The places I've been

Since last I've posted, I've been to...

three towns, four cities, scads of gas stations, one shooting range and too many bars to count.

But lately I've mostly been holed up in the house. Maybe it's time I came back to this place, right here on the interwebs. It's been awhile.

[insert symbolic photograph of your journey and feelings here, you dirty hipster]

But I'm standing still

Where have I been? And while we're (not) asking, where's Hotaru?

We've been off adventuring.

But I've been lounging around like a dilapidated brain all this week. It's quite terrible. One might say that I'm ... trapped in my daily habits.

Yeah no one thought that was funny, either. 




I hope the rest of the photos will come soon in due time!

The smell of last year

Blouse- secondhand  ::  Belt- Thailand  ::  Skirt- so long ago, since ... 9th grade! geez  ::  Sandals- TJMaxx  :: Lipstick- Revlon Lustrous Lipstick "Plumalicious"  ::  Horse- THE LAND OF EQUESTRIA

Can you ever believe that this statue is made out of metal, not wood? 

Though I wore this shirt primarily for the practical reason to cover myself without collapsing into a pool of tired sweat, nostalgia managed to permeate my skin as soon as I put it on. I couldn't help but recall that around the same time last year, I wore this shirt (and sandals) on my first day out in a thrillingly new country. Just looking at the pictures I took back then make me smile. They remind me of the smell of frangipanis, the tropical flower that grew almost everywhere in fragrant clusters. 


Here, there are no frangipanis. But there are ... whatever these flowers are. I'm no botanist, so if anyone can kindly point out what flowers they are (I know they're not lavender, unless my nose is broken and I couldn't easily tell), I'd appreciate the extra bit of knowledge. These might not hold the same sweet scent, but they still had the sweetness to attract many bees. 


Wait, crap. That's not a fair trade-off, is it? Shit.


Anyway: is it weird that I find myself occasionally missing a place that isn't home? Have you ever found yourself in the same or similar position? Most importantly, will the bees leave me alone?

The bare bones of it all

Let's play the game: who can spot the squirrel? Or as I like to call them, "spurls."

Moody close-ups are moody.

Shirt- Goodwill? or something  ::  Cardigan- TJMaxx  ::  Skirt- secondhand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Socks- Sock Theory ::  Shoes- Old Navy

Quick note: I just realized that in a weird way, this outfit is "totes ironic" (what makes that phrase even more annoying is if you imagine me saying it with air quotes) because while this post is called "bare bones," the clashing color scheme is anything BUT. This outfit has more print mixing than paper factory explosion, it's insanity. Call it an eyesore or mad, it's just Charmalade! 


New annoying catch phrase? Hell yes.


BUT YEAH. It feels weird to jump back into the blogging pool after nearly two weeks of silence. It's even weirder that a) I don't mention that I was gone at all and/or b) considering that it's coming from me, the ever-so-loud one. 

Don't hang up your coat just yet

I haven't fallen off this side of the earth.

I can say that Life got in the way, but it's slightly true. I mean, don't tell anyone this, but between you and me, I think Life needs to drop a few pounds. I keep on running into Life, and it's all awkward because it's like, "Hey Life, do you mind? Scootch a bit that way? Yeah, thanks." And it's like that every time. Honestly.


Now I just sound like someone who's a big jerk to magazines.


'Till the next post! I hope to resume blogging soon. :)

A change of blog.

Hi. 

I'm Toast.

Charmalade has been so busy lately that she and I have come to an agreement that I'd guest blog for her indefinitely. 


Well, she didn't say "indefinitely," but I already changed a few things around this old dump and she didn't seem to notice. I actually think she's been distracted by Youtube and shiny things for like, three hours now. Plus, I think I can totally do a better job at this than she ever could. What a putz. 


Anyway, there are going to be some changes around here. Definitely for the better. This blog is going to be something you've never seen before. A fashion blog... about toast. As in me, I'm Toast. I'm the star of this show now, don't anyone say anything else about it. This will be just your everyday personal style blog, only a lot better. 


A brief blurb about me...

The Worst Fairy Tale

Lookin' at the creeper van, lookin' at the white white creeper van that's a-creepin' with a ladder on it, why does it have a ladder on it, God knows why, just lookin' at the white creeper van with a ladder on it, yeah.

Blouse- it's a mystery, Scooby Doo  ::  Blazer- thrifted Ralph Lauren  ::  Vest- thrifted  ::  Shorts+Shoes- from Thailand  ::  Tights- Charlotte Russe  ::  Nails- China Glaze's "For Audrey"

My Favorite Creeper

Dress- Beacon's Closet @ Williamsburg  ::  Cardigan- FROM PINK TO REPLACE RED B. CARDIGAN  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Boots- Rebel via TJMaxx  ::  Headband- Modcloth freebie whee

I really have nothing else I can say (eh eh), because it's the weekend and I should either be:
a) going out and having a cuh-razy-ass time, or
b) staying in and diligently working my ass off
instead I am:
c) doing all of the above 
when really I am:
d) schlutzing around.


Instead, I'll tell that random story I mentioned in the last post concerning thigh high socks:

Can ya dig it?

Today didn't start out so hot for me. Dare I say, I was downright getting curmudgeonly and grumpy because of sleep deprivation, but then the day peaked sometime in the afternoon when the sun decided to be delightful and the lighting in these photos decided to not suck. 


I also was wearing this new vest I've acquired and wanted to wear with a vaguely 70s-inspired vibe in mind. Can you tell? Perhaps the beret was a bit much. To be honest, I was only wearing it because of bedhead. 


But really, not much to say. I need to buckle down and do work that I don't completely understand (isn't that spectacularly frustrating?) and worry about worrying about the smaller, internal things (my homework, my little life, etc.) and then worrying about not worrying about the bigger things (what's going on in certain parts of the world). Are we as humans too self-internalized and inherently selfish? Or should I just worry about figuring out what the hell "coding" is? Did I just answer my question? 


I think I need a shower.

Back from the Graveyard

Remember that one time I wrote about that one graphic t-shirt that I would've purchased were it not for the exorbitant price? You thought maybe it was a one-time-whiny deal, but that's underestimating my ability to desire the clothes that are gleefully out of my price range.


And with that, I randomly bring back...

Graveyard of Stuff I'd Like to Buy Were My Wallet More Accommodated for the Exorbitant Price:

I grew wide-eyed at this leopard print sweater from Topshop. I never bought anything from Topshop before, and now I'm reminded why. This baby is priced at $90. $90 for a "Knitted camel short chunky animal jacquard jumper," according to their site's description. Calling it a "chunky animal jumper" makes it sound like you've skinned a very overweight leopard to make this sweater. For shame, Topshop, for shame. And what the flying balls is a "jacquard?" Whatever it is, I know I think I want it. Damn.

The first of the last of the next best thing.

How I ushered in 2011 ... and how I usher in almost everything else. With sheer class.

I just realized something. I've become one of those dreaded blogs that only update sporadically and then starts off every other post with a frenetic "omgosh I'm so sorry guys what can I do omg I was so bad and wrong and bad blogger bad blogger!" And not that it shouldn't be reprimanded (because, let's face it, most of us have done that at one point or another), but for me, I find it especially heinous that I've done this over the course of the shift to the new year (during winter vacation, no less!). While everyone else was donning sequins and sharing pictures of their respective New Year 2011, I was eating copious amounts of cheese and didn't even see the ball drop. I still had a good time, but it was probably not the most spectacular way to ring in the new 2011. 


I've also noticed that most bloggers took the time to recap their 2010s and/or reflect upon their past in order to talk about the future. And I haven't done that either! Only a week into the new year and I'm already behind. Whew. OMGOSH, GUYS. 


I actually still want to do a recap. A lot has happened to me and I've done a lot of things in 2010. Should I even bother? This isn't some school assignment (thank God), so I make my own deadlines. But what do you think? I'D LOVE TO KNOW YOUR OPINIONS. All 160 of you and beyond, I'd love to hear your voices, I've missed my blog and missed you so. I think my main problem in not even blogging quaint photos on my blog was the fact that I couldn't get pictures of myself before the sun set-- which would be much too early in the day. I can't wait when the sun and I can get well acquainted again. 

I should submit this picture into a JCPenney ad, because I have a severe case of "shopping catalog face" here.

Also, about the noticeably nicer-looking pictures? Unfortunately, this won't be a permanent thing, as far as I can tell. A friend of mine quickly shot these pictures of me for a separate project of mine, and I thought "hey! why not mooch these for my personal blog?" Geez, I'm like the person who steals medical supplies from the doctor's office. These photos get me seriously considering getting a fancypants DSLR. My main obstacle is: how the crap can I use this thing? An aperture sounds like a body part to me. This problem clearly needs to be resolved.

Sweater- Charlotte Russe  ::  Kimono jacket- garage sale  ::  Scarf+Booties- via TJMaxx  ::  Skirt- secondhand  ::  Socks+Gloves- Urban Outfitters

Eep! Classes start tomorrow! Technically today! Aaap! 

Your Questions (finally) ANSWERED.

OMG. I'm back. It's like I'm Nathan Young and I was buried alive but turns out in a major plot twist that I'm back from the dead because I'm immortal and...
I may have been watching a lot of Misfits lately. This (warning: slightly NSFW) has been my winter break so far. I didn't say I was proud. But it has been a wonderfully and terrifyingly lazy hiatus, and I'm overdue on a lot of things. Remember the FAQ back in October? I hope with profuse amounts of apologies and kowtowing, I can come back to my blog and finallyfinallyfinally answer these questions once and for all in this post. 


*hug* I missed you. Please forgive me, I have digital chocolate chip cookies.

_____

Paige asked:

What inspired you to start your blog?

Essentially, I bullied myself into doing this thingamajig after a good amount of stalking following and reading many daily fashion blogs. The beautiful thing about blogging is that fairly anyone's capable of it-- it was just a matter of mixed delusion and confidence when I went "hey, I think I can do that!" And thus it began.

What has changed about your blog/your style since you started?

I can say all this stuff about learning the subtleties of what to do or what not to do in blogging and how I dared to mix prints more, but I'd like to show a visual.

Before you open up your eyes

It's officially dead week. This officially means that there's less than a week left till finals week. Which officially means that winter break is just a week after that. 


It also officially seals my doom. 


But. As long as I'm cuddling in this impossibly puffy and comfy jacket (which I was lucky enough to natch at half price!) and impossibly puffy scarf, I can pretend I can get as much sleep as I desire. Which is hilarious to assume when I'm hopping between two big projects and all-nighters...

Top- thrift store in Bronx  ::  Jacket- Silence+Noise  ::  Scarf- TJMaxx

It probably doesn't help that I recently got a tumblr, does it? Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnaw. I try to refrain myself, seriously I do... oh look! What is that, a SONG?

It's very soothing and haunting to listen to this song on repeat when you're half awake. Furreal. 

Try to Keep a Cool Head

Beret- local thrift store  ::  Scarf- H&M  ::  Blouse- secondhand  ::  Skirt+Shoes- Thailand  ::  Tights- We Love Colors+Target  ::  Coat- Gap

What's Lovely for November 29, 2010:  

Some sort of "Pimp My Ride: Low Budget Bicycle Edition," where one of the wheels looks vaguely like a Pokeball... 

Ahem. First off, how was your Thanksgiving? Were many thanks and calories had around the table? Did you watch the Macy's Day parade? Were you disillusioned by it all? Did you at least eat well?

What's nice about straight-up outfit posts are that after the song-and-dance of editing and uploading them, I can simply throw them into a post, say a few words that I hope are in coherent English, and be done with it. Unfortunately, a part of me is usually loath to do just this because it lacks personality, though it's also a matter of letting the clothes "speak for themselves." Oh, if they could talk... 

Accio Deathly Hallows (and the rest of my childhood)

"As thrilled as I am to be so uncomfortably close to you, you really need a manicure, Voldy." 

You've heard it on the news. You've listened to your friends talk on and on about it. You've seen all the statuses on Facebook. And you'll hear it here, your number one source for Harry Potter fandom mania from a dorky, loud and pop-centric Asian who likes to dress up every once in many while.* In this post, I show what I did that fateful night when I was lucky enough to score two midnight tickets at the last minute. I spent a lot of the pre-show like this:

Yes. Be excited.

*I still have yet to find my niche.

Uphill Climb

Pictures. Pictures, pictures. Clothes clothes. Picture. Poses. Clothes fashion style style clothes fashion clothes scarf. 


Just a straight-up outfit post, folks. If you can't tell, my lack of consciousness is preventing my vocabulary from candid conversation. All I can seem to do is spew out words that sum up this post. I could tell you how I got caught in the act of taking these photos, or how abnormally warm it has gotten here as of late. But no. Photo, photo, scarf scarf, kimono sleeves. You can also tell I'm sleepy from my sleepy eyes. Ah, never-ending battle, why do you never seem to end?

Top&Pants- thrift store in Bronx  ::  Scarf- Limited  ::  Jacket- garage sale  ::  Flats- Thailand

Calling Mr. Stewart, need my sanity restored

What's Lovely for October 28, 2010:  It's not every day you can pet your clothing (though it's quite easy to put clothing on your pet) 

Top- Goodwill  ::  Skirt- Aeropostale survivor  ::  Tights- We Love Colors  ::  Jacket- gift from incredibly generous friend  ::  Belt- Thailand  ::  Shoes- Old Navy

Just the FAQts

I'll be alternating between being superbusy and passing out this week, so I'm putting myself under self-inflicted hiatus until Monday. I'll probably shamelessly give into my weak-willed ways and check back on my blog before then, but here's hoping for no posts till then.


So! I take this as a perfect opportunity to host a Q&A that seems to be popular these days (since I know so many few of you must be dying to know more about a fashion-and-all-around dork). I welcome you to ask me (almost) anything by commenting on this post: from the serious to silly, from the fashion to pop culture, etc. I just ask you to please not ask my exact location, s'il vous plait (I just said "please" twice, what the geez).


Stay lovely! I look forward to your questions. :)

Life and death in a Wal-Mart checkout lane

What's Lovely for Friday, September 17, 2010:  Ending a raucous night of partying with a short walk in the dark that leaves me feeling like a "beautiful girl" 

What's Lovely for Saturday, September 18, 2010:  It's a tie between a) feeling like a true college student by being sore all day from sleeping on a futon or b) enjoying a slice of both little Mexico and Korea through food

What's Lovely for Sunday, September 19, 2010:  Feeling grateful (yet at the same time, strangely guilty) for the life I have... also wondering how I can change it

How would you carve your mark?

What's Lovely for September 14, 2010:  Learning about the power of the carved word

It all started with the purple eyes...