happy Monday, vol. 4

3 things that have made me happy lately ... 
1. On Thursday, I had my last history of libraries class. My two other courses finish this week.

2. Taking a three-hour nap on Saturday. It's peak allergy season for me, which means I'm sneezy and tired. I'd like to blame my allergies for my fuzzy brain, too.  (Example: packing my laptop, but not my charger, for a meeting with classmates on Sunday, and forgetting my purse, too!) Given the pile of work I need to finish in the next week or so, I'm not sure how many naps I can squeeze in, but I did enjoy that Saturday one.

3. This pin (which shows characters from nemu*nemu, a cute little webcomic created by Hawaii artists) was a sweet little gift from a classmate on Thursday. I have gotten into the habit of wearing different pins on my cardigans and jackets, and my discussion group members got into the habit of noticing what I was wearing. I've found that pins are the perfect way to add a little whimsy to any outfit.

Try-it-out Tuesday: vanilla and raspberry

     My friend and I went out for happy hour on Saturday night. We got Kobe beef sliders, Jamaican jerk fries, and hot crab and artichoke dip. (Oh yeah, and I did get the obligatory drink -- but it should be obvious that I'm really there for the food!) I have never considered myself a French fry enthusiast, but the jerk fries were something else. I think the seasonings and the aioli-like dip were what drew me in.

 

Cinnamon Girl (local boutique) top

DKNY Soho white jeans, Macy's

pearl earrings, gift from Philippines

pearl bracelets, HauteLook

    Anywho,  I guess we should talk about what I wore now, right? This is the first time I've worn my white jeans at night. While I'm still nervous about wearing white and the possibility of spilling or dripping something on these pants, I do like how they accentuate the colors in the top.

    I also decided that Happy Hour was a good time to try out my new Revlon lip butter in Raspberry Pie. Somehow I find this color easier to wear, maybe because it's more pink-ish?

Pretty crochet details. :)

 Happy Tuesday!

happy Monday: vol. 3: 2 books & a snack

1. "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness. It's an art to construct a snappily paced page-turner. I've already added the remainder of the trilogy to my summer reading list. How much of the list I'll get through is up for debate, as I'll be teaching summer school for 4 weeks and attending my own summer school for 6 weeks, but hope springs eternal when you love to read ... :)
2. Parmesan garlic bagel chips. You know people love you when they bring this back for you as an omiyage (souvenir/travel gift) from Las Vegas. They come in a cylindrical plastic container and need to go in a carry-on unless you plan on giving away bagel powder. The chips are delicately crispy when you first bite into them, and then they just about melt away in your mouth. Utterly addictive.

via

3. "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio. This book reminds me of Gennifer Choldenko's "Al Capone Does My Shirts" in some ways, as both books are about extraordinary children and their sometimes difficult lives among the so-called "normal" people. Some of the YA fiction I read is enjoyable and good in itself but nothing I would re-read or recommend. This one is a book I will be passing along and recommending to others, and it will probably get a spot on my annual roundup of best reads.

Try-it-out Tuesday: striking {out?} & questions

     One of my goals for blogging is to develop my style completely -- not just the clothes, but the shoes,  accessories, and makeup. Makeup is somewhat daunting. The rows upon rows of products, the infinite colors, and sometimes the eye-popping price tags ...
    During my blog reading lately, I've really been admiring the bright lips other bloggers have been wearing. I decided to give it a try on Saturday night. Below I'm wearing lipstick from Nuance (Salma Hayek's new cosmetic line) in Paprika.

    The Mr. called it "striking," but he wasn't sure if he liked it. I felt the same way -- every time I looked in the mirror, all I saw was my very bright mouth.
    My Saturday night photos don't convey how bright the lipstick appeared (I did blot it heavily and then apply Burt's Bee's Red Dahlia tinted lip balm over it). See the photos below for a better idea of the color:

Not blotted

       I also realized that bright lipstick is an entirely different creature from lip glosses or tinted lip balms -- careful, precise application is a must. I didn't notice any feathering or bleeding, but I wasn't wearing it for very long. Do you use a lip liner? A lip brush to apply? And any tips on how to wear a bright lipstick?  (I kept my eye makeup neutral here -- not that you can tell from the photos. Related question: how do you get your makeup to show up in photos?) Lastly, do you prefer a bright lip with certain types of outfits or colors? If you have advice, I'd love to hear it. :)
     Happy Tuesday!

happy Monday, vol. 2

   3 things that have made me happy lately ... :)
1. The novel "1Q84" by Haruki Murakami. I requested it from the library -- I was probably #70-ish -- and here it is. Let's talk about not-so-great timing -- these are the last few weeks of school, when everything is due. If I can't finish it by the time it's due (which is likely, given its size), I might have to break down and buy a copy so I don't interrupt the reading flow.

 “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

 -- Dalai Lama 

2.    I really enjoyed hearing the Dalai Lama speak on Sunday. He was funny, wise, down to earth, and a staunch believer in our ability to create a peaceful world. This event ate up quite a bit of my Sunday, but it was worth it. It was a sold-out event: while the speech was scheduled for 1:45 p.m., doors opened at 11, and attendees were advised to arrive early. I got there about 10:45 a.m. and only stood in line briefly before going through the individual security gates -- I heard folks who came later waited in line for up to 45 minutes.
      His Holiness discussed how compassion is a deliberate choice. I also found a lot of value in his observation that we need to see an event that we find troubling or disruptive from different perspectives and at a distance. He referred to his own nation's troubles, saying that he believes a good thing -- the unity of today's Tibetans -- arose from their troubles with China.
3.   Musician Jake Shimabukuro. There was a stellar lineup of pre-speech performers, including Michael McDonald and some of Hawaii's best musical artists. Jake Shimabukuro premiered his composition "Playing with Less" via video. I've never listened to Jake's music before, but I thought it was a beautiful piece of music and the thoughts he shared were wonderful. It's not been released on the Internet yet, but hear his rendition of "Hallelujah" here. Or hear his rendition of one of my favorite songs, the Beatles' "In My Life, here. (Can you tell I'm a new fan?)

lessons in boldness

    I put this outfit together on Wednesday, and realized it's a promising sign of style progress. As my profile blurb notes, I'm trying to become a "pencil-skirt rockin', artfully accessorized woman."
I looked at this, and thought, hmm ... not bad. :)

 Merona buttondown, previously loved by E.I.

pencil skirt, Calvin Klein outlet

necklace, eBay

belt, Old Navy

      First off, thanks go to Katie of Hems for Her for inspiring me to pull out my pencil skirt. See her workin' that skirt here and here. It is so inspiring to me to see a teacher dressing with such confidence and verve. I've been guilty of sporting the tee and jeans look in the classroom a lot, but I'm realizing that how I present myself is key as well. If I put all that thought and care into my lessons and relationships with students ... why not show students how much I enjoy my work by dressing with pride?

    I have to admit that I almost chickened out on wearing the colorful necklace. I was headed for a work meeting and wondered if this necklace was too much. But then I decided that if I wanted to wear it, I should wear it. To me, it elevated the whole outfit from ho-hum professional to fun yet polished. Looks like I'm learning how to have fun with my accessories, one eBay necklace at a time ...

Try-it-out Tuesday: turquoise pants & double cardis

    I was thrilled to find these pants at Ross the other week. They fit great, are amazingly soft to the touch, and are a perfect length -- just a bit of excess at the end that can be scrunched or folded.  

   Velvet Heart jeggings, Ross, $22.99 

gray Banana Republic cardigan, previously loved by Mom

Joseph A. cardigan, Macy's

 Fossil "Mystic" necklace, Macy's

     Ever since then, I've been determinedly pinning outfit ideas on Pinterest. I'm excited about pairing these pants with neutrals (black, gray, white),  patterns (stripes, florals) and punchy colors (red, blues of every shade, purples).
   It's gray, overcast and chilly here, so I decided to double up on the cardigans for some layering fun. 

   I'm pleased that I've finally become a member of the Bright Pants Club! I feel really comfortable with this color, so I think these pants are going to be well-used.
   Happy Tuesday!

happy Monday, vol. 1

     I try to make gratitude/remembering my blessings a daily activity. A fun way to extend this into my blog life is through my new feature: happy Monday. I'll be sharing 3 things each week that make me smile! Here we go ...

1. Sesame Street's Yup Yup Martians ... the Mr. and I were having a serious conversation on Friday and somehow I managed to work in this Sesame Street reference. Having grown up in another country, he didn't get the reference, but that didn't curtail my enjoyment. :)



2. My friend K and I are going to see the Dalai Lama on Sunday! I've read a few of his books, so I'm excited to hear him speak. Another person who I would love to see is Thich Nhat Hanh.

3. Chocolate -- giving it (bunnies), getting it (Godiva strawberry and raspberry chocolates), and, uh, eating a whole bag of it by myself (Rolos).

   Happy Monday!

ruffles and pleats (again)

  The best way to figure out how to wear something out of my comfort zone? Wear it with everything, and through trial and error find a combination that feels comfortable and looks good. On Tuesday I paired my pleated midi skirt with a ruffled and patterned top. It's hot enough here to break out the shorts, but this is a more fashionable alternative to the tee-and-shorts look I've succumbed to in the past. 

Spying on the neighbors? :)

Lush pleated midi skirt, Nordstrom Rack clearance

blue Bandini, Ross

top, Forever 21

belt, Ross

Indigo by Clarks "Plover" sandal

     The verdict? I still think I like this skirt best when paired with a graphic tee. However, it was kind of fun to see how it looks paired up with a girly top. Next up: breaking away from the navy blue and pairing this skirt up with other colors ...

Little Facts

 

1. The Body ... well, when I read this, the first thing that popped into my mind was "body of knowledge." Occupational hazard, I suppose, of free-lance editing academic journal articles. I've figured out that editing journal articles is a fun way to learn and get paid for it.
2. Peeve: people who don't know when to stop talking. Like the guy in my history of libraries class who is always talking to his friend in an undertone while the teacher is saying something. Is it just me, or is that rude?
3. Allergy: I am allergic to people who complain of boredom. I was raised to entertain myself, so I don't think I'm ever really bored. I always suspect these bored people of lacking some inner reserves. (I don't know what's in that inner reserve, exactly, but I think theirs is empty!) I also suspect that their bookshelves are empty, or that they *gasp* don't own or borrow books.
       I am also horribly allergic to grass. Which means that while most people are sniffing delightedly at the air after the grass is cut, I'm cringing and trying to remember whether I took all of my allergy meds.

March roundup: farewell to foolishness

March's allotted funds: $30.
actually spent: $42.75 (so half of April's funds are spoken for!)
money left for April: $17.25.

1: petite trouser jeans, Macy's, $13.52.  My other trouser jeans were from Banana Republic, and didn't get worn much because I think I'm between sizes at BR -- I can barely squeeze into a 4 but end up swimming in a 6. Not to mention that the petite was still too long and dragged on the ground. These were the right price, fit better, and I'll make good use of them.
2: Charter Club tunic, Macy's, $16.24. Love the stitched hem detail, bright colors, and easy cut -- plan to pair this up with skinnies or white jeans.
3: green-and-white tee from stripedshirt.com, won in giveaway from Hayley of The Weekend File. My first giveaway win!   :D
4. tie-waist palazzo pants, Ross, $12.99. I tried them on here.
5. Calvin Klein double-zipper sheath, $39.99, Ross, not shown but seen here. ** Cost not included in this month's total because I'm considering it a gift to myself for passing my aikido test. And I did end up returning that lovely silk dress I bought at the same time.


     Like I've mentioned before, this $30-a-month business isn't really working. (I'm embarrassed to admit that I've spent my allotment for the next 3 months). While I'll be posting roundups and parceling items out over the next few months, I cut off the spending on Sunday, April 1 (when I bought a pair of turquoise jeggings). It's kind of fitting that I made the decision on April Fool's Day, considering the saying, "A fool and her money are easily parted" ...

Try-it-out Tuesday: daydream 0, reality 1

   Wandering through fields of gently waving grass and vivid wildflowers, enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea in a quaint shop while gazing out the window at a picturesque street scene ... that's what I think I should be doing while wearing this dress. Which perhaps explains why I haven't worn it since buying it more than a year ago.

 Maxi dress, Old Navy

   Love Change tank, Macy's

Carole agate necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance, ($2.40!)

vintage mother-of-pearl ring, belonged to great-aunt

 
     The dress is rather low-cut, so I added a tank for coverage and to balance out the fanciness of the dress.

      I didn't do anything special in this dress -- it was the first day of classes after spring break. But I did feel pretty all afternoon long. And I think that always counts for something. :)