reading on the lawn

 i spent my sunday at reading on the lawn at brooklyn bridge park, hosted by reading rhythms - a reading community that brings ppl together through shared reading events (some are free and some cost) and honestly, it was the perfect way to end my weekend.

the event was basically a few hours of reading in the park with other readers. throughout the day, we would read for about 30 minutes, stop and talk to someone about what we were reading, go back to our books, and eventually break into groups to talk about books and get to know each other.

now... if you know me, you know i will go somewhere by myself with NO problem lol. but actually socializing once i get there? that's another story. i'm the type of person who will talk to you all day if you approach me first, but me walking up to somebody? girl. LOL so i was a little nervous about that part.

but it really wasn't bad at all. a lot of people came alone, everyone was there because we love books, and it ended up being such a nice environment.

i left feeling so good and genuinely excited going into a new week. there's just something about sitting outside, reading a good book, and being surrounded by other people who love reading too.

would i go again? maybe! they're doing another one next month, so we'll see lol. but i'm really happy i went. here's their tiktok @readingrhythms so you guys can check them out!

but hey, sometimes a good sunday is all you need  :) 

✦

the heels i never forgot

there are certain fashion pieces that never really leave your mind, and for me, these giuseppe zanotti x kanye west “cruel summer” heels have always been one of them.

i remember seeing the everywhere back in the early 2010s. between the sculpted wings on the front and the way they looked, they felt more like a piece of art than just another pair of heels.

but if i’m being honest, i don’t think i would’ve fallen in love with them the way i did if it wasn’t for kim kardashian. even though the collaboration was between kanye west and giuseppe zanotti, kim was the one who made those heels iconic to me. she wore them with everything, and every time i’d see a new outfit, there they were. when i think of these shoes, i don’t think of a runway or a campaign. i think of kim as the muse.

the funny thing is, i never bought them back then. not because i didn’t love them, but because that just wasn’t my style at the time.

i was always a sneaker girl. if you knew me back then, you would’ve found me wearing giuseppe zanotti sneakers with the signature side zippers long before you would’ve caught me in a pair of heels. i admired the cruel summer heels from afar, but i wasn’t wearing heels like that yet.

it’s funny how getting older changes your style.

last year, i finally found a pair on ebay for $230. after taxes and shipping, i paid $271, which i honestly think was a really good price for a shoe that’s become so iconic.

what made it feel like an even bigger win is that i have big feet *shakes head*. depending on the brand and the style, i’m anywhere from a size 10 to a 12 in heels, so finding shoes i actually love in my size isn’t always easy. if you’re a girl with bigger feet, then you already know the struggle. sometimes the hardest part isn’t finding the shoe, it’s finding the shoe in your size.

one thing i will always recommend is checking ebay if you’re looking for vintage or discontinued designer pieces. i’ve had such good experiences shopping there. if an item is over a certain amount, ebay also offers authentication, which gives you a little extra peace of mind. in my case, i had already verified the shoes with the original retailer after buying them, so i already felt confident they were authentic. having ebay authenticate them too was just a nice bonus.

$ 1st foot selfie $

i ended up getting a yellow pair, and i absolutely love the color. i don’t see that one nearly as often, which makes it feel even more special to me. the only downside is that yellow gets dirty so easily, so i don’t wear them as much as i’d like because i’m always trying to keep them looking nice.

but honestly, i’m just happy i finally have them.

it’s funny how the things you admired as a teenager can still make you just as excited years later. the younger me would’ve reached for the sneakers every single time. now, i appreciate both.

maybe that’s one of my favorite parts about getting older. sometimes you get to become the person who buys the things your younger self would’ve never imagined owning. ୨୧

a little piece of the 2000s

there’s just something about finally getting something you’ve wanted for years.

if you were around in the 2000s, then you probably remember the balenciaga city bag. it was everywhere, and even after all these years, i still found myself admiring it. so finally getting one feels like checking something off my little fashion wish list.

i ended up getting the mini, and honestly… i’m obsessed.

my new baby <3

before i buy any bag, i have one very important question: does it fit my kindle basic?

if the answer is no, there’s a good chance i’m leaving it in the store lol. i read whenever i have free time, whether i’m on the train, waiting for an appointment, or sitting in a café. my kindle goes almost everywhere with me.

luckily, the city bag passed the test.

it fits my kindle, wallet, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, charger, portable charger, and a few other little things without feeling stuffed. i was honestly surprised by how much it holds for such a small bag.

what makes me love it even more is that it feels like owning a little piece of fashion history. the city bag had such a huge moment in the 2000s, and now it’s slowly making its way back again. seeing it have a little comeback made me realize that some things really never lose their charm.

i’ve also realized i want to start collecting bags that were iconic back then. not because they’re trendy again, but because i’ve genuinely loved them for years. there’s something really satisfying about finally owning something you’ve admired for so long.

of course… now i’ve already convinced myself that i need the larger city bag to wear on my shoulder. ---->

so i guess this is how the collection begins.

one city bag down… a few more dream bags to go.