Friends, I’m back!! It only took me 8 years to open my computer and start writing again! I realized my last post was 2017 favorites. Oh how time flies! 8 years…. a lot has happened. Maybe before I delve in, a little life update - we welcomed our little piggie to the world in 2019, we got married in 2022, we moved to Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn in 2024, I changed my job at the end of 2025… Lots of life has happened. But the same me!! I feel creatively stimulated again, somehow, to document what are the little things I’ve loved in 2025. Here we go.

Savette Slim Symmetry pochette

I had always loved the minimalist look of Savette and finally when I decided to pull the trigger, they were sold out everywhere in the color I wanted (bone). One day, on my way to another store during my mini-sabbatical, I decided to stop by Bergdorf Goodman and wander around for a few minutes. As I was walking past the bag section on the first floor, there was a little bag sitting on the shelf that caught my eye. It is the Savette slim pochette, in the color I wanted!! ( I later found out it’s a shade darker than Bone, called Clay, but I love it nonetheless.) I immediately snatched it and have been loving it since! It can be dressed up or down, take it to a dinner with friends, to see a ballet, to Christmas party, or just a casual day out. It’s the perfect size (fits all my essentials), adds instant elegance, and helps balance your outfit. I’m sure I will wear her for many years to come!

Paper Republic Journal

At the end of my mini-sabbatical this year, I decided to start a gratitude journal. My usual Smythson diary is great, but it doesn’t have enough space for a daily gratitude journal. I also wanted something smaller so it’s easy for me to take with me when I travel. Paper Republic became an easy choice. (I’m also mildly obsessed with watching journal related content on YouTube). I opted for the Portfolio in pocket size, chestnut color. I love the green ribbon contrast with the tan leather. I got an insert from Goods for the Study in East Village - a evergreen daily journal perfectly fits for my purpose. Ever since I started my gratitude journal on December 1, 2025, the day I started with A&M, my day ends with me writing down my gratitude or just things that made me happy that day. It’s been a month and I cannot tell you how much serenity and bliss the practice has brought to my days. I can’t wait to grow with the journal, to see the leather patinate, soften, and age, just like me and life.

My Kindle

I don’t know if I can call myself an avid reader, but having a kindle, having a matcha colored kindle, certainly helped me reaching for my books. I attribute my rekindled love for reading to my kindle, 1000%. I read 16 books in 2025 - not a lot to many people’s standards, I know. But I’m proud of my own progress and intend to keep the reading momentum going. I think having the prettiest colored kindle certainly helps. I bring my kindle with me everywhere I go now - leveraging the piecemeal time I have on the subway, on my commute to work, when I wait for my appointment, or a few minutes at night… whenever, wherever I can, I consciously remind myself to open the kindle to read a few pages.

Reading fuels our soul, helps with my mental clarity, or at a minimum, helps me be a more eloquent and articulate writer and speaker. Thank you for bringing me so much joy of reading, my matcha kindle. 💚

Jewelry - Spinelli Kilcollin Ring and Cartier Clash Ring

As I grew older, I’ve become a ring person. This year the two rings that I’ve been thoroughly loving and are on heavy rotation are Spinelli Kilcollin ring and Cartier Clash ring. I love the mixed metal of SK ring and with both gold and silver in it, it basically goes with every outfit of the day. I like to play with the 3 interconnected rings as I think, and somehow they give me comfort and confidence as if to say, we got you!

The Cartier clash ring was a holiday gift I gave myself at the end of 2024. I’ve been wearing it non-stop in 2025! The craftmanship of the ring is second to none- every piece is connected but also flexible. I was in awe with the design and the beauty of the ring (the earrings are on my wishlist too!). It truly is a piece of art and it goes with everything.

Clothes: Sacai Jacket and Rohe Knits

Rohe Knit (picture doesn’t do it justice)

OK…. I’m not sure if I should be writing about some clothes for my 2025 favorites as I already have a pretty edited wardrobe and I love every piece I have in there. BUT, as I look back and think about if there’s any piece of clothing that brings me joy, it would be the Sacai bomber jacket. I actually got this jacket pre-loved from The Real Real. Sacai is a brand I absolutely love and adore, and I pretty much wore this jacket every single day during my 2-month mini-sabbatical. I love the shape of it, the contrasting colors, the patchwork. It’s such a fun jacket and it brings me so much joy every time I wear it.

Rohe is a new brand that I discovered this year. I started ordering a grey v-neck sweater from them, and… couldn’t stop myself after that. Every piece is made with impeccable quality, and the shape, the design details are what drew me to the brand. I love the burgendy funnel neck sweater, the two v-neck sweaters (yes I got a beige color after the grey) that I have and they have been on heavy rotation this winter.

Shoes: Alaia fishnet Ballet Flats, MiuMiu Boat Shoes, and Khaite Nevada Boots

I have always called myself a shoe girl. My passion for bags have subsided in recent years, but shoes, shoes are life!! I always say, a good pair of shoes will take you far on your journal. And my sensitive feet (thanks to my bunion) are the best tester to the comfort level of a pair of shoes. My absolute love for work / everyday will always be The Row loafer. However, the three pairs that stood out this year throughout four seasons are the Alaia fishnet ballet flats (summer), MiuMiu Boat shoes (spring, summer and fall). and Khaite Nevada Boots (winter). The Alaia and MiuMiu are the hero shoes that unlocked so many of my wardrobe items - they make my outfits cool, interesting, unusual, and add the little something to a plain and minimal fit. They are pricy, yes, but to me, they worth every penny. And given how much I wear them, the cost per wear is nearly zero now. :)

Khaite boots is a recent purchase so I probably shouldn’t include them in the annual favorites. However, they are the most comfortable boots I’ve every worn - they don’t give any pain to my bunion, I can walk 10k steps in them, their low heels are extremely comfortable to a flat-always girlie like me. And, not to mention, they’re soooo chic and make every pair of pants look instantly elevated and put together. Definitely the best purchase of this winter.

My Very First Kelly

I debated whether to include this in the annual favorites. If I’m being honest, I have not used the Kelly much since I acquired it in June. BUT, can we just admire the beauty of the bag for a second? It is a piece of art in and of itself. I know it’s vanity for me to say, I finally have a Hermes Kelly. But it is true, my Hermes wishlist has only one item and one item only. It’s a black Kelly. And I finally got it. I will use it slowly, savor it, admire it, treasure it. It is a dream come true and for that, I think it deserves a spot in my 2025 highlight.

Breville Espresso Machine

I’ve made quite a few changes to my routines during the 2-month mini-sabbatical this year - upgrading my coffee routine to Breville espresso machine is one of them. It definitely took me a while to learn to dial in the machine and different coffee beans. Through a lot of trial and error, I felt like I finally found the one I love! I’m currently using the Toro coffee beans from Devocion, a local Brooklyn coffee roaster and they send me a new bag of freshly roasted coffee beans every time I run low. I’m so looking forward to my freshly brewed espresso / americano every morning - it has become my favorite thing to start the day.

Pilates Class

2025 is the 2nd year I’ve consistently practiced Pilates. I’ve never been a big exercise person, never got into running, cardio, yoga, or anything consistently. However, Pilates is the only exception. It’s an exercise that I enjoy doing, my private class on Saturday morning is something I truly look forward to every week. It’s been an integral part of my wellness journey. And I notice the small changes through my practice - my core is stronger, I have less back and shoulder pains, and I have better endurance now… It makes me want to be the stronger, healthier version of myself. I know Pilates is something I will take with me into 2026 and beyond. Let’s all strive to be the better, healthier version of ourselves!

Happy New Year!