c.p. n.y.

central park basically exceeded my expectations.

i managed to get there on my second to last day because, frankly, i really didn't know what i was in for.

i pictured central park as a cliche, new york go-to-must - but... i get it now.

the changing of leaves, the crisp air, people blowing giant bubbles, coffee-in-hand, curious squirrels... even the tourists (plus much, much more) - all made it quite magical.

and then to find out that our hour and a half walk only took us about a quarter ways of the whole park...

i was completely dumbfounded.

i mean, everyone talked about how big it was and all, but i think what they meant is that it's MASSIVE.

more photos soon to come from the trip.

to trust some more

11 . 02 . 15

not that i am speaking of being in need, 

for i have learned in whatever situation i am to be content.

i know how to be brought low, 

and i know how to abound.

in any and every circumstance, 

i have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, 

abundance and need.

i can do all things through him who strengthens me.

- philippians 4:11-13

struggles of the flesh - vl 1 : easy / teach me

easy / teach me

easy to sit here and wallow in my pain,

easy to let the enemy plant lies into my brain,

easy to unforgive what i already forgave,

even when i know that it's by grace that i've been saved.

oh Lord,

oh Lord, i cry to you,

you see my wicked heart,

but your grace forgave me from the start

oh Lord,

oh Lord, i'm ashamed to even ask,

for you to show me how to love,

when i've refused to look to you above.

teach me,

teach me,

cause it's easy. 

teach me,

teach me,

cause it's easy,

to forget.

i forget.

(to be cont'd...)

photo via: purelikegolddd

4 months... but really, who's counting.

i couldn't think of a clever ice-breaker, so this'll have to do.

instead of giving you a lengthy, boring run-down of my life the past few months,

allow me to give you the more "significant" details... and then we'll call it a day.

let's take this point-form style.

- i no longer work at wings + horns (though i do miss it there, and the people)

- i work at Westside Church (also the church that i've been attending for 7 years) as the

front desk administrator.

- i booked a flight to new york (!!!) for the end of october. i'll be there for 11 days.

it's been a long time coming for that trip. i am very very very excited.

- i have gone back to my roots of being active and healthy. i train twice a week with my

good friend and trainer, ann, and hit up the gym on my own 3 or 4 other days of the week.

fitness has done a 180 for my body in the way i feel and function.

physically, i feel so alive and strong.

that's all. i promised to keep it short.

going to try to get back into the swing of blogging.

forgive me for the lengthy absence and thanks for your patience.

more to come...

Frankie Collective | Chinatown: After Eight

Model:  Della Orrey

Photography:  Blake Ponto

Styling:  Myself  

 1st look - Frankie Collective NY Yankees Satin Starter Jacket | Frankie Collective Reworked Fila Crop Top | Vintage denim & trousers | Doc Martens 1461's

2nd look - Vintage blazer | Frankie Collective NY Yankees Baseball Tee | Aritzia Community Waist Pack

3rd look - F as in Frank Deadstock Polo Button-down | Vintage trousers

food for thought: gain in doubt.

"A faith without some doubts is like a human body with no antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask the hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.” 

- Timothy Keller

trench game

i was kindly gifted this trench coat from The Lab a few weeks back..
i figured i'd wear it here and there- mainly in the spring and perhaps in the fall.
sure. 
but i've been wearing this coat nearly every day, since.
not to mention that it's beige and goes with practically my whole wardrobe,
but it's really just a great, simple, classic piece.

oh ya.

and it has a deep, funky side pocket just in case you need a place to keep your umbrella.

hello.

nocturnal workshop | wings + horns || SS'15 || hypebeast

Nocturnal Workshop's SS'15 lookbook on Hypebeast

photography: fahim kassam & ian lanterman

art direction + styling: myself

model: ben etienne

________________________________________________________________________

wings + horns SS'15 lookbook on Hypebeast

photography: alan chan

stylist: tung vo

assistant stylist: myself

model: david pachal

the "big" 2 3

one, big muchas gracias to all those who took the time to wish me a happy birthday today.

especially all you individuals who i rarely talk to/haven't talked to in ages.

in all honesty i'd been dreading 23 for what seems like a whole year... ever since i turned 22.

i just didn't want the day to come. 

period.

and then to add the icing on the cake, i recently came across an article on,

*rolls eyes*, facebook, that shed light as to why 23 is the worst year of your life.

oh ya? oh sick. 

awesome.

but what TRULY is so gut-wrenchingly terrible about 23, you might ask?

well... nothing.

to put it simply:

it's all what you make of it.

i'd originally assumed it to be some big identity crisis.

and, to be fair, i have re-evaluated career paths and goals,

but rather than being fearful and negative about it, 

i'm trying to use it as an opportunity to learn more about who am i.

what are my strengths/weaknesses?

what am i truly passionate about?

do i belong in another city... country?

and so on.

while in palm springs for the next 8 days, 

i figured this would be a good opportunity to spend time reflecting, 
and talking with God about all these things hammering away in my head.

and at the end of the day,
no matter where i am or what i am doing,
i am blessed (to death).

"And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!"

Psalm 139:24

wus gud

1. some creative work i did for Nocturnal Workshop's SS'15 look book 

[photography by fahim kassam, ian lanterman and modelling by ben etienne].

2. birthday shoes - from me to me.

3. & 4. keepin' in comf clothing

hope continually...

                      

                                    

                  

                      

 

had a real nice wrap to my week with a solid sunday.

Mr. Red Cafe was calling my name so i caved & went back again with della and rob.

we ate till we couldn't move which then forced us to just sit 

and take in each other's company.

the subject of "trust" and "hope" have been resonating a lot with me the past few weeks.

reminding myself to surrender everything i have to the Lord as i have a tendency

to try and take over my own plans for the future.

but also feeling super encouraged by friends and family- even through moments of doubt.

and moments of "where are you God?"

meditating on these verses this week:

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Is not your fear of God your confidence,

and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 4:6

Not only that, 

but we rejoice in our sufferings, 

knowing that suffering produces endurance,

and endurance produces character, 

and character produces hope,

and hope does not put us to shame, 

because God's love has been poured into our hearts

through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5