Summer Bucket List: Revisited

So if you guys recall, I made a summer bucket list back in June. To be honest, I kind of forgot about it, but I think I managed to pull some of them off! Let's take a look, shall we?

• Take a train ---> Does taking Bart to San Francisco for dinner count? Not really...
• Make Pinterest recipes ---> I attempted lemon bars for the 4th of July, but those didn't turn out so well...
• Have a bonfire ---> We made many fires in our chiminea on the patio this year, but I really wanted to have one on the beach.
• Go camping
• Shoot more film
• Organize my closet once and for all! ---> I did this actually! I got some nice velvet, space-saving hangers, some baskets, and organized my shoes.
• Order Instagram photos
• Take morning walks with Marly
• Take road trips ---> I did take one with my sister and nephews to San Diego! I would have liked to take more though to new places.
• Go thrifting ---> I went thrifting in the Haight and I went to an antique fair.
• Explore the SF Haight ---> Did it! You can read about it here.
• Explore the SF Mission District ---> Did this too while I was house sitting for my teacher! There's definitely more to see and do though. Same with the Haight.
• Read books that I've been wanting to
• Make a jewelry holder ---> Check! I made a jewelry board. You can make one too here.
• Watch a sunrise ---> (I'm just not a morning person...)
• Go to Big Sur
• Make cards
• Make candles
• Learn to paint
• Practice block printing ---> I did a little when making a DIY!
• Learn to sew, and sew well!
• Design my own pair of shoes
• Go to Sol Food, pretty much my favorite restaurant ---> Definitely did this. Twice. Yummy food.
• Get rid of stuff I don't need. There's too much of it... ---> Took several trips to Goodwill this summer!
• Volunteer with this awesome organization, City Impact.

Grand total: 11/25

(I gave myself a couple half points)

Not too bad. Although that is less than 50%... Felt like I did a lot this summer! I guess I will just have to add the rest of this stuff onto my bucket list for the remainder of 2012. Along with other fall things :)

Also, it is only August. Is summer really over yet??

I spent most of this weekend sick, but I didn't get to rest until yesterday. And even yesterday I was forced to go into work. Friday night was spent doing spontaneous things, like driving an hour away at 9pm for dinner at Sol Food (my favorite little Puerto Rican restaurant), and then stopping in Berkeley on the way home to wait in line for 30 minutes for a fresh baked cookie ice cream sandwich (I got snickerdoodle with salted caramel ice cream!) at a place called C.R.E.A.M.. Now, I didn't realize this before, but Berkeley is a sketchy place guys. This cookie place is in the university area, and you'd think that it would be nice since Cal is such a famous and highly regarded school. But it's not. As we waited in line on Telegraph Ave., a group of homeless stoners picked a fight with an older homeless black man right in front of us. I guess they were fighting over rights to play music in front of our line that wrapped around the building? I don't know, but one thing led to another and the black man ended up kicking the group's dog. He kicked the dog. You do not ever kick an innocent, sweet dog. Ever. 

Anyway, now you are probably wondering what kinds of weird places I go to in my free time, so I will get on to what you really want to see: the cookie sandwich.

On Saturday my sister and brother-in-law came to visit for the afternoon/evening on their way to visit my other sister. It was good to see them and my three nephews and niece. Remember them? From the birthday party we had on the bay in San Diego? They loved just hanging out in the garage with my dad and getting into all of his tools. Marly had a blast chasing after them on their scooters and we went for a  swim in the evening. This week is Matias' 3rd birthday, so we celebrated a little early with a cake.

I only snapped a few photos this weekend, but I really love this one. It is so sweet. 

What did you do this weekend? :)

20 Fall Essentials

Hey guys! As I'm getting back to school and the weather on campus is starting to cool off, I've decided to compile a little board, if you will, of essentials for this fall's fashions I'm craving. I really love fall and winter clothing (and styling) so I'm pretty excited about this! So, here you have it. The fall style guide according to ME, a professional stylist (I wish).

1. Find yourself a cute top with a rounded collar. They are sweet and feminine, and maybe even add a vintage touch.

2. A striped sweater goes well with any colored pant.

3. A neutral colored cardigan is an essential for any season, but a thick, maybe a little over-sized one is great for fall. Pair them with pants or even a dress.

4. A cardigan in a nice color is a good addition to your wardrobe and won't let you down when you want to add a pop of color to a simple outfit.

5. Nothing says comfy like an over-sized sweater worn with leggings or skinny jeans and boots or oxfords. Maybe even add a circle scarf!

6. A chambray shirt adds a little boyish and casual touch to any outfit. Pair them with black skinnies, colored denim, a dress, or even a dark denim if you are daring enough!

7. Bows are cute. Get some. Plain and simple.

8. Again, I'm loving the collars this fall season!

9. Hit those books again with your smart girl glasses! (even if they're fake!)

10. Gold watches are very in right now and I think they look so classy paired with some skinny bracelets.

11. Classic oxfords in any color would give sweetness to any outfit.

12. The fall is the time for warm colored skinny jeans. Add a pop of color and personality to your wardrobe and try something new. These look great with boots or those oxfords we just talked about.

13. Black skinnies are a staple in your wardrobe all year around, but if you don't have any or need to replace yours, now is the time my friends. You will not be disappointed with a quality pair of black skinnies. They truly go with everything.

14. The arm party is in. Don't let your wrists go naked this fall.

15. Little pearl studs go with everything, so if you're like me and forget to change your earrings, these will be easy to keep up with.

16. A good green military jacket pretty much goes with anything. Mix a girly dress with the hardness of a military jacket to give your dress a casualness. Or pair with any pant! I recently bought this one from Gap.

17. Find a dress with a classic, flattering silhouette and dress it up with some heels or flats or down with boots and a cardigan like in #3.

18. You can be the girl in the hat too! Add a little mystery with a classic hat.

19. A nice brown or black cross-body purse goes with everything and won't slip off your shoulder.

20. A good boot is essential to pair with your leggings or skinnies. Try a military or riding boot.

I hope that was helpful and inspiring as you start to collect your fall wardrobe!

If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments!

Happy shopping :)

Art for the sake of art.

Last summer when I studied at an art program in L.A., my printmaking teacher was very strict about what we were allowed to create in his class. Everything had to have a meaning or convey a message or social problem. I had wanted to make a block print of a design I had created. After I had started the process, he wouldn't let me finish it because "decorative things are not art" and we were not to waste our time on such things. 

A student then challenged this thinking with the response, "What about art for the sake of art?"

This was not an acceptable reasoning. Everything had to have meaning. I disagreed and quickly realized that this teacher was not one that I would share my innermost inspirations with.

Our 2012 Art Department Chalk Festival piece

Getting to my point, today I had my first class session of intermediate black and white film photography! I took the beginning class at the same community college when I was a junior in high school, so it is really nice that I can kind of dive into more advanced classes as a freshman, especially since my class has all types of advanced levels in one room. 

I believe I mentioned in the 11 things about me for the Liebster award that I took AP studio art my last year of high school. And that I didn't like it. There were several reasons, but the most important one is that it made me have a kind of jaded perspective of my work. It made me feel as though I was doing my work for "them" and not for me; for a grade on a national test and not for the love of it.

Since then, I really haven't picked up my camera or any art supplies for the sake of creating art. I take photos for this blog (believe me I do have tons of ideas that I haven't executed for this, but it's just not the same as for art!) and I make "crafts", but I have not made art. 

The closest I have come is experimenting with some block printing last week. But you know what, even just messing around with some true fine art materials kind of put a spark in me. It felt nice. And not forced. 

That's what today's class felt like. It was a community of photographers, of people (from 18-60) who want to be there to create, learn from others, and just share this love. It was like a breath of fresh air. I have been creatively falling and hopefully this class will be just what I need to find my footing again. Hopefully I will again be able to make art for the sake of making art.

P.S. I have loved all the encouragement and advice I have been getting on starting college! Thanks for the love, friends.
Hopefully later this week (when I get my bearings a little more) we can move on to more interesting stuff. I know you guys love the iPhone pics, but come on, you know I can do better than that!

XOXO

This is Marly wishing me good first day of college this morning. He is just so supportive.

My first day went pretty well! I must say though, I spent pretty much all of it alone. Even though my best friend is going to the same school, I didn't see her at all! And then the people I did know, I wasn't really friends with in high school, so I felt like it would be awkward to talk to them now. So by myself I was. Oh well. After my first class, I ran into a girl I was best friends with for the first few years of high school and my face just lit up when I saw hers. Finally someone familiar! We just said hello and then I went on my way. 

Though it is kind of a bummer to be staying home and going to community college, it's kind of nice to possibly get a second chance with friendships you had given up on. Who knows what will happen.

Big kid.

Hey guys, I start college tomorrow. College. Can you believe it? I can't. It is too surreal to wrap my head around. Nothing really feels different, but yet I feel completely unprepared for what I will be entering tomorrow. As you know, I decided to go to community college, so it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But it kind of is to me. I feel like I've just been thrown in to figure it out on my own. Definitely not like the first day of high school. Sigh. No orientation, no tours. I think it will be okay, but what a daunting thought to think. I am exhausted from work today (I had to work an 8 hour shift. Yay for my last day of summer) and need to get some rest and calm my mind. Wish me luck guys!

The Liebster Award

The other day, one of my lovely readers, Greta of Send by Owl, awarded me the Liebster! Pretty exciting and so flattering :)

The Liebster Award is for blogs that have 200 followers or less.

The word "Liebster" is German for kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, valued, cute, pleasant, endearing and welcome. It's a great opportunity to meet other bloggers and gain more followers. Such a great idea, right?

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you. 

3. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag with the award. 

4. Choose 11 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) and tag them in your post.

5. Go to their page and tell them about the award (social networks accepted).

6. If you have not done so already, follow the tagger and visit at least three nominees. Spread the love! And remember, no tag backs!

11 things about me:

1. I wear fake glasses. And pretend that they are real sometimes when people ask me.

2. I took AP studio art my senior year of high school and I hated it.

3. I really love shooting film photos, even more than digital. I just wish I took my film camera out with me more

4. I work at Lucky Brand Jeans.

5. I love having fresh flowers in my room.

6. It is my dream to have a shop in which I can have a studio to work in, run a photography business in, and serve tea and sell local artists' books AND have people feel welcome to sit on comfy chairs to enjoy their tea and art. All in one shop.

6. Last summer I spent a month at a summer art school in LA.

7. I love the ocean. It is especially magical at night.

8. I want to live in San Francisco at some point in my life. Preferably with my two best friends.

9. I have a fear of my dog dying. I don't know what I'll actually do when it is time for him to leave me.

10. I am a Nikon girl, for my film and digital. My digital is a Nikon D3000 and my film is the original Nikon F.

11. One of my photographs hung in a museum in Sacramento for a month.

 Questions from Greta

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging to share my interests and to document life with my dog, Marly. And I thought it would be a fun way to get to know different types of people from around the globe.

2. What does the title of your blog mean?

The title of my blog is comes from the song Dog Problems by The Format.

I guess I thought it would be kind of ironic for a blog about a girl and her dog!

3. How are you trying to grow your blog?

I am trying to grow my blog by making connections with other people in the blogging world, sponsoring other blogs, and reading other blogs that are relatively new like mine!

4. What is your go to website when you need a laugh?

The e-card section of Pinterest. Gosh those things are just so sarcastic and snarky. I love it.

5. What movie can you not wait to see?

I'm actually pretty excited to see a movie about surfing called Chasing Mavericks. I love surfing and surfing culture!

6. Shoes or Purses? Or something else?

Shoes! I especially love boots. I'm starting to get more into heels and wedges though, but I think it is hard for an 18-year-old to wear them on an everyday occasion. I feel like I'm trying to be older when I do!

I have some great purses too though...

7. One thing you have to do everyday?

Hug someone. Especially my dad. I just like hugs!

8. Favorite Fall Activity?

As a family, we used to go to a farm and have a picnic, get a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, and some candy and nuts from the little store they have.

9. Whats your weird/quirky obsession?

I really love Irish guys. After watching the movie P.S. I Love You, I decided that I needed to go to Ireland with my sister and we needed to find ourselves some cute Irish guys to marry. She's married with three kids, but you know... Details, small details...

I'd be okay with a Scottish guy too.

10. Favorite Beverage?

Arizona Southern Style Sweet Tea AND mango black milk tea with boba. Such a hard choice...

11. Favorite Meal?

It's a tie between enchiladas and chili with cornbread.

My awards go to:
The Magpie
Emily Lunt
Southern (California) Belle

Okay, So I know that isn't 11. BUT it is pretty hard to find smaller blogs! Most of the blogs I enjoy reading have a lot more followers than 200 and I don't want to just give it to random blogs!

So, here is my compromise. I want YOU to pick a few (or just one if you want) of my questions and answer them in the comments. I'd love to know more about my readers! Sound good?

The questions:
1. Where would you travel if money and time were no object?
2. Where is your favorite place to shop?
3. What is your favorite book (okay, or a few!)?
4. Are you a Mac or PC person?
5. The beach or the mountains?
6. What is your favorite season and why?
7. Favorite TV shows?
8. What's your favorite blog to read? (I always love finding new ones!)
9. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
10. Who was the best teacher you ever had and what made them so special?
11. If you could tell someone something you've never been able to say, what would it be?

Well, that's all folks. I look forward to reading your answers! Hope your weekend is going well :)

Hat - Lucky Brand

Sweater - Lucky Brand

Shirt - Lukcy Brand

Necklace - Lucky Brand

Bag - Lucky Brand

Leggings - Target

Boots - Steve Madden

Yesterday I took the train into San Francisco to meet a friend after he got off work. We walked around the embarcadero a bit and looked at the things he wanted to show me. I decided to take my hat on it's first outing. I like being the girl in the hat. It's a nice feeling. 

The weather was just as I expected; August but feels like late November. I kind of love that about the city. You can always get a taste of fall. It got pretty cold and windy as the sun went down, but we had dinner reservations and were able to escape from the cold. 

The restaurant we ate at was really nice. Apparently it is a more casual sister restaurant to a much fancier one, but this one was plenty fancy for me. I didn't understand half the menu, but the food was so good. We got some glazed peach with goat cheese brucshetta, a corn/bell pepper "jar" (which is basically a dip in a little jar with cracker bread), a heirloom tomato and watermelon salad (OMG), mushroom risotto, top sirloin steak, and brussel sprouts fried in duck fat (DUCK FAT. I did not like these), lemon olive oil cake with strawberries, and chocolate nemesis cake. Wow that was a lot. It definitely was a lot of food, but I really enjoyed trying new things. I would definitely go back!

It's nice escaping to the city sometimes. I feel like I can hide and blend in with the rest of the world. It is easy to forget the troubles in my every day life when I can just hop on a train and be in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world, in just a matter of minutes.

Happy Friday :)

DIY: Block Printing

I really love printmaking. Last summer, I attended a summer school for the arts, and was able to take a printmaking class! I learned a lot of techniques, but one of my favorites is still block printing. It is so easy and there are tons of things you can do with it. That being said, here's a DIY on block printing for you! (P.S. this definitely isn't my favorite design I've made, but I just wanted to show you the technique :))

Here's what you'll need:

These items can be found at Aaron Brothers or a fine arts supply store (I got mine from Blick). I don't believe Michael's sells printmaking supplies.

As far as ink goes, you can either use water-soluble or oil based. The biggest difference to note is that water soluble is easy to clean, while oil based is tough to clean up. I personally like the quality of oil based for my artwork, but when just block printing or for cards, water soluble is just fine!

And there you have it! A thank-you card or whatever you want. If you decide to have text in yours, make sure you draw it in the correct orientation! You don't want your letters to be backwards. Also, it is a good idea to use a wooden spoon or something else to help press the linoleum block into the paper so that the ink coverage is more solid. But anyway, those are just little things. 

Happy printing!

The system.

Yesterday while helping my dad clean out the garage and compile some stuff for Goodwill, I snagged some good stuff that was going to be thrown out. My creative side just can't let this stuff go!

My favorite item is this hanging flower basket. I really want to "upcycle" it in some way and make something cool out of it, but I just don't know what! I was thinking of painting it and hanging it in the corner of my room. I want it to have a purpose though and can't really figure out what it could be. A blanket holder? I don't need it to be a lamp. And believe it or not, Pinterest was no inspiration for this piece. Ideas guys??? I think it could be something pretty cool.

Candle holder! Again, I was thinking of painting this and maybe adding a design of some sort. Who knows. As I think more about this piece, I think that I don't need it haha. Perhaps make it a gift?

I'm really excited about these three little pots! I think I will paint them and add a chevron pattern. Grey and white? Sounds good. Who knows where I'll put them or what I'll end up making them into, but after a good scrubbing, they should be ready for a DIY!

Also, I realized today while taking a carload of stuff to Goodwill (Marly sat on my lap the way there. That's how full my car was) that 90% of the stuff we donate on a regular basis is stuff my dad found, kept around for a while, then finally decided we didn't actually need it (like I told him all along), AND THEN I get the job of hauling it all off to Goodwill. Well, at least we have a system.

My man.

Let us just take a moment to appreciate the fine specimen of a man that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become. My goodness. I've been a fan of this fella since the days he was on Third Rock from the Sun, and of course 10 Things I Hate About You. Things have only gotten better from there, with 500 Days of Summer and 50/50 (two of my favorite movies). But NOW, my man Joe is in The Dark Knight Rises. And OH MY GOSH. He was simply amazing, of course. I didn't even know he was in it when I went to see it last night, but when he came on the screen I squealed with delight and went "there's my man!" Anyway, I have never cared about the Batman series, but The Dark Knight Rises BLEW MY MIND. I was simply amazed. At everything. I highly recommend it, even if you haven't seen the other movies. Even if you don't like it, at least you get to see this handsome man, am I right?

My wonderful chair : Updated

So remember this chair I bought a couple months ago? Well, I finally got the space the way I have always wanted it to be! I got some shelves from Ikea to display some of my books and things, and then the little side table when I went to an antique fair. The paper lantern is also from Ikea and even though it doesn't provide much light, but I love the ambiance it brings. I just love sitting here on my laptop or with a book, drinking a cup of tea and cuddling with Marly. Just thought I'd share this transformation with you because it makes me pretty happy :)

DIY: Jewelry Board

I am pretty excited about this project! I have found a lot of different styles of jewelry holders around the internet (especially on Pinterest), and have taken little bits of some of them to come up with one that works best with my taste and my jewelry. I hope you guys like it!

I got the frame AND the board at this cool place in the city called Scraps SF for only $5! What a steal. Scraps SF is basically a thrift store heaven for crafters, artists, and people who like random stuff! I also got the fabric from Joanne's with a coupon and found all the other stuff in the garage. So basically this project cost me $11! Not bad, huh?

I got my dad's fiancé to help me with this part :)

Note: it is VERY important to make sure that the fabric is laying flat and straight in the way you want it, and that you pull the fabric tight around the board when you staple it. You don't want any droopy fabric on the front of your board!

I was originally going to use little hooks, but I realized that it would be very difficult to screw them into the board over the fabric and didn't want to ruin anything, so I went with thumb taks. I also like that they are clear. But I think that this board would look great with different knobs from Anthropologie or something!

And there you have it! A visually pleasing and functional way to display your jewelry! 

Let me know if you decide to try it! I'd love to see how yours turns out :)