bienvenidos

thanks for being here

mi vida

my life

"I Hope Never to Return" — Frida Kahlo, Commodification, and My Complicity

Adriana Leos

Feb 21

Things to do in Vienna: the Ultimate Tour Guide

Adriana Leos

Jul 7, 2024

Tbilisi Georgia: the Travel Guide

Adriana Leos

May 31, 2024

hola amigas!

My name is Adriana Leos (en español mi nombre se pronuncia 'Audriana') - I am a human-being first, an ex-bartender turned entrepreneur, creative, writer and free spirit trying to find her place in this world.

I have traveled the world extensively with a focus on human interaction, responsible tourism and cultural immersion. For the past 10 years I have lived in four different cities within the states, have traveled to over 25 different countries and started a small biz with my best friend.

Continue on to read more about my journey and experience living and working as a young Latina woman, newly found small business owner; and of being the product of the youngest of five siblings to a single-mother, just trying to make a difference in this world.

learn a little more

let's connect on the 'gram

instagram: @itsadri_____

there is nowhere to rush to 🦋

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#glimmers #glimmermoments #lovethesemoments #thesemoments #lovealwayswins #thatwasthepoint

i came across this question recently:
“if you looked back at your life ten years from now, what would you define as success?”

i sat with it for a minute and thought, “if i can spend the next ten years making conscious decisions — that alone would feel like success”

there’s two reasons why that answer came up for me.
1) i spent most of my late teens and early 20s under the influence (of what? many things — but that’s a story for another day). and in that fog, i made a lot of dumbass decisions on autopilot. no clarity, no critical thought. never thinking proactively. just reacting, spiraling, surviving. never really considering what those choices would cost me.

and 2) we were never meant to be this hyperconnected, this “on” all the time. between emails, inboxes, texts, comments, DMs, automations, posts, stories — we live in a society that runs on autopilot, and as more and more ai, systems, and automations rise up to guide our thoughts, our habits, our lives — i can’t help but ask, is this really what progress looks like??

“it is one of the greatest ironies of the twenty-first century that having more and more ways to connect and communicate is breeding more and more loneliness”

British anthropologist Robin Dunbar once said that we can only meaningfully maintain about 150 connections. that’s it. our tech might be built for endless networks — but our minds, our hearts, our souls? not so much

like i said — we were never meant to be this hyperconnected

so if i can move through the next decade not on the hamster wheel but moving more slowly, with more intention, being more present, more connection to my body, mind, and soul — not living on autopilot, but resisting the constant pull of big brands and big tech trying to hijack my attention everywhere i turn — that would feel like some real success to me 🦋

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#photodumps #QuietIsTheNewLuxury #slowluxury

would you rather live in a gorgeous building with a view of an ugly building, or would you rather live in an ugly building, with a view of a gorgeous building?

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#joshuatrees #joshuatreenationalpark #naturetherapy

Q1 was just a slight taste;
time to lock theeeee fck in 🍒

p.s. i personally think this could be an ad

@portosbakery sponsor me 👀

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#portos #delicacies #fruittarts

“one persons cacophony is another person’s symphony”

love the juxtaposition + perspective (of both the photos + the quote)

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#perspectiveiseverything #views

which one should i post? (i don’t even care);
both it is then 💋

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#photodumps #dantanas

the quote from one of her final diary entries “I hope the leaving is joyful—and I hope never to return.”

i stood there, thinking about those words—while standing in an exhibition that quite literally summoned her back—her likeness, her pain, her resilience—packaged into an experience with a gift shop at the end

more in the blog — link in bio 🦋

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#FridaKahlo #FridaKhalo #FridaKahloArt

I’ve been practicing different forms of healing therapy including EFT, meditation, journaling, and now different forms of art

i recently stumbled across this book “Your Brain on Art,” and im learning about how activities from painting, making music, and dancing, to expressive writing, architecture, and more are essential to our lives and brain (and healing)

the authors offer compelling research that shows how engaging in, or even observing, art for as little as 45 minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, and just one art experience per month can extend your life by 10 years

for example, did you know coloring for just 20 minutes can help alleviate stress and anxiety? 🖍️

also, playing music builds cognitive skills, and enhances learning; the vibrations of a tuning fork create sound waves that counteract stress; virtual reality can provide therapeutic benefits; and interactive exhibits dissolve the boundaries between art and viewers, engaging all of our senses and strengthening memory

this book has given me a new understanding about how the arts can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet 🦋

10/10 recommend

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#soundtherapyhealing #soundtherapy #booktoker

same experience, different lens 🦋🦋

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#photodumps

take the selfie. post the pictures. who cares. our time here actually isn’t so long and time is fleeting. wear the outfit. burn the candle. write in the cute journal. go by yourself if no one will join you. who cares. our time here actually isn’t so long and time is fleeting. hug your loved ones. tell them you love them. dance. be silly. be passionate. who cares. our time here actually isn’t so long and time is fleeting. take the trip. explore the new city. try the food. visit the museums. see all the art. take more pictures. who cares. our time here actually isn’t so long and time is fleeting. stop waiting to live your life. our time here actually isn’t so long and time is fleeting.

luv u 🦋

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#lovealwayswins #photodumps

how much for two grams?

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#internetofthings #brainrot #ageofAI #photodumps #techlife #deadinternettheory

✨glimmers✨ everything, everywhere, all at once is the most concise way to explain it

what glimmer moments have you experienced lately???

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#glimmers #glimmermoments #photodumps #lovealwayswins

“everything is on fire, but everyone I love is doing beautiful things,
and trying to make life worth living;
and I know I don’t have to believe in everything
but I believe in that”

🌻

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#lovealwayswins #photodumps #internetculture

Cape Town, (part two) 🦋🦋

but extra special shoutout to @freddysfocus 💸💸 happy 33rd run (birthday) around the sun my friend!!!’🌻🌞 thank you for being a constant inspiration, motivation, and light in everyone’s life (or to those that have the privilege of knowing you);

im wishing you both so much love today & everyday💕 @hanpolan @freddysfocus

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#FrontPaigeLove #lovealwayswins

grateful for incredible views and the necessary reminders: luvlife; live on 🦋

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#capetown #cpt #FrontPaigeLove #lovealwayswins

the Botswana wedding 💙

if I could sum it up in one word: community

I had the absolute honor and privilege of witnessing an entire village come together to honor tradition and celebrate a beautiful union for two of my amazing friends 🦋

never in my life have I experienced so much warmth, welcome, love, and unity wrapped into one incredible day—from the laughter, the singing, the dancing, the heartfelt blessings shared, to the joy radiating from everyone present

thank you to Mimmy, Hannah, Freddy, and the whole squad for welcoming me with such open arms and boundless warmth

from the moment we arrived, I felt like a part of something truly special—your kindness, hospitality, and the love you poured into every moment made me feel right at home and part of the family. I am beyond grateful for the beautiful moments shared—this was a day I’ll never forget 🫶

🇧🇼🇧🇼🇧🇼🇧🇼

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#FrontPaigeLove #lovealwayswins

my girl/bfff/sister/biz partner/CEO got married!!!!!!!!!!! (part one)💍💕🥰 and I am sooooo freakin’ grateful and beyond blessed to be able to have been in the presence of true love

the only way to describe these moments these past two and half weeks is with a made-up word I read in a book once, “tempusur”— from the Latin tempus, meaning “time,” and susurrus, meaning “whisper”

“tempusur” = an elusive nostalgia for the present moment, so precious in its ephemerality that, just as you recognize it, it slips away

a beautiful reminder to cherish this moment and every moment as you will never be here, experiencing this moment, in this way again

🦋🦋🦋

i love you both so much from the bottom of my heart, it’s because of you two that i believe in love again 🫶

so much love,
adri

💋 hair & makeup by @la_makeup_artistry
✨ brows by @thread_and_shape

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#FrontPaigeLove #lovealwayswins

random shit cuz i can’t sleep and it’s been a minute 🦋

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#instagramdump #photodumps

reading has been TOP TIER this yearrrrr

no1 asked for this but here’s (some of) the list anyway 💋

1. all about love; new visions - bell hooks
2. letters to a young poet - Rainer Maria Rilke
3. why have there been no great women artists? - Linda Nochlin
4. milk and honey - rupi kaur
5. communion; the female search for love - bell hooks
6. cultura & cash - Gigi González
7. trick mirror - Jia Tolentino
8. think like an artist - Will Gompertz
9. the war of art - Steven Pressfield
10. why fonts matter - Sarah Hyndman

what are you reading right now??? i could use some book recs please 🫶

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#summerreads #summerreading #summereading #booklover #booktok

trapped in an infinite loop, many of us find it difficult to resist “retail therapy” - even though we know it is doomed to fail - and we wonder whether money could indeed buy happiness

but studies show that consuming less and doing so more consciously makes us happier

because having control over our actions and helping to achieve a livable future can have a positive impact on our well-being

looking fashionable does not have to come at the cost of exploitation; we can demand that people and the environment are respected during the production process

the meaning of the verb “consume” is not limited to the action of buying; it also covers the way we use and wear (out) our possessions; we need to enjoy and extend their lifespan by cherishing, looking after, and passing on our clothes

many established patterns of consumption, such as repairing and passing on clothes, seemed to take a backseat as different patterns were developing in our disposable society over recent decades - but we can make a conscious choice

regardless of how small your contribution is, little things can make a big difference

note - slide 8: ‘15 hours’ by Wang Bing; Hong Kong; 2017

filmed in a single take, the documentary
15 Hours was shot in a clothing factory in Huzhou (China) that employs migrant workers

the title reflects the length of both the film and the workday for garment workers in the factory

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if you plan on donating clothes this year, i highly encourage you to check with shelters and organizations first

avoid goodwill (even tho it’s convenient) as others are much more in need (shelters and domestic abuse organizations are a good place to start)

buy less, choose well 🧡

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#criticalconsumption #sustainablefashion #MAKmuseum #slowfashion

babe, take that solo trip - your soul will be so thankful that you did 💋

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#photodumps #solotravels #lovealwayswins

maybe the amount of extraordinary things that happen in your life are dependent on how much you notice them

*some glimmer moments i wrote down in my notes app this month*

- seeing an unexpected rainbow (but aren’t they always unexpected?)
- when friends/family drop you off (and pick you up) at the airport
- when people clap when the plane lands
- getting the aisle seat
- getting the window seat
- when the barista puts a little extra love into your cup with a heart<3
- a stroll in the park on a beautiful day
- when a ladybug lands on you
- the smell of fresh strawberries at a street market
- hearing the birds chirp first thing in the morning
- watching the sun rise and seep through your window while you’re still laying in bed
- slow mornings
- stumbling upon a new bookstore
- starting a new book
- finishing a book you loved
- when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie (that’s amore)
- when there’s enough overhead space for you to put your carry on
- when they offer to check your second bag for free
- realizing you’ll never be in this moment again

🦋🦋🦋

what’s one glimmer moment that you noticed this month? 🫶

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#glimmers ##glimmermoments #photodumps #lovealwayswins

you are in the habit of co-depending on people to make up for what you think you lack
who tricked you into believing another person
was meant to complete you
when the most they can do is complement

- rupi

🦋🦋🦋

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#photodumps #lovealwayswins

“Solstice means, ‘Stand still’ where it’s as if Sun is taking a pause before reversing directions. It’s a time of new beginnings, where you are allowed to change directions so gracefully and magnificently like the Sun.”

energy shifts and so can you 🦋🦋

happy summer solstice babes

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#summersol #summersolstice #photodumps #lovealwayswins

against all logic, we hope 💘

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#reminders #lovenotes #alwayslove #lovealwayswins #tumblr

imagine in the 18th century Prince Eugene commissioned the Baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build this palace for his summer home to have fancy balls and dinners and here i am doing an outfit check in front of it with a rectangular device that im addicted to lmao life is so silly sometimes

also someone pinch me cuz did i really just get to see Gustav Klimt’s “the kiss” in person?!?!?! kicking, screaming, crying, throwing up i am sosososo grateful

💋

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#belvederemuseum #belvederemuseumvienna #photodumps

“paint a woman and she’s art; take a selfie and she’s vain”

slide 5: “he shows us a reality constructed by man” because that’s all this really is

reality constructed by man; constantly telling us we’re not enough, we’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, too skinny, too fat, too loud, too much

nah, you know what’s too much? man making women believe they’re not enough

“loving yourself is one of the most political things you can do in a world that capitalizes off of your low self-worth”

so, learn to love yourself because i promise you’re enough - you’re more than enough because you’re here, you’re alive, and you being here proves that you are a divine, magnificent expression of life

you were programmed to believe you weren’t enough because the more you believe you’re not, the more you’ll purchase products to help you become “enough”

it’s a lie, it’s a scam made up to line their pockets with profit

you’re beautiful bbgirl, in every aspect, in every way so the next time you look in the mirror, look at her with gentle eyes and a kind heart and tell her you love her

i love you 💘

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#photodumps #albertinamuseum #albertina #lovealwayswins

we 5, 6, 7, ATE 💋

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#tbilisi #photodumps #lovealwayswins

the wedding!!!!!!!!!

love you so much @lanaaa_514 and Giorgi!!!!!! loveeeee is in the air and im so grateful to breathe it in with the both of you 💞💕💞💕💞💕

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#tbilisigeorgia #loveisintheair #lovealwayswins

this world is soooooo fkn beautiful ugh im so grateful to witness it 🧡🧡🧡🧡

travel guide for Tbilisi is OUT NOW 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪

link in biooooo (put it on my gravestone iykyk)

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#tbilisi #tbilisigeorgia #glimmers #photodumps

street art in Tbilisi 💋

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#photodumps #streetartlover #glimmers #lovealwayswins #tbilisigeorgia

“we seldom admit the seductive comfort of hopelessness. it saves us from ambiguity. it has an answer for every question: “there’s no point.”

hope, on the other hand, is messy. if it might all work out, then we have things to do. we must weather the possibility of happiness”

🖤🖤🖤

“one should be able to see that things are hopeless, yet be determined to make them otherwise”

🕊️

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#banksyart #banksyartwork #lovealwayswins

London baby 🇬🇧

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#photodumps #glimmers #lovealwayswins

but if you can’t look inside you
find out who am I to
be in the position to make me feel so
damn unpretty?

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

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#photodumps #instagramphotodump #forthegram

someone said it’s earth day but what are u even talking about cuz every single day is earth day???

�🌎🌍🌏

total eclipse from 4/8/24

wanted to post awhile ago but life be life-ing, ya know?

one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing; I am sosososo grateful

also, we only have one planet so please take care of her cuz she’s too beautiful to be destroyed 🧡

p.s. phone will never do her justice but I’ll forever continue to try 🌝

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#earthday #totaleclipse2024 #totality

I promise you,
little by little,
the healing adds up

💟

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#glimmers #lovenotes #photodumps

please forget your scarf in my life and come back later for it x

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#reminders #lovenotes #alwayslove #tumblr

slow down and enjoy the view 🦋

p.s. the ending is the best part (imo), lemme know if you stay long enough to catch it ✈️

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#views #traveltok

how lucky i am to be able to witness something so beautiful 🌙

p.s. the phone will never do her justice but I’ll continue to try

🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔
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#fullmoon #fullmoonenergy

what’s ur dream?

to live a sexy life

it’s really that simple
💋

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#viewsforviews #mountainviews #inthesky #somewhereintheworld

babe pick up, 33 is calling 💋

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#photodumping #photodumps #instagramphotos #goodvibes #goodvibesalways #sheislost #haveyourcakeandeatittoo #haveyourcakeandeatit

‘chronically online’ part two

back with some screenshots of wild comments in the comment section

again - some are funny, some are just real af

disclaimer: the first pic isn’t a real pic, i used the sticker feature to create it; it felt fitting to include in this series

should i post a part three? there’s too many to choose from!!!’

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#chronicallyonline #DMs #screenshots

despite/ despite/ despite

🫶

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#reminder #lovenotes #alwayslove #tumblr

pledge / will / vow
1988/2020

Barbara Kruger

Pledge, Will, Vow consists of three monitors that play text from the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, marriage vows, and legal estate documentation, in which the artist intervenes by switching the traditional wording with expressions that point to the realities of our current political and economic systems.

Kruger became known in the 1980s for works that pair depictions of women torn from art history and popular culture with slogans written in ad stylings such as
"your gaze hits the side of my face" and "your body is a battleground," which have found evergreen resonance in conversations about bodily autonomy.

note: i had to speed the videos up by .2 speed so they could fit in the ig frame

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#DMA #DallasMuseumOfArt #HeSaidSheSaid

these past few years have been difficult AS FUCK. I’ve been tested in every single aspect of life that you can imagine and have experienced every emotion (and then some)

I’ve wanted to quit and throw in the towel about 100x and yet, no matter how tough shit has gotten, I made the promise to myself that I won’t give up

I’ve learned and grown so much these past few years and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come (even tho there’s so much more to go)

I was recently reflecting on one of the very last conversations that I had with my grandma before she passed last year and one thing I know is that I owe her (and all my ancestors before her) so much fkn gratitude

a women-owned business would be absolutely UNHEARD of when my grandma was growing up and the fact that we get to wake up and do this every day — I do it with so much honor to her, and all who came before her

thank you grandma for that last conversation, it will forever be imprinted in my memory and you will forever be an inspiration to me 🫶

so, all of this to say, please help us spread the word about our business

if you didn't already know, we specialize in website design, social media/marketing, and consulting for small businesses, creatives, and non-profits

we do it because we genuinely care and want to see people like you and me succeed

because we ALL deserve a seat at the table, and if we don’t, fck them, let’s build our own 💪🏽

and if you’ve made it this far - thank you 💘

thank you for being here, thank you to the people who are always inspiring and encouraging me (you know who you are); thank you to all the people who have ever liked, commented, shared or engaged in any type of way with our @vznayres content - every single tap/like/heart/share helps us so much more than you know

and thank you 2023 for the lessons but I’m saying sayonara - because 2024, I am ready for whatever you have in store 🙏🏽

p.s. the BIGGEST shoutout to my best friend, sister, and business partner @hanpolan — I couldn’t do this without you. I love you so fkn much 🫶

💘💘💘💘💘💘

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#WomenInBusiness #WomenOwnedBusiness #WomanInBiz #WomenInBizness #WomenSupportingWomen #vznayres

i hope u know how loved u are 💘

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#gratitudedaily #gratitudepractice

dtx bb

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#dallas #downtowndallas #dtown #omnihotel #feliznavidad

calling this series ‘chronically online’

tbh one of the most interesting parts of consistently posting content online for 3+ years is the folder full of screenshots of all the wild $h!t people say in comments

some are funny, some are just real af

should i post a part two?

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#chronicallyonline #DMs #screenshots

LA randoms part three

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#losangeles #LA #easthollywood

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reduce, reuse + upcycle

shop my wardrobe

If you know me, then you know that I absolutely love fashion and have a fairly extensive wardrobe with various pieces that I have collected throughout the years.

Recently, in attempts to be more mindful in my wardrobe purchases, do my part in upcylcing and to eliminate my support of fast-fashion, I have set up my own Depop & Poshmark shop.

All of my items are gently-used and fairly-priced. I ship within 2-days after you purchase (unless I am on travel), shipping is free for the buyer + prices are negotiable.

shop my depop

bienvenidos

thanks for being here

mi vida

my life

"I Hope Never to Return" — Frida Kahlo, Commodification, and My Complicity

Things to do in Vienna: the Ultimate Tour Guide

Tbilisi Georgia: the Travel Guide

hola amigas!

let's connect on the 'gram

instagram: @itsadri_____

reduce, reuse + upcycle

shop my wardrobe

subscribe + stay tuned

for real, raw + honest talk.

bienvenidos

thanks for being here

mi vida

my life

"I Hope Never to Return" — Frida Kahlo, Commodification, and My Complicity

Things to do in Vienna: the Ultimate Tour Guide

Tbilisi Georgia: the Travel Guide

hola amigas!

let's connect on the 'gram

instagram: @itsadri_____

​

reduce, reuse + upcycle

shop my wardrobe

subscribe + stay tuned

for real, raw + honest talk.