comfy clothing, my favorite matcha and buying secondhand
26: april favorites
If you’ve been following for a while, you might be used to getting my No One Asked series in your inbox, where I share what I’m reading, re-wearing, thinking about and more. This new format is basically the same thing, except by renaming it, I hope that I’ll be more consistent in sharing those things on a monthly basis.
April in itself has been pretty hectic — wrapping my mind around becoming a mom soon and preparing for that, remodeling the bathrooms in our home, hosting the last Seen Library event for a while (more on that here by
), getting my cousins and aunts together in lieu of a baby shower and making sure to fit in some shoots and meetings for my client.With all that going on, it’s been hard to find the time or headspace to write much on here, even something as simple as a list of favorites:
On my body…
Juem Margot Tank and their Maya Pant has been my go-to lounge and sleeping set these days. They’re crazy soft, made with organic cotton and because it comes in a matching set, makes me feel less sloppy while on my couch at home. Worn here with my trusty Brunch slippers because we’re a no-shoes-in-the-house household.
I’ve been living in these cheap Hanes soft ribbed tank tops (pictured here) that come in a pack of three for $13. All my other tank tops have become above-the-belly crop tops on me and these actually fit over my growing belly… for the most part. More spring must wear pieces here.
This LESET Cropped Cardigan has also been on rotation lately. I love how soft and easy to wear it is. I often wear it with an all-black fit for errands or throw it on over a tank and workout pants (Norba Essential Leggings are my go-to) for the gym or prenatal yoga.
As you can tell from the above, comfort has been key these past few months and that is especially true for footwear. I recently attended a beautiful lunch hosted by Rothy’s where they gifted guests a pair of shoes. I had known about them for a while now, but didn’t know much about them but soon learned about their efforts in sustainability and how incredibly comfortable their shoes are… Since wearing their Casual Clogs that day, it’s been hard for me to take them off and they have pretty much replaced my Birkenstocks.
On my skin…
I recently shared a robust empties round-up, but oftentimes what I’m actually using and loving at the moment takes a while to get a review. I have been obsessed with Necessaire’s Lip Balm in Mint (shared here), which says a lot because I get gifted so many lip balms and by far, this is my absolute favorite. I love the cooling metal tip, that it’s not too sticky and actually moisturizes the lips. I really can’t rave about it enough.
Speaking of lips, as for lip liner, the Rhode Lip Shape in Lunge and Twist have been my go-to. Admittedly, I am very bad at makeup and for some reason I find lip liners to be too precise and defined for me. I like Rhode’s because it gives lips more of a natural contour and dimension.
As for face and body, moisturizing has been key as pregnancy tends to dry out skin. Dieux (which I have recently learned is Filipina co-founded!) has been great on my sensitive skin and lightweight for these (slightly) warmer months. I have also been slathering on Summer Fridays Belly Balm (15% off when you use jordan15!), which I absolutely love (for all over the body really) and when I ran out of that, Hatch Belly Oil paired with La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm on my belly, with Necessaire’s Fragrance-Free Body Lotion everywhere else.
On my tongue…
Ruyi Studio hojicha and hazelnut cake and Nin Cupcakes in strawberry shortcake. Whenever I have a gathering at my house, whether it’s a birthday or any other sort of celebration, I make it a point to order from a small business I’ve been loving or wanting to try. I ordered both of these for my non-baby shower (I had 5 cousins and 3 aunts gather in my backyard to celebrate this life transition and just spend time with one another one last time before baby comes) and everyone loved them and I would 1000% order from them again in the future!
Also on the menu at my little gathering were iced lychee matcha lattes made with Rocky’s Matcha. If you’re in LA, you may have tried their matcha or hojicha at Community Goods on Melrose or if you were a guest at the recent Seen Library gathering. I love their matcha so much and my matcha loving friends agree that it’s their favorite tinned matcha.
I saw a sticky rice and mango inspired oatmeal on TikTok and tried it for myself. Highly recommend for a yummy breakfast — we’ve now had it three time since!!!
Also I recently visited Santa Canela in Highland Park, a new Mexico City-inspired bakery with a young Latina pastry chef. It’s now a new favorite. It’s super chic inside, the staff is so kind and friendly and the pastries were so yummy — the guava monkey bread is a MUST.
On my screen…
I normally detest reality TV, but I am hooked on Traitors UK, a competition on trust, deception and paranoia.
Also, this TikTok by Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran who has made a series of videos about trans women that are worth watching and re-sharing. She says:
I have never felt unsafe around a trans woman — ever. My womanhood has never felt threatened by a trans woman — ever. And if your womanhood has, I think that speaks more to the fragility of your womanhood than anything about trans women because how pathetic to target one of the most oppressed groups in our society… And for all those people who say they care about women sports and women safety: Where are you petitioning for better funding for women’s sports? Where are you petitioning for better legislation to persecute sexual assault against women — overwhelming majority of which is committed by cis men?
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On my restacks…
The Problem with Wanting Less by
Clothes that are too clean don’t feel right, and I think life works the same way. The things that matter—the homes, the routines, the small moments that feel like you—they take time to break in. You can’t shortcut your way to a life that feels lived-in. It’s something that builds slowly, through messy trial and error, until one day it clicks…
That’s the real issue, I think. We want the good part without the process. We want the quiet, layered life without going through the messiness of building it. But the messiness is where life actually happens. It’s the awkward routines, the regret purchases, the moments that don’t make sense until years later.
The Lost Art of Dry Humping by
There’s something deeply capitalistic about skipping a good dry hump. It’s getting straight to the bottom line, so to speak. Rushed, unsensual, cold, fast, results-driven sex.
Perhaps we have lost the art of dry humping along with others — the fine art of conversation, the art of seduction, the art of romance — because these things technically don’t “get” you anything. Foreplay in the long-term makes orgasm more achievable and certainly stronger, but you can get someone there without it. Doing things for the sake of doing them, for more casual pleasure, feels like “a waste of time.”
Everyone is in a rush now, and everything is optimized. We have become so used to trying to “expedite” “maximize” “facilitate” that we forget there are some realms where more time, more waste, more indulgence, more slowness is actually better.
A warm loving hug from Seen Library by
Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers and somehow felt completely at home? As if you recognized them—not by name, but by energy. Like you’d met before in a dream, or a version of your life that hadn’t happened yet. That’s how I felt walking into Seen Library…
Before we settled in, we were invited to follow our intuition and choose a book that resonated with us. We moved slowly around the rooms, reading the handwritten descriptions and underlined quotes, letting our instincts guide us. It wasn’t just about picking a book—it was about tuning in, finding the one that mirrored what we were feeling or maybe what we hadn’t yet put into words…
It was surprising how much they aligned with what we felt and what we had just spoken aloud. Some of us discovered authors we had never heard of, or stories that felt eerily timely. It was like receiving a mirror or a message from somewhere else—an invitation to explore something new while embracing something deeply familiar within ourselves. The books weren’t just objects—they were gentle nudges, reminders, small pieces of clarity wrapped in paper…
When it came time for me to speak, I had some tears. Not out of sadness, but from the overwhelm of being in a space I had dreamt about for so long. A space where people didn’t posture or perform—they simply came. As themselves. Curious, open, human. They craved the same things I did—realness, connection, and depth.
On my page…
A must read for ALL — for those who want to become parents (yes, that means dads, too) to learn the realities of motherhood and the toll it takes not just physically, but mentally and emotionally *AND* for those who have no interest being parents but have a mother, to understand what she went through and therefore who she is and had become a bit better.
Jones’ portrayal of motherhood is incredibly important and one that needs just as much, if not more, real estate than the ultra positive messaging of motherhood we are fed all our lives. It is raw, it is real, it is frustrating but it is hopeful. There is a better way for mothers, and in turn, their children and society at large — it just takes actual care and thought and a push back on patriarchal and capitalistic systems to get there.
On my mind…
Sharing! Borrowing! Buying secondhand!
Especially in Trump’s economy where tariffs have increased the cost of baby gear (which I’ve seen firsthand with the baby strollers I’ve had my eyes on…).
The past month or so I’ve been getting welcome hand-me-downs from friends and family (no matter if it’s for boy or girl) from car seats to bassinets to clothes to diapers to playmats — and had bought secondhand items from Kid to Kid, a secondhand shop for kids and babies. All of these finds have been especially nice because my husband and I decided not to have a baby shower and getting what we need ourselves.
Much like with most life transition or changes — weddings, bridal events, vacations, etc. — things are already SO expensive as it is, yet we are told we need more and we need new and because companies are smart, they push so many products and items, making us feel like we have to buy everything or get everything brand new. After sorting through my friends’ baby registries, I have been overwhelmed by the number of things a baby and postpartum me needs — not just because of the total dollar amount at the end of it but the sheer amount (that a growing child will soon grow out of!).
I’ve talked a bit about borrowing vs. buying in the past, but I feel even more strongly about it now. Sharing is so important! Borrowing is so important! Buying secondhand is so important! There are so many great resources out there, whether it’s places like Kid to Kid or OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace, and it makes me so happy that I have people in my life who are are willing to part ways with their things if it means helping out their friends even just a little.
This is being in community. This is pushing back on overconsumption. Offer your things to friends and family so they don’t have to waste their money on new items! Don’t be afraid to ask others to borrow things they may not be using! We all need more of this.
In case you missed it:
productivity, online personas, and pregnancy worries (and pants)
airport outfits, low-stakes friendships and seen library in new york
ending passion projects, travel recommendations and free hangouts
recent vintage buys, people from my past and the let them theory
Ahhh 🥹 what an honor to be part of your April Favs 🫶🏻