baumwolle baum

Basic Necessities

2012-02-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Did bits of shopping with Milan last week. Here are a couple of things I managed to find ! I plan to wear these when I'm studying in Europe during the super super cold winter!! Urban Outfitters was having a 30% off sale so I scored some good, basic items for my future winter wardrobe. Planning ahead (even if it's over one year) can never be enough! It's good that all the winter items are on sale right now too :)

Extra large, soft, comfy, and fluffy infinity scarves from Urban Outfitters!

Cute beanies!! The left one is a really nice dusty pink. The photo makes it look a cream color.

An oversized tank that's perfect for layering.

Milan is HERE!

2012-02-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend finally arrived in California all the way from Germany.. this means blogging will only happen when I can squeeze in a couple minutes. He is here for the next 3 weeks.

Valentine's Day

2012-02-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

Valentine goodies from my mama

Cute pandas printed on the cookies!

roses from my godmother

Went on a Valentine's date with my best friend

arm candy for the night

We went to a local brew house

Arugula, fig, truffle oil pizza. so good!

Outfit Updates

2012-02-12T22:01:00.000-08:00

Wearing: Hurley black maxi dress, Banana Republic cardigan, straw hat from Japan, gifted watch

Wearing: purple Wax skinny jeans, low cut booties from Target, Brandy Melville bandeau bra, Brandy Melville top, Brandy Melville necklace

Wearing: H&M dress, Calvin Klein tights, Nine West low heeled brown oxfords

Pardon my messy room, dirty mirror. Tomorrow is clean up day!

First Valentine

2012-02-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

My first itty bitty valentine gift! the frog clip is so cute.

FINALLY!!

2012-02-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

These were my best friends for the past three weeks.. we had a love hate relationship...

I apologize for the lack of updates -- I've just been busy studying for some entrance exams (equivalent to the GRE test) for grad school. Sometimes it is so hard to balance life, work, studying, sleeping and also eating ;) But today is TEST day !

Progress so far --

1. I have been officially accepted into one Master's program, which is called the IECL program at University of Potsdam

2. I was preliminarily accepted into the EMCL program also at University of Potsdam -- I will hear more from them in April, but this is also good news and my number 1 choice !

3. I passed the first round for the Neuroscience programs at Univeristy of Goettingen and University of Tuebingen. Second round is taking their test, which is what I have been studying for and will take place today!

4. I have not heard from Uni of Regensburg yet.

Anyways, give me air kisses and wish me lots of luck !

Foodies

2012-01-22T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a bunch of snaps from yummy foodies I ate this past week while going out with friends. Needless to say, I am in dire need to hit the gym! I just came back from a 3 mile run (I cheated and walked one mile of it) and am ready to get back in shape!

Delicious salad that was probably not as healthy as it should be.

My weakness: Sweet Potato Fries!

Coffee with butter toffee

Froyo -- cake batter & funfetti flavors with fresh strawberries, blueberries and almonds

A new local Ale House opened up by us and we had to check it out. They serve local beers! This one is actually a Hefeweizen and the little shot is not alcohol, it's Coca Cola! You mix it together and the Germans call it Krefelder. Seriously DELICIOUS, no joke! They also do other weird things like mix Sprite or Fanta with their beer. I've had the one with Sprite and that one is also good !

Their menu sported a whole section of different types of Mac n Cheese!!! I know I am lactose intolerant, but I seriously could not resist. Mine was with truffle oil, pulled pork, parsley and grilled onions...yummmmy!

Mein Frühstück

2012-01-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

Das ist mein Frühstück! Normalerweiser esse ich Brot mit Leberwurst/Braunschweiger und schwarzer Tee. Ich habe das Brot gestern gemacht. Es ist ein Honig Weizen Brot.

Okay, that is the extent of my German knowledge. Still learning!!

EDIT - So Milan corrected my German and let's just say I have alot of improving to do.

Finnish Goodies

2012-01-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

Some yummy goodies from my two favorite girls in Finland, Hanna & Milla <3

Sunday Morning

2012-01-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wearing: Old Navy button down top, F21 jeans, Kimchi & Blue heels, Brandy Melville Necklace

I wore this to church this morning. I always feel so awkward taking photos of myself, but I'd feel even more awkward if Milan took photos of me while I pose. The shirt is a bit large, so I left the bottom buttons unbuttoned and tied them at the waist. I'm also wearing blue jeans! It's probably been a couple years since I've worn blue jeans.. but it's a new year and I need to expand my wardrobe!

Black Beauty

2012-01-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

Kimchi and Blue black heels <3

Say hello to my new babies!! I've been lusting after these shoes for weeks because they would seriously complete me. I've been in dire need of simple black heels, kind of like how every girl needs a LBD (little black dress). I was ready to spend the full amount on these when my best friend and I sauntered into Urban Outfitters last friday, but at the check-out I found out they were on sale! I told my sister about this and she bought them in black and also the ones in red.

Brandy Melville

2012-01-14T21:15:00.000-08:00

I saw this store when I was in Santa Monica and absolutely fell in love!! I wanted everything! My best friend also discovered this store when she went to New York for New Year's and also fell in love with it....to the point where she bought me gifts from there! She is the best.

This over-the-shoulder purse has removable straps and can be folded over into a cute clutch!

Lacy bandeau I've always wanted and a pretty light purple top. One thing about the store is that some of their clothes come in one size and the top is too big on me, but I love it loose anyway!

Beautiful necklaces! The white necklace has little coin charms.

three different bracelets that are fun to wrap around your wrist and also combine with other bracelets.

Here is a link to their site: http://brandymelvilleusa.com/shop

Sooo cute!

Outfits

2012-01-12T19:08:00.000-08:00

Helloo, here are a few random outfits that I managed to take. The white jeans are my new favorite. One thing about me is that I never ever wear jeans because I don't like how I look in them. I've always wanted a pair of white jeans and I found these babies at a thrift shop of all places! I grabbed them from the rack on impulse and headed straight to the fitting room. It was like a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants moment. Before I put them on I knew they would fit me perfectly, especially the length! Don't get me started on length. I'm so short ! Pants never fit me. Needless to say, I fell in love and bought them for only $6 :)

Pardon my messy room in the background!

You can kind of tell at what time of the day I take the photos.

I love my wrap/shawl ! I was feeling extremely sick the day I wore this outfit and wanted only comfy clothes.

I have a love/hate relationship with these shoes. Clogs are the death of me because they're so beautiful and ugly at the same time. These babies are hard to walk in because there is no grip on the bottom, but I love how they look. I bought them in Las Vegas at Forever 21 over the summer, so there is emotions attached to it !

Nail colors I got over the weekend.

a random photo of my tiny, but comfy bed.

Belated gifts & mehr

2012-01-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

I received some gifts in the mail ! I love it when I get packages in the mail, it's just so exciting and makes my day. The two gifts are from my best friend Jenni who lives in Germany and my other best friend Su who lives in South Korea. They are very dear to my heart.

My favorite photo of all three of us (Me, Jenni & Lavinna)

Jenni sent this package for Lavinna and me and she filled it with gummi bears, tea, and schokie (chocolate)..the best combination of guilty pleasure foodies.

Some holiday style coffees we purchased over the holidays. Starbucks was having their BOGO free coffee and I snagged the last two espresso blends! So happy. I brewed the Marzipan coffee from World Market this morning and all I have to say is that it is simply divine. The Jim's Holiday blend I bought from Sprouts because it's my dad's name and I attached some sort of sentimental value to it...but that one is also delicious.

These are the gifts from Su! Korean packaging is soo cute! The Hello Kitty stickers on the left are actually stickers for your computer keyboard ! There are also three face masks that I'm so excited to try out, a Christmas style nail polish, and a a blueberry yogurt thing I'm still trying to figure out what it actually is haha. I need to message her and find out.

I went to Barnes & Noble the other day for a new planner because my old one ran out. I cannot leave the house without my planner -- it's like leaving the house without my cell phone. I live religiously by it ! I wanted a bigger one, but I guess this one will do. I also bought a German dictionary (finally!!!) -- and also got to use my B&N member card my sister gave me for my birthday last year.

Warm Day

2012-01-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year ! Frohe Neues Jahr !

The weather has been unusually deliciously warm. I took out some summer clothes I forgot I had ! Also wearing new white Converse sneakers my mom bought me for Christmas. I finally got them!

Petroglyph tee from PacSun, white American Eagle shorts, white Converse sneakers

p.s. not sure if you noticed, but I cut my hair! My sister cut off about 7 inches.

TRAVEL: Santa Monica & Laguna Beach

2011-12-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

A new restaurant in Laguna Beach called Asada.

My food!! Halibut fish tacos

My mom and I...in matching desert boots :)

Santa Monica Promenade outdoor mall..I love the lights!

Late at night + no people = shameless photo opportunity <3

Christmas Gets

2011-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Merry late Christmas! I hope everyone had a fun Christmas!! Sorry I have not updated -- Life has been so yummy lately with all the family and food.. and also work. Here's photos of gifts I received.

Christmas stocking gifts from Santa ;)

Ralph Lauren pajamas that I'm actually wearing right now! Super soft !

They're glittery!! I love shiny :)

Can't wait to use this!

Finally got the Naked Palette !!! so excited!

My first ever maxi skirt ..! For once it was not too long. One of the many downsides of being short.

Larger than life cuddly teddy ! It's huge and takes up all the room on my tiny bed.

I hope everyone has a good new year!

Quiet Night In

2011-12-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

Today wasn't the best of my days. After work I tried to cheer myself up with some retail therapy with my sisters -- this time to my favorite thrift shop I used to frequent on a weekly basis. I was in no mood for clothes so I browsed the book section instead.

I currently have the house all to myself and usually I don't like this -- I love the hustle and bustle of my home, but at this moment it's actually quite soothing to not hear noise for once. Now I'm enjoying a fruit bowl, hot vanilla chamomile tea and watching my guilty pleasure: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Quite nerdy, but proud of it.

Snagged this copy of Anna Karenina at the thrift shop -- I've always wanted to read it.

Christmas gift from my boss.

What I wore today.

Presents for my family

Our Christmas tree decked out in only gold, red, white and silver :)

Let's Travel the World

2011-12-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

This was part of my St. Nicholas Day present from Milan.. a world map! It was a surprise when I got a 3 foot pyramid shaped box delivered to me! He also sent me colored circle labels to color code places we've been to together and places we want to go to.

Funny story: I was going to send Milan the same thing as part of his Christmas gift! I was going to make it out of cork and use DIY flag pins instead, but so weird/funny how we both thought of the same idea!

He should feel honored since I refuse to clutter my walls with posters/pictures. This is the first time in decades (can I say that?) that I've had a poster-type thing on my walls.

Red = places we've been, Green = places we want to go to.

Merry & Bright

2011-12-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

I've had a slight obsession with neutral colors -- mostly beige, browns, cream colors and when I saw this cardigan at a thrift shop in Carlsbad, I could not pass it up! I wouldn't normally spend this much on a thrifted item ($15), but I figured I wouldn't find anything like this cheaper, even from Forever 21. I don't have much sparkly in my wardrobe, even though I'm a huge fan of it, so this is a good start!

I also saw this cuff in the jewelry display cabinet and it kind of called to me while I was standing there. I have a huge love for bows, which probably stems from my stay in Japan. It's hand-crafted and hopefully one of a kind! I don't know where it's from, but I hope somewhere special.

A friend of my boss's gave this to me. It's the cutest little gingerbread cookie I've ever seen! I wanted to eat it, but Milan says it's for pleasing my eyes and not my tummy.

This morning I received another package from Milan and this was in it ! We told each other that we would only buy a small gift for each other with the highest value of $15. When I see him in February, that is when we will give each other a big gift ! Shipping costs = too high.

He also gave me this ridiculously cute Christmas ornament that he bought at a Christmas Market in his hometown of Cologne. Specifically, it is from the Weihnachtsmarkt der Engel (Christmas Market of Angels). The rope moves Santa up and down! So cute.

This bracelet was also in the package, but it is from Milan's siblings (Hanna, Melvin & Henning). It is so delicate and cute! I love white and gold together.

I hung up my little Santa baby on the tree. Can you spot it?

I received some Christmas cards and small gifts from friends! They are all so cute! Thank you all so much. <3

Mehr Weihnachtsgeschenke

2011-12-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

I got cute little presents today! Such little surprises like these make me feel warm & fuzzy inside.

My Japanese friend made these vegan almond cookies for me. So cute!

My friend Red gave this to me. She is so sweet and thoughtful. I haven't had one of these since I was young.

My boss's boyfriend gave me this black scarf along with a pair of tights (not pictured). The tights are pretty awesome because they keep your legs warm by increasing the blood flow.

This wasn't a gift. I saw it at Sprouts and HAD to buy it because it reminds me of Milan. I can't wait to try it !! I'm sure the homemade kind that Milan makes will always be yummier though.

You're supposed to drink this wine when it's hot! Sort of like an alcoholic mulled spices drink. Sooooo yummy, I wish America had this tradition.

On the third day of Christmas..

2011-12-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

So this sweater I originally bought for one of my sisters for Christmas, but turns out she bought it already! I was so shocked. As my best friend says, "it would have been the perfect gift because she bought it too!" So I decided to keep it. I bought it on Black Friday and the deal was too good to pass up!

Bought this for my best friend for Christmas! We have a strange obsession with 1. Perfume and 2. Marc Jacobs!! Perfume seems to be the the motif of Christmas this year. It comes in a reusable tin box that I thought was beautiful ! Confession? I secretly wanted this myself haha.

My best friend and other best guy friend got this watch for me for Christmas! I was so happy when I saw it !!! I always wanted a white/gold Michael Kors watch and here it is, shining magnificently before my eyes! I never expected this in a million years. I love them <3

This is the Sephora Mystery Gift ! The fresh brown sugar perfume is sooo lovely! I ordered a bunch of things online at Sephora.com, including the Marc Jacobs perfume set. This was a free gift when you purchase a certain amount. It was so stressful to get the package! I felt like the Grinch because I called UPS several times because they lost it ! It finally arrived yesterday.

This is what was in the Dior box Milan's papa gave me! The perfume is beauuutiful.

Weihnachtskarte

2011-12-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

I received a Christmas card from Milan's granny, Henny ! She is so sweet to think of me. There is a funny story behind this! She wanted to send me a gift and I think it is cute that she went to the bank and exchanged Euro dollars for $20 bill. So sweet and thoughtful. <3

I also can understand almost all of what she wrote to me! Maybe this means my German is improving.

Update!!

2011-12-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

I apologize for not blogging since Thanksgiving! Life has been a whirlwind and I have not had the energy nor soul to blog. Lots of ups and downs, but now everything is a lot better. I will now try to catch up with photos!

A Christmas coffee mug Milan gave us and the nose already chipped off :( He also sent me this cute little advent calendar/card ! I love opening a new door everyday.

Went to have coffee with one of my best friends and I thought this tree was beautiful. I love the contrast of white and red!

Our coffee! I got a Candy Cane Latte and he a Chai Latte

This morning I checked the mail to find an unexpected surprise! A Christmas present from Milan's father and Birgit! The whole time I thought it was from Milan until I read the return address and saw that it was sent from Plettenberg. I was so pleasantly surprised <3 I was naughty and couldn't wait until Christmas to open it.

My most favorite schokie in the world.

Beautiful gift-wrapping

This is what was in the box: a Dior J'adore perfume gift set ! I almost had tears. The box is so beautiful!

This was also in the box, a lovely super soft long sleeve tee. Vielen Dank!

I slept over at my best friend's house and brought my Snoopy from Milan along with my super soft blanket.

My overnight bag I always use. Complete with a Hello Kitty charm a friend from Japan gave me for my birthday two years ago.

I was in much need of some simple party dresses, not to mention in desperate need of an LBD !! I found these at Forever 21. The granny inside me had to get it in two colors..

The detail on the back. Sexy? I'm still getting used to the idea.

A cute bodycon skirt that is reminiscent of all the florals in England.

Thanksgiving Outfit

2011-11-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

Wearing: Kira soft knit oversized cardigan, Silk oversized tee, black H&M bodycon skirt, Primark tights, Quipid boots, gifted watch necklace from Japan, Mom's cross necklace, Brighton silver watch, DIY grey braid bracelet, gifted mother of pearl bracelet, Forever 21 rhinestone bracelet, Vintage Calvin Klein purse

Black Friday Shopping Haul

2011-11-25T17:02:00.000-08:00

I woke up at 1:30AM after going to bed at 8:30pm ! Thanksgiving was amazing, my food coma subsided by the time I woke up! I woke my sister and we arrived at the mall at approximately 2:20AM. My best friend came as well and together we went to THREE different shopping malls! We shopped for a total of 11 hours straight and here I am, the dedicated blogger that I am to show my purchases.

I didn't take photos of everything that I took because some are TMI and others are gifts that I bought my family and I don't want them seeing it here ;)

This is officially my new favorite scent ! I could not resist getting it and am a little guilty in buying it because I really should not be spending on myself.. but it's a can't resist sort of thing!

This was a necessity. After my cheapy Mulberry copycat wallet shamelessly broke, I wanted to invest in a nice leather wallet that would last me ages. I love Fossil and their products always cease to amaze me in their quality.

Another guilty pleasure from PacSun, but this I could wear for work. The strings actually go across the back and adds a little sexy play on what is otherwise a normal henly top.

Also another necessity via American Eagle...speaking of, H&M came out with a new line of bras that are magnificent at its finest. I snagged 3 glittery, shiny and lacey new ones, but I won't post photos.

Bought some presents for both my bosses

A super soft infinity scarf for my mama

warm socks for my pops

That is all. As I said, other things I couldn't take photos of in fear my family will see what I got them for Christmas. My best friend and I survived the whole day on one leftover Thanksgiving pumpkin cupcake (in her case Cinnabon) and a grande sized coffee from Starbucks. I think we battled and won Sir Black Friday <3

DIY: Glitter Nails

2011-11-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

First, Happy Thanksgiving ! Here's a super quick and easy manicure for all your holiday parties.

D I R E C T I O N S :

1. Apply the basecoat and let dry
2. pour some glitter onto a piece of paper/surface
3. Apply another coat of clear polish (or any other color) and dip your finger into the glue, starting with one side and going to the other
4. Continue until all fingers are done
5. Apply another coat on top

I took a photo of my bad hand ! This is super quick and effortless.

Brot & Make

2011-11-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

I started using Coconut Oil to moisturize my skin. I heard there are alot of benefits with this, especially the fact that it's all natural with no unknown chemicals! I'm not going to try it on my hair because it makes it super oily and requires repeat washes to take it out, though I DO need it to remoisture the ends. Only in desperation will I consider this.

I thought I would post the make-up palette I use everyday. It's by Stila and I absolutely love all the color tones. I think I used the blue shade once, but the others are beautiful to blend. The big circle I use for creme blush and also for my lips. It gives my cheeks that "dewy" look that's so hard to achieve sometimes. It's super inexpensive! There are many other palette color schemes too. I got it from Sephora, but I also saw it at other beauty places such as Ulta.

Pulled out my Christmas To-Do List paper today

Raw Sunflower Seed bread.

Honey Wheat Bread ! A new recipe I tried/created. I love to bake and never thought this would be my new hobby.

They both look the same, but one is covered in rolled oats and another in sunflower seeds.

mehr Getranke, bitte

2011-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

After work last night I made a beeline for Sprouts to purchase some ingredients for bread that I'm making. I saw a huge display of Christmas teas and I snatched some up. There were more flavors, but these were what caught my eye. The Sugar Cookie really does smell like it and the Nutcracker is also delicious. The Sleepytime Vanilla I showed in the previous post, but I'm running low so I bought some more.

I bought some wine for Thanksgiving next week.

I love love her breads! So delicious.

What I wore on Monday ~ Lepsim Lowry's Farm glitter striped cardigan, BDG black V-neck tee, F21 leather leggings, turquoise cross c/o my mother.

Hello Weekend

2011-11-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend was an eclectic mix of going out with friends and being a homebody. I have a bunch of photo snaps that don't really fit into one category, but basically sum up my weekend.

Exhibit A: I lived in this sweater/matching slipper sock set all of today. After leaving my favorite blanket at my best friend's house after spending the night, this was my best alternative to feeling it on my skin again. I bought this pajama set while I was in Japan and haven't worn it since.

Nails.. this is the best way to get away without a manicure for about 1 1/2 weeks. if it chips, no one notices.

Pancake breakfast on Veteran's Day.. first time I ordered pancakes in years!

Homemade Pho.

Decided to use this Cher pouch as my camera case. I put it through the wash and the letters are wearing away. :(

Teas I kept since last year... I bought extra boxes so that I could have them year round.

Yogi Cold Season is a must. I drink it twice a week. Sleepytime Vanilla I drink EVERY night. It puts me right to sleep!

I interchangeably drink these when I take a break from coffee. The Irish breakfast tea is pretty strong, but soooo good.

Hot chocolate I got from Belgium during the summer.

Swirl it in super hot milk (almond milk in my case)

Voila.

Greens to finish off the weekend.

In good company.

One of my favorite wines ever

Erholen

2011-11-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

Such a relaxing weekend. I just stepped out of a 40 minute bath,which was quite excellent to say the least. So the natural thing to do after bathing is blogging. This weekend was spent being lazy, but at the same time utilizing my time as best as one could possibly do during a rainy weekend. Basically, I spent it catching up on Gossip Girl, sleeping, reading, lots of tea and eating. As Milan always says...Naturlich. Naturally. Anyways, I'm ranting.

I used a bath salt given to me by my lovely friends from Japan. The salts are a remake of what an onsen experience would be like depending on which prefecture you are currently at in Japan. This one I honestly do not know where it's from. My Japanese skills have been ever-dwindling and that includes reading kanji. Anyways, The smell was a wonderful musky orange blossom scent. It's good for your skin and to ease any muscle tensions and skin problems. It left my skin feeling extremely soft and supple.

Freshly picked lavender.

A small gift :)

The latest issue to keep me company.

Fall Decor

2011-11-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a super rainy day and I had the pleasure of having it off ! I'm glad I stayed home. I finally finished a book I've been reading called The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee. Rainy days are sooo good because I got around to doing some laundry and cleaning my room, bathroom, loft space, and kitchen. I also had a bunch of DIY projects lined up, but it turns out I vegged out and watched movies instead. I did manage to take down the Halloween decorations and put up some appropriate autumn ones! My hands were itching to take out all the Christmas stuff, but I was good. I love it when I can finally take the time to do all these things.

Here are a few snaps of what I managed to decorate with. I'm bummed we don't have as much fall decorations, but I made do.

I am actually a little proud of this. I made an edible arrangement that probably won't last long, but I love how everything looks piled against each other. The apples are from our trees!

Pretty lavender that I harvested a couple weeks ago.

How everything looks all together.

Green tiger stripe tomatoes from our garden!

Simple tabletop decor

I also made my puppy a sweater, but she wasn't happy about it.

Thursdate

2011-11-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

Just came home from a date with my best friend. We call our little Thursday get-togethers, "Thursdate." I love it! Starbucks has their cute cups now..! How exciting. This officially means I can start decorating tomorrow on my (hopeful) day off.

Meine neue Kamera

2011-11-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

I got a new camera ! I got it delivered yesterday from Target -- they were having an online special. I haven't blogged in over a week! Life (mostly work) has taken over and at the end of the day I am too physically exhausted to do anything, but I know that is no excuse! Here's a random medley of photo snaps I managed to take over the last week ~

Here is my little beauty. Milan named her Cyclops because of her big eye. She is the Nikon Coolpix L120 in case anyone was wondering. I wanted this camera because of its wide angle lens and 21x zoom.

It came with a lens cap and a strap! Now the next thing on my list is to buy a cute strap for it..

My mama spoiled me and got me this blanket (from Costco of all places). I love how something so simple like this can bring a cozy warm feeling inside. It's the softest thing in the world and I love it.

Photo snap of an outfit from last week.

I went to BJ's with my best friend last week and we ordered a Red Velvet Pizookie. It was heaven on my lips!

Target

2011-10-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

I love Target ! Love is kind of an understatement. I always end up buying a lot when I go in there...which makes my wallet not too happy. New goal for the week, or I mean new goal for my life: Stop spending so much!

A cute new lunch bag for the winter season. I can't wait !

I was in desperate need of some new socks. My weakness for owls is insatiable.

Pumpkin spice latte coffee! Two days of the week I have to wake up at 4:45AM for work. I don't want to wake the household by grinding up coffee beans, so I quietly make instant coffee instead. I can't wait to try this out.

Stocked up on some more beauty essentials. TIP: Moisturize at night !! I'm sure many of you already do that, but I just started and I noticed that makes my face drastically soft!

Also, being the clumsy person that I am, I dropped this foundation a couple weeks ago and it shattered all over my wooden floor. I finally bought some more.

The hairspray is new!!!! I've been using their level 4 holding power, but I've been patiently waiting (for 2 years!) for them to finally make a Level 5 hold, and they did ! I can't wait to try it out!

I bought this lotion more as an inside joke because Milan buys these and it reminded me of him. This is the first time I saw it being sold in America. It's pocket sized and works wonders for your hands.

I didn't buy this at Target. I bought it yesterday at the Farmer's Market for Milan because it's starting to get cold in Germany for him. It's made out of a recycled sweater! It gave me inspiration and I am going to attempt to make that today.

Sunday Best

2011-10-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday everybody. California right now is super hot (in the 80 degrees!), nicht gut, not good at all for autumn clothing.. but I dressed like it was chilly it anyway.

Wearing one of the new tops from Old Navy

I originally wanted to wear knee-high socks, but I decided it made me look more short than I already am, so I rolled them down and overlapped the top of my shoes. I think it updates the look of the boots. Kind of like a new outfit for my shoes. :)

Spree

2011-10-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

I heard on the radio that Old Navy was having a sale. I don't normally shop there, but they have cute wedged desert boots that I've been lusting after for a while. So after work I stopped by. I found my size !! Whenever I want shoes the stores never have my size. I found green wedged desert boots for only $18 but I talked myself out of them, since I already have them in two different colors.. I am so proud I could stand up to my wants. I did end up buying 5 shirts that totaled only $32 ! I saw a trend in the neutral color palette of all my shirts... perfect for fall season.

Super soft button down blouses with double breasted pockets. The granny inside me told me to buy them in different colors. I couldn't resist !

A t-shirt I snagged for $2 and a heather brown/gray SUPER soft sweater for only $5! These shirts are both size XXL, but I love things loose anyway.

I love this detail on the neckline. So simple, but still adds on that extra little something.

Finally, here is the 5th shirt, which I wore it today. The color is very similar to the XXL sweater, but slightly different. This shirt is extremely soft and comfy, which is essentially everything one would want in a shirt. perfection.

I had a little extra time this morning before work so I curled my hair. It took only five minutes to do :)

Newbies

2011-10-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

I am in love with almond milk (I'm slightly lactose intolerant so I can't drink regular milk). I usually get the chocolate flavor because I cannot stand up to my sweet tooth, but this time I decided to get original and unsweetened, and I am so impressed by it. It tastes so raw and delicious. Chia seeds are new for me -- I've read that it has so many great health benefits -- Google it!

This morning I woke up feeling sick and wanted to power my body with healthy nutrients so I made a milkshake.

I N G R E D I E N T S :

- 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
- half a banana
- 2 Tbsp of chia seeds

- 2 Tbsp raw honey

D I R E C T I O N S :

- Blend everything together

- Let sit for a couple minutes because when exposed to water or liquid, Chia seeds actually form a sort of gel like substance that you can also consume. They don't have any flavor, but they do give your body a good boost.

Yummy Yammies

2011-10-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was a bit under the weather today, so I went home early from work to rest. I woke up from a nap needing some type of comfort, but since Milan is thousands of miles away, I resorted to another other comfort: food. Here is a super, super simple recipe that I made with yams! It's not the healthiest, but it is definitely delicious. Yams are an ultimate comfort, especially during the fall/winter months. So nostalgic !

The color of the flesh after it's peeled is perfect.

I N G R E D I E N T S :

- organic yams
- Any type of sugar (brown, white, cane, etc.) I used raw cane sugar
- 1 or 2 tsp of condensed milk
- butter (I used salted butter)

- cinnamon for seasoning (optional)

D I R E C T I O N S :

- Peel yams and chop them up. Don't make them too small or else they will come out mushy

- In a pan over low heat melt butter. Doesn't matter how much you use -- it's your own preference.

- After the butter has melted, gently put the yams in the pan. Let cook for about 3 - 4 minutes on low to medium heat
- Pour in however much sugar you want over the yams and allow the sugar to brown. Occasionally stir everything for an even layer

- Drizzle the condensed milk over it all, and let everything cook for another minute or two

- Sprinkle cinnamon

- Let everything cook for about 15 - 20 minutes on low/med heat so that they are soft, but stop once too mushy

- Serve on a cute platter and enjoy :)

Halloween!

2011-10-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

It seems like I'm the only one in the mood for Halloween so I went ahead and made the house festive. Here are a few snapshots:

The house has little nooks for long candles to be put on top and tea light holders for the inside.

The table where we eat our meals. Aren't the little tea light candle holders adorable? The witch hat is my fave.

these are on the fridge.

These have put me in a rough situation. I want to spray paint them gold, but I just love the natural orange and white they are. bah humbug. Maybe when Christmas comes, these pent up feelings will emerge again.

Little tea light holders! In the entrance from the garage door.

Fall isn't complete without any decorative/edible gourds. The long ones are Italian zuccini which I will probably cook soon. The butternut squash was already devoured into a soup I made. I have two more lined up for another yummy soup !

A mini pumpkin I scored for $1.50 ! I got two of them.

All the decorative items were purchased from Michael's craft store, Target and TJ Maxx from past years. Have fun decorating :)

2011-10-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

My home away from home.

Work Outfit

2011-10-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Wearing: gifted H&M jean jacket, TJ Maxx silk blouse, F21 leggings, F21 pearl necklace, Primark snake bracelet, gifted Urban Outfitters shoes, gifted Chloe perfume

I wore this to work on Monday. I'm wearing the shoes I talked about in my previous post. They really give me some height. I stand at 5'2 but with these babies on I was 5'7 -- the point of view from up there was much nicer. They are so comfy and I wore them all day.

The Chloe perfume was a gift from my best friend for my birthday/graduation from university ! She is the best and gives the best gifts ! I love it and spritz it on only once every few weeks..it is so precious to me with lots of memories attached.

On another note, I really need a new camera. I've been saving up for one..

Gifted Shoes

2011-10-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

A couple nights ago I had a date night with my best friend. We went to a new sports bar near our uni and had a cliche'd American dinner -- pizza and beer. In my case I had pear cider, which was delightful. She gave me these black suede wedge shoes from Urban Outfitters ! They are super high, but that won't stop me from wearing them.

DIY Glitter Black Booties

2011-10-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

After seeing the beautiful Miu Miu glitter booties, I wanted to recreate something of my own. I definitely do not have it in my budget to afford those beauties so I resurfaced an old pair of barely worn Urban Outfitters black booties I bought years ago. They've been sitting on my shelf for ages and now my feet have a new home for the fall season.

I was a little impatient to take photos so there is still some excess glitter that needs to be scraped off !

M A T E R I A L S :

Any type of craft glue is fine. I just happen to like this one the best. Any glitter is also fine. Be creative! Glitter comes in a variety of different shades and sizes!

D I R E C T I O N S :

1. Clean the surface of your shoes. Mine were a bit dusty from not being worn.

2. Before even starting with the glue, sprinkle some glitter on the area you want it to be so that you can have an idea of what it would look like. You can always just wipe it off.
3. Now take your glue and spread an even layer over a part of your shoe. I suggest working from the inside to test it out first. I also suggest working in sections so that the glue doesn't dry out.
4. Sprinkle the glitter on and tap off any excess glitter. Make sure you set down some newspaper or something because the glitter gets everywhere and you'd want to reuse what falls off !

5. Keep sprinkling on the glitter so that all the tiny gaps are filled.

6. Keep doing this to both shoes.
7. Wait for them to dry a bit and touch up on some empty parts.
8. Now using a pen, toothpick or hard surface, gently scrape away any glitter so that there are clean and even lines. Follow the contours of the shoe design.

9. Let dry for a couple hours!

First Autumn Outfit

2011-10-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wearing: Vero Mode oversized sweater, F21 leggings, Aldo brown leather boots, gifted necklace

I wore this to work yesterday. Autumn has been true to its name and the weather has increasingly become cooler. As I write this it's raining outside and I may not even have to go to work at my other job. The necklace I received from Milan as one of my birthday gifts. It's cute when boys choose things for you.

Oh yeah, excuse my dirty mirror as Milan has pointed out countless times in the last half hour..

Comfortable

2011-10-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

Wearing: thrifted linen oversized button down, Target black leggings, Aldo brown leather boots, Forever 21 gold cuff

I received the L'Occitane hand cream last Christmas in a three piece set. After sitting prettily on my vanity for almost a whole year I finally used some. It smells lovely and is probably my most coveted beauty item right now. There is a good hint of vanilla that calms my mood whenever I put it on.

Thrifted Mesh Dress

2011-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I visited a fairly new thrift shop in Carlsbad near the beach. I found this body con dress that somehow works and doesn't have any skanky tendencies. The bi-layer black mesh over the grey cotton was what appealed to me the most. It's super fine and extremely delicate. I found a little snag on the side and used my bartering skills to bring the price down to $5 from $12. I really want to pair it with a chunky knit sweater and white converses. I've been lusting for white converses for ages and I think I will give in and buy them soon.

Colorful Importance

2011-09-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Borders file folder, Rilakkuma A4 folder from Japan, Barnes and Noble weekly planner, Michael's craft store chandelier inventory journal, Apple Post-Its from Office Depot and Barnes and Noble diary.

Tepper Jackson passport wallet, Paul Frank coin purse

The little girl inside me still exists with all the cutesy paraphernalia that has accumulated over the years. My year long study in Japan instigated me to only use cute things in everyday common items. The purple dog folder holds all my important financial matters. Rilakkuma folder houses precious grad school application info. Weekly planner that has sort of become religious to me and I cannot live without. It follows me everywhere I go. My wallet that I purchased in London recently broke so I'm back to using my passport wallet, which I don't particularly like, but is big enough for all my stuff.

Shopping

2011-09-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Forever 21 gold cuff bracelet, thrifted Calvin Klein taupe bag, thrifted linen button down, thrifted thermal, oversized silk t-shirt, creme dolman top

I was in a shopping mood this weekend. I thought it would be good to treat myself to some new things after some stress from work. I love thrift and bargain shopping. The total amount of money I spent was under $50. For 4 shirts, boots, purse and cuff bracelet, I think that's a fair deal.

Next on my list is a new camera. The little digital point and shoot one I have is nearing the end of its reliable little life. But that purchase will be a long time from now. I have to save for grad school applications. 68 euro -- can you believe it? Just to apply.

Bread!

2011-09-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

I've been craving the bread that I ate in Germany for ages...and finally I looked up a recipe to make it. I went to Sprouts yesterday to pick up the ingredients, mixed the dough and woke up early this morning to bake it. It was my first time ever to bake bread and I'm surprised at how lovely it looked.

I got the recipe from here !

Vivi & Kiki

2011-09-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Some images from a side business my best friend and I are starting. A portion of our proceeds will benefit starving children in Africa.

http://www.viviandkiki.blogspot.com/

Stuffed Jalapenos

2011-09-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

I had the giant urge to make stuffed jalapenos after seeing these big beauties. This is my own recipe and it surprisingly turned out well.

the outcome looks pretty bad, but we gobbled them up before I could really take a decent photo..

I N G R E D I E N T S :

Light Cream Cheese

Carmelized Onion Dip (or any type of dip)
20 giant jalapenos
1 large egg

Panko (or bread crumbs)

1 bunch of green onion

2 cloves of garlic

Cheddar cheese (optional)

D I R E C T I O N S :

1. Hollow out the jalapenos with a small spoon or knife-- make sure you take the seeds out because that's what makes them super spicy. Take your time!

2. Rinse the insides of the jalapenos out with cold water so that it's nice and hollow inside

3. In a medium sized bowl, eyeball how much proportions of cream cheese and dip you will need

4. cut the garlic and green onion into small pieces and add to the cream cheese/dip mixture

5. With a plastic knife, lather the dip into the jalapenos

6. In a small bowl, crack the egg and beat it until it has an even consistency

7. In another small bowl pour the panko and cheese (optional) in and mix together.

8. Roll the stuffed jalapeno in the egg and quickly transfer to the panko/cheese mixture and coat it. Sometimes the jalapeno is too sleek, but just heap it on there if possible

9. Place the jalapenos on a baking sheet. Put in the oven at 350 degrees Farenheit for 20 - 25 minutes.

10. If you have leftover panko mix, you can sprinkle it on top of the jalapenos when they are sitting on the baking sheet.

Enjoy!

Jolie

2011-09-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Vintage DKNY sequin sweater from my mom, F21 leggings, thrifted boots, matte white nail polish as shown above

My working schedule doesn't permit me to spend a lot of time with my pup Jolie. She is the cutest baby and we spoil her rotten. I love this sweater from my mom -- she says she wore it as a maternity sweater. I guess you can still be stylish and pregnant at the same time. The nail polish I put on in haste and got too impatient because I wanted to sleep. My work requires me to have short nails, which I'm still getting used to. I used the Hard Candy matte topcoat, which works wonders.

Happy birthday to my beautiful Mama.

the pretty wrapping paper

Table runners to match our house. Both from World Market.

I'm a Foodie, not a Fatty

2011-09-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

A bunch of food snaps that accumulated over the past weeks ~

I LOVE dark chocolate and this was the ultimate fix.

I never tried passionfruit before and I LOVE it! It's best to eat when it's super wrinkly.

My dad's Jamaican beers in cute little medicine bottles

Pumpernickel bread from Germany that Milan sent to me as part of his package! It's different...tastes dry, but really good with either hummus or cheese

Max's Honey from the local Farmer's Market (soo good), Clover honey from Trader Joe's that tastes okay, and Honey Apple Butter that's a little tart but good on toast

I bought these drinks today. I'm lactose intolerant, so I've tried every alternative there is! I love coconut milk, but I've been wanting to try this almond milk, especially since the flavor is dark chocolate. The Sweet Leaf green tea is awesome. And Organic :D

I have a huge love for anything pumpkin flavored! This is one of the many reasons why I love the Autumn season! I got the fresh pumpkin bread and Apple Pumpkin spread from the local Farmer's Market.

Teacher

2011-09-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sister's J.Crew green cardigan, H&M black bodycon skirt I seem to always wear, Calvin Klein Tights, Nine West oxfords, old Urban Outfitters necklace.

My outfit to work yesterday. It was my last day of volunteering and teaching English to my students, but it was my first day of training at my other job and I loved it.

Last Night

2011-09-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thrifted cable knit sweater, black H&M body con skirt, Primark sheer tights, Wedge shoes from Germany, Silver Brighton watch from my sister, DIY grey wrap bracelet, two friendship bracelets from Milan, gifted mother of pearl bracelet, gifted necklace from my sister, black leather Banana Republic handbag.

Went out with some friends last night to a quaint Spanish Tapas restaurant in Hillcrest. Originally we wanted sushi, but the wait was endless. Afterwards went out for some drinks. It was chilly, even with my sweater on. San Diego has the most spontaneous weather. I hope everyone survived the black out!

kleine Geschenke, little gifts

2011-09-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Silicone shark bottle opener, Tea infuser -- both from World Market

Some tidbit gifts for Milan. The challenge we brought upon ourselves was finding a present $10 and under because shipping would be another $10 depending on how heavy the package was. We both failed at the challenge, but I had fun shopping for him anyway.

On another note, my German is coming along, slowly but surely. He is so patient with me. We spend an hour everyday -- me learning vocabulary and small grammar and him teaching me to pronounce those stubborn " r " sounds.

Labor Day

2011-09-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Target beach towel, Hawaiian Tropic tanning spray, Cher tote from Japan, H&M swimsuit

Happy Labor Day ! All you need for a day at the beach is your swimsuit. Sticking to the all-American way, we are celebrating with a barbeque and lots of food.

Oh, Honey

2011-09-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I bought some fun little sticks of raw, organic honey at the farmer's market. Three flavors: blackberry honey, Strawberry honey and Orange honey.

Minted

2011-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

I found this jewel in the L-XL clearance section of Marshall's with my sisters for $7. The brand is Cloud Nine. Not sure if that has any significance, but name brands do not faze me as much. I'm in love with the minted green color -- it's mixed with a heather gray color, which perfects the casual look. The longer back hem is perfect and gives me the excuse to throw this on with leggings and loafers.

Girly

2011-08-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Banana Republic cardigan, Forever 21 pink dress, H&M purse, gifted Accessorize necklace, NYC nail polish

It's been super hot lately, so wearing the barest minimum whilst still looking cute and professional at work is a little difficult. The hot hair balloon necklace is my favorite necklace I own. Busy day today. Teaching English to blind people, then conducting research and then jetting off to a university for a scholarship seminar. Horrible traffic because today is their first day of class.

DIY: Sweater to Cardigan

2011-08-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

I made the mistake of washing this oversized grandpa sweater. As you can see, it shrank drastically to regular size. I didn't want to throw it away so I decided to do this. It's super simple. All you do is take a pullover sweater and cut it down the center and you are done. This has so much potential to add things, such as buttons.

RECIPE: Avocado Chocolate Mousse

2011-08-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought you could make chocolate mousse with avocados!? I brought some avocados home over the weekend for the sole purpose of making this. Note: I'd have to say this is more for dark chocolate lovers, which is me! It's because the second main ingredient is unsweetened cacao. You don't have to feel guilty for eating it (as much). I threw on some blueberries to make it yummier. I got the recipe from here , but I used it more as guidelines since I didn't follow the exact amounts they said.

DIY Hex Nut Bracelet

2011-08-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

I made some friendship bracelets for my friends. I love the industrial look paired with a softer texture like the thread.

beverage add-ons

2011-08-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Tea Infuser, Milk Frother. Both from World Market.

Birthday presents from my sister because she knows how crazy I am about tea and coffee. Funny thing is that I haven't used them yet because they're so pretty to look at. She recently took the other frother we have back to New York with her, so now I have to use it.

Beauty Essentials

2011-08-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

Aveeno Smart Essentials gentle face wash (smells soo good), Fekkai glossing cream for hair, Aveeno positively radiant moisturizer, Healthy Sexy Hair leave in conditioner (been using this a lot lately because of the hot weather), and Neutrogena eye make up remover (best one out there)

Call me a girl, but I cannot live without these.

DIY Fabric Covered Corkboard

2011-08-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

M A T E R I A L S:

- fabric of any type

- push pins

- stapler

- cork board

D I R E C T I O N S:

This is what mine looked like before. I previously used a polka dot fabric, but tired of it and wanted a more neutral shade.

1. First, we need to measure how much fabric you will need to cover the surface of the cork. Start off by covering the board with your fabric and then with push pins, pin the fabric on the four corners of the board.

2. Cut off any excess fabric. Leave about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch to overlap the sides of the board.

3. You may notice that the fabric may have frayed edges, so what we will do is fold it inside so that there is a nice, clean hem.

4. On one side, fold the fabric (this is why we should have some overlapping material) and then pin it back into place.

5. Next, it's time to use your stapler. Start off with a corner. Fold both sides of the fabric so that there is a clean corner edge. Staple the fabric as close to the border as you can possibly get. The staple will easily go in to the cork. If you mess up, simple pull the fabric and the staple will come out easily.

6. Now from Left to Right on the top, keep folding the material and stapling. Do intervals of about 2 -3 inches with the staples. Do it until the end on the right.

7. Next, do the same thing, but on the left side. Do this only to the middle of the board!

8. Do the same thing, but on the right side and stop at the middle. This is because when folding, sometimes the material will gather too much and you will not have enough on the other side to staple.

9. Now flip the board over so it looks like this:

10. Continue to staple the sides, but keep alternating. for every 2 staples for the left, do two on the right so that the material is nice and tight. You don't want any loose fabric.

11. Lastly, staple the top. Keep pulling the fabric so that it's tight.

12. The last corner is a little tricky. it will look like this:

You may have to fold it different ways so that the corner edge sits nicely against the frame. After that, you're done !

F I N I S H E D P R O D U C T:

Unconventional Colors

2011-08-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Francesca's Collections dress worn as a shirt, Topshop light blue denim skirt, Urban Outfitters low slung booties, thrifted purse

I feel slightly awkward in these photos. The sun was shining directly into my eyes. I thought the neutral shade of the shirt would match the light blue of the skirt and that the booties would offset the color palette. I'm in love with the beaded tailoring of the shoulders and neckline -- I need to wear it as a dress more often. I actually bought it months ago, but yesterday was the first day I wore it.

DIY Feather Earrings

2011-08-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

This was my first attempt at feather earrings -- they definitely need more work. I've created better ones after this, but I have some sentimental value with these

DIY: Shirt to Mini Skirt

2011-08-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

This DIY is very simple!

Next to my work there is a whole street of thrift shops, so naturally that sparked my interests. Last week my co-worker and I browsed through one and I found these two shirts. I love their prints and thought they were Missoni inspired and would make great skirts!

Close up of the material. It's so pretty and shiny -- perfect for a night out. Thank you to my sister for putting up with me and modeling it.

The blue one is more casual, but I love the colors. Would be cute to wear with sheer black tights and an oversized grandpa sweater during the fall season.

W H A T Y O U N E E D:

- scissors
- sewing machine or needle & thread
- pins (optional) or dark marker

D I R E C T I O N S:

1. First start off by cutting a straight horizontal line right under the underarm seam

2. Measure how wide you'd like the skirt to be and then pin or use a marker to mark where you'd like it to end. It helps if you put it on, gather all of the extra material and then mark your preferred width. (make sure you mark it on the inside so that it doesn't show on the outside!
3. Turn the skirt inside out.
4. At the top of the skirt, fold about 1/4 of an inch of the material in so that there are no frayed/stray threads poking out from where you cut and then sew a straight clean line so that there is a nice hem.

5. Then, where you marked the width of how wide you want the skirt to be, sew along that vertical line.

6. Flip the skirt back out and you are finished !

Motorcycle Boots

2011-08-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Gina Tricot navy tee, F21 leggings, Primark bag, boots from NYC

I love getting hand-me-downs whenever my sister comes home from New York. She gave me these motorcycle boots -- some I was so tempted to purchase last week. Good thing I waited. Although they're not very "me", I still like them. I am also in love with my soft t-shirt. I found it while shopping in Cologne, Germany. I have a slight obsession with pockets and this one on the side is overly large. The hem in the back of the tee is longer than the front, which gives me the excuse to wear leggings instead of jeans.

Japanese Goodies

2011-08-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite Japanese girls in the whole world came to California earlier this week! I met them while studying abroad in Japan in 2009. They came bearing gifts! I miss how the Japanese always wrap their gifts in cute little things.

My favorite character, Korilakkuma !! It's a cute little coinpurse. Another friend in Japan gave me the same thing, but in the Rilakkuma version and more miniature.

They also brought bath salts!! They know me so well. I'm so excited to try them! There are 4 different kinds according to a type of prefecture in Japan, and they turn the water different colors.

This is random, but just a bracelet I made. I used old charms from a necklace I don't wear anymore. I made the bracelet super long so that I could weave it around my arm 3 times.

Apfel Bad

2011-08-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Milan bought me this kid's bath as one of my tiny birthday gifts and I finally tried it. It was surprising to see they were little tablets, so I can enjoy it more than once. The apple smell was so yummy, but since it's for kids it was a little mild when mixed with water. I added some white jasmine bath salts with this tablet for a refreshing summertime bath.

The water turned into a beautiful clear green.

Friday

2011-08-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

My sister from New York came home this week. Today we went for ice cream. Hers is bubble game flavored and mine choco chip cookie dough.

Finally polished off the chocolates I bought from Belgium.

Sunglasses I borrowed from my sister and my new wallet I got from Primark in London.

Milan hates these type of photos, but this was my outfit for today, minus my super comfy slippers. Gifted sweater from my mom, old Guess jean shorts.

DIY: Simple Crop Top

2011-08-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

I know this is my second time blogging today, but I couldn't resist. Even though summer is nearing its end, I still wanted to create a top I could easily throw on. This was my first shirt I've sewn, so it is far from perfect. I chose this because of its beautiful blue color, since I wear so much black. This is actually the inside out of the material, but I like this better. The other side was a satin, shiny color, which I didn't particularly like.

Directions:

1. Start with your material inside out (the inside is what will be the outside/what everyone will see)

2. Fold a piece of cloth (any type, any size to your liking) so that the fold is facing up towards the ceiling, like a poncho.

3. Measure how you want your neckline to be. Start small because you can always make it bigger. Trace first, then cut.

4. Measure your desired length (tunic length, crop, etc.) and then cut accordingly.

5. About a quarter of the way down, sew the sides until the end.

6. Flip inside out and you are ready to wear.

Note: The hole where my head goes through took a while until I was happy with it so you might have to do some additional cutting. An easy way to make it symmetrical is to fold the material in half again and cut a half circle so that when you open it again it will be perfect. Also, I had to keep cutting it shorter until I was happy. Just play around and be creative!

On the Streets

2011-08-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Thrifted oversized sweater, H&M black body con skirt, Primark tights, thrifted boots, F21 necklace

Milan's sister took a photo of me for her magazine she is creating. This was taken in a lonely, more alleyway than street place that was nestled against a cute church.

summer teas

2011-08-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

Summer teas from Trader Joe's. Yuzu Citrus reminds me so much of when I was in Japan and is delicious. The Ginger Pear white tea is more ginger than pear, but still mild. And you can't go wrong with anything flavored green tea. and, they're organic! (bio in German)

DIY: bandage bandeau

2011-08-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

I needed a simple bandage style bandeau to wear under my long tanks. The material was given to me from my grandma. It's very simple! If you make one, make sure your material has some stretch to it. Jersey material is key.

shoes

2011-08-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Left: from a random shoe store, Right: Zara black booties

Shoes I just brought back from Germany.