It’s been a while….

Almost a full year, as a matter of fact. And what a year it has been!! It’s not much of an excuse for not posting but 2023 had some pretty big life changes, all of which I’m extremely grateful for. It has me beyond excited to see what’s in store for 2024, both in my designs and personal life. But before I get ahead of myself, let’s chat about where I’ve been for the last 365 days….

I Got A New Job!!

Most importantly, I am very pleased to announce that I am no longer freelancing (the struggle was real) and have started working with the most incredible design team as of last February. Studio 882 has been my second home for the last almost eleven months but it seriously feels like I just started. I guess that’s a pretty good sign that I am loving the work I’ve been doing.

Why haven’t I shared this massive life change? Although mostly fun (and I am grateful every day that I get to help people design their dream homes for a living), it has been HARD work. My knowledge of the design world has quadrupled (if not more) since I started and I pretty much spend my days off flaked out either with a movie or a book. Creating more design content hasn’t been what I’ve wanted to do when I’m not working but I feel like my creative side has been reenergized and I’m really looking forward to sharing more of that in the future.

I Moved In With My Best Friend

My wonderful boyfriend and I decided over the summer that we would be taking the next step in our relationship by moving in together. I passed my two-year anniversary in Philadelphia this October, one month after we moved into our apartment. It took me that full time to find a place that really felt like home and I have been enjoying every second of it. Michael and I jokingly (kind of) call me the “Creative Director” of our home and it’s a role I have fully accepted. I feel super fortunate that he just lets me do whatever I want to with the design, and for the most part, he’s down for whatever I come up with. It is by no means completely set up; I don’t think a home ever really is. But it’s so nice to have this as a creative outlet. My goal is for this apartment to feel like a reflection of the two of us, both individually and as a couple. Because I do not have the energy for a fourth move in three years, we are planning on being here for the immediate future or until our lives bring us somewhere beyond Philly.

Speaking of Philadelphia, this is truly one of the last places I ever envisioned myself living but it has become such a home to me. It’s not a perfect city-it just takes one watch of the nightly news to know that, but Philly has such a soul to it that I’ve experienced in few other places. The food, architecture, sports, history…there really is so much to love about this city. I plan on sharing more of my favorites, things to do, etc. so stay tuned!

We Travelled, Ate, Drank, and Ate Some More

If you know me, you know my love of food runs deep. While #cheflife was not the life for me, I continued to work in restaurants for years after culinary school while I figured out what I wanted to do with my life and then eventually put myself through design school. Mike and I met in a restaurant (he still works in the industry) so it’s no surprise that eating and drinking is one of our favorite pastimes.

This year I crossed Austin, Texas and Paris, France off my bucket list. The restaurant and bar scene in Austin was incredible and was a place I could actually see myself living in one day. And Paris is Paris. Being there with the love of my life was such a surreal experience that I think about on almost a daily basis.

We ate locally too, in my home state of RI, NYC, Washington D.C., and of course, in Philadelphia. Maybe some travel guides are in the cards for The ECB Edit in 2024!

And the Biggest Lesson I’ve Learned…

I turned 27 this week, and while not as monumental a birthday as, say, 30, it still felt like a milestone for me. Life has taken me places I’ve never expected since I turned 20 but in the toxic comparison culture that surrounds social media, often it feels like not enough. I am absolutely my biggest critic so it can be unbelievably hard for me to turn off the mind chatter. I still have so much work to do but this year has really taught me to find beauty in the mundane and enjoy every day for what it is.

I love travel and new experiences as much as I love being in my home with a candle lit and cocktail in hand. If I had to pick a word to describe my 2023, it would be balance. It’s not always easy to accomplish but it is so worth trying to find.

So What’s Next?!

I’m not going to make a promise I know I won’t be able to keep, like I’ll post every week in 2024, but being more present on here is absolutely a goal of mine. Of course, there will be design content but I hope to share more of the things I love in life, like travel, food, fashion, culture, and maybe a personal anecdote or two. I definitely struggle with deciding which platform is the best to share on but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for writing.

I’m always always open to suggestions on what to share so please comment with what you’d like to see/hear from me!

xx ECB