Category Archives: Life

My NYFW Survival Kit

NYFW Survival Kit

Its my last day of NYFW today, but don’t worry, I have plenty of more photos to share.  Secretly, I’m kind of excited that the spectacle is over so that I can crawl back into bed and not wear heels for the rest of my life.  I know, I know — you’re going to hear it a lot (if not from me, then from others!) that NYFW is exhausting.  NYFW is cray.  NYFW is a beast.  It’s all of the above, but in the best kind of way.

So instead of pretending that it’s such a burden to attend parties, shows and presentations (it’s all still very surreal!), I’m going to show you my tools for conquering Fashion Week!

The Catchall: If there’s anything that NYC has done to me, it has turn me into a bag lady.  I’m usually schlepping around my stuff in a giant-ass tote (in black or brown), which means I’m also probably digging through the bottomless pit for my phone, keys or business cards.  So inserting a bright little clutch helps me keep organized and sane.

The Ride: Anyone who’s anyone rolls up to Lincoln Center in a town car, an Uber or at least a taxi cab.  Me?  I’m a public transportation kind of gal, which means you can find me cruising underground on the subway or pedaling away on a CitiBike.  Yes, I’m probably the only one who bikes from showroom appointment to launch party … but that’s just how I roll.

The Pout: I don’t usually wear much makeup in my day to day, but when it’s time to put my game face on, I need need need a pop of color on my lip.  I’m playing around with some darker shades this fall like this cranberry red and this dark plum.

Statement Rings and Bracelets

The Bling: You know I love a good arm party, but more recently, I vowed to step up my ring game.  Say hello to this double ring and this spiraled gem — two recent acquisitions from this past weekend, both of which I will probably never take off my fingers again.

Nude Lace Up Heels

The Feet: High heels and I have a very volatile relationship.  My best friend and about 45-minutes later … my worst enemy.  I’m a bit of a weakling when it comes to standing on my tippy toes for extended periods of time, but I do my best to power through before switching to flats.  Thankfully, I got my hands on a little magic potion called Sole Serum — a spray that relieves foot pain for up two hours.  Um hello heaven!  The regular bottle is slim enough to fit in your purse, but it comes in a mini size for every possible scenario.  I promise you, it’s a lifesaver!

Healthy Immune Boosting Juice and Booster Shots

The Liquids: After having not been sick in almost a year, I began to think the germs on the subway had made me impervious to illness.  I learned I was wrong when I conveniently developed a sore throat and a pounding headache on the first night of Fashion Week.  Lucky me!  Since then, my liquid diet has been a rotation of prosecco and cold-press juices because after a week like this, I think double ginger booster shot followed by a glass of bubbly is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Stay tuned for more NYFW outfits and for a sneak peek into my week’s adventures, follow me on Instagram!

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Thank you Sole Serum for sponsoring this post!

Five Things I Learned While Living in NYC

New Yorker Hotel & Empire State Building

On August 28, 2012, I moved to New York.  I had two giant suitcases, a subleased apartment off of Craigslist and no job fresh out of law school.  Fast forward two years later and I can’t even begin to describe to you the transformation I’ve experienced.

I can’t say I ever had any life-long aspirations to live in New York City.  I first visited with my family back in 1994, where my two most vivid memories were: 1) accidentally dropping my stuffed animal into the gutter after climbing out of a cab and 2) a kid pissing on the streets of Chinatown.  Not necessarily the kind of stuff dreams are made of.

But I came back to visit one of my best friends in 2010.  And again in 2011.  And in between that, I watched enough episodes of Gossip Girl to sort of pretend to know that this might the city that was maybe for me.

These days, however, I can tell you with confidence that New York is my hood.  That the job I have now is my passion. That the friends I have here are my second family.  And that my tiny fourth floor walk-up apartment is my home.  I promise you, it didn’t all happen at once.  But it happened and is still evolving as we speak.

After a meager two years living in the city, I am by no means a New Yorker, but I can grumble at the tourists and the costumed characters in Times Square like the best of them.  With that, I want to share five lessons that I’ve learned while living in New York that might be just as applicable anywhere else in the world.

Times Square Out of Focus

Keep Hustlin’.  Moving here was barely 5% of the battle.  Getting a job, finding an apartment, meeting new people and making this city a place I could call home was the other 95%.  Like I said, it didn’t happen all at once.  I first landed in a job that just wasn’t the right fit.  I tried meeting new people via a site that was like dating, but for friends.  While I was searching for a job, I put my photography skills to use and shot a wedding and took headshots for people off of Craigslist.  I also basically signed away my unborn children’s college tuition in brokers’ fees for the apartment we’re living in now.  Being down and out never felt discouraging.  Instead, it was enough to light the fuel that keeps me going, to always be improving and to never stop hustling.

Rooftop View of Central Park

Say Yes.  There’s no time like the present.  And if you’re going to take a chance on something or someone, you might as well do it now.  Back in 2012, I bought my admission to a blogger conference before I even secured my one-way ticket to New York.  Because of that conference, I have an incredible network of friends in New York and all over the country.  Whenever an invite comes my way, I try my reasonable best to say yes, because you never know what crazy adventure you might end up on.

Flatiron Building at Sunset

Don’t Pick Favorites.  Whenever someone asks me what my favorite restaurant in New York is, I’m genuinely at a loss for an answer.  There are over 16,000 places to choose from (not an exaggeration), so why would I choose just one? The beauty of New York is that no matter how long you’ve lived here, it’s always evolving and there is always something to explore.  It’s rare that you’ll ever see me dining at the same place or hanging out in the same spot more than once.  I have an endless to-do list of places I want to see and things I want to try and that’s just the way I like it.

Sunset in New York City

Get Cozy.  With over 8 million people in NYC, you should be ready to lower your expectations of privacy.  Whether you’re standing shoulder to shoulder on the subway during your morning commute or eating dinner at a restaurant while seated six inches away from the next party, you learn to make the best of it.  If you’re open about it, you might encounter someone in the 20-minute line at Trader Joe’s who’ll give you incredible recipes to try for dinner.  And if you’re really lucky, you’ll be privy to (read: close enough to eavesdrop on) an outrageous conversation between strangers.

NYC in Spring

Never Settle.  The main reason why I moved to New York was because I was born, raised and educated in Arizona and I just wasn’t ready for that to be my entire life story.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or my career after I graduated, but I knew that I didn’t want to settle for whatever was the easiest or most convenient.  So naturally, I moved across the country.  The challenges and opportunities that I’ve encountered over the past two years have taught me more than I ever thought I could learn and helped me grow more than I ever thought I could expand.  And the best of all, I’m no where close to being done.

Thank you for following me on this incredible journey!  The past two years have been a wild ride and I promise you, it’s only going to get better from here. xx

 

Weekend Notes: 08.23.14

White Bar Cart

Can you believe it’s the second to last weekend of the summer?  It feels like just yesterday that I was scheming away at all the grand plans to be had.  And now that the season is wrapping up, I actually have no plans for the next two weeks and am surprisingly okay with it.  I’ve had plenty of Instagram-worthy adventures, from nights in Brooklyn to a trip to the Caribbean.  Now it’s time to settle back in and focus on myself for a bit.  Anyone else feel like this hitting the reset button after an incredible summer?

Back Up: Remember my wishlist of backpacks from last week?  Well scratch that.  I just bought this gold printed number and have this animal print one on my radar.

Take a Breather: Loved this post by Hallie about coming up for air every now and then when it comes to blogging.  As rewarding as it can be, it’s also exhausting.  And the moment it becomes frustrating or not fun, it’s time to close your laptop and go run outside for a little inspiration.

Blue Jean Baby: I wore a denim on denim ensemble to work this week and realized that I need to start sporting jeans more often.  Distressed, zipped, cropped — lay it on me!

New Neighbor: So excited that Christine of View from 5’2″ is officially a resident of NYC!  We bonded over happy hour, great conversation and a knack for fending off drunk guys with bad pickup lines.  Welcome to the neighborhood, love!

In Second Place: I almost pulled the trigger on my dream bag last week.  I’m just not sure if I’m ready to drop that much money.  As runner ups, I’m loving this and this.

Fall Fling: Temps have been so mild lately that I’ve been flirting with fall all week.  It doesn’t help that Ann Taylor‘s newest arrivals are pretty much perfection.  On my wishlist: this leopard pulloverthis textured skirt and this leather tee.

Social Swag: Happy 3rd birthday to bebe Society Social!  Three years ago, my homegirl Roxy poured her heart and soul into creating her own biz and she is killing it.  So proud of what you’ve accomplished and I can’t wait to see the new line of goodies!

Sale Section:
Ann Taylor — Take 50% off select full price and 50% off sale items
Banana Republic — Take 40% off full-priced items with code: BRGET40
C. Wonder — Take 30% off all full-priced items
GAP — Take 30% off your entire purchase with code AUGUST
J.Crew — Take an extra 25% off select items with code: SHOPNOW
J.Crew Factory — Take 40-50% off dresses, skrits and jewelry
LOFT — Take $20 off pants
Madewell — Take 20% off select items with code: HOTANDCOOL
Old Navy — Take 20% off or add a pair of jeans to save 25% with code: SAVEMORE
Rebecca Minkoff — Save up to 70% off during her endless summer sale
Scoop NYC — Take an extra 40% off sale
Yoox — Save up to 80% off MAJOR designer brands

Photo:
Society Social via The Everygirl