10 Things I'm Currently Obsessed With

The moment I think I'm going to have time and space to breathe, life takes me by surprise and ambushes me with a dose of nonstop, go-go-go, moving & shaking. It's important, for me, and for my continuing self-care, to take a moment to pause and think about all the awesome things happening in my life. I could quite Ferris Bueller, but it's not going to be anything new to you! So, some things.

1. Dressing for Summer

Okay, this isn't a new or interesting concept, but the truth is, I'm pretty horrible at dressing in a "weather appropriate" manner. If it were up to me, I'd wear a leather jacket year round. So, the idea of finally trying to break into this world of "open toe shoes" and "flowy silk fabrics" and "not all black all the time" are, well, sort of foreign to me. A years old Calypso dress and a silky DVF tunic and Salt Water sandals have been my saviors.

 

2. Being Close to The Water

Growing up in Southern California, being at the beach was an essential part of my childhood - especially in the summer. No matter how many years have passed, or how long I've lived in New York, I still have a pang of desire to be by the water every time the temperature starts rising. Rockaway Beach, Fort Tilden, and sitting by the lake in upstate New York have been incredible escapes - and nostalgic dips into my past.

3. Fresh Flowers

Inheriting a friends CSA share while they're away has meant an influx of fresh, local flowers in my home - vivid yellows and purples and gorgeous scents. I've also potted a hydrangea plant into one of my vases, nurtured an orchid for several months, and had my yearly love affair with peonies. It's true that flowers make a home.

 

4. Cooking with Fresh, Summery Ingredients 

Last week a group of friends and I got together to make fresh summer rolls with rice paper and all the veggies you could possibly think of! It was such a fun, easy thing for us to do together - all the while making a super healthy (and gluten free, and vegan) dinner.

5. Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm

I'm a definite sucker for any and all lip product; there are few things I hate more than chapped lips! The pricey but always trustworthy Fresh Sugar Lip Balm is my standby, but I've had flirtations with other luxe products. My lips get a lot of action (from talking all day, of course), so I don't mind splurging on a new product every once in a while. I couldn't resist the sweet, modern packaging of Rodin's lip balm, though I still haven't come around to trying their other cult-status (and prohibitively expensive) range of products.

6. Statement Earrings

With my hair being up a lot more during the summer (usually in a messy top knot), I'm taking advantage of my often under-utilized ear lobes. A flashy earrings makes a big splash, and it doesn't need to cost much, either. Some of my favorite shiny earpieces have come from thrift stores and estate sales or my mothers jewelry box - all treasures from the past with a life of their own long preceding mine. 

Left pair available here; Right pair available here.

7. Weekend Escapes

One of my absolute favorite things which I've really learned to cherish is time spent outside of NYC. I realize now that it is pretty crucial to my sanity; I love NYC with my whole heart, but at times the city can be suffocating. Recently I've been taking trips outside of the city - to Upstate New York, to Boston, even to the very most upper tip of Manhattan, an isolated part of the city that feels very much outside it. Of course, the best part about leaving NYC? Coming back to it. That skyline takes my breath away every single time.

8. All Pink Everything

Nothing new here, but what on earth is it about bursts of pink that inevitably reel me in every, single, time?! I spend a lot of time lugging around my very heavy camera, so adding a strap that is feminine, beautiful, and serves its utilitarian purpose is a major upgrade from the standard issue nylon Canon strap I've had hanging around my neck for years. This Chanel-inspired number is made by Sarah Frances Kuhn, an accessories editor at Teen Vogue (and a neighbor, it seems).

9. Moonrise Kingdom (and Nitehawk Cinema, again)

Oh, I love love. I really, really do. My history of relationships and love is far from perfect (though I'm currently super, super smitten), but there are few things that make me as giddy as seeing other people being sweet on each other. Yes, even when they're fictional characters. And even when they're tweens. And especially if they're characters rendered by Wes Anderson.

10. High Art & High Fashion

Yayoi Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton has brought me a lot of joy recently. With my office being on 57th Street, I get a lot of time passing by the absolutely stunning windows. They're such a joy. If you're near a Louis Vuitton store, it's worth the trip just for the visuals. Kusama is such an incredible artist, and it's so exciting to see how Marc Jacobs interpreted her work in conjunction with LV's monograms and textiles.