RECAP: Rookie Road Trip Feat Jessi Jae Joplin, Tavi Gevinson, Mindy Kaling And MORE!

I don’t think I can adequately express my love and adoration for the incredible week of Strange Magic events (part of the Rookie Road Trip) put on by all the awesome folks at Rookie Mag, including Tavi Gevinson, Petra Collins and Hazel Cills. I attended the events with my bestie Lucia Ribisi and we had such an amazing time frolicking around the space (which was transformed into a 90s-esque teenage bedroom / clad with treehouse and all the fixins).

I must say, it was a bit overwhelming seeing so many people I admire clumped into the same room. I was so happy to meet and chat with the girls. Tavi is everything I expected and more – very mature, well versed, stylish beyond her years and polite. PETRA IS THE SWEETEST GIRL I’VE EVER MET! I was lucky enough to interview her for my Real Life Style Inspiration segment here on Buzznet, so meeting her in person was surreal.

The icing on the cake for me was one night when Tavi did a Live Q&A with Mindy Kaling. She plays Kelly Kapoor on The Office (aka one of the best shows and characters EVER) and is even co-executive producer and writer of several episodes! It’s so inspiring seeing such smart, hilarious and talented women succeeding in this industry! I also met LESLEY ARFIN, where I proceeded to have a major fangirl moment as I expressed my admiration for her work (from Dear Diary to Missbehave to her closet interview on StyleLikeU to writing for GIRLS on HBO)! Lesley is the ULTIMATE inspiration and my life is now complete.

The week ended with a Rookie PROM – which was such a memorable evening (appropriately filled with punch, balloons, candy and a performance by the awesome indie band “Bleached”). All in all, it was a fabulous night (and week for that matter). I made so many new friends and mingled with old ones…I felt like I was at summer camp!

Thank you so much to Tavi for being so awesome.