NEW YOU, NEW YEAR?

?

so, it's not the new year yet, but who says you can't start a little early? end of the year resolutions are good to try, since most of the time i fail to keep up with my new year's resolutions anyway. if you have the motivation, why not start now? 


on the list of things to improve upon:
1. less facebook, more blogging  
2. get a new haircut - i've had the same hair for far too long now, and change is good
3. spend time doing things i actually love - ie: writing and yoga {i didn't buy a yoga mat for nothing!}
4. read more books - i spend too much time caught up in my own thoughts, it would be nice to have some healthy distractions 
5. spend less money on materialistic things, more money on things that matter {which will be hard while going to a fashion school and being surrounded by essentially, walking and talking mannequins, aka students, from the likes of burberry, marc jacobs, michael kors, etc. not to mention a pair of heeled ankle booties i've been on the lookout for, below}

Rebecca Minkoff - Doll Suede Booties -  $340

what are your resolutions?

photo credit: "Happy New Year" - Kim Grabovsky

shoes found at: Shopbop

AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

my last post really got me wanting a new bag, but as i'm a struggling, no-income student, i started looking for some cute alternatives to the cross body Coach and Marc Jacobs purses. albeit, the quality of these purses will never be that of a true designer handbag, it's not like people will be  running up to you and touching the material of your bag... and therefore, they will never ever know! :) how do you think i get by with my faux-LV's and Marc Jacobs... ahem... i mean, my faux-leather purses! anywho... luckily, i came across a few affordable choices at Forever 21, asos.com, and Nordstrom! {see below} i really love the chained purses, which give them an extra little kick aesthetically. 

RIGHT NOW

i'm always drawn to cross-body bags. i have tried to stay away from them, but for some reason, i just can't. the majority of my purses are cross-body, and i think it's just due to their extreme conveniency {and no, that's not a word}. they're almost never too bulky, i rarely get tired of carrying one, and you always have two free hands. the following are a few that i'm obsessing over right now... i just wish i could afford one :(

Coach chelsea leather flap - $298

Coach kristin leather crossbody - $158

Marc Jacobs classic Q percy bag - $198

PURE LUSH

on a recent trip to toronto, i discovered UK based cosmetic company, lush. perhaps you already know about the brand, but this was my first time hearing of it, even though their stores are pretty widespread throughout the US. upon entering a store, you become overwhelmed by the scents of their fresh handmade products, many of which look good enough to eat. i love how the company works to be ethical and environmentally friendly, while providing their customers with quality products and service. when i went in, the sales people were very friendly and didn't pressure me to buy anything. i'm tempted to go back to one of their stores and try out more of their products. they are a bit pricey, but i think some are still within reasonable price range for the quality they offer. below are a few i found interesting and a few i want for myself:

dirty toothy tabs (solid toothpaste) - $4 for 0.3oz

ocean salt facial cleanser - $19 for 4.2oz

h'suan wen hua hair moisturizer - $19 for 7.9oz

sexy peal soap - $6 for 3.5oz

LIGHTEN UP

i've been looking around all year for a pair of affordable cream/white/tan colored jeans/pants that fit me well, but alas, without any luck. light colored pants are perfect to lighten up outfits with those dark colored tops during the summer. while online shopping, i found a few, but only those which were out of my college-student price-range, or ones that didn't fit well when i tried them on. quite tragic. 


and, while i love clothes, i refuse to spend more than $30 on a pair of jeans. yes, quality is always good, but sometimes it's nice to have an excuse to change it up a little. and, if you take care of your cheap forever 21 and h&m pieces, some actually have potential to last far longer than their price tags suggest {although this is greatly dependent on the fabric used, ie: cotton blends - good, rayon/polyester/etc. - bad}.


anyone know where to find a pair?

Banana Republic Heritage Natural Skinny Jean - $98

J.Crew Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jean - $98

Gap 1969 Legging Jean - $40

Forever 21 Belted Twill Pants - $23

TEES & TREES

summer is the perfect time for shopping and spending time outdoors. i love combining nature with man-made creations. after a long walk in the local arboretum, i decided to pick out a few of my favorite t-shirts from two of my favorite stores. simplicity with a little extra detail is always something i look for in any piece i own, and what i find so beautiful about nature itself.

J.Crew Ledger Strip Tee 

Gap Raw Cut T

Gap Flutter Sleeve Crewneck T

SUMMER TRAVELS

weekends in the summer are always great for traveling. a quick escape is sometimes just what you need from the dreariness of routine; short and sweet are exactly what weekends should be. so, to help us get away from it all, i found some cute weekender bags that can not only be used for short trips such as these, but also during those monotonous times, which we call the weekdays :(

Kate Sheridan Pocket Tote - $232.73

Love Moschino Beige & Gold Charming Jewel Print Bag - $232.73

ASOS Trim Canvas Shopper/Across Body Bag - $60.34

KEEPING IT

piperlime offers a great selection of shoes, clothes, and accessories, including the occasional size-4 shoe for my hard-to-fit feet. thus, every time i come across a pair of absolutely irresistible shoes in my size, i cannot not buy them. in this case, i ordered these Calvin Klein "Whinnie Fish Skin" pumps, with the intention of solely trying them on, only to find that i cannot return them. these shoes and i have established far too strong of an attachment to each other that i cannot let them go. 

www.piperlime.com - $108 - sale $74.99

and so it is, and so it will be, that i will keep them. 

p.s. i hate to add competition to finding the limited amount of small shoes out there, but other great resources for size-4 shoes are nordstrom.com and emylooshoes.com.