Away to the Farmside

Things have been so uniform for me these past few months, so being able to do my first long distance drive up to Vermont with a distant friend was like a breath of fresh air. Escape to someplace magical and cram all the things you love like thrifting, vegan food, and fun people all in three days. Never forget to put time aside for yourself & to figure out what you need in life. Escape to someplace magical.

"The divine sees into you. Without thought, without judgement, simply with clear awareness and unknowable love. Eternity is watching you this very moment. You and it are inseparably one."

Dating Yourself

(Posted originally in a contributation to Tumble Magazine)

I have constantly been faced with the challenge of figuring out my own intentions. Sometimes we get so absorbed in pleasing others, that we forget who we even are without the pressure of our peers breathing constantly down our necks. First & foremost, we have to ask ourselves why pleasing others is even important to us. Is it so we can feel like we are part of a whole? Or because we are afraid of the possibility of being alone? When you are able to answer that, you can finally approach the possibility of pleasing yourself before all else. 

Step One: Take advantage of alone time. In the morning, wake up a half hour before your family, boil water and add a squeeze of lemon, & retreat outside to listen to the world that surrounds you. If you are accustomed to waking up halfway through the day, then find a quiet place in your home, close your eyes, & listen to your breath. I have come across countless people who are incapable of alone time; however, if we can’t be alone with ourselves, how can we be alone with others?

Step Two: Discover your likes/dislikes/hopes/dreams. You don’t want to become that person who halfway through their life, discovers that they have been living according to someone else’s expectations. Don’t join a club just because your friends are. Branch out. Do something that interests you. I can assure you that you will meet people far more similar to yourself. Once you figure out what makes your heart tick & your mind race, don’t let it go. You may be one of the lucky individuals who is able to do what they love everyday (something that has become so rare).

Step Three: Learn to let go. Teenagers (girls especially) are constantly getting absorbed in ridiculous conflicts over boys, ditched plans, or silly name calling. Ask yourself: why do you care what anyone thinks of you? If you think you are the best version of yourself that you can be, then screw the people who have a problem with you. If they call you a bitch, who cares. If a boy breaks your heart, then it just was not meant to be. Move on, brush it off your shoulder, & be the mature one in the situation.

     Above all else, learn to love yourself. Love the birthmark on your stomach, the stretch marks on your thighs, your strengths & your weaknesses. By discovering who you are and staying true to your beliefs, you will never have to waste your time with people who can’t appreciate how wonderful you are.

We're All Mad Here

If you’re living in the Western Hemisphere like me, then you are reaching the end of long summer nights, the heat of a blazing sun, and the freedom of a full day ahead. This month is the perfect time to take advantage of the weather and bring together your friends for a chance to create beautiful food and enjoy each other’s company. When I say throw a garden party—- I am referring to a fairy tale version of Alice’s tea party. Make it a wonderland.


Decor:

Garden Parties entail fresh cut flowers, lace tableclothes, fabric napkins, and twinkling lights. Primarily, set up a table in the grass (personally I would go for a floor table so everyone could sit on cushions), or a wooden table with wooden chairs. Choose a simple tablecloth free of bright colors and patterns. You could even create your own by sewing together different lace fabric pieces.

Next line the table with porcelain plates (mixing and matching looks great). As opposed to your ordinary paper napkin, choose a subtle cloth napkin. Not only is it classier, but you will also be benefiting the environment by using less paper. Place the utensils in the cloth and then wrap a piece of twine around.

It is always fun to create a seating chart & even more entertaining creating name place cards! I advise purchasing tiny succulent plants and placing a name card in each one. It will act as a gift to take home, as well as tie together the garden theme.

For center pieces I would put multiple vases and fill them with flowers such as hydrangeas. Play around and place crystals, pinecones, or any other earthy material in the center as well in order to accent the flowers. Lastly, do not neglect to decorate the surrounding areas! Wrap your trees in christmas lights, hang flowers on string, wrap the chairs in floral fabric, place tea candles and sand in mason jars, be creative!



Food:

Beverages~ The night before, cut up fresh fruit and place it in a pitcher with water & maybe some tonic water to create your own infused water! Try not to bring labeled soda cans or bottles to the table, but instead keep everything natural and fresh.

Meal Plan~ *try to think of light, natural foods* the following are all free of dairy products and meat.

     +APPS: platter of fresh veggies & homemade hummus, a large salad with spinach/apples/walnuts/tomatoes & a strawberry balsamic, gazpacho, maple roasted carrots

     +ENTREES: cauliflower rice with a vegetable stir-fry, corn (or spiralized zucchini) pasta with fresh tomato sauce/sauteed spinach/zucchini, marinated portobello burger with russian dressing & homemade french fries

     +DESSERT: coconut milk/fruit/chia popsicles, peanut butter cups, chocolate mousse with rasberry compote, watermelon cake



Playlist:

dreams of cannibalism- typhoon
open road- roo panes
difference maker- needtobreathe
please forgive my heart -bahamas
hide- little may
1904- the tallest man on earth
go mama go-michael bernard fitzgerald
I will wait for you- Lowing

Enjoy the planning, the creativity, and the amazing memories you will be making! Be sure to tell me all about your beautiful creations my loves.

hats off to ya'

(outfit on the right:: shorts urbanoutfitters, shirt unknown, kimono borrowed, fringe bag urbanoutfitters, hat urbanoutfitters, sunglasses vintage)

As I have grown older, my style has increasingly simplified from far-out patterns to plain t-shirts and small details. Instead of opting for your classic aztec pattern that can not seem to be repeated without public scrutiny, there is more appreciation for accessories that can give an outfit a bit of a twist. Hats have never been out of style; however, now there are men and women who strive to design hats that truly accentuate their customers style. They are affordable, provide protection from the sun (just a bonus), and can immediately make a simple outfit more chic.

My advice: hats should definitely be tried on prior to purchasing. Some hats will work better than others for your facial features..

If you are looking for a cheap hat to purchase try asos, Urban Outfitters, but I strongly suggest thrift stores!