Trip to the Getty Villa

I'm happy to say that I am now done with my summer classes. This weekend has been enjoyable thus far. I've been catching up with friends and eating good food.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Getty Villa in Malibu. I went on the last day of their Aztec Exhibition; they definitely brought in some note-worthy pieces. The Aztecs were known for their human sacrifice rituals, and so their huge statues with enlarged organs reflected that.

I would highly recommend that you visit the Villa if you get the chance. Admission is free; you just have to make reservations in advance online. I feel like I am in Italy when I visit.

BE Ok

I love this MV. I love Ingrid Michaelson.

Blue Lips

Blue lips, blue veins
Blue, the color of our planet
From far, far away
Blue lips, blue veins
Blue, the color of our planet
From far, far away

Blue, the most human color

-Regina Spektor

I was listening to this song while walking, and I think it's one of most beautiful yet simple songs ever written. I just grabbed some old photos that reminded me of the lyrics.

Lookbook

Sometimes I save images onto my desktop of photos I really like. Here are some of my current favorites:

I've had this as my desktop since freshman year of college. Yikesabee. That's a long time. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it because I love Feist and the scene is so peaceful.
(Forgot where I got this, but she is so elegant):

My Kate Spade flats that I bought off ebay:

From my camera phone: A tree blocking the street

Camilla Belle:


From Garance Dore

From Sartorialist (maybe this will be my next haircut):

TGIF. Have a wonderful weekend.

Tres Chic

Paris, when it sizzles. . .





Www.style.com is a great resource for current fashion inspiration. Top-notch photographers such as Scott Schuman share their amazing skills at capturing wonderful fashion moments. I just like to oogle at the pretty dresses and towering heels that fashionistas seem to effortlessly wear. I can barely pull off wearing 2 inch heels. Perhaps I just need more practice, but I think I'll just stick to my flip flops for the time being. These nude dress are so avant-garde and so French. I don't even know how to speak French, but these photos just make me want to speak the language and eat buttery croissants. If only I can fly off to Paris for a day or two...

Photo credits: www.style.com

Summer Livin'

I've been trying take it easy the past few days. I finished a test last week, so I decided to take a break. I went to the gym, did a little shopping, and listened to Leona Lewis' Echo. And today I treated myself to a skin care facial. I can't stand the pain of extractions, but summer is not good to my skin. Afterwards, my mom and I headed out to Nickel Diner, located in Downtown Los Angeles. We tried their famous Smac and Cheese and Maple Syrup Bacon donuts. Rich and decadent. The waiting line can get long so it's best to go earlier than later. Plus my mom told me the last time she came here they ran out of their popular donuts!

Here are my recent buys:



Cardigan: Nordstrom. Necklace and earrings: Forever 21.

Side note: It bugs me that I can't seem to rotate the bottom picture counter-clockwise. Ah well.

Cute Music Video

Just wanted to share with you a cute music video "As a Man" by Gummy, a Korean pop singer.



Starring actress Jung Ryeo Won and Kim Hyun Joong.

Dance Dance

A blog post by Adore Vintage reminded me of my favorite dancing scenes on screen. Now thanks to Youtube, we don't have to whip out our DVDs and fast forward to our favorite scenes.

Duckie dancing in a record store. I love his energy and pizazz.



Singin' in the Rain. Real talent, a rarity nowadays.



Have a blessed week!

One Step At a Time

San Francisco homes

Presidio, the Palace of Fine Arts

Sausalito

While I am at home running errands and taking a class, some of my friends are on vacation! They must be having a great time. A former professor of mine once told my class that she liked to live vicariously. I think that is true for many. That's why I like reading blogs and oogling over travel photos.

A few months ago, I went to San Francisco with my mom and brother. We stayed at the Fisherman's Wharf and tried out various restaurants. Some of my favorites include: Good Mong Kok Bakery (delicious dim sum at inexpensive prices) and the Boudin Cafe (rave-worthy clam chowder in their sour dough bread). I am not particularly picky with food; I eat just about anything that's healthy and/or delicious. We were in the mood for some Chinese food, so we headed out to R & G Lounge. They did not disappoint; good food, fast service, and a warm ambience. I really liked their R&G Special Beef.

If you can't venture out for a vacation, no worries! A day trip to the beach or hiking a local trail will suffice. I read in an Elle magazine that it doesn't matter if you go or not - planning a trip will boost your happiness. How wonderful is that?

Anne Frank: Writer

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! A fellow blogger asked about my Cambodia photos awhile back. Here is a link to my post on my volunteer trip: http://carolinekphotography.blogspot.com/2009/12/siem-reap-cambodia.html

Enjoy!


“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

Photo credit: www.annefrank.org

Happy 4th of July!

Hooray for the weekend! I studied all week, and took a test today. I thought my head was running around in circles, but a walk around the neighborhood helped clear my head.

Summer is here, and that means super oily skin. So I changed up my skin care routine a bit. A few key things I've been trying to stick to: exfoliate, treat, and moisturize. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to taking care of my skin, but after a desperately needed trip to a skin care facialist, I was reprimanded. I avoided acne-medicated products for awhile because I have sensitive skin. However, the facialist recommended that I use something. So I am using Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash. My brother left it at home, and I didn't want to bother going to the drugstore. It does a good job of gently exfoliating the skin without stripping away moisture. Plus, I'm noticing less whiteheads.


A clean, healthy complexion is essential!

5 Ways to Relieve Stress

Currently, I am taking an online class. It's very time-consuming and requires a lot of self-discipline. On the top of that, I am getting stressed out and feeling a bit tense because I have a bunch of questions to answer and a test to study for! (My little rant.) So here are a few tips I follow to de-stress. Hope this helps when you're feeling stressed.

1. Meditate - It's important to take the time to stop whatever you are doing and take a couple deep breaths. Working harder won't make you any less stressed out. Pray, do yoga, or some simple meditation techniques to relax and rejuvenate.

2. Watch TV - or do anything to take your mind off of whatever is bothering you. Laughing is good for the soul and body.

3. Exercise - This is really important. No matter how hectic you're schedule can get, taking a brisk walk or jog around the neighborhood does wonders to clear your head. I like to walk daily because I often think of solutions to problems this way. You can also head to your local gym. Sometimes I go with my mom, and we share helpful tips with each other.

4. Sleep - Sometimes you're just running low on fuel. Even though you think you're fine, it's just the adrenaline talking. So sleep it off!

5. Talk it out - with a friend or family member. They usually can bring a new perspective to your problem and can offer solutions that you didn't think of.

How do you relieve your stress? I will leave you with some photos of a bear and how he solved his dilemma. He got stuck in Rainbow Bridge, but after some sleep and the help of a rescue team he landed safely on the ground. I received this from my supervisor last year, and I always think of it when I'm feeling overwhelmed. Hey, sometimes sleeping solves the solution!




Photo credits: unknown