I did not have much of a plan or even an understanding of Maine before going, besides the obvious: lobster and Acadia. I was surprised to find a thriving culinary scene in Portland and locals engulfed in outdoor recreational pastimes and artistic crafts.

The most rejuvenating part of our South African roadtrip were two days in Wilderness, a town where coastal living meets lush forest life.

In this interview series, we sat down with the radiant Maria Calcaneo, a creative, Mexico native, and founder of Studio Maria:  a lifestyle brand + web design studio based in LA. 

Sometimes a quality that people may view as a weakness can really be one of our greatest strengths. Mine’s sensitivity. Being sensitive beautifully shapes the way I view the word and meaningfully interact, but it took me time to realize that.

Many Italians have mastered the art of slow living, encapsulated by their phrase “il dolce far niente” (The sweetness of doing nothing).  These four photographers capture la dolce vita until your visit.

I spend a night in an igloo, I shark cage dive, I visit South Africa, I paint a gigantic mural of an Italian landscape, and Giada De Laurentiis or Bobby Flay cook me a personal meal …

Have you ever found yourself lost in observing the soft flow of the sea? Or the crash of the ocean’s waves? The ocean captivates us and often evokes peace and serenity. In these moments, the brain shifts into a “soft fascination.” We find a mindful and soothing state where we are lightly focused and engaged, instead of being overloaded with information to process.

Elemental shifts toward the fall season remind me that change is a natural and beautiful thing. It sparks a period of introspection, where I look at my life and notice what has grown, what wants to fall away, and what parts of myself want to transform with the season.

Take inspiration from cool girl Taylor Bloom of the Rescue Collection to continue telling the story of existing objects in the world.

I first visited Sicily on a school-excursion during a semester studying in Tuscany. Four years later, I was walking down the aisle in the island’s quaint town of Ortigia.

Italians are known for their food, and each region of the country has its own cuisine and dishes influenced by what the land offers to them. Their approach to food focuses on eating locally, regionally, and seasonally.

The first step to regeneratively living is connecting to the part in nature you are most passionate about.

I have grown to let life happen. Life is short and precious, but it is meant to be experienced slowly and savored. This is something I have learned from spending time in a collection of coastal town