a vacation or a dream portal?

a diary entry

Aug 25, 2024

If anyone out there has tips for curing the post-vacation blues, let me know.

I’m struggling to abandon the European dreamscape I’ve been galavanting in over the last two weeks. As I attempt to re-enter normalcy, I’m reminding myself that too much of a good thing aint always so good – and it’s the novelty of these experiences that nurtures our souls and keeps us wanting for wonderous moments. We all love to chase euphoria. So much of the joy lies in anticipation after all.

But a gal can reflect, can’t she?

Brandon (my husband) and I took our first solo trip in six years nearly two weeks ago. We visited Copenhagen, Sweden and Amsterdam – hoping to experience the ease of Scandinavian life, bask in mild summer weather, indulge in delicious beer + wine in The Netherlands, AND, most importantly, spend some much-needed quality time as a couple.

All the boxes were checked.

This holiday was restorative, inspiring and exhilarating – breathing new life into my soul and prompting me to reflect on how to preserve the memories and ensure this kind of adventure is more regularly incorporated into our lives.

I don’t know why Brandon and I didn’t go on a trip – even a road trip – for six years. We’re always so caught up in the whirlwind of responsibility I suppose. Complacent in routine. We’ve gone places with friends and celebrated occasions with others, but we had not given our almost 14-year relationship the reverence it deserved. When it comes to quality time and adventure, that is.

I almost feel frustrated at myself given how nurtured we both feel now.

Why are we so damn bad at prioritizing joy?

I always feel like a different and more free version of myself in Europe. This lifted weight makes me more present and indulged without as many inhibitions. I think it’s partially due to how far away I am from home. Proximity.

For the most part, I literally can’t worry about work because I’m too far away to truly make any impact. This is what I tell myself, anyway. And the same goes for any other important responsibilities. American Kendall would poke holes in this reasoning all day long, but European Kendall conceives a thought and moves on.

I’m happier this way.

Because I have such a hard time letting go of the stress of work and the opinions of others in my day-to-day, entering an entirely new context (on a different continent, no less) feels like stepping through a portal into a dream free from consequences.

From the moment we arrived in Copenhagen until the second we took off on our return flight from Amsterdam, I felt so aware of joy. This dream portal, so to speak, is less about excessive pleasure and more about ever-present gratitude. Having access to this gratitude allowed me to be present and take in the joy as it came, resulting in a happiness I’ve not felt in my adult life until now.

I feel so grateful and privileged.

This lucidity means I’m able to play my memories on repeat as if it were a fantasy. But it wasn’t. It was an unbridled reality.

Since returning, I’ve never felt more connected to Brandon. I love him so much and can’t believe we get to live this life together.

I know myself better now, too.

I’ve also never felt more excited to apply inspiration to work + play. This includes TCC, client work, getting dressed and interiors. I also feel determined to spend more quality time with friends and family, host more gatherings and explore Birmingham more often, replicating adventure in my own backyard.

My gratitude will be the fuel.

I’m still warding off jet lag, so bear with me. I’m still trying to find all the words.

P.S. I’m sad to report that I was abysmal at documenting my outfits on this trip. I mostly clung to old faithfuls for the sake of comfort and miles of walking. It’s ok though because good fall style content is imminent!

xoxo

COPENHAGEN

PERUSE MY FULL COPENHAGEN GALLERY HERE

The highlights:

DESIGN | Obviously, Copenhagen sings for Danish design. Everywhere you look, there’s a burst of beauty. Canals, charming streets, clean lines, Danish furniture, and modernity laced with classic callbacks.
- We stayed in Hotel Alexandra, a wonderful dose of authentic Danish design. Each room in this hotel is an ode to this design style, boasting genuine mid-century Danish furniture sourced from Braan Rasumussen Auction House. Our room specifically commemorated mid-century modernist designer Hans Wegner who was known as the “master of chairs.”
- I didn’t even scratch the surface of all the furniture and home decor stores I wanted to visit in CPH. But I did prioritize a few places that inspired me: HAY, FRAMA + and Nordiska Galleriet in Malmo, Sweden
  we stumbled into this magical pottery store called ditte fischer / i'm still reeling over those teapots
- Design Museum Danmark / An absolute MUST if you visit Copenhagen. Get there early though! ~ I could’ve spent hours in this place. There was so much variety in the exhibits and every corner compells.
SUSTAINABILITY | Copenhagen was so fucking clean. No really. There was hardly any trash anywhere and the water was stunning. Apparently, CPH is one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Most people bike EVERYWHERE; Solar and wind energy generates 60% of Denmark’s electricity consumption; Electric everything; Denmark has the highest consumption of organic food in the world per capita; The public transit is incredible. We took public transportation the entire trip in both CPH and AMS. Never one Uber!! And we walked so much. Like 8-10 miles a day. Our bodies were tired but also felt so good. I could go on.

we went on a hey captain boat tour (which was amazing, by the way) and our tour guide literally scooped this cup of water out of the sea to show us how clean it is. mind blown.

FOOD + DRINK | I knew Copenhagen was a food city, but holy shit. The freshness was unmatched and the amount of delicious fish and wine I had was alarming.
- Ya gotta hit these places if you visit CPH: Admiralgade 26 is my number one recommendation (Japenese meets New Nordic cuisine / the anchovies changed my life / They also have a wine bar called Ved Stranden 10 that we didn’t have a chance to visit but it’s now at the top of my list) – La Banchina (the chefs cook outside and you exclusively eat by the water if you can find a seat) – Host (a Michelin star restaurant, which is pretty cool) – BRUS (for delicious beer + divine bar food) – Smorrebrod (an open-faced sandwich on a seedy brown bread) is a Copenhagen delicacy and we finally had some on our last day. Ibens Smorrebrod was sooo tasty. And they even let us grab a seat until their reservation got there. The people (and delicious wine) at Bar Somm MADE our trip. This place is nestled in a basement-level cafe facing the street and the servers here were so hospitable and kind. We stumbled upon it on our second night and came back the next night because we loved it so much.

STYLE | I regret to inform you that I didn’t get many pictures of my outfits whilst in Copenhagen (and Amsterdam). But the observations I made were these:
- The style was very uniform in Copenhagen. I saw a color palette of navy, white, taupe, blue and very minor pops of color — mostly in the form of lightweight Havaianas flip flops
- BLAZERS – so many blazers. My navy Tibi Liam fit right in.
- Clean and tidy styling – slicked back hair, modern jewelry and utilitarian bags like totes (expected considering the commuting/biking lifestyle in CPH)
- My Tibi Dwaynes got me THROUGH. So comfortable and literally trekked miles.

this woman was shopkeeping at the ceramics store and was so kind / she also had this chic gold pin on, and i asked her if i could take a picture. it’s designed by a local copenhagen maker mette saabye jewellery.

AMSTERDAM

PERUSE MY FULL AMSTERDAM GALLERY HERE