Dark Room Creativity

If you know me, you know that I absolutely love photography...and it's a hobby that keeps growing! I hope to keep learning how to capture lyfe. (if I have one complaint, it's that I not only want to be the one to capture the photo...but I also want to be the one in the photo....I want to be captured the way I capture!!)

As much as I love digital photography and editing in photoshop...I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to work in the dark room and get creative with film photography!...MAD scientist over here!!!! There is something so awesome about taking the time to learn about how chemicals works and all the different ways that film can be developed!

Someday I want to be able to have my very own dark room so that I can continue to learn...you know me...always curious to know more...and more...and more about something I enjoy!!

So here is a little of what i've been working on in the lab...I LOVE the imperfection that film developing has. Classic black & white never goes out of style...I notice that I don't do much blk & wht with digital...I save that for film.

What would you do...

What would you do if money were no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life?

I'm the type of person that would ask myself this question at different times of my life. What would I do if money were no object, how would I really enjoy spending my life?

I have spent the last decade or so trying to find my way in this world. Trying to educate myself and learn from the world about what it is that I want to do with my life. The biggest reason for this is that I can never see myself living the type of life that most people settle for. Working in a miserable job day in day out stressed, annoyed, and resentful. That’s not me that’s not what I want for my life. I have no problem leaving a job that doesn’t make me happy. I have no problem walking away from relationships that don’t make me happy. I have learned that I am in charge of my own happiness, that my life is dictated by no one else but by me. I have realized that I am very lucky that I get to go to work each day to a job that I truly enjoy. All the money in the world is bullshit if my job does not excite me, if it doesn’t push me to excel and challenge myself. My goal is to be happy, to enjoy each day and look forward for what lies ahead.

But that doesn’t answer the question. What would I do if money were no option? I would create. I would travel to anywhere and everywhere. I would save animals. I would cook. I would eat. I would fuck. I would make love. I would become master of my career. The truth is that I would do everything that I am doing right now but on a LARGER scale. And I would do it with someone by my side.

The reality is that life is expensive. Not a lot of people have the opportunity to live out this question. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t set a goal to achieve it! People tend to fall into the trap of “same shit, different day” and they have no one to blame but themselves. I don’t know if I will ever get to live out that question…but I plan to live out my life doing it everyday. Even if it’s in a smaller scale!

Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. It's fun to have an unconventional mind.

I came across this video that asks the question...What do you desire?

~Y

Reflection: 2012

As 2012 comes to an end I have to reflect for a minute. It has been good to me in so many aspects. I just have to acknowledge it and hope that 2013 brings me the same type of excitement that this year did! I finally feel that my life as an adult is coming together. I am making grown up decisions, and as scary as that can be it excites me!

I’m looking forward to many things this coming year. And even though I’m not big on that whole new years resolution, there are things that I would like to work towards. If I learned anything this year, it’s that sometimes blessings come crashing through your window! I also learned that you have to take the highs with the lows because you can’t truly appreciate the highs until you’ve tasted the bitterness of the lows! For me, it’s about evolving. Going through that metamorphosis and allowing life to show you things you didn’t know were there. My one wish for 2013 is that I continue to enjoy this journey and that the blessings I’ve had this year evolve to bigger and better things! My one wish for everyone that reads this is that they learn to enjoy the ride!

A few things I hope to work on in 2013 (in no particular order of preference)

~Work on this blog…I have so many ideas as to what I want this blog to be…I just have to execute them!!

Continue to learn my photography. Never stop capturing life’s  moments!

I want to write again! As in journaling in a book like I used to do. I’m not sure if I want journaling to be a part of this blog…I can get really personal in my journals…

I want to learn to paint and do other type of art projects!

Keep working on my fitness…so far so good!

Fall in love. (I’ll leave that one as is)

Get a nice place to live back in L.A (the city is calling me)

Take a little trip somewhere! (My big travel adventure will be in 2014 to Brasil for the world cup!!!)

Go to more concerts…I don’t do much of that!

Keep on doing what I love and what makes me happy

Stop and enjoy the little things because they count!

Here's to the adventure!

My Xmas Wish List

 

It has been such an amazing year in so many aspects and I don't take these blessings for granted! I normally don't make a wish list but this year I decided to do it. I have worked so hard this year and I beleive that I deserve these treats!!! I'm not sure what will be waiting for me under the tree Xmas day but I know for sure that I will be getting my MacBook Pro (a gift from me, to me!!) and I will be getting my JC Litas.....everything else on this list will be crossed off throught 2013. As far as 2013 goes, I just hope it is filled with as many blessing as I received this year!!!!!

 

Happy Holidays and here's to a great 2013!!

 

~Yen

Channeling Chanel

I discovered Chanel around the are of 13, and ever since then she has remained an icon in my eyes. Assertive and confident, she had the type of confidence that was hard to shatter!

I always use the phrase "I'm channeling Chanel today"...not because i'm wearing Chanel {i'm still gathering my pennies for the day I can be a Chanel Bag Lady!!} but because my favorite color combination is Black & White!! There are so many ways to channel Chanel without having to wear the coveted label!!! These are styles that speak to who I am...classy & fabulous!

I love wearing color, but I am so happy that fall is here and I can rock all the black & white!!! I don't do fashion. I AM fashion!

Word.

 

Studded dress
$32 - newlook.com

Sheer shirt
sheinside.com

White tank
$16 - newlook.com

T By Alexander Wang racer back tank
$92 - youheshe.com

SuperTrash white short sleeve shirt
$105 - welikefashion.com

Scoop white short sleeve shirt
sheinside.com

Black blazer
hirshleifers.com

J Brand velvet skinny jeans
$195 - theoutnet.com

Plus size pants
lordandtaylor.com

A Wear black tube skirt
$32 - awear.com

Jeffrey Campbell leopard heels
$89 - office.co.uk

Ash low boots
$500 - asos.com

Wallis black boots
wallisfashion.com

Jeffrey Campbell lace up boots
$195 - harveynichols.com

Nelly Shoes high heels
$65 - nelly.com

Chanel flat shoes
fashion.1stdibs.com

Chanel
lindelepalais.com

Chanel logos jewelry
malleries.com

Chanel
$14 - amazon.co.uk

CHANEL Calfskin Baby Coco Cabas Black
fashionphile.com

My Style-Noir

I am a true believer that you can NEVER go wrong with black! It is classic and can be done in so many different ways! My style can change from day to day, I love color just as much but as the weather gets cooler I tend to bring out the black a lot more...but I always manage to add a little pop of color!

{side note: I have discovered www.polyvore.com and am quickly becoming obsessed! (pintrest who?)....}

{side side note: below are the links to the pieces in my board} 

Rag bone scoop neck top
lagarconne.com

Jean jacket
topshop.com

DKNY leather legging
my-wardrobe.com

Rag & bone studded boots
net-a-porter.com

Proenza Schouler leather handbag
$1,850 - harveynichols.com

Braided leather bracelet
etsy.com

Gorjana leather jewelry
charmandchain.com

Silver bangle
$61 - witchery.com.au

Ring
topshop.com

Desigual
$55 - johnlewis.com

Los Angeles Style

{side note: it's been a crazy year, in a good way! I hope to become more consistent with this blog because I have tons of ideas for it. A lot of the inspiration I get comes from the awesome blogs that I follow...let's hope the creativity keeps flowin!} 


I got the sudden urge to do a photo shoot the other day, so I hit up my girl (aka partner in crime) Justi and asked her if she could be my "muse". Knowing her love of fashion AND her love for being in front of the camera, I knew she wouldn't say no! I never get tired of capturing the L.A streets and I knew exactly where I wanted to take these photos! Seeing as how I work for a denim company like Celebrity Pink, it was easy to get some looks together that would fit perfectly with the urban backdrop I chose. 

How much fun is it for two girlfriends to spend an afternoon running around downtown taking photos! 

I love sporadic day like these where we can have mini adventures!...It's great to have a friend like Justi who is spontaneous like me! The images came out great, thank you very much :)

All images taken by me. Jeans provided by Celebrity Pink