july in instagram

1. arts & crafts with my girls across the street.
2. a bit of cookie patriotism. after frosting our fifth cookie, we got a bit more creative with our decorations: "MLK", "apple pie", "mystery meat", etc.
3. mother fell in love with yet another dog we can't have.
4. some more patriotism, feat. fruit.
5. soaking up some sun while reading a good book.
6. a BIG welcome home to Emma who was on a year long foreign exchange in Italy! check out a blog of her journey: The Italian Experience
7. a welcome to adulthood party with my favorite cookie making bud, celebrated with Indian food and 'walk through the art' outdoor festival in downtown minneapolis.
8. beautiful fireworks over a lake at Whizbang carnival.
9. a week of cat-sitting.
10. pool parties & adorable 10 yr olds.
11. beach day.
12. Vietnamese "pho". {yum x1000} But let's not talk about my chopstick skills, or lack thereof.
13. refer to previous post for details: Palestine
14. reunited with childhood friend Nicki at (probably) my last grad party of the summer.

diy // paper flowers

Fell in love with this diy featured on A Beautiful Mess the other day; they are so dainty and delicate! I'm jumping the gun on dorm decorating here...I still don't find out where and with whom I am living for at least another week. Crossing my fingers for one of the older (but still refurnished) Mount Holyoke dorm halls, though the antiquity and individual beauty is consistent in every one. Waiting so long to find out has been slightly irritating, but it's mostly because I cannot wait to make the space my own! Anyway, enjoy the craft and check back for more--I'm sure I'll continue to update once I'm moved in!

{original}

{my version}

>> placed on one of my handmade crochet doilies<<

Project by: 100 Layer Cake and Heart of Light. Videography: Scott Clark. Video editing: Buckshot Creative

{palestine} the gaza conflict

Though I try and bring light to the many wonders of life on this blog, there are unfortunately things happening in this world that aren't so lovely. Events that cannot be ignored. Today, I am referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the current occupation in the Gaza Strip. This past week I attended a bridge vigil for Palestine and was inspired by the support from non-violence advocates of all ages.

The conflict is no longer about the "religious rights" of Israelis or Arabs--it has transformed into violent racism and terrorism. Neither government wholesomely represents the true sentiments of its general population, and instead they are advocating the hatred and oppression of the other. I do not pretend to know every detail about the current situation in Gaza but I have intensely studied the history of Arab-Israeli tensions (which go back hundreds of years) and do my best to stay updated.

Protests like these are not held to insult either religion or ethnic identity, but rather to bring awareness to the horrific results of the fighting between these two governments: the unnecessary suffering of innocent civilians. 

june in instagram

1. As per tradition, the seniors who have participated in the Cooper Theatre Program paint a brick in the dressing room to leave their legacy. Three artistically inspired hours of painting.
2. Surprise twinning with fourth grade teacher whom I've fondly nicknamed Jo. She's awesome.
3. Mama and I at  Orpheum in downtown Minneapolis to see "GHOST", the musical. Front & center balcony seats = great. Show = dreadful. I do not recommend. 
4. Sleepover with Camille. Lavender cupcakes + a honey & cream cheese frosting. Love spending time with her and her family, for not only are they lovely people, but I get a chance to be immersed in a bit of French-American culture. For breakfast, Camille's maman made delicious crêpes which we topped with Nutella and fresh framboises. 
5. Brother and I visiting godmother Teri + her adorable Shiba Inu, Sukha at her new flat in downtown St. Paul. Though everything is flooded after these torrential downpours, the skyline is still gorgeous.
6. Dinner at Snuffy's Malt Shop, only the best 50's themed restaurant ever, with Grams and brother. Yum.
7. Throwback to my graduation party and a happy birthday/father's day to my awesome dad, who put in so much effort into the party!
8. Outer gardens of The St. Paul Hotel, definitely one of if not the most beautiful and historic lodging quarters in Minnesota. With Grams for scholarship reception ceremony & luncheon provided by Comcast. President Obama definitely arrived in the area an hour after we left.
9. "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" at New Century Theatre on Hennipen. Cheap student rush. Totally worth it. Absolutely phenomenal.

This awesome idea of summarizing my month via my Instagram feed came from Nikki at Dream in Neon. 
You can follow my instagram at soniamo.

Thanks for reading! ~Sonia

marjon // senior

Say hello to Marjon! I recently had my first official senior portrait session with my cousin Marjon at Purgatory Park in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Though we trudged through swamp flooded trails filled with thousands of squirming tadpoles and ended up at least three miles away from the car, every sticky, itchy moment in the great outdoors was worth it--cause these photos turned out beautifully. 

I do not promote myself as a private business, but I do truly love photography. If you enjoyed these senior portraits and are looking to have your photos taken for a reasonable, low cost price, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at soni.mo250@gmail.com or visit "Finding the Lovely" on Facebook.

meet claire

Last week I had a fabulous evening catching up with my beautiful friend Claire. After coffee and a movie, we went for a walk through the nearby nature center and I snapped some pictures of her before the sun set. Isn't she stunning?!

time for a change // welcome to Finding the Lovely

The new blog is finally here! Rather than starting completely from scratch, I've decided to give a new name and a new face to my old blog "Write. Sing. Coffee."
The title Finding the Lovely embodies everything I want to blog about and I thought it was time for a change as I embark on this new path in my life: COLLEGE. This fall, I will be starting my post-secondary education at Mount Holyoke in South Hadley, Massachusetts. I can't wait! Filled with some of the most intelligent & fierce females I have ever encountered (yes, it's an all girls college), I know I will make wonderful memories and long lasting friendships. The staff is renowned and the campus is absolutely breathtaking.
With reference to blogging, I want this space to be a place where I can not only update family and friends on my life out east, but track all of the beautiful people I meet and insightful adventures I have on this journey. Wish me luck and keep reading!

crochet // DIY

One of my all time favorite things to do is to crochet while watching some Downton Abbey. I taught myself how to do a few basic stitches a few years back with a learner's guide I found at the local thrift store, but I decided it was time to pick it up again and re-spark that creative outlet. It's amazing how much one can find on Youtube, Pinterest and other blogs! The photos below feature a few of my most recent projects: coffee cozies, coasters, scarves, flower embellishments, and pyramid berets.
I'm working my way up to being able to read patterns; it takes a bit of translating to understand the abbreviations and lingo used by experienced crocheters. Though the visual videos are useful and make the projects much easier to create, there just aren't videos made for all of the creative stitches and designs that are out there. These projects make wonderful gifts, especially during the holiday season.
I've also embedded the YouTube videos I used to make these crafts; they are great for beginners, so feel free to try them yourself!