Military Green

Sweater: Forever 21 || Black Long Sleeve Shirt: Forever 21 || Shorts: Cotton On || random leggings

Eery sounding winds are coming through the window again. Time to double up the layering again. 

Easy Breezy Beautiful

Sweater: thrifted || random leggings || Circle scarf: New York and Company || lips: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain "Adore"

The title of this post is misleading, since I'm wearing a Revlon product, not a Covergirl one. However, it's been extremely windy here that I had to layer up by wearing two leggings together, and a long sleeve shirt under my sweater.

Casual Saturday with an oversized comfy sweater and some leggings. Throw on a scarf and dab on a lip color to look more put together. One more midterm and a paper to go, then I get to go home for the three day weekend. That retail therapy yesterday did me some good to give me some sanity back after staying up into the wee hours of the morning from studying for midterms. Wish me luck. And all those celebrating Lunar New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai! 

Stained Tinted Colored

From left to right:
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain "Twilight" || Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain "Adore" || NYC Ultra Moist Lip Wear "Retro Red" #308 || NYC "Matte Me Crazy" topcoat nail polish || NYC "Plaza Palmberry" nail polish #139

I've been loving the deep reds and colored lips this winter season. Ever since getting my first red lip stick, I've been on the look out for various shades of red. What got me to the store to look for another Revlon product was a fashion blogger, who I've interview for a previous I.B.O.T.M., Ms. Ayana Giann Carlos. I noticed her deep red, almost plummy lip color in many recent outfit shots, and the color  against her tan skin was amazing. I just had to ask her what she was wearing and if she would recommend it. She is usually wearing her Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in "Crush". Unfortunately when I went to a drug store, they ran out of several of the shades, including "Crush". I didn't want to leave empty handed, and fortunately for me there was a Buy One Get One 50% Off special on Revlon products. That just prompted me to look for another Revlon product. After choosing what seemed to be a close relative of "Crush", I decided to pick up the lip stain in "Twilight", which seemed to be a gorgeous plum red. 

 I went off in search of other clearance products, and found that NYC products were 40% off, so picked up a classic red lipstick, quickly grabbed a matte top coat (which I've been wanting for a while) and, to continue with the theme of dark, plum, reds for the winter season, a "Plaza Plumberry"nail polish. I tried out two of the lip products, but I'll let you all know how long they last when worn out during a whole day. When first applied, all the lip products applied nicely and smoothly. I still need to learn how to apply a felt-tip-pen-like applicator of the Revlon lip stain in "Twilight", and to prevent the creamy red NYC lip stick from any possible smearing while I talk, but I guess it's all trial and error. However, I definitely am a happy camper with the shades I chose and of course, the clearance prices.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain "Twilight"

NYC Ultra Moist Lip Wear "Retro Red" #308

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain "Adore"

Cross My Heart

Sweater: thrifted || Jeggings: PacSun || Watch: Fossil || Ring: Forever 21

Simple outfit from two days ago.

Mustard or Bronze

Top: Forever 21 || Cardigan: thrifted || Jeggings: Pac Sun || Shoes: Nine West || Watch: Fossil

Sunny days call for no socks. It amazes me how I've been able to wear my UNIF Hellraisers look-alikes twice in February, when I usually am glued into my warm boots. 

Day two of wearing my thrifted sweaters this week. I was amazed at the great condition this bronze colored cardigan is still in. Even the buttons are all intact and in perfect shape. No wear and tear seen here.

Juxtaposed the slouchiness and boxy shoulders of the cardigan with slimming bottoms. Still breezy here, so threw on a knit circle scarf before I headed out for class.

Slouchy

sweater: thrifted || jeans: Kohls || circle scarf: New York and Company || watch: Fossil || lipstick: Revlon Colorburst Lipbutter "Candy Apple"

This knit sweater is probably now my favorite go-to slouchy sweater to throw over skinny jeans or leggings for that cozy, effortless look. The fit is actually more perfect than I had thought. It isn't too boxy, too long, or too large. This sweater is definitely on point. Dressed up the sweater with a circle scarf and some bright red lips. Definitely excited to create outfits with my other newly thrifted pieces.

Thrifty

Last year, I discovered the ninety-nine cent sweater sale but was disheartened when I saw it was on a Friday and I probably was busy that day. Finally after a year, I received an email that the sale came back. I was so ecstatic and at the same time disappointed. Since I'm in college, I have no ride so I have to depend on hitching rides from friends. I decided to invite a friend and thought it would be a great way to bond over an awesome sale that comes just once a year. 

When we finally arrived, I was quite impressed. I've only been to one other Thrift Town almost exactly a year before near my hometown, and that was my first time thrifting. It was a good experience for a first timer, so I was excited to be coming back to Thrift Town on a super clearance sale day.

As you can see, it was an eventful, productive, and successful thrift day. After not thrifting for a year, I obviously had some withdrawals. We both spent about two hours in there, sifting through piles of sweaters and racks of clothes, trying them on, and weeding out the damaged pieces.   

When we first entered, we noticed a small table of a pile of sweaters. We felt a bit disappointed, but then again we expected a small variety at that time. We left after we were done with classes and her work, so we got there at almost seven at night. After probably about thirty minutes of walking around and searching through other racks of clothing, I decided to go downstairs and noticed that there were tables and tables of sweaters galore. From there, I went crazy picking up every sweater that had potential. I would weed them out after trying them on and checking for stains or rips.

My friend and I were both pretty much set on our final pieces, so we found a small dresser to place our findings while we inspected them for the last time. I had to make space on the dresser because there was a pile of "stuff", but one of those items was a purse I ended up taking for myself. I was eyeing it when I was clearing the dresser, and placed it near me for later inspection.

I showed my friend, and she absolutely loved it. She thought it was perfect for school to place my notebooks and when I flipped the top flap, we both fell in love with the pocket detailing for pens and other school supplies.

I was hesitant to buy it, because I had a few other items I was planning on buying. After thinking about it for a minute, I decided to replace three items I was planning on buying with this amazing find. It was as if it was waiting for me. No rips, tears, stains, missing pieces. When I walked over to the cashier and placed my items on the counter, she picked up the bag and fell in love as well. She exclaimed, "Well, hellooo cuteness! This looks so clean!" Absolutely loved the service and cashier at this local Thrift Town and can't wait to go back. 

Dark navy sweater (Coldwater Creek): $0.99

Dusty blue sweater (Ashworth): $0.99

Gold cardigan (Nilani): $0.99

Khaki blazer (J Crew): $2.99

Faux leather purse: $4.99

Total spent: $11.83

When we were driving back, we started getting hungry after all that shopping. Decided to stop by a small, yet cozy little Italian-esque restaurant. Great way to end the night of treasure hunting with delicious food and good company.

Rostini Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Half a Chicken Pesto Sandwich

Vegan

Green tea

Super late post from January 2, 2013

Appetizer: spring rolls with soy protein 

Ate out with Dad and sister at a local vegan restaurant. We all felt like eating super healthy for a change, after eating all those holiday feasts. 

Eggplant and tofu hotpot

Pad thai with soy protein "shrimp" and "chicken"

Summer Surprise

Top: Cotton On

Cardigan: Old Navy

Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch

Shoes: Nine West 

Watch: Fossil

Out of no where, the sun decided to trick me into thinking it was summer. Unfortunately, I dressed a little too warmly for today. Luckily, I dressed in several thin layers so I wasn't overheating.

 Went on a mini bus adventure with some friends to Target. Didn't buy anything for myself there, but mostly because I spent enough when I went thrifting yesterday (a post about my day of thrifting coming soon).

After our Target run and attempts at working on homework, went out with the best friend and her family for dinner at a restaurant known for their steak.

All you can eat salad. Choice honey mustard dressing.

"The Motherload Burger" with a side of mashed potatoes. Couldn't finish, so I brought the other half back to the dorm. Looks like tomorrow's lunch.