coney's cones.

 CONEY ISLAND, NYC

I took advantage of the long weekend on Monday and took the long train ride to Coney Island for the first time. I reunited with a bunch of people I graduated with at Northeastern in GD last year who are now living in the city and we basically ate our way through Coney Island. I had my first Nathan's hot dog and White Castle slider and then the fluffiest soft serve of my life. I also never wore a bathing suit the whole time that I was on the island, which was definitely a first, but the sea breeze was going strong all day.

I struggled with the fact that I was spending all of Memorial Day weekend in the city but this trip made me realize that you don't need to buy a bus ticket to get away to a familiar place. I grew up spending summers on the beach and by the pool and I often get homesick when I realize those things aren't in my backyard anymore. But then again, when you live in New York City, the whole place is your backyard and there are so many gems hidden all around that I am yet to discover. I'm not saying that Coney Island was the best beach I've been to, or that White Castle lived up to its hype, but I did get to have an entirely new experience with some spectacular people, and that makes all the difference.

petaling onwards.

FIG + ARROW AUTUMN FLORAL STEAM

Somewhere along the way to adulthood, I neglected to learn about basic beauty practices and what is necessary care to keeping your skin looking beautiful. I've rested on the fact that nature has a way of healing all blemishes, and opted out of a skincare regimen besides the basic acne scrub once daily. Well folks, i'm beginning to realize the error of my ways and opting from natural skin to natural skin products. The first and most beautiful product i've found for my skin is this floral steam bath which mixes with hot water and a towel to trap the steam and makes your skin feel refreshed at the end of a long day.

RAW IN A JAR NATURAL HAIR POWDER

I like to start every new day with a shower, but there are definitely times when we hit the snooze button a few dozen too many times and wake up just in time to throw on some makeup and coordinate an outfit before rushing out the door in time. My hair is thin and tends to get greasy over night pretty easily. I used to throw in some baby powder to soak up the extra oils for an easy solution, but lately i've been using this guy instead. 

It's made up of clays and eucalyptus extracts, so it's better for the skin and hair while giving off a naturally fresh scent. Clay removes toxins in the hair and leaves it shiny and voluminous. Eucalyptus in general aids in the healing of wounds, relieving fever pain, and is a natural stimulant. It is also known to repel lice as an added bonus. So in other words, it's great thing to find for in a hair beauty product.

post it up.

ANTHROPOLOGIE SALON KNOB

When it comes to my bedroom, I love everything to have some personal touch added to it. Due to lack of space and funds when moving in I went to Ikea for my bed frame. I actually splurged on getting this one with some beautiful detailing in it rather than the typical malm set I used to own, but the posts were just simple round silver globes, and I wanted to dress it up a bit. Since they screw into these posts, I thought that I could get some beautiful knobs and just simply put them in at each corner of my bed. In the future, i'm going to look out for something a little bigger to accompany my frame, but for now I think they make my bed look really adorable and less like the norm. It's a simple and easy solution to making a standard piece of furniture special!

gala. time

You better work. 

The s.p.d. gala just happened to fall on the same night as I walked at graduation last year, which blows my mind. If you asked me what I would be doing a year from that day, I certainly couldn't have predicted that the answer would be doing a photo shoot with my amazing coworkers from a magazine I adore. I have been through so much since wearing that cap in Boston. I closed my eyes and made some of the scariest, make or break decisions. In some ways it paid off and in other ways, life crashed and burned. All in all, it was a learning experience which taught me a lot about myself and others. And after the six month job search from hell, I landed a job which turned out to be the best place for me with some of the best people around. 

The amazing photographer who took these pictures is our regular at More, Ari Michelson, and these are lovely and talented people I get to spend my days around. My team and I spent night and day creating 2500 buttons, printing out name tags and table cards and picking out our outfits for the event. We got out hair done, nails did and our makeup composed by one of our usual artists, before stepping out of the office and into a fabulous night where we took home some major gold. It ended by closing down the after party, taking pictures with palm trees and whispering in my living room with friends. I watched the sun come up outside my window while talking about design and the industry and I couldn't have asked for a better night. 

I've been working the longest hours, and still loving it, and knowing that makes me realize that i'm following my dreams and doing what I love, and that's what makes me happy.

Cheers to life everyone.

FINDERS KEEPERS MIDNIGHT JUMPSUIT

On a style note, the jumper is my ideal way to dress up for a night and be completely comfortable, and that was definitely the vibe we went for since most of the ladies on my team wore jumpers and menswear and absolutely killed it.

vintage finds.

There's something special about buying something that's come from a different time or even just a different place. The beauty of a homemade product or the intricacies that you don't always experience here in the homeland, or back when they didn't have the same machines we do. The sheer detail or the footprints made in the craft. The idea that those things have made it this far in their lives without being tossed away, and have often gone up in value.

It's just cool, man.

Planter

Morocco

Cup

India

Box

Morocco

keep floating.

CHOCOLATE STOUT FLOAT

I don't drink often these days, but when I do, I like to make sure my drinks are as delicious as possible. Since root beer is one of my favorite liquids, i've made a habit of making root beer floats on a regular basis. It's probably the most childish drink you can think of, but I love em.

I'm always in favor of the heavy beers, Guinness of course, porters, and for this recipe, Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout. It's a strong brew but with the chocolate taste, it's already halfway to being a dessert. Just combine with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and enjoy on a lazy sunday. Do be careful and leave some free space at the top of your glass because this creation has a tendency to foam over.

the OG

FRIENDS ENCOURAGE FRIENDS TO MODEL ON A CHEETAH PRINT CHAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF A BILLIARDS BAR

I've met a lot of incredible friends over the years, but this lady right here is the OG of BFFs.

We met when I was in third grade and still a shortie, and she asked me if she could physically pick me up, it was love.

I made a trip home this weekend, because it was mothers day and and I wanted to see the many strong women in my life, and when your best friend who is living in AZ tells you she's coming to the east coast for about 72 hours, you make a point to see her.

Over the years since we've graduated high school, our paths have diverged so much- she went to school in the 'burbs while I opted for the city lights, she moved to the west coast while I stayed local, and while she chose to improve the health of others while I chose to improve their Style and Substance. (TM More mag) But still, six years later, I have never lost sight of why were are the perfect fit for one another, and why we have each others backs. I feel completely like myself and comfortable doing whatever I want to, even if that something is starting a dance party in a crowded room or finding the perfect place to do a quick photo shoot. She makes me laugh without even trying, matches my crazy, is the ying to my yang personality-wise and is always on my side. 

K, i'll stop obsessing now. But seriously, you all need one of these in your life.

Throwing it back to sunday.

VINTAGE OVERALLS

FP MOTA BOOTS

JOHN GALT BLACK TEE

FP GALLOON HALTER BRALETTE

Last Sunday, I had an ideal day with an ideal gal. We ventured out for brunch in Lower East Side and stumbled into this amazing vintage store that's closing (gasp) Fortunately, it's just moving to another location but it's having a closing sale right now and you should check it out if you get a chance!

It's called Sheherazade Home, it's on Orchard and Delancy and it overwhelmed me with its treasures. I walked out of there with two vintage finds from Morocco, which was just about the best way to start my day. 

After we went to Dudleys NYC for brunch, who's decor and food was on point. Burger with beets, pineapple and spicy mayo? Yes please. Here's my girl Sars killin' it while we waited outside for a table. I believe her jacket is from Pookie & Sebastian which is her favorite boutique around.

rain, rain

The other night I woke up to one of the most rattling noises followed by the most beautiful. It was a giant clap of thunder that shook me awake and then it was as if the impact had broken a sky made of glass and all of the shards fell to the ground at once. The sound of rain is so incredibly soothing, which I always find curious since most of the time we are hiding from it, running from it, trying to avoid it's touch to our skin. Anyways, I digress.

I spent all winter looking for the perfect weather boots, and here in the midst of springtime, is where i've been getting the most use out of the ones I found. A beautiful pair of textured combat boots with a platform heel, which keeps me dry and cozy, which is incredibly hard to find. Here are my top picks for weather boots this year- now is the perfect time to buy since it's the end of the season and thus, you can find versions on sale, and also there is probably still some rain headed our way so that you can break them in till next year!

1. Defender Combat Boots

These guys are my new obsession, I bought them for my time in the swiss alps, and talk about them here too. It might be the texture or the platform or the laces or the combination of it all, but they're number one in my book, ahem i mean post.

2. Hunters

The original rain boot, and I still swear by them. Even though they're bulky and rubber isn't my favorite material, they work incredibly well. My favorite way to dress them up is with high stockings underneath, and especially in the spring when it's warm, shorts.

3. Chelsea Wellies

If you want something that is waterproof meets chic, these are perfect. Jeffery Campbell can do no wrong, and with these they pair the staple 'chelsea' boot design with some waterproof shiny materials and make this masterpiece, which also comes in a print if you're feeling daring.

Inspired.

FP BALI KOMANG PANT

My initial reaction to these pants was spectacular, so bright and colorful, big and comfortable, which is always a must in my book, and then I realized they were made in Bali, and I had to make a post about them. My local Bali expert is a friend of mine who lived there for a month learning about the culture first-hand and came back to America fully revitalized, and full of unforgettable experiences that I had the pleasure hearing all about. She's the reason why Bali has been moved to the top ten places I want to visit, and since I know nearly nothing about it in comparison, I thought i'd let her take over the rest of this thing, Miss Sara Pressman everyone-

If you could choose to travel to one city anywhere in the world, your first choice should be Bali, Indonesia. It is an island full of beauty, mysticism and culture that is bound to change your perspective as well as your inner being. My time in Bali had a very profound effect on me as I traveled from the southern city of Denpasar through central Ubud and finally to the northern rural area of Singaraja - all by motorcycle. Each city had its own charm and enchantment that is hard to capture in words and photos - its a once in a lifetime experience that everyone deserves. I met some of the most caring and considerate people while traveling through Bali and had some of the most incredible experiences I will never forget. I hiked a ravine to a waterfall with the freshest water in the world... I witnessed extreme poverty first-hand in cities with no infrastructure or electricity... I met the Prince of Ubud and dined as a guest at his palace... I stayed a 5 star resort in a beach front bungalow sleeping in a hammock for $2/night... I had my soul read by an ancient healer - and all of these experiences together changed my perception of what was happening around me as well as my effect on my own world. After leaving Bali I found my path and saw my future laying before me and realized all I had to do was reach out and take it. 

"That is why I think it is so important to travel. You meet people, enhance yourself and learn about a new culture." 

- Agung Rai