September Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Hello September! August slipped away (thank you Taylor Swift), as it always does, along with summer, my birthday, and so many fabulous memories. This month is sure to be another fun one, however, as I am in Raleigh this weekend visiting my mom, I'll be in Chicago next weekend visiting my besties, and then I am heading to Spain for my mom's 60th birthday before attending a friend's wedding at the very end of the month!

This time of year always gives me fresh vibes... cozy, clean sweaters, crisp air, and back to routines. I love a light sweater, jeans, and ballet flats moment and I feel like that just screams September. I love the clean, crisp feeling of "back to reality" and "end of summer" energy and the subtle coziness of a sweater draped over the shoulders, not too hot and not too cold.

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on Instagram if you download it- I absolutely love to see the mood board on your screens!!

25th Birthday Recap!

I turned 25 last Sunday, and had the loveliest weekend celebrating with some of my favorite people! My dad was kind enough to plan a special weekend for my birthday and flew out to New York to celebrate with me, Joe, and my aunt & uncle. We spent the weekend in the Hamptons and then came back to the city on Sunday for the Yankees vs. Red Sox game!

I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but I am a big birthday person. I really, really like having special plans for my birthday, and that usually includes seeing people I love or traveling somewhere special. My birthday weekend this year was absolutely wonderful and I've been feeling just so happy and lucky ever since. Let's recap the weekend!

This Week's Top 10: Birthday Weekend & Currently Loving

image via pinterest

It's been a few months since my last installment of "This Week's Top 10," which is a Friday series of blog posts that I created years ago to share weekly favorites and discoveries. This week I found myself just loving and sharing so many things that I had to bring it back!

1. I think the highlight of the week is undoubtedly that I published my first vlog of 2023! I hadn't vlogged since December, and I know many of you missed the vlog content, so I did a mini "week in my life" last week. If you haven't watched it yet, you can find it here! Hope you love it!

2. In the vlog, I talked about some of my favorite skincare products, including this Vitamin C Serum, Retinol serum, and moisturizer. I did not, however, show you my new *obsession:* this Summer Fridays lip balm. Oh my gosh, it's so fabulous. The color (I have the vanilla beige) is surprisingly stunning and the product is soo juicy, shiny, and hydrating. Love it.

3. I received both the moisturizer & the lip balm in my Fab Fit Fun box, which I have a discount code for: FRANCESCA20 for 20% off! The price of the box ends up coming out around the price of one of the items in the box, making everything else an added bonus. Such a great deal and so much fun!

My Delusional Birthday Wishlist / Gift Guide

My 25th birthday is this weekend and I thought it might be fun to make a delusional/unrealistic wishlist and put it out into the world!

In my family, my parents have made milestone birthdays really special. As a Leo, it's something I do not take for granted and means so, so much to me. In exchange, we don't really do birthday presents, and I love it that way! I have more than everything I need in life and really all I want every year is to spend time with the people that I don't get to see enough now that I'm an adult.

A few favorite birthdays were: my 18th birthday when my dad surprised me with a sunset sailboat ride in Maine, my 20th birthday (my golden birthday) when my dad took me to Palm Beach for a weekend, and my 21st birthday when my mom took me to Napa for a week of wine tasting. 

This year, I am turning 25, and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend in the Hamptons with my dad, aunt and uncle, and Joe! I feel so grateful for them and the fun experiences they've given me! In exchange, as I mentioned, we don't really do physical gifts, so this list is completely just for fun!

Also - I already own a few of the items on this list and absolutely love them, so I thought this could be a fun mini-gift guide if there's anyone fabulous in your life with a birthday coming up.

Wedding Guest Dresses Under $350

I have a friend's wedding next month, and the search is on to find something fabulous to wear! I have been looking around quite a bit lately and thought I'd share all of the wedding guest dresses I've come across so far, at a reasonable price range (in my opinion, under $350). 

Shop them below!

August Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Happy AUGUST! This month I really felt the pressure with the mood board. Usually, the "theme" just comes to me; it pops into my head and I know exactly what to do. This month, I wanted the theme to just be "me" because August is my birthday month, but for some reason "me" as a theme was a little difficult to fit into one aesthetic... the chaos was really showing ;) additionally, I feel like everyone loved the July mood board, and personally, the August 2022 mood board is my favorite mood board of all time. 

ANYWAY, I am happy with how this one turned out and I hope you love it. I can't believe August is already here!

Please tag me on IG if you download it- I absolutely love to see the mood board on your screens!!

Nantucket Recap!!!

I am so excited to share a full Nantucket recap with all of you!  I know this is long overdue, but who's really surprised? I truly had the time of my life on this girls' trip last month. Let's just jump in!

Myself, two of my best friends from home (Coco and Elizabeth), and six of my NYC friends all ventured to Nantucket for a long weekend and couldn't have possibly had more fun! The nine of us were all first-timers to the island and I, for one, was not disappointed. After many visits to Martha's Vineyard and years of reading Elin Hilderbrand's books, I felt like I knew what to expect and was still so wonderstruck. It may just be my favorite place I've ever been!

July Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Happy July! Apologies for getting this month's mood board up a day late! I flew into Dallas yesterday morning to celebrate the Fourth of July with Joe, and the weekend has just escaped me!

The June mood board is definitely hard to top - I think it's one of my favorites I've ever done! But there is no month quite as patriotic and summery as July, so I hope you enjoy this one! 

Please tag me on IG if you download it- I absolutely love to see the mood board on your screens!!

This Week's Top 10

image via pinterest

Happy Friday! It's been so long since I've done This Week's Top 10 but there are so many things I've been loving lately that I have to bring it back.

1. I've recently finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and Happy Place. I liked both a lot, but both were pretty sad! Up next, I'm starting The Soulmate Equation from Grace Atwood's 15 Favorite Romance Books list! I've already read most of them and loved them, so I feel like I'd love the rest of the reads on the list as well.

2. I bought this NUXE Moisturizer in Italy when I was running low, and I've already gone through the entire tube - I love it! It's about half the price in Europe, so if you're not heading there this summer, you could skip it (although it does smell great!). I also recently tried a few samples of the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask and loved that as well - great gel consistency, perfect for summer. I'm planning to purchase it this weekend at Sephora when I'm in Dallas and inevitably in need of a moisturizer restock. Would highly recommend either of these if you're looking for a new moisturizer!

3. Speaking of skincare and beauty, Merit recently sent over their concealer and bronzer stick for me to try! I've been a longtime fan of their Brow Pomade, and I really, really love these two products now as well. The concealer is kind of a foundation/concealer in one so it's all I really need personally for a base, and then I love how the bronzer just melts into my skin. I went with the shade "ochre" in "the minimalist" (product name for the concealer) and "clay" in the bronze balm.

Italy Recap #4: Florence & Tuscany

I just got back from the best girls' weekend in Nantucket, but first, I need to finish recapping Italy! I can't believe it's taken me over a month to get this post up, but I really don't want to forget to document the second half of my trip to Italy with my boyfriend, Joe, at the end of May. If you've missed the initial recaps, check out the Rome Recap, Cinque Terre Part 1, and Cinque Terre Part 2 blog posts!

Current Wishlist

Yesterday on my Instagram Stories I shared some of the cute pieces I've recently ordered, or are on my current wishlist. I've been doing a lot of shopping lately for summer in general, and also my first trip to Nantucket (next week - can't believe it!). I thought I'd round up all of the pieces here as well to keep them in one spot.

Italy Recap #3: Cinque Terre (Part 2)

I am definitely drawing out this Italy trip but I know if I don't recap the whole thing on here I'll regret it! So, I am back today with Part 2 of our time in Cinque Terre. Hopefully, after this, I can fit our Florence recap into just one more post!

If you missed Cinque Terre Part 1, check it out here!

Italy Recap #2: Cinque Terre (Part 1)

Hi! I'm back with my second Italy recap: part 1 of our time in the Cinque Terre. We spent four days in the Cinque Terre, and it was probably the highlight of the trip – at least in my opinion. The days were packed, so I’m splitting the Cinque Terre recap into two parts!

My outfit above: sunglasses (only $13) // top (under $100) // shorts // basket bag (under $100)

Italy Recap #1: 24 Hours in Rome

Hiii! I'm excited today to share the first recap post from my trip to Italy last week with my boyfriend, Joe. We planned this trip in December, so it's hard to believe it's already come and gone after months of anticipation. However, we had an absolutely amazing time, and I'm so grateful we could go, enjoy fabulous weather (it'd been raining for weeks all over Italy before we arrived), and spend 10 days together since we're usually long-distance. So let's get into it!

For the sake of readability, I'm including many of the photos at the bottom of the post! Note to self: redesign this website, LOL.

June Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Hello June!!! Happy summer, everyone! May flew by for me, with a trip to Nashville for the Eras Tour, and then 10 days in Italy with Joe. I'm planning to do all of the Italy recaps soon, but in the meantime, I'm so excited to share this moodboard for June - I think it's one of my favorites (if not my favorite....?) I've ever done!

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on IG if you download it- I absolutely love to see the mood board on your screens!!

May Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

Happy May, Happy Met Gala Day, and happy mood board day! I've extended my trip here in Chicago since I had such a great time this weekend with my girlies celebrating our bestie Elizabeth's birthday. We plan to watch the Met coverage tonight before I head home tomorrow! April was a wonderful month, with trips to Paris, Dallas, upstate New York, and Chicago, but May is going to be one for the books as well with the Taylor Swift Era's tour in Nashville next week, and then (!!!) my trip with Joe to Italy for 10 days!!!!

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on IG if you download the new mood board- I absolutely love to see the board on your screens!!

Everything I Wore in Paris

Back again with another Paris post, this time sharing the details about everything I wore on my trip last weekend!

It may come as a shock (to literally no one) that I was a bit last minute pulling together my outfits. I purchased a couple of things for the trip, but for the most part, I just kind of winged it! I usually find outfit planning to be so stressful, but when I think of Parisian style, it's so simple and effortless, and I really tried to channel that energy. I think it worked out well- I was pretty happy with what I came up with!

Let's recap the outfits:  

This Week's Top 10

1. Good morning, Friday! I can't complain about this week at all because I spent the first half in Paris, and the remainder here in sunny, 80-degree NYC! This morning I grabbed coffee with my friend Emma, and tomorrow I head to Dallas to see Joe! It really feels like we've officially turned a corner with the seasons and I am absolutely loving it.

Hope you're all having a fabulous start to your weekend as well. 

2. In case you missed it, I recapped my Paris trip in yesterday's blog post (broke down our entire 4-day itinerary!), and answered all of your questions in Wednesday's blog post here!

3. This warm weather has me switching over my wardrobe and wanting to stock up on tennis skirts and tanks for all of my HGWs on the West Side Highway. Loving this tennis skirt under $50, and this one + the matching top (both pieces add up to just around $50!)

4-Day Paris Itinerary Recap

Welcome to the official Paris recap! If you're curious about where we stayed, and general Q&A regarding the current scene in Paris, highlights of the trip, and more, check out yesterday's post here! 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I never skimp on the details, so sit back and relax because this is a long one! At the bottom of the post is a map with all of the places we went!

Be sure to come back on Monday for everything I wore in Paris!

Paris Q&A: Where We Stayed, The Strikes, Shopping Haul, and more

Bonjourrrr! This past weekend in Paris was absolutely lovely. My friend Katie and I decided to do a quick trip for her birthday / Easter weekend, and we had a great time. We really didn't do anything crazy, just explored, shopped, ate and drank, and enjoyed our vacation. We'd both been to Paris twice before, so it was nice not feeling pressured to do a lot of the touristy things. We did a lot, so I think I'm going to break up the blog posts into (1) this Q&A post, (2) day by day recap, and (3) everything I wore!

The first two times I visited Paris were actually within a few months of each other, in 2015. I studied French all throughout middle and high school, as well as half of college, and always planned to study abroad in Paris, but unfortunately, after transferring colleges, it was off the table. Additionally, my last trip to Paris was canceled due to Covid, so just a long way of saying I really was excited to get back! 

Because it had been about eight years since my last trip, I didn't really remember much of the city. I was so shocked this time around to realize how big Paris is. It felt like every day we explored new neighborhoods and all of them just felt huge! I mean, New York feels so small once you live here, so it makes sense that anywhere with a little breathing room feels giant. But four days ended up being a great amount of time, and I'm just so grateful for the time we got to be there. 

Let's get into the Q&A!

Q1 Favorites

Every month I think about sitting down to do a favorites post, and then I inevitably get lazy and don't end up sharing. So, today, I am going to share my favorites across Q1, aka January, February, and March, and try to make it worth your while!

HIGHLIGHTS

I thought this would be a fun new category to start with! Highlights from Q1 included:

- heading up to Vermont for a ski weekend in January with some NYC friends. It felt really special not only because it was my first ski weekend in a couple years, but also, as an adult, sometimes new friends don't quickly feel like "real" friends, and this weekend away really made my new friends feel like real friends :) 

- visiting Telluride, CO in February with my friend Katie and her parents! this was my first time in Colorado and we had a lovely, relaxing week in the snow at her family's house. We did so many fabulous activities, like skiing, snowshoeing, riding the gondola up and down from the mountain village to the town, and we even had a spa day!

- my mom came to visit me in NYC in March, and it was such a lovely weekend. my mom had only visited me once before, around Christmastime two years ago, so it felt like her first "true" visit where I got to truly show her around and share some of my favorite spots. We had a great time. 

- went down to Palm Beach for a mini spring break with my family! I got to spend some quality time with one of my aunts & one of my cousins + see my dad who recently moved to the Palm Beach area, and it was just a truly fabulous five days. No other word can describe the pink and green pure luxury that is a trip to The Colony hotel, where we stayed.

- the Lake Pajamas X Atlantic Pacific launch party where I got to see and meet some of the bloggers I've followed forever

- visiting Joe in January and February, and him visiting me in March; every moment we get together is a treat! 

and so many smaller moments in between! I'd say Q1 would be hard to beat, but some of what might just be the highlights of my life are coming in Q2, so I'm not too worried ;) (Paris, Taylor Swift concert, Italy, Nantucket... how did I get so lucky?) Feeling so, so grateful for such a happy life lately, and so many friends and family to love. 

Let's get into the favorites!

The Real April Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper Downloads)

 APRIL FOOLS!

(If you saw the mood board published earlier this morning)

I thought it would be funny/ironic to create a mood board with images that pop up when you literally google "april," "spring outfits," "easter," etc. It was the "hello spring" for me.

ANYWAY, above is the real April mood board, and I am in love with her. She's gorgeous, she's springy, and she is not cheugy! You'll also find the iPhone version below.

April Moodboard!!

Happy April!!! It's a new month, and that means a new mood board! When I think of April, I think of Easter, tulips, rainy days, and bringing back out the fun colors in my wardrobe. Hope you love this one as much as I do!

xoxo

This Week's Top 10

image via harlowe james

1. Happy Friday and last day of March!! Q1 flew by this year. From Vermont to Dallas, Telluride to Palm Beach, both my mom and Joe visiting me in NYC, and shooting my apartment in NYC last week, it was a really fun few months full of time spent with my favorite people in some fabulous places!

2. Last week specifically was really busy for me; I had two influencer events + a birthday party for friends, and for some reason, it just felt like a lot. I took this week off of social activities (with the exception of going to book club, because I adore my book club) and it felt so nice to cook, watch Daisy Jones, lay on my couch, and relax every night. I didn't even read (I do need/want to get back into my reading, though)

3. I loved Daisy Jones & The Six. If you haven't watched it yet, I'd totally recommend it! I feel like it's getting mixed reviews, but I thought it was great (I am pretty easy to please, though). I read the book a couple years ago and loved it (I think I gave it five stars). With any adaption, I always think it's best to not only read the book first (duh) but to read it significantly before watching the show or movie. Like, you can't finish a book and start the show the next night and think you're going to enjoy the show; I feel like your brain needs to forget about the way you imagined the book in your head in order to appreciate the show on the screen. 

Easter / Spring Dresses (All Under $250!)

Growing up, Easter was always one of my favorite holidays. I grew up in a family that went to church every single Sunday together, so we took Easter pretty seriously! It usually meant a new dress, an Easter egg hunt, brunch, and sometimes even seeing my grandparents (which, of course, was always special). I have such happy memories with my family on Easter Sunday; I always think of a sunny, spring day, with tulips, easter baskets, and dressing up for church before coming home and enjoying a delicious spread by my mom. It's a nostalgic holiday for me, and a day that I really look forward to celebrating when I have my own family.

Anyway, as I've gotten older, I feel like it's lost a bit of its sparkle... in college, and even now, it's not necessarily a "big enough" holiday to "go home" for, so I don't feel like I properly celebrate it how I used to, although I really wish I did!

This year, I am heading to Paris for Easter, *hopefully*. Since Easter is next weekend, it's creeping up quickly, and with all of the unrest in Paris right now, I'm just hoping we won't need to cancel our trip last minute. If we do make it, we have plans for mass, followed by brunch. I'm going with my friend Katie whose birthday is actually on Easter Sunday this year, too, so we of course have some fun evening plans as well!

While I'm not spending a traditional Easter with my family this year, I couldn't help but round up some pretty spring dresses for the occasion. I picked a variety of price points (including options under $100), but all of them are under $250. 

2 Years in NYC

shop my pajamas here

Two years ago yesterday, my brother drove me from Wisconsin to NYC in a U-Haul, and two years ago today we rolled up to my sight-unseen, crazy covid deal, 400 square foot one-bedroom apartment in SoHo (with a dishwasher!). The past two years have been some of the happiest years of my life so far. I feel like myself more than ever, and I really, really like my life. 

This Week's Top 10: So! Many! Exciting! Things!

photo via Atlantic Pacific X Lake Pajamas

1. Hello and happy Friday! What a week! I had two influencer events this week, tonight I have a joint birthday party for two of my fabulous friends, and tomorrow (drumroll please!) I am shooting my apartment with a fellow blogger. To say I've been a bit overwhelmed would be an understatement, but all good things!!!

2. The highlight of the week so far was undoubtedly the launch party on Tuesday night for the LAKE Pajamas X Atlantic Pacific collaboration. It was simply surreal to me that I was included in an event alongside so many of the bloggers I grew up following. Not to mention, the pajama collection could not be cuter! 

I have this pair of PJ's and this robe from the collection and I can't stop wearing them. Also, love this set for the pool/beach!

I just... I'm really at a loss to describe how excited I am about this. I actually made three tik toks exclusively from Tuesday night, haha! Blair could not have been nicer, more beautiful, or more humble in person. I really do check her blog every single day (there are very few blogs I check anymore!), so it was overall such a pinch-me opportunity.

3. I was pretty proud of my outfit on Tuesday night; I linked everything here, including these perfectly pink slingbacks (fabulous for spring!), my favorite feather bag, and this striped top (on sale!) that I purposely wore to match the collection!

This Week's Top 10: Spring Shopping Finds (+ Happy St. Pat's Day!)

Hello + happy Friday + happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wow, there are so many updates to fill you all in on! I returned to NYC from Palm Beach the other day, which I plan to recap here in the next week, and Joe arrives tonight from Dallas for a weekend in the city. He was actually supposed to arrive last night but unfortunately, his flight was canceled! We don't have too many plans this weekend besides just hanging out and bopping around, which should be lovely. Palm Beach was amazing and I still have so many photos to share - be sure to check out my recent Instagram posts if you haven't already!

1. In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I have to share my new favorite seafoam green sweater that I can not get enough of!

2. RUN don't walk to get these sequined mini skirts on sale!!! I ordered both the silver and the navy because I couldn't choose. I plan to wear one in Paris in a few weeks and the other in Chicago next month for my bestie's birthday. They're going to be so much fun for going out looks in the summer, too, and the price is too good to pass up.

3. I wore this $25 sweater all week in Palm Beach - it's absolutely perfect for spring and summer! It comes in five cute colors; I have it in white. Size down, it runs large.

Weekend Recap with my Mom! (Lots of NYC Recs!)

 

I am heading to Palm Beach today! Before I go, I need to recap last weekend here in the city. My mom came to NYC last weekend for a visit, and it was so much fun. My mom had visited me once before, Christmas 2021, but it was such a busy time in the city and with family for the holiday, that I felt like she was overdue for a true weekend in the city. Ironically enough, we spent the majority of our time in Brooklyn, but it was still so much fun. Of course, we ate some really great food!

The sweater I'm wearing above!

March Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper Downloads)

 

Happy March! I hope you're all having a great week so far. I can't believe a new month is already here! From a week in Dallas to a week in Telluride, February was a busy month for me, and March is looking to be about the same-- my mom is visiting me in NYC this weekend, I'm heading to Palm Beach next weekend, Joe visits the following weekend, and the weekend after that *drum roll please,* I am finally shooting my apartment, after two years of living here!!!

Of course, this month we have St. Patrick's Day, and (hopefully) the first signs of spring, so this mood board feels very green and fresh and clean - I hope you love it!

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on IG if you download the new mood board- I absolutely love to see the board on your screens!! 

Telluride Edit

Next week I am heading to Telluride, CO for the first time! Not only have I not visited Telluride before, but I have never been to Colorado at all! I am so, so excited. I can't wait to explore the mountain village, ski out west for the first time in 15ish years (I learned to ski in Deer Valley, Utah when I was 7 or 8), and just take in all of the gorgeous views!

February Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper Downloads)

Hellooo February! I feel like 2023 is off to a great start. January was full of fun little adventures in NYC with friends, and getting settled into the year. I feel like I was relatively good about setting new routines and setting myself up for success this year. Now that it's February first, I really feel like the year is kicking off for me. I'm spending a week in Dallas and a week in Telluride, CO (my first time there!) this month, and I'm so looking forward to both.

Of course this month we have Valentine's Day, so the Feb mood board is very pink! I tried to make it a bit more vintage-feeling and I love how it turned out.

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on IG if you download the new mood board- I absolutely love to see the board on your screens!! 

National Plan Your Vacation Day

At the Baccarat Hotel New York

I’m excited to be partnering with WeKnowHotels.com for today’s blog post! I’ve spent a lot of this month planning my travel for 2023, and today, January 31st, is National Plan Your Vacation Day! From Telluride in February to Palm Beach in March, Italy in May, and hopefully even more fun plans in the second half of the year for me, 2023 is going to be amazing, and I’m excited to share how WeKnowHotels.com can help you plan your next trip as well! 

January 31st is the day when the US Travel Association encourages us to plan our 2023 getaways before the year gets away from us. It’s also launch day for WeKnowHotels.com, which pairs consumers with travel experts to book hotel experiences that were once beyond the reach of most people.

For me, the past couple of years as I’ve graduated from college and started my job, I’ve had a smaller budget for a lot of my travel. Usually, I’m staying at friends’ places, friends parent's second homes, or Air BNB’s split with my friends when I travel. I’m really excited about WeKnowHotels.com because it provides access to a team of seasoned travel experts with an intimate knowledge of hotels and resorts, to give people like me an opportunity to stay at hotels and resorts that previously would have been out of reach!

WeKnowHotels.com plans and recommends accommodations based on specific needs and wants and secures desirable destinations and rooms (even ones with limited availability). Their service ensures that each traveler receives the best possible value, as well as free amenities and perks without any additional cost! WeKnowHotels.com provides expert counsel for planning, along with 24/7 support to make sure everything is perfect during your stay!

Sunday Diary + My 10 Favorite Songs Today

Hello from my brain! A little Sunday night post -- it's been a really, really long time since I did this. Actually, I don't know if I have ever done this, but it felt right?

One of my goals this year is to journal more. As I've gotten older, I've gotten really in touch with myself and my emotions. I feel like I have a lot of thoughts and my internal dialogue has developed to a point where I need to actually write down what I'm thinking to fully comprehend everything. Plus, I want to remember the things going on in my brain to look back on.

I also think this newfound mindset connection and intention with myself has been incredibly healthy for me, and I like the idea of working through and documenting the things in my brain. It sounds so obvious, but actually acknowledging my thoughts, and taking a second to think about how I feel about people, things, situations, etc, has allowed me to simply understand myself better. As a result, I have become a really happy, positive person. I literally started noticing that I don't complain as much, I don't really talk badly about people anymore, and I don't do things I don't really want to do or things that make me feel regretful or crazy. 

But not every day is perfect. In fact, some days I get so, so stuck in my head, and today was one of those. And for some reason, tonight, I wanted to share my thoughts here!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

image via pinterest

Hellooo! Hope everyone is having a great week. I've been spending a lot of time this month planning out my 2023, and my next upcoming trip is to Dallas for Valentine's Day! I actually wasn't planning to back to Dallas in February, but I was planning a trip to Telluride, CO at the end of Feb, and it made much more sense for flights to go to Telluride from Dallas instead of from New York.

Anyway- all of that to say that I'm excited to visit Joe for V-day... we're still debating a few different plans (cooking class, couples massages, or make sushi at home), but I'm sure we'll have a great time no matter what we do! I've always said this, but I really love Valentine's Day. I just think it's cute! It's positive, it's pink, there's chocolate involved, and honestly (honestly!!) you don't need to be in a romantic relationship to enjoy the holiday. I was single most of college and always had such fun times with my girlfriends celebrating galentine's day and treating myself to chocolates and wine and usually a little gift to myself.

No matter how you're celebrating this year, I've rounded up some pretty pink pieces that you can gift to yourself or a friend, or simply share this post or any of the below with your lover for them to buy for you ;)

Every Book I Read in 2022, Ranked

I read 32 books in 2022, my best reading year yet! 

Although we are already a couple of weeks into the New Year, I wrote this same post last year, and I really wanted to do it again. Ranking every book I read in the previous year feels like a great way to share book recommendations because usually, it's only in hindsight that I realize how much I actually loved (or didn't love) a book. Personally, I tend to think the latest book I've finished is my favorite book ever, but then a month later I can't even remember what it's about! So, I think this retrospective approach is a bit more critical. Hope you find some reading inspiration here!

Last year I ranked my books by rating, so I am going to do that again!

2022 Recap & Highlights

I'm looking forward to recapping my highlights from 2022 and some thoughts on the year! I do a post like this every single year, and I feel like it's a really great exercise for me mentally. It always reminds me how much I have to be grateful for, and where I want to make changes in my life going forward!

Overall, 2022 was a really, really great year. From a handful of big moments (like four weddings and a couple international trips) to the everyday moments (like making new friends, reading great books, and feeling more settled in NYC), there was so much throughout the year to be grateful for. I feel like it was one of the first years of my life that I really felt like my life was completely up to me; I moved to NYC in 2021, and it was just a big adjustment time. I also was still getting used to working and post-grad life. This past year, however, was much more settling. I made handfuls of friends, strengthened new & old friendships, said no to things I didn't feel like doing anymore (basically, I went out less and stayed in more which turns out is way more my speed), and felt just really happy and content with where I'm at in my life. I read a lot of great books, traveled out of the country to places I'd never been before, and felt very secure and happy in my relationship... just a lot of positive things! As much as 2022 was a great year, of course, there were also challenges, But for the most part, I'll remember it very fondly.

I'm looking forward to even more fun in 2023. So far I have a couple of trips lined up and milestones to look forward to, like my 25th birthday, my 2-year anniversary of living in NYC, my 3-year anniversary with Joe, and more. Before I get ahead of myself, though, let's recap 2022! 

January Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper Downloads)

 Happy, happy New Year!!! I hope you all had a lovely New Year's Eve celebration last night! I am in Dallas visiting Joe and we had a really relaxing night just enjoying a couple of cocktails, making a board, and playing Rummikub!

I am so excited for another year of mood-boarding for you all. I feel like the mood boards really grew traction last year, and I'm looking forward to continuing to create them every month in 2023 for you! As always, there are both desktop and iPhone-sized wallpapers below.

I hope you love this month's mood board as much as I do. Please tag me on IG if you download the new mood board- I absolutely love to see the board on your screens!! 

In the coming days, I also plan to share a 2022 recap and some 2023 goals on the blog as well.