To the Best Year Yet.

I originally started this post intending to do another "Looking Back: Twelve Outfits for 2012" just as I did here for 2011. But, after going through my posts trying to compile a list, I realized it really couldn't be done. Because, 2012 has been so. much. more. than just a collection of outfits. However, for the sake of walking down memory lane...here's a collection of my favorite posts of the year!

{A love for polka dots}

{Weekend in Topanga Canyon}

{Falling for LA}

{Adventures in Seattle}

{An afternoon in Larchmont}

{20 Days of Summer}

{Date Night}

{Romance in Rome}

{Moving to Cork}

{Irish Coastlines}

{Exploring Inisheer}

{A day at the Louvre}

{Parisian Fall}

{Victoria Street}

{Wandering in Munich}

To put it simply, this year has been one for the books. Looking back, I can't believe all the wonderful opportunities I have had this year and how much I have learned in these twelve short months. When it comes to years, I tend to organize my memories by school year rather than calendar year. So, as I was going through old photos, I was surprised when I realized that both my trips to Seattle and New York happened in 2012 as well. I don't really know how else to say it...but normally my life is not. this. exciting. Before this year, I had only been on a plane once when I was in sixth grade. I had always liked the idea of traveling, but it wasn't until this year that my love for traveling truly became a reality. The past four months I spent abroad were amazing, and almost feel like a dream now that I am home.

A part of me just wants to write a really long list of all the notable things that happened to me in 2012...but I'm pretty sure no one (including myself) would really want to read it. Mostly, I'm just trying to put into words how blessed I feel and how much I don't want this feeling to end. The truth is, while I am excited to go back to LA for winter quarter and move into my new apartment with my best friends, I am anxious for what the next year has in store. I don't do well with change, so I know these next few weeks (or months) may not be the easiest for me. Nevertheless, I am ready for the adventure and want to make the most of my last year and a half in college.

So...here's to 2013. I really don't know what this year will bring, but all I can hope is that it brings me just as much joy as 2012—even if it may come in a slightly different form.

Happy New Year!

Christmastime in Heidelberg

After leaving Munich, Andrew and I took a train to the charming city of Heidelberg. We arrived just in time for the start of their Weihnachtsmarkt, a Christmas market that was set up all around the city. Andrew and I absolutely loved hanging around the Weihnachtsmarkt. When we weren't sightseeing, we sat around for hours drinking Glühwein, talking, and people watching. The great thing was, even though these Christmas markets were just small carnivals, everyone in the city was there! Heidelberg is a university town, so the markets were filled with college students and the bars were almost empty while the markets were open! It was great to experience the sense of community that existed in Heidelberg—a sense of community I wish existed back in LA.

For my outfit, I decided to wear one of my favorite sweater dresses. Looking back, I realize I styled it with the exact same scarf I had worn last time! But, I think my orange beanie and light boots gave it a bit of a different look. Ever since I bought this beanie last winter, I have struggled with styling it (I also never really felt like I was hipster enough to pull it off...). However, it was perfect for the chilly days in Germany and I thought it made me look a little more "European" :) One of my favorite parts of traveling is experimenting with new styles I normally wouldn't try back home. There is something about being in a new place that makes me feel like I can really wear whatever I want!

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Outfit Details:
Sweater Dress—Nordstrom BP (similar // remixed) | Scarf—vintage | Beanie—Anthropologie
Cardigan—H&M (similar) | Boots—Anthropologie (similar) | Bag—Fossil (shop)

A Day in Munich

For a long weekend, Andrew and I decided to take a trip to Germany. We flew out early Wednesday morning and intended on having two full days in Munich. However, due to a number of unforeseen travel delays (and the satellite Munich airport being very far away from the actual city) we didn't get into Munich until late at night. So, we wound up only having one day to explore the city.

We decided to make the most of our one day in the city by getting an early start the next morning. Our first stop was Nymphenburg Palace, which had amazing grounds with forest paths and little creeks throughout. Almost no one else was at the palace since it was so gloomy and rainy, so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. It's hard to describe, but I just had a wonderful sense of calm the whole time we were there. One of my all time favorite moments from my whole trip abroad was walking through the forest with Andrew.

Next, we headed to the Englischer Garten—a central park in Munich—hoping to visit one of its many beer gardens. Unfortunatley, none of the beer gardens were open since it was rainy (and probably off season) so we just walked around some more (we did a lot of walking that day...). Finally, we headed over to the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl for some litres of beer and hearty food. It happened to be Thanksgiving Day back home, so we made sure to give thanks and stuff our faces :) Even though were were thousands of miles away from home, it was great to have one another and spend the holiday in such a cool city!