And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.” ‎The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is my absolute favorite book. I read it for the first time during my Junior year of high school, and it’s just one of those books that you never want to put down. It is the one and only book I brought with me to college, and I find myself reading it quite often; it has become a piece of me. The book captures the anxieties of high school and life in general, and so many of the things that Charlie experiences are parallel to my own experiences. It's really about being alive and embracing every moment of life, despite any and all hardships. With every page, I come to a realization or conclusion about something new in my own life. This book inspires me, gives me hope, and makes me feel like I can conquer anything life throws at me. I think anyone who hasn’t read it is missing out on a huge part of life, seriously. Every single line is pure genius. “Even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.” Now that is a quote to live by. I could not possibly be more excited that this book is being made into a movie. And let's not forget that it basically has the best cast possible, starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson. It's gonna be magical. Logan Lerman will make a perfect Charlie. I have honestly watched the trailer about 10 times in the past hour, and I can't get enough of it. It makes me wanna cry for some reason; not out of sadness, and not quite happiness, but a feeling I can't really put into words. I can't wait.

What is your favorite book and has it been made into a movie? If so, do you think the movie did the book justice?

xx Kristin

(Update: I have now watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower three times and it is hands down my favorite film ever. Stephen Chbosky did an unbelievable job of directing and producing it, and I definitely bawled my eyes out when I watched it in theaters for the first time. Everything was absolutely flawless, I can't even put it into words.)

Sparkles & Puppy Love

I truly believe that accessories have the power to completely change the look of an outfit, for better or for worse. It's amazing how a simple necklace can turn a casual dress into an elegant night-on-the-town look, or vice versa. My collection of necklaces is endlessly growing, and hopefully this Summer I'll find some must-have statement necklaces for those fancier evenings in life. You can never have too many necklaces. ;) As you may have noticed, the majority of my necklaces are black and gold, but lately I've been into coral, mint, and bright neon colors. Perhaps we'll be seeing more of those colors soon!

Sparkles are always in season. This "Midnight Rodeo" eyeshadow from my roommate's Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV is one of my favorites. Shimmery neutral colors are perfect for an eye-catching, glamorous look, and they truly go well with any eye color!

There's just something about the comfort of printed books that can never be replaced. I love the faint sound of the paper crinkling each time you flip the page. I love the unique smell of old books and yellowed pages. I love how the immensely sad and emotional books are stained with tears. I love the way the spine gets worn and the pages get dog-eared. And how over time, the cover starts to curl and the book no longer closes all the way. I love being able to put sticky notes on my favorite pages so I can go back and reread them over and over again. I love brushing my fingers along the spines of books on a shelf. I love curling up in bed with a good book, or finding a quiet corner of the library to read in. Everything in our society is being taken over by technology and digital media, but personally, I will always prefer to read from a tangible, printed book. Just outside the History department on campus, I discovered a desolate wooden table with stacks and stacks of books accompanied by a handwritten sign that read "FREE BOOKS". Of course I couldn't help but snap a few photos.

Each quarter during finals week, Cal Poly has puppies in the UU Plaza and at Dexter Lawn for students to play with. Earlier this morning, I stopped by to play with the puppies for the first time. I fell in love with an absolutely adorable little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Gracie; it was love at first sight. She was so calm and loved all the attention. And the face she made when people scratched behind her ears was unbearably cute. I wish I could take her home with me. <3 Makes me miss Junior even more. Soon enough, baby boo. I'm coming home.

What is your favorite accessory that you own? And do you prefer printed books or e-books? 

xx Kristin

Lipstick & Tea

Prepare yourself for a collection of completely unrelated thoughts and photographs. Welcome to my mind.

I think lipstick is absolutely wonderful to photograph. I borrowed two gorgeous shades of MAC lipstick from my roommate. One is a deep cherry red color from the MAC Frost lipsticks called "New York Apple", and the other is lighter, peachy pink from the MAC Lustre lipsticks called "Curtsy". I absolutely love the "Curtsy" shade. It's a perfect color for summer, and it can go with both casual and dressy outfits. It's more on the natural side, but it still has just enough color to draw attention to your lips. Definitely my pick for Summer 2012. Pucker up!

For my 18th birthday, my future roommates surprised me at midnight with something I've been dying to get my hands on for the past few years. A white Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S (I named her Janie). A dream come true. I think I might've screamed out of excitement when I saw the box. If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I love love love polaroids. Nothing compares to the excitement of watching a photo develop before your eyes, within minutes of taking the photo. While digital photography has advanced far beyond what I could've ever imagined, there is still a special place in my heart for film photography. Obviously you can't control the focus or the aperture or the shutter speed or the ISO, and there are only three pre-set settings for lighting, but I could not be more excited for the many adventures in store for Janie and me. So huge, huge thanks to Kelly, Cynthia, and Jenny. :)

Earlier today, as I was doing everything I could to put off my schoolwork, I discovered a corner of my room that gets some amazing light. The sun shines beautifully through the window and tiny shadows dance on the brick windowsill. So I pulled out a pair of my favorite Oxfords, set them on the windowsill, and shot away. There is a tall pine tree just outside my window, and as the breeze tickles the branches, the shadows come to life. No two photos are the same, for the shadows are always changing. I love that unpredictability.

I have a short list of things that I really wish I liked. Tea is one of those things. I love the thought of sipping tea from an adorable little porcelain tea cup while reading a book in the backyard, with the lush green grass tickling my toes. Or relaxing by the fireplace on a rainy day, enjoying chocolate croissants with a hot cup of jasmine tea. But unfortunately, my taste buds don't quite enjoy tea as much as my mind does. Maybe someday my taste buds will change. Here's to hoping. I do, however, greatly enjoy Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea and Razzleberry Peace Tea. That's a start, right? I bought this Tazo Awake black tea for my sister, since (lucky for her) she loves tea. "A breakfast tea of boldness, depth and character, invigorating any time of day."

What is your favorite shade of lipstick? And what kind of tea do you like best?

xx Kristin

Something About This Place

Some places just have a way of resonating in your heart, capturing your imagination, and inspiring the dreamer inside us all. There are two cafes in San Luis Obispo that I have fallen head over heels in love with: Kreuzberg, CA Book Bar and Coffee Lounge and Sally Loo's Wholesome Cafe, both conveniently located in downtown SLO. Not simply because of the mouth-watering menu, but because of the delightful interior design and the effervescent atmosphere.

There's something about Kreuzberg that made me feel at home the second I walked in. There are hundreds of paintings and books lining the walls, vintage lamps hanging from the ceiling, and antique sofas and chess sets everywhere. The menu items are all named after famous authors; I usually order the Shel Silverstein or the Dante. Cutest place ever. :)

I had often heard about Sally Loo's, but I never actually went there until my birthday earlier this month. I absolutely adored it. It was love at first sight, and the delicious food just boosted my love for this cute little cafe. Let's just say I want my future home to look like that. Light turquoise paint and brick walls, leather couches, wooden coffee tables, abstract paintings, and unique light fixtures. My sister and I ordered a Waffle with Fruit and a Sir Thomas Turkey Panini, and we both ate half of each. It was nothing short of delicious. And to top it all off, they had tiny mason jars to use as water glasses. Pretty sure Sally Loo's and I were meant to be. Can't wait to go back and try the Acai Bowl!

(Update: Finally tried the Acai Bowl, and let's just say it was heaven to my tastebuds. It's my new favorite thing to order at Sally Loo's, and there's never a time when I'm not craving it!)

These photos don't even do them justice, so you'll have to go check them out for yourself if you haven't already! If you like adorable cafes with tasty breakfast food and sandwiches, you'll definitely love Kreuzberg and Sally Loo's. The best places in SLO, if you ask me.

What are some of your favorite places to go to in your city? What makes them special?

xx Kristin