weekend snapshots

 This was a good weekend. I enjoyed food, a bit of window shopping and made it out of the city long enough to enjoy the beach for a couple hours. I've got a busy week ahead of me though. My last week at the Complexions intensive, interning, a goodbye party at the Bowery Electric. I need to fill out some paperwork for a new landlord, buy a mattress, figure out a time to go home to claim more stuff. It's going to be very busy around here for quite a while. I wish that it was possible to squeeze more out of every day.

dreamy finds

I'm moving into a new apartment soon. Well, actually I'm taking over the end of my friend's lease, but it'll be new to me. And the best part is that I get to decorate it myself. I've loved the size and space that comes with living in Brooklyn, but living in someone else's room inevitably leads to the feeling of living a borrowed life. Therefore, I'm really excited to have the opportunity to make this new place feel like my own. I'm imagining a girly, floaty, dreamy boudoir (sounds more romantic than bedroom, I believe) and I can't wait to start creating it. Until then, I'm finding inspiration via various websites.

I like the idea of grouping an eclectic collection of knobs together and then using them to hang scarves or necklaces or other bits of odds and ends.

[Images]
1. via Confetti System
2 and 3. via Anthropologie, here and here

current obsession.

In the past week, I visited a store (found online here) in Greenwich Village that's entirely devoted to the art of lomography. Did I mention I've been twice? I am obsessed with the idea of buying one of their analog cameras; the Diana F+, but have some qualms about taking the plunge. There's an option of buying a kit, which includes a bunch of different lenses, a way to adapt it to 35 mm film and a shutter release for self portraits, AND the savings add up to about $150 versus slowly building up the collection over time. The woman who was helping me last night was super helpful and even offered to throw in some film and a camera bag if I bought the kit. Hard to walk away from, let me tell you. However, I'm struggling between wanting to have it all and save the money versus slowly adding to my joy over time as I learn the nuances of the camera. I think having it all at once may take away some of the joy and create anxiety with the need to learn how it all works.

I know I just got a new camera for graduation, so it seems silly to be obsessed with another camera again so soon, but I think my passion for film photography is helping cause this sensation. That, and I know they'd take completely different pictures. In case you don't know, the Diana F is a toy camera modeled after cheap cameras from years ago that they used to sell in gas stations for as little as $1. In the 90s, professional photographers started using them for the dreamy quality and quirky light leaks they produce. Thus, the demand and therefore price, skyrocketed. Production of the original stopped long ago, but the clones are beautiful. What do you think? Should I take the plunge or just covet from afar from the time being?

[Image credits]
1.  via OpticsPlanetInc
2. via Sell@Bag
3. via Microwalrus

things that make me happy

 A couple of days ago, I found myself in Port Authority while I waited for my boyfriend to buy a ticket back to his home. Nearby, there was a bookstore. I only wandered in it for a few minutes, but one book caught my eye; The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle and Generally Have More Fun. I needed a new book to enjoy on my Kindle, so later in line at Starbucks, I used the free wifi to purchase the book. I'm only a few chapters in, but it made me think about things that make me happy.

Contributing to today's happiness:
1. [bellinis at brunch]
2. [fresh flowers in my room]
3. [lavender hanging in my bedroom window]
4. [a clean room]
5. [a sunny day]