RECAP: 004

My brain dump for the week

Happy Sunday!

I’ve had an interesting past two weeks. While I have been wanting to keep putting out blog posts per my schedule, I didn’t want to put anything out on the internet that I didn’t feel confident in. But I’m making my comeback and I’m back to give you a little recap. Instead of my usual RECAP reviewing what I read, ate, found challenging, appreciated, and my plans, I have a long rant of thoughts I’ve had and media I’ve consumed. 

So I’ve been on a new side of TikTok recently. Jazz club vibes. I was pleasantly introduced to jazz music earlier this year and fell in love. As someone told me, “it can be the saddest or most heartfelt lyrics, but the melody and instruments make it sound so happy.” So while I’ve been in this jazz music phase, I’ve gotten to go to one jazz club and loved it. The Django, in Soho, is this underground lounge and cocktail bar with live jazz bands almost every night. The aesthetic and overall vibe of the club is immaculate. 

Okay, so jazz club vibes. It’s super chill, lowkey aesthetic, you know? Close your eyes and picture a dimly lit room. There are smooth tunes playing, a candlelight scene, people are dressed kinda classy but nothing too crazy, as I said, lowkey. It’s all about this relaxing, sophisticated energy where you can just sip on $20-30 drinks and vibe. It’s perfect for a little date night or even just hanging out with your intimate crew. Total mood. 

TikTok has been showing me countless videos of jazz club inspired makeup tutorials, clubs to go to, and has helped me find new artists I love. The makeup trend is sleek and sultry. A flawless base, we’re taking smooth skin like foundation and a little contour just to snatch up those cheekbones. Now for the eyes, that's where the drama is. You can honestly really play with it whether you go for a smokey eye, not too heavy though, or deep browns and burgundy. A smudged eyeliner is key and some light mascara to bring even more drama to your eyes. For the lips you can go a classic red but if you’re feeling more classy you can opt for a deep nude or berry shade. And of course my favorite and last step of all, highlighter. A subtle highlight on your cheekbones, corner of your eyebrows, and nose to catch the light when you’re growing to the music. It’s kind of like effortless glam? Like you just threw it together but you still look like fire. Looking fab without trying too hard, right?

Can we agree that sneakers in the summer suck. 

It’s hot and humid and my feet sweat! You can’t catch me in socks and sneakers unless I’m on a long walk. Let the dogs be free! No socks - sandals, flip flops, slides.

Also while I’m talking about shoes, I hate sling back shoes. Fashion wise they are adorable. I absolutely love them but my heels, not so much. The way it rubs against your heel and causes terrible blisters ugh! Somehow I always choose to wear the worst shoe options whenever I go into the city but alas, I wore slingback sandals and held onto every complaint. I wanted to shout in pain while walking around. But hey, beauty is pain.

Sambas and a little red purse:

I have been absolutely obsessed with this new TikTok trend. Basically this group of friends in London started this chant for their outfits. It has this fun sing-song vibe to it. After they posted it, it blew up!

This trend is honestly so awesome because it’s all about hyping up your friends. It’s giving girls girl energy. Like instead of tearing into each other we are hyping up our fits. So you can rock boots and a slicked-back bun or boots and blown-out hair, you’ll still get the hype you deserve.

Celebs are even getting in on this trend now. There was a hilarious video of Amy Poehler and her friends doing their own version. So wholesome and fun!

In a NYT article about the trend, they compare this trend to last year's “Hi Barbie!” It kinda has the same positive energy of greeting each other and feeling good. 

I’m not a poster on TikTok but on a recent walk with one of my sisters we made little chants for everyone we passed. So funny. 

Things that have put smiles on my face:

1. My morning coffee

2. People sending me new music because they think I’ll like it (my love language)

3. The noise my dog makes when you rub her belly or this certain spot behind her ear

4. The bird family living in a hanging flower pot outside my house

5. Spending time with my little sister

6. Watching Love Island

7. My red tote bag my sister got for me that says “feral”

8. Wearing monochrome outfits

9. Being in bed by 9PM 

10. Treating my room like a cave

11. Sitting outside from 6PM to sunset

12. Eating Trollis

13. The feeling of sweats after an everything shower

14. Reading Substacks first thing in the morning

15. Scrolling through old memories in my camera roll

16. My posture pump

For my post concussion healing, my chiropractor recommended this product and it has changed my posture so much!

Aquarium:

As soon as I hear the word aquarium my nose can already pick up that distinct fish smell. But putting the smell aside, my mind drifts to a place of calmness. There’s just something so serene about watching marine life just gliding through silent waters, you know?

I was happy to ditch the scorching heat this afternoon on a little date with my sister to go to the aquarium. We have an awesome aquarium just a few towns over from us that we have been going to for years. 

Highlights? We got to pet some stingrays! I was so shocked by how unbelievably soft they are. Adorable little face too. 

My favorite thing to do at this aquarium is sit by the shark tank. In a dimly lit space with some seats in the back, and nothing on display but four sharks cruising through their water domain. 

There’s something about the silence of the water that just amplifies that calm vibe. You can’t hear the sharks moving, no bubbles, no eating sounds, not even the filter - it’s just quiet, except when the little kids get so excited they start screaming.

I could honestly sit there for hours. Just me and the sharks. Total zen mode activated. 

I’m planning on journaling a lot this week. I’ve been having a lot of self reflections and want to be able to put my thoughts to paper. I ditched the idea of hot girl summer and now find peace and pleasure in my self care summers. A time to work on myself and think about the past, present, and future.