the cupcake aficionado

in the future...

2010-02-19T11:21:00.001-08:00

When I grow up, I want to have a house like Jeremy and Kathleen's!
Eclectic, sweet, bright, bold, cozy and creative - all words I'd use to describe this Oklahoma City couple's taste in decor.
Make sure to check out their style blog as well!
I pray to God that when I'm hip, 20-something and married, I will have a husband who dresses as stylishly as Jeremy!

What I wouldn't do for a cozy quilt like this!

Who would've thought that maps would make a great art piece, without looking like a third grade geography classroom?(And I have an obsession with Chinese-style lanterns!

Yee gads! I'm definitely in love, especially with the cool, natural color palette.

Wow.

I love a) the wall color, b) the chandelier, and c) the effortlessly cool photo frame arrangement!

Probably the coolest hallway I've ever seen. Ever.

I'm not a huge cat fan, but she makes having a cat actually look cool. Who doesn't want to buy innovative housing for their pet? Goodbye, plastic dog houses and kitty igloos!

This is what makes me feel like I'm at home - cozy down comforters, a pet nearby, and a trusty laptop at hand. I love the light that shines through the windows, it's quite angelic.

tiny fashionista

2010-02-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

I marvel at how absolutely sassy these Crew Cuts models look in their perfectly petite outfits! My favorite part? The tomboyish hints added here and there to give their looks some rough and tough, funky flare, perfect for the playground. I love the rugged backpack and sneakers with untied laces! Reminds me so much of my effort in elementary school to be pretty and sporty at the same time... except for instead of J. Crew dresses and Doc Martens, I was sporting glittery Limited Too get ups with newsboy caps! As much as I always want to look feminine and flirty, there will always be that bit of tomboy and adventure in me, no matter what age :)

this president's weekend i will...

2010-02-11T17:04:00.001-08:00

Go to Colorado and be a snow bunny for three days. See Valentine’s Day. Cry to Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now. Daydream about boys. Read a good book. Watch Mad Men and dress up like Betty Draper. Find three new ways to do my hair. Tell someone I love them. Call my best friend up and tell her what’s really going on in my head. Sleep in till ten. Ride my bike around town. Try to eat something decent for a change. Go to the gym/cycling class. Fall in love with someone new each day. Sing with passion. Take a beautiful photo. Sleep in my mom’s bed with my dog. Stretch. Smile. Call someone up that I haven’t talked to in a while. Try to forget about him. Be happy.

a brighter future

2010-02-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.”
~ Dale Carnegie

I am absolutely in love with bright, bold, innovative makeup design. I stumbled upon this New York Times article on beauty companies offering brighter options for the modern women's makeup palette.

Would you take a chance, and try a brighter shade of your favorite shadow? I am trying to take more risks this year in the beauty department, so maybe I'll just have to invest in some Urban Decay glitter liner for an unexpected addition to my daily makeup routine.

I think this is the perfect opportunity to bring out some sparkles!

Above photos: Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times

And on the note of sparkles... I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with my school's cheerleaders for the front page of our school newspaper. I loved watching them all get ready with their bright stage makeup. When we took a trip outside, in the sprinkling rain with gray skies above, I loved how their makeup, poms, and uniforms still popped!

Applying makeup for the shoot...

All smiles, despite the gray weather...

Giggling and holding hands!

I love this industrial look of the chain link, with their bright expressions and poms!

I'm a sucker for hair ribbons!

I love the way the silver bleachers contrasted with the red!

Three cheers for cheer!

ready for take off

2010-02-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

My mom told me I looked like a flight attendant.
I told her, "Flight attendants don't wear jeans!"

Wearing: CAbi blazer, CAbi scarf, Forever 21 white shirt,
C&C black tank, DKNY jeans, Frye slingbacks

tell me what an empty heart must feel

2010-01-31T11:05:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry for my lack of posts, I've had a really rough week. High school can be tough, people can be fake, and sometimes you have no where to turn except for your mom, your dog, or a big bowl of neopolitan ice cream (the low fat kind, of course!)
Anywho, I found this photo on a random xanga graphics page when I was searching for tumblr inspiration. I think I'm going to order the book on Amazon. It would be greatly appreciated at a time like now, where I'm feeling rather down.

Hope your week was better than mine! Looking forward to updating more as this week progresses. xx

new desktop!

2010-01-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

In honor of Brittany Murphy.

Healthy eating update: I'm feeling good, choosing fruit and low fat foods over the usual stuff! I think bananas and rye toast are now my breakfast of choice! xoxo

the guacamole experiment

2010-01-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

This week is a busy week! The original one act play I've been writing with 9 other kids at school is going up on Wednesday night! It's been a long process, tiring and stressful, and many days I've just wanted to quit, but I'm glad we're going up. It's been a really interesting experience, to say the least.
I know I'll be out late every night, with the show and all, and with my mountains of homework, I don't know how I'll be able to get any exercise in. So, to keep my energy up and my spirits high, I'm taking a break from junk food and sweets, and trying to eat exceptionally healthy this week!
I started off today with a lovely bowl of strawberries and a banana, and toasted a small piece of rye bread with a bit of butter. Jasmine tea was my beverage of choice, as it makes me feel awfully smart and relaxed. I sat down and did my chapter reading and essay questions for history, and felt sufficiently full and content.
After an hour and forty-five minutes of reading and writing, I took Maizie, my fluff monster of a Goldendoodle, on a 40 minute hike. It's been rather brisk, due to the excess rain we've been getting, so it was nice getting out.
Came home, did some cleaning, and Mom left to pick up Dad at the airport, so I offered to make something for them to eat when they got home.
For the next half an hour, I carefully prepared my ingredients and made my absolute favorite snack - homemade guacamole!

INGREDIENTS:
4 avocados, mashed

cherry tomatos, lemon, seasoning salt, and onion

Well, Mom and Dad came home and were surprised! Now, Mom's at the stove making little quesadillas with sautéed veggies to go along with my guac. Yummy :)

One of my new years' resolutions was to learn how to cook, and slowly but surely, I am becoming better at preparing and creating my own masterpieces!

Oh, and do you know what I'm obsessed with? Those little Babel cheese things in the red wax - I bought a bag of the "Light" kind, and they are only 90 calories, such a yummy snack!

I'm going to see how my week goes, and hopefully record my further adventures in the healthy eating!

What have you been cooking up in your kitchen lately? Any healthy eating tips?

rainy day, sunny song

2010-01-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to The Winner Is by Devotchka & Michael Danna on repeat all morning. It's from one of my favorite comedies, Little Miss Sunshine. It's the perfect song for a rainy day like today, with the piano in sync with the rain falling on my rooftop.

brief encounter

2010-01-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

Scans from Vain Style's article, "Diddy's Brief Encounter in Vogue"

You can never go wrong with the incomparable Grace Coddington and Annie Leibovitz working with the handsome Diddy and the gorgeous Natalia Vodianova! Being the theater buff I am, I was so pleased to see a Vogue fashion spread that reminded me of Noel Coward's Brief Encounter, one of my favorite plays. I learned from this spread that Diddy's new album, set to release in April, is coincidentally entitled, "Last Train to Paris." The concept of a railway romance appears in the songs throughout his album!

Falling in love on a train sounds so utterly romantic! Where would you like to fall in love?

the red lipstick chronicles

2010-01-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

I have decided that my outfit is not complete without Laura Mercier's Creme Lip Colour in Audrey and Shimmer Lip Color in Seduction!
As my mom always says, "I feel naked without my lipstick!"

Outfit shown: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's striped boatneck top, Urban Outfitters scarf, black light down jacket

thought of the day

2010-01-21T21:06:00.001-08:00

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."
~ Dr. Martin Luther King

trick of the trade

2010-01-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how Taylor Swift and the like get such gorgeous, bright eyes on the red carpet that instantly pop?
Glamour.com's "Instant Eye-Opening Beauty Trick" taught me exactly how to get that bright face! Often times in the morning, I feel like my eyes look a little dull, even with mascara, eyeliner and shadow, but now I know to put a little extra "V" of light powder on the corners of my eyelids. I'm so happy it works!

polaroids

2010-01-17T18:04:00.001-08:00

Just a bunch of instant film from the past month. Basically describes my winter adventures!
Something is so special about this kind of photography. You only have one shot, so you better make it count, you know? And the feeling when a photo is developing is like none other - it's a moment of suspense and mystery! You can't erase and take another one. It's like delving into the unknown, and that's why I love it.

mad for mad men

2010-01-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

"Happiness is a billboard on the side of the road that screams reassurance that whatever you are doing is okay. You are okay."
~ Don Draper

I've caught the Mad Men fever! Nothing's intrigued me as much as this TV gem since I started watching the first season of LOST!

winter song

2010-01-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

December's come and gone, but here's a video of my best friend and I covering Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles' Winter Song! The pianist accidentally switched two pages of the music, so the chords she plays are kind of awkward at one point, but overall I think it went pretty well! Let me know what you think, and watch Black Coffee as well :)

school spirit sweet

2010-01-03T11:13:00.001-08:00

Is it bad that I really want to go to one of the schools that Victoria's Secret PINK makes specialized loungewear for?

Go Bears Go! Sassy yoga pants for Cal Berkeley students!

I'm loving the sparkles on the back of this UCLA hoodie!

Students at the University of Wisconsin can sport this adorable sweatshirt - I love the cursive on the back!

All photos from Victoria's Secret PINK Collegiate Collection

Do you (or did you) ever wear logo gear from your school?
Or is that a trend that should be left behind?

facebook faux pas

2010-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

"I like when I get facebook notifications from you - it makes me feel special!"
(Photo found on tumblr)

As great as social networking and new internet-based ways of communication may seem, sometimes I wonder whether I really need to have a facebook profile, or a twitter account, or even a blog! We all know (and have experienced) that the internet can take over our day... one minute you're on facebook, an hour later you are wondering, "Where did all the time go?" But I'm talking about something different - I'm rethinking using all this "new" technology because I feel like it's too easy to share my life with other people. I mean, I love writing here and sharing the things I love with all of you, but with facebook status updates and the creepy "wall to wall" feature, anyone can read any conversation I've had or find out what I did today.

I've thought about deleting a lot of my facebook friends - I've met them all, I'm just not familiar enough with some of them to let them into my life. But using the facebook privacy features makes me feel bad... I feel guilty that I am friends with someone that I don't feel comfortable sharing my life with. Today was just an example of why I am seriously considering not having a facebook profile!

In the past, adults I've been friends with on facebook have reported to my mother what I've been posting! I feel like that is a breach of privacy, but I don't want to block them from my facebook all together. If I accepted their request the first time, I should stick with that... right?

So here's the deal: I received a facebook inbox message from a very good family friend, who also happens to be the adult chaperone of my church leadership group. We've been friends on the site for a long time, but in past months, she's been commenting on my status' more than anyone else, "liking" my posts, and making comments on my photos. Now, I guess that's the point of facebook... but I didn't feel comfortable with her reading everything. When I posted something that contained a cuss word, she left a comment on it, and called me on it later. I felt quite embarrassed, and apologized, but it made me feel funny. I decided to put her on a limited profile, so she could not view my wall posts. Her message to me asked if I was mad at her, or if she had done something wrong. Immediately I knew she was asking about why I put her on limited profile, so she could not see my wall. I asked her what she was talking about, and she told me exactly that, and said that she had gone on my profile because she was reading a conversation I was having with someone else, but could not see what they had posted on my wall.

I first felt terrible, because I didn't want her to think I blocked her because I didn't like her! Then, I felt violated. Why would she tell me she had been reading my long conversation thread, and then ask why she couldn't see it? If I feel like blocking someone, I have that right, don't I? I don't want to delete her as a friend, because I feel that's rude. But I don't want her to be able to see everything I'm doing and be able to make comments about it!

I ended up giving in, unblocking her and asking her if she could now see my full profile. I played dumb, I guess I could say I lied. But I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I feel strange, knowing that now she could be viewing all my wall posts from the past month since I blocked her...

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a dilemma! I don't know what the proper facebook etiquette is - I don't want to be rude, but I don't want this kind of situation to happen again (someone asking me why I blocked them!)

What would you have done in my situation? Do you think we should reconsider how much we share with others online, and who we share it with?

the resolution

2010-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Image from outforever of tumblr.

I want 2010 to be a successful year. Wait - who doesn't? Instead of dwelling on the past and mistakes I've made and things I wish I had done, I'm going to attempt to keep a positive outlook on life and enjoy myself more. I'm entering my last semester as a junior, and next year will be my senior year... I want to make the most of my high school experience. After all, it's the only one I'll get!

I dug up my New Years Resolutions from last year... I stayed pretty true to most of them:

1) Challenge myself to spend more time learning outside of school

In 2009, I finally learned how to use my Canon EOS 20D camera... I sat down with the manual and actually learned about all the settings. The camera has been a great blessing - photography is one of my favorite things, and I can't wait to keep on snapping photos in 2010!

2) Think positive more often

This resolution is always a hard one... because it's easy to forget about when you're stressed and upset. I think I stayed pretty true to this last year. Everyone has their ups and downs, but I feel like for the most part, I stayed extremely level-headed and calm in the toughest of situations, and for that, I am proud of myself!

3) Tap into my creative side more often

2009 was a great year in school for me, because I applied to and was admitted onto my school newspaper staff! We're a Pacemaker winning paper, and I'm so lucky to be involved with such a great publication! My favorite part of the paper, besides the freedom to write fun, upbeat articles, is the layout and design aspect. Let's just say that Photoshop, InDesign and I are buddies! I had a lot of fun last semester as Assistant Lifestyles editor, laying out pages and exploring new and innovative design layouts for every issue. This upcoming semester, I'm taking on the Review editor position... I'm so excited!

4) Be more grateful for everything around me

The summer of 2009 held an awesome opportunity for me. I got to travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and help with flood relief work with the national teen leadership group I am apart of. After seeing the damage the floods of Summer 2008 had on the Iowa community, and helping restore their neighborhoods by doing yard work and construction work, I realized how lucky I am to never have been affected by such a devastating tragedy in my own community. The people we worked with were so grateful for our help - we worked in a neighborhood where most of the homes had been abandoned after water had destroyed everything. I consider myself lucky to be so blessed where I live, and also grateful for the opportunity I had to touch the lives of other people.

5) Try to think before saying things out loud

Hmmm.... I can't really remember if I stuck with this resolution or not! All I know is that I didn't mess up big time this year, by saying something I shouldn't have... so I think I accomplished this goal!

6) Work out more

Ha. Ha. Well, I have to say that even though I didn't work out all the time, I did get much use out of my electra townie bike, Baby Wasabi. Baby W and I have become great pals, and not even a flat tire can get in the way of our friendship! I love riding my bike, it's one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities I've ever done. It helps that Baby W is super cute and easy to ride :) Oh - and I felt very accomplished after I came home from backpacking in Colorado this summer and weighed myself - I had lost 15 pounds! My jeans have felt a little less snug, which is nice! I'm excited to tell you guys about my new exercise adventures in Zumba classes, which I took up this holiday break. Hopefully, I'll continue to work towards a healthier, more active lifestyle in 2010!

7) Be more adventurous and take risks

I'm happy with the outcome of this resolution! I tried a lot of new things this year, and found that I loved most of them! I've learned to be more of a go-getter, and be self-sufficient. I also have become more social, branching out and becoming friends with people I would have never even considered talking to a year ago. The activities like newspaper and cabaret in San Francisco that I started in 2009 have led me to greater opportunities. Now I love the thrill of trying new things!

That being out of the way... I've decided to stick to the idea of obtainable goals. Without further ado, my resolutions for 2010 are as follows:

1) Write in my new journal often

I've acquired a daily Moleskine planner, which I've decided to convert into a daily journal/inspiration book. I just started my first page! I'm so excited to see if I can keep up with writing every day... that's definitely going to be a challenge!

2) Learn to cook

I'm going to college in a year and half (OMIGOSH!) so I better learn how to become a master chef like my dear mother! I'm obsessed with good food - the Barefoot Contessa, the fabulous Ms. Ina Garten, is my idol! I read her cookbooks religiously, but unfortunately the only food I am currently able to make includes toast, grilled cheese, and salad. I hopefully will pull a Julie Powell and blog about some of the creations I make this year with my mom... I can't wait to start making yummy food!

3) Enjoy working out (and work out more)

Very similar to last year's goal, I'm planning on keeping up the biking routine and using my gym membership more often. Going to the gym more will also give me a reason to buy myself cute workout clothes from Lululemon! You can never be too stylish when you work out (I think it makes the whole experience way more fun!)

4) Have fun

Sounds simple, right? As I said at the beginning of this post, I'm coming upon my last years as a teenager. I definitely don't want those to go to waste.

Hello 2010!

happy new year!

2010-01-01T00:36:00.000-08:00

"All good things are wild and free."
~ Henry David Thoreau

My favorite Billabong ad of all time!

Happy New Year! I believe 2010 is the start of a new beginning for all of us!

black coffee

2009-12-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

If I had to pick two things that I loved, it'd be a tough challenge. But I'd have to say singing, for sure, and quite possibly hot beverages.. tea, coffee, hot cocoa, whatever floats your boat.

We got the sweetest mugs for my dad for Christmas - kind of girly, but I think he likes them, considering he's abandoned our old, cracked ones and have used these for his drinks every morning!

Red Peace Mugs from Sundance

I like my coffee with a little bit of sugar, and a little bit of half and half. Bitter is better!

And on the coffee subject - here's a video of me singing the jazz standard Black Coffee at a recent music showcase at my school!

desktop delightful

2009-12-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

My current desktop at the moment... there's something so appealing about opening up your laptop and seeing this.

What's on your desktop?

the loot

2009-12-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

It's always a little bit depressing once Christmas has come and gone. I hate taking down the tree and all the decorations... and the lack of holiday music through the house is always a bummer.

But on a lighter note, how was your Christmas?! Mine was really nice, we had our family come over and spend the night. It's always nice to play a board game or two and take a nice walk around the neighborhood with people you only see three or four times a year. My mom made really yummy food, including this great persimmon salad with pomegranate seeds and kiwi! I wish I had gotten a photo... and for dessert, we had homemade apple crisp and tiny little cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. So cute!

Anyway, here's what Santa brought me this year. I'm really excited about my new instant camera. I never realized how precious instant film is - holding a picture you just took, not just looking at it on a screen, is kind of a magical experience!

From top left: Built NY laptop case, Julie & Julia dvd, He's Just Not That Into You dvd, Fujifilm Instax Mini camera and film, four Erin Bode cds, 1000 Journals Project book, Mothers & Daughters book, Mary Englebreit calendar

merry christmas!

2009-12-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this lovely photo by Machel Spence on Flicker!

Thanks to everyone who has read my posts and followed this blog, I'm really looking forward to what it evolves into in the New Year! Merry Christmas, everyone!

the good years

2009-12-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

It's nice to occasionally reminisce...

Mommy and me, circa 1996

Merry Christmas Eve!

turned on twilight

2009-12-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

I never thought I'd be a Twilight girl... I've never been one for vampires or sappy romances. But oh my goodness, it doesn't take much more than reading Eclipse for an hour or two until, BAM! you've joined the masses!

Considering my lack of an intriguing boy in my life right now, I've decided to whisk myself away into the wonderful fictional world of Forks, Washington... or rather La Push reservation!! I'm definitely Team Jacob, no matter how sparkly Edward Cullen may be.

I sadly have not seen New Moon in theaters yet... even thought it's been out for over a month! I'll make that a priority on my winter break to-do list. I normally never go to the movies in theaters, I find it kind of uncomfortable, sitting in a seat that thousands of people have sat in... but I want to be able to stare at the yummy Taylor Lautner for extended periods of time, so I guess I'll make an exception! :)

I mean, who couldn't resist this?
(Pictures courtesy of Rolling Stone)

Am I embarrassed by my newfound love for this teenage craze?

No, not the slightest bit :)

young things

2009-12-20T22:17:00.000-08:00

What is your vividest childhood memory? Mine for certain is making "potions" with water, dirt, leaves and spices from the spice cabinet with my best friend from elementary school. We were cute back in the day, eh?

Photo of me and my best childhood friend in kindergarten (I'm the blonde!) I'm loving the crew neck sweatshirts!

have a very merry anthro christmas

2009-12-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

Have I ever expressed my love for anything Anthropologie? I biked over to the Anthro by my high school on Thursday after finals, and got some Christmas shopping done. Our store is the biggest in the area - they took out the entire mall food court just for the store! But hey, as much as I loved getting grilled cheese and milkshakes at the cute 50s-esque diner there, I can't complain. I'd much rather have a sweater from Anthro than a diner dinner any day.
I sent my mom a huge email with links to everything I could find on the Anthropologie website that I just adored! She replied saying, "What do you think I am, made of money or something?" Well, mom, a girl can dream....

instant fun

2009-12-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

My family was rushing to get our online holiday shopping done, so when asked what I wanted, I spent a good hour on my laptop, searching for something that would provide long lasting fun. What did I come up with? Quite possibly the best thing for a crafty girl like myself, who likes to document anything and everything through photography.
Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce my soon to be baby, the Fuji Instax Instant Camera!
With the death of Polaroid, I thought maybe I had just missed out on the last of the instant camera glory age. But fortunately, Fujifilm has been kind enough to bring their newest version of the instant camera to the USA, and boy, it could not get any better than this!

The Instax, with its clean look and fun shape, produces these credit card-sized instant photos, with the same little polaroid-like frame. The photos are so perfect for my scrapbook and bulletin boards! Despite the hefty price tag for film (about $1 per shot), I think it'll be worth it... as long as I take photos sparingly, and only at the proper moments!
I'm so excited to see the camera under the Christmas tree! I'm sure the first photo I'll take will be of my family on Christmas Day!
What is on your wish list this holiday season?

pink tinsel

2009-12-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

The pink tinsel christmas tree in my bedroom gets me in the holiday spirit every day when I wake up!

tuesday gift day

2009-12-01T16:47:00.001-08:00

Happy December! I'm so happy, the holiday season has officially begun! One thing I love about Christmas is online shopping... I create lists and bookmark hundreds of items I love, even though I will only find one or two of them under the Christmas tree... I've decided to do some gift posts, over the next three weeks, just so I don't go hog wild in one post alone! Here are some sweet things to give to ensure a bright holiday!

Juicy Couture Convertible Mittens ~ Neiman Marcus, $55

Recycled Candy Wrapper Clutch, Uncommon Goods, $28

Miss Marc Patent Ballerina Flats, Neiman Marcus, $195

Victoria's Secret Pink Laptop Case, Victoria's Secret, $29.50

iPod nano 8 GB w/video, Amazon.com, $150

crying playlist

2009-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

On one of my last nights in DC the other week, all of us girls in journalism crowded in a hotel room, got in bed and listened to my friend's infamous "Crying Playlist." I added some of my own songs that I love as well... Trust me, this shit will make you cry (pardon my french!)

All of Me ~ Meiko
Almost Lover ~ A Fine Frenzy
And Now We Sing ~ Duncan Sheik feat. Holly Brook
Belle ~ Jack Johnson
The Beacon ~ A Fine Frenzy
A Beautiful Mess ~ Jason Mraz
Between the Lines ~ Sara Bareilles
Black Bird ~ Evan Rachel Wood
Blue ~ Joni Mitchell
Blue Lips ~ Regina Spektor
Breakable ~ Ingrid Michaelson
Cactus Tree ~ Joni Mitchell
Can't Help Falling in Love ~ Ingrid MIchaelson
Carry You Home ~ James Blunt
Casimir Pulaski Day ~ Sufjan Stevens
Chasing Cars ~ Snow Patrol
Chocolate ~ Snow Patrol
City ~ Sara Bareilles
Constellations ~ Jack Johnson
The Cure for Pain ~ Jon Foreman
Details in the Fabric ~ Jason Mraz
Dream ~ Priscilla Ahn
Early Mornin' Rain ~ Peter, Paul and Mary
The Eraser ~ Thom Yorke
Fair ~ Remy Zero
Fake Plastic Trees ~ Radiohead
Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop ~ Landon Pigg
Fell in Love Without You (Acoustic) ~ Motion City Soundtrack
Flightless Bird, American Mouth ~ Iron & Wine
Fly Me to the Moon ~ Joshua Radin
Georgia On My Mind ~ Ray Charles
Girls Just Want to Have Fun ~ Greg Laswell
Giving Up ~ Ingrid Michaelson
Gone for Good ~ The Shins
Gravity ~ John Mayer
Gravity ~ Sara Bareilles
Green Eyes ~ Coldplay
Half Life ~ Imogen Heap
Hallelujah ~ Jeff Buckley
Hide and Seek ~ Imogen Heap
How It Feels ~ Duncan Sheik
How To Say Goodbye ~ Paul Tiernan
I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You ~ Colin Hay
I Will Follow You Into the Dark ~ Death Cab for Cutie
If You Would Come Back Home ~ William Fitzsimmons
The Ice Is Getting Thinner ~ Death Cab for Cutie
Killing the Blues ~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
>Lady in Spain ~ Ingrid Michaelson
Let Go ~ Frou Frou
Like Blood Like Honey ~ Holly Brook
Lille ~ Lisa Hannigan
Little Green ~ Joni Mitchell
The Minnow and the Trout ~ A Fine Frenzy
My Beautiful Rescue ~ This Providence
Near to You ~ A Fine Frenzy
One of These Things First ~ Nick Drake
The Only Living Boy in New York ~ Simon and Garfunkel
Orange Sky ~ Alexi Murdoch
Please Read the Letter ~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
The Rain ~ Melody Gardot
River ~ Joni Mitchell
The Scientist ~ Coldplay
Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us ~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Speed of Sound ~ Chris Bell
Such Great Heights ~ Iron & Wine
Swan Song ~ A Fine Frenzy
This Time ~ Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Through the Morning, Through the Night ~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Turpentine ~ Brandi Carlile
We All Fall in Love Sometimes ~ Jeff Buckley
We Build Bridges ~ Liz Durrett
With You ~ Jonah Johnson
World Spins Madly On ~ The Weepies
Wild Word ~ Cat Stevens
Yellow ~ Jem
Your Long Journey ~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

santa's laundry day

2009-11-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

My mom gets the Garnet Hill catalogue in the mail every once in a while. I was flipping through it the other day and fell in love with this bedding set!

If I was Mrs. Claus, I'd have fun doing the laundry for Santa! I get a kick out of his long underwear!

loving lulu's

2009-11-18T17:07:00.000-08:00

I found out about the sweetest online boutique the other day! Lulu's began as a mother-daughter project in 1996, and has continued to grow by offering fun, fashionable pieces for affordable prices. They add stock every week, and sell everything from prom dresses to lace up loafers to quirky clutches. Their dress selection impresses me, for they offer absolutely lovely pieces, most which are under $60! Take a look at some of my favorites:

The ruffle gives this classic cream and black dress a beautifully sophisticated vibe!
Buananotte Dress, $60

One word: Prom.
Blushingham Dress, $50

I'm obsessed with the sleeves and scoop neck - definitely an "It" Girl dress!
Dear Diary Dress, $37

Have you ever bought off of Lulu's?

iphone discoveries

2009-11-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Upon the arrival of my beautiful new 13 inch Macbook Pro, I plugged in my iphone to update it and such, and iphoto popped up, asking if I'd like to download all my phone photos onto my computer. I had fun looking back on them and remembering the past year or so and all the little things I did or saw that I forgot about until now. Here's a peek at some of my favorite shots with my handy cellular device!

A fun diner lunch with a friend led to this...

Pretty cupcake plate at a gift store.

Cool soap and bath bombers from the Lush!

Sunset after dance class one night.

A babysitting adventure for my neighbor led me to take this photo!

My friend's beautiful house! I love the color <3

Trying on baskets for my townie bike, which I have dubbed Baby Wasabi.

Rainbow outside of the school parking lot.

View from my friend's house (you can see the Golden Gate in the background!)

statement scarves

2009-10-31T15:37:00.000-07:00

Gigantic cable knits and intricate layering makes the scarves at Anthropologie this season stand out from all the rest. I love the ruffles on these two and how the eyes is instantly drawn to the contrast between the scarf and hat/scarf and gloves. And don't you love that warm, royal blue they've paired everything with?! It's such a cozy color!

Urban Outfitters is overrun with the generic afghan/square scarves, but I found these two to be quite refreshing. First, a gigantic chunky knit, in a natural tone, could carry an entire outfit (and would provide much warmth!) The second, an interesting ethnic-inspired hooded scarf, has a nordic print on the bottom, but a middle-eastern feel to it. I love the plain peacoat they picture it with - having a minimalist base and then this interesting, one of a kind scarf to top it off works really well.

Anthropologie: Cashmere Squiggle Scarf, $98 & Bubble Wrap Scarf, $38
Urban Outfitters: Deena & Ozzy Chunky Blanket Scarf, $48 & 2890 by Arne & Carlos Intarsia Hooded Scarf, $48

happy halloween!

2009-10-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Watch this beautiful short film, The Legend of the Scarecrow! It's worth the good nine minutes!

peacoat pretty

2009-10-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Emma Hooded Toggle Coat from Delia*s has made it onto my Christmas List. Its adorable toggles give off a cute ski slope vibe, but the color is perfect for my 60 degree California winters! And at $70, my mom will be pleased I chose such a budget-friendly present!

jilted

2009-10-19T16:39:00.001-07:00

This short film featuring the Puppini Sisters puts me in an excellent Halloween-y mood! I love the costumes (:

sweet things

2009-10-17T18:15:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog,
I feel like a terrible parent. It's been a month since I last posted, and I'm deeply sorry. If my Macbook's hard drive hadn't crashed, leaving me without a computer, I would probably be posting away as I was before "the incident" - LOST reference, anyone? (I don't think my computer breaking is as big of a deal as Juliette detonating a bomb, but it's almost of that caliber!) I've sneaked on to my brother's computer (since he's at school and I have the day off!) and decided that today is a good day to resurrect The Cupcake Aficionado and shape up on my posting habits! So without further ado... here are some sweet things, from me to you!

I went on a cleaning rampage and finally organized my closet!

I have always been obsessed with Olivia the Pig!

J'adore TeenVogue!

Canadian money is so pretty!

So sweet!

I've been collecting a jar of coins... almost full!

QUACK! My friend gave me this for my 16th birthday haha!

The best feeling in life is when you're cozy (:

Found this while cleaning out my closet! It was my favorite when I was little.

My bulletin board is getting awfully crowded.

Running out of room on the jewelry mannequin... eeek!

This Seventeen spread with the paint text was always my favorite! I layered it on top of a Billabong add to give it a little texture.

I will always love the Juicy Couture charm necklace my mom got for me... even if it is so freshman year!

Speaking of freshman year... photobooth strip from my first homecoming!

random shots

2009-09-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lack of posts this school week. I am just realizing how absolutely ridiculous the amount of homework they give us juniors is! I have a three day weekend, and I have enough homework to last me three weeks. Is this what college feels like?
Anyway, here are a few photos I took this past week...

A cute pug at the annual town dog show!

This girl's dog would not walk on the leash - she had to pull him across the floor like a little mop!

Took the ferry with newspaper staff to see the Giants play the Rockies... we won 9-1 woo!

sunday morning 'do

2009-09-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

My hair was bothering me this morning... so I twisted the top and put it in a low bun near the back of my head for a 40s-esque updo, complete with some hairspray and bobby pins!

some kind of day

2009-09-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

We had the most amazing thunder and lightning storm last night. This never happens here! I woke up at three a.m. to my entire house shaking, and this loud noise all around, followed by the biggest flashes of lightning I've ever seen. It was like a light show, or a huge camera flash outside my window. Of course, my dog slept in my bed with me because she was so freaked out. And it rained, though it is only September! Though it has cleared up a bit since this morning, I decided it'd be a good day to spend inside, doing cozy things. My mom is having a trunk show downstairs for CAbi (Carol Anderson by Design) and some of the clothes are so adorable, I can't wait to snag them! I took out my trusty Canon EOS 20D and fired that baby up this morning, taking shots around the house. Here's the product of my lazy day:

Woke up to gorgeous light coming through my sash windows after the rainstorm.

A photo of my grandmother from when she was young.

My puppy's beloved raccoon toy that got left out in the rain on the porch last night.

Eggs in the kitchen, my mom made some lovely gingersnap cookies for our guests at the trunk show.

My attempt at an artsy piano shot.

Our lovely porch, I often sleep out on the couch and do my homework when it's warm.

Maizie makes me smile.

I put on some gorgeous Laura Mercier red lipstick this morning.

Banana?! The strange man wearing flannel pjs in the background is my father.

Nylon magazine is the greatest!

I bought this little leather satchel at Wasteland in the Haight last summer... the strap broke, and I just recently got it fixed! I can't wait to use it.

I REALLY need to clean my desk off!

The ginger snaps... I ate five and I feel very guilty!

Various snacks... I've always adored food pictures.

Gorgeous black "Audrey" style dress I'm purchasing... It's going to be my favorite thing in my closet for fall and winter!

the roaring twenties

2009-09-12T10:06:00.001-07:00

I've always believed that I was born in the wrong era.

Paris, Je'Taime Spread, Vogue September 2007
All photos courtesy of Style.com

the september issue

2009-09-11T22:39:00.001-07:00

Things I learned from The September Issue:
• Grace Coddington is a stunning person, I absolutely adore her!
• Anna Wintour is a cold bitch with good intentions.... is that even possible?
• The Vogue office is a scary place... If you ever take a trip to the Condé Nast building, explore the twelfth floor at your own risk!
• Respect those hard working editors and stylists, they put their hearts and souls into shoots that most likely get scrapped!

Go see the movie now. It's so worth it (:

bag baby

2009-09-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely obsessed with my most recent online purchase, a gorgeous Marc Jacobs Stam knockoff. Wait - it shouldn't even be considered a knockoff, it's too pretty! I was browsing someone's blog and came across Shop Suey Boutique, the website for a cute little boutique in Redlands, California. I was immediately drawn to their selection of inexpensive bags that look like "the real deal." Interested, I flipped through a few pages until I found the Samantha Satchel,, and let me tell you, it was like love at first sight. Just five days later, a box came to my door from Shop Suey, containing my bag, my baby.
First off, it looks way better in person. I received dozens of comments in the first few days of usage from girls at school, saying "Your bag is so cute, where on earth did you get that?" I would beam and shrug, "Just some little boutique online." I feel quite classy carrying my satchel around to school. It goes with my usual ensembles of black, grey and creme (I've been quite boring in my color choices, lately) and it fits all my school supplies, planner, phone, headphones, wallet, etc. My favorite part of the bag? The adorable "coin purse" closure - it makes opening and closing the bag so much fun!
I was able to scrounge up a promotional code for the site online - want 20% off any purchase? Use the code "SECRET" - my bag, which was originally $38, was reduced to just $30!

Above, the image of the Samantha Satchel from ShopSueyBoutique.com

please don't stop the music

2009-09-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

I've always believed music is the greatest art there is. I mean, is there any better way to express emotion than through song? To celebrate my love for music, I've decided to give you a little taste of my "Recently Played" section on my iTunes. What albums or artists have you been hooked on recently?

Electric Twist - A Fine Frenzy
The perfect "getting ready for a date" anthem! It gets me going and I can listen to it over and over and over again.

Half Life - Imogen Heap
Though nothing can trump Imogen Heap's hit Hide and Seek, I've found Half Life to come close. It's haunting and beautiful, something I listen to before I go to sleep every night.

The Resolution - Jack's Mannequin
This is the ultimate road trip song, with lyrics like "There's a lot that I don't know, there's a lot that I'm still learning."

Fireflies - Owl City
To put it simply, this song makes me smile.

My Beautiful Rescue - This Providence
I imagine myself listening to this on a beach.... with a cute guy by my side (:

Every Time You Lie - Demi Lovato
Tons of people rag on Disney stars who have launched so-called "singing careers," but I'd like to argue that not all teeny bopper celebs are well, teeny boppers. Demi Lovato has seemed to prove herself in her sophomore album "Here We Go Again" with a great mesh of tunes that I admittedly dance around in my room to with a hairbrush. Check the album out, I promise it's more fulfilling and mature than Miley Cyrus' "hit" single Party in the USA!

Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
There is something so appealing about Regina Spektor's music. It's so carefree and puts me in the loveliest moods! Her new album wasn't my absolute favorite compared to "Soviet Kitsch" and "Begin to Hope", but almost all her new songs are enjoyable. I'm going to see her in concert this October, I am so ecstatic!

snapshot

2009-09-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

My room is so cozy.

julie and julia

2009-08-23T16:08:00.001-07:00

If you haven't yet, get off your booty and get yourself to the nearest movie theater to see the new Nora Ephron flick, Julie and Julia. It's phenomenal! Based off of Julie Powell's novel, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, the movie focuses on Julie (Amy Adams), a bored cublicle worker in New York City who blogs about getting through the Julia Child cookbook to get through her life, and Julia Child herself (Meryl Streep) and her journey creating the cookbook some decades earlier. I loved the characters, the feel-good vibe, the soundtrack, it was all perfect for a Sunday afternoon date with my mom (: One last thing: Beware, cooking fanatics! This movie will make you extremely hungry and cause an uncontrollable urge to grab your favorite cookbook off the shelf and spend endless hours in the kitchen! Drag a cute guy along as well. I've learned from Julie and Julia that cooking is extremely romantic!

pretty things

2009-08-20T20:26:00.001-07:00

Procrastinating on precalc homework, anticipating the season premiere of Project Runway in T-minus 2 hours... can't wait! School is going swimmingly, I love my classes, for the most part. I got my first newspaper assignment today, it's just a 400 word news story on the two new vice principals on campus, but I can't believe my "journalism career" is finally starting off! Hopefully one day I'll be rocking the whole, "I work for Seventeen magazine," kind of thing. Hey, a girl can only dream!
I've been tumbling a lot recently... linkage for my tumblr page is on the sidebar under "USEFUL THINGS." Now, onto pretty photos I've posted and stumbled upon on tumblr!

back to school shopping

2009-08-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

Hello there! Sorry it's been so long, I've been away in Colorado backpacking, biking, etc.... but I'm home, and finally sixteen! To celebrate my birthday, my mom treated me to a shopping spree in the city. We had so much fun walking around and splurging on back to school necessities (hopefully my dad doesn't see the credit card bills!) I came out with a ton of great basics and knits - trends I noticed in most of the stores included animal prints (especially cheetah/leopard), black/white/grey/navy, light pinks, romantic styles, rose appliques, and pencil skirts. What trends have you come upon while shopping for the upcoming season?

dress with rose appliqué, h&m

cheetah print leotard dress, urban outfitters

mink pink tank dress, macys

honey bootcut joes jeans, macys

pink knit ballerina wrap, h&m

"look of love" white tank and black tank under, h&m

silence and noise black and white cardigan, urban outfitters

animal print cardigan, h&m

ella moss knit sweater, macys

nick and moe sweater & brown tank top, local boutique

oatmeal colored cardigan, local boutique

sabino leather tote, local boutique

orange/red tank, macys

black and white afghan, urban outfitters (it was $9!)

two h&m headbands, wooden ring, two pairs of marc by marc jacobs sunnies

and the betsey johnson necklace pictured with all the outfits... i bought it last spring

i'll be updating soon, leave a comment and the link to your blog if it's not on my favorites already xx

wants and wishes

2009-07-12T15:42:00.001-07:00

i'll be MIA for the next month... i'm going to iowa to rebuild houses that were damaged by floods, and then going to colorado for camp/backpacking! here's a quickie wishlist... what do you currently desire?

wall art

2009-07-06T19:50:00.001-07:00

summer style

2009-07-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

wild things

2009-06-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Two words: SO PUMPED!

summer snapshots

2009-06-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

A week into summer and it's clearly going to be the best two months i've had in a long time. I've been using my dad's fancy schmancy Canon camera all over the place, including several dinner parties I've been to in the past few days. Here's some photography for you, I felt like posting it somewhere other than my Facebook page... has anyone else been extremely bored with Facebook lately? Below I've got shots of me and my brother visiting our dad's friends vineyard, the cats of the vineyard, random nature, etc., as well as photos from a dinner party at my friends house with her boyfriend, brother and new labrador puppy, Zona. She's so cute I can't stand it (:

little survey

2009-06-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

I got this survey from Tru of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I love these things, thank you <3

Were you happy when you woke up? I felt really excited to have a day where nothing was planned, so yes, I think so.

Do you plan on moving in the next year? Nope, I think I'm here till I go off to college.

If you were to marry the last person you texted what would your last name be? I won't say their last name, but it'd be Irish and totally unlike me hah!

Is there one guy/girl you will always have feelings for? No, I haven't found someone like that yet.

When was the last time someone called you cute or hot? Two days ago.

Any summer plans for 2009? I'm here riding my bike and relaxing until the 13th of July, when I scoot off to Iowa to rebuild homes that were damaged by flooding last year, and then I come home for a couple days and go back out to Colorado to go to summer camp and backpack! My sixteenth birthday is August 9th, I get home from camp the next day and school starts just nine days later!

Have you ever quoted a line from a movie? I always quote Nacho Libre - "Would you like to come to my quarters for some toast?"

Still speak to any of your classmates from elementary school? Of course!

Who was the last person you talked to in person today? My dad, I haven't seen anyone else yet.

When someone says "we need to talk" what do you think? I always get so nervous and think I've done something terrible... I tend to overthink things.

Do you stay up later than 10 PM on a week night? During the summer, yes.

How did you get your last bruise? I got so many on my legs and I don't know where from - maybe biking? But I haven't fallen over so I am puzzled...

At this very moment, what are you doing? I'm on my bed under my comforter, listening to the new Jonas Brothers album and just finished watching The Hills. You can totally tell that I have soooo much to do today (;

Did you enjoy the movie Twilight? I haven't seen it yet! I'm not a groupie at all.... but my friend promised to bring her DVD over so we could watch it sometime this summer.

Could you survive the rest of your life without drinking alcohol? Of course.

Are you good at giving directions? I guess so.

Could you survive without electricity? Yeah, it'd be an adventure!

What time did you get up this morining? 7 AM

What time did you go to sleep? 12 AM

How often do you drink energy drinks? They are so gross, never!

Have you ever liked someone older than you? Yeah... didn't work out so well, he fell for the Danish foreign exchange student instead hah!

Are you waiting for something? I'm waiting for my mom to get home so I can ask her if she'll drive me places today.

Are girls too dramatic? Yes, it's something I absolutely loathe.

Have you learned any life lessons? Yeah, I've learned to manage my time and think before I act. And right now, I'm learning who my true friends are and aren't.

Do you ever think "what if"? All the time, baby.

happy days

2009-06-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am so obsessed with this song and this video. If you like cute French things, then this is for you. I try to make my life as carefree and sweet as this video is. Coeur de Pirate is such a great artist, she has a really good rendition of I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry.

I recently bought a cute Electra Townie bike and I've been riding it all over the place and taking photos. I'll post pictures soon!
Oh, and finally it's summer and it's lovely. In the past week, I've gone to a grad party, a wedding, my dad's friends vineyard for dinner, a surprise party, and have biked every day! It's so relaxing to stay up late and sleep in and have no worries about schoolwork and such (: How is summer going for you?
When I'm not riding my new "baby," I've been reading Three Cups of Tea, which is so inspiring and powerful, as well as doing the Seventeen Magazine fitness plan, I'm really motivated to start working out more and eating healthier because of it. I went to a friend's wedding on Saturday and bought an extremely cute dress at Anthropologie, and got silver wedges and a blueish silver pashmina to match. Below is a picture of the dress, and then of a scarf I bought at Anthro on sale!

Brightness and Shadow Dress, Anthropologie

Christelle Scarf, Anthropologie
Oh! Another thing I love about summer is a chance to catch up on TV shows or start watching a series that's been around forever and you've never gotten to. So, to start off, my friend got me hooked up The Hills, and as trashy and unrealistic as reality television might be, I am kind of in love with LC and her life... minus the drama. You know a girl crush? That's what I've got, I'm not gonna lie. I love her casual, poised style - she looks good in everything! Her internship at Teen Vogue with Whitney is what I've always dreamed of, and I love her apartment and attitude. If I wanted to be best friends with a celeberity, LC or Lo Bosworth would be at the top of my list, right behind Demi Lovato. They're all so adorable! Anywho, once I finish up with The Hills I'm gonna need another show to watch, maybe something a little more though provoking (:

oh goodness

2009-06-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in so long, last month went by so fast! School ends next thursday, I'm so excited to finally be an upperclassman - the glory of getting a lisensce, taking AP courses, joining newspaper staff and feeling older and more important! I've got a thank you shout out to Casey of Teen Fashionista for picking me as a runner up for her Meg Cabot Airhead contest, so thank you so much Casey, you're the best!
I recently broke my four month long iTunes diet, after giving in and buying ten or so songs this week. I had been trying to be practical and save money, so I decided I wouldn't download anything off of iTunes for a while. It's okay, I am proud of myself for keeping off that nifty site for so long... now I am content listening to some great new songs, all of which I have added to my summer playlist.
1. Curious - Holly Brook
2. How Sweet It Is - Michael Bublé
3. You Belong to Me - The Like
4. Victoria - The Kooks
5. You Give Me Something - James Morrison
6. Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
7. Dance Me To the End of Love - Madeleine Peyroux
8. Black and Gold - Katy Perry
9. Yellow - Jem
10. Rebellion - Arcade Fire
And I want to make this a long post, for I am afraid and ashamed to say that this will be my last post for a week unless I procrastinate and blog instead of studying for my multitude of finals, so I want to add some photography i've found around xanga and and have posted on my tumblr, which you can check out here. This week, the theme is POLAROIDS. Are you obsessed with polaroid photos as much as I am?!

Any suggestions for a theme for next week?! Anywho, I'm off to finish The Kite Runner for English, and do a science study guide for my final! Next time I'll update with some more photos, as well as talk about my new guilty pleasure, watching The Hills! Thank you for reading and have a nice day (:

summer loving

2009-05-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Summer is what, five weeks away?! This weekend has been so stunning, the weather is perfect and it's sunny and everyone is happy... I just want school to be over already. But for now, I am stuck writing essays upon essays and reviewing before my finals. Thank god for the patio furniture my mom bought last summer - at least I can enjoy the air while I study.

Anywho, as I take my ten millionth break from writing an assessment on steroids and sports for my journalism course (I happen to loathe sports... so breaks are quite frequent hah!), I have been going through last year's summer playlist, and realized how much I've changed. I was really into that electro-alternative stuff... like MGMT, Metro Station, etc. Boy have I changed since last summer! Anywho, what's going to be your summer 2009 anthem? I'm thinking something Jason Mraz?! Duffy? Oh, and if you haven't, check out Melody Gardot.. I've been a fan for a while, and her second album is even better than her first <3

newsworthy

2009-04-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've always been a really big fan of the Christian Science Monitor. I visited their Boston headquarters two years ago, and loved it! What I love most about the paper is that it's very unbiased for being a religious-affiliated publication. Last week marked their first edition of their "weekly" print edition, so no longer are they a daily paper. My mom handed me the first issue of their new weekly paper, and immediately i knew i wanted to write for them someday. The design is incredible - the layout is so friendly and modern. The size of the paper is kind of cool - it's more like a magazine, and they describe it on the cover as "a weekly review of global news and ideas." I highly encourage you to check it out - especially my favorite spread "in pictures," which is basically a review of different things that happened around the globe, in the form of inspiring and captivating images.

by the sea

2009-04-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

i'm back after my annual spring break trip to sea ranch, which is located about three hours north of san francisco. i've gone every year since i was sixteen months old, and it never gets old to me! let me tell you, there is no cell service, terrible internet connection, no movie theater for miles, but you learn to manage. it's so good to get away from the things you thought you couldn't survive without. i love to go hiking, swimming, playing with my dog on the beach, etc. just sitting out on the porch and reading is like going to the spa - plus, you get a great view of the ocean. here are some shots i took with my mom's little canon digital :)

bad connection

2009-04-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

The internet connection here sucks. I'm quite sad about this. So I promise that Saturday afternoon, I'll upload some fabulous photos! Yesterday, I got to see some baby seals and their mothers... precious. I've been reading some great books - Cupcake Brown's memoir, Piece of Cake is so moving and inspirational, I really recommend it. I've also finished a David Sedaris book, as well as two by John Green, who is so so talented. I hope your week is going well!
Here's something to tide you over, my friend had this on her facebook status and trust me, it's worth the twelve minutes or so :)
http://www.wimp.com/truelove
xoxo

dry grass and shadows

2009-04-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

You should all really go check out Dry Grass and Shadows by
Alela Diane. The lyrics kind of float by you, and blend in really well with '
the music. This'll be my anthem for the week's vacation to come!

video girl

2009-04-09T17:22:00.000-07:00