The first day of autumn calls for celebration! This season is so magical! The fashion, the weather, the food, the activities - everything is just filled with extra whimsy in autumn. And I know this is a tad morbid, but none of us know how long we have on this earth. Every single day we wake up is a huge blessing. And I'm going to honor that blessing by finding small or large ways to celebrate the every day. Autumn is the perfect season to easily feel re-inspired by life, and now that I'm a member of Parlor, a version of the lifestyle I've always dreamed about is easily accessible. Here's a peek into some activities and environments I want to indulge in this invigorating season. 

1. Visit a countryside vineyard for a wine-tasting
2. Take a scenic train ride to new city/country (Canada is calling my name) 
3. Attend an art gallery event with bubbly or wine 
4. Go to a NYFW show - signed up for a charity one through Parlor 
5. Dine alfresco 
6. Fall picnic in central park 
7. Explore a castle. Idk why, an enchanting castle is just weighing on my heart so I need to follow through with that wish 
8. Find cute tea cups in an antique store 
9. Buy a beautiful nightgown at a vintage shop 
10. Sip red wine in an outdoor hot tub 
11. Treat myself to a luxe facial 
12. Solo date to the new cafe/book store in NYC. I want to order a glass of wine and enjoy a fun seasonal book - there are so many on my bookshelf that I've been needing to read 
13. Make popcorn and watch a cozy thriller via candle-light 
14. Make charm bracelets in the city 
15. Go to a candle-making workshop in Jersey City 
16. Paint in the park 
17. Check out QC Spa on Govs Island 
18. Dine and dance at Gitanos on Govs Island 
19. Cuddle with baby animals 
20. Volunteer 

September is one of the sweetest months of the year. As we transition from summer to autumn, there's a certain magic that lingers in the air. My energy and essence always feel revived in the fall. Maybe because I try to prioritize rest and slowing down every summer. Well, not so much physically, but I took a mental break from allowing stress to dominate me. 

My body and psyche were exhibiting all the signs of burnout, so I knew it was time to hit pause on heavily pursuing some of my big goals. I took a break from putting pressure on myself and beating myself up for not doing enough to create a life that excites me instead of drains me. I decided to just enjoy my days (outside of needing the clock in for a freaking paycheck) as much as possible and embrace a season of just being. 

And that brief emotional PTO was vital for my well-being. Now I can bounce back from my burnout and mindfully continue on my journey to cultivate a well-lived life. I want romance, intimacy, security, abundance, travel, passion, a f*cking regulated nervous system, and little babies (in like 4-5 years). If I want those things for myself, I have to adopt the habits that will bring those blessings into my life and remove the toxic patterns that block them. But letting go of the poisonous, yet comforting habits that help me temporarily escape my pain isn't an easy process. Honestly, it's painful and filled with grief, discomfort and panic. But if learning to navigate those heavy emotions gracefully is the price I need to pay to finally receive what my heart and soul truly long for, then oh my f*cking God, it is soooooo worth it! 

In other words, she's baaaaaaaaccccckkk! And she (aka ME) is stronger and wiser. It is time to ascend to a new, healthier level once again... but without the self-sabotaging, anxious, neurotic, draining energy. I want to enjoy this journey of becoming a spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially healthier version of myself. I want to arrive at that destination via self-love, grace, gratitude, and confidence. What is the point of pursuing your dreams if you are beating yourself up every step of the way, telling yourself you aren't good enough, and making yourself miserable? I hate to break it to you, but if you create your goals in that type of draining energy, you will be just as miserable once you get to the other side of your goals. 

Now I'm not saying you need to be happy 24/7 and avoid your negative emotions. I'm actually saying the exact opposite. We need to embrace the good and the bad and give ourselves grace while going through this one life we have. We have to find little moments of pure bliss throughout the day. And most importantly, we have to learn from our downfalls, shortcomings, or bad breaks instead of beating ourselves up for not being perfect. And that, my friends, is one of the biggest secrets to mindfully pursuing our goals. 

Autumn is the season of harvest, and the fruits (blessings, well-being, abundance) we've been cultivating are going to be oh-so-sweet. Sending you lots of love. 

XOXO, 

Nia Maria 

 “Even through your hardest days, remember we are all made of stardust.” — Carl Sagan

Spring is such a whimsical and magical season. It is a season full of hope, dreams and desires. And as I emerge from a brutal episode of the winter blues (thanks to seasonal depression), my heart is filled with so much optimism and restored faith in myself. I'm coming back home to myself. I'm intentionally starting each day with a series of positive affirmations because I need to be my biggest cheerleader if I want to create what my definition of a beautiful life will be. 

But pouring positive, self-love into myself isn't always easy. In fact, most of the time, it's really f*cking hard. I have centuries of toxic beliefs I'm fighting against - all of which tell me I'm not good enough. The societal pressures that we as women withstand can be soul-crushing. But the older I get, the more I reject what society says and lean more into following my passion. My heart's desires, and frankly - not giving a flying f*ck who looks down upon me for not following the "timeline" that our culture tries to force upon us as women. I want a magical life, full of wonder, and awe, and slow, intentional, beautiful moments. 

I watched Wish, the new Disney movie, this afternoon, and I know it was created to entertain children, but it was the beautiful reminder that I needed today. There is so much pain in the world, and life will always throw us curveballs, but there is so much joy all around us too. I've spent the last few years of my life in complete terror thinking that I'll never achieve the deepest desires in my heart. For some reason, I thought my depression was going to rob me of creating a fulfilling life. 

But as I prioritize my mental and physical well-being, and I focus on consuming uplifting content, I am reminded that everything I need to live a fulfilling life is already inside of me! I just need to have faith in myself (and God since I am Christian, but substitute in your source of spirituality here). I need to trust myself - aka know that I'll always show up for myself and can count on myself. And lately, I need to remember that I am made out of magical stardust. We all are. 

Just being alive in this sometimes scary but still quite beautiful and loving world is an act of magic. And we are our purest source of abundance as long as we learn to take care of ourselves and fill our days (and our minds) with self-love. I'm so excited to get to work and start creating a wonderful new chapter that will lead to la dolce vita. Sending you lots of love. XOXO 

P.S. Shop My Fairycore Edit 

Because I want to create an atmosphere of whimsy and enchantment all around me, and fashion is the perfect tool to do just that. 

Dresses 

Tops 

Accessories 

Spring Treats 

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." - Harriet Ann Jacobs

Spring is truly such a magical and enchanting season. The sunny, whimsical season completely breathes new life into me and restores my faith in myself when it comes to creating a life well-lived. For the past year, I've honestly felt so drained. Like I have nothing to give to myself and nothing to give to others. Like all hope in a brighter future is gone because I'm too "behind" in life.  And I hate that feeling; mainly because those thoughts are LIES. But also because I show up in my life and operate at a higher level when I'm navigating life with a positive mindset. And I hate that I lost that positive outlook for a prolonged period. 

 But lately…. I've felt a glimmer of my old self. The person who’s excited about life. Who finds small ways to romanticize even the most mundane parts of my day. The person who loves playing dress up and sees the good in the world. The person who creates vision boards of the places I want to travel to and window shops for the outfits I'll wear during these travels. The person who is excited to connect with others and pour love into the world. I’ve missed that version of me. But with the overdue warmth of spring, I’m starting to get her back. And I couldn't be more excited. 

This year has forced me to go through a cleansing era, so to speak. All the issues I'd been brushing under the rug are resurfacing, and I know this may sound masochistic, but I'm really grateful for the painful Spring Cleaning season I WAS experiencing (key word is was because we are speaking positivity over our lives today). 

Because I'm releasing so much heavy energy, I'm feeling so much lighter this season. And that means I'm able to show up for myself in the ways I was previously neglectful. One annoying thing I've come to accept about myself is that for me to continue feeling light, invigorated, and inspired, I have to take really good fucking care of myself and find ways to make the smallest, "boring" parts of my day euphoric and extraordinary. Showing up like that is hard work for someone who has chronic depression (aka me), but moving through the rough emotions and being disciplined with how I take care of myself is always, always, always worth the extra effort. 

I still have a lot of work to do to get back into the mindset of wholeheartedly believing in myself and in my dreams, and daydreaming about all the magical muses spring brings is a huge part of that process. 

Here are a few of my monthly muses that are restoring my soul:

1. Colorful dresses 
2. Pastel tweed sets 
3. Bright Pilates outfits 
4. Alfresco lunches 
5. Lavender ice lattes
6. Picnics in the park 
7. Long walks along the water 
8. Rooftop happy hours 
9. Open-towed shoes 
10. Trench coats 
11. Beautiful floral blooms 
12. Reading under a shady tree 
13. Outdoor paint & sip sessions
14. Dancing under the stars 
15. Dressing up for Sexy stiletto heels dance classes and pole dancing classes 
16. Relaxing in an outdoor pool during a spa trip 
17. Dirty martini breaks during shopping sprees 
18. Weekend getaways 
19. Podcast walks with fruit-infused water 
20. Garden dinner parties 
21. Outdoor lunch breaks 
22. Walking barefoot in the grass 
23. Sipping smoothies right after going to a workout class with a friend 
24. Fresh, dewy makeup looks 
25.  Dressing up for outdoor first, second, and third dates (and hopefully, more once I find love)
26. Picking out fresh fruit and veggies at the farmer's market 
27. Dancing the night away 
28. Meandering through one of the beautiful neighborhoods I live near (Paulus Hook, Hamilton Park, West Village, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, Tribeca, Soho, Brooklyn Heights, Harlem)
29. Purging my wardrobe and belongings during a fun spring cleaning weekend 
30. Discovering a waterfall on a beautiful hike