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.

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 :)

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

sunday

top from kimski makes, zara skirt and boots

A couple photos of what I wore for Super Bowl Sunday. One of my newest buys from Kimski Makes (seriously, my new favorite store in Downtown LA). Bought the Zara skirt and boots when I was in NY last month. Oh, how I miss the city so much!

marc by marc jacobs classic q francesca purse, uniqlo leggings, zara top and boots, glasses and jacket from kimski makes

Hello hello! Wearing my new favorite sunglasses and jacket from my new favorite store in Downtown Los Angeles called Kimski Makes. They have super cute clothes for relatively cheap price. I've been relying heavily on online shopping lately but Kimski Makes is refreshing after anxiously awaiting packages in the mail and being slightly disappointed because the fit is wrong, color is off and all the downside that comes with online shopping. Wanted to make a trip today but MUST SAVE MONEY.

ny diary part one

1. Central Park

2. Macarons from Laduree. The best macarons I have ever tasted.

3. Meatpacking District wearing a Zara jacket, Zara jeans, Zara boots, and Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Francesca purse. Wore this while strolling The High Line with the boyfriend and eating bagels

4. Ramen from Ippudo NY. One of my favorite places to eat in NYC. Don't forget to get the Hirata Buns. SOOOO GOOOD.

I have so much photos to upload and have yet to do so. Recovering from a wonderful week in NYC celebrating me and the boyfriend's 9th year anniversary by spending it with my baby dog, unpacking, and dreading the upcoming semester that starts on Monday. Luckily for me, I'm only taking 3 classes so it won't be as hectic as last semester.

I've gotten a LOT of questions from a lot of people about the camera and lens that I use (mostly though my Facebook haha). I use a Canon T2i which I have been using for the photos on this blog since April of 2010. Difference with my new posts is that I just purchased a fixed focal lens which is a 50mm f/1.8 lens a week before I left to New York. I love it so much that I'm looking forward to buying the 50mm f/1.4 lens possibly before summer (or in May right before GRADUATION!)

And don't forget! Follow me on Instagram (username: katherinelou) for a more personal and frequent photo updates via my iPhone.

hello from new york!

marc by marc jacobs classic q francesca purse, zara boots, h&m coat, jacket, and dress

More posts to follow :)

holidays

brother's beanie, cardigan from nordstrom rack, boots from saks fifth avenue off 5th, marc by marc jacobs classic q francesca bag, zara blouse and leggings

Random photos since the last post. Finals ended last week and I am very excited for my GPA! It feels good to be satisfied with my GPA after all that hard work this semester. Six classes (5 of which are upper division courses) is no joke. After finals, I spent a weekend (I guess a day) in Dallas, Texas with my brother and one of my best friends and now I'm back in California eating, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. I'm pretty much loving life at the moment.

1. teddy bear statues in dallas, texas 2. boots from saks fifth avenue off 5th 3. rain drops in dallas 4. & 5. disneyland 6. tacos from king taco

at the moment

bb dakota faux fur jacket, zara dress, and dolce vita boots

Bits and pieces of my life since my last post. A very good chunk of the semester is over and all that are left are finals! So excited to blog again!

1. & 2. outfit 3. dolce vita boots 4. fall leaves 5. macarons 6. pizza 7. cappuccino 8. daffodils 9. mochi cream

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!