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?

Christmas + 2013

It has been some time since I have flashed my face randomly. SO HERE IS MY FACE!

So this is an extremely belated post. Happy holidays and merry new year to everyone! (Gosh I am so behind lol). Hope everyone had a wonderful time during the holidays!

This year, I really did not have much of anything I want for Christmas. Perhaps it is with age, or maybe I just have everything I want (lol!!) but this year, I just wanted to see everyone around me and happy. Regardless, I received some gifts:

Gifts from Obiwon

Obiwon says,"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Clark's Original Desert Boot

Symphony milk chocolate with almond and toffee, L'Occitane en Provence Shea Butter  Lotion, and a bunch of  tea house gift cards

I GOT MY DESERT BOOTS! For quite some time, I have been throwing FITS because a lot of simple/classic shoes for men do not exist for women. Not long ago, I stumbled upon these boots on the Clark's site, which surprised me as I did not know they made this design for the ladies! This style alone, for men and women, is Clark's #1 seller. Super nice!

Obiwon decided to feed my random cravings and gave me a gag gift of chocolates, lotion, and boba gift cards. Wtf. I know right? But really, Symphony chocolate has been my addiction for much of my school time! So creamy and rich... mmm.. And the lotion? IT IS SO MOISTURIZING! Best I have ever used to be honest. Smells like baby lotion and provides just the right amount of moisture. This is great for men and women as it is not overly oily and scented like many nice lotions out there.

Since I have moved up, I could not find any good tea houses. And because of that, I crave tea houses. This is why I have a bunch of gift cards haha. Thank you Obiwon~ ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

Gift from Natasha

Bearpaw house slippers

MY SAVIOR. It is so cold up north! I am not used to this at all, and fortunately enough, Natasha got me these as she saw me walking with my sweatpants being pulled over my feet. (＞。≪)

 Gift from Parents

Sony Ultrabook

 Probably the most shocking of all gifts this year. In my previous job, my boss gave me the newest ultrabook by Samsung/Sony (I keep confusing the two for some reason). Costed him a LOT as it was the latest one. I was so happy since it was so light and I found out he got it for me as he liked the work I did. Unfortunately, due to my move up, I left the job, and gave him back the laptop (it held many confidential documents I had worked/was working on). Being a new graduate, I did not want to invest in a nice notebook until I feel more settled/stable. My parents took it as a hint and got me a customized Sony notebook for Christmas! As happy as I am typing on this keyboard and grinning ear-to-ear on it, I still feel a weight of guilt. I will have to make my parents proud and show them what I can do with my future. -super motivated- ｻﾝｷｭｩ♪(o￣∇￣)/ 

Now, what about others? What did I get them?

My Family

This Christmas, my parents urged me (as I did to them and everyone else) to not get gifts for them. I have a job and being that they have raised me up until now (well in many ways, they are supporting me continuously), I must get them something!

Theory Banff down vest

For my father! He had a favorite down vest that he wore often, but somehow it went missing. I got him this (but need to re-order a bigger size) as a replacement. He isn't too fond of the hood, but it is removable! Super light and warm!

Kate Spade Astor Aurelia bag

Got my mom the original quilt in a creme/rice colored last time. She loved it, but was afraid it would get dirty and so she decided to use it as her "special occasion" bag. I picked a different pattern and got her a black version. Right when she opened it, she started switching stuff into her new bag, and tossed her old one (it was non-leather and started to show really bad wear). So happy she likes it!

MY BROTHER. Yes, I have a wonderful nerdy brother (who makes me even nerdier since I pick up a lot of his likes/hobbies/shows)! For Christmas, I got him a 2TB external hard drive. lol IT IS A WONDERFUL GIFT. He has no excuse; he must download all my shows and movies now. Muahahaha!!

Audio-Technica LP60 Record Player

 For Obiwon! He has been wanting to play some old-school records, and so I got him this (along with a wireless mouse and wireless keyboard).

   

Some mille-fuielle for Obiwon's family! Custom-made and pre-ordered from my favorite bakery in Little Tokyo, Frances!

Aside from my Christmas with the family, lots of food, and the usual gift exchange, I also made some small purchases that month for myself!

Mini Haul!

Cheap Monday super slim skinny jeans

 I purchased this skinny from Karmaloop during one of their sales. Originally 110USD but with the sale, I got it for 50USD! It is definitely a lot more than I would normally pay for jeans, but I have gone through the shopping center boutiques and cannot find a black pair of skinny jeans that would fit me right. My proportions are in-between Asian and European I think; my arms and legs are too long and my waist too thin. And so trying on skinnies would end up horrendous as there would be a gap at the waist. Thank goodness for this investment!

Wool-blend ivory sweater from Gap

 Super soft high-low style sweater! On sale (sold out now) at Gap with 30% off, and so this was a really nice deal! Super soft and non-itchy, which is rare when it comes to wool!

Uniqlo striped tunic

 I don't think I have ever owned a tunic. It is somewhere between a sweater and a long-sleeved shirt. Great for a slightly chilly day that does not require a bunch of layers! My clothing tends to go towards the shades (white, grey, and black) and neutrals, so I figured I should give some color to my closet. Definitely makes me feel French, and reminds me much of the Japanese label Comme des Garçons.

Wolverine and Spiderman Minimate

I went to the most awesome flea market in Treasure Island (Treasure Island Flea Market)! There were many local sellers and food trucks (will show more later), and one particular seller sold Minimates! I love toying with figurines, and so I bought myself a Wolverine Minimate, and got my friend Steph a Spiderman one as a small gift for her birthday. I will have so much fun with this. Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ ﾜｰｲ♪

Uniqlo stirrup leggings, over-knee socks (3 pairs), and extended ribbed leggings

Tea&Crumpets recipe book and Toy Story limited edition postcard set

 There was a book sample sale at Chronicle Bookstore, marking books and novelty items 60% off! I wanted to get a book for English brunch, and then I saw the postcard set and could not resist!

Sterling Silver ring

There was another local gathering some time ago with all local shops. This super thin ring was handmade! Obiwon purchased it for me as a gift and I loved it!! Wore it everywhere until... it got lost?! I got so upset at myself. Sadly, this was to be expected from such a thin ring! I never noticed it when I wore it.

What have I been eating? Let the pictures speak for me!

Snow Vegetable noodle soup from Liang's Kitchen

Garlic gouda cheese with Dill Triscuit

Homemade avocado + chicken + tomato pasta soup

Alo. BEST ALOE DRINK EVER! (super healthy!)

Swedish meatballs from Ikea

Homemade fruit parfait with milk tea

Eggs benedict

Ginger beer

Jerk Chicken Sandwich

Homemade chicken roast with potatoes and fresh mixed vegetables

Fortunately due to the holidays, I was able to make some time to get some fresh air. Like real fresh air.

ヽ（￣￣∇￣￣）ノ ﾗﾝﾗﾝ♪

My first rainbow up north

When leaving LA

Treasure Island Flea Market

The view from the island. See the Golden Gate Bridge?

Road to Point Reyes Beach

Point Reyes Beach

 Probably one of the nicest beaches I have ever been to. Practically deserted, layers and layers of waves overlapping one another, and deep blue-green waters. So clean and so quiet. I could stare at the ocean all day.

Drakes Farm. No oysters when we got there :l

 Went to Drake's Farm, a local oyster farm near Point Reyes. Unfortunately it is not oyster season... or they were out of oysters. Either way, Obiwon and I had a nice time there as there were people on kayaks making laps around the lake. We just watched and had our lunch (we brought from home) there.

Grizzly Peak watching the sun set

Bay Bridge

So refreshing. Ahh.. 

And now, some OOTD's and a mini picture update on Talon :)

∑(O_O；)Shock！

Wearing my new wool-blend sweater from Gap and ribbed-extended leggings from Uniqlo

Wearing my new Cheap Monday skinnies

Wearing my new Uniqlo tunic and Clarks Desert Boots

My Clarks Desert Boots and Obiwon's Clarks Bushacre Boots

And of course, mini pictures of my baby!

"Hello ladies~ +゜*。+゜†（´∀｀）†゜+。*"

"Oh I did not see you there!"

The Matrix

Old man Talon

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day and starting a fantastic new year. Much luck for all!