see ya soon

It's been a little quiet around here lately! I'll keep it short and sweet and just update you guys on what's been happening behind the scenes.

Honestly, I just don't have the time nor passion for blogging as I used to anymore. I can't get myself to visit my favorite blogs, or leave comments to my readers, and it's not anything that's been getting me down. On the contrary, I've been happily busy with work and school starting, and there are so many new experiences I've had in the real world!


But, I do still enjoy writing and interacting with everyone, it would be such a shame to just disappear and lose all that. So I'm currently in the process of figuring out some way to continue blogging, but not have it take up so much time or energy.

The problem there is obviously that I still need to create quality content that's engaging and insightful, not just lists about what I've been doing, or simple outfit photos.

If you have any tips or ideas, feel free to comment! I hope everyone in the community has been well - maybe you've found a great pink wall or a new restaurant with perfect decor (;

See you in a bit!

xx
Angelina

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you wanna be on top? + zaful review

Yes, I just ripped off the America's Next Top Model theme song. But it's almost all I've been watching the last few weeks - why are the bad shows so addicting?

While my IQ hasn't increased from hours of TyTy tips and "tooching", an upside is how inspired I've felt. Seeing all the different shoots and challenges the models go through has helped me come up with ideas for my own shoots, which I've been slacking off on for the longest time.

Slowing down
Photography is something I've been doing for a long time, but I never had as many real accomplishments as I'd hoped for. While I did make a good amount of revenue with it as a side business, my end game is working with clothing companies, established models, and growing my Instagram following.

It's slowly happening; I'm putting ads back up on Craigslist to meet up with people, posting regularly on my Instagram, and jotting down editorial ideas when they come to mind.

I do want to be on top, and I'm gonna make it happen.

Hopefully my determination lasts a little longer than usual (~1 day)!

Zaful review
Thank you to the Zaful team for sending me this lovely, dreamy, red dress.I’d been eyeing something similar to this from Free People, but couldn’t justify the price - story of my life.

Shipping time was average, it arrived in about 2 weeks of placing my order. I’d also chosen a floral, ruffled dress, but unfortunately, this one was much too sheer to wear as anything other than a coverup, and was not my size either. I always recommend checking the size chart when ordering from Asian retailers especially, but items that aren’t adjustable can be difficult.

Quality was better than expected, the dress wasn’t sheer and seams were finished well. Now I just need an event to wear it to!

What do you want to be "on top" for? How do you keep yourself inspired? Guilty TV show pleasures?

xx
Angelina

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the best part about being alone

Spiders. Clowns. Serial killers. None of those scared me as much as being alone. It’s a touch ironic, as I am an only child, so much of my time is unavoidably spent alone.

The roots of being alone
But that’s not the kind of alone I’d go to great lengths to avoid. It’s the alone at lunch, alone when the teacher says “Pair up!”, the alone of being the 3rd person on the sidewalk.

When I was younger, I’d “settle” for people I didn’t genuinely like, just to avoid being seen as a loner, someone who was incapable of making friends.

Why was this instinct so conditioned into me? Why did being seen alone by my peers sound like such a cruel and unusual punishment? I still can’t figure it out, that hasn’t changed.

What has changed, are my feelings about doing things on my own, and being seen alone. I enjoy it more, and it’s something I look forward to after a grueling, long week.

When else am I going to be able to stop and smell the roses? To stop and appreciate the view for just the right amount of time? To sit in my room, in a comfy shirt and no bra?

Wearing: Forever 21 Tan Top (similar), PacSun Bullhead Denim boyfriend jeans (similar), Vans Classic Slipons, Nordstrom Rack stone bracelet (similar)

The benefits
Actually, I digress. The things I look forward to doing on my own are entirely possible to do with someone as well. The right person and not just anyone, of course. It’s just something I haven’t found the perfect fit for yet, in our society that is always looking to the next 6 seconds, the next photo, eternally scrolling.

The other day, I had an itch to do something. None of the usual suspects were available, so I decided to go ahead at it alone. And I enjoyed myself, maybe even more so than if I had someone with me.

When you’re alone, all the little things pop out. It’s like someone’s turned up with clarity, the saturation, the brightness. You watch strangers, and mark out small quirks, spinning out a story. You can turn inward, and reflect on happenings. There’s no need to fill space with conversation.

It's something we should all try at one point. So this week, grab a bite to eat alone, and don't stay glued to your phone the whole meal. Sit at the park with a book and a drink. Or for the more daring, see a movie by yourself.

See where it takes you!

Do you like being alone or with others more? What's the best thing to do alone? With someone else?

xx
Angelina

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12 gratitudes with sammydress

July has been really, really good so far. Not sure whether I've been cashing out my good karma, or something about my horoscope, but it's just been one great thing after the other!

I thought I'd repay the universe by sharing what those have been:

1 | I spent a lovely day in San Francisco with some friends I hadn't seen in a while. We found an adorable, although expensive, coffee shop to sit in for a while.

2 | Read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Cried a lot. Watched the movie. Cried even more.

3 | Halfway to hitting my goal of clearing out 80% of my closet. Sold a couple of bundles to some sweet girls!

4 | Scored very well on an Art History exam - validating the hundreds of flashcards I made.

Wearing: V Neck Floral Maxi Dress c/o Sammydress, Converse High Tops in Optic White

5 | Finally received my license! My examiner was the kindest and most understanding person; we chatted the whole time about dogs, and she really calmed me down.

6 | Stumbled upon some really cute clothes on sale - snagged them immediately of course!

7 | Was able to find $10 parking for Carmen at the SF Opera. Ended up being late though, and had to stand in the back for the first two acts - 85 minutes in heels!

9 | Found a local ceramics class for affordable classes, planning on making some cute vases!

10 | Started listening to podcasts while at the gym, especially Serial and 99% Invisible.

11 | Took advantage of Spotify's $.99 Premium trial. No regrets and no scary commercials to startle me while I'm showering!

12 | Am still interacting and talking with lovely people through the blog <3

Sammydress Review
I've already worked with Sammydress in the past, but this time, the quality of the clothing seemed better! It fits as pictured on the model, and though the seams weren't perfect, they don't seem in danger of falling apart either. The fit and shape remind me of something from Revolve.

Shipping as usual, is a bit slow, but the items arrived in decent shape. The website is easy to navigate, though the wide variety of images can create a bit of an illegitimate feel.

Customer service was manageable, sometimes a bit difficult to explain throughly.

Until next time (with a break from sponsored material ;))

What's been good in your life lately? How do you feel about sponsored content? What's your favorite brand to work with/in general?

xx
Angelina

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"the purge" + dezzal review

It's July - isn't that crazy? It seems like January was just yesterday, something I've heard many bloggers relate to. We're more than halfway through 2016, and it's time to clean out anything unnecessary.

This morning, I was clearing out all my inboxes (I'm not the only one who has 4 emails right?), and came across this article by The Cut. Like everyone else on the internet, I'd heard lots about the KonMari method, and tried it out a bit. It was about as much work as it sounds like, and didn't work for me.

This article, on the other hand, was the direct opposite of what the KonMari method is based off of. It's worth a read - short, but funny - but basically, you use adrenaline and rage to clean everything out. I dialed back on the rage a bit, though the quick burst of cleaning was more suited to my personality and work habits.

Yelling "Purge or be purged" at your roommates sounds pretty fun though.

Wearing: Reelop Shoulder Cutout Maxi Dress c/o Dezzal, Converse High Tops in Optic White

Some things I got rid of:

Clothes So, so, so many clothes. With half the year over, it's easier to point out things I haven't worn enough this year, if at all, and let them go to a new home. I find it harder to do in the beginning of the year, because then the excuse of "maybe I'll wear it this year" pops up. I regularly rotate my closet though, so it's much easier for me to get rid of things than most people. Plus, I need the money to shop more ;-)

Books I don't read, especially textbooks or anything school related. Those are expensive, and I'm sure they'd do someone else much better. On a related note, any school papers from the past years too! I always like to reuse them if they're blank on one side.

Beauty samples. My whole countertop is full of beauty samples, and I can't keep up with them every month! You could give them away to friends, use them as freebies if you sell clothes/handmade things, or sell them at a discount if they're unused.

Receipts/train tickets/brochures/papers in general. I was cleaning out my closet, and found a receipt for a top I'd already sold from 2 years ago! The ink was already faded and there was no way I would be returning the top, so obviously I tossed it. I like saving some travel mementos, but those go in an organized journal instead!

People that don't make me feel good about myself. Jim Rohn knows what he's talking about when he says, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with". If they don't make you feel happy and energized, why bother hanging out with them? It's easier said than done, and I'm still in the process of figuring things out myself, but distancing myself is helpful for my mood and self-esteem.


Dezzal Review
Thank you to the Dezzal team for sending me clothes to review! They had a great selection, and the clothes seemed a lot more wearable than some Asian websites.

I liked how easy the website is to navigate, and the photos were higher quality as well. The package arrived in 8 days, and each item was in an individual sealed package.

However, I found the quality of the clothes to be incongruous with the price range. This dress was quite voluminous, and I altered it to decrease the amount of fabric (so I didn't look like a cross between a giant carrot and the Russian lady in the Nutcracker). The pleating as well as some of the stitches on the inside were uneven, and the fabric was much too heavy to move around comfortably.

It does make for great photos though - which can be deceiving!

xx
Angelina

p.s. happy Fourth!

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what's in a name?

That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet.

For a long time, I had trouble really taking this to heart.

My name was the first thing people noticed about me, the strangeness, how foreign it sounded. They couldn't figure out my gender based solely on it, and when teachers would take roll, frequently they'd call me by my last name.

It made me uncomfortable, to say the least. In middle school, I handed out little slips on the first day of school, saying, "Hello, my legal name is Zhiyi, but I go by Angelina. Thanks!"

I followed these with additional slips the next class, as a reminder: "In case you forgot, Zhiyi goes by Angelina". I was very thorough in making sure my classmates would never find out my Chinese name, because they would undoubtedly ask me about it.

I slipped up, and "Zucchini" became a popular nickname that year.

Wearing: J Crew striped silk tee (similar), Lush envelope soft pant (similar), Sam Edelman Felicia flats

Most people curiously ask how to pronounce it, and I simply tell them, "It's Angelina". I had this one teacher who would not let it go however, and interrogated me in front of the class. I was absolutely mortified, and I just wanted to sink into a puddle where no one would notice me.

It isn't that I'm ashamed of my heritage. It's just rare that anyone is able to pronounce it correctly, including other Asian people.

I was afraid, and sometimes still am, that what's on the surface will be the only thing people notice about me. I feel as though it will create a divide between myself and my peers, and emphasize the differences. Differences and diversity, of course, is a good thing, but it can also scare some people.

I'm someone who can't survive without friends, but simultaneously, it can be hard for me to initiate things.

Photography by Serina

It's all part of an ongoing struggle on my identity. I'm not a Chinese person from China, nor an American who grew up here. I'm Chinese-American. And I'm still figuring out what that means to me.

Do you have an "unusual" name? Have you ever felt like an outsider because of your heritage? How do you feel about your ethnicity?

xx

Angelina

In response to "Woes of Having an Unusual Name" by Noor Unnahar.

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p.s. - I'm currently traveling for spring break, and will be back in mid April. See you then! (:

quality or quantity?

Is it quantity or quality that matters more? It should be a straightforward question, with a generally accepted answer of "quality", but I don't believe it's so black and white.

Rooted in art
While I've been drawing and painting since I was younger, my progress has arguably been slower than many of my peers. Not that it's a competition, as art in and of itself is very subjective, but for most of my artistic endeavors, I would be considered a painter, or a drawer, rather than an artist.

I wanted to be able to depict reality as I saw it. The shades of the apples must be exactly so, the figure's hands should be as they seem, the bark on the trees is too uniform. I focused solely on the techniques, and creating grand masterpieces every time I pulled out my pencil. If it didn't work out with a few strokes, I abandoned it.

Wearing: Sanctuary Co leather jacket (similar), Lush white peasant top (similar), Bullhead high rise skinniest jeans, Sam Edelman Felicia black flats, Kimchi Blue allover lace scalloped bralette

Do it for the process
When others had already progressed from rudimentary portraits with barely shaded eyes and piano teeth, I was still refining that one eyelash. I went for quality over quantity, but it didn't help me improve. I stayed where I was, and my fear of creating something "low quality" kept me from trying new styles or seeing things differently.

Over time, I used my sketchbook as a tool instead, and stopped seeing things as "failures" if they didn't work out. I did it for the process, rather than the outcome.

How I've changed
In life, doing it for the process is a mindset that's vastly improved my mood and outlook. I value the process more so than the outcome, especially if things don't go according to plan. Memories of ended relationships are kept close for how they made me feel and what I learned from them, botched projects for what to work on in the future, "wasted" hours for taking a break or letting the line slacken for once.

Maybe quality and quantity both play an equal part in things. Quality should trump quantity, but without the latter, the former is difficult to obtain.

What do you think? Is there anything you'd consider black and white? Where did you go "wrong" that ended up being better in the end?

xx
Angelina

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photography by Serina

5 accessories to complete an outfit

Me a few months ago would've scoffed at the idea of paying more than $10 for accessories. I considered them "add ons" to the main ensemble, and would rather drop $50 for a basic tee, than $20 for a pair of studs.

But I stand corrected. The little things really do make a difference, so here are 5 accessories that can elevate your look instantly.

Pearl earrings

Nordstrom BP. faux pearl stud earrings

They may seem a bit antiquated, but that's the best part. With things that have such strong associations, it's easy to upend the typical ideas attached to them, and create something of your own. Overalls are no longer reserved for farmers, and sneakers are regularly paired with dresses.

Why delegate pearl studs to special events only?

Statement bag

Sammydress french bulldog bag*

More often than not, I wake up behind schedule and can't figure out what to wear. I give up, and throw on a simple top and jeans, which is easily given more interest with a statement bag.

'Statement' can mean different things to different people - it could be a unique cut, color, detail. Whatever floats your boat!

I picked an animal bag from Sammydress, because dogs are the sweetest. The prices are quite low, and the quality isn't too bad for what you pay. Shipping took a while, and the tracking isn't always accurate, so order ahead of time. The bag itself is made of decent material, a bit plastic-y, but it seems like it'll hold up. When I received it, there was some fraying on the zippers, so light use would be best here.

Mixed earrings

Nordstrom BP. 'Charm' earrings

My favorite thing to do with earring packs, especially studs, is to mix them together. I'm always losing single pairs, so this works out well for me too!

You can even do it by accident, and people will assume you're on top of the trends.

Eye-catching necklace

Nordstrom BP. stone choker (similar, more similar)

Undoubtedly, my favorite necklace of all time. It's a conversation piece, without being too in your face. It slips on easily with a slightly bendy wire "chain", and it's held up well so far.

I like to wear it with tops that show off my collarbone.

Layering necklace

Sammydress circle lariat necklace*

With bright or busy outfits, a simple chain necklace can be the best compliment. A lariat necklace is adjustable to all lengths, so it works perfectly with any neckline.

The quality of this one is beyond what I expected for the price. It's similar to more expensive brands, and would be great if you were looking to try out a trend.

What are your essentials for adding interest to your outfit? Which one was your favorite? Do you have a signature item, scent, or look?

xx

Angelina

p.s. I still have a giveaway for a pair of Polette sunglasses going on! Check it out here. All you need to do is answer my reader survey!