A room of my own.

This year, I finally moved off campus after living in a 10-person suite during freshman and sophomore year. My roommates and I were growing seriously tired of (cramped) dorm life, and we were ready for this next step. 

Many students at my college choose to live in houses once they move off campus, but the six of us decided that an apartment may be more suitable for us. We are already in love. It's spacious, bright and already feels more like home than the cold, white dorms.

It is a three bedroom apartment, so we all doubled up. I was more than okay with this since I have been on the top bunk for the past two years. It's so nice to finally just lay in bed without worrying about hitting your head or having to climb down a ladder in the middle of the night...

I came back to school early with my mom to buy furniture for my room since I couldn't have it shipped from California. After a grueling drive to a New Jersey Ikea, about five trips to Target in five days and plenty of furniture assembly, I had completed my room. 

I couldn't be more in love. 

What do you think of my room?

I adore...

NYC Grid. NYC Grid is fascinating. The website catalogues now and then photos of New York City, and places a yellow handle in the middle of the split photo to allow the user to drag to see one photo more than the other. 

Amanda Catherine Designs. I have a penchant for old-fashioned pencils. I think there's something romantic about them, even though I hardly use them. I would love these as a gentle reminder on my desk--work hard and be kind is my mantra. If I were to buy these, I would have to pick up several other sets by Amanda.

Warby Parker. I have adored Warby Parker for quite some time now. It's impossible not to--with $95 frames, endless choices and their mission to give a pair every time one is bought is incredibly attractive. This past weekend I was shopping with my mom in SoHo and stumbled across their showroom... needless to say the Wilkie in Whiskey Tortoise will soon be on my doorstep.

Madewell's fall collection. I am in love with the Madewell girl. She seems to be just the right mix of effortlessly casual and elegant. Their new fall collection only proves this more, and the styling is impeccable. As a California girl, I love the incorporation of Vans with some of the higher-end pieces. And I also love the theme of 'Wildly Simple.'

Happy Friday! 

Favorite find: Dormify.com's new sorority line

I haven't mentioned this on the blog yet, but I am a sorority woman. I am a proud sister of Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority at the Delta Nu chapter. 

Joining a sorority completely transformed my college experience, and I still believe that's it's been one of the best unexpected decisions that I've made thus far. In high school, I believed every misconception that existed about sororities, and swore that I could never see myself in one. Yet here I am today. 

Every chapter is different at every school, so it's understandable why some are weary of Greek life. Sororities can be intimidating as a freshman, but there is so much more to them than their stereotypes. If found, sisterhood can be one of the most rewarding relationships that you have. These women become so much more than an acquaintance--they will do anything for you. 

On a lighter note, one of the best perks of being in a sorority is all the apparel and accessories that you can wear to display your pride. I love finding unique ways to represent my sorority through what I wear--which is why I was so excited when I was told that Dormify added Phi Sigma Sigma to the 17 other sororities that they create clothing and accessories for. 

Dormify's new Greek line is impeccable--it's full of unique accessories, clothing and other items that you can't find anywhere else. Their sorority clothing and jewelry is understated and actually wearable instead of tacky and cliched. 

Check out some of my favorite items below:

Phi Sigma Sigma Metallic Slouchy T-Shirt $25

I Heart My Sorority Cuff $25

Be sure to check out the new line if you're a sorority woman as well, and keep up with Dormify's blog about college lifestyle (which I also write for).

Lost connection.

For the first five days that I was in my apartment, I didn't have Internet. It was a shocking revelation. 

I have an addiction. A dependency, if you will. Yet what I found more intimidating is how dependent our entire world is on the Internet today. We have found a means to connect to anyone, anywhere instantly; we are certainly not going back to the days of handwritten letters. 

I am one of those people that leaves my MacBook on at all times. I have my iPhone practically glued to my hand. It was truly frightening to feel how painful it was reaching for my laptop to answer an email and realizing that I simply couldn't.  

I drove to several cafes and Starbucks to complete some necessary tasks--but it oftentimes felt like reaching wifi was a matter of life and death. It's always scary to realize how completely attached you are to something, to know that you cannot function normally without it. 

Yet the Internet and technology is not something we can break away from. It has become embedded into every aspect of our society. We need it to work, to live, to breathe. 

But for those few days that I was unplugged, it was also relaxing. It was calming to know that I could just focus on moving in and spending time with my mother. As much as my anxieties about loose ends plagued me, I found that taking a technology break was most needed. 

While I could try to promise to make myself unplug more often, I am choosing to realize that it's impossible. What's needed is more of a balance--not completely unplugging, but choosing to be in the present. I don't need to be on my laptop everytime I watch a movie with friends or answer a text the second I receive it in a meeting. 

The Internet is an irreplaceable tool. It shouldn't be an addiction. We must choose to use it wisely, at the proper time and in the proper place. Unplugging every once in awhile could be exactly what we need. 

The learning curve.

This past week, I moved into my first apartment. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was graduating high school and going dorm shopping in preparation for my big move across the country. 

It's definitely been a learning experience, and after this week I know that it's only the beginning. Luckily, my mom flew back with me to assist me in buying all my furniture (since it would be a fortune to attempt shipping things from home). I honestly don't know if I could have done it without her, and I appreciate her so much for helping me take this next step. 

It's very strange, getting older. Naturally, there are more responsibilities that come with age. While we try to resist them, they no longer magically disappear or are simply taken care of by our parents. It's a process of acceptance, like so many other things in life. 

Most of the time, encountering setbacks when living on your own in your own place is like running into a brick wall. Discovering that everything does not always fall into place stings and continues to burn, but you have to move past your frustration in order to accomplish anything. 

You have to jump over the brick wall. 

And sometimes, summoning the energy to jump is difficult. We want to rip our hair out, cry and demand help. Yet taking these little leaps is what allows us to grow. By conquering these little frustrations, we can move on to solve bigger problems and accomplish more lofty goals. 

Growing up is certainly a learning curve--but that's life. We never stop learning, and if we do, I strongly believe that we stop living. Nothing good ever comes easy, which is why we must persevere. 

There are many things in life right now that are frustrating, but I am determined to push through them head first. I am embracing the learning curve, and I am ready to conquer it. 

PS: My room is almost complete, and once it is, I'll share photos on the blog. Happy Monday!

I adore...

Tory Burch. I love reading about inspiring and successful businesswomen. I have always been fascinated by Tory Burch's story, and I highly recommend this profile by the New York Times.

Pops of pink. As I am decorating my new room, I find myself drawn to pops of pink. I love this Etsy shop that offers completely personalized watercolor prints. 

This speech by Ashton Kutcher. It is a completely inspiring speech from an unexpected source. "So build a life. Don't live one--build one." 

Navy blue riding boots. Can you tell I love Tory Burch? I love that these classic riding boots are made fresh by their navy blue color. Navy or nothing is my motto. 

Happy Friday!

When it's time to say goodbye.

Saying goodbye to someone is one of the strangest, most difficult exchanges one can have as a human being. Of course, I am not one to believe in goodbyes. I will always be the one to correct a friend or loved one: "I'll see you soon. Don't tell me goodbye."

Yet it's difficult to convince yourself that you'll see someone soon, when the logical half of your brain says that four months isn't quite what one would define as "soon." The emotional half attempts to quash theses all too real thoughts--you suppress the inevitable tears and reassure yourself that it is going to be okay. After all, what would you do if it wasn't okay? 

Goodbyes are thought-provoking because you can't dwell on them. You expect such an exchange to be lengthy and emotional. A goodbye should have meaning, it should be memorable. 

But I've learned that you can't force something to be meaningful. Much like New Year's Eve or birthdays as we grow older, goodbyes typically fall short of our expectations. We expect them to be cinematic, with our hair blowing in the wind as our companion launches into a poignant monologue about how much they will miss us. 

We attempt to dismiss these expectations as silly and cliche (that's the logical part of our brains speaking again). Yet as you turn away from the one you're with, you can't help but wonder: is this it? 

This is the part of your story where there should be a climax. You've been thinking about this moment for weeks. You've been trying to spend as much time as possible with those you will soon be leaving, with the thought in the back of your brain that they will be too far away too soon. 

Yet once the time arrives, all that's left to do is say goodbye. You stand there with your arms hanging by your sides, exhaling with a heavy sigh and wonder what else you can do or say. You repeat yourself over and over, trying to console yourself as much as the one you're with. 

Ultimately, you realize that you simply have to let go. Hold on any longer, and you're merely inflicting more pain upon yourself and the one (or many) you love. 

It's like ripping off a band-aid. 

Do it quickly. The pain rushes in, fast and burning. It will linger, but you will not suffer the same numbing pain that comes with a drawn-out goodbye. There is a time to cry. That time is most certainly now. You must not torture yourself. It does not do well to dwell on such a moment; dwell instead on the happy ones. You made those memories for a reason. 

One thing is certain. Goodbyes never get any easier, no matter how many times you say them. Ripping off a band-aid hurts just as much at 63 as it did when you were 3. Yet they do make us stronger; they make us realize what we are leaving behind, what we are so lucky to have and what we will return to. 

I'll see you soon.

//image via Olivia Bee photography. 

Sunday wisdom.

As I leave on Tuesday for New York, I plan on spending my Sunday surrounded by the ones I love and of course, plenty of laughter. I've been quite busy packing and making sure I see everyone that I need to see before I depart, which is why I am leaving you with such a simple and short post. 

Yet sometimes, simplicity is all we crave. Give me a sunset and a smile, and I'll be one happy girl. Make sure you laugh today with someone you love. 

Take the time.

Lunch yesterday with my dad at CArtHop.

With every moment that passes, I realize more and more that it's the little things that matter the most. Perhaps my most favorite thing in the world is when I can make someone else smile; it doesn't get any better than that. 

Going to college across the country has been nothing short of a humbling experience. I have grown to learn that the most important thing you spend is not money but time. Even if you can only give someone a few moments of your time, it's automatically better than any present you could buy.

Time is irreplaceable. You can't get it back if you wasted it. You must spend it wisely. 

By giving someone a moment of your time, you're showing that you care. You're showing that they mean something to you. You're spreading love, in its most basic form. And I believe that's the greatest thing that we can do in life, spreading love. 

These days, it seems like its increasingly difficult to manage our time. We believe we never have enough, and yet we still find ourselves spending it on things and people that we could care less about. We become so obsessed with reaching a certain goal, or an ideal life, that we lose sight of what has and continues to support us. 

We look ahead instead of looking around us. 

In my final few days of summer on the west coast, I am trying to spend my time wisely--by spreading love. Family and friends come first. They are my heart, my home. The least I can do is give them a moment of my time. 

I adore...

Decorating with pink. Lately, I've been loving the trend of pink accents in interiors. Lonny Magazine's slideshow has inspired me to incorporate the color into my bedroom in my new apartment (with lots of white and grey as well). 

Woody Allen's life lessons. Esquire Magazine recently did a feature on Woody Allen and what he's learned over the 77 years of his life. I particularly like his point about showers. 

Eva Chen for Lucky Magazine. I have been in love with Eva since her early days at Teen Vogue. After hearing her speak at Teen Vogue Fashion University my freshman year, she became my ultimate role model. Now, she's being heralded as the first Editor in Chief of our generation by the New York Times. Read her first editor's letter for Lucky here. 

Lara Casey. I love everything that Lara Casey does. From her constantly inspirational blog, Southern Weddings Magazine, and so much more, she never fails to remind me how beautiful life is and how we can work to make it even more beautiful. Make life happen. 

Happy Friday!

August.

A week or so ago, I came across the phrase, "August is to summer what Sundays are to the weekend." Nothing has rung so true for me in quite some time. 

Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week--but the feeling of overwhelming dread is also often inevitable after crawling into bed on a Sunday night. Sundays are meant to be long and lazy--a day of enjoyment and a moment to breathe. Sundays are partnered with homemade pancakes and drives to nowhere. Yet Sundays are also the bittersweet signal that ends the rushed weekend. 

August signals the dog days of summer. Somehow, sunsets seem to take just a little longer to fade. There's a bit of sadness about them, like they're trying to warn you that you won't be able to enjoy many more until next year. The days blur together as they become filled with last-minute lunches and family vacations. Summer's end is on the horizon. 

August has become difficult for me. As I try to soak up the last sun-drenched moments of summer, the thought of my inevitable cross-country venture lurks in the back of my mind. Part of me reminds myself of how much I love autumn in New York, how I can't wait to see all my friends again and move into my first apartment. Yet another part of me wants to run in the opposite direction, determined to reach out for one last California sunset with a certain someone by my side. 

August is bittersweet, like so many other things in life. I think that I've grown to appreciate that bittersweet feeling, however. This summer, more than any other, I've learned from those nearest to me that these feelings shouldn't be repressed. There's a time to be happy, and there's a time to be sad. 

Most importantly, now is still the time to be happy. Now is the time to enjoy moments with those that I love the most. It's time to be here. Now. 

Phillip Lim for Target

Designer collaborations are among my favorite things. As a poor college student, these collaborations are often the closest I could ever dream of getting to wearing a designer label. 

Of course, designer collaborations are not new. If anything, they're getting rather old. Since the first groundbreaking cross of Isaac Mizrahi and Target in 2002, the rush to buy any and all items has quickly died down. The Neiman Marcus x Target collaboration last year was perhaps the biggest example of this--items lingered on the floor for so long that they were eventually placed on clearance for 70% off. 

Yet while designer collaborations don't have the same novelty that they used to, many of the fashion set and those attempting to join it still salivate over the prospect of a well-designed collaboration. Occasionally, a designer seems to pull through and put his or her aesthetic into the collection--making it worth it to participate in the race to buy the items. 

Phillip Lim has done this for Target. Preparing a collection that fits the needs of both the average Target customer and Phillip Lim devotees is no easy task, yet he's managed to do it. The collection is separated into three sections of lasting wardrobe staples for morning, noon, and night. 

Here are some of my favorites from the collection that will leave me desperately waiting for September 15 (view the whole collection here):

All images via Refinery29 and Target

Just keep running.

Everyone has that one something. It's that something that keeps us going day after day, that reminds us to breathe, that settles our racing minds. We need that something to break up our routines to remind us exactly where we are and where we want to be. 

For me, it's running. I've never really considered myself to be a runner, or even to be athletic. While I played tennis all throughout middle school and high school at a competitive level, I just never saw myself as a true 'athlete' (whatever that means anyways). 

However, my college didn't have tennis courts and I quickly got too caught up in getting involved to even think about working out. Last fall, the extent of my athleticism consisted of running from one end of the Times Square subway station to the other as I tried to get to my internship in Chelsea Market on time. 

This past semester my sorority decided to participate in the Bronx Zoo's Run for the Wild 5K to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society. I decided right away that I wanted to participate, and suddenly I had a goal to work towards. 

I began running almost every day, or at least spending an hour at the gym to get back into shape. I quickly found myself not merely going to run to get it out of the way so I could get closer to being able to complete a 5K in a reasonable amount of time, but to melt away stress from the day. 

Running quickly became my one solace, my time when I didn't have to think about anything except getting in that extra mile. I stopped running because I had to, and started because I wanted to. I loved the feeling of not only being active but the feeling of calmness that came with it. 

I love using running as a means to get away from the daily trivialities of life. It reminds me to strip away excess negativity, and to focus on what matters most to me. I love running because it's so simple, but it can take you so far. I may not yet be a 'runner,' but I do run. 

There's days when I feel like I'm running away from things, and there's days where I want to run towards something as quickly as possible. Life's path may not always be clear, but I'm going to just keep running. 

Favorite find: Olivia Bee Photography

Sometimes you find the best things in the strangest of ways. I think that is one of the most prominent characteristics of life--spontaneity. You can't force many things. You simply have to do as much as you can, and let life take its course. And funnily enough, everything tends to be okay in the end. And if it's not okay, it's not the end. 

Recently I stumbled across Olivia Bee's photography portfolio via a friend's Facebook.She's only 19, yet she captures the eccentricities and simplicities of life in the most beautiful ways. I particularly love her 'Everyday' and 'Lovers' projects, as they examine life's little moments. 

This quote on her About Me page sums up exactly how I feel about her photos, and speaks to how I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of recognizing even the simplest moments in life: "I strive to capture the ordinary, in an extraordinary way. Life is beautiful, perfect, and cinematic, if you look at the right moments. It's not always an accurate summary of life in general, but it is those specific moments that make it worth living anyway."

Turn to love, always.

It's easy to become bogged down with the trivialities of life. Our routines consume us, turning us into robots that do not think, but merely do. As we become sucked into the drive to complete tasks, we often forget the qualities that make us most human: kindness and love. 

Of course, I am all too guilty of this. Whether it's pushing to get to the front of the library's coffee line or snapping at an innocent question from a family member, we all fall prey to these moments of insensitivity. Yet when I reflect upon life (overthinking is a well-honed skill of mine), I realize that being kind is one of the simplest yet most important things you can do. 

I came across this graduation speech on Maxie McCoy's blog Ilo Inspired, and I was instantly entranced. 

Choose love. Always.

////

George Saunders’s Advice to Graduates at Syracuse University

By JOEL LOVELL

Summer cleaning

This summer, my parents decided that it was time to replace the carpets in my sister's bedroom and my own. I was also instructed that my childhood furniture would be sold and the bedroom set that belonged to my grandmother would take my place. 

Of course, the opportunity to play with interior design is not one that I am to turn down. But I soon realized that new carpets and new furniture meant one thing: lots and lots of moving. 

College students are quick to associate with this pain; while we may love the lives that we live in those dingy first apartments and prison-like dorm rooms, the two most torturous days of the year are when we move in and out.

Packing up your entire life into boxes is strange enough--but in the case of packing up your childhood room, it's even stranger. You come across things that you have no idea why or how you ever came to possess it. More likely, you come across the smallest of things that trigger the strongest of memories. 

Unpacking was much more difficult than packing things up temporarily, as I was tasked with sorting through my things to decide what was worth keeping. Stuffed animals were bagged to be given away to younger family members, artwork from a class taken freshman year of high school was stashed into folders--yet one box remained that I struggled with. 

The box could not be lifted by one person. It had to be at least 30 pounds. And it contained my magazine collection that was established in early 2007. Six years of Vogue, Teen Vogue, Nylon and a smattering of others had added up without much notice. 

I've always had a love affair with magazines. My father introduced me to their magic at a young age, and I've never looked back. Yet as I looked at these magazines stacked up on my kitchen table like soldiers standing sentry, I wondered what purpose they still held. Yes, they are archives that can be treasured; they are tomes of style that may one day be considered rare and ancient. 

I live in New York for three-quarters of the year. These magazines sit in my childhood room during that time, doing nothing but collecting dust. So what should become of them? 

Eventually, I reached the decision that I would give them away. Subscribing to these magazines is what made me fall in love with fashion and writing, inspiring my desired career path. Yet they are no use to me if they sit untouched 3,000 miles away. It's hard to part with things that have extended meanings; it's hard to part with the pages that have set fire to an unending passion within me. 

But it's time. And now that I will soon be moving into my own apartment, perhaps it's time to start my own collection once more. 

I adore...

Kyle and I always talk about the places we'd like to travel to someday. Norway is quickly moving to the top of our lists, especially after I saw this photo. 

This vase that imitates a crinkled white paper bag from the MoMA store reminds me of fresh pastries from my local bakery and instantly makes me wish to fill it with peonies. 

Illustrator Joana Avillez has captured many icons like Iris Apfel and Bill Cunningham. My only regret is that I did not find her work sooner; I know what I'll be perusing for the remainder of the afternoon.

Samantha of Could I Have That? has quickly become one of my favorite fashion bloggers. Her casual yet tailored style reminds me of my California roots and inspires me to explore my bicoastal life as I hone my own style. 

Happy Friday, everyone!

Work in progress

One thing that I always find hard to come to terms with is the fact that I am a work in progress. Rather, it is not necessarily difficult to see that I am always changing and moving forward--but that it is difficult to make decisions knowing that fact. 

Yet those decisions, no matter how risky and uninformed they may be, are what ultimately shape our progress. 

I recently came across this little quip that inspired these thoughts: "You're a work in progress, but you have purpose!" 

At this point in my life, no phrase could describe my mindset any better. I may not have any idea where I'll end up, what career I will have or who will still be by my side, but I do know that I am determined to push on. 

Nothing is certain, which is why we need so much determination. I can spend hours laying in the grass dreaming of my future career and my dream apartment accompanied by a quirky black pug, yet there's no chance of that becoming a reality unless I press on with purpose. 

I've learned that the most difficult part is not finding a dream or a lofty goal, but the purpose that one needs to get there. Our goals are constantly changing, but if we maintain a certain amount of determination, there's no limit to the happiness that we can achieve. 

I'm easily one of the most anxious people I know. That anxiety, however, is not always a bad thing. It can be a voice in the back of my head asking if I have done enough, or if I can go above and beyond in a project or job. It's what drives me to take the extra step and reach out my hand to introduce myself to someone I admire. 

My anxiety can easily consume me or it can fuel me to persevere. It is a trait that I hate, but I've also come to accept and act on to further myself. I ask: Why am I overthinking this? And if I can reach an answer amongst that suffocating pile of random tangents, I can find something to tackle and act to change. 

I know that I will always be a work in progress. I don't think that there will ever come a point in my life where I will be able to come to a complete stop. As long as I have a purpose, I will press on. 

(She by Kobi Yamada)

Favorite find: LIFE Magazine archives

While this isn't a very new discovery, it is one of the most important ones I have ever made. My grandmother always had old issues of LIFE Magazine lying around her house. Every time I managed to stumble across another, I felt as though I could open it and enter the days of America's past in just a moment. 

It's certainly no revelation to see that LIFE Magazine captured aspects of American life in the twentieth century in a manner that no other publication came close to. The name LIFE is iconic, both for the icons and the most average of people that it featured. 

I could spend hours perusing the LIFE archives. Many of the photos featured on the website have long been lost, never even published in the pages of the print magazine. These are the photos that may not have seemed exciting at the time, but now provide invaluable insight into our ever-changing culture. 

I particularly love these three images for all sorts of reasons. The first of course is Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on the set of 'Cleopatra.' Their romance is so intriguing to me in that it was so wrought with scandal, that it almost reads as fictitious (yet it's entirely true). The look that they are exchanging in this photo says more than I ever could. 

The second photo is of Woody Allen at his Manhattan home in 1967, at just 31 years old. This gallery, and the article that accompany it, dive into his early neuroticism and complexities even as a young man. This photo portrays him as so completely normal, simply working in his office, and I think that is what I love most about it. 

The last photo is a part of one of my favorite galleries entitled 'The Invention of Teenagers: LIFE and the Triumph of Youth Culture.' It's always interesting to see how differently people of the same age as you lived throughout history. These teens told the photographer that they loved rides to football games in this car. Be still my heart. 

If you ever find yourself in a fit of boredom, I cannot recommend the LIFE archives enough. You'll soon find yourself engulfed in an undying curiosity for the rich history that lies in those unpublished images. 

Timing is everything.

The notion of time and the invention of the clock are among the most life-changing technologies that humans have developed throughout our short existence. The clock runs our lives. From the minute we are born, we submit ourselves to its fleeting nature. 

Time is both a soothing and anxiety-inducing concept. Humans are creatures of habit and cling to routine. Yet perhaps what we also fear more than anything is the passage of time; the years fly by and we continue to grow ever older. 

I always feel like I'm fighting a constant battle with time. As a student who goes to college 3,000 miles away from her hometown, significant other and her family, there are many late nights where I find myself staring at the countdown app on my iPhone. 

I spend so much time wishing it away, and then the day I return home (or whichever day I am most looking forward to) arrives in a flash. Breaks from school go by quicker and quicker with each passing year. 

I never want to wish my life away. My parents always told me not to rush growing up. Everyone has heard the countless cliches, but never believes them until some form of reality approaches. "It only gets worse from here." 

I suppose the only answer to this constant battle of looking forward to the future but dreading the speed at which time passes is another cliche: live in the present. It's a phrase that is repeated with ease, but is rarely enacted. Time presses us to constantly look forward or backwards. Even when we try to enjoy a moment fully for what it is, there always tends to be something in the back of our minds that distracts us from doing so. 

As I have been trying to live more in the moment this summer, I've realized that you can't escape the minor impending anxieties. You will always be thinking about your upcoming flight back to school, that major paper you have due in a week or a crucial job interview. Living in the present is less about forgetting about your worries or priorities, and more about acceptance of the passage of time. 

Once I accept that time is passing, and that it is passing quickly, I tend to ask myself: why can't I be happy right now? Deadlines will come and go, but there's nothing you can do about it. Why consume your life with thoughts of the future or the past when you could be happy at this very moment? You can decide to act; you can decide to be happy. 

It's hard to say that anyone can ever completely master the act of living in the present. Yet if we come to terms with the fact that time is passing, and that we can't do anything about it, we realize that we ought to take advantage of it.  

(photo by Jamie Beck of Ann Street Studio)

Monday musings

I just arrived home from a wonderful vacation in Santa Cruz. It reminded me of how beautiful it can be to live simply. Good company, salty air and the sea are all I need. Now I am easing back into the reality of the 100+ degree weather in my hometown with a little Pinterest scouting after being inspired by keeping things simple and classic. 

(via Matchbook Magazine's pinterest page and Liz Schneider's pinterest)

Stuck in a style rut

I've always been a devout follower of the fashion industry. For as long as I can remember I've gawked at the editorials in Vogue and I've been tracking the rise of fashion blogs since I received my first laptop in middle school. 

via Jak & Jil

Yet as a college student, I often find myself simply longing over clothes rather than incorporating them into my closet. As many others can relate, I find it difficult to justify buying yet another pair of jeans simply because they are in a different wash, or a particularly unique pair of earrings when that money should be going to textbooks or rent. 

However, even in the rare months that I am home and my parents are feeling more generous than usual, I find myself stuck in a style rut. I leave store after store empty-handed, and I'm not sure if this is because I feel guilty spending my parents' money or if I simply don't know my own style anymore. 

I certainly have no loss for inspiration--Pinterest, magazines and blogs are constantly becoming more refined. Whenever I go shopping, though, I seem to never find anything that I love. I try pieces on, and I think, "Well, this is okay." But when building my wardrobe, I don't want to fill it with pieces that are merely "okay." 

This time of year is always particularly difficult for me in terms of style, as I tire of wearing the same shorts and tank tops every day (yet Fresno's heat in the summer is unbearable, so this is rather unavoidable). Fall and winter are much more inspiring for me as I love to layer and experiment with mixing different pieces in my closet. 

Perhaps I am simply just thinking about my style too much. I need to stop trying to force myself to like pieces just so I can purchase something new, and I need to let myself fall in love with styles on a whim. Summer is winding down, and I'll be unpacking my sweaters in New York in no time. A new season may be just what I need to spruce up my style and achieve a more focused vision. 

What do you do when you're stuck in a style rut?