January 2021

 We are nearly halfway through the first month of 2021. Time moves so quickly with the quiet repetition of living through a pandemic.

I have dubbed this new year "Self Care 2021". 2020 felt like the year of scraping by and doing the best I could, but in this new year I want to double back and put my mental and physical health and happiness first. 

Here is an abbreviated collection of things that have made me happy in January.

I had a bit of a stress-induced online shopping spree a week or so ago, so I am slowly receiving packages over the next few weeks. Below are some of my favorite products I have been using this month, or things I am incorporating in my routine. 

• Lighting a scented candle every morning and evening. Perhaps my favorite part of this is the ritual of lighting my candles with matches instead of a lighter. My mom gave me a package of pink matches for Christmas that I am obsessed with. Fun fact, you can bring matches in your carry on!

• My Aerogarden: my dad sent me this cool indoor growing machine when we first locked down. I just now am trying it out and it is so fun to watch plants grow on my windowsill. Currently, I am growing Basil, Thyme, and Mint. Basil is growing the best, and I am so excited to use all of these on roasted veggies!

• In 2021 I am going to make more of an effort to have nicely painted nails, versus the absurdly chipped nails I was sporting during most of the pandemic. Currently I am wearing Essie's "off tropic", a beautiful Hunter Green. Next up I am thinking I may move to a lavender or purple.

• Chapstick and moisturizers are a must in the dry winter months. Currently for my lips I am rotating between classic Chapstick, Glossier Birthday Balm Dot Com, and Glosser Coconut Balm Dot Com. I love the sparkles in the Glossier birthday, it gives a nice subtle shine.

• I am obsessed with Daily Harvest's oat bowls. They are delicious and easy to make, and I love eating a warm snack when the radiators in my apartment are slow to turn on!

I have learned that having great music playing while I work makes me happier and more productive. Below are some of my favorite songs on my January work from home Spotify playlist. One thing I am especially grateful for is that Bieber is back! I hope he keeps the new releases coming.

One Day At A Time : Quinn XCII

TRAP - Rompasso Remix : SAINt JHN, Rompasso

The Bender (with Brando) : Matoma, Brando

Bedroom : Litany

Tattoos Together : Lauv

Worst : Quinn XCII

let me love you : omgkirby

Anyone : Justin Bieber

you were good to me : Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler

Cool Again : Shoffy

Don't Want You Back : Bakermat, Kiesza

if we never met - remix : John K, Sigala

drivers license : Olivia Rodrigo

Runaway : Ziggy Alberts

Slow Dance : AJ Mitchell, Ava Max

shut up : Greyson Chance

Come Around Me : Justin Bieber

Bulletproof : Griffin Oskar

Lonely (with benny blanco) : Justin Bieber, benny blanco

Come First : Terror Jr

I hope you have a fantastic January and Self-Care 2021!

-Kelsey

... Four Years Later

Well, hello...

I just checked on my blog for the first time in years because my mom asked me if I was familiar with Blogspot. Her simple question prompted a bittersweet tide of teenage memories. I remember refreshing my favorite blog every morning for school to see if the blogger had posted any update on her life overnight. I remember the joy that came from seeing comments under my rambling blog entries. As I scroll through my posts, it takes me back to a different time in my life. 

It is bizarre to me that I posted my last blog post was over four years ago. In June 2016, I had just returned home for the summer after my first year of college. I was starting to miss my new "college friends". We had gone from being connected at the hip to sending sporadic texts about the hometowns I had not yet visited. I was about to start a summer job at a local cafe, and I was aching from the recent death of my grandfather. 

Now, in June 2020, I am sitting in my childhood bedroom. I have been working from home for the last 89 days due to the unrelenting Coronavirus pandemic. I graduated college just over a year ago, but it still feels fresh. I work in the fashion industry in New York, and I am still paying for my Manhattan apartment as I remain at home, sheltering in place and glued to cable news. Gardening, walking our beloved family dog, watching TikTok videos have been the mainstays of my time at home. Other hobbies have come and gone: baking bread, writing my friends letters, making friendship bracelets. 

Were there early signs that 2020 would be a year of heartbreak? I thought it would be "my best year yet"... Early in the year, Kobe Bryant's sudden death rattled the nation. It seems like a lifetime ago. Now over 100,000 Americans have lost their lives to the killer virus, and our nation is heartbroken over the senseless violence towards Black Americans. 

The world is changing. Four years ago, I could not have guessed I would be back living at home. Maybe four years from now I will remember to write another blog post...

Ciao,

the styles of summer

Back from college + at it again. Here comes my summer style guide--which by no means is everything you will need for the summer. But it consists of the best available items to supplement and flavor your summer. I promise you that you'll find something that you like.

I have been looking everywhere for the right back one piece. I've wanted something more than a plain, could-it-be-a-swimteam-suit black one piece. I've wanted more... material than some offer. I think I've found IT with this Mara Hoffman piece. 

I am always more willing to buy American flag items in the summer. I found this cute selection all from Tuckernuck, online. The pillow might just be my summer crush...

I wish I could be more of a clutch person, and these two cue Kayu clutches might convert me. I'm just so forgetful, anything in my hand soon disappears. Luckily these are bright and eye-catching.

Roberta Roller Rabbit practically specializes in all things beach. I trust my beauty-life to her. Therefore, RRR beach tote. My beach tote must haves? Baseball hat, water bottle, apple sauce squeeze-pack, SPF 30 rub-on sunscreen, and my favorite long sleeve light coverup. 

I have been on the hunt for some unique frames that won't break the bank. All just under $130, these  finds from Westward Leaning are the winners.

Honestly, I don't consider myself a real seersucker dress kind of girl. I normally stick to solid blacks and blues for my sheaths, and stay away from anything too preppy. But the tie-front dress (and romper) is the hit of the summer, and in seersucker this style just pops. Really too cute.

I LOVE ESPADRILLES. Platform espadrilles? Don't even get me started. I'm semi-cautious due to my height to purchase, but these Soludos are already in my online basket. Call me a woman obsessed.

Happy happy summer. Let's make it KILLER.

Dress Like You're Already Famous

The Oscars are rapidly approaching, and all the talk about the nominees has me daydreaming about what I would wear, with an unlimited budget and access to every collection, EVER. Below I've collected some of my favorite dresses ever released, from this season and several seasons prior. Beautiful dresses never go out of style. I doubt I'll ever make it to the Oscars, but any ball with a full blown jazz band and champagne will do. The day shall come, and I need to be prepared. Never say never, #amirightladies?!

both: Atelier Versace Spring 2016 Couture

left: Elie Saab Spring 2014 RTW right: Versace Spring 2015 RTW

left: Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture right: Elie Saab Spring 2012 RTW

left: Elie Saab Spring 2014 RTW right: Elie Saab Spring 2013 Couture

left: Chanel Spring 2016 Couture right: Zuhair Murad Spring 2016 Couture

both: Giambattista Vali Spring 2016 Couture

left: Alexandre Vauthier Spring 2016 Couture  right: Giambattista Vali Spring 2016 Couture

College

I'm in college. It's now definitely part of my identity. It's weird. It's so weird. I'm currently home, my last day off before I resume classes, and I'm procrastinating (as always) on a term paper I have due in just a few hours. But the weird part is... I keep accidentally saying I'm going "home" when I talk about heading back to school. School is my new home. That tiny dorm room, backed to the brim with stuff, is my home. And my friends, my roommate... we make up our own little at-school-family. 

(my bedding's from robertarollerrabbit) // RIP TO MY TAN & my clean room

School is hard. It's hard having to be an adult. Doing my own laundry: surprisingly really not that hard. But there're so many little things that I have to think about when I'm living away from my parents that I didn't have to think about while I was always living at home. But I love it. I honestly do. I've had so many great days. I've met so many great people: and it's just November. I cannot wait until I am in a sorority (in just a few weeks, really!) and getting closer with some people who I don't even know right now. I'm so excited to feel more settled next semester... and hopefully my annoying bout of mono will be gone by then too. Because yeah, I'm a basic college student and contracted mono within the first few months of school.

But yeah, anyways. I love it. And over Christmas, I'll talk about it a bit more.

XX.