Adventures

When I was 25, I embarked on a 6 month backpacking trip that seriously changed my life. It was the catalyst that gave me the guts to start CMD. Here I am 20 years later, I’ve been hustling ever since to build and grow a sustainable company. It’s been thrilling, exhausting, defeating and empowering… all in one and [...]

As the days grow warmer, longer, and as I’m packing for my cross-country trip, I find myself thinking a lot about the process of curating a concise summer wardrobe. For me, it’s not about following trends but more so about creating a collection that reflects my personal style [...]

I’ll never forget the first time I learned about Burning Man. It was 2001, I had just moved West and was working in an Oakland warehouse at a furniture design company. There were some people building these large sculptures for the event. When I asked what they were [...]

If you know me well on a personal level, you’d know that I’m the type of person who likes to “make things happen.” If I’m honest, it’s one of my strongest personality traits and a bit the Aries in me. With that, I’m also a self-proclaimed procrastinator and things often take me longer [...]

It took years of trial and error, but I stuck with it and always believed that if I worked hard, I could make anything happen. Starting a business takes at 26 take a lot of courage and perseverance, but I knew that living my life as a creative is what I was put on this planet to do.

Running a small business has so many facets and while it can be so rewarding, it can also be challenging at times. But, at the end of the day when I walk out of my shop, I look up at the CMD sign and feel so grateful because it reminds me of where I started and how far we’ve come as a group of women on two coasts.

Lots of my customers mix shapes and sizes when they’re at the ring bar, and it totally works for them. Your jewelry style and pairings should be an extension of your own style. If you’re a person who mixes patterns and accessories, don’t stop to think twice. This is part of the fun of creating your own stack!

This time of year has different meanings and feelings for everyone…this I know. For anyone out there also hustlin’ this December, remember to take a moment and savor some of the magic. For anyone out there who also feels down or lonely this time of year, remember that you are loved and to be really good to yourself. 

This is a very special week, as my beloved grandma turns 100 years old on July 29! Does she look incredible or what!? I feel so grateful that my life has been surrounded by strong, inspiring women, and my grandma is a huge part of that unshakeable foundation.

Last week I completely unplugged in Mexico (quite literally: there was not a single picture snapped nor email checked!) for the wedding of one of my dearest friends. Being present for her big day was so special, and a wonderful reminder that love transcends all bounds and territories.

One of the best things about the Bay Area is its proximity to nature—drive a couple miles any direction and you’ll find something beautiful. Recently, I unplugged for four days, and I admit - living “off the grid” was fantastic. Just north of Sacramento, on the Feather River, we joined a group of friends and embraced a nature-filled time. 

This past week, I was so fortunate to travel back to Virginia Tech and spend time with my 13 (yes, 13!) closest college friends in honor of our 15-year graduation anniversary. Being back at VT after all these years was refreshing, exciting, nostalgic, and made me incredibly thankful for such wonderful lifelong friendships. 

Ary wanted to grow with us, and we love having her as part of the team, so we’ve rented her a studio in Trumansburg (four hours upstate from NYC) where we plan to begin building a small team who will handle much of our east coast wholesale production. The space is the perfect size for us to grow and build….so exciting!!

Certain adventures strike a special cord in our hearts, and my recent trip with my mom throughout Washington State was an experience we will both cherish for the rest of our lives. Though we’re already so close, our epic adventure blew our minds and strengthened our bond even more. 

This past weekend was the absolutely magical Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in Golden Gate Park, and I feel so rejuvenated that I simply have to sing its praises. However, one cannot mention the glory of Hardly Strictly without giving due recognition to the late Warren Hellman.