Author: cdelacuadra

Always a reader. Sometimes a traveler. Usually an archivist. Often a writer. Frequently a musician. Constantly a student of life.

wish you were here

~ cdelacuadra ~ 1 Comment
antique french postcard from paris with eiffel tower over blue sky

I want you here
I ache for us
to be (stupid) together
lost (in each other)
arms around each other on the metro
stolen kisses that taste like wine
stretching to clinging impropriety

stumbling off the train
giggling, hurrying, impatient
to close that hotel room door
for hands on skin
for cool sheets and warm lips
for sighs
for gasps that mean things

your hands on my hips
your mouth on my throat
my fingers in your hair
crazy (stupid) drunk
on love/lust/wanting

bookstore secrets
taste different
at this time of night

I’ll bite your lip
just like you want

and you’ll pull me
tighter
closer
into
you

–Charla M. DelaCuadra

Five fun things: sunshine yellow edition

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I can’t get enough of yellow right now. It is such a sunny, happy color — perfect for this spring-into-summer moment we are in right now, and surprisingly versatile. Whether you go with a small accent or go-big-or-go-home, some sunny yellow is bound to bring a smile to your face.

I just got these Clare V. earrings a couple weeks ago, and I have been wearing them almost non-stop. They go with everything, and I keep getting the sweetest compliments!

Everyone seems to be loving butter yellow right now, so I was inspired to pull out my Coach Rogue top handle today. This color, hay, is sold out, but you can find it in white here. I’m also quite partial to this lovely Mansur Gavriel box shoulder bag.

I love Universal Standard for their inclusive sizing and yummy basics, and this is the cutest lounge set I ever did see.

These sunny yellow sheets are like happiness incarnate. They’d be extra cute mixed with other prints for an eclectic, breezy summer vibe.

Anoli Joaillerie is a Parisian maker I love, and this citrine ring of theirs is perfection. Like a sunny lemon drop for your hand.

Life lately…

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What to say after a year hiatus? We are living in soul-crushing times. Children are dying in Gaza. An orange monster is running our country into the ground and taking our rights away. Climate change is fueling natural disasters left and right. Our brains were not built to intake this much news this quickly or plentifully. Fight or flight becomes one big muddle of fatigue, and then there we are, barely getting laundry done in the middle of the descent of democracy.

I’m here not to remind you of all the awfulness we are dealing with, but to offer a small measure of comfort and hope. There is honeysuckle blooming on my way into the office, and it smells just as sweet as it has in past springs, bringing me right back to the backyard of my childhood. The sun is shining and recently I was up before the sun, sitting quietly and listening to the birds chirp wildly as the sun came up gently over the horizon, lighting another day for us to revel in. My matcha this morning was creamy and sweet on my tongue, and it gave me a quiet moment of enjoyment between tasks. There is light out there if we can give ourselves the grace to see it. Pinpricks of joy despite oppressing gloom, if we can slow down enough to find them. Wishing you a week filled with grace and tiny joys, friends. And try not to worry about the laundry.

Back to basics: rainy day edition

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All the things I’m wearing this rainy Friday are basics in my rotation, and it felt good to be casually put together on an otherwise hectic morning. Here are my picks for an effortlessly classic look:

Jenni Kayne’s Flynn cashmere V-neck sweater is the perfect option for a chilly, rainy day. Lightweight, and luxuriously soft and cozy.

This classic trench won’t break the bank, and will keep you warm, dry, and stylish. I love that it has a hood, so I don’t have to carry an umbrella.

Straight-leg jeans will be a forever-staple, regardless of the denim trend du jour.

I’ve written about Coach’s Coachtopia line before, and I cannot sing it’s praises enough. This petite checkered Ergo is fun and graphic, and holds all my daily essentials.

Delicate with a touch of sparkle, I wear this beaded gold ring with a tiny diamond every day, either alone or as part of a stack.

Still wearing my trusty black loafers with everything. Easy and classic.

Hope you all stay warm and dry this weekend!

Otter Country

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Gently beguiling, Otter Country chronicles nature writer Miriam Darlington’s year obsessively observing the wild otter.

A plan formed in my mind. I would explore the places in this land that hid my grail. I would spend a whole year or longer, if that’s what it took, wading through marshes, hiding between mossy rocks, paddling down rivers and swimming in sea lochs; recording my journey through the seasons as I searched for wild otters.

With sumptuous, lyrical prose, Darlington takes us along her winding journey from Devon, England through the waterways of Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, the Lake District, and beyond in search of otters. Marshes, fens, rivers, woodlands — all are rich fodder for searching, seeking, spying, and contemplating a species Darlington has been fascinated with since childhood. Part Walden, part eco-guide, part meditation, and part literature survey, Otter Country gives an account of otters’ habits and habitats as graceful and sinuous as the animals themselves. She deftly winds nature observation, thoughts on conservation, ruminations on the otter’s place in modern society, and sharp commentary on human encroachment into a journey both poetic and educational. Transportive, definitely worth a read.

Five fun things: (still) winter edition

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Over the last few weeks, every time I think it’s time for spring, another cold, wet storm front comes in for a few days. Instead of fretting, I’m finally leaning into the aesthetic with the softest, most touchably cozy pieces to cuddle up with, springy color palette included.

This adorable Kate Spade bag is small but mighty, with just enough room for my daily necessities, and is made of the softest faux fur ever.

A creamy alpaca coat will keep you warm season after season, especially this classic knee-length option from Eileen Fisher.

These shearling mules by Jenny Kayne are just what I’m dreaming of right now. Cozy perfection.

Cashmere in the perfect dusty rose? AND on sale? Yes please! I’d wrap myself in this every chilly morning.

In the cheap thrills department, this sweet fuzzy bucket hat comes in a bunch of colors and is only $15! I’m partial to this soft lavender.

Bonus: these comfy silver Mary Janes are perfectly on trend, and will look great with cozy socks now and cropped jeans later. Win-win!

Stay warm, everyone!

good enough

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This is a painful topic to visit, but I think perhaps it is time to bring it out into the open.  For as long as I can remember, I have never felt “good enough.”  Perfectionism.  Impostor syndrome.  Depression.  Anxiety.  Overachiever.  That wound by any other name still hurts.  A lot. I’ve thought wryly that I’m even an overachiever at feeling not good enough — the mantra “I am good enough,” for example, is not at all soothing or affirming for me.  In truth, it grates on me.  I don’t want to be just good enough, I want to be the best.  At everything.  To everyone.  The favorite.  The winner.  Perfect.

Introspection and a couple really excellent therapists have made me wonder if I actually want to be those things, or if I feel like I need to be them.  It is, of course, the latter.  And yet, how do I let this need go? We could start with logic, perhaps:

  • Perfection is impossible. 
  • I cannot be the best at everything. 
  • I cannot be everyone’s favorite person.

And to try to be or do any of these is not only impossible, it is exhausting.  I have set myself up to fail (which is somehow also one of my greatest fears — failure. Being a perfectionist is hard, y’all!). Not everyone will even like me. And that’s okay. 

Unfortunately, though, logic is rarely as helpful as we want it to be when confronting one’s demons. I don’t yet have all the answers to healing this core wound, but bringing it into the light is a good first step. I am lucky enough to have wonderful, loving people in my life to reassure me when I need it, and sometimes when I don’t, which is so beautiful. Cognizance and kindness are two things buoying me as well: awareness of these woundings, and the gentleness I can offer myself when they arise. And while I walk this road to healing, the immortal words of Mary Oliver are ever a comfort. I hope they can be for you as well.

WILD GEESE
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Happy Hearts Day!

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Read on for my foolproof Valentine’s Day picks this year! Your partner, lover, or bestie will be thrilled with any of these – or give a gift to your cherished self. You deserve it. 

This sweet 14k gold ring from Mejuri is perfect for that special someone. Elegant on its own or easily stackable, its sub-$100 price tag and sustainably-sourced gold make it an easy choice.

For an especially thoughtful take on flowers, gift your love a modern, super-happy vase from Felt+Fat. They proudly handmake their wares with love in Philadelphia, PA.

I love this Alexander Girard x Kate Spade circle bag. It’s graphic and punchy — and perfectly on theme without being overly saccharine. 

Fortnum and Mason has been around since 1707, so you know their pivotal selection of teas won’t disappoint. I’m partial to their strawberry black tea, although the Countess Grey is also a delight. Bonus: a teacup from Lucie Kass in their favorite color would surely be adored.

What is Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Any selection from avant-garde L.A. chocolatier Compartés makes for a beautiful gift. These artful truffles are a great pick, or for an even more luxurious choice, try the Valentine’s Heart gift box!

The ideal gift for your heart’s companion, this twin hearts bracelet from Catbird — available in two lengths and made of recycled 14k gold — is the dainty, grown-up friendship bracelet she’ll never take off.

For the consummate host in your life, these beautiful glasses are sure to be a hit. I love the assorted hues in each set! What a romantic choice to share a glass of wine on V-day.

Hope these picks give you some ideas for gifting this Valentine’s Day! Wishing you a day of love, however you celebrate it.

Five fun things: Barbenheimer edition

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Get you a girl that can do both, amirite? Barbenheimer has taken the world by storm, so here are some fun picks in honor of the film event of the summer. Dark and moody meets bubblegum Barbiecore goodness, because we all contain multitudes.

Monica Vinader pink opal necklace for a sweet finishing touch.

Verner Panton, the Panthella Lamp (1971) is the perfect sleek lighting option.

IKEA pink SOMMARÖGA two-tier serving stand to serve all your amazing besties, pre- or post-cinema.

Birkenstock Madrid big buckle sandal to wear all summer, matching pedicure optional (but encouraged!).

Boredwalk Female Gaze Medusa tee to remind everyone you’re a force to be reckoned with.