On a Hunt for Satchels & Top Handle Bags

Lately I've been thinking more and more about a bigger purse that I can carry around my elbows. I know what people say about top handle purses and how much of a pain and a nuisance it can be when walking around because you don't have enough hands to hold everything... But despite the cons, I've been looking for a simple and versatile bag for the new season. 

I love my Marc by Marc Jacobs cross-body bag but sometimes I feel like I need a bigger bag to carry more things in when I am out and about. I've been debating over the color I want, trying to stay away from black and since I already have one. I've been into anything from light taupe-y to camel and here is a break down of what I found: 

(Left to right)

1. Kate Spade New York, 'Cobble-Hill Leslie' Satchel in Dark Viola ($280 on sale!)

2. Melie Bianco, 'Lorraine' Satchel in Saddle ($110)

3. Balenciaga, City bag in Papyrus ($1,545)

(Left to right)

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs, Classic Q Shop Girl Tote in Stone ($498)

2. Alexander Wang, Rocco duffle in Granite ($875)

The last two is really just something I like, the website says the Rocco bag is in granite, which I assume to be more gray-ish, but looks pretty sea-foam green to me.. I really like that color! I've also been keeping an eye on a cute tote for school and I really like this Marc by Marc Jacobs one but I don't know if I'd carry it in this ivory color since I'm too afraid I'll get it dirty.

Anyways, a girl can dream & until I find the bag of my dreams I'll be on the look out!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011

 

 

The $2.5 Million bra worn by Miranda Kerr

Another amazing fashion show put on by Victoria's Secret Angels, I feel like an hour is not enough for fans to gawk over all the glitz and glam as well as the beautiful models! As much as I'd like to criticize the Angels for being anorexic and what not to make myself feel better, honestly, I don't know how they keep that kind of body.. They're extremely thin but still looks toned, tanned, and healthy (except for a select few) and the mysterious thing is the fact that they still have enough to fill the outfits they're wearing!

Tonight, I was amazed once again by how gorgeous Miranda looked after having a baby and how exotic Adriana looks with dark hair and such fair blue eyes. Alessandra used to be my favorite, but now it's so hard to pick just one, I think they're all so gorgeous!

Outfit of the Day

GAP sweater, Seven for all Mankind skinnies, Forever 21 necklace, random kitten heeled boots, black tote, & YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Mouthwatering Berry.

I really wish I could just post my outfits instead of trying to find similar things on Polyvore but I suck at taking those effortless photos and I think I would just feel awkward posing for them anyways... maybe someday I'll get Josh to help me, hehe :)

Thanksgiving Break Re-Cap

I spent most of my Thanksgiving break at home this year with my mom since my dad was away for a business trip, I figured she'd like my company instead of having to be alone even when the kids are back home from school. It was  refreshing get-away from school, even if it was just for a week.

Although Josh was away visiting his family, he made it a point to video-chat every night! This year's Black Friday shopping wasn't as exciting, in fact, I didn't even go. I had originally planned to but I realized staying up until 4am to browse the mall wasn't worth feeling tired and waiting in the long lines for... However, I did pick up a few things at the mall later that day.

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving at my cousin's place with both of their families. I haven't seen their kids in a while, so I was super excited to see how much they've grown! As they get older, I started to realize that the boys end up sticking together while me and my cousin Annemarie just talked about school and make-up, haha.

The annual Thanksgiving potluck I had looked forward for so much this year didn't happen with my group of friends from high school for various reasons, but we did manage to plan a little get-together at Flame's Bar & Grill downtown for those of us who didn't have other plans Saturday. It was so, so good seeing my friends and just catching up over some good food! We also ran into another group of friends so our table ended up become so crowded, but I loved being able to see everyone at once. Hopefully, our Christmas potluck will happen this year or else I'd be really disappointed :(

My Thoughts On: My HTC Droid Incredible

This phone, I have so much to say I don't even know where to begin..

When I first got this phone almost two years ago, I was beyond ecstatic. I was debating between this or the Blackberry, but ended up getting this because of it's sleek iPhone-esque design and all the cool touch screen features. So against one of my friend's warning about the poor quality of HTC phones, I decided to commit to the HTC Droid Incredible with a new 2-year contract.

Throughout the 2 years, we've been through so much. I had this phone replaced once because I dropped it into a toilet. After that I got myself a protective case that helped the phone indure my brutal treatment for a few months until one last drop made the back of the cover fall off and get lost amidst the fallen leaves somewhere last fall. Then it took on some more man-handling and finally, the screen cracked near the bottom when I sat on it once.

But those aren't the reasons why I hate this phone so much (sometimes with a burning passion to just chuck it to the wall). Through the 2 years I've had this phone, it has tested and toyed with my patience to the point of no return. This phone is... INCREDIBLY ANNOYING, it freezes on me all the time (especially when I need to make important & urgent calls), tells me that my storage space is too full to even open my text messages even though I only have like 35 pictures and 15 apps (when all my iPhone friends keep text messages from years ago, with 100s of pictures, and another handful of useless & random apps), the camera requires basically a tripod for a good photo before sending you blind because of it's overly powerful flash (although it claims to have a better quality than the iPhone, it still sucks that if you don't keep your hands absolutely still, you'll get  a blurry picture anyways).

So come this January, I will be switching over to the OTHER SIDE where the grass is greener and the sky is blue; iPhone.

New Hair, Back to Black!

The Korean hair salon my mom goes to was having a 50% off holiday sale so I decided to go get my hair coated again to help get rid of the color difference from my old color growing out. I also got my bangs cut and some trim, I hate that my hair seems so much shorter but I guess I'm glad that all the dead ends are gone, gone, gone!

I'm Still a Cat Lady

This puppy is undeniably adorable and I couldn't keep my eyes off of him but I must say, I still want a kitty to gawk over :( But I guess if the puppy looked like this one, I wouldn't mind having one as well, hehe. Gosh, I've really been in the mood for a cute pet.. too bad I don't really have the time, money, and a place to keep one.. wahhhh.

ΑΦΩ Fall 2011 Activation: Team Titus

After nine weeks of pledging, our new babies finally finished their last day today and now have been added to our fraternity officially, yay! Activation is always pretty exciting, well except for the "actual" event, because we get to give gifts, take pictures, and reunite with a lot of alumni.

Titus & Michelle came up to meet the new ones and celebrate with us as usual and so did Ishi this semester.

The picture on the left is of us, Team Titus, after we presented this secret surprise for Titus :)

As our advisor said to us "now he's name has been immortalized into a t-shirt," haha, damn right! We're much more than just a family, we're a team. We stick up for each other, look after one another, and be there whenever someone needs a shoulder to cry on.

I don't want to sound so exclusive but I guess in a way we kind of are. It's been a privilege to be able to have met so many genuine people who care about you. So honestly, when people have negative things to say about it, it's probably because they feel excluded in some way so they like to mock it.

I just hope that in the future, our little ones can continue the traditions and carry on the attitude of speaking up when something is wrong, looking out for each other, taking the initiative to do the right thing even when no one else is willing, and most importantly, remembering to always have fun and look for the positive things in any situation!

It's our job as their predecessors to instill this type of mentality and I hope that I can as well as everyone else from my generation do so. It would be such a shame to see the line turn into anything else.

My Lazy Day Go-to Products

1. Covergirl LashBlast Volume waterproof mascara (Very Black)

2.Rimmel Professional Eyebrow pencil (001 Dark Brown)

3. L'Oreal Lineur Intense (Carbon Black)

4. Revlon Colorstay eyeliner (Black)

5. Benefit's Some Kind-A Gorgeous (Medium)

6. M.A.C. Mineralized Skinfinish Natural (Medium Dark)

7. M.A.C. Blushcreme (Ladyblush)

8. Olay Complete w/ SPF 15

9. Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy (Succulent Pomegranate)

10. Ardell heated eyelash curler

Thank You Sarah!

Thank you to my little Sarah for getting me this crew neck with such cute (& glittery) letters just in time for the weather to get colder, I'll be wearing this often! I just hope I don't get them dirty all the time since they're so white, hehe.

My Thoughts On: Generic Anti-Police Movement During "Peaceful Protests."

Personally, I've never been to a protest in my life mostly because my parents have always told me "you shouldn't go to those things, they're dangerous." Well, obviously some people's parents must have never told them. I recently took the time to really think about what's going on at these "peaceful protests/rallies," not just in America but in other countries like South Korea as well. I remember learning in my Media & Society class that the media is actually a dangerous source for educating the public because so much of the content could be tampered with, interpreted, false, or just plain bias towards one side of a story. The abundant types of news and media sources, especially the Internet, enables us to reach out to almost anything we want. I think that people should really take their time to research both ends of story before jumping on the hating bandwagon. 

I hate hearing about police brutality and such at these "peaceful protests" because I feel like a great majority of them only show one side of what really happened. It makes me angry when people with authority take advantage and go on a serious power-trip just to prove something, like those random cellphone quality videos on Youtube of police officers discriminating or those news articles of military personnel acting out of line. It's not hard to see why the people of the general public begin to harbor feelings of intimidation, uneasiness, or simply anger when they hear those stories. 

However, judging from the hundreds of news clips and videos I've seen throughout my life on these "peaceful protests," there's nothing peaceful about it. Especially when the protesters are disturbing the peace of the area by congregating in busy places, refusing to heed to the warnings, and arming themselves with random objects that could potential serve as weapons like sticks.. 

I'm not hating on protests but I hate how people use "peaceful" protests as a euphemism of what they're really doing. We're so spoiled in this country that we don't even know what could be worse, just because we don't see it, people feel like it doesn't exist. We constantly complain that the government isn't doing anything for us or demand more almost as if we want things to be just handed to us. They don't know what it's like to live in the third-world countries where their average standard of living is worse than poverty-stricken areas in the US. Seeing those "I am the 99%" photos submitted by random angry citizens made me feel a little bitter because I know there are jobs out there, that are obviously less attractive and may require more manual labor during undesirable hours of the day doing things others would never dream about. So if you're in such desperate need, funny how you spend the time to browse the internet and submit photos via digital cameras, cellphones, or computers. 

My Thoughts On: Kim Kardashian's Divorce

I came across an article last night, just before I went to bed, criticizing the divorce and the influence of the "Kardashian Empire" on young adults. This made me extremely angry because people always wait for celebrities to mess up or make a mistake so they can run with it just to make themselves feel better. I think that it helps some people feel like they lead a better life without all the money, fame, and luxury because they have better sense of judgement, morals, and ethics than these celebrities.

I guess it's hard for them to understand that Kim's life is on display for the whole world because WE DEMAND IT. People who criticize the Kardashians act like they've never did anything embarrassing, bad, or wrong in their lives; how nice must that be right? To live with no dirt between your fingers for anyone to put under a microscope and scrutinize. It makes me sad that Kim is such a hopeless romantic and I feel like she is in love with the idea of love, it doesn't make it any easier for her to find her true love because many people would be after her for the wrong reasons.

I never thought Kris was the type of guy to appreciate and support her dedication to her career, family, and fans. It's not a surprise that many of her boyfriends in the past couldn't handle all the media attention, paparazzis, and her hectic schedule as a successful business woman. It's not like I know any of them personally, but just like everyone else who judges Kim purely through what they see on TV, I felt like Kris wasn't really ready to integrate with the Kardashian family and stand fully supportive behind her career decisions. I think it would be much easier for her to find a man once her career dies down a little and she has more time to really invest in dating and spending quality time with people away from the media.

I have to admit, often times I find myself endlessly envying the fabulous life the Kardashians lead and the show somewhat makes me feel like I'm living that kind of life vicariously through it. Wouldn't anyone think that it would be nice to lead such a lavish lifestyle? I think people who denounce it just have a suppressed resentment for their status in our society. I'm definitely not in the 1% the Occupy movement aim towards, but I can undersand that if you're working hard to make the money (which is basically made off the people who are willing to invest in their products), other people shouldn't judge how to spend it. Sometimes, we mindlessly spend money on arcade games and impulsive buys and to those who are much less fortunate than we are, this might look just as excessive. The choice between buying a more affordable PC laptop and the sleek Apple laptops is just the same. We make those impulsive and unnecessary choices with our money at our level but we are so quick to point fingers and judge others who do the same but on a higher level (obviously because they make more money).

I hate that Kim had to file for divorce so soon, but I didn't like the idea of her marriage in the first place so I guess I can't really complain. It just sucks that all these people are bandwagoning now to hate on them because she's ruining the sanctity of marriage. But the Kardashians are a support of the "No H8" cause so there really is no validity in pointing fingers; it's not because of her or people "like her" that Prop 8 didn't pass. 

It was her choice to put her life on display and our choice to watch and follow. If you don't like her show, don't watch it. There are tons of other inappropriate, offensive, and worse TV programs out there that really needs the attention. People just love to hate because it's easy and it makes your life seem somewhat better, but it takes so much more to take the time to put yourself in their shoes. I've learned that there are many things I thought I was prepared or cut-out for, but in my short 22 years of life, I've realized that when certain things happen, it's not easy to act the way you thought you would because there are so many influencing factors. In the end, I hope people are more understanding and less hateful towards things they don't take the time to really think about.

TEAM KARDASHIAN!

Yiruma - River Flows in You (Vocal version)

I just saw this post on my friend Esther's Tumblr and fell instantly in love! I always thought he was Japanese for some reason, but I guess I was wrong. I love a lot of his piano pieces and hearing a vocal part added to it sounds so heart-warming, especially the lyrics.

Sorry I don't have the translations for it, but it's a lovely song nonetheless!

Listening to this song makes me feel like a hopeless romantic.

Louis Vuitton 2012 Spring Make-Up

I love the look of the flawless, dewy skin, shimmery lips, strong eyebrows, and bold, fairy lashes! I'm going to try and re-create the look someday, hehe I shall experiment.

I feel like this would also make a great bridal look as well.

(Photo Courtesy: Behind the Scenes Make Up)

Outfit of the Day

Similar to what I wore today: Forever 21 sheer button up blouse, black tank, & jeggings, Target boots, Chanel tote, gifted earrings, and Express leopard print infinity scarf

It's getting harder for me to create these Polyvore looks without using the exact same items I wore because sometimes I have a hard time looking for even the most similar things.. Like today, I wore this sheer, asymmetrical, black blouse but couldn't find anything like it.. Anyways, I guess this is just motivation for me to dress nice around campus and keep myself from becoming so lazy.

I hate Mondays, I was so tired today I didn't even shower in the morning. So I threw on some winged eye liner & a bright lipstick to make myself feel a little made up.

Outfit of the Day

What I wore November 11, 2011: H&M sweater, American Eagle tank & belt, BDG jeans, Forever 21 earrings & necklace, Tory Burch flats, and Marc by Marc Jacobs bag.

I went to San Francisco to check out the American Apparel warehouse sale with Josh last Friday and this is what I wore. I've been wanting to wear out this fur trimmed sweater all season long but felt like maybe it was a little too much for school. 

Usually I can't find the exact things I wore that day, so I have to just try my best to pick out the simliar things according to style and color.

HONU TEAM TITUS!

This is our entire family line from Titus and onwards.

 Yesterday, we organized a potluck/get-together event for our family line starting with Titus in Alpha Phi Omega. It was definitely a good chance to see all the older people who moved away and the newest members of our family and to get to know them better! I haven't been around much this semester but I'm glad to know that we've been accumulating such great people in our family :)

This is just me and my little & g-little (taken before Michelle & Titus arrived)

And this is my immediate line, hehe :)

Meet my other half :)

This is my boyfriend Josh, we haven't been together for too long but we've been thoroughly enjoying the times we've spent together so far. This blog was actually created initially to document the things we do together which are on the weekends because that's when I usually get to see him. However, I've gotten a bit carried away and found myself turning this into more of just a personal blog. Either way, you'll be seeing him around quite often so I thought it'd introduce him to you all!

Hello Chester.

I went over to my friend Carl's today for a little bit to pick up something for my computer and he introduced me to their house cat, Chester!

He gave me allergic reactions like no other after I left the place but nonetheless, I think he really liked me. Besides the fact that he kept on trying to playfully bite me (which I was quite terrified of), he seemed to enjoy sitting on my lap and rubbing his sides on me.

I just hope he didn't have fleas. I took this picture right after he tried to bite me, hence the face...

Outfit of the Day

GAP trench, A&E white tank, Forever 21 shirt & scarf, Tory Burch flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, MAC Girl About Town lipstick.

Today, I wanted to pull out my GAP trench coat for the first time this season since it's relatively light-weight and the weather today was actually pretty warm. Lately, I found myself wearing the 2-disc old gold colored earrings my friend Michelle gave me a long time ago. Normally I'm really bad at accessorizing but I feel like those earrings match a lot of different looks so I really like them.

This is such a similar look I created with similar pieces on polyvore.com, which has also become a recently obsession of mine, just a fun way to waste time, haha.

Current Obsession: Clarisonic Mia

I've been hearing a lot of good things about this Clarisonic Mia face-washing device and I'm so, so excited to continue to use this to see the good results people rave about!

I got this yesterday, so it hasn't been that long at all for me to see any kind of change in my skin but I felt pampered immediately after my first use, probably just something in my head, haha.

I don't really use the face cleanser that came with this because people have told me that it doesn't really work or seem like it does anything for your skin..
So I use the Mousse Douceur Rinse-Off Foaming Mousse Cleanser from Chanel that my mom gave me and it smells amazing and I feel like it helps balance the dry patches by my nose and forehead!

Just A Quick Introduction.

I love social media and other online blogs & journal type websites, I am giving my blogger another try inspired by The Girl in Seafoam Green, aka ANA. I will try my best to maintain and keep up to date with this blog, I realized it's nice to have an organized collection of my thoughts and the interesting things that happen in my daily life..