It's Here

I love/hate this time of the year. The holidays come at you fast, cheery Christmas music is everywhere and you're constantly worrying about buying all your gifts. Then, you're popping fireworks and eating plate fulls of grilled shrimp and sashimi on the last day of the year and it starts all over again. I'm pretty darn excited about 2009 though, especially for the summer.

Got my voting done today and it felt damn good. Si se pinchen puede!

Oh, and I wore my bow tie to school today, it was fun.

What Color Are You

This simple, yet stunning, book was in the waiting room at my mom's workplace. I can't remember the title or author of the book, but it's from Hawaii and was published in the eighties.

P.S. Please vote for my scarecrow! #9 The Seasonal Store

Colder Days

Bringing my black rubber boots out made me miss Oregon and want these.

This Weekend

It rained, so the rain boots came out!


Lunch before


Lunch after


Brother


Walking

What did YOU do this weekend?

I'm Not a Flashy Person...

But I freaking loooove this look.
via garance doré

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Me and my friend met up to study tonight and we ended up discussing life and its experiences and feelings that come along with it. We had a really good talk and I felt like we both let out a lot that only we feel comfortable sharing with each other. Only ten minutes of our three hour meet up was spent studying, but each minute was well worth it.

All in all, life is good and I truly look forward to what each day brings!


P.S. Gap. Boy. Shoes. Newwwww.

Post Photo Shoot

Here's some of the shots, taken by Brooklyn, for that photo shoot I helped out at. They're for HIC, a local surf store, and they'll be using them for advertising and marketing.

P.S. Check out Brooklyn's amazing photo skills and some other shots from this set. And read this blog entry of hers, it makes you want to be a happy hippie girl living on the North Shore. :)

Little Boy's Shoes

Yes, my feet are small enough to fit in kids' shoes. I hated it in high school, but now I'm okay with it because I can get really cute CHEAP shoes. Muahaha.

The navy suede ones are from J. Crew and the brown babies are from Gap. I think I'm gonna get the Gap ones because they're cheaper ($35!) and I've actually seen them in store. The sales girl made me feel really uncomfortable when I was trying them on and I was so tired I just left.

Yeah, so this is the kind of stuff I search for when I'm supposed to be writing my paper. Okay, now back to researching batiks!

New Hair

Before: Damaged and Dirty, After: Healthy-ish and Happy
My best friend chopped off the split ends and bad color tonight, finally! I'm so proud that she's honing her hair chopping skills and showing restraint when she cuts my hair. She works at a Japanese style salon, so the first time she cut my hair she thinned the crap out of it and gave the bottom a v-shape, this time she made sure she just gave me a trim. My hair has never regained it's thickness since that first cut two years ago (so sad, so sad), but that also has to do with my poor man diet of PB&J sandwiches lately. I swear, my hair comes out in hand fulls every morning and whenever I wash it, yeah, it's really gross. I'm gonna start taking my vitamins!


Besides good company and a free haircut, I love reading their men's magazines! The style sections are really interesting and one section on hats made me want a pork pie one reallll bad.

P.S. Vote for my scarecrow, #9 The Seasonal Store!

Pretty Please Vote For My Scarecrows!

Our school did a joint project/competition with Ward Centers in Hawai'i to create scarecrows for twenty of their stores. The top teams win scholarships and the public, yes you, can vote (link below).

My team had to create a scarecrow that represents The Seasonal Store and promotes their products, so we made four mini scarecrows for each season. First, we chose the costumes and accessories. Then, we looked for masks that were plain and the only ones were Bill, Hillary and Obama, so we used those and randomly paired it with the costumes. Then we found another blank mask and paired it with a Dora the Explorer wig.

It was weird how it all came together and by pure coincidence tied in with the presidential election!

Spring we had the blank face mask and Dora wig in a kimono = Sarah Palin
Summer we had Hillary as a cheerleader = Hillary cheering on Obama
Fall we had Obama dressed as Superman with a turkey on his head = Obama saves the day
Winter we had Bill aka John McCain as Santa Claus dressed up as Zorro = Older man saves the day

So, now everyone that's anywhere can vote! You can vote once a day and you're entered to win a $150 Ward Gift Card or Dinner for Two for a Year. Winning teams get scholarship money, which I badly need!

Vote for #9 The Seasonal Store! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sneaker Freak

I'm always looking for discreet, yet chic, sneakers that are under $100. Unfortunately, I've come across the discreet and chic, but not the cheap. Anyone know of brands or sites that fit these requirements besides the usuals like Vans or Keds?

Brown: Common Projects
Red: Aprix
White: Lacoste

Osamu Yokonami

Osamu Yokonami via the artist and his model

Get That Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Took a scissors to this formerly unloved top and now it's loved again! These pants are also a new love. They used to be my roomie's, but now they're my favorite slouchy jeans. She has the best hand me downs!


And all you other bloggers are making me miss fall weather with your talk of leather boots and wooly coats! When I lived in Oregon for about a year, I loved witnessing the changing colors and the shades of fall. I really liked how the red leaf stood out among all the orangey ones here, so I had to snap a picture of it. It is getting a bit cooler here in Hawai'i and it's been pretty windy too, so that's a nice relief from the heat.

Top, Charlotte Russe. Jeans, Levi's. Shoes, Nine West. Bag, Ashley Watson. Ring, consignment store.

Jack + (Jill - L) - Jack + Sander = Jil Sander

My favorite Spring 2009 collection was Jil Sander. I want it all!

And I'm pretty good at math, huh?

Turn Your Head To The Left

This purple top is superrr comfortable. It's perfectly baggy and really light so it feels like you're wearing nothing.

Got it for just $30 at I Don't Like Mondays where it also comes in blue and gray. Plus, Refinery 29 just featured them as one of their favorite online stores so if you enter IDLMxREFINERY29 at checkout you get 20% off. If I had waited two more weeks to order this top it would've been just $24! Maybe now I can get all the colors.

Aahh, and I am so pooped right now. I just finished writing my article and I haven't even studied for my exam tomorrow. I can't wait for these next weeks to be over. Got some exciting happenings coming up, so I'm definitely looking forward to that though. More details later!

Top, Mommy vs. Daddy from I Don't Like Mondays. Shorts, American Eagle. Shoes, H&M. Hat, vintage. Ring, consignment store.

My Brother

My little brother Caleb draws.

He's about to graduate from high school and has to start thinking about what he wants to do. Others say to go into fields that need people or make good money. I tell him to do what he's passionate about.

Fall at Topshop

In June, I did this post about what I wanted from Topshop's fall stuff.

I find it really weird that things I've recently been obsessed with - bowler hats and fringe - are what I lusted over then, especially since I'm always changing my mind.

Even weirder is that I completely forgot about this post until now.

Maybe it's The Secret in action... I've told the universe "Hey, these are pretty, send them my way in a few months!" and then the universe sends me Lulu (bowler hat inspiration) and Jil Sander (fringe inspiration).

Maybe if I keep doing this they'll magically arrive in my mailbox! I can dream right?

Anyways, here's some of my Topshop picks that I'm thinking about getting (no $80 black fringe dress because I'm a cheap ass)

1. Asymmetric Fringe Tee / Loooveeeeeeee
2. Flat Purple Sandals / Kinda like the lavender Rachel Comey ones I posted, but in my size!

As you can see, I broke my shopping spell. But I've limited my purchases to only things that I love. And I think I love these Topshop items. And the shoes come in size five, the smallest is usually a six!

Oh, and I always feel it's appropriate to supply pictures of what I'm talking about, but I am lazy. Heh heh. But doesn't just words really make you read?

Moanalua Gardens

I visited Moanalua Gardens today and it brought back sooo many memories...

Jumping from rock to rock, feeding the koi fishes, trying to climb coconut trees, walking under the bridge to get to Jack in the Box, family picnics, thinking the houses were haunted.

Good times.

Tagged

The amazinginspiringsweet Letitia tagged me for this. I kinda changed up what I was supposed to do. Here goes...

Six Random Things About Me
1) I don't have my driver's license
2) I own only four pairs of heels: black, tan, gray and purple
3) I'm a pescatarian aka I don't eat land animals
4) I was a cheerleader in high school and for a year at the Univ of Hawai'i
5) I want a tattoo of a pyramid
6) I have absolutely nothing hanging on the walls in my room

Six Random Things I Like
1) Cold green tea
2) Wavy/curly/surfer hair on boys
3) Seeing old people holding hands
4) The clean feeling after a shower
5) Writing to do lists
6) Saying "Of course my horse!"

Six Random Things I Don't Like
1) Getting mosquito bites
2) The carpet in my room
3) Competition reality shows on MTV and VH1
4) Wastefulness
5) Stop and go traffic because I get carsick
6) The fact that I don't have my driver's license

And for the ones I will tag, just follow what I did :)
Susanna Cole of Girl Meets NYC
Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere
Nature Graffiti of Friends and Lovers
Miss A. of Want Beer With That?
Farren of A Girl Brushed Red
Stefanie of Yes Please Mademoiselle

Purple Fringe

Fringe in it's usual shades of brown doesn't do it for me. This Steve Madden bag, however, is amazing. I want it.

And yes, my favorite color is purple if you couldn't already tell (see blog name and previous post).

Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere picked out some awesome fall bags, where I found this Steve Madden fringed one. Check it out.

Lavender Shoes

Came across these Rachel Comey lavender lovelies on Dujour Magazine's site. You can get them at Gargyle, unfortunately, none in my size left.

And while we're on the topic of shoes. Please check out Design for Mankind's latest issue, Feets & Feats. I loved it and I love that magazine!

Welcome Back Charlie!

Charlie got to come to school with me today!

These super stylish girls inspired me to bring him back out:

shecity, Lou Doillon, and Lulu

Lulu is pretty much responsible for my renewed enthusiasm for bowler hats (I've had mine for three years and hardly wear it)! My Google Reader really knows what I need because they were the ones that actually recommended me to her blog! She's also got me excited for backpacks- I saw a really cute Mexican inspired one for Billabong's spring 09 line that I really want.

Vest, New York Company. Top, Rogan for Target. Hat, vintage.

Call Me

Today, I finally got my act together and went to the state library to start on my paper that's due this Thursday (eek!).

While I was there this older man kept following me around, which was seriously creepy. He asked me if I went to the mall recently because he thought he saw me there. Uh, no.

Then this younger dude came up to me and said that my laptop charger looked like a Wii charger. Then he came back and said the same thing and slipped me his number. I accidentally ripped the paper into little bookmarks.

Stockholm Celebrates Sex Ad

A. Breast milk
B. Semen
C. Other, please indicate

via I Believe in Advertising

It's Gonna Be A Good Month

Don't really know what's going on with the face (okay, I know, I don't know what to do with it!) or the lighting, but I thought it came out pretty rad.

This vest is really versatile and there's so many ways you can wear it. I love when the wind picks up the dangling parts and flies it around me. Got it for just $30 from Moulé when I was in Portland last summer.

And I think it's gonna be a good month. No, I know it's gonna be a good month.

Vest, MK2K. Tank, AA. White bra, Hanes. Shorts, Billabong. Watch that no longer works but makes for a bad ass cuff, DKNY.

Butterflies

Koi Suwannagate / Emporio Armani / Moschino Cheap & Chic / Collette Dinnigan
Spring 2009

Mamaki Tea

My friend's mom told me that mamaki tea was a good cleansing tea, that, uh, made you poop.

And of course I had to try it out!

So the results? Poop, no. A little weirded out, yes.

The directions said to boil 5-7 cups of water with a handful of leaves (like two or three). I didn't read well and boiled 5-7 cups of water with 5-7 leaves.

It made me feel a little... you know... woOooOo.

And what could have been a funny situation, was not because I was home alone last night! And it also didn't help that there was a shortage of people available to go out. :(

So, instead I tweaked out to the Paris collections and watched an episode of The Hills online. Nothing has changed since the last time I saw it. I still hate Spencer's sarcasm and want to punch him in the face and there's still girl drama about boys. And then I discovered that NBC airs The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Miami Vice online!!! If you're ever bored go to NBC website and watch their vintage shows!

This is another reason why I should never live by myself. Hurry back from Vegas roomie!

The Long and Short of It

Maison Martin Margiela / Alexander Wang / Nina Ricci
Spring 2009

How fun would it be to walk down the street in a dress like this? I'd feel a little Matrix.

Back to Work

Readers, meet my body.

Yes, it's my first outfit post. I've always been hesitant to do these because I feel awkward doing it and awkward knowing that there are people I know/will run into reading this. Butttt, oh well!

So, this is what I wore to work today. Yes, WORK! Business has picked up at the consignment store I work at and the owner has been really busy, so I'm going to start getting my hours back. Hopefully steady hours in the near future because I really like working there and the customers never fail to amuse me!

Crochet dress, Roxy. Gray dress underneath, AA. Sweater vest, hand me down Abercrombie. Chopsticks necklace, from an Oregon Arts Festival. Bracelet, made by my uncle. Barefoot, because I want to.


My new favorite ring that I bought at my store today! I am in loveeee with it.

Oh, oops, I broke my shopping rule! And I think it's going to happen more now that I'm surrounded by amazing clothes and accessories.

Assuit Textiles

Today at school I was introduced to the textiles of Assuit*, Egypt. Being that it was from Egypt, it won immediate points. But besides that, I seriously do love the geometric prints and the combination of the airy like fabric with the metal embroidered strips.

Our guest speaker had a shawl similar to the one pictured and said she got it from eBay! I, of course, was already making a mental note to check it out. And after a little searching, there seem to be a few going for under $50. I'm just hesitant to buy one because (a) I don't know if they're legit, (b) I really don't need one and (c) what the heck would I do with one?

This is the kind of buy that you really want to make because it's so damn gorgeous and semi-rare, but at the same time you have absolutely no need for it. No matter what, I am determined to someday own a genuine 1920's Assuit shawl and dress. Yeah, I have big dreams.

*Also spelled Assiut, Asyut, or Assyut**
**Why does it have to be so confusing?
Picture via Vintage Textile

LBD-less

I just found out that I don't own a LBD. Two LB rompers, yes. But no dress.

Eight Legged Balls

Octopus Balls from Nijiya Market

Busy Bee

Meet Mia. One of our models and my roomie's adorable puppy.

I think the blazing sun fried the brain cells that were supposed to remind me to take pictures at the photo shoot.

The only ones I got were of them in bikinis, so it looks like we're shooting an Island Ladies 2009 Calendar.

Hopefully I can post some of the finished product when it's ready!

I've also been noticing a lot lately that old women have the best clothes (which I guess explains why I also love thrifting and vintage so much). Yesterday, I saw a woman in her sixties with the cutest floral skirt and today I saw a woman in her seventies with these really cool white shoes.