Seeking Salvation

Hello all,

Welcome back to my blog, which I am vowing (yet again) to revive! 

For my first post after a long hiatus, I am throwing it back to my trip to Salvation Mountain from last spring, because the message of love and healing that it emanates is one that is desperately needed in this country at the moment. During a time when it seems as though there is more bad than good, when I don't want to look at the news because I'm afraid of what the next headline will be, I turn to memories of days such as this one, when my faith in man and in love was restored. 

The almost-four-hour journey began with a pitstop to view the Cabazon Dinosaurs. There's a little area with activities that you can pay to go into, but it seemed like it was more for kids and families, so my friend and I just enjoyed the free sight of the enormous dinosaur statues keeping vigil outside.

Size Comparison

The second stop that we made was by the Salton Sea, at a community of abandoned homes and trailers from a resort that sat along the shore of Bombay Beach, vacant since the seventies.

Several resorts sprouted up around this lake, thinking that it would be the perfect vacation destination, until the land started to sink and sent families out in a hurry, leaving behind interesting snippets of their lives in the form of dolls, cereal boxes and appliances.

It was an eerie place to walk through, like a ghost town that had been deserted but still showed traces of the life that once occupied it. 

The sea itself has such a high salinity level (25% higher than ocean water), that it no longer sustains life and the surrounding beach is covered with the bones and skeletons of fish.

Regardless, it was beautiful, with so many textures and colors to admire (though it resembled what I  imagine the Bog of Eternal Stench in The Labyrinth to smell like).

 There is such a starkness to the desert, such a sense of isolation. We tried to embrace that feeling along the way.

Finally, we made it to our ultimate destination, Salvation Mountain:

Knowing very well ahead of time that Salvation Mountain is covered in vibrant color, I decided to wear all black, so as to contrast the bright hues. My dress and cross necklace are both from Urban Outfitters (on sale), while my floppy sunhat is from a Whittier boutique called Soho. These photos are proof that it pays to plan ahead for any outing!

And what a sight it was to behold! The artist, Leonard Knight, devoted 28 years of his life to creating this installation, a "tribute to God and His gift to the world." This magnificent piece of folk art reiterates the same message: God is Love. 

Whether or not you are a religious person, you can't help but admire the dedication that went into Salvation Mountain's construction, and you cannot deny its colorful, positive and strong message of love. If nothing else, it will make you a believer in the true beauty of humanity. 

I want to believe that, underneath it all, we are innately good. But sometimes the events that transpire throughout the world cause doubt to overpower this belief. I wish that everyone could visit this art installation and feel the passion and love that they are capable of possessing. Stop the hate. Whether it takes faith in God, looking inward, or the comfort of those around you, know that YOU. ARE. LOVED. 

Thank you, Leonard Knight <3 

xoxo,

KD

California Coastline

During my Spring Break (the last one that I will ever have!), I took a day trip down to San Diego with a friend for my very first time. It was a beautiful place and there were plenty of cool stops along the way that made for great photo ops! We took advantage of the beautiful coastline for a photo shoot with crashing waves and sea salted hair. 

Sometimes a little laughter is all you need-- we made time to lay in the grass and relax a little in the beautiful beach town of La Jolla. I wore a colorful maxi dress that I found on sale at TJ Maxx for $15 paired with a necklace that was on sale at the same retailer for just $5! 

I just LOVE the cutouts of this dress, and the chunky necklace absolutely shines in this photo.

My friend matched in a vibrant Hawaiian print shirt that shows that men, too, may be coordinated and trendy in their everyday wear. 

Overall, it was a lovely trip and I'm so glad that I finally got to experience this more southern part of California. I was tempted to keep driving towards Mexico, but we inevitably had to return home after a long, yet enjoyable day. 

Classy Cool

While we have been having beautiful weather here in California, I can't help but feel sorry for my friends and family back on the East Coast who are buried under mounds of snow and ice. So, lets take a break from the winter gloom and remember a time that was filled with warm weather, sunshine, and nights that were comfortable enough to venture outside without a jacket. 

Say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset.

There's nothing like a sunset to evoke inspiration, especially when New York City is your backdrop. I had the pleasure of having a little rooftop photo shoot a while back while visiting a friend in the city (try to imagine a time when the cityscape didn't resemble an arctic tundra). Los Angeles will forever own my heart, but NYC is a great alternative for some, and a nice place to visit on occasion! 

You never know what you might find while exploring the streets of New York, and I happened to stroll by an LF, completely unaware that they were having an annual one-day sale, with up to 70%off! Anyone familiar with this store will know that this was an incredible discovery, since their prices are generally steeper than what can be accommodated by an average college student's finances. 

I absolutely fell in love with this blue flowered dress with a cut-out middle, which I purchased for  around $30 (!!!). It's cute and fun, with just enough edge for this chic city. 

Because it was summertime, I decided to add a pop of pink lipstick to contribute to the vibrant, youthful look:

 I was captivated by the beauty surrounding me; the natural gradation of colors from the setting sun combined with the industrial flare of the city was awe-inspiring. In the bustle of the busy city, it can sometimes be hard to remember to stop and take a look around you every once in a while. In this moment, I was reminded of a quote that I have become particularly fond of: 

"And forget not that the earth delights 

to feel your bare feet and the wind longs 

to play with your hair" 

-Kahlil Gibran

However, though it is imperative that a lady know how to dress up, she must also be able to dress it down. While many girls my age op for the 'disheveled sweatpants' look, I like to remain stylish even while seeking comfort in my wardrobe. 

I try to go for a style that is casual, comfortable, and trendy.

I achieve this goal by pairing a laid-back tank top from Brandy Melville with a pair of paisley-printed lounge pants from Urban Outfitters. While these pants may be a little eccentric for some, I think that they are absolutely adorable-- and bold.  

These sunglasses are from Free People for $18 :)

 From classy to cool, these are my typical city looks. 

How do you find a balance between comfortable and cute?

Leave a comment and share your style tips!

xoxo

KD