Christmas is ultimately my favorite holiday of the year. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, I begin my holiday shopping. I love buying presents and laying them underneath the tree. Since Dillon and I moved in together, this holiday season is the first time we have our own (fake) tree and get to decorate the house ourselves. Usually, my family and I will get together and exchange gifts on the night of Christmas Eve then head to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York for Mass on Christmas Day. The holidays always get me in a festive and happy mood. If only it could last all year long!
I keep saying this but I really keep overextending my hiatuses. At this point, you will just have to expect less posts as I am no longer the frequent blogger I once was in college but I do not plan on leaving this blog anytime soon. So much has happened over these past couple of months which includes settling into my new job, moving into our (my fiance and I) apartment, learning how to cook, and getting a new car. Now I officially feel like an adult, although I still have to call up my parents now and then for some advise and tips.
The holidays always make me feel so jolly and I wish it would never end. Dillon and I spent a long weekend in Savannah for a mini-holiday vacation. It was chillier than expected in Savannah but we still made the most of it! We are back home now and we plan to spend our first Christmas at our apartment.
I made it to Spain! My mother and I went for a week and a half trip to Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, and Montserrat. It was everything we expected it to be and more. So here I am posing in in Park Guell, one of the most famous attractions in Barcelona. I brought this romper with me because it is easy to pack, a once-piece that I do not have to worry about matching with, breathable with the warm weather, and can be worn during the day or night. It is simple but elegant, and sometimes make me feel like a ballerina in it for some odd reason which makes me like it even more.
EXPRESS BLACK CHIFFON ROMPER
Photography by my mother.
While in Madrid, my mother and I decided to stop by the Ritz Carlton hotel because as they say, you only live once! It was the perfect break in the late afternoon after a morning of playing tourist. The top you see is a recent purchase while I was there because I needed more white tops. It is so hard to maintain them though as I tend to be clumsy when eating. The skirt is something I have had for a while and is once of my favorites no matter what season except for winter. You can't go wrong with breezy outfits like this one while traveling. They are stylish yet still practical when you spend a whole day walking around the city.
BERSKA CROPPED BUTTON-UP BLOUSE
LIVING DOLL LA PRINTED CHIFFON SKIRT
COACH CROSSBODY LEATHER BAG
H&M BAR NECKLACE
Photography by my mother.
I hope everyone had a nice father's day weekend and thank you for the comments in my last post. For the past couple of weeks, my style has remained very casual. I have been spending my weeks mainly at home ever since I came back from Spain to avoid spending money while I am waiting for my license to come in. Although this outfit is a casual one, I still try to a few trendy details here and there. I like this top because of the color-blocking and over-sized fit. My default always leans toward white, grey, and black but during the summer I do add more color.
ROMWE TOP
COACH VINTAGE BAG
FOREVER 21 SKIRT
PAYLESS SLIP-ONS
Photography by Dillon Lee.
Often times, we get so caught up with our lives and busy scheduled that we forget to take a break. Living in the NJ/NY area can especially get to you because people are always rushing to get things done. It is nice to give yourself a breather and reflect on all your accomplishments. For me, I am currently taking a break after completing graduate school. In a way, I am also kind of forced into taking a break because I must wait for my license to process before I can begin practicing. Therefore, I am enjoying funemployment for about a month. Taking a break does not need to be as long as mine because, depending on your situation, most often your job might not be able to give you that long of a break let alone a week. Therefore, give yourself just a long weekend. Anything to break up that 9-5, five days a week schedule.
Here are some tips to think about:
We all know how attached we become to our phones because it can keep us occupied for hours and hours without actually doing something productive. Just take one day to free yourself from social media, game addictions, and texting. Find something to do that does not involve looking at the screen such as spending time with family, crocheting a scarf, or taking a walk on the beach.
After being a student for 20 years, you get used to the summer breaks but before you know it, you have to officially begin working like a real adult. So make good use of that last summer of fun. It is the longest break you may ever get again.
You have kept yourself busy and worked hard to get to wear you are now. Even if your still trying to reach you goal, every step of the way counts. None of your efforts are a waste because we learn from experiences.
When we finally have time to ourselves, sometimes we start to think about the negatives. We wonder what our lives could have been if we went on a different path. We worry about relationships and bring on our insecurities. When you are taking a break, none of these things matter because it is about rewarding yourself.
Honestly, I believe traveling is one of the best ways to open you horizons and have experiences you can't get at home. Whether you prefer to travel domestically or internationally, just go somewhere you have not been before.
A hobby does not have to be serious. It can be anything you like to do; drawing, trying new foods, organizing, solving puzzles, etc. Nobody is judging so even it is not exactly something productive, as long as you enjoy it, you should go for it!
I often believe that by taking only five minutes of your day to focus on your breathing and not thinking about anything at all, can help ease the tension and stress. If you are religious, you can take this time to pray as well.
Hello, I found these unpublished photos from when I still lived in my old home. These were taken in the fall but now that summer is coming, it reminds me of the cool evenings as the sun goes down. Usually, around this time of day, we all just want to unwind and relax especially towards the middle or end of the week. I think it is also the perfect time to go for a walk, take a break from all the electronics, and just enjoy the nice breeze. This is the perfect outfit for that because it is comfortable and laid back, yet the leather jacket roughens it up a bit in case you need to run to the store and to keep warm as the temperature cools down.
ZARA HOUNDSTOOTH PATTERNED SUNGLASSES
ADIDAS NEO LABEL LEATHER JACKET
UNBRANDED LDN SHIRT
LOFT BLACK LEGGINGS
AIRWALK RED SNEAKERS
Photography by Dillon Lee.
I really thought I posted this look already but just realized it was sitting in my drafts the whole time! I apologize for a late post. This month has been amazing and I am proud to say I am officially a doctor! My graduation was just this week and I honestly still can not believe it. I have to wait for my diploma to come in because it is not ready yet but it will be coming in the mail. I have been itching to wear these striped pants again, but could not find the appropriate time to wear them. The weather is finally getting warmer although today is terrible outside. Tank tops are finally back in season so I paired this particular one with the pants. I also decided to wear these Nasty Gal ankle boots to complete the look. I can not believe Sophia let go of Nasty Gal as that is what made her successful but I guess it was time for her. I just finished watching Girl Boss on Netflix and I honestly love it.
I have the next month off until I can begin working so I booked a trip with my mom to Spain! I am so excited because I have never been there. It has been on my list of places to visit. If you have any suggestions, please let me know and follow me on @themeldivision or @thetravelchasers for updates.
H&M SILVER BAR NECKLACE
ROMWE BLACK LACE TOP (similar) (C/O)
ZAFUL STRIPED PANTS (similar)
NASTYGAL ANKLE BOOTS
Photography by Dillon Lee.
Hello, and welcome to the month of April! It really has been a while. Just yesterday I went to watch Anastasia on Broadway and it was amazing! Slightly different from the animated film but still spectacular and everyone had such beautiful voices. I thought I would throw it back and recycle some of my looks. This is a look I captured a few years ago but never posted. Looking back at it now, I still quite like it and will need to put it to use again. I think I may use this year to recycle as much as I can. I have big plans coming in the near future so I need to budget as much as I can. What do you guys think?
I love how bright this blazer is. I do not wear it as often as I like because of that reason but when I am feeling bold, I like to take it out. Despite being a fan of style and fashion, I sometimes still feel conscious of what I wear. Wearing something out of the norm draws attention, but at the same time can allow an individual to express their differences. I paired it with one of my favorite maxi skirts. As of right now, it is still quite cold to wear just this outfit alone. I anxiously wait for warmer weather to arrive.
MART OF CHINA BLAZER
VINTAGE STRIPED TOP
MINK PINK MOZAMBIQUE MAXI SKIRT
3.1 PHILIP LIM CROSS BODY BAG
Photography by me.
Last week, I attended fashion week in New York and had some bonding time with my sister. It has been more than or approximately two years since I last attended because my full-time graduate school/career took over, thus I had to focus on priorities. Despite it still being the beginning of the year, I had a little more time for myself so I took the opportunity to go. The last time I attended, most of the shows were at Lincoln Center. Now that Mercedes Benz no longer sponsors NYFW, the shows are all over the place. The ones I attended were at the Angel Orensanz Center. It was fun and I was glad I went because who knows when might be the next time I will be able to attend. It is a privilege to be invited.
I have not shared much of my winter wear because I am always stuck on summer mode, especially since I went to the Philippines over this past New Years and Christmas. However, I will share with you this look which is pretty much my go-to casual wear. If you know me, I usually do not wear denim but this is seriously my favorite pair even though it is from Hollister. They are very comfortable and fit me well. I have such a difficult time findings jeans that I like to put on. I would rather wear a pair of leggings but these jeans were a score for me. I wore this on a Sunday date with my family in the city. Where do you girls shop for denims?
By the way, I am sad to say this but Nastygal is officially closing its stores and website because they are going bankrupt so don't forget to check out their website before everything is gone! There are only a few pieces left and everything is 70% off at check out. That is where I purchased the boots I am wearing.
UNIQLO OLIVE JACKET
ZARA KNIT SWEATER
HOLLISTER DENIMS
NASTYGAL SUEDE BOOTS
Photography by my father and sister.
Hello again and happy new year! It never ceases to amaze me how slow each day passes and yet how quick every year flies back. I am always thanksful to have started the year off strong by traveling to a fun place and bringing in the new year there. This past new year, if you follow my Instagram, I was in the Philippines and it is honestly one of my best travel experiences yet. The year 2016 opened up many opportunities and brought happy moments. Therefore, I hope to accomplish many things this year. I would like to start it off by getting myself to post at least once a month here. Being active in the blogosphere became tough last year due to starting a full time job but I hope to find some time again. How are you starting of your new year? I would love to hear your stories.
Photography by Dillon Lee.
Powered by Blogger.