I'm a small-town Southern girl turned global citizen with a penchant for off-beat adventures. After living in the heart of NYC for the past two years, I'm excited to call the Bay Area my newest home. I'm looking forward to planting my roots in this clay loam soil, and I love living a bi-coastal lifestyle here in the US despite how much I miss the thrills that come along with being an ex-pat.
Educated, well-traveled, a natural storyteller, and a master of subtle sarcasm, I can say with confidence that we will never run out of things to talk (or laugh) about. I take pride in being an all-natural, down-to-earth gal who values genuineness, hospitality, and sharing moments of presence with others. I feel just as comfortable in an evening gown as I do in a pair of overalls, and I try not to take myself too seriously despite a world that constantly encourages the dangerous habits of an untamed ego.
Clockwise: 1. Making friends with the locals in Australia. 2. My most coveted form of ID. 3. Surveying some world-class views on the coasts of the Azores, Portugal. 4. Riding camelback at the Great Pyramids. 5. An exquisite front door in Zurich, Switzerland.
When I'm not planning my next international escapade, you can find me tending to my vast collection of houseplants, hosting dinner parties, training for a Spartan Race, or getting lost in my artwork. I am the proud cat mom of two special needs kitties, and I may or may not have deep conversations with them on a daily basis.
I’ve lived quite a colorful life thus far— from teaching art in Costa Rica to hitchhiking my way across the Middle East, my collection of experiences has helped to ground me in spite of my roaming feet. Regardless of my wanderlust, I practice deep presence in the subtlest of moments. I’m a firm believer in honoring the reverence of life’s simple pleasures, like licking my fingers after making a batch of homemade dark chocolate-covered strawberries or allowing my cat’s choice in lap-sitting to derail the day’s schedule. In short, I don’t require the grandiosity of world travel to connect with the beauty of The Here & Now.
I'm incredibly intimate, deeply engaging, and a bit of an exhibitionist in disguise. I warmly await the moment where your hand softly meets mine...
The longer I’ve waited to start grad school, the longer I want to continue waiting. Jumping into a master’s degree because it’s what’s expected of me is not my style, and choosing to take some time away from academia has afforded me opportunities that I will never regret. However, I am a Straight-A-Scholar (aka an overachiever to the point of my own mental/emotional detriment) who is eager to resume her work in the field of therapeutic interior design. My research focus includes creating and implementing art therapy methods for trauma survivors, and my ultimate goal is to examine the intersections of the healing journey and the physical space in which this rehabilitation occurs. Combining my experience in developing arts-based therapy curricula with my love for designing spaces, I am working towards creating initiatives that take a fluid, unified approach to therapy and the environment that facilitates the healing journey (if you really want to impress me, do some personal investigating on the qualitative research method of grounded theory). Having already participated in the field for a few years while overseas, I am looking forward to finding the right school in the US to continue my studies/research.
Floating in the marigold waters of the São Miguel thermal springs in Azores, Portugal.
Left: Quiet mornings at a cafe in Warsaw, Poland. Right: Traveling in style with my bright blue Doc Martens.
So what’s my idea of an amazing date? Above all, I cherish the moments where we can share laid-back conversations and intimate connections. Whether it’s a sunlit walk through the botanical gardens or an evening spent at the piano bar, I prefer dates that combine relaxation with a little adventure. I’m a bit of a self-proclaimed foodie— after having worked in the fine dining industry for many years, I was able to refine my palate in ways that transcended my biscuits-n’-gravy upbringing. I love to experience new cuisines and pair them with unique wines and spirits; in fact, I make it a point to explore the local wine scene wherever I travel, no matter how little-known the region is for their cellar doors. But don’t worry, I would never turn my nose up to an authentic street taco or a hole-in-the-wall ramen spot. It’s not about stroking our egos— it’s about making lasting memories with exceptional company.
I've already written way too much about myself, so here is a list of a few of my favorite things and fun facts to pique your curiosity:
Favorite color - green
Favorite body part - my feet!
Favorite foods - Indian food, Middle Eastern food, Mexican food, Mediterranean food, and any type of leafy greens (I'm a vegetarian, but I do make exceptions for fresh seafood)
Fun Fact - I've visited 33 countries across six continents while having lived abroad three times (but who’s counting!?)
Fun Fact - I'm a classically trained vocalist and theater performer
A not-so-secret obsession - is my (ever-multiplying) collection of houseplants
Clockwise: 1. The lush countryside of Romania. 2. My cheeky one-eyed cat named Reggie. 3. An indescribable sunset in Santorini, Greece.
Left: Taking pause after a long hike in Northern Israel. Right: The Monstera Deliciosa is a favorite of my houseplant collection.
Best travel memories (to name only a few) - backpacking through Egypt, stargazing in Greece, road tripping on the coast of New Zealand, snorkeling in Mexico, eating pear-stuffed ravioli in Italy, watching a tropical storm roll over the ocean in Costa Rica, getting "baptized" in the Jordan River in Palestine, and hiking up to the summit of a dormant volcano in Portugal.
Languages spoken - English, Spanish, Hebrew, and some American Sign Language
Collections - houseplants, vintage silk scarves, animal bones, feathers, unique lingerie, books, and postcards from all over the world
My simple pleasures - going for long hikes, leaving my phone on Do Not Disturb all day long, reading three books at once, trying new things, spending time at the beach, creating artwork, and taking naps with my cats.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist
Favorite genres of music- jazz, blues, folk, lo-fi, and anything that tells a compelling story (lyrics optional)
Favorite place I’ve traveled to so far- the answer to this question is pretty complicated and is best answered in person!
My favorite types of artistic media to work with- this list is constantly evolving, but I do have a few forms that I have been exploring for years. I am a collage artist, and I create abstract visual stories out of very small, hand-cut images that I collect from all over the world (I don’t make digital collages because the tactile process is what draws me to this medium). I’m also a devoted movement artist, model, theatre performer, musician, author, and poet. Currently, I’m focused mostly on large-scale abstract painting.
Favorite pieces of architecture- The Chrysler Building in NYC, the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the Great Pyramids (of course), and the practical yet sleek styles of modern desert homes!
Channeling my inner mermaid at the Sea Caves in Peyia, Cyprus.
Clockwise: 1. Solo train rides through the countryside of Eastern Europe. 2. Sidewalk bookstands in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 3. Having an afternoon picnic in the mountains of Costa Rica.
A Guilty Pleasure: Blasting 90’s country hits with my childhood friends (it’s important for me to stay connected to my roots, no matter how cheesy!)
Things That Make Me Laugh: irony, reliving embarrassing stories, The Office, and watching my cats “boop” each other with bloodlust.
Favorite Films: I love horror, arthouse, psychological thrillers, and anything that can possibly combine all three. I cried hysterically during Children of Men, and I’m also a huge fan of Wes Anderson films.
Do you still have a Southern accent? It typically likes to come out of the shadows after a dry gin martini… However, I use Southern colloquialisms with reckless abandon.
What am I learning about right now? Investing, pharmacopeia, how to drive a manual, what the Bay Area has to offer, and gardening with California natives.
What’s my favorite place I’ve discovered in California so far? The drive along the beaches of Highway 1 (and it’s even more exquisite in my vintage Porsche convertible!)
What destination can’t I wait to return to? I would die happily anywhere along the Euro-Mediterranean coast, but I also can’t wait to spend more time at the Red Sea in Egypt.
“To say
yes to life
is at one
and the same thing
as saying yes to oneself.”
-Dag Hammarskjold
