Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Oceans by Seafret



I want you
Yeah I want you
And nothing comes close
To the way that I need you
I wish I can feel your skin
And I want you
From somewhere within

It feels like there's oceans
Between me and you once again
We hide our emotions
Under the surface and tryin' to pretend
But it feels like there's oceans 
Between you and me

I want you
And I always will
I wish I was worth
But I know what you deserve
You know I'd rather drown
Than to go on without you
But you're pulling me down

It feels like there's oceans
Between you and me once again
We hide our emotions
Under the surface and try to pretend
But it feels like there's oceans 
Between you and me

I want you
I want you
And always will

It feels like there's oceans
Between you and me

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Aspirations

I need to keep reminding myself that dreams don't happen overnight. Just take the next step, take it one step at a time. What am I doing right now that leads to where I want to be? Am I so consumed with the comfort of "now" that I've forgotten about the bigger things that lie ahead? I can't help but notice that the deeper I fall into this way of thinking, the fire within me slowly weakens. 
I need to reignite my passions - before it's all gone!

Monday, October 26, 2015

A Letter

Sally!

Do what you want to do. You can't always please everyone. In the end, those who support you will support you no matter what choice you make. And let's say you give into the pressure of other people's advice, and you make a decision that wasn't 100% from your heart. Who do you have to blame but yourself? It's your life and your decision to make. 

So don't think about the others, and go with what's within you. 
I'm always here for you. I love you.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Ben Howard Live

October 7, 2015 - Ben Howard live at the Greek Theater

There is something special about live performances. There's a definitive exchange of communication that occurs between the performer and the crowd, making it something beyond a sit down film or show. It's a kind of storytelling, heart-opening, and interactive environment. 

Ben Howard's performance was overall dark and filled with immense sorrow. I'm not going to lie, coming from a place of vulnerability, it tipped me over the edge. I felt so distraught after the concert, like someone had pestered my soul with sad darkness until it finally gave in. I hated the way it made me feel, but in an odd way it amused me.



Sights of LA: High bridges above cross roads, park avenues lit up by lampposts, small gardens growing in street corners, and rushing water lined up along the borders of the local park. So much beauty and history lies within these few miles encompassing City Hall. 

 October 10-12, 2015 - Hermosa Beach, California

I'll never understand the beauty of how the sky, sun, sea, shore, and sand simultaneously kiss one another for such a pretty sight.


October 17-18, 2015 - Santa Barbara, California

I'll always have a special place in my heart for Santa Barbara. It's the place where I discovered new sides to myself, learned life lessons, and made sweet memories. Each time I'm here, nature surrounds me and enthralls me completely.

^ Santa Barbara coast, seen from the hills P.O.V. at the Goleta Butterfly Preserve cliffs

My heart is filled with wonderful sights and memories. Till the next one.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Vinegar and Oil by Jane Hirshfield

Wrong solitude vinegars the soul,
right solitude oils it.

How fragile we are, between the few good moments.

Coming and going unfinished,
puzzled by fate,

like the half-carved relief
of a fallen donkey, above a church door in Finland.

- Original post on The Atlantic.

The One Who Hears


It's a long, sorrowful night. I feel as though I've lost grip on my life's centerpieces. My eyes are swelling and my heart is faint. In the dark I cry out to You.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Stay Gold


"There's something about you - I can't exactly say, but I know you're different from other girls. You have something within you that others don't have. And I think you need to realize that that's something special. When the world makes you feel like you need to change, to be more like them, don't fall for that. Don't ever change. If you remember anything from tonight, remember to stay gold."

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Creator Spotlight: Justin Kyung Photography

For more artworks, check out Justin Kyung Photography.


No better term than "sun-kissed" hair. 
August 2015, Los Angeles, California.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Back to Shore



You find me
Drowning in a sea of misery,
Engulfed by my memories.

Then out of the blue,
A high wave tumbles over.
Without air to breathe, 
I'm overwhelmed.

As I frantically search for dry shore,
you stretch out your hand.
With a sigh of relief,
I gently take your hand.

Hand in hand,
Together,
We race back towards the sand.

-Sola Lee

Thursday, October 1, 2015

All Most Made Up Poem by Charles Bukowski


She’s mad but she’s magic. 
There’s no lie in her fire. 
I loved you like a man loves a woman he never touches, 
only writes to, 
keeps little photographs of.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Mountains



Oh, look at these mountains,
They don't look too easy.
How grand must the view be?
Probably the best I'll ever see.
-Sola Lee

Always Remember Me by Ry Cuming



Two by two, lovers stand
On the beach in Santa Monica
Pretty eyes, long hair
Smells so sweet 
Like summer's in the air

Watch me as I fall
Into the water calling
Watch me as I sink
Into the sea
And always remember me

Come back, back to me
Back to where the mountains meet the sea
We'll build a house of driftwood
And keep it simple 
'Cause simple is good

Watch me as I fall
Into the water calling
Watch me as I sink
Into the sea
And always remember me

Thursday, September 24, 2015

In My Sight by Imaginary Future


I know that we both wanna emerge from this unscathed
It's impossible to say what will go
And when we do meet and I see you in your street
In the driveway with your hair down to your side

And I won't be the first to say I need you
I will wait until your heart comes too
I don't mind as long as I have you
In my sight

Maybe you will return to a place that we once were
Like a second never passed from before
Or we'll never find anything that
Reminds us of a love we once shared long ago

And I won't be the first to say I need you
I will wait until your heart comes too
I don't mind as long as I have you
In my sight

In my sight
In my sight
In my sight




Monday, September 14, 2015

Laura Esquivel

Las palabras tienen vida. Memoria. Al escucharlas uno se remite al pasado.




Friday, August 28, 2015

Forever My Friend by Ray LaMontagne

Who am I to tell her
Who am I to play god
Who am I to think I can go it alone
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Something tells me this is bringing me down
We've been through some changes
Always seem to hold on
Lately it feel like you can't take anymore
---
Who am I to tell her
Who am I to play god
I don't know just what's for real anymore
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right
Maybe it's the last thing you want to hear me say

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

10 Inspirational Quotes


1. Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just… start. -Ijeoma Umebinyuo 

2. Well, let it pass; April is over, April is over. There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice. - F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Sensible Thing”

3. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. - Robin Williams, "Dead Poets Society"

4. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. Someday you will look back and know exactly why it had to happen. "

6. For what it’s worth: it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over again - F. Scott Fitzgerald

7. You do not owe yourself to anyone. not your body, your mind, your attention, or your time. you do not owe them your thoughts or your affection. you do not owe them words. no matter what, no matter how long you’ve been together, or how many drinks they bought, or how much they love and need you, you do not owe them sex or to pleasure them in any way. you do not owe anyone even the smallest bit of your comfort. you do not show love by bending your own will, by pushing your boundaries, by submitting. proof of love should never be your own ruin, not for anyone, not ever - that isn’t love, that’s conquest. -Marina V.

8. I understood myself only after I destroyed myself. And only in the process of fixing myself, did I know who I really was. — Sade Andria Zabala, Thought of the Day: Self-Discovery

9. 연필은 쓰던 걸 멈추고 몸을 깎아야 할 때도 있어. 당장은 좀 아파도 심을 더 예리하게 쓸 수 있지. 너도 그렇게 고통과 슬픔을 견뎌내는 법을 배워야 해. 그래야 더 나은 사람이 될 수 있는 거야. — 파울로 코엘료 

10. You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it. -Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo

x Sola

Friday, August 14, 2015

Inspiration / Mood

^ soft, light, and neutral tones

^ minimalist accessories

 
^ clean finish designs

^ delicate, romantic details

^ comfortable classics

^ more specifically, distressed denim

^ lastly, fall season attire. I'm eagerly waiting for autumn...my favorite time of all.

x Sola

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Favorite Films

I truly enjoy watching movies. It is my all-time favorite downtime activity. I can't say I've watched a ton of movies, but among the ones I have watched I've created a narrowed down list of some I found worthwhile (and available on Netflix).

1. Sleepless in Seattle
A legendary movie of the past starring two of the best actors in romance films: Tom Hanks and the gorgeous Meg Ryan. The similarity of both characters in this film reminds us of the magical, hopeful side of love we all long for. It highlights fulfilling dreams within, by taking risks and trusting fate. Despite having most of the movie filmed in different locations and without actual interaction, the film beautifully demonstrates the characters' identical desire for deeper, more radical love.

Favorite quote: (last line) "Sam...It's nice to meet you." (Annie)


2. Copenhagen
A heart throbbing film that leaves one mesmerized by the authenticity of the film and the one-of-a-kind, breathtaking character representation in the story. This film completely brings me back to my childhood days filled with sweet innocence, a hunger for truth and knowledge, and a free spirit willing to journey anywhere that life takes you.

Favorite quote: "I'm like a leaf falling from a tree, wherever the wind blows, I'll go." (Effy)



3. Stuck In Love
A modern film about experiencing life, love, sorrow, comfort, and relationships. Personally, I was so drawn to the father's character and his relentless pursuit for his lost love. And like most of us, we find commonalities with Samantha and Louis' connection as well as Rusty's heart as a young teenager.

Favorite quote: "My biggest mistake was thinking you could fix me. Only I can fix me." (Kate)


4. Breakfast at Tiffany's
I couldn't leave this one out. It's a classic film set in New York City featuring the one and only Audrey Hepburn. She is a doll, and her endless chase for the best things in life is matched by her poised, graceful character.

Favorite scene:
"I love you." (Paul)
"So what." (Holly)
"So what? So plenty! I love you, you belong to me!" (Paul)
"No, people don't belong to people." (Holly)
"Of course they do!" (Paul)
"I'll never let anybody put me in a cage." (Holly)
"I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!" (Paul)



I'll be back for more. 

x Sola

Friday, February 6, 2015

An Empire State of Mind



Over the winter break, I took my very first trip to the Big Apple! For seven days, the six of us roamed through the city, not-minding the freezing cold weather of mid-December in New York.



^ beautiful alley near Wall Street


^ Drinks at our dinner place


^ Unbelievably tasteful Italian dinner at Adrienne's Pizzabar

Every street was exciting, and each neighborhood told a unique story of its own. My favorite were those located in the southern region of the map: Soho, East Village, Little Italy.  If I ever visit again, I'm definitely coming back to these sites.


Central Park was too much to grasp in one visit. It's honestly breathtaking. Every entrance and angle of the park has different highlights and specialties. We entered from the side of Museum Mile, so we passed by lots of food trucks and pedestrians. Once we entered the park, we saw rows and rows of engraved benches marked with confessions and memories: "For my love, Jane."
We even witnessed a wedding with a total of 5 guests taking place right across the Turtle Pond. To say the least, it was both relaxing and heartwarming- just what we needed in this big, busy city. 


^ The six girls taking on NYC together!


Shopping in New York is something else! An entire section of the city is dedicated to upscale shopping, so it's nearly impossible to leave the fashion districts without finding a few things to buy. Additionally, a lot of the stores adhere to no (or low) sales tax, meaning duty free shopping!

^ A memory I'll never forget, NYE in Times Square

The finale of our winter trip had to end at the famous Times Square. We spent our last night waiting for the ball to drop and confetti to fall. It was a little overwhelming, not due to obvious reasons like the crowd and long waits, but because I knew this was our last night in the city together. I didn't want to leave just yet. So this, by far, was my favorite memory in New York. Greeting strangers, making conversation with the NYPD, and being a part of this delirious crowd. It was simply incredible. I'm amazed we were able to catch our early bird flight back to LA within the next hour - just minutes after counting down to 2015!

Cheers to our wonderful 7-day trip and until next time. I <3 NY!

x Sola

The xx - I Dare You