Quarry Lakes

If you're ever looking for a nice place to enjoy a picnic, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, or even wildlife viewing, then Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation area is your best bet.  Quarry Lakes incorporates the historic boundaries of two Mexican ranchos and the former Mission San Jose lands. Alameda Creek was the original boundary between Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties. Alameda County was carved out of these two counties in 1853 and was named after the creek that drains it. 
Z and I took the pig pug out here for a nice walk along the water-bank. Finnegan has this funny tendency to walk only in the shade when he is getting hot and/or tired. As you can see below, he tried to walk only in the shadows of the trees that we passed by. When we stopped to give him a little break, he seemed to enjoy the scenic view (and was probably thinking that his owners were pug abusers for making him walk more than the distance from his bed to his own food & water bowls back home).

Homeroom

Z and I decided to explore the other side of the bay and check out some places we've been wanting to try. Just traveling to the East bay, it was automatically 10 degrees warmer and sunny compared to the fog-engulfed San Francisco. I was reminded that it was actually summer! The first stop on our list was to check out Homeroom on 40th street for their delicious varieties of Mac n' Cheese dishes.You can't go wrong with noodles and cheese! Zane decided to try their "Macximus" (Greek style mac with artichoke hearts, spinach, shallots, and feta) and I chose the "Mexican Mac" (Niman ranch chorizo, chipotle peppers, jack cheese, cilantro, bread crumbs with a wedge of lime). Everything was so good. Mac n' cheese is definitely one of those dishes that I could eat again and again...if only it did not go straight to my thighs. After lunch, we walked next door to 1-2-3-4 Go Records! and perused the selection of vinyl. I bought a Bel Biv DeVoe cassette tape for $1 and some Useless Eaters records. Afterwards, we wanted to try Doughnut Dolly, but they were sold out! We ended up visiting some thrift stores in the area and then headed over to College Ave, so I could cry over all the pretty little vintage clothes and shoes at Pretty Penny. 

Outfit Details:

Striped Crop Top // Forever 21

Black high waisted skirt // Thrifted

Cinnamon Cardigan (not pictured) // Clothing by the Pound

Sam Edelman Boots 

Later in the evening, we came home to this lazy pug lounging on the couch. He had managed to wrap himself up in the blanket and did not move at all. He did not seem to care that we were home since we are so bothersome to him and just disturb his restful slumber. 

Hope you all have a nice weekend! I start my volunteering at a local hospital and rehabilitation center tomorrow and I can't wait to start helping the residents there!

Days of Being Wild

Z and I recently watched "Days of Being Wild" by Wong Kar Wai. Wong Kar-Wai's feature is a brilliant dream of Hong Kong life in 1960. The film evolves around the life of a young, boyishly handsome Yuddy (Leslie Cheung), who drifts through a series of casual friendships and uncommitted affairs, unconsciously pining for a relationship with his mother, who has started a new life in Manila. He finally takes off for the Philippines, where he sets himself up for the ultimate fall. The terrific, all-star cast enacts this as a series of emotionally unresolved encounters; the creative and beautiful camera work and design work takes its hallucinatory tone from the protagonist's own uncertainties. 

I was particularly fascinated with the 1960's fashion itself--the use of muted floral, plaids, and tropical prints (often mixed together) to depict the Hong Kong summer of hot humidity, sudden unpredictable down pours, and low breeze. I wanted to raid the wardrobes of all the women in the film! I know if it were me living in a hot humid place, my make-up would be smeared and running all over the place, but here these ladies are looking composed and cool. 

One of my favorite lines from the movie is from Yuddy who says:

“I’ve heard that there’s a kind of bird without legs that can only fly and fly,

and sleep in the wind when it is tired.

The bird only lands once in its life.  That’s when it dies.”

I would definitely recommend checking this movie and Wong Kar Wai's other movies out.

Grant & Stockton

I usually try to stay away from the tourist area of Grant Avenue and Stockton Street (aka Chinatown) because it can be difficult to walk around since there are always a bunch of tourists taking photos and visiting the little shops that line up the entire street. For some reason, Z and I decided to check it out and play tourists for the day.  One of our favorite bars, Li Po Lounge, has the best Mai Tai's around and the strongest Chinese whiskey you will find in the city. Have a couple here and you probably won't remember the rest of the night. I definitely recommend chatting up the cute little elderly husband and wife that own the bar. They might add an extra cherry or two to your drink if you're nice.
Z thought that his outfit was extra snazzy that day, so I took some photos to document what he was wearing. He, like me, also did not know how to pose and felt awkward. We are basically the same person. I kid you not, but we also happen to have the same birthday. CRAZY.

At the end of the evening, we stopped and got some coffee on Market street before taking BART back home. Sometimes it's fun to play tourist in the city that you are in because it makes you appreciate where you live.

Outfit Details:

Tan Pea Coat // Forever 21

Stripped Blouse // Vintage
Assorted Rings // Vintage & Forever 21