The Ladies of Wilshire Montana
Getting sappy and talking about my community, 'tis the season!
Hey!
I hope your holiday szn has been filled with cheer and lots of fun food & drinks! Currently sipping on a peppermint mocha at GGET as I type, yum yum.
As we round out the year, it’s only natural to look back and reflect on 2024. This year has been transformative - it was a time for me to look inward and continually make space for the things that matter most to me. A common conversation I have with friends - we’re expected to work, socialize, date & tend to our relationships, exercise, feed ourselves, have hobbies, etc etc - and we only get 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week?! This concept pushes me to be present and constantly make sure I’m prioritizing what (and who) brings me the most joy in life.
In spirit of the above, one of my favorite parts of 2024 has been establishing and continually prioritizing the community in my neighborhood. This post is not meant to read like a brag (look at all these friends I have!) but moreso a statement combatting the stereotypes of LA. Community does exist here and you can find it if you put in the work - it’s something I talk about a lot on TTS, and it’s something I’ve put a lot of effort into over the past 10+ years of my life in LA. As much as there are social climbers, botox & fillers - this city is a mixing pot of people coming from all over the world, all shapes and sizes and cultures and backgrounds! You simply cannot put LA in a box and write it off.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have a number of close friends within walking distance of my home - a rarity in Los Angeles. It’s lightning in a bottle and I’m fully aware it will only last so long as we move through life phases - moving cities, starting families, purchasing homes. Therefore I am soaking it up and celebrating it as much as I can!
Introducing… The ladies of Wilshire Montana!
I am endlessly grateful for the conversations I get to have with these girls on a daily basis, big and small - whether it’s working through our issues together on a walk or texting about the newest restaurant opening on Montana. I’m grateful for them grabbing my mail and watering my plants when I’m traveling. I’m grateful for us sharing meals and grabbing coffees together. + so many more things!
As a visual accompaniment to this essay, I captured each one of my gals at home, in their element, on film. Take a look at these beauties below, along with what makes me most grateful for each and every one of them!
Morgan | One of my BFFs since the first week of college and now we get to live literally one block away from each other! I am grateful for our last minute dinners because one of us made too much food, life talks on the couch, and motivating each other to put on a “real” outfit + go out on the town because it’ll be “good for us” ;)
Julia | My New York roommate, Miami mami, Kauai Blue Crush chicaaa. We’ve traveled all over together but have also shared so many memories in our lil’ neighborhood. I am grateful for our morning runs to Petit Grain, lunch runs to Breadhead, and evening runs to Van Leeuwen - always keeping our fingers on the pulse of Montana Ave! Also grateful for constantly having items from each other’s closets that we need to return to each other. Also also shoutout to the newest addition to your home, Penny, for posing so perfectly in this pic!!
Ali (+ Mary!) | We started as co-workers and our friendship transcended the workplace, a true feat! I am grateful for Ali + her family constantly looking out for me - eating our feelings (Italian beef sandwiches) as we watched the election results come in, recruiting Tim and Harlan to carry and reposition my Christmas tree multiple times, feeding my plants & grabbing my mail whenever I’m traveling. Extremely flattered I got to treat Mary to her first Erewhon smoothie as well this year - the Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze, of course.
LK | My other Blue Crush Kauai chicaa! I am grateful for us chronically oversharing what we learned in therapy every week, treating ourselves to a little edible + admiring the beauty of our neighborhood on walks. Though I will be very sad to see you go, I support your decision to move back to New York and will meet you there soon xoxo
Mikaela | 13+ years of friendship is no freakin’ joke!! My Firenze roommate, sorority sister, thesis co-producer, and lifelong BFF! I am grateful for getting some steps in on WFH days, being your forever design consultant, always stalking our Sims on Find My Friends, starting our Saturdays off right at Training Mate or Open, our tinned fish parties big and small, and so much more!! We keep finding ways to deepen our friendship, most recently by you administering a shot into my thigh every two weeks. OUCH but THX!
Olivia | My other Miami mamiiii! I am grateful for our Venice + SaMo GNO’s that always end at a reasonable hour, but also our 5 AM nights in Miami. Also love our debriefs after a weekend of antics or a silly first date. Also also love being on the distro list for all of your baked goods. ILY!
Grace | An absolute bundle of joy and one of the funniest people I know! I am grateful for our nights of goofy dancing, the cute little gatherings on your patio with friends, and our blurry photoshoots in front of apartments that aren’t ours. You’ve also inspired me to get back to no screen time in the morning, TY <3
If it isn’t too much to ask, I’d love for each and every one of you to give your pals extra hugs and tell them you love them for me this week! It’ll make you feel all warm n’ fuzzy and like I said at the top - ‘tis the season for gratitude after all! Back very soon with Q4 + EOY wrap reports, see you around!
Xoxoxo <3
brb crying myself to sleep