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 

Reality check.

Sometimes, things happen to us in life that are hard to explain. You hope to make these experiences sound better than what they are, or you hope to tone them down in your retelling of them. 

Yet sometimes, all you can do is say exactly what happened. No embellishments, no editing necessary. Bluntness is often unavoidable if you want to tell the truth. 

Thursday morning, I was hit by a car. 

That's it. That's the very cold, hard truth of the matter. It doesn't make any sense to precede those six words with any other explanation. 

As I was walking to my 8 a.m. class (that I was most likely running late for), I crossed the street in front of my apartment building thinking that all was clear as all the cars at the intersection closest to me were stopped. I had assumed too much, however, when the light changed and I was almost all the way across the road. 

A car had accelerated into its turn, hit me on my left side, and I went flying through the air. I can't tell you what I was thinking in those few moments between hearing the resounding thud of the metal colliding with my body and hitting the asphalt. My mind wandered to places that I hope it never has to wander again, thinking of those closest to me and what this could mean for my future. 

Somehow, I stood up immediately after landing on my left side. Adrenaline was most likely my saving grace, with the help of God. I can't be thankful enough that nothing worse happened than the injuries I suffered, which consisted of soreness, bruising, a few scrapes and road rash. 

I find myself thinking constantly about what could have been, and immediately praying with gratitude for His love. It was so hard to call my parents right after it happened. It was 5 a.m. in California and I woke them up crying, saying I was hit by a car. I'm so thankful nothing worse happened if only for them, as they must have felt so helpless 3,000 miles away. 

This was a striking reminder to me about the fragility of life. We are constantly overwhelmed with reports on the news of murders and injuries at the top of every hour, but we never think that something similar could happen to us. 

We are only human. Life is precious, and it is constantly fleeting. The best moments always are, which is all the more reason that we need to appreciate them. While my accident may have been minor, it has inspired so much more within me. 

Say 'I love you' at the end of every conversation. Call your parents every day. Don't wait to tell someone something because you're worried about what they'll think. Take that extra minute to catch up with a friend. 

Stop, and breathe. Appreciate your surroundings, and where you are in life. We'll never be this young again, and we never know what life may place in front of us. 

//image via Note to Self

Thinking in the long-term.

Going to school 3,000 miles away from home changes your perspective on a lot of things. You begin to think about things that are months, even years away. 

To tell you the truth, I hate thinking far into the future. I have always believed in focusing on the present, and completely immersing yourself in whatever you are working on or needs your attention at this moment. And generally, that has led me to success in the future without specifically planning on that success. 

If you work hard and you are kind, you will go far. 

Yet there are some things about the future that you just can't avoid thinking about or having to plan. Despite the fact that I am only in my third week of school, I am already stressed about trying to switch around my scheduled final exam periods to book a flight home. I'm worried about losing out on deals, or losing the opportunity to fly out at an earlier time because they're sold out. 

These are the things that keep me up at night. 

I think about exactly how many days I will have to spend with my family, my friends and Kyle. I think about when I will have to fly back for spring semester, which is not for another five months. I think about if I will go home for spring break, if I will go on a mission trip, or if someone from home will visit me. 

Just last night, my roommates and I were talking about where we might end up living after college. And that's still two years away. 

I hate thinking in terms of the far-off future, but as the years become shorter, that future doesn't seem as far-off as it once did when I was younger. I'm learning that thinking about what is to come is something that comes with growing older. I may try to fight it, but it's just another experience that I have to face in this weird time in life. 

I may be considered a legal adult, but I still feel like I should be relegated to the elementary school playground. I have matured, but I still have a long way to go. I have to step up and accept the responsibility of thinking about and planning for my future--after all, who else will? 

It's moments like these when I really feel like a twenty-something.  

//image via Lara Casey Media

Kate Spade Spring 2014

Every year during New York Fashion Week, I look forward to the Kate Spade presentation. The Kate Spade woman has always been one that I have admired and aspire to be. Even though the photos of the collection that are posted on Style.com are not from the physical presentation, I love seeing photos that bloggers and fashion journalists post on Instagram and other outlets. 

Kate Spade never fails to disappoint. Every piece, including how it's styled, is on point.I always fall in love with the stories that the collections tell--chief creative officer Deborah Lloyd is a never-ending source of inspiration. For this collection, she was inspired by her travels to the gardens of Giverny. The presentation thus proceeded as though one was on a tour of Europe, with stops at Parisian cafes and garden parties. 

View the entire collection and how Deborah Lloyd was inspired to it on Kate Spade's blog, Behind the Curtain. Here are some looks I love:

//images via The College Prepster and Style.com

Skype.

I've grown to be grateful for the simplest of things. Going away to college has certainly humbled me and made me realize what matters most. And after moving into an apartment, I've certainly learned how much I have to be thankful for at home. 

I'm sure that this will only continue as I grow older and experience all of the changes that are to come. 

Perhaps what I am most thankful for, however, is Skype. Modern technology has given us the ability to traverse great distances through a computer screen, or even from the convenience of our smart phones. 

I honestly don't think that I could have stayed in New York without Skype. Of course, I couldn't have stayed in New York for countless reasons--I couldn't have stayed if I didn't meet the friends that I have made, if I didn't feel so comfortable at my campus... the list goes on. 

Of course, Skype isn't the same as seeing someone face-to-face. And I don't think any technology, no matter how sophisticated, will ever replace that kind of contact. Yet Skype is the next best thing. One of my favorite feelings is the one that rushes over me when I see a loved one's face pop up on my screen as my computer starts ringing, begging to be answered. 

It is so comforting to be able to talk to someone from home, and to be reminded of that connection that you hold so dearly. It's easy to get caught up in the stresses of day-to-day life, and forget about what you have that may be far away physically, but is so close in your heart. 

Skype is like a little window to a world that you have left behind, but will one day return to again. It makes life that much more bearable. It's easy to wish away life, to become excited as you get another day closer to going home (or whatever you're looking forward to). 

Yet I hate wishing away these days. I will never be this young again, or in this exact situation again. After all, what other time in life will I be able to live in an apartment just outside New York City with some of my closest friends as my roommates? When will I have the opportunity to work for virtually any media outlet that I want merely because I live within 30 minutes of the media capital of the world? 

I am so blessed, and yet I still find myself wishing away the days. While what I have waiting for me back in California may be worth counting down these days, I also desperately wish to enjoy the present. 

So in the meantime, I am grateful for Skype. I look forward to the future, but I also cling to the present. Thank goodness for technology. 

I adore...

New York Fashion Week. Yesterday marked the first day of New York Fashion Week for Spring 2014. I haven't kept up with fashion week in recent seasons, but for some reason I am really excited about this season's shows. Follow along at Style.com with me! (Image via Lilly Pulitzer)

Jennifer Lawrence for Miss Dior. Jennifer Lawrence's latest campaign for Miss Dior is truly gorgeous. The effortless nature of this bare-faced beauty is stunning, and very refreshing. Sometimes less really is more. 

Audrey Hepburn by Steven Meisel. Audrey Hepburn has been one of my greatest role models for as long as I remember, and these images of her from 1991 inspired me even more. She was truly a remarkable woman, embracing age with grace and ease.

Baseball caps and J. Crew. It's no secret that I am a major fan of J. Crew. I instantly fall in love with their styling, and lately I've been following their blog obsessively. I never used to wear baseball caps before, but I received one as a gift this summer and this post makes me want more. They're just so effortlessly cool. 

Happy Friday!

Favorite Find: Moda Operandi's Office

I love looking to the offices of my favorite brands and the people that I admire most to find inspiration. I strongly believe that while someone's bedroom can say so much about their personality, an office can say even more. 

An office is where someone goes to be creative--to create things. When you step away for two seconds, that is amazing. One of the greatest things that human beings can do with their lives is to create, whether it is a piece of art or an idea that could solve world hunger. 

Recently, Refinery29 featured Moda Operandi's office on their site. The e-commerce site is still new to the online world--but it's draw is that it is the only site where you can pre-order designer looks months before they hit the stores.

While I may not be able to purchase anything from M'O for many years with the state my wallet is in, I love seeing the space that they draw inspiration from to build and expand an already impressive start-up brand. The staffers are also inspiring with how forward-thinking that they are required to be, and this feature reveals just a bit of how they put themselves in that state of mind. 

Check out the feature here, and view more inspiring images below:

Sleep (or lack thereof).

For the past few nights, I haven't been able to sleep. I've found myself lying in bed for hours on end, not thinking of anything particularly, but thinking nonetheless. My mind hasn't been able to stop. 

It's interesting, because usually when you go to sleep, you either dream or you have nightmares (or if you're lucky enough, you're so tired you simply pass out). Yet I find myself stuck in some sort of an in-between, a purgatory if you will. Instead of being fully asleep or awake, I am stuck in a haze as the late night turns into morning. 

I'd like to read into it and say that it is because I have become obsessed with turning my dreams into a reality, but I think that's a little too cliche (even for me). My mind has always wandered, over thinking what a conversation could possibly mean or torturing myself over an email response I hope to receive. 

In this haze, my mind doesn't focus on any one particular thought (or also known as: torture device) but it jumps from one to the next, often overlapping. Everything seems interconnected, or seems like it should be. 

It's like finding your Christmas lights in a incomprehensible giant, knotted ball instead of neatly organized in their cardboard container. 

Nothing particularly makes sense, and the only way that it will is to painstakingly sort through it all. Unfortunately, my brain seems to have decided lately that the time to do this is at 3 a.m. But perhaps I simply need to set aside more time to reflect--to reflect and breathe. 

It seems like now is the time to figure it all out, or start to. Life seems to consist of untangling the knots that get in the way, even if that only lasts for a short period of time. Nothing will ever be perfect forever, but hopefully things will start to make a little more sense. 

And hopefully, I'll be able to rest a little easier. 

Alone time.

One thing that I am constantly working on is being alone. In college, it can be easy to fall prey to the worry that if you're not with friends at all times, there's something wrong with you. I've heard stories from my friends (and I must admit, I have done it too) that they would rather stay in their room starving instead of picking up dinner alone. 

At home, it's so much easier for me to feel okay with curling up with a good book and a blanket for the entirety of an afternoon. Yet in college, spending a few hours alone leads to worries that you're missing out. It leads to feelings of uncertainty, and painful pangs of homesickness. 

I fell prey to these feelings all too frequently my freshman year. At my college, students typically live close by, which means that they go home often. I found myself many a weekend with only one or two roommates instead of the usual nine that I had my first year. 

Yet it was this alone time that led me to step outside my comfort zone my freshman year. I got involved with new organizations, and made many more friends. Essentially, finding myself alone led me to find myself surrounded by friends at all times. 

As I've grown older, however, I've also grown to appreciate my alone time. I appreciate having the time and space to simply sit and think. I appreciate stumbling across new places on my past commutes home from New York City--they're like my own secret treasures. 

Being alone doesn't bother me as much as it used to. And I know that it's only going to feel more natural with time. 

Sometimes, all you need is to sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy your own company.

//image via Lara Casey