OUTFIT | Summer lovin' in Harajuku

T-shirt dress: Blondy

bag: Le Talon

headband: Punyus

sunglasses: zero UV

bracelets: Beach Closet

sandals: Zara

With August just around the corner, it's finally starting to feel a lot like summer, or at least it is for me. The endless heat wave, summer barbecues and trips to the beach. And when its over 35 degrees Celsius everyday plus the humidity, less clothing is a must. This airy T-shirt dress from Blondy is the perfect summer basic, and add a couple of colorful accessories and you got yourself a beach-y outfit. I got this smiley tote and these handmade bracelets as birthday gifts, and they make my day instantly brighter. And I think I wear my pineapple headband almost everyday...

I'm really looking forward to the weekend - if everything goes well, I'll be recording a new song and I just got all the equipment I need to start practicing DJ-ing. I'm still a beginner and it's more difficult than I had thought, but I'm always up for the challenge. Hope you all are enjoying your summer and challenging yourself with something new! :)

あっという間に７月が終わろうとしている今日この頃、やっと夏！って感じがし始めた気がします。永遠と続く蒸し暑さ、夏のバーベキュー、海。そして、こんな暑さが続くと、なるべく薄い服装でいたいですよね！BlondyのTシャツワンピはとてもエアリーで、着回せるベーシックの一枚。今回は色んなアクセや小物で着飾ってみました。このスマイリーのバッグとミサンガはバースデープレゼントとして頂きました。可愛いでしょう？でも、このカチューシャは付け過ぎかな。。

今週末も楽しみ！新曲のレコーディングもあるし、DJ用の機材が揃ったので、練習に取りかかれる！まだまだ初心者で思った以上に難しいけど、頑張ります。皆さんも良い夏を、そして、新しいチャレンジをしてみて下さい！

All photos by Paint with Stars Photography

Beach Closet

Misanga bracelets are very popular in Japan during the summer season, and I was lucky enough to receive this handmade set of 3 from Beach Closet. This is a new brand my friend recently started up, and her bracelets are all handmade with care. I love the chic navy against the pop of orange and purple. Since the closest beach is over 2 hours away, wearing this beach-inspired bracelets gives me that ocean vibe that I'm going to need for the next 2 months. Thank you Beach Closet for these beautiful bracelets!

夏になると、ミサンガは人気ですよね！先日、友達からこの手作りのミサンガを頂きました。ビーチをテーマにしたブランド、Beach Closetのミサンガは、どれも丁寧に仕上げられ、色合いもチャームもとても可愛いし、お洒落ですよ！このシックなネイビーに、ポップなオレンジとパープルが素敵です。海を思い出させてくれるブレスレット、ありがとうございます！

Tanabata Festival 七夕祭り

A Japanese summer is not complete without a summer festival, also known as "matsuri" in Japanese. My mother and grandparents used to take my brother and I to the matsuri every summer we visited Japan. The endless street food vendors, toys, games and the bon-odori and taiko performances have always fascinated me as a child, and even now as an adult. This matsuri I attended yesterday is the Tanabata Matsuri to celebrate the reunion of Orihime and Hikoboshi, who can only meet once a year on July 7th. This is probably one of the biggest matsuri in Saitama, and I just can't get enough of the lively atmosphere despite the immense humidity!

This year, some of my friends and I got together for a BBQ, and was later surprised with a beautiful birthday cake, gifts and flowers. I don't think I've ever been surprised this many times in one birthday - I am truly a lucky girl :) I am always grateful to be surrounded by such kind & giving people. Thank you so much♡

日本の夏といえば、お祭りですよね！今年も、小川町の七夕祭りに行って来ました。昨日は最高気温が３５度超えていてものすごく暑かったですが、昼間は友達とバーベキューをし、最後にバースデーサプライズをして頂きました！本当にびっくり！美味しいケーキ、綺麗なお花、その他のプレゼントを頂いてしまいました。心から感謝しています。ありがとうございます！今年のバースデーはたくさんの人に祝ってもらって、とても幸せです。夜のお祭りも、にぎやかで大変盛り上がっていました♪やっぱり日本の夏はいいですね♡

BABY-G x Humming Birds Magazine x Vita Coco

Summertime and the living's easy. I finally made my way out to the beaches of Miura, my first view of the ocean this summer. This used to never be the case when I was still in California, but what can you do when you're in Tokyo? Anyways, my friend Justine and I participated in the BABY-G event at Beach Bum, a beach house in Miura. This was in collaboration with Humming Birds Magazine, a brand new sports/ fashion magazine for women, and Vita Coco. All the girls participating were able to experience SUP (stand up paddle boarding), which was so much fun. I have never surfed or snowboarded in my life, but I think paddle boarding might be my thing. It was much more easier than I had imagined, and the ocean breeze and the slight waves were perfect. The delicacies made with Vita Coco coconut oil were also delicious. And of course, the BABY-G Beach Traveler series were perfect for a day at the beach <3

夏はやっぱり海ですよね！今日は、友達のジャスティーンと三浦海岸の方へ行って来ました。Beach Bum でBABY-G のイベントが行われていて、新しいファッション＆スポーツ雑誌Humming Birds とVita Coco との最高のコラボレーションでした！参加したモデルさん達は、SUP（スタンドアップパドルボーディング）をすることが出来ました。初めての経験だったので、はじめは緊張しましたが、すぐコツがつかめて、ほとんど立ってパドルボーディーングができましたよ！海風がとても気持ちよくて、本当に楽しかったです。Vita Cocoのココナッツオイルを使ったアペタイザーも美味しかったし、ココナッツウオーターを使用したフルーツウオーターもさっぱりしていて、美味しく頂きました。そして、BABY-Gのビーチトラベラーシリーズもめっちゃ可愛かったです♡夏の思い出ができて、良かったです！

OUTFIT | A Tokyo summer with zero UV

hat: zero UV

sunglasses: zero UV

top: Zara

shorts: Forever 21

shoes: Vans

clutch: Dezso

The awesome thing about the sunglasses brand zero UV is that they are from Surf City, California, just like me. Zero UV was kind enough to meet me out here during this immense heat wave in Tokyo.  We chatted over French toast and coffee at Aaliya cafe in Shinjuku, and shot some footage for their website afterwards. Amazing, amazing brand & team. Thank you for such a fun time and hope to see you again soon, zero UV!

最近愛用しているサングラスのブランドzero UVは、私の実家のハンティントン・ビーチからのブランドなんです。本当に偶然！今回は、zero UVさんが東京で出張にいらしていたので、お会いすることができました。新宿のアーリヤでお茶しながら美味しいフレンチトーストを頂いて、そのあとはビデオ用の動画を撮影。とても楽しい時間でした！可愛いサングラスをいつもありがとうございます！



All photos by zero UV

self portrait

This past year, my blog has grown significantly in many ways and I'm thankful for all the people that made it possible, including my photographer, my friends, my readers and my sponsors, to name a few. But with my birthday and the responsibility I feel with the age I am now, I had to seriously rethink my career path and what I really need to prioritize. I'm not saying I'm going to stop blogging, because no way am I going to throw away all the time and hard work I put into this platform, but I do want to put aside more time for the things I truly want to accomplish. There is a possibility I may be posting fewer times a week, but I will still be producing new content! I love you guys for being patient and keeping up with my crazy blogging schedule. Here's to a new year with more amazing, new experiences :) Thanks always x

この一年、このブログは色んな意味で本当に成長したと思います。それはたくさんの人のお陰だと思っているので、本当に心から感謝しています。でも、また一つ歳を重ねて、自分のキャリアのことをもっと真剣に考えないといけないと思い始め、何を優先にし、何をまた犠牲にしないといけないかを見直さないといけなくなりました。ブログを辞める訳では全然ないのですが、以前より記事が少なくなってしまうかもしれない。。でもそれは、私が本当にやりたいことにもっと時間をかけて、努力をしたいから。人生は一回きりだからね。でも、ご心配なく！ブログは定期的にチェックしますし、記事アップはちゃんとやります。いつもこの小さなブログを支えてくれてありがとうございます。これからも改めてよろしくお願いします！

smiley

This smiley bag is one of the many amazing gifts I received for my birthday. My agency is so awesome and so thoughtful. Smiles to brighten my day :) Thank you so much!

このスマイリーかごバッグは、誕生日プレゼントとして事務所から頂きました。ハッピーになれるバッグ、ありがとうございます！

OUTFIT | Black bohemian fantasy

dress: H&M

sunglasses: zero UV

watch: Fossil

boots: Sam Edelman

Sometimes we all need an escape, to immerse into our fantasies and dream. Dream big. I'm officially a year older as of yesterday, and even though growing older does spark some fear in me, I feel better than ever. Dream big or go home. I will definitely live by those words no matter how hard the going gets tough. I realized the amount of support I have around me, and I want to return that kindness somehow, and one way I know how is to accomplish my goals and achieve my dreams. I express my deepest gratitude - thank you, thank you and thank you for letting me be who I am and letting me do what I do. 

Photos by Paint with Stars Photography