Sunscreen

"Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth."

hope

Hope lives on. 

This word means more to me than anything. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. This whole time I thought I wanted closure, and friendship, and to be civil with the one person who I also thought would never hurt me, lie to me or lose trust in. I was completely wrong. I tried another "method" I guess you can say and had the best last few days of summer. I fixed broken ties with the one person I disliked, saved a dear friendship of mine, realized the real ones, and enjoyed every bit of this gorgeous island. I hope this means a great new beginning, and hope for an amazing future ahead.

As for the one burden, the weight that heavily sat on my shoulders (and heart), this one person who I had so much faith in, who I dedicated this blog to initially... I still want the best for you and that your future is filled with all that you want in life, not what is expected of you. I hope you realize a lot the next few years and you finally let go of whatever grudge was held on me. I know one day you mature but it certainly won't be anytime soon. 

Take care please, even if you completely denied even that.

Hope will always live on for me, and  am so grateful to have at least that.

all mixed up

greatest

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Mommy Ever. <3

chicago

My kind of town...

Recently, as a family "vacation" (I guess you can call it), or a trip as a birthday trip for my parents, which was also a visit to see some family, we travelled to the near by city of Chicago. Without getting too involved into details of the reason and trip, I can really only tell you what I learned. "Seize the day/Carpe Diem" or "Live everyday day as if it were your last," or the one thats the hardest to confront, "live life with no regrets." For about two years, I have tried to live by these life sayings as if I really knew what they meant, or that I had the epiphany of a lifetime. In all honesty, I've been through a lot and have lost so many people in my life in so many ways, and fear change like its my job, but it was not up until this very three day- two night stay in Chicago, IL, that I really understood any of it. Or at least, even more than I did, because I know for sure that theres will be plenty more life learning moments to come.

My parents, sister and close aunt flew to Chicago on a Thursday morning. Now that was an entertaining adventure. We "missed" our flight all because we had one suit case to check in and it HAD to be done 45 minutes before departure. (Delta, you suck, what would be the difference?!) Luckily, we were able to catch the next flight and still arrive on time. We were reunited with my Aunt, Uncle, cousins and second cousins. Its been too many years to count, but it felt like we have seen each other every day. We spent most of our time at the home, spending quality time with each other, catching up and of course, cooking and eating. We also had a few hours to spare exploring the "Windy City." I loved every part of that city. I could move there right now, in a heart beat, if I could. Below, you will find some of the photos that I had taken from the whole trip and I hope you get to enjoy them as much as I do.

Leaving Chicago was terrible. It felt as if we had just got there and had to leave. I enjoyed silence but not the awkward kind, the friendly atmosphere in the house or Chi- town streets, and story telling of old memories. Saying goodbye was not simple. Life's too short. Seeing my family, that I never grew up with or get to visit often, and even being with my immediate family for the weekend was refreshing, and strengthening. Real people. People that truly love one another, and people who feel. If you knew me, you would know that on one side of my family, communicating and love is not easy to find, especially when they are so close. Even more of a reason why I have never felt so much. There is nothing better than to know you're loved, wanted, and imperfect is perfect. To be in a room filled with so many emotions that last hour in Illinois, made me feel good even though there were one too many tears, both happy and sad. It has been some time since I had felt this way and certainly not the first time I had to let go in order to move forward.

Sometimes the ugly truth of saying "good bye" or "see you later" is that what if its the last time. I know this sounds a bit morbid, but it is the truth, and these people that are real, that love and that feel, grew stronger, smarter and love even more. We learned that life is too short. No matter what is going on, never take a single breath for granted and that is the honest truth. Who cares about the things you did or didn't do. Who cares if you made mistakes or couldn't visit like you said you would. Who really cares? Because in the end, what really matters is everything that has happened, what you now have, and what you could only hope for in the future. The present is a gift and I really hope that everyone can one day just take a step back from life, just like I did. Maybe you won't fly to another city and visit relatives, but maybe you'll spend the night at home for once instead of out partying, or even just walking to your car. Cherish every moment-- what you've got and how you got there. Let go of grudges, let go of anger, let go of those broken pieces that just keep on cutting you. Life is too short to stand in the rain and be mad that it is raining.

--

I wrote this from the heart, probably one of the most deep things I have written in a while and for the public. I am not a hippie, nor am I completely 100% free of all burdens, but I am getting there and each day is even better than the last even if it is a bad one. Its a new day, and thats all that matters.

Stay Strong Aunt Josie

...Chicago is

ugly

I am sorry to pollute the blog of such negativity...

but I think the new template designs are all terrible.

If anyone knows how to get the old ones back.. I'm all ears.

Blogger, you've disappointed me greatly!

hardfluff

A good friend of mine is one of the most ambitious people I know. Plus, he's an overall a great, smart and fun person. He started this virtual arena for anyone interested in sharing their thoughts. No, it's not a social networking, Facebook cousin, its real people with real thoughts. "Hardfluff only has one purpose, to serve as a place where anyone and everyone can spread their passions through writing, videos, or anything else like pictures." 

I'd have to say, its doing really well and he's got a lot of support. 

Good looks Matt, can't wait to post something from myself!

Check it out at http://hardfluff.com/

one year

Happy Anniversary to ME and Blogger!

So it has been exactly ONE YEAR since I start this blog (all things pretty which is currently titled to love is to live, also pretty) This also means

Happy 20th Birthday to ME (7/7)

This post is going to be a lot different from my many other post of this year. Different posts like the photos, quotes, videos, music, blurbs, and even inspiration. The different entries were all based off of things that were pretty to me. Pretty, meaning pretty, beautiful, fun, exciting, inspiring, meaningful, powerful, and all the words that fall in between. More importantly, I wanted to write about how I've changed this past year, because that's why we have blogs right? A year ago, I was physically and mentally exhausted and probably not the happiest I've ever been because I was going through a lot; a break up, broken promises, broken trust, fear, and boredom. But aside from all the shitty things I just listed, I was doing some pretty awesome stuff; the circle of friends filtered out leaving only the truest and best of friends together, it was my 19th birthday, my first day at my internship with UCB (which by the way lasted six amazing months), making jewelry like there was no tomorrow and even better-- selling my jewelry at the Corner store Co-Op all summer (so awesome), and well all in all, I was pretty happy. I know,  I contradicted myself from that first sentence of claiming of how not-so happy I was. But you know what a year ago, I made this pact to myself, to start a blog that was only filled with pretty things. As a person, I have certainly change and grown this year that I can honestly say I've never been happier. That's the truth because yeah, there may be one small part of me that will never change but that's call the past. Just picture a heart; two lumps on the top and a "V" shaped bottom. BOTTOM, that BOTTOM corner, is my past, the part of me that has a lot of good old friends, boyfriends, memories, images of things that happened yesterday and beyond that. That part of a heart not years deformed, or else it wouldn't be a heart, its look like a peanut (ha ha, I'm not that funny but I've always liked my jokes). The rest of a heart shaped figure only gets bigger was you move up, that's the future; goals, friends, dreams, success, more awesome memories, and better relationships. Each day for the past twenty years have been truly amazing, I have never been so grateful and honestly, absolutely cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for me. This new year, things are going to be different, we're going to be different. I mean this is anyway you think it means... Personally, I will blog more often that none, and more importantly for me, is that I want to spread this virus of "being way to nice even to people who probably don't deserve it" to everyone that crosses paths with me the next 365 days ( until my next birthday post, which by the way will be my 21st! Whos coming to Vegas!?)Lets start living, being the prettiest you can be and love (so corny, but someones got to do it), love to the tips of your fingers. Enjoy each day as if it were your last! CHEERS! Thank you all so much for checking out all things pretty. Much love and always yours, <3

surprise

Surprise!!!

Happy Birthday Matty

Love,

you're best friends!

gmen

Giants Minicamp Practice 2010

East Rutherford, NJ

Metlife Stadium

lauren henry

one of my last photo series.

End End park of Lauren Henry.

Taken by me

okayy

The Hardest Part

sunburn

Fire Island: Bellport "Ho Hum" Beach

Part of "MDW" 2010.

heartbreak warfare

courage

"Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or mistake, but you're not supposed to question adults, or your coach or your teacher, because they make the rules. Maybe they know best, but maybe they don't. It all depends on who you are, where you come from. Didn't at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up, and joining with the other side? I mean, valley of death that's pretty salty stuff. That's why courage is tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you're doing something. I mean any fool can have courage. But honor, that's the real reason for you, either do something or you don't. It's who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important, then you have both honor & courage, and that's pretty good. I think that's what the writer was saying, that you should hope for courage and try for honor, And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some, too. "

--The Blindside

I posted this a few days ago and finally found the exact quote. I posted it on here for one person in mind, someone who I'll always think about, care about and always want the best for this person. But its also on here for me, and everyone else who needs inspiring or just something to ponder about. This is also posted on my blog for everyone who is either in the process of finding themselves, or still have yet to figure out that thats what they need.
Hopefully, this makes sense.


Oh, and happy mothers day!

"mirage," behind the scenes

MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT TO COME!

Taken by Me

@ LIM College's 2010 Fashion Show

"Mirage"

The Altman Building, Chelsea, New York City, NY

April 16th, 2010

Event Director Alex Chapman, LIM College '12

Promotional Director Quin Acciani, LIM College '12

young forever

studio time

"Anna"

Some class studio time. We were able to style and

shoot Anna for some photos for her book.

April 15, 2010

Professor/ Fashion Photographer

Michael Creagh's Studio

New York, NY