Thoughts on Cutting My Hair

I do this thing where I chop off my hair every year and a half or so. It stems from wanting a change. A desire to shake things up...add some spark to my life, as lame as that might sound. I went through a grueling six (SIX) hour long process last Thursday in an attempt to go lighter, blonder, and shorter. The initial result was wonderful, of course also in part due to my hairstylist's ability to curl and mold my locks into that oh-so-carefree wavy look. But yesterday, after holding out on my beautiful blowout for as long as I could, I finally shampooed and felt a twinge of disappointment.

I thought I looked akin to Helga, from the TV show Hey Arnold. As if I had a huge helmet of straw-like hair. A straw bob.

Prior to my salon appointment, I had joked to my boyfriend that I was either going to get a pixie cut or maybe even a buzz cut. But now, looking in the mirror for the first time post-shampoo, I almost felt as if I had lost my femininity.

What is it about long hair that makes a woman feel feminine/womanly/desired? It could range from societal norms to evolution and fertility to celebrity influence. The list could go on and on. For me, a huge factor is social media. Instagram, to be exact. I could spend hours scrolling through pictures of models, bloggers, influencers, fashion insiders, scrutinizing what they're wearing, how they're doing their hair, who they're hanging out with. And I come away from it feeling not inspired but discouraged, downcast, and wondering why I can't look like that and if I could perhaps change my look to that.

But one thing I've been telling myself more and more is to be present and stay in the moment, rather than lamenting the past or pining for the future. Hair extensions aren't an option and my hair definitely cost a pretty penny, so I might as well rock it while I can.

loving the goth, platinum blonde vibe

so summery and so 2017

January Jones off-duty

some famed Japanese model with a gorgeous bob

Mira Duma will always be my style icon. Especially because we're the same size.

cool girl-ish with 90's sunglasses

Are white socks a faux pas?

On Saturday morning, I was late for brunch plans and hastily grabbed a ball of white socks embellished with mint-colored cats on the front. Only after I put on my ankle boots did I realize the socks rose a tad too high and were in full view but, oh well. I was late.

On the drive to brunch, I wondered if I should have donned black instead or forgone socks altogether. Were white socks always a faux pas? Was it just as of now or was there a higher fashion gatekeeper who deemed them forever an anomaly? White socks bring to mind the dad look, which might just be back in style, or bobby socks paired with patent Mary Jane's, a la 50's fashion.

It's clear I'm not the only one with this conundrum. A Google search of "white socks fashion" brings up the frequently asked question: "Can you wear white socks with black shoes?" Answer: "Use white socks only with white athletic shoes, shorts, track pants and other active gear. Select darker socks with dark colored athletic shoes."

But who's keeping track? With 90's fashion trendy again and athleisure on the rise, I say anything goes when it comes to (socks) style. Especially if worn with confidence.

Hello, it's me.

An interesting post on edible book art.

I haven't posted in forever. Do you ever have those moments where you're at work and you think, "What the *#%@ am I doing with my life?"
I had one of those moments this week and I've been feeling that way for the past two months.
Not necessarily about work but just in general. I have little drive to create, write, document, or get inspired. Maybe its just a "phase" and I'll snap out of it somehow someday but I know I need to push myself to snap out.

What is it that I want to create? What is it that I want to write? I don't know right now.

Bloglovin

The bane of my free time as of now.


Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Lost in Los Angeles: Hollywood Bowl

Ever since I moved down to southern California for college, I've been adding to my bucket list of things to do in LA. Every time I crossed something off my list, I intended to document it but never got around to it. Lost in Los Angeles will be a weekly post dedicated to my wanderings in LA and more importantly, for the purpose of pushing me to continue to cross things off my list and experience all that the City of Angels has to offer.

Last Tuesday, my friend and I spontaneously decided to go to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We'd been meaning to go and as it turns out, Tuesdays and Thursdays are when they hold their classical music series. The tickets were pretty reasonably priced (about 12 bucks a pop) considering we booked them the day of and apparently, they also usually offer one dollar tickets. The day we went was when pianist Yuja Wang and the Los Angeles Philharmonic were playing. We packed a picnic basket, took a Lyft to the venue, and settled in our seats by 8 pm. Some hilarity ensued because my friend forgot to bring a wine bottle opener and unearthed a whole rotisserie chicken from her picnic bag. We carved the chicken while listening to Yuja Wang finger dance on the keys.
Around 9 pm, Ms. Wang took her bow, stepped off the stage, and the concert was over. My friend and I commented on how it was so short and that we should come back again. We looked around to see a lot of the audience still milling around so we took some pictures, poured out the rest of our wine (we already spilled half during the concert), and thought to be smart and hurry out before the rest of the crowd decided to leave. As we were walking back to the parking lot, feeling bittersweet that it had ended so soon, we heard an employee call out, "4 minutes until intermission is over!" We looked at each other incredulously and burst out laughing since we had been so set on leaving. We hurried back into the amphitheater and sat for the next hour, squirming and waiting for it to be officially over. The night ended with fireworks that accompanied the philharmonic's finale piece and we walked back, satiated and feeling slightly cultured.

crackers, chips, and said rotisserie chicken 

stunning at night

fireworks to end the night

Recently I

x Pinterest

ate my glorious version of a Greek salad
ingredients: feta cheese, lettuce, pitted canned olives, mini bell peppers, carrots, and the highlight: one garlic and herbs sausage- sliced

watched A Coffee in Berlin
This made me want to visit Berlin. I was really struck by how similar the German language is to English. I wonder if it's easier for native German speakers to learn English as opposed to other language speakers.

continued on that Berlin kick and read (and still reading) Freunde von Freunden: an online publication that showcases creative people of different fields who live all over the world. There are so many independent print and online publications these days but this particular one seems especially authentic and inspiring, not to mention diverse.

also discovered this blog and found that the blogger is a contributing writer for Freunde von Freunden. I love the way she weaves her personal writing, pictures, and interests into a blog that seems so uniquely her own and not swayed by the exhaustingly pervasive blogging trend of posting fashionable outfits and frivolous wants.

was struck by the quote, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." That's always the hardest part isn't it? It is for me at least. Showing up. Making sure to wake up on time. Making sure to be prepared, mentally and physically. Making sure to push yourself to get out the door no matter how much you're hating life at the moment. I need to remember to show up.

Ho Hum

I've been in a rut lately, sartorially that is.
I've always been a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. My wardrobe in college was chock full of oversized tees I could tuck into jeans, turn into a dress with a belt, and be ready in a moment's notice with just a pair of leggings. Fast forward to 2015. I am not by any means, ready to embrace the crop top trend (is it even still trending?) but one thing's for sure: I am so over this oversized business.
But moving beyond my whole conundrum with t shirts, I've been so stuck, period.
I open my closet and hem and haw until I reach for the same striped shirt/plain tank top/cardigan and decide to play it safe because I don't have time to take risks.
I veer from skirts (because I have cankles). I step away from maxi dresses (because I'll look even shorter and I'll have to wear heels and I hate wearing heels). I can't wear shorts (because, yet again, the cankle problem). Which leaves me with 3 pairs of jeans that have been in heavy rotation since forever.
With that in mind, here are some images I hope to use as inspiration for this week and hopefully the next as well.

I love Olivia's outfit and that of the girl behind her

Young Frankk SS15 line. That skirt is divine

I love her "just threw it on" vibe with a not-so-oversized tee

I say YES to this outfit in so many ways

How is her t shirt so perfectly cropped? And where can I get a skirt (and cat (!)) like that?

Shades, check. iPhone, check. Sneaks, check. Attitude, check.

Librarian meets goth meets prepster. Bam. 

This look is so LA and I love it