Favorite thing #35: Smell after it rains.

The best things in life are the unexpected. The last minute leap off the bridge, clasping the rock, climbing up, for the best view of your life.

We must not fear the jump, but go with open arms.

I swear the view is worth it.

I can't get it off my mind.

Olympus.

If Any of you really follow my blog you may remember my post about my Olympus shoot in Okinawa. If not feel free to check it out, it's down there somewhere.

Anywho I remembered they said the photos would be released in October so I decided to do some good ol' google snooping. And after three days of search, I hit the Jackpot. I found a lot of the photos along with a video that was made about the shoot. Which by the way I had no idea was being filmed. I saw the guy on the side with a camera but I thought he was taking photos too. Who knew? Needless to say I was very excited to find all of these things. You could say there was a bit of a happy dance...

Looking at them made me miss Japan a lot and the wonderful experiences I had. The video brought me back to the wonderful memories. It was like I was right back in the water, swimming around during the shots because I was so happy to finally be swimming again. It was very odd not spending the summer at the beach in Canada like I usually do. But I wouldn't change one thing that happened this summer. I have grown and learnt a lot about myself. The video will something that will always be very special to me. So I thought I would share these wonderful memories with whom ever may fall upon this little blog of mine. Enjoy!

Ky.xo

The Plan

A Plan.

I have always been a planner. I over analyze everything. Research things to the bitter end. The one thing that seems to be ever changing is my plan after High School. At first my dream was broadcast journalism. Which would still be amazing, but it's not my passion. I have always said I want a job that I get excited to wake up for. Which is why I look so deeply into these things.

Thanks to modeling I have fallen head over heels with fashion. I spend hours looking up designs and editorials. As much as I still have a lot to learn I feel as though it's something I understand and am willing to learn about.

That was change one.

But of course my true desire is in modeling.

I can not explain my love for it. And I plan to drag it out to the bitter end (which hopefully there is none)

But I have always said I will have a back up plan. Get a degree at least, so that I have something to stand on.

While in Japan I decided if modeling is my thing, I may as well take a year off and do it while I can.

That was change 2

And probably one of the best ones, I'm very glad I decided to. So I was going to travel as much as I could with modeling.

Alright that sounds good.

But now, while I'm in my final year of high school I've been wanting a car. Obviously the normal adolescent wanting freedom. First I need a job ...I'm working on it. But today it hit me.

I will never save a penny if I do that. First I'll have to pay off the car to my mom who would loan me the money, then insurance, then gas, then repairs. It will never end.

I realized today that I don't want to sit in Duncan waiting to travel. I now plan to move to Vancouver mid-summer.

If I were to get a car, I could never save in order to move to Vancouver.

There's no way.

So I have decided, no car for Kyla.

We have two, only one on the road right now but the second will be in February so I can drive it when ever, for now my friends can deal with me bumming rides. (Love you guys) And I am starting a "moving to van" fund, once I pay off my trip to Greece this spring break.

I couldn't be happier with my decision, discoveries and my over all plan.

Change is good, be open to it.

Ky.xo

ps. Once again image taken by Jonathan Bell.

Tension

Things have been slowing down for this child. Well, modeling wise. Life wise things are non-stop. Between school, job hunting, friends, dance, guitar and what ever else I hardly find time to rest. But I have no complaints. I prefer to keep busy and honestly, I have felt very positive lately. I have really come to realize the thick skin Japan made me grow. And I like it. A lot. It may help that I'm now in Grade 12 and don't really have anyone to look up to. Who knows? Either way I like it.

I shot the Spring 2011 Tension Catalog and well, to be honest, I didn't really want to. This would be my forth time working for them and I never like the hair and make-up or the styling and really only a few times have I liked the end result too. But it's one of the only local jobs I get paid for. No, to me modeling isn't about the money but I am unemployed so if I can find random modeling jobs that pay why wouldn't I? Plus it is tear sheets. Anywho, it was a long day. I had to get up at 4:30 to catch the ferry to Vancouver, shoot over 20 different looks. It was exhausting! Then travel home and go to school the following morning.

The people I worked for are always nice, so I wouldn't say I regret doing it, but at the time I was kind of thinking man, if I was in Japan I'd be getting a lot more for this. No I'm not greedy but it's hard when you go from one extreme to another.

But it's over with, I'm now caught up again in my classes and things are going well.

I hope to keep all my posts this fairly optimistic.

'til then.

Ky.xo

Ps. The photo is from a recent shoot I did with Jonathan Bell.