“I cannot simply be in a place. I must become the place”
Ciao! Grab your *Aperol Spritzes and cozy up for a gorgeous happy hour. Welcome to the virtual soirée that is my newsletter. I’m not one for introductions. I’ve never done one of those “get to know me!” posts on instagram and I don’t plan on starting here. Let’s just hop some timelines together and maybeee get a little tipsy, shall we?
*Aperol Spritz
Ice — 1 part Aperol — 1 part Prosecco — Splash of Club Soda — Orange Slice
TLDR: I’m a California gurl now
{MAY2021-DEC2021}
We (me, my boo Martín, & our greyhound Taz) lived in airbnbs all over the west after 2020 had us itching to get out of Philly (previously our home of 6 years) We worked remotely during the week and adventured on the weekends going month to month through Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California. It was an unforgettable time.
{JAN2022-JULY2022}
As fun as that monthly moving rhythm was, it was tiring after nearly a year of having no home base. We were ready for a “longer term” spot for a change and landed in Santa Fe, NM for 6 months house-sitting a massively gorgeous adobe home outside of town.
As our time in NM was drawing to an end, I was thinking a LOT about where I wanted to live next. Perhaps a little too much.
#1 on the list was originally Utah. Somewhere around Salt Lake. It’s a place that has always felt easy and homey to me. It’s also on my Jupiter line in astrocartography so it has a super juicy, thrive-y, energy for me when it comes to career. I have community there, plus Martín and I absolutely adore the nature that Utah has to offer.
Until something shifted.
Somewhere during that time I was having myself a me-day and really let myself dream. “Where would I really live if I could pick anywhere?”
Immediately it was California.
{MAY2022}
While in Santa Fe, there were some major wildfires in the area. With the crazy amount of smoke we decided to take a 3 week escape to San Diego to visit Martín’s parents. It was during this time where we started to highly consider the idea of a move here. To say the California vortex sucked us in was an understatement.
I started skateboarding!
I got so damn tan.
I was eating açai bowls like they were going out to style.
Life felt like a vacation every day here.
I was sold.
{JULY2022-AUGUST2022}
A trying couple of months. We moved our life from Santa Fe to San Diego and planned to shack up with Martín’s parents for the time being while we apartment hunted (so grateful for them!)
Not without a few bumps in the road. Martín and I broke up for a hot second before leaving NM. My nervous system was fully strung out on stress about the move and the uncertainty of where we’d land. We were about to sign a 1 year lease for the first time since we left Philly. Although some think traveling full time with a partner is the most testing for a relationship, it felt the opposite for us. “Settling” somewhere felt like a big deal, but the conversations that sparked from that period in our relationship were necessary and pivotal as we entered this new era together.
{SEPTEMBER2022}
And here we are. We signed a whole ass YEAR lease for an absolutely perfect apartment two blocks from the beach. All it lacks is central A/C and of course SD was in a record heat wave the week we moved in..but that’s the beach lifestyle baby, lol.
During our nomad days, I had a habit of making my environment a key personality trait. It made the experience of exploring somewhere new all the more fun.
Super crunchy granola girl in Colorado
Elevated space cowgirl in Wyoming
Arcteryx wearing gorp-core queen in the PNW
California has felt a little different. For the first time in my life I actually don’t feel like a cube with separate facets. I feel more like a sphere. Universal, smooth, yet infinite. My interests, work, and style feel consolidated yet expansive enough that I feel wiggle room to play around as I please. It’s a level of groundedness that I’ve been subconsciously seeking out for a while now.
It is with so much love that I’ve curated a selection of my updated essentials since calling this new place home.
LE CALIFORNIA MENU À LA LILY —
Costco Membership | California gas prices didn’t come to play, baby. Also Costco pizza is the base level of my personal food pyramid.
Skateboard | I’ve managed to acquire 3, but I recommend a cruiser or surfskate to start. It’s okay to be bad at something. That means you were brave enough to start in the first place.
Cute Sunscreen | Keyword cute — Instantly more fun to apply when the aesthetic is on point. Supergoop Glow Oil + Kopari Glow Gel are my favorites.
HGW Hokas | Walking around here is so damn enjoyable. When I tell you I wear these 90% of the time, I am not kidding. Must pair with Aritzia ankle socks.
Vuori | A staple brand of SoCal. Their material is the softest and the aesthetic is laid back. Vuori is Lululemon’s minimalist, less try-hard sister who still manages to come out on top as the it-girl.
Açai Sorbet | I found the secret ingredient to all of my favorite açai bowls here. It’s literally Açai Sorbet from Costco. 1/2 gallon costs the same as a single bowl at a cafe ($12) Lately I’ve been enjoying them more as a dessert than breakfast.
Beach Chair | Yet another Costco cop. Tommy Bahama is the best in the biz. They may not be the most aesthetic print, yet the functionality is unmatched. Backpack straps, two huge pockets (one with insulation for dranks!!), and it reclines to a full lay down position.
Claw Clips | Specifically the Super Bloom Clips by Emi Jay because they look exactly like a flower. Since going to the Djerf Ave x Emi Jay LA Pop-Up I refuse to believe a cuter hair accessory brand exists.
This has been fun. Should we do it again next week? Leave a comment if you’re feelin’ cute :)