1. Bracelets

I’ve never been big on changing my jewelry. I usually stick to a simple necklace I never take off, a pair of small hoops, and a pair of studs in my ears. I’ve never been much into accessories, and apart from occasionally swapping my earrings or layering an extra necklace for a special occasion, I prefer having a few staple pieces that feel like me—pieces I’m comfortable in.

Rings, in particular, have never been my thing. There’s something about the sensation of wearing them that I find overstimulating. But recently, I’ve become obsessed with bracelets—specifically, bigger, solid ones.

It all started two summers ago when I was backpacking. With only a 30-liter bag, I had to be intentional about what I brought back as souvenirs. While wandering through the souk in Fez, I came across a man handcrafting metal bracelets—hammering the pieces over flames, slowly braiding the metal together before shaping them into cuffs. Watching the process was mesmerizing, and I ended up buying two. At first, I wasn’t sure how much I’d actually wear them, but they quickly became a staple. I loved the memories attached to them—the fact that they were one-of-a-kind and handmade made them feel even more special.

After wearing them constantly that summer, I started paying more attention to bracelets and wanted to grow my collection. I love the look of an interesting, stacked combination—especially in neutral materials like wood, gold, silver, brass, and white accents. Since last fall, I’ve been keeping an eye out at thrift stores and have found some really unique pieces. Now, I have a fun little collection, and when I’m getting dressed, I mix and match different bracelets, adding a subtle but interesting touch to my outfits—one that often sparks conversation.

Beyond how they look, I’ve also fallen in love with the way they sound. There’s something satisfying about the gentle clinking of bracelets as I move my arms—a soft, rhythmic reminder of the little details that make getting dressed feel like a ritual rather than just routine.

2. Raspberry Red

Raspberries have long been one of my favourite fruits. When I was in my teens, my family rented a house with a raspberry bush in the backyard. In the summer, we would start our mornings sitting on the back steps with our coffee, slowly waking up as we wandered over to the bush to pick raspberries. It was such a calm, simple ritual—one that has stayed with me.

Lately, though, I’ve become obsessed with the colour of raspberries. Red has always been my favourite colour, but there’s something about the specific tonality of raspberry red that feels extra special. It reminds me of warmth, of summer mornings, of the sun slowly rising and filling the air with golden light. It brings me back to those mornings with my parents and sisters, sipping coffee and having our silly conversations.

Lately, though, I’ve realized I’ve been drawn to raspberry red in ways I hadn’t noticed before. When I needed a new agenda, I instinctively reached for the deep raspberry one. And when I went to get my nails done, I couldn’t not pick the sparkly raspberry red—it just felt right. There’s something about the colour that feels warm, familiar, and very me right now.

3. Magazines

As I was writing this list, I noticed a pattern—so many of my favourite things are tied to my early childhood, formative experiences, or memories that have stayed with me. Lately, I’ve been really into magazines. I know that might sound silly since magazines have been around forever, but for most of my teen years, I was a massive bookworm. I rarely picked up a magazine or anything nonfiction—it just didn’t interest me as much.

But when I was a kid, I loved magazines. I remember my mom taking my older sister and me to Leclerc, a French grocery store, before our long-haul flights between Canada and France. She would let us each pick out one magazine to bring on the plane, and it felt like such a treat. Those kids’ magazines were filled with random activities—mazes, silly articles, quizzes to find out what pet suited your personality.

Recently, I’ve found myself drawn back to magazines as a form of media. Before my flight to Grenada, I did just as my mom used to and let myself pick one out. I chose a volume of Apartamento, filled with beautiful photography, creative writing, and interviews with inspiring industry creatives. As I flipped through its pages, I was reminded of how much I love this kind of content—something you can chip away at slowly, immersing yourself in bits and pieces of inspiration.

4. Open Windows, Curtains Blowing in the Wind

This is another one that I think stems mostly from my childhood. In France, cracking open the windows to let fresh air flow through the house was a clear sign that spring had arrived. In the summer, all our French doors leading to the balcony would be wide open, and the curtains would billow gently with the soft breeze, moving in and out of the house like a slow breath.

One of my favorite memories is waking up to my dad cracking open the bedroom window in the room my sister and I shared. The cool morning air would slip in, carrying the sound of birds chirping—it was such a peaceful way to start the day.

Now, this simple act still brings me so much peace. As soon as it’s warm enough in Montreal, I open my window and let the fresh spring air sweep through my space. It feels like a reset, a fresh page for both my room and my mind.

5. Flowers

This one is simple and doesn’t need much explanation—I just love flowers. They’re beautiful, and that’s reason enough.

Lately, I’ve been especially drawn to carnations, and I always love tulips.

6. Sailor Fashion

When I was in elementary school in France, my mom would always dress my sister and me for school. Looking smart and well-dressed was an important part of the culture where I lived, so I often wore jean dresses, striped tops, red accents, and little bows in my hair.

As I’ve grown up, I find myself returning more and more to this style. I’ve always had a love for stripes, and I’m sure I always will. I have several marinière tops, with my favorite coming from Armor Lux, a French brand. There’s something about navy blue and white striped shirts that just warms my heart.

I also gravitate toward anything red, dark denim, or with vintage sailor details. It’s hard to put into words exactly, but there’s something nostalgic and comforting about this style that I keep coming back to.

7. Having My Morning Coffee in Bed

This one is a bit of a contrast to everything I grew up with. In France, meal times were always a big family affair. We always sat together at the kitchen table, and I would have my breakfast there, sipping hot chocolate across from my sister, while my parents ran around preparing breakfast.

Now, as a young adult, I’ve realized I have the freedom to create my own rituals. And for me, someone who loves a cozy morning, that means rebelling a bit against the routine of my early childhood. I make my coffee and then return to bed, curling up with it under the warmth and comfort of my duvet.

I love sipping my coffee slowly, whether I’m reading or journaling, allowing myself the space to wake up gently and take my time. It’s become one of my favorite ways to start the day.

This list of my favorite things has no rhyme or reason, except that they are things I've become conscious of that bring me joy. I know when I'm feeling sad, I can throw open my windows, bring my coffee to bed, wear my striped Armor Lux top with my raspberry agenda, and while everything may not be fixed, I feel a warm, soft hug from the past and present. It's the simple rituals I choose to continue or new ones I decide to begin, which bring me comfort and joy — in some ways, more constant than the big joys of life. Allowing myself to tie little bows in the past and present of my life, I bundle them together, building myself a quilt of who I am.

xx Camille