TheRightShoes

Guide to Marrakech

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 07 May 2018 02:02:00 +0000

Hello friends! It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Over a year, actually, and I'm sorry I've been so MIA. I fell out of blogging for many reasons but mostly because I was so exhausted putting effort and energy into something that wasn't totally fulfilling me. I felt more obligated to be posting versus letting it come naturally and given everything else I had going on, it just fell to the bottom of the priority list. But here we are and while I can't tell you how often I'll be posting because there's still a ton more important things going on, what I can tell you is that I'm super excited about this Guide to Marrakech post. I was extremely fortunate enough to go for my birthday last year and lately I've had an insane desire to go back. While I'm not quite ready to make that happen yet (aka many more places at the top of my travel list!), my friend Preston is headed there (tomorrow) and I have said for months (literally) that'd I'd do a guide post. So without further adieu...
Marrakech is a combination of craziness, beauty, romance and adventure. Crazy because it can be sensory overload (especially walking through the souks) and there are so many people, motor bikes, donkeys pulling carts, and shops that it can get quite overwhelming. Beautiful because, let's face it, if you've seen any pictures on instagram, the architectural details and colors sprinkled throughout the city are like no other. Romantic because there's just something in the desert air that's intoxicating. And adventurous because no day or route through the souks was the same. I went with my best friend from high school, Margot, and she was the perfect travel companion because she was down for anything. And was a lot less affected by culture shock than I because of her travels to India and through Central and South America. We spent 8 nights in the country which was the perfect amount of time for what we had planned (we had some things pre-arranged but also just went by the seat of our pants and it was the perfect balance). I only felt unsafe once because some man tried to give us unsolicited directions, demanded we pay him and gave us a hearty "f*ck you" when we said no. Otherwise, I loved the people in Morocco because they are so hospitable and kind. As far as what to wear, I just went by the general rule of thumb to stay fairly covered up with loose fitting clothes (considering I'm a blond Western woman, it felt like the best approach).

Here's a highlight reel of our trip!
Where to stay: we stayed at Riad Carina because I wanted a really authentic experience. Riads are small bed and breakfast/boutique-type hotels that are usually 5 - 12 rooms with a rooftop. Riad Carnia is inside the old city walls (the Medina) but it's in the southwest part of the Medina which just so happened to be on the other side of the souks from a lot of the places we went to eat and do things at. Next time I'd stay more in the northwest part of the city (or outside the Medina completely to have it feel a little more relaxed and vacation-y). Our friend Abbie stayed at Riad Adriana and highly recommended it.
What to do: shopping in the souks is a must and no, you don't need a guide. You just need to be comfortable negotiating, knowing how much you want to pay for something and being able to walk away if they won't meet your price. There will likely be another vendor with the same pottery, textiles or knick knacks. Some of my absolute favorite places we bought things at: Hanout (a boutique I purchased a handmade wool jacket from), Blaoui Abdelghani (where I purchased my insane fruit bowl - they had the most beautiful pottery!), Jad (for candles), and all the shops below Terrasse des épices (where I bought a blanket and all my pottery and drinking glasses). I went a little crazy but I had just moved into my apartment and was very excited to buy decor for it! There's also a great book I wish I had resourced before we went called Shopping in Marrakech.
If you can swing it, I highly HIGHLY recommend making it out to the Sahara desert. We did a three day guided tour with one overnight in the desert but if I did it again I'd plan to hire a private driver and stay at a more boutiquey camp. Not that ours was bad but it was quite an experience (very authentic berber experience). We booked our trip with Viator and I was not expecting the 13 hour car ride back from the desert (we took our time getting there and coming back was just an insane amount of time in the car). With a private driver you'd be able to kinda make your own schedule and make more stops if you want. If you don't want to trek all the way out to the Sahara desert, there are a ton of other options closer to Marrakech where you can still feel like you've escaped the city a bit.

The day after we got back from the desert we went to a hammam (Le Bain Bleu) and spent $60 on the best scrub/massage (traditional duo) I've ever had in my life. We had our riad call them so we could make a reservation.
The morning of my birthday we did a sunrise hot air balloon ride with Ciel d'Afrique and it was like nothing I've ever experienced. It was the most perfect sunrise and definitely worth the 4:30 AM wakeup call.

We also did tea at La Mamounia (which I could honestly take it or leave it, it wasn't what I expected but a fun way to get in and see the grounds) and visited Le Jardin Majorelle/the YSL Museum.

Where to eat: the highlights were Nomad (truly delicious modern Moroccan food with amazing vibes, highly recommend making a reservation), El Fenn (we went for lunch with a pre fixe menu and the food was great - really fresh Moroccan dishes), Terrasse des épices (we went TWICE. Once for lunch and for our last dinner - they have an "international" menu in case your heart desires a burger as a break from all the tajine like mine did), Pepe Nero (cute courtyard seating - we went for my bday dinner and they also had an "international" menu) and Le Foundouk (try to sit on the rooftop if you can - I think it would have elevated the meal for us). I would have liked to try Le Jardin but we didn't make it.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to live vicariously through Preston's posts and continue to scheme my dream of owning my own riad in Morrocco...

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The Right... Pieces That Move Me

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Following up to my quick life updated on Monday, I am so excited to share details on my next travel adventure: I'll be spending 9 days in France in April. If you've been following me long enough, you know I went to Paris, Florence and Milan a little over two years ago. I'm so excited to go back to France, I can hardly contain myself. I'll be spending a few days in Paris, running the Paris Marathon and exploring a few things I didn't see the first time, and then heading to the South of France (Nice, specifically) for the remainder of the week. I'm using Nice as my base for the week and plan to adventure around so if you have any suggestions (things to see/do, places I must eat at, etc.) send them my way!
In true Tracy fashion, I've been working on my packing list for quite some time now. My goal is to travel as light as possible (which will be a little tough considering I need to pack all my marathon gear!) so I can do some shopping while I'm there. I did some pretty light shopping buying souvenirs last time I was in Europe but my goal this time is to actually spend some money on myself. I also want to travel as light as possible because I've gotten quite used to only packing a carry on (even for trips home in the winter!). I fly standby a lot and carrying on is really the only way to go.

My travel outfit lists usually include versatile pieces that I can dress up or down or mix and match to get the most wear without having to pack different outfits for every single day. I was so excited when Banana Republic asked me to participate in their "What Moves Us" campaign. I'd say two of the biggest things that move me include versatile wardrobe pieces and experiencing new things by traveling to new places.

Versatile wardrobe pieces, like this amazing shirt dress, are great for traveling and also great to take from desk (with a blazer and heels) to weekend (with a scarf and flats). It'll definitely be making it into my suit case. And I can't forget about these ballet flats because I know they'll be super necessary while I run around France for the week.

Travel/Weekend Look: Banana Republic Shirt Dress (c/o), Banana Republic ballet flats (c/o), Gigi New York crossbody bag (c/o), Georgio Armani sunglasses, Scarf borrowed from Megan

Work Look: Zara boucle jacket (similar linked below), 3.1 Philip Lim Pashli, Nine West d'orsay pumps (similar linked below)

Would love to know - what moves you?

Shop the look:

Photos by Megan Zietz

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Early 2017 Life Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Hello friends! It's been a while since my last post and I apologize. Let me fill you in on life as of late:

After the NYC Marathon I went home for a quick weekend to surprise my grandma for her birthday (I still owe you a post on the NYC marathon - I could relive that day over and over again, it was so incredible!)

Celebrated my 29th birthday with SoulCycle, friends and bottomless brunch

Work was crazy through the end of the year which I was not prepared for

I went home to Reno for the holidays and had some solid couch/downtime

I have officially drank the SoulCycle koolaid and have been going just about every week since December

Started Training for the Paris marathon (at this point it's a short FOUR weeks away!)

Went to Tulum, Mexico for a friend's bachelorette weekend (working on a post for you soon because it was absolutely amazing)

And that's just the big things! I have been so excited for this year's adventures and challenges and so far it has not disappointed. I am working on a winter marathon training update to share with you because that's been one of the things taking up most of my time (and one of the biggest challenges I've faced this year).

In the meantime, tune back in Wednesday for a new outfit post with a brand that I absolutely love!

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The Right... Pop of Orange

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 13:00:00 +0000

J.Crew Trench Coat, Banana Republic Scalloped Dress (c/o), Charles by Charles David Nude Pumps, Philip Lim Pashli Bag, Banana Republic Earrings (c/o)

I have to admit, I've turned into one of those people that pretty much only wears black, white, grey and tan. Oh and the occasional olive. I pared down my wardrobe a ton earlier this year and left myself with this group of super neutral clothing which has been simple to style because everything matches, but I realized I'm missing that occasional POC. Cue Banana Republic coming to the rescue with this amazing scalloped dress. It's perfect for work with heels or can be dressed down with an oxford underneath and some sneaks for a casual weekend look. Oh and it has pockets and fits my hips. Which is a win in multiple departments.

In other news, I'm working on a full marathon recap which I hope to share very soon! It was such an amazing race - something I never expected to say about a full marathon!
Shop the post:
This post was written in partnership with Banana Republic - as always, all opinions are my own.

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Fitness Friday: One Week Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 12:30:00 +0000

I love fall mornings in the park with the mist over the Great Lawn

We're a total of 9 days away from the NYC Marathon and sh*t has gotten really real over the past few weeks. We've received our bib #s and start times and I've completed my 20 mile long run. I came back from my forced 10 day break and got right back into things and was feeling great and somewhat caught up on mileage so I decided I was ready to tackle a full 20 mile run (part of me had debating just doing 18 because I was nervous as hell...). It went off without a hitch and was one of the best long training runs I've ever had. Needless to say it gave me a ton of confidence for the big day! I am gearing up for the "last 10" mile run this weekend - it's organized by Jack Rabbit and Nike and we run the last 10 miles of the marathon course. Undoubtedly some of the hardest miles because it has the most hills and it's where people tend to start to struggle a bit. This part of the course was fairly blurry to me from the last time I ran the marathon because all I could focus on was getting across the finish line and trying to block out the pain I was in. So I'm definitely ready to soak in this part of the course and know there won't be many surprises on race day.

Pre-20 mile run!

Post-20 mile run and still smiling!!!

I'm also in the "taper" phase where mileage has decreased significantly and if you know any other runners this phase can be a little bit of a mind f*ck as well. You start to feel phantom pains that weren't there before and it's also a bit of an emotional roller coaster (in weird ways I can't really explain). For example, I got super depressed last Friday because work had been so busy and I was just exhausted and feeling really alone/isolated because I had made zero plans except my long run. A little weird, I know, but all part of the training I guess!

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The Right... Bourbon Trail Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! I must say, I forgot how much I love spending time in the kitchen on Sundays. Summer makes me much less motivated to meal prep and with all the traveling I've been doing lately, finding the time has been near impossible. I finally had an afternoon in the kitchen yesterday and it was really exciting. I also finally have a calm(er) week at work which means I can actually bring my lunch instead of eating out!

Speaking of all the traveling I've been doing, I'm finally catching my breath from all the weddings and finally have time to post more about our Bourbon Trail adventures from our trip to Lexington! We had a goal to tackle three distilleries - Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve and Four Roses - and set out super early since it was a 1.5 hour drive to Maker's Mark. I had no idea what to expect because I did minimal research leading up to the trip so luckily Jen did the Bourbon Trail planning for us. We pulled up to Maker's and I was instantly drawn to the dark grey and red color scheme of all the buildings. I also loved that it was nestled away in the hills and we later found out its because the water used in the distilling process comes straight from a lake nearby. The whole distillery felt very homey and welcoming. We learned a tremendous amount about the Maker's brand history and how the specific bourbon is made. Unfortunately the plant was shut down for cleaning for the month so we didn't get to see the fermentation in action. One of my favorite parts of the tour was in the rackhouse because you could literally smell the bourbon (call me crazy but bourbon is my liquor of choice and it smelled so amazing) - they call it "angels breath" and for good reason haha.
We were able to visit the bottling room where they were hand-dipping each bottle (yes, every bottle of Maker's Mark is hand dipped, making each seal unique). During the tasting I discovered a new favorite: Maker's 46 - it was so much smoother than regular Maker's Mark!

At the end of the tour we went to the gift shop and dipped our own bottles of Maker's! I went a little heavy on the wax on accident and it was more intimidating than I expected (notice my fully covered arms and apron - it's serious business)!

We then went to Woodford Reserve which was in the middle of the beautiful Kentucky horse farms and I could tell right off the bat it was a little more commercialized (definitely not in a bad way though). The plant was fully operational so we were able to taste some of the sour mash in the fermentation room and it was definitely not as bad as I expected! Unfortunately we ran out of time and didn't make it to Four Roses but on the way back to Lexington we had the crazy idea to hop out of the car and take some photos in the middle of the country road. Such a fun adventure (minus a few fast-driving cars) and also such a long day! We finished the night with beers at a local brewery and BBQ - more on those places to come!

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Fitness Friday: Marathon Training Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hard to believe we're in week 10 of marathon training! I'm currently on a bit of an unplanned break from training due to a mole removal (and the addition of 5 lovely stitches on my sternum) so I'm really interested to see how the rest of my training goes! Luckily I have the NYRR Virtual Trainer coaches and my physical therapist to consult with (it truly takes a village sometimes) to get me back on my feet after I get my stitches out. Until then, let's recap the last couple weeks, shall we?

Amazing sunset on an evening run

When I left you last I was getting ready to tackle a 13 mile run: 9/3/16 - 13.5 miles around Central Park @ 9:51 pace - this was a great LTR and the first taste of fall running weather which was amazing! 9/4/16 - respected the rest day and took it easy 9/5/16 - rest day in the running department but did a leg workout of squat jumps, curtsey lunges, side lunges and mountain climbers for good measure 9/6/16 - my first solo speed workout (and first intervals since high school!). I did 6 x 1,000M repeats and with warm up and cool down clocked 6 miles @ 9:38 pace. Intervals were all sub 4:40 which was awesome. I struggled with a side stitch through some of it which was annoying but was super proud of myself for getting out there even without a running buddy! 9/7/16 - rest day! 9/8/16 - 6.1 mile run at 9:18 pace 9/9/16 - SoulCycle! Super important cross training but I was tired as hell and the class was hard! 9/10/16 - 15.2 mile run! My friend Tricia and I ran up the West side to the Little Red Lighthouse under the GW Bridge. It was so great to mix it up with scenery outside of Central Park. It was humid as hell and I had no idea how much the weather took out of me until about 6 PM that night when I wanted to crash during NYFW events

All smiles after 15 miles! And re-fueling with a Juice Press Vanilla Protein + Cold Brew shake - so good.

9/11/16 - rest day! I'm slowly learning to love these 9/12/16 - 4 miles @ 10:11 pace. I was really irritated that I felt so sluggish on this run but then Tricia pointed out that I was likely still recovering from the long run on Saturday which was probably true. 9/13/16 - intervals! I got up early and knocked out 5 x 800 repeats all under 3:45 which was incredible. I had no idea I could run that fast but I was really focused on my cadence and it made such a difference. Total was 6.6 miles at 8:56 pace. 9/14/16 - rest day! 9/15/16 - rest day due to travel (went to Santa Barbara for a friend's wedding!) 9/16/16 - despite getting a lot of sh*t from my friends for going to bed so early (hello jetlag), I was wide awake and ready for an LTR in Santa Barbara. I knocked out 11.2 miles at 10:30 pace and I had a smile on my face the entire time because the scenery was just so beautiful. Forget the elevation gain I had to endure to get from our house to the beach because once I saw the Pacific Ocean I couldn't get the pep out of my step.

Not a bad view during the run! Definitely not in Central Park anymore

9/17/16 - rest day (also bestie's wedding day!) 9/18/16 - rest day (and travel day) 9/19/16 - HIIT strength training class. I had really wanted to get some miles in but I was so tired from traveling I knew it wouldn't happen. 9/20/16 - 6.1 miles @ 8:35 pace. I was still super tired but went out for a run anyway since it had been so many days in between and I knew I was looking at about 2 weeks off. I have no idea where my speed came from but I just kinda went and let my feet take me and I ended up having an amazingly fast run. I was also starting to wonder if the speedwork has been helping a little!
And that brings us to today. Wish me luck that I don't go totally stir crazy until I can run again. Check back in a couple of weeks to see what I've done in my down time (the goal is to continue with mobility stuff and hip strength but we'll see how the healing is going) and what my plan of attack is going to be.

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The Right... Weekend Exploring Look

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 12:30:00 +0000

I'm really excited to share my first outfit from our trip to Lexington! I'm working on a full recap post (including our amazing Bourbon Trail adventures and alllll the great food we ate) but first up is what I wore for a morning of exploring the city. I had an 11 mile run scheduled that weekend so while I did my grand tour around UK (literally loops and loops around the UK campus and the arboretum) Jackie, Jen and James found a new coffee shop and took blog pics near the super cute Gratz Park area. And since they're such good friends, they took me back so I could snap my outfit before brunch (I was also secretly letting them scope it out first ;) ). Gratz Park is a cute little area of town which reminded us a lot of Washington Square Park with the old architecture.

Ann Taylor Ruffle Sleeve Blouse, Joe Fresh Navy Shorts, Nike Court Shoes, Yankees Baseball Cap, Gigi New York Crossbody (c/o)

I decided to rock my sneakers that morning because #LongTrainingRun and I have to admit, this outfit has me really excited to wear them more this fall. Since I wear heels so much more during the week at work, I need to save my feet every chance I get (especially after pounding out double digit runs!).
Get the Look:

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The Right... Summer Sundress

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 12:00:00 +0000

I can't believe Labor Day Weekend is done and we're already cruising through September. This sundress was by far one of my favorite purchases for the season and it was definitely my go-to on the weekends. Something about the midi length and crochet details made it feel a little dressier than just a cotton sundress. The weather is cooling off a bit and I can't help but think about my fall wardrobe updates, but before I dive fully into the season I may try to style this one more time!

ASOS Red Midi Dress, Brown Wedges (similar here), Dooney & Bourke Crossbody Bag

Get the Look:

Photos by Lisa Schiller

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Fitness Friday: NYC Marathon Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 12:40:00 +0000

The last time we did a Fitness Friday post I gave you all the deets on my first triathlon experience. Since that post I started training for the New York City Marathon and I'm getting ready to wrap up week SEVEN of training. I'm on the 16 week NYRR Virtual Trainer plan so the fact that I'm almost halfway there is just crazy talk. But it's happening and I'm somehow just cruising right along. I say somehow because if you've been following me long enough, you know I was working through a crazy ITBand injury from the 2014 NYC Marathon. I just kinda limped along hoping it'd passively fix itself and it wasn't until February of this year that I decided to take control and overcome it. Since then I've run the Brooklyn Half Marathon and completed my tri. A few things I've done differently during this marathon training versus 2014: consistently warmed up and done dynamic stretches before every.single.run (I can't stress how important that is if you sit at a desk most of the day), consistently gone to physical therapy (I swear my PT has turned into my actual therapist at this point), consistently done strength training (definitely once if not twice a week) and actively incorporated cross training to mix it up (SoulCycle has been my go-to for this!).

Also, can we talk about how AMAZING these shorts are? They're Lululemon and have two side pockets (perfect for stashing my gummies, phone, keys and other essentials on a long run), they don't ride up and they're the perfect length. If you're in the market for new running shorts I highly recommend them!

Running and training continues to amaze me because literally every run is different and sometimes I have bad days where I have pain, some days I'm sluggish and some days I pound out 4 miles at a 9 min/mile pace (fast for me considering I usually run a 9:45-10 min pace). Will be sure to check in with you guys soon, in the meantime wish me luck on my 13 mile run this weekend...!
Photos by Lisa Schiller

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The Right... Magical Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000

My old office was across the street from Grand Central and every day I'd take the subway to work, exit straight into our building and hardly ever be phased that I passed through this iconic structure on a daily basis. I am also usually crunched for time when taking the Metro North and run in with just enough time to grab my ticket and catch my train. With that said, I was a little hesitant when Lisa suggested taking bloc pics in Grand Central because I know it's always crazy busy and I never really saw it as an option for a good backdrop. Spending some time shooting that morning, I started to notice beautiful details and it really reminded me to not take for granted that these beautiful places are part of my day to day experience of living in this city.

Zara Lace Dress, Banana Republic Pointed Toe Pumps, GiGi New York Clutch (c/o)

Get the look:

Photos by Lisa Schiller

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The Right... Weekend Wear

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 12:30:00 +0000

Summer is in full swing over here and I feel like I've been busier than ever. I've been at the new job for FOUR weeks already (time seriously flies) and it's been a huge priority for me to get settled and focus on doing well. I've also made sure to be as social as possible to try to remedy what I talked about in this post. It hasn't been hard at all because summer in NYC is probably the busiest time of year with a gazillion things going on at all times.

Since I've been dressing a lot more professional at work, I'm taking advantage of weekends to dress down a bit. I usually don't love wearing shorts but this pair have been the perfect relaxed solution for the hot, busy summer. What have you guys been up to? Any fun trips planned? I'm off to Vegas for a super quick trip for a bachelorette party - wish me luck that I survive!

Ann Taylor Flutter Sleeve Blouse (similar here), Old Navy Linen Shorts, Old Navy Sandals (sold out but similar pair here), GiGi New York Crossbody

As promised, I'm still working on that mini career series so stay tuned!
Get the Look:

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Fitness Friday: My First Triathlon

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 12:30:00 +0000

I finished my first (sprint) triathlon on Sunday, July 10th and it was AMAZING. I am still over the moon about the entire experience because it was by far the most fun race I've ever completed. I went out to Jamesport with Emily (who also competed) and Kaitlin who was our cheer squad (and photog!). This sprint tri consisted of a 500M swim in the Peconic Bay, a 16.1 mile bike ride around the North Fork and a 5k (3.1 mile) run.

Getting our numbers stamped on!

At this point we were excited! Then I put my wetsuit on and anxiety set in.

Admiring our numbers [and our guns ;) ]

While I definitely didn't train as hard as I could have,I was definitely the least prepared for the swim because I still get a lot of anxiety in the water and I had no idea what to expect with the open water swim. I wore a wetsuit and the water was incredibly warm so luckily I skipped the full body shock people normally experience when running into the water for the first time. What did shock me was that the bay was salt water. I don't ask why this never occurred to me but I guess that's what you get for growing up around lakes and only swimming in pools! That first splash of salt water to the face was terrible and I ended up back stroking about 90% of the swim. To make sure I was continually sighting, I made up a fun game of flipping over ever 13-15 strokes so I didn't go too far off course.

The transition to the bike was not as hard as I expected. It was a bit of a jog to the transition area but luckily I had my whits about me and wasn't too disoriented from the swim. My wetsuit also came off really easily (which was a pleasant surprise). I decided not to clip in to the bike because I hadn't practiced that yet. The bike course was absolutely beautiful. We were passing all the farms and fields and it was so peaceful and I truly think the bike was my favorite part. I was also fascinated by the ages of other participants. You get your age stamped on your right calf so every time someone passed me I would note their age and they ranged all the way from 18 - 75,! All I could think was that I will make it a new #lifegoal to still be competing in triathlons when I'm in my 70s. It was incredible.
The bike to run was totally comical. Since I didn't clip in I literally racked the bike, took my helmet off, clipped on my number belt and took off. My legs felt like lead and I really thought I'd have the WORST time. Knowing I wasn't going for any specific time goal but rather to just finish, I really focused on relaxing and settling into my breathing. I don't think I had really caught my breath between the swim and the bike so it was nice to chill and just jog along.

I had estimated the race would take me about 2 hours so when I rounded the corner to the finish and saw the time I was ecstatic! Unofficially I saw my time as 1:47 which was amazing. I later found out my official time was 1:42 which was even better!
I think this triathlon was so good for me because it pushed me to try something new that I wasn't sure I would succeed at. It's so easy to just get out and run when I've been doing it for so long but by challenging myself to do this race, it reminded me that trying new things is sometimes scary but necessary to continue to grow and develop. I have to give a huge thanks to my friend Peter for all the amazing bike knowledge and showing me the riding ropes, Nina for letting me borrow her wheels and my NP fam for all the well wishes and support. I am beyond pleased with my performance considering I didn't train nearly as hard as I could have. I don't think there will be any more triathlons this summer but I'm gearing up to get my own bike and sign up for at least one if not two next year!
I am definitely planning to do a post talking about my packing strategy, how I set up my transition area, my favorite triathlon resources, etc. so look forward to those! I also started NYC Marathon training this week so keep me in your thoughts as I start to rack up the miles. I'll hopefully get back into regular Fitness Friday posts recapping my runs and workouts so stay tuned for those!

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Times, They Are A Changin'

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:30:00 +0000

Let's do a little check in, shall we? Life's been busy and, TBH, a little weird over here since I last checked in with you guys. Busy because I had my triathlon last weekend (recap coming very soon!) and I'm trying to get back to regular strength training to prep for NYC Marathon training which starts Monday (gasp, I know. I'm no where near ready for that).

Life's been weird because lots of things have been changing in the last month or so. I got back from vacation, came home to no roomie (she's in LA for the summer), had my last week at my old job, started my new job and a new routine and I have yet to really hit my stride or feel comfortable with everything. To go from having a roommate or office mate to talk to every day to being in a new office environment and having the apartment to myself is weird. Yes, I have friends and family that I talk to/text with almost every day but everything I've surrounded myself with the past three years changed. I might also add that I have only been to NP once since June PR day because of all of this. I can't bring myself to get up for the 5:28 AM Wednesday workouts and since I have to be in by 8:30 AM, I can't go to the usual 6:28 AM workout. So needless to say, I'm in a really weird place.

Zara Lace Midi Dress (old but linked to more lace dresses below), Banana Republic Black Pointed Toe Pumps (similar here and my new favorite suede pointed-toe pumps here), GiGi New York Uber Clutch (c/o)

Anyone else experience this or have suggestions or thoughts for getting through it? Would love to hear!
Note on the dress - it's old from Zara but I've linked to a bunch of pretty lace ones below! I think Bloomingdales and ASOS have the best selection right now - enjoy!:
Photos by Lisa Schiller

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The Right... First Day [of Work]

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:00:00 +0000

If you know me personally or follow me on Snap or Insta, you've probably figured out by now that I have a new job. I am so beyond excited to start this new chapter that I could just jump and yell and scream and sing butttt instead I'm taking a deep breathe and getting ready for a what's sure to be a wild ride. Today is the first day at said job and while I'm excited I'm slightly terrified. But terrified in the best way possible (I once read an article about a really successful person and they said fear is what fueled them so a little bit of fear in new adventures is definitely a good thing). I'll get into the nitty gritty as to why I'm terrified and how this whole job came about soon but all I know is I'm so ready for this change.
I'm taking this as an opportunity to start fresh, create a new routine and really reset things. Not that I've done anything seriously wrong in my last role or life but the 60-70 hour work weeks, not being able to workout regularly or eat right have really taken a toll on me. I know there's hard work and working long hours to get things done sometimes but my last job is a little too stressful at times. It wasn't all for naught because I learned a tremendous amount and it helped me forge the connections I needed for this newest endeavor. And let's just say I'm ready to really start living this life I've built in the city.
And first things first, I'm taking control of my workout routine and my finances. After reading all the Refinery29 money/personal finance articles this year, I decided to purchase a Stash Wealth plan to really start setting myself up for future goals. I was so excited when I got the email that my plan was ready - so now it's time to implement it!
I'm also excited to announce I'm working on a mini career series to talk about my experiences through the job search process, give interview tips and also talk about transitioning your wardrobe for a new job. Stay tuned and I hope you'll come on this ride with me!

Chic Wish Lace Crop Top (similar here), Banana Republic Fluted Skirt (similar here and here), C.Wonder Leopard Espadrilles (similar here), GiGi New York Crossbody (c/o)

PS - no, this not what I'm actually wearing to work today - the skirt is a little too short for the new office environment ;). Head to Insta to see the real outfit!
Get the Look:

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The Right... Summer Party Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 12:30:00 +0000

Oh 10 year high school reunions. At 10 years everyone has been out of high school long enough to possibly get married, start a family, travel the world, go to grad school, get an amazing job, switch jobs, move to numerous new cities (or stay in your hometown), stay friends with people from high school, not talk to anyone from high school... The list goes on. This past weekend I had my 10 year high school reunion and it was awesome. Some people I know have dreaded their reunions but I was genuinely excited to go and see everyone. I planned it with one of my best friends from high school (because yes, I was senior class president, which apparently is coming as no surprise to those who know me) and it was an absolute blast. We rented out Cargo at the Whitney Peak Hotel (possibly the coolest concert venue in Reno) and we had so much fun that we kept the party going past the planned 2 hours. I am so lucky that a lot of my class was really close during school and that many have stayed friends even after school and everyone was generally excited to be there.

10 Crosby Derek Lam Dress, LOFT On Duty Blazer, Nine West Heels (similar here), Gigi New York Crossbody

Now on to the more exciting part - the outfit! I debated for the longest time what to wear. I really wanted to buy a new dress but I really wanted to buy a dress I could wear to the reunion and two weddings but when I couldn't find one to go for all three occasions I decided to shop my own closet and wear this guy! I picked it up during my shopping trip to the Tanger Outlets and I've been in love ever since. The asymmetrical hem is by far my favorite part.
Shop some favorite asymmetric hem and black and white dresses below:

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The Right... Double Duty Jumpsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Tobi Culotte Jumpsuit (c/o - similar here and here), Chicwish Black Lace Crop Top (similar here), Banana Republic Pointed Toe Pumps (similar here and here), Dagne Dover Tote (c/o - similar here)

Let's be honest with each other for a minute, shall we?
Tis the season (and age) for weddings and while I love all my friends getting married and am looking forward to spending their special day with them, I don't love the toll its taken on my wallet. Combine that with my love for travel and races and eating out at all the amazing restaurants in this city, and that leaves zero extra dollars for shopping. Which is quite depressing sometimes. It's also makes for a fun challenge to really shop my own closet and re-work items. I was dying to wear this jumpsuit to work and while I didn't feel comfortable just throwing a cardigan or jacket on over it (the cut outs in the front cut it close to being inappropriate), I found a great solution to layer tops over it and I love the result. This combo still works for the creative world I work in but if you were in a more conservative office environment you could definitely layer a button up over it and tie it at the bottom. Would love to know what you'd pair this week and your strategy for those times you really can't spend extra money!
Get the look here:
Photos by Megan Zietz

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The Right... Weekend Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 12:00:00 +0000

J.Crew Factory Popover, Gap Skinny Jeans, Nine West Sandals, Old Navy Reversible Tote

There's something really great about an easy popover and jean combo for weekend adventures. I went to Queens to hang out with Megan and couple of weeks ago and luckily it will still cool enough to wear long pants.
This past weekend in the city was brutal though - it went from 60s to 90s and was almost unbearable! It still ended up being a great Memorial Day weekend but I'm definitely switching out the jeans for shorts for the rest of the season!
Get the look:

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Fitness Friday: Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 27 May 2016 15:25:00 +0000

Happy Friday Friends! I hope you're all having a great week and headed off somewhere fun for the long weekend. I'll be in the city soaking up the extra day off and catching up with friends.
Today I wanted to recap my Brooklyn Half Marathon experience. Bare with me because it's a long one! If you recall from last week's post the week leading up to the race was less than ideal so I was a little nervous going into the race. I decided to stay focused on the fact that I was doing this for fun - no time goals but rather a goal to just finish and to finish happy. I was in wave 2 with a 7:45 AM start time but I cabbed to BK with a friend who was in wave 1 (versus taking public transit which would have had me leaving my apartment at the crack of dawn) so I arrived at 6:00 AM which was ridiculously early for my wave. I planted on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, ate my breakfast of Justin's almond butter and whole wheat English muffin (ps - the little Justin's squeeze packets are LIFE SAVERS). I had a banana when I left my apartment but purposefully put off eating breakfast so I wouldn't be starving during the race. I found my NP start crew and we made our way to the corral. I peed twice while waiting for the race to start and still had that nervous pee when we started - sorry for TMI! I don't think I'll ever get over that feeling but if anyone has any ideas on how to overcome it, I'd love to hear! My RBF and I had decided to pace each other through most of the race to make sure we didn't go out too fast and we stuck together for the first 9ish miles.
We started off quick on the downhill but kept everything scaled back for the next couple of miles. By the time we entered Prospect Park I felt like that first 5k flew by even with a nice little hill mixed in. When we started to climb the second hill and I tried to remind myself it would be no worse than the Harlem Hills in Central Park but by the time we reached the top we were both like "WTF was that!" I guess it was a little unexpected because we were cruising along at a 9:43 pace (remember most of my long runs had been at a 10:00 pace) . We passed the NP cheer squad which was the best little push! Coming out of the park I was feeling a little nervous about my knee because I was having some pains because of the hills and the pitch on the road. So thankful to be out of the park we cruised down to Ocean Parkway and knew we were on the downhill/flat stretch until the end of the race. I felt like I needed to get into my own groove so when Nina went for water I put my headphones in and just started to fall into a comfortable pace. At mile 11 I started to get really excited and began to pick up the pace but tried to remember our team captain's pre-race email which told us to hold onto our kick until about the 20k mark (12.5 miles). I rounded the corner for the last stretch before the boardwalk and an NP friend was cheering me on yelling "pick it up, only 400M to go!" By the time I hit the ramp to the boardwalk my feet felt numb but I kicked it in until the end, despite the fact that I felt like I was going to vomit (I guess eating Stingers at mile 11.5 wasn't such a good idea after all...). I ran THROUGH the finish, took a deep breath before I almost tripped over someone (my legs were jello) and grabbed my medal. I looked at the time on my phone and had unofficially PR'd by 3 minutes (UPDATE: I PR'd by 4 minutes, running a 2:08 race. My last half marathon before this in 2012 was a 2:12 finish so needless to say I was SO HAPPY!).

Our NP team captain always stresses to run THROUGH the finish - I definitely had my eyes on the prize here!

From there it was off the pick up my bag, change my clothes and meet the NP crew for some beers, race stories and dancing. My body really felt great and the congratulations I received from my NP friends meant the world to me. Everyone knew how important this race was to me and knew I was coming off an injury so it made the celebrations that much better. After a solid 3 hours and 48 oz of beer later, I made my way to Bareburger for a post race burger and vanilla shake (my go-to post race meal), followed by a solid 2 hour nap (my new weekend mantra is #runhard, #napharder) and Thai food. TBH, I think one of my favorite things about running long races is the post-race grub and hot shower.

Beers as big as my face. I had one over the course of 3 hours and was done haha.

Now it's officially time to focus on triathlon training because we have 6 weeks and counting! Check in next Friday to see what I've been up to for Tri training!

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The Right... Foldable Flats

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Original Post Here

It's amazing what a small world this can be sometimes. I was in jury duty last month and while 38 of us sat painfully through the interview process, I started to learn I was in a room of very fascinating people from all walks of life. During one of the breaks I had a side conversation going with one of the girls near me and it turns out she's also a fashion blogger. We were chatting and the guy behind us overheard and mentioned a friend of his from business school just launched a shoe company and he'd love to put us in touch with her. I soon discovered Talaria Flats and the wonder they are. I've definitely owned a pair of Yosi Samra flats in the past but I wore them out so quickly I couldn't justify spending another $100+ on a pair. Talaria are a great price point and also amazing quality.

Original Post Here

We are truly in "busy season" at work and I feel like everything has been non-stop the last 6 weeks with no end in sight. I have been going from meetings to events to my desk and when you're in a client facing role like I am, you have to make sure you're looking put together. As my gal Ashley keeps putting it, I'm literally running in heels. I love wearing heels but wearing them all around the city an entire day does not work well for my feet. This is where my new love for Talaria Flats has blossomed as they've been a true lifesaver. I highly recommend you check them out, especially if you're a city gal like myself !

Photography by myself and Lydia Hudgens

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Fitness Friday: Last Week of Brooklyn Half Training

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:41:00 +0000

Keeping it a little short and sweet today because this week has been a whirlwind! The one week of all my training I'm supposed eat the best, get the most sleep, hydrate the most and instead my work and personal schedule was SO hectic it was quite the opposite. I think by the time I sat down at my desk Wednesday morning I had been in the office a total of 9 hours between Monday and Tuesday. Thank goodness for my RBF for helping me get my bib and reminding me to hydrate (although I went into a slight panic when I saw a chat from her on Tuesday afternoon reminding me to hydrate because, well, I just hadn't had much water at that point). Here's how the week went training wise: Monday 4.16.16 - 4 mile run Tuesday 4.17.16 - SoulCycle class Wednesday 4.18.16 - Rest day Thursday 4.19.16 - Rest day & PT visit! Friday 4.20.16 - 2.2 mile shake out
Speaking of a shakeout run, I have to admit I've never done one before. I usually don't run the day before a big race because I usually want to be sure to save my legs but this week I really wanted to get a second run in so I'm really interested in seeing how the race goes since I did this. I know people who swear by it so we'll see!

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The Right... Khaki Shirt Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Do you ever find yourself wanting to buy everything you see on social media? It's really hard to stay focused on what you need versus just what you want and get click happy and buy all the cute clothes, amiright? As much as I try not to impulse buy things when I see them on Instagram, I spotted this khaki shirt dress (which also happened to be an item on my current list of essentials) and because the price was so great, I felt just fine scooping it right up. So far it's been perfect for spring although I think the verdict is still out about how office appropriate it is the way I styled it here (that side detail makes me a little nervous sometimes...). But with a sunhat and my favorite Nike's for weekend adventures? It's perfect.

Diane von Furstenberg Leather Jacket (old - other options below), Joe Fresh Khaki Shirt Dress, Charles by Charles David Nude Pumps (c/o), GiGi New York Clutch (c/o)

Get the Look:
Photos by Lydia Hudgens

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Fitness Friday: New Workouts and a Training Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Fri, 13 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Photo by: Kathleen O'Neill Photography

Happy Friday loves! So excited for this Fitness Friday post because I've had a lot going on (in the fitness department) this week. If you caught Wednesday's post, I talked a little about my amazing run. This piggy backs off the great long run I had last weekend - it was supposed to be 9 miles but my running buddy and I dialed it back because she was getting blisters and I didn't want to push myself too far. Great decision because come Tuesday night I was ready.to.go. I had a ton of energy to channel and what was supposed to be a 35-40 minute run turned into a 47 minute (5 miles total) run that felt absolutely incredible. I then hit up a Body Conceptions class that Ashley hosted, followed by a barre class at Physique 57 and a 3.2 mile run last night. Whew, that seems like a lot... Tomorrow is a 6 mile run and then we have a fairly restful week ahead while we prep for BROOKLYN!

Saturday 5.7.16 long run stats

I do have something fun next Tuesday so stay tuned on Snapchat and Instagram or check in next Friday for my recap! Have a great weekend!

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The Right... Spring Jumpsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Wed, 11 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was definitely one of those "I f*cking love New York City" days. Sorry for the f-bomb but I got so overwhelmed by emotions during my run and it all kinda came to the surface. I had a beautiful 5 mile run through the park - the sunset was beautiful, I ran past a group of kids clearly plotting a super cute encounter holding flowers and a lit up sign that said "prom?" and the park just smelled so beautiful. Seriously.Smelled.Beautiful. (I promise that's a thing)

I often have up and down days but lately it's really felt like I've totally hit my stride and like all of my hard work is really getting me somewhere. I also feel like I'm so often pushed to my limits that I really get pushed out of my comfort zone and it's great. Stressful at times but really great.

Gap Utility Jacket (sold out but similar here and more below), Tobi Cutout Jumpsuit (c/o), Nine West Nude Heels (old but similar here), 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli

With all that said, I just wanted to drop in and thank you all for humoring me and following along this little corner of the internet. And to encourage you to do things regularly that scare you or push you outside your comfort zone. Your future self with thank you, I'm almost sure of it.
And on to the real reason why I'm posting today - this cutout culotte jumpsuit. It's basically got me like [insert salsa dancer emoji here]. The cutout at the top is great and the roomy culotte bottom is awesome. Will be on heavy rotation through summer.
Get the look and be sure to check out more great finds from Tobi (Crop Tops, Jumpsuits, Skirts, Cardigans, Bodysuits, Midi Dresses, Cocktail Dresses) - and don't forget, new customers get 50% off their first order! Photos by Lydia Hudgens

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The Right... Long Spring Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy Davis) — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Don't let the smile in the first photo fool you - these pictures were taking on a true Manic Monday. Followed by yet another rainy week. I always find myself thinking about each seasons' weather and comparing it to years past where I'll find myself thinking that the current weather is a complete anomaly. But then I realize I can't remember how the weather was this time last year so I just accept it as the norm and groan along with the rest of New York City that the current situation is less than ideal It sure makes me wonder if summer will ever come.

Speaking of this weather, it's been a bit difficult to dress but I've been focused on light layers. I love a good cardigan come fall and winter but since they're usually on the heavier side I don't think about them much once it really warms up for Spring/Summer. This year I noticed a ton of light weight long cardigans popping up and knew I had to add one to my closet. This one was perfect as a light layer when we had our first (and what feels like last) round of 70 degree beautiful Spring weather. It's great for wearing while commuting and also perfect for the office. I am definitely planning to style it with shorts and dresses once we hit much warmer weather (for the record it's been gross chilly and rainy for at least two weeks now).

Banana Republic Long Cardigan (c/o), Joe Fresh Blush Blouse (old but similar here), Club Monaco Faux Leather Pants (similar here), Charles by Charles David Nude Pumps (c/o), 3.1 Philip Lim Pashli

Have you tried this trend? I've also thought about looking for an even longer version - would love to hear your opinion in the comments below!
Get the Look:
Photos by Lydia Hudgens

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This post is in partnership with Banana Republic - as always all styling and opinions are my own.