falling through a field

strawberry cream daydream

2012-01-08T12:04:00.008-05:00

for this new year, i want to write about the recent happenings in my life and not about things that happened weeks or months ago. but it's important for me to document these memories even if they are late because i don't want to lose them.

♡ ♡ ♡

here we go, again. and i'll go backwards.

♡ ♡ ♡

my birthday was sweet despite the rain. spent the entire day in nyc with matt running around wearing my emily temple cute dress, which was perfectly fit for the kind of atmosphere we were engaged in. indulging on macarons as we sat on the footsteps of a church across the street from laduree. it was a glorious start. later on, we came across a tiny old library and browsed around to stay dry from the rain. mostly stayed in the children's corner, looking at national geographic kids magazines. reminiscing about old times and youthful ventures. for dinner, matt and i had shabu shabu ^_^ it was a very delicious first-time experience.

♡ ♡ ♡

the best part however was the birthday card matt made for me, in which i read aloud. he then proceeded to sing a lovely "tweet" for me. i was almost in tears that morning.

for matt's birthday in october, i took him to our secret garden. we had jasmine tea & a cake fit for his royal highness. and i presented his gift among the woodland creatures that resided there. indeed, they stopped by...birds, bunnies, squirrels, and we even spotted a groundhog? they gathered around, peeking in on his majesty's celebration.

♡ ♡ ♡

secret sun

2011-08-26T06:53:00.003-04:00

i've begun an unhealthy obsession with all things sparkly

and golden. my pale blue bedroom walls are slowly being

filled up with gold toned frames. and my collection of

flowers crowns and veils are now nestled between them. i

have a lot of religious memorabilia scattered around which

makes me think of the 'virgin suicides' aesthetic. one of

these days, i will gather some fluffy cotton and make

artificial clouds above my bed for sweeter dreams.

i love finding new (old) things that i have forgotten about

from my childhood. in my carebears suitcase, i found a tutu

but only the bottom remained in tact. the top portion is no

where to be seen. the gold sequins still glitter

brilliantly as i remembered it as a child. it was a

birthday gift and my cousin had a matching tutu as well. we

wore it, prancing around at a restaurant on my 4th

birthday. it's on videotape, and i'll never forget it now.

a piece of this memory is now pinned on my wall.

☆ ☆ ☆

and some day soon, matt and i will get promise rings.

love, from the stars above

2011-08-21T21:56:00.003-04:00

the sretsis 'up in the clouds' and matina amanita 'matilda and her gypsy prince' collections have both stirred my eyes and my mind. this new obsession has unearthed my deeply rooted love for astronomy.

☆ ☆ ☆

i am reminded of the time matt and i went to see the fireworks this year on a cool summer evening. we climbed to the top of a mountain secluded from everyone. despite the bugs, weird noises in the bushes (bats?), eerie painted sky, and rough terrain up a mountain...despite all that, it was magical. we were as high as the hawks that roamed the skies. and everything that was bright, sparkled.

this new layout is my romantic interpretation of all this starry-eyed inspiration.

☆ ☆ ☆

for my star

2011-08-13T10:35:00.002-04:00

this summer:

i went to the blue army shrine of fatima with matt. we

walked along past mystical sculptures of religious figures in the woods. and

then ate home made icecream at a farm that had goats.

i swam in a swimming hole with matt & friends in western

mass. and when we were lucky, we'd find a crawfish gliding

along the rocks underneath the water.

***

i had a lovely fried clam + calamari dinner with matt in

rhode island and then we explored the beach there for a

little bit.

i finally used my diana dreamer camera for the first time.

if shoegaze was in a picture format, this would be it.

fuzzy, obscured, and ethereal.

i now have "medium length" hair.

***
fin.

dreamy wanderings

2011-06-28T19:43:00.003-04:00

on one foggy afternoon, matt and i decided to revisit our

favorite spot, a lovely 'wonderland' estate that is full of

magic and mystery. we agreed that the most beautiful day is

not of sunshine but one full of clouds and mist. the most

perfect ambiance that even bunnies seem to appear

everywhere we went. the presence of other creatures were

apparent, we had spotted a swift cat running along the

garden. it disappeared quickly into a path nowhere to be

seen. i thought to myself, is this the Cheshire cat playing

a game with us?

these days, i've been making lovely items for my future

etsy store along side matt as he draws on.

we're both on the floor working creatively. this atmosphere creates a

feeling as if we're in a movie at times. that kind of scene

where the camera is looking down upon us and rolls a long

with some kind of instrumental music in the

background. sometimes, i glance over and notice his

complete focus on drawing in the smallest detail or

blending in just the right amount of color in his drawing.

i think he does the same when i try to thread a needle to

sew on a sequin or bead on to a bow. and on the occasion

that when our eyes meet, we smile at each other.

† † †

sandcastle flowers upon a sunset

2011-06-23T19:00:00.006-04:00

matt and i found ourselves thrifting lately. he scored

really cheap heavy metal cassette tapes for only 49 cents

each! and i bought a peachy princess puff-sleeved shirt

with cute applique flowers and a super soft knitted minty

sweater. i can't wait for summer to be over with so i can

wear the sweater out~! also, i shouldn't forget to mention

an awesome care bears bed sheet that i already turned in to a

poofy skirt. all these things for less than $5 from

salvation army :)

i've been collecting a lot of lace, yarn, bows, and various

vintage frilly items to create 'cult party' inspired

accessories. this is probably my favorite style coming from

japan at the moment out of all of the many -kei's. fairy-

kei initially drew me in because it's super cute but after

awhile, it looks too over the top for me. mori-girl is bit

too bohemian and simple. dolly-kei is pretty but the color

schemes are dark for my tastes. cult-party kei is in

between all of these things. i like the religious motifs,

the pink/white color schemes, and the subtle cuteness of it

all.

♥ ♥ ♥
cult-party items
*yoyos
*pom poms
*lace collars
*knitted & crocheted things
*the virgin mary
*crosses
*stuffed animals
*bed jackets
*lots of ribbons
*big flowers

bloomy patterns

2011-06-04T08:33:00.005-04:00

florals, florals, florals outfit:
blouse - topshop
skirt - h&m
belt & tights - urban outfitters
shoes - jeffrey cambell

　† † †

it is pretty much summer by now and i'm already dreading it. i get the illusion that there is more time to do things now than before since the sun does not set until 8 or 9 o'clock at night. or does this mean, that i can waste more time nevertheless. i'm going to try to do a "saturday outfit" post every week. whenever i set a goal like this, it never seems to last. i'm going to cross my fingers this time that it will, at least until the next season when the daylight is shorter again.

† † †

also, i'm selling some clothes here if anyone is interested :)

peterpan complex

2011-05-22T12:09:00.005-04:00

♥ ♥ ♥

flowers blooming, birds chirping, and the sun shining ever so softly. these are the sights and sounds of spring. and to commemorate this occasion, matt and i went to our secret garden for adventures. i also wore the loveliest dress from my closet to match. it is by "innocent world" and the print is absolutely perfect. cute critters playing musical instruments in a forest. i wish to live in this kind of fantasy world.

♥ ♥ ♥

matt agrees with me and as such, we'll always remain youthful in our hearts. next time we visit, i'm thinking a tea party of sorts accompanied by a game of chess? ^_^

would God I could awaken!

2011-05-01T10:09:00.003-04:00

i made a floral wreath to wear with my "innocent world" dress, my first lolita item! these flowers were taken from an old japanese hat factory according to the shop's owner where i got them. she also suggested a lovely idea of using floral "sprouts" and adding glitter to them for a dreamy effect. i have some extra material left like a couple of these super cute puffy strawberries and leaves. not sure what i should do with them but i want to make more wreaths & hang them around my room~!

　　　For I dream I know not how,
　　　　And my soul is sorely shaken
　　　　Lest an evil step be taken, --
　　　　Lest the dead who is forsaken
　　　　May not be happy now.

　† † †

matt and i went on some adventures since we haven't done this in awhile. we explored a cathedral that i occasionally go to for mass. i've never noticed it before, but matt saw an occultic symbol on one window pane that was cleverly hidden yet pretty obvious coming in through the side entrance of the cathedral. we decided to go on this tiny old creepy elevator (3 people max!) to get to the balcony or tower. upon arrival, it was really dark and i must admit, scared that there could have been ghosts! we were the only ones up there.

　† † †

afterwards, we went to the "alice in wonderland" garden that i was talking about last time. more pictures of this later <3

glitter like a trumpet

2011-04-25T11:21:00.003-04:00

i've been keeping dormant for awhile here. i plan to redesign this whole place and upload more pictures once finals are over. poupeegirl has taken a lot of my time too. add me there if you have one ^_^

♥ ♥ ♥

*obsessing over MILK
*getting into lolita fashion--particularly of the sweet/classical kind
*watching old anime series (bubblegum crisis, dirty pair)
*endless searches for 80s japanese "power" pop
*stumbling upon french singer jeanne mas~!
*after dinner cookie/icecream/chocolate parties with matt

i found an "alice in wonderland" garden nearby my house. it will make for lovely photo adventures once all the flowers bloom.

♥ ♥ ♥

ok, see you next week?!

from the room of make believe...

2011-02-11T11:36:00.003-05:00

shall i ride through the sky? or be tethered to the earth?

i've rekindled my obsession with cuteness within the last year. i remember making "cutesy" websites back in the day, that is before all these social networking sites popped up. the online world seemed a lot more innocent and pure then, as if it was reserved for introverts and quiet types. i had an interesting conversation with matt about this topic. it seems too easy to make "websites" now. but then again, if the internet had not progressed to this point then would i ever know about "fairy kei"? i learned about this through a japanese fashion tumblr. this pastel girly style with an 80s cartoon influence (my little pony, carebears, popples, etc) has been capturing my interest. super cute is an understatement! frilly skirts, ribbons, and plenty of bows...why should such things only be accepted for little girls. i don't think i ever want to grow up, i'll keep dreaming...
♥♥♥

luna moon says

2011-02-03T08:05:00.002-05:00

it's also a...bunny new year! ♥

† † †

† † †

† † †
this winter, my faux-fur collared coat is the coat of choice to wear around in the snow. my favorite part about it is the lovely bunny print on the inside lining of the coat. lately, it seems as though the snow is neverending which is great news considering matt and i haven't checked off everything on our pseudo to-do list of things before the winter season ends. we have yet to go ice skating or sledding! perhaps, this will happen some time this month? Last month (really last weekend), we built a snowman on top of a mountain overlooking a cityscape and had a few snowball fights. and i am convinced, that the best time to drink hot chocolate is after spending some time outside in the snow. of course, with plenty of marshmallows on top!

one year love

2011-01-11T09:02:00.003-05:00

† † †
these posts will be more up to date next time. it seems as though i've been writing about the past (weeks worth of events) rather than actual things that happened within the same day or even of the same week. and so it loses a bit of magic.

REWIND
on the first saturday of january, matt and i went to the MET museum to celebrate our first meeting. or rather, we reversed time and continued where we left off. last year, we were supposed to go the MET however we had left over food so they would not let us in. once again, we passed through central park to get to the museum after having lunch at tenzan, a japanese restaurant on the upper west side. The food was fantastic and it was nostalgic of us to order the same dish as last year. The MET is a huge place so obviously, we didn't see everything in there. notable highlights:
*medieval armor hall
*ornate tapestry
*vintage instruments
*dreamy bedrooms
*made a wish (11) at the Temple of Dendur exhibit

† † †

FASTFORWARD
some things matt&i need to do in the future when we are in the city again:
*ice skate
*visit the belvedere castle
*the cloisters
*go to a cathedral to attend an organ concert
*bookoff for new/used jpop cd's and browsing through magazines

† † †

end of the year events...

2011-01-04T00:49:00.002-05:00

on sunday,
upon matt's return to his apartment, we saw a large group of deer not once, but twice! and the second time, they were extremely close,the only regret i have is not being able to take out my camera in time before they frolicked away in the distance. i'm sure i will be able to capture a deer photograph some time soon. he lives on a mountain, with lots of thrushes and a pond nearby--perfect living conditions for deer so they often wander around here. well, 'twas a magical night it turned out to be when we ventured out in to the blizzard for a little moment. we realized that the act of getting prepared to play in the snow was actually more fun than actually being in it!

† † †

for my birthday on the 27th,
i was blessed with freshly fallen snow. it was a lovely landscape to wake up to, a complete white-out, the dreamiest of days. the best gift of all, was when matt sang the "happy birthday" song to me when i woke up in the morning. he then presented the loveliest of gifts to me. i received a pair of golden rose earrings and...teto! the cutest little creature from the land of gibli studios. he also made a beautiful birthday card for me in addition to giving me a traditional birthday card featuring hello kitty on a piano. i will need to scan them in next time! we went out to eat sushi for dinner and then treated ourselves to a sweet strawberry-filled cake to celebrate.

† † †

the day before new years eve, matt wanted to check out this record shop nearby. i was his little helper holding on to the vinyl records that he picked out while he scavenged through the stack of music scattered on the floor of the shop. apparently that place has a basement full of vinyl records! then we went to get art supplies so he can make fantastic paintings. on new years eve, we spent most of the day watching the legend of the condor heroes and ranma 1/2. and feasted on an herb-roasted chicken with some vegetables and bread along with apple cider for dinner. as the night grew on, we both became extremely tired and sleepy, but the stars were aligned so that our new year started with a kiss.

sweet holiday

2010-12-29T09:19:00.002-05:00

† † †
i went to mass on christmas eve at st. michaels. a lovely cathedral with lots and lots of little candles, making the evening quite mystical. that night, i couldn't wait for my present to arrive on sunday;)

† † †

sweet suite

2010-12-23T07:50:00.003-05:00

† † †

† † †

† † †
christmas is just around the corner and there is no snow on the ground. only the frigid air of the winter is present. finals are over, matt is gone for the week, and i am working like an elf. however, like last year i am listening to my favorite wintry melodies that have become nostalgic by... pine*am, misswonda, and tchaikovsky to pass the time.

he'll be back though, just in time for my birthday i keep reminding myself. perhaps, it will snow that day? perfection. i cannot wait for the snow! i've made a batch of 3-dimensional snowflakes and turned my room in to a winter wonderland. but still keeping warm under my pink blanket as the sun rises.

season of persimmons

2010-11-22T21:21:00.004-05:00

remember when...

...we found a special place in the forest?

...i thought the grass became the sea?

...you opened these presents on your bed?

...nothing more, nothing less...

AND, in between those days of warm and cold, we looked for deer. they often vanish before we even get a chance to get closer. but when we least expect it, a large buck appeared behind us on Sunday. i want to take a picture of him some day. perhaps, in the winter time, it'll be rather enchanting. this is our first autumn together when the leaves change colors, and the trees begin to lose those leaves to where they now have fallen on to the ground, upon a soft bed in which they lay until the next season sweeps them away.

i wish it'll always be like this forever...

inside you, the time moves

2010-08-22T10:44:00.004-04:00

~~~~~*~~~~~

dear prince of the sea of swans,

you will be arriving here soon.

and these fond memories of our summer adventures,

they will be forever photographed in my mind.

<3

~~~~~*~~~~~

*things of note since june
- romantic pasta car journey
- getting lost on the train twice
- going to zack & jackie's wedding
- ice cream parties
- my beautiful bow necklace present
- city adventures in new york and boston
- sushi picnic
- watching crabs under the bridge
- listening to "summer in the pool" in the car together
- Ti2! dates ;)

who knows what love is?

2010-05-15T09:44:00.002-04:00

it is truly difficult to fully express how i feel about matt here. let's just say i feel...a lot. a lot, a lot of love and magic. i've never experienced such increasing synchronicities before with someone. it is almost frightening yet perfect in the sense that it feels right with the world. last week, we played in a "doll house". it was really just a house that matt's neighbors moved out of but it was a bit eerie since it was very empty. all you can hear is your own voice echo and the sound of creaking floors. then we had a little ice cream party the next night. i don't think i can ever really enjoy eating ice cream as much now unless i'm with him.

"Carefully with dainty,
Fingers, you rescue me,
Dress my wounds,
And replenish me with SWEET SWEET"♪

what started to be just a shopping trip and a dinner turned into a little side-adventure of sorts. on saturday, we passed by a cemetery in providence on our way to a japanese restaurant. it just so happens to be a huge one and on top of that, it was called "swan point" which is very significant to us as we've been coming across swan themes in our life. i'm not going to begin to name them all but it is strange but beautiful. also, hp love craft happens to buried there (i've just found out about this after-the-fact!) so we are definitely adding that to our activity list for hang out #5~! so matt has given me the greatest gifts because it was all created from his heart...
* a song (listen to below) *
* mr bunny from the netherlands *
* summer mix *
* more poems & cute drawings *
* "a girl who acts cute" tote bag *

"Gracefully and saintly,
Gather me up in your arms,
I'll be true to you,
I am forever your swan"♪

this blog is probably now 70% matt, 20% fashion, 10% random rambling haha but i don't really care. i want to share how great he is to the world.

byebye
♥
lisa

blown a wish

2010-04-25T11:51:00.004-04:00

oh no, i found my dream dress.

† † †

sretsis's clothing is fantastical and dreamy, this is probably their best collection yet. if i were a princess, they would certainly be in my wardrobe. the pastel colors, flowing lines, and cute cuts are just perfect. i want, i want, i want...

but i'll dream, and sleep i may.

**♥**
lisa

the sunlit air is warm and light

2010-04-17T09:34:00.004-04:00

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.

† Life thus far has been very interesting as of winter. I'm sure it will continue this way for the rest of the year as the seasons change. So spring is here, which means the following things: pollen, birds chirping early in the morning, cherry blossoms, foggy days of enchantment, and cool breezes. Now if it's absurdly hot, it bothers me tremendously. I wish to skip to winter right away, I am not ready for the summer sun. However summer nights can be quite mystical.

† I've been getting into fairy kei, mori girl, and sweet lolita things lately. You may see future blog posts about things of that nature. I've been following these tumblers:

http://yukiyukihouse.tumblr.com/
http://fuckyeahjapanfashion.tumblr.com/
http://kyandi.tumblr.com/

great sources for all things japan and kawaii ^_~ I simply can not resist.

This painting above will be mine :) Matt reserved it for me from his art show in Germany from getting sold. He is so amazing and talented! He inspires me in many ways, because he is the most creative person I've ever known in my life. He wrote a couple of poems for me which I shall cherish and is in process of writing a song for me. These things come from his heart and it's the best kind of gift. But these can not compare to just being with him. All I need is to be next to him and all is right with the world ♥

Hang out #3 was very magical and special in its own way. I am a bit selfish and I want to keep these memories to myself but only to reveal some (semi-vague) things in case I forget:
- handmade tent adventures
- battled spiders
- minty chocolate chip icecream ;)
- defining creepyness
- matching jackets
- cathedral critique
- "cheesy" music
- stuffed animal dance
- fancy dinners of duck confit crepes & curry puffs
- "emily temple cute" concert!

♥***♥
lisa

~ je tu veux ~

2010-03-14T17:44:00.004-04:00

The brain appears to possess a special area which we might call

poetic memory and which records everything that charms or

touches us, that makes our lives beautiful ...

♥***♥

many hello's,
as waves of happiness descends upon me after a brief disappearance here. i have lots to tell and mostly of memories, that which will always be remembered and never forgotten. not in a million years, it will forever shine and brightly so in my heart. these memories are kept in a box, and i'm opening some of them up for you.

* continuation of magical hangout no.2 *
- library adventures
- drawing me as an anime character
- "show and tell" keyboard/guitar skills
- looking at matt's drawings as a kid
- reminscing and playing childhood games
- jpop listening session via youtube
- trading clothes
- japanese dinner in providence
- listening to "finally we are no one" as the sun sets
- watching swans @ the wildlife refuge
- being under "the ocean"

now here i return to my castle, the routine settling in again after such a fantastical meeting. i've rescued matt's jeans, they fit me perfectly. we share a lot of things, it's nice.

in the mean time, i am excited to say that hang out no.3 is coming up early next month before matt leaves for his art show in germany. much longing is expected even more so because of "the distance". we have a growing list of activity ideas and one them is to paint together, i can not wait!

♥ l i s a ♥

colors that float like perfumes in the amber air

2010-02-10T08:14:00.006-05:00

† † †

† † †

in the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia

Out of the bosom of the Air
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

† † †

† † †

it is snowing heavily outside, a blizzard is brewing. and when the snow stops falling, the perfect winterscape. like a blanket covering the earth and removing its impurities. this is my favorite season and when it's over, i mourn for it's passing.

so i am sitting in my room and i have matt's flannel shirt draped around me. i can feel the warmth from it, his love. he sent me a lovely package consisting of sweet items and one of them is displayed here. yes, another wonderful drawing! it looks like a grecian artifact, as if he had went on a excavation and found this enchanting mask etched with ornate flowers. i was inspired by this and he inspires me in a way that can not be matched by anyone. the translation of one artform to another is exciting to me. One Lily's drawing of one of my photographs is an example.

love love love,
lisa

lost at sea drift to me

2010-01-29T18:08:00.005-05:00

sharing my favourite things of the week as inspired by "heavenly creatures" :)

the mole has no consciousness, yet it burrows in a specific direction

♥ ♥ ♥

masculin feminin
*
rose tinted sugar lip balm
*
alice & wonderland mirror by flirtbuttons
*
polaroid photographs
*
unicorn heart necklace

♥ ♥ ♥

so soon, ends the first month of twenty-ten or is it two thousand and ten you say?
...vivre sa vie au jour le jour

this is a longing of the human heart

2010-01-19T18:57:00.010-05:00

ただいま。

"Well, now that we have seen each other," said the Unicorn, "If you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you."

* * *

now here is my secret, a very simple secret

my room is like a time machine that is taking me back to days of naivety and innocence. i find myself listening to a singles compilation from '97-'08 by the brilliant green. sitting here with these feelings, of nostalgia as though i never left. and then rediscovering the things i used to enjoy doing from a much needed massive cleansing of my room. in some respect, it is almost like a reflection of the world inside of me. i am mixing the old with the new.

i received that lovely drawing above from matt who i am missing very much right now. he says there will be many more to come. i am excited and this one will be hanging up in my bedroom once i find the right frame. it's even more special because i watched him draw everything, including the little details that often get unnoticed. those squid-like creatures were inspired by this diorama that we saw at the american natural history museum in nyc.

†
lisa

the end, but only the beginning

2010-01-11T09:59:00.005-05:00

* * *

Tremble with a sigh
Glitter in your eye
You seem to come and go
I never seem to know
And all my time
Is yours as much as mine
We never have enough
Time to show our love

keeping it simply, i just spent the new year with the only person in the world for me. he says his beating heart is mine. my heart beats for him. we understand each other completely that the universe has pulled us together.

exploring the cities of new york, boston, and providence
x
experiencing his life with his family & friends
x
smiling, lots of this!
x
being mallrats
x
finally playing scrabble
x
eating a silent sushi dinner
x
seeing a bunny appear in the middle of the night
x
deep, deep conversations
as well as humourous ones... "i don't know" in the dark, in the light, anywhere without much sleep
x
dreaming & feeling/getting lost while watching time pass together
x
listening to Ágætis byrjun ("a good beginning" in icelandic...how fitting) as snow falls
x
exchanging necklaces
x
an unexplainable understanding
x
9:11, 1:11, 4:32
x
every moment seemed magical, perfect

***
now at 200 miles apart,
i miss him dearly
carrying your heart,
lisa

i dream my painting, and i paint my dream

2009-12-28T19:23:00.000-05:00

† † †

† † †

those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night

† † †

i hope everyone had a lovely time this holiday season;
appreciating and sharing these days with your loved ones.
i'm glad i was born around this special time, to be able to celebrate my birthday at home in between christmas and new years. it was a nice and sunny day, perhaps a sign of a bright future to look forward to. my birthday cake was just as sweet as the memories of my childhood birthdays. i want these lasting feelings of being infinite to stay forever. i've learned a lot about myself this past year and as the year closes, i finally can draw my own path now with certainty. stay positive.

from my heart,
lisa

ps. i have a ton of google wave invites left, so if anyone wants one let me know.

recite those hymns in such a way that the gods will be attracted

2009-12-17T23:31:00.000-05:00

being home for the holidays is comforting. we actually have a christmas plant instead of a tree. i like hanging up the ornaments every year, they are so precious. they shine under the light brilliantly and you can't help but notice, and hold one inside the palm of your hands, to feel the warmth of the light.

things that make me smile:
+ snowflakes slowly falling outside the window, as if time stopped for a moment
+ seeing white lights glitter on the naked trees
+ the atmosphere of an antique coffee/tea shop like Mcnulty's
+ receiving little surprises
+ the smell of jasmine flowers at night
+ listening to a song on repeat until you just FEEL

* * *

* * *

"She tells her love while half asleep,
In the dark hours,
With half-words whispered low:
As Earth stirs in her winter sleep
And puts out grass and flowers
Despite the snow,
Despite the falling snow."

<3
lisa

voici mon secret.

2009-12-08T15:14:00.000-05:00

† † †

† † †

† † †

like being at a classical concert where there's a break in between pieces
this is my intermission

there's a whispering wind i feel it inside

2009-12-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

* * *

like a place i can feel but never will see

* * *

see those fingerless pink gloves above, my friend karla made it for me earlier in the year for the first few months of winter. it's my favorite pair because when it gets cold in my room, i can wear it and still be able to play the piano/keyboard. she also made me other crocheted items too that are super cute. in return, i made her a website and i updated it today. the kitty on the front page is actually a boy & i turned him into a princess. if you're in the area, please stop by and see the craft show <3

* * *

The pain passes, but
the beauty remains.

* * *

i bought some vintage vera bradley silk flower napkin rings last week from etsy and it came in the mail the other day. it was a nice surprise to see that it came in an old greeting card box that was once filled with renoir reproductions. it looks like the person got it from the museum of fine arts in boston. i've been to boston twice before, both times were short-lived. i'd like to go there the next time i'm up in that area. i used some of those flowers to attach it to the tulle petticoat i found at a thrift shop. i'm planning to add more delicate little things to it. speaking of such things, i have a lot of sequins and beads laying around so i want to do some kind of project with it. in two weeks when i'm home for break, we shall see.
--lsa

an inward quiet, like the outward quiet of grass and trees

2009-11-24T19:16:00.000-05:00

my fall/winter season wardrobe consists of:
large and small bows
x
velvet pants & decorated skirts
x
dark, dark colours in contrast to light
x
accented with lots of metallic jewelry
x
sequins + lace for the holidays
x
maybe a fitted blazer or over-sized sweater
x
oxford & maryjane heeled shoes
x
a cute almost creepy doll-like style :)

† † †

† † †

now, here is a lush trippy music video by the depreciation guild. this song is reminiscent of my bloody valentine & a bit of the cocteau twins. i am quite in love with this. the music and the vocals are very dreamy. i remember listening to their music earlier this year when they had put out an album ("in her gentle jaws") on their website for free to download. it's nintendo bits meets shoe-gaze. lovely.

<3
lsa

to call everything by its right name

2009-11-18T17:25:00.000-05:00

***

this original photograph was bland and i don't think marie antoinette would have approved. so i added a little bit of loveliness to it using a bow and frame. the drawing was taken from that powder blue book in the image below. it's a gem that i found in the library last week. there are so many pretty illustrations. the book was organized so perfectly. the story of her life was divided into seasons--starting with spring, summer, fall, winter. very enchanting. it gives a similar vibe to that of sofia coppola's film, perhaps she may have been inspired by it too.

***

***

i've been taking so many books out of the library. the other day, i asked them what the limit was for a student to loan out books. the answer was non? no, they didn't know until a few minutes later the lady said 15. i am gradually reaching that limit. it's not just books that i am borrowing though. i took out a couple of piano sheet music books namely rachmaninoff's preludes, bach's well-tempered clavier, and prokofiev's sonatas which i later learned is nearly impossible to play at my level. i'm a bit over my head, a lot of the time. well, isn't that what makes a dreamer?

---lsa

i understand completely, miyazaki.

2009-11-11T19:53:00.000-05:00

"it's the splinters of glass in people's eyes that makes them see the world in jagged little pieces. if we could just get out the glass we could make them see clearly."

last night, i finished watching the 1957 russian animated film Снежная королева aka "The Snow Queen". it is a beautiful adaptation of the book by Hans Christian Anderson. i suggest you get your hands on this treasure. there's a raw aesthetic feel that can't be captured by the cgi effects that are the standard today.

† † †

† † †

† † †

pull the soul

thread the body

† † †
ode to N O V E M B E R
blessed souls of the dead
that shower us with falling stars on the 17th
make it a crisp evening, the darkest hour
for when cassiopia crosses the meridian
i drink thy chrysanthemum tea, wolfberries afloat
who's in?

love,
lsa

acturus is the halloween ghost of the sun

2009-10-30T19:35:00.000-04:00

the moon, like a flower
in heaven's high bower,
with silent delight
sits and smiles on the night

tonight, the moon can guide you to the square of pegasus. has anyone seen hubble's great new images? the universe is a beautiful thing. seeing a star covered sky is a rare treat when you live in a city. it has been unusually warm recently but i sense the dead air is coming as the night falls. mellon collie & the infinite sadness sets the perfect mood for this expression. elements of 90's nostalgia, feelings of lost youth.

xx

tomorrow is only a vision

2009-10-23T18:34:00.000-04:00

you grabbed my hand
and we fell into it
like a daydream
or a fever

last week, i drove through a brief snow storm in the northwestern edge of maryland. possibly, the most magical moment of the year as i am surrounded by the beautiful fall foliage. when the temperature dropped to 32F, i knew it was coming. the snowflakes quickly melted away on the car but it stuck to the sides of the mountain. The last time this familiar feeling came through me was on a foggy morning two springs ago when i saw a herd of deer emerge from big meadows of the shenandoah state park in virginia.

x
my favourite things:
+ godspeed you emporer!
+ decorating pages of a book
+ going to the bakery in the morning
+ watching 'yumeiro patissiere'
+ striped stockings
+ fall foliage
+ curling in my pink fuzzy blanket
+ the sound of the rain
+ '80s pop girl outfits ♥

† lsa

if my heart metamorphed, it’d be missing a part of you

2009-10-10T16:52:00.000-04:00

we are creatures of thought, we seek clarifications.

i found a special place along the river bank and it will become my secret spot for reading. this is where the butterflies would flutter endlessly on a hot summer afternoon. a lot of the wildflowers and plants are decaying now but the river maintains a consistent ebb and flow. naturally, changes are expected as the cool air sweeps across and in between the hills and valleys. i think that it would be amazing to find a library hidden in a forest. you would pick a book dangling from a tree instead of a shelf. it will be adorned with little ribbons and tags indicating how 'dark' or 'light' the book makes you feel. i imagine this type of setting would be lovely by echo lake up in maine where i have spent my summer there two years ago. my favorite moment was climbing up mt. beech which is 839 feet high and then jumping in the crystal clear lake.

i am really looking forward to seeing where the wild things are as directed by spike jonze. i think i'm going to make a tent out of sheets and blankets for some good old nostalgia. it brings me back to a time of innocence and infinite possibilities. the kind of feeling that seems lost and forgotten. and if we allow magic to be a part of every fiber of our human being.

xx

narcotic flowers and humid seas of foliage

2009-10-02T18:58:00.000-04:00

things of autumn:
cassiopeia,
earl grey tea,
flannel sheets,
purple colored sweaters,
black bows,
the cool air,
blankets everywhere,
nocturnal ambiances,
gothic wares

i've been spending the last month with plenty of studying accompanied by tea drinking. playing with cards and dreaming like alice. composing long over due letters to friends and attempting several pieces of bach literature on the electronic keyboard. feeling frustrated most of the time. it's not the perfect substitute for the piano in terms of playing anything of the classical nature as it is a machine and not made of real raw materials.

i want to do something creative. i have things in mind but i don't have the resources at this present address, i would need to go home and fetch them. my dilemma for the month or months to come.

xx

guiding light

2009-09-10T09:29:00.000-04:00

rebirth.
nature, to be controlled, must be obeyed.

when the heat starts to fall and the cold weather begins this cycle, i like to immerse myself in feeling like the seasons change. autumn reminds me of several things, mostly good music, good fashion, and good times. it's very close to being my favorite season. i wish it would arrive here sooner so then we can get to winter where i can see some snow on the ground. of course, summer is still lingering around as usual.

every time i listen to muse, matt inspires me to play the piano. the 'resistance' is absolutely beautiful, especially 'exogenisis', a 3-part gorgeous symphonic rock orchestrated masterpiece. when you take out the sweeping vocals and everything else in between, you are left with the skeleton of a classical piece influenced by rachmaninoff and chopin to name a few. it also doesn't hurt that muse likes to use esoteric and cryptic lyrics in their songs. they've gone above&beyond this time to ∞
-----lsa

a stranger's light

2009-09-05T12:42:00.000-04:00

hope sandoval is on my list of girl crushes. she is known for being the other half of the band 'mazzy star'. she also has a new album out and will be touring soon. unfortunately, i live in the middle of nowhere now and i'm missing out on much of everything. if you haven't heard of her, you'll find that her voice is warm and angelic sounding. i've just discovered that she covered "cherry blossom girl" by air. it's really pretty, i suggest you download it if you haven't. it's been played on my list so many times as evident from my last.fm chart.

lately, i've just started going to school. the second time around, i hope it works out this time. on the side, i've been doing some art related things. maybe, something will come out of this. i've also been doing deep breathing exercises as the sun rises. it helps me focus and i feel that it tunes me into the universe. keeps me grounded to earth and makes me more aware of my surroundings. been reading much about esoteric things as well, it entertains me to no end. and listening, oh yes. i can never get enough of listening to music. so when is 'muse''s album going to leak? 30 second clips are such teases.

xx

asleep from day

2009-08-31T19:05:00.000-04:00

if there is one thing you should know about me, it would be that i love collecting jewelry. they've always attracted me ever since i was a child. my first and favorite piece would have to be this vintage necklace that i picked out and begged my mother to buy for me when i was five at a local flea market. unfortunately i don't have a photograph of it since it's not here with me right now. i keep it safe at home in new jersey. so i've been looking at a lot of pretty little things on the web and found a mix of treasures along the way.

1. Cat Priem: it's jewelry for little kitties and the like. i'm not really into taxidermy but the way the feathers were incorporated how the bones were placed is really clever and cute albeit morbid. i'd wear it.

2. Alidra Alic: her 'alice's adventures in wonderland' collection is absolutely beautiful and creative. it gives off an innocent feeling with the painted pastel colors, which is delicate and falls true to lewis carroll's story.

xx

playhouses like mine

2009-08-17T18:15:00.000-04:00

sometimes, i can read on forever and ever. yesterday, i finished oscar wilde's "the picture of dorian gray". i like how throughout the novel, there was a lingering darkness to it until the very end. definately will be added to my library of favorite books.

it's been very hot lately, i wish autumn would come sooner so i could lie on something soft and fuzzy until i can fall asleep to the sound of leavings falling. i cannot wait to wear my heavier tights and coats, the loveliest combination. i really want to get these tights by bebaroque. i already own a pair by them below but a black one would be perfect when it gets cold. the ones i am wearing are the prettiest and most delicate pair of tights i own. i also, found this post very inspiring as well (diy beaded tights!) and i might have to try it some time once i get the appropriate materials.

and this is where the magic happens, i'd say the kitchen is probably the most important room in the home.

tears of st lawrence, falling stars

2009-08-12T14:59:00.001-04:00

my diet consists of granola and fruits since moving down here. i had an awesome chickpea curry meal last night. at this rate, i may be turning vegan soon. maybe i'll reserve certain days into being a carnivore. i think meat tastes much better when taken in sparingly.

the brain secretes thought as the liver secretes bile

xx

in the words of wordsworth

2009-08-11T17:03:00.001-04:00

hello. welcome to the new doll house.
a place to post things i like and do not like.
expect photographs & many words.

There are in our existence spots of time,
That with distinct pre-eminence retain
A renovating virtue, whence--our minds
Are nourished and invisibly repaired;

xx