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What’s got me thinking this week:
June bloom
I don't know what it is, but the plums bloomed on my fruit tree and all of a sudden I'm a new woman.
One day it was cold, gloomy, and I was convincing myself I needed a vacation.
The next day there were little plums and oranges growing outside and somehow I saw the light.
Not quite a spring reset.
Not quite a summer glow-up.
Just that weird little moment where everything feels possible again.
Maybe it's the longer days.
Maybe it's the sunshine.
Maybe it's the delusion.
Either way, I'll take it.
June bloom, my friends.🌸
THIS WEEK’S EDIT:
The hobbies I abandoned that made adulthood better when I brought them back
Story time.
Lately I've been thinking about all the hobbies I loved as a kid and how many of them somehow found their way back into my life.
When I was little, I was obsessed with Bratz dolls, Barbies, and MyScene.
And by "playing" with them, I mean fully managing their lives.
I'd spend hours dressing them, swapping outfits, creating new outfits, redesigning their rooms, rearranging their houses, and building entirely new worlds for them.
My parents probably thought I was insane.
I also cut their hair.
A lot.
Some of those dolls never recovered.
During summer vacations, one of my favorite things to do was go on MyScene.com and play the dress-up games. Sometimes I'd even convince my dad to join me while I put together outfits for virtual dolls like it was the most important task in the world.
Then came the writing phase.
I used to spend hours writing stories on my little Mac laptop. Entire afternoons would disappear while I made up characters, storylines, and dramatic plots that probably made absolutely no sense.
At the time, I just thought it was fun.
Looking back, I think I loved creating things.
Then came high school.
Back in the early days of YouTube, I started making fashion videos.
Not influencer-era YouTube.
I'm talking first-wave YouTube girlies.
Filming videos in my bedroom.
Editing clips after school.
Trying to figure out lighting before ring lights were a thing.
If you could somehow find those videos today...please don't.
The worst part is I can't even delete them. They're permanently floating around somewhere in the depths of the internet. You know when you create an account on an email when you’re 12 and can’t find the password to get back into it…yep.
But looking back, I think a small part of me always knew I'd come back to this somehow.
Because when I think about what I spend my time doing today, it isn't all that different.
I take photos.
I make videos.
I put together outfits.
I write.
I tell stories.
I obsess over aesthetics.
The platforms changed, but the hobbies didn't.
And honestly, it's not surprising that I became obsessed with restaurants either.
Food has always been a huge part of my life. My parents love food, and my mom has always been cooking something. Some of my favorite memories growing up happened around a dinner table.
So now when I'm taking photos of a meal, planning a restaurant recommendation, hosting a dinner, or testing a recipe at home, it doesn't really feel like a new hobby.
It feels like a continuation of something that was always there.
Which has me wondering:
What hobbies did you love as a kid that somehow found their way back into your adult life?
Because lately I've realized that growing up isn't always about finding new passions.
Sometimes it's about rediscovering the things you loved all along.
WHAT I WORE
Foggy day handroll run
The weather has been aggressively confused lately, which means I've been leaning into oversized jackets, wide-leg denim, and layers.
This outfit felt like something straight out of a Pinterest board I would've saved 300 times.
The striped polo, oversized suede jacket, baggy denim, and studded bag somehow all worked together.
Comfortable.
Easy.
No overthinking required.
Which is increasingly my fashion goal these days.
Shop the look →here
New hair, same personality
I finally got my hair done this week and immediately remembered why I can never quit long layers.
Nothing makes me feel more put together than fresh hair, a fitted tee, white trousers, and pretending I have my life together while sitting in a salon chair.
The outfit itself was simple, but sometimes that's exactly the point.
Shop the look →here
Recipe of the Week
Honey chile crisp salmon bowls
Sweet, spicy, crispy, and officially entering the permanent rotation
This week's dinner winner was this honey chile crisp salmon bowl.
It looks fancy, tastes restaurant-quality, and requires almost zero effort.
You'll need:
• 1 (2-pound) salmon fillet
• Salt + pepper
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chile crisp
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Zest of 1 lemon
For the cucumber salad:
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Chile crisp
• Sesame seeds
Directions:
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl combine: ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp chile crisp 2 tbsp honey Lemon zest
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp chile crisp
- 2 tbsp honey
- Lemon zest
- Spread mixture evenly over salmon.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily.
- Toss cucumber with rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and a little chile crisp.
- Serve over rice and top with cucumber salad.
Gabriella's note: I added extra honey and extra mayo because that's who I am as a person. No regrets.
WHERE WE ATE
Morimoto Asia
Morimoto Asia
The happy hour that accidentally became the whole night
First things first: Morimoto Asia.
Not regular Morimoto.
Not Morimoto Napa.
Morimoto Asia.
Apparently this distinction matters because I spent half the meal correcting people.😂
I originally went for happy hour and quickly realized this place is a dangerous game.
Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 5pm to close, which feels illegal considering how much food we ordered.
Morimoto Asia
Must-orders:
• Crab rangoons
• Spicy eggplant
• Beef lo mein
The spicy eggplant completely stole the show for me. Sweet, spicy, crispy, and one of those dishes you keep reaching back for even when you're full.
The lo mein was packed with flavor and the perfect shareable order for the table, and the crab rangoons disappeared embarrassingly fast.
The best part?
As the night goes on, the vibe shifts.
Dinner slowly turns into drinks, the music gets louder, people start hanging around the bar, and suddenly you're texting your friends asking if they want to meet up.
Exactly the kind of restaurant I love.
More finds to save:
SF
Tap In Lounge
A cozy Berkeley date-night spot with one of the better mocktail menus I've seen recently.
The prickly pear mocktail was refreshing, lightly salty, and not overly sweet. We also ordered the original tikka masala flatbread, which was perfect for sharing with drinks.
The standout for me was actually the tandoori street tacos. They offer chicken, shrimp, and lamb versions, and the shrimp was my favorite.
Bonus points for great service and a space that feels elevated without trying too hard.
Payakk
One of my favorite recent Oakland discoveries.
Chef Tobb (formerly of Secret's Tiger) created a menu full of Thai-inspired dishes that somehow all deserve their own moment.
Must orders:
• Fish sauce fried chicken wings
• Fried pork yiffied rice
• Beef massaman curry
• Stir-fried pink noodles
And don't skip dessert. The kaya toast with pandan custard and coconut ice cream was incredible.
Bar April Jean
The new North Beach neighborhood bar from the teams behind August Hall, Peacekeeper, and Harper & Rye.
Think: cozy corner bar energy with elevated cocktails and snacks.
Order Pat's Pie and settle in for a few drinks.
NYC
NouNou Noodle Bar
We're here for the food.
Thai-inspired noodle dishes, dry and soup options, and enough flavor to justify the inevitable wait.
My order:
• Cha-cha steak
• Batá crab
• Enoki tempura
• Ribs Kor Rae
Nem's Japandi Bistro
A Williamsburg favorite.
Go for brunch and order the mango sticky rice smoothie immediately.
One of the best smoothies I've had in NYC.
Little Maven
If you're headed to New York anytime soon, save this one.
Current favorites:
• Miso chocolate chip cookies
• Caviar and tots
• Tuna tartare "cannoli"
• Spaghetti vongole
• Steak frites
• Caesar cups
Basically the kind of menu where everyone at the table wants to order one of everything.
LA
Belle's Delicatessen & Bar
Monday night burger special.
That's it.
That's the recommendation.
A burger, martini, and fries situation that feels very "local LA secret."
Cafe Knotted
A Korean bakery that's become one of my favorite coffee stops.
Beautiful pastries, great drinks, and locations in both Arts District and Century City.
Perfect for a slow morning.
Galerie
One of the prettiest restaurants in West Hollywood right now.
The food is great, but honestly? The aesthetic deserves its own mention.
Vintage photo booth, gorgeous interiors, and strong girls' dinner energy.
HIS EDIT
PAAK’S PICKS
Vintage sportswear done right
One thing about Paak: he knows exactly what he likes.
This week's look combines vintage sportswear feels with a few modern pieces that make the whole outfit feel effortless.
Featuring:
- Red LA hat
- Heavyweight white tee
- Cactus Plant Flea Market hockey sweater
- Washed wide-leg denim
- Nike x Nocta Hot Step sneakers
I've always loved how he mixes vintage-inspired pieces with streetwear staples. Nothing feels overly styled, but it always comes together in a way that feels uniquely him.
Shop Paak's look →here
What I’m Loving
These gym tees - anything from this brand really!
shop now
These cutie tortoise sunnies
shop now
This corset top
This tumbler - stop me from getting water bottles pls!
CLOSING VIBES
A few things I’ve been loving lately:
My no Diet Coke journey continues...
Winner winner chicken dinner.
After weeks of testing every sparkling water known to mankind, we have a leaderboard.
🥇Waterloo Guava Berry
🥈Sanzo Lychee
🥉Nixie Strawberry Hibiscus
Lock in, homies.
I still miss Diet Coke every now and then, but these are carrying the team right now.
Life Time Gymburry update
Is it worth it?
The jury is still out, but one thing is certain:
I am sore.
And damn straight I'm taking every class they offer because if I'm paying this much money, I'm getting my money's worth.
I still haven't had a rooftop pool day, but we're just getting started.
Current rankings:
CTX: Love. Very Pilates adjacent.
GTX: We're getting there. I finally found an instructor I like.
My only notes?
Turn the music up.
Turn the lights down.
Paint the room red.
Basically make it Barry's.😂
There are a few other classes I want to try that are more weights-focused and involve jumping around to music.
There's also a class called Danze Jam, which I am absolutely obsessed with as a concept.
Not for me of course…
But for whoever enjoys learning choreographed dance routines after work? Godspeed. I support you.
I'll report back after I've worked my way through approximately 97% of the class schedule.
PSA: Just go to the dermatologist
For almost a month, I had this weird patch on my face that felt like I had somehow burned one tiny section of skin.
It was red.
It was irritated.
It would not heal.
Naturally, I did what any reasonable person would do and proceeded to slather it with approximately 47 different ointments.
Nothing.
Finally went to the dermatologist.
Turns out it was probably seborrheic dermatitis.
They prescribed Metronidazole and Pimecrolimus and...
Gone. Like three days. THREE.
So the moral of the story is sometimes the answer is not another Amazon cream.
Sometimes you just need to go see the dermatologist.
🌺Bloom where you're planted
One final thought from this week.
I saw a quote recently that said:
"New beginnings. New growth. New blooms."
And it reminded me that sometimes growth isn't about becoming someone new.
Sometimes it's just about coming back to the things you've loved all along.
That’s all I got! Open to any topics or suggestions you have - slide into those DM’s, or emails? People still do that right?
Talk to you next week my loves, xx
