it's about time

time & courage.

gosh where to begin?! let’s talk about taking a break from social media for 5 months. IT WAS THE BEST! completely unplugging was amazing — i didn’t worry about content, or what others were doing, i was just FREE to BE. i support the social media detox and may do this every summer when it becomes too hot to do anything. some life events happened such as: my little (not so little) cousin graduated from RICE! my father retired (so proud of him!), AND…. i spent TWO WEEKS in Europe! (finally marked off my bucket list! and blog posts already in the queue about this!).

you can find me in deep thoughts over here on the topics of time and courage. but why you ask? approaching 38, that’s what i’ll blame it on. more after the jump!

currently on my playlist: about damn time by Lizzo

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time // time is a thief! i find myself wanting time to slow down even more so than before. i see my niece and nephew growing up so quickly, my parents aging and it makes me wish that i could stop time & savor all the moments — where did time go? i guess that’s the sad thing about it… is that it waits on no one. it’s the most valuable currency. i feel like most of us live day to day, routine through routine as if each day is given and predictable, that we forget to go about it more intentionally. it makes you question, am i spending my time on the right people and things? am i creating a meaningful life i’m proud of? what if i didn’t have much time left, what would i do differently, how would i change the way i live/love? how would i approach each day? deep thoughts. i know. but makes you wonder. i also watched some time warp movies such as The Lake House and Long Story Short which amplifies these types of thoughts. just something to ponder about life. see what no social media does to ya?! 😄

courage // have you seen 'the call to courage by Brene Brown’? if not, it’s available on Netflix and i highly recommend you watch it. i’ve seen it 2-3x now. each time it’s a tearjerker. it’s funny how we grew up thinking that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. Brene teaches that the irony is that is in order for us to experience love, belonging, and joy, we have to be vulnerable. and to be vulnerable requires you to be brave/courageous. i for one am terrible at vulnerability. but it’s something i’m working on. Brene describes vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure; all of which are terrifying to me. it wasn’t until my late 30s that courage and vulnerability became more prominent in my life. BUT it makes me wonder what my life would be/look like if my younger self took more chances, put myself out there more, and played it bigger? unfortunately, time is that unrenewable resource, there is no going back. having the self-awareness of your shortcomings is always the first step to make those life changes for the better. Brene also goes into talking about vulnerability in the workplace which i found very interesting. below are my favorite quotes from Brene’s Netflix special:

today, i choose courage over comfort. i can’t make a commitment for tomorrow, but today i’m going to choose to be brave.

vulnerability isn’t about winning or losing. it’s having the courage to show up when u can’t control the outcome.

vulnerability is hard, scary, and feels dangerous. but not as hard, scary, or dangerous as getting to the end of your life and having to ask yourself what if… what if i would’ve shown up? what if i would have said i love you, what if xyz. show up, be seen, answer the call to courage, because you’re worth it. you are worth being brave.

-Brene Brown

dress | J.Crew daydream dress in white linen (perfect for family photos) — similar but short sleeve // similar by Tuckernuck // love this one in blue & white floral print // similar but sleeveless
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

xx,
JD

photo credit: lil blogger sis @simplyyvan

how to wear hot pink pants

well, howdy 2022!

my word this year is COLORFUL. for so many reasons. color isn’t something i wear much of or gravitate towards. i love neutrals. because neutrals are easy to wear and my love for black is infinite. color on the other hand is… different. it takes some thinking to combine color combinations that complement one another without being loud or clashing. this year, i want to embrace and add more color into my wardrobe whether it’s mixing colors with neutrals or mixing them together and wearing them boldly. i’m pretty excited about it! like a little re-invention of JDC. it’ll be a challenge for sure. but i’m okay not-playing-it-safe this year. plus, there’s something about color that just makes people happy. and we can all use more of that in our lives, i know i can!

yes, you saw it right. i, janna doan am wearing hot pink LOL. here, i’m going to showcase the color combinations that i think go with these hot pink pants (you’ll surely turn some heads). for this post i choose to pair it with work appropriate tops. these pants are one my favorite fits: high-waisted, slim ankle fit — i own them in three or four colors. they run slightly small so size up! more after the jump!

side ramblings: before the world was taken over by the depressing omicron, i celebrated my 37th birthday with all the shenanigans. it was the best. i really am blessed to live this life. i re-visited @redash and can’t figure out why i keep forgetting about that place?! speaking of FOOD, guess what?! by now i’ve written a two food-related posts as a contributor for @thesavvylife.co! check them out here: 1. Cavatelli Cravings and 2. Matcha Madness 😊 more coming soon!

currently on my playlist: easy on me by Adele

combo 1: mint[perfection]

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combo 1 with pastel — feels like a watermelon to me! haha. but nonetheless, i do like the colors together. maybe if the mint was a little more pastel (but hey this is all i had!). this is a brighter mint so it’s a pretty bold look. i’ve been loving mint lately and here’s another cute blouse in mint i’ll need one day! combo 2 with a dark color — navy!, ah i consider it a neutral but i goes so well with the hot pink for some contrast. combo 3 with patterns — similar to combo 2, i really like the prints to break up the color and this striped button down did the job! the bright blue complements the hot pink perfectly. combo 4 with a bold color — wear it boldly with RED! i think this might be my favorite combo. the pearl button detail adds a touch of elegance too. combo 5 with good ol’ black — when all else fails, good ol’ black has got your back!

combo 2: navy and/or with polka dots

combo 3: bright blue with stripes

combo 4: boldy with red

combo 5: and if all fails, there is always trusty ol’ black!

combo 1 //

top | J.Crew cashmere classic-fit crewneck sweater in wintermint (wearing size small, such a great capsule top since the style goes with everything!) — similar for $50! (just discovered this brand and love the ethical pricing)

combo 2 //

top | J.Crew ruffle sleeveless top in navy polka dot (ancient) — similar on Amazon

combo 3 //

top | J.Crew striped button down (ancient) — similar // similar from J.Crew Factory

combo 4 //

top c/o | Sezane gaspard jumper in red (runs large, wearing size XS and could’ve done down to XXS)

combo 5 //

top | Express jewel embellished faux button puff sleeve sweater in black

everything else //

pants | Ann Taylor high waist ankle pant in razzle dazzle
earrings | Mejuri pave diamond bold hoops in 14K solid gold — similar from Quince and $99!
necklaces | gorjana wilder necklace in gold // gorjana venice mini necklace in gold with extender
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K solid gold // gorjana diamonds stacking ring in 14K solid gold // GLDN twist aire ring in 14K solid gold
watch | Michele 29mm deco diamond watch in gold/silver

hope y’all enjoyed this bright post!,
JD