... 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.

Nantucket Summer 2015

I'm back from ACK!

My family spent a great two weeks on one of my favorite places in earth: Nantucket, Massachusetts. While on island, we ate at some of my favorite restaurants (see an old post about them here), shopped, went to a concert, and hit the beaches.

For the first time ever, we some of our family friends joined us. It was fun to show them around the island that my family loves so much.

It's going to be weird that in a few weeks I will no longer be living at home with these goons!

Now, with only 17 days left at home, I'm busy working, hanging out with my friends before we leave for school, and preparing for my dorm! Cannot believe my last summer before college is almost over. Pretty unreal.

X,