Style Post - Thanksgiving Edition

My family doesn't usually do anything special for Thanksgiving since one or both of my parents usually work on that day. Luckily for me, my boyfriend Lucas' grandparents were kind enough to invite me to join them for their family Thanksgiving dinner this year. As you can see, I definitely took my own advice about wearing something Thanksgiving meal-friendly. In case you are wondering, yes, I am wearing a dress made out of burlap. Trust me, it was a lot more comfortable than it probably looks. Most importantly, it left plenty of room for a tummy full of turkey and mashed potatoes. :)

I absolutely love Luke's grandparents' backyard. Like the rest of their house, it has tons of vintage objects and curiosities, like that old Radio Flyer wagon in the background. (His grandpa even has an Angels baseball pennant from the 1970s hanging in the garage!) And how is this for awesome...In this picture, I'm standing underneath a tree house!

Burlap and Lace Dress: She's Haute. Sweater: Abercrombie and Fitch. Leggings: DKNY. Basket Purse: vintage (from Etsy seller whichgoose). Jeweled Flats: Jeffrey Campbell.

Random Android camera photos:

I took this picture of Luke while I was fiddlefarting with the Retro Camera app on my phone. I love how this photo turned out. The grittiness of it goes so well with his outfit, don't you think?

I absolutely loved these cute duck statues on the front porch. They represent Luke's grandmother and all of her grandchildren. :)

Here is a picture I took of Luke and two of his brothers, Zack and Jerod. I call this photo "The Three Wise Men." However, I suppose "Wise Guys" would be a more fitting title. Haha.

This is the chandelier that hangs above the dining table. The mini lampshades are so pretty!

New Pixie Cut + Thanksgiving Outfit Preview

Surprise! My (real) hair has finally grown long enough to be a pixie cut! What do you ladies think of it? :)

[Outfit details coming soon.]

Thankful Thoughts: Things I Love About ME

If I could change one thing about our society - just one little thing - it would be how we perceive ourselves. Too often when we look into the mirror, we fall into a self-deprecating trap and end up belittling ourselves, nitpicking every minor "flaw." Well I say, no more! No more obsessing over too big or too small x's, y's, or z's or beating ourselves up over those last ten pounds. It is Thanksgiving after all!

Ladies, let's take a moment to stop dwelling on the negative and instead start focusing on the positive, beautiful aspects of ourselves. List five things you love most about your physical appearance - five things that you are most thankful for. I promise, no one's going to judge you or accuse you of being conceited. After all, confidence is beautiful. :)

Note: Thank you Michelle of The Fierce Glamour for this wonderful idea!


I REALLY LOVE...
1) My Facial Structure

I love my pointy chin, wide cheekbones, and flat Asian nose. (My mom used to pinch my nose over and over again when I was younger "so that it will turn out pointier." I'm not sure if it actually worked. Haha.) Anyway, having a heart shaped face means I can wear my hair shoulder length, long with side swept bangs, or short as a bob or pixie cut. By the way, I have a pixie cut right now. I'll be sure to post pictures soon!

2) My Eyes

I'm obviously wearing green contact lenses in the first photo of this post, but my eyes are naturally very dark brown. They look almost black in most lighting and chocolate brown in the sunlight. I also really like their shape. I've been told that my deep set, almond shaped eyes make me look mysterious.

3) My Smile

I don't know if I'm simply lucky or if I just had exceptional oral hygiene as a child. Either way, I have (almost) perfectly straight and evenly spaced teeth - and I've never had braces. Also, I'm almost 23 and my wisdom teeth still haven't come out. Who knows? Maybe I'll also be lucky enough to never have to get them removed.

4) My Curves

I will admit that I'm definitely not as thin as I was in high school...and I am more than okay with that. I enjoy having boobs and a butt, and a tiny waist too! To be honest, I stopped weighing myself a long time ago. Forget that stupid Kate Moss quote about how supposedly nothing tastes as good as skinny feels or whatever. She's obviously never had Nutella...

...or a life changing-ly amazing home cooked Thanksgiving meal.

5) My Height

I'm actually not that much shorter than my BestFriend. She's wearing heels in this picture and I'm wearing flats. Still, the point is that I'm short. I am just under 5'2", which means that I will always have to get my jeans hemmed and shop in the petite section of Banana Republic. But you know what? I'm not complaining. Being petite means I can wear dresses from Forever 21 that would be way too short on taller girls. It also means I can wear as high of a heel as I want without towering over my boyfriend.

Anyway, that's all for tonight. It's 2 in the morning where I am right now. Oops! Before I get my beauty sleep, I just want to say...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my amazing and beautiful followers!

FBFF: Giving Thanks

[image source]

Since this is the last FBFF post before Thanksgiving, Katy of Modly Chic thought it would be nice to share what we're thankful for this year. With everything that has happened to me this past year, I can definitely say that I have a lot to be thankful for. What I have here is just a partial list.

I am thankful for...

• finally experiencing true fall weather in Southern California! Anything below 70 degrees makes me happy.
• my followers, the FBFF community, and the blogging community in general. You guys are amazing!
• my family, who have always encouraged and loved me unconditionally.
• my friends, who never complain about having to hear the same story over and over again.
• April 5, 2010...and the 1 year, 7 months, and 12 days since then.
• having the ability to read and get lost in a good book.
• all of the amazing teachers and professors I've had over the years.
• having access to a good education.
• Nutella hot chocolate.
• being cancer-free and not having a tube stuffed up my arm anymore.
• the fact that my real hair is finally long enough to be a pixie cut.
• turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie...I just have to wait a little bit longer!
• living in a small-ish town that is safe and clean, and within a short driving distance to many malls and shopping centers.
• cloche hats, scarves, sweaters, and boots - and other fall fashion staples.
• all of the these German Shepherds finding loving homes this year.
• designated drivers (and the willingness to be one too).
• holidays, birthday parties, and "just because" get-togethers with family and friends.
• doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters, and soldiers who truly care about making the world a better place.
• living in an era (and country) where it's more than okay for a woman to speak her mind.
• platform high heels that make me 5'7".
• having a roof over my head and never having to worry about going hungry.
• starting my Christmas present shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
• my grandma helping me with sewing projects.
• having known some of my best friends for 10+ years.
• my giant 53" teddy bear, for when he's not around.
• inside jokes and stories that we'll still be telling when we're 80.
• headbands, fascinators, and misc. hair accessories.
• my huge, multicultural extended family and next month's Christmas party.
• still having the motivation to succeed, even after graduating high school right before the recession, dealing with ridiculous college tuition fee increases, and soon facing a not-so-ideal teaching job market.
• my body. It's healthy, strong, and it looks pretty darn amazing in pants and dresses. ;)
• life.

This makes me smile...

A friend of mine showed me this video clip recently and I literally laughed out loud when I watched it. I hope you all enjoy it too.

Have a good day, everyone!

Ten for Tuesday - Thanksgiving Dresses

Whether you're more of a sweats and touch football type or a fancy frock and china type of girl (like me), nothing is worse than wearing an uncomfortably tight outfit on Thanksgiving. Let's face it; who cares how gorgeous your formfitting dress is if it prevents you from fully enjoying this day of indulgence? Next Thursday, you can bet that I'll be donning a comfortable and forgiving, yet chic dress like one of these. Think of these loose fitting, empire waist, or elasticized waist dresses as classy alternatives to Thanksgiving sweatpants. :)

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. 

Hiatus

Hello everyone!

I'm finally back after a 10-day long hiatus from blogging. (Has it really been that long? Yikes!) Two of my classes were cancelled last week, but I was still super busy writing two papers and preparing for two group projects. The good thing though is that I've still been enjoying my favorite time of the year. :)

And in case you're wondering what's the point of this photo of me...

This faux Instagram-esque photo is the result of today's failed Style Post photo shoot. The boyfriend and I were actually busy running errands all afternoon and we didn't have time to take pictures until around 5-ish. Of course, thanks to Daylight Savings Time, it was already too dark. Oh well. I definitely need to do a proper Style Post with this beret soon because I love, love, LOVE it.

Anyway, I'm back to regular blog posts now...yay!

FBFF: A Novel Idea

November is more than just my favorite month of fall. (In fact, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite month of the year!) This month is also designated as National Novel Writing Month. I'm super excited about today's FBFF prompt, which is to simply list our favorite books.

My Top 5 Favorite Books of All Time:

(a.k.a. books that I've read too many times to count)

1) The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. I read this novel for the first time when I was a senior in high school. Even though its corresponding film did win the Academy Award for Best Picture, I didn't even watch it until I had read the book three or four times. Yes, I loved the book that much. It is a gripping tale of nations, war, and how love transcends time and place.
2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Do I even need to explain why this book is on my list? After all, I did base my blogger persona on Elizabeth Bennet. Also, I'm sure that every girl who reads this novel ends up wanting to find her own Mr. Darcy. :)

3) The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I read this novel once in high school and twice during my sophomore and junior years in college. I thoroughly enjoyed it each time. The Awakening tells a haunting story about one woman's struggle to be independent and find the courage to embrace her identity. Reading this novel always makes me realize how lucky I am to have more freedom in this modern age.

4) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is another novel that I've had to read at least three times during my high school and college years. Fitzgerald tells a story about the decline of the American dream and the inability to recreate an idealized past. Definitely read this and then watch the 1974 film - not because it's a particularly good movie, but just because a young Robert Redford is pretty easy on the eyes. :) 

5) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read this book when I was 14 or 15 and I must say, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Told from the perspective of a little girl, the story is both innocent and humorous and profound and critical of a racist society. This novel is so endearing to me that someday, I want to name my dog Atticus.

Honorable Mentions:

(because I just couldn't limit myself to five)

1) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This novel is probably the darkest romantic tale I have ever read. Emily Bronte tells the story of hierarchies and social classes, and how an all-consuming, unchanging love ultimately destroys everything.

2) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Yes, this novel is incredibly long, but I remember being fascinated with the story when I was seventeen. As the title suggests, this novel tells the story of crime and punishment, but also redemption.

3) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. From a future English teacher's perspective, this novel is a symbolism goldmine. What I love most about this novel though is its message about identity and society, particularly for women.

4) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Admittedly, I watched the film before I read the book...but I ended up liking both equally. This novel is a modern tragic romance that revolves around love, loss, free will, and the pain of waiting.

5) The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. Yes, I know that the Twilight Series isn't really seen as Literature (with a capital L) by most of my fellow English majors. Still, I have no shame in admitting that I enjoyed these books and characters. (By the way, I am Team Edward all the way!)

So is it weird that almost all of my favorite books are the ones I read in high school? Haha. Either way, I definitely enjoyed putting this list together. So now let's discuss...What's on your bookshelf?

Style Post 11.3.11

Although this is officially my first Style Post of November, my favorite month of Fall, these photos are actually from last Saturday. I attended a family get-together at my aunt and uncle's house that afternoon, several hours before the big Halloween party. (Isn't their backyard absolutely amazing?)

I found this floral print maxi dress at Kohl's around the beginning of October. I had been waiting for a perfect opportunity to wear it, since a dress like this isn't really practical for school. This dress was great for a warm  autumn afternoon, but I think it'd be equally pretty in the springtime.

Maxi Dress: LC Lauren Conrad (Kohl's). Flower Hairpins: Icing by Claire's. Stacked Rings: Forever 21. Floral Sandals: Report.

Style Post - Black Swan Edition

TA DA! It's the day after Halloween and finally time to show you my full Black Swan-inspired ballgown!

This first photo was taken on a different camera setting than the others. I like how eerie and Halloween-ish it looks. 

My final design ended up being a combination of all three of my inspiration dresses - the fullness of Dress 1, the feather accents and large bow of Dress 2, and the long sheer skirt of Dress 3. In case you're wondering, no, I did not sew everything by myself. (I am nowhere near that talented!) My wonderful grandma was kind enough to help me. :)

You would not believe how difficult it was to find a reasonably priced black corset of reasonable quality. I was lucky enough to find this plain black corset at Charlotte Russe at the beginning of October. It has a slight sweetheart neckline and it's reversible. (It's red on the other side.) The rest of my costume consisted of a short black tulle skirt that I already owned and a feather boa that I used for Halloween a couple of years ago. In hindsight, I probably should have worn tights. It was pretty cold!

So there you go! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Halloween.

Corset: Charlotte Russe. Short Tulle Skirt: Jennifer Lopez (Kohl's). Long Sheer Tulle Skirt: DIY. Feather Boa: Michael's. Ballet Flats: Jeffrey Campbell.