/// Listening to West Coast by Coconut Records .

/// Reading Method and Madness: The Making of a Story: A Guide to Writing Fiction.

/// Watching Rushmore and falling in love with the 17 year old Jason Schwartzman.

/// Soaking up every last bit of the warm breezes and sunshine.

/// Happy to be alive.

[all photos taken by me]

During my week of living on the coast, this is what I called the golden hour. I never missed it. Other plans might have failed throughout the day but I made a point to relish these fleeting moments when everything came to life in the shadows and sunshine.

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[all photos taken by me]

While on holiday two weeks ago there always came a point in the evening when all of us kids would rally together after supper and catch the tail end of a dazzling sunset. There's always something really surreal about being in such a beautiful place. It's like this continual reminder to soak up every last bit of the day.

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[all photos taken by me]

 I'm back from a week on the beach with some of my best mates and guess what I found? That summer has returned in all its familiar glory and, it seems, more full of life, mystery and adventure then ever before.

More photos and stories to come! But for now, cheers to sweet, sweet summertime. Go outside. x 

[second photo from Bright Star /// other photos via tumblr]

Some happenings in my life lately.

1. With two weeks left of school it definitely feels like the first days of something even more superb than my already excellent days. 

2. I got a ticket to Lollapalooza for one day, Sunday. Which means - I will see many most excellent bands live but most importantly....PHOENIX. 

3. Tomorrow is the start of a road trip down to Florida where I will spend a whole entire week with basically all of my homies. I cannot wait. So tonight you find me packing in a rush. 

4. I beheld The Great, marvelous, inspirational, larger than life, Gatsby. This film is a completely perfect compliment to the book. Luhrmann told the story of Gatsby in a way not only visually intoxicating but also emotionally heartbreaking. And he did this while the soundtrack consisted of will.i.am, Jay-Z or Florence Welch (to name a few) which, might I add, was flawlessly suited to the film. 

5. Summer has taken over the earth like a magical spell you can't resist.

"And so, with the sunshine and the great burst of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

[first and third photo via tumblr /// last photo of sofia coppola for louis vuitton /// all other photos taken by me]

"The Earth shook in the afternoon sun. Hundreds of pedestrians flocked down to the beach. Children lined the shore looking out to sea, hopping and cheering with anticipation as the rumbling intensified. I stood in the sand among the masses of impatient people, completely oblivious as to what was happening. Cameras were popping out of pockets, an elderly painter sat on the bank with his brush at the ready, and the hot dog vendors turned from their customers as the waters began to violently swell.

Within seconds, a gargantuan tidal wave rose from the edge of the shore just metres from the crowd. The children threw their hands in the air with cheer, jumping and screaming with excitement. The roaring wave climbed and climbed into the sky, blocking out the sun and engulfing the beach in shade. At the height of its growth, the immense wall of water seemed to suspend its self from falling - the waters swelled and billowed up the inside of the arch as everyone watched in astonishment.

The flood of children ran towards the wave. Flashes went off everywhere. The children leapt from the sand and landed on the surface of the water, sprinting up the inside of the arch towards the sky as though gravity was no object. Higher and higher they went without falling. The painter dabbled like mad. A minute later, I watched the children reach the top of the wave in the clouds, until finally, they began to jump off into the sky, falling slowly and gracefully back to Earth." 

- description for Prop My Sky by Pogo

I don't really have anything to add to this. I hope this new week finds you in good spirits and ready for more adventures and even more glorious weather.

{last photo by Cass Bird for Urban Outfitters, January 2012 /// all other photos via tumblr}

"Happiness? The color of it must be spring green." 

- Frances Mayes

Today I am listening to The Kooks, reading Fahrenheit 451, eating strawberries, and loving everything about Spring. These days should never end. Every window is open, every bird is singing, every tree or flower is blooming, and I have three weeks left of school. Outdoors is the best way to relish these brief days before the glorious heat of summer hits, especially with friends. On Sunday my sister and I hung out at my cousins house all evening, all of us loving the fact that we could stay outside past dark not even needing a jacket. You know you're high on this weather when just throwing a ball and running around with everyone at sunset is enough to fill the heart with joy.

{first, fifth, and last photo via tumblr /// all other photos taken by me}