Things of Note | No. 2

Lots of recent obsessions have been keeping me distracted from the fact that I have now been unemployed for 5 weeks. I am loving the unemployed life, but I’m also quite…stressed. There’s the whole “I need a visa to stay in Germany and the visa is only there if I can get a job” situation that’s keeping me up at night.

On a lighter note, here’s what I’ve been lusting after these days:

🐆 Anything and everything Leo - I’m a big fan of leopard print. The best gifts that Alex’s mom has given me (apart from genuine acceptance into the Vacca circle) are a leopard jacket and a pair of leopard kitten heels. Leopard print can be a bit tacky, but sometimes it’s just done right like in this Mango advert (they’re not actually selling this dress, only the bag (which is a no!)) or this Zara dress.

🦪 It’s almost oyster season!!! I grew up with oyster happy hours on the East Coast and am looking forward to hunting down the best oysters in Berlin this summer. I tried a few at KaDeWe a few weeks ago and am already craving more.

🧴 Do Son Diptique Perfume - I was lured to the Diptique stand at the mall and tried at least 6 different scents. I ended up spraying this one on my jacket and I’m still getting whiffs of it a week later. I love the initial smell of it, but worry that it smells a bit grandma-y once the freshness wears off. Does anyone own a Diptique perfume and can give me their two (s)cents?

🌼 This corner shop in my neighborhood has the most stunning collection of flowers that are arranged on the sidewalk every morning. I love the long stemmed calla lilies but can’t get myself to spend 5 EUR on a single flower.

🎙️ Emma Chamberlain is MY GIRL!!!! I love her podcast and have been listening to her new episodes religiously for the past few months. She’s much younger than me, but it feels like we are on the same page about a lot of things: female friendships, trends, relationships, societal norms, etc. Listening to her feels like I have a friend on the phone and I can just chill & listen while also getting housework done. It’s a nice break from the more heavy stuff I’d listen to on Huberman Lab or Diary of a CEO.

💭 I follow Gabrielle Bernstein on Instagram after reading two of her books. She’s a bit woo-woo for me, but I’m working on meeting her halfway because I buy into what she has to say. She’s always posting nice quotes on her page in addition to her videos, and I really loved this one: no amount of guilt can solve the past, no amount of anxiety can change the future.

👟 Putting on a cute workout outfit is the only way that a workout is getting a 10/10 score from me. It can be the best workout of my life, but if I look shabby doing it, it’s gonna have to be a 9/10. Also, having cute workout clothes makes me feel more confident and makes me look forward to going to the gym. It’s a small price to pay to more easily reach my fitness goals. I recently bought this Nike Sports Bra (that could easily double as an athleisure top given my lack of torso) that I’ve been loving. I also only like all-white sneakers and have been discounting Hokas for their ugly colors until I saw this model! Instant wishlist add!