Eco Chic Update: Summer & Fall 2017

Violet Grey

Hi all! After a three month hiatus, I’m finally back to blogging! I figured that I owed you all an update as to why I’ve been absent from my blog. It was definitely never my intention to be away for so long, but life kind of took over and sometimes you just have to go along for the ride. (That’s a horrible excuse, I know, but in this case it’s the truth!) I have been posting a bit on Instagram, but haven’t gotten a chance to post on my blog until now.

So, you must be wondering what I’ve been up to these past three months. Well, it involves some traveling, work (obvs), and taking a small break (literally).

In August, my hubby and I flew to LA for a couple of weeks to visit friends and family; celebrate my 36th birthday; and celebrate our first wedding anniversary! We had a jam-packed schedule filled with spending time with family, eating (till we couldn’t eat any more), visiting longtime friends (love you, Kirsten!), golf (the hubs), shopping (me), and meeting up with some of my favorite green beauties and brands (me again). We also took a trip down to San Diego for a couple of days to celebrate my birthday and watch our beloved Washington Nationals play the San Diego Padres at Petco Park! My hubs surprised me with seats right behind the visitors dugout which was an experience I’ll never forget! (In case you were wondering, the Nats won!)

We noshed at some of our favorite spots all over LA, like Blockheads Shavery (we might have went there a few times!), Urth Caffé, and Din Tai Fung (for my birthday dinner); and checked out some new places like Palms Thai, Bestia (the best!), Geoffrey’s Malibu (for our anniversary dinner), Carlitos Gardel (anniversary dinner #2), and Guisados. We came back home to DC with happy bellies and ten pounds heavier!

While in LA, I made it a point to meet up with some of my favorite green beauties. I met up with the beautiful Melissa from @guidetowellness for delicious brunch at Redbird and dinner at Maradentro; had yummy vegan fare at Café Gratitude and went shopping on Abbot Kinney with the ever fabulous Amy from @bondenavant; brunched with the incredibly sweet Rosie from @rocat22 at Urth Caffé (we could’ve talked for hours!); checked out the uber chic Violet Grey and had happy hour drinks and apps at Gracias Madre with super-cool-chick Nary from @conciouswithme; and met up with sweet, darling Michelle from @dreamywalkhome for dinner at Baran’s 2239. (I told you we ate a lot!) Also, while we were down in San Diego, I caught up with my dear friend Mia (@miachaereddy) where she told me about her new skincare line: Chae Skincare.

I also got the chance to meet up with a couple of my favorite brands: African Botanics and moss skincare. I met up with Julia and Craig Noik, the founders of African Botanics, over breakfast in Santa Monica where they shared sweet anecdotes about South Africa, about how they met and ended up in LA, and what inspired them to create African Botanics. We also chatted about the business behind the scenes: how they run the business (they are based out of LA while all of their products are formulated, tested, produced / manufactured in South Africa (they currently employ about 200 employees there!)), ingredients (all of their ingredients are grown and sourced in South Africa), innovations and technological advances in green beauty, and what new creations they are working on. I’m so thrilled that I got the opportunity to meet them. Julia and Craig are not only brilliant and business-savy, but they are some of the most genuine and loveliest people I’ve ever met!

I met up with Celestyna Higgins, the creative genius behind moss skincare, and we hit it off immediately. She is super cool, fun, and down to earth. Oh, and did I mention that she’s an astrophysicist by trade? She’s incredibly smart and uber brilliant at what she does. Plus I love her LA / bohemian chic vibe! We bonded over matcha lattes; talked skincare (obvy), mommyhood, and Instagram; and did a little shopping on Abbot Kinney. I don’t know how she has the energy / stamina to run a full-fledged business (formulating and all) with a new baby. I’m in awe!

September was definitely climactic but not in a good way. I ended up breaking my arm (elbow area) right around Labor Day which really put a damper on things. The sad part is that I fractured my arm just by falling on top of a not-so-sturdy dog gate at home. I couldn’t move my arm for a couple of weeks. This was the main reason why I had to take a break (pun intended) from my blog. With very limited range of motion in my arm, I could not type properly or even hold up a camera to take pictures. On top of that, work was insanely busy, so the rest of the month I spent working a lot and going to physical therapy. It’s been three months now, and my arm has been healing well. I still don’t have complete range of motion and cannot put too much pressure on my arm yet, so I haven’t been able to practice yoga. I miss yoga so much!

In October, I took a quick trip up to NYC to catch up with a couple of my green beauty besties and also to hang out with my gorgeous, chic Aussie friend, Shah from @thespotbeauty! We met up for yummy brunch at Bottega Organica‘s restaurant, Quartino; shopped for French threads at Sézane‘s L’Appartement New York; and checked out Glossier‘s super millenial pink showroom. I wish we had more time to hang out – so fun! My hubby and I met up with my beautiful friend and mama-to-be, Marissa, founder / owner of Aurum Rose Beauty, and her hubby for delicious Spanish tapas and paella at Socarrat in Chelsea. Before we left NYC, I went to visit my sweet friend Tricia (@nihaonewyork) and got to meet her new adorable baby boy, Aidan!

While back in DC, I got the best all natural, green facial of my life by Sara Damelio (who’s also the founder of Skincando) at The Emerald Door. I also got together with the super cool Anna Marie of @theskinstudy while she was in DC for work. Finally, at the end of the month I attended a fun, informative facial Gua Sha class at Take Care in Georgetown, DC taught by the amazing Sandra Lanshin Chiu of Treatment by Lanshin. I’m obsessed!

November is going by so quickly! The highlight of the month so far was seeing The Book of Mormon at The Kennedy Center (my second time, as I saw it originally on Broadway!); and I also hosted a fun giveaway with moss skincare, and have another great giveaway going on now with Earthwise Beauty (it’s not too late to enter – it ends on the 30th!). And oh, did I mention that I got featured on Beauty Independent? I know! I still can’t believe it! I feel so humbled and honored.

For Thanksgiving we stayed in the area and celebrated it with friends and family. I was happy to get a couple of much needed days off because work has been so busy lately. I also put up the Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree. This year I opted for blush-toned ornaments, but somehow it looks like a millennial pink tree! (#sorrynotsorry)

So, that’s what I’ve been up to lately! I appreciate your patience as I get back into the swing of things. I have some product reviews lined up so make sure you check back here soon!

– xo, Yenny