Back to Basics

I can be very lazy about shopping for some things (shoes not being one of them), but if there is one category of clothing that I just don't like shopping for, it's basics. They may be the simplest, most essential items of my wardrobe, carried by almost every department store, yet I absolutely dread shopping for them.

There are a number of reasons why I hate shopping for basics, the first being that since they are items that I wear often, finding the perfect fit is essential. This usually means trying on numerous garments, in numerous stores, for numerous hours. Then there is the fact that I can wear and love a particular item for a number of years, only to have to replace it and find out the cut has been ruined "improved," by the brand. The latter reason never fails me.

But there really is no getting around it. Too often when I'm getting dressed, I find myself reaching/wanting to wear that one item that I should have but don't. So before I even think about shopping for fall, I need to make a well edited list (check it twice, sorry, couldn't resist) and get to shopping for my essentials. Because whether it's a simple black dress to take me from day to night, or a casual chambray top for a day of fun, no matter what the season or the reason, they are the items that get me through it all. 

Old Navy knit tank dress, American Eagle denim jacket, J.Crew silk tank, H&M chiffon blouse, Mossimo ponte knit pants, J.Crew Factory cardigan, Old Navy chambray shirt

What are some items you consider your basics? Also, if anyone wants to do the buying/returning of these items for me, feel free. I kid, I kid. 

At the Open

Banana Republic Outlet tshirt dress (this one in black!), Old Navy espadrilles, Longchamp bag

Monogram necklace by Marinette Jewelry via Etsy

After the fun I had at last year's US Open, I was really hoping that I would be able to attend this year. Well, I got my wish, not once, but twice (Thanks again, Dad!)!! Two full days of tennis in the greatest city in the world? Yes, please. (In case you couldn't tell, I am falling in love with NY all over again, but more on that in a later post.) 

Over the two days spent at the Open, I got to see more of the grounds, some of the players in practice, and experience a match in the rain/delay where Rafael Nadal took his shirt off and changed at least three times... From Victoria Azarenka to Serena and Venus Williams in singles and doubles matches, it was a great few days of live tennis, and another memorable year for sure. 

Even if your not a tennis fan, I think a day, even just a match, at the Open is worth trying just once. The grounds alone are worth visiting with so much to do, live music, and of course food. (There's a gorgeous Moët & Chandon terrace and a wine/tapas style bar that I'm already planning to try next year...) It's so easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and cheer on whoever is playing, even if you may not know them well or even get the game. It is truly spectacular and like they say "nothing beats being here." 

Don't Let a Slip Become a Slide.

While every birthday is one worth celebrating, there are certainly milestone years that are extra special. Thirteen is the first year as a teenager. Eighteen means your a legal adult that can vote. Twenty-one means being able to buy alcohol...legally, and so on and so forth. It goes on and on (until, you know...), with each year holding a different meaning and significance to everyone. 

Turning twenty-four was a very strange year for me that could only be describe as a limbo year; everything just felt so uncertain. From graduating college to job hunting, to being in a weird place with different friendships, and figuring out my own self and what I wanted from life, I felt like I was going through that awkward stage of puberty all over again (which let's be real, it wasn't fun the first time around). I definitely asked my mother to house me in her womb again, to which I got maaaajor side eye. While I felt happy with the growth and progress I was making in various aspects of my life, it was often plagued by feelings of sadness and anger that I was not further along in life, and all of the emotions that come with a quarter-life crisis. 

But the last year has been a great lesson, and an even bigger turning point for me. I learned the importance of not letting my circumstances define me, and I finally began to come in to my own, realizing what it is I want out of life, who I want in my life, and feeling safe and secure within my own skin. Most importantly, I finally stopped letting insignificant things take so much control over me. Insignificant things such as my weight. Yes, in the past my weight has been an issue when it involved my health, but that's just it, in the past. I used to be absolutely terrified of gaining the weight back, but when I realized recently that I had gained a few pounds this past summer, (I never said my summer diet was the best...) I shrugged it off and went about my merry way. Not because I'm reverting back to old my ways (defffffinitely not), but because I know I won't "let a slip become a slide," and that a few pounds in the grand scheme of things is temporary and mean nothing. They may indicate all of the delicious food I've consumed this summer, but they don't define me or how I feel about myself.

Twenty-five feels like my official entry into adulthood, and already I feel differently, even if my birthday is still days away. Whatever it may bring, I am ready to go in to this next chapter of my life, happy and finally free of the stigma that has plagued me for so long. No matter what the scale or a clothing tag may say, they no longer define me.

 I do.

*original image via. 

One of Those Perfect NYC Weekends...

I am still laughing and reminiscing (and recuperating cause I'm old) from the whirlwind that was this past weekend. The best part of the long weekend was getting to see a few of my friends from elementary/middle school including my friend Andrea, who was in town from Seattle for a few days. 

Andrea and another classmate from out of town planned a reunion since it's been a long while since we've all seen each other. But after seeing the "attending" list on Facebook, I was dead set on not going. Not knowing the backstory, it may seem a bit childish. But if you've ever had a tough time in school and been bullied (and to a physical extent,) there are just some people that you just never want to see again, under no circumstance. (Unless there is a million dollars involved...)

I was really sad to miss out, but I didn't want to miss out on seeing Andrea, so we made other plans for the day. We met up earlier in the afternoon (along with two of her friends who were super sweet!) had lunch and observed the beauty of Grand Central station (we even saw a couple get engaged!), shared macarons at Laduree, and enjoyed window shopping down a very quiet Madison Avenue.  I was really enjoying the afternoon and as fate would have it, there was a cancellation by said attendee.  I never told Andrea why I wasn't attending, but once she told me the news, the cat was out of the bag. I couldn't be happier that I could now attend the reunion, with no worries. It was so great catching up with everyone, bowling at Lucky Strike, having dinner at Sea, walking The Highline (my absolute favorite place!), and just enjoying the city on a beautiful summer night. From all the food, to the laughs, to the perfect twist of fate, I really could not ask for a better weekend to end the summer with.