Back in April I was walking back to my friend Steph's home and we were talking about how, like many, I felt like I've lost a year of my life due to the pandemic. I told her I was turning 25 again. Steph looked at me and said, "What if, instead, you make this year the best year yet." As I reflect on this year that moment with Steph sticks out.

Goodbye 2021

December 29, 2021

Last year, I participated in the 20 in 2020 dressing challenge. Which involved limiting my purchases to no more than 20 wardrobe/fashion pieces. This challenge opened my eyes on how limiting my fashion purchases could not only keep my style sustainable, but that shopping with intentionality can be incredibly joyful. While I didn't have a formal number of how many items I was allowed to purchase this year I realized I could purchase 20 items or less.

2021 Shopping Year in Review

December 11, 2021

November is my least favorite month but also one of my favorite month's because of Diwali. The festival of lights. A time to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. A belated happy Diwali to you all. I wish you so much love and light. This month I feel like I am finding my way. Forging ahead as Chanel 2x.

November Favorites

November 13, 2021

The changing of the seasons has brought me a renewed sense of contentment in this version of myself. Its hard to articulate but I feel so happy to be me these days. After a year that tried me. I've found a way back to myself and one of my most favorite versions.

Part of the Plan

November 11, 2021

I discovered Kiehl's embarrassingly late in life I think somewhere in the middle of undergrad. By the time I got to grad school I had become more familiar with the brand having tried most of their products. I realize I've only ever reviewed one Kiehls product on the blog?! So, here I am today with a full fledged review on some of my Kiehl's cornerstones.

Issa Kiehl's Review

November 3, 2021

This past April I went to NYC for the first time in a very long-time. I saw my family. I gained perspective. I laughed. I cried. Coming home to KC was a very clarifying time in my life. I decided that I wanted to spend more time in the city I love the most with those I love the most. That decision has been one of the best ones I have made in a long time. I spent seven days with my family in this beautiful city that has endured despite going through so much. I was so happy to be apart of it all. Here's a little recap of my time in the Big Apple.

New York, I Love You

October 24, 2021

Wow, what a difference stepping away and taking time to take care of yourself makes, friends. This past year I was forced to reckon with myself and some of the demons I was facing. Add chronic stress + mental health struggles in addition to dealing with body image issues + add a fashion blog into the mix and something's gotta give. So, besides a few shoots/posts in the spring (which I truthfully shouldn't have done) I decided that the blog needed to be put on the back burner to protect my mental health. Yet leaving it untouched tugged on my heart strings.

Revival

October 14, 2021

This summer has been so different than the last. In mid-May the CDC lifted the mask mandate for fully vaccinated people. Life seemed to be opening up again. I was consistently going into the office and painting the town red with friends. I started to think about life a little further out and started embracing my style and body again.

Summer with Stylebook

September 17, 2021

If you know me you know how passionate I am about sustainability. Specifically protecting our environment and preserving it for future generations. I'm always about finding more sustainable options to incorporate into my life from sandwich bags to sneakers. As I've been exercising more and more these days I've been wearing down my current sneakers and have been on the lookout for a new pair.

Stepping Out in Sustainable Sneakers

August 14, 2021

You might remember the 3 year dress, but move over for the 13 year dress. When I was in 8th grade I remember seeing the Anna Sui S/S 2008 RTW collection on Vogue.com and it changed my life. It was so eclectic. So much about the collection spoke to me. The colored wigs, the retro style, you name it.

The 13 Year Dress

July 29, 2021

I feel like I've been talking about paring down my beauty routine forever, but besides buying less makeup/skincare and recycling all my empties I feel like I haven't made much strides towards a greener beauty routine. Then in early spring I got an email about Loop x Ulta Beauty.

Loop x Ulta Beauty

June 29, 2021

The title of this post sounds like code you'd use to get into a speakeasy (when getting into speakeasy's was a thing.) but I promise I'm going somewhere.

The RealReal Ocean's 9

May 27, 2021

The title of this post sounds like code you'd use to get into a speakeasy (when getting into speakeasy's was a thing.) but I promise I'm going somewhere.

I started May off in my favorite place in the world, New York City, with my extended family who I love and have missed dearly. My time in New York revived me. It opened my eyes. After a difficult talk with one of my close friends I decided I wasn't going to wait for life to get tired to hit back, and that May was going to be a month for change and growth. It goes without saying that being vaccinated and spending time with my vaccinated family members was my favorite thing about late April/early May. However, I wanted to round up some of my favorite things right now. Big shout out to my friend Liz for these first three favorites. They were birthday presents!

May Favorites

May 20, 2021

Back in March my dear friend Mallory asked me how I wanted to spend my birthday. I've never been much of a birthday person minus my mid-teens but this past year has definitely made me reconsider. So, we decided on a picnic at my favorite place in Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Life's a Picnic

May 10, 2021

I've thought about how I'd go about writing this post so many times. Carrie Bradshaw once said, "The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself." Over the course of the past year my relationship with myself has been exceptionally challenging to say at the least.

Loving My Body Where It's At

April 19, 2021

Everyone's relationship with makeup and beauty products looks a little different these days. While my skincare routine never falters I have been easing back into a daily makeup routine. Since I haven't shared any beauty favorites since last March I thought I'd share some current favorites that I've been using that have me re-inspired.

Current Beauty Faves

March 4, 2021

I'll be completely honest I've never been a big belt person until I found the right one. I think the closet clean out of 2016 made me apply the elimination diet to my accessories. Except that I never reintroduced belts back into my collection until I found this one. See the original post here, but this belt is the one for me.

Unbasic Belt Styling

February 25, 2021

Like many a few months into 2020 my tried and true beauty routine vanished. I struggled to get ready to WFH. Most days I'd end up with a bare face, wearing jeans, and a Lakers sweatshirt. Sometime in November I started toying with the idea of actually getting ready to WFH in 2021. I wanted to start wearing my clothes again, and also regularly getting ready before I started my workday.

My WFH Beauty Routine

February 18, 2021

The other day I was talking to my friend about the project pan concept. However, she was unfamiliar with it. So, I told her I'd write a blog post about it. So this one goes out to you, Abbey.

Project Pan 2k21

February 4, 2021

The other day I was talking to my friend about the project pan concept. However, she was unfamiliar with it. So, I told her I'd write a blog post about it. So this one goes out to you, Abbey.

Greetings and salutations! We made it to 2021. Here I am back on the blog and excited to continue finding myself through this little corner of the world.

Camel Chic

January 28, 2021