red hot color

Last week, I wore a red blazer to a business casual breakfast event (quite daring I know!), and let me tell you, I felt amazing! It's incredible what the color red does to my mood. I felt so energized the entire day, despite a full day of schoolwork and events ahead of me. New goal: surround myself with this wonderful color more often! Cheers to beautiful color on our clothes and in our lives :)

Bag, Bra, Nail Polish, Maybelline Lip Stain, Sunglasses, Strawberries & Macaroon!

stay-cation

A few words: firstly, I've missed you, dear friends. I've been longing to chat with you all week!! (Euphemisms for life-has-been-crazy-and-I-suck-at-time-management!!!) I've been loaded with work (and more work) and in dire need of some pretty pictures and inspiration... so thought I'd share some of my favorites if you're on the same boat as me. Let's take a stay-cation, beginning with an exhale...

and then pack up our trunks...

for a daydream vacation to Greece...


where we'll buy lots of those funky "flowerbags" just 'cause...


and write letters to friends back home...


about our fabulous grain-sack armchair...


and the cake-making class we're taking...


and the quirky 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater we're coveting...


and the beautiful, interesting columns we're reading, like
WSJ Magazine's "Big Interview" and NYT's "Modern Love"

Don't you feel so much better? I sure do! :)

versatile thinking

My dear Louise recently awarded me a "Versatile Blogger" award (thanks girl!) which means I get to share 7 random facts about me. But since I've done this before, I think I'll mix it up by sharing instead 7 (extremely) random thoughts in my head today. Starting with...

1. My newfound love: Amarula chocolate! My friend Megan brought these back for me from South Africa, and I literally inhaled 5 chocolates in 1 minute. SO GOOD.

2. My entrepreneurship club's first meeting is on Monday! I'm pumped!

3. I don't care what anybody says, the Bachelor Pad is one helluva addicting show.

4. This blouse from Alexa Chung for Madewell is adorable.

5. 9/11. Here's to maintaining peace, tolerance, and love.

6. Seeing EXIT/ENTRANCE and Lara's (of Her Name Was Lola) big debut tonight!

7. And on a really random note: Autumn weather makes me crave some mac-n-cheese!

And now I will pass off this award to Lana, Shannon, and Carissa xo

oh playful night

My dears, it's a Wednesday, and I declare this mid-week night a night for celebration! Wherever you are, join in me in drinking that extra glass of wine and ordering two desserts. I'll update you more soon, but for now, I leave you with some yummy udon noodles (a favorite Thai meal of mine) and lots of love! xoxo!

PS: Just two more days for our fun giveaway!

roger & gallet soap

Did I really just spontaneously buy three packs of daintily perfumed and packaged Roger & Gallet soap? Was there really no reason for purchase besides the sheer pleasure? Were they really half off? Um, is the sky blue?!

PS: Another soap I loved and of course blogged.

botanical bulb

Anyone here with a green thumb? I went to the Brooklyn flea last weekend and found the cutest little booth - almost a garden! So many sweet little plants, especially the one in a lightbulb. My mother would love this - hi Mom!

Weirdly, during the end of a weekend like this Sunday night, I like to reflect on the weekend prior. Which means next weekend, you'll probably hear me gush about the fun activities from today (at the pride parade and a polo match)! But for now - lightbulb plant. So neat!

weekend wishes

Do you ever have teeny, tiny wishes that are actually pretty attainable but still are wonderful to dream about? I have them all the time, and then I try to make them happen! Fulfilling our spontaneous urges are what makes us feel the most alive. And jotting down those wishes are just the first step. So this weekend, I'm wishing to:

... read this book

... find a girl-version of this guy's yellow jacket!

... cook recipes from here

... meet this amazing, inspiring man

... sing this beautifully haunting song

... shop for jewelry here

... shop for pretty bicycles and helmets

And as always, keep it...

Have a wishful weekend!

(I forgot the photo sources - please let me know if they're yours!)

another dose of inspiration

Inspiration posts. I've dedicated a lot of this blog to them in the past two years, and along the way, shared with you what my tastes are, what moves me, what kind of things I'm curious about & care about, etc. Sometimes it's hard to define who we are upfront (we're all such complex and contradictory creatures), but sharing inspiration? It's the most natural way to say hello, this is me. Here's a peek into my soul. You've seen 2009's, so here's some inspiration for 2010! xx

Being comfortable with yourself, first and foremost.

Growing stronger with every hardship, even if it's really hard.


Finding & embracing your individual style, not your mom's or your friend's. Yours.


Loving where you live, and if not, finding a place to love and call home.


Being open to failures, regrets, risks. And being open-minded.

And lastly...


Funny how inspiration can translate into some great advice. These last two I'm especially taking into heart. More to come, I'm sure. :)

(photos via various sources)

the big exam

Is today. I think I can, I think I can, I know I can...

pret-a-portea

I always did want to have tea with Karl Lagerfield and Madonna...

Fabulous!

book haven

Sometimes, a girl just needs to curl up in a nice comfy couch and indulge in a good book. Call me a nerd, but I am in dire need of escaping into literary paradise, stat! I've been feeling a little overwhelmed by myself lately, have you ever felt that way? All of my thoughts on my life (be it business, school, love, friends) have been getting on my nerves -- I think my brain needs a bit of perspective; a story to dwell on that is not my own.

Do you have any good books to share? I loved The Glass Castle. (Memoirs rock!)

inspiration: this and that

One of my favorite bloggers, Oh Joy! has the most amazing little column in her blog called This & That, in which she pairs a fashion design item with a home decor piece. (And let me tell you, the pairs are ah-mazing. You have to check them out!) I tried to make my own This & That's, but it's so hard to find the right photos! So far, I've got this one 'cause I love turquoise...

Necklace from Vivre; Door unknown.

wonderful women

I've had these photos of two sweetly fabulous ladies from the '60s (I believe) saved in my computer for months. I have no idea who they are, but I just love them so much... perhaps because they look like such family women, like they were just the most wonderful wives and doting mamas. (And clearly hair connoisseurs as well!)

I couldn't get them out of my mind all week. Actually, they've served as my daily reminders to take it easy and enjoy the life I have, since I've been feeling so stressed by the constant balancing act. So today, inspired by their serenity, I put down my blackberry and planner, grabbed a scrumptious-looking salad with lots of avocado, and thoroughly enjoyed a few moments of sunshine outside, just me and my thoughts. It was heavenly. Then, I called my mom for some TLC, because we all know that mothers -- awesome hairdo or not -- are always sweet and especially fabulous.

(photos via 1001 rules for my unborn son)

inside the bag...

I got tagged! You guys are so creative, I don't know who comes up with these fun blog games, but I like them! So the rules are to share one of my bags + its contents, because we all know a girl's bag certainly tells a story about its owner. I got all psyched to snap some shots of my things, but then I realized they are actually rather boring...

My trusty Liz Claiborne school bag

Wallet, Revlon red lipstick, DuWop lipbalm, Blackberry, Marketing textbook, Glamour magazine (for the subway!), Moleskin weekly planner, poetry notebook, and snacks.

Does this mean I'm a boring person?! (Hey, I like books.... and snacks!) Well, in my defense, it's midterms crunch time, so I'm more functional and academic than anything else at this point! Before I go back to studying, what's in your bag? I'd love to know, Trishie, Louise, Diya, and Lara! (And all of you lovely readers as well -- I'm so curious.)

PS: Another fun blog game post.

a serious question

Since my last post had a picture of cat in it, I'm inspired to ask: The Catorialist or Hipster Puppies for the win?

Both are looking fierce.

internal combustion

I have been feeling so blah as of late. What is up, dear brain? Maybe it's just due to my busy work/class schedule and job interviews and lack of my usual creative writing class, but when my friend asked me if I've been feeling alright, I couldn't even answer! I am so starved for inspiration, and not the kind that you just see, but the kind that you experience and interact with. Without a daily boost, I really am stuck in a rut! I certainly miss that feeling of internal combustion, of feeling truly, gloriously alive. Do you know what I mean? (Any helpful tips?)

(photo via style clicker)

brilliant typography

F for Friday!

Last night, I stumbled upon Daily Drop Cap, an incredibly creative series of stylized letters, from A to Z, by typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische. So happy I found it. I felt like a little kid who just peeked into a kaleidoscope for the first time -- so many colors and shapes! Go check out the project, and prepare to be duly impressed!

(via English Muffin)

(you've lost) that loving feeling

Quiet day. It's my Dad's 50th birthday, so we had a nice dinner at home to celebrate (in addition to sushi lunch last weekend at Minado, which was delicious). Cracked open some red wine for the adults + Martinelli's sparkling cider for the tween sister. Munched on yummy seafood -- fish, shrimp, etc. Sister and I presented Dad with a homemade gift. Then we went to the gym. (Have to prepare for resolution #1!)

I also thought about movies all day, specifically, what makes a good movie? (Question prompted after I saw Nine in theatres and was miserably disappointed. All that talent wasted on a flat plot. And don't get me started on The Lovely Bones -- which by the way was filmed in our neighborhood, across the street in the 'burbs of Philadelphia. Could an adaptation of a book be more poorly executed? Book's author went to my old high school. Maybe I'm biased? And, why, why is Avatar making so much money? Highest grossing opening weekend ever + 5th highest grossing movie in box office history, so far. I don't get it and will not be watching blue aliens on IMAX, I'm sorry.) I guess I'll understand more of the kinks in the movie business next semester. Did I mention I'm taking a class with the Tribeca Film Festival? Beyond excited.

Then, just earlier, I watched some Top Gun on TV. Tom Cruise + other pilot trainees sang "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers. I ate a grapefruit. Young Tom Cruise and friends in a sexy volleyball scene. Sweaty and shirtless. I ate some leftovers + another grapefruit. Leave it to Top Gun to help me get my "loving feeling" back for all movies, even the stinky ones. But I need to get into tip-top toned shape (tell you why later), so no more snacking in front of the TV!

Don't judge me, Iceman.

ain't no mountains high enough

Resolutions for 2010! Why do I have a feeling that this year is going to be our year? (A new decade sounds so fresh!) Personally, 2009 has taught me to grow thicker skin and inner strength. I've toughened up, so I need to have tougher expectations of myself. Am I alone with this? Let's not get complacent here, chickadees.

Christian and Heidi say, "Be fierce!"

Last year, I made wimpy resolutions (and thus kept them all, quite easily). But never again! Sometimes, the more intimidating the goals, the more inspiring and empowering they can be. Maybe I'm especially emboldened because this year I've crossed off five of my 12 life aspirations recorded from last January. (#'s 4, 5, 6, 8, and 11 if you're curious.) That means five more new aspirations to replace them! Here we go:

1. Run a half-marathon (or other athletic equivalent)
2. Become an expert sewer and tailor my own clothes
3. Make a short film
4. Find passion + volunteer for a great social cause
5. Become a mentor (and mentee)

And some daily resolutions:
*Stop forgetting to take vitamins!
*Weekly yoga (no more excuses)
*Read/write more poetry
*Put more thought into this blog!

Wish me luck! I'm rooting for all of your resolutions too. xo

tea, how I love thee

Some people like coffee,

But I prefer tea, 'cause

Coffee makes me jittery,
But tea brings me, to me.

*mini-poem because I love
tea THAT much. xo

(adorable tea cozy by knitstorm)