Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

Happy new year everyone!!! I'm celebrating by watching a hockey game at the Staples Center. LA Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks!

I haven't been to a hockey game in a long time and we got last minute seats for like $18!! Pretty high up though. Hahaha.

Later on tonight will be just getting some drinks and going to a loft party. Nothing big! Those clubbing days are over for me!

I hope everyone has a great NYE and may all your wishes come true in 2012!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:S Figueroa St,Los Angeles,United States

Friday, December 30, 2011

Best of 2011!

Well well, another year flew by in what feels like an instant!  Why is time going by faster and faster now?  I can't believe there is only one more day left in 2011.  It has been a good but very busy year for me.  Of course the biggest being that I had my wedding in September, and such an amazing honeymoon in October.  Another big accomplishment that I worked hard for half of the year for was being able to pass the CFA Level 2 test which was such a relief (except pretty soon I have to start studying for Level 3!).  And I ran my first half marathon!  Oh yeah, and most recently my blog got stolen, but that's taken care of now that they have been taken down - woohoo!

And of course, I got lots and lots of goodies too!  So this is a list of the best from this year.  Later on, maybe tomorrow, I will do a similar list for the decisions I made for my wedding, since that was such a big part of my year and I figure it might be helpful for future brides!  But for now, these are my purchases, pretty much in chronological order.

Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub - I still really love this facial scrub.  I use it once or twice a week in the shower, and the little jar actually still has some left.  One jar a year for only $24 is pretty awesome.  I love how my face feels so soft after I use this.



Lululemon No Limit Tanks - I know this tank is not new in 2011, but it is new for me.  I bought my first one in aruba, then white, then coal/lavender.  I wear them quite often.  They are great for the summer when you want to stay cool, and also great for those days that you are bloated and don't feel like wearing anything tight fitting.  I've worn it to do all kinds of workouts from yoga to boxing, it works for everything.  





Lululemon Ambition Pullover - I think technically this pullover came out at December 2010.  I actually bought this in black and passion in December, then snorkel blue in January.  But I ended up returning black and passion.  I wear the snorkel one quite a bit though, mostly as to/from or to hang out in since it is quite warm for the weather here.  I took it with me to Europe on my honeymoon and wore it to run outside there as it was a lot colder.  It was great!  I love how cute this style is, and I love the color.  I swapped my Spirit pullover for it!



Westin Heavenly Bed - this was like the best investment ever, because I use it every night!!!  It is soooo comfy, I can hardly get out of bed.  It's totally worth the money.



Ray-Ban aviators - I bought 3 pairs of the Ray-Ban aviators this year.  I love these sunglasses!  I fit my face really well.  I ditched all my other designer sunglasses and they are all I wear now.  I especially love my gold ones, and my husband stole the black/white/red ones so I don't really wear those now.  



Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM - I cannot describe how much I love this bag.  And I'm so glad I got the biggest size!  I put so much stuff in it, I pretty much use it as a gym bag.  My gym is pretty close to the train station I get off on when I get off work.  So I go straight to the gym and I don't want to carry a full on gym bag on the train with me and then to work everyday.  This LV bag is way more stylish for that lol.  So my shoes, workout clothes, and other crap all fit into it.  I thought the thin straps would be uncomfortable if I put too much stuff in the bag but they have never dug into my shoulders that hard.  And this bag really holds some pretty heavy stuff!  The quality is great too.  I mean I use it everyday and it shows almost no sign of wear.  Definitely getting my money's worth out of this bag!



Lululemon Dance Studio Crop - I already loved the Dance Studio Pants, and the Crops are just as nice!  I bought 3 pairs of them, in wren, black and white.  The white ones are lined and the others are not.  I wear all 3 pairs a lot.  In the spring/summer time, I pretty much just wore these crops on weekends.  I felt that they were a little bit more dressed up than my yoga pants but still super comfortable.  And it's really easy to throw on a t-shirt or tank top with them.  



Burberry Patent Flats - I think these flats are so cute looking, and I love the Burberry pattern fabric on top of them.  I wear them almost everyday to and from work while I'm taking the train.  They are super comfortable, and after almost a year they are still in awesome shape!



Lululemon Energy Bra & 50 Rep Bra - I bought these 2 bras at the same time and wear them both equally.  I like them a lot.  I think the back of the Energy bra is so cute, even though I never get to show it off since all my tanks cover it.  




Nanoce BB Cream - I love this because it replaces foundation for me now!  The coverage is equivalent to light liquid foundation coverage, but you can build up by putting on a little more.  Supposedly it has healing properties for the skin so it makes me feel good that I'm not damaging my skin and clogging my pores.  Even if it doesn't, it works well to cover up skin imperfections while preserving the natural and glowing look.  It also works as a base layer that you can put foundation over if you want a heavier coverage in certain areas.  I just love how easy it is because you can just put it on like lotion!



Pink Lotus Drawstring Hem Sweater - This is the softest most comfortable sweater!  I also really like the color and style.  It is very hard to take this sweater off, and I reach for it all the time.



Lululemon Astro Wunder Unders - These are one of my favorite items from 2011.  I've always loved the Astro waistband, I have 3 pairs of Astro crops.  So these are a great combo.  I love that I got them in static black and slub denim, so they are more interesting looking than my normal black and coal luon.  I can wear them to workout as well as with boots so money well spent!



Brita Water Bottle - These water bottles with Brita filters built in have given me a lot of convenience this year!  I only use them while traveling, as I have filtered water and my regular water bottles for everyday life.  But they are so great to have on trips because it saves you from the hassle of having to find bottled water.  You can fill these up from anywhere.  They came in so handy for my honeymoon.



Lash Extensions - I started getting lash extensions this year primarily for my wedding.  But then I got so used to the convenience of not having to put on mascara everyday that I kept going back for refills!  I don't see myself ever stopping.  I love that I can have long and full lashes any time, and they last 5-6 weeks between each refill so I don't mind getting refills during that time frame.

Express Ribbed Drape-Neck Sweater - I picked this sweater up when I was at Express without even trying it on.  And I loved it as soon as I put it on at home!  It is kind of like a dolman style sweater, but it's actually really figure flattering.  And I love the soft and comfortable material.  I bought it in 2 colors and wear them all the time to both work and casual wear.



Express Metallic Stripe Ruffle Front Blouse - I also really love this shirt from Express.  The color is really great with subtle metallic stripes.  It's semi-sheer, and very feminine.  I wear it to work mostly, but I also have wore it on weekends while running errands or something like that.  It's so cute and goes with everything.  



Express Metallic Mesh Stitch Dolman - another sweater I love from Express.  The color is very pretty with the metallic in the thread of the sweater as well.  It's also a dolman style sweater, but more form fitting than the Ribbed Drape-Neck.  It's fun to wear different colored tank tops under this sweater as the colors show through.



Ivanka Trump Pinkish Pumps - I had been looking for a pair of nude pumps forever, and by accident got these pumps in light pink instead of patent nude like I originally wanted.  But after receiving them, and with the help of my dear readers, I actually liked them better than the nude!  I wear them at work a lot.  They are high and can get kind of uncomfortable towards the end of the day, but I still love how they look.

On the right  =)

Victoria's Secret Ruffle Scarves - I ordered a bunch of stuff from Victoria's Secret when they were giving away free scarves.  I ended up not liking most of the stuff I bought so I returned them, but got to keep the scarves!  I LOVE them!  Lately it's been cold in the mornings so I have been wearing them everyday!  The colors in both white and pink are great.  




Lululemon Turn Around LS - Ok, I'm pretty sure this is the best thing Lululemon made all year!  I love the new Rulu, it is sooooo soft and it's so hard to take this top off!  I got 2 of these, in gray and plum.  I love both colors and love that they are reversible.  The fit and style are very simple but flattering as well.




Adidas Adizero Adios 2 - I got these as one of my tester shoes, and I seriously think they are the best running shoes I've ever put on my feet!  Aside from being super cute and cool looking, they are great because they are very light but at the same time provide support and stability.  I like my Nike Frees and the New Balance Minimus Road shoes I got but they are both very minimalist, and I find them to be good for running but not for weight lifting or cross training (the Nike ones especially pinch my feet after a while).  The Adidas Adios 2 are good for both.  I wore them for my half marathon 2 days after receiving them and I didn't even get a single blister!  When I wear them I feel like I can really go faster and longer without my feet and legs feeling tired.  Really, say Adios to your old personal best!



Seychelles True Story Boot - These boots are so darn cute!  They are the perfect fit for me at the perfect shaft height.  I can wear them with tights or jeans.  And they are very comfortable!  The leather is super nice and soft.  I get a lot of wear out of these!


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Work Pants from The Limited

I ordered 4 pairs of pants from The Limited last week since everything was 50% off and reader Angela tipped me off about them.  I actually meant to go to the store and try their pants on in person but since the sale was only one day and I didn't have time to go to the store that day, I resorted to ordering online.  I got 4 pairs so I could compare different styles and sizes, and I knew I would not end up keeping all 4 pairs.

So I ordered one pair of the Exact Stretch Bootcut Pant in Modern Black, which is actually black with very subtle pin stripe.




Well, I guess I can't really speak for these pants since they only had a size 0 which I ordered and I think it's just a little too tight, I had to suck in a little bit to button up lol.  These are definitely a lower rise than the other 3 pairs.  And of course they are boot cut so the bottom does not flare out like most of my work pants.  I kinda like that.  Too bad I couldn't get the correct size to try.

So I ordered the Exact Stretch Classic Flare pant as well, in 2 different colors - black and khaki, both in size 2.  I figured that they would probably be the same fit as the bootcut version, with a wider leg opening.  But they actually have a higher rise as well.  The material is the same though.  






Speaking of the material, I am not sure how I feel about it.  It's definitely thinner than my Express Editor pants, and it has a more polyester feel to it.  The Express Editor pants are cottony and very soft.    And I think they drape better because the material is heavier.  And they are always wrinkle free, which I love since I sit at work all day and hate seeing wrinkles in my clothes.  I'm not sure if the Exact Stretch material wrinkles or not, but it doesn't sit as smoothly and I see some wrinkles from being folded in the shipping box.  They are stretchy though, that's for sure.  It's kind of like a hybrid of stretchy yoga pants and work pants.

Here's a comparison photo I took of myself in both the Exact Stretch pants vs. the Editor pants.  I should mention that they are exactly the same inseam, 33 inches:


Exact Stretch pants - tighter fitting in the legs but bottom does not drape as well

Express Wide Waistband Editor pants - smoother fit

Maybe it's easier to see the wrinkles in the Exact Stretch pants in khaki:



I actually really don't like how they look on me in the khaki color.  Black tends to camouflage wrinkles better.  So these are definitely going back.

The last pair that I bought are actually my favorite pair.  They are the Cassidy Pieced Waist Flare pant.  They are this navy textured material, which is pretty cool and different.




This material is different from the Exact Stretch.  It's also very thin, but it feels almost like linen.  I hope they don't wrinkle like linen though.  But based on how they look out of the box, I think they are ok.  They may wrinkle a little bit but not much.  I hope that's the case, otherwise I'll be really disappointed.  They are very comfortable on.  I also ordered these in size 2, and I think it's a good fit.  The leg fits a little bit looser than the Exact Stretch pants.

Here they are on me:



So I am glad I found one pair of pants that worked for me, as the prices were very good with 50% off.  That's like 35 bucks a pair which is a great deal.  I was hoping to keep 2 pairs, but what can you do.  I guess the others just don't work for me as well.  It is what it is!  I'll have to test these out, and then think about getting them in other colors if they do well for me!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Another Lululemon Dance Strap Tank! In Fruitie Tootie?

I got another Dance Strap tank!!  From ebay of course.  This tank is an old Lululemon style that has not returned in years.  But it's one of my favorites!  I already have 5 of them, so this one is my 6th!  I have them in such beautiful colors too, like gold, and army green, and this graphic print that I'm not sure what it's called.  And my newest addition is such a gorgeous color too.  I'm pretty sure it's fruitie tootie, which is one of my favorite colors from Lululemon ever!  But it could be a different color but very very similar.



This tank is made of lullure, and it fits loosely in the body but not preggo looking like the recent loose fitting tanks Lululemon has made.  I actually think it's a very flattering cut.  It is not very supportive, and is low cut in the front.  So it's best for low impact activities.  Though I have wore it running before without problems (but I don't have a large chest).  But I mostly wear it in the summer as street wear.  I think it's too darn cute to workout in!  The Lulu logos on these tanks are the same color as each tank's color, in a velvet like material.  So it blends in really well and does not come off as athletic wear.  

I would say I am *almost* done collecting this tank in different colors.  I know it also came in mint, which was a very very pale blue, almost white.  I have it in a Tri Y tank and I love the color, and it looks beautiful in the lullure material.  So if I see that tank on ebay I will be sure to bid for it.  I don't know how many other colors this tank was made in, but it was a lot.  And they were all very beautiful colors that no longer exist sadly.

Anyway, I'm going to take this tank out for a spin to my pilates class!!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Hampton Popcorn - One of the Reasons I've Been Fat This Holiday Season

I've been seriously indulging this holiday season, with all kinds of yummy food.  Aside from my mom's cooking which is always my favorite, I have been obsessed with this Hampton flavored popcorn I bought on Gilt Taste.  First, I bought the 1 gallon tin of peanut butter cup popcorn for $24 (there is also a 3.5 gallon for almost $70):



Omg, it is divine.  There are real pieces of peanut butter cups in it.  Everyone who's tried it loved it, and the 1 gallon tin went really really fast.  I'm talking like a couple days.  I think I'm guilty for eating half of it.

Then I decided, hey, why not get the Cookie and Cream flavor too!



This one actually just arrived today.  I should have totally not ordered it.  I don't know what I was thinking at the time.  But alas, it is here now and I busted it open to have a taste tonight.  It is very good as well, with real cookie & cream pieces in it.  I think if I had to choose one, I would still go with the peanut butter cup as my favorite though.  But they are both really really good so it's completely personal preference.  My new tin is a baby blue and white stripes.  So cute.  I'm totally keeping the tins.  I don't know what for, but I think I can use them to put presents in.

Once you start to eat these, it is so hard to stop!  I think I should bring it to work and make my coworkers fat too.  Woah, I spent $50 on popcorn to make myself fat.  Not the smartest thing I've ever done!  Hehe.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas!  My parents and their dog came in town yesterday, and my mom started cooking and feeding us right away!  Needless to say, all diets went out the window.  So I'm still trying to recover from my food coma before eating more today.  Hahaha... eeek definitely need to work out A LOT next week!!


Glitter Graphics


We didn't really want to do gifts this year, because somehow Christmas came so fast and it didn't even feel like it!  So we decided to just do little presents.

And hubby and I got each other the same present!!  Kindle!  Haha... so funny!!!

My mom got us a belated wedding gift / Christmas gift.  It is SO SO cute!  I have never heard of this, but there is a website called lovebookonline.com where you can design your own book with words and pictures from their archive, and they print and bind it for you into a real book!  I guess it is meant to be love books, where you write on each page something like "I love you because...", but my mom wanted to make it more like a life story book.  So she wrote all about my life and the important milestones, and whatever she knows of hubby's life.  And how we met, our wedding, etc. etc.  Really cute!  This is how it looks:



And this page is so funny, I guess my mom knows (and remembers) my Lululemon obsession!  Though I'm not quite size 2, but it's still funny!


And here are some other pages - this book is about 80 pages so I'm not going to post all of it!  Haha... it's pretty time consuming, but I think it's a great present!  I love this book!










I can't remember if I ever wrote about how I met my hubby (Josh), so I guess I should preface this with our little story:  I was studying in Australia in 2004, and on December 16 I was on my way to Fiji (then home) at the Sydney airport.  Josh's brother was also studying abroad there, so Josh went to visit him and they happened to also be flying home on the same day.  We met and chatted at the airport for a bit while waiting for flights and exchanged emails at the end.  But didn't think too much of it.  After I got home, I had to go back to Santa Barbara and finish college while Josh came back to LA.  Then a few years later he was moving and found his Australia stuff, and decided to shoot me an email.  At that time, I had finished college and moved to LA as well and we found out that we lived 2 minutes away from each other!  So he invited me to go to a friend's birthday dinner with him, and as they say, the rest is history...







So if you feel like spending the time to write a book for someone you love, I think this website is a great idea!  

Merry Christmas everyone!!
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