Purple Trees and Summertime Sadness

It's only two weeks into summer vacation and I'm already going crazy with free time. And I don't mean crazy in the good sense. I was supposed to take a French conversation course this summer, but it was cancelled last minute unfortunately. So, with my 15-hour-a-week job, and nothing else on my plate, I've had a lot of time to lounge in bed...and lounge in bed some more.

I used to enjoy doing nothing! But I'm so eager for the future to get here that long, empty days really annoy me. But more on that future in a later post!

So today, I decided to change up the routine a bit and attend a free yoga class on the bluff. Which reminds me: I don't like free time because I have very little money to make the most of it, I just never have enough! (But doesn't everyone feel that way?) I also did some power walking, while listening to Swedish House Mafia, and ran up and down a huge flight of stairs to increase the workout. Because I refuse to gain weight this summer.


Lately, these trees have been blooming with the most gorgeous purple flowers. They rain down blossoms and it's breathtaking. Who doesn't love spring/summer?!



You know you're growing up when being on summer break no longer excites you. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME?! Anybody else having this dilemma?

To continue with the theme of my post title, here's a little Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness.


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Paris Green Sweater + Neutrals

Rember that thing I used to do... when I would take photos of my clothing, and then post them on this blog, telling you where each piece was from? Something called an outfit post??

Yeah, I forgot all about those too.

The reason I haven't been doing outfit posts is simply because I wasn't able to pack my tripod, and it's extremely awkward to attempt outfit photos without one. If you've ever tried, you feel my pain. Trying to prop up my camera on a chair or table (or on a chair on top of a table), also making sure that it's pointed at the right angle, in focus, and lit well is extremely challenging and irritating.

However! I asked my new friend Katie if she'd take a few shots of me as we were enjoying the rare sunshine in the Parc de la Tour Saint-Jacques. There will probably be far less outfit posts than there used to be now that I'm in Paris, but that just means more posts on the city itself!

{I've been embracing the natural texture of my hair. And I loved the loose fit of the sweater. Two very French things. Also, I'm crinkling my nose, and I dont'really know why.} {I ordered these BDG Cigarette High Rise jeans from the Urban Outfitter's website. I was nervous they wouldn't fit correctly, but I've been wearing them nonstop! I also have them in black. The high/mid rise holds it alllll in} {Loved the open knit detail on the shoulder, I also loved the color, which reminds me of the green used in the film Amèlie} {I thought my dark red nails were a good contrast to the green. I paired the sweater with a neutral scarf to bring even more focus to the beautiful color.} {These oxfords I got at Goodwill have yet to be broken in fully, they're a bit tight on my wide feet, and made my Achilles heel sore the next day.}

Sweater: Tiny shop down the road
Pants: Urban Outfiters, BDG Cigarette High Rise Jeans
Shoes: Goodwill
Scarf: TJ Maxx
Nail Polish: OPI: Got the Blues for Red
Bag: Forever 21

Shades of Jade + Playlist

Every few months, new trends pop up. Usually, I shy away from anything too trendy, finding them gimmicky and bound to fall of of style pretty quickly. I tend to embrace trends that can easily be considered "classic."

This fall, I adore dark burgundy lips, oversized sweaters, and the color Jade.

Think of jade as an autumnal version of spring's mint. Like a dusty, moody mint. I love it. If I could find an oversized, thick knit sweater in a muted jade, I would be so so happy.

{Illustration by Coby Whitmore. I love the how the lace is done!}

Source: vggallery.com via Hannah on Pinterest

{The source says Vincent Van Gogh, but it doesn't really look like his work to me. Regardless, it's beautiful!}
{Image by Limonada on Flickr}

Source: blog.freepeople.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Recently I stumbled upon the music of band Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes. It's like the perfect mix of raunchy jazz/blues, 1950's pop, catchy rhythms, and girl power. Makes me tap my foot every time! I can imagine seeing them perform in a smoky, slightly seedy, red-velvet and leather underground bar/lounge. I would be sipping some classy cocktail, being all mysterious. Tell me what you think!

I also threw in some other similar music. This playlist symbolizes how I want to feel for the rest of my time here in Paris, like every weekend is a party, being young and having fun!

Happy Flowers

Just thought I'd keep this post simple, and share with you some photos I took of this lovely floral arrangement my mother threw together from the left-over flowers of a bouquet. The colors are so bright, they cheered me right up!

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Have you seen any bright floral-themed photos/products/blog posts? I'd love to see them, post a link!

Also, which would fit the best with my Etsy shop? I need some new images!

Color Palette - Peach and Green

Peach and Green: a slight variation on the Pink and Mint craze that is taking over an entire half of Forever 21's floor (have you been in there lately?!) This is a more muted, subdued version, for your viewing delight. The photograph is one of mine, and the clothing below are all items from asos.





I also love the metal-edged clutch. I've been seeing this on sandals and collars as well.



What do you guys think about this pastel craze? Metal-edged things?

Spring Has Sprung

It's official! Spring has arrived! ...at least in California (The flowers say so).

For those of you who live in colder, more seasonally varied areas of the world, I encourage you to live vicariously through these pictures of springtime blooms! I found these bobbing beauties at the Japanese garden (the one nobody knows exists) on my school campus. Many of these are soon to be posted in Etsy!

Enjoy!


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Which one do you like the most?

Color Palette - Sea Breeze

Color Palette time! I love these soft blues, browns, and taupes, so serene. I actually have this image for sale in a set of two in my Etsy shop! I thought it would make a great color palette.


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Doesn't that turquoise dress look really fuzzy and comfortable?! And that Anthropologie throw is calling my name.

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Clothing/Sandals from ASOS
Blanket from Anthropologie

DIY: Paint Swatch Art

Don't you love all those paint swatch DIY projects you see on Pinterest? Well, I've decided to make one of my own! Introducing Darla Dear's paint swatch art. It's super easy, and there are a million variations in color, composition, size, and shape, that no one will ever be identical.


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First off, I dug out my old paint swatches from an art class I took a while back. I painted these swatches using gouache paint, a highly pigmented watercolor, but if you don't have paint, or don't have the energy to paint your own (it takes a while), you most certainly can use the paint swatches you get from hardware and home improvement stores if you like.

Next, I cut each of my paint squares into irregularly-shaped ovals, which remind me of smooth pebbles in a river.


I then played around with composition until I found something I liked. I had to cut down my paper size to match the amount of color swatches I had. You don't want too much negative space, unless that's what you're going for.


Once I found an arrangement I liked, I glued each piece down, starting from the bottom and working my way up, so that each piece layered on top of one another like scales. I like art that has dimension.

I thought it looked a bit empty just with the color swatches, so I drew in some lines.


And, that's it! Have fun with this, and if you do any sort of art project, add a link to your blog post about it in the comments! I'd love to see your creativity! Happy DIYing! (as a side note, check out my nail! I painted them all fancy)



This is my first diy tutorial, and I'm afraid I may have accidentally left an important step out. If you have any questions, please comment!

(arrow in top image from hello vanny)

Old Subject, New Eyes

It's always interesting to return to a place you've been before with new eyes, a fresh perspective, especially for a photographer. It's amazing how a little change in mood, weather, time of day, or creativity can result in completely different images from the same source.

This second time around at Rancho Los Alamitos, I brought my zoom lens and got MUCH closer to my subjects. I absolutely love taking photos of nature, and capturing a separate, magic little world. I love searching for and finding the tiny universes within large spaces like gardens, zooming in as far as my lens will go and swimming through depths of focus amid a sea of blurred color. There's really nothing else like it - except maybe walking through dense fog, the fog being an unfocused image, and my journey through the fog being finding the perfect focus.








The only issue I've run into is that my zoom lens doesn't auto-focus (it's broken), meaning I have to manually find the exact focus by turning the dial. I mostly enjoy this aspect, it feels more organic, fluid, and creative. The downfall is, it's really difficult to see such tiny details in the viewfinder, that I often don't get things in perfect focus. At times this can be a bit frustrating. Am I the only one who has this problem? I'm not sure what I can do to fix it, and I can't even remember when the auto-focus broke! It's like it's always been broken!









Which one(s) do you like the most? And since I'm always trying to improve, how do you think your least favorite images could be improved? I can always use honesty and constructive criticism :)

Cute as a Button

Every time I drive to work, I pass this little antique shop, with sparkling lights in its large windows, through which I see glimpses of the cutest. shop. ever.

FINALLY, after months of driving past, I scavenged a parking space and paid a visit to the store. Boy, had I been missing out on something special. Not only does she have a great selection, but her prices are fantastically affordable. The one thing I like (yet mostly dislike) about antique/vintage stores is the tendency to overstock every square inch of space with stuff, but her shop was refreshingly well-visually displayed. She also runs an Etsy! Rustic and Refined

While there, I bought some milk-glass vases, some decorative glass candle holders that look like curvy test tubes, a beautiful frame that looks like gold lace, some wee little doilies, and a myriad of buttons. All of these things I bought as photo props, to better experiment with Still-Lives (Lifes?), you see.

As of yet, I have only explored the buttons, placed upon the doilies and a few of my favorite dresses with their colorful prints.









These aren't buttons, although they would make any blouse proud, they are in fact earrings, which I bought from Francescas!