Sarah Dairiki

A few days ago, I moved into my dorm room at the college I will be attending for the next four years. I had been anticipating this exact moment since I was a freshman in high school, and to have already gotten to this day is a dream. The time has gone so fast, and it seems like only yesterday I was starting my first day of high school. Now I am starting my first year at college.  Although I am only an hour away from home, I still feel like I am starting an entirely new life in a new location. Even though I do have friends from my high school who are also attending the same college as I am, I need to be social, make new friends, and become more outgoing. Move in day was very nerve wracking for me as well. I was the last one to move into my dorm room, and the unpacking process was not fun. Being surrounded by boxes upon boxes of clothes, room decorations, bedding, etc. does make you feel overwhelmed. However, having my parents there to help me along with my roommates made the whol...

In June, I went to the Allied Arts Guild with my cousin. A small complex featuring a cute little restaurant along with art studios and a beautiful garden to welcome you in, is unique in its own way. The perfect place to hold weddings because of its beautiful scenery, the Allied Arts Guild is worth a visit. The art shops featured here are completely unique in their own way, the shops ranging from professional paintings and photographs to handmade jewelry and vintage products. The gardens also are eye catching, and provide the best place to take pictures.  Overall, the Allied Arts Guild is definitely worth visiting if you live in the Bay Area. The shops and products on display are unlike any other, and the gardens and rows of flowers and nature are just admirable. And, if you do end up visiting, don't forget to soak in the beauty of the place, and take pictures!

Backyard Bowls, a little eatery located in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara is hot and trending right now, with its popular acai bowls bringing new and returning customers to its store. I recently discovered Backyard Bowls on my road trip to Santa Barbara with my parents. One of my friends who I am going to college with lives in Santa Barbara, and I distinctly remember him mentioning going to Backyard Bowls with his family as well. Luckily, the hotel that I stayed at in Santa Barbara, the Best Western plus Pepper Tree Inn, was right across from La Cumbre Plaza, where Backyard Bowls is located, thus making the access to the eatery very simple. I remember waking up in my hotel room to my parents telling me to get up because we were going to Backyard Bowls for breakfast. Hearing the name of the restaurant sparked the memory of my friend telling me that Backyard Bowls was delicious, thus making it easier for me to get out of bed and ready for the trek to the store. Once at Backyard Bowls,...