My sister got me this repurposed Chanel necklace for Christmas and thought it would pair well with this antique mirror my mom recently inherited from my aunt. So I threw on a beret, red lipstick and my favorite turtleneck and mentally transported to France. I'm still dreaming about the day I can get back to Paris, but for now, playing dress up in my room will have to do. 

Since I've been living at home the last few months, I haven't been able to vintage shop as much as I usually do. However, there are a few antique stores nearby that I walk to on the weekends and sort through the vintage postcards. One of my projects after finding these postcards is scanning them in, editing them and adding text on top. It's been a fun creative endeavor. Which one is your favorite? 

As you may have seen from my Instagram, I unexpectedly adopted a dog, Louie, at the end of December. They said he is 6 years old and a Shitzu mix (although to me, he looks more like a poodle mixed with a Schnauzer, and maybe a little Yorkie thrown in too). I decided to add a scarf to his neck and include him in this photo set to twin with me in this dress from Joanie Clothing. Do you want to see more of Louie in my posts?

One of my biggest goals since starting blogging was to design my own products. I had these designs in my head for the last couple years, but I kept putting off actually executing them. Once benefit of quarantine was finally being forced to slow down and focus on making these designs come to life. The first design I shot was this darling t-shirt. I wanted to incorporate the word "darling" into one of the designs. I also added in the heart shaped sunglasses graphic, another one of my signatures. I love baseball t-shirts, so I thought this silhouette would be fun for something different as well and a nice pop with the graphic. 

The "born in the wrong decade" is the next style I shot. I wished I could have shot these photos somewhere cooler, but with the pandemic, I had to stick to my bedroom with my record player and rotary phone. I knew I definitely wanted a design in mustard yellow, one of my signature colors, and I thought this phrase would speak to all the other old souls out there like me. I'm thinking of adding this t-shirt in more color ways, what do you think?

The "back in the saddle" was the third and final design I shot. I took these photos outside a diner in South Jersey, close to where my family lives. This design was the first one that came to mind and sparked the idea of designing my own products in the first place. I drew the saddle shoes on Adobe Illustrator, so this was the most time consuming design to make. 

After NYC, I headed to Washington DC. My sister lives outside in Arlington, so I drove down with her. This was my first time in DC, so I was excited to explore a new city in the fall weather and foliage. I got an AirBnb in Logan Circle, which is a historic area with lots or restaurants and cute houses. During the week, I was just working from the apartment, so nothing too exciting, but on the weekends I got out and explored. Here are some things I did if you're visiting DC and would like some suggestions: 

• Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial 
• National Museum of American History 
• Library of Congress 
• Vintage Stores in Morgan's Adams (check out Meeps and Mercedes Bien)
• Shopping in Georgetown 
• Brunch at Le Diplomate 
• Croissants at Un je ne sais Quoi
  
• Outdoor drinks at Calico 
  
• Bagels and black and whites at Call Your Mother 
  
• Dinner at Republic Cantina  

At the end of July, I did a little cottage core photoshoot in my mom's backyard while I was home for the weekend. Later that day, my 2 aunts (my mom's sisters) and my grandparents came over for a little birthday celebration (for my one aunt). Four weeks later at the end of August, I came home again after moving out of my apartment. When I got home, my mom broke the news to me that my one aunt was currently in the hospital as she had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and it was aggressive. I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mom's mouth. I had just seen her a month ago, how could she be that sick in just a matter of weeks?

I stayed at my mom's for a week then went back to NYC for 6 weeks. After my Airbnb stay in NYC was over, I came back home again. My plan was to do some laundry, repack, then head right to DC with my sister. But when we arrived home, my mom explained how dire the situation was, so I decided to cancel the next Airbnb I had booked in DC. My aunt passed away the next day. 

While I was home again, I decided to do another cottage core photoshoot in the backyard, this time with a fall twist. It was surreal, honestly. I couldn't believe how it felt like just yesterday it was summer and I was taking photos on this same gingham picnic blanket, yet things were so different now. 

If this year has taught me anything, it's to not take time for granted. I have a habit of wishing away time. I'm constantly looking forward to the weekend, to the summer, to vacations, to holidays. Especially this year, when there is so little to look forward to, it's so easy to daydream about the future and not appreciate the time we have in front of us. But my aunt's death has really put things in perspective for me and made me realize that life can be taken away from us without any warning.

Recently I've started to document the little things through journaling and film photography, and it's really helped me be more present and not rush through life. Looking back, I feel like I wished away my 20's, telling myself I'll be happy once I have a new job or have a boyfriend. Now that I'm in my 30's, I want to savor these years and not wish them away. 

If you read my recent blog post about my new nomadic lifestyle, you know I spent the last 6 weeks in NYC. September and October are always my favorite months in NYC, weather-wise, so I couldn't have asked for a better first leg of this adventure. The weather was gorgeous, so on the weekends I was able to check a lot of things off my NYC bucket list. The Central Park Zoo, getting my aura read on Canal Street, and outdoor dining at some new bars and restaurants were all on my list. If this year has taught me anything, it's that life is too short and to not put things off. For years I have been telling myself that I would go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, yet I never seemed to get around to it. Then when Covid first hit in March, these things I procrastinated on weren't even an option. Now that things are somewhat back to normal, I was determined to make the most of this time and not take our freedom for granted. Next stop: Washington DC. 

Although I'm currently staying in Manhattan, I've been spending a lot of time in Brooklyn. It's just a quick ferry ride across the river, so it's a fun weekend activity. Here a few of my favorite things to do in Williamsburg and Greenpoint: 

Vintage Stores: 

• Dusty Rose Vintage
• Awoke Vintage
• Beacon's Closet
• Junk
• Arbor Vitae 
• 10ft Single by Stella Dallas 

Food & Drinks: 

• Esme
• Juliette 
• Joe's Pizza
• Paulie Gee's Sliceshop 
• Calexico 
• Mable's 
• Peter Pan Donuts 
• Pete's Candy Shop 
• The Gutter 
• Surf Bar