goodbye, summer. hello, autumn.

long days, short nights. patios. spf. sunglasses. iced coffee. farmers' markets. porches. leisurely bike rides. swimming pools. lakehouses. windows pushed up, windows rolled down.

The other night, I was driving home late and was stopped at an intersection. The street was bustling with people moving to and fro, trying to get those last few summer beers in their systems. A young man crossed the street in a tee shirt and it struck me that within a few weeks, we'll be wearing sweaters at night.

What does summer mean to you?

As the sun sets on this year's summer, I'll feel as though I've made more of the season than I had ever previously. How lovely it would be if this became a pattern.

Fall is my favorite season and I'm excited for the foliage, pumpkin patches, and apple-picking. The sad thing about fall in the Northeast is that it tends to be relatively short-lived. Maybe this is why we appreciate it so much.

I've listened to this song a lot this summer:

Happy autumn, everyone!

xoxo

un weekend en plein air + some thoughts.

 Fallen leaves covered my car's windshield wipers this morning, an indiscreet note left by Mother Nature to remind us to take these next few weeks and cherish them. This summer has been a season of discovery for me and for many of my friends.

I have had some of the most beautiful and most heart-breaking moments these past few months. I feel as though I am re-entering my skin again, becoming much more in touch with facets of myself I had neglected for too long.

My new camera lens finally arrived in the mail and it's almost as though I've regained the ability to express myself thoroughly again. The photographs I take may not speak much or at all to some people, but when I look at them I am immediately reminded of a feeling and the circumstance which created that feeling.

Yesterday, a good friend asked me why I take photos. A simple enough question, one would think, but I stumbled to find an answer. After thinking about it for a while, I still haven't come to a firm conclusion. I can say that photography is a vicious and wonderful circle for me. I take photographs because something is beautiful to me and I am made more aware of beautiful somethings around me because I take photographs.

Sandals from Aldo; Slitted, sheer maxi skirt from Forever 21.

Ring finger ring - Judith's (she forgot it at my place); Turquoise ring from Housing Works.

I cannot walk down a side street in this city and not be astounded by the beauty that surrounds me. I'm sure I sound beyond corny right now, but photography and art are truly what keep me in touch with all the beauty that life has granted us.

Going through a breakup recently, my emotions have been a roller coaster (and not just a rickety old wooden roller coaster, but one of those gut-churning ones with all their flips and twists). I've become much closer with some of my friends and I am extremely grateful for all of their support.

Tea-lights from a party at our house.

This Wednesday, I begin classes for my masters program. I'm excited to stick my nose in a book and feel like I'm doing something academically productive again. Yes, I am the nerd who spends way too much money on stationery and who will most likely be first in line for my class at the bookstore.

I wish everyone a lovely week and I hope that everyone makes the most of what is left from this summer.

Also, please give a listen to one of my old favorite songs by Beirut, "Elephant Gun."

Love! xoxoxo

5 things I love Tuesday!

1. Taking a few weeks off before grad school.

I had planned for quite some time to take a few weeks off before starting my masters. Once the time finally came, I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish during my time off. Life got in the way and although I have accomplished some of my goals, some are still left incomplete (i.e. writing a short story, making lots of art). It's been an incredibly rough month for me, though, and I am very grateful that I have this time to get more in touch with myself again. I'm the type of person who gets antsy if I even have an entire day to myself and I think it's important for me to learn to cherish the present instead of always looking towards a light in the future.

My time off has found me grabbing lunch with friends, catching up on the large stack of books I've accumulated from Dove & Hudson, drinking lots of red wine, and taking walks and bike-rides in the beautiful weather. And of course there have been many cups of coffee and time spent blogging in the mix.

2. The Capricious Club Tumblr

I have been quite obsessed with this Tumblr. In the past, I didn't fully understand how so many people were totally enamored with Tumblr, but now I find it to be a great way to get inspired. I use my Tumblr as a kind of inspiration board. This particular blog has an aesthetic that really calls to me.

photo by Valerie Chiang.

photo from Mon Chéri blog.

photo by House of Maryanne.

3. Bare Bones Colorstay nail polish by Revlon

On an even girlier note, I love this nail polish by Revlon. I used to paint my nails two or three times a week, but over the past few months I've been trying to give my nails more of a break. I have nails that are extremely prone to peeling. However, I really enjoy this color because it's a fashionable nude and requires neither a base nor a top coat.

4. Bow iPhone case

I find this iPhone case soooo adorable! I'm really considering purchasing it, but I already have three iPhone cases... Crap.

Premium Quality (iPhone 4S / 4 Bow Bumper Case Skin Cover

5. The Books Are All Right blog

This blog was started by one of my best friends, Chris, and a few of his friends from Columbia. They're a very intelligent group of people and their reviews are very well-written and interesting!! They've inspired me to start reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz. The style in which the book was written really reminds me of White Teeth (one of my favorite novels), by Zadie Smith and I've been really enjoying the book! Whenever I pick it up, I find it hard to put it back down.

Thanks so much for reading!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

5 things I love Tuesday.

It's that time of the week again! I actually haven't done one of these in a while because for whatever twist of fate I always end up busy on Tuesdays. Today was not an exception, but I made a promise to myself I'd get this up and I do not regret the effort one bit!

It was hard to choose the five things I've been loving and/or lusting after recently because I try to keep my list varied and not entirely materialistic. Believe me, it would be rather simple for me to list five pairs of shoes I would love to own (read: typical girl), but I'm not so sure you all would find that very interesting. (:

Alas, I am especially happy with my list this week!

1. vines all over Albany.

If I could choose Albany's second nickname (the first being Smalbany), I would choose Vine City. That's really romanticized sounding, but so be it; Albany looks romantic with vines crawling every which way. Beside, I'm pretty sure at least 90% of people interested in photography would agree that the juxtaposition of nature and urban geometry rarely if ever gets old.

I mentioned in my last post that I want to make some artworks pertaining to vines. I plan on sticking to that! I just need to get ahold of some newspaper, gesso, and my paints.

2. bento boxes.

I've always been very intrigued by the concept of the bento box, but after reading reviews about this bento box cookbook, I'm pretty much sold/totally enamored.

Sometimes, I find myself in a rut when trying to eat healthy because I usually make my food interesting during the cooking process, but vegetables are, as you probably know, most nutritious when raw. These bento box recipes seem like they would always keep things fresh, literally and figuratively. 

The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches To Go by Makiko Itoh.

Also, this bento box is RIDICULOSLY cute. You can flip the band that holds it together either onto the happy panda eyebrow side or the angry panda eyebrow side. Eeek!!!

Kotobuki 280-129 2-Tiered Bento Box, Panda Face

3. my double-faced watch.

This is my second purchase of this exact watch! I used to wear my old one every day until I lost it and I hadn't forgotten it since, so I decided to order the same exact one. I'm definitely happy with my decision. It's so unique and goes with basically anything! Although, I do have to deal with the occasional person asking "why would you wear a watch with two faces?" It's called fashion, people! Get with the program!

4. trying new hair styles.

'Nuff said.

5. Juliette Tang: Photographer of Books.

I've loved Juliette Tang's book photography for a while. I feel as though I cannot look at her photos without conjuring up images of myself by an open window on a cool summer day with a book in one hand a steaming cup of tea in the other. You should definitely check out her work!

Photo by Juliette Tang.

Photo by Juliette Tang.

Photo by Juliette Tang.

Thanks so much for reading!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Cara