05: Thirteen Things I'm Loving, Wearing & Reading
Live jazz, fantasy purchases, Vogue quotes, girl dinners (but not what you think), Taste by Coco Jones, coffee with my younger self.
Every month on the 13th I’m sharing thirteen things I’m loving, obsessing over, and can’t get enough of—from movies and TV shows to music, cocktails, restaurants, outings, and new + old pieces in my wardrobe.
05: “THIRTEEN THINGS”
Vogue quotes
Seen Library books
Valentine’s vibes
Live at Montreux Jazz Festival by RAYE
Thrifted trends
Meeting my younger self for coffee
Taste by Coco Jones
Fantasy impulse buys
Being a work-from-home mom
Dinners with girlfriends
The White Lotus season 3
Fashion hauls with things you already own
My thrifted moto jacket
Vogue quotes
On a Sunday morning or afternoon, there’s not much I love more than to flip through the glossy pages of a fashion magazine with a cup of coffee. I’ve started turning my phone off for most of the day and just reading and spending time with my kids. Recently, I came across a couple of quotes that really resonated with me as a thrift lover and busy mom.
“For me, wearing vintage has always been about a sense of individuality—and, yes, the satisfaction of saying ‘thanks, it’s vintage.’ (Translation: No, you can’t buy this at any old store.)”
“…but with no family in New York to help me, I felt that the health and happiness of my family rested solely on my shoulders. I wanted people to see me as a good mother…”
Seen Library books
While it depends on the kind of surprise, I’m not usually a big fan of them. However, I do love picking out books based on a description instead of the cover. It doesn’t hurt that the way Seen Library presents their books is more chic than mysterious. Although, it’s definitely a mix of both. At their pop-up in Los Angeles, I chose three books that I thought would be a fit for my TBR. So far, I’m loving one, probably not finishing another, and haven’t started the final one. More details to come. (See the book covers in the reel.)
Valentine’s vibes
I’ve never been a huge Valentine’s girl. I guess when I was a teen, it probably meant a lot more than it needed to. Like, if mine or my friends’ boyfriends didn’t plan anything, it might’ve caused some middle school drama. But ever since meeting my husband, I haven’t put a huge emphasis on it. Usually, we just use it as an excuse to eat desserts, watch a rom-com, order something delicious for dinner. This year, I made a cheesecake with edible flowers from the farmers market, dipped strawberries in chocolate with my twins, received a massive bouquet of roses, and wore a romantic or risqué—depending on how you look at it—dress to see Tyler, The Creator.
Live at Montreux Jazz Festival by RAYE
This album!!! It’s delicious. Perhaps I’m saying that because it’s my go-to soundtrack for whipping up pancake brunch on the weekend. Or maybe it really just is delicious; each track a snack for your ears. Honestly, if you haven’t listened, you must. Right now.
Thrifted trends
See the white dress that I’m wearing in the cover photo on the above reel? It’s Musier, a chic and trendy Paris-based brand. And I got it for—drumroll, please—$5. I’d been eyeing up garments from that brand for years. (Literally.) For one reason or another, I never bit the bullet. So, naturally, I was ecstatic to find this dress at the thrift store and for such an incredible price. To be fair, the price Goodwill was originally asking was $10 but it had a red tag which was fortuitously 50% off that day. I scoured the internet for this particular frock and what I found was a version being sold on eBay used for $120. So, I think I scored. Big time.
As for the other trends in the video (above), I found them at 2nd Street, Goodwill, and The Council Shop. Fast fashion makes you believe that you need to buy new trends every season. But here’s the thing: trends come and go. Emphasis on come. Meaning: they come back around. Chances are, you already have some of them in your wardrobe from past seasons. And if you don’t, then the thrift store is a good place to start looking.
Meeting my younger self for coffee
I’m not usually one for jumping on social media trends. Not that I don’t enjoy them, it’s just that I don’t often have the mental capacity to add another thing to my to-do list. However, after seeing this one absolutely everywhere, it started to feel really relatable to me. Thinking back on my high school self and how hurt she was and how confused about life she became, I thought that if she could see where I’m at now and how I made it through all that bullshit, it would’ve been very comforting. And inspiring.
Back then, I’d been bullied and ripped apart by people I thought were friends. I’d had awful rumours spread about me and was told by multiple people that I was ugly and would never make it in life. My dreams were “too big” for my small town upbringing and my fashion sense stuck out like a bikini at brunch. I’d have told her to keep being her and to continue following her dreams.
I’d also tell her: put down the scissors and grow out those bangs, girl. Your most confident self is waiting with a middle part and a shoulder-length bob. Forget the bangs!!! Seriously.
Taste by Coco Jones
I’m an R&B girl through and through. It’s by far my favourite genre and the one I default toward every time. And that’s not to say I don’t love other genres and genre-bending styles—I do. But R&B is my ultimate. Right now. I’m loving Taste by Coco Jones. It’s on repeat in my mind. Plus, she samples Toxic by Britney. How could you not love it? Two other songs I’m obsessed with right now are Denim by Zeina and Just Like Me by Chxrry22.
Ps. Coco’s concert on The Terrell Show was incredible too! If you haven’t seen it, watch it now.
Fantasy impulse buys
Flipping through Vogue this month, I started thinking about what I’d love to buy if I had unlimited funds—not to mention, closet space. I settled on Saint Laurent pumps, classic New Balance sneakers, and a denim bag from Ralph Lauren. Swipe above to see them all.
Being a work-from-home mom
Phew! Being a work-from-home mom is all that and then some. My brain never shuts off. However, I love it because I get to be around my kids, spend time with them, and also work on what I’m passionate about: writing. True, at times, it’s very hectic and I want to pull my hair out. But it’s mostly rewarding. Especially if you follow this advice that every WFH mom needs to hear.
Dinners with girlfriends
When I first moved to LA just over two years ago, I had one friend. Just one. For a social butterfly Gemini like myself, that was kinda tough. Over the years, I’ve built up a small but very sweet group of girlfriends. (Shoutout to Bumble BFF and Peanut.) Recently, I went out for two girls’ dinners (but not “girl dinner” if you know what I mean): one at Bacari and one at Mirate. Both were so fun, so delicious, and allowed me to dig through my closet for some cute outfits. 10/10 would recommend all of the above.
The White Lotus season 3
If you haven’t caught up with season 3 of The White Lotus yet then you may want to skip past this paragraph. Ok, now that that’s out of the way, here are a few of my thoughts about the season so far:
I was not expecting to see that much of Lucius Malfoy
The three blonde women are so bitchy but tbh I might like to vacation with them for fun
How the hell did Chelsea and Rick end up together? I need their origin story
Saxon is so vile that I have a visceral reaction whenever he’s on-screen
The show kind of feels like a tourism ad this season and my husband is convinced that most of it was filmed on a green screen
Fashion hauls with things you already own
Let’s say it one more time for the girls with Shein or Amazon or Fashion Nova carts on-the-go: no more fast fashion hauls! We don’t want to see it. Nobody needs another polyester tank top. Let’s show off what we already own and love. In the above post, I’m showing off three vests, two thrifted and one procured from the Dion Lee closing down sale, that I own, love, and actually wear.
My thrifted moto jacket
For $179, I’d certainly hope my thrifted moto jacket would still be one of my favourite things. And it definitely is. I’ve paired it with baggy jeans, a silk midi skirt, a printed mesh dress. Guess what? It works with everything. A pinch of effortless cool and I’m good to head out the door. The worst thing about it so far is that it’s a little awkward when I’m driving. If that’s as bad as it gets, I’ll take it.
As always, I’m an author and my collection of short stories, Thirteen Emotions, is available worldwide now! You can buy it through my bookstore or Amazon, Bookshop, and wherever books are sold online.
What are you loving this month?
—MMM
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