What do you think about...

( via clotheslistings)

A diet? No, not one food-.related, but rather, fashion related. I've just recently (meaning today) discovered a website titled "The Great American Apparel Diet", a pact made by several women from around the country to halt themselves from entering department stores or boutiques....literally not buy any new clothes for a year. With every rule, there are exceptions (and thank goodness for those!). Accessories, shoes and underwear as well as gifts and clothing swaps are all within the limits, however, absolutely NO NEW SELF-PURCHASED GARMENTS are allowed (bdubs, love the power of capital letters). Of course, it's a little too late to join along, but it got me thinking...and for a split second, I thought it may just be a brill idea. Most of my money goes towards apparel, why not control myself until the diet's over to go on a huge shopping spree with all the money? Imagine no ordinary finacial constraints! But then again, reality intruded, and I realized that may never be possible. :(

Then, such an idea got me thinking about the "The Uniform Project" done by Sheena Matheiken:

Starts off with a basic, simple little black dress...

Then it slowly transforms through the process of layering...

Accented colors...

Accessories...

And versatility, among others.

Ingenious. No outfit repeats (with the exception of the LBD) for 365 days! Matheiken started such an ambitious project to raise awareness of the benefits of sustainability, and also help educational funding for Indian childern through the Akanksha Foundation. That's what I call powerful!

Such ambitious people defy our outer appearences. To what extent do clothes affect our personality, our confidence, our morale? Maybe I really should give it a go...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's that time of the year again. I believe one of my favorite times of year is the weeks right smack dab between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when everyone hurries to decorate and assemble christmas lights or wait in line in front of the department stores to get the "sale of the century". But today is the day for families. Today is the day to celebrate in good cheer and list the multiple thanks that remain faithfully in our lives. What are you thankful for? Here's my list:

1. 
   
   I am thankful for God and His love and presence at times of hardship, when days seems so tough. He'll always just be within reach.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   I am thankful for my family- for their unconditional love, support and joy.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   I am thankful for the ability to learn enthralling subjects- for all the wisdom my teachers pass down to me, and all the times new facts or ideas take my breath away.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   I am thankful for my community, to have the opportunity to reside in such a magnificant and welcoming town, cared for by such warm and self-less leaders.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   I am thankful for my friends, for their undying support, words of comfort and advice whenever life hands me lemons.
   
   
   
6. 
   
   And lastly, I am thankful for the ability to smile, to hope, to dream about a shining future in a world that is so fast-paced and hectic compared to the molasses steps way back when.
   
   
   

As you sit around the family table today, smile. perk up. and share all the good memories with your family that may otherwise still be collecting dust in the distant regions of the brain. Here's a toast to everyone that has ever cared or made us realize something beyond our mental capacity, to those who stretch the limits of our brain, and fascinate us with tales of gold and glory. Cheers.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Rodarte For Target

(via teenvogue)

I've recently discovered the fantastical new line of Rodarte for Target. Though Kate and Laura Mulleavy[Rodarte] has been new on the fashion scene, most of the designer collections consists of beyond amazing techniques and whimsical designs. The new target line will be out December 2009 and will continue until Feburary 2010! I'm counting down the days! The pieces range from $9.99-$79.99, an amazing deal for a fashion brand that markets clothes regulary for a couple thousand dollars :) Tavi Gevinson models the target line here:

(via teenvogue)

These items are for sure on the Christmas list! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

PROJECT: REORGANIZATION.

So over the weekend, I decided to reorganize my warerobe (considering the enormous size and weight of my clothes on one tiny closet bar). I had previously organized my clothes by catorgories in relation to pant, tees, shirts..etc, but then I came up with this rather "ingenious" idea of separating them into colors (which was a complete fail). Sure, my closet looked very rainbow-esque and beautiful by the end, but everything was completely mixed-up and generally horrible over-all, don't try this at home, folks! On Saturday (actually at 11 pm at night), I decided to let my closet breathe.

Room before the extensive clean-up (kind of scary)

Closet afterwards. Still kind of depressing. I stuffed all my work-out clothes on the top shelves, but since I don't ever work-out/ I hate it, I doubt they will ever be worn in this century. I could probably donate such articles over the winter holidays.

A mountain of hangers. Kind of artistic, no? I prefer padded or the green hangers, they definitely protect clothes wayy better than the plastic.

Then I stuffed all my old Lacoste bags into a bag protector. Could be useful again during tennis in the summertime, but I doubt it true in the bleak winter months.

Last week, I also picked up some facial products from Ulta. But my most excited purchase was the H2O+ cleanser containing ingrediants from the sea. It has seaweed extracts belnded inside, amazingly cool! :))

(p.s. like my frog? ;])

Do you remember back in the day when you could just sail on through school without any stresses or care in the world? Certainly not true anymore. Back in 7th grade, I used to sleep at least 30 minutes everyday in US History and still get an A. Now, a 5 minute snore could lead to failing a test. Tragic. I was flipping through some underclassmen assignments the other day and discovered that certain outlines were only 2 pages long with 12 Times New Roman font as compared to my APUSH 9-page outlines with 10 pt. nowadays... Not fair. Also, my middle school textbooks actually had vivid, primary colors with pronounciations of words in parentheses next to a new vocab, with reference to pop culture. Mostly, the history books used from 9-11 consisted of monochromatic schemes. Don't you love high school?

La Vie est Belle

(via flickr)

All of a sudden, I've had a craving to be immersed in French culture. I believe it's time to go back to Paris; I miss it so. Though my time spent meandering around the city was very hectic and short, it is definitely the most beautiful city in the world with its language flowly delicately, like the veins of the Seine surrounding the old city, full of heaves and troughs that roll out of the Parisian. Surely, I shall be reunited again, but until then, I think I'll immerse myself in French music via Youtube and jump around Flickr photographs this night.

Whenever you get a chance to watch these flicks, grasp it, and never let go:




Drift off from a melancholy world with these tunes:

                   (via flickr)

T Minus

(via TrekEarth)

Yes, Christmas may be the most festive holiday in the wintertime, but Thanksgiving come in at a close second. Why else? Because of the absolutely decadent food, of course! I think I'm always fattening up during November and December (a little sliver of pumpkin pie there, a bite of mashed potatoes here...), but is it all that horrific that I don't think feel bad at all. Yes, this ought to be the season for loosening those waistlines and indulging in goodies that could only be available at the dinner table once a year (cheesy, greasy food my family alsolutely abhors in otherwise normal conditions). Plus, one of my favorite parts of this time of year (and a brilliant way to burn off those extra calories, mind you): STORE SALES.So, I've came up with this season's ongoing wishlist consisting of divine items; key word: wishlist, meaning I would probably never get all of these items, nor would I ever expect to receive all of them (especially with my spastic and ever-changing persona). I think I'll stick to dreaming.

Is it absolutely tragic that I want something from Toys "R" Us? Something about me never really growing up inside and the fact that we have a huge and amazingly shiny Toys in the area should be decent excuses :)

The first time I saw Free People, I became immediately enthralled with its eclectic charm. The goodies are possibly endless:

What a statement piece! (and also with a hefty price tag at $800), understand my dilemma?

But then I digress, check out this wallet-friendly alternative at $28!

So delicate and simple.This jacket is definitely posh.

One of my favorite things about the online website is the Changing Room. What a great place to get outfit ideas from!

Moving right along to Anthropologie, a rustic jewel of a store.

But one of my absolute favorites of the store is the endless splendor of books:

If I had these filling up the bookshelve, I'd be happy to the nth degree.

That's it so far. French homework beckons. Oh, how I love to create a dialogue regarding car trouble and maintenance! ;] Well, let's hope a cute pompiste comes to the rescue!

my amazing amazing weekend

I went to the National Cathedral to do my historical site visit for US Hist. and strolled through Georgetown afterward (so gorgeous btw). It was actually quite a breath of fresh air ( actually doing something besides being couped up at home finishing up homework...)

Both my dress and tights are from Macy's. I also wore my trusty Ralph Lauren belt and this gorgeous Cole Haan bag.

Very Notre Dame-esque, non? It was constructed at the turn of the century, the realistic era of American history. The guides inside insisted it to be English Gothic, however there was no elaborate perpendicular style inside.

And, of course, a gothic specialty, the elaborate bas reliefs. I tried making a bas relief during sculpture...didn't work out so well!

The nave is absolutely breathtaking. The eclectic stained glass protrays events such as the bombing of Iwo Jima. Altogether, somewhat European with distinct American roots.

Such calmness and beauty.

Vibrant rose windows surround the facades.

The flying buttresses, what a funny phrase to say :)

And of course, the magnificant view of DC (with the Washington Memorial, a tiny speck off in the distance)

Every visit needs a picture in a quiet (but hopefully not off-limits) chapel!

Getting our calorie fic at Chipotle in Georgetown.

Purchased this soft cardigan at H&M. Such a unique shape, don't you think?

Got this what I call a "Scottish golfing hat" at H&M as well

Then this semi-blenched denim skirt at Urban Outfitters.

Lastly, this completely versatile belt at American Apparel. Checked it off my wishlist!

Soon, the dark enveloped the city, and the glow of nighttime dawned upon us.

Finalement, a ride home on the metro where we talked about the randomest things, passing time until the tram hauls us back to snuggly beds.

Yucky Weather.

So, anyone notice the absolutely horrendous weather that has been rather aquainted with the Washington DC area?! Yeah. It sucks. Again, I ponder at the thought of living in the Brazilian rainforest or Honduras. This whole rain situation really needs to evacuate; I totally understand why people are depressed due to the weather. So, in the absence of sunshine, I've decided to lighten up with cheerful scenery and bright colors.

Amazingly beautiful London, I fell in love.

Complete sucky picture, I know. But isn't the underbelly of the Effiel Tower just as beautiful, if not more, than its facade?

The view from my room in Germany. Tres magnifique, non?

They say if you make a wish under this specific bridge, it will come true. So I did.

Parisan Starbucks serves croque madames. Can we not have the same treatment?

I'm off to read Cold Mountain for English and finishing up some homework! The highlight of my lifee (jk), but I'm seriously excited about Frazier's writing; I heard it was just romantic.

Expect the Unexpected,

R.