take me there :: swakop

Since I’ve been thinking about a year ago lately, I thought I would take you to where I was a year ago :: Swakopmund, Namibia. highly, highly recommend that if you ever get the chance to go, go. it’s this little seaside town that borders the desert with all kinds of random german influences. I laid out on the beach, sipped sundowners while watching the kite boarders in the sunset, went to the local museum, ate camembert and chutney on the patio, watched volleyball games from the picnic tables, sang karaoke with the locals, went four wheeling on the dunes, took springbok shots with the crew, at mexican food and pizza, went sand dune surfing, drank lots of cider, went shopping a lot and took so many pictures. there is so much to do in this little town. it’s simple and the perfect getaway. there were mostly south africans and europeans on vacation there and I would completely and totally go back in a heartbeat. everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I hope I do get to experience it all again one day.

"shining light from our own position may not illuminate 
or conquer the entire world 
but it can be a guiding friend to others in need."

{unknown}

a year ago today

I've been away so long, it seems. it feels so. a lot is happening. changes going on and coming up. and I've been looking back. thinking about how my last year that was. today a year ago I boarded a plane to africa for two months, with some exact plans but not at all planned. advice coming soon :: the things I'd do different and the things I'd keep the same. it was nice to travel solo but it would've been nicer to eventually meet up with someone I knew. someone that knew me. it's great meeting new people but by nature, I'm quiet and shy and somewhat of a homebody... I know, not what most people would think but it's true. maybe we have more in common than you think.  I appreciate my own space. so meeting so many new people, all the while searching for something within myself got a little tiring. I was ready for the unknown but with the familiar by my side. it totally makes sense to me. I love experiencing new things but not always with new people. but I know that's where we get stories and other adventures, so I embrace it. now I'm ready for adventures with people I know. people who know me.

{just a little jet lag on my face but so happy :: looking back, I can see how much I needed this change in my life}

Go Out Into This World and Be Something

~

Do Things That Make You Happy

wild elephants, wild life

Looking back, I almost can't believe this is what I was doing six months ago. I have so many pictures from Africa that I'm sure for months to come - you guys will be seeing random animals and stories popping up here and there.... it was amazing yet still so surreal.

On another note, is it really already October? 

The chill is starting to settle into the city nights. These photos keep me warm inside ::cheesy:: I know.

All photos by me. I've been slowly updating my website with a new layout and new pictures... check them out if you have time... ISLANDIA LANE

"life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

{helen keller}

dinner at sundown

The majority of my days in Africa were spent camping and coming back to NYC for the summer may as well be the same in terms of what you want to wear through the heat. So I'm getting excited about the upcoming fashion season. Dressing up is one thing I definitely missed while away and just adding that touch of glitter to almost everything. Fall in NYC is incredibly fun. Between Fashion Week, the change of seasons and now with Fashion's Night Out; it is great. But then I come across these photos and remember it was worth it to put my normal day to day on hold for a couple months. Fashion can wait sometimes. 

Most of my days in Africa ended around the campfire, sharing stories.

"Success to me is being happy and fulfilled, truly fulfilled, 
and being proud of myself and doing different things all the time."

{leighton meester}

feb to jun :: new things

Back in January, I wrote about doing something new each month vs making a list of random new years resolutions {that rarely get accomplished for most of us}. However, with all these bold plans of the new year that I had/did, I didn't keep up with posting them. But doing new things each month? That I did do. 
Here you go.


February 2012
:: road trip it to Memphis, TN ::

March 2012 
:: volunteer for EHRA in Africa ::

April 2012
:: explore Africa, go to Botswana ::

May 2012
:: go to Cape Town, South Africa ::

June 2012
:: enjoy a jobless summer in the city ::

::your highness::
"I propose a toast ~
let us drink until our asses are drunk."

southern rose

South Africa, May 2012

"love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet."

{katherine lee bates}

roar a little

South Africa

May 2012

This is how I feel about superstitions... 

I know I'm a bag full of cheesy cheetos sometimes but I just couldn't help myself today. I took this photo along the Garden Route in South Africa during my trip. He was just too cute.

Happy Friday the 13th!!

colors of an african sunset

The Himba from Namibia

While in Africa, I had the amazing opportunity to spend an afternoon with the Himba. The majority do not speak English so we had a guide/translator who grew up in the community but had the opportunity to go to school. Within the tribe they choose about five children only within each generation that will have the chance to go to school. Their lives are so far removed from what any typical person could imagine. The experience is hard to put into words really. Although the adults were a bit apprehensive of our presence, the children were beyond elated. We played away the afternoon and the air was filled with excited giggles.

"be good to yourself, be excellent to others 

and do everything with love." 

{john wolf}

looking up and gettin to it

Etosha National Park, Namibia

"well as giraffes say, you don't get no leaves

unless you stick your neck out."

{sid waddell}

everlasting smile

Finally... let's jump into what I've been doing for the past two months. I've been traveling, in Africa. Southern Africa. I started in Namibia with EHRA, a volunteer program that helps elephants and humans live together in harmony. In short, we build walls around the farmer's water pumps and windmills and in exchange the farmers don't want to kill the elephants for damaging their property. Win-Win. It was an experience to say the least. I will get into more details soon but I wanted to share a few photos of the cutest desert elephants ever. Don't you just want to play with them?

Then I stayed and traveled more around Africa. I saw a bit more of Namibia, then into Botswana, Zimbabwe and down to South Africa. So many stories from all the places and the people I met. It was an adventure and an opportunity that I wouldn't change for the world.

"I really think that all relationships that are beautiful and lasting are a struggle. 

I think when things are too easy, it's harder to appreciate the beauty."

{jack white}