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Whenever I travel, I source. Bowls, hand-painted plates from Mexico, linens, little pieces of jewelry. I love collecting objects that carry the energy of a place. I’ve always believed objects hold stories. It’s not just a bowl; someone shaped it with their hands, mixed that paint color, painted it by hand. It’s a piece of the journey you get to bring home.
I didn’t expect to travel this year. The plan was to stay in LA, keep my head down, launch what I’ve been dreaming of, make new friends, connect with new people. It’s funny how life shifts. Here’s the twist: this year opened me up to more than I could’ve ever imagined. Every trip exposed me to something new, taught me something I didn’t know I needed. The work didn’t slow down; it actually expanded. And CKD is finally expanding in a way I always thought it would feel.
Whenever I received advice about how I should be running my business or scaling the company, it never felt like me. I know that goes against the business books, the systems, the scaling strategies, the step-by-step roadmaps. But CKD has never just been about “scaling”. It’s so much deeper than that. This all started with a rose I painted on the floor of my tiny living room in New York City. My weekends were spent making wallpaper collections that no one bought. I served Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays just to make extra cash because my internship paid $500 every two weeks. The dream was always bigger than the discomfort.
God planted this dream in my heart when I was 21. A vision that’s still so clear. A vision I hold onto whenever I’m pushed, stretched, or questioned. Here’s the truth: no one owes you anything. I used to think New York owed me something… like surviving that city, grinding through the hard parts, meant I deserved something back. But that’s not how it works. It’s just a city with tall buildings and bright lights. Once you’re aligned with yourself and truly honest with yourself, the outside world starts to mirror that. It just takes years. And those years will teach you patience. They’ll destroy your ego. Introduce you to people who are not good for you just so you can learn what is. Humble you. Break you open. And bring you so much joy, experience, and fun as long as you’re willing to sit in the discomfort of it all and not get offended or upset with it.. if that makes sense.
I moved to LA with a completely different perspective and a handful of lessons New York carved into me. I’m not sure why I’m rambling, but it’s a nice feeling to realize that the spark that started all of this hasn’t left. It’s still right here.
A little of life lately from Florence, to Rome to Miami for the opening of Papi Steak. Excited to get back to LA. Back to the beach life.
