i just need space: the age of aquarius
5-4-3-2-1: outfits, obsessions, buys, birthday memories & a time capsule
Today is my birthday. And in the voice of Ron Burgundy, it’s kind of a big deal.
Which is how I found myself back on my usual BS: astrology.
I’ve mentioned before that no one loves a hyperfixation more than me. Last year, I went down a rabbit hole of astrology:
bought a silk shirt from Anthropologie covered in horoscope symbols
bought all my friends journals with their signs on them
paid someone on Etsy to read my star chart
When I tell you a hyperfixation becomes an obsession, it is not a drill.
Since that obsession, I haven’t checked my horoscope in about a year. But after weirdly finding out that both Caitlin Brady and Kait Santos (HBD queens!) were born on my birthday, I revisited my star chart.
Having a January 20 birthday means you’re born on the “cusp” of Aquarius and Capricorn. You’re also born on Inauguration Day, which can be good or bad depending on the outcome. And some years, you’re even lucky enough to share your birthday with MLK Jr. Day (I mean, the most incredible honor ever).
After years of debating whether I’m an Aquarius or Capricorn, I had my mom dig out my birth certificate so we could see the exact time I was born.
My Etsy astrologer confirmed it: I am officially an Aquarius.
The star chart reading is about 40 pages long and eerily accurate from what I skimmed—but why read 40 pages when the internet and memes can explain Aquarius energy way better than I ever could?
Prepare yourselves. It’s time to enter the Age of Aquarius!
Allergic to small talk. Thrive on deep conversations. Often blunt, always honest.
Beyond quirky. The list of people who get my bizarre jokes is very short.
The ultimate free-spirit of the zodiac.
Deep passion for justice, spotting the world’s flaws, and trying to fix them.
Often taking on too much, rarely finishing, and usually burnt out.
Let’s watch a TV show together… in different rooms.
Rebellious to the core. Anti-authority and always sure we know it all.
Just get us a t-shirt with planets that says: “I JUST NEED SPACE.”
Anyway….another year older, still needing space. 🪐 Happy Aquarius season!
What’s Inside: Here’s our gameplan for today - a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, you know the drill!
👗5 recent outfits
❤️4 things I’m enjoying
💵3 recent purchases
🎂2 birthday memories
⌛1 time capsule
P.S. - This may be too long for your inbox. Click “View entire message” at the bottom of this e-mail or read the full post here! 🔗
LOOK 1
Love this cashmere sweater polo so much I even wore it in last year’s yearbook teacher superlative for “Best Dressed.” My greatest accomplishment to date.
LOOK 2
Winter whites are all the rage, as per Danielle’s post. Can’t get enough of this rollneck sweater.
LOOK 3
Just another reason to style my new favorite cashmere scarf. These boots are currently my most worn winter footwear.
LOOK 4
This week was all about keeping it simple and sticking to the basics. Feels good—less overthinking, more rolling with straight vibes.
LOOK 5
Little pre-birthday celebration with the fam outfit! Decided to dig into my least-worn items with this denim shirt jacket and was pleasantly surprised by the end result.
1. JUST FINISHED READING: THE CORRESPONDENT
At first, I regretted my decision to listen to this novel as an audiobook. The story is a collection of letters between characters. I kept waiting for a murder mystery that never came—clearly, I hadn’t researched it well enough, lol. By the second half, I was hooked. I loved how different voices were used for each character, and I saw pieces of my own story reflected throughout.
BTW, I’m taking penpal applications.
2. WATCHING: HIS & HERS
This was a great Netflix limited series. I hate when I can guess the ending of a thriller halfway. This show took me much longer to use my investigative skills to solve the case.
3. EATING: TORTELLINI SOUP & PB TREATS
Still on my Soup Grind, thanks to the influence of Jaymee Geelan. I made tortellini soup for Soup Sunday, paired it with fresh French bread and these irresistible peanut butter balls for dessert. As I always say… if I can do it (the girl who put plastic in the oven), you can too.
4. PLANNING: PLANNER FREEDOM
I’m relieved to know I’m not alone in having a planner graveyard full of books that only made it three pages in. I took elyse’s advice and switched to a blank grid-paper notebook, and it’s actually working. The typical planner-boxes felt too restrictive. Now I jot daily plans on one page and long-term thoughts or mental clutter on the other.
Did this Aquarius just need some space for freedom, nonconformity, and creativity?
1. LIP PENCIL
I made an unofficial 2026 goal to wear lipstick. I remember my mom trying to get me to wear it to prom and I smugly said “Aquaphor is lipstick.” I still believe this, but I’m into lip liners. I snagged this one in Wherever Walnut and I like it. It doesn’t have the longest wear, which is good because I often make mistakes & can start over if needed. This is the longer-wear version!
2. SKIMS
Elin Strong made me do it (and all the other amazing writers in her post)! I didn’t want to love them. But… well, I do. They’re incredibly lightweight and possibly the most comfortable underwear I’ve ever worn. Consider me a believer.
I’m getting to the point where I have to make critical life decisions: do I replenish my empties, pivot, or stop investing altogether? This was one empty that was worth reinvesting in. I put a tiny bit of this serum on the ends of my hair before bed, and I swear—it looks healthier & freshly cut(ish) by morning.
1. MOM IS THE REAL MVP 🏅
I remember how hard my Mom worked to make every party special. She’s a witty Gemini who spent hours making life-size drawings of our favorite characters (think Ariel from The Little Mermaid). I don’t remember my gifts, but I’ll never forget the time and love she put into my birthdays, which explains why I now celebrate mine for a whole month.
Yesterday we celebrated my birthday, and she made my favorite pound cake (literally a brick of pure butter).
2. EXPERIENCES! 🏙️
Some of my favorite birthdays were about experiences. I think about one of my most iconic 35th when my bestie and I spent 72 hours in Sedona. We bought so many crystals, tried to heal our souls in a vortex (unsuccessful), and got massages with no prices listed, nearly puking when we saw the bill.
Last weekend, we spent my bday weekend in the city. We saw Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway (SO GOOD)! Followed by the best dinner of my life.
Time traveling to January 20 around the year of my birth, here’s what the world was enjoying…
LISTENING TO: Whitney Houston’s So Emotional topped the billboard. This tracks.
CELEBRATING: The Beatles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
WATCHING: Star Trek (my Dad was a BIG fan), Cheers & Die Hard
WEARING: Oversized sweaters, shoulder pads, bright colors, chunky jackets, all the denim, and scrunchies!
RANDOM: January 20th is “National Cheese Lover’s Day,” if this isn’t fate, IDK what is.
Let’s Chat: What’s your zodiac sign & what makes it so you? Give me all the cosmic tea.
Well, that was fun! I am beyond grateful you took the time to read my work, it means more than I can express.
Here’s to another trip around the sun… & even more excuses to continue being my weirdo self,
If this made you smile, hit the heart 💗, re-stack it 🔁, or share it 📤—those tiny taps make a HUGE difference.
Feeling generous? You can also buy me a coffee to say thanks! ☕
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How have I only just read this Traci?!! A very belated very happy birthday, fellow Aquarian! I love your listing of our “best” traits 🤣
We need to talk about Amanda from RHOBH.