Journal
Autumn is finally hitting LA (despite it being 89F earlier this week), and my favorite thing to do is take a walk to the park to decompress. This outfit was me being lazy, but I ended up loving the causal look.
Outfit details:
For Days t-shirt. This tee super cool because I can exchange it for a new one for life and the old one will get recycled! #circularity
Thrifted black tank dress (similar here)
Madewell Sandals (from Poshmark)
Last week I (and four other awesome ladies) had the pleasure of partnering up with Eileen Fisher for a 5 day capsule wardrobe challenge on Instagram called the Eileen Edit. Eileen Fisher and Eileen Fisher Renew gifted me several pieces to mix with my own wardrobe and share how I do more with less. Eileen Fisher Renew was started in 2009 to take back used EF pieces and refresh, repair and resell. Over the 10 years they have been operating they have taken back over 1.2 million garments!
For day one I mixed a new EF cable knit sweater with a EF Renew dress (similar here), my Jenni Kayne bucket bag, and white Muji tennis shoes.
This outfit I call my take on a Canadian tuxedo and it is made up of all secondhand pieces (minus my Everlane Babo shoes). Both the Merino sweater and quilted vest are from EF Renew, while these jeans I thrifted while visiting NC (see them here too).
This Outfit is what I decided to wear on my first day of jury duty, oh yeah that happened last week too. I wore this new EF turtleneck, with my Two Days Off Kyoko pants in surplus (see them here too) and my all time favorite (and most asked about) loafer. This pair are a few years old from Aerosols and no longer sold, but there is a similar pair made by Everlane here.
I think this was my favorite look of the week. I wore this EF Renew mock neck sleeveless top with my super wide black jeans (similar here) and Everlane suede mule (no longer available but here’s a similar style). I also planned to wear that beautiful green wool jacket but it ended up being super hot that day!
Last day and it was a comfy one! I was this plum number is actually a jumpsuit from the Renew collection with that merino sweater from earlier in the week layered over. I paired it with my recycled plastic bottle shoes from Rothy’s that are 2 years old and still going strong!
I have been sharing my morning coffees on Instagram for a few years and recently I took it to a new level with little videos in slo-mo of what I call “mindful pours.”
I have shared before how my coffee routine was one of the very first mindful practices I implemented in my life. It became a consistent time to reflect and take it slow in my day, and starting the day off this way has been invaluable to me.
Last week when I shared one of these slow pours in my Instagram stories I received a message from someone saying how it made them feel happy and also impatient. When I read that I immediately connected with the impatient feeling. I love these short videos, I even feel entranced by them most of the time. But often, especially towards the end I start feeling an urgency for it to end and I have to fight the urge to click through or swipe the video away so I can move on to the next thing. I sit there in a slightly uncomfortable place and think about why I am rushing this experience and then wait out the next few seconds.
I only share this because I find it interesting that something I do specifically out of enjoyment and to take a few moments for myself can be hard for me even still. Depending on what life state I am in I can be more patient or more hurried. And maybe the Hurley will lessen as I strengthen my mindfulness muscle, or maybe it is okay to not to always be in the moment immediately if I am able to quickly recognize when I am not and pull my self back here.
When I started my business, Two Days Off, I stared by making the clothes that filled gaps in my wardrobe. And that’s pretty much how I have continued to design. These pants are 100% an example of this. I have been in need of a tapered pant that is comfortable and can be dressed up and (more importantly) down. Here I wore them with an easy tee and my favorite summer hat for a cool morning on the beach.
Outfit details:
Printed tee from Camp Kayne last week
Two Days Off Kyoko Ciggie Pant in Surplus Green
Nude leather slides
Selah Collection Joss Hat
Vintage straw bag I traded for on Depop some years ago (best trade ever)
The holidays are fast approaching and I have already been looking around for gifts for the special people in my life. One of my favorite ways to shop is finding similarities between me and the gift receiver and then basically shop for myself (don’t judge). In this gift guide I am shopping for my fellow travel lovers.
I work from home, and although I am the ultimate homebody, sometimes I need to get out and get a change of scenery. Sunday was one of those times. I dragged my partner out of bed into the misty morning for a 15 minute walk to a nearby cafe. Armed with our iPads and notebooks we enjoyed a quiet walk though our neighborhood and then delicious coffee. This is what I wore, keeping my warm enough for the trek there, but cool enough for the return back as the sun began peaking through the fog.
Outfit details:
Vintage turtleneck sweater my grandma passed down
Thrifted denim (see it here too)
Mejuri boyfriend hoops
After a week of travel I was in need of a slow morning by the ocean to feel grounded and more myself. I woke up early, started my morning routine, pulled on my new cardigan, and headed with my guy to Venice Beach. I love early September mornings on the beach because the air is cool and quiet, the water is warm, and the crowds are still asleep. As I was walking the rough the soft surf I could help but think about how I would love my pant hems to be soaked in salt water everyday from now on.
Outfit details:
Jenni Kayne Cocoon Cardigan (get 20% off any order with code GINA20)
Thrifted denim (which I found in the boys section!)
Old black tank (similar layering tank here)
Mejuri sun necklace
I love an easy outfit, and this hat + linen top + pleated short was just that. I have had this linen shirt for at least 5 years now and it is holding up surprisingly well. It used to be exclusively reserved for NYC summers and vacation, but since moving to LA I reach for it constantly for an easy beach/workout clothes cover up or just a casual weekday look. Paired with these new-to-me vintage shorts I felt put together but simply styled which left room for my new hat, which is both a showstopper and incredibly practical.
All the links:
Selah Collection Joss Hat
Warby Parker Fisher sunnies
Two Days Off tote bag
5 year old Uniqlo linen button-up (similar here)
Rawson vintage shorts
Havaianas sandal (I have had these since 2014 and they are still going strong!)
I am sitting on the beach right now about 20 minutes from home and I am so happy I made it here. I was one decision away from deciding to spend labor day in the studio all day getting ahead of a short work and travel week.
It is so easy for me to choose work over rest and recreation. Ironically the whole reason I work is so I can have more rest and relaxation in the future. But what my mindfulness practice has taught me is that the most important thing is the present and taking time to rest and enjoy now is more important than attempting to secure it in the future.
Okay, now I am putting down my phone and getting back to watching the wave and feeling the breeze on my skin.
In 2019 I have three focus areas, all of which I hope will help me pace myself during what is bound to be a busy year…
This year I want to embrace the process in my creative work, work as an entrepreneur, and spiritual work. Truly all aspects of my life.
I want to take more time out to rest my mind and body and not feel guilty about it!
I want to nourish my spirit and give my buddhist practice more attention. My faith is the pivot point from which I make all decisions so the stronger that is the more confident I am in every aspect of my life.
It is 2019. Even though I have been looking forward to the new year for weeks now, it still feels odd that we are here. Maybe it's because it seems like just yesterday I was writing my 2017 version of this post, or maybe because I have so many long term goals coming due in 2020! Either way we are here and I am going to share with you how I felt I did sticking with my theme for last year and my resolutions.
2018 was the year of courage for me. I went on (and on) about it in my post without revealing what exactly I have been summoning courage for. Well if you've been following along with me on Instagram you probably know I started a business last year. And it was bumpy to say the least. Venturing into something brand new and public facing can shake ones confidence to the core and it took a whole lot of courage for me to stand up to my insecurities each day and plow forward.
A+ I am very proud to say 2018 was a year of creation for me. I started Two Days Off and began thinking creatively to design the clothing line and solve entrepreneurial problems. I invested my time and money into this part of my life and it feels great.
B I stuck to many of my intended habits this year, like hydration, meditating, and maintaining a skincare regimen (woohoo on this one!). All in all I made progress but there are a few habits (like taking time to rest and unplug each week) that could use more work.
B+ I am probably most proud of this one because I have made lot of small but thoughtful changes in my consumption and the products I use. On the household front I have realized it isn’t as challenging as I thought it would be to reduce my waste and begin eliminating plastic. Similarly with my toiletries I started to take a pause before replacing a product to make sure it was something I did need and if there were lower-waste options available (something in glass I could buy, a dual-purpose product, or if I could buy it in bulk). I also started to reduce my dependence on Amazon because I loathe the excessive amount of packaging they use to ship products. Some of my favorite low-waste solutions I started using includes Who Gives A Crap recycled toilet paper that helps build toilets in underdeveloped places, and napkins from fabric scraps. I also started carrying reusable utensils and straws on outings and trips (although I really should just keep them in my purse all the time). Although I do think I have made great strides, I could have done better with food. Last year I began relying on Trader Joe’s pre-packaged meals much more in the past (not cooking as much was a trade-off for working full time and starting a business), and that is something I want to tackle this year hence the B+.
I recently realized that I can no longer tell people I have been living in Los Angeles for "about 6 months." For some reason 6 months made me feel like I was still new here, fresh off the plane. But it has been 9 months, and pretty soon it will be a year! It's crazy to me how at home I feel here but also how new it all still seems. I still remember my commute to and from my lovely little apartment, the long waits for an elevator, and the casual conversations with our doormen like it was yesterday.
Probably needless to say (because if you've followed along for a while you know how neurotic I can be) but I panicked a little about our new home still having so many unfinished projects. This past weekend I decided to start honing in on them which led me down memory lane (aka my camera roll) looking for inspiration. Thats when I decided to put my numerous photos of our old place to use.
Our apartment was a ~525 square foot studio on the 14th floor of a high rise in Battery Park City. Despite having only one window in the entire apartment it was very light, and despite being a studio we had little issue with storage space. But that could have been a product of both my partner being pretty minimalist and strategic with our belongings.
I loved our bed "room" and never had an issue with not having a wall or door, even when we had guests for extended stays. I think I just appreciated how minimal it forced us to keep the space, and how open and airy it felt. We had a high bed frame (where suitcases could fit beneath) and a king sized mattress that probably wouldn't fit inside most 1 bedrooms in NYC. We each had matching side tables and side table lamps and a long dresser facing the bed. The dresser was actually 2 ikea pieces we each had before moving in together (thats why his is more yellow-ish than mine!), but we didn't really care and I kind of like the sentimentality of the two coming together in our first home together. Lastly, at some point we added a small armchair and runner to this area to warm it up and give us an extra seat to gaze out onto the river from.
Undoubtedly the best part of this apartment was the view onto the Hudson. It's what sold us on this space and it created our refuge from the business of the city.
Our mostly white minimalist spot didn't need much more decoration than it's single large window. Just look at how much the view would change from day to day and day to night.
Our living space was where we worked, relaxed and entertained (yes we entertained!). Along one side of the room was out couch and oversized ottoman, separated from the bedroom by a low bookshelf and plants. On the opposite wall were our desks and desktop computers that also served as netflix players.
Above is a similar floor plan to ours, the kitchen and closets are slightly different, but you get the gist. Adjacent to our entry way and kitchen we kept a small cafe table that was rarely used for eating and more for serving and collecting mail. We mainly ate at the bar or (admittedly) on the couch. I also included a gratutious bathroom pic, I think I took this when we first toured the apartment which is why the sole decorative item which I was obsessed with is missing, a mudcloth print shower curtain from Target.
And with that this walk down memory lane comes to an end. So many sweet memories from this home, now off to continue nesting in our new one!
I am a lover of cities. I love the diversity, unique flavor, and wealth of culture each one brings. But after living in DC for a year after undergrad it because the exception to the rul for me.
I never really like DC. But now that I have matured and visited again I realize that may have been my fault far more than my nation's capitals.
I had a short business trip to the city recently, but was determined to squeeze in a little fun. After a few hours of research I discovered more places than I could fit in to such a short trip. Here are just a few not to miss spots of you are like me and want to skip the mall and experience some great food, awesome art, and a touch of nature.
Image courtesy of the Kreeger Museum
I found this draft post, tagged with photos uploaded and the works scheduled for March 1st... 2017! What is even worse is that these photos were from my trip to Venice in 2013!!! So here they are 5 years later. and although they are not the best quality (yay for improving photography skills) let's just say this post is for closure.
The problem with blogging about my travels is that I take FOREVER to blog about my travels.
But better late than never right? I want to share more about my trip to Europe last summer, the trip that happened before my sudden move to Los Angeles. Lets start with my Porto Airbnb!
My partner, his brother and I stayed in this cozy and eclectic apartment (Ai, Porto - Family & Friends) on the top floor of a typical residence near the University of Porto. Although the climb to the top is as grueling as the steepest of Porto's streets, the balcony and view from above was worth it.
Our hosts obviously took a lot of time decorating, and I particularly appreciated the lush plants everywhere, gifts of port and chocolate, and the design magazines throughout the apartment. The only possible downside to this spot is that there is no kitchen, but considering how much amazing food Porto had to offer this was not a problem for us at all.
All in all this was an place to write home about and made our time exploring Porto that much more memorable.
This past weekend was my partner’s birthday and to celebrate I wanted to take our first weekend getaway to Palm Springs. As we have only been in LA for less than 2 months (and most of those months were packed with the apartment hunting, furnishing, buying a car, job starting, and end of year holidays shenanigans), my guy was a bit resistant to planning a trip for his special day. But after my insistence and incredible sale of a place I'd never been he gave in 😉.
As part of the deal I promised him a super chilled out and easy weekend, and that’s where I delivered. We left our house around 9am with a short 2 hour drive a head of us. Given that in LA it takes 2 hours to get from our apartment to downtown during rush hour, I knew this would be a piece of cake. The drive was more scenic than expected, much of it you are nestled within mountains and vast empty landscapes as you approach the desert. We both absolutely adored it and cruised along in the carpool lane the whole way.
Our very first sight was a wind farm just outside of Palm Springs. For an easy vantage point you can stop by the Amtrack station (PSP) to take in all the spinning turbines. Beware, it is very windy when they are all on! After a bit of train spotting, windmill watching, and photo taking we headed to our hotel.
I booked a night for us at V Palm Springs Hotel. It was a toss up between the famous Sagauro, Ace and V hotels when deciding, but in the end I took a chance on the V hoping it would be the quieter of the three on this particular weekend. And it was just quiet enough without feeling desolate. Our room was super efficient, clean, and comfortable, equipped with cozy bath robes and a swinging chair on the balcony overlooking the pool and out onto the mountains beyond. Honestly, I could have skipped all activities and spent the entire weekend right here.
Hands down the best part of the stay was lounging by the pool and relaxing in the hot tub. After checking in early we lounged here for hours, riding bar snacks and turning over every so often to get an even amount of sun!
There are quite a few restuarants I wanted to try out in Palm Springs, but there are but so many meals in one weekend! Fortunately I know I have many more weekends ahead here. These are a the few I will certainly return to...
Aside from lying pool side and eating, we were able to squeeze in a few other activities. On the way into town we checked out the wind farm. After checking out of the hotel on Sunday we made our way downtown to see the Palm Springs Art Museum. First stop the architecture and design center which was in between exhibits, but the docent was kind enough to give us a history of the building. We walked 15 minutes to the main museum which has two lovely sculpture gardens. And then we popped in and out of shops along the main drag until we decided to check out some mid century home in the residential area. On our next visit I'd like to do more of this beacuse the houses are just so inspiring. Never have I wanted to own property more than after seeing these super efficient and minimalist homes. Ginally, just as we were leave town we stopped off to check out the great Cabazon Dinosaurs. They are such a quirky attraction (the world's biggest dinosaurs!) but a must see for us nonetheless.
Before we knew it we were home just after sundown getting ready for the workweek ahead and with just enough time to unpack and Netflix and chill on the couch. All in all a perfect first getaway and lovely weekend!
Habits have the power to completely transform your life. I have found that little tweaks here and there in my habits makes it easier for me to reach my goals. For instance, last year I wanted to get more sleep and realized I wasn't getting to bed before 11pm (even though I would start winding down for the day at least 2 hours earlier). After having dinner, tidying up, and prepping lunch for the next day, I still had to wash myself up before I could hop into bed. So I decided I would take my shower in the evenings as soon as I got home, before dinner, and then I had less to squeeze in after. That tiny act completely transformed my evenings, and the time where I would then take showers was no longer filled with idling time online "winding down" from the workday.
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If you have been following along here for a while, you probably know that I love to tack a quick stopover onto my trips to Europe. It's probably my subconscious way of scoping out my next destination! This year the city I spent a few hours exploring was Stockholm. Here are few photos of Gamla stan (old town, or the medieval city center) and what I saw on my way there.
After this sneak preview I cannot wait to return and spend much more time in Stockholm!
Today is the last day of September and it is truly starting to feel like Fall here in NYC. So appropriately, I am going to share some images of a perfect Summer day! Only a couple of weeks ago I was still on vacation in Europe (oh, how it feels like so long ago already!), among our stops in Spain and Portugal was the seaside town of Sitges.
Taking the train from Barcelona was one of the smoothest transits I've experienced in Europe, and the station is a short 10-15 minute walk to the beach. It is worth walking it slowly though, because the buildings and alleyways are filled with beautiful hanging plants and other wonderful gems.
We decided on visiting San Sebastian beach, one of fifteen or so beaches. It was small but not crowded like Barceloneta in Barcelona.
And we packed a couple of sandwiches from a bakery near our airbnb and some fruit for a picnic by the waves. But we were still very tempted to grab a sangria and some paella at one of the many restaurants along the beach.
After hours in the sun and sea, and a bit more wandering the streets (all the while taking in more spectacular views of the water of course), we headed back to the train station. Before we knew it we were back in Barcelona.
All and all a solidly successful beach day. And surprisingly close to to the big city!
Sunday mornings usually start with the questions "do you still want to go?" and, "do we have time to pick up coffee?"
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