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...

Ain't She Sweet

Top- Goodwill'd?  ::  Furry jacket- gift  ::  Skirt- Urban Outfitters (Sparkle and Fade)  ::  Ribbon- magic?  ::  Belt+Flats- Thailand  ::  Lipstick- Revlon #435 "Love That Pink" 

Quote Pink: "Are you trying to be kawaii or something?"

I just want to Czech it out

Precursor: Thanks to those who gave me DSLR advice/options/answers to my last post! I still need to research into it further, especially since it's not easy for me to just buy one right off the rack. That is, if cameras are sold on racks. I don't know too much about cameras, but I don't think they're sold on racks. I should stop saying rack.

A doff of my hat to my dear friend Lizzie, who whisked off to spend the semester in Prague this past weekend. I wish her nothing but adventure, fun and dumplings; I do not wish her hunger, lack of money, cold, traces of xenophobia, pretty much anything that sucks. I sternly urged her to take as many pictures as she could (like the proper American she is) while she's there (I mean, duh). I'd mostly like this because I want to see Prague through her eyes, but I also want to see pictures because I want to see if my mental image of Prague (the set of Amadeus, otherwise known as one of the best movies ever) is true or not.

These pictures were taken this past Sunday, one of the last few times we hung out before she jetset it out of here. Deliciously greasy food and excessive talking: hallmarks of our friendship.

The best fuzzy wuzzy earmuffs ever

Lizzie bought this purse at a vintage store during my brief summer visit to NYC.

This picture is an almost exact retake of this photo (from this post) we took around the same time last year and roughly the same location. I don't know which is better, that the "anniversary" was unintentional, or that I look really terrible.

And here's a behind-the-scenes look at the "perils of blogging," a lookey-loo into the world of taking pictures of oneself during the winter...

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.

Freaking Fabulous and Phlegm

What's Lovely for Sunday, August 22, 2010:  Gorging on KFC on a home-sick day (aka, not a faaaaaaabulous day)

tangerine memorabilias in the indigo way

What's Lovely for July 22, 2010: Awesomefantabulouslovelyamazingandotheradjectivesthathaven'tbeeninventedyet package from...

I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw this bright yellow box on my front porch. How excited? THIS EXCITED!!!!!! Though I wasn't literally jumping up and down, I was wide-eyed as an eight-year old kid on Christmas day. Only it's better, because it's Christmas in July. Christmas in July is amazing in every way except one (Santa will be throwing off his snowsuit for a pair of boxers, yeesh).

My, I got sidetracked.

We've been planning this package exchange for awhile-- and now, with the blissful emptiness that is summer, it has become possible. Not only is getting mail exciting, but mail from blogger friends who live far away? Priceless. And since I have several questions from Indigo that I need to answer, this post shall be entirely Tangerine Umbrellas on an Indigo Day theme!

Look at how neatly and prettily Indigo wrapped up her gift! All purdy like, I tells ya.

1.If you were to change your name, what would you pick?

I actually like my name, is that too vain to say? Charlene isn't a name you hear every day (though I have called it the name that only 50-year old women in menopause commercials have). But I have thought about this before-- if I had to change my name, I'd go with Irene. Boring, right? It rhymes with Charlene. I'm like the poor man's poor man's Shakespeare.

Out of the magnificent menagerie I've been blessed with, one of the most unusual(ly awesome) were the pig popper and a pink feather.

2. If you had to decorate your house floor to ceiling in one pattern (wallpaper, furniture, picture frames, sheets, as if your name was Olive Snook...) what pattern would you pick?

I'd definitely go with varying shapes and sizes of stripes. Pinstripes, fat stripes, you name it. Can you imagine how streamlined and ridiculous my house would look like??

Cami enjoyed the pig popper (hopefully I'll share a video of her playing with it later) immensely, but wasn't amused when I tried to put Tangerine's gift of the pink feather in her collar.

3. You are trapped in a room filled with rising dough with only an apple, a handkerchief and a non working toaster. The walls are soundproof and there is a door, but it is locked, and it is 15 feet a way and the dough in front of you is already 6 feet high. In two minutes the dough will have risen so high that it will suffocate you, how do you escape?

I'll obviously realize upon polishing the non-working toaster with the handkerchief that it's in fact the Brave Little Toaster who's just sleeping. I'll lightly smack him to wake him up, and though he'll be a little perturbed that I slapped him awake, he'll be more than glad to help me. He'll then dive into the rising pile of dough and use his toaster powers to electrify the dough and then summon millions of toast that we'll both use to crush the dough into a corner. The Brave Little Toaster will allow me to use some of his inner wires to fiddle and open the locked door and in our triumph we'll both share the apple. And if all that doesn't work, I'll use magic and then eat the apple. The end.

Tangerine sent over these beautiful Chinese paper cut-outs that were so delicate and fragile that I felt like I was holding a real butterfly.

4. You are offered the job of your dreams. What is it?

It's always been a problem with me to focus on one set career path, and the number of choices has always daunted me. However, at this point, I'd love to be offered as a graphic designer/artist at a fashion magazine or be a part of the making of film and television title design like this. Of course, there's always that dream I once had to be a singer on Broadway. Ah, pipe dreams, don't we all have them?

5. What, in your opinion, is the best thing since sliced bread?

No offense to sliced bread, but you know what, there are a fecking ton of things that can beat it. For example, this package. It's fecking awesome and it's full of love. Is a bread full of love? No, it's full of bread and carbs. Though I love carbs, so whatevs.

I keep all my letters, postcards and miscelleneous things with writing on them in this box. It's gradually yet surely getting fuller.

If I may be so bold, I have one more thing to say.

The second song on Indigo's CD (Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco") was playing when I read this comment over at Ruby Slipper Journey's blog-- "It makes me so happy that someone is considering taking up sewing, possibly partly inspired by little moi!"

That's when it hit me (albeit softly).

Blogging brings us all together. If it weren't for blogging, then that blogger wouldn't have been affected by the other blog. If it weren't for blogging, then I wouldn't be listening to this Andrew Bird song (he's currently trilling his violin and whistling, of course). If it weren't for blogging, then my room wouldn't be littered with many treasures and I wouldn't be quite so full of thanks, grace and a little bit of guilt (mind you, there's only a bit of guilt because Tangerine and Indigo are so generous to give such amazing gifts that I feel like I don't deserve this at all).

This is when the music swells, figuratively if not literally.

When I really stop to think about this, I'm overwhelmed. My chest feels heavy with feeling, but it's not overbearing. It's light yet has a steady weight at the same time. It's hard to put how happy and thankful I am quite succinctly into words that aren't blatant signs of flowery poetry, but I'll try. Thank you, Tangerine. Thank you, Indigo. Thank you, blog. Thank you, followers and blogger friends. Thank you for supporting me and replying to my neverending questions. You like me, you really like me (and this is when they drag me away from the stage).

Contrived melodramatics aside, I'm happy. It's enough to make you want to laugh, cry and hug a puppy all at the same time. But that sounds a bit too hazardous to try at home. Thanks y'all.

PS: I got what-- five?!?!-- mix CDs total. And they're all amazing. I really should share them with the rest of you guys in future posts. Last time thank yous and bear hugs for Tangerine and Indigo! :)

Love, Love, Love

I know this is a tad bit late, but... happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

I have no idea what you're talking about; I think computer rooms have everything to do with Valentine's Day. Pffft.

Yet aside from wearing my designated "Valentine's Day sweater" (it's pretty much one of the only pink things I own), I treated today like any other day. If I was cranky, it was because I was in sore need of sleep, not because as a woman, I was stressed over this holiday. I thought to myself earlier today "hey, I'm glad I'm single," but I still perused through my favorite Youtube videos that had to do with love (why not?). And I thought I'd share with y'all some of my favorite of the favorites. :)

Remember that first crush? The nervous butterflies it gave you? Back in the days when the BIGGEST secret you held near and dear was who you liked, only to be drawn out by a harrowing game of "Truth or Dare."

Simple love. How can you not go "awwwwww?"

I think it's clearly evident that I'm in a long-term relationship (if not a bit disadvantageous) with Youtube.

I'd like to think that this is Bret and Jemaine's love letter to all the ladies in the world. They're just about the sexiest/most amazing Kiwis on the guitar.

This is a really lovely short film on the random circumstances that can bloom into true love. The animation is simple and perfect for the story.

They're probably in the top five, if not my favorite, on-screen couple out there. It really doesn't hurt that Ned is so adorable, but they're even more irresistible together.

But this has to be my favorite love story. I know. It's so cheesy. You can save your indignant stares and eye rolls... it's Disney for chrissakes! But there's a reason why this is one of my favorite movies.

What's Lovely for February 14, 2010: Appreciating love in all shapes and sizes. (I should get a job writing for Hallmark cards, I'd make a killing)

Y'know, I wouldn't mind a singing Valentine from a certain someone. Another lovely thing about being single for Valentine's Day is that you can have any Valentine you want, just for funsies. ;) Hope y'all weren't too bothered by the onslaught of videos... here's to love!

Nothin' but my way

A genuine outfit post that doesn't involve Gaga? Damn!

In my further experimentation to stay resourcefully fashionable during the bitter, cruel, chiding winter, I took inspiration from Little Women. As in, those ladies had it right with those petticoats. Due to this, and this does sound verily silly, I liked sitting down because then my skirt(s) would bunch up nicely and keep me warm.

Again, that eternal question (that I keep asking): How many layers? I ninja-layered two skirts underneath the top one, which normally is a light summer skirt. Tights are a given three when the weather is in the teens.

Don't I make a wonderfully stern schoolmarm? And the worst model? Tyra, call me.

I decided to mix it up a little by adding a stool. Isn't my creativity just mind-blowing?? Even more lame is that I was thinking of that one Britney Spears music video where she rocks the chair. I have yet to recklessly drive a Mustang through a lightning storm, though (seriously, what is that woman doing in that video).

Notice how I did the exact same pose, only varying up the top a bit. I did this without realizing. Wow.

Blue shirt+Shoes- Old Navy : Red shirt- TJMaxx : Skirt- JCPenney? it was so long ago : Belt- Walmart : Tights- We Love Colors

I also tried out a new red lipstick. I actually really love the cherry shade; isn't there something really nice and a little empowering about finding really nice red lipstick? Michelle, I'm talking to you. I am woman, hear me roar as I put on my lipstick.

What's Lovely for January 29, 2010: I regret not taking a picture of this, but while walking to my bus stop this morning, I saw-- I shiz you not-- what looked like to be a pile of ramen noodles in the snow. Just sitting there. In the middle of the snow, next to these apartments. It was bizarre. Try to imagine it.

On the bright side, my birthday's tomorrow. That's sorta nice. :)

PS: I lied, this will involve some Gaga: happy national Lady Gaga Day! Oh, love.

Love is all you need

First legit post, and of course, it's about the Beatles.

I don't think I need to write out a whole paragraph waxing poetic, but I'm a huge Beatles fan. Probably not one of the biggest, but I've been on one-two-many times on a Beatles (and subsequently, Across the Universe) kick before. Long story short, I think they're awesome and I find it hard pressed to find anyone who deliberately dislikes them.

So when I saw this clip from the Starbucks Love Project, it was just too perfect.




Can you imagine? Something universal as "All You Need is Love" can bring the whole world together in song. It's really cheesy to say, but when you think about it, isn't it amazing? I couldn't stop smiling when I saw this video, and almost damn near cried.

Speaking of the Beatles, there really is a whole mythos surrounding them, especially John; he's become something of a legend. Which is both fascinating and preposterous, because he was really just a man with as many foibles as the next. There have been thousands of imitations of him and the Beatles, but I feel like there weren't many movies starring them (besides the ones that they themselves starred in) as a biopic.



That's why I was surprised and can't lie-- really intrigued-- when I saw this trailer.

The accent is there, but admittedly my mind is still a bit put off at how different John and Paul look from their real counterparts-- but who can be perfect? And sidenote: can you BELIEVE that Paul McCartney is being played by the same boy who was in Love Actually?? Another shocker, he's my age. Wow, I feel... old?

Paul himself isn't too happy with the film, but not because of his portrayal. I'm still very interested in seeing this film, though with my luck, I probably won't...

But! All I need is love. Yes, I went there, with the cheese, yeah.