Welcome to my monthly newsletter! My new year’s resolution is to send one email per month to update my closest friends and family about me and my life post grad. Since I missed last month, I have combined a February newsletter with a 2025 recap (think of it as a Chinese New Year celebration!) Hopefully this will continue to be a thing post 2026, but that is too far away to commit to right now.  

 After graduating in May with my BFA and since I got a graphic design job (thank GOD), I have lost my drive or motivation for creating things for myself. One of my favorite things about art school was bearing the most intimate parts of myself to my peers. Without school, I fear that my art will not see the light of day, or, more likely, will not exist. I also probably will never write an essay or artist statement without the teacher intervention, so perhaps this will be my reason to (Substack is too scary for me). Also, as some of you are well aware, my texting habits are less than ideal, so I wanted to have a way to communicate with those closest to me without the impossible task of answering a simple text.  

Through this newsletter, I will share the art, thoughts, feelings, and themes of my life. This month’s letter includes my favorites of 2025, new books I have been working on, 2026 thoughts, and general fun and whimsy. The entire newsletter is below.

2026 Thoughts

New Year New Me!!!!

2026 is both the year of the horse and the resurgence of 2016! Horse girls are so back, awkward turtles are in, and regression is trending. I was never a horse girl but the spirit of Tina Belcher has taken over for the remainder of the year. My new year has been full of gym days, journaling, spending time with friends, cleanliness, and self care. This has been hard to accompish and sustain as all resolutions prove to be after a couple of weeks, but I feel hopeful that this year I will succeed. 

2016 Thoughts

In 2016 I was in 8th grade. Being 12 has to be the worst feeling in the world. Hormones, uncertainty, and having countless first experiences surrounded by judgemental middle schoolers. I had my first kiss (at AMC seeing Doctor Strange; he missed my mouth and we clacked teeth), first breakup (and subsequent crashout), first therapy visit (due to the prolonged crashout), first vacation to Cape Cod, et cetera. It mirrors 2025 in a strange way — new beginnings. 

My 2016 Favorites

Jacksepticeye, Markiplier, Fall Out Boy, Dan and Phil, Wattpad, Suicide Squad, Smosh (Anthony Padilla), Onision, Melanie Martinez, mustaches, Gravity Falls, Jacksfilms, Buzzfeed quizzes, Undertale, Musical.ly, Hot Topic, Halsey, Oh Wonder, Polaroids

2025 Thoughts

Reflecting on the last year feels impossible. So much happened in 2025 that it felt two decades long. My last year in college, my 5 year anniversary with Julien, and a new chapter at a new apartment. So much changed so quickly in my life. I had been in school for my entire life, and learning how to navigate my reality without safety that the structure of school gave me was treacherous. It is so terrifying but so thrilling knowing I have countless possibilities lying ahead of me and so much time left to live my life. My old therapist said something that I hold onto until this day: “The only constant in life is change.”

2025 brought upon so many amazing projects that inspired, entertained, and comforted me through a time of uncertainty and rapid change. I have compiled a list of my favorite things of 2025 for your consideration. If you agree, let me know. If you disagree, argue with the wall.

All images and icons are clickable to check out my favorites.

January Zine

4 inches x 2 inches

A summary of my 2025 through the intimate lens of my phone. Screenshots highlight what I did, watched, ate, and enjoyed last year. It serves as commentary on the dependence and connection our personal lives share with the online space. Some unnecessary redactions mimic censorship trends in late 2025. 

Apps Featured: 

* Spotify 

* Uber Eats

* YouTube

* Aura Frame

* Haru Slide 

* Instagram