A Glimpse of Glam

Hey everyone!

It’s past Valentine’s Day and it’s nearing spring, which means gone are the times when you would have to bundle up in many layers just to step outside. The sun is started to peep out more, and provide us all with longer days. That being said, with less heavy layers, the accessories you choose actually get to have some time in the spotlight, rather than hiding behind those thick knit sweaters you don to survive the cold of winter. Which puts more attention on the accessories you do choose to wear. You finally get to show off that new necklace you got over the holidays, instead of covering it up with a scarf. That new watch you recently bought? You can flaunt it to your delight. You excited?

Before I go on any further, I shall proceed to apologize for my lack of posts for the entire month of February. I’ve been very swamped with school projects, exams, and so on and so forth and what have you. It’s definitely been a crazy quarter. I always feel like winter quarter passes by the fastest, and has the most going on for me. Perhaps it has to do with the winter time, and I’m just overall more sluggish. Maybe I’m the problem as to why I’m less productive? No. Never. It’s not me, it’s school.

Point is, I apologize, and I am definitely trying my best to up the number of posts I am doing. I am also trying to be more interactive on Instagram too. So that I’m not completely off the grid. Huge thanks to you all for your patience!

Anyways, today I have something new and different to share with you all! I am partnering with JORD watches to share with my lovely readers one of their featured wood watches. JORD watches have really become a huge part of the fashion world as of late. These unique watches are made of wood, and have a rustic, laid-back feel without sacrificing class or style. It’s definitely different than your typical watch that consists of silver links and a shiny face. I am really loving the many styles they have to offer.





The one I am featuring today is their men’s style olive and acacia watch. It is a men's watch, yet JORD also has a selection of women's watches to choose from as well. As it is a men’s watch, I was able to get one of my good guy friends, Justin, to be in my blog. I can’t exactly style this watch myself, now can II? I mean, technically I could because I can probably pull off menswear. But, as it is a men’s watch, I definitely should be demonstrating how it can be styled as so.I typically do style posts that revolve around women’s fashion, as I am a female after all. But I do occasionally do some men’s styling. Just to switch things up every once in awhile. It’s also a great challenge for me, as styling for men is almost uncharted territory for me, and does require more planning and creativity.

Except, here I didn’t plan out the outfit. So I can’t take the credit. My friend has fairly good taste in clothes. I can’t say great or else if he reads this, it might go to his head. I shall say good. And you all can be the judge.

JORD Olive and Acacia watch

I received the olive and acacia watch from JORD a short while ago, and I was most definitely pleased with the lovely quality. It’s really well made, as it looks durable yet maintains a sense of elegance. It came in a wooden box, with a small polishing cloth as well. The box itself just made it look so gorgeous. JORD definitely did a wonderful job in their packaging.




When styling watches, it’s important to consider what colors you are wearing with it, as you would with any other accessory. Most people neglect the importance of watches, for we typically view them as time-telling device rather than a statement-making accessory. I personally adore wearing watches because they are useful, yet can really dress up an outfit without looking too cluttered or messy.





Here, this watch has a light brown wooden color, due to the material it is made of. There are no striking colors to it, which definitely makes it easier to style. The neutral brown can go well with almost anything, making it all the more versatile.

Here, Justin chose to complement the colors of the watch into the rest of his outfit. He chose to wear a tan sweatshirt with little to no design on it, which accentuates the subtle range of colors naturally present in the wood. The simplicity of the tan sweatshirt against black jeans really highlights the watch as a focal point. However, his brightly patterned shoes do catch the eye as well. He chose to wear brown and orange patterned shoes to further this color palette. Rather than wearing a monochrome outfit, the slight variation of color and pattern goes with the overall theme while adding some visual interest here and there to break it up.

I especially like the shoes he wore because of the unique pattern. That slight hint of color really brightens up the otherwise neutral outfit.

Styling the watch with a graphic tee and brightly patterned shoes definitely highlighted the casual element of the watch. This watch can easily be dressed up with perhaps a button down or sweater. Yet, it doesn’t look out of place in this otherwise relaxed look.





Being the photographer for these style photos was a different experience for me. I am usually the one in the photos, so being the one behind the camera and taking control of the angles was a fun experience. I do enjoy photography, but it’s different when working with someone else as the model. Luckily, he seems to work with the camera fairly well.

JORD Olive and Acacia Men's Style watch

What I love most about this watch is the open hardware design at the back. My friend and I were quite confused as to what it was. It almost looked like a compass of some sort. Either way, it definitely has an interesting, unique design.

I am really impressed with the quality of the watch. It's definitely a unique watch to wear and style than your typical watch, as it is made of wood. We were able to get it sized to fit his wrist. It did come slightly bigger, but perhaps we also didn’t measure it tight enough. It came with an extra link to enlarge if necessary. The watch doesn’t feel too heavy or bulky. It is the perfect everyday watch.



Regardless of the time of year, you always will find a need to shop. Whether it be for yourself, or for someone else. This JORD watch would make the perfect gift for a close friend or family member. Watches are not only useful, but also a great accessory to have for any occasion. Watches can complement any minimalist style, as they are complete in itself. But, you can also add some other bracelets as well if that’s more up your alley. There are numerous ways to style them, and they can make great everyday accessories.

I definitely recommend JORD watches if you are on the lookout for a great quality watch. Perhaps you want to try out this men’s style watch yourself, or you have a guy in your life you want to gift this to. Either way, you know this watch is calling your name. JORD also has other styles to select from as well. They have a huge selection of men's watches, as well as women's watches.

Huge thanks to JORD for sending me this watch. It is absolutely gorgeous, and  I am definitely not disappointed at all. I recommend checking out their site to see more of the olive and acacia watch I styled here, or to ogle the other ones they have to offer as well. I know I personally do that sometimes when I am feeling that shopping mood. JORD watches has great unique watches and cool watches to choose from. I've lately been having an obsession with watches, so this came at the right time for me. I used to wear watches more frequently. But when some of them ran out of battery, I never got them replaced and I stopped. Now, I picked up that trend again, and I can't imagine why I ever stopped.

BEFORE YOU GO!! I have a GIVEAWAY to share with you all!!

Enter the contest and you will be eligible to win a $100 e gift code!! However, if you enter at all, even if you do not win you can receive a $25 e gift code. You have until 11:59pm on March 5th to enter this contest!! Once the contest is over, a winner will automatically be selected and you will be emailed the coupon code! However, the code will expire on April 30th. So do not wait too long to redeem it!

IMPORTANT NOTE: it is NOT a FREE watch, but a $100 e gift code! This is super beneficial, as great quality watches can be on the pricier side. However, these watches, for their quality and style are worth it. With the coupon code, you will definitely be further enticed.

Click here to enter the contest! 

Don't forget to enter the contest! It never hurts to just try it out, you never know if your luck will pick up. It is a short time to enter, but there's still plenty of time to enter!

What did you think of this watch and how it was styled? Have you heard of JORD watches? How would you style this watch? Lemme know down in the comments below!! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by and reading! I hope you all enjoyed this post, and I wish you all a lovely week.


Til next time,
~A

Watch Gift Ideas

Hey everyone!

Before I start I wanted to thank you all for your lovely comments on my previous post! It was a difficult post to write because politics is a topic that definitely requires some careful handling. The issue of politics has plagued the US for a long while now, and in the last month it’s really escalated. I felt a huge urge to share my thoughts, despite the fact that it is a sensitive topic to discuss. I tried to stay as objective as I could because I know that I personally do not have the best knowledge of politics, and insulting the side I disagree with doesn’t help push things towards the right path. There’s a difference between insulting and harping on what you don’t like, and venting and persuading others to see your point of view. It’s one thing to understand the other side, and it’s another to be narrow minded and stubborn. As I created this blog as a way to discuss various topics that includes politics and human rights, I definitely felt like it was necessary to address this topic and at the least let you guys know how I’m feeling.

That being said...

So sorry it’s been forever since I’ve last posted! I swear this time of year last year I was also this absent. I feel like winter quarter is the most difficult of all quarters at university. When midterms pop up, I seriously cannot do anything else but study, work on my projects, eat and sleep. Barely sleeping at that. I spent so much time at the studio for my printmaking class that I felt like I had moved in. My friend even joked that I should just set up a bed there.

I hope you are all doing well! I’m trying to make my way around to all your blogs again to update myself on what’s happening in your lives. Gonna try and get back into the groove of things. Blogging is like riding a bicycle: once you have learned, it comes back to you fast. Though, to be honest, I actually haven’t ever really learned how to ride a bike. But that’s besides the point. This post isn’t about my apparent lack of basic skills. That’s a story for another day.

As someone who generally creates a lot of artworks, and is in an art studio quite often, I gravitate towards dark or black clothing to prevent anything from staining. Though, colors can still stain on black, it’s not as painstakingly obvious as a bright blue stain on a crisp white shirt. I also like to change into sweats when I know it will really get messy, just as a definite precaution. Point is, black clothing is something I know I turn to quite often, and i’m sure you do as well. Black is easy to style, and works well for so many occasions.

I recently received some stuff from Zaful that I am quite pleased with. I got a black blanket scarf that I have literally worn at least once or twice a week for the past several weeks. I can most certainly vouch for how cozy and warm this scarf is. It’s helped me out during those cold winter mornings when I’m waiting for the bus. I also got a black off the shoulder top that doesn’t work the best now, but would be perfect when the weather warms up a tad. The last item of clothing to share is this black lace up dress that is definitely hitting the current trend. I like how it has a slight boho feel because of the shape of the sleeves coupled with the lace up front, but with it in black it makes it easy to style as edgy or casual or girly or whatever is up your alley!

Blanket Scarf - link HERE

The black scarf I got probably is my favorite of the three items. I love how I can bundle up in it. Whoever invented blanket scarves is my savior!! I seriously reach for one every single morning because they are an easy accessory and are ridiculously comfortable.

Blanket Scarf

I love throwing it on over a simple top as an easy way to add pattern and variety to my look. Here, I had on this burgundy-hued long sleeve paired with black pants and grey heeled ankle boots. By adding the blanket scarf, it quickly accessorized it into something that looks less lazy and quickly thrown together. Plus, it really helped me keep warm that snowy day.

Obviously this next set of pictures were taken on a different day because the snow is all gone. I had to choose a time when it was slightly warmer to wear the off the shoulder top I got. I can’t show the off the shoulder style very well if I’m bundled up, now can I?

There was one day in January where the weather actually warmed up significantly, for only a few hours in the afternoon. Almost as if it was meant for me to use that time for outfit photos. Then it subsequently got cold again, and I ran back inside to wrap myself up like a burrito.


With this black off the shoulder top, I chose to wear it with black and white patterned pants and a brown jacket. The pattern on the pants is attention grabbing, but balanced and quiet enough to complement the black top without stealing the show. This top does have skinny straps with it, which is nice because it helps it sit comfortably.

Black off-the-shoulder top - link HERE

I wore a brown jacket to break up the monochrome look. I’m sure you’ve all seen this jacket plenty of times before already in previous posts. Plus, the high collar of the jacket is really what appealed most to me. The contrast between that higher collar and the low off-the shoulder top works well because the top under the jacket looks mostly like it has a straight across neckline.

Black Off-The-Shoulder Blouse

I definitely won’t be able to wear this outfit until March because it’s been freezing cold here. It’s more of a spring outfit, so in looking ahead for the spring, this black blouse would definitely be a good choice! By paring with this outfit some brown booties, this definitely added to the whole spring look vibe.

Black Lace Up Knit Dress - link HERE

The last thing I wanted to share with you all is this gorgeous lace-up black dress that is on trend right now. The whole lace-up front is something that I’ve seen pop up from many retailers and designers, and it’s typically on sweaters. I like how this one is on a black dress. It has the same casual feel of a lace-up sweater, but as a dress it’s more versatile to incorporate into various different looks. Like I mentioned before, you can dress it up or down to give off an alternate feel.

Black lace-up dress

Here, I chose to wear it simply as is with a pair of black boots. I have a thing for ankle boots, which I’m sure you can all tell by now. I have a petite frame, and wearing ankle boots flatters my legs more. I love higher boots like knee-high or even over-the-knee boots, but they can shrink the length of my legs and make me look shorter and stumpier. But, it also depends on the style of boots too. I just personally really like the way ankle boots look.

Lately, I’ve been leaning towards simpler looks. Letting clothes speak for themselves through subtle textural contrasts or color themes. Perhaps you can add on a belt to accentuate your frame, or maybe layer on some bracelets for that extra bling. But I like the loose flow of this dress, and the swingy sleeves are speaking to me as well.



I didn’t wear tights here because I also took these photos when it was a bit warm out. BUT, I definitely will have to wear tights if I wear this dress in the next couple weeks because it’s been freeeeezing. Have I mentioned enough times how cold it’s been? Hahaha repetitive, I know. But seriously. This winter has been crazy.

We finally got snow a couple days ago!! So much snow in fact, classes were canceled! That hasn’t happened since high school. It started snowing on Sunday night, and we all thought it wouldn’t stick. We’ve had a few false alarms earlier in the year with light snow that melted within a couple hours. However, it kept snowing harder and harder and by the next morning, I got a notification that classes were canceled. Some of my neighbors who are in elementary school also had a snow day as well. Pretty much everyone did because we got SO much snow!!

I built an adorable snowman with my sister and named him Pablo. When we went for a walk, it was so incredible difficult to not sink in and slip and fall. All you out there who live in snowy wintery places probably think I sound like I’ve just experienced snow for the first time. But, seriously, it was such a magical incredible moment. We haven’t had a blanket of snow like that in many years! Definitely a great little surprise! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen Pablo chilling on my front lawn. He’s leaned over quite a bit now that the snow is melting. But he’s still intact!

Definitely head on over to Zaful to find these awesome articles of clothing I got! If you don't like wearing just black, they have a selection of blanket scarves to choose from that vary in color and pattern as well. For their prices, their quality is really good and I am definitely satisfied with what I got. I am so psyched that I got the dress because I can really see myself incorporating it into many more outfits when the weather warms up. I love wearing loose flowy dresses with shorter, structured jackets. Head over to Zaful and lemme know what you think!

I know I’ve been quite MIA lately. I definitely will be trying my best to update more often. It can be a challenge sometimes. I’ve noticed that I’ve been less inspired lately because I’ve been so stressed out with school. I’ve had these blogposts planned out for awhile now. I just haven’t gotten to writing it because I felt stuck staring at my laptop screen. It’s difficult to get your creative juices flowing again if you’re wiped out and mentally exhausted. I really like putting in effort into my posts to convey my authentic self as best I can. Though I can just write some short posts that are mostly filled with pictures, or a quick inspiration post, that’s not really showcasing my own voice. To me, it’s not about upping the amount of blogposts I can crank out. It’s about making creative content that reflects me. Anyways, thank you for being patient with me!

Are you for or against the whole lace-up trend? How have you been staying warm this winter? What are you most looking forward to this coming spring? Please lemme know in the comments down below!! I would love to hear your thoughts!!

Thank you all so much for stopping by and reading! I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

I originally planned to post another outfit post, but I decided to push that off until later. What happened just this past weekend was so incredibly powerful and remarkable, I just had to talk about it. I’m sure you all know what I’m getting at. The Women’s March on Washington. But, more importantly, the way it grew into a worldwide movement.

Literally the past two days everything I came across was related to politics. The concert, the inauguration, #CakeGate, fashion designers’ refusals, the mishap on Twitter, and of course the Women’s March. I am so proud to be living amongst activists, amongst people who won’t stand for shit, who will speak up for what they believe in. I am so proud to be a part of history in the making.

However, this also makes me quite depressed. To know that even though we are living in the 21st century, we still have to fight for human rights, for equality. This is in no way the best comparison, yet I can’t help but feel like we are living, to some extent, in a real life version of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Only because disappointing things keep happening, and our reality is such a nightmare we can’t wake from. Yet, this march that just happened does give us a glimmer of hope. Hope that we are getting somewhere. Hope that this ridiculous nonsense will finally end.

The Women’s March was such a brilliant positive, despite everything else going on.



I may not be as much of a social activist as I could, but I still strongly believe in speaking up and fighting for what you believe in. Injustice won’t stop if you sit around just hoping for it to end. You got to do something about it to spread the message that it’s not okay. I’ve only read in textbooks about monumental activist events. I never thought I would live in one. It’s so crazy to believe that one day, textbooks will be documenting that day, Saturday January 21st 2017.

Women’s rights shouldn’t be an issue to discuss. We make up half the population. Yet, we are considered the minority. Who gave men the power to dominate? To act like they are superior? Women are every much as capable and strong and intelligent. Equality should not be something to fight for. Equality should be a given.

This goes for not only gender inequalities, but also racial inequalities as well. As someone of minority, in terms of gender and race, this strongly resonates with me. I’ve had to face racism before, and it doesn’t just hurt. It tears you apart, and hits you deep down. It makes you question what it is that’s wrong with you. It makes you doubt everything you are worth. Though sexism has luckily not been a problem for me, and hopefully not ever), that doesn’t mean I care any less of it. We should treat each other as we want to be treated. This philosophy we were taught from childhood is anything but childish.

I don’t care if saying this makes me lose readers. If I wasn’t clear enough before, I will be clear now. I am completely against the 45th “president” of America. I am very much anti-Trump. It disgusts me to even type out his name. I wrote the word president in quotes because I refuse to admit that this has happened. The fact that someone of so very little political background has managed to win the electoral votes. What the hell happened?! Is this some kind of joke?! This isn’t even an issue of Democrats vs. Republicans. No. This goes far beyond that. Everything about this repulses me deep down to my bones.



Friday evening, at the University of Washington, what was supposed to be a peaceful protest turned violent. This happened so very close to home for me. As in, UW is where I go to school. The fact that this happened at UW is so crazy.

In the past couple months, there has been a petition going around to prevent a speaker from coming to UW. A student group invited someone who is very controversial, who holds ridiculous views, to come to UW and give a talk. Many wanted this talk to be canceled. Yet the petition did not work. And in the hours prior to the talk, a huge protest started. Protesters from downtown Seattle, who were already protesting because the inauguration was that same day, joined in to help the cause. And then someone got shot, and suffered major injuries to the abdomen. I don’t really know the details of what happened, but it did frighten me. This national dilemma we are all facing that has heavily divided the country is real. For those who are removed from the situation and are only getting information from the news, it may not seem as real. But this is very much real.

We are all people. We all deserve to be heard. To be treated and acknowledged as people. America is supposed to be the place where hopes and dreams become reality. We've all come so far. I hope that we don't become regressive.

I fear what will become of the country I live in, but I also hold hope that it will get better. At least, that’s all that we can do for now. Hope that things will change for the better. And continue fighting for what we believe in. Thank you to everyone who is showing their support, who is doing all they can! Let's keep this up, let's keep speaking up.

What are your thoughts on the Women’s March? Lemme know in the comments below! I would love to hear your opinions on this current event!

Thank you all for stopping by and reading! I hope you all have a wonderful week!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

It’s two weeks into the new year, and I’m already looking forward to summer. End of the school year. Relaxation. I literally just started this quarter at school. Where did my motivation go? Probably gone along with the end of the Obama administration… Too sensitive of a topic? Too soon? Well we still have to deal with the reality. I wonder how the rest of January will play out.

I don’t know if you’ve all noticed or not, but lately I’ve been trying to be more active on Instagram. It’s one of the only social media platforms (besides Snapchat for all its addicting filters) that I use on the daily. I’ve been trying to post more frequently because in all honesty, it’s easier to take good photos and post them than create a blog post. I have a whole stockpile of photos I can post. But blog posts take a while to create, and I want to have a way to still connect with people and still be reachable. To still have an outlet for creativity. Please do follow me on Instagram if you haven’t yet! I really love meeting new people, and I am addicted to scrolling through it like other people maybe addicted to laughing at funny memes. I also have an interest in photography, which obviously still needs a lot of improvement, but I’m hoping Instagram will help motivate me with that as well.

These drearier winter months during the beginning of the year tend to be gloomy, rainy, and overall depressing. At least to me. Probably because the holidays are over, and summer is so far ahead it’s almost lightyears away. Sure, you may try to brighten up your days with a vibrant, colorful outfit. But, chances are you probably reach for the same old dependable clothes, your creativity and inspiration as dismal as your mood.

You don’t need to wear just blacks and grey, and look like you will be attending a funeral. Neutrals are a great option to turn to. And there are easy ways to dress them up that doesn’t involve too much thought or effort. As previously mentioned multiple times, scarves are a great option for dressing up outfits. Pull on a neutral outfit and throw on a scarf, and you’ve got yourself a decent outfit that looks like you are still trying to live up to your resolutions, of which you have really long ditched.

I recently received several items from Dresslily, and I was not disappointed! I’m really impressed with the quality of their clothes. For their affordable prices, they are actually made of quite durable material. The fit is quite nice because it is true to the information they post on the website. If it weren’t for the holidays, I think usually this international shipping wouldn’t have taken as long. With the items I got, I was able to throw together a few different outfit ideas to hopefully provide some inspiration for you all.

Green Dress

One item I received was this lightweight olive green dress. When I first got it, I actually realized that I should have chosen something else. Not because of the dress itself, but because I realized I would have to wear a jacket with it and it might not be the most suitable for the cold weather. I really like how it has a v-neckline, and an oversized fit. I can see this working really well in the spring or summer with bare legs and sandals, or ankle boots. For now, I styled it with a black leather jacket, opaque black tights, and brown ankle boots. I was still quite cold only wearing that. So if I were to wear it out for a long period of time, I might choose a thicker coat or grab a scarf too. But I really liked the effect of a leather jacket with this slightly sheer olive green material.

Green Dress

Almost made me feel like Peter Pan with this combination too. Should I don a green cap with it?

Grey Sweater

I also got this super soft and cozy grey cold-shoulder sweater. I absolutely love this sweater!! Once I pulled it on, I just knew it was the perfect pick. It is really soft, and made of a thick material. It’s a great way to layer up for the winter without sacrificing style too much. If you follow me on Instagram (cough cough) then you would have already seen a photo of me wearing it.

Pink Scarf

Once again, I threw on the black leather jacket. I paired the sweater with black pants patterned with white dots. Brown ankle boots again, this time with no heels. Definitely a more casual look than the others, but works well nevertheless. I also got from Dresslily this light pink patterned scarf. It’s quite lightweight and really soft. It’s a nice way to add some color to the overall very monochromatic outfit. I am really looking forward to styling more outfits with this new bad boy!



I had a difficult time trying to figure out how to show you guys the details of this sweater. It was freezing cold out, and I did NOT want to take off my coat! But I did it for you. Your welcome.

Grey Cold-Shoulder Dress

The last item I received was this taupe knit cold-shoulder dress. Those shoulder slits, boy do I love that trend.  It’s quite long on me, and the overall fit is loose but drapes over the body nicely. I didn’t want to order a size too small incase it didn’t end up right. But this dress worked out really well. I like the long sleeves on it because it’s great for the cold season. It’s super simple and plain, which allows me to choose pretty much any scarf I want to accessorize with.

Grey Dress

This last look is definitely a bit dressier than the previous ones. I figured every so often I would want to dress up for the heck of it. But really we all know it’s the red plaid scarf that did all the work, and not me. I got the red scarf last year. Been wearing it so much like all scarves I have because you know your girl and scarves. I had to add a pair of tights to the outfit because COLD. Some heeled black boots and outfit complete. What do you think?

I seriously admire the people out there who can walk around in just a hoodie, or thin jacket. Like how are you radiating enough body heat son?! Share with me your magical trick!! Don’t be selfish.

Thank you to Dresslily for sending me these items! I really am pleased with the clothes I got because they will definitely work well for future outfits! Stop by Dresslily if you are hunting for some new affordable finds! We are all still a bit broke, and recovering from all that holiday shopping, I know. I am too.

Check out the Dresslily Instagram for some other ideas of what they have to offer as well! I've also got some coupon codes that you can use at Dresslily because let's be real, post-holiday blues are really about your bank account suffering. Just click here on this link and you can choose to your heart's desire.

How are your new year goals going so far for you? Off to a good start so far for 2017? 

What did you think of these outfit creations I shared with you all? Do you lean more towards neutrals or color during the winter months? Comment down below to lemme know!! 

Thank you all for stopping by and reading! I hope you are all having a fabulous week!


Til next time,
~A

Hey everyone!

My first post of the new year! If I haven’t already said it, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It’s crazy that it is already 2017. 2016 is a thing of the past, and 2017 is the here and now. A warm welcome to you. Let’s hope this year brings about only good happenings, unlike the previous year, which was filled with ups and downs.

I hope you all had a wonderful holidays! With it being January, holiday season is coming to an end. Except for those of you who celebrate the Epiphany holiday on Jan 6th. I only know of it because I learned it when I took French back in middle school and high school. Not much French has stuck with me over the years, except for the parts pertaining to the occasions where we got to make and taste food. Because priorities.

For the holidays, I went to Canada (as usual because I literally go to Canada all the time). Spent a week with relatives on both sides of my family. Ate a ton of delicious food. Relaxed and did a lot of nothing. I would say it was a very productive winter break.

What did you do for the holidays? How did you celebrate New Year’s?

I know I get very repetitive, and that I say it year after year, but damn did the year fly by. I seriously cannot believe that 2016 is over. I feel like 2016 begun not too long ago. What happened? I mean obviously I know what happened, because a lot happened, but seriously the time went by way too fast to grasp.



In the past year, my blog really grew. I revamped this blog back in the fall of 2015, and really started putting in effort to make this exist. By early 2016, it started to actually become something, shaping into more than just one girl’s rambling thoughts. I’ve had the chance to collaborate and partner with many different companies. I’ve created and posted a ton of blog posts sharing with you all many outfit looks, some food recipes, reflections on current happenings, and more. Not to mention I’ve gained more readers, fellow bloggers of whom I’ve come to better know. Meeting new people, expanding my circles, all of this really made 2016 a great time for me.

Of course with highs there are lows. I shared long ago a post on toxic friends. 2016 was the year when I found out which friends were real and here to stay, and which friends were only there for the short term and for their own benefits. Losing people who were important to me really hit me hard. People you come in contact with, friends especially, shape who you are. When things split and change, there are mental and emotional repercussions. It takes time to adapt to a new reality, but once I did I knew it was for the better. Friends may play a major role in shaping you into who you are, but don’t let it become what defines you.

Despite that, other great things happened. I got to finally travel to the East Coast, and touch the Atlantic waters. It was a memorable trip that had me recounting it in multiple posts spanning several months. Literally up till the very end of the year.

Also, I am currently in my third year at university. I finally have a better grasp of how to go about what I want to do. I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts, a fancy name for Art that isn’t specialized in just one medium. As in, I can do some of everything, with the freedom to incorporate it all into whatever style I want for my senior project. I am also double minoring, in Art History and Nutrition. I considered turning my art history minor into another major, but I decided that it would be too much. Beyond textiles and fashion, I finally found what inspires me in art that I can use in my studies. Definitely super helpful because I cannot keep meandering about. These last couple years at the university will definitely be packed, but at least I have a better idea of which direction to go.


The coming 2017 I really hope to continue expanding my circles, and going beyond my comfort zone. I’ve made a ton of good friends over this past year, many of whom I still keep in contact with. I had to force myself to stop being quiet in my classes, and to not be afraid to be the first to speak up. Usually I let others approach me, but it doesn’t hurt to be the one taking the first step. After all, if things go wrong, in ten weeks the quarter would be over and I won’t ever have to see their faces again. Taking some aspects of my customer-friendly persona at work, and applying that carefree cheery confidence into my daily life really helped me a lot. I definitely want to continue doing that. Pushing beyond those walls I’ve built in the past.

I also hope that this coming year my blog will continue to grow and achieve more. It can be difficult to set aside time to blog, as it is a job in itself. With school and my part-time job, it can be a lot to do. But the successes and achievements are worth the pain and hard work.

New Year’s Resolutions aren’t always the best choice for me. Sure making a list is easy. I can readily whip up a long list of things I hope to do and achieve. We all have things we want to improve on. But these lists don’t do anything to help me get closer to achieving my goals. What really helps is looking at past successes. Knowing that I have the capability of achieving certain things helps me to continue on and put in effort to make my goals happen. A competition between my past and present, if you will. Looking back on past me and wanting to surpass that really helps me make my aspirations a reality.

When comparing my current status with where I was at in the beginning of 2016, I definitely think that I've gotten somewhere. I made some New Year's resolutions last year to help guide me. I think that I have achieved my resolutions more or less. Be an achiever, be daring, be simple, be experimental, be myself. Those where what I set out to do and improve on. Check, check, check, check, and check..?

Sorta kinda maybe...?

I mean I think I've grown and gotten closer to where I want to be. Maybe not all of them to their fullest, but definitely somewhere. Let's go with that.


How do you go about achieving your New Year’s Resolutions?

I really hope this coming year will be a good one. Let’s see how this goes. In a short 365 days I will be looking back and comparing. I wonder what future me will think. If you could gaze into the future… Shut up. I’ve been watching way too many Disney Channel reruns. Back when the shows used to actually be entertaining and worth watching. Hence one of my recent Instagram post and this reference here… Comment down below if you know what I am talking bout! (Also don't hesitate to follow me on Instagram if you haven't already. Mwa ha ha ha shameless self promotion)

What are some of your aspirations for 2017? How do you think your 2016 went? Did you achieve any of the goals you had set? Lemme know in the comments below! 

I hope you all enjoyed reading this longer rant of a post! Thanks for sticking it out and reading it! You guys are amazing, and I wish you all a wonderful week!


Til next time,
~A