Kristine Or Polly

I made this skirt.

2012-02-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Top: H&M (similar); Skirt: Made by ME! (similar);

Purse: Old Navy (similar); Shoes: c/o Blowfish

Learning how to sew has been on my list of New Year's resolutions for the past 5 years or so... but I hadn't gotten around to it until this week. I mean... sewing machines are kind of intimidating. All those buttons? And loopy things? That's some scary stuff.

Luckily, my super talented friend Bethany is going to teach me how! This elastic-waist skirt was my first project that Bethany helped me with, and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I find that it's really difficult to find knee-length skirts, so I may be making this skirt again in different fabrics. And maybe from then, I can move onto dresses! ... But let's not get too crazy. (Sidenote: Bethany also took these photos. What would I do without my friends? Also, I'd like to say that I have a really cute sewing machine and it makes me really happy.)

I'm pretty excited for this weekend. Here's a few things I've got going on:

Angela's baby shower! This is the first baby shower of one of my friends that I'll be going to... I'm so excited to see all the itsy bitsy things she gets for the baby.
The Red Dinner. Matt's family has a tradition every year around Valentine's Day to do a dinner with only red foods. I signed up for red velvet cupcakes!
Starting my job at Anthropologie. Oh, I didn't mention I work at Anthro now? Well I do, and I'm excited!

Hope you have a lovely weekend as well...

Shortsleeve Tops by Delia's

Shabby Apple Overboard Dress

2012-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Dress: Shabby Apple; Belt: Target (similar);

Purse: Old Navy (similar); Shoes: Buffalo Exchange

Guys... meet my new favorite dress. (I know I say that with every new dress I get... but this time, it's for real.) For one, it's gingham. I like gingham. Second, it has this awesome 1950's housewife silhouette that I totally dig. Third, it was 77 degrees today and this dress made me appreciate the weather that much more. Shabby Apple, you did good.

Also, this purse has shown up in my last 4 outfit posts. The pop of red is my favorite! Next on my list... a kelly green purse.

Pumps by Daniele Ancarani

Weekly Wants: A Valentine's Day Picnic

2012-02-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

It looks like I'll be alone this Valentine's Day since Matt is currently still in Japan... but if I weren't alone, I think I'd definitely plan for a Valentine's Day picnic. The weather in Arizona is absolutely gorgeous - 75 degrees and sunny - perfect to wrap up a few sandwiches, grab some sodas, and head to the park with a blanket. I'm all about the low-key Valentine's Day dates. I'd love to wear this outfit to my imaginary date... or how cute would it be as a present, all wrapped up and given inside of the tote bag? A girl can dream...

(clockwise from left)

1. Family of Friends Dress from Modcloth

2. What's the Story, Winston? Necklace from Modcloth

3. Alphabet Bags Heart Tote from Madewell

4. Golden Gift Ring from Modcloth

5. Seychelles Undercover Pumps from Zappos

Floral-printed sandals

2012-02-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

Cardy: J.Crew; Tee, Necklace: J.Crew Factory;

Belt: J.Crew (similar); Skirt: Anthro; Shoes: Urban; Purse: Old Navy

I got these shoes on sale last week... I mean, who can resist floral-printed sandals? Not this girl. I was initially just planning on wearing them with black pants but the pattern-mixer in me said otherwise. (And my black pants were dirty, so... ) This outfit's a little strange... J.Crew junkie on the top half, fashion victim on the bottom half. That's how I roll.

This weekend, I went to my friends' fondue party, which consisted of me and seven couples. Yes... I was the fifteenth wheel.. Oh boy, do I miss Matt. I ate tons of chocolate-covered strawberries to ease the pain. They're totally healthy, right?

Falling back in love with a skirt

2012-02-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

Cardy: J.Crew (similar); Blouse: c/o Modcloth;

Skirt: Urban; Shoes: Seychelles; Purse: Old Navy

When I left for Japan, I left a lot of my closet behind. Granted, they were a lot of clothes I thought I didn't really care too much for, but still, I liked having the options. Coming back home, I've fallen back in love with a few pieces I've been without - like this skirt. I got it on sale at Urban a few years ago, and had barely worn it for whatever reason. Nowadays, I love the fun print and the purple pockets. This is why I have a hard time getting rid of clothes... the chance of realizing they're actually awesome in the future.

And last thing - I scored these sweet Seychelles Squeak heels on Modcloth's Cabin Fever sale. Yay! I've seen them around and I've always loved the unexpected yellow heel strap in the back. (They're not on Modcloth anymore, but you can find them here!)

PS There were dogs behind this fence that were trying to attack me. You can't tell but I'm slightly terrified in these photos.

My BFF Amber

2012-02-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

This is my best friend, Amber.

This is what we look like when we dance.

We're really cool.

I really like Amber. We went to the same high school, but didn't really know each other. I actually kind of hated her because she dated my ex-boyfriend who I still had feelings for at the time. (Yeah, I was super petty... but you're allowed to be at that age.) Sometime after high school, I let go of those feelings and we became Myspace friends. Yes, Myspace. Remember that?

Basically, everyone I was friends with was friends with her or had good things to say about her. And she Photoshopped herself into a paparazzi picture of Mary Kate and Ashley, so naturally I thought she was the bee's knees. Then, I messaged her to invite her to my baptism even though I barely knew her... because if you can't become friends at baptisms, where CAN you become friends? And the rest is history.

Nowadays, she is married to my other BFF, Steven (I like to call him a BFF because he's a boy and it's funny) and she is one of the most talented, creative people I know. And she's really funny and intelligent. Plus, throughout our friendship she's worked at Anthro and J.Crew, which equals AWESOME PRESENTS.

So there, now you guys know Amber.

Pops of red and being magic

2012-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

Top: Forever 21; Brooch: Too Ticki (Tokyo); Belt: Urban;

Skirt: Vintage; Shoes: Seychelles via Last Chance; Purse: Old Navy

This is my first outfit post in three weeks. It feels so strange to be back at this again! I should first thank my best friend Amber (and Steven for driving and hanging out) for taking my outfit photos for me while Matt is in Japan. Guys, they are seriously the best friends a girl could ask for. And they totally don't mind that I tag along with them as their third wheel almost daily, just weeks after their wedding. (Or do they...?)

I was pretty happy with this outfit today, mostly because Amber liked it so much. (I'd really wear anything if Amber said it looked good. ANYTHING.) I've been pretty into pops of red lately, so I was so happy to find this purse at Old Navy for $4 on clearance. Score! Also, this skirt is way too big for me around the waist, but I belted it and tricked you. I'm basically magic.

PS Thank you to those who commented on Monday's post for the kind words about my move back. I'm working on replying and visiting everyone's blogs today :)

I moved back to the US!

2012-01-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite photos from when I first arrived in Japan.

Oh, hi! Remember me? I'm back from my three week hiatus! And I have news...Remember how I was visiting the US for my best friend's wedding? Well... I actually made the last-minute decision to move back.

Here's the short explanation: Since Matt's contract is ending in March, and we wanted to move back, we figured it would be smarter for me to just stay here after the wedding and try to get a job/school lined up for when he is finished.

If you are content with that explanation, that’s probably all you need to read. If you’re curious as to my thought process about leaving Japan and why we didn’t decide to stay longer, read on (said in the Marcel the Shell voice).

I love Japan. Really, I love it. Matt and I would love to live in Tokyo permanently someday. When that day is, we don't know... but now is not the time.

Over the course of our time in Japan, we struggled with the idea of what to do next. We basically had two different options:

1. Go back to the States, build careers there or possibly go back to school.

2. Stay in Japan longer, move to Tokyo, live in a place we loved, teach English for another year.

We went back and forth on these two possibilities a bunch of times. One day, I would feel as though we were meant to go back to the States and start a new chapter in our lives. The next week, I’d think for sure that we should stay in Japan. Needless to say, a lot of praying was involved.

As much as I completely love Japan, I started feeling anxious. Anxious about our future, anxious about my career, anxious about just how I felt about myself in general. Although I was completely in love with Japan, I wasn't happy with myself. Why? I didn't feel like I was using my skills, my education, my talents in the way that they should be used. Don't get me wrong - teaching English is very important and I loved my students - but I knew it wasn't what I was supposed to do long term.

All my life I had been progressing towards a career. I always worked hard in school. I graduated from a nationally-ranked, competitive supply chain management program in college, in which I was on the Dean's List the entire time. I devoted my free time to internships to gain experience. I was offered dream jobs and turned them down for an adventure in Japan with my husband. Do I regret living in Japan? Definitely not one tiny bit. I gained valuable, unique experiences there that could not have happened anywhere else or in any other time in my life. But I do regret not being able to build my career and follow my dreams while doing so.

And my dreams, my ambitions, my goals... they became clearer and clearer to me. This has been something I've prayed about, a lot. While I was reading "The End of Fashion: The Mass Marketing of the Clothing Business Forever" by Teri Agins a few months ago, I had an epiphany. I knew (really knew) that I needed to try all I could to land a career somewhere in the realm of fashion. Working with clothing companies, being in the business of fashion... this was something I always wanted to do, but didn't think I actually could. Whether it was fear of failure or lack of confidence in myself... I never thought I could succeed until the moment it just clicked. I knew I wanted to get into buying/marketing/social media somewhere in the fashion industry. I needed to either apply to jobs in the industry or go back to school for a more fashion-centric education. And this couldn't be done in Japan with my non-existent Japanese-speaking skills.

So there, I knew I wanted to work on my career. I knew I wasn't happy, but I could be if I worked towards my goal. However, all of these feelings and thoughts were contrasted with complete adoration for the place I was in. I loved living in Japan... I loved the people, the culture, the history, the environment... It's a place that is filled with endless inspiration for me. Although I knew that career opportunities were sparse in Japan for me and what I wanted to do, there was still something within me that wanted to hold on, that wanted to build a permanent life here somehow.

But... after praying, fasting, and going to the temple, it became clear to us that now was not the time to settle down in Japan. We knew we needed to work on our jobs in the long term, and although being in Japan for another year would have been amazing, we would have been ultimately stagnant in terms of our careers... It was a truly heartbreaking decision for both of us.

After all that, we decided that it would be logical for me to not get on my return flight and to just stay in the US after the wedding, where Matt would join me when his contract ends in March. In the meantime, I will be applying to jobs. The timing of my one-way departure was heartbreaking as well. I didn't have any time to say goodbye to many of the people I had grown to love... people that have been so selfless and kind to me. I was lucky enough to attend a ward Christmas party at my church the day before we left for Tokyo, and wow, what an emotional night that was...

I will never forget Japan and the experiences I had. I'm so grateful to have had that opportunity to travel with my husband. I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to have been able to do this. Living in a foreign country is such an amazing experience that I feel like everyone should do at some point in their lives. Sure, there were trials, but I feel like a much stronger person for enduring them. Someday, we'd like to go back, but for now, I will say, "Sayonara Japan."

A bunny print and a peter pan collar

2012-01-09T02:07:00.000-08:00

Beanie: Forever 21; Cardigan, Blouse: H&M;

Pants: Urban; Shoes: Buffalo Exchange

I really like the color combination in this outfit - black, white, blue and green. This blouse is new from H&M - when I spotted it, I knew it must be mine. A bunny print AND a peter pan collar? YES. It's a bit short though, so maybe I"ll just be tucking it into my high-waisted skirts from now on.

Well, our time in Tokyo has come to an end. These have been some of the best two weeks, EVER. I'm heading off to the airport in the morning to fly back to the US for my best friend's wedding! I'm so, so, so excited. That being said, I'll be taking a bit of a break from the blog to catch up with friends and family back home. Catch you later!

Blog Love: Awkward Girls

2012-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Today, I have got an awesome new blog to share with you guys - Awkward Girls. It's about two really stylish and gorgeous best friends, Lauren and Madison. Oh, and they're also hilarious. Kind of the types of girls I'd want to be best friends with. Is that creepy? Read more about them and head over to their blog!

xo Kristine

What are five words to describe your personalities?

silly, sarcastic, easy-going, fun-loving, and of course… awkward.

What got you interested in style blogging?

This past summer we found ourselves with LOTS of spare time on our hands, which led to lots of time spent/wasted on the internet, which led to the discovery (and vigorous stalking) of the style blogging world. We've always loved fashion and style so we thought, Hey, maybe we can do this. So we did.

What do you do when you’re not blogging?

We are both full time students so the majority of our time is spent going to school, doing homework, etc. But when we're not doing that, we are either going to concerts, going to church, socializing, watching Vampire Diaries and Modern Family, prank calling, shopping, watching Youtube, or embarrassing ourselves at Karaoke Night. And usually we're eating during all those activities. We love food. Too much.

How did you name your blog?

There's not really a story here. We just picked Awkward Girls because it's short, memorable, and represents who we are. People always ask us where the "Awkward" comes from, because we suppose we seem pretty normal at first. Just wait till we start laughing at our own jokes and talking in meows to each other (it's a nervous habit, okay!?). Oh, and do you know how hard it is to find an unused blogspot domain?

Who are your favorite bloggers right now?

To make a comprehensive list of the blogs we love and read would be a post in and of itself, but a couple bloggers that have caught our attention recently are:

Mara from M Loves M

Jamie from From Me To You

Lindsay from Just Us

Hannah from Foxtail and Fern

Katie from Katie’s Pencil Box

How would you describe your style?

Eclectic is probably the best word to describe our style. And it changes daily. We're big thrifters, so we're definitely inspired by classic vintage fashion, but we also like to add touches of newer trends. We consider our style pretty feminine, but we also draw inspiration from menswear. So we guess you can say our style is just a big contradiction. But that's the way we like it.

What are your favorite items in your closet?

Madison- It would have to be this really awesome bronze leaf necklace. It's a great statement piece that pretty much goes with everything. I got it at a thrift store, so it's really unique. The best part is that whenever I move, it jingles. Like a little Christmas elf.

Lauren- My jean shirt. It's my go-to in any situation. I can wear it with a skirt or pants, layered over or under things. It's so versatile. If I didn't have it, my wardrobe would implode into a great abyss of nothing. Love that thing.

What are some trends you love right now? What are some you hate?

We love that the 70's is making a comeback! Bow blouses, high-waisted flare jeans, chunky shoes. Bring it on. We also really love all the Navajo prints we're seeing. It's so perfect for winter. And stripes. We'll never stop loving stripes. One trend that we're seeing that we don't love so much is over-accessorizing. You might have a really great necklace, headband, belt, brooch, bracelet, scarf, watch, and ring, but that doesn't mean you have to wear all those things together. It's just really distracting and unnecessary. Oh, and leggings as pants. If you had time this morning to put leggings on, you had time to put real pants on.

Who are your style icons?

Alexa Chung, Emma Watson, Carrie Mulligan, Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Lizzie Olsen (If you read our blog, you know we have a more than slight obsession), Zooey Deschanel, and just because we're girls, Audrey Hepburn.

Give us your best fashion advice.

Don't pay too much attention to what's "in" and what's "out". There are really no absolute rules in fashion. Wear what makes you feel beautiful. If you feel good in it, you'll look good in it. It's a proven fact.

Thanks Lauren and Madison! Now go on and follow them at Awkward Girls!

Cupcake socks and Shimokitazawa

2012-01-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Hat: Forever 21; Sweater: Forever 21; Shirt: J.Crew Factory;

Jeans: Urban; Socks: Forever 21 (similar); Shoes: Uniqlo (similar)

I've been seeing the whole sweater-over-button-up-shirt look in the bloggy world lately, so I figured I'd try it out myself. I quite liked it, and it kept me warm! Did you guys catch those awesome yellow cupcake socks? Great find at Forever 21... what treasures.

I wore this outfit while exploring Shimokitazawa, a neighborhood in Tokyo with lots of little cafes, bookstores, record shops, and vintage clothing shops. It was so much fun walking down the small alleys and wandering around aimlessly. We ate at such a cute cafe and a wonderful pancake restaurant... SO GOOD. I wouldn't mind living in this part of town someday...

Cropped Denim by BDG

A Cutesy Japan day

2012-01-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

Scarf: J.Crew Factory (similar); Blouse: Forever 21 (similar); Skirt: Buffalo Exchange;
Socks: Forever 21; Shoes: Uniqlo (similar)

Today was absolutely wonderful! Another happy day in Tokyo. I just love this place. I think the theme of today's activities might have been, CUTESY JAPAN. Here's what we did.

Went to the Rilakkuma store. Don't know who Rilakkuma is? Then I don't want to know who you are. Just kidding... kind of. He's a very popular character in Japanese culture... he's basically a cute lazy bear that rolls around doing nothing all day.
Went to the Pokemon Center. Did you think the Pokemon Center only existed in your Gameboy Advance? IT'S REAL, guys. Well... not really, I mean you can't really take your Pokeballs there and have them restore their energy, but you can buy a lot of Pokemon related stuff. This place was actually kind of miserable for me... way too many kids running around!
Went to the Tamagotchi store. I had about 10 Tamagotchis as a child. It was a bright part of my youth. Of COURSE I had to visit when I heard it existed. Bonus? There's also a Tamagotchi DOUGHNUT shop. We got doughnuts with strawberry syrup and colorful marshmallows on them and ate them with forks.
This doesn't really go along with our theme, but we went to the brand new Wendy's in Omotesando. Guys, this place is NOTHING like American Wendy's. It's a lot more upscale than back home... they even have a $16 foie gras burger. I don't even know what foie gras is.
And then we strolled around the shops in Harajuku and I cried because everything is really expensive.

I just realized how nerdy a lot of this sounds. I can't help it, okay?!

And now about this outfit... which I actually wore a week ago. I wish I had more interesting things to say about the way I put together outfits... but I don't. I thought, oh, I haven't worn this skirt and this top in a while. I'll wear them today. I added the teal socks because well... I just like the thought of socks adding pops of color. And that is that.

Mid-length Skirts by Forever 21

Instagram Photos: Tokyo, Part 1

2012-01-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

A few photos from our vacation in Tokyo! Oh boy, do I love this city. Everything about it, I love. The people, the culture, the fashion, the food... I could go on and on. But really, the overall energy of this place is just good. Can I please live here someday?

New Year's in Japan

2012-01-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

Cardy: J.Crew (similar); Necklace: J.Crew Factory; Top: Urban (similar);
Skirt: Majestic Legion; Shoes: Uniqlo

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful time ringing in 2012. Matt and I had a really chill New Year's Eve... started it off by doing a bit of shopping, and then went home early. I know, not the most exciting way to spend New Year's in Tokyo, but we didn't want to miss the last train back!

New Year's in Japan is the biggest holiday of the year. It's been really, really fun to experience what happens. For example, most people visit shrines and eat really special New Year's foods. Kids get otoshidama, or gifts of money. Everyone also sends out cards to friends, family, co-workers, business partners, etc to wish them a happy New Year. My favorite tradition I've seen is the fukubukuro, or lucky bag. Basically, on the 1st or 2nd (whenever stores re-open), stores sell big bags of merchandise that are worth way more than what they sell them for. For example, at a clothing store you can buy a big bag of clothes for $50, and the value of the items may be $100-200 or even more. The catch is that they are sealed, so you have no idea what is in them. I loved walking around and seeing everyone and their huge bags of stuff! I wanted to stop all of them and see what was in their bags.

We also learned a very valuable lesson about New Year's in Japan. Did you know that Japan is a cash-based country? It's rare for any stores or restaurants to accept credit cards and debit cards. Everyone carries around loads of cash with them. Not very convenient for us Americans who are used to swiping a debit card anywhere at any time. Anyway, another thing to note is that ATMs have working hours, and they stop working on holidays. Well, in Japan, the New Year's holiday expands from Jan. 1-3 for banks... Which means, no way to access your bank account for a few days. Matt and I were not so knowledgeable about this, and therefore we have been spending the past two days doing basically nothing. So, folks - if you ever live in Japan, make sure to pull out LOTS of money on New Year's Eve so that you have lots to spend on lucky bags. (I shed a tear because I wasn't able to do that... darn ATMs!)

Whew, this is a long post. I usually like to limit my posts to a few sentences, because if you're like me, you have a short attention span and just look at photos (shhh). This outfit was worn a few days before Christmas back in rural countryside Japan, where it was snowing. I quite liked this combination of colors. I think I'll need to buy more fun colors and prints in 2012...

2011 in Review

2011-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Wow, I can't believe 2011 is almost over. As I write this, it is already New Year's Eve! SO, so crazy. 2011 was an amazing year. I had my first big adventure with my husband - moving to JAPAN!

A few highlights:

Visiting Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines... so peaceful.
Exploring our little rural town and finding its hidden treasures.
Going to Kyoto and exploring old Japan, especially seeing the Byodoin.
Witnessing a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Going to festivals during the summertime and seeing fireworks!
Seeing the cherry blossom trees turn pink in April.
Taking multiple trips to Tokyo, my most favorite city in the world.
Seeing the traditional owara dance in Yatsuo.
Taking trains everywhere! My favorite train ride was one where I passed a ferris wheel on the beach.
Seeing cute children everywhere, like the little girl in the puffy pink jacket at Ueno zoo that was so happy to be running around.
Seeing a rabbit on a leash being taken out for a walk.
Getting our little car and taking drives out into the mountains.
Eating home cooked dinners with church members.
Discovering my new favorite cartoon character, Rilakkuma.
Collecting rolls and rolls of washi tape.

Of course, there are so many experiences that I can hardly type them out. It has been such an incredible, eye-opening experience, one that has shaped my life for the better. Japan's culture is so beautiful, and its people are so kind... this truly is a wonderful country.

This blog has been a humungous part of my life this year as well! It brings such positivity into my life. Thank YOU readers, for being so amazing and supportive. I can't tell you guys how much it means to me... so honestly, thank you.

Have a happy, happy, happy New Year! Talk to you in 2012 :)

xo Kristine

The Nutcracker, and what I wore to it

2011-12-27T07:08:00.000-08:00

Scarf: knitted by my aunt; Coat: H&M; Cardy: H&M;

Dress: Betsey Johnson; Tights: c/o We Love Colors; Shoes: c/o Blowfish

My absolute favorite Christmas tradition is seeing The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve with Matt. He surprised me with tickets the first year we dated, and we've seen it every year since then! This year was our fifth. I always tell him that it was the best present he's ever gotten me. I literally look forward to it alllllll year.

I wasn't sure if The Nutcracker would even be performed in Japan, but it was, and I was thrilled! This version was quite different from what I was used to (any Phoenix Symphony Hall Nutcracker viewers out there?), but it was still absolutely wonderful. For example, at the end of this one, Drosselmeyer turned into Santa! Whaaat?

Day Dresses by Yumi

Merry Christmas from Kristine and a giant Hello Kitty

2011-12-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with happiness and love. Matt and I are vacationing in Tokyo, and Christmas is already over here. I thought I'd share these photos of a giant Hello Kitty Santa we found while wandering around Shinjuku the other day. Kawaii ne?!

Christmas in Japan

2011-12-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

Scarf: Vintage; Coat: c/o Chicwish; Top: Majestic Legion;

Skirt: Urban; Tights: c/o We Love Colors; Shoes: c/o Blowfish

Can you believe Christmas is so soon? I definitely can't. I would usually consider myself a "Christmas fanatic," but this year was a bit different. For one, Christmas isn't celebrated in Japan like it is in the States (which is understandable since only a small percentage of Japan is Christian). Also, it is a bit difficult to be excited about Christmas when I'm so far away from friends and family... But hey, no Debbie Downers here! I'm actually not terribly upset. Being away from home makes me cherish my time with Matt. And not getting caught up in the hullabulloo that is American Christmas helps me to focus on what Christmas is truly about - the birth of Christ. So although I'm not having the same fun as I would back home, I'm still enjoying the holiday season.

Here's a few tidbits about Christmas in Japan:

While Christmas in the US is a holiday to spend time with families, Christmas in Japan is more for couples. People go out on dates with their boyfriends/girlfriends, and it's more of a romantic holiday.
People eat traditional "Christmas cake" here, which is really strawberry shortcake. Yum!
It's also a big deal to eat chicken on Christmas - specifically, KFC. I'm not sure how this happened...

Oh, and this outfit! My lovely sponsor, Chicwish, sent me this coat! I've always wanted a light colored coat since I got to Japan and saw that all the classy ladies were wearing them. I love all the fun embellishments and details on this coat, like the buckles, and buttons, and the bow sash, and the hood! Super fun.

Blog Love: Koi Story

2011-12-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Today we've got another blog interview - the lovely Meanz of Koi Story! This is definitely one of my new favorite blogs. Meanz posts amazing outfits, as well as awesome hair tutorials and some of my favorite Instagram shots! I highly suggest to check her blog out after you read this! xo Kristine

What are five words to describe your personality?

Demure, ambitious, creative, reliable, helpful

What got you interested in style blogging?

One day I stumbled upon Keiko Lynn’s blog, and just fell in love with it, and as I started checking out other blogs, I thought to myself, “I want to do this”, so I decided to start a blog! I was also in a bit of a style rut, and at the point where I felt like my outfits were just boring, even though I had so many pretty dresses in my closet. I didn’t have anywhere or any occasion to wear what I wanted to wear. I feel like starting this blog has helped me break out of my shell, and wear what I want, when I want, no matter the occasion, and it’s nice.

What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I go thrifting a lot, probably a little too much, haha. I also am a full time student, so I’m going to class and doing a lot of projects. I am learning to sew, and also have my etsy shop where I reconstruct denim. I draw/sketch, and I also like to hangout with my boyfriend, watch movies and be lazy sometimes. A lot of the things I do seem to connect to blogging somehow too… so I won’t go into it too much!

How did you name your blog?

Well, as you can see, my tattoo represents the story of a koi transforming into a phoenix. According to my parents, the story goes, if a koi is able to swim up a waterfall and overcome all the obstacles along the way, then it becomes a dragon. I chose a phoenix because a phoenix is the female counterpart of a dragon. It expresses my femininity and gives me a sense of empowerment. I have never seen anything like this done before and that is an incredible feeling as well, to have a somewhat original piece of art permanently on my body. Well, I'm honored, to say the least. To me, it' symbolizes my culture as well as the idea that if I work hard, I can overcome all the obstacles and get to where I want to in life. This is my koi story.

Who are your favorite bloggers right now?

Well, this is a hard one to answer, there are just so many, but to name a few, Keiko Lynn, Steffy’s Pros and Cons, Here’s Looking at Me Kid, Tick Tock Vintage, Calivintage, A Beautiful Mess, A Pair & A Spare, The Clothes Horse, The Dainty Squid, Little Chief Honey Bee, Kristine or Polly, The Dainty Squid, Fancy Fine, Girl & Closet, Selective Pootential, Lost in the Haze, A Fine Day for Sailing, and Hummingbird Girls.

How would you describe your style?

I guess, spontaneous, and all over the place. I like to mix and match so many different styles. I like playing with color and texture, as well as mixing modern and vintage/vintage inspired pieces.

What are your favorite items in your closet?

Oh jeez. Well, my BB Dakota Bostwick coat, my camel cardigan with elbow patches, my light denim button-up, all my pretty dresses and so many more, but those are what came to mind first.

What are some trends you love right now? What are some you hate?

I honestly don’t really keep up with trends. I guess right now I really love fringe, pretty pleated skirts, low cut backs, burnt orange, crushed velvet, shorts with tights and peter pan collars. I don’t really like harem pants.

Who are your style icons?

The bloggers I mentioned above, and mostly just style bloggers in general and also my mom – back in the day, and Ulyana Sergeenko – she is amazing.

Give us your best fashion advice.

Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

What is on your wishlist for the holiday season?

Let’s see, a wide angle lens for my camera, a camera bag or backpack, and an industrial strength sewing machine.

Thanks so much for the lovely interview Meanz! Don't forget to head on over to her blog and follow away!

Weekend Photos: Tea Ceremony

2011-12-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

Just a few photos from the tea ceremony I talked about in this post!

I also wanted to say how amazingly open and welcoming the Japanese have been to Matt and I. When we sat in the waiting room before the ceremony, Matt and I mingled a bit with a group of people who created the sand paintings shown in photo #5. They were so, so kind to us, and so thankful that we were there. They literally said to us, "Thank you for trying to understand our culture. Please share it with your friends and family back home!" And that my friends, is what I am trying to do.

There was an irrational part of me that was really nervous to go to this tea ceremony. When Matt asked if I wanted to go, I asked him, "Are you sure it's okay if I go? Is it okay that we're foreigners? Is it okay that I don't speak Japanese? Is it okay that I don't have a kimono?" I was so afraid to somehow taint the formal, practically sacred tea ceremony. All of these things seemed like big deals at the time... but honestly, I should have known that of course it would be okay. The people here have been nothing but kind to Matt and I. They are so happy to share their culture with foreigners. (Believe it or not, a lot of the people I've met here are so surprised to learn that my husband and I are so interested in Japanese culture, as though it is not special at all! Ha. Couldn't be further from the truth.)

I guess after all this rambling, I just want to say that everyone I have met here are so eager to open their hearts to us, and I am so entirely grateful for that.

Leopard print leggings

2011-12-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Cardy: J.Crew; Scarf: Vintage; Dress, Leggings: H&M; Boots: c/o Blowfish

These photos were taken a few days ago, when I was feeling so lucky about how warm it was that day. Well, today it snowed! I haven't lived in a place where it snowed for about... 15 years now, so this is quite magical. I was mesmerized by the little snowflakes on the dashboard and the little piles of snow on the ground...

Also, three things I wanted to share about Japan this time of year.

See those little metal circular things on the road in my photos? Those are little sprinklers in the ground that go off to melt snow. Cool, right? They're like mini water fountains, everywhere. (If these are very common all over the world, I apologize - I honestly wouldn't know.)
The pizza delivery guys ride around on their little scooters wearing Santa outfits. TOO CUTE.
Matt was telling me about how his students think the idea of marshmallows in hot chocolate is disgusting. Why? BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO SWEET. That's Japanese taste buds for ya...

Speaking of marshmallows, I hope that tomorrow morning I will wake up to a marshmallow world. That's one of my absolute FAVORITE holidays songs. Mostly, I just think the word "marshmallow" is adorable...

Spring-y

2011-12-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

Cardy, Shirt: J.Crew; Dress: c/o Asian iCandy; Belt: J.Crew Factory Store;

Tights: c/o We Love Colors; Shoes: c/o Modcloth

I realize that this outfit is super duper spring-y... but I've never been one to adhere to the seasons' unwritten color codes. Back in Arizona, where seasons don't exist, I'd rock the spring colors all year 'round! Unfortunately in Japan, seasons DO exist, and people definitely dress to them. Everyone here is always wearing dark neutrals nowadays! I wore this outfit walking into a high-class department store to get some bagels, and I felt like a clown. Now I know...

And now for an accidental mustache photo:

Holiday Party Attire

2011-12-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

Being in Japan, and not having too many party-throwing friends, I don't really have much reason to dress up... ever. I like to think that if I were back in the States, I would be invited to all kinds of holiday parties. (I mean... you guys would invite me to your parties, right?) This is what I would wear if I had a fancy dinner party to attend, and also if I had somehow just received my non-existent Christmas bonus...

1. Shabby Apple Mulholland dress, $98

2. Ban.do Big Black Bow Headband, $45

3. Essie Silken Cord Nail Polish, $8

4. Anthropologie Sequin Bolero (sold out?)

5. ASOS Multi Chain Twisted Bracelet, $27.27

6. Seychelles Letter Press Pumps, $87.99

Burnt orange, fuchsia, and a tea ceremony

2011-12-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hat, Top: Forever 21; Skirt: Uniqlo; Tights: c/o We Love Colors; Shoes: c/o Blowfish

It's been almost a week since I blogged - ahhh! I've been having crazy computer issues. Bleh. Anyway, this outfit is one of my recent favorites. I really like these colors, and the black accessories seem to tie it together. I think I need to add more colors like this to my wardrobe... Have I mentioned that this skirt was only $3?

This weekend, Matt and I saw a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Tea ceremonies are a very important cultural activity in Japan, dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. It was so amazing! The manner in which the ceremonies are orchestrated are very precise - each movement is planned and thoughtfully carried out. Everyone was wearing their colorful kimonos or their nicest clothes. The bowls and tools that were used were the same ones that were used hundreds of years ago. It was beautiful, simply beautiful. There are moments when I feel so, so overwhelmingly lucky (luckier than usual) to be in Japan, and this was definitely one of those moments.

Mid-length Skirts by Asos

A twirly swirly skirt

2011-12-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

Bow: Shibuya 109; Cardigan and Cat Dress: H&M;

Skirt: Majestic Legion; Tights: c/o We Love Colors; Shoes: c/o Blowfish

Something exciting happened last week - I bought my plane ticket to go to my BFF Amber's wedding! YAY! Seeing her get married to her fiance (another one of my BFF's) is all I've ever wanted in life. As a matter of fact, when she notified me of their engagement, I cried like a crazy person and I said, literally, "THIS IS ALL I'VE EVER WANTED IN LIFE." So, I kid you not.

Anyway, so I'll be back in Phoenix in January for a bit. I can't wait! I also can't wait to eat Paradise Bakery cookies, Sprinkles cupcakes, and Ben and Jerry's Peanut Brittle ice cream. (I'm very attached to food, can you tell?)

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday! I really like how twirly swirly this skirt is. Another way I stretch my wardrobe during my spending freeze is to wear dresses as tops. The cat print top I'm wearing is actually the dress I wore in this post! I think it might be my favorite H&M purchase, ever.

Mid-length Skirts by Asos