• music • fashion • food • lifestyle •
Before I even started writing this post, I knew I was in for a challenge. I’ve never had an issue deciding who was the most iconic in fashion for that year because we could always go back and look at who we shared the most for “Snaps for a Snapshot.” In a year where we had fewer red carpet experiences, that made this choice harder. And yet, it was easier. BTS truly shined in their “Dynamite” era and we were served impeccable looks for every editorial, appearance, and performance. Each one continued to top the last. Over the years, the guy have come into their own on highlighting the style that they are most comfortable with. Even though they show up as an ensemble, you can tell that they make it their own.
Runner Up: Margot Robbie
We somehow managed to get one award show season before the pandemic hit and Margot Robbie continued to stun on every red carpet.
I only had two places to choose from for this category this year and honestly, I loved Los Angeles and Phuket for two very different reasons. I think what pushed me towards LA is that I had the chance to celebrate the bachelorette of one of my best friends in a city that I love. No matter how many times I visit, I’m always being introduced to something new. Celebrating moments were few and far between, but this one was so memorable.
In 2020, I listened to an unhealthy amount of Dua Lipa. “Future Nostalgia” is a superb album and with the year that we’ve had, it was just what we needed. Full of pop tracks and dance hits, it’s actually quite difficult to be upset at any part of this album. It was the soundtrack to my summer and an album I know I’ll listen to even further into 2021.
Runner Up: Griff
Griff is just starting to come into her own, but we’re so excited for what she’ll achieve in the next year.
It’s not easy for me to add a new reality television series into the mix, but Selling Sunset had all the right components. The series was catty, smart, and somewhat educational? I learned so much about homes and real estate just from watching the show alone without all of the drama. The episodes are short so it feels easily digestible and it is great background noise in case you don’t want to pay attention too closely.
Runner Up: Emily in Paris
How could we forget the show that we thought we’d end up hating, but actually loved?
If you had told me that lounge wear would be my aesthetic this year (pre-pandemic) I would have thought you were lying. Contrary to what some may believe, lounge wear can be stylish as well. However, this year taught us that comfort is key. That denim jeans may be a thing of the past (for now at least) and that half zips are the ultimate basic piece to own. We’ve talked about this Amazon half zip so many times now across all of our platforms, but I could live in this for a week.
Runner Up: [BLANKNYC Good Vibes Faux Leather Moto Jacket] – $98
The girl who thought she could never pull off a leather jacket finally did!
I originally started writing this post while we were on the trip and am now posting it after our return back to the states.
Angel and I had booked our round trip flights to Phuket on Cyber Monday. We had scored a great deal and shortly after that, all of our accommodations fell into place. We picked early March for two reasons: it was out of season for Thailand and it was the start of my birthday month. What we didn’t anticipate was that the world would be impacted by the coronavirus and how that might derail our travel plans. For weeks, my parents, our friends and our colleagues continued to ask if we changed our minds. If not just asking about our thoughts around this, asking us to reconsider.
I nearly bailed on this trip a handful of times leading up to our departure date. The weight of concern from people that cared about us was heavy. The decision was split; half wanted us to cancel. The other half encouraged us to go forth and exercise caution. The night we left, my hometown in Seattle saw a spike in deaths. Thailand, on the other hand continued to grow steadily in the number of cases, but would go for days without any new recorded cases. When it comes to travel in the future, I won’t doubt how much can escalate in a week and a half.
To take precautionary measures, Angel and I had a mask for every leg of our flight including layovers. We wore the masks for the duration of the flight except for meals and walking through airports. Packed in our bags were a regular sized bottle of hand sanitizer and smaller ones for on-the-go. Every morning, we drank Emergen-C for breakfast before we left our rooms. While roaming the town, we left the masks behind and every Emergen-C was followed by a breakfast buffet (a standard there for the resorts.) You could say we were cautious, but not extreme. We mirrored the surroundings around us. Because it seemed like no one else was impacted at our hotels or on the streets, we took on the same behavior. Every day was business as usual.
Now halfway through our trip, Angel and I wake up every morning Googling “United States Coronavirus” or “San Francisco Coronavirus.” Pre-trip, it was “Thailand Coronavirus.” We’ve acknowledged that it feels like we escaped when things back home started to heighten. Already, our office has strongly encouraged all employees to work from home indefinitely. I’m told San Francisco is a ghost town and my biggest concern is if I have enough food at home when I return. Is there time for me to get what I need at the stores?
The fear I have returning home and not knowing what to expect is similar to the one I had before I left. The difference is everyone had an opinion on Thailand, but I don’t recall anyone having the same concerns about the United States until it was finally here.
We’ve been on an ice cream kick lately, but this time I’m not talking about the flavors – I’m just talking about the design and space! Once Upon A Cream can be found in Thailand in the beach resort town of Hua Hin. Designed by Bangkok’s MADA Design Factory, the shop was constructed to not be overly cute, but have elements of being whimsy and old-word dairy. They’ve pretty much nailed it! I’m a huge fan of the exposed machinery and copper fixtures highlighted.
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How gorgeous is the Sawasdee Village Resort in Thailand? It’s been a dark couple of days here in Seattle so yes, I can definitely say that I would love to be in this pool with a drink in hand and relaxing entirely. No blogging on vacations.
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This new Thai health promotion entitled “Smoking Kid” is headed for viral nation. This concept is kind of incredible, is it not?
Participating in activities in places where they do not belong is riveting to me. Would you ever, in your life, imagine a floating cinema out in the middle of the water? No, of course not. This is probably the coolest thing I’ve seen all week though and I would jump at the chance to be able to watch a film here in Yao Noi, Thailand.
The Floating Cinema was designed by the talented architect, Ole Scheeran.
Check out more incredible photos here.
