the one where underdog gets away {a rite of passage}

Top: Tibi; Jeans: Abercrombie (old); Shoes: Manolo Blahnik; Clutch: Olympia Le-Tan; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Bracelet: BaubleBar

You know that Friends Thanksgiving episode, circa the first or second season? The one where Underdog gets away at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the whole gang gets locked out of Monica's and Rachel's apartment, because they both swore the other person had the keys? And Chandler and Joey dig through a whole drawer of keys, since they of course, have a spare, if they could just figure out which one out of the pile it is. Meanwhile, Monica's turkey is slowly getting burned in the oven. Oh, and I think there's an Ugly Naked Guy appearance or two. 

Well I may have been in a similar situation this past weekend. Minus an inflatable cartoon character dog, well-timed laughter from a live studio audience and well, Ugly Naked Guy (thankfully). 

What exactly happened then?

On Friday night, I unpacked my entire closet, shoes and all, finishing up around midnight. Feeling awfully proud of myself, I decided to head downstairs, with Elvis in tow, to get some of the moving boxes out of the way and down to the trash cans. I grabbed what I thought were my entire set of keys, Elvis' leash and a stack of boxes, quickly closing the door behind me. The door, of course, locks automatically, upon which, I glanced down, just as the locks were clicking into place, realizing I hadn't put my apartment keys back on my regular key set after my evening run. 

My actual apartment keys and phone were both left inside.

Cue heart sinking sound now.

I ran through all the phone numbers I knew by heart in my head (a whopping 3), none of which were for the one person who was going to help me get back inside, that being my building manager. This of course, would have made a difference, had I grabbed my phone before stepping out, which of course, I hadn't. So I started knocking on everyone's doors, praying someone would let me use their phone.

I'll spare the rest of the details of this already long winded story, and say this: despite this being a really unfortunate experience, I had some incredibly nice people along the way. From my downstairs neighbor who not only let me use his phone to call the building manager that night (he didn't pick up), but also insisted that I take $40 in case I needed it, to the guy walking his dog the next morning who let me borrow his phone to call my building manager yet again (this time, he did pick up). And Christine, who happened to be out of town this past weekend, but had given me a spare set of keys to her apartment, where Elvis and I stayed that night.

Over a very intense 12 hours, I went through a roller coaster of emotions: anger, embarrassment, frustration, desperation, but each of these folks along the way took it in stride with me, most of them reacting quite similarly: "Oh you're locked out? Ah, yes, welcome to New York. We've all been there" before offering to help.

And it made me feel grateful for two big reasons: 1.) that people do kind things all the time and 2.) that I had just gone through my first New York City rite of passage. I'm sure I'll have many more of these to come, and in the whole scheme of things, this one wasn't all that bad, but if I'm lucky, I'll have some amazingly kind people around me when the next ones strike.

And with that in mind, I'm going to pay it forward today. Perhaps I'll even check off #29 on my 30 before 30 list. 

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

ode to the weekend

Shirt: Heidi Merrick; Jeans: Abercrombie (old); Boots: Celine; Hat: Rag & Bone; Sweater: Everlane; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Watch: Daniel Wellington; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Lips: Marc Jacobs "Oh Miley"

I'd have to say, after a pretty full week here in New York, sorting out life logistics, settling into a somewhat empty apartment (because my stuff is still making it's way across the country with movers) and dealing with a lost wallet on top of it (literally the day before I left town), this past weekend couldn't have come at a better time. The weather was perfect, the company was even better and I even got to partake in Cafe Gitane's much talked about avocado toast (and it didn't disappoint!).

And on an even lighter note, I think Elvis is settling in quite nicely, too. We've been hamming it up lately on Snapchat (username: krystalbick) so if you're into silly Corgi antics, he's your guy.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

Photos by Christine Cameron

left my heart in san francisco {palace of fine arts}

Dress: Preen; Shoes: Manolo Blahnik; Clutch: Charlotte Olympia

While I visited San Francisco pretty often with my family when I was growing up (it's only about a 3-4 hour drive from Reno), I'd have to say some of my most vivid memories of the city came much later when I would trek back with friends in college for different concerts. We would make big weekends out of it, leaving early on a Friday afternoon after our last class and pile into a car, armed with lots of iPod playlists (ah, remember those?!), ready for far too many pit stops at In N Out (animal style, please!). Outside Lands. Kings of Leon. Cat Power. Smashing Pumpkins. Feist. The list goes on and on. 

My favorite concert from this part of my life would have to be when Devendra Banhart played at the Palace of Fine Arts (the amazing building you see above here). My boyfriend at the time surprised me with tickets and true to form, we probably missed a class or two to make it out for a long weekend in San Francisco. We booked a small bed and breakfast just off Lombard Street (The Edward II!) and spent most of the evening just strolling around the Marina, getting lost in (and tumbling down) San Francisco's  many hills.

As for the concert itself, if you ever get the chance to see anyone perform at the Palace, I highly recommend you go! Naturally the acoustics inside the building are nothing short of amazing, but walking around the Palace grounds and surrounding park are actually what made me fall in love with it that very night. Simply put, it's beautiful. The sheer height and scale of the columns and overhead dome are humbling -- we actually were some of the last concert goers that evening milling around, mainly because we couldn't stop looking up while we were strolling. And we did just that. For hours, well into the night after the concert ended. The city grew still and quiet, the fog coming in like a blanket overhead, and yet there we were, roaming around this beautiful building like our own private playground. I may not quite remember the songs that were played that night and that boyfriend is no longer in my life, but something about it has stuck with me -- a very tangible memory of an evening that felt so alive and full of possibility. 

And to this day, I can't help but think of that night whenever I visit the Palace. 

Photos by Anna-Alexia Basile

You can see the rest of my farewell San Francisco series right this way...

left my heart in san francisco {girlfriends and girl bosses}

On Heather: Romper: Reformation; Belt: Gucci; Shoes: Sergio Rossi; Bra: Love and Lemons

On Krystal: Dress: Karla Spetic; Shoes: Manolo Blahnik; Clutch: Charlotte Olympia; Sunglasses: Celine

As I (slowly) approach 30, I've come to really appreciate a lot about my mid to late 20s, particularly what was once considered unthinkable by my younger 20 something year old self: I feel comfortable in my own skin. I care less about what people think of me. I focus more on what makes me happy. I don't sweat the incredibly small stuff. Sure, some days are easier than others, but that's also why I made a commitment a while back to surround myself with people who share this same outlook and refuse to blaze any path other than their own.

Cue my friend Heather.

Heather and I met a few years back through a mutual friend who found it really hard to believe two fashion bloggers both working at Google somehow hadn't met yet (you were right, Alicia, that was strange!). And really, the introduction couldn't have come at a better time. I was just getting somewhat settled into my new life in San Francisco professionally speaking, but had yet to make any lasting friendship connections that extended themselves well outside the office. We met over lunch and have been friends ever since. 

I think what I appreciate the most about my friendship with Heather is that, while we have a lot in common, (we both work in the tech space and fashion world), we're actually quite different in a lot of ways too. An odd couple if you will. And I love that about her! We challenge each other in ways that we don't normally push ourselves. Equal parts cheerleaders, encouraging each other to take risks and think outside the box, as well as each other's biggest critics, calling out bull shit when we smell it.

She's been my travel partner, my sounding board, a shoulder to cry on when needed and also one of my biggest fans when it comes to just going for my dreams (like this one I'm doing right now in NYC). We may live on different coasts now, but that just means we're cheering each other on from afar. And of course, gives us the excuse to rack up some frequent flier miles throughout the year and sneak in a few Broadway shows, right Heather?

Photos by Anna-Alexia Basile

You can see the rest of my farewell San Francisco series right this way...

left my heart in san francisco {marin headlands}

Dress: Suno via The RealReal (available in white here!); Sunglasses: Celine

Over the past few weeks, I've gotten a lot of questions about whether or not I'm excited to move (a million times yes!), what I'm looking forward to the most about New York (wandering around Central Park in the spring) and if I'll be able to handle the brutal winters out there (unfortunately, the jury is still out on that one).  

But the most frequently asked question? 

What will I miss most about San Francisco? 

This one usually makes me pause. There's so much I'm going to miss, it's hard to distill my answer into just one reason. We're spoiled with great weather. There's never a shortage of amazing, new restaurants to try out. We're at the heart of Silicon Valley, where crazy, big, outside-the-box ideas are born (and encouraged!). Heck, we're home to these guys. 

Over the past five years, my list has gotten pretty long with reasons as to why I love living in this city. And ultimately, I think I'll end up returning (someday) for a lot of those reasons. But at the end of the day, I'd have to say it's not necessarily the city I'll miss most (although I will miss it dearly), but the ease to which you can escape the city at a moment's notice. Wine country to the north. Highway 1 stretching along it's side, running the great coastline of California. Big Sur. Monterey. Carmel. Tahoe. Yosemite. Muir Woods. All tangibly within reach, tempting you to hit the road on a late Friday afternoon with nothing but a weekender bag and an improperly folded map and get lost for a few days. 

I've confessed my love for Jack Kerouak here on the blog before, and I'll do it again now, because I think this quote of his sums up San Francisco and her wild, beckoning call much better than I ever could:

"It seemed like a matter of minutes when we began rolling in the foothills before Oakland and suddenly reached a height and saw stretched out ahead of us the fabulous white city of San Francisco on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond, and smoke and goldenness of the late afternoon of time."

San Francisco, thanks for letting me enjoy you in all your smoke and goldenness. I'm forever grateful. 

Photos by Anna-Alexia Basile

left my heart in san francisco {pacific heights}

Dress: Lovers + Friends (the black is sold out, but the striped version is adorable!); Boots: Stuart Weitzman; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Sunglasses: Celine; Necklace: BaubleBar X Wendy's Lookbook

If you head right up over the hill from my apartment (technically nestled between Japantown and Lower Pacific Heights), you'll find yourself in Pacific Heights proper. If you happen to end up at, oh I don't know, Broadway and Scott streets, you'll find yourself smack dab in the middle of what has affectionately become known as Billionaire's Row. Pretentious, yes. But when Danielle Steele, David Sacks and Larry Ellison all call this small several block radius their stomping grounds, it's rather fitting. 

While I'd love to say my apartment is practically a stone's throw from here, I'll fully admit, we're worlds apart. Yet that doesn't stop me from heading up here regardless. Why? First of all, the panoramic views of the city and the Bay are not to be missed. In fact, traffic gets pretty annoying in these parts because both cars and pedestrians are snapping the city hills from the top of this very hill. It's worth it though. Secondly, a lot of folks head over to the Lyon Street Steps (myself included) for a great Saturday workout but really, Elvis and I are all about Baker Street Steps, a steep stairway connecting Vallejo and Broadway. It's beautifully (and intentionally) overgrown with tall trees, brimming with flowers and, my favorite part, it's almost always deserted. I love heading here for early dusk walks with Elvis and letting him roam around on the steps, while I perch on the lone bench right off the stairway. If you peer through at just the right spots between the branch cover, San Francisco peeks through down below, with quiet little boats bustling about on the bay. 

I'm a firm believer that everyone needs a great go-to thinking spot -- one that instantly clears your mind when you get there. And Baker Street Steps are going to be hard to replace.

Photos by Anna-Alexia Basile