POST-GRAD

photos by Brittany Curran

I graduated! The two months of radio silence can be attributed to me trying to get through my last finals week EVER, spending lots and lots of time with my friends, and getting through the craziness that is commencement. Oh and starting a new full-time position. Life is moving pretty damn fast.

Grateful, I truly am, but I'm also a little lost in all of the hustle and bustle. Scared shitless and just trying to focus on the right now and todays, it's been a hard change for someone like me who is obsessed with planning out the future. Still realizing that I'm now a "grown up" and no longer have time for day drinking or netflix binges (during the week days anyways), it's been a tough adjustment. But if those are the biggest troubles in my life than I guess it ain't so bad after all ;)

A big congrats to all of my fellow 2014 graduates! Real life is harsh, ain't it? I finally understand the beauty (and necessity) of happy hour.

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HIKING IN $400 BOOTS

wearing: American Apparel shawl & crop button up, F21 black skirt, Jeffrey Campbell for Free People boots via Poshmark

Dating is hard. You never really know what you're getting yourself into. And that's how I ended up climbing up Bernal Heights in the world's most inappropriate hiking outfit. Everyone was decked out in workout attire, and there I was, in my miniskirt and $400 boots (that I only paid 1/4 of retail for! Thanks Poshmark!). Classic Anisa moment.

First dates are funny like that. You make some loose plans, like grabbing coffee or drinks, and see where it goes from there. And sometimes you end up catching the most beautiful sunset overlooking the city you've grown to love so much. And sometimes that date ends up taking your outfit photos for your blog. You never know what will come from a date, you just never know.

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NEW YEAR & NEW YORK

/ photos by Danielle Ma /

{wearing}: Zara trench coat, H&M beaded t-shirt, Primark cardigan, 

Forever 21 flannel, plaid skirt, and studded combat boots

New Year, New York, new me? Isn't that what we all hope for with every January 1st? A nice clean slate that we can mark up with all of our highs and lows, our wins and fails for the next 365 days. And, with the next January 1st, to have it all just wash away. It's a nice thought, a great sentiment, although not a very realistic one. If only that was how it all worked. 

But with every new year, we get a new set of eyes. Some things clear up while other things blur. And that's why this is one of my favorite times of the year. I love feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to take on the world. It's all a head game really. Entering my last semester at Berkeley, I have a lot to consider, reconsider and figure out before May rolls around. After playing my way through Europe for the last four months, I'm looking forward to grounding myself and getting back to business.

And that future will hopefully lie in NYC. I love this city so much, from the entertainment to the neighborhoods to the amazing eats. This city is growing on me with every passing day. I can't imagine living anywhere else in my twenties and I can't wait to get myself back here as soon as I possibly can. That's one of my main goals for 2014. Since I'm so over resolutions (they're too easy to forget and ignore), I want goals that I can check off as the year goes along. And so, cheers to 2014, may the new year bring you, my loves, lots of happiness and joy :)

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WANDERLAND

wearing: Vintage striped top {22 euros/Kiliwatch Paris}, gray skater skirt {12 euros/H&M}, vintage leather purse {20 euros/vintage store in Paris}, vintage Longchamp purse {5 euros/flea market}

Life in Paris has been pleasantly, well, pleasant. It certainly has lost a bit of the rosy hue that we all came in seeing, but it is still a beautiful city that stuns and surprises me around every corner. Being extremely lucky, I have met some incredible people that fit into my life so well that I can't even imagine life without them. But even so, I've been stuck in a reminiscing mood and have been missing life back home in California quite dearly. Fortunately, the travel bug has surely remedied that heartache...at least temporarily anyways. Already visited London and Amsterdam (look out for those travel diaries soon!), I can't wait to hit up Italy next!

Here are a few snapshots from a day trip to Giverny, a town outside of Paris where Monet lived. Monet, or Mo-money as I say, lived among a floral wonderland. Seriously. His house and, more importantly his garden and pond, blew my mind. One of my favorite days so far, I can't believe I got to see a sight that has inspired so many great painters. We also stumbled upon a little flea market where I picked up this vintage Longchamp and a cute little black dress for only 5 euros each!

I promise, promise, promise I'll make an effort to update more. I'm more so just being lazy rather than being busy, I'll get back into the swing of things, like taking longer than 2 minutes to get dressed in the mornings #sorrynotsorrybutreallysorry. I'm excited to get a proper outfit shot up soon, stay tuned love bugs!

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CATCH UP

Hello beautiful people! It's true, I'm alive! After finishing finals (hooray!), my life has been stuck on fast forward. From the graduations (don't leave) we attended and cried at to the constant packing, it was all a crazy blur. I had to move out of Berkeley, back into my home home in Concord, and then out again for LA, all within three days. Where's the pause button when you need it? 

The first weekend in town, I went to the Pasadena Music Festival and then saw Mumford and Sons the day after. I started my internship at Lucky Brand the very next day, I feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe.  But, then again, I don't really want the madness to stop. I am absolutely loving everything. LA is no joke, I'm completely smitten. So, of course when life is going too well, would be the perfect time for my MacBook to crash. Cue gasp. Pretty much the epitome of every blogger's worst nightmare. Silly me didn't back a single thing up so here I am, very very behind on just about everything.

So while I'm playing catch up with life, blogging has been put on the back burner until I either: a) find a photographer (hey photographers hey, holla at me!) or b) find a tripod. Until then, I have been, and will be, shooting lots of outfit shots on Instagram! So follow me on there to see what's up with me, myself, and I!

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PORTLANDIA

wearing: thrifted H&M tank, Zara scarf-print skirt, thrifted black leather flats, vintage Coach satchel, Charlotte Russe sunnies

Although we visited over three months ago, it looks like I haven't quite gotten over you yet. Mason jars, Voodoo Donuts, food carts and more. Portland, get on with your weird self.

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TWENTIES

wearing: Dolce Vita blouse {via StitchFix}, AE black coated jeans, Too Neon pink pumps c/o Two Lips, Lush two-toned moto jacket {via eBay}, H&M pyramid bangle, F21 silver locket necklace, black leather bag {via Taiwan}

Over the weekend I turned the big 2-0. It was a beautiful day spent with beautiful people; I literally couldn't have asked for a better way to say goodbye to my teens and hello to my twenties. From brunch at the sweetest little cupcake spot in the city to dinner in Berkeley with all of my loves, I am glad to say that this was the best birthday to date.

It's a weird feeling leaving my teen years behind and taking on a brand new decade. The past 20 years have taught me far too much and not enough. With so many exciting things planned for the next year, I can't even being to imagine what the next ten will bring. Here's to hoping, to dreaming, and to the adventures that come in between!

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