Category: Thoughts & Words

Jumbles of words that I felt necessary to release from my brain and put out there…

Fashion Trends

Starr2 Comments

I cannot keep up with trends.

I’m the person who, by the time I started appreciating the Spice Girls, realized that the Spice Girls had disbanded. (Oy.)

Fashion trends change so fast and a lot of them are kind of super crazy??? Also, a lot of them I just don’t feel comfortable wearing personally because they don’t go with my personal style.

However, my style has changed a bit and I’ve become more observant of things like what’s going on on Tumblr and what F21 and UO and H&M are trying to push onto people at the mall. (If I see another mint green sleeveless oxford…) I know that this means the trends have already trickled down and are on their way out (trust me, I’ve been thinking about some of these pieces for years…) but OH WELL this ain’t a fashion blog, you guys know what you’re getting yourselves into.

Here are a few of the trendy(ish) items that I would (maybe) like to try out:

Galaxy leggings


You may not know this, but I’m really into galaxy printed anything. The first time I saw galaxy leggings was on Black Milk, but those are WAY more expensive than I want to pay for a pair of leggings. (Black Milk has a lot of really cool designs, but they’re charging a lot for spandex…) I have some sets bookmarked on Etsy that I may gift myself later on, but I’m nervous because I don’t wear leggings as pants., so I need to make sure I have something that covers my bum but doesn’t clash with the design of the leggings.

Flower crowns


I think I know these first as a fandom meme (any fannibals out there?) but I really like the look. I like florals and this is a pretty and delicate look. I don’t know when I would ever wear this, though. Not sure I would do this for my bridal look, as I’ve seen a lot of photos, and I’m not cool enough to go to festivals, but I’ll figure something out!Side note: I do really want this for the next time I go to a Disney park though!

Mickey

Bustier tops


I love the structured look of bustier and corset tops. Clean lines. Structure. UNF. I dig it a lot, clothing-wise. But the fetishization of these items makes me a bit uncomfortable to wear out, since my style is generally more modest. I’ve been lusting after bustiers and corsets for a long time now, and I own a corset top that is maybe a touch too silky for day wear. Soon… I’ll have the confidence (and funds) to fill my wardrobe with fun bustiers and corsets. (For day wearing.)
(Maybe I can find a nice galaxy-printed one! ;P)

Statement necklaces

i just love statement necklaces.. x


Statement necklaces scare me, because I typically only wear delicate necklaces. I don’t like jewelry that calls TOO much attention to itself. (I rarely even wear big pendants.) I also worry about really chunky jewelry, because my frame is pretty small and my neck is long and thin. The more I see them, the more they grow on me, but I’m still too scared to take that leap. Also, I can’t seem to find the right one. My friend has a gorgeous one that she bought at a local crafts fair, so I’ll never be able to find that exact one, but it was simple enough that I would be comfortable to wear it while still making a bold enough statement. Maybe someday.

This is essentially a list of things that, if you ever go shopping with me, I will be looking for.

I was trying to think of more trends that I’d like to try, but I’ve actually managed to try a good handful of the ones I liked. These are the ones that have just eluded me thus far. It often takes me a while to hop onboard certain trends. (I looked for red pants for maybe 2 years…)

To be really honest with you all, I’m still a bit too timid to try some of these trends. I love galaxy-print accessories, but I literally only own black leggings. I like solid colors and big prints scare me. Flower crowns are just… where would I wear those? And I am such a feral creature, how would I keep one on my head? Bustiers… I mentioned my insecurity about how “sexy” they seem, and I’ve had issues in the past with wearing things that I thought were cute but got me unwanted attention. And the statement necklaces. Sigh. SO CHUNKY.

What trends are you currently loving?
What trends would you like to try but haven’t yet? Why haven’t you tried them yet?

(Also, at the risk of disappearing for a long time again, I’m really enjoying posting as frequently as I am! I’m planning to try and BEDA [blog every day April] and these posts are just funsies.) (But don’t ask about the Europe posts yet, those are taking me a while because I start getting nostalgic XD)

Lent 2014

Starr2 Comments

I feel I need to first mention that I’m not Catholic, nor am I a Christian.

However, I think that Lent, like New Year’s, is a great time to start new habits or break old ones while you have the support of friends who are also doing the same. I often find that the habits I form during Lent do persist after Easter has passed, which means that a) I had a pretty bad problem before Ash Wednesday and b) I have helped resolve that problem by a lot!

Some things I’ve given up in the past:

  • 2011: Facebook & Tumblr
  • 2012: Chips & McDonald’s (McDonald’s had gotten too convenient with their fries & sweet teas)
  • 2013: …?? Did I give anything up last year? I don’t think I did actually?

Huh, I don’t think I gave up anything last year. But the previous 2 years I remember being tricky. I missed event invites on Facebook. I ate chips with all my sandwiches and soups! (I have a real passion for chips.)

This year, although I’m a little late, with a little bit of encouragement from Christine & Karen, I am going to be mostly giving up television.

This is maybe going to be my toughest lenten period yet (even tougher than the sad days I had to say no to chips). I have been mildly addicted to TV ever since I was little. My daily routines were structured around my TV schedule. Wake up, watch Sesame Street, Magic School Bus, take a nap, watch Big Comfy Couch, watch Bill Nye, watch Saved By the Bell, etc. etc.

Like a mild version of him, minus the awesome cowboy garb.
(This reference isn’t lost on you guys, right??)

Today, this manifests as me having several shows that I watch each week. I only watch a couple of them when they actually air, which means I typically end up holed up in my room with my computer, watching things on Hulu, CBS, or streaming them from less reliable sources. I also occasionally binge watch shows. Recently, I just finished watching Secret Diary of a Call Girl and I am caught up on Hannibal now.

I have a problem.
I need to solve this problem.

So, I have decided I will allow myself three shows to watch, and I may watch TV socially. But no more holing myself in my room watching TV just to pass the time. (Why do I watch so much New Girl? I don’t like it very much!)

Right now, I’m trying to figure out what shows I will allow myself to watch and I will try to watch them when they air, to minimize temptations to click to the next show and watch TV for 3 hours on my computer. The list right now looks like this:

  1. Once Upon a Time is non-negotiable. It is a problem in and of itself, but I have been waiting for the mid-season premiere and Lent is not going to stop me from watching it.
  2. How I Met Your Mother is finally almost over and I want to see it through. I don’t love it as much as I used to, so we’ll see if this stays on the list.
  3. Hannibal is the newest show I’ve started watching, and I only started because I was too lazy to not watch the season premiere. (I was already sat in front of the TV and I didn’t feel like changing the channel. Do you see how problematic this addiction is?) We’ll see if I keep watching it or if I’ll pick something else.

Other contenders include: Big Bang Theory (next runner-up), Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Elementary, Modern Family, and Community (last runner-up). Also, it goes without saying that I can’t start any new shows.

<deep breath>
This will be a challenge, and it is meant to me.

In addition, I have been talking to some people about using Lent as an opportunity to add something of value and meaning to your life rather than trying to subtract something. My friend Jenn used the example of eating less beef or red meat. If you try to cut out red meat completely, you’ll likely eat a herd of cows on Easter Sunday. BUT, if you say you’re going to eat more turkey, it’s a bit easier to substitute a turkey burger for a beefy burger to reach that goal rather than turning down a beef burger with a pout on your face.

So! On that note, I am trying to snack healthier by just snacking on more fruits and veggies and making sure I eat fruits and veggies more often throughout the day. This goal will be harder to check up on, I think, but it will also be good for me.

This can’t be so bad if the creepy face is smiling. PLUS I have this plate in my house! Done and done.

(Also, I am aware that Sundays are essentially like “cheat days”, but I have pretty bad problems that require complete discipline. I won’t let myself have days to binge-watch TV. Or eat tons of chips.)

Do you typically give something up for Lent?
If so, what are you giving up this year?
If not, what are some habits you would like to increase/decrease in general?

Updates!

Starr1 Comment

I will be away from social media for a little bit so two quick updates:

– I had a small accident yesterday coming back from the visa office. I’m perfectly all right; at worst, I’m mildly concussed but most likely just a lot stressed over the whole situation. Mine is a cautionary tale about not driving over 10 mph in bad weather and also making sure you have good tires.

– I was picking up my visa to go to China, where I will be spending the new year for the first time! I haven’t seen my extended family in nearly 4 years, so I’m very excited to go back. I’m slightly less excited to have my relatives ask me when I’m getting married, why I’m so tan, and how round my face is getting.

Due to the Great Firewall of China and my general tendency to keep away from social media while I’m on vacation, I’ll be reachable by email but you may not have as much luck with everything else.
Otherwise, be back in touch with everyone in under 3 weeks!

(I have a post about my ghastly visa experience ready that I may publish before I leave, or after I come back. I haven’t forgotten about my Europe posts that are left! Please lemme know if you’d rather I put those up when I get back or my China posts first.)