Cherry Blossom Festival in SF Japantown +

Hello all!!

( ^_^)／ やぁ！

As many may know, the past few weekends have been filled with activity in Japantown due to Cherry Blossom Festival!

I had missed out on it during the first week, so I tried my best to make it to the second week!

FOTD

I finally took the time to use my 3-prong Conair hair curler/waver that was gifted to me on Christmas by Rayna! A light mist of hairspray all over and my mermaid waves stayed on the whole day! FOTD courtesy of Rayna again, because she got me Naked 3, which has pink neutrals and browns.

To go with the pinkish theme, I wore a dusty pink/neutral flowy blouse (H&M) with a black mini peplum skirt (Zara) for some contrast. To give a more tamed look, I wore the pointy maryjane flatforms (unbranded), and finished it up with a pop of color with my orange Kate Spade cross-body bag.

Upon arriving Japantown, Obiwon and I started hunting for parking..

..for at least an hour.

We gave up and parked at a market nearby, only to later find 3 tow trucks removing cars from the lots (the parking is for customers only). We ran into Nijiya market to grab some food quickly, ran to the food booths and shoved our faces, and left to find something else to do. We did not want to risk getting the car towed.

Sadly, that was how my one hour in Japantown was during the festival. At the very least we were able to enjoy the festival food, but with such a short amount of time, I did not take any photos.

ヽ(　￣д￣;)ノ オテアゲー

Green tea daifuku from Nijiya Market

Filled with red bean!

Kirin Peach & Raspberry drink. New favorite!

Trying to find something to do, Obiwon and I decided to stop by to get some coffee then peruse around Muji.

I feel quite lucky that Muji is now more available in California. More recently, a store has opened in SoCal! The one that Obiwon and I went to is in SoMa.

I love that Muji gives us such simple designs that do everything we want. Getting the innovative Japanese products we want is always hard since it usually costs more than I can really afford. Fortunately, Muji makes everything easier for me! My small haul:

Face brush, wire organizer, cotton L/S shirt, wash bucket

I made these small purchases as a way to start migrating towards a more simpler design lifestyle (though I tend to go back and forth). The face brush is typically used by men to apply shaving cream to their beards before shaving. However, I purchased this as a manual version of the popular Clairsonic face brush. My skin is relatively sensitive, and Clairsonic is quite pricey for me, and so I opted for a manual brush. This face brush is made of white horse hairs and hinoki wood, and gives a wonderful fresh and woodsy fragrance! The wire organizer is for my sink as my facial products are taking up space and makes my sink area look messy. It looks a lot better now! The L/S shirt is so soft, and the colors are nice and mellow, great for lounging and wearing out casually. The wash bucket is mainly for face-washing since my sink is so deep, I end up taking forever filling my sink and use up more water than I need to.

That was essentially my Cherry Blossom Festival experience. Quite disappointed as I did not get to take my time to see everything (but no regrets on the Muji purchases!).

On another note, I have taken a few photos of my outfits since I had just recently got a mirror in my room!

ASOS, Uniqlo, Zara, Sperry, Coach

H&M, vintage, Gap, Sperry

H&M, Zara, unbranded, Kate Spade

And some food!

Homemade dumpling with noodles

Homemade pork ribs

Homemade pork chops and chicken soup

Homemade sandwich

Homemade...epic bread lol

Talon Update

I finally took the opportunity to take better photos of Talon in the new apartment. He seems to enjoy his new home!

Though I was not able to go to the festival, my apartment-mate Stef came back from SakuraCon with a small gift for me:

This super cute pencil pouch! Light colors and big size, great as a makeup bag, or pencil bag, or even a small errand bag (ex. for receipts, pen, checklist, small change, etc.).

Thank you Stef!

Hopefully I get to go to Japantown events earlier and miss out on the traffic and parking havoc next time.

How was your weekend?

Vox Box Review - Some things in life are free...seriously?

Yes. Sometimes, things are just free. Without a catch.



Seriously.




..really?! O____O;

Behold, Influenster Vox Box!

I joined a few months ago, but didn't really dive in until lately. Why? Mostly because I'm lazy.

Joining is free! All you do is sign up, and start "influencing" people! Review some items you have had before, fill out a survey about your lifestyle, and you're set! The more complete your profile, the better chance you get at retrieving a VoxBox!

So you don't always get a box of goodies? Not always.

This is because they cater items to your lifestyle. Certain themed boxes come out and only select people are able to get it depending on how well their lifestyle matches the box set. That's a good thing though, because the last thing I would want is a bunch of stuff I won't use!

I recently received the Violet VoxBox, themed around Winter and the color...violet! What did I receive?

BAM! It was very in-your-face haha.

Items received:

1. Goody Athletique Ouchless Headwrap
2. Glacial Clay Spa Mask
3. Sally Hanson Triple Shine Nail Polish in Sparks Fly
4. SoyJoy Chocolate Cherry Bar
5. Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

I will use all of these! I have recently gotten back into stretching/cardio, and with my bangs growing out, my bangs get in the way! The Goody headwrap will be perfect for this occasion! After a good workout, energize with a SoyJoy bar and the Glacial Clay mask!

I have been quite curious about dry shampoos, as this dry Winter weather has been doing crazy things with my hair. I considered buying a bottle of a different brand, but ended up not purchasing due to unfamiliarity with the product and brand in general. This travel-size Not Your Mother's will do me good!

     

Winter is here and this is PERFECT for the season! Reminds me of icicles and snow. I have yet to try it out, but I know Sally Hansen will not disappoint me.

TRY OUT GOODIES FOR FREE! I haven't been disappointed in my VoxBox items yet, so why don't you join Influenster and try some new items?

October Haul Post

This post is for my purchases in October and my thoughts on them!

My OOTD

Now, let's get started!

Beauty Products

Love More Snail Mucin Healing and Hydrating Mask, Face Q Peony and Snow Lotus Mask, Face Q Ocean + Aloe Mask

I got some face masks from Sasa because the weather is slowly getting colder, which means my face will soon start feeling the cold dry air. My skin is complicated, so I need to hydrate accordingly. I have not used the masks yet though since the weather keeps jumping from chilly to hot.

Something I got extra in the order was the Nivea Body Whitening Treatment Cream. I have been using it on my arms since I have been doing more activities outdoors and have been getting an uneven tan because of it. Highly recommend this product since it smells lightly of berry yogurt, hydrates well, and is not oily! I will purchase a larger bottle once I finish this product!

Clothes

Zara, ASOS, ASOS

 I have been trying to stock up on some transitioning clothes; clothes you can wear at the end of summer towards autumn. It is still warm, but I can feel the chills starting to catch up. Let's get a better look at the items!

The Zara top is actually quite nice! The color is actually a dark blue-grey (I apologize for the poor lighting!). A bit soft and quite airy. I liked that this simple muscle tee has a quilted pattern on the shoulders as it would keep me a tad warm, but  not too much. The scalloped hem is also a nice touch.

This ASOS top is something quite unexpected! I purchased this top on the whim since I had a stripes moment, and I ended up loving this shirt so much (I'm wearing it in my OOTD photo!). It feels quite liquidy and light. It is a bit loose, but not overly-so. Its length is just enough for a tucked-in look or left untucked for a simple lounging feel. I wish there were more colors available for this!

I am madly in love with this top. The color is that of Cammy's (Street Fighter) uniform, and even the fit is similar to her bodysuit! The top fits me just perfectly, leaving no ruched sides and accentuating my mildly broad shoulders. I loved the fit so much, I also own this in black.

Saturday

Kate Spade's newest brand, Saturday is definitely made for the ladies who want to dress up for work, but want some more pop! in the monotonous workplace styles. I purchased this blouse because the pattern was a lovely mix of floral and geometric, and is also suitable for a variety of other occasions. If it wasn't enough, the fit is perfect for my dainty figure! I purchased a leather wallet clutch as well since my current wallet was taking up more space in my bag than need be.

Uniqlo

I am back in SoCal now, and so the convenience of a Uniqlo is now gone. ･｡(｡/□＼｡)｡･ﾟ Fortunately enough, there is a webstore! I purchased a cotton plaid button-up for my winter wardrobe and an alpaca sweater for the colder weather. The plaid in the photo is horrendous, but trust me, the actual item is a lot more contrasted. The alpaca sweater purchase was a no-brainer since 1) I have never owned anything made of alpaca fur, and 2) I have a weakness for sweaters. I don't actually own a light grey sweater (with the exception of my angora cardigan), and I have been loving crewneck sweaters lately, so a $20 investment was not too bad in my opinion! The sweater itself feel like a soft wool, something like an angora and wool mix. There are a lot of colors available for this sweater too, so I do recommend this!

Supreme

This was a gift from Obiwon when I went on the Yosemite trip! The color is of a dusty mustard yellow, quite true to the photo. It is from the A/W 2013 line, and has quite a nice fit. LOVE the pom-pom on top. This will be a wonderful staple for my casual outings during the cold season.

Forever21

To be honest, I have been avoiding Forever21. When I was younger, I felt that the brand was a savior for those with pocket change, but as I got older, I realized that a lot of the clothes are difficult for transitioning into a more mature look, at least professionally speaking. However, I passed by today and my eye latched onto this button-up, so I had to have it. I tried it on and it fit perfectly! Then on my way to the register, I also caught a glimpse of this adorable sock pattern! Nabbed that too! Just glancing at this, it looks like I went shopping at Madewell. Button-ups work for just about every occasion, so I am quite happy with this!

I am so happy with my clothes for the colder season! I feel like I dress up the most as the season turns chillier.


What staples will you be having this season?

February OOTD's and Hauls

I know you are all expecting it..

Happy Lunar New Year!!  ≡ヾ(*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ

Unfortunately, no photos were taken during the festivities as time was spent with the family! Cleaning, cooking, eating, and all that jazz! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Food

Now, let's start off with random pictures of food. Nothing crazy this time guys, sorry!

Salted caramel and lavender ice cream from Bi-Rite

This was amazing. I finished this in 5 minutes. Salted Caramel is a close second to my favorite Mocha Almond Fudge flavor, and lavender was so...refreshing? I am not too fond of eating something that smells like an ingredient of potpourri, but this was amazingly fantastic. I should have bought a pint. Sigh.

Home-cut fruit

 At home, this is what I had after dinner every night. If anyone ever asks how I don't gain weight, I seriously think it just might be the fact that I eat 6 different fruits after each dinner at home.

Grandmother's Foo Jook Tang

This is the one soup that cannot compare. No matter who makes this soup, my grandmother makes it the best. Call it bias, but... no, she makes the best. I have this every Lunar New Year (as well as other select Chinese holidays) and usually drink 3-5 bowls of it. In one sitting. And I am not talking about rice bowls. And yes, I have my rice and side dishes along with it.

Haul

You know, I think the world is evil. When I am trying to practice self-control, that is when all the sales pop up. Fortunately enough, I DO have some form of self-control. So here what I exchanged my wallet for -cough-:

 1. Faux Suede Wedges

A lot of people tend to look at me weird when I get excited over something so...simple. Most ladies out there would expect something epic crazy like a pair of spiked Litas from Jeffrey Campbell, or something more high-end. However, I am stuck with a dilemma that no girl should really suffer through: I walk like my legs are made of JELLO! Of course, this is more of a first-world-problem type thing, but it's really embarrassing! Really! When I think up cute outfits and try to throw on a pair of heels, I sense people worry for me as I walk.

So I realized wedges are my solution. My first pair of nice wedges happened to be Jeffrey Campbell's Mariel in black suede:

Image courtesy of... Google Images

These babies need more loving. So HOT! -(*Q*)-

Ever since then, I have been on a rampage with wedges. ヾ(＾∇＾) Here I am, stopped to take a picture as I was previously trotting happily around the room without falling:

     

2. Leather Doctor's Bag

I used to have this beautiful grey faux leather doctor's bag my brother gave me as a birthday gift. However, because it was not leather, the strap fell apart on me, and it was not salvageable. Because many bags are designed according to trends of the year, it was difficult to find that perfectly sized bag in leather form.

And then I saw this.

I purchased it on a whim, not really putting any thought to it as I had never been able to find a decent doctor's bag. So now I am just waiting for the postman to give me my bag.

          

Only two major items so far! The following were received as a gifts!

3. Lancome Absolu Voyage - Rose Edition

Now I am in the position in which I need to try colors outside the spectrum of neutrals. I have always feared colors as I felt that they make me look... strange. Neutrals have always gone with everything! I received this as a lovely gift though, so now I can experiment with more colors.

Come to think of it, this is a REALLY nice palette as it comes with everything you need:

1. Lip contour pencil in Rose
2. Black khol pencil
3. Powder blusher in Rose Sable 02
4. Compact powder in Translucide 01
5. Concealer correcteur in Beige Clair 02
6. Powder eyeshadows in White Duo G01, Dark Purple Quad A10, and Mono A10
7. Powder eyeshadows in Mauve Quad No. 4 and Gris Acier
8. Powder eyeshadow in 501
9. Solid lip color in Rouge à Lèvres - 306
10. Solid lip color in Rouge à Lèvres - 312
11. Solid lip color in Rouge à Lèvres - 354
12. Mini Virtuôse Mascara in Black

 The colors are really lovely. I just need to find time to work up the colors!

4. Utility Card

A small gift from my brother..

     

I may not look it, but I love utilitarian goods (clothing as well as tools). I found this PocketMonkey on Kickstarter, a site that helps new artists/businesses by allowing them to promote their products and raise funding for their ideas (check it out here!). This thing is the size of a credit card, so it can fit into any wallet! Also, it is TSA approved, so you don't have to worry when you're flying somewhere!

OOTD/WIWT

Some outfit snaps from the previous two weeks:

1. Soft Casual

I was totally in a smooth/flowy feeling, so I wanted to do a casual outfit that was still a bit.. stylish? Flowy top with jeans and desert boots. Did a side-fishtail braid to soften it up a bit..

..then I tossed on a wool coat and I looked more refined. Amazing how an outerwear can do this?

 2. Bright and Clean

Super prep look! Reminds me of Madewell. It has been chilly and gloomy, so a Spring blue oxford top with a pair of skinny-straight (my A.P.C.'s) jeans brighten up the day for me. Hair let down so I don't look so stern (lol!). Paired with grey-white striped angora socks and oxblood penny loafers...

..and then I tossed on my thrifted tweed jacket. So I look like a Professor Hipster or something.

3. Casual City

I really just wanted something comfortable to go into the city with, but the cold weather always got me bundled up in layers and layers. This outfit's main elements would be the vintage wool open-cardigan and vintage leather belt; it keeps me warm and prevents the wind from going in! Soft flowing shirt inside for comfort, with a Heat-Tech (Uniqlo) tank for additional warmth, and a pair of black skinnies. Hair left tousled for a comfortable feel.

Along with outfits, I thought it would be interesting to display my mild fondness for leather and wooden goods:

I have a rack of leather belts, wooden hangers (more to come), and a leather bag. The tables, shelves, dressers, and floor are of all kinds of wood. Overwhelming? NOPE. I NEED MORE.

More to come! Ciao for now. (ﾟ▽ﾟ*)♪