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| This is pretty much how I feel about losing google reader. |
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| How I feel about my new blog, WHICH IS ALMOST DONE! |
Have a wonderful day, beautiful!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Let's Be Friends!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
The Clothing Collective Series: Beach Fun!
Hello everyone! I am so excited to write about today's Clothing Collective post because it is the last in the original series of posts that Katie and I came up with, AND I get to share some great shots of my time in Boracay because today's theme is:
Beach Fun!
It's that time of year, ladies! Get out your favorite swimsuit, sunnies, and cut-offs because the sun is shining and the water is fine! I am definitely a summer girl and I had a blast in Boracay because there was no shortage of sun or beautiful beaches to soak it up on.
I'm not much of a bikini girl and so when I pick out my swimwear I always tend to lean towards a more vintage cut with a halter top or high-waisted bottoms. I can't enough of the classic silhouette and fit of vintage-inspired swimwear and I feel like it's a universally flattering cut for most women. Here are some shots of my swimsuit selections for my summer holiday:
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| I'm a big fan of hats, can you tell? |
Last summer when I was shopping for swimsuits I fell in love with these two hot potatoes on Modcloth and I never looked back! I love how both of these suits make me feel confident and stylish with me having to worry if I'm going to pop out of them (bikinis make me so nervous on account of a possible wardrobe malfunction whilst gallivanting).
I love how the red gingham one-piece gives me a structured top and bottom without making me look dowdy and grandma-ish on the beach. I've been working my thighs out a lot lately, but I'll confess that they have been a trouble area for me and so being able to cover them a bit makes me feel more in charge. It's really important to remember that confidence is 90% of the game when dressing yourself and looking good, because when you feel good you look good!
I can't get enough of this high-waist bikini because of the practical coverage and pretty shape that it gives to me. The suits top and bottoms help accentuate features of my body that I like and I am a sucker for polka dots so it's a win-win situation for me on the beach. ;)
I had a so much fun in Boracay and I am already planning my next beach vacation. I am planning on coming back to this part of the world in December when it's peak season and so I'll be sure to add to my suit collection for my next holiday getaway. A valuable lesson I have learned when purchasing swimsuits is not skimp because you really get what you pay for when it comes to swimwear! Until then I am more than happy with my swimsuits, which you can find at Modcloth. A cheap suit is often flimsy, poorly lined, and offers little support so when shopping around make sure to make a quality purchase. I love Modcloth because I have never been disappointed in the quality or customer service provided and it's into turned the first place I check for suits.
Check out Katie's beach style at The Style Dunce, and let her know what you think of her outfit!
Do you have a go-to swimsuit that just makes you feel confident and chic while enjoying the water? I hope that all of you are having a wonderful summer and hopefully you have your own beach getaway planned! As always let us know know what you think of The Clothing Collective and please, share any ideas for upcoming posts with us because we will have a brand-new set of posts ready to go soon! Have a great day and enjoy that sun, pretty ladies!
Bathing Beauty One piece in Cherry pie, here. Modcloth, $89.99.
Beach Blanket Bingo Two piece in Soft black, here. Modcloth, $89.99.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Weekly Wishes
I am so excited that I have internet connection because I can take a few moments from my cavorting on Boracay to do a little blogging! Blogging is sort of a release for me and so while my husband is away scuba diving I have a few stolen moments to blog, eat cold watermelon, and just take in that beautiful feeling of alone time.
I am linking up with the beautiful and talented Melyssa from The Nectar Collective for her Weekly Wishes link-up. Melyssa's Weekly Wishes link-up is easy-peasy and lets you take time to focus on ONE goal that you would like to achieve during the week. Whatever goal you choose doesn't have to be huge or radical, because even a small achievement is a step in the right direction to creating a more positive life. If you think about it there are 52 weeks in a year so achieving a small goal every week would give you 52 positive achievements, which I'm sure would add up into a HUGE change for the better. :) I missed it last week since I was in en-route to the beautiful island of Boracay, but now I can participate!
My goal for the week is:
To be completely present in the moment.
So often I find myself thinking PAST the current moment and worrying about what I'll do within a few hours, tomorrow, or next week. I feel like I'm missing out on truly enjoying how great the current moment is and by worrying about the future I'm only limiting myself and my experience of the NOW. As my time in Boracay, and later Korea winds down I know that making a more concerted effort to stay in the present will help me not stress out and allow to really enjoy my last days in Boracay and weeks in South Korea.
If you want to get in the Weekly Wishes link-up action then here Melyssa's rules straight from The Nectar Collective:
1. Share your posts about your goals, challenges, and wishes for the next month, week, or year! Posts completely unrelated to the theme will be deleted.
2. Link back to this site so others can get their goal-setting on, too (You can use the button below)
3. The most important rule of all! You must visit the person's blog who linked up before you and leave them some motivating comment love. This is non-negotiable and is such an important part of this link-up! We are here to encourage each other to accomplish our goals. Let's do this together! Can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you are wishing for this week!
<div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com" title="The Nectar Collective" target="_blank"><img src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" alt="The Nectar Collective" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
3. The most important rule of all! You must visit
<div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com" title="The Nectar Collective" target="_blank"><img src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" alt="The Nectar Collective" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
3. The most important rule of all! You must visit
- See more at: http://thenectarcollective.com/#sthash.zA7vBaSZ.dpuf
Share your posts about your goals, challenges, and wishes for the week, month, or year! Posts completely unrelated to the theme will be deleted. - See more at: http://thenectarcollective.com/#sthash.zA7vBaSZ.dpuf
Share your posts about your goals, challenges, and wishes for the week, month, or year! Posts completely unrelated to the theme will be deleted. - See more at: http://thenectarcollective.com/#sthash.zA7vBaSZ.dpuf
Share your posts about your goals, challenges, and wishes for the week, month, or year! Posts completely unrelated to the theme will be deleted. - See more at: http://thenectarcollective.com/#sthash.zA7vBaSZ.dpuf
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Clothing Collective Series: Work Out Fashion
Work Out Fashion
Please know that the "fashion" part of this title is completely subjective and is very loosely interpreted because I have been known to get my sweat on in nothing more than a ratty gym shirt and whatever breathable shorts are handy. However, just because I am apt to throw on whatever is handy when I am running to the gym doesn't mean that I haven't decided to make a conscious effort to look my best when I decide to work up a sweat.
Lately I have been dressing in a more fashionable way when I get my workout in because I work out, A LOT, like a lot, a lot, and I decided that if I was going to spend so much time doing it I should look good! Looking your best never fails to give a little confidence boost, which is sometimes all someone needs to make a positive choice for the day, so why shouldn't this mentality holdover to a work-out outfit?
I went with a pair of black leggings so that
I was able to be comfortable and covered at the same time because there
is nothing worse than going through a yoga flow and having to worry
about your shorts riding up your booty. For my top I went with a layered
look of my sports bra, a simple white tank, and a fun ikat patterned
pink tank top from American Eagle. I opted for au-natural, put my beach hair up in a pony
and headband, and went makeup-less because who wants sweaty mascara
ruining a perfectly good yoga session?
No one ever, that's who.
Since arriving in Boracay, I have made it a point to not forget about my fitness goals just because I'm on vacation. I made sure to check out what kind of activities I could participate in and that's when I came across True Yoga. I have been practicing yoga on-and-off since I was 17 when I thought it would be a cool way to spend an hour or so of my time during my last summer at home. As crazy as it sounds to be that was a whopping 10 years ago!! WHOA! So while I'm not the most experienced practitioner I can confidently say that the yoga classes at True Yoga are AMAZING. Not only am I challenged and stretched beyond what I thought myself capable of before the class, but I feel like I have learned so much from just a few classes with True Yoga. True Yoga's teachers honestly care about teaching and you can feel the care that they put into each session, plus what is NOT to love about yoga ON THE BEACH?!
Here are a few less than candid shots of me showing how functional, but adorable my chosen outfit was for a yoga session. I didn't want to be "that" girl taking the selfies while trying to hit a pose so Rich snapped these right after class.
I know that this post is lite on the fashion, but can you blame me? Check this awesome place out!
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| About 20 or so feet from here is the ocean! I was able to see the beautiful waves of Boracay while I practiced my yoga for the day, how wonderful is that? |
If you find yourself in Boracay and want to check out True Yoga then never fear because they hold super-affordable classes everyday at 9 am. Classes are True Yoga are 400 pesos and they run a little over an hour. Expect to be challenged and come ready for a wonderful opportunity which will serve to further your yoga knowledge.
True Yoga is located on the second floor of the Indian restaurant True Food, which can be found on the beach in D'MALL. If you go to D'Mall just walk along the main road until you see the Sharkey's sign and then take the road towards the beach. You will walk along for about 5 or so minutes passing through a wet market, a Pancake House and Globe mobile store. Keep going until you see a shop called Lonely Planet, turn left and walk along the beach to True Yoga/True Yoga, which is just a few minutes down the beach.
Look for this sign.
True Yoga's FB page, here.
Blogging is crazy hard when you are surrounded by an amazing tropical paradise, but I wanted to make sure that I stuck to the schedule that Katie and I had set out! Check out Katie's super fantastic work-out outfit, here.
Make sure to leave The Style Dunce some love in the form of comments/some bloglovin'!
Let us know how you are liking The Clothing Collective series and what outfits you would like to see us do in the future. Next on the schedule is beach fun and you just know I'm going to have some great stuff from my time in Boracay! :)
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Happy Summer!
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| This was the view I had for a few hours today while having fun on the high-seas as a red pirate. |
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| Have fun at Puka beach which is by far our favorite beach in Boracay. |
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| Getting my pirate face on before our paraw boat trip. |
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| Awwww....aren't we adorable? |
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| This was the captain of our paraw boat and Deng-Don and he is pretty much the coolest pirate captain that ever was. |
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Summer Fun: The Clothing Collective Series
Today's post for The Clothing Collective is focused on dressing for my favorite time of the year: Summer! I absolutely love the heat which I credit to growing up in South Texas WITHOUT an air conditioner. Man, oh man was it hot, but I grew to love the heat and I absolutely love being in the sun. Summer is always a great time of year for me because I can bust out my shorts, pretty sundresses and I love all the toe showcasing shoe options!
Let's get down to the chosen theme for this week: Summer Fun!
Since moving to Korea, I have slowly moved away from my tank top ways and because of the culture have adapted my summer style to cover my shoulders. For some reason in Korea you can show all the leg in the world, but as soon as we get into the shoulder zone things get scandalous!
Never one to get down about fashion I love pairing a pair of light shorts with a more substantial top and fun shoe to get that summer look. Even though Seoul is a huge city there are no shortage of pretty green spaces so I headed over to the nearest pretty park to snap a few photos on a gorgeous summer day! I love being able to find a peaceful place so easily in the middle of the bustling city and the care that Koreans take in landscaping is going to be sorely missed when I leave.
For my look I paired a casual tank top and snap button lightweight denim top with my favorite black shorts and fun espadrille wedges. I chose a textured leather belt to add some interest and to allow me the option of tucking in my shirt if I wanted. I added a pretty patterned purse and grabbed my shades for a look that I felt comfy, but still stylish in for a Seoul summer day.
I love this purse so much because not only is it pretty, but it is water resistant and is made from a sort of sail canvas material. I'm a bit clueless on it since I picked it up years ago in Santa Cruz, but it is water resistant and DURABLE! I love that I can just wipe everything off of it and I don't have to worry about anything happening to it while I'm out adventuring.
I bought these shoes last year from Modcloth during one of their crazy flash sales and scored them for a measly 18 bucks! I know, amazing, right?! I love how comfy they are and they add some sunshine to whatever outfit I pair them with. I never bother with expensive sunglasses because I am forever losing, scratching, and dropping my sunglasses to EVER bother spending more than 10 bucks on them, but I love these pretty pink framed sunnies so much I hope I manage to hang on to them!
Shoes: $18.00 Modcloth. Find similar, here.
Shorts: $39.50 Roxy, here.
Top: $20.00 Random Boutique. Find similar, here.
Bag: $40.00 Random Boutique. Find similar, here.
Sunglasses: $6.00 Random Street Vendor. Find similar, here.
Belt: $29.50 American Eagle, here.
Don't forget to swing the Katie's blog, The Style Dunce, to see how she approached our theme of summer fun. Here's a little preview to her sweet summer style.
Read Katie's blog post, here.
Do you have a favorite outfit for the summer? Let us know what kind of outfits you want to see us do and keep reading because our next post will be on creating a work out outfit fit for any fashion forward woman.
PS: I'm off to beautiful BORACAY tomorrow morning and I couldn't be more excited!! I'm being ambitious about uploading some half completed posts so I hopefully won't be completely absent from the blogging world. In reality I will probably be in a mojito daze and sunbath instead. Whoops! I can't wait to work on my tan, sip a mojito and take in the island beauty.
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| This is where I'll be staying....I can't WAIT! |
I hope everyone has an amazing week because I know I will!! I'll be back in 10 days! Have fun everyone. :)
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Let Me Do The Shopping!
Here is a little sampling of Emily's work:
If you want an international vintage shopping trip, but can't afford the plane ticket then just let me take care of it. All you need to do is send me those measurements and consider me your girl. ;)
Visit my vintage shop for the details, Seoul Sold.
Swing by Emily's shop, here.
Leibster Award
Hello everyone I am so excited to do today's post so let's get started! :)
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| Image by How To Run In Stilettos. Find it, here. |
Here is a little bit about the Liebster award courtesy of Morgan's blog post on the whole affair:
The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster? The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.
Here are the rules for receiving this award:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people to nominate and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs!
Now that the scene is set, here we go!
11 random things about me:
1. I'm obsessed with Hello Kitty.
2. I used to be a wild child, but now I'm a homebody.
3. I speak Spanish and Russian.
4. My dream is to master the fishtail braid.
5. I'm a black belt in Taekwondo.
6. I make sure to eat everything...TWICE, just to make sure.
7. You can always count on me to lose my chapstick.
8. I am addicted to working out and have to get my fix at least 6 times a week. I'm a freak, I know.
9. I can't cartwheel.
10. I love to cook and am happy spending time in the kitchen.
Questions by Morgan:
1. Who inspires you the most?
Abraham Lincoln...I'm not even kidding, ok, also Cassey Ho @ Blogilates. I have a wide range of interests. :)
2. What is your earliest memory?
Sitting at my grandmother's playing with a doll that she sewed for me. My grandma didn't put any hair on it so I used a green marker to draw it on. I miss that doll!
3. What is your worst habit?
I'm totally that person that is all I'll be there in 10 minutes when I haven't even left my apartment!
4. Something you can't leave the house without?
MY CHAPSTICK....which I have misplaced...which is why I'm late!
5. What is something your readers would be surprised to know about you?
I'm an avid sci-fi geek and used to be a hardcore raider in World of Warcraft. Yea, that's right!
6. Your favorite food?
Beef Pho is the best food in the entire world...HANDS DOWN.
7. A perfect night out...
Good food and drinks with my best friends in the entire world...too bad that I'm an ocean away. :(
8. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Vietnam because I am pretty sure that I would die from happiness from all of the food.
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully, I will be finishing my doctorate in 19th century American History. *crosses fingers*
10. If your life were a musical, what song would you choose as your big solo?
I am such a Tejana....I would gladly have my big solo be to St. Selena!
11. Your favorite blog?
Right now my absolute FAVORITE blog has to be The Nectar Collective. If you haven't already head on over to Melyssa's blog and prepare to fall in love!
Questions for Nominees:
1. Where did you grow up?
2. Your house is on fire and you have time to grab ONE thing. What do you grab?
3. What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
4. What is one of your talents?
5. What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?
6. Where is your favorite place in all of the world?
7. The craziest thing you have ever done?
8. Have you been in love?
9. What is a piece of wisdom you would like to share?
10. Why do you blog?
My Nominees:
The Style Dunce
GlitznGrits
Poppy the Blog
Life of the Lane
NewlyMynted
A Fanciful Creature
CityGirl Searching
Thirdbite
Ink + Adventure
Desperate English Teachers
The Zale in Vail
I really love each and every one of these blogs for separate reasons and I am so excited to spread the Leibster love!
Have a happy day and hooray for internet awards! :)
Friday, June 14, 2013
How To Thrift Like a Pro
Today I am going to share some tips on how to conduct a successful thrifting shopping trip. I am NO stranger to the world of thrifting and I used to frequent second-hand shops, garage sales, markets, and estate sales where I thought I might have a good chance to pick up a unique item. However, I was an amateur and it is only since moving to South Korea that I have blossomed into the thrifting beast that I am now. Oh, the hours and hours that I have spent sorting through piles and piles of clothing is enough to send most people running, but I have enjoyed EVERY second of it and I even opened my own Etsy vintage shop, Seoul Sold, to prove it!I am excited to share what I have learned and I hope that maybe one of two of my tips will make your next thrifting adventure more enjoyable.
Here is what you NEED and this is non-negotiable. If you listen to me I can make sure that you have EXACTLY what you need to be happy and productive while out scouring the secondhand haunts.
Bag
A big 'ol bag and the bigger the better, but keep in mind that when I say big I don't mean something that is cumbersome for you to carry. Think about your preferences, do you like backpacks, messengers, or an over-sized purse? Whatever you choose make sure that it is light-weight, and doesn't have a lot of straps or zippers to get in the way because we want to be able to jam as much clothing as possible into it with the least effort. Also an easily identifiable bag is good for keeping track of it if you set it down in the mountains of clothing so choose a brightly colored bag. Plus, if you are able to quickly see what you have at a glance you will be able to reassess your shopping strategy easily. Because no one really NEEDS a bag full of polka dot dresses just because you found 5 in a row!
I have a favorite Aerie tote that is my go-to bag when I hit the vintage markets. My aerie bag hits all the right notes being light-weight, easily accessible, I love how easy it is to carry, and I won't lose track of it with it's bright pink pattern.
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| All of this is in that Aerie bag! 6 tops and 7 dresses, plus a skirt that isn't pictured! |
I know that a debit card is amazing and we get so used to using them on a daily basis that when we go shopping we usually don't think to bring cash, but a thrifting trip is different from a regular shopping outing. You aren't going to the mall and your card is useless if whomever you are buying from doesn't have the means to process a card payment. Cash is king in the world of thrifting and you can usually get a discount if you are buying multiple items. ALSO, cash is critical for budgeting, if you take out a set amount of money for your trip then when all the cash is gone you are done! Only carrying cash to thrift with helps you pace yourself and makes you keep an eye out for those one-of-a-kind items. No buyer's remorse for you, hooray!
Tape Measure
A tape measure is your best friend when you are on a serious thrifting mission! Stopping to try things on can only slow you down and it tires you out a lot faster than if you are able to just measure the garment and make a quick informed decision. Also, you may not be able to try it on if you are at a market or estate sale so make sure to ALWAYS have your tape measure on hand.
Snacks/Water
Snacks, you need them. I can't count the number of times that I have been finding amazing pieces only to have my stomach start to growl and yell at me making it pretty much impossible for me to focus until I ate. Pack a snack that is easily eaten without having to touch it directly because no one wants dirty hands on their food. I usually bring along a good granola or protein bar to tide me over until I'm shopped out.
Don't forget your water! Staying hydrated is another great way to stay focused AND refreshed. You will be able to shop for longer no matter the circumstances if you make sure that you have a water supply on hand so grab your favorite water bottle for your next trip.
Comfortable clothing/Walking shoes
You are going to be spending a lot of time on your feet so don't wear any footwear that you won't be able to comfortably walk, climb, and lug your vintage finds around in. Yes, I've climbed a mountain of clothing and lived to tell the tale! Also dress in layers if you aren't sure how the weather will be because you can always take off a layer and keep on trucking if you have to.
My last and MOST important tip: Don't get discouraged! You won't always find amazing things at great prices when you are thrifting because there really is no rhyme or reason to it. Some days you are lucky and others you strike out a lot, but can pat yourself on the back for all of the walking that you did! Yay for being active in any way possible. ;) You will encounter piles of clothing, walk till your feet fall off, and probably sneeze your head off thrifting, but it is so worth it when you find an amazing item!
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| My friend Seung-Wan's victory yell as she finds the perfect dress for summer. |
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| A look at what I climb, dig, and wander through in the quest for vintage items. |
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| Staying positive as I dig through a massive bag of dresses. |
Make sure to swing by my vintage shop for some great items and let me know what you think.
Find my shop, here.
Happy thrifting!
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