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Sonam Monts | LA Lifestyle 🌴🌞

@sonamnaidu

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🌴 romanticizing life in Santa Monica & LA
✨ experiences • style • storytelling
💌 [email protected]
👇🏽 more day-in-the-life

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Day 2 of San Diego Comic-Con ✔️✨

Today's energy? Absolutely wild. 😅

I was pretty much glued to the Crunchyroll booth all day, and then a K-pop boy band showed up... which completely flipped our operations upside down. Safe to say it was one of those days where you don't stop moving.

Getting to step out of operations mode for a little while and dive back into pin hunting was exactly the reset I needed. There's something so fun about wandering the Exhibit Hall, discovering artists you've never seen before, and stumbling across designs that instantly unlock a core memory.

Today's haul:
📌 *Rugrats*, *Daria* & *Naruto* — @originaldisliz
📌 *Danny DeVito*, *Pokémon* & *Nacho Libre* — @unpossiblecuts
📌 Abby (*Turning Red*) & Petey's Map (*Severance*) — @midnightdogs

Every day I think I've seen everything... and every day I end up finding another booth full of absolute gems. That's one of my favorite parts of SDCC—there's always another artist to discover.

At this rate, my pin board is thriving... my suitcase, not so much. 😂🎟️
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#SanDiegoComicCon #SDCC #SDCC2026 #PinCollector #EnamelPins

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12 hours ago

Day 1 of San Diego Comic-Con ✔️✨

Today was another busy one at the Crunchyroll booth, but my favorite part of the day was slipping away during a quiet moment to continue my unofficial SDCC pin hunt. 🫶🏽

One of my favorite things about conventions like this is discovering artists I'd never come across before while also getting to revisit creators whose work I already love. Every lap around the Exhibit Hall feels like there's another booth waiting to surprise me.

Today's haul:
📌 Rocky (Project Hail Mary) — @officialsyndicatecollectibles
📌 Roy Kent (Ted Lasso) — @karenhallionart
📌 Broadway, KPop Demon Hunters, and Tanjiro + Nezuko — @artisticflavorz

I'm honestly so happy with my finds so far... and I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface. There are so many incredible artists here that I know I'm still missing.

If you're at SDCC (or have favorite independent pin artists I should check out), drop your recommendations below! I'd love to discover a few more hidden gems before the weekend is over. ✨📍
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#SanDiegoComicCon #SDCC #SDCC2026 #PinCollector #EnamelPin

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2 days ago

Day Zero at San Diego Comic-Con ✔️🎉

Preview Night is basically the calm before the storm... except it's not calm at all. 😂 Think early access to the Exhibit Hall, convention exclusives, and thousands of people trying to get their hands on the most coveted merch before SDCC officially begins.

While everyone else was racing for exclusives, I had one mission: pin hunting. 📍✨

It was a busy day at the Crunchyroll booth, so I kept today's haul small, but I still managed to sneak away and find a few gems.

Today's haul:
📌 Butts On Things (SDCC Exclusives) — @buttsonthings
📌 Pokémon Origami — @sanglamart
📌 Omni-Man Taro — @kofuku.art

Honestly, this is just the beginning. I can't wait to spend more time wandering Artist Alley, discovering new artists, and making my way back to a few of my favorite pin vendors throughout the week.

If you're at SDCC this week, tell me what your must-have pickup is because my wallet is already getting nervous. 😂🎟️
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#SanDiegoComicCon #SDCC #SDCC2026 #PinCollector #EnamelPins

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3 days ago

Headed to San Diego Comic-Con this morning and I honestly couldn't think of a better way to kick off the week than finally wrapping up my Anime Expo pin haul. 🫶🏼

Artist Alley is hands down one of my favorite parts of Anime Expo, and the pin finds this year were unreal.

Every pin I brought home reminds me of a conversation, an artist whose work made me stop in my tracks, or a little moment from one of my favorite weeks of the year. I think that's why I love collecting them so much.

They aren't just souvenirs—they're little time capsules.

They remind me of this season of life, the opportunities I've been lucky enough to experience, and the people I've shared them with.

If you're ever at Anime Expo, I can't recommend spending time in Artist Alley enough. It truly is the heart of the convention. The creativity, the passion, and the sense of community you'll find there is something really special.

I've tagged every artist throughout the video because these talented independent artists are the reason Artist Alley feels so magical. If you see something you love, I'd love for you to support them too. 🤍

✨️ Cubone & Butterfree @friscoblondie
✨️ Eevee & Espeon @jinyjinjin
✨️ Psyduck, Dratini, Vaporeon @jingjiart
✨️ Rainbow Eevee @actoonspins
✨️ Playlist Covers @kkehasuk
✨️ Gojo & Suzume @innkbean
✨️ Saiki K @mimopuffs
✨️ Soda Pop Jinu @mademynuwa
✨️ Stamp KPDM @witchxing_pins
✨️ Invincible @thinknu
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#AnimeExpo #AnimeExpo2026 #AX2026 #EnamelPins #PinCollector

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5 days ago

T-minus 24 hours until the grand opening of Nala's Fish Market. 🐟⚓

One thing about me... I live for the little details.

Yesterday was one of those days where nothing looked particularly exciting, but it was probably one of my favorite parts of planning. We framed all the signage, wrapped napkins, played around with the decor, DIY a few things, and called in reinforcements because every fish market needs a solid crew. 😂

We had Shark Tales playing in the background, Nala spent the afternoon inspecting every fish decoration like she was quality control, and our custom stickers arrived fresh off the Canva press. 🫡✨ I swear that was the moment this ridiculous little idea finally started feeling real.

We grocery shopped early this morning, picked up the final pieces, and then... it's tomorrow officially opening day. I genuinely can't wait to share the final reveal with you all and hoping it works out how I envisioned it all. 🐟💙
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#catbirthday #hostingathome #catmom #hostingideas #themeparty

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10 days ago

Spent the most wholesome 24 hours in San Diego this past weekend celebrating love at its finest at a friend's wedding 🤍

In between all the wedding festivities, we snuck in some much-needed quality time together—a little road trip fueled by Starbucks favorites, the most incredible lunch at @elagaverestaurant (tacos are our love language, and these were unreal 🤌🏽), and getting dressed up to the nines in our best wedding guest attire.

Also... still not over how clutch Amazon came through for me. This dress was everything—comfortable, perfect for summer, and exactly the color palette I was looking for.

Weddings always leave me with the warmest feeling. There's something so special about watching two people who found each other celebrate their love surrounded by their closest family and friends.

Danny and I have been working so much this summer, and the hustle has been very real lately. This slow little weekend away was exactly what we needed. Nothing less, nothing more—just quality time, good food, celebrating love, and enjoying being us for a while. ✨
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#husbandandwife #loveofmylife #sandiego #couplesgetaway #weddingseason

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11 days ago

For a long time, I searched for a place that truly felt like home.

As beautiful as my hometown in Canada will always be, Santa Monica became my first real home away from home. It gave me routines, favorite corners, and so many little places that slowly became part of my everyday life.

Over the years, I've watched beloved businesses close their doors. I've also watched new owners take chances, fresh ideas come to life, and this community continue to evolve.

That made me realize something.

The heartbeat of a city isn't just its landmarks—it's the people who choose to build something here and the places we find ourselves returning to again and again.

This series is my small way of preserving those stories, celebrating the businesses that make Santa Monica feel alive, and emotionally archiving this chapter of the city as it exists right now.

To every business owner who's welcomed me into your space already—thank you for trusting me with your story.

And to everyone following along, I hope these videos inspire you to slow down, support locals, and maybe discover a new favorite place along the way.

Welcome to my Love Letter to Santa Monica series 🤍
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#santamonica #santamonicalife #thingstodoinla #smallbusinesslove #placestoeat

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12 days ago

Wedding guest outfit check ✔️

There was absolutely no way I wasn't making him film a cheesy transition with me. 🤭

Life has been so busy for us lately, so this weekend meant everything. We finally got to slow down, get dressed up in our favorite wedding guest outfits, celebrate our friends, and enjoy a date night together.

I love any excuse to put together a wedding guest outfit, and seeing our couple style come together made this one even more fun.

Love this perfect man beyond words. Here's to a lifetime of dressing up, celebrating love, and filming cheesy transitions together. 💜💙

P.S. Amazon absolutely came through with this dress at the last minute!
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#weddingguestoutfit #couplesstyle #husbandandwife #loveofmylife #relationshipgoals

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13 days ago

A few years ago, the idea of working a FIFA event felt like one of those dreams you quietly tuck away and hope might happen someday.

Today, I walked into SoFi Stadium to manage a VIP executive suite for a quarter final game.

There were a few moments throughout the day where I had to pause because it genuinely didn't feel real and ended up being one of my favorite gigs I worked this year.

I'm not someone who grew up obsessed with sports, but being part of an event that brings together people from every corner of the world reminded me that it's about so much more than the game. It's about community. Shared moments. Complete strangers celebrating together. The energy is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I'm incredibly grateful for every opportunity that's allowed me to be part of experiences like this. It's easy to look at a single day and think it happened overnight, but moments like these are built one event, one relationship, and one "yes" at a time.

Still pinching myself 🥹❤️
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#worldcup2026 #FIFA #fifaworldcup #fifaworldcup2026 #eventlife

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15 days ago

I never got around to posting my Day 4 pin haul... but these finds were way too good not to share. 💛

Your girl was tired, y'all. 😂 After four long days at Anime Expo, every part of me wanted to head straight home—but of course I had to make one last stop in Artist Alley. I couldn't leave without one final round of pin hunting.

Artist Alley continues to be my favorite part of Anime Expo. Not just because I collect enamel pins, but because every booth is filled with artists sharing a piece of themselves through their work. Getting to support those creatives, both in person and by sharing their art here, is something I'll never get tired of.

I've realized that collecting pins has become so much more than just a hobby. It's my way of documenting this chapter of my life. Every pin reminds me of a convention, a conversation, the friends I was with, or the excitement of discovering an artist for the first time. They're tiny keepsakes that preserve memories long after the weekend is over.

It also means so much that I get to share these incredible artists with all of you. If even one person discovers a new creator through these little pin hauls, then that's a win in my book. 💛

My final Anime Expo haul:
🦋 Pokémon (Cubone + Butterfree) — @friscoblondie
💚 Saiki K — @mimopuffs
✨️Pokemon (Eevee + Espeon) — @jinyjinjin

Until the next convention... my pin collection (and my wallet) will be recovering. 😂
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#AnimeExpo #AnimeExpo2026 #AX2026 #EnamelPins #PinCollector

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19 days ago

Day 3 at Anime Expo = the busiest day of the weekend... and somehow I still found my way back to Artist Alley to go pin hunting. 😂

Artist Alley was an absolute vibe today—busy, bustling, full of energy, and packed with incredibly talented artists and small businesses. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire convention.

I definitely had to be a little more selective today after going way too hard yesterday 😅, but I still found the cutest additions to my collection. No matter how many times I walk through, there's always another booth that catches my eye.

Today's haul:
✨ Pokémon pins — @jingjiart
☠️ One Piece pins — @kitagiannu
🐱 Cat pins — @mikou_art
🦸 Invincible pin — @thinknu

Every trip through Artist Alley reminds me why I love coming to Anime Expo in the first place. Beyond the exclusives and big booths, it's the chance to discover new artists, support small creatives, and bring home little pieces of their work that makes the experience so memorable.

...and yes, there's still a very good chance I'll somehow find more pins before the weekend is over. 😅
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#AnimeExpo #AnimeExpo2026 #AX2026 #EnamelPins #PinCollector

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21 days ago

Day 2 at Anime Expo and... my pin budget officially didn't survive. 🫡💸

Artist Alley was absolutely PACKED today, but somehow we secured the goods. I told myself I'd "just browse," and about 15 minutes later I had somehow spent my entire pin budget... and then a little more.

Zero regrets.

The Pokémon finds? Incredible. The KPop Demon Hunters pins? Instant purchases. Every table had something that made me stop in my tracks.

One of my favorite parts of Anime Expo will always be supporting the independent artists who pour so much creativity into their work. Artist Alley is seriously dangerous (for my wallet), but it's also where I've found some of my favorite pieces in my collection.

Today's haul:
✨ Rumi + Jinu pins — @innkbean
🎮 Meowth + Nintendo DS pins — @starsalts
🍀 777 + Eevee pin — @actoonspins
🥤 Jinu Soda Pop pin — @mademynuwa
🕺 JJK "Lost in Paradise" pin — @innkbean
🐉 Shiny Gyarados pin — @gyozados

Safe to say... I think I'm going to need another pin display when I get home. 😂

#AnimeExpo #AnimeExpo2026 #AX2026 #EnamelPins #PinCollector

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22 days ago