road trip: diverse views (i)

I just got back from my 2 week long road trip to SoCal (you may have seen my packing tips here), and it was great! I have so many photos I'll have to post them in increments. In this post, Henry Colwell Redwoods, Carmel Mission, Bixby Bridge, and McWay Falls. 

Henry Colwell Redwood State Park: We rarely get to go to national parks, so when I realized this was on the way, I was super excited to visit! It was a very relaxing walk (we did the Redwood Grove Trail as neither of us had actual running shoes), and quite shady. 

There were lots of children running around since they have some sort of kids' scavenger hunt, so definitely family friendly. 

Time spent here: 1 hr, but more is possible.
Things to note: Camping is available!
Cost: Free, but parking is $10 inside the park.

Carmel Mission Basilica: I really enjoyed it here. It doesn't seem to be a huge tourist attraction, which is even better for me. The mission has an otherworldly feel, and it made me feel like I was in Spain. 

Great photo ops throughout, and not too many people who stare. Would've loved to spend more time, but we had many miles ahead of us. 

Time spent here: 2.5 hrs, would've liked more just for photo ops.
Things to note: Beautiful photo ops, also has a church.
Cost: $2 - 6.50, free parking.

On our way, we crossed Bixby Bridge, so I thought we might as well hop out and take some photos. For photos of the bridge, it's best to find a turnout about half a mile before the actual bridge, and you can get a full photo. The ones below were taken at the turnout to see the bridge.

I would've loved to stay here for sunset, but the road is pretty windy and tough to drive, so we had to make it out before then.

You can go a bit further down, and the water is so incredible and blue - it honestly looks like Hawaii! Am I exaggerating here?

Time spent here: 20-30 mins (camera difficulties).
Things to note: Many people stop here for photos, so try and be courteous and make sure no one is waiting for your spot.
Cost: Free! Park at the turnout.

Of course, we had to stop for McWay Falls! There are so many gorgeous photos of this waterfall online, I have to say I was really hoping for a bit more oomph.

Also the flowers weren't in bloom, which made me a little sad as well, but still a beautiful must-see.

Time spent here: 30 mins.

Things to note: There isn't an address for the falls, it's a little bit north of Julia Pfeiffer State Park, so you can park on the highway and walk to it. You'll know when you're getting close because there are tons of cars parked. 

Cost: Free! Parking can be tough though. 

I hope you guys enjoyed my (photo heavy) first post! I've split my trip into 4 sections, coming out about every week. 

Have you been to any of these places? What other destinations would you suggest for a road trip - either in California, or elsewhere?

xx

Angelina

p.s. if you'd like to pin this, here's a great picture for that!

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wildfox love + thoughts on comments

You may have heard me profess my love for Wildfox multiple times already, but I'm gonna say it again: Wildfox, thank you for existing. And since I've been noticing this trend for ages, my thoughts on the generic, yet not spam comment. 

sweatshirt - Wildfox, shorts - Ecote, shoes - Vans

I had an idea a while ago, and since this post is going to be a bit scattered, I think I'll include it here, buried in the middle of my post to see who actually reads through it (I'll admit I don't always read every word of the posts I comment on).

Lately, I've been getting a ton of generic comments that don't mean too much. I hope this isn't taken the wrong way, I very much appreciate each and every one of you that has managed to navigate over to my site, out of all the ones you could've picked, read/skim/looked at my pictures, and taken the time to comment. It's sometimes so shocking to imagine that strangers out there could care enough to give away a little part of their life to me! Maybe a bit dramatized, but you get the feel.

I'm not talking about comments like, "Great post! Check my blog out?" - I don't usually publish those. I'm talking about ones that were probably written just based on my pictures and/or post title. For instance, if I have an outfit post, they'll be something like, "I love your outfit! You're gorgeous!", or "Nice photos!". 

Obviously, there's nothing wrong with these types of comments, they're wonderful and lovely, and I want to reiterate that I really appreciate any kind of feedback from anyone. It's just, after reading about 30 of these, they get a little dry. When I read a more personal, interesting comment, it really warms me up inside because that person not only actually read my writing, but also cared enough to generate a thoughtful comment that connected our experiences somehow. 

I have to say May of the Mayden and Bash from Hey Bash do this veerrrry well (if you guys are reading this, thanks so much for all the kind comments you've left me!). I frequently see their comments on other blogs I visit, so I know they're all around star commenters! I honestly get so excited when I read their comments. 

So here's just an idea I'm throwing out there. For the next 5 blogs you visit, actually spend time to read their posts, and create a personal and thoughtful comment. You don't have to write a paragraph, but just a little more than "Nice photos! You look great!" is so appreciated. 

After 5 blogs, you do you! I have to say sometimes when I just can't think of anything to comment, I fall into the "generic but not spam" category for comments. 

For this post, if you guys would like to participate, let me know what you think about these types of comments! 

If you don't really want to put your opinion out there, that's totally fine. Tell me a story or fact about yourself, give me recommendations about what to eat/watch/try, rant about something that's driving you nuts. If you'd still just like to comment on my outfit, great - try and tell me one thing you'd change about if if you were the one wearing it (hair, accessories, shoes, clothes, whatever!)

The comments section on this one is a free for all!

xx

Angelina

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pacific coast highway road trip

I left on a road trip to SoCal a few days ago (note: I didn't actually pack today, this was written beforehand)! Specifically LA and San Diego. Here is what I'm thinking of bringing - because let's be honest, I'm always going to throw in a few "last minute" items - as well as how I would suggest packing. 

Grab everything that you're thinking of bringing and loosely arrange them in categories - tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear. You can adapt to your needs and travel situation. We're driving, so I was able to bring more, but I definitely would not suggest this much if you're traveling abroad as you'll probably shop and bring back even more. 

white lace top - Billabong, striped bandeau top - Roxy, both bottoms - Hollister

Since LA and San Diego are basically beaches, I brought two swim bottoms, and two swim tops. The reason I have two basic black ones are because the one on the left is cheeky, and the one on the right isn't as much. I haven't actually worn either in public before though.

I'm a fan of simpler tops, so I have a triangle white lace one, and a striped bandeau, depending on whether I'll actually be swimming, or just tanning.

black pompom shorts - Ecote, black skirt - F21, black highwaisted shorts - Hollister, dark highwaisted shorts - AE, jeans - AE, patterned pants - Zara

As you can see, I definitely lean towards darker colors. They're typically more slimming, but they also show stains less (aka I can be lazy and wash them less).

I really love the pompom details on the shorts, because it makes them so easy to dress up or down! The black skirt actually has a bit of herringbone detail, and it matches with basically any top.

I've had my printed pants for ages, and I've only really found one top that matches with it. Needless to say, I don't really get many chances to wear them out, but I thought I'd bring them along in the hopes of finally figuring out what to wear with them. They also double as sweatpants because they're so comfy!

striped long sleeve - BP, black chiffon top - Lush, grey v neck - BP, plaid top - zara, striped corset top - frenchi

All my tops wouldn't fit in one photo (overpacking? nahh), so I divided them into neutrals and color. You can definitely tell my love for stripes - I tried to put them far from each other so as to not blind all of you.

The great thing about neutrals is they match with more or less everything! They're also great for accessorizing and adding bright colors.

magenta silk top - chelsea28, burgundy top - A&F, orange baseball raglan - Free People
purple v neck - BP, peter pan collared top - Topshop, mint crop top - O'Neill, love crop top - F21

Since SoCal has a reputation for being laidback and surfer chic, I brought a few really casual pieces. I didn't want to look like a clueless tourist in case we went to fancier restaurants though, so I included a gorgeous magenta silk crop top I've yet to take the tags off of, and a light green peter pan collared top.

Side note of my love for deals - I got the Free People raglan for $1. With the same amount of money I bought a pack of Skittles with, I bought an amazingly soft and comfy We The Free top. Obviously, that was a good day. (p.s. you can have a great clothing day too with these ways to get clothes for super cheap!)

burgundy cardigan - Roxy, grey cardigan - Brandy Melville, creme cardigan - Mossimo, tan raincoat - Uniqlo

Once, we went on an overnight trip to Big Sur, and I didn't bring a jacket, because my mind goes something like this: warm now = warmer at Big Sur because there are beaches = no possible way it will get colder at night. I was very wrong, and even wearing 3 shirts at a time isn't as good as a jacket or cardigan.

I'm making sure I won't freeze during our road trip, and bringing a variety of cardigans to match every outfit. I'm even bringing a rain coat, because you never know!

black half zip - VS Pink, purple sweatshirt - Wildfox

Okay first, can we please take a moment to admire my Wildfox sweater? I got it slightly used on this app, Poshmark, and I love it to death. I've been looking for the "Shopping Is My Cardio" saying for ages, and I love the pastel colors of it. Also, IT WAS ONLY $30.

Also from Poshmark, a black half zip, which I've also been looking for for a few years (no joke - they just never have colors I like in store). It set me back $14.

Sensing a trend here? Poshmark is a lifesaver. I'm thinking of writing a post about the ins and outs, as well as how to sell on there, so let me know if that's something you'd like to see!

red printed dress - Zara, floral dress - Kimchi Blue
white dress - A&F, black t shirt dress - F21

I love wearing dresses because you only really have to pick the shoes and the dress. Also, no pants, and no pants is always a bonus. Speaking of bonuses, pockets in dresses! Seriously debating on whether I should spend this summer sewing pockets into all of my dresses.

As you may have noticed, I like to pick neutrals (black + white), and then a few colorful options. I think it's a great way to be prepared for every situation. Make sure you also have options for different levels of formalness.

My packing tips in a nutshell:

Pick items that can do double duty - a tube dress that folds down into a skirt, flowy pants that can be worn as pajamas, or a maxi skirt that can turn into a strapless dress will save you space in your suitcase! This also goes for shoes and accessories.

Know what events to dress for - If you already know you'll be attending dinner at a posh restaurant, make sure you have something that you could wear there. Even if you don't have plans, bring a dress just in case, it'll save you money if you have to go shopping again! Or I guess you can use it as an excuse to shop more.

Pick neutral outerwear - This way, you won't be stuck with a hot pink cardigan that only matches one top in your closet. I like picking black, white, and one color that's easy to match, usually navy or burgundy.

Take 2 things out before you leave - I'm an over-packer, so I always have things that I think I'll wear, and then never do. Force yourself to surrender two things, and you probably won't even notice they're gone. I'd go with whatever you wear the least in your normal, day-to-day closet.

Let me know if these tips were helpful! What's your favorite thing to bring on road trips? Do you have any tips for traveling smart?

xx

Angelina

p.s. As this is being posted, I'm already in SoCal! I will be reading comments, and possibly responding, but at a much slower rate. I will definitely get back on when I'm home though!

Should you need to contact me quickly, please don't hesitate to email. 

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musings: platinum hair reactions + how appearance matters to me

It's been more than 3 months since I dyed my hair (you can read about the experience here), and although I'm used to it, there are times when I'm reminded other people still aren't. 

I've realized how much people judge based on appearance, and how it impacts us in our day to day lives. Somewhat scattered musings to follow. 

I've had my hair like this for so long without touching up, it's starting to get icky at the roots (update: I've now redyed it, but it was like this at the time of writing). My friends like to constantly remind me to touch up my roots, and although I know they mean well, it gets a little irritating when I'm asked several times a day when I'll be dying my hair. I'm really fine with the roots look though. 

Is this what celebrities feel like when the media scrutinizes their every move? Although I'm nowhere near Kim K on any level, it must be so tiring to be unable to do anything without everyone watching. 

In some ways, I miss the anonymity of black hair. I blended in. I could get away more easily with sleeping in class resting my eyes occasionally, or checking my phone. But as when I dyed my hair, people around me started treating me differently. I wasn't just some Asian with straight As who would rather stay home most of the time than go out. 

I want to stress that this post isn't about doing my own thing, and not taking other people's words too seriously. That's a whole nother post. This one is more about how platinum hair changed me. 

I had separated myself from the pack, and people saw me for me, not just another girl with black hair. 

It's nice, and definitely a change from all my other years in class. I've been complimented often, and every time it makes my day. I've realized how other people's positive words make me feel, and I've made it a point to compliment my friends and strangers more often, instead of just acknowledging how cute their outfits are in my head. 

On the flip side, I've had days where I've been stressed about how yellow my hair seemed to be because I hadn't left in the purple shampoo long enough. Platinum is a huge time commitment, and sometimes, I'm a little bit on the lazy side. 

My biggest worry is that people will think I'm trying to be Caucasian. I'm not. 

Yes, my hair is white, although technically called platinum blonde, a color many Caucasians have. But I love my natural black hair, my monolid eyes (even when I can't figure out how to work eyeliner for them), my almond shaped eyes, my stick straight eyelashes. Ok, maybe stretching it a little on that last one. 

The point is, I like who I am, I like my race (which, by the way is an idea created from society, we actually have very little genetic differences). Me having platinum hair has nothing to do with trying to be "white", and all about me wanting to stand out and be me. 

It frustrates me to no end when people jump to conclusions about the media having brainwashed me into believing "whiter is better". 

For me, appearance matters. A lot. I would never go out in public with anything I'd regret having pictures put on social media of, and I live by the motto, "Dress like you're going to see your ex". 

A great outfit makes me feel put together, confident, and able to take on anything. 

But at the same time, I envy people who are confident without materialistic objects. They believe in themselves at any state, whether they're dressed to the nines or wearing a stained, unwashed tee. They don't need any confirmation of how amazing they are, simply because they already know. 

What are your thoughts on appearance or beauty ideals? Does it impact how you feel about yourself or others? Did you enjoy posts like this, or do you prefer lifestyle posts? 

Please let me know in the comments!

xx

Angelina

p.s. As this is being posted, I'm already off to SoCal! I will be reading comments, and possibly responding, but at a much slower rate. I will definitely get back on when I'm home though!

Should you need to contact me quickly, please don't hesitate to email. 

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life lately: june

Every month, I collect photos I really like, but just don't seem significant enough to receive their own post. Introducing my month in photos, a collection of small moments that will "hopefully" turn into a unique snapshot I can look back on in a few years. 

I have an obsession with taking pictures of my friends' eyes. A lot of them have amazing, colored eyes, with different shades inside, and I just get so jealous of them. You always want what you can't have right? 

When it gets hot in the car, my dog likes having her own seat. So she'll crawl off our laps and onto the front seat, where she'll stay until someone else needs it. Then she'll wander back onto my lap, very reluctantly though. 

The last weekend before school ended, we took a trip up North. One night, while walking off a very large spaghetti dinner, we saw this amazing vineyard. The sun had set a while ago, but there was still enough light that the mountains in the back were illuminated. 

I love how it looks like they're watercolors. The picture captures the mood and feeling I had there pretty well. 

During testing, our school gives out free food, with an emphasis on the healthy. I was pretty tired, and a little kooky from studying, so we decided to take a fun picture with the food!

Recently, I've been doing photoshoots for more people, and I was asked to photograph these two for their three year anniversary. 

It was lots of fun, though I didn't have any inspiration from beforehand, and it was a little awkward. You can read my post about my first time experience shooting couples, and tips for making it go smoother here (coming soon)!

For a friend's birthday, we went to a hill around sunset. It was so nice out, and I love how the lighting gets around this time.

There was also a cake, which was just to die for. It was one of those moments I really wish I could bake. As Julia Child said, "A party without cake is just a meeting". Words to live by!

I spent an afternoon making cute frosted sugar cookies - I'm really proud of them since I haven't baked in at least 2 years. Stay tuned for a post about these as well!

I hung out with one of my closest friends at the beach, and took a ton of photos, as you guys have probably already noticed - (dressing classy at the beach, and one striped top, two ways) I also made a video here. 

Although I do have some more moments, they're more like ones I looked up and casually noticed. You can see those on my VSCO grid here. 

What are some highlights of June for you guys? What are you looking forward to next month? Should I continue this series?

xx

Angelina

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one striped top, two ways

A while ago, I spent a whole day with one of my best friends. We're both into photography, so naturally, I still have many photos to post. I'm in love with this striped crop top, and I wore it two different ways that day. 

You know when you've been wanting an item of clothing for ages, and then you finally get it, and it's amazing and everything you hoped for? 

That was these black shorts for me. In the summer I mainly wear denim high waisted shorts to make my legs look longer (when you're 5'3 you take every inch you can get), and I love everything black. I got them from Hollister when they were having a sale, and I love everything about them!

No beach trip (or any trip really) is complete without some hair flip photos. You can see how terrible my roots are, and the chunks of orange are because I'm running out of purple shampoo. 

Not sure if you guys have noticed yet, but I'm not terribly creative with poses. I tend to look down and touch my hair a lot, and that's mainly because my eyes are very uneven. 

I have one double lid, and one monolid, and it makes one of my eyes appear a lot larger than the other. I've been assured no one but myself notices (spotlight effect?), but it's very irritating and I've tried everything to make both eyes permanently double lidded. It's an Asian thing. 

I also paired this top with a high waisted (noticing a trend here?) black skater skirt. I love how these types of skirts look good with everything, and this particular one has a very subtle herringbone pattern. 

We went to a library to take photos, which is something I've been wanting to do for ages. We definitely got a lot of looks, but do it for the photos right? 

My cat flats are from Papaya, and I've gotten so many compliments on them! They add a nice touch to any outfit, and they're pretty comfy too. 

We rediscovered the wonders of window lighting - I wish we had gotten more photos, but the shutter noise is quite loud in a quiet library, and I didn't want to disturb anyone. The library at school on the other hand... 

Some of the photos we took can be seen on these posts: the importance of friends, dressing classy at the beach, and june: my month in photos. We also made a video here, and below:

What are you favorite items of clothing that work with anything? Do you guys have any favorite places to shoot - whether for OOTDS or in general? 

xx

Angelina

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