Slowing Down Time

Sep 26, 2015
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona 86052, USA
I (as I'm sure the majority of the world) have always considered myself to be a well balanced individual. So its come as a bit of a surprise to finally realize, perhaps my thoughts were all along, a bit flawed. 
Allow me. 

Exhibit A:
For the past two weeks, since the inevitable start of term, I have hidden myself away in various secluded spots in the city, and worked myself to near exhaustion. I rarely see anyone, I rarely do anything other than practice flute, grad applications, and term assignments. I've received more "where have you been?" and skeptical "why haven't I seen you since your return?" messages than I can count. 

And then, there's Exhibit B:
Mouna circa the middle of term last year - out and about almost every night. Always someone important to see, something new to do. Feeling on top of the world with the most fabulous friends a girl could ever ask for. Stressing away on Sunday nights about whether or not she had missed a reading. 

This, my friends, is obviously not balance. And as much as I mistake stress-free evenings and daily visits to the otherwise neglected gym as a healthy life balance, I have, in all honesty, left barely any room in my schedule to go out with my friends and far too much time for filling out schedules in my darling new gold day planner to the very last minute.
And so, let's take a step back and a bit of a breather. 

A little journey, if you will, back to Arizona - sometime in late August, with a scorching sun and much appreciated dry heat. Hiking the day away with close friends and an even closer water bottle. 
I've always loved long hikes. I enjoy spending the time alone: contemplating my next composition, setting up my tripod, walking several miles to see not even a quarter of my location, with (most importantly) never a single bar of connection in sight. Yes, this is important. I believe you can't fully enjoy these types of experiences if you're texting and tweeting every spare minute about how "so beautiful oh em gee!" the canyon is. Yes, you'll see some snaps of the grand thing on my instagram, but they were photographed on the spot, and posted way later - from the comfort of my bed, with all the extra time to spare (pinky promise). 
It's nearly two in the morning now, so I'm off to bed! Until next time ♥

Photos taken on Nikon D5200 and my handy dandy  iPhone 5S


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No Wonder They Sing About the California Sky

Sep 19, 2015
It never ceases to amaze me how effortless and instantaneous it is to spend six hours on the internet. In the entirety of my summer, watching vine compilations or surprise, boxed pets to unsuspecting lovers has never been more appealing than it is now that the fall term is in full swing. Apologies in advance to all my professors if I ever turn in procrastinated, scribbled, mediocre work I'll try to pass off as term assignments. (Though these are, invariably, the exception. You're welcome.)

During my visit to the western parts of U.S, I grew a strange, vigorous appreciation for dry heat. I'm not saying I (or anyone for that matter) have ever enjoyed the humidity, but after years of sticky, muggy, Midwestern heat and cutting winter chills that seep through your jackets and pierce your unsuspecting bones, you get used to the darn things. It becomes your sad reality; a burdening realism. That is, until you've gone to Cali and experienced the picture-perfect blue skies and even more so perfect 74F dry weather. Nearly three weeks of unimaginable, splendid nirvana. No deranged hair, no profuse amount of sweat, no weather-induced impatience...just impeccable sunshine and utter bliss. I never wanted to leave.

Yet here I am, back in Toronto, dreading the sticky walk to St.Lawrence Market (courtesy of Toronto humidity) and the sunless, cloud-stained sky, until my inevitable return. Photos of my time there will have to do until then! These were taken on my dear sister's birthday in (in case you couldn't guess) Disney Land, LA. "Happiest place on earth," indeed. Complete with stereotypical Minnie Mouse ears. Cheers!

Dorothy Perkins Dress & Sandals | Chanel watch | Disneyland Minnie Mouse headband
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Chrysopylae

Sep 13, 2015
Location: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA, USA
I'm not sure how all the cool kids make taking these types of photos look so easy - the wind is almost never in my favor. I'm serious. We've never been the best of pals. No really, I don't think we can call each other acquaintances, even. I'm willing to go as far as saying the wind borderline hates me.
How typical it's become to walk to class, only to find the wind billowing against my body, throwing my hair across my face, blinding my vision, and sending my cherished folders into the year-round Toronto sludge. How heartbreaking its been walking in a dreamy Christmas themed Chicago only to find I've been launched, headfirst into unsuspecting passerbyres. How often I've screamed out in anguish "I hate you wind!!" on an innocent stroll home from the Sobeys two blocks away. Yup. We've never passed friendship level two.

Yet here I am. Some 25 minutes later and 386 photos in, standing beside the bridge, in the windiest place I have ever been... I somehow (admirably) managed to acquire five shots where my dress is appropriately situated on my body and my hair isn't covering the vast majority of my face. Some would call it luck, I call it a miracle - a true gift from God. 
It's been a long ramble, but I would just like to add that I sincerely believe I should be initiated into the secret society of successful photos-in-wind takers. I know your leader is out there (perhaps already reading this post?) so please send them my way. 

Before I check out for the evening and prepare my backpack for the first day of term, I would just like to say one more thing; 
Insta-famous snappers, your photos have deceived me; it's nearly impossible to capture the bridge with so much wind.
Not impossible.

Goodnight.

Forever 21 dress and shoes | Fossil bag | Ray-ban sunglasses | Conquered Wind
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New Year, New Blog

Sep 12, 2015

It goes without saying that I am exceptionally excited to announce and share with you Plated Pearls 3.0...ta-da!!
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Hollywood Hills

Sep 9, 2015


With the start of school under one week away, and auditions results in less than two days, it's been hard to stay relaxed during my final few evenings off. Of course, sitting in coffee shops and downing iced mocha never helped with my anxiety - but how can I say no to the extra caffeine boost with so little sleep?

Road-tripping through the U.S. has been one of the most eye-opening travel experiences to date. I've been fortunate enough to have seen several countries in my short twenty years of existence, so it's exceptionally strange to think that the states (where I have lived most of my life) could have surprised me the most. I guess it's true that you take so many things for granted when they are around often. I've noticed even my time living in the outskirts of Chicago and in the heart of downtown Toronto I've failed to visit so many of the places that make these cities so special and worth visiting. We all get so caught up in life to even consider acting like tourists for a day and exploring our countries (let alone cities). It took me nearly three years of living in Toronto to visit the Royal Ontario Museum - and I lived not even two blocks away.

_______________________________

If you follow my Instagram, you've probably seen my - might I add, excessive - amount of posting this past month. Though they have given you an idea of what I've been up to, it doesn't really come close to expressing the experience as a whole. Pretty vsco cam edited square pictures are often overly glamorized and misleading. Road trips on a student's budget are hard (as is any travel when tuition costs are so high). Granted, it's been a while since I've vacationed, and I did need a bit of a break from a much too stressful summer. And yes, I never want to see instant ramen again, thanks for asking.
Alas, I have found the time after a busy week of moving into my new condo to lay in Becca's comfortable abyss of a bed and write up a quick little post on Griffith Observatory. I begged Robert to accompany me on a little hike to see the oh my god Hollywood sign (thanks a bunch, man). Being a most convincing gal, if I do say so myself, he obliged.
Man was this place crowded.

People everywhere.

In a way it reminded me of a less intoxicated version of Chicago on St.Patrick's. Add a few overexcited children and exhausted looking parents and you're picturing what I experienced. It was hard to walk in a straight line. I remember being a bit nervous handing Rob my camera "could you...maybe...try to get as few people as possible?" He did a pretty damn good job - thanks again, mate.

What I didn't realize on the way here was the hike we'd have to take after parking. I've always known LA was notorious for copious amounts of traffic, and in the back of my mind, I always knew that came with a heavy price - parking will be a _____. But who, I thought, who on earth will come here on a Tuesday evening?
A lot of people...
And so, here I am, in shoes I hadn't yet broken in, exhausted after what felt like an hour long hike, posing awkwardly amidst a plethora of sightseers. Enjoy! x

H&M dress | XXI shoes | Chanel bag & watch | Amazon.com hat

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