Summer sounds so sweet.

Been a while since I've updated - but a lot's happened since my last entry back in April.
Design wise, it's always better to have a visual - so below are some things that I've worked on that have found their way from my mind onto the old blackbook and transferred up on the desktop. As the process always goes. Dream, Design, Detail, and Repeat.

 until then, Aloha.

inFAMOUS

Cole MacGrath from the game inFAMOUS.

up in the air.

Although not entirely design related, I recently went skydiving this past week (3/30/13 to be specific) it was really an amazing experience and can say I fully recommend taking the trip out. Below are a few of my favorite photos from the day.

 until then, Aloha!

January 2013

So I took a trip to Seattle and Vancouver not too long ago (November) and found out more about Bill Reid and some of the Haida Gwaii inspired artwork he's done. Here are two little illustrations I've done in the spirit of how inspired I felt after finding out a little more about the Pacific Northwest.

Christmas 2012

Here's this year's graphic. Have a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

year in review

This year, I kept very busy. Busy is the best word I could use to describe everything that's happened. You'll have to excuse me a bit, I may get a little 'deep' and personal in this post.

The Good:

• I have my family, friends, and health.
• I finally worked at a job for a full year.
• I got to go to New York and Boston, and even New Jersey for a day.
• I got a new job at the doing guest photography at the Dole Plantation, and got promoted.. twice.
• I saw some kick ass concerts with Yellowcard, and Reel Big Fish.
• My friend helped me out with some sweet pins (I still owe you Michelle!!)
• I traveled out to Washington to say what's up to my family and a few friends, and even took a short visit to out to Vancouver.
• I went to the my first NFL game (SEAHAWKS!!)
• I managed to make a short visit to SoCal.
• I met a lot of new people and friends.
• and I got to see a LOT of old friends this year :]
• I've "time traveled"* a lot this year.
• I learned what it felt like to be relaxed.
• and I learned how to let go and move on.

The Bad:

• The job that I had worked in for a full year had to close because their contract was up.
• My heart was broken.
• So was a promise.
• I had to end friendships relationships..twice..
• I lost my Nikon DSLR that had my pics from Washington and Vancouver in them.
• I had my Bank Account hacked and had become the victim of fraud.
• I'm not quite doing Graphic Design as much as I'd like....but that's because i'm being lazy.

(*in the sense that I've had moments that made me feel like a kid again, and across different time zones via literal traveling!)

Reflecting on everything, I think I had a pretty decent year. Sure the bad stuff was pretty strong, but I think a lot of the good really outweighed everything but I learned a lot; the difference between crushes and genuinely liking someone, how to take a hint when people are being really flaky, the kind of people I want to surround myself with in the long run, that if you're ever gonna do anything "just for a girl" it's never going to be worth it, and that when all's said and done and no one's around - the character I possess. Maybe time will heal some wounds, maybe not - who know's, time's never ever really been on my side.. and that's fine. Life's too short to be down for too long. The year's not quite done yet, so here's hoping we can add more (good) to the list!

until then, aloha.

Travel log: West Coast

In a break from what I usually post up, I'm writing something I've had up on my mind since I've returned from my trip that I've just been putting off until now. As most of my friends and family have known I've recently took a trip to Washington that was nothing short of amazing.

Up to now, I never really gave anyone a really detailed reason as to why I did what I did so spontaneously towards the end of the year. I took a trip out to Washington because it was the only U.S. West Coast state I hadn't yet 'conquered'. As some of you may know I had gone to school in Southern California, and saw my sister graduate from Oregon State University and it was actually inevitable that I would go to visit Seattle one day and I thought to myself -  "what better time than the present?" coupled with the fact that I had some money saved up and work at Dole right now is slow made this a no-brainer to 'take a vacation'. Washington had a lot of appeal as well, seeing as I have a good amount of family from my Mom's side as well as a few friends that live out there right now.
Seeing how I had a few connections, I decided to make an adventure out to the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle was such an amazing city, downtown alone reminded me a of a tremendously less busy New York. The vibe was less fast paced but there was so much to see, eat, buy, and document with photography. I took a few photos here and there with the phone and a few on the DSLR but we'll get to the camera fiasco shortly.. The family from my mothers side was very welcoming and felt very natural to be with. Needless to say we really took advantage of happy hour in the time I was there.

I also took a short day trip out to Vancouver B.C. as well and can honestly say Canada warrants more than a day to be out (pronounced "oat") there! On the way back, I had a little mishap on my return to Seattle regarding the fact that I may have been a little suspicious because honestly, who comes to Washington tanned, 'vacationing' from Hawaii, with a rental that has California license plates, and a very unusual name? (and that's just the short version).

As my days in Seattle were wrapping up, I ended up missing my flight back home but through patience and understanding from the SeaTac airport and the lady at the front desk managed to arrange an unexpected trip out to LAX and lost my Nikon DSLR camera! It was either lost, or fell out of my bag clip and never returned. Nonetheless I returned to LA where I met up with some old friends and definitely made the time count.

Long story short: I've done a lot this year. Traveled here and there, lost a job and got a new one, made a few mistakes and messed up a bit with some friends, made some memories, but most importantly, learned how to let go. If things are to work out the way they're supposed to, in time they will.


But don't ever wait. Keep busy! and most importantly, be good. Until then, Aloha.