Sweater from Aritzia. Bra on sale at Agent Provacateur.

It's been a strange year. I felt in a rut 50% of it and no amount of new travels, lush dinners, cuddle seshs, or alone time could get me out of it. But I think ultimately it came down to needing a break. I have been hustling for over 10 years - nonstop. And I couldn't get myself to think anymore. Everything was in a fog. In fact, every time I reminisce on a good memory from 2016, I realize that it's actually a memory from 2015.

Anyway, time apart from the web and reconnecting with myself, friends, family, and the world we live in has given me the energy I need to get back into the world to create again. Also my documented travels still remain unshared and I'm excited to relive these moments again - hopefully now with a more optimistic mindset. So that when I do look back on good memories, I can recall them from 2016.

Thank you Spotify for getting to it before I did by cementing my airwaves into a playlist. Last year I curated my own, but damn this was a great job. Obviously some repeats from 2015.

PS, I highly suggest investing in one beautiful lingerie set this year to put on for the days you need a can-do attitude.

It's been a while since I've done official weekly posts. Remember when? But I couldn't resist posting through the charm and endearment I felt this morning viewing the Dior show. Shoes, chockers, blazers. Raf is hitting home runs into my heart. I've always loved a neck scarf, blazer, and pointy shoe. It's my favorite formulated outfit. I wore it in my Valentine's Day video at 30 seconds. Dior's version is obviously way better and gives me heart palpitations. Note to self: pink silk scarves for the neck.





OH RAF. A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART.

THAT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER THAN I THOUGHT TO PUT TOGETHER. NOW I REALLY GOTTA RUN! TA TA FOR NOW.  I HAVE TO DRIVE TO PALM SPRINGS TO CATCH A WEDDING AND WANT TO SKIP ON TRAFFIC! WATCH ON SNAPCHAT: RAYCHIZZLLE. LOVE U ALL. xx

OOPS, wanted to get this post up earlier in the day. Alas, I have been treating Mondays like Sundays and Sundays like Fridays. So I'm all in this crazy loop. This should get us through Monday evening and the rest of the week. I've been wallowing a bit and have in a certain mood - reflected in this week's music picks. Play it through. Don't skip around. Enjoy.

 

It's a full moon so we should celebrate! Last night I ate sushi on my boyfriend's rooftop overlooking Downtown LA while charging my crystals in the supermoon light with some desert sage. And the photos above? Well, those were taken this summer my one of my best friends in Venice, CA. She's getting married this weekend in Palm Springs and I couldn't be more excited about it. Now to find the perfect desert dress.

Happy mid-year month! I wanted to celebrate with a fresh playlist that will get you curious, giddy, ratchet, and moody. Also, thank you all for the kind comments on my last Vietnam post. I'm excited to start working on the next post, but I am spending my free days editing videos so I'm not totally neglecting my YouTube channel. I really need to get on it because I'll be traveling most of June! I'm already thinking to myself, how is it already July???

Hit play, don't examine the playlist before, let the music ride through your work day.

Wearing below: favorite jacket in the world (it finally went on sale!!). Photos by Alex Kenealy.

 

Everything is clickable!
I wanted to put together a list of things I've tried/love and want/lust, but it's looking more like a collage of things I would simultaneously wear at once. I'm gonna blurb a little about each piece if you scroll down a little. So open a new browser window because you're gonna be clicking open a lot of tabs.

Coach x Gary Baseman jacket: Let's talk about this jacket. It's easily the most favorite thing I own in the entire world... probably until the day I die.  If you're a collector, I suggest selling a kidney so you can invest then frame above your couch. Thankfully this was a gift (because I would never have the disposable income to buy this. Guys, stop moving to LA; you're hiking up the rent), but if I could, I would get another one. One to wear and one to frame. Because fashion.

Tired Skateboards: Yet another cool piece to collect, except you can more reasonably buy two and ride one to shit then hang the other. Not to mention Parra is a rad Dutch artist, and you want to own his work. I also find that skating on wider decks is so much easier to maneuver, so I am in the market for something comfortable. 

Lush lotion bar: Did you know these things existed? Because I sure as hell didn't. It's advertised as a massage bar but I prefer using it to get rid of ashy skin. Magic. Worth trying out if you're lazy like me when it comes to applying lotion.

R.M.S. highlighter: I've been watching this for a while and am itching to buy it. Highlighters are the 2nd favorite makeup product I enjoy putting on my face after eyebrows. $30 is a pretty steep for a little pot, but - it applies as silky as it looks on your skin. Has anyone tried this? How long does the pot last? 

Christian Tortu candle: I won't knock on Diptyque cause my home girls at the Larchmont store are the shit and always make me feel good about splurging on a candle supplemented with tons of free samples. But step up the Instagram game peeps! I'm tired of seeing them all over my feed. There are other cool candles you can spend $60 on and support smaller artisans. 

HD Buttercup couch: One question: why did I buy a white couch? I'm gonna open a new bank account called "Chanel or Couch fund" and start saving up. Let's see how I feel about this in a year.

Sunday Riley sleeping oil: Honestly, this made the list because I like the packaging, facial oils in general, and it's been getting rave reviews. Another on my list I wanna try. 

Girl pot: Last minute gift for anyone and everyone. Because everyone loves boobs. 

Chloë Sevigny's book: Okay, I don't want this to seem like I have a girl crush on her 'just cause'. I also don't want to classify myself as a fan. However, I think Chloe has an authentic vibe, and all the people that I madly respect gravitate towards her. I'm hoping the book shows a lot of behind-the-scene photos of the work she's collaborated on.

Periwinkle eyeliner: Flick! Aka all I want to wear this Spring/Summer.

Gold hoops: For the moments you're feelin' yourself.

Lover sweater: Bianca Chandon is my man Alex Olson's line, and he's killing it. The aesthetics and product are *a-okay hand emoji*. I want this sweater to wear from bed, to brunch, to date night, and back to bed.

Denim skirt: AG has the best denim in this business, hands-down. I saw this skirt and it took me 2 minutes to get one  en route to me.

Skipping through things I just want... like a perfect scarf to wear 10 different ways, a shoe I would eat only top ramen for a week for, and obvious beach accessories for my inner beach bunny...

Love roll-on perfume: So I am a strong believer that all things cool lie between really cheap and really expensive. While I re-buy my $300 perfume, I also am rebuying this $8 (at whole foods) perfume. 

By the time you read this, I would have just landed in Vietnam - the land my parents grew up in but never spoke much about. The country I’ve longed to visit but was deterred by my parent’s disposition of their last memory fleeing the country during the war. Finally, I will be in my potential home away from home.

I’ve put a mood board of what I’ve always envisioned my home country to be and feel: tropical, colorful, bright, fresh, raw, and somber. I am seething with excitement and will definitely be blogging / vlogging / instagramming along the way. Thank you so much Soludos for the opportunity I really have been waiting a lifetime for.  

I haven't done a full weekly round up in a long time - but that's only because I break it up now which leads to less pressure to post it every week. Did we all catch that? If you're a new reader, let me familiarize you with each themed0day through the perfect carry-all bag.

MUSIC MONDAY 

Currently on repeat: Glass Animal - Zaba. It's one catchy album that has some really amazing hits full of animalistic vibes. Other notable background-ambiance bands on vinyl: The Supremes and Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

TASTY TUESDAY 

Breakfast has been my favorite meal to cook, mainly because it's paired with coffee. The easiest, healthiest pancake recipe that I make almost every morning is made of just two ingredients, egg + banana. Thank me later. One day I'll do a video on how I make it myself, but that link is a good start. Another easy favorite: toast with coconut oil, fried on a pan, then smeared chunky almond butter on top + chopped medjool dates. Ded.

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY 

Hump day is for coveting. Something that's been on my radar is a luxe bag customized with sloppy brush strokes. I also rediscovered my love for watercoloring and have been channeling my unwinding energy towards that. So I spent a morning with coffee doing this little paint-job. I'm actually really stoked on how it turned out. Also didn't realize that this is very "Carrie Diaries" until people started commenting that on my Instagram.

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY 

While I mostly post interior photos on Thursdays, it's really meant to be anything thought-provoking or inspiring. Currently I am so, so excited to be traveling to Vietnam for 2 weeks. I feel like I desperately need an escape and change of scenery - seriously, I am overflowing with inspiration about that. Things with me at all times while I travel: my passport, Canon 120s, external hard-drive to document, a notebook, and my current favorite magazines Purple Fashion + Garage.

FASHION FRIDAY 

A few of my purse real-estate regulars: Dita sunglasses, a ribbon to tie my hair, cherry-red lipstick, lip balm, berry flavored mints, random envelop to house receipts, and signature perfume.

Carry-all by Coach Swagger 37. This is my weekly swagger - what's yours?