Photography // A Growing Boy

Hi there! See that beautiful boy up there? He's my little nephew that you may remember from previous posts, like my sisters maternity photos, and another photo session when he was a lot littler (Part 1 + Part 2). He is getting so big now! These photos were taken a little over a month ago now and I had been wanting to share them, but I forgot! Thought I would share them now before he gets much bigger and they are out of date!

Photo sessions with him and my sister & brother-in-law are such fun shoots. He is always camera ready and his smiles put one on my own face. Can't wait until we shoot his 1-year photos next. Although, I really can because I don't want him to get any bigger!!

Even though this past month or so has thrown me for a loop, I'm excited to plan some new photo sessions with others. I only have one on the agenda for now, but hopefully some things will come together soon! I would also love to shoot another wedding or engagement photos in the near future.

Around December, I put together a little site for my photography. You may have noticed the little 'photography' tab up at the top of my blog. That's what that is for! If you haven't checked out my separate site, you can visit it here! I still want to buy my own domain for it, but for now it is a nice online portfolio to have!

Anyway, I hope your week is off to a great start! I'm on spring break, but unfortunately it has been raining pretty hard here today so I've had to stay inside. I'm looking forward to a nice dinner out with my family tonight though and a week of blog-worthy fun :)

Outfit // Spring Tease

Well, friends, here we are: I am officially on spring break! It has been a good day, I'd say. Classes were easy and I think generally things have "worked out" for me today. Do you ever have days like that? I feel like I do every week or every couple weeks, and I really try to notice and appreciate those small things for what they are. Isn't that what life is about?

I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow, when I will have my usual Friday morning to myself, and I want to use it to make a game-plan for the rest of my break. I really want to make good use of this time, doing going things for myself and giving myself some well deserved rest. I am definitely going to need all the energy I can get in April, and I think some down time over my school break will be wonderful for my soul. After my spring break, there are only two school/work weeks and then Dai and I are off to Japan! Crazy!
Can't. Get. Enough. Of. These. Sandals. Go to Target, now. I promise you won't regret buying the comfiest sandals ever.

In the meantime, I am really hoping it starts to warm up soon. Last week, and especially last weekend when these photos were taken, was such a tease. It has been gloomy and rainy all week, with just the sun peeking out every once in a while. Hoping all of that will clear up so that the weather can be wonderful for my time off and for my family's visit.
I think I am ready for dress season to be upon us again! Dresses are by far my favorite (jeggings are definitely a close second) and I am thinking that I may need to treat myself with a few new ones for this spring season and for my trip. I really love the bright blues of this particular dress and it saw my through a great summer last year! I am hoping to get into skirts as well, but I just always find them kind of difficult to style on my body. They either hit at a strange spot or the top that is paired with them needs to be tight around the midsection to look good, and that's not something I am really comfortable with.

Any suggestions for what to pair with my maxi skirts this season (& skirts in general)?

I'm just a happy girl on this fine Thursday and can't help myself from rambling on and on. Although, maybe that's what I do here every day ;)

Dress // Marshalls

Cardigan // H&M

Sandals // Target

Belt // Macy's

Bag // Madewell

A Peek Inside My Bedroom

The next few months are going to be quite busy, especially since it looks like I may be moving in the near future. Since it looks like my time in this bedroom is coming to an end, I thought it would be as good of a time as any to give you a little tour.

There are many handmade and secondhand things in my room. I made the jewelry board on the left (I posted a tutorial on this in my blogging days) and the crayon art on the right was a gift.

This leather chair was one of my greatest finds. It is the perfect size for Marly and me to cozily sit on, it even reclines, and I got it a garage sale for only $40. I also got the little side table at an antique fair. I wish that I had looked around more though because I think I paid too much for it. Live and learn!
This is one of my most favorite photos I have taken of Marly. I took this back in my first B + W film photography class, where Dai and I met :)

This vintage chair used to be in one of the dressing rooms at Lucky Brand back when I worked there. They were getting new ones so I quickly snatched this baby up. She has lived here ever since and I have become quite attached to her.
I also found this narrow table that I use as a bench at the end of my bed at a garage sale for only $12. I was super excited about this find, and even though it makes the space at the end of my bed a little tight, it is is worth it to me.

I hope that you enjoyed this little look into my bedroom. Like the "What's in my bag" post, I always think it is fun to see what people's personal space is like. I did forget to photograph my desk area, but next time I guess!

Looking at these photos has made me think of all the memories that are contained in these four walls. This room saw me through my high school years, which were filled with laughter, heartbreak, joy, sorrow, creativity, and adventure. You know, all of that teenage stuff ;) Though it is definitely bittersweet to be leaving this room, I am ready for a fresh start somewhere new, to have a more sophisticated style, and to take the next step in growing up. Whew, this life stuff is hard, huh?

What were your feelings about leaving your childhood bedroom? Are you able to go back and visit it?

West Coast Love // SF Japanese Tea Garden

Remember the other day when I talked about that proposal we saw? Well, it was here, at the Japanese Tea Garden in SF's Golden Gate Park! Though I had been to Golden Gate Park numerous times, I had never made it into this tea garden until just the other day when Dai brought me here. It was really the sweetest little introduction to what our trip to the real Japan will be like (28 days to go, my friends!) and the perfect afternoon date.

We had the greatest time wandering around every inch of the garden, stopping to take photos or joke around (maybe someone had a little too much fun ;) ). I didn't realize that it was as big as it was; I was expecting something much smaller and was very pleasantly surprised. I loved all of the lush greenery and the colors from the flowers in bloom.
This bridge was so much fun to walk over! It is extremely steep and there are steps kind of like a ladder to get up and down from it. It was a bit scary, but definitely a cool thing to do.
The sakuras are in bloom! They are just so pretty. Wish we could see them when we go to Japan, but they are mostly in the north, somewhere I am told we won't really be visiting. Bummer.
That's our reflection from the top of that steep bridge :)
And there you have it! I am sure you will all get sick of me talking about anything Japanese related by the time May rolls around, but guys, I am so excited for our trip! If Dai and I can have this much fun wandering around a garden that isn't even really in Japan, think about how much fun we are going to have when we actually get there! I'm a lucky girl to have such a great adventuring companion :)

Japanese Tea Garden // 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA

Outfit // Lazy Sunday

Hello there! How is it Monday again? The weekend just never lasts long enough. Yesterday, though, Dai and I spent a nice, lazy afternoon in the downtown area where we live and relaxed in a lovely park there. We had never really spent much time at that park, but I think it is now going to be one of our new favorite spots.

Since it was just going to be a relaxing day, I decided to wear something comfy and just some light eye makeup to keep things simple. I thought I would share one of my "lazy Sunday" looks with you since not every day is a "all done up" kind of day. Real life, you know?
I found this dress hanging in my closet, where it has been since the end of last summer, and was so excited to pull it out! It is flowy and comfy, and all around nice to wear. It was also perfect for laying in the grass with Dai and Marly without having to worry that I was flashing anyone (ha!). 
Also, I saw these sandals at Target a week ago, but controlled myself and didn't buy them. Since I was still thinking about them an entire week later, I decided that I could treat myself and snatch them up. I am so glad I did! They're the comfiest sandals and I think they will be great for all my spring and summer adventures.
Well, as sad as I am to see a sunny weekend go, I am happy that I have a new week in front of me and the opportunity to make it better than the last (last week was pretty crummy). It is also my last week before spring break, so YAY!! And I have some family coming to visit during that time, so things are extra exciting! I can't wait to play tourist with them around the city and take them to all my favorite spots, which also means that you all will get to enjoy some new West Coast Love posts as a result :)

What's your favorite relaxing, lazy day look?

Dress // Marshalls

Jacket // American Eagle

Purse // Lucky Brand

Sandals // Target

Sunglasses // RayBan