Hello, It's Aika

The Mullet

2017-03-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

Hello world! It's been a while... almost two months >.< But alas, for better or worse I'm back (for now at least).

I've been gravitating towards fun pieces in my closet lately. If there's no color or pattern/print then the outfit just seems too blah for me. Since I'm a newbie I tend to try to stick to one color -- black is always easy -- then I try to use different textures or prints to spice things up. This is a somewhat nod to a mullet because it's not only business in the front, it's a party everywhere! That's what I call funny business... ba dum tss!

O U T F I T
Yellow Coat: Tulle via Poshmark | Exact, Secondhand, Secondhand
Striped Top: Kate Spade via Poshmark | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Plaid Pants: Old Navy | Exact, Secondhand, Secondhand
Strappy Heels: New Look via ASOS | Secondhand, Secondhand, Secondhand
Polka Dotted Purse: Kate Spade c/o Josh | Secondhand, Secondhand, Secondhand

Purchased for -
Coat: $35.95 | Top: $15.95 | Pants: $5.44 | Heels: $22.82 | Purse: $0 (GIFT)

Total Outfit Cost: $80.16

Murder Chic Wrote

2017-01-13T18:37:00.001-08:00

Short photo post today, but I made up for it with a lookbook video! I'm so happy with how it turned out and I hope that you all enjoy it as well!

O U T F I T
Equestrian Pom Hat: Aldo c/o my cousin, Paul | Exact, Secondhand, Secondhand
Scarf: Aldo c/o my Tita Cora & Tito O'Boy | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Coat: ASOS c/o Josh | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Turtleneck: Target | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Pants: Mango | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand
Mules: Steve Madden via Macy's | Exact, Secondhand, Secondhand
Gloves: Aldo c/o Paul | Sustainable, Secondhand, Secondhand
Backpack: Fossil c/o my Auntie Banis | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand

Purchased for -
Hat: $0 (GIFT) | Scarf: $0 (GIFT) | Coat: $0 (GIFT) | Turtleneck: $5.23 | Pants: $0 (GIFT) | Mules: $22.98 |
Gloves: $0 (GIFT) | Backpack: $0 (GIFT)

Total Outfit Cost: $28.21 (Many thanks for those who gave me these gifts!)

Girl Gang

2017-01-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

There's only so many hours in a week that Josh and I can take pictures so I typically change in the car so we can do multiple shoots. This day was body-numbing cold. I could not feel my fingers and toes for 10 minutes. So doing wardrobe changes in my little Fiat was the first frustrating thing I had to do for the new year. My makeshift curtains (made up of clothes from the shoot) kept falling down and I could not get these overalls on because I was tangled in clothes.

Seriously... how do you guys do it?! Bloggin' ain't easy.

O U T F I T
Bandana: Walmart | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand
Off-Shoulder Top: Sears | Sustainable, Secondhand, Secondhand
Black Overalls: Gap | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand
Pink Lace Up Shoes: Target | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Backpack Purse: Forever 21 c/o Josh | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand
Breakfast Pins: Aldo c/o my cousin, Pauline | Exact, Shop Small, Secondhand

Purchased for -
Bandana: $1.09 | Top: $3.82 | Overalls: $27.37 | Shoes: $36.98 | Purse: $0

Total Outfit Cost: $69.26

Pink Ninja

2017-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Exciting news alert! I'll be posting a lookbook video on Friday and this is just one of three outfits you'll see on there. It was going to be entitled "What I Got for Christmas" but seeing how I'm doing a sustainability effort I didn't think it was appropriate to encourage purchasing from the fast-fashion sites these items may have come from. Nonetheless, I'm so proud of the video and how these photos turned out! I have the best cameraman! ☺ (Side note: love using that smiley face because when it's tiny it looks like a frown.)

I did a little plastic surgery to my blog so things may look a little different (new "about me" page, "pin me" button on any image, and updated "related posts"). I haven't worked out all the kinks, but I like how it looks. Let me know if the "pin me" button is too big or distracting, I may just remove it since I can't get the coding right.

O U T F I T
Duster Coat: ASOS c/o Josh | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Gray Turtleneck: Forever 21 | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand
Graphic Shirt: Romwe c/o Josh | Exact, Shop Small, Secondhand
Culotte Pants: Come Shop with Love c/o Josh | Exact, Sustainable, Secondhand
Lace Up Flats: ModCloth c/o Josh | Exact, Secondhand, Secondhand
Backpack Purse: Forever 21 c/o Josh | Sustainable, Sustainable, Secondhand

Purchased for -
Coat: $0 (GIFT) | Turtleneck: $4.89 | Shirt: $0 (GIFT) | Pants: $0 (GIFT) | Flats: $0 (GIFT) | Backpack: $0 (GIFT)

Total Outfit Cost: $4.89 (All thanks to Josh!)

Starting My Year of Sustainable Fashion

2017-01-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

My New Year’s Resolution is to only purchase sustainable fashion and from local businesses for a whole year. The difficult part of this concept is that fast fashion and good deals are in my bloodstream. My family loves going to the mall and scouting the best deal (i.e. $0.99 pants at Sears) and I don’t blame them. I feel the rush and excitement that they’re feeling when I spot something in style and for cheap. But with cheap clothing comes cheap materials, cheap pay for garment workers, cheap (short) lifespan of the clothes. With this experiment I hope to gain knowledge of quality brands with ethical ideals and to decrease my consumption.

If you’d like to join along, here’s some helpful tips for you:

1. Do research. Knowing the harms of fast fashion, you’ll find that you can restrain yourself when you see a great promotion at a fast fashion retailer. You may also find that some of your favorite clothing brands may not be considered “slow fashion” in fact they may be owned by well-known fast fashion retailers, like Topshop, Uniqlo, and Zara.

Read this:
- Facts About Fast Fashion
- Why I Don't Shop Fast Fashion
- Fast Fashion's Impact on the Environment

Watch this:
- The True Cost (documentary which can be found on Netflix)
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- YouTube Fast Fashion TED Talks

2. Unsubscribe from fast fashion brands' emails. I just did this and it gave me peace of mind because I don’t have to worry about going through 100 emails of “BOGO sales” or the “newly added pieces” everyday. Don’t tempt or torture yourself. Just hit unsubscribe.

Instead follow sustainable blogs:
- The Peahen
- The Good Trade
- Eco Warrior Princess
- My Green Closet

3. Shop sustainable, local, and second-hand. The frustrating part about finding a sustainable brand is that many retailers will have a whole page on their sustainability efforts when what they promise are not even effective and becomes another marketing ruse to get us to purchase more. THANKFULLY, there are brands whose core values are all about sustainability and making life better for their garment employees and the environment.

Sustainable places to shop:
- ONE. TWO. THREE. FOUR. FIVE. SIX.
- Shop local. Support your community mom and pop shops. You'll do a great deed for those who are trying to make a living selling things they love. I've found that the overall atmosphere of these stores are always unique and beautiful.
- Shop second-hand. Thrift stores are a great place to find amazing brands and products for cheap. Some you already know: Goodwill, Value Village/Savers; some are locally owned; and some are online and on mobile: ThredUP, Instagram shops, Poshmark, and Depop.
- Download the Done Good app to find companies that match your values (e.g. green, organic, gives back, supports workers, toxin free).

4. Pay attention to the material. Replace toxic fibers (polyester, acrylic, acetate, nylon) with natural fibers (cotton, silk, linen, hemp, wool, cashmere). Polyester especially because it is non-biodegradable. Keep in mind that expensive doesn’t always mean good quality so checking the material will give you a good idea of how sturdy and long-lasting an item will be in your closet.

Watch this (fast-forward to 5:10 to learn about the harms of polyester).

5. Buy less. The biggest argument for fast fashion is that it’s incredibly affordable especially for college students, recent graduates, or those wanting to look amazing and not break the bank. To that I say, in the long run you’ll have a quality closet that makes you happy if you curate the items for your wardrobe. Think about it, purchasing only a few pieces a year that is great quality and will last you a long time is far better than purchasing something cheap that will probably be out of style in a couple of months.

Consider creating a capsule closet in which you only have a few key pieces that you can mix and match to be worn year-round.
- To help you get started: Wardrobe Rehab.

Keeping a sustainable fashion lifestyle for one-year sounds difficult. But to me it sounds look a great challenge as well because it forces me to look at my wardrobe and come up with 365 creative looks using only the pieces I have. Even the thrill of finding a good deal will never be gone because there’s always thrift stores. The thing that’s most challenging is buying less and investing on sustainable brands. I’m accustomed to shopping every week and I still have a small budget for clothes, so instead of 10 items a month, I may be able to afford 1-2 every other month.

If you are a sustainable fashion brand, blogger, or have any tips please reach out to me because I really want to immerse myself in this sustainable lifestyle.

I hope you all learned something and hopefully this was of some interest to you!

Highlights of 2016

2016-12-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

2016 had its highs and lows (a whole lot of lows), but I'm just going to try to focus on the good that's happened this year in my life. Lots of laughs, milestones, and memories were made. So if you'd like, join me in reminiscing before the new year begins!

J A N U A R Y

We adopted this little munchkin, Peanut! It was love at first sight and since my dad saw him first, Peanut is extremely loyal to him. He even follows my dad around the house and everyday attempts to hump my dad's leg when he's napping. Nevertheless, he's my little fluff ball.

F E B R U A R Y

I got a new car in February! Mainly because my car was unreliable ever since I got in a car accident. But, this Fiat is amazing and even Josh got one too! If you missed it check out our matching cars couple post!

M A R C H

I don't know if you guys know this, but I started a company, Cuppa Cake & Co, for one of my classes. Our team designed mugs that we sold with microwavable cake mixes. They were actually delicious! It was probably my favorite class ever! To be able to build your own company from scratch and then break-even is such an amazing feeling. Unfortunately, the rest of the founders left the group and Maria and I live too far apart to continue making mugs and cake mixes. In March our class ended, but we still continued on for a couple of months. We made the second highest profit in the class!

A P R I L

I went to Comic-Con for the first time with Josh and Ashley. Such. A. Good. Time. Then later the month, it was my birthday and my friends and I went to one of my favorite spots in Seattle, Frolik, then we frolicked on down to Gameworks. Photo Booth photos are a must, obviously.

M A Y

The very last big project I had to do was a case competition for REI. We worked our butts off, presented to REI higher-ups, and placed second in the room not making it to the final presentation. Still, I'm proud of what we accomplished.

J U N E

I GRADUATED! After 18(?!) years of sitting in a classroom I'm free. But alas, I need a job... but I have a degree! Woohoo!

J U L Y

This was the month of countless outings for Pokemon Go. Even when we went to bars everyone was playing Pokemon Go. We also had a weird experience of a lady yelling at us in our cars about how Pokemon Go is evil, then continued to stalk us from her car.

A U G U S T

I went to the Philippines and surprisingly didn't get a tan, nor swam. The rain in the Philippines falls mainly when you don't want it to. Instead I was able to bond with my cousins and even Josh came for a week. To my family: just because I brought him to meet everyone DOES NOT mean we are getting married anytime soon. Thankfully, no one surprised us with a wedding, but they did mention it several times. Oh gosh.

S E P T E M B E R

The month I started my blog up again thanks to photos from my little brother, Eddie. I think I had a hesitation about continuing to post because I didn't look or feel like a blogger, but these photos told me that I was completely wrong. More from this shoot here!

O C T O B E R

I went to Chicago and talked about it on my blog at least four times. Thanks for sticking around even when you get sick of me! You can see the posts from them here, here, and here!

N O V E M B E R

I actually don't remember much of November, but I'm sure it had a lot to do with hanging out with this guy. Always making me laugh even when it's freezing outside and I just want to finish shooting.

D E C E M B E R

My sister came to town for a week! Christmas was wonderful! Everyone was happy with their presents! Snowboarded around!

Now the New Year is approaching and I'm so thankful for everything that's happened this year. Hopefully, next year will be even better for everyone in this world! Don't forget to wear polka dots (or anything circular), have change in your pocket, and jump several times when the bell drops for money this upcoming year! ☺

Cloudy with a Chance of Goofball

2016-12-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

This day it was us versus the wind. Although the wind won because the umbrella kept flipping inside out, the real champ is Josh because he was modeling like he was on ANTM with a giant fan. Even though only a couple pictures were usable, you keep strutting your stuff!

Are you all done Christmas shopping? I've been going to the mall the past two days for the same three people. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to gifts so I just want the best for everyone. Hopefully I finish today and I hope you do as well!

O U T F I T
Peacoat: Topman via ASOS | Sustainable, Sustainable, Similar, Similar
Shirt: Forever 21 | Sustainable, Similar
Pants: H&M | Exact, Sustainable, Similar
Boots: H&M | Exact, Similar

Schoolgirl Style

2016-12-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

What lies above the big trees? This question isn’t supposed to be a cool riddle or the title of a Shel Silverstein poem, it’s from sheer terror of what really is up there. When Josh and I looked up, we saw a single crutch, a skateboard, and a few clothes. We quickly finished shooting because we were obviously in someone’s territory.

You can tell this shoot is a couple weeks old because I’m not freezing to death in this outfit. Now, I can’t even go outside without having at least three layers. Correction: I can’t even stay inside without at least three layers (living in the basement problems).

Ideally, this outfit is suitable for when I was in junior high, but schoolgirl style is basically my uniform. In fact, I think this pinafore is actually for little girls… Oh well! I love it!

His & Hers Fiat Edition

2016-12-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

When people found out that Josh and I had matching cars everyone thought that it was intentional, but in fact it all happened because of two car accidents, lack of funds, and an interest in cute Italian vehicles! Still, people think that I had something to do with it because Josh's height seems to be more fitting for an SUV or truck, but just like Goldilocks -- the Fiat was just right. Of course once I found out he was getting a Fiat, I immediately told him we HAD to do a photo shoot, completely non-negotiable. I'm glad we did because they're some of my favorite photos!

Having a mint Fiat, I keep gravitating towards all things mint. Mint shirts, mint nail polish, even these mint sneakers that I forgot were in my closet. I popped these bad babies out and it compliments the car and this dress so well. I actually had been looking for this dress for a long time since one rainy day in college I went into Urban Outfitters to stay dry and discovered this $60ish dress. Of course, I had to let it go because I can't justify that price tag. Fast-forward a couple years and $17 later this dress is mine.

So now that I have my dream dress, dream car, dream guy, all I need is my dream job!

Fun tip for you bargain hunters: If you find something you like in store that you can't afford or want to wait on buying it, just take a picture of the product AND the label that has the item description, product code, and even size. The product code is something all retailers look for because it will help them look up an item 18283x faster and easier -- it can even help you when you're searching online. Size is important because sometimes you might forget which size fit best. Then once you get home you can peruse the web. Maybe you all knew that already, but a reminder doesn't hurt! ☺

O U T F I T : H E R S
Dress: Alice & UO via eBay | Exact, Sustainable
Sneakers: New Balance via DSW | Sustainable, Similar

Purchased for -
Dress: $16.99 | Sneakers: $60.17

Total Outfit Cost: $77.16

O U T F I T : H I S
Coat: Topman via Nordstrom c/o Aika | Similar, Similar
Shirt: H&M | Exact, Sustainable, Similar, Similar
Pants: H&M | Exact, Sustainable, Similar
Sneakers: Ted Baker via DSW | Exact, Similar, Similar, Similar

Purchased for (estimated) -
Coat: $0 (GIFT) | Shirt: $27.36 | Pants: $32.84 | Sneakers: $65

Total Outfit Cost: $125.20

November Favorites

2016-12-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Denim Overalls
They were my favorite in October and for some reason I can't seem to take them off. Maybe it's because after all the holiday parties I just don't fit into my other pants... hmmm... that's just a thought. They even pair well with rain boots which is great because the weather is severely confused right now — sun, rain, extreme winds and that's all in one day!
P.S. See it in action here or get the exact one!

ipsy
I've been a subscriber to ipsy for three months now and it's probably one of my favorite $10/month purchases. Unlike other subscription services your makeup comes in the MOST beautiful and unique bags (see above) and a picture set that just gives major photo shoot inspirations for your next girl's night. Now I typically don't wear makeup so a subscription service fits me like a glove, otherwise, I don't think I would experiment with different brands. The only thing I wish they would change is to have a bag filled with only vegan and cruelty-free products. For now, you can customize your selection by selecting only vegan and CF brands. So far, about 95% of the products I've received have been vegan and CF using that method.
Subscribe here (I'm not affiliated with them, I just like their products).

That '70s Show
I binge watched That '70s show again (thanks Netflix) and I cried like a baby on the final episode. Even though the last season was hard to watch, the rest of the season was unforgettable due to the many talks around the circle and the foot in ass jokes. AND can we talk about Jackie's outfits? Girl's got serious style. Any other Jackie and Hyde fans? I shipped them so hard.

Crossword Book
I purchased this crossword book in the Philippines because of the cover. Yes, I judged a book by it's cover. But fear not, because I love it. The puzzles are a good mix of moderate to head-scratchingly difficult. It's definitely a great bonding book to share with your significant other, co-workers, or even the person sitting next to you on the bus. I like to compete with my dad on figuring out the answers, he's seriously impressive.
Here's an equally cute one for the holidays.

Spicy Southwest Salad
Since I'm vegetarian at fast-food restaurants I typically order either just fries and a dessert or if I'm lucky they usually have a vegetarian burger. When I went to Chicago nothing peaked my interest at Chick-fil-A except for their Spicy Southwest Salad and good golly it lived up to that picture. I added their buffalo sauce to the salad to make it spicier because if it's not spicy or sweet, is it worth eating? From then on I've been making my version of the salad by making sure I have some kind of greens, a crunch (like croutons), honey mustard, vegetarian beef patty, and of course buffalo sauce. I use Frank's red hot, but it's not as good as the mini ones they give out at Chick-fil-A. Sheesh, I need to go grab more.

November Uniforms
My favorite post of the month was the November Uniforms post (shocker... feel free to roll your eyes!) I spent an insane insane — veering towards unnecessary — amount of time working on my November Uniforms post. Therefore, I will post it as many times as I can to validate my work. Honestly, it felt really great to discover sustainable brands. I think in the upcoming year I’m going to go cold turkey on fast-fashion. Sigh, I hope it’s as easy as quitting meat because that was literally a piece of cake — and when I say literally, I mean I literally just ate a piece of cake to substitute meat.
You can read it here!

Sweat and Eat
My parents don't like to spend money on eating out, but on the first Monday I went to the gym with them and we at at IHOP immediately after because what's the point of working out for two hours when you're not going to stuff your mouth with the 500 calories you lost plus 1000 more. Family time is the best.

Happy December everyone! It's going to be a good month! ❤

(Credits: Photo of That '70s Show, Photo of Chick-fil-A)

ISO: Nap

2016-11-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else as exhausted as I am from this past Thanksgiving/shopping weekend? I've never been this close to finishing my Christmas list this early. Yes, I'm the type of person to wait two days or maybe even the day before Christmas Eve to purchase presents. I used to like the rush of it all! But now, I just like staying at home in my pajamas and being able to calculate my expenses so I don't go over budget. That's probably the saddest, adult sentence I've ever written. Today, I decided to treat myself by sitting at home with my dogs doing absolutely nothing, but eating a box of 4 Cinnabons. #Adulting! Hey... don't judge me!

To cover up horrible (but oh so delicious) dessert choices, I like wearing this unintentionally oversized button up. When you're sitting down, you can unbutton your pants and no one will notice. When you're standing up and moving about, you look super chic because heels 99.9% of the time will elevate your outfit. Making this look a bit more fun is the functional and adorable yellow, duck umbrella. As well as the old sleepy eyes on the shirt. Which is exactly what my eyes are doing right now!

Trenched

2016-11-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

We shot these in a little walkway after a couple minutes of searching for what I thought was a park, but found out was a library. Many people came by heading home from work. I think that this was a great location after all since my outfit is suited for commuting.

Trench coats are a great way to toss on during a cloudy day with gusts of wind. However, I don't think I'll be able to wear this without a sweater and thick tights... at least until February. I was cold just taking these outfit photos so I couldn't reveal the dress underneath. Eh, I suppose that just gives me a good reason to drive to the city and admire the changing season!

O U T F I T
Trench Coat: ModCloth | Exact, Sustainable, Similar
Turtleneck Dress: Sweet Claire via Buffalo Exchange | Sustainable, Similar, Similar
Bag: Puzzle Book Bag from Barnes and Nobles c/o Josh | Similar (POSSIBLY EXACT)
Shoes: Old Navy via thredUP | Exact, Similar

Purchased for -
Trench Coat: $26.95 | Turtleneck Dress: $23.97 | Bag: $0 (GIFT) | Shoes: $7.00

Total Outfit Cost: $57.92

Wall Hello There!

2016-11-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

If you can't already tell these shots were taken early last month. It was cold then, but it's bone-chilling cold now. I can't even walk the dogs without shivering when I get back, but hopefully some good will come of this weather -- like SNOW! White Christmas' are something I'm constantly looking forward to while the ability to drive without hydroplaning is not.

I threw on this outfit last minute and kind of liked how it looked together. It seems like two different worlds colliding -- work wear on bottom and casual play up top. If your job allows you to have casual Fridays or dress a bit more lax, then this ensemble might just work for you.

O U T F I T

Top: Gap via Salvation Army | Sustainable, Sustainable, Similar

Handkerchief worn as a Scarf: Armando Caruso c/o Dad | Similar, Similar

Pants: Zara via Thredup | Sustainable, Sustainable, Similar

Backpack: Forever 21 c/o Josh | Sustainable, Similar, Similar

Shoes: Mixx via Modcloth | Exact, Sustainable, Similar

Purchased for -

Top: $3.29 | Scarf: $0 (GIFT) | Pants: $3.96 | Backpack: $0 (GIFT) | Shoes: $23.93

Total Outfit Cost: $31.18

November Uniform

2016-11-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Total Outfit Cost: $115.89

I'm so excited about this post (maybe because it took me over 12 hours to make since my computer crashed out of no where -__-)!! But really... if anyone has any advice on how to make these shop guides easier than creating a clipping mask for each individual piece on Illustrator PLEASE let me know!

I decided to create a new series of monthly "uniform" guides that relates to work, sweat, play, and everything else in between. The best part is I've added a sustainable outfits for each category. I say that I want to be more sustainable, but on this blog I've failed to show methods of sustainability other than purchasing secondhand. So I hope this helps.

I understand that sustainable fashion usually equates to high prices and unfortunately, I had a hard time finding fast-fashion low prices on ethical pieces. Let me know if you have any favorite sustainable brands, I'd love to expand my shopping knowledge :D

Without further ado... LET'S BEGIN!

33. Beret: $4.81 | 34. Sweater: $32.00 (ON SALE) | 35. Socks: $6.00 (comes in a 3 pack!) | 36. Bunny Flats: $28.80 (ON SALE, black sold out but pink is available!) | 37. Skirt: $52.00 (ON SALE) | 38. Disney Villain Backpack: $41.93 (ON SALE)
Total Outfit Cost: $165.54

39. Coat: $248.00 | 40. Earrings: $54.00 | 41. Turtleneck: $34.00 | 42. Purse: $135.00 | 43. Pants: $88.00 (ON SALE) | 44. Sneakers: $95.00
Total Sustainable Outfit Cost: $654.00

What was your favorite look? ☺

Chicago | Lake Michigan

2016-11-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Panda. Panda. Panda.

Actually whenever I wear this top I always think of Regina George because of that eye placement. This was a last minute outfit idea that I just picked out to match the heat. No matter what season it is, I will always be drawn to these front button skirts it just goes with everything!

My auntie lives a minutes drive (or a couple minutes walk) from Lake Michigan. It's so vast you can't see anything but water for miles. My dad and I both love the water so we just had to take a couple pictures on our walk (mind you, my whole family loves pictures and will come up with any excuse to whip out the camera).

These photos are completely opposite from Washington where it's dripping wet. No longer can I walk my dogs in just a sweater. Is it officially raincoat season? These rain clouds are saying "you betcha."

Chicago | Downtown

2016-11-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Aren't my parents just the cutest?!

We walked around in search of The Bean, some popcorn at Garrett's, and on the way found amazing Chicago artwork. As I said before, I fell in love with this beautiful city and the rich history told through their buildings. The one downside I found were the employees at some of these establishments are quite rude. Maybe it's because I live in the suburbs and this city is used to the fast-paced lifestyle. Oh well, I loved it anyways!

I knew we'd do some walking so this whole trip I just brought some sensible slip-on shoes. I'm so glad I brought these overalls because it allowed me to get in strange positions to get the right angles. Overalls are great for plane rides too because I don't have to worry about my pants being too tight or falling down when I'm moving around.

O U T F I T
Top: Artwork in the Philippines (SUSTAINABLE, SIMILAR)
Sweater: Value Village (SUSTAINABLE, SIMILAR)
Overalls: Free People via Poshmark (EXACT, SUSTAINABLE, SIMILAR)
Purse: Isabelle Melon via Crossroads (SUSTAINABLE, SIMILAR, SIMILAR)
Shoes: Gap (EXACT, SIMILAR, SIMILAR, SIMILAR)

Purchased for -
Top: $1.98 | Sweater: $4.99 | Overalls: $20.95 | Bag: $14.78 | Shoes: $29.97

Total Outfit Cost: $72.67

Best & Worst Halloween Movies

2016-10-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

There's no better time to watch scary movies than Halloween. Josh and I love scary movies, but you wouldn't know that because I've perfected the art of simultaneously shutting my ears and covering my eyes with my hands. The best movies terrifies me to the point of sleeping with the lights on or makes me think about it for days after. Don't call us movie experts, but we know what we like. So here it is, our favorite scary movies to watch for Halloween or anytime after!

C L A S S I C
Movies we've grown up watching. There's a lot of bad ones out there so I've tried to only pick the best.

The Shining. "Danny is not here, Mrs. Torrance." If you haven't seen this before you'll either love me or hate me. It's one of those psychological movies where you don't really know what exactly is happening, but one thing's for sure -- you don't want to stay at the Overlook Hotel.
The Thing. I've actually never seen this one, it's Josh's pick. He explains to me that the way the Thing plays with who can trust who is fantastic. Plus he loves the awesome monster design.
Nightmare on Elm Street. This movie gave us one of the baddest villains of all, Freddy Krueger. His Edward Scissorhands-like gloves matched with his creepy smile has given us all a reason not to sleep. Which is exactly what he wants...
Silence of the Lambs. Speaking of bad villains we get TWO of them in this movie. Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Hannibal Lecter who gives off the sense of menacing with just a single look. I read somewhere that he doesn't actually blink in this movie (except for one time someone discovered and posted on YouTube).

U N I Q U E
Creative movies that don't follow the "horror" movie norms.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Strikingly beautiful scenes! It's almost like a love story or a coming of age tale with an unlikely twist. The only downside is it's a bit long, but honestly the visuals are damn good that I didn't mind.
Nightmare Before Christmas. This movie is veering on the edge of classic. A fun stop motion animation by Tim Burton that combines that best of Halloween and Christmas. If the song, "This is Halloween," is not stuck in your head after the movie, I guess you just have to watch it again.
Trick 'r Treat. I have a thing for interwoven movies where they are able to tie in all the stories in inventive ways. The takeaway of this story is follow Halloween traditions or meet a cute child with a burlap sack head.
Grave Encounters. Looking at pictures and reading the synopsis you wouldn't think this was very unique. But trust me, unlike other scary movies this one actually doesn't give you time to settle and take a breather. Once things start happening it doesn't stop. I almost categorized this as "So Scary You'll Need to Hide Under Something... Anything." But I scare easy so that may not apply to everyone.

T H R I L L E R
Movies with so much suspense and questions that you can't stop watching.

The Wailing. A South Korean film about a police detective who is investigating why so many strange occurrences keep happening in his village. This movie will make you question who is the bad guy? Who can we trust? What is going on?
The Strangers. Reasons why this is so freaking terrifying. 1) Based on a true story. 2) The masks. 3) What did the couple do to deserve this?! 4) How did they get inside?! 5) Did I mention it's based on a true story!?!
Sinister. Movie about lost footage, a mastermind using children, and a never ending cycle. Even if you don't like this movie, you'd probably agree that Bughuul looks terrifying. The ending was great. I jumped a lot throughout this movie. I kept having to close my eyes and tell Josh to describe what's happening.

P S Y C H O L O G I C A L
In my opinion, the best scary movies. Ones that will make you want to look it up online and see what everyone thinks. Ones that you tell your friends about so you have someone to discuss it with. Ones that just make your brain hurt when you start thinking about it days, weeks, months, years later.

Triangle. Don't looks this up online yet! Just watch it. Know that it's about a couple of friends that go on a Yacht looking to have a great time. You aren't going to guess the twist of this movie. If you do, you're a genius! It's so good I got chills. Plus a baby-faced Liam Hemsworth is in it!
Jacob's Ladder. Josh's pick. I actually haven't seen this movie before and he told me it's best to watch it without looking up the synopsis or anything else online. The reason he likes it is because it's a roller coaster ride of what the hell is going on. It's a good mind trip with a really unique story. I'll trust him on that!
Skeleton Key. I know I know, this has horrible ratings. But the ending is just too good for me to leave this out. I watched this when I was in high school unable to drive so I had to walk home from the movies after seeing this and having goosebumps the whole way. I actually haven't seen it since then, but I just remember the ending and the feeling of being so angry and helpless!
Exam. My friends and I picked this movie because there were tons of people in it and it fit with our game of picking a person in the movie to be and pretending like we're them. If they die we died, if they kissed a character in the movie that means we kissed our friend, etc. etc. It may be stupid but it makes bad movies fun to watch. In this case, we were expecting it to be bad but it was surprisingly really interesting. There's only one question. Can you guess it?

D I S A P P O I N T I N G
Some of these are critically acclaimed movies, some have a cult following, and some are visually pleasing -- but all have made me feel really sad that it wasn't great. I know I'll get backlash over this because they are pretty popular, but to me they weren't worth watching.

Babadook. Probably the most popular and most liked. For reasons I don't understand. I think I laughed more than I got scared. I understand that it's likely a metaphor for depression or anxiety, but I don't think it did the job. The overall aesthetic was great and the book was scary. But the monster itself wasn't scary, more like a cartoon, and the ending/resolution felt gimmicky.
Houses October Built. One of the least known and low rated movies on this list. I just wanted it to be good because the storyline seemed really interesting -- a couple of friends visit different haunted houses and document it. There were even incredible and terrifying costumes! Nothing really happens throughout the movie and it left me wanting more.
Hush. Another really amazing storyline, one that I haven't heard of before -- a deaf woman is terrorized by a killer in her home. You just want to root for her in the beginning of the movie, but throughout she keeps failing and then you're at the point where it's like "come on, can you do it already?" in a very anxious way.
Purge. I had high hopes for this movie, I really did. So much could happen during a purge. It's a horror fest waiting to happen. But my eagerness kept dying scene after scene. One thing I hated -- possible SPOILER ALERT -- is when the characters continually saved each other by appearing out of no where and shooting the person in the back of the head. How many times did they do that to the point of annoyance? Something like 3 times in a row.
It Follows. A killer sexually-transmitted monster. The ending wasn't satisfying. My biggest question is why is everyone naked? Second question is what is that futuristic-mirror shell phone that sister had? Honestly, what time period is this?

So what do you all think? What's your favorite scary movies? Do you agree/disagree with my lists? ☺

Chicago | MSI

2016-10-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Chicago to drop my grandma off to my auntie's home. We explored all the best Chicago had to offer and let me tell you, I was pretty overwhelmed. I could see myself living there because aspects of downtown reminded me of a calmer Seattle with less hills.

The first day was all about relaxation (and lots of eating). Day number two consisted of visiting Museum of Science and Industry with an evening of games (and more eating) at Dave and Buster's. Check out the vlog I made that was basically a highlight reel of my favorite buildings and landscapes.

I'm not comfortable wearing crop tops nor lingerie in public. So what better way to try the trending t shirt + slip dress combo than with the Chicago weather. It wasn't blazing hot like in LA so the length of the sleeves and coverage on the neck gave me some much needed warmth.

Nature Boy

2016-10-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, meet Josh! Although he may not have the same blend of sustainable-fashion ideals and horrible shopping addiction that I do, he dresses extremely well. When we were in high school he wore a lot of band t-shirts and jeans so when we graduated and he stopped wearing "Blink 182" shirts (in public) people thought I was the reason. Sadly, I can't credit myself with his new dapper wardrobe.

The thing I love about his closet is that he only has a few classic pieces, but he changes the styling so that it looks like a completely brand new outfit. If you're a man (or lady) interested in building a capsule closet, this newly added "Men's Style" section will surely inspire you!

Bell Bottoms in the Bay

2016-10-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm currently writing this post in Chicago, avoiding the Seattle storm. It seems strange since only a couple weeks ago the sky was clear for a perfect photoshoot day at Dumas Bay.

Bell-bottoms were a thing of the past, but now they've come back in a major way. I'm on the shorter side and wearing these pants with a pair of heels elongates my legs in such flattering ways. Of course, it wouldn't be me without adding something quirky. I added a sun-glaring yellow coat so if I ever got lost in the woods I could easily be found.

P.S. After a great photosession, I came to the conclusion that Josh either needed to create his own blog (he said it wasn't going to happen) or I would add a little section for him on my blog (officially "Men's Style" in the header)! Be prepared for his laid back, easy to pair pieces. And some kick ass karate moves.

Throwback | The Junction

2016-10-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year on January 10th (as you can tell from the Christmas tree needles from the shoe photo), Josh and I decided to visit his old stomping grounds, The Junction. It resembles a little shopping town with blocks of record stores, vintage boutiques, and pubs. On our drive through Josh would point out all the stores he'd go to when he was a little kid and the places his great-grandma had worked. It was like driving through memory lane.

Knowing we had to do a lot of walking around in the cold weather I opted for the winter weather essentials: coat, scarf, fleece tights. Then being the strange woman that I am, I had to wear a dress and summery Swedish Hasbeens for the not so sunny day.

It's a wonderful little place in West Seattle, so if you're up for antique styles take a drive up here sometime.

Chic in the City

2016-09-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

It's not everyday I get to dress up around Tacoma and have my photos taken. I actually felt like a real blogger when we took this! I am still awkward and hesitant especially when people watch me try to "model". Hopefully I get used to it real soon.

Photos taken by my talented "brother" Eddie Herrera :D

That 70's Girl

2015-12-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

Enjoy these 70’s inspired shots that were originally made to advertise clothes in my shop, but I fell in love with the outfits again and can’t bear to part with them. My mom’s living room paired with my dad’s records gives the casual 70’s vibe I was hoping for.

I hope you all have a happy new year!

February Haul

2014-05-10T00:52:00.001-07:00

Procrastination got the best of me! It's May, but this is a February Haul. I'll work harder on posting on time.

Top (L-R) - By Corpus Dress: $17.50 / Monteau Dress: $17.50 / Pop Boutique Dress: $25.98

Middle - Cooperative Flats: $15.00

Bottom (L-R) - Pins and Needles Cape Coat: $36.32 / New Look Heels: $22.82 / Robert Scott Ltd Sweater: $14.50

I also purchased - Mustard Yellow Tights from Target: $4.38 / Santa Socks from ASOS: 3.00

Total Spent on Clothes this Month: $157.00

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

2014-04-26T18:29:00.003-07:00

Hi all,

I'm back from my trip and I have a giveaway to share!

You must be following my SHOP instagram to enter.

Rules and information are all on my instagram!

Good luck! xx

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED