january favorites

new series to JDC!

let’s see how long i can keep up with this *new* series. today, we’re looking back at january and rounding up a couple of my favorite items. this is a pretty loose series and the items featured can and will be ANYTHING! i’m always curious about what other influencers and friends love so why not share my own on a regular-post-basis? alright alright alright. here we go!

side ramblings: lately, i’ve struggled with finding an affordable photographer. i thought about quitting this all together but a friend urged me not to. while i don’t mean to be cheap, i have to be cognizant that i actually lose money with each post. the truth is, i’m just not big enough to cover product + outfit + photography costs, let alone do this full-time. but that is okay! i do this because i love it. i love the creative elements that go behind each photo — each one has a story. and i’m okay where i’m at because my lines never get blurred between doing this for fun and depending on it as my sole income. it’s a good place to be and i’m glad you’ve stuck around for this long — thank you! but i am literally a one woman show here. and while it all looks easy, it’s not. i was hoping to get out there again and shoot some fabulous creative content. but i’m going to have to figure it out somehow. i may even get desperate and tripod it. can you imagine?! haha the laughs and stares. it’ll take some courage. but hey, i’m a go getter. i’ll make it happen if i want it bad enough. on another note, i checked out the lunar new year festival hosted by my friends @thepapercraftpantry x @shopkathyphantastic and those ladies did an amazing job putting on an event for all ages while supporting local asian-owned businesses. def check them out! i’m also leaving a list of all the vendors after the jump in case you’d like to browse & #supportlocal.

currently on my playlist: mon soleil by Ashley Park

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01 BIOSSANCE squalane + amino acid gentle cleanser

i love gel cleansers since they seem to be more gentle on sensitive skin. i find them less drying/stripping than foam cleansers even though they don’t lather as much. i purchased this a while back and like the consistency and how gentle it is. what i love about BIOSSANCE is the green-ingredients, the price point (super affordable), and the travel sizes (they aren’t rinky dink ones, they are small packaged beauty products in legit containers and pumps!). this gel cleanser is also avail for purchase at sephora.

02 Bondi Boost elixir hair oil

FINALLY!!!! a product to help soothe my itchy scalp. my gosh. i have tried so. many. products to help relieve the scalp. this was been a problem for me the past two years. one day you’re young and hip, then the next day you wake up to #scalpproblems. it’s greatttt (sarcasm). i’ve tried sachajuan, briogeo, davines, scalp brushes, scrubs, and nothing worked. i knew my itchy scalp problems weren’t from product build up because i rarely use product. it’s because my scalp was SO DRY. the only catch to this product is that it’s a PRE-WASH. yup. you apply it to your scalp and wait 15 minutes. then you shower. sometimes it can take two rinses to get it out. but now i feel relief and can go a couple more nights without having to wash my hair = TOTAL WIN. #aintnobodygottime. it goes perfectly with the Bondi Boost dandruff repair shampoo.

03 c/o True Botanicals renew pure radiance oil

face oils have been one of my favorite new-ish type of beauty product the past couple of years. thank goodness i got over the fear of oil-based products. True Botanicals is a #cleanbeauty company and their packing is well thought out — all their products are in amber bottles which means the contents are more stable. plus amber packaging always looks beautiful on the vanity 😍 the oil is orange-y and absorbs very well. i apply it as the last step in my night skincare routine to “seal” everything else in. it is also one of the #1 bestseller (for good reason) and the renew line help combat anti-aging and is for normal to dry skin. also, my friend @herfashionedlife uses this oil and her skin is beautiful! PS — they graciously also sent me the chebula active immunity serum (not sure how i like the smell yet but otherwise works great and non-irritating on my sensitive skin) and the renew nourishing cleanser (next in rotation!). i’m very curious and plan to try more of their products like the eye treatments, facial masks, body & hair care, oh and the lip balm!

04 Quince gold hoops in 14K solid gold

i stumbled upon Quince during a google search and i LOVE THEM. the transparent pricing is so good. they make brands that i thought had transparent pricing look bad lol. Quince is luxury items that are actually affordable; like really. these are 14K gold solid huggies that are perfect for everyday. these look exactly like the ones from Mejuri at $160. i’ve been wearing these quite a bit. and the great thing about 14K solid gold is you can shower with it. it’s meant to last forever and that’s what i’m investing in these days in terms of jewelry. i also purchased a classic cashmere tee and a silk skirt to try and they are 100!! you bet the cashmere cardi and jogger set are in my cart right now 😆

05 Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver

i have wanted a Michele watch for years. this was a little birthday present to myself. i love the different rectangular face with the diamond pave details along with the two-tone and roman numeral details. what’s not to love?! it will be a piece that will remain timeless #punintended. i couldn’t help myself 😁 this watch is also avail for purchase at bloomingdales.

catch y’all next time!,
JD

2022 Lunar New Year Festival Vendor Line-Up

simple everyday jewelry

hello october!

here we are… last couple months of the year and i can barely believe it! bring on all the pumpkin patch photos. there’s nothing like a pumpkin patch to bring out your inner child again. to see things with a sense of wonder (basically me when i see a llama). i think we all need that. esp after this year.

it occurred to me that i never wrote anything about everyday jewelry for all the years that i’ve ran this site. better late than never! they say that diamonds jewelry = a gals best friend [+ shoes + bags + fineee things]. it’s true! while i love statement pieces, it’s really everyday simple jewelry that gets the most wear, so don’t feel bad spending a little more on them. remember i preach quality > quantity here on JDC. and when you think about it, these simple pieces can really bring an outfit together in the most effortless way possible. more after the jump!

side ramblings: since my nephew kyrie graced us with his presence, pumpkin patches have been a… tradition every october. and tbh, it’s something i look forward to each year. i didn’t get to go to these things when we were kids so gotta enjoy it! we kicked off this year visiting @sweeteatsfruitfarm — it’s a popular one. lots to do! fashion wise, i’ve been on a shopping spree. i feel the inspiration coming to me (in packages delivered to my door, haha), but looking forward to putting some stuff together to feel the extra joy this season. couple of notable eateries as of late: @barpeached does a steak + frites night every tuesday for $22 and it.is.worth.it. hello kim chee butter & nori fries (#protip: make sure you get the bingsu afterwards). @masonsfamouslobster opened downtown and that’ll be my go-to now!! everything down to the bun was perfect. the @summerhouseonmusiclane whipped feta is all sorts of amazing. i even tried my hand at it via Southern Discourse’s recipe (#protip: let the cheeses come down to room temp). ending these food thoughts with.. i’ve been asked to write dining posts/be a contributor to an online magazine.. what do y’all think!? i’m open to all possibilities and this may be a fun one based on how much i love food. TBC!

currently on my playlist: bad habits by Ed Sheeran

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necklace //

having a few staple necklaces in rotation helps as i like to wear different ones dependent on neckline. here are a couple staples:

  1. initial (shorter chain, 16” with 2” extender): look best with collard tops, v-neck lines, square necklines. i tend to wear this more casually as the initial is asymmetrical and leans diagonally. this Anthropologie initial necklace has received almost too many compliments! i’m surprised it hasn’t tarnished based on how much wear it gets!

  2. monogram (longer chain, 20”): look best with crew necks. i tend to wear this with workwear. this piece is sentimental to me since it’s customized with my dearest daddy’s initials. aka: my hero. i wear it so much i should get it in real gold one day!

  3. simple pendant: goes with the same necklines/tops as #1. anything with a little pendant such as the Amanda Deer mini horn (this one is real gold + diamonds, you can call her store to see if she’ll make you one!), here’s a similar one. the Mejuri diamond necklace is also a great option!

  4. simple chain: look best with square neck lines. get one that can be worn as a choker for versatility/layering!

watch //

a watch is something you can put on and instantly feel put together. and it’s a plus because it actually has function — aka: tells you time. though in 2021, it’s more of a fashion piece since we rely on our phones so heavily. i like to have an oversized round face (the Michael Kors darci in gold is one i’ve had for YEARS… it is so worn out) and a normal round face (c/o Daniel Wellington classic petite in rose gold and i like the white). i added a rectangular face, Michele deco diamond 29mm to my collection (coming soon! happy early bday to meeee haha).

rings //

i have a dedicated ring post coming soon. for those who know me, i am a HUGE ring person. it’s almost become my signature look. i like em dainty. esp when you’re stacking them and wearing them on almost every finger. i recently decided to start re-building my ring stack with real gold and diamonds this time. 😐 it just made sense based on how much i wear them! all my existing ones are very worn and almost tarnished. i started my rebuild with these three: Gorjana diamond row ring // GLDN aire 14k solid gold in twist // GLDN adria 14k solid gold in hammered. what i love about GLDN (not only that it’s an ethical brand) is that they have many ring sizes (even custom) and textures and band thickness you can pick from! but not so good if you suffer from decision paralysis. haha.

earrings //

  1. simple diamond studs: nothing like a stud + sparkle. these my dad gifted my sister and i very randomly (isn’t he the best?). similar ones by Mejuri in mini or pave pear drop shape!

  2. larger gold studs: sometimes when an outfit doesn’t necessarily call for a necklace then a larger pair of studs will do the trick esp a pair of timeless ones like these Kenda Scott tima studs, also similar but knotted.

  3. not-your-average-pearl: i LOVE pearls. pearl studs go a long way but why not pick something that’s not too average that add a little sparkle too?! that way you have the best of both worlds. like these Sashi always earrings on shopbop or amazon // similar by Kendra Scott.

  4. small-ish hoop/huggie: another good option for casual yet a little bold at the same time, so glad i tried these Mejuri charlotte bold hoops also a big fan of the Mejuri bold croissant dome huggies too (on my wish list!)

i hope you enjoyed this post!
until next time,
JD