MAY FAVORITES

I want to start off by saying that it’s no secret that this month closed on a horrifying note (again). When all kinds of tragedies occur (both mass like what happened this week in TX, and personal), it kind of snaps you out of the bubble you work so hard to create around you. It’s a very disheartening feeling to just get up and move on, in fact, you might be thinking, how does one even begin to move on? This is not the first time I’ve had to ask myself this question this past year. I think the biggest takeaway is this: it’s not about moving ‘on’ per se, it’s more about moving forward — which implies that a significant change of habit has to happen, whether it’s on a small or large scale. And when the pattern can finally break (if it even can break) — we can finally (maybe) allow ourselves time to breathe. Time for solace. Time for peace. If only. All this to say: do the right thing, be a good person, have grace, have empathy, put your time and effort into studying legislature, candidates, all that jazz. That’s the least we can do.

I know it’s now totally frivolous to say: okay — here’s my fashion and decor favorites this month! And it's fine if you don’t want to read about them or if you even care. In fact, click off this page, go read an article, donate some funds. I urge you too. If you have time to come back, want to relax and read a little bit about my picks, please do — but remember, this is my little moment of enjoyment sharing my life, and I want you to take the time to enjoy, too.

Other than all that goes on in the world, May was an interesting month for me personally. I’ve finally settled into my new place (woot), and got the chance to play around with my wardrobe a little bit — dare I say, I wore a good amount of color this month — not my usual schtick. Ahead, here’s what I’ve been loving and hope you love, too.

ACCESSORIES

Amazon Fashion Neon Acrylic Purse — Got a few asks about this and I’m excited to share it! This super cute acrylic bag is going to be a must for me this summer to add a little color to any outfit I wear. I love that it’s see-through, comes with both a long, delicate chain and a thick, chunky chain that you see here. It comes in multiple neon shades too, and I’m calling it now, I think you’ll see a lot of this bag on IG this summer ‘22!

ASOS Nest Strappy Heel Sandals — If you couldn’t already tell, pops of neon are going to be making their way into a lot of my outfits this summer, and these shoes are part of the movement! I not only love how bright and gorgeous they are — I love how they fit and tie around the ankles a few times. FYI: these are definitely not wide, not sure why they’re labeled that way online, but I find them to be a totally normal fit.

decor

Acrylic Jewelry Tree — Ok so I’ve been eyeing a tree like this for a while to hold all my jewelry and I’m so happy I picked up this one. Not only was it super cheap ($14!), it’s quite sturdy (after assembly) and holds pretty much all of my go-to pieces. I love having all my necklaces and earrings on display and if you dig that type of look too, I highly rec this one!

Kaiyo Bookshelf — This one of a kind piece can’t be linked out — but I wanted to give a shoutout to the company we purchased it from, Kaiyo. They buy and sell used furniture, so it’s sort of a second-hand type of deal, but their finds and prices are unmatched! We got our mid-century modern sofa from them, as well as this stunning French country bookcase that I’d wager to bet is almost 100 years old (the craftsmanship is wild). If you’re looking to ramp up your space and love vintage pieces, please do yourself the favor and check them out. Plus, they deliver and assemble everything. It’s truly a win/win.

New York New York Poster from Society 6 — Society 6 and I go way, way back. Like, I ordered a bunch of my college dorm decor from there kind of way back. It still prevails, I have to say, when it comes to creating any type of gallery wall you want. This amazing poster is a prime example — an homage to the New York publications we know and have loved for years. I thought it was a nice nod to my work in publishing, and Sean digs it too.

All Modern Gabe TV Stand — When it came to choosing a tv stand for our apartment, I wanted anything but the basic, run of the mill Wayfair stands you see everywhere online. When I stumbled upon this low-boy inspired one from Wayfair’s sister site, All Modern, I knew we just had to have it. I’m obsessed with the vintage look — it reminds me of my grandparent’s credenza from the 70s (you know those ones with the rattan details and the built in TVs?!) Truly a stunning piece, the photo on its site does not do it justice. My favorite part is that the rattan doors slide back and forth so there’s plenty of storage (cough for Sean’s playstation that I certainly do not want sitting out in view).

Wanted to add that this week I made a donation to this victim fund — I rec checking out others, and Everytown for Gun Safety as well.

Shakespeare wrote this in Julius Caesar [Act III, scene ii],

“'The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.”

And it’s sad but he’s right. Let’s do everything we can to flip the script.

Stay safe and here’s to a happier June.

Cheers, xx - A. Martine

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