Happy New Year!
I bet it’s jarring to read that since it’s the middle of March, but I haven’t written to you since 2022 (my b). I had so many grand plans for Material Finds this year but found myself plagued by good ol’ writer's block. Turns out, the cure was a recent vacation I took to Costa Rica to celebrate my birthday. I stayed in Santa Teresa, a remote surf town with endless jungled-backed beaches and pink- and-orange-hued sunsets. It’d been a while since I’d had a lazy vacation where I did the same things more or less every day, including: willingly waking up before 7:00 a.m. (a major accomplishment), taking a yoga class, eating a smoothie bowl, and then reading, writing, and swimming at the beach. Each day would close with watching the sun set along with the rest of the town. It was a dream. Although I wore a swimsuit most of the time, here’s a few favorite items I packed for the journey:
Zizia Botanicals All Balm, $18 - True to the balm’s name, this chia seed oil is for whenever, wherever, and whatever. I used it during the trip to hydrate my lips, soothe bug bites, and refresh my skin post-sun.
Hunza G Pamela One-Piece, $215 - I don’t usually wear much color (as my friends know) but take liberties when it comes to swim. I found this sherbet orange one-piece during the SSENSE sale last summer and felt comfy, cute, and secure in it—three things that can be hard to find in a bathing suit.
Rattan Tote, $66 - A few years ago, I bought a rattan tote while traveling in Mallorca. I love its slim rectangular shape and thin handles and was able to fit it in my carry-on without it warping, which is a win in my eyes. Here’s a similar one from Etsy.
The Row Parquet Sunglasses, $158 - I was looking for CBK-inspired sunglasses on The Real Real for months and finally stumbled on a pair right before my trip. I love their classic tortoise color which was easy to style back to the range of colors I packed.
Birkenstock Madrid EVA Sandals, $40 - The perfect lightweight, waterproof sandals for the beach. I prefer the classic one-strap silhouette to the more popular two-strap Arizona because they are more flattering on wide feet.
Jones Road Miracle Balm, $38 - For some reason I packed make-up, which I didn’t wind up wearing—with the exception of this Miracle Balm in Bronze from Bobbi Brown’s clean beauty brand Jones Road. I’d swipe some on my eyelids, cheekbones, and nose bridge for a glow-up.
And now for bonus content — there’s nothing like snow to ruin your post-vacation high, so I made a playlist to transport me back to the beaches of Santa Teresa. Happy listening!