A Glimpse of Glam

Hey everyone!

It’s definitely been quite awhile since I’ve last posted. And I have the best excuse as to why I’ve been gone for so long. I’m currently in Rome. As in Rome, Italy. As in Europe. I still cannot believe it. It’s honestly been a dream come true to be here.

The past month and a half I’ve been residing in Rome, studying abroad through University of Washington and living in the center of the city. I arrived in Italy full of wonder and excitement for the months to come that I would be here for. Back in the early spring, I applied for this study abroad opportunity in hopes of flourishing my skills as an artist in the city that holds much of the world’s most famed works of art. The rich culture and history of the city that I’ve experienced thus far has continued to enlighten me, helping me grow not only as an artist, but also as a person. Three months living here and then back home to Seattle I will go. I’ve already hit the halfway mark, as I just finished up my midterms. In a blink of an eye I will be back home, and it’s crazy to think that.


As part of our program, we are required to take the Italian language class. This has helped me tremendously to learn some key phrases and words that allow me to get through the day without feeling like I’m incredibly lost. Back in middle school and high school I spent years learning French, and knowing another language of similar origin also came in very handy when learning Italian. My fellow friends and classmates who knew French or Spanish also found it way easier to pick up Italian. One of my friends, however, found it incredibly difficult to learn because he learned sign language for his language course requirements, and without that Latin based language background it was harder to understand the rules and rhythms of the language. It’s been so fun taking on another language, and I never thought I would have the opportunity to pick up another language. I’ve learned so much Italian in such a short time, and the biggest reason is because I’ve literally been immersed in all things Italian.

One of my favorite trompe l'oeil works in the Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di loyola

Each and everyday that I’ve been here has been an adventure. Whether it was trying to find that one art store that has the copper sheets I wanted for my art project, or it was rushing through museum after museum for class, or getting lost in a huge park that seemed to never end. For the study abroad program, we have five days of the week scheduled with many activities, more to do than I would on a typical day at university back home. Here on the other hand, we’ve had so much to do that it’s gotten to the point where my classmates and I feel eternally exhausted yet continuously captivated by what the city has to offer. There is so much to see and do in such little time.


After having spent some time here, I am now neither a tourist nor a local. I reside in the Campo de’ Fiori with six of my fellow classmates, now friends. Literally living in such an iconic piazza. Nights are filled with laugher and music and good food. There’s never a dull moment. Or at least that I have experienced thus far. I do admit that life has not been all rainbows and unicorns. Each of us in our program have gone through our moments of depression and exhaustion and anger and frustration. I’ve certainly gotten quite annoyed at many and all things quite a number of times. It’s frustrating to live with six other people, spending every day in such close proximity to all my other classmates and my professor. It’s a learning experience. There have been days when I’ve wanted to just sit in Tiber Island facing the calm rush of the water, and get away from everyone. I’ve certainly gotten homesick for the food back home, and wished there was a Trader Joe’s to shop at here in Rome. I hate how there isn’t an Ulta here or a Target. I get annoyed when people walk too slow, or when the pigeons can’t leave me alone. But, those small bits and pieces are things that I know I will remember and miss when I return home. I don’t ignore those bad days and those mood swings, I integrate them into my experience of Rome as a whole. Those ups and downs are what makes my time in Rome different and special and unique and mine.

I love walking by buildings and seeing the really interesting doors. Every building I pass by has such aesthetically pleasing architecture.

Looking through the fence down into the basilica of Saint Peter from up high in the dome

So far, we’ve visited a few other cities and towns outside of Rome as well. This has given me a better view of Italy, and of Europe. Prior to this, I’ve never been to Europe before. At all. The fact that I have three months to learn and live in this city is such a dream come true. It allows me to see more of the city beyond what one would see as just a tourist. Three months is not enough to fully learn a city inside and out, but it’s enough time to dip our feet into the water and get a vague understanding of how it is being in the city.

The one downside to this is the lack of stable wifi I’ve had. My apartment has wifi, but I can only get good signal in the kitchen and living room area, whereas my bedroom has such weak wifi I can barely use Snapchat or Instagram. At the Rome Center for my school, the wifi logs us out in hour intervals. I also have had such a busy schedule that I haven’t gotten a moment to really sit and relax and blog. I’ve certainly missed out on a lot in the blogging world in the past month and half, but I’ve also experienced so much in my time abroad thus far that I anticipate to share.

My apologies for being so absent from the blogging world. I really will try to keep you guys updated, and continue to share more of my experiences as I go. I know that I can post about it when I return, but that’s not the most fun, because I would be recounting my travels afterwards when they’ve had time to sink in. Whereas sharing as I go would allow me to look back and see how my perspective’s changed over time. It’s difficult to find the time to actually sit and blog, but I will try to when I can. I do try to post on my Instagram Story the highlights of my day, whether it be the food I eat (as most Instagrammers love to do), or the weird activities my classmates and I do throughout our days. Don’t hesitate to follow me on Instagram and reach out to me if you happen to be in the Rome area!

To all of you out there who have continued to stop by here despite my lack of updates, thank you for your patience! I really appreciate all your support, and I am definitely looking forward to posting more about my time in Rome.

Lemme know in the comments below if you have ever traveled to Rome before! Or if you are from Italy, comment down below! If you haven't been to Rome before, where would you want to visit?

Thanks for stopping by and reading! I wish you all have a lovely day!

Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

Everybody knows that dogs are great companions to have around. I mean, there’s a reason why dogs are known as the most loyal friend ever. A dog would never betray you, or go behind your back. Not only are dogs the perfect best friend you could ever ask for, but also they can help and benefit your life in other ways as well.

Unfortunately for me, I don’t have a dog. Or any pet for that matter. I only got some plants, namely my aloe vera plant I’ve dubbed Bella. I’m thinking of getting a mint plant to grow too, and maybe even a eucalyptus plant too just because.

But that’s all besides the point.

I may not personally have a dog, but I can definitely speak for how beneficial they can be for our overall health.

I remember one day I was feeling quite down. I was in the worst mood ever, and I can’t recall exactly why, but it was just one of those days where I literally felt like crap. Every bad thing from weeks prior accumulated, and weighed me down with a heavy pit in my stomach. I didn’t want to talk to my friends because I knew that my bad mood would mean a lack of filter in what I say. However, out of the blue, one of my friends sent me a photo of his puppy, Snickers, and it literally made me feel ten times better. Keep in mind, I didn’t actually tell my friends I was feeling like crap that day. I led them to think I was busy. Although I do wonder if they could sense my bad mood through the very vague short phrases I sent in response to their messages that day. Regardless, that one photo of my friend’s overwhelmingly adorable puppy did manage to cheer me up.

My friend's insanely cute Instagram-worthy puppy Snickers. I am so obsessed with Snickers its borderline crazy.

Just look at Snickers' face!! How can you not love him? I wish he were mine.

But here’s the thing. It wasn’t just Snickers’ adorable face that cheered me up. It wasn’t simply because of appearances. No. Rather, the sight of such a pure, joyful face is what helped to bring me out of that crap mood just a bit. A face that’s full of innocence and joy, caught up in the moment and not dragged down by life’s ups and downs. A puppy who clearly lives in the moment, and ready to see the world for its beauty and charm, rather than the scratches and dents we ourselves tend to focus on.

You might argue that a baby could provide that same happiness too. Which is true. To some extent. When I see an innocent, adorable baby sure that may warm my heart a bit. But then I start to view that untarnished, pure soul in a vaguely maternal perspective. The thought of that kid growing up in the world we now live in starts to drag me down yet again. In a way, I start to view that baby as if he/she is the younger version of myself, and all of that drives my mind to run wild with crazy thoughts that brings back the crap mood. Can any of you guys relate to that?

On the contrary, it differs when I see a dog. Dogs can truly improve our health in more ways that I would have thought. In honor of National Dog Day coming up this Saturday, I wanted to share with you all the benefits of having a dog.


I was kinda able to put two and two together and understand how dogs can benefit our physical health in terms of exercise. Dogs obviously need to be walked, and having a dog in your life requires you to be more active than simply a life as a couch potato engaged in a demanding relationship with Netflix. Having a dog forces you to get up, and move your limbs more than reaching into that bowl of popcorn.

Of course, you can say you have a FitBit and a workout buddy to keep you on track. But honestly, how many times have you called and canceled on your workout buddy? How many times have you dragged your lazy ass out of bed to go to the gym, and painfully went through those repetitive movements praying for the workout to be over with? Everyone knows that the gym CANNOT compare to real life exercise. I’m talking about moving your body with exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise. That’s something having a dog could provide.

However, I wouldn’t have thought of how beneficial dogs are for our mental health. Until I reflected on my own experiences, that wouldn’t have been my first thought. Dogs are known as man’s best friend (and woman’s because we are living in the 21st century and equality is a thing) for a reason. I mean, you can probably argue that if you got a human best friend you can confide in them all your life’s troubles. Sure. But, it’s entirely different when you have a dog. That simplicity in affection and unconditional love from dogs are never put to question, unlike what could be said in terms of human best friends. Just read my post on Toxic Friends. That would never have happened if it were a puppy best friend.

I also remember reading somewhere before that dogs are used when helping those with autism and social behavioral disorders. (Disorders? Issues? Problems? I have no idea what the correct term is so apologies if that’s the wrong choice of word, don’t get offended) Dogs can bring people out of their shells, and provide a means of social interaction in a more wholesome way.

Something that I also didn’t know of was how dogs could be trained to do so much more. Dogs have the ability to gain many skills, such as detecting allergens in foods, or identifying when one is experiencing a seizure, and other crazy things that make me wonder if dogs are actually the superior species.

My friend Monique with her adorable puppy Kai. Kai loved the water at first and wanted to get in, but then got super freaked out after actually getting into the pool we filled up one hot summer day.

We often look down on dogs, and do not give them as much credit as they deserve. Dogs aren’t usually seen as the smartest or brightest, but honestly I think we just aren’t as aware of their capabilities. We are just narcissists living in a human-centered world, unaware of the ongoings of other species around us. Harsh, but true.

I thought I'd share with you all a few videos of my friend Monique's adorable dogs, Kai and Kahlua. I am especially obsessed with Kai, because he's still a small little puppy who loves kisses, cuddles, and attention. Every single time I hangout with Monique, I love visiting Kai and Kahlua as well. Their energy just fills the room with a positive vibe. There are times when my friends and I get together, and we start having intense, emotional conversations to catch up on everything that had happened in our lives. Having the dogs around definitely help to lighten the mood when we get emotional.

They are also super fun to have around in general. This past Fourth of July, we got together at one of my friend's backyard and filled up a little kiddie pool with warm water and added a bath bomb. Yes, I know. We used a bath bomb outdoors in a kiddie pool under the hot sun. We are weird, it's an established fact. Anyways, her dog Kai ran over to join us, and kept vacillating between wanting to get into the water with us and making an escape for dry land. It was so adorable and hilarious.

The fact that my close friends have dogs makes me like them more. Yeah I only stay friends with them for their dogs. Sorry, the truth is out guys! Haha just kidding.

The videos I've added in were from Snapchat, when my friends and I were hanging out and playing with her dogs. Apologies for my squeals and such because we were clearly a bit hyper and giggly that day.


As clearly mentioned above, I do not own a dog. Or any pets. Sadly I have to rely on mooching off of my friends’ pets to reap the benefits. I currently live at home with my parents and my sister, and both my mom and sister are allergic. The struggle is real guys. #FirstWorldProblems.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t go scrolling through Instagram stalking every single account with an adorable doggo. If you wanna stalk cute puppies too, check out PuppySpot, a site that helps puppies find happy, loving homes to go to. When you check out their page with all the puppies to choose from, you will literally spend hours on this page scrolling through all the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. I hate to admit that I’ve actually given some of them personalized nicknames, as I feel like I have truly connected and bonded with them through the hours I’ve spent staring at their photo like a freak.

Obviously all the photos my friend sent me of Snickers I’ve saved on my phone for easy access when I need a mood booster. (I am fully aware of how odd I sound, like some kind of puppy-obsessed stalker haha but I KNOW I’m NOT the only one!) But, I gotta have my options. I gotta be able to dream of the day when I will own my own doggo.

If you own a dog, I am super jealous of you. Also, can we be friends? It’s not just so I can hang out with your dog, and not you… maybe. Am I that transparent?

Are you a dog or cat person? What are some of your favorite stories regarding a special puppy in your life? Do you agree with any of the points I brought up, or any of the info mentioned in the graphic? Comment down below! I really would love to hear any stories you’ve got!

Thanks for reading, and I wish you all have a lovely weekend!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

Today I wanted to discuss with you all about design, specifically about designing in the future. This post is a part of the Design Blogger Competition organized by CGTrader. The style of this post is quite different from what I typically post here on my blog, and I am excited to share this with you all.

The term design is quite broad and general. It can refer to a multitude of things, whether it is fashion, graphic, or interior design. Design and art go hand in hand, and are interrelated, but not the same. Art can encompass a wide array of arrangements, and anything can be justified as art. Take Duchamp’s Fountain for example. Duchamp literally took a ready-made urinal, and manipulated its placement to create the argument that it’s art. Art is heavily based on its context, whereas design is a component within art.

Design refers to all the little intricacies within a composition. It is what makes us look and reconsider. It is everything that goes into making and creating a work. 

With our world as it is now, what would the future of design look like? A photo I took several months ago for a photography project that I thought captured one perspective of our entanglement with technology and obsession with the future.

In our present day, much can be said and done in attempts to predict the future. While we can guess what design will be like in the future, none of us are psychics, and we can never truly know what will be in store for us. Our past has happened, and there’s nothing we can do to change that. Our present is taking place in the here and now. As for our future? There is only our past and present to guide us into the unknown. Although our future has yet to come, much of the answers lie in our past and present. Sorry to sound all cryptic, but it’s true.

And before you even say it, no. In terms of designing for the future, this is not just a post about hover boards and the DeLorean. (Comment down below if you got that Back to the Future reference!)

In accordance to the topics I typically discuss here on my blog, fashion design has much to be considered for the future. While some may argue that fashion is merely a frivolous topic for those who prefer to focus on consumerism, fashion surprisingly is very intertwined with our daily lives in how it reflects the social, economical, and political happenings of our time. We can see the ups and downs of society through the way fashion undergoes its subsequent changes. In the 1920s-1930s, the feminist movement spurred and women began to join the workforce. This was clearly shown in the prevalence of the shorter hemlines and boxy silhouettes of women’s fashion during that time. After World War II as America recovered, there was an increased preference for nuclear families to create a semblance of a perfect, happy family after the horrific years of war and the creation of the atomic bomb. As a result, women’s hemlines dropped back down, and curves and frills were played up to emphasize women’s femininity. The proliferation of the stiletto heel corresponds to the technological innovations that made the extremely high, skinny heel possible to create. Fashion is clear evidence of history.

Fashion has a way of cycling, with styles returning in new and improved ways Remember a time when halter necklines were a thing of the past and not trendy, and it was all about low-cut plunging necklines?

Everything within the fashion realm revolves around seasons. Things go in style for a season, and are then cast aside for new styles to have their turn in the spotlight. But as we all know how history has its way of repeating itself, fashion too will as well.

We already see this evident in the return of the ‘90s. High-waist light wash denim, oversized jean jackets, choker necklaces, brown and bronzy colored lips, off the shoulder tops. Simply by scrolling through Instagram we can see how much of our current trends are reminiscent of the past. The other day I wore an oversized jean jacket that was actually my mother’s jacket from many years ago. And fashion has cycled back to allow that vintage piece to work with our current trends again.

However, not everything is exactly the same as before. While it is true that history repeats itself, and fashion reflects the ongoings of our lives, it is not an exact replica of the past. Rather, we look to the past in order to create our future.

Our current trends may take a lot of inspiration from the ‘90s, but it is not an exact return of the past. We shape our future with consideration of what has happened before. The past provides us with what was successful, and what needs improvement. In terms of the future of design, I believe we will see much of the past cycling back into the realm of things. Along with looking back at the past, the idea of returning to a simpler time accompanies that.

There is only so much innovation and advancements a society can handle. We have come so far in creating and inventing. History and fashion has its highs and lows, reflecting its golden ages and its periods of recovery. Perhaps the time has come to simplify. Embrace minimalism. Why else has there been an increased interest in minimalist styles? There is a beauty in simplicity.

We don’t need to layer fifteen gold chain chokers to complete an outfit. We don’t need bolder, brighter, louder prints to make a statement. We don’t need taller, longer, higher boots that go so far above the knee to create almost a pant-boot hybrid.

The future of design will entail more of a focus on the small things. Little details that makes things whole. Beauty in simplicity. Another photo I took for a photography project. Capturing the beauty in light refraction. Simple objects that have the capacity to hold so much and tell so much without needing so much.

The future of design will be in embracing the beauty in simplicity. After all, it's the small things that count.

I believe the future of design will entail looking back on what was successful, taking what we have, and reshaping it for the better into an improved product. Except, it will be about minimizing the excessive, unnecessary elements to focus on the details that matter. A look at the proliferation of natural "no makeup" looks, and minimalist wardrobes demonstrate examples of such already beginning to happen.

Due to all the political turmoil that keeps occurring, fashion holds its subsequent response. I believe the future of design will entail taking aspects of the past, and adapting them to accommodate our current needs. Looking back to a simpler, happier time for inspiration. It’s not always about the go, go, go, and the do, do, do. Life has become too fast-paced, too much about progressing and advancing and innovating. We need to take a step back, breathe, and live in the moment. Live knowing that we should be enjoying the present.


This is certainly a lengthier, denser post than what is typical here. I really hope you all enjoyed reading this, and that some of what I discussed stuck with you somehow.

Please do comment down below your thoughts on this topic! What do you think the future of design will look like? What are your thoughts on design? Comment down below, and lemme know! I would love to read what you guys think!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

It’s officially summer! Now I cannot say I’m looking forward to summer anymore because it finally is. Sunny skies, hot weather, cold drinks, and endless days. Lots of time to create many happy memories. Time to make Summer 2017 worth it. What better way to document those great times than through photos? And taking that a step further, and printing them with Printiki?

Oh yes. Sign me up. My walls will soon be looking like an actual Instagram feed.



It’s been a month since I’ve last given you guys an update. Apologies.. as usual. I am on Instagram at least several times a week updating things on my story, so definitely follow me on IG to keep updated more regularly haha. I post random things that happen in my life on my story. It becomes almost like vlogging in a way with how long my story can get with the random snippets of my life that I share.

As mentioned before, summer is the time to make the most of your days. The best way to document that is through photos. Whether that be through Snapchat, Instagram, or simply taking some photos on your phone. I literally take so many photos when I’m out with my friends it’s like I am documenting every single moment. My photos library is constantly bursting with photos from a day’s adventures.

Lately, as you may have noticed the whole Polaroid prints and vintage aesthetic have been trendy. Polaroid cameras used to be a huge thing back in the 90’s. It was common to capture a moment through that small camera, and have it instantly ready for viewing on a slightly blurry print. Nowadays you can go to your nearest Target or Best Buy or whatever other store, and still be able to purchase a Polaroid camera.

I really love the idea of having printed photos even if it wasn’t trendy, as having a physical series of small prints is a completely different feel than simply having everything digitally available. While I may have thousands of photos on my computer, my Instagram, my phone, I barely have any actual printed photos. For one, it is not always that convenient to go and get photos printed. For another, it can cost quite a bit for good quality photos. I think the last time I bought actual printed photos was when I went on the New England cruise last September. Before that I think I last purchased print photos for my high school graduation. When did you last get photos printed?




While I love the Polaroid photo aesthetic, I sadly do not have a Polaroid camera myself. I'm also not planning on going to buy one either! Sorry, I'm not made of rubies. Or diamonds. Even if diamonds are a girl's best friend. Nor do I have the time to get my photos printed out at Costco or Bartells or some other drugstore. I am a busy uni student! Ain’t got time for that! If I don’t have the time to wash my makeup brushes (oops yes I am well aware I should be doing that more often instead of buying more brushes to avoid washing, hahah who else does that?), I certainly don’t have the time to drive somewhere to get photos printed. Why, I could be using that time to do other “important” things like watching more Netflix, or getting sucked into the blackhole of Grey’s Anatomy fandoms. Oops did I just admit that? Haha who am I kidding? We all have our quirks. Tangent aside, there is a super simple and easy way to actually get your photos printed without having to actually leave your house!

Recently, I got the chance to get my photos printed through Printiki. Printiki is a company that prints photos. They offer a ton of customization for your prints.  You can choose from different types of borders, adding in captions to your photos, and changing up the size of your prints. It’s all done online, and you basically upload your photos to get them printed.

For my prints, I chose to get a set of 30 prints in the 4” by 4” Retro Square format, with captions added onto each photo. The result resembled almost like Polaroids because of the square format with the captions. I really love how that turned out. I added in the date for each photo, along with a short little phrase to accompany it. I really like how there were so many fonts to choose from when adding in the captions. I didn’t know which to choose because I liked how they all looked, but I wanted them all to be more or less uniform so I chose the same one for all. However, you can vary the font and format of each photo if you wanted. For instance, if you were printing a set of 30 and half were to go to your friend, you could change up the format of some and keep the rest in a separate style. It’s super easy to customize.




You can see from all my photos that I chose to include from various times of my life. What I really like about this is that I could connect my Instagram to Printiki to import photos from my Instagram account. It makes it really easy to choose a photo I like from my Instagram, without having to find the original on my phone or computer. You can upload photos in a variety of ways, and it’s super easy to do.

I am planning on arranging my photos in a collage of some sort to arrange on my walls. I like how the ones I got are in square format, so it almost replicates an Instagram feed.

Photos featuring some of my close friends and I Evidence of my nearly unhealthy Snapchat addiction

If you wanted, you could also choose larger sizes. They offer sizes such as 6” by 4”, 7” by 5”. You could even choose poster format and get them larger at 12” by 18”. I’m actually considering getting some photos printed larger to put up on my walls.

As it is all online, once you order it all you gotta do is sit back and wait until it arrives in the mail. You literally don’t have to leave your house if you don’t want to. Mine arrived in the mail pretty fast. It shipped within the United States so it was fairly quick. Of course the shipping time would definitely depend on and vary based on where you live.

The time I was in a Youtube video with my friend Jake from Thatsrightitsjj

All those memories from when I graduated high school.. can't believe its been so long already!

Me and Justin from that time I featured Men's Style in my JORD wood watch post This was also the day we took the photos for the Styling a Men's Shirt post

I’m really satisfied with the quality of the prints as well. I chose to have them glossy, rather than matte. The feel of it is not cheap, and the paper is sturdy and of good quality. I definitely recommend this to everyone!






In case you guys are still hesitant of this, I do have a CODE for you guys to use when ordering your prints to get free shipping! I know that you guys live all around the world, and shipping can end up costing just as much as if not more than the actual product itself.

Use this code at checkout for free shipping:
3WA2GPC2

This will definitely help you out a lot! I know I’m personally planning on getting more printed because my walls are so sad and empty. I need to transfer all my digital memories to print. Once my walls resemble to chaotic camera roll I will be happy. Just kidding, not that extreme. Maybe.

Also, definitely go check out Printiki on Instagram for some other cool ideas for your photos! They share a bunch of inspiration for photography and things of that sort.



Have you ever printed through Printiki before?

How do you guys arrange and display your print photos? Do you prefer framing them individually, or just arranging on your walls? Lemme know in the comments below! I would love to get some ideas and inputs from you guys!

Thank you all for stopping by and reading! I hope you enjoyed this post!

I hope you all are having a wonderful June, and an amazing summer so far.


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

We all know that Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Literally this coming weekend. I don’t know about you, but I tend to procrastinate when it comes to buying gifts. Occasionally, I would have preplanned out what I want to buy for gifts, whether they be for birthdays or holidays or situations as this upcoming weekend. But let’s be honest. It’s not possible to always plan out everything in advance. Don’t fret my friends. I’ve got some last minute Mother’s Day gift ideas that won’t hurt your wallet too much, and will still do the deed of showing your mother how much you love and appreciate her presence in your life. (Stick around til the end because I've also got something special for you guys that I think you will like)

Something I always like to do when I can’t think of a gift idea is to bake some goodies. Making some sweet treats (or savory if she prefers salt over sweet) shows that you are willing to put in the effort. It takes time and patience to make something edible that also tastes good. One could easily go out to the store and buy a box of cupcakes or assorted cookies (which isn’t a bad idea if you truly lack cooking skills), but the fact that you went out of your way to make something yourself is what makes it a gift. Homemade goodies definitely helps to elevate a basic dish into a gift. 

Homemade four ingredient gluten free peanut butter cookies Recipe HERE

I personally would make cookies because I love baking sweets. It’s a good gift for my mother, plus there will be so many I can have some for myself too. Win win, am I right? Last year my sister and I cooked up an entire brunch for our mother. We made French toast with a berry sauce, a side of bacon and scrambled eggs, and coffee. Everything was homemade and from scratch. Who can resist food? People say food is the way to win over a man’s heart, but frankly I find that food is the way to win over ANYONE’S heart. Food is life. Literally.

Or perhaps going out is more up your alley? Spend the day with your mother doing something fun. Maybe watch a movie you’ve been wanting to watch for awhile. Going to the movie theater and buying the largest size popcorn and watching a movie is always really fun. If there’s nothing interesting currently playing, you could rent a movie or just stick to Netflix. And hey! That food I mentioned earlier that you should make? Yeah, that can come in real handy here as a movie snack. There you go. You’re welcome.

The ferris wheel down by the waterfront in Seattle is always a great choice for a fun activity.

In all honesty, just simply spending the day with the woman who raised you and shaped you into who you are is what’s best. I suggest doing anything that is a favorite activity for the both of you. Don’t feel the pressure to abide to the Hallmark standards of what Mother’s Day has to be. If you guys don’t like getting dressed up and going out of the house to do something, then don’t. Stay at home in your pajamas all day and chill on the couch if that’s what you guys prefer. Or maybe you guys like to sit in cafes and people-watch. And judging all the people walking by. Oh is that last part just me? Oops. My bad. Point is, don’t feel the need to do something to make that day special. It will be special in itself just because you took the time to show her that you appreciate all that she does. All those other cliche cheesy acts can just be shoved out the door.

Wait, now that I think about it… There IS something out there that isn’t too cliche, that I feel your mothers will definitely like. I mean, definitely go and spend the day with your mom. But, there is definitely a gift out there that I guarantee she would appreciate.

We all love to smile big toothy grins for selfies, am I right? But, don’t you ever scroll through your option after the photoshoot and find that all looks good aside from one minor detail? Your smile. More specifically, your teeth. Your hair could be shiny and on point, and your outfit might be the snazziest you’ve ever worn. But your smile is what’s the focal point. If your teeth have taken on a slight yellow-ish hue, that will definitely ruin the effect you are going for. Do you want to look like you have a mouthful of corn?

Yeah… no.

Several months ago, I got the chance to test out Smile Brilliant products. Or rather, I had one of my friends try it out. Smile Brilliant is a brand that offers at home teeth whitening kits with custom-fitted teeth whitening trays. They are made to be personalized for each customer. As in you get to make custom impressions of your teeth for custom fit molds. This at home teeth-whitening kit works well even for those with sensitive teeth, like my friend. If you haven’t read my review before, definitely check that out! 

Before Treatments

After Treatments

Lucky for you guys, I’ve got a $25 off coupon code for you to use to purchase some Smile Brilliant products. Whether they be for your mom, or just for yourself. Who knows. Either way, it is the perfect gift for anyone who is having some trouble maintaining a gleaming white grin.

I get that the kit might not come in time for this coming weekend, but if you end up buying it for your mother there are other ways of presenting it to her. Perhaps getting a box and slipping in a note that says “Your gift is currently being processed and will arrive soon”. She will hate that you are building up the anticipation, but she definitely will appreciate that you bought something that would actually benefit her. Even if it isn’t actually ready for the using on Mother’s Day.

I mean, how useful is a vase of flowers? Or another mug to add to your already growing collection of mugs? Pair this kit with a detoxifying/hydrating/brightening face mask and you’ve got yourself a quick and easy at-home spa day. Done and done.

Here is the $25 off coupon code for the Smile Brilliant at home teeth whitening kit that I’m sure your mothers will love:

aglimpseofglam25

Y’all can thank me later.

A rare selfie with my mother

What do you have planned for Mother’s Day? How are you planning on spending this weekend? Have you ever tried out Smile Brilliant teeth whitening treatments? Lemme know in the comments below!! 

I hope you enjoyed reading! Thank you all for stopping by! I wish you have a wonderful Mother’s Day, and weekend.


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

You read that title right! I recently made a YouTube video with one of my best friends. We had some (more like a lot) of time on our hands, and a perfectly working DSLR. We figured, why not do a video? As we are both fairly new to this YouTube thing, filming a video where we answered some questions as sort of an introduction was the best way to go. And, thus the TMI tag was chosen.



For the longest time ever, I’ve contemplated starting a YouTube channel. Not to join the mass of new YouTubers who recently started because of the supposed promise of fame and wealth. No. Rather it’s because it’s another platform, another medium in which I can express myself and utilize as a creative outlet. I’ve wanted to create some videos as a way to showcase another side of me, one that cannot be shown simply through visuals and writing.

Us being us

A couple weeks ago, I stayed up for over 36 hours because of a photography assignment where we documented changes in light over a 24 hour period. Luckily, I wasn’t stuck alone. I had one of my best friends with me. What started as something that seemed really tiring and annoying ended up being really fun. A new adventure.




I met my friend Jake early in January, as we were both taking a printmaking class. That’s where I also met Justin, who I’ve featured before in my post with JORD wood watches. The three of us hit it off quickly, and we soon became really close. There are times when you meet someone, and you just know right away things click. Jake is pretty much like my other half, the brother I never had, as we both are so incredibly similar it can be shocking at times.

I swear he brings out the crazy in me. When the two of us are together we CANNOT stop laughing! Our craziness and high energy is literally insane. He is incredibly funny and sassy, as am I. Those who say best friends take time is wrong because the two of us became close so fast.

Laughing like crazy exhibit A

Laughing like crazy exhibit B

You know you’ve got a friend for life when you spend the time not with them glued to your phone talking to them. The reason why my phone battery drains so easily is because we are literally ALWAYS on Snapchat. We definitely utilize those ridiculous filters to the max!

As Jake has a YouTube channel (called Thatsrightitsjj), we decided to fill the time between the photos during the 24 hour period by filming a video for his channel. We’ve been wanting to do a video together for awhile now, and we decided when would be better than then?

Cuz we from da hood. Hahaha kidding

Oh look us laughing yet again. We can't ever hold it in for normal photos

Through Jake's YouTube channel you will definitely get what I mean about his humor and sass. He creates comedic content, whether it be rants, reaction videos, or other random bits.

Thus we decided to do the TMI tag. Even though no one actually tagged him. But, that’s the fun of it. Answering a bunch of random questions as a way to awkwardly (or perhaps slightly not awkwardly) introduce yourself.

After watching, you might like me more, or you just might hate me. We literally filmed it at 5 am, after being half done with the project. It's a different side to me you've never seen before. Filming is surprisingly not awkward to me. I didn't feel weird being in front of the camera or anything. I wonder if it's perhaps I've been blogging for awhile now, so I feel comfortable in front of a camera? I have no idea.




Comment down below what you thought! Did you like watching this YouTube video? Lemme know in the comments what you thought of the TMI tag! 

Also, if I were to start a YouTube channel, would you want to watch? Lemme know in the comments below! 

I may just stick with being featured in his videos because then I don’t have to do the editing haha (I’m so lazy I know) but who knows?



Thanks for stopping by! I really hope you enjoyed reading, and that you enjoy watching the video! 

Definitely go and subscribe to his channel! I will probably be featured more in the future too. If you wanna see more of my face, GO SUBSCRIBE! As I said in the video outro, it won’t kill you to subscribe so why not? I’m clever I know.

Have a wonderful day!!


Til next time,
~A