Random mess of photos

   

I know its been awhile since I posted thrifty deals I've found, so here it goes: 

5 items for $12! I found some Spring items from the local Salvation Army during their 50% off sale. One of these items are a huge vintage printed mu-mu, which I intend on making into a skirt for the summer : )

I received this little package all the way from Thailand last month, and inside were these adorable little creatures:

Each one is hand crocheted by women in Thailand and come in an array of bold, beautiful colors (I know that my selection doesn't really display that : P ). The plus? The money goes to support Rahab Ministries-- an organization dedicated to helping and providing jobs to women who have escaped trafficking and prostitution. See more of their products here. 

I found a recipe for potato leek soup in my new recipe book and decided to try it out. The verdict was light and soothing to the tummy, perfect for a rainy day or cool Spring evening.

I had an amazing beet salad at Euro Pane last month, and decided to re-create their handiwork: fresh minneola tangerines, goat cheese, beets, glazed pecans, fresh greens and my own homemade dressing consisting of equal parts fresh o.j., olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. 

I found these bold citrus-colored flowers growing on a hill in the park and couldn't help but to pluck a few to take home. My mom saw them while she was visiting and let me in on the fact that you can find mature seeds next to these plants, ready to be planted! They are now in a pot in my yard, let's see how well they can tolerate my lack of gardening skills...

Pocketfuls of pleasure.

My favorite fragrances- I abide by the Parisian mentality: Spray when showering isn't a priority.

Good beauty tools are as essential as brushes are to an artist.

Why pay $$$ for skincare? Amazon offers amazing deals for skincare by Olay, my mom swears by it and everyone always asks her how she keeps her skin looking years younger. Covergirl Lashblast makes my Asian lashes look plenty times thicker & longer for a bargain, Sephora face primer works great on oily/combo skin, Urban Decay shadow primer prevents oily lids from getting creases, Maybelline Eyestudio gel liner is my new cheap substitute to Makeup Forever's version, works nearly as good for 1/3 of the price, and MAC has the best color staying pigments & budget-friendly prices.

Hair & skin products I love: Fekkai Full Blown Volume spray, Suave dry shampoo is supercheap and works just as good as the others I've tried; it saves me time on days when washing your hair is a luxury, Bioderma Sensibio H2O- liquid magic, feels like H2O, but takes off make-up, and Bioderma Crealine Anti-Redness cream for my sensitive skin

Got a doorknob decor, which doubles as a jewelry holder..and finally got around to re-painting a gaudy mirror we found at a closeout store.

I love vintage-looking books- need to find more to fill up our bookcases.

These beautiful irises and lillies shot up from beneath the soil, as planted by the previous owners; a nice little sneak preview for Spring!

Spring forward!

h&m striped top, free people knit cardigan, DIY bleached lucky jeans cut-offs, jeffrey campbell wedge lace-ups, longchamp bag

Went on a surprise date to the "Descanso Gardens" in La Canada with the Husband. It was a glorious time to visit, as there were plenty of flowers in bloom, especially tulips and lilacs! There were many magical-looking nooks and mini gardens that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and The Secret Garden. There were many "camera-happy" moments for the both of us and we took full advantage of it, prepared with some much needed Claritin.

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." -Anne Bradstreet

Feeling floral.

Purple-ish blue petals have been covering the floors of Pasadena like a carpet of freshly fallen snow. They're beautiful, but a pain to walk on (think of walking on banana peels).

I went on an accessory run to F21 yesterday and picked up this gray necklace with ruffled flowers hung on gross grain ribbon. Something about it reminded me of Chanel so of course I was instantly in love. Recently, I've been in the mood for light ruffled flowers, perhaps it's a belated Spring response.

I also had a chance to stop by Urban Outfitters for their Yard Sale, but didn't find any clothing items I really liked. I did however, pick up a knotted mesh chain belt that I plan on wearing as a necklace. Dual purpose= more bang for my buck.

My good friend Michelle also told me about her 3rd grade class performance today, so I decided to play camera-woman and check it out. They reenacted Native Folktales and had costumes, backdrops, props and everything. It reminded me of my elementary school days of acting and the time I had the opportunity to play Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Those were my few moments in the spotlight. Sigh, pleasant memories.

The Mean Reds

Holly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat or it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of. Don't you ever get that feeling?
Paul: Sure. Some people call it angst.
Holly: When I get it, what does any good is to jump into a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness, the proud look. Nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany's, then... then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name...

The mean reds, the blues, whatever you want to call it, we all have our days. Even though Tiffany's is literally a 15 minute walk away, I'd rather take out the camera and shoot the blues away, plus it's free. Finding beauty around me turns that frown upside down.

After the rain...






How can you not be happy with a red lamp in the middle of your living room?



Doc Martens: I remember my first pair of the classic 8-tie black Doc Marten boots. At the age of 12, I was dying for a pair and begged my father to find me Docs in London during his business trip. I recall him tracing the outline of my foot, but ended up being disappointed when he bought the shoes 1/2 a size too small. Within a few months, they became too small for my growing feet. Feeling distraught, I decided I would save them for my future child. However, I discovered a remake by Yohji Yamamoto in the current issue of NYLON. This sleeker look is a spin-off of the basic black boot. I don't usually swoon over shoes (only Louboutins), but these boots had me dying, and I died just a little bit more when I found out they are practically sold out everywhere online. Guess I'll have to wait for London.



Speaking of NYLON... guess who's rockin' the cover this month?!?!



Ladies, remember the guy from F4?? Turns out he's a rep for WORLD VISION, the non-profit organization Mike works for!



I think the mean reds are now turning into more of a pinkish color...