#019: 7 noteworthy things I did this week
The Sunday post: apartment progresses, celebrating Xmas in early October and thinking about adding paywall to my Substack :O
I finally set up my hi-fi speaker system, complete with a mounted TV (the first TV I’ve ever owned in NYC - WILD). There is still so much to be done to my new apartment and a lot of furniture pieces I’m waiting on. Had I known about this made-to-order madness sooner, I would have been way quicker and more decisive about my furnishing choices. But alas, this is what we are dealing with and I’m learning to appreciate the hyper-intentional process of selecting every piece in my new home because of my genuine love and joy for it, rather than for the sake of having my place be put together as fast as possible. I know it’ll all be worth it soon and I won’t feel the need to replace things! I never considered myself an audiophile but I knew I wanted some sort of beautiful (visually and audibly) speaker set up when I signed the lease on this huge apartment and started ruminating on how I can fill up the space, and add warmth to it without cluttering. After diving into the wonderful, specific, cultish-in-the-best-way-possible world of audiophiles, I came across the mid-century loudspeaker of my dreams with a modest price tag: the Wharfedale Linton. Paired with the Leak 130 amp, my home is filled with the most delicious and warming sound to keep me company for the days ahead.
I’ve resisted on owning a TV for so long because I think they’re so ugly! My next step is to find a solution to hide the TV for the (majority of the time) moments I’m not using it. An eye sore, but we’ll work on it. Also an eye sore is my pot-less plant that I just got. Waiting on the arrival of a beautiful pot I just ordered to cover this plastic liner up. I already had my first holiday party! It got me soooo excited for the upcoming season ahead. Bobbi Brown threw a beautiful gathering celebrating the upcoming holiday season, complete with real Christmas trees and gifts!! Bobbi Brown was the first high-end makeup brand I bought when I was a teen. My mother would take me to their counter at Hyundai department store in Seoul and I watched in wonder as the sales associate introduced me to gel eyeliner and the perfect bronzer. To be working with them all these years later is a full-circle moment. We talked about the power in self-expression and the confidence that can be brought out through makeup. It was a beautiful reminder that there is meaning behind gatherings like these and I hope to learn to savor them this season, instead of letting my social anxiety get in the way.
I bought the Prada white mini skirt, but not THE Prada white mini skirt, for the cute bubble mini skirt era we’re in. There are a few looks every season that have me in a chokehold, and usually they’re from Prada. This season, it’s this look:
This skirt is mostly sold out and also retails for a price I cannot justify but I did opt for another skirt that is just as good, pictured below.
There are so many good dupes out there, like this Jil Sander one, and I’ll do a more in-depth round up in my next issue, along with other fall items I’m ruminating on. I haven’t shopped in so long and wow, I am ITCHING TO.
I whipped out my face oils for daytime now, not just nighttime, because it’s that time of year. I love how with every seasonal change, there are little markers in our routine that signify that shift. Maybe it’s making the switch from iced coffee to hot coffee, putting on a little base layer before getting dressed or even just being able to finally sleep under your covers without getting overheated. For me? Wearing face oils during the daytime because the air is brisk!!! Having a layer of oil on my face helps me feel grounded, warm and protected and it’s a small little ritual that has definitively marked the beginning of cooler weather. I’ve talked about my love for the Vintner’s Daughter one forever, whose smell quite literally makes all my problems go away for a brief moment, but I also have this multi-beneficial vitamin C squalane one as well as this lightweight and unscented one that slides on like a serum in my rotation.
I listened to this podcast episode on emotional maturity and I am once again reminded at how much self-work is only possible through aloneness. I love Jay Shetty’s podcast for a multitude of reasons but him being interviewed on his own podcast talking about the mental clarity and self love one can unlock from being alone really really really spoke to me! This is why I love taking myself out to dinner!
This one is petty and funny, but I’m banning Korean restaurants in New York for the time being. I’ve had two incredibly disappointing meals at two very trendy restaurants claiming to be Korean and I’m convinced the food of my people has gotten so big, so popular that its bastardization is part and parcel to its success in reaching mainstream status. I’m going to stick to my own cooking and the two places I know and love that do it well. If you guys have any favorite Korean restaurants, let me know?!?!
If you’ve made it this far, this is for you! I’ve decided to add a paywall to my content. I don’t know why this decision came about so abruptly but I know one thing for sure: the paywall will be instrumental in my content output moving forward. The reasoning is twofold. One, I will be incentivized to churn out more quality content and writing to those who seek it. Two, while the content creator landscape is ever-growing and more exciting than ever to be a part of, I want to rethink how I take on sponsored ads and partnerships. I’ll be testing out various payment structures in the coming weeks and will outline the changes in an upcoming issue very soon. I’m excited at the prospects of what this newsletter could be and I think this is the push I need to better serve my community <3
MORE FROM ME THIS COMING WEEK! Stay warm. In the meantime, upgrade to paid below?
who needs a tv when you can watch # REAL LIFE