Today, I picked up this box from Richmond Vintage while exploring Uptown Richmond with a friend.

This beautiful box is made of brass and has such a pretty, delicate floral design on it. I saw it and immediately fell in love with its size (it can fit in the palms of my hands) and how sturdy it felt (especially since I'll be moving from my dorm to an apartment in a few months!). 

Nonetheless, I'll definitely go back to Richmond Vintage to see if I can pick up more gems in the future!

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the long wait between posts, but I'm currently in the Bay Area spending time with family one last time before I go off to college! The weather is a little chillier than I expected, definitely colder than southern California, but I'm having a great time so far!

On Sunday night, my aunt's cousin took me to this great coffee and wine bar called Monkey Forest Road in Oakland. It's definitely somewhere where I could take a few friends, swap stories, and enjoy a great cappuccino or chai...if I lived close enough! The design of this café is absolutely beautiful, with deep, rich natural components like an edgy marble table, a huge, beautiful wood wall, and lots of baubles and home décor to admire. The café also doubles as an art gallery complete with a gorgeous jewelry display, so if I could, I would've spent all day here if I stopped by during the daytime.




wood candleholders



plaster figures

   

 blown glass vases

With plenty to look at, you can definitely work up an appetite. I have to say, I was very impressed with the dessert selections that Monkey Forest Road had...I wanted to try them all! Here's the tiny feast that I treated myself to -

The little pluot cakes were moist, delicately sweet and one of the best treats I've had in ages!

 Leaves carefully swirled in hot chocolate cups get me every time. It was perfection.

 My mum had jasmine tea and it arrived in the cutest pot. It was earthy and flavorful.

The service was exceptional, the ambiance was beautiful (Flickering candles on marble tables? Count me in!), and the food + drink was absolutely delicious. When I come to Oakland again, I'll definitely come back. I'm absolutely in love with this perfect environment.

For those in the area, this gem is located at:
3265 Grand Ave
Oakland, California, 94610

"I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows."
-Drew Barrymore

I did a mini-photoshoot with one of my dearest models. She has the most beautiful eyes and hair, and so we decided to take a spin down to Crystal Cove and see what we could do! Absolute magic.
Here's a few things that went down!

 There was not a lot of people there, surprisingly! Perhaps it was because we went on a Sunday, but it was in the afternoon, so I thought it there would be a crowd.
 The good part about Crystal Cove is the hiking trails. They're very light and overlook spectacular views. Words can't even serve it justice. The waters were sparkling and blue, the air smelled like salt and not smoky smog...basically, it was everything that you see on TV shows. Perfection.
 There was a long way down to the beach on some very steep stairs, but it adds a bit to the exclusive feel that this beach has. There are some reefs and tide pools, which I absolutely loved. Tide pools are my favorite place to explore because it was a frequent childhood spot whenever I visited Monterey Bay.

 The shoot went well because of the spectacular location and this beautiful lady! She's an absolute natural and she's just the friendliest person.

Naturally, after the shoot, I had some fun with the trees...I couldn't resist.
Honestly, I couldn't.

Unfortunately, my attempt to become one with nature didn't go as planned...

All in all, it was a spectacular shoot! Expect an update on my portfolio site in the next week or so!