Postcards - Autumn In New Jersey & New York

Ah, the east coast. I hear it's decidedly more beautiful in the Fall, with all its changing leaves in fiery shades of red, orange, yellow, and some leftover green. I've been to New York in June, and I distinctly remember how sticky and humid it felt to walk around the hustle and bustle of the city. This trip, in contrast, was an absolute pleasure to walk around in. And walk we did. My feet are still recovering one week later.

In putting these photos together (and this isn't even half of them), I realized that doing a travel guide would be much too daunting. I feel like I'm not the best at them anyway because when I travel, all I want to do is wander around to wherever my heart takes me, stop in to places that look like they offer good food and drinks, peek into little shops, and when I'm being hosted by friends, I like to surrender and let them take me where they want to go. I don't think I've ever done a guided tour...maybe in college? Frankly, getting lost is my favorite way to explore a new place and New York City is no exception. I actually think it was made for that.

I will say that this 5 day vacation was enlightening for me in many ways. I discovered that I don't hate sneakers as much as I once did. Nate was thankful because the amount of complaining I would have done otherwise...I also loved New Jersey much, much more than I expected I would - it truly is a gorgeous state.  Another thing, I can get by on very little sleep (two nights we didn't sleep at all because we had to commute from Jersey to the city when our friend went in to work). It was nonstop go, go, go from the moment we got off the plane in Newark. Oh, and I rode on the subway which I totally dreaded because you know, social anxiety and all that. My old dark friend was no match for the overwhelming excitement I felt. There really was no time to be anxious. We crammed in as much as we could in those 5 days. It was a complete whirlwind.

The first half of our trip was spent with friends who graciously let us stay with them in their home and who showed us New Jersey and the countryside of New York state. The second half they had to work so that's when Nate and I spent time on our own in NYC.

These photos, or postcards if you will, are all in chronological order so you can get a real sense of what we did and saw each day of the trip. I hope you enjoy!

Seaside Heights (Jersey Shore)

It rained all day until serendipitiously as we set foot on the beach, the rain let up.

We took the train to Cold Spring New York 

Central Park

The Met Museum

We walked the first floor for 3 hours. So much to see!

Chelsea Market

The High Line area was one of my favorites.

The Oculus and WTC 

So incredibly moving. Our friend works close by so we rode into the city with him and got to watch the sun come up over the 9/11 memorial.

Brooklyn, probably my number one favorite area 

Sezane where I bought a little black wallet I'll share in another post.

Overall it was an A+ vacation and all of my Autumn dreams have been satisfied. The only real question remaining is...when can we do it again? But if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask!

Linking up with On The Daily Express and Straight A Style.

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The Monthly Edit // October

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go."

Unknown

I keep saying this to everyone I've spoken to lately, and I'll say it again to you; this month has been epic! I didn't think October could top the excitement of this Summer, but after our whirlwind trip to New Jersey and New York, I take back what I said last month regarding Fall. It may not be a thing here in California, but if you live in a state that actually gets to experience the beauty of it then I completely understand the allure. October on the east coast is just magical. 

I'll have a complete photo diary of the trip next week so I don't want to be repetitive in this post. I'll admit that I'm still trying to catch up on sleep and everything else, so let's just dive right in!

Visiting NYC this time of year was an absolute pleasure. Nate and I sat at the Highline Hotel for about an hour taking in the sights and sounds of the city. 

Camping at Vail Lake with friends at the beginning of the month was the perfect way to kick start Fall. We enjoyed the mild weather, watched our friends' kids dress up and go trick or treating throughout the campgrounds at night, and grabbed some of Vail's famous bloody Mary's at the cafe in the morning. This camping trip is a tradition so we look forward to it all year long! 

Eating my fair share of soup now that it's cool enough to do so. My favorite is French onion (look at all that cheese). I've never made it myself but now I'm on a mission to see if I can attempt at least a decent one! If you have a recipe, please share it with me. 

Packing for our trip proved to be pretty successful. I will say that we did such an extraordinary amount of walking that I wore my Nike sneakers the whole trip. I've never been a sneakers girl, but who has time for blisters when there's so much to see! Plus, I like how sleek this particular pair looks so you may be seeing them on me in a proper outfit post. I did wear some slip-ons on the plane and for the first day, but I'm just happy I'm at a point in my life where I'm not a slave to uncomfortable shoes anymore. 

Watching Peaky Blinders season 5. In my opinion, best season yet! There are only 6 episodes though so we went through it pretty quickly and I'm a bit annoyed by that. I could watch Cillian Murphy all.damn.day. Here's the trailer if you want to catch up.

Thing(s) I Liked In October: 

 I finished personal training sessions at an athletic sports club that Nate goes to. Man oh man was it tough, but I pushed myself and realized that yes, I can do hard things despite the fact that I'm not athletic at all. I still have yet to start taking the group classes with Nate, but I'm challenging myself to begin next week. After all the food we ate on our trip, my jeans are tight.

Thing(s) I Didn't Like In October: 

There were many times that I didn't feel like blogging, so I didn't. Which is fine, but it can also be frustrating. I find that I've been self-censoring a lot lately, meaning I have things to write about but I've seen such an increase in people sharing way too much on the internet that it's honestly embarrassing. There's a fine line. I don't know, maybe I'm being a prude and overreacting but sometimes it seems like nothing is private anymore and I just can't wrap my head around that. 

That's it for now but I'll be back next week. Happy Friday!

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Fall Beauty Edit

I'm so excited because as you are reading this, I'm on a plane en route to New York! I can't think of a better way to celebrate Fall than with a trip to the east coast! We don't have any set plans, but I'll be sure to share everything we did once we get back next week.

In the meantime, I wanted to put together a round-up of all the beauty products and treatments I've been using for the last month (some products I've been in love with for much longer than that). I think a lot of people switch up their beauty routines for the changing season, and Fall is the time where I really like to focus on hydration to combat dryness and dullness, as well as a more sophisticated and polished makeup look. In the Summer I just wing it and often go without much makeup at all!

Let's start with nails though. I've always loved doing my own. Growing up, my mom was a manicurist and I learned a lot by watching her do her clients' nails. A couple years ago, I decided to try gel polish for the first time and I enjoyed the results so much that I unintentionally turned it into a bi-monthly habit. I never experienced any issues or had any concerns until my nails started breaking more frequently over the Summer and they even became sore to the touch. The last time I got the gel polish removed was painful, so I knew it was time to give my poor nails a break. It's been exactly one month and I'm just now beginning to polish them myself again (just regular polish). They look fine, but I'm keeping them very short and applying this nail strengthener a few times a week to get them back into good condition. Honestly, it's been fun rediscovering all the lovely colors I'd been neglecting. I'm sticking to light, neutral shades until I feel confident wearing darker colors again. I will probably do gel nails at some point, maybe for Christmas, but letting my natural nails breathe is my focus this season.

Normally around this time, I like to start wearing bolder lips in shades of plum and wine. Since buying the Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk kit during the Nordstrom anniversary sale, I haven't had any desire to put anything else on my lips! It truly is the most wearable, sexy, flattering shade I've ever worn, and it lasts long too. That's not to say I won't pull out some of my other Fall favorites, but it's not going to be easy! I keep the liner, lipstick, and gloss in my bag so they're always on hand. You really need to try pillow talk if you haven't already!

As for hair, as soon as I discovered the Ouai this year, I have been completely hooked on their products. I really don't put much in my hair, but their leave-in conditioner is a must before blow drying. It leaves my hair soft and manageable, and the smell is incredible. So much so that I bought the corresponding perfume last month and have been wearing it daily. I also wanted to mention these hair ties called invisibobbles. Have you guys seen these? I put my hair up a lot now when I'm at home, and these hold it all in place without leaving any kinks or marks afterward. I keep one in my bag and the rest are scattered throughout my house! I just hope I don't end up losing them all, which is inevitably what happens.

Lastly, I know you've probably seen these products before on the blog in some capacity, but these are hands-down my must-haves in my makeup collection. I use them daily!

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD foundation: full to medium buildable coverage that looks natural and beautiful especially in photos. I've been wearing it for years.

Tarte Shape Tape concealer: The only concealer you need! I dot some under my eyes, as well as on any spots I may have going on in the chin area.

Tatcha The Silk Canvas primer: I use this with or without makeup for an even complexion and less noticeable pores. It glides on so smoothly and feels very moisturizing. Clearly I need another one asap!

Fenty Pro Filtr Powder in lavender: I'm convinced this is why my makeup lasts much longer than it used to. Just a few swipes to set everything in place and I'm good to go. Also, don't let the shade fool you - it's translucent.

Does your beauty routine change in the Fall? What are some of your favorites?

I'll be back later next week with another post. See you here!

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Early Fall Outfit With Closet Essentials

As October moves along, I'm (finally) beginning to embrace Fall dressing. I've come to the strange conclusion that my reluctance towards cooler weather really comes down to the fact that I just feel more attractive in the Summer. I hate admitting that because it sounds so vain but if I'm being honest, breezy colorful dresses, air-dried hair, and sun kissed skin makes me feel happiest and just more...well, me. 

That doesn't mean that I can't enjoy Fall fashion though because there's definitely a lot to love. During a cool spell last week, I pulled out some closet essentials I'd been saving, along with a brand new t-shirt I ordered during the most recent Shopbop sale. 

Wearing // LOFT belted wrap (sold out but similar style), LOFT jeans, Rails leopard tee, Target sandals (I also have them in the lower block heel)

Beauty // Lips in Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk

This belted camel wrap is unfortunately sold out. It's such a shame because it's the perfect transitional piece to throw on over basic tanks and t-shirts. I wore it open and closed, and I really can't decide which way I prefer. Both options are great! I live in floral kimonos during the Summer, and this knit wrap is similar while still providing a layer of warmth. Plus camel is so chic, isn't it? Pair any pair of jeans with a camel sweater or coat and you instantly look polished.

Speaking of jeans, I'm realizing that this is my first post wearing pants since June 17th! I've worn them a few times off the blog, but that just falls in line with my whole Summer of dresses thing. These crisp, dark wash skinny jeans are a new favorite even though I bought them months ago. They are the curvy skinny jeans from Loft's petite line, and they are true to size. They lay flat against my tummy, are roomy in the hips and thighs, and have the right amount of stretch. I highly recommend them if you're looking for an affordable, comfortable pair of classic skinnies.

Now, I can't really justify the leopard print tee even though I love the fit, fabric, and design. Rails is one of my favorite brands for luxuriously soft shirts, but the prices are honestly kind of outrageous and I'm actually embarrassed I paid as much as I did on this t-shirt. (Macklemore's thrift shop song comes to mind). However, it was on sale and I've already worn it a couple times. Quality over quantity wins again.

Some variation of this outfit is bound to become my Fall uniform. What will be yours?

Linking up with my friends at On The Daily Express and Straight A Style.

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My Fall Shopping List & Packing For NYC

It's finally beginning to feel ever so slightly like Fall around here, although it's supposed to be over 80 today! We go back and forth a lot, but even if the weather isn't cooperative, I'm slowly putting away my Summer accessories and shoes in favor of more seasonally appropriate options just to get myself in the mood. My friend pointed out that just because California doesn't experience four seasons doesn't mean you can't create your own version of them. All the more reason to actually. And she's totally right.

I like a very casual bohemian style in Summer, but come Fall, I'm all about classic pieces. Think dark denim, chic flats, long cardigans, cable knit sweaters, and plenty of texture. I have most of these basics in my wardrobe already, but there are a few things I'd like to buy not only for Fall at home but also before I head to New York City in just a couple weeks. It's fast approaching and I really need to get on top of it! usually I have more time to prepare for a trip since Nate and I aren't exactly world travelers, but I can't express enough how excited I am to just go without overthinking it.

These are the things on my current wish list. I'm unsure if they'll all work for me, but I'm going shopping next week to try some on in person. I'll report back after my trip so I can explain in detail everything I packed and wore.

Pictured:
// Long sleeve dress // Cognac ankle boots // Leopard t-shirt // Black jeans // Satin midi // Slip-on sneakers



Thankfully, my shopping list is fairly small because as I said before, I already own some great essentials. I do worry about getting cold in New York so I plan on bringing some layering pieces like a scarf and some tights. I know layering is the key! Our trip is less then a week long so rotating between 7 or 8 pieces total will be easy. It's all about comfort, practicality, and obviously feeling as put-together as I can because it's NYC after all.

The items (or similar) below are all coming with me, and they're all perfect basics that I think you will love for Fall and beyond. I've worn them all in various posts, especially the Sezane bag that I still can't get enough of!

Pictured:
// Olive utility jacket // Similar Sezane bag // Blush cardigan // Spanx faux leather leggings // Gorjana necklace // Leopard mules


Have you been to New York City in the Fall? I'd still love to hear any recommendations you may have!

Linking up with On The Daily Express and Straight A Style.

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The Monthly Edit // September

"A fallen leaf is nothing more than a Summer's wave goodbye."

Unknown

Happy October ladies! As usual, I have no idea where the year went but I'm just plugging along. Sometimes I think we focus too much on seasons and it all begins to feel contrived, but who am I to judge? This world feels like it's gone mad some days, so if pumpkin patches and football games give people joy then more of that please! I've actually been feeling a little blue about Summer ending, but I know I'll snap out of it soon.
It does feel like Fall here in the early mornings and at night, and I'm realizing that there are plenty of holes in my wardrobe that need to be filled before Nate and I go to New York City in a few weeks. I made a small list of things I need, and I'll share that in my next post. I cannot wait to experience Fall on the east coast!

In the meantime, here are some highlights from September.

Exploring local boutiques has become a recent hobby of mine. I went to a San Diego based shop called Pigment, and it was a bohemian dream. Tons of plants, home decor, accessories, books, fun and unique gifts. I picked up a baby shower present but I plan on going back and getting this coffee table book.  They have three locations but I went to One Paseo in Del Mar. If you're ever in the San Diego area, you must go.

Shopping at Sephora for a new perfume. My sweet friends Gina and Caryl gave me a gift card for my birthday and I wanted to use it to get something special. You guys know I love my Kai perfume oil and have worn it for years as a signature scent, but ever since trying Ouai products on my hair I have been obsessed with how amazing the products all smell. Brilliant to create corresponding perfumes. I had a hard time choosing between Melrose Place and North Bondi, but ultimately went with North Bondi. Both are floral, with North Bondi having notes of Italian lemon, bergamot, jasmine, and white musk. Melrose Place is well...heavy on the rose. Which I do really love, but North Bondi just dried down and settled better on my skin.

Who am I kidding, I could have bought both! I literally walked out of the store, thought about it, walked back in and still had trouble deciding. Anyway, Kai will always be my signature fragrance, but it's fun trying something new.

Eating all the Italian food. The bruschetta from Robert Renzoni Winery in Temecula is drool-worthy with pesto, prosciutto, sweet tomato, spicy pepper, and oil. Divine. I had a similar bruschetta at Isola in Little Italy just a couple weeks later while visiting Katie, so clearly I'm on a kick.

Drinking Irish whiskey on the rocks! I'm not sure how or why I decided that I like whiskey after years of thinking it tastes like gasoline, but Nate is very proud of me since it's his drink of choice. Instead of having a glass of wine while watching some of our favorite shows at night, I now enjoy a double pour of Jameson and drink it s l o w l y. The mural below is coincidentally located at One Paseo so I had to snap a picture after leaving Pigment!

Watching Succession on HBO was our Sunday night ritual in September, and there are only two episodes left of the season. It was a slow burn in season one, and it took awhile to get going but now I'm hooked. I also watched Unbelievable on Netflix that broke my heart, but the acting was outstanding and the ending leaves you feeling hopeful.

Overall, I loved September and I'm sorry that it's over but here's to looking forward to making the most of the last months of 2019!

How was your month? Any big plans in October?

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