ten truths tuesday #15

1. You shouldn't be paying $200 for a pair of birkenstocks.

2. Why are people still romanticizing cigarettes? They're terrible!

3. Summer is not an excuse to walk around basically naked.

4. I know it's really awkward when you're insta-stalking someone and accidentally double tap one of their photos, but it's even more awkward to immediately unlike it.

5. I know I complain about boys/love all the time, but it really is possible to live a happy life WITHOUT thinking of boys/love all the time.

6. Don't let a person's reputation prevent you from getting to know them. I mean, who knows what people might also be saying about you, anyway.

7. A milkshake once a week probably won't make you fat but will definitely improve the quality of your life (unless you're lactose intolerant :/).

8. Polyvore is really cool.

9. Instagram can be really cool.

10. Turning your phone off for a day would DEFINITELY be cool.

monday musing: drunk in love (unrelated to Beyonce)

I think the fact that alcohol ever began to be produced for consumption says something strange about humanity. I mean, am I the only one who thinks it's weird that we felt the need to create something that distracts us from the realities of life? I know humans do a lot of weird shit, but this is something that I find really troubling. Have we really created a society that's so displeasing that we need a method of removing ourselves from it- giving us a "buzz" that we can't feel on a day-to-day basis? It's sort of depressing. Or, maybe, we just use alcohol as an excuse. Something that gives us the courage to do something we've been wanting to but simply can't bring ourselves to do when sober. I guess it could be a vehicle for breaking the ice, apologizing, saying the first "I love you"... And then, there's love. Why is alcohol so often associated with love? Is it because love messes with our heads and brings us into some state totally removed from reality? Does love give us a buzz? Can love be permanent, or is it as short-lived as any other drunken experience? Maybe, love is destined to end in a black night, followed by one of the worst hangovers to be had. Maybe, we'll just all end up haunted by the activities of that love, of "last night, until we eat some breakfast, take a shower, and get back to the daily life. But, then what? Well, then we just go out next weekend and do it all again. Maybe, it's just a series of drunken pursuits, all in hopes of feeling even better than we did the last time. We can't just be drunk forever, though. Reality has to come crashing down at some point or another. Who really knows, though? Maybe being in love isn't like being drunk at all.

ten truths tuesday #14 (on a wednesday)

I should probably just change these to Wednesdays because I never seem to get around to them on Tuesdays, but nonetheless.... Here it is.

1. Don't let anyone give you shit for having a blog

2. Some people are just dumb. Find a way to deal with them instead of hating them.

3. Being attractive is great; but in the end, people aren't going to spend time with you just because you're nice to look at.

4. Don't let life get dull- spice things up.

5. Don't let someone else tell you what weight you should be, how to dress yourself, how to do your makeup, what color your hair should be, etc. Just do whatever makes you happy.

6. I know high school sucks, but try to enjoy your time as a teenager too (you only get to be young once, after all).

7. Color Me Mine is NOT just for little kids.

8. Cultured people= cool people.

9. Work out because onset type II diabetes is really fucking scary.

10. I know the people at Starbucks probably always spell your name wrong, but cut them some slack- they're trying. 

monday musing: feeling lost in the world/ where I've been

I know I've taken a long vacation from this blog, and I could just blame it on stress, but that would be a major over-simplification. There has been a lot going on lately- that's true, but I've never been one to let an overwhelming amount of things to do prevent me from doing any of them. I always get things done, especially the things I like ( like blogging). I've stopped writing, I've stopped painting, I've stopped doing the things I love, and I didn't realize what a toll that's taken on my life until now. I've kind of lost the person I am, I guess- lost my place in the world. I guess you could say that i've just sort of been wandering lately. I drive to school every morning, I aimlessly sit through my classes and then try to complete my assignments when I get home. I go to sleep, and the cycle doesn't stop. Some might say I'm depressed, but I've been depressed before- this is not depression. I think I've lost my path. I know that sounds ridiculously cheesy, but I honestly believe that we all follow some sort of path in life. Yes, there are some forks in the road where we choose the left or right, but there is a path. Maybe we create some of that path, but I'm not creating anything. I've just wandered away from my path and completely forgot I was ever on one. I have not enjoyed my time off my path; I've just felt kind of empty. I guess my sage advice here is to try not to forget what it is you love. When you stop doing those things, the quality of your life may spiral so drastically downward, and what's even more alarming is that you may not even notice. I know we all feel these pressures to do certain things in our life, but don't let those pressures prevent you from living your life. After all, what's life if it's not a happy one? What's life if you don't make it your own? I'm not saying you shouldn't be productive and get things done... You should do those things, but don't make your life this stressful pursuit where happiness is never truly achieved. You need to be you because life is so empty if you lose that. This is your life, so don't let anyone else run it for you.

So, today I said, "fuck this slump," got my paint brushes out, and wrote this blog post: I'm back. 

And, to maybe help you spark your own inspiration, here's a list of 10 simply beautiful things in the world, just in case you've forgotten how beautiful the world really is.

1. natural light

2. succulents

3. music

4. the ocean

5. the smell after it rains

6. rain

7. peonies

8. those sunsets when the sky turns a little pink

9. deer

10. watermelon

outfit/food/fun

Sorry I've been sort of MIA recently, but here's something I've been meaning to post for a while. I went to Joan's on Third, Juice Served Here, and Lady M with a friend a little while ago, and here are the pictures to prove it. In case you're wondering, my dress is from Urban Outfitters, and my shoes are Dr. Martens. On another note, Joan's was delicious as always, and I highly recommend the curried chickpeas (on the left of my plate)- they were absolutely amazing. Pretty much everything at Joan's tastes great, and I am never disappointed whenever I order something new. Juice Served Here is also a great juicery, but I will admit it's way overpriced. If you think the 6.50 price tag at Pressed is outrageous, well Juice Served Here's prices are almost double, and they even have a twenty dollar juice, which is absurd. That being said, I ordered the Pixie (#21), which was a mix of pineapple, strawberry, and orange juice, and it was fantastic. I didn't try my friend's juice, but I'm pretty sure she loved her's too. Last but not least, Lady M. Let me just say that I have no idea who exactly Lady M is, but I would absolutely marry this woman if given the opportunity. First of all, let me just say that aesthetically speaking, the store is so fresh, clean, and beautiful. We ordered both the original and green tea flavored crêpe cakes, and both were out of this world. Heaven IS a place on earth, and that place is Lady M. I haven't tried anything other than the crêpe cakes there (otherwise known as "mille crêpes"), but a slice of that cake alone is enough to keep me coming back. I've really never tried anything like them anywhere else. They are basically just layers of crêpes and frosting, which sounds super simple but is also super delicious. There is no way to describe these in a way that will do them justice, but they are just so utterly satisfying both texturally and flavor-wise. I thought the green tea flavor might be overwhelming, but it was absolutely perfect (however, I would not suggest it if you're not a green tea fan). Ultimately, you're just going to have to go out and try a slice for yourself to understand exactly what I'm raving about, but I do know that I will be returning very soon.

I've been really into doing these restaurant reviews, and I know they must be frustrating if you don't live in the Los Angeles area, but I think I'm going to start posting some recipes soon too, as well as other general lifestyle posts. Let me know what you think! Also, sorry I missed this week's 10 truths-- I'll get back to it next Tuesday!

ten truths tuesday #13 (on a wednesday)

1. If you want to dye your hair purple, do it because (as much as I hate to say this,) yolo (cringe). This is more about the fact that you should stop letting other people's opinions and societal norms dictate the way you live your life.

2. Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, and Spike Jonze. That is all.

3. We live in a horrible world, so go out and do something to make it a better place.

4. Pursue your passions (you'll be happier).

5. Money is awesome, but happiness is what'll really get you through life.

6. Sneakers are cool, wedges are cool, but do we really need sneaker wedges? I don't care how chic Isabel Marant is.

7. Find friends who will listen to you when you pour your heart out to them.

8. You get what you give.

9. Using fancy vocabulary words is actually cool- learn some.

10. Please stop complaining about the weather. We know it's cold outside, but there are greater issues to deal with than the fact that your Ugg boots do not sufficiently warm your feet.

MEGA POST (ten truths tuesday #12)

So basically, I did some cool stuff today; and not only will I be doing the usual ten truths tuesday, but I have some other things to share.

 

dress- Brandy Melville, shoes- Dr. Martens, sunglasses- Urban Outfitters

I thought I would just share my outfit today because my motto is: if you don't know what to wear, wear a dress, and that is exactly what I've done. It is so easy to just throw on a dress with a pair of matching shoes, because it looks way better than the whole "I was too lazy to pick out an outfit, so I'm wearing my pajamas" look, and it's just as easy (and comfy!). On another note, I went to one of my favorite cafés today, which is Sweet Butter in Sherman Oaks. This place has the ultimate café vibe, and the food is amazing. It's so nice to spend a warm, LA day sitting out on their patio, people watching, eating a delicious salad (or sandwich/ wrap), drinking a fun drink, and relaxing with friends. I shared the kale chopped salad with my friend, and it was one of the best kale salads I've ever had. Kale can be a weird green because the texture is really different than what most people are used to when it comes to salad, but it worked perfectly here. There were cucumbers and red onions in the salad which added a really nice, fresh, textural element, which went perfectly with the kale because it kept the salad crunchier (like the typical chopped salad lettuce texture) and kept the kale from seeming kind of rubbery, like it often can. The citrusy salad dressing was really nice to tone down the kale's strong flavor, and the garbanzo beans added great earthy flavor that complimented the acidity of the dressing really nicely. If you can't tell, I'm obsessed with food and could honestly talk about kale forever. We also had four macarons: pistachio, raspberry, violet (or was it lavender?), and strawberry- champagne. They were all delicious, and I especially loved the strawberry- champagne, which to my surprise, actually had a very strong champagne flavor. All in all, I absolutely love Sweet Butter and would absolutely recommend eating there some time. If you have the chance to try it out, my favorites are the "South of the Boulevard" Salad, the grilled veggie salad, and now the kale salad!

Now for the ten truths:
1. Lost in Translation is an absolutely beautiful movie about human connection/relationships, and I HIGHLY suggest you go watch it (it's on Netflix!).

2. Drop the vanity for a sec, and go donate your super long hair. If I can do it, you can do it; it will grow back, I promise.

3. The flea market is such a rad place.

4. Don't give people shit for their piercings/tattoos. It's THEIR body, let them do what they want with it. Plus, they're not giving YOU shit for not having piercings/tattoos.

5. Phrases like "no uterus, no opinion" are giving feminism its bad reputation. Anyone is entitled to an opinion, whether you agree with it or not. Fight for your OWN opinions instead of bringing OTHER opinions down.

6. It's kind of weird that you can think about people as much as you want, and they have no idea.

7. You shouldn't have to put up with people who say they love you but don't treat you like they do.

8. It's great to love yourself, but you shouldn't make every conversation about you.

9. Don't let anyone give you shit about doing what you love (unless it's harmful to others, in which case- NOT COOL).

10. Spring is in the air- go out and spread the love.