Almost 2013!!!!

Gypsy Junkies dress, Modcloth necklace worn as crown

It's officially the last day of 2012. What a year! So many new friends, new places I got to see, new things I got to do. Even some well spent family time was thrown in. Coachella. Chicago. New York Fashion Week. London. Paris. Home. I am so incredibly thankful for all the support and love I have had this past year. And a lot of all the wonderful things that I got to experience this past year has been because of you all who come and read this blog. It's been such a fun ride being able to share me west coast meets east coats adventures on here. I hope the little snippets of my life that I share with you on my blog and the other social media outlets I use inspire you all to keep going after your dreams and never giving up.

Check out my most recent blog post on the VOLCOMUNITY blog about my thoughts on the new year and about life in general. I hope you enjoy it :)

And I'll leave you all with a few words of wisdom from me. Just things I like to keep in my head to remind myself to keep on going strong.

"No dream is ever too big. No path can never be taken. And the imperfections we have are what make us beautiful and we must embrace them. The world is our canvas and must live in it with our passion unhindered. Without passion, there are no stories to be told or adventures to be made. And these are the things that keep me inspired and going each and every single day." - Dylana Suarez

HAPPY 2013 YA'LL!!

Dark Knightress

Free People dress, Billabong kimono, Nine West x Pamela Love boots, Vanessa Mooney necklaces and bracelets, Giles & Bro. leather bracelet

The holidays is always the best excuse to put on something fancier for a few nights. Believe it or not, the above look is actually what I wore for Thanksgiving last month! Just never got around to posting! But hey, it'd work for any holiday party and even the upcoming NYE celebrations. Going all black and harvest moon on you all with the dark color scheme and hint of brown. So unlike me! I've been reaching more towards color lately, but sometimes keeping things muted and monochromatic feels refreshing and so easy.

I'm still recovering form my red-eye flight from LA Wednesday night. Catching up on sleep is all I can think about right now. Lack of sleep really does not go well with me. I hope I'm straightened out by tonight since I'm heading to NYC for the weekend to shoot with a lovely young photographer from Australia, Rachel Claire.

I have quite a lot of pictures to go through from my California vacation, so you'll see them here soon. Spending time with my family back home was quite magical. It is official. I miss California dearly. Being able to hike outside in the sun without a jacket near the end of December was such an amazing feeling. My dad was the ultimate tour guide for my sister's boyfriend and he took us all around to our old favorite spots. LA really is a spectacular place when it comes down to the bare bones of it. Yeah you have to drive everywhere and it's all so spread out, but there is something still so dreamy about it. I think all the memories of my childhood and the road trips I used to take with my friends help with materialize this vision of laidback California, but that is exactly how I feel whenever I am there. Totally at ease and relaxed. Coming back to Philly yesterday morning was pretty dreadful. The cold was nearly unbearable and this isn't even considered the worst of it yet! Catching up with my family really was the greatest thing to come out of the few days spent back home. Their support my entire life means the most to me. Even though my parents live on the opposite coast than me right now, I am so happy that I have them there to lean on and cheer me on into the new year. We all are excited for what is to come, and the unexpectedness of it all makes it all feel even more special.

Welcome to Terrain

I hope that you all are having a super sweet holidays so far! And for those of you who celebrated Christmas yesterday, I hope it was shared with everyone you love the most. My mind is full of positive and exciting thoughts about the upcoming year. I have one more day in California before jumping on a plane this evening to head back to Philly and straight into work in the morning, I wish so badly that I can extend my vacation until the weekend, but a girl's got to get back to work. I am going to spend the day chilling with the parentals and doing some random roaming around the suburban valley that I have missed oh so much.

Above are some pictures that I took at Terrain when a bunch of my friends and I headed over there for a three-course meal and some Christmas shopping. I could spend days in this place taking in the holiday decor, browsing thought heavenly cookbooks, sipping on hot toddies and sniffing decadently nutty candle scents. Terrain is a home-makers paradise. I am not quite there yet in my life when it comes to home decor and decorating, but I must say that I do appreciate all that goes into it and the feast for the eyes that it provides. Once I land my dream home or apartment, Terrain will be the first stop I make.

Santa Monica Dreaming

Willow + Clay jacket, Free People top, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Natalie + Dylana Suarez x Modern Vice vintage Jett boots, Liebeskind bag, Free People sunglasses, Vanessa Mooney necklace

Cali has been wonderful and relaxing so far. We went back to my old stomping ground of Santa Monica yesterday and I was in a sort of Janis Joplin sort of mood in my circle sunnies and middle part. It's nice being back home with friends and family and putting work and stress away in a little box for a bit. It's important for the body and mind to have a break and experience a change of environment every once in a while. Vacation as rejuvenation is how I see it. It might not be the good old sunny California I'm used to at the moment, but that doesn't matter much to me. The sea and the slight hint of saltiness in the air. That everlasting sunset that never fails to impress. The locals out taking their daily evening stroll along the boardwalk. All that open space here in LA is unbelievably comforting to me right now, even though I have become quite accustomed to the closer knit spaces of east coast living. It reminds me that there is no barrier for anything. Always room to keep on going and pushing forth. It's my goal to be able to work between the west coast and the east coast, my two homes. Bring it 2013.

Happy Christmas Eve ya'll! I hope it's a good one! xo