June 19, 2013

Stars and Stripes

Boston is a town full of history and beautiful architecture.  So, when my outfit consisting of a lot of lines (er, stripes) matched a background of vertical planes and a bouquet of flags, it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise.  Add a bit of denim and some Elvis-inspired sandals, and there was a veritable riot of Americana in effect.  With the Fourth of July just a few weeks away, this gave me some inspiration for summer holiday dressing.

I’m already missing Boston.  But it feels lovely to be home in San Francisco!

Dress: Proenza Schouler / Denim Jacket: J. Crew / Shoes: Isabel Marant (here in tan, here in white) / Bag: Alexander Wang

June 17, 2013

Rainbows Over Boston

Tonight, in an epic finale to our stay in Boston, an enormous double rainbow appeared over the city.  Capping off a few days of glorious summer weather, rain blew in an out, leaving the most stunning rainbows I’ve ever witnessed.  Though I tried fervently to take as many pictures as possible (our cab driver, driving us to dinner with friends, kindly stopped more than once to indulge my desire to capture the wondrous site), pictures don’t really capture exactly how amazing (and wildly bright) this rainbow (and its brother) were.

Some Bostonians took these signs of the glory of nature to mean that the Bruins would win their game that evening.  I’m sure there were other interpretations as well.  We were driving down Boylston Street (right near the finish line of the Boston Marathon) when we noticed them, so that could lead to other interpretations, if you’re the kind of person who looks to nature for signs.

Though I’m not afraid to look for signs from above in just about anything, on this occasion, I was just wowed and grateful for these amazing spectacles and the chance to see them.  Thankful for the time in the city I consider my homebase, appreciative for all the wonderful time I’ve spent with friends and family here, and, well, just grateful, in general.

Now, we head home.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that those rainbows held good tidings for the cross-country flight we’re about to make with our young kids.

I’ll let you know how it goes. . . .

June 16, 2013

Lush City

Boston is as beautiful as ever right now.  Lots of Spring rain has made the city verdant and gorgeous.  I tried to match the lush greens of the vegetation with my pants, with their bright kelly color and their bold floral print.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  When in Boston, I wore bright florals and blended right in with the surroundings.

Late Spring and Summer are my favorite times of year in Boston.  It’s warm, and the magic of the city is apparent during these beautiful days.  Spending memorable time with family and friends have made this time even more magical.  I’ll share my “Boston Musts” with you later in the week.

Happy Monday!

Pants: J. Crew (similar here, and I also love these) / Camisole: Hellesey (similar here) / Denim Jacket: J. Crew / Shoes: Isabel Marant (here in tan, here in white) / Bag: Alexander Wang (also here)

June 12, 2013

Heading Home

I am so thrilled to be heading home to Boston!!  It’s been nearly a year since I’ve been there, and I haven’t been back since we moved to the West Coast.  I didn’t mind missing the long, cold winter in Boston, but I am super excited to be heading back.

As much as I’ve been loving life in San Francisco (did I mention there’s no winter?), there’s something about summer in Boston that just takes my breath away.  I can’t wait to be back there, smelling the Boston air, feeling the warm nights (which also don’t exist in San Francisco), viewing the beautiful skyline, seeing all the Red Sox hats, eating Lobster, visiting with family. . . .  Ahhhh, there’s nothing like it.

I’ve noticed that since I left Boston, I’ve been punctuating more sentences with the word “wicked” (as in, “It’s wicked cold in here.”).  This is a typical Boston adverb (you insert it where you’d otherwise say “very” or “super”).  I can’t remember if I used the word much when I lived there, but now that I’m far away, it’s one of the tiny ways I keep myself tethered to Boston (along with my undying love of Tom Brady, the view from Storrow Drive, and lobster rolls).

I can’t wait to get a fix of my favorite city, and to share my love for the city with my kids.  I hope that, as they grow up, they’ll love Boston as much as I do.

Do you have a city you feel like this about?

June 11, 2013

So(ul) Excited!

I can hardly contain the excitement I’m feeling over the arrival of one of my favorite things on Earth to my area. This weekend Soul Cycle (the spinning studio that had previously only been in NYC and LA) came to San Francisco (well, more accurately, it came to Marin County, but it’ll arrive in San Francisco toward the end of the summer).

A few summers ago, I spent time at their Bridgehampton studio.  There, I developed an intense love of all things related to Soul Cycle. I also happened to meet Kelly Ripa (an ardent fan of Soul Cycle, who happens to be as sweet, fun, and pint-sized as you’d imagine). She congratulated me after I finished my first class (see, I told you she was sweet!) and told me that it takes about five classes before you feel like you’re truly in the groove.   That said, I developed an addiction to its heart-pounding workout just about right away.

If you’ve heard of Soul Cycle before, but not yet experienced it, it may seem like some kind of exercise cult, given how addicted its clients get (and how vociferous they are, myself included), but really it’s just the raddest spin studio EVER!!!!  I never liked spinning before (or exercise classes, for that matter– I’m more of a solo exerciser), but combined with candlelight, amazing music, and inspiring instructors, it’s an unparalleled work-out experience.  Combine a yoga/running high and a dance party and you have Soul Cycle.

Soul Cycle was recently acquired by Equinox, and it is expanding rapidly.  If it’s not already in your area, it probably will be soon.  In the meantime, you can bring the Soul Cycle experience to you by:

1) downloading some of the music they use in their classes here (I also have found the Pop and Hip-Hop Power Workout station on Pandora to play similar tunes)

2) you can purchase their grapefruit-scented candles and burn them near you while doing your own home workout (with the lights down low).  I’ll admit that if you come into my home gym, you’ll find three of them around our workout equipment.

3) there’s plenty of other Soul gear, including the Soul Cycle bike, which you can purchase, if you’re really desperate (which I may have been over these years). . .

I made due with these strategies during the years between my actual Soul Cycle experiences, and I have to say, while they certainly can’t capture the community feeling that Soul Cycle classes engender, they helped me to approximate the unparalleled Soul Cycle workout until one came to my area.  The grapefruit-scented candle can put a smile on my face any old time.  But now there’s a Soul Cycle in my area.  So excuse me while I go celebrate (and ride)!

Photo via

June 10, 2013

Ready to Dye

I’ve never been a big tie dye gal.  I was never a Dead head, my attempts at DIY clothing have mostly failed miserably, and really, tie dye just doesn’t usually fit with my overall aesthetic (which only recently began including prints at all).  But this Tory Burch dress had me at hello.  Its prim shape is a perfect foil for the laid-back tie dye pattern.  I have to say, I was all in the moment I saw it.  With some silver shoes and a neon bag, my foray into tie dye felt like a major success.

How about you?  Are you into tie dye?  (Now that I’ve dipped my toe in the water, I think it’d be fun to branch out into more tie dying opportunities.  Is it hard to do yourself?  Do tell.)

Happy Monday!

Dress: Tory Burch (also here, skirt version here) / Shoes: Prada / Bag: Celine (old, similar here and here)

June 7, 2013

Summer Staple

A white dress is a perfect summer staple, especially this summer.  When the temperatures rise, a crisp white dress seems like the perfect way to make the most of summer.  I love this one from Tibi, with lovely eyelet and embroidery details, but a simple enough shape to wear again and again.  It could easily be dressed up or down and would be perfect for a wide array of occasions, from barbecues to more festive soirees.  Don’t you think?

Have a happy weekend!!

Dress: Tibi