On a Personal Note—Let’s Try This Again

After a rough and unexpected start to the year… spring has sprung, DC is in bloom, I’ve turned 33, and am feeling so revitalized moving into April.

If you haven’t been following along on Instagram, you may have missed that early February was met with a traumatic incident involving my dog, Millie. Long story short, I had woken up one day to her slowly losing mobility in her back legs and within hours going completely lame. After a tortuous weekend of the unknown, we found that she had a slipped disk and needed emergency spine surgery. It was a very emotional and mentally exhausting month trying to get her to stand and walk again after being paralyzed, but with lots of work, we had turned things around by March. Dogs really are such a huge part of our lives and I cannot express how horribly this affected me, but I’m so happy to see how much progress she’s made and how happy she is just doing dog things again! Though it’s still a long road to being normal again—if that’s even in the cards for her.

This month, I’ve really focused on getting myself back on track. I started seeing friends again and going out… doing little, simple things for myself, like buying flowers, going on walks, visiting my favorite places, reuniting with family, and starting a new project at work. It’s crazy how life can come at you so hard and really throw everything off track. I basically dropped it all in that moment—it’s been so hard to focus on anything else (hence my silence over here and on social—though I really enjoyed being offline).

With March came spring in DC and my birthday… and I’m feeling like a new woman! I’ve been so inspired by the world around me, and after such a dormant two months, my creative brain is bursting at the seams. Every spring I feel like I come alive. And if my 33rd birthday week is any indication of how the rest of the year will go, it’s gonna be good. I had a really great annual career discussion and received an amazing (and unexpectedly large) raise. Millie was able to go on her first real walk since before surgery. I’m onto a fresh new project at work that I’m really excited about. I finished booking and planning a trip to England this summer to celebrate a best friend’s wedding. Solidified plans with my mom to spend some time at my favorite place by the sea in April. I’m just feeling good! And celebrating all the little and big wins that I know I deserve.

And with the warmer weather showing its face here and there, I’m excited about spring plans in the city. DC is so gorgeous this time of year, lit up in pink cherry blossoms and tulips and people out and about. I’m ready for dining al fresco, long neighborhood walks, green trees, sunshine, entertaining and making plans, rooftop hangs. I’m excited about new recipes and planting little herbs for the window. I’m ready for easy, breezy clothes, a fresh palette, and slides. Perhaps an apartment update here and there.

So, cheers to a new season and a new age! I’m so ready to relish in it and get back to bringing myself joy.

Over 100 Cozy Films with Dreamy Sets

Those that know me or have followed me for a while know how much I adore a night in with a good film. Whether a Nancy or Nora romcom with a gorgeous home, a romantic regency era or period drama, across the sea and somewhere dreamy, a little New York apartment or an old home with beautiful bones, or something that simply gives you that cozy feeling when you step into the story’s world… here are the movies I return to over and over when I simply want to escape or need some inspiration.

Beautiful Homes

About Time, 2013
Addicted to Love, 1997
Because I Said So, 2007
Father of the Bride, 1991
Home Again, 2017
It’s Complicated, 2009
Julie & Julia, 2009
Kate and Leopold , 2001
Knives Out, 2019
Love Rosie, 2014
Mrs. Doubtfire, 1993
Nights in Rodanthe, 2008
Notting Hill, 1999
One Day, 2011
One Fine Day, 1996
Practical Magic, 1998
Something’s Gotta Give, 2003
Stepmom, 1998
The Age of Adaline, 2016
The Holiday, 2006
The Intern, 2015
The Parent Trap, 1998
The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001
The Time Traveler's Wife, 2009
The Wedding Date, 2005
This Is Where I Leave You, 2014
What a Girl Wants, 2003
Where'd You Go, Bernadette, 2019
You’ve Got Mail, 1998

Old Classics

Annie Hall, 1977
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961
Funny Face, 1957
Funny Girl, 1968
Gigi, 1958
High Society, 1956
La Piscine, 1969
Roman Holiday, 1953
Rosemary's Baby, 1968
Sabrina, 1954
The Graduate, 1967

Another Time

A Single Man, 2009
A Walk in the Clouds, 1995
An Education, 2009
Anna Karenina, 2012
Atonement, 2007
Becoming Jane, 2007
Brooklyn, 2015
Cafe Society, 2016
Coco Before Chanel, 2009
Colette, 2018
Emma, 2020
Enola Holmes, 2020
Far from the Madding Crowd, 2015
Goodbye Christopher Robin, 2017
Gosford Park, 2001
Jane Eyre, 2011
Lady Chatterley's Lover, 2022
Little Women, 2019
Mansfield Park, 1999
Marie Antoinette, 2006
Miss Potter, 2006
My Fair Lady, 1964
My Man Godfrey, 1936
Persuasion, 2022
Phantom Thread, 2017
Pride and Prejudice, 2005
Rebecca, 2020
Saving Mr. Banks, 2013
Somewhere in Time, 1980
Sound of Music, 1965
The Dig, 2021
The Duchess, 2008
The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014
The Great Gatsby, 2013
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, 2015
The Notebook, 2004
The Phantom of the Opera, 2004
The Theory Of Everything, 2014

Wanderlust

A Good Year, 2006
A Little Romance, 1979
A Room with a View, 1985
Amélie, 2001
Before Trilogy
Call Me By Your Name, 2017
Chasing Liberty, 2007
Eat, Pray, Love, 2010
Hundred Foot Journey, 2014
Leap Year, 2010
Letters to Juliet, 2010
Mama Mia, 2008 & 2018
Midnight in Paris, 2011
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, 2021
P.S. I Love You, 2007
The Last Letter to Your Lover, 2021
The Talented Mr. Ripley, 1999
Under the Tuscan Sun, 2003

Cozy Magic

Christopher Robin, 2018
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968
Finding Neverland, 2004
Harry Potter Series
Hook, 1991
Matilda, 1996
Mary Poppins, 1964
Paddington, 2014
Penelope, 2006
Peter Rabbit, 2018
The Little Princess, 1995
The Secret Garden, 1993

Winter Whites

Winter is a perfect excuse to dress up in white neutrals. There’s just nothing quite as classic as a monochrome creamy outfit and I’ve certainly been inspired to dress up a bit for office days, drinks, or dinner out in a perfectly fresh fit.

Winter Whites

1. Cordera Wool and Alpaca Cardigan / 2. Club Monaco Peechie Flats / 3. Toteme Padded Scarf Jacket / 4. Mondo Mondo Diva Ring / 5. Rafe Margarita Woven Leather Tote Bag / 6. Jasmin Sparrow Wave Bracelet / 7. Modern Citizen Nara Tie-Front Knit Sweater / 8. Reiss Ariel Belted Coat / 9. (Amazon) JW PEI Gabbi Handbag / 10. Gucci Silk Scarf / 11. Agmes Pearl Studs / 12. Skall Studio Harlow Blouse