Biking in San Francisco

Photos Credits: Paul & I. 

Got the opportunity to bring my bike up to San Francisco this year, so I hopped on it, literally.
Biking in San Francisco was so very different from biking around Orange County. In my area, I'm used to biking along the sidewalks, cruising along the beaches, and enjoying rather calm rides. On the other hand, it's apparently illegal to ride your bikes on the sidewalks of the Bay area, which only meant biking side by side to regular San Francisco drivers. I was grateful for the numerous bike lanes that the enticing city streets provided though it gave me a blend of intoxicating feelings: thrill, anxiety, rush, curiosity, awe, genuine happiness, and never ending fuel for my adrenaline addiction. A week of biking all over the city definitely gave me a greater infinite feel for how society functions over there, how completely contrasted one block in a neighborhood could be from another, the great of a variety of souls residing and giving the city its character, and just how breathtakingly amazing San Francisco is overall.

There was inspiration to be found in every corner we turned, every alley we gazed, every street we walked, and every structure we admired. I'm pretty excited to just share the photos I collected from the trip to let you get a better feel of what it is I'm blabbing about. Until then, I hope everyone enjoys their New Years weekend!

violating symmetry

Photo Credits: Ashley Espeseth 
A S H Photography

Fishtail skirts, asymmetrical skirts, diagonal skirts, crooked cut skirts... Whatever you call them, I personally believe they are a must have in every fashionista's closet. I can only emphasize this so many times.
Can't find any in stores? No problem. You can easily DIY as I have with some old maxi skirts I've left hanging in my closet. Cutting up and sewing old clothes is a great budget friendly way of putting a somewhat new item in your wardrobe. Trust me, I do it all the time. It's kind of fun, actually.

I just came back from Norcal, and I have so many photo adventures to share!
Photos definitely coming soon.

rouge rendezvous

Photo Credits: Ashley Espeseth

A S H Photography

Got the opportunity to meet up with Ashley for a quick shoot recently. She's such an easygoing photographer to work with! If you get the chance, check out her portfolio linked above. 

Anyway, I'm really enjoying the luxury of free time that Winter Break has granted me thus far.

Yesterday night, I attended the first showing of Irving Berlin's White Christmas Musical in Costa Mesa, and it was quite an amazing show. I was smiling throughout the enthusiastic theatrical experience, and I still can't get over how they let it snow on the audience toward the end. What a way to engage the viewers!

Now, it's definitely beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas.

headed downtown

Photo Credits: Christopher Canon 

The wave of college finals finally crashed last week. 

Now, I'm definitely enjoying the calm after the storm. 

This past weekend's Big Bear trip was unforgettable. 

Winter Break calls for endless explorations. 

Cheers to four weeks of liberation and loving life.

Someone else's America

I got a chance to browse some local pieces of art a few weeks ago and just wanted to share my thoughts and own interpretations of what I encountered.

Underneath it all, the human skull has a jawline that's sculptured with a warm smile. Humans have the ability to go about their years positively or negatively, but at the end of life, everyone dies happy, technically... It may be a bit disturbing to think about but, honestly, there's beauty in life and death. Despite the sorrows and pain triggered by death, every soul is freed when this time comes; and, the human corpse rests peacefully, deteriorating down to the sturdy bones and bits that carried all that weight obtained through life's course. 

Anyway, it all comes down to this.. Smile folks. Keep on chasing your dreams and finding reasons to smile until the day you die. You only live once, so you might as well make the most of it. :)

Unfortunately, the world consists of several people, who claim this country is theirs in the most selfish manner. Thus, we have unnecessarily racist people, who bluntly taint the public with their rude remarks toward others... Others, who they distastefully view as contaminants in "their country". Truth of the matter is, this isn't just "your country".. This nation belongs to everyone whose first baby steps were taken on American regions, everyone who chases their dreams and fuels the economy with productivity, everyone who bares their heart and soul for the land, everyone who's died fighting on it, and everyone who's cherished their lost loved ones. 

So in response to the disturbing "my tram experience" youtube videos of racist rants, people like her need to stop claiming this place as just your country because, clearly, it's not. It's collectively "our country." Until you learn to accept this fact, you will only continue to taint any country with your racist presence, which is disfavored by the vast majority. Segregating yourself from society with your ignorant ways only continues to make this country LESS of a home to you, if anything. There goes a saying, "Home is where the heart is." So please give a little more heart and rid yourself of such racist attitudes to make our world, our home a better place. This world is a multicultural and undeniably diverse place, but, with selfishly ignorant people, it will always be "Someone else's America." 

Future generations will only continue to grow more diverse.

So...

Get over yourself.