Inspiration // New Bedroom!

One thing that I am super excited about with this move is that I will have a new space to start totally fresh in! My new bedroom has hardwood floors and lots of natural light (my favorite!!), and I will even be able to paint it. I want this room to be a peaceful, comforting, and clean place to come home to every day after school and work. I want it to be my calming retreat at the end of the day and for it to really feel like my home!

For this space, I am picturing light grey walls, white, fresh bedding, and mostly white furniture, with bright colors pulled in with the decor, such as throw pillows, curtains, and wall hangings. I also want to get a cozy area rug to complete the room and to incorporate a gallery wall area. An inspiring and colorful (while also being functional) workspace is also really important to me because I plan to spend a lot of time there working on my school projects and blogging things!

I thought it would be great to compile some inspiration for my new room and thought that you all would be interested in seeing it! I must admit, I had a lot of fun putting these mood boards together :)




This past year has been quite the whirlwind and this move will be the third one in the last twelve months, but I'm actually really looking forward to it and am hoping that this new place will be one that I can stay in until I finish college at least! It has been difficult at times not feeling like I have a real home that I belong at and can be my long-term space to make my own. A sense of home is something I have been craving, so I hope that this place will be the first home I have created outside of living with my family.

I'm really excited to get started with prepping things, moving in, and decorating! I happen to have all of next week off of work, so I am going to use that time to get myself organized and get things going! And, of course, I definitely plan on documenting the transformation of my new space here on the blog :) Stay tuned for some 'before' photos!

What are your thoughts about home? Have you ever struggled with similar feelings? What do you think about my inspiration? I'm all ears for new ideas :)

Dream Me // Volume II

Happy Friday, friends! I am officially on summer break and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders! I have been exhausted all week and it took a lot to will myself out of bed this morning... Oh well, I get a free pass this week for needing time to catch up on sleep I missed while I was up studying for finals, right?

So, on to today's topic... Do you remember this post from last fall? The one that was inspired by my 'Dream Me' Pinterest board? Well, I really loved putting that post together and thought that it was time for another installment since I have pinned more images to that board since then!

If one thing has become clear through this it is that I love soft, quiet moments. This seems to ring pretty true to what I have captured in my fine art photography through the years.

I think that this board tends to evolve based on the seasons of life I go through. Sometimes I am drawn in my bright, colorful images of life, while other times the mood is more subdued. This board is not me wishing I were someone else or longing for a different life. I like to think of it as simply inspiration for the type of woman I want to be and how I want to spend my time. I want to be an independent, strong, adventurous, creative, thoughtful, confident woman and I want to see the world, laugh, read books, create things, appreciate small moments, all while doing it with style.

Now that I am relieved from the stress of school for a few months and will have a lot more time to do things I am passionate about, I figured that this was the perfect time to pull a little inspiration for my life together. Perhaps I will try to have these thoughts at the back of my head when I am deciding what to do with my time.

Really, I'm just so excited to have a break from school! That means more time for exploring, more time with Marly, more time with Dai (!), more time for blogging, more time for creating, more time for whatever else I want to add into the mix! It's going to be good, I can just feel it. I'm thinking of sharing some goals for the summer (& blogging) next week, so stay tuned for that!

Well, I'm off to go get pretty for work so I can head straight to date night tonight! We are finally going to Nopalito for dinner to celebrate the end of the semester (which I rocked, by the way) :) I bought a new dress on sale at Anthro the other day and it is just begging to be worn. Gotta go style that up and pray Dai will be in the mood to snap some photos this evening ;)

Have a lovely long weekend for all you Americans out there! I'm happy to have Dai to myself for an extra day!

Japan Inspiration

Hi guys! Long time no post, am I right? Not blogging makes me sad, but with my fun-filled spring break, I really just needed to try to focus on spending quality time with my family that was visiting me from Texas and now adjusting back into my school/work schedule this week has been super (not) fun. I'm glad that I did take that little break though and I now have a few posts from our adventures together to share. But first, let's talk about this Japan thing: IT IS SUPER CLOSE! Like 13 days away close!

I thought that it would be cool to share a few things that are on my list for us to do and see in Japan. I loved creating a post like this for when we went to New York and decided to do it again for this trip! I really didn't know much about Japan before researching for our trip, but I have found quite a few cool things to do! Hopefully we will get to do most of them, as I'm not entirely certain about the geography of everything and what is actually doable versus not.
Izakaya under the railroad tracks Yurakucho
This specific part of town under the railroad tracks is known for its street food and izakayas (places to drink and eat with friends, so basically bars with better food haha). From the photos I have seen, it just seems like a fun and lively place to be, and Dai has assured me that we will be coming here.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Apparently this is a pretty famous bamboo forest that I know nothing about. Surprising since I am such a bamboo connoisseur (let's clarify: sarcasm). Nonetheless, it is beautiful and I want to visit! (Tour Guide Dai says it is definitely on the doable list)
Soak in a natural hot spring
We are definitely doing this! In fact, we are spending a few days at an onsen (hot spring, but then also a term that can be used to describe an inn type place surrounding it [according to Google?]), so this will be really fun! Not exactly sure what the hot springs will look like, but I thought that this image was good enough for now until I get my own photos :) Can't wait to relax in some hot water!
Okama Crater Lake
I've been told that this has been crossed off the list for this trip, but I still wanted to include it in this post since it is beautiful. Apparently this crater lake is a little hike away, but also changes colors and is a lovely sight to be seen. Next time maybe!

Rabbit Island, Okunoshima
You are probably going to think I am crazy, but this is one of the things I am looking forward to most! Such a random thing you would only find in Japan, I know, but the whole concept is hilarious and ridiculous that I just have to go. I guess the story is that there is this island that used to be used for military training or something and now it has a large rabbit population. You can just go to the island and rabbits run up to you to be fed. Seriously, search for this place on Google Images. The rabbits are so cute and I just want to cuddle with a few (dozen). [I have heard that they tend to bite sometimes if you get too touchy, so don't worry I am capable of controlling myself. Maybe.]
Tokyo Skytree
Completed in 2012, (I believe) this building is the tallest in the world. Just look at it. It is ridiculous. For comparison, the Empire State Building is roughly half the size. I don't know if we will actually take the tour inside the building (depends if we feel like spending the money), but I am sure it is a sight to be seen from the ground as well.

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum
Here's another slightly random place on our list. Do you like those Cup Noodle instant ramen cups? This is how they make them! I think that this tour, while kind of off-beat, would be really interesting and fun! They even have an area where you can create your own custom Cup Noodle package to take home.
Contemporary Art Museum, Kiyosumi Shirakawa
I came across this on The Nectar Collective when looking back at places that Melyssa visited when she lived in Japan. I always think it is fun to take in a museum (besides an instant ramen one) on trips, and since the SF MoMA is currently closed for 3 years, I thought this one might be fun!

Nara Deer Park
Clearly attractions with animals are a priority to us (Dai is now talking about visiting a monkey mountain? I don't even know). At Nara Park, there happens to be a large deer population that you can visit with and feed. Dai has been in the past and tells me that as soon as you start to open food, they all come running. I mean, who doesn't want to hang out with some deer?
Yoro Park: The Site of Irreversible Destiny
I am not really even sure how to describe this place. As I have read, it is a park that was designed by artists and is basically filled with installation pieces that serve as parts of the park. You can climb and explore all parts of it at your own risk. The randomness of the whole place make it rather dangerous and I have heard that you are offered a helmet upon entering (good sign!). I just had to include a couple more photos of this place below since it is so interesting!
There's definitely much more on our list, but I hope you enjoyed this little look into our agenda! I am getting so excited about this trip and putting this post together made it all feel so much more real. Ahh!

Which of these places would you want to visit? Anything you know of that we should definitely look into?

P.S. Something not mentioned here is the possibility of going to a cat cafe. Yes, you read that correctly. I don't even like cats, but I am liking the idea of drinking a cup of coffee while petting some cats. I don't know what is wrong with us, but I don't want us to ever change.

Inspiration // Modern Scrapbooking

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If you are anything like me, you have folders upon folders of photos floating around on your computer. I have folders for each month and year on my desktop and other random folders that I just dump photos that I am too lazy to sort into. It is nice to know that they are all there somewhere, but it would be even nicer to actually have a physical copy of my favorites. Sure, I could get a bunch printed, but then what? I look through them when I get them, maybe plan to frame my favorites, forget about it after a few weeks, and then dump the pile into the current box in my closet that holds prints that I have done nothing with after I get sick of looking at said pile. To me, it doesn't really fix things.

I think there is a secret to it though. And that secret is scrapbooking. No, not like grandma style scrapbooking, but modern cool chic hip (insert whatever fun adjective you want) scrapbooking. I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. It seems so obvious to me now.

I was first intrigued by and introduced to this idea when I read Elsie's Scrapbooking for Beginners post on A Beautiful Mess. It is like a light went on and all I could think is yes, this is what I need. I love the style in which she crafted her book. It is photo heavy, incorporates iPhone photos and DSLR photos well, has personal handwritten journaling notes, is colorful, and so aesthetically pleasing. I am just in love with it, seriously.

After pouring over her post, I clicked through to other posts about scrapbooking featured on ABM, and also found a couple other posts I enjoyed from other blogs. One of these is actually one of my sidebar buddies, Ella of Paper Umbrella! I think the book she made for her boyfriend is just darling.

How do you feel about photos these days? Do you have a method you like already or are you considering something like modern scrapbooking?

Hope all my American friends are enjoying a day off today!

Inspiration // The Perfect Valentine's Date At Home

Happy Friday! I have the morning off and decided to start brainstorming some ideas for my Valentine's date with Dai. Since we are now going to Japan in April, we are trying to save money wherever we can, so we are going to spend Valentine's Day at home this year. Along with spending it at home, I wanted to do something nice for Dai since he is always surprising me with romantic and thoughtful things and has planned the past Valentine's Day dates we have spent together. It is my turn!

So, with that, I have come up with a few things that will make an epic night in.

Decor:
+ I am in LOVE with this super easy heart garland! I have been wanting to get a heart punch, and since I happen to have a Michael's gift card, this is the perfect excuse to buy one.
+ These red & gold heart nails from The Beauty Department are so cute. I am awful at doing my own nails, but maybe I can come up with something inspired by this!
+ This "kiss me" banner is adorable. Simple and to the point ;)
+ String lights and candles (not pictured). Nothing says cozy and sweet like a lovely low-light setting.

Dinner:
+ Not sure what I want to make as a main dish yet, but I have thought about making these spinach & pepper jack stuffed chicken breasts for a while.
+ These blue cheese and bacon stuffed onions look delicious! Super easy as well, which I am all about.
+ Dai and I have been interested in making roasted brussel sprouts for a while, so why not this night? This recipe is simple enough.

Dessert:
+ One of these days I would like to actually make decent sugar cookies, so I just may give these heart shaped ones a try!
+ I'd also like to try making crepes! Maybe with nutella, strawberries, and bananas as toppings? I think I'll follow this easy crepe recipe.

And to finish things off...

A fort & movies!
+ We have always talked about building a fort and watching movies, so I think that's what we will finally do! I'm definitely going to get creative and be sure to add lots of pillows and blankets to make things warm and cozy.
+ Dai has been wanting to watch Kick-Ass 2 ever since we borrowed the first movie from our hotel's DVD library in NYC, and I have been wanting him to watch Amélie, so this night we will compromise and watch both :) A bit of sassy and a bit of sweet!

Sounds like a perfect night to me! What are your plans this year? Are you anti-Valentine's Day or love any excuse to have a special night?

If you are considering staying in this year, I hope my plans inspired you to make your night extra cozy, romantic, & inexpensive!

Inspiration // Birthday Party

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As you may remember, it was my birthday just a few days ago! I decided to have a little get together this coming weekend to celebrate with some family and a couple friends. Naturally, I will take advantage of any opportunity to break out my Pinterest boards and get to work. Above is what has caught my eye for my party.

I am not much of a pink girl, but for some reason it is a color I am inspired by for this party! That as well as a nice orange and gold glitter, of course. I am happy to have people I love all in one place in my honor, but though it is going to be a small gathering, I want it to be festive and fun!

Any excuse for paper straws and a fabric strip backdrop (which I already made!), right?

Hope this week is going well so far. I'm back to work, but will be enjoying my last week off from school before chaos ensues!

New York City: Inspiration

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Hello there my friends! Today is exactly one week from when I will be heading to New York City with my guy! Seems a bit surreal that it is actually happening, as I have a couple essays to write, a project to complete, and a book to read and finish before I go, but IT IS HAPPENING. I am a lucky girl that got the morning off from responsibilities at the last minute, so here I am, typing away to all you lovelies.

(By the way, this top image and a couple others throughout the post comes from this awesome blog I found the other night, Living Out Loud. I really like Emily and her style!)

So, in the interest of day dreaming and excitement, I thought I would share a few of the things that are on our list of must-sees while we are in NYC. I have a giant list going in my sketchbook and this weekend we will hopefully make a tentative itinerary for our trip!

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Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. I see this all the time over on Hey Natalie Jean (formerly Nat the Fat Rat), and I just drool. With all the buzz this place gets, it seems to be a more hip equivalent to CA's favorite In-n-Out. Plus there's a string-lit patio, so obviously I'm in.

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Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I hear this is a must! It would be kind of sweet if it snowed while we did like in the photo above :)

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Chelsea Market. This is another one Natalie talks about quite often and I can't wait to check it out.

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9/11 Memorial. I think that this will be very humbling and amazing. I still remember exactly where and what I was doing when I heard about what happened, and how the rest of the day followed in school.

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Central Park. Duh. I even hear there's a carousel, and since I am a kid at heart, I just may beg Dai to take me on it.

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Grand Central Terminal. I hear that standing in this historic place is simply breathtaking. I also recall a black and white framed photo of this place on the wall of my high school English class that I would stare at and daydream about how beautiful it was. So it is on the list.

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High Line Park. This seems to be a super popular place lately, and I can see why from all of the photos I have looked at. Looks pretty awesome!

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Sit on the steps of the New York Public Library, because that seems to be the thing to do. Plus, just look at it. Puts any other library I've ever seen to shame.

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Visit the Empire State Building. Maybe it seems cliché, but I'm in New York and it's the Empire State Building, so...

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Visit the NYC MoMA and The Plaza Hotel. I love the SF MoMA (my awesome posts about it here and here), but it is closed for THREE years for renovations, so I thought I would check out NY's since I have heard awesome things about it. Plus, I wanted to take in a museum or two while we are there and this one seems the most interesting to me. I just want to go to The Plaza Hotel because it is so iconic and, well, because of Eloise. Plus it should be decorated for the holidays!

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Wander around West Village to look at pretty ivy-covered brick homes. Things like that are good for the soul.

And another thing... Can I basically just be Natalie for the week? I always just swoon over her blog and day to day adventures with her little Huck. I even want a little Huck one day. Or at the very least, can I just, like, you know, hang out with her?

Also, I have been jamming out so hard in the car to the beginning of this song. Old news, but you're welcome.

Happy Friday! I love you all!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my lovely Aunt Kathy who I know reads and cherishes this blog! Love you!