AS SOMEONE who spends too much time romanticizing, I fully believe this has deepened my love and appreciation for life. Last year was a bit of a downwards spiral, but learning to find a dramatic sort of beauty in even the mundane (the scent of summer approaching; bumps on a grapefruit; scuffed baseboards) has opened some kind of third eye in the way I perceive things.

That being said, here's some things I've really been loving as of late :)

⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔ 𝒻𝑜𝑜𝒹 🪷

-- grilling buttered sourdough in a pan until it's crispy and brown, then spreading pesto and burrata on it when it's cooled! top with thin slices of tomato, a few slivers of arugula, and a thin balsamic spread. keep it open-faced or make it into a sandwich with another buttered slice :)

-- salads, simple as they are, can be very delicious and very fun to make. i like to chop up romaine hearts into bite-sized shreds, then throw in crescents of roma tomato. red onion, cranberries, cucumber cubes, caesar dressing! avocado and baked sweet potato if you're feeling fun. you could add bell pepper, but i don't like it very much sooo...

-- banana bread is such a comforting thing. warm, sweet loaves with a nutty exterior and melted chunks of chocolate inside. so exquisite and so beautiful. i love it with a mug of matcha or warm milk & cinnamon.

-- in the morning, i make a yogurt bowl! let chia soak in greek/icelandic yogurt until swollen, then mix in a sizeable amount of cinnamon and honey. (honey is such a perfect natural sweetener!) add fruit of choice: blueberries, bananas, strawberries, peaches, etc. top with granola and voila!

⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔ 𝒸𝓁𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓈 🪷

-- what i wouldn't give for a balenciaga city bag. they're slouchy and perfectly careless; toothy zippers and bold-faced buttons. seamless with any outfit on a nice stroll or shopping day!!

-- vintage silver jeans co. (i actually own a pair!!) low-rise, flattering on the thighs and calves. a perfect pair with heels and a small top.

-- silver jewelry is so beautiful to me. something i consider genuinely chic. it's elegant and tasteful, a little quieter than gold. thick bracelets and hoop earrings in silver remain amongst my daily wardrobe:)

-- graphic cap sleeves!! something you might see megan fox wear in a candid photo from 2009. added a grey ghostbusters tee to my closet the other day after rummaging through a vintage thrift. one of my prized possessions

-- thin, unassuming tank tops beneath a shower of statement necklaces. tiny shorts; bracelets a size too big; shoes that slouch.

-- a good heel! heeled boots, high heels, wedge sandals — near and dear to my heart. it's like magic, the way you feel putting on a nice pair. 

⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔  𝓼𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼; 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 🪷

-- the smell of june. the pavement has a hot, sun-roasted smell and the concrete reeks of warmth. all the sweetness from the grass leaches into the air and everyone smells like pool and sunscreen. the shade of a convenience store is distinctly fragrant with air conditioning, cold and cheap. the syrup of bees and flowers is practically tangible in the air.

-- the kitchen. in the mornings, it smells like the cold fridge metal, maybe a whisper of mom's coffee. later, full gourmand — spice and wine and sweet oven-baked batter.

-- car rides when the sky is dark and the whole city blinks, tangled in light. gasoline, fast food, the ache behind my eyes, mumbling radio. the warmth of my fingers curled against one another. heavy neck and dozing lips. 

-- watching a movie that will be my new favourite by the time the credits roll. cinema grain and my heart pressed against rib and clutching hand. will never be forgotten, not in a year nor ten nor fifty. 

-- the boy beside me in class. i like his cologne, flash of tooth when he smiles, nudging a chip into my fist. he needs a haircut, but dear god, not a buzz. his voice cracks when it's loud. his cheeks burn when we play basketball. he's getting tanner, taller. i remember when it was elementary school and he stood a head below me, skinny and small.

-- with friends. curled into the crook of my neck, on a couch, in her backyard. sun is setting, air is balmy, a blanket to shelter my cold legs. we share a bowl of fruit and pass soda between us. i never want to grow up. in the here and now my heart is content and thorough with gratitude.