Fourth of July 2013

Hello everyone!

Not sure if I am getting a glitch, but all of the blogs I have been following just disappeared from my sidebar! Hope this is just a minor bug that will get fixed soon..

Anywho, I have quite an update as I have been trying to be more active in attending events! But let me first show you the best kale salad I had EVER had.

I actually had this wonderful kale salad from a small cafe/diner-esque joint in San Francisco called Citizens Band Restaurant. If you look up the photos of the exterior of the place, it really does not pop out much. But looks are deceiving! Their small lunch menu packs a punch and I would definitely go again!

A few things I received this past month.

This gorgeous ceramic dish is from Holland, given to me by a close friend who went on a (in the most literal sense) Euro-trip. She knows me so well! I love dainty things and wooden goods, and so this dish was the perfect size to hold my small hair things that need... containing.

I went to AX (Anime Expo, not Armani Exchange har har) this past weekend, and my twinsy met up with me to give me a box of mixed goodies as a belated birthday gift! It included a perfume sample (with postcard), two Zoya orange nail polishes (finally!), three different My Dear Diary face masks, a baggy of cute pins, a gag bellybutton cleaner, and mint travel toothpaste. So random, but I will use them indeed! ...except that bellybutton cleaner haha.

Before I talk more about AX, let me rewind a bit back.

A mini splurge I did with my twinsy..

Not going to lie, a sale on SASA is hard to pass up on, so I stocked up on face masks. It didn't help that my twinsy also gave me some of her masks as part of my belated birthday gift. NO REGRETS!

There is the bad thing about malls. You go through them sometimes with a goal, and once you have completed your mission, you want to leave. But you can't. Because sales are everywhere during this time of year.

Did I mention that I'm a sucker for lotions?

I ended up purchasing 3 bottles of Country Apple (2 lotions and one shower gel) and 1 bottle of Juniper Breeze (lotion). Country Apple is hard to come by (especially when there is a sale), and is a classic fragrance of Bath and Body Works (so nostalgic for me).. so of course I would dive a little deep when it is only $3/bottle!

On another note, I recently bought a sewing machine (second-hand) from a British family nearby! They made plans to move to a different place, and needed to get some excess bulk out of the home. The sewing machine was used once or twice for small fixes on children's clothes, and so it was in a brand-new state!

LUCKY ME! ヾ(〃^∇^)ﾉわぁい♪

Dressed and ready to check-out the machine!

Forever21, Cotton-On, Betsey Johnson, Michael Kors

My OOTD initially involved a backpack, but the heat did not play nice with that as an accessory so I decided on my smallest bag. Sorry, but I forgot to wear my shoes for these shots. (≧Д≦) ゴメンヨー

And alas, here it is! A HUGE PICTURE OF MY NEW FRIEND! Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ

Other than a bit of dust, this was basically new! It still had the box and manual, and the previous owner even gave me spare needles and bobbins! I have many projects in mind now!! And so I quickly purchased for $60! I highly recommend purchasing a sewing machine through Craigslist if you are on a budget but want to be crafty. Be patient, and the right machine will be posted (I waited quite some time until I cam across this post!).

On the same day (if I recall correctly), I attended the Alameda County Fair during its opening week to see what it had to offer. Because the night would get chilly, I switched out to some harem pants. Weather was still rather warm though, so I did a fishtail ponytail (uh...what?).

I took very few photos during my time at Alameda County Fair since I was on the hunt for the alligator hotdog (it was not worth it; didn't even taste that good) and I was shoving all the fair foods down my small frame of a body. These two photos were the only photos I took that are worth posting:

ALASKAN PIG RACE!! No, they are not Alaskan (no idea why it would be named that way) pigs, but little ones! The size of a maltese! Super cute!! I was squealing the whole time.

A little extra shopping was done sometime after, and I was able to do this with my new-found sewing machine friend:

I have SO many button-up tops, but none were actually short-sleeved! The only short-sleeved I owned was one I had purchased at MUJI during my New York trip. I used that as a template (right) and upcycled one of my oxford shirts from UNIQLO (left). Pretty good right?

My tools:

Strangely enough, I received other tools from my brother as a birthday gift (pun intended):

You would think as a girl, these items are not quite appropriate for me. However, I beg to differ! The spork is so convenient to take to work or camping since this one utensil doubles up as two! The swiss army knife is also handy for random times when a bottle needs to be opened, something need to be cut/filed, or fruit/whatnot needs to be chopped! Useful items yes! Big plus, the swiss army knife is like 2 inches long only! Super compact!!

As a belated birthday gift to myself, I finally FINALLY found the perfect classic black bag:

Getting curious?

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THE PERFECT BAG!! The dimensions are that of a standard piece of writing paper (8.5" x 11"). It's simple, classic,  and has been in Coach's line for many many years! 

One of the two phone plugs I purchased at Anime Expo is sitting comfortably on my phone now! $1 only!

And just to throw it out there, my baby beardie has grown! Look at how cute he is!!

The tip of his tail is dark as it is starting to shed!!

Talon recently discovered his love for burlap fabric..

I took Talon out once on a short drive and he found comfort in sitting on my lap the whole time. ＼(*T▽T*)／

Now my AX stay was quite brief. Somewhat packed, but super brief.

I attended Friday the whole day, carpooling with Obiwon and my recently married friend Nhung. We perused the exhibition hall and artist alley, and went on our way to find our other friends sprinkled throughout the convention.

With lovely V as Totoro! SOOO cute~ ヽ(･∀･)ﾉ♪

With the lovely Ana a.k.a. Mangafreak

Playing Settlers of Catan. THIS GAME LOL MAKES ME SO UPSET!

My settlements became a Cheeto factory.

With Twinsy!

The rest of my week consisted of family time and a brief trip to Fashion District in LA to get some materials for a cosplay I have in mind. Everything was rather smooth and simple, nothing too out there or crazy. I'm starting to enjoy the more mellow events now as the heat is making me feel like a sweating slug.

Stay cool and I will post again soon!

Liz Lisa and SF Japantown Hauls

Hooray for regular posting again! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ ﾀﾀﾞｲﾏｧ

In the case you all forgot what my face looked like ;D

 Last week, I flew back to LA to surprise my mother since her birthday was coming up. With my strange work schedule, it is difficult to coordinate something that would work for the family and myself. Along with other things, it really makes me wish I was still in LA.

And so I got my mother a mille fueille from my favorite bakery in Little Tokyo, Frances. I seriously need to stop advertising them like they sponsor me or something. Hahaha.

     

As usual, it was perfection! The many layers were crispy and flaky, the custard had the perfect amount of sweetness (not overloaded like many bakeries), and the whipped cream was soft and fluffy. Fruit was, as usual, fresh and sweet. I sometimes wonder if they get their fruit imported directly to them since no local grocery stores carry such ripe fruit during the winter season. Seriously, where do they get these fruits?

As you all know, I was raving about the box coat from MANGO in my previous post. Well the good news is that I got it, and it was freakin' gorgeous. The bad news is that it was too big! I ordered an XS and the shoulder width and sleeve length was too big! I checked for XXS online and in store, but no luck, it's all gone -sad-. And so when I went home for my mom's birthday, I rummaged through her vintage goods (she keeps all her clothes from the '80s in pristine condition), and found this:

Of course this is slightly oversized for me, but it is so warm. I will make this work. Wool exterior with faux fur inside. I swear I feel nothing from the outside when I wear this.

Another thing that happened recently in SoCal..

A NEW DAISO STORE IN MY HOMETOWN.

Okay, everyone is probably thinking of Daiso as some random 99cent store equivalent (which is true) and could only mean splurging on unnecessary things. Plus, they have hundred/thousands of stores around already, so I shouldn't be so excited every time there is one open.

In all honesty, I was not too impressed with this Daiso :(. This is mostly because this one was tiny! However, I still managed to find a few things I needed/wanted.

I can't believe there is still a line for this store when I got there. In NorCal, there is never a line like this.

My haul:

Hooks for Obiwon's frames

Falsies, bobby pins, and fly-away pins

 I honestly got the falsies because I forgot to withdraw cash and the minimum purchase with a credit card was $10. I haven't worn falsies in a while anyways, and these had a nice natural look, so I decided to give these a go. Just like any other girl, I am constantly losing my bobby pins, ESPECIALLY the small ones. This came in a box so this will help me organize whatever pins I have left. Also, WHY DID NO ONE THINK OF THIS SOONER? Fly-away pins? I was so excited when I got this.

Wire holders

I did not realize what a mess wires could cause until I vacuumed. It was horrendous. These saved me!

And finally..

Angora socks

W T F . When I saw these socks, I though they would cost $4 or so since they had angora fur, and some Daiso items are marked a bit higher for quality. Strangely enough, they were $1.50 EACH! Ridiculous! No wonder that whole section was practically clear when I got there.

Flight back to NorCal

And just like that, my weekend home was gone. Back to NorCal I went.

Then I heard exciting news. I panicked..a little. Okay, it was more like hyperventilating.

A new shop recently opened selling Liz Lisa. In the U.S. In San Francisco.


And they are pre-ordering Lucky Packs.

My heart started beating fast when I found the store online. And my palms got sweaty. I swear it was as though I am about to meet Nakashima Mika (as you know, she is my idol *Q*). And so I placed two LP pre-orders.

MARUQ

Strangely enough, when I first saw the name, I thought of MURUA (I have no idea why since their spelling is completely different =_=;), and so I started looking right away.

My style has always been "darker", more mode-gyaru than what Liz Lisa provides me. However, I realized that during this winter/fall, I have been following softer neutrals than my usual dark shades. If anything, I am closer to Cecil McBee than Liz Lisa. Regardless, I wanted some softer-looking tops to neutralize my dark/masculine looks. So here is what I pre-ordered from MARUQ:

1. Parade Tote Bag Set, $150

As described on MARUQ: "Tote typically contains 5 pieces, including a coat, knit cardigan, dress, top, and inner wear."

2. Dolly Set Tote Bag - Tops and Bottoms Style, $75

"Tote includes 3 coordinating separates (typically a skirt, cardigan, and blouse) that can be mixed & matched or used together to create a full-coordinate."

For those unfamiliar with LP's, they are essentially grab-bags. What this means is that they have a selection of coordinates, sometimes exactly as listed on the images, in a bag, usually at a discounted price. A variety of brands do LP's, however, it's usually a gamble as you may not always get the items you want/expected. However, if you are a loyal fan of a certain brand, you will probably enjoy the surprises.

I really wished MARUQ carried the other brands I liked, but since they opened in December, it will probably take some time before they are able to get more varieties. I am super excited for the items to come though. Crossing fingers!

I also finally got to visit a Koreatown equivalent (sort of?) in Santa Clara recently. Obiwon and I went to Lawrence Plaza for lunch and did some small shopping.

My OOTD

FOTD. I only have brown eyeshadow (Wet 'n Wild) and black gel eyeliner (Tony Moly) on. 

A view of the food court.

BFOTD - me on left, Obiwon on right

Dishes for lunch!

     

Paris Baguette cream bread and fruit pastry

My main reason for going to the area was to go to The Face Shop as I needed something to prevent my hair from becoming a static mess when I go out. Unfortunately, they were sold out of the hair masks, but the lovely saleslady recommended this. This contains olive oil and collagen to prevent the shine and moisture in the hair from escaping. I also received some samples on hydrating moisturizer. It sounds so refreshing right now...mmm...

     

As usual.. I had to stop by the nearby Daiso. Talon (my pet beardie) does not have a feeding tray since he eats crickets, but lately he has been eating cilantro (wow what? so cute right?!), so I needed something for his food. I found this bamboo coaster that was perfect for him! And then I saw this nifty tool to keep a neat bun on, and so I indulged a bit again.

Talon would keep slipping when his hands are on this dish (sauce dish). Sometimes he wouldn't expect it and suddenly get surprised when he slides (due to the wet cilantro water around dish).

Look how happy he is now that there is grip on the side! He is ready to feast. ﾜｰｲε=ヾ(*・∀・)/ 

I think I am on a roll. After getting our Korean fix, this week we went to Japantown. I have never been to Japantown, and wondered if it was anything like Little Tokyo (LA), and since I had to return my coat from MANGO in Union Square, we figured we could walk around Japantown afterwards.

OOTD

Okay, this was my first OOTD, but after I looked at this picture, I felt like I was going to work at an office or something. I love the preppy look, but it felt too ready-for-work for me... especially for a weekend. So I changed.

OOTD, take 2. It makes such a difference when I change pants (and added a vintage belt), don't you think? I also changed into my thrifted blazer to tone down the outfit a bit. Still preppy, but less office-like.

Lunch at Mifune Don. 

 We had lunch in Peace Plaza at a restaurant called Mifune Don. I was not hungry at all, but I know if I did not eat at that time, I would starve later. Ordered the lunch special!

I returned my box coat. I WAS SO SAD! I scoured the place for a smaller size but they did not even carry it anymore! And so I returned it and bought a pair of pants instead:

For some reason, MANGO pants fit me very very well! If be sure to measure yourself before buying online as they fit accordingly. I am a ~25-26 in waist and a size 4 fits perfectly.

Daifuku

 We needed to take a break as we walked through the whole mall (east and west) non-stop. So I bought daifuku for us to snack on at a bench before we headed to our final destinations.

Ichi Ban Kan and Kinokuniya Bookstore purchases:

Probably one of the weirder things (?) to purchase at Ichi Ban Kan. I have a pair of black penny loafers that I purchased but was half a size too big, and so it would always slip when I walked in them. I hope this works for me.

 When we separated at Kinokuniya Bookstore, I immediately went to the female fashion magazines. I have always loved the contents of the magazines from Japan as they always carried so much detail on outfits and makeup ideas (even though I cannot read any of it) that I wanted to indulge a bit. I ended up buying a nuts magazine, which came with an EMODA pouch. I did not care for the pouch as the magazine carried everything I was interested in (such as super easy makeup ideas and outfits), but the pouch was still super cute!

One of the things I have always loved about clothes is the way you can mix and match one or two items to make a variety of outfits. This one page in the magazine gives some great examples:

By the end of the day, we were exhausted. Obiwon and I went back with a lot of traffic waiting for us... and a Talon.

My homemade chocolate chip crumble for the workdays ahead

     

How was your weekend?