big city dreaming: week ii (a photo diary)

Hello folks!

After about 2 months I have finally found the time to post the second part of my trip to New York (It's extremely late I know, and I apologize!). This post is quite long, so bear with me! Fortunately it's more photo-heavy than text?

After the educational part of the trip, I was able to explore the Big Apple further, wandering around the hip parts of the Village, finding in amazing hidden sushi places in Chinatown, and strolling through a huge open market down the street from 30 Rock (which, admittedly was a bit out of our set boundaries but well worth it).

First stop in the tour? Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (of course). Although I wasn't eager to go out and do all the touristy stuff, the view from the ferry was beautiful! We didn't spend too much time with Lady Liberty (only about 20 minutes), but I didn't mind. Afterwards we went to Chinatown where my friends and I found a great sushi place and a mediocre boba spot, but nevertheless it was a fun night.

View from the boat // The Statue of Liberty

The following day the group woke up super early to catch a recording of the TODAY Show at Rockefeller Center which was pretty rad! After a while though, it got a bit old so a few of us went around the area for a few hours, and found a super cool open market, staged on an entire street and closing off traffic in one direction. There was a kiosk with these beautiful rings but alas, I hadn't the extra money for them.

At the TODAY Plaza // Art Vendors // Flags // Dumb Selfies inside a Sunglass Kiosk

We stopped by SoHo for a bit, and we stopped by all of my favorite retail stores (Urban and Zara anyone?). It was a brief trip, sadly, and it started raining, but it wasn't too bad.

In SoHo (ft. two pals ♡)

At night, we went to the Empire State Building, where the view was breath-taking.

Views and more views // Yours truly at the top (wearing a FREE PEOPLE Top. DKNY Denim Jacket,  Forever 21 Shorts)

On to the next day! Destinations: Central Park, South Street Seaport, and Broadway.

Central Park // Cannoli + Iced Coffee from a Food Truck at the South Sea Seaport // On Broadway

On the last day of the NYLF program, we went to Greenwich Village and Union Square. I got to see NYU (insert heart-eyed emoji) and hang out with my NYLF friends one last time.

NYU // Waverly Place

My NYLF experience was truly life-changing as I further discovered my passions and interests and made amazing friends that I still love and miss (I swear I'm not trying to be cliché).  After the program ended, I stayed in the city a few extra days with my dad and aunt and I got to venture into the Brooklyn scene. Most of the time we just went out to eat.

First stop: Pies n' Thighs, a Southern soul food joint on 4th Street in Brooklyn.

Menus // Entrees // Grimy Bathroom Selfies at Pies n' Thighs

Next: Burger King and Cafetasia in Greenwich

Food and drank.

Ugly nails and a henna.

 Last Day: Waiting for the Subway, loitering about Brooklyn brownstones, and sitting on stoops

OOTD: SUPREME Gingham Button-Up, Levi's Shorts, H&M Tank

And that wraps up my trip! Sorry for the lengthy post, and for being MIA lately. New posts coming soon!

Besitos,
Daysia xx

kickin' it ivy league: photo diary

(I'm alive, I swear. After a long, long hiatus, OOTDs and the like are coming up.)

Last month, I went to Brown University to study public policy at the Brown Summer Leadership Institute. The two weeks I spent there were some of the most enlightening and liberating weeks of my life, and I've decided to share with you all my Providence adventures.

Oops, I totally forgot where I took this photo.

John Carter Brown Library.

The campus is breathtaking. When I first arrived, my travel-weary eyes went wide open--from the old-fashioned brick buildings to the intricately crafted metal gates, I was absolutely enamored. It took a few days for the shock to wear off and for me to realize that I, even if only for two weeks, was really studying at Brown University. 

Doing homework at College Hill Cafe; eyebag game was so strong.

Polaroid of some of my classmates and I.

My class was taught by a professor at Brown's graduate public policy program, and it was one of the smaller classes at the Leadership Institute--including myself, there were 17 eager young leaders studying public policy. To keep it short, we learned about policy analysis and program evaluation, developing "action plans" to improve public policy issues in our communities. As an aspiring political science major, the knowledge I gained was invaluable, even if I constantly stayed up past midnight finishing the thirty-page readings.

View of Downtown Providence from Prospect Park.

Nice Slice Pizzeria, my second home.

Luminaria lanterns at WaterFire Providence.

Sea star (Patrick?) at Narragansett Ba(e)y Aquarium.

Black milk tea via Tealuxe + bulgogi and aloe drink via Mama Kim's food truck.

As packed as my schedule was, in my free time, I was able to explore Providence and discover just how awesome it is. The food is diverse and delicious--I even found some good boba places (which I thought I'd never find on the East Coast), and even though California boba reigns superior, my milk tea cravings were definitely satisfied. Providence itself has such a chill yet thriving culture, and the city emanates both New England charm and urban "artsiness." I felt like I was back home in San Francisco but with far less crowding, a lot more sun, and more of an East Coast vibe.

Impromptu photoshoot at Easton's Beach.

Shameless selfie on the grass near the VDub.

Party at Perkins Hall??

Seaweed, bird poop, and smiles abound at Easton's Beach.

Amigos y amigas!!!

All good things must end; snapchat from my last night at Brown. Prospect Park again.

After two years of monotony in high school, being at Brown was a much needed change of scenery, a headfirst dive into a maelstrom of new experiences: new environment, new subject matter, new people. Because of that, I can honestly say that I left Brown a different person: more informed, more confident, more outgoing--a better leader. I know I sound hyperbolic and overly sentimental, but between questionable dining hall food and cavorting in the Main Green and tiring yet worthwhile leadership workshops and staying up until 4 AM cracking up and eating junk food, what can I say? It. Was. Life-changing.

Until next time,

Dana

candles, cake and creme

Hello folks!

So I know I haven't been posting very frequently lately, and I apologize but I do promise to try post more often! I have two drafts waiting to be edited soon so be on the look out!

So a little update with what's going on with me right now, I don't know if I should post this because it's not quite an enriching piece on any sort of trend but I will anyways. Today is finally my fifteenth birthday! I am of course one of the youngest in my class which is weird to me (but of course not as young as Dana who's birthday is in fact coming up pretty soon *wink*). It was a very eventful day to say the least (I got asked to homecoming which was fun, and I'll be sure to write about dresses as the date comes closer). 

So anyways, getting back to fashion, here's a little quick OOTD for y'all coming to you today on my fifteenth birthday (I'm a child I know). Apologies for the poor iPhone quality.

THRIFTED Crochet Shirt // BRANDY MELVILLE Floral Shorts // ELLE Gladiator Sandals // HANDED DOWN Oversized Grey Cardigan 

besitos,

Daysia

summer daze: on the road pt. 2

It's Dana again, coming to you from Los Angeles. More on that later, though; today, I'll be telling you about the remainder of my New York trip. After camp ended, I stayed for an extra week to do some extra sightseeing and, of course, shopping! Here are some of the highlights:

my "modern art" at coney island // columbus circle // boba via saint's alp teahouse

waiting for the subway // new threads via UO // view of greenwich village at the highline

columbia // nyu // yale

yale rare book library // yale dining hall // all yale errthang

the strand // iced coffee via eataly // pickups via artists&fleas and the strand