Celebrity Life
how to prepare yourself for the holidays – meal planning, holiday checklist, and more
It happens every year, yet somehow we’re never prepared. It’s holiday season. There are strings of lights tangled in every corner of the house, flour from your mishap-baking project covering the entire kitchen, smoke rises as the turkey burns to a dry lug in the oven, and half-wrapped presents lay concealed under your dirty laundry in the bedroom. Sound familiar? It’s tough to survive the holidays. Especially if you’re balancing a job, family school – or like me balancing being a fashion blogger with another full time career. If life wasn’t pleasantly chaotic enough, someone decided to put Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, school registration, end-of-year reports, 4th quarter deadlines and your dog’s stomach flue all in the same few weeks. Not well planned. Not well planned at all. Thankfully, you can be. I’ve found the key to surviving the holidays is all about three things: planning, organization, and maintaining a level of sanity with a healthy lifestyle. It’s amazing the perspective you can have if you actually manage to get that early start for once. …
not the same as I was with you
Back where we started, and doin’ just fine. Change is in the water, and the water feels right. The sky is pale, and the faint smell of my packed sandwich is somehow suffocating. The train is in motion, and it’s moving fast – goodbye NYC, the journey back to where it started begins. The mood? Calm. Still like the water in the windless exterior on the other side of the glass. Out there it’s deceivingly cold, with only a faint chill creeping through the window sill. Song on repeat: Frenship’s Capsize. 8 hours left to go and I’ll once again be home. Catching up on notes from the week, sorting through holiday photos reliving time well spent. Giving in to the journey set before me, today and for the years to come. Contemplating life’s most recent twists and turns, and once again find myself facing uncertainty… but with open arms. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III |ootd c/o:LULU’S | luxury sterling silver and diamond jewelry c/o:MICHAEL HILL Change is inevitable. I’m only grateful for those opportunities that …
versatility at its finest, NAME activewear review
Gym, then coffee date. Office to happy hour. Yoga to the market. With people overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time, it’s unusual for one to be able to step out of the house for just one thing. My list is normally a mile long of a few errands I’ve been putting off, some element of work and probably trying to squeeze in some social time between appointments. In NYC, that means packing a change of shoes, my laptop and sometimes even a change of clothes. Versatility is key for my lifestyle. If the stuff I tote along with me can’t keep up, its going to end up staying in the closet. In the era of wearable technology, robotics and AI – why can’t a girl get a bag that’s just well, smarter? That’s why I’ve partnered with NAME, a luxury fashion brand to introduce their newest activewear bag. Taking a stance on redefining luxury, NAME understands that a women of our generation seek not only beauty and elegance in fashion, but …
nyc style for a working woman on the go
When it comes to packing workwear on the fly, I’ve come to be a bit of an expert. With half my time spent working from home balancing blog, full time job and personal life… and every-other week spent in my office in NYC with late nights and heavy workloads… life pretty much exists in a suitcase, and I have to be able to pull it together at a moments notice. That means picking out my office wardrobe in advance, and being able to fit everything into a somewhat too-small luggage set. Pieces then need to arrive wrinkle free, since I stay at different hotels each stay you just never know the amenities they may be missing. I have to be prepared for bipolar weather, client meetings, blogger events and the occasional night out with friends. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | bow shirt dress c/o:DAVID LERNER | grey cardigan c/o:DAVID LERNER | black wrap blouse c/o:DAVID LERNER | grey bodysuit c/o:DAVID LERNER | faux leather leggings c/o:DAVID LERNER | slippers:GUCCI | work bag c/o:DAGNE DOVER …
luxury and lattes
Because what else could a girl ask for in life? Enjoy the little jewels of happiness in life, it’s mid week and the weekend isn’t far. Here’s wishing you a beautiful one. Sit back, relax. May your days be full of light, your nights full of adventure, and your latte full of caffeine. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:iPHONE 6 | minimalist blouse c/o:PREMONITION | boots c/o:WINDSOR SMITH | crossbody bag c/o:STATUS ANXIETY | sunnies c/o:EYE BUY DIRECT | marble notebook c/o:MELO & CO
faded, so lost
A soft crackling noise can be heard from below, tiny crabs letting loose of the rocks, fleeing for the sea with the sound of our feet landing on each new stone. The air smells like salt with a hint of coconut breeze between, or perhaps that’s just what’s left of the island’s native beverage of choice lingering on my bottom lip. I lift my eyes slightly to see his feet leading the way, and up just farther into the expanse of the never ending horizon of the sea. After a 24 hour delay, we made it – this was India, on the shores of Port Blair of the Nicobar Islands. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR & KRISTINA PETRICK | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | location:PORT BLAIR IN THE NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA | dress c/o:JOAH BROWN After much ado, welcome into a few of the first moments of the travels across the world to a tropical escape tucked just far enough away to escape the touch of most human contact. Like a hidden corner of the earth left just …
soaking in the nyc quin penthouse
Experiences are the chapters of life that shape lifestyles and make us who we are. Stepping out of your door to feel the breeze caress your face as you scope your surroundings and soak it in. Today is a new day. The steps we take are the moving force to what the rest of the body will experience – the sights, the smells, the sounds. You control the direction, so walk purposefully. Spent the weekend soaking in a bit of luxury at The Quin Hotel. Met with friend (and incredible blogger & photographer) Elma – the day started with coffee and croissants and evolved into shots from porch to windowsill. The company and setting couldn’t have been better for the afternoon. photography:ELMA BEGANOVICH from AMRA & ELMA | location:THE QUIN HOTEL PENTHOUSE | mesh overlay crop c/o:PREMONITION | mesh overlay skirt c/o:PREMONITION | t cuff c/o:GRAMERCI DESIGN | crosbody bag c/o:WANDERERWANDERER Light was pouring in through the ample windows of the spacious 3-story penthouse, and the forecasted rain showers held off as if just for us until the very …
#mondaymotivation beach-ready in titika activewear
Here’s to a productive week of triumphs and success, letting go of all that ill besets, and running forward full speed ahead. It’s Monday! And if you weren’t able to rally over the weekend, it’s time to get motivated. Spending this week in NYC and leaving for the Nicobar Islands, India just a few days after my return home. Preparations have been in full swing, and at this point I’m just crossing my fingers that nothing crucial has been overlooked. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | pattern activewear bra c/o:TITIKA | pattern jacket c/o:TITIKA | activewear leggings c/o:TITIKA | black sneakers c/o:WINDSOR SMITH | fitness tracker c/o:TOTWOO Toning up to get beach-ready before the trip. Thanks to Titika for making that a little more fun in new activewear sets. Something about new workout clothes always helps me go that extra mile. And these leggings could. not. be. more. comfortable. I’m pretty sure they’re just going to be taking over my wardrobe in general. Love their attention to details especially in the mixed materials and back …
fashion technology
Working for a digital marketing agency and coming from a fashion marketing background – the era of fashion technology has peaked my interest with this generation’s beautiful savvy accessories and the emerging of wearable tech. Something about the contrasting duo of “beauty and the brains” almost reminds me of a romantic novel or TV series – in product form. But truly, with the advancement’s in today’s technology – why not enjoy the advantages of latest music, fashion, fitness and smart tech all bundled into one pretty package? What a cool millennium we live in. This post is a bit more of the fashion tech types – but I’ve got some exciting updates in wearable technology coming up as well so stay tuned. photography:YOURS TRULY (ME) | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | fashion tech laptop skin c/o:CASEAPP First on beautiful tech is the highly Instagramable accessory for the iPhone to Macbook – cover skins. CaseApp has been a long standing partner of mine in making all my devices more beautiful with their range of custom or pre-designed …
at the back of the north wind
“…though I cannot promise to take you home,” said North Wind, as she sank nearer and nearer to the tops of the houses, “I can promise you it will be all right in the end. You will get home somehow.” ― George MacDonald, At the Back of the North Wind Did your mom ever read to you as a child? Mine did. And I often wonder how much that impacts the way I see the world today. Reading has a way of expanding the mind and imagination in ways that nothing else really can. It’s like a type of magic, transporting you into a place that doesn’t exist, but in many ways feels more real than reality itself. Working as a Creative Writer not only for this space, but also as a career has been an eye opening experience, and in many ways brings me back to that time as a child. After all, storytelling (whether for children’s books or branded message) really aren’t so far apart. It’s that pathway to mutual understanding – an emotional connection …
the luxe life
Current situation, livin’ it up in my home space this week, feeling incredibly grateful for people that I love, a job that I look forward to, and ample packages arriving in the mail every week #spoiled #bloggerlife Planning for my alternate week at the New York office next Monday, and do you know what I realized… it’s going to be NYC FASHION WEEK! Packing just got a whole lot more complicated. Couldn’t be more excited to be surrounded by the festivities. I’m one lucky girl with invitations to a couple of events I plan on attending, especially excited to be joining the awesome Bloglovin’ team for a night out courtesy of the king of luxury, Ferragamo. (seriously, WHAT am I going to wear). My suitcase is going to be huge, just sayin. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | jumper c/o:A’GACI | cross body bag c/o:LUXE BLOGGER | woven bracelet c/o:CAROLYN COLBY | timepiece c/o:CHARLIZE | gold earcuffs c/o:CAROLYN COLBY | sunnies c/o:FINLAY & CO | pumps c/o:A’GACI | love you to the moon print c/o:MELO & …
a week in review
So much has happened in the past week, I hardly know where to start. NYC is now my home away from home. The first week and a half working the new job is officially under the belt, last week spent at the home office in NYC, and this week the pleasure of working from home. Quite honestly, I don’t know which I prefer. The flashing lights, exciting nights, and endless new adventures of the city will always make me feel alive. But then again, being able to work in my PJ’s isn’t bad either… In review, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have the best of both worlds for the time being, and plan to spend a great deal of the new year practicing appreciation for all of the many blessings in life – especially the people who have truly impacted me in so many beautiful ways. photography:KUNDAN KUMAR | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | white denim c/o:PARKER SMITH | kicks:ADIDAS ORIGINALS | hair extensions c/o:IRRESISTIBLE ME | iphone case c/o:GMYLE | rosegold bar ring c/o:STAR HARVEST …