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I should probably be apologize for my prolonged absence from blogging but I've decided that I won't. Not because I want to deny you readers content, but more because as the writer, I needed to sort things out, and think about the direction I actually want this blog to take.
The identity and ideas that this blog was born from didn't seem to fit quite who I am anymore (a lot has changed in the past two years!) so I needed time to refresh myself and think about how I can transform this into something wholly meaningful for readers and for myself.
Maybe it's because today is a rainy day, my favorite, and I find them to be the best days for reflection that I can adapt my findings into coherent sentences, but I finally figured out just what it is that's been missing from here, the thing that would make it feel one hundred percent mine.
Though I started this ultimately as spillover space for my mind, it was focused on fashion, a subject I loved but that most people around me were not willing to talk about simply because they were not as interested in the field as I am. I say "am" because I'm still intrigued by fashion, and think, when done right, it is still one of the most beautiful art forms, yet if I said it was my passion, at least at this moment in time I would be half-lying. This is because the truth is that all art is my passion. All forms of self-expression, whether that be fashion, painting, poetry or film for example, are my passions. In the end, what moves me the most are people; I live to understand them and want to know how and why people do the things they do. Art is just my method of processing.
That is why I needed to change the direction of this blog, because at its core it is for me and of me, as much a reflection of myself as it is an observation and analysis of the world around me, and from this moment on I won't be leaving out any parts of myself.
So, I guess what I'm really trying to say is that this is now a mixed bag. Expect everything, and anything, I can't promise what will interest me or move me on any given day, but I can promise that anything on here from here on out will be honest and true and human.

Thank you.

france two

This post is entitled France two, though if you are not a consistent reader of this blog you may be confused as upon scrolling down it appears that there is no France one. There was a France one but because I'm challenged in the area of technology upon trying to edit said post (specifically centering and lining up all the photos which I don't understand why they don't do automatically for you) I ended up somehow deleting the whole thing. I got over it but trust me, in the moment I wanted to throw the nearest unbreakable object against a wall.
Anyways, this is the second collection of photos of France from my trip (I still have two more weeks here!) with photos from a melange of places. After my stay in Paris I lived with my aunt for a few days in which we traveled to Normandy and then I took the TGV down to Provence where I'm now staying with my family. Sorry for the sporadic posting!

1. stormy skies over Provence
2. Roman arena in Nimes
3. beach in Normandy

google reader

moi wearing shoes made for serious business

So you all probably know that google reader shut down yesterday. This means it's a perfect new chance for me to insert a shameless plug about how you should follow me on bloglovin'! If you do, you're in for a treat, especially because I am leaving to study abroad in Paris in five days. Knowing myself, I'll probably be documenting every moment either photographically and in my notebook (which most of the time gets transferred to this here blog) so you should be looking forward to that.
Anyways, I'm off to start packing for now but just wanted to say hi.

the solution

This is so fitting for me you have absolutely no idea. I'm probably one of the most flagrant procrastinators you will ever meet (I know,  everyone says they are a procrastinator, I promise you I'm a real one, a real bad one). Anyways, I stumbled upon this video on Nowness and though the school year is over, I will definitely be putting this tactic to use next year. Or maybe even for that Environmental Science summer assignment....

update

     Among other things (and there are many things) I have revamped my tumblr. It is now super snazzy and fancy and in general different. It may seem like a small change, but as today was my last day of exams and summer has officially begun, something new and refreshing was needed. On a whole, my preferred aesthetic is changing again, I feel as though I've been backing away from the stark minimalism I previously craved and have jumped on to something warmer. I'm not quite sure what to call it, but it's more organic and soft, I can tell you that much. 

     Though this is not on the scale of an aesthetic identity crisis, only because it is not a real crisis, at the same time just be prepared the content and/or format of this blog may be transforming. Not for better or for worse, be reassured. 

     Anyways, thought I'd just let you know what's happening in my sphere, I hope you are all having lovely summers so far! 

ps- Exactly 18 days until I leave for Paris!

pps- The above photo is of a drawing I did called "Sky Wheel".

pluie

Today it was pouring rain. Despite the fact that those rain clouds engaged in what some might call dreary weather, 60 degrees and raining is by far my favorite climate. Rain is refreshing, not a downer, the ultimate cleanser, really. I know I'm a hopeless romantic when it comes to nature but I swear my mental capacity (and just general capacity to get crap done) soars when it rains. Energizing I tell you. Anyways, I'm in the midst of final exams week woo woo so basically I'm having a fantastic time. I hope your week is more fun and spontaneous and magical than mine will be. Don't forget to enjoy the rain and follow my instagram (@shmurphs) and this blog on bloglovin' since you love me yes right of course. 

ps-there is something wrong with the quality of the pictures but I can't figure out how to fix it for the life of me so just IMAGINE VIBRANT COLORS.

habitat

At my school, the kids who take photography class have to do a project every year requiring them to photograph a person in their natural habitat or surroundings. Despite the fact that I normally find school art projects rather draining and creativity-zapping (aka there are only so many times you can draw a still life comprised of dusty metal objects) I've always thought that it would be an interesting idea for a personal project outside of school, since I don't take photography (I take drawing and painting and videography). There may be more of these to come, there may not, but to put it simply, this is yours truly in one of my habitats. I have many.