I don’t know if in the blogger book of rules I’m supposed to maintain my cool, but I’m going to have to break the rules for a hot second because 1) I couldn’t be happier to partner with one of my ALL TIME favorite brands and 2) for a cause that I hold dear to my heart.

1) The brand? Banana Republic

2) The cause? LGBTQ rights [even though I just really want to say love.]

So, I have to thank all of you- for reading, subscribing, commenting, liking-all of the things. You all not only make this way more fun and fulfilling, but you make me, this blog, this space, feel validated, and for that I’m forever grateful.

The truth is I’ve started this blog post many times over. I have so many thoughts and follow ups after my last post, but I simultaneously don’t know what to write. So after quite a few drafts, I’ve decided I’m just going to make a list of some of the things that have been running through my mind as of late. A quick check in if you may. Okay? Okay!

To celebrate, 3 APMMS [all of whom are rotating from SF- insert crying emojis here], my 2 roomies, the boy and I escaped to a cozy airbnb home in Oakland [for those non bay area readers, that’s across the bridge.]

Several pro’s & con’s lists, some restless nights, and loads of soul thinking later- it has all come to an end [thank god!]

In truth, I held back some tears [I know I’m so dramatic], and my first words to Sarah were, “It will all be okay.”

Keep scrolling to see the magic we cooked up and to hear a little more from these fearless ladies and I about everything from why they love Fall to what go them creating content to begin with.

I could go on and on about my endless list of interests, so I’ll end here. And while I don’t know what any of these careers would look like, what I do know is that I have loads of interests and I hope to pursue them in some shape or form.

At these events not only did I get to hear from incredible speakers but more over I got to meet my internet friends IRL. Yes, internet friends-in this case, a group of bad-ass women who I’ve been following on Instagram since I moved to the Bay.

So instead, I’m going to cheat and simply list out some thoughts that I know to be true post what I quite literally think of as trip of a lifetime. By no means are these ground-breaking or revolutionary thoughts, but this is simply what I keep thinking about post trip.

Books and bad habits aside, I’m taking this time to slow down and rest up. I plan to spend the day with great friends [as all of my family is back East.] I hope wherever you are that you spend the day with great company.

This was my second trip to Chicago in 2 years so I’m playing with the idea of making this is a yearly tradition- who wants to go with me next?

Today, leave a little sparkle turns 1. [Can you believe it? I surely cannot.] One year ago today I published my first post- hello world- and never would I have imagined that leave a little sparkle would come this far.

When my friends at SF Goodwill reached out to me, I was a little pressed for time. Turns out, Goodwill has an e-commerce store [did you know? I certainly didn’t. I swear it’s their best kept secret.] I found some fabulous pieces [c’mon how regal is that skirt], and I mixed and matched them with some of the pieces already in my wardrobe.

I smiled to myself at the thought of embracing the new, caught sight of a beautiful shooting star, and then closed my eyes and let the warmth of the fire and the sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the beach surround me.

I wonder where i’ll be this time next year. Maybe still in San Francisco? Or maybe, if the stars align, living abroad in some fabulous city and on another weekend trip with a different group of fabulous friends in, let’s say Paris [because Paris is fabulous.]

I’m so delighted that I crossed paths with Emily and Nikki. I hope our paths cross again someday- perhaps Nikki and I can go catch a live show of Emily’s sometime. I’d love that. I really would.