shopaholic : elephant*

a beautiful collection of scandinavian inspired modern design & crafts adorn the elephant* shop... 

// elephant*

i {heart} work : saori tao

one of the things i love while traveling in japan is the ride in the train. you can experience so many different landscapes while looking out the window, it's like nature tv! it's especially interesting when you travel from the countryside, where there are acres and acres of rice patties, to the city with its towering skyscrapers, all within a few hours. just amazing!

the work of saori tao reminds me of this juxtaposition that i feel every time i go visit japan. her work depicts nature in it's grandest, untouched by the human hands and then contrasts it with images of people in their everyday life. the interesting thing about this is that if you continue to look at the photos side by side, you begin to notice the connection between human and nature. 

do you feel the connection?

// saori tao

i {heart} work : keiko+keiko

off to japan starting today to visit friends and family! i haven't been back for about 2 years now so very excited to be able to go! i'm especially looking forward to the eats, little shops and my all time favorite, convenience stores/vending machines. i'm not sure what it is about them, but when i see one, i have to either venture inside or have to purchase a juice just so that i can experience pushing the button. it's an addiction i tell you.

also, another reason why this trip is very meaningful to me is that lately i've been yearning to connect with japanese culture. being born and raised in los angeles by my japan-born parents, i've always felt in limbo, but never had a deep need to connect with the culture directly until recently. maybe it's because i'm getting older? i'm not sure, but the culture does intrigue me and i would love to learn more about my background. 

during my wedding dinner, which is why i'm currently traveling to singapore and japan, i wore a traditional japanese wedding kimono and was wondering if there was any modern items that one could carry with them instead of opting to use a normal handbag. little did i know, there is a genre out there for kimono wear goods! 

one that caught my attention was by desgner keiko+keiko. although the items are specifically created to be used when wearing a kimono, i can see myself using many of the items with my everyday outfits. elegant and unimposing, i feel dainty already.

// keiko+keiko

wish list : de posible a imposible, 20 veces

happy 2011 everyone!! hope your year is starting off marvelously and you're enjoying some relaxation time with your loved ones. with this being the first post of the new year, i thought i would begin it with something i truly love.... publications! 

although i'm not an avid reader, i truly enjoy the the feeling of holding a book or magazine in my hands, flipping through the pages, looking at the images over and over, enjoying the binding if it was hand bound, the texture of the paper against my fingertips. now it's starting to sound like a love affair! but there is something so magical about books and magazines that i just can't get enough of... 

on my wishlist currently is a fanzine by maria mantella entitled de posible a imposible, 20 veces. just love the colors and imagination-filled illustrations. i can already see myself looking at this while drinking some tea in the morning...

// de posible a imposible, 20 veces

// another year ends...

and a new year is about to begin... what are your new year resolutions?

just like the rising of the sun, it's a beginning of a new journey... a journey that awaits for you to embark on. you can choose your own adventure, make it what you want to. know that anything is truly possible and nothing is ever too late. you are the bearer of your own destiny.

i have my own new year resolutions, but one of them is definitely to never stop growing mentally, spiritually, emotionally... i want to learn as much as i can from people, situations, experiences... you only live life in your own body once right? better to go all out, me thinks.

happy new year + looking forward to spending another year with you!

p.s. some changes/announcements coming your way early in 2011... stay tuned!

(photo: up in the clouds during a flight to japan in 2009)

// tomorrow's the big day...

where we will be announcing our wish to be together forever.... a.k.a. married! 

i dedicate this post to K, who has been there for me through my darkest moments and my happiest, has been my sanctuary when i needed to get away from the chaos, who understood me even if i was talking crazy and has been the person who has supported my deep need to follow my heart and chase after my dreams. he let me know that having dreams and wanting to make them a reality wasn't an insane idea. there's no one else i would rather be with for the rest of my life. thank you accepting me whole-heartedly. 

(photography: bonnie tsang)

if you would like to see more of her beautiful work, take a peek {here} + her lovely lifestyle blog {here}!

i {heart} work : mina tabei

i am especially loving the logo designs from graphic designer, mina tabei. a wondrous balance between functionality and playfulness. so fun!

// mina tabei