sunday afternoon

Dress: Calypso St. Barth; Hat: J.Crew; Sandals: Witchery; Bag: Everlane; Jacket: Old Navy; Sunglasses: Chloe (on sale!)

As part of my New Year's resolutions, I really want to make a conscious effort to disconnect more this year and try to find a better work, life, and yes, even social media balance. What I'm finding is that a little bit of routine (and a lot of self control) goes a long way. Lately, I've been making myself stick to a late Sunday afternoon regimen -- and it's relatively simple actually. I'll head out to Crissy field or Fort Funston for a little beach time with Elvis, usually with a good book or magazine and catch the sunset. 

As trivial as it may sound, sometimes you have to remind yourself that you don't need to check your email for a few hours -- the world will (and definitely does!) keep spinning. What I love about disconnecting on Sundays in particular is that it's extremely easy to just "get a jump start" on the week ahead on Sunday afternoons (which my guy affectionately calls my 'Sunday blues'), that you end up short changing yourself valuable down time. In general, I feel far more refreshed and ready to tackle my week after I take just those few hours for myself.

I'm curious -- what do you guys do to disconnect? 

Photos by Dan Johnson

uptown

Dress: Dior (similar style here); Bag: Chanel; Shoes: J.Crew; Sunglasses: Celine; Lips: Stila "Beso"

While this is somewhat of a departure from my typical style (too demure just doesn't work on me), I have to admit, this dress stopped me in my tracks when I spotted it at Saks. In the sale section. Yes. In the sale section. My first assumption was that it was misplaced and that I should keep walking. Until I saw the redline price (with an additional 30% off on top of that for just the weekend). And before I knew it, I was trying it on and telling my life story to the sales associate.

It's my first (and likely only for now) Dior piece, and if you read my thoughts on the classics here, you know I've been looking to streamline my wardrobe as of late, only buying pieces that truly excite me and have staying power. What drew me initially to this dress was the color (perfect for spring weddings and Easter gatherings coming up), but what hooked me was the subtle architecture of it -- essentially classic, turned slightly on its head. It's a staple spring dress that still makes a statement.

As far as it being too demure? Well that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, it's fun to channel your inner ladies who brunch but I can also picture this working well with a leather jacket and strappy heels. Uptown meets downtown.

What pieces in your wardrobe really excite you? Would love to hear!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

three cheers for the weekend

Top: Jason Wu via The RealReal; Jacket: Alexander McQueen (similar version here); Jeans: Current/Elliot; Shoes: Tabitha Simmons; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Sunglasses: Celine; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Bracelets: Vita Fede; Rings: Alexa Leigh, The One I Love NYC, Katie Dean

I don't know about you, but this weekend is a welcome sight (especially after tackling my taxes earlier this week)! At first, I was a bit disappointed I wouldn't be trekking down for Coachella but I'm actually really looking forward to spending a few days relaxing at home, getting caught up on some reading and heading out for a few day hikes around Marin.

What are you guys up to this weekend?

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

spring forward

Dress: Dion Lee (similar style here and here); Jacket: Sandro (similar style here); Shoes: Valentino; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Rings: Alexa Leigh, Katie Dean, The One I Love NYC; Lips: Stila "Beso"

This is another dress I scooped up in Australia earlier last year and have been itching to wear for one of our first warmer days of the season. The back is just too good, right? 

And in the spirit of spring weather, let's celebrate the season together! Join me at the Emporio Armani store (1 Grant Avenue) tonight for a little shopping and styling fun! We'll be hanging out from 6:30 to 8:30, sipping cocktails, listening to some tunes and trying on far too many pairs of shoes (I have my eye on this pair). Make sure to RSVP to emporioarmani@luckymag.com -- hope to see you there!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

alameda flea market {treasure hunting}

Ever since a young age, I've loved antique stores. My mom used to take my sister and I with her when she went antique shopping around town and rest assured -- Reno is full of antique stores. I remember spending hours poking around old treasures and curiosities -- hats, books, furniture -- trying to picture just how those pieces came to be there. Where they came from, who owned them before, what they'd see next. It was a wild guessing game and one that I love to this day.

While I don't make it to antique shops quite as often as I'd like, I do pop over to the Alameda Flea Market about once a month. For anyone who's ever wondered where I got this bar cart, these antlers or an unhealthy amount of frames for my gallery wall, now you know. If you're planning on going, I highly recommend starting early (7 am or so), make a short list of things to look for (it'll keep you focused) and leave your man friend at home (I've made this mistake before -- they just end up sunburnt and really annoyed with you). 

Here are a few snaps from my visit yesterday...enjoy!

On an unrelated note, for all my SF friends, I'd love to see you tomorrow night for a little shindig I'm hosting with the Emporio Armani and Lucky Magazine teams. Join us at the Emporio Armani store at 1 Grant Avenue downtown from 6:30-8:30pm for drinks, tunes, photo booth antics and, of course, shopping! Send your RSVP to emporioarmani@luckymag.com. Hope to see you there! 

Photos by Krystal Bick

the road to the grand canyon {part 3}

Sweater: MiH; Jeans: MiH; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Shoes: Sigerson Morrison; Sunglasses: Chloe via Shop it to Me; Hangover: c/o Las Vegas

The last (and certainly not uneventful) leg of our journey brought us to Vegas -- for all of 12 hours. And apparently, you can accomplish quite a bit in 12 hours, namely: 1.) acquire a lovely hangover 2.) play far too many slots and 3.) eat your own weight in carbs.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful trip! Just joining now? You can catch part 1 here and part 2 here.

Photos by Natalie Goel

revive your style {join me next tuesday!}

Hey SF friends! Mark your calendars! I'm thrilled to be partnering with the Emporio Armani and Lucky Magazine teams to celebrate the Armani spring collection. As a long time fan of this iconic design power house, I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the season. Care to celebrate with me? I'd love to hang, meet and shop with you! Join me next Tuesday, April 8 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Emporio Armani store downtown (1 Grant Avenue in SF). 

Make sure to RSVP here and you'll be entered to win one of my favorite Emporio Armani's spring looks. Hope to see you there!

the road to the grand canyon {part 2}

Perhaps it's the Nevadan in me, but something about the desert will always feel like home. It could be the dry heat, or the clear, star-filled night skies but really, I think it's the blazing pink and orange sunsets that linger for a good half hour after the sun has slipped away that just get me every time. August sunsets were always the best, too. Literally, the sky would look as if it had set itself on fire, burning into the night. While I love my city by the bay, I certainly have a soft spot for the open desert. It's desolate and majestic, all at the same time. 

And I couldn't think of a better way to describe the Grand Canyon: desolate and majestic, austere and yet so regal. All formed by a river! Millions of years ago! Lately, I've been all about trying to keep things in perspective, which I think is an easy thing to say and a much harder thing to do -- but standing out on a jagged vista ledge here at the Grand Canyon did just that for me.

Continue reading for the second leg of our journey...

the road to the grand canyon {part 1}

I absolutely love road trips. The open highway. Windows rolled down. Best friends in the back seat and your favorite songs blasting. Growing up in Nevada, our summers never truly started until road trips were in full swing. We'd pack up the car for Fourth of Julys at Lake Tahoe, spring breaks down in San Diego and unmentionable debauchery in Las Vegas (it stays there after all!) and relished every mile of it. Truth be told, it's one of the biggest reasons I love the west coast so much -- our open, sprawling highways that lend themselves so well to, for lack of a better word, drifting. 

As I mentioned last week, a few of my closest girlfriends and I packed up our trusty steed and headed into the great southwest to do just that -- drift -- with our eyes set on the Grand Canyon. As someone who runs a pretty manic work schedule, I can't tell you how excited I was to have my main decisions for a few days revolve around: 1.) when we should refill the gas tank 2.) where we should pull off to watch the sunset and 3.) what mom & pop diners we should stop off at to eat...

Continue reading the first leg of our journey...

spring fever

Dress: Scanlan Theodore; Shoes: J.W. Anderson X Aldo; Clutch: Vintage; Sunglasses: Celine; Bracelets: Vita Fede; Rings: Katie Dean, Alexa Leigh, The One I Love NYC

Although it seems like forever ago now, this is one of the dresses I picked up while we were bouncing around New Zealand and Australia late last year. It's admittedly a very spring-time dress so I've been patiently, or rather impatiently, waiting for our temps to warm up a bit to debut it. 

At the time, I was rather unfamiliar with the brand, Scanlan Theodore, but have since become absolutely enamored with them. While they clearly do summer and resort wear well, it's their fall pieces that truly have my heart. 

On a side note, we're currently en route back to San Francisco from our Grand Canyon road trip. Stay tuned this week for recaps! 

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

all packed up

New York Times 36 Hours Southwest & The Rocky Mountains // Everlane weekender bag // Chloe sunglasses // Katie Dean necklace // Caspian hat // Isabel Marant boots and bracelet // Mara Hoffman swimsuit // Project Juice #getyourgreens

Just a few things I packed up (or wished I packed up) for our trip this weekend. We're leaving California state lines today to make our way east over to Arizona. About 10 hours of driving ahead of us. I'm expecting our juice supply to come in handy, which will help offset the road side diners I'm sure we'll pop into. 

Follow along right here on Instagram!

on the road

Dress: Proenza Schouler via The RealReal; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Shoes: Zara; Sunglasses: Celine; Lips: NARS "Hyde Park"; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Bracelets: Vita Fede; Rings: Katie Dean, Alexa Leigh, The One I Love NYC

One of my resolutions for this upcoming year was to travel more. And while I definitely have my sights set on a few distant and foreign destinations for the coming months (more on those later!), I'm personally really excited to explore the States more than I ever have before. 

As you're reading this, I'll already be driving south on the 101 with a few of my close girlfriends, Heather, Natalie and Alicia for a little girls' road trip to the Grand Canyon. If you're like me and grew up on the West Coast, your parents probably took you to the Grand Canyon at some point between the ages of 6-8. You know, just old enough to stay relatively calm during a long car ride but too young to really appreciate the view (and secretly wish you were at Disneyland instead).

This time around, it'll be different! Tune into our travels right here on Instagram. First stop along the way? The Madonna Inn in San Lois Obispo. 

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

everyday uniform

Jacket: Isabel Marant via TheRealReal; Shirt: Everlane; Jeans: J.Crew; Shoes: Sigerson Morrison; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Sunglasses: Celine; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Rings: Alexa-Leigh, The One I Love NYC, Katie Dean; Bracelets: Vita Fede

Photos by Dan Johnson