Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gloom Room

      December is almost half way through, and the gray visage of winter is sweeping through along with the icy air. It has gotten so dreary and rainy these days that my whole friend group, unbeknownst to each others plans, have stayed home by our lonesomes letting the chill put our minds in entrancing reveries. Somehow the cold has cast a warning that all those who go out in it shall meet their doom. Well, at least that is just how I feel about it, but hey we have been studying Poe and Hawthorne in English and they might just be rubbing off. So this week to get out of house my friends and I have decided to plan a Christmas party, potluck and Secret Santa included. That ought to be the perfect thing to perk up our holiday spirit. Now all we need to do is finally go on that ice skating trip too. I am already planning cute outfits in my head. Except they all involve a cute skirt with tights and while in ice skating movies seem ideal, in reality for an amateur skater that still falls once in awhile, they're really not. Unless I enjoy icicles as limbs, you never know. I mean Ariel wanted to give up being a mermaid for legs... Ariel was my favorite Disney Princess but really?! I love to swim, and I would have killed to be a mermaid. But not literally, don't want Ursula popping up out of nowhere with a hit list for me. Anyway a random post but I was eager to show off my personal way to beating "Eeyore Syndrome." (Wow this post is full of my favorite childhood characters.) I strung up snowflake lights along the top of my bed, and they just make me smile when I walk into my room. Light a candle that smells like angel food cake from Anthropologie (the picture came out interestingly), and you are ready to hibernate like a very happy bear.



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Merrily We Go



I had just tried to flip my hair up like all those tumblr girls do. I got this instead, of course.



Candid Random Skipping


Ok so I am definitely not a model. Photos usually end up one of two ways: me laughing to mask my awkwardness or me making we weird face because I am talking to mask my awkwardness. In all honesty, I really should be the one behind the camera because shooting me is just painful. I used to watch America's Next Top Model religiously, and theoretically, I know what poses look good and how to "smize." Except watching America's Next Top Model does not make you America's Next Top Model. I could name thirty top international models and tell you what ads they have done recently, but even with all my studying poses come out just plain wrong, and smizing is a talent the three little fairies from Sleeping Beauty DID NOT give me. I got stuck with the ability to make goat noises, inconsistent but extremely wavy hair, and crescent moon shaped eyes. Now this is what you call genetically ideal. So in short, the only pictures I actually like the best are the candid ones. But the rest didn't turn out half bad, and hooray for only half bad! 


Lace Top: Forever 21 ~ Shorts: Forever 21 ~ Tights: Aerie ~ Belt: Forever 21~ Necklace: Urban Outfitters ~ Boots: Report

New boots are definitely on the wishlist. I have been ordering and returning new ones for weeks, I am boot cursed! But that's what happens when you have size 9 feet that are wide and chicken legs (another gift from the fairies). What went down in the gene pool at my conception?! Experimentation that's what. Well they know what not to do now. 


Photos taken by Nicole Duong

Monday, December 3, 2012

Beachy Serene




Jacket: Nordstrom ~ Tank: Urban Outfitters (of course its a fuschia-y magenta) ~ Jeans: Target ~ Flats: H&M


  I love going to the beach during the winter time. Last year my family went non stop over winter break because my sister who now lives on the east coast for most of the year missed it so much. My mom had to run a few errands in Ventura after school so I went with her. As we were heading home, I saw the ocean and the sun and the sand and I told her it would be nice to go to the beach right now. To my surprise, she proceeded to the nearest exit and pulled up in the parking lot of the beach she used to take us all the time as children. It seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere. We kicked our shoes off and I wiggled my toes in the sand. Something about the quietness of the sea's company with a light breeze to relieve our worries just made me feel at peace. We reminisced about the many times we spent there, and she told me that often times we would come at lunch and not leave until sunset. Those were the good ole days, where time was slow and sweet and no one was rushing around with a thousand things to do. It makes me so happy that I live here; how lucky I am have this place right around the corner. So we decided that we should go every Monday after school, or at least try to, to just relax and take time away from all the things that we get worked up over. Being a true romantic (not the lovey dovey kinda, although I can be, I mean the kind related to romanticism), nature really has a remarkable effect on my disposition. So once I get my license, whenever I need a pick me up I might just stop by the beach or retail therapy doesn't hurt either. Well I hope everyone has a good start to their week, and if you're feeling stressed or blue, let nature ease your mind.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

I Heart SF


While trying to find the famous Lombard Street, we followed this one spiraling road up a hill only to find an amazing all around view of the city.  The lighting up there was almost ethereal shining down through the trees and onto the faces of all the tall buildings.

We found Lombard Street :)

Even in the summer, San Fran was cool and misty, it was quite refreshing.

Hoodie: stolen from my brother, it was colder than I expected ~ Sweater: Forever 21 ~ Purse: H&M ~ Jeans: Target

Ate my first whole crab here! The garlic parmesan fries are great as well!


The amazing structure at the top of the spiraling street we went up in search of Lombard Street.

Taken in Big Sur, I wouldn't mind living here either with its crisp air, hiking trails, and awesome views of the ocean and cliffs.  I am laughing at my uneven sleeves right now because it was quite chilly but nice at the same time so I couldn't make up my mind. Loving this top from Forever 21, neutral color blocking is very chic if you're intimidated by actual color blocking, and I love black and tan paired together.


Oh San Francisco, you just might have stolen my heart. I live a good drive away from The Golden Gate City, but I have been here many times. Up til now I thought there wasn't anything special about SF, but that might have been because I've only gone when i was considerably younger. And a child's view point certainly doesn't catch the vibe and wonder of a city. For example, I went to Europe the summer between seventh and eighth grade. It is hard not to understand the wonders that are Paris, Venice, Rome, and Switzerland, but looking back I know I would appreciate those journeys a lot more now. San Francisco has a lot more to see than just its bridges and the wharf. This city is an individual with a culture of its own. In AP United States History this year, we learned that San Francisco was a big part of why we wanted California. It is a natural protected bay and that allows an excellent place for trade to go on. Therefore it was called the Gem of the Pacific. We only spent one full day in the city and the rest in Monterey and Big Sur, a gorgeous and historical bay area about an hour from San Francisco, but I could definitely see my self moving there when I'm out of college. Hopefully, I get to come back for longer next summer.


(Photos taken the summer of 2012)