hawai'i photo diary

I'm starting to fall in love with the islands of Hawai'i (specifically the island of O'ahu). It has this city life that pleases my culinary taste buds and the shopping to please my style but the island also comes with a beach to watch the sun set in the horizon while the palm trees swaying and the waves are crashing. What more can you ask for? I've always declared my love for New York over Hawai'i but as the years have gone by, I'm slowly falling in love with this island. I guess my attitude with life has changed. I used to be this city girl, obsessed with being on time, always on the go, and a dress to impress attitude. But with life hectic as it is, you start to crave that peace, that slow paced lifestyle where you stop and appreciate the beauty around you. 

Having graduated with a bachelor's degree in business economics December 2012, I didn't know where to start. I didn't know what I want. A 9 day trip to Hawai'i was all I needed to make me realize what I want to do in life (or at least a taste of what I want). I want to see the world. I found so much beauty in Hawai'i that people otherwise would miss that I want to find beauty in places that I have yet to go to. With that said, I am missing Hawai'i terribly at the moment and another trip back to the islands is in the works. I am pushing for a small trip back to Honolulu but we will be visiting the island of Kauai. 

Well enough of that, I guess I should be talking about the photos huh? A view of Waikiki from Hawaiian Airlines flight; a little secret cove; a view of Lanikai Beach from a hike; Diamond Head and Waikiki from a park; Giovanni's shrimp truck in North Shore; the boyfriend and I at the park; life is good and it really is in Hawai'i; view from the rock in Waimea Bay; Lanikai Beach; me; and a sunset.

sights and tastes

A couple snapshots from my trip to Hawai'i. The views from Diamond Head was rewarding after an exhausting hike up to the top. Tiki torches scattered all over Waikiki light up at night. Very Hawaiian. An enormous pancake from Mac 24/7. If you've seen the show Man vs Food then you are familiar with this pancake. Food won and there were three of us eating it. The statue of Duke on Kalakaua. Tan tan ramen from Goma Tei; my favorite ramen EVER. Waikiki at night, so breezy. Our first taste of Hale'iwa. Such a refreshing change from the hectic (but not so hectic) city life of Honolulu. The road down to Waimea Bay where my friends jumped off the rock there. Looking through these photos makes me wish Hawai'i oh so much. Can not wait to go back!

aloha 2012

zara top, nordstrom rack skirt, and american apparel swimwear

Summer time. After graduation, me, the boyfriend, and 6 other friends headed to Hawai'i. Crazy fun trip filled with laughter, drinks, beaches, hikes, FOOD, a YSL arty ring, and an amazing beach house that we stayed at in the North Shore. I love Hawai'i more each time I go and boyfriend and I have decided to save up for a trip towards the end of summer. That being said, no more date nights, no more crazy shopping trips.... which means, exercising, cooking intimate dinners and more blogging! For real this time. Oh and internship searching. Found a couple finance internships but I haven't quite got the motivation to select apply just yet :)

bahamas photo diary: part one

1. Epcot

2. Downtown Disney

3. Cake and champagne for the wedding reception

4. Sitting in our stateroom's porthole

5. Atlantis

6. Beef tenderloin and lobster medallion

7. Rack of lamb

8. Disney Dream

9. Palm trees in Nassau

10. Flowers on a street in Nassau

A couple photos from the Bahamas trip the other week (already?). Beautiful but very interesting place. Definitely different from what I'm used to (yeah like driving on the opposite of the road tripped me out for a second). Anyway, hope you all had a wonderful weekend. My weekend was spent at a one year old's birthday yesterday and studying today. Tomorrow I'm heading to LA with the boyfriend to buy my brother a gift and probably grab a bite to eat! I love LA adventures. 

bahamas

castaway cay, bahamas

Hello bloggers! Just got back from a trip to Bahamas to attend my cousin's wedding (my cousin got married on this beach!). Arrived in Orlando Wednesday morning and left to the Bahamas via the Disney Dream Cruise Line Thursday afternoon. The wedding was on Saturday on Disney Cruise's private island: Castaway Cay and this is the view of the beach from our stateroom. So beautiful! Was gone for a week and lost a lot of sleep and I have an exam tonight to study for so I'll leave you with this! 

art

jacket from kimski makes, dress from nasty gal, zara boots, and marc by marc jacobs classic q francesca purse

Boyfriend and I had date night the other day. Ate at Shabu Shabu House in Little Tokyo, grabbed drinks at the bar, and shopped at American Apparel and Kimski Makes. I love Thursday date nights especially when we're in LA! Can't wait for our adventure next week and the week after we'll be in Vegas.

Escaping reality for a couple days (or even just a day such as Thursday) is really what I need right now. Applied for graduation earlier this month and I'll be purchasing my cap and gown soon for the ceremony in May. Graduating officially in December AND it's a bit frightening thinking about the future. The thought of jobs and grad school has been stressing me out for the last couple days. I've always dreamed for the day that I graduate college but now that it's almost here and it feels so real, it's kind of scary to say the least.

Oh! and don't forget that if you have instagram, follow me @katherinelou for frequent updates. It's just so much easier to upload photos with my iPhone!

my life through instagram

from left to right, top to bottom

1. mango margarita from los compadres in long beach

2. truffle burger from stout in LA

3. DTLA

4. veggie roll, sauce katsu bowl, and tofu from T.O.T in DTLA

5. short rib tacos from the kogi truck

6. ring from kimski makes

7. wearing a blouse from nasty gal, marc by marc jacobs classic q francesca purse, and zara skirt and boots

8. me

9. curry monster and myself

10. h&m jacket, zara dress, and topshop shoes

11. shoes from zara

12. naked2 palette

13. dress from pixie market (wearing it to a wedding next month!)

14. stylestalker dress

15. naked palette > naked2 palette

16. curry monster

17. sorbet from fogo de chao

18. carne asada tacos from king taco

Follow me on instagram @katherinelou