pieces of life

Just a little peek at what my life looks like this very moment. I took these shots of my room about 7 minutes ago. Slowly everything is starting to come together in this little home of ours. I'm psyched. It's a brand new chapter and it's already shaping up to be a great one. Just 3 babes and a house. Life is good. 

Now I'm off to the Punk Rock Flea Market in Philly.. I've never been before, but I've heard great things -- plus I know a couple of dudes who are selling some of their creations. Can't not support dat entrepreneurship! Happy Saturday, y'all. 

play with your food

I've been playing with food a lot at work lately. And by playing I mean making fun things like frozen fruit pops and herb-infused drinks, and then styling and photographing the concoctions. I have such an infatuation with gorgeously styled food photos (see my entire board on Pinterest). I am an absolute infant at styling food, but I've drawn so much inspiration from Pinterest, and I've been having a lot of fun doing it, as rookie as may be.

It's really cool that my job allows me to be so many things that I'm not. I'm not really a photographer. I'm not really a writer. I'm not really a foodie. I'm not really a beauty guru. I'm not really a million other things that I get to be at this job - and maybe that's why I often get stressed out about whether or not I am where I should be; whether or not I'm on the right path - but I suppose that's also what makes this job so incredible. It's like I'm living in a land of make believe, except it's actually real.

Speaking of Pinterest and food photography.. anyone who's on Pinterest is probably well aware of Beth. Her pins overtake my feed every day, and I ain't mad at it. She has an awesome eye and I'm constantly inspired by all of the beautiful images she pins. Well.. I just found out that she has a (gorgeous) food/photography blog, so I wanted to share it with you all! Have a little look at Local Milk.

AND while we're on the subject of food blogs.. you may as well take a look at a Better Happier St. Sebastian. It belongs to Jill, a girl I work with, and it's absolutely incredible.

where brooklyn at?

Earlier this week I got to spend the day in New York for work. I made a little trip to Brooklyn whilst there. Not the same when your BK crew isn't there for you to roll through with, but I did experience some happy feelings of nostalgia. AND I got to go to Hana Food.

beach specimen

I just stumbled across these photos of the beach at my dad's from a month or two ago. It's the calmest place to be. Lately I've been infatuated with beach specimen and the idea of collecting some to arrange in little vignettes. I've never been a fan of beachy decor, but -- done right -- it can be really freaking cool. I hope I get to spend many a weekend this summer at this beach on Long Island. It worries me when I start to think about how few weekends the summer really has... and how many ways I want to spend them...

cinco

We're in. We're in, we're in, we're in. We're all moved in to our new house. It's all very exciting. But more on that later. For now, enjoy these few photos from the first-ever gathering on our deck. A mini Cinco de Mayo celebration with dranks and laughs and stuff. I think we have a fun summer ahead.

old old & new old

To the left, combining like items in my old apartment. To the right, new vintage acquisitions for my new place -- actually shot on the floor of my new place.

Wait, what? New place? Yes, I said it. This week I am M O V I N G. Into a H O U S E. No more walking through a claustrophobia-inducing cave to get to my teeny, tiny, dimly lit loft. No more leaky ceiling that literally poured water all over my most prized linens throughout the night last night. No more Ollie keeping me from falling aleep and then waking me up well before it's time. I mean, I'm not getting rid of Ollie. I will love that kitten for all of eternity. I'm just not letting him in my bedroom while I sleep. A bedroom! I'm excited to have a real bedroom! With a door that closes! And real wood floors! And a decent-sized closet! And lots of light!

AND THERE'S A DECK.

You guys, I'm psyched. And I'm moving in with two awesome babes. I'm so excited to have roommates. I love my alone time much more than the next guy, but it gets freaking LONELY where I am.

This week will be spent painting and packing and moving and unpacking. It's going to be a tiring one, but it's going to be a good one.

I CAN'T WAIT TO DECORATE. I'll be posting mad photos of the decorating process of new place once I get settled. Don't y'all even worry about THAT.

(Apologies on the low-qual Insta photos -- and that you may have already seen them before).

when work is play

These days, work feels like one big party. I just hit my one-year mark at Free People this week, and everything is just awesome. Of course I have my long days and stressful moments, but these things come with life. I literally get to spend every day working with all of my friends, including my boss. I get to make things and take photos and try on clothes and hang out on Pinterest, all within the natural light of a beautiful, open building. And then there was the time they sent me to Coachella. I'm a really lucky girl, and lately I've just been feeling so grateful for it all. I actually am living my actual dream and I want nothing more than for every single one of you to be living yours, too. 

Photos of me by Jana, Dylana, and Julia.