ONE

It seems like good old RL has been doing everything lately. From Polo4D during fashion week (which was so cool in person!) to opening the Polo Ralph Lauren flagship on 5th Avenue, it's been a busy few months at work. If you happen to live in New York or plan on traveling here for the holidays, I definitely recommend a visit to the new store. There's also the Ralph's Coffee shop inside on the 2nd floor that is truly adorable (and Instagram-worthy).

TWO

Who'd have thought I'd make it this far? I hit the 2-year mark at Ralph Lauren last week, which seems both hard AND easy to believe. Time flies, but when you really stop to think about "well, last fall we..." and then the sheer volume of work done between the present and the memory seems like AGES.

Last week, I looked up and realized I was surrounded by male models (tough life) and directing my 5th on-model shoot. It's weird to think about how far I've really come as a creative person and a leader of sorts (managing is HARD!) Suddenly, 2 years begins to seem like an impossibly short timeline. It flies when the challenge is right, I tell you. I guess that's the curse and the blessing...

THREE

Ever since the weather started to cool off, I've been spending probably too much time indoors—reverting to winter hibernation state? Whatever the case, I've invested in multiple colors of this incredibly soft Polo womens sweater to cozy up indoors and out. Trust.

Also for relaxation mode: the Serial podcast! Every Thursday morning, a new chapter goes live in this real-life journalistic investigation into a 1999 murder in (ahem, my poor old hometown) Baltimore. A 17-year-old boy was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend based on some pretty crazy evidence and he has served time ever since. He contacted a producer from NPR to look into his case, and she is doing everything from interviewing old witnesses to retracing his footsteps on the day, to partnering with UVA's Innocence Project clinic to get more insight. Anyway, I listened to the 7 episodes available so far last weekend. Get ready, you're about to be addicted to Podcasts...

FOUR

New York continues to reveal itself to me. Sometimes it's in the "holy hell what did I just see? My eyes!" kinda vein, but mostly it's just general awe and appreciation to live in such a beautifully busy and diverse place. What's better? You can never really see it all. Sometimes I end up in a neighborhood I've been to a thousand (okay, a dozen or so) times before and see it in a new light.

On Friday, my mom came to visit me at work and then I cut out a little early to accompany her to SoHo for some shopping. I spend so much time north of 52nd street or in Brooklyn that I forget how industrious and beautiful that neighborhood is. Even on a small island, every neighborhood has a truly distinct voice, and I just love that.

P.S. Jonathan Adler has THE BEST Holiday candle maybe ever. The whole flagship smelled heavenly!

FIVE

Just saying: Central Park is perfect right now. The end.

P.S. I know I owe a Playlist or two, but in the meantime, try Spotify's Cozy Evening, which is everything.