tough stuff

Do you ever think about how delicate life really is? How many different events have lead up to you being here, right now, at this present moment? What if your parents had never met, or your mom ended up marrying that ex-boyfriend.. What if?

I found out yesterday that one of my favorite teacher's daughter killed herself the other day.. and it came as a huge shock. I cannot fathom what her family is going through or what was going on in her mind. Having been 15 (and God knows we all go through that stage), I can understand how difficult life can be sometimes, especially for a teenage girl. So many things to worry about-- whether it be school, boys, appearance, and all that other non important stuff.. but it was around 15 when my mind started to really expand and I would think about the tough stuff-- the reason for existence and purpose in life, the questions, "Why are we here? Why am I here? What is the point to life?" And those can be some of the scariest questions to ask yourself. Granted, I haven't seen her in a number of years and I don't know if that's what was really going on.. but it hurts my heart to think that she had no more hope in the world and couldn't see the beauty in the life God had given her.

"Doctor: What are you doing here, honey? You're not even old enough to know how bad life gets. 

Cecilia: Obviously, Doctor, you've never been a 13-year-old girl." --The Virgin Suicides

I apologize if that put a damper on anyone's day, but it was consuming my mind yesterday...

And I apologize even more that I'm going to jump into two completely other subjects, not trying to make the above less important.. actually, nevermind. Not apologizing, this is my blog, my thoughts and if others care to indulge in them, then they very well may.

Continuing on

On our last day in Maui we toured one of my favorite parts of town.. I hate using that word, "toured," mainly because I don't like to consider myself a tourist. Hi, I'm not wearing a fanny pack, bumping into everything, losing my way and being obnoxious (or at least I don't think..) I'd like to consider myself more of a "traveler of the world" a nomad of sorts, maybe even a gypsy soul? Ha, yeah, let's go with that. So we didn't actually take a tour, but we shopped around, a lot, and met some of the most interesting people.

There's this huge banyan tree that is the kind of center & heart of the town, Lahaina. Yesterday there was a swap meet going on with all sorts of goodies.. jewelry, paintings, tiki sculptures and ocarinas. 

If you are the cute ocarina playing boy that inconspicuously took a picture of me on his phone.. Please, GET AT ME. I was too shy to actually say hi.

Returning home to California today, not sure how I feel about going back to school at the moment.. Although I am excited to get back to making stuff with my new found inspiration!

 I started working on a ton of shirt designs, am scouting for high waisted jean shorts, and am going to be purchasing a bulk supply of beads/chains.

 TO DO list:

-Make these RunwayDreamz inspired bad boys with Jenna from thefreckledhusky

 -These bracelets with my girl Lexi, check out her brand new blog alwayssprout

-Finish redesigning my room and actually decide on colors.. kind of digging these as wall hangers?

wednes-diy free people

I'm o b s e s s e d with the body chains + harnesses that Ashley of purse 'n boots frequently rocks.. 'cept I'm not spending $150 on one. So, I'm gonna be making my own! 

(pc fashiontoast, pursenboots, planetblue,  freepeople)

If all goes well, I'll end up adding some to my blog shop!

 This post has been all over the place.. ending it on a lighter note, going to go join my fam for Easter breakfast now and then I'm leavin' on a jetplane for the mainland. Goodbye Maui, hello California.

All I can do is look up and say, "thank you."

shaka brah

Imagine laying in the comfiest king size bed, the plush white comforters all rolled around in. The birds are gleefully chirping outside and the waves keep continuously crashing on the shore. The air is humid smells sweet of salt water.. and banana boat tanning lotion.

HELL YEAH, this was my morning..  I'm in MAUI!
(ps. this picture was taken at sunset.. i'm just sayin' my morning was pretty damn incredible)

Before we left on our travels, I had time to finish my crochet shorts. I had seen these in stores and similar ones on fashiontoast & cheyennemeetschanel.. but i wasn't about to fork up $200 to get them at planet blue. So here's the DIY ones I made!

They're even cuter on, and didn't take too long! Unfortunately I had to get out of my PJ's to get more fabric glue, but hey, we all have to make sacrifices. :)

I was in an arts n' crafts mood and had a spare white tee layin' around... so naturally, I tie-dyed and painted. Here's the latest original shirt I whipped out.

While all y'all were at Coachillin (working on a post, collecting pictures from friends currently-- if you've got any feel free to send them on ova!) I've been gathering inspiration for the coming weeks and creating a mood board of sorts. Here are the latest photos/styles/looks I LOVE:

photos from: spell, oraclefox, wildfox

anyone want to claim dibs on this picture? i can't seem to find the source for it 

pc fancy, src783, iloveborntobewild, glitterandpearls, lightnessofbeing **one of my new favorite blogs!, studdedhearts, kustom lookbook


***don't forget to like california closet on facebook! i'm starting to update a lot more on there and post little tidbits of this and that

happiness hit her like a train on a track

Stumbled upon this post on come to our window and I couldn't help but reblog it... everything about it is perfect and leaves me feeling hopeful, enlightened and in a positive mindset. I hope it does the same for you.

DIANE VON FURSTENBURG'S 10 RULES TO LIVE BY

Here they are:

1. Trust yourself. 

“The secret to feeling attractive, and to being attractive, is the confidence that comes from knowing who you are and what you believe in.”

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2. Accept the passage of time. 

 “The older you get, the more you should learn to love life and appreciate the beauty that comes with age.”

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3. Document your days. 

“Carry a camera and create an inspiring visual diary of your life.”

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4. Your suitcase symbolizes your life. 

“The best way to know a woman is to open her luggage. If she knows how to pack well, it means she understands , and cherishes, how to live a simplified life.”

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5. Fashionable friends. 

“Choose fashions that make you happy. I hope the clothes I design will become my clients’ best friends. That way, when they open their closets, they will always encounter someone special.”

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6. Dress your personality. 

“Always choose styles that also accentuate your personality. Don’t use fashion to try and project a different persona. Authenticity is key.”

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7. Use your feminine power. 

“My mother taught me that being a woman is a privilege because the world revolves around us! It is a precious gift, and its power should be used in a subtle and respectful way.”

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8. Your handbag is your guide. 

“Before leaving home, check your agenda and organize your bag according to what you have to do that day. Keeping everything in order makes life easier.”

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9. Indulge yourself. 

“If you are like me, and don’t want to resort to Botox, book regular massages. I’m sure it helps to keep everything firm and in it’s place!”

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10. Lead a balanced life. 

“The best regimen is to keep moving! Never stop working, travelling and seeking adventure. Drink plenty of water, limit alcohol and sugar and get to your yoga class! 

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Oh You Fancy, Huh?

When I grow up I want to be HER.

 

imfancy blog

And In That Moment... We Were Infinite

Looking up at the sky tonight I had a flashback to the night I fell in love with the stars. 

You know that childish wonder and delight that just dances across young faces? At the age of seven, I was consumed by it-- everything I heard was followed by numerous "but why" questions. 

The sky is blue... but why?

The grass is green... but why?

My dad would always do the best he could to answer my never ending spiral of questions, but sometimes, he'd look up in the sky and say "I'm not sure about that, Chels... One day you'll have to ask God."

So I thought, that maybe, just maybe if I looked harder and longer at the stars that somehow God would telepathically send me the answers. And do remember, this is coming from the mind of a seven year old.

Anyways, that summer we were up North visiting my Grandma's house on the lake. One night as we were driving down an overgrown road covered in gravel and brush, she told us to look up, and it was in that moment that I fell in love with the stars. Something about the way they danced and flickered across the sky... it looked as if the milky way was slowly dripping down. And I thought to myself that if I looked or reached or dreamed hard enough, that one day I might be able to catch one. 

I ended up seeing three shooting stars that night.

There are bigger things here than you and me, and you can question them all you want but there are an infinite number of questions and answers to every situation and sometimes you just have to take things as they are. That doesn't mean stop asking questions or curb the curiosity, but keep an open mind and open arms.

Be thankful for the world around you and everything has a reason/purpose for being.

(photos from lundland & planet blue)

And this is what I painted last night..

PS. I'll be announcing the giveaway winner tomorrow. :)