Some people wear their history like a map on their face

Top - Madewell, shorts - Cheap Monday (available at Karmaloop), shoes - Madewell

I'm not so thrilled with the quality of these photos, but life goes on, yeah? I wore this last Monday for a bike ride from Venice to Santa Monica, which was my first time riding a bicycle in years. And it was actually quite fun! If I lived out there, I would most definitely own a bike...



I like that these shorts are more skirt-like than shorts. I saved them a while ago on Pinterest and finally ended up buying them from Wasteland's brick and mortar Santa Monica location. They're probably going to be worn to death this summer, since they're so comfy - almost to the extent of most pajamas - and flowy and nonconstricting and everything desired for hot weather attire. Also worth mentioning is this top that I'd stalked on Madewell's website for some time before it sold out. It's kind of a modified version of the classic Breton stripes, which is quite nice.

After returning from Santa Monica, I headed to Seed Kitchen - a vegan restaurant in Venice - for seitan pepper steak and their amazing pomme fries. They are literally the best french fries I've ever had, and the restaurant is like a vegan fast food joint which is really cool. In Philly we have Blackbird Pizzeria and a few other vegetarian/vegan spots, but there's so much variety in the Venice area. Fresh veggie tacos, tofu scramble, endless varieties of sorbetto and even gelato, food trucks offering veggie sushi burritos and miniature cupcakes with decadent, fudgy chocolate icing... amazing.

xox Catherine

Santa Monica

Cardigan - my sister's, shirt - H&M, jeans - Madewell, bag - LuLu's, shoes - Marais USA via ModCloth

I wore this yesterday after walking around in Venice all day... during which I came across Seed Kitchen, which is a vegan cafe, maker of the best french fries ever, and where I discovered the glory of blueberry scones. Seriously, why have I never tried them before? I bought three. That's how good they were. My sister and her boyfriend wanted to go to the Santa Monica Pier, so I put jeans on - it's a little chilly at night here - and watched the solar eclipse. I took a few cool photos... maybe I'll post them soon. I then went to the Third Street Promenade and other surrounding areas. I had a scoop of strawberry sorbet and proceeded to wander in and out of shops, including Wasteland, which is very superb.



I've been conjuring plans in my head to live out here. I figure they're probably not going to work out, but with my dream school still out of reach, I have no qualms about transferring to a school here. Or perhaps trying to get an internship/job and living here next summer...



xox Catherine

Greetings from Venice

Cardigan - my sister's, top - Madewell, cuff - antique, shorts - American Apparel, shoes - Marais USA (via ModCloth)

I mentioned upcoming travels to Los Angeles... and here I am. I'll be in Venice (and wherever else in the vicinity!) for the next few days. We arrived at LAX Friday morning, then visited my uncle's apartment before heading over to Malibu for the afternoon. I wanted to swim, but as it turns out, it is quite chilly and windy. I left the beach shivering and hung out in the area for a while. Later on we finally made it to our hotel, which is actually quite nice. There's a small gallery in the lobby; I'm sold. We went over to the Venice Ale House (with huge appetites) and all left incredibly satisfied. I ordered a veggie taco - my first taco ever - and it was very, very delicious. I spotted an moon-like orb in the sky, which turned out to be part of the set of an indie film. Upon asking an observer, we also discovered Californication was shooting just two blocks away.


Today we ate brunch while sitting in the sun at a small cafe (Figtree Cafe) and ended up slightly sunburned. Oh well, the food was delicious - I had a tofu scramble and what was easily the best green tea I've ever drank. We walked along the Venice boardwalk, wandering in and out of shops and passing numerous herbal medical healing centers - only in California, right? I was pleased to find an American Apparel Outlet store... normally I'm not a huge fan of the brand for its questionable CEO and overpriced items, but I did walk out with this pair of shorts. They're significantly shorter than what I'd normally wear, but the high waist keeps it a little less denim underwear-esque. Or so I like to think.

After laying on the beach, we cleaned ourselves up and walked along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where we ate (Abbot's Habit), browsed shops and galleries (Very Venice Art Gallery) and discussed wishful plans to move to Venice. I'm quite satisfied with the day, and I can't say I really want to return home... it's so beautiful and dream-like here. It's essentially everything I imagined California to be - endless beaches with palm trees, organic cafes scattered about, sky-high rent prices, chain-link fences covered in desert flowers, the dodgy nighttime surroundings with questionable characters.

xox Catherine

It's summer now

Top - Monki, skirt - Urban Outfitters, bracelet - thrifted, shoes - Madewell, purse - LuLu's

It's been three weeks since my last post, and I would just like to state that finals (papers, exams, et cetera) are to blame. Not that it really matters - I probably needed a break from blogging, anyway. But I'm back, and I hope I won't have any absence over the summer. Since, y'know, it's summer now. Quite a bit has happened within the past few weeks; I've been accepted into my dream school as a transfer student, I started work as a hostess at an Asian Fusion restaurant, I finished my freshman year of university with a 3.63 GPA, and I'm preparing for a trip to Los Angeles next week. Life's been a little crazy, but in the good way. I've resumed cooking at late hours of the night and my sleep schedule has made me nocturnal.



Anyway, about the outfit: I wore this a few weeks ago. I can't remember when - I think it was a Tuesday - but it's one of the last few I have from school. The fact that I barely remember where/why I wore this shows how much this semester wore me out mentally. I've been home, and subsequently "recovering", for the past week, and I'm ready to get back into things I enjoy. Besides sleeping.

xox Catherine