Poor Trent. When we shot the rainbow dress, I was obsessed with the photos and fell in love with the really pulled back shots. So now whenever we shoot, I’m all like… “can you make me small again?” and now he has to carry around two different lenses. Ha. We both enjoy it though – it’s fun shooting from different perspectives and keeps things interesting! So here I am again… small in some photos, regular in others.
A few months ago I went to the Cabana trade show in the city and met Anjali Mehta, the founder of Verandah. I fell in loveeee with this hand beaded kimono at the show and she sent it to me last week! I think what drew me to it is that it’s so much like my apartment (color-wise), in clothing form. Just so pretty, and the hand beaded details are really beautiful. I don’t need to tell you how into kimonos I am – plenty of evidence here (vintage!), here (layered!), and here (palm leaves!) – but I think what I love most about them is how versatile they are (you can wear them with jeans or a dress, you can wear them to the beach, or even lounge in them at home if you’re feeling like a fancy lady.
I hope you guys had a good weekend. Mine was a mix of work and laziness. I was really exhausted from the week so had a good little TV marathon on Saturday afternoon (a friend suggested The Last Man on Earth which is campy and funny… and each episode is only 22 minutes long which is kinda nice). It’s pretty entertaining. Sometimes you just need something light and fun!
Outfit Details: Studio Verandah Kimono (c/o) // Tibi Silk Camisole // Sanctuary Jeans (on major sale!) // Loeffler Randall Coco Heels // Polaroid Sunglasses // Lindroth Design Mini Birkin Basket
In more embarrassing news, those close to me know that a) I am usually burning multiple candles at a time, b) I can be rather forgetful, and c) I can also be a little anxious.
I was really exhausted on Saturday, so I spent spent most of the day reading + marathoning TV on the couch. During this time, I decided to light 3 candles because you know, ambience.
Later in the day, I took a two hour restorative yoga workshop with acupuncture at Sky Ting in Tribeca. (This is an amazing class they have by the way. They do it once a month or so – deeply restorative poses with tons of props (like adult nap time basically) and at the end they have an acupuncturist place needles inside of your ears. It’s so relaxing). But ANYWAY, about twenty minutes into a restorative side bend, I remembered the candles. And I was full on convinced that the candles were still lit. Convinced.
Convinced… but clearly not convinced enough to get up from class and go home. As convinced as I was that the candles were lit and that my apartment was on fire, I was also convinced that I was crazy and had blown the candle out. So I spent those two hours alternating between the morbid thought that I had burned down my entire apartment building (killing Tyrion but also my best friend’s cat – she lives upstairs), subsequently losing all of my possessions and cat and having my friends never speak to me… and another voice in my head telling me that I am actually completely nuts and definitely blew the candles out.
So what was it?
Well, as I’m writing this post on my computer on a Sunday afternoon in a smoke-free apartment while a very much alive Tyrion lounges at my feet, you might have guessed that yes – I blew the candles out. Much to my relief, I returned to a quiet, unharmed apartment. But I felt really crazy – and I definitely did not reap all of the benefits of the workshop because my mind couldn’t turn off between the two voices (“you burned your house down!” “you’re insane!”) in my head!
The lesson here (I think) is to be more mindful of things as I do them. I don’t remember blowing the candles out. Clearly I did blow them out, but I need to be better at paying attention and maybe even noting things I do as I do them. In meditation there is a practice that’s actually called noting which can be used to help focus the breath. As you meditate (and breathe), you say (or note) to yourself “I’m breathing in. I’m breathing out.” So, maybe internally noting that I’ve blown out the candle, and same with “I have my keys, I’m putting them in my purse,” and other things I tend to later panic about. I don’t know you guys. Sometimes I feel like a crazy person!
photography by Trent Bailey.
Kimonos are perfect for layering… and especially great since it’s so hot right now! I love the way the hand beaded kimono you’re wearing flows out behind you. Gorgeous piece. 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Totally agree – thanks Charmaine! xx
I did similar last week only with thinking I left curling iron on and plugged in. The constant debate in my head did I turn it off and/or unplug or is it sitting on my vanity smouldering. The debate went on including if I should leave work and trek the distance back home. Even engaging a coworker in my debacle. The coworker insisted the safety switch on electrical outlet would do the trick. Hmmm do I even have a safety switch. I live in an old factory building converted to a loft. Do I inlist the Super to go check then realizing the bed was left unmade and my unmentionables out hanging to dry. I instead trusted that I did the responsible thing and luckily my story too has a happy ending.
Betsie, I used to panic about leaving my curling iron on all the time! So much so that my fiance bought me several Smart Outlets for Christmas (for the bathroom and also for the iron). You plug it into the outlet and it’s linked to an app on my phone so if I fear that I forgot to turn it off, I can turn off the whole outlet from my phone just to be safe. It’s helped me so much!!
However, that doesn’t solve the candle dilemma (which I’m guilty of leaving them burning!) so I agree with Grace about being very mindful with those types of things!
Oh my goodness I need Smart Outlets – that sounds incredible!
Thanks so much Kelly!! I will def be making the investment in these. Never heard of them before. Appreciate you sharing this info. 🙂
Whew – I got stressed for you Betsie! (And laughed about your unmentionables hanging to dry!)
I used to do that all the time too, except with leaving my curling iron or tea kettle plugged in and on. It’s such an annoying feeling! To get over this “phase” I try and do a purposefully quick scan of my home before I leave – is everything blown out/unplugged and is the door locked. It takes another minute to get out the door but it stops my brain from lighting up with ‘did you do x” all day. Anyways, you look beautiful! I love the cuff detail on the kimono.
Have a wonderful Monday, xAllie
http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com
The most annoying! I love the idea of doing a quick scan before you leave!!!
I actually have two embarrassing stories . When I was in high school, one of my classmates had a really devastating house fire that was started because their neighbor had an electrical fire and it spread to three or four homes on the block. The next day, one of my teachers was talking about the importance of going over everything before you leave the house and making sure nothing is left plugged in, and I spent the rest of the day stressing out that I left my straightener plugged in! The smart thing to do would have been to sneak into the bathroom and call my grandma who lived across the street and ask her to check, but instead I just sat through 8 hours of class convinced that I would get home and my house would be burned to a crisp.
After that stressful day you would think that I learned my lesson. BUT about a year ago, I left a candle burning in my bathroom all night and didn’t realize until I woke up the next morning ♀️.
Aw those aren’t embarrassing!!!! But yeah – good to be mindful!!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing, makes me feel more normal! xo
LOVE this kimono on you!
But also, don’t feel crazy — I’ve definitely had these thoughts before as well and drove myself crazy. Love that you mentioned being more “mindful” in these situations though…so smart and really something to think about.
The Champagne Edit
Thank you so much Dana (and thanks for sharing!!) Hope you had a great weekend. xx
I am SO absent-minded, so I love this idea of noting things. This most frequently happens to me with packing for trips and it works me up into so much anxiety! But even in day-to-day life, yes, sometimes I have zero recollection of doing things because my mind had already jumped ahead to the next thing — or was stuck on thinking about something that *had* happened. I’m definitely trying to be more mindful myself, too. I think it’s extra challenging with all the stimuli in NYC…but that’s why we need it.
Yes I totally agree… NYC (and working in this social media space) can make you really overstimulated and absent-minded as a result!!!!
What a gorgeous look!
María Eugenia | http://www.thegirlonanisland.com
https://www.thegirlonanisland.com/2018/05/the-guide-to-perfect-weekend-in-miami.html
Thank you Maria!
Gorgeous photos! Love that kimono, and trying to figure out to incorporate one into my life. As far as candles go, I had a (cello) student once whose firefighter dad always brought her to her lessons. He’d sit on my sofa and read a John Grisham book while I taught in the other room and one day, when we came out from my studio, he had an armful of candles he had collected from around my condo and said. “I’m just going to do you a favor and dispose of these for you”. And he really took them!
Oh my gosh that’s really funny! I would be mad if someone did that… candles can be expensive!
I had the SAME crazy thoughts in my head about a candle I might or might not have blown out for an entire WEEKEND! And of course I came home and everything was just fine. But I felt like a total crazy person. Now, whenever I light candles during the day, I have to blow them out specifically in the bathroom so that I’m mindful of the fact that I actually blew them out. Anyway, love your blog! xo
I am so glad I am not the only one! Thanks for sharing, Cady! xoxo
Gorgeous outfit. The kimono + shoe combo is killer. And yes, I constantly worry about similar things when I leave the house, ESPECIALLY when I travel. I actually have a checklist for before I travel now to check things like the oven, the heater, etc. etc. bc I’ve ruined a few vacation days worrying…
OMG yes that is now me as I get ready for Cuba!!! Always something to stress over!!!!
Loving this outfit!! The shoes couldn’t be more perfect with the kimono!
xx, Merritt
The Style Scribe
Thank you so much Merritt! xx
Hey! Sooooooo, tell us please how your green slides held up at that terrible rainy Derby????
Haha first of all it wasn’t terrible. Rainy yes, but not terrible.
They’re fine! They were a little stiff at first (the fabric) but it softened right up again. I mean it’s just not ideal to wear velvet shoes in the rain but they’re fine.
I left a candle burning for over 24 hrs this weekend. My bf blew out the one in the glass container, but didn’t notice the one in metal, up on our mantel. Luckily nothing bad happened, it just happily burned away, but still – yikes!
Oh no!!! That’s the absolute worst! So scary – glad nothing happened.
That’s so funny you say that Grace! I’m the same way about unplugging my iron, and my mom had us do this same thing as when we were little— literally every time I unplug it I say rather loudly “I unplugged the iron!” and 9 times out of 10 that makes me feel better about it! haha. We always doubt ourselves and yet it’s always fine!
haha Susan, you are so right. We always doubt ourselves but are usually fine!
I always worry about similar things like the candles, and now will often do something before I leave to help me remember I completed the task – like tap the doorframe a few times when I unplug the curling iron. If you rotate through your “memory” tasks, I find I will remember tapping the doorway more than actually unplugging the iron. I’m not sure my explanation was 100% clear but I’ve found it helps! 🙂
right? so stressful.
I love that idea – totally makes sense. Thanks for sharing!