One month.

After this week, there is only one month that stands between me and a flight back to California. I've been feeling exceptionally homesick lately, and I think that winter break is the only cure. 

Life isn't always easy, and I certainly don't expect it to get any easier. I try to stand strong, often because it seems like there is no other option. However, sometimes we just need to admit defeat and go home. 

There's quite a long laundry list of tasks and assignments that I must complete before I am dropped off at JFK once more. While they seem daunting, I know that the promise of home will motivate me to take on every single one. 

I feel very confused and lost about a lot of things right now. Life doesn't always give us the answers or the reasoning to why things happen to us in the moment. We might discover these answers later in life, or we might never discover them at all. And that's ok. 

This quote by Paulo Coelho has inspired me with its pure honesty. We are the ones that decide what changes our lives. We make the decision as to what affects us and overtakes our emotions. I don't want to let frivolous things affect me any longer. I'm better than that; I'm stronger than that. 

I will make it through this month. I will make it home--and everything will be ok.

J. Crew November Style Guide

It's no secret that I love J. Crew. With Jenna Lyons at the helm, the retailer has become known for the impeccable styling of its pieces, especially in its monthly style guides. The perfect balance between preppy and elegance is always finely maintained, and the feeling of effortlessness is always present. 

What I love about the November style guide is how it seems to ease us into the winter, featuring my ever-favorite color navy and burgundy (a close runner up). While I love New York's reputation for transitioning to all-black, chic outfits in the winter, I wouldn't mind mixing it up with these more welcoming tones. 

J. Crew just may have me looking forward to more chilly days.

Edith Head turns 116.

Yesterday, Google honored the 20th century costume designer Edith Head on what would have been her 116th birthday. While I am a day late, I felt as though a proper tribute was in order. 

Costume designers and stylists alike typically go unnoticed--but they often have the hardest jobs in the fashion and entertainment industries. They create the images that become iconic in our culture. They create history. Head won eight Academy Awards for her costume designs that appeared in films like Roman Holiday, All About Eve and A Place in the Sun. 

Head was responsible for many of the unforgettable dresses and outfits that we associate with the Golden Girls of Hollywood. She worked for both Paramount and Universal Pictures. She regularly dressed and designed for Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor--yet so many today have never even heard of her name. 

People like Edith Head deserve so much more recognition than they receive. I couldn't be more delighted that Google decided to give Head a new life on their homepage yesterday. 

A Place in the Sun (1951)

All About Eve (1950)

Roman Holiday (1953)

The woman herself.

Fun fact: Edith Head is actually the inspiration behind the character "Edna Mode" from the Incredibles. Can't you just imagine her yelling, "Pull. Yourself. Together!"

On birthdays and milestones.

Yesterday was one of my best friend's birthdays, and it also happens to be yet another month anniversary for Kyle and I. My friend has always been the type of birthdays to think of birthdays as both happy and sad--she loves to dwell on the fact that yet another year has passed, and that we're only getting older. 

It made me think how interesting it is that we put so much emphasis on birthdays and other milestones in our culture. Today, girls are known to turn their birthday celebrations into week-long extravaganzas (yes, my friends and I are guilty of this) and couples seem to celebrate every week of being together. 

Perhaps we celebrate to avoid thinking about the time that is passed, or perhaps give these dates meaning merely as an excuse to throw a party. I love celebrating milestones--but I am also the type of person that thinks every day should be celebrated. 

I believe that even the simplest of moments in life can be made special if we take the time to cherish them. Every moment is fleeting--so why not celebrate? Throw on your party dress, add a little lipstick to your pout. 

Life is a beautiful thing. You will never be this young again, so have some fun. Every day is different, and should be embraced because of that. 

Sometimes I struggle with spending too much time wishing it away. And that makes me sad, because I will never get that time back. I want to spend my time being happy, and creating happiness for others. 

As my guest ballet professor said last week, "If you send out good vibes to the universe, they're sure to come back to you." It's time we stopped wishing away time, brushing off birthdays and anniversaries. These days are what remind us of the happiest moments of our lives--and why should we push those moments away? 

//image via Kate Spade New York's Pinterest

Things I adore...

Tory Burch's new home collection. Tory Burch is certainly taking over with the recent launches of her new beauty and home collections. I love her home collection particularly because you get to see more of her quirky side--these needlepoint pillows are so cheeky. Shop the full collection here. 

The new HarpersBazaar.com. The magazine just relaunched their website this week--and it is gorgeous. I could spend hours playing with all the elegant and innovative features. 

C. Wonder Friends + Family Sale. I have been a C. Wonder devotee ever since I scored the perfect navy quilted jacket with a hot pink lining for 75% off last Black Friday. I jump at the sign of any sale. I've been eyeing their sweaters, especially the adorable Scottie Intarsia. 

Something I don't adore: Conde Nast discontinuing its internship program. Conde Nast announced this week that it will be discontinuing its internship program next year. I can't even begin to say how disappointed I am--this is what I've been working towards since my freshman year of high school, when I decided I wanted to go to college in New York to pursue internships at the most well-known fashion magazines. Read more about it at Refinery29. 

Everything's going to be ok.

I've been dealing with a lot of unexpected stress lately. Oddly enough, it really hasn't been a result of classes or schoolwork. My life has simply been presenting me with strange surprises at the most interesting times--and it's definitely taking some getting used to. 

I've been making my way through these obstacles in stages. While I may not be able to hurdle over them, I carve my own path in due time. I'm learning how to accept different things in different ways, and I can feel myself growing because of it. 

While I despise vague blog posts and social media updates, I felt as though this was necessary. I needed to send this into the void. So in honor of one of my most beloved films, I say goodnight dear void. Thank you for listening.

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void."

-You've Got Mail (1998)

Things I adore...

Fall treats. Fall is my favorite time of the school year. Nothing is better than the crisp weather that's just perfect for pairing a cable knit sweater with worn-in boots. Lately my roommates have been coming back with plenty of treats from home, including freshly picked pumpkins and hot-out-of-the-oven apple cider donuts (which I love, and I sincerely lament the fact that we don't have them in California). Check out this homemade recipe on Say Yes to Hoboken. 

How (Exactly) to Look Like a French Girl. This beauty feature by Refinery29 is cheeky and cute (and completely helpful). Who doesn't want to look like a French girl?

SoulCycle. I've heard about SoulCycle from other bloggers for ages, but I've never had the opportunity to take a class. Until recently. One of my sisters in my sorority works at the SoulCycle studio in Scarsdale, and was able to secure a free month of classes for students at our college. I am in LOVE. It's so painful, but so exhilarating all at once. I am definitely going to mourn my loss the day these free classes end. 

The Sartorialist: Fall inspiration. The Sartorialist used to be the first website that I visited every day in high school. It was my style bible. I haven't been checking it as much lately, and it's definitely something I regret. I was perusing the site today and this photo resonated with me most--I feel like it captures the style I want to channel this fall exactly. Sign me up for grunge-y plaids, leather boots and paradoxical cable-knit sweaters. 

Think pink.

In the spirit of October and Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have been inspired by all things pink lately. These particular images from Pinterest have been causing me to pull the few pink pieces from my closet more frequently. 

What has inspired you lately?

Fall semester goals.

Fall semester is flying by. I can't believe next weekend is Homecoming (which I am beyond excited for) and that I am in the midst of midterms season. Tomorrow marks the two-month countdown until I am home for winter break. My mom is already telling me, "The end is near!" 

For the most part, I'm trying not to think about the passage of time. What I am thinking about, however, is what I would like to accomplish for the rest of the semester (or aim for). Here are some little (and very big) goals I have for the remainder of 2013:

-Learn how to French braid my hair. 
-Make every day a special occasion--live life to the fullest at that very moment. 
-Send surprise letters and packages to loved ones.
-Skype with my parents on a regular basis--whether it's every week or each month.
-Learn how to bake something new. (Pumpkin Banana Spice Bread, anyone?)
-Say yes to more unexpected dinners, study dates and late-night conversations. 
-Bulk up on basics: plaid shirts, chunky sweaters, and thick tights for winter. 
-Go camping for the first time. In Yosemite. With Kyle. 

Of course, this is only the beginning of what I could hope to accomplish by the end of the year. But for now, I think that's quite enough. 

//image via Kelly Cummings

Things I adore...

J. Crew Extra 40% Off Final Sale. Need I say more? Head over to the site fast, before all of the best pieces are gone! 

Matchbook Magazine. I have followed Matchbook Magazine since its inception, and with each issue it gets better and better. I am definitely a Matchbook girl. 

Recruitment week. Recruitment week is always one of the weeks I look forward to most during the semester. You're instantly reminded each night why you joined Greek life, and why you fell in love with your sorority. Accepting Phi Sigma Sigma's bid has been one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I can't wait to see how the best will get better tonight at bid night. 

Pompeii. I have been listening to all of Pompeii's music on repeat lately. They have such on-point albums that you can't help but listen to all the way through. It's the perfect music to study to, or relax to on a rainy fall day. Check them out on Spotify. 

Happy Friday!

Insta-crush: Stone Fox Bride

Every time Stone Fox Bride's Instagram photos appear in my news feed, I am overcome with happiness. The undeniably cool bridal shop based in Manhattan is my guilty pleasure. My favorite posts of theirs are when they photograph a client's engagement ring, and caption the photo with a quippy story about that client's proposal or the ring's ancestry. Check out some of my favorite captions below, and prepare to fall in love with SFB's adventures here.  

-"Asked her in their friends restaurant in Brooklyn. They've been dating for fifteen years."

-“Proposed in the morning in pjs. I said today would be a good day to get engaged. He went upstairs and got the rings, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was like is this real??? I started crying and shaking and we hugged and drank champagne and danced to a Beach House record.”

-"Got down on one knee in the mist in December on top of the Empire State Building."

-"He planned a trip to Paris. After a long day of walking around and soaking in all the sights we stopped and bought cheese, bread and some wine. We went back to the apartment and he set up a picnic on the roof. I turned around and he was on one knee, holding a piece of baguette smeared with cheese, with the ring on top and asked me, "Will you marry me?" I laughed and said, "Are you sure?!!!!" and, "Yes!!!"

-"Proposed at the summer camp in California where they met."

Creativity.

Sometimes, it feels like life gets in the way of what we want to do or who we want to be. Instead of being the very thing that inspires creativity, life stumps it. We become so caught up in obligations, so tied down by what we think we have to do instead of what we want to do that we forgo originality for getting the job done. 

Especially during this time of the semester, I feel as though I start to become swamped by schoolwork, meetings, events and more. When I try to come up with creative ideas for a new blog post or story ideas to send out to my newspaper staff, I am at a loss for words. The thought that runs through my head quickly becomes: "I don't have time to be creative."

Yet this is disheartening to me, because you should always have time to be creative. Creativity can strike at the randomest of times--and that's often when you get your best ideas. It's a matter of being open at any time to ideas instead of trying to force ideas to come to you. It's a matter of looking up instead of down at your phone. 

Last week, I wrote a column for my college newspaper (the Ionian) about falling into the 'busy' trap. I don't want to fall into that trap any longer. I want to be open to life and all that it has in store for me, and to feed off life to find inspiration. 

Every one of these tips is obvious. Yet sometimes its the most obvious things that we forget. Every once in a while, we need to be reminded of what's important. And I really need to be reminded of number 2, 8 and 10 right now. 

My creativity is one of my favorite qualities I possess. I shouldn't be suppressing it in place of "more important" obligations. It's a work in progress.

How do you stay creative when life gets busy?

The little things.

Lately, I have been in love with my weekends. My weekdays seem like they stretch on forever--oftentimes I'm out of my apartment for over 12 hours on the days that I intern. I'm constantly running from place to place. 

Yet when I walk out of my last class on Friday mornings, I couldn't be happier. A weight is lifted from my shoulders, even if I have many obligations to fulfill that weekend--there's just something about knowing that the long week has finally reached its term that's indescribable. 

Those long weekdays have also made me appreciate my weekends more. I treasure the hours that I get to spend lounging around my apartment in the comfiest clothes possible with my roommates. I treasure the extra minutes that I am able to linger in bed, cuddled up under my white sheets and white comforter with the morning light just barely seeping in through my navy curtains. 

What I treasure most, however, are the little things. I love when things turn up unexpectedly, and become something better than you ever imagined. I love when a movie night becomes a night of sharing stories over homemade guacamole. I love when my roommate and I both decide against cooking, and end up going on a date for Italian food and some spontaneous catching up.

Yesterday I called my mom, and we talked about absolutely nothing important for over an hour. I FaceTimed with Kyle before falling asleep. My dad and I exchanged photos of where we were today via text. I ran into my big sis at a walk for autism unexpectedly, and I finally spent time with my little sis after not seeing her all weekend. When I got in the car, my roommate who I hadn't seen all day gave me the biggest hug. 

These are the little things that matter the most. These little things are what put a smile on my face, and remind me just how lucky I am. As I lay in bed on a Sunday night typing this, I couldn't feel any more grateful. But I'm sure I will, and that is what excites me the most.

Happy Monday, all.

//image via bluepueblo.tumblr.com

Things I adore...

The Pacific Coast Highway. When I stumbled across this picture on Pinterest, I thought it must be the coast of a foreign country. Much to my surprise, I saw it was of the Pacific Coast Highway that runs along the coast of my very own home state. The PCH is easily one of the most beautiful drives in America--and this photo has me yearning to go back. 

Ernest Hemingway. I love all things Hemingway. He had such an interesting life, and its obvious that much of his writing stemmed from it. This summer, I read The Paris Wife by Paula McLain which is written from the perspective of Hemingway's wife, Hadley. It's a great leisure read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't know much about Hemingway. I love the quote above.

J. Crew Camp Socks. Acclimating to New York winters has certainly been interesting. Growing up in the state that has no seasons certainly did not prepare me for when I would have to walk to class in several inches of snow. During my freshman year, my mom came across these camp socks at J. Crew and mailed them to me. My feet haven't been cold ever since. They're currently on sale here. 

Domino Magazine is back! When Domino folded in 2009, I was just beginning to avidly follow magazines. I am extremely excited that they are publishing in print again, with the holiday issue due out on newsstands Oct. 8.  

Favorite find: The Cut's Paris Fashion Week

At Issey Miyake.

One of my favorite parts about each of the fashion weeks every year is the increasing amount of coverage on those that attend the shows. While fashion critics lament the rise of the attention-seeking street-style stars that cause nothing more than a circus outside the tents, I love being able to see what goes on behind the scenes at the shows and watching the "watchers" of the shows. 

Dina Litovsky captured many of these oddly beautiful moments at Paris Fashion Week for New York Magazine's The Cut. All of the photographs in the series are entrancing, and can be seen here. 

Here are a few of my most favorite photos: 

At Akris.

At Givenchy.

At Stella McCartney.

Obligations.

I can't believe that it is already the sixth week of the semester. Tomorrow, it will be October. Somehow time just keeps flying by, and it's hard to even realize it, much less comprehend it. 

Tests and homework have begun to pile up, and I haven't been blogging as much as I would like to. Yet I have to remind myself that I started this blog for myself--no one else. 

I have always loved writing in journals. Ever since I was a child, I used to ceaselessly look forward to the end of each day when I would rush to the littlest of notebooks to embellish upon the most mundane happenings of my days. Suddenly every playground conversation would become ten times more interesting, and what I had for dinner was described with delight. 

Yet I have always struggled to fill the pages of a journal completely. My writings would soon taper off, and years would pass before I opened the notebook again only to find that my last entry had been so long ago. I'm sure throughout my life I've started over 15 different journals, only to completely finish one. 

While I still keep a Moleskine for very personal thoughts and memories, this blog has quickly become my everyday journal. My place for taking down the most peculiar of musings, my favorite things and more. 

I do not write about my musings in hopes that someone else will find them interesting and this blog will go viral. No--I detail my thoughts in hopes of making sense of them within my own mind. 

So, I will keep writing. It may not be every day, but my writing will have meaning. And that's all that matters. 

Embracing the possible.

One of the greatest feelings that one could ever have is to feel as though you're headed in the right direction. It's the feeling when you breathe in, and are able to breathe out with ease. It's the feeling when the corner of your mouth turns up at the thought of what's possible. It's the feeling that motivates you to get up, get dressed, and get going. 

I've been experiencing this feeling lately. As I walk to my 8 a.m. marketing class, I don't seem to be dragging my feet as much. On the commute to my internship, I stare out the train thinking about what direction my life could take next--and what direction I will take next to make those day dreams a reality. 

Even though I definitely don't have it all figured out (by any means), it's nice to feel like I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with the future. This confidence, however minute it is, is allowing me to embrace the possible. 

I have grown to become more open-minded in terms of the career I hope to pursue, and where I hope to live after graduation. Somehow, this feeling keeps telling me that I will end up where I am supposed to be. 

Isn't it funny how much we as human beings trust our gut instincts?

These gut instincts are what motivate us. We begin to feel, to trust, that we are headed in the right direction and then act to perpetuate that feeling. This blind trust in such a vague feeling is more than just a fleeting hope or dream--it's you telling yourself that you can make anything happen. 

It's these instincts that tell you to embrace the possible. They tell you to keep going in that direction, even though the road may become rough along the way. They reassure you that you can trust yourself, even when it seems like everything else is falling apart. 

So trust your gut. Embrace the possible. Continue down that road that feels right. You don't need to have everything figured out to know that everything will be alright in the end. 

I'm beginning to feel less intimidated by my future after college. Even if my job prospects are slim and whatever else lies ahead is scary, I know that I will be able to conquer those fears (even if I do so in unexpected ways). I know that it isn't worth it to spend my time worrying--that I should instead be spending my time embracing the possible. 

Happy Wednesday, all.

Favorite find: Lorde's Pure Heroin

Photo by James K. Lowe

Lorde has skyrocketed in popularity. Even if you haven't heard of the 16-year-old newcomer, you certainly have heard of her song "Royals" which could be heard on any popular radio station this summer. 

I've followed Lorde for quite some time now, and I couldn't be more excited that she's getting the recognition that she deserves on the brink of the release of her debut album Pure Heroin. While you can't own the album for another week, you can pre-order it (done) and listen to the entire album at this link (and done). 

The New Zealand native's eerie yet addictive electro-pop songs are perfect to put on repeat on a rainy afternoon while studying or staring out a window (which I do way too often). Give it a listen before Lorde takes over the globe--there's no stopping her now. 

Get More: MTV Shows

This weekend.

Recently I've been trying to take advantage of more opportunities that are in my direct surroundings. Yesterday, I went to a New York Jets game with some of my roommates after purchasing discounted tickets through my school. Despite the fact that I am not a die-hard football fan, much less a Jets fan (49ers, anyone?), I had an amazing time. 

College is a time that exposes you to the truth that lies behind so many cliches. You can sit on the couch and watch life pass you by, or you can get up and live. I would have never pictured myself going to a professional football game two years ago, but I find myself asking "why not" much more than "why" this year. 

As always, Ferris Bueller gets it right: 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

I adore...

Sweater weather. Being that I'm from California, my childhood was largely spent experiencing only two seasons: summer and winter. On the west coast, the leaves do not change and pumpkin spice lattes are not an inescapable phenomenon. After moving to New York for school, I now treasure the fall season and the amazing transitional weather that comes with it. I will be wearing skirts and sweaters for as long as I can without the threat of frostbite. 

Julianne Moore covers InStyle. Julianne Moore is one of my favorite leading ladies right now in Hollywood. The media always likes to talk about aging actresses and how the profession becomes tricky as women pass their thirties, but I think this quote by Moore handles the issue perfectly: 

“I can’t complain. I’ve been pretty lucky. And I think the more we talk about it, the more we make it real. I hate being asked this stuff! Let’s appreciate where we are. Let’s not wish our lives away.”

Jenna Lyons' essentials. Jenna Lyons has completely transformed J. Crew. I love getting any chance to see how her mind works and what she's inspired by--check out this GQ.com feature if you do, too.

San Francisco. When my mind wanders, I find it wandering more and more to San Francisco. I've been thinking a lot about California lately, and this city that I may have a renewed love for. I love finding SF inspiration on Victoria Smith's blog, sfgirlbybay.

The best of moments are fleeting.

I know that I am an extremely sentimental human being. I fall hard for bouts of nostalgia. I melt at the sight of a scene that reminds me of one I once shared with a loved one. I spend an incomprehensible amount of my time daydreaming of days past and the days to come. 

Does this make me a walking cliche? Maybe. I don't think, however, that I am going to change anytime soon. Sure, I let periods of cynicism creep in. We all do. Yet I can't help but be overwhelmed by the amount of good that I've had in my life, even though sometimes it is easy to forget. 

It can be easy to forget when you're far away from that someone that authored one of your most favorite memories, from that someone that created the good in your life. It can be easy to forget when you get caught up in the everyday realities of life, despite that we try with all of our might to not let these mundane routines consume us. 

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of what we have, and what we have had. Memories can be painful, but those that are most painful are often the ones we treasure the most--they are the memories that tear at us with their fleeting nature. 

Yet it is always the best of moments that are fleeting. Otherwise, these moments would be completely normal. They would not be emblazoned upon our hearts and minds, causing bittersweet pangs of emotion.  

Every time I pull a certain sweatshirt over my head, I remember the times that he has worn it when we've been together. My senses are overwhelmed as they recall that exact moment--what his smile looked like, how he pulled up one of the sleeves, why we couldn't stop laughing. 

As I reach for a tshirt, I think of the all the times that my mom must have worn it while she was dancing with a jazz company in my hometown. I think of her determination to become a better dancer, if not for herself, for her future students. I think of what she was experiencing at the age that she wore it, which was not far off from my own age now. 

Memories do fade, but never completely. Sometimes, all we need is a helpful reminder. 

Favorite find: Fashion at Work by Teen Vogue

Becoming a Brand Manager for Moda Operandi with Jana Hofheimer

One of the best aspects of social media today is the ability one has to share the little-known, behind-the-scene facts of one's life. Of course, this can also be a very big turn-off. Social media gives anyone and everyone the power to share the most unnecessary information, creating the overwhelming amount of information that we are inundated with each and every day. 

This is precisely what makes finding gems like this video so exciting. I found Teen Vogue's "Fashion at Work" series quite a while ago, but they have revamped their Youtube channel since. The series features interviews with various professionals in the fashion industry, and the diversity of occupations is impeccable. These short three-minute videos contain more insight than any textbook, featuring both seasoned veterans of the industry and recent grads that have just broken into it. 

Each episode in the series never fails to inspire me, and is one of the few that I subscribe to on YouTube. It opens my mind to careers that I have never heard of or even thought of in the fashion industry. Be sure to watch some of my favorite episodes below, and catch up with Teen Vogue's channel here: 

Alyssa Reeder: Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue

Getting a Job in Communications at Diane von Furstenburg with Elizabeth Luby

London Fashion Week: Erdem Spring 2014

I love New York Fashion Week. I've always felt that it sets the stage for all of the following fashion weeks--that it's the true test of what we can predict to see on the sidewalks in the coming seasons. New York Fashion Week also seems to produce the most wearable ready-to-wear clothing. From 3.1 Phillip Lim to Kate Spade to Alexander Wang, these are the clothes that will have some semblance of affordability and practicality. 

Yet there is something special about the London and Paris Fashion Weeks. London seems to have a mood all on its own--defined by a city that has been known for the most unique of trends like punk, the collections that emerge from its runways never fail to instill awe in its audiences. 

Erdem has been one of my favorite shows to anticipate during London Fashion Week since the beginning of high school, when my love for fashion began. Its original prints are some of the most unique to emerge from all of the shows at the different fashion weeks--but it seems as though this season was different. 

The focus was less on intricate prints, and instead on unique textures and fabrics. Defined by striking black and white, the details of the garments stood out with grandeur. 

Here are some of my favorite looks: 

//images via Style.com