two tickets for Ray Lamontagne when he was performing in town -- so when you're planning your trip, be sure to scope our their upcoming concert schedule!

Have you guys been to Charleston before? Any favorites I should know about for my return trip?

As much as I love living on the east coast (and of course, love New York City), there's an undeniable pull to Northern California for me -- one that I don't think I'll ever be able to shake, quite honestly. It's the open air, windows down, let's get lost sort of feeling that is so intoxicating to me whenever I land back at SFO, and it's little mini road trips, like the one I just took a few weeks back for my good friends Juanjo and Nicole's wedding in Carmel, that really set my heart and wanderlust soaring.

You've heard me wax poetically about Highway 1 and Carmel specifically many times before, so at the risk of sounding like a broken record here, I'll reiterate: Carmel-By-The-Sea (as it's formally named) is perhaps one of my favorite places on earth. It's what I picture when I think of living in a seaside town -- moody skies, sweeping coastline views, a quaint little main street strip chock full of niche stores and mom and pop restaurants and, luckily for this traveler, a selection of boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts to rest my head at night. This time around, the folks over at Hotel Carmel (recently reopened under new management), invited me for a few nights stay while I was in town for my friends wedding. I was hot off the heels of several weeks of European travel and ready for some much needed R&R and ocean air.

In short: they certainly delivered.

While it has all the luxuries of a hotel, Hotel Carmel has much more of an inn vibe -- cozy and intimate -- situated right off the main downtown strip and just a few minutes walk to the beach (where I spent most of my downtime). Naturally, upon arrival, it was the decor that struck me first: it's beachside lodge meets Steinbeck's den meets rustic cabin circa 1962. I basically wanted to wrap myself up in a Pendleton blanket and sit outside my room in my folding director's chair, while sipping my coffee each morning. The only problem was, I didn't pack my Pendleton blanket. Next time, though!

Each morning, there's a community breakfast served, again, tapping into that inn vibe, where all guests are welcome to sit in the den area and read, sip and chat about their day ahead. Given that I was incredibly jet lagged after weeks of travel, I welcomed this little sleepy reprieve holiday whole heartedly -- it was a wonderful opportunity to just unplug, unwind and slow my pace down for a few days.

Huge thanks again to the folks over at Hotel Carmel for hosting me! I had a lovely stay and hope to be back soon!

All photos of Krystal by Angie Silvy

Earlier this summer, I did a lot of solo traveling. About a month's worth to be exact. And while I'd like to save all my thoughts on traveling by yourself for a much longer, essay-of-a-post to come later next week, I wanted to kick off my summer travel series with my little solo jaunt to St. Thomas. It actually marked the end of my month-long Eat, Pray, Love tour (as I was calling it my head) and in a lot of ways, it was a great way to just recalibrate my mind, body and spirit. The ocean really does have that effect on us, doesn't it?

As I mentioned, this trip marked the end of about 3 and a half weeks of traveling alone, carrying more than my weight in my own bags and reading books at dinner for company. None of which I was complaining about -- in fact, I loved it for all the reasons I'll detail here soon -- but once I arrived in the US Virgin Island of St. Thomas, I was ready to just BE. No language barriers, no fuss over what I should plan out each day, no rush at all. My agenda consisted of: SUN, SAND and SEA.

And God, what a difference those three S's make!

Four, if you count SEAFOOD, which I certainly do.

I stayed at the lovely Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, which is nestled perfectly in a stunning bay, making for some great, almost untouched beach situations and evening excursions (like night kayaking!). The property itself dates back some 20 years and has some of the most amazing oceanside charm -- in fact, the local iguanas are so comfortable with coming up to the hotel property now, they practically hang out waiting for guests to stop by and say hello! Moreover, the winding property trail to get to the beach makes for a great way to really take the entire resort in -- you trek down a sloping little path, nestled in low, lush greenery, the hotel hugging one side, the ocean on the other and you almost feel like you're going on a little journey of sorts.

Of course, aside from a lot of ocean naps and seaside reading, I indulged in more than my fair share of the best surf and turf around: lobster, steak, mahi mahi before hopping over to their on-site spa for a much needed deep tissue massage.

Naturally, resorts like this are perfect for the honeymooning couple or perhaps a girlfriends getaway trip, and while I think it would be fantastic to return for both occasions, I have to say, I loved my time here solo -- between an amazingly kind and gracious staff to the warm waves lapping on shore -- my spirits felt rejuvenated in a way that I think I could only have accomplished alone. Alone with my thoughts. Alone with my feelings. Alone with my ideas. And, being the slightly introverted person that I am, I couldn't stop smiling about it the entire time I was there.

Huge thank you again to the lovely folks over at the Frenman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort -- this weary traveler has you to thank for her refreshed mind, body and spirit!

As a Nevada girl at heart, gambling has always been somewhat present in my life. And I don't mean that in the sense of I personally gamble or that my family does (although we have on occasion had a fun night or two in Vegas), it's just something I grew up with and never thought twice about. Oddly enough, whenever I land back at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport back at home, the chanting of the "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine that sits outside most gates makes me oddly nostalgic. Maybe at some point I should consider checking out online casinos similar to if I Register Happyluke. My friends from Nevada said that it brought back some nostalgia for them as well. It's a funny detail to remind you of home, and it by no means represents what Nevada means to me, but it's part of the quirky charm that I like to mention whenever someone raises their eyebrows at me after I tell them I'm from Reno.

The conversation usually follows this same flow: we go through Reno 911 (and how it's nothing like how the show portrayed) and then a few Johnny Cash songs (because he apparently shot a man here, just to watch him die). And then I mention Lake Tahoe and how much I loved being outdoors growing up. It's a funny thing, witnessing someone who's starting to let go of preconceived ideas of how they thought a certain place or a person might be. Personally, I love being surprised by something, the more unexpected the better.

So when the folks over at the Sands Bethlehem and Time Out New York invited me out for a ladies weekend video shoot at their casino property in Pennsylvania, I was immediately curious and jumped at the opportunity. For starters, I had never been out to Pennsylvania before and loved how rich the area seemed in natural beauty and history with the steel industry and secondly, it's been a little while since I've played Blackjack, besides the odd game here and there playing casino on phone. I quickly agreed and started packing a bag.

For those of you who have been out in that area of Pennsylvania, you know the drive is relatively short. Actually, only an hour and half to be exact. As someone who adores quick little road trips, I loved how easy it was to escape the city for this weekend jaunt.

As for the Sands itself, I have to say, it's the right amount of Vegas, without being too much Vegas. Does that make sense to anyone not from Nevada? Perhaps not, but I'll try to explain. The casino floor is decently sized, with a lot of my newer favorite slot machines (hello Dolly Parton and Michael Jackson), but it's not obnoxiously large, where you can't orient yourself almost immediately. It's buzzing and intimate, two things that are hard to come by with a casino on the Strip -- it's the feel of a local casino, with just enough touch of grandeur.

But as I said, I don't gamble much. The only gambling I really partake in is games like dadu online; I can get the feel of being in a local casino while sitting at my computer desk! Give me $20 to lose and I'm happy. I'll stop there. That isn't to say I don't indulge in the occasional poker session or blackjack round, but generally speaking, I like my money where I can see it: in my closet or on the table at an incredible restaurant.

Speaking of restaurants, the Sands doesn't disappoint here. We indulged in rich, hearty steaks at Emeril's Chop House, a to die-for veal dish at Buddy V's and a burger that I won't soon forget from Burgers and More (In N' Out might be dethroned now actually in my book). I rounded out the weekend with a little retail therapy right there on property at the outlet stores (DKNY, Calvin Klein and Coach were among my favorites) and a relaxing deep tissue massage at their Steel Magnolia salon. Other highlights include the nearby abandoned steel mill, which now houses a beautiful Highline-esque art path (you can see it in some of these shots with the missing windows) and Musikfest, a 10 day musical festival which happened to be taking place during our stay.

All in all, it was the perfect 48-hour escape, one that I hope to repeat soon with a group of girlfriends in tow.

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

Photos by Alejandro Iglesias