Sam Edelman Petty Booties VS Dolce Vita Cassidy Booties

 Ever since I picked up a pair of tan suede booties (on a whim since they were on sale for $20!) I realized I needed a pair in black also. I really wanted to find one before I left for my trip to Arizona so I ended up ordering the Sam Edelman Petty Bootie and the DV by Dolce Vita Cassidy Bootie both in black suede.

 I originally thought I would like the Dolce Vita ones better since the style more closely resembles the current booties that I have. Plus I had seen these in person before ordering them online though I had never gotten the chance to actually try them on. I had seen someone else do so and they looked great on her. The main issues I had with DV booties were with the shaft. While the bottom of the shoes were really sturdy and thick the shaft was so flimsy in comparison. It's a slip on style with no additional zippers. My current inexpensive booties are also like that but even they feel more robust compared to these. It almost seemed like after continuous wear they might start to tear. On top of that the shaft opening was just too big for me. While it would have looked better with tucked in pants, I wanted the option of being able to wear them bare legged for the summer. Additionally the suede had more of a worn-in texture that I didn't prefer.

 The Sam Edelman booties on the other hand pleasantly surprised me. Even though the style looked different than what I wanted I liked these better. These felt sturdy all the way around. They cut off at a more flattering part of the leg so that it was possible to wear them bare legged, and on top of that they had a zipper opening on the sides to make it easier to put on/off. I thought the different colored sole/heel would make it too casual but (depending on the outfit) I'm able to wear these to work as well. I will admit these were not comfortable right off the bat. They did feel a bit stiff, and still do to a point now. I've gotten used to them though and highly recommend them. I probably wouldn't wear these if I knew I would be walking around outside a ton, but I did end up wearing them to a cavern tour and my feet felt fine. (Though it does make decently loud heel noises so I wouldn't wear them again to the caves if I had a choice...it was a spur of the moment decision to go).

Unboxing/Review: ban.do Pencil Pouches

 Ever since I found out about ban.do through their popular "I AM VERY BUSY" planner (that always sells out) I've been keeping my eye on them. Besides planners they also sell quite a few other fun, cute items from tech to fashion accessories. If there was a store closer to me that sold their stuff I would probably be constantly purchasing their items.

I finally had an excuse to make an online order when a friend's birthday was coming up. I wanted something unique to add to his main gift. Since he works a desk job I thought an eye-catching pencil case would be ideal. Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add something for me as well. I think I spent a good hour going through all their merchandise before settling on the exact same pencil case except in a different design/color. The Get It Together Pencil Pouch retails for $12 on their site (a steal!), though I had signed up for their newsletter and used a 10% off coupon.

The pouches are exactly how they're pictured on the website. The only difference would be that the pink one is more of a true bright pink rather than the sort of lilac/lavender color it gives off in the photo. I tried to color correct my photos so it looked as close to what it looks like in real life, but even mine turned out with a somewhat purple-hue. I normally wouldn't go for such a color, but it's only on one side. Plus I actually think it goes well with the whole design. I ordered the white/pink one with their signature "I AM VERY BUSY" print on the front. I almost wanted to keep the "Stay Focused" one for myself too. The fact that those words are inside glasses frames didn't help the matter. (Next purchase since you know this won't be the last time).

The pouch is rather roomy that you could even potentially use it as a small makeup bag if you don't have a need for a pencil pouch. The inside is lined with a fabric with tiny red hearts. The only issue that I noticed after using this for a few weeks was that sometimes the zipper would get caught in the lining. Actually upon arrival one of the pouches wouldn't even open all the way since the lining had gotten stuck. So you do have to be careful when closing the pouch since fabric inside can easily move around.

Overall I was very satisfied with the products and packaging. Some other products that I might get in the future are the Hot Stuff Thermal Mug, Back Me Up! Mobile Charger, and the Zip Zip Keychain Pouch.

My Travel Makeup Bag Essentials

Is it sad to admit that I've never flown on a plane by myself before I went to Arizona last month? Yeah, probably pretty sad. But besides that the next stressful thing was packing. Not that I hadn't had to do it for other types of trips, but with the whole TSA regulations it was just another thing to worry about traveling alone.

My makeup essentials are pretty basic to start with, but the fact that I couldn't bring my two favorite eyeshadow palettes were a bummer. I decided (besides any liquids and creams) to fit everything into this medium sized patent cosmetic case from Tory Burch. (Detailed photos of the bag below).

• Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: I actually got gifted this (twice!). Guess people know that I love my UD eyeshadows. Perfect size for traveling + a huge mirror = A+
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion: Can't remember the last time I actually paid for one of these since I keep getting it with palettes. I ain't complaining. I love that they've brought back the doe foot applicator. 
• Benefit Hoola Bronzer: I can't finish my makeup without finishing off with my go-to bronzer.
• Benefit Rockateur Blush: Got suckered into getting this the last time I was getting my eyebrows done. But it's the perfect blush/highlighter combo. 
• Stila Kitten Eyeshadow: Okay, I couldn't just go with just a basic palette. I need my shimmery highlight colors. 
• Wet n Wild Nutty Eyeshadow: So inexpensive, but works pretty great. Definitely worthy of all the hype.
• Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: My trusty curler that I've had for over seven years. (I've finally retired it for another one which I'll share in my next favorites post). 
• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: I always have a backup of these on hand since it's the only liquid eyeliner I use.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Dark Brown Brow Wiz: Another can't-live-without-product. I'm constantly repurchasing these as well. 
• Ecotools Eye Brushes: I've had these for so long and probably got them in a set at the drugstore. They haven't failed me so far. Plus they still look great and are super soft. 
• e.l.f. Complexion Brush: I actually use this for bronzer since I like a bigger brush for less streakiness.
• Real Techniques Blush Brush: This brand makes good quality makeup brushes that you can buy at the drugstore. I've slowly been collecting a few that I've always wanted, like this blush brush.

I got this cosmetic case as a gift two years back so I'm not sure if the price is the same as the updated version that they sell now. It looks like this exact one isn't made anymore. But it's pretty much identical to this one. The only difference is that the newer one is slightly smaller and shaped more circular while the one I have is more rectangular.

IFB Links à la Mode: April 30

A weekly round-up of fashion/blogging related posts via the Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB). Check out some of these great reads below (included is my pilling-removing post from a few days ago). 

Amethyst Honey: Zodiac Dresser: Aries by Moschino

Attire Club: A Fascinating List of Fashion Firsts

Beautify My Life: Taking on the Conscious Closet Challenge

Femme Violet: Queer Fashion Week

Foxy Oxie: How to Get Along With Other Women

Funky Jungle: Five Things That Helped Me Become a Better Blogger

Ginger Side of Life: Galapagos Cruise Style

Hello, Handbag: Nepal Earthquake: How to Help

Seeing Stripes: How To Remove Pilling From Sweaters

Les Assorties: Paris Je t'Aime: An Interview With Iconic French

Nicole's Lifestyle Lounge: Top Makeup Brands for Brown-Skin Girls

Purushu: Men's Summer Holiday Essentials

Rising Colors: 5 Short Hair Misconceptions

Savoir Style: Time Management Tips for Moms With Toddlers

Sheela Writes: It's a Barbie World

Splash of Teal: How to Wear a Maxi Dress When You're Petite

Style Diary by Osy: Sibling Burgundy

That Paki Blog: Complete Coverage of Pakistan Fashionweek

TLV Birdie: White + Elm Natural Skincare + Earth Day Giveaway

We Are Ready Made: The Starman 

SPONSOR: Shop Style at Shopbop: Ruby Mint, Rollie shoes, Beyond Yoga, Golden Goose shoes, Line Dry, A.V. Max, Mulo, Lace Flats, Tie Neck Blouses & Metallic Pumps

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Life Lately: Falling in Love with Cacti

 

Excuse the lack in updates recently. I took my first vacation EVER since I've started working to finally visit the boyfriend before he finishes his current residency in Arizona. I spent a week there and it was really enjoyable considering that I've never had the desire to take a trip to AZ before. I think this was also my first time this whole year wearing denim. I don't know if this is sad or not. (Just shows how much time I spend in clinic-attire and scrubs). Since I actually tried to do something every day that I was there I'll just break down a few highlights below. 

• FOOD. Oh man, the one thing that I made sure to plan was to have places I wanted to eat squared away. Of course we had delicious Mexican food almost everyday. I'm still dreaming about the BBQ pork tacos and esquites we had for dinner one evening...
• On top of food places, I also bookmarked a couple coffee places I wanted to check out as well (seeing that the boba options are non-existent there). Even though the area that the BF lives in isn't one of the major cities, they have a better selection of coffee joints than I do! (Though you really have to drive everywhere and from where he lives everything is at least a good 15 minutes away). The photo in the top right corner and the bottom left corner are both from the same place aka hands down the best cup of coffee out of all the ones I tried there. It probably helps that they use Blue Bottle too and the atmosphere was very San Francisco-y. 
• So Arizona is also HOT, HOT, HOT. Though I shouldn't be complaining since I heard it's way worse in the summer. Even on days we weren't doing anything in particular (besides going around to different places to eat) we would be drained mid day due to the heat. It was pretty nice being able to walk around at 8/9pm with just a dress on though. 
• Despite the heat, we managed to go visit the zoo, go up to Gates Pass to see the amazing sunset, check out the caverns at the national park, and check out the gorgeous campus at the nearby university. 
• All in all, I had a great trip and fell so in love with all the cacti there that I decided to bring one home with me. I don't know how great I am with plants (even ones that don't need that much TLC) but we'll see how it goes. It did state on the packaging that it would grow within 3-10 days and it's reaching that mark with no sign of life...

March Favorites 2015

I seem to have a lot of nail related products as my favorite for last month. I think it's because I've found my perfect combo of base coat, top coat, and remover so it makes the process of doing my nails so much better. I've been pretty good about not purchasing too many makeup items which is why there's an absence of them for March. 

•  Soy Iced Latte Candle. I normally am not a fan of candles that smell like food, but I love a good coffee/espresso candle. It's just like being a coffee shop! Target has their own line of candles that aren't too pricey that I always purchase. They've been good about adding new scents to the collection, and this iced latte one is one of them. It's about the same size as the Bath and Body Works 3-wick candle for half the price. The only downside is that it only has 1 wick so it doesn't burn as evenly as I'd like. Other than that it's amazing. Definitely my favorite scent from that range. It comes in an even bigger size too! (Target doesn't list all these candles on their website, but they do have the Sugar Blossom one on there. I also highly recommend that one if you want something light and fresh. The full range is almost always fully stocked in stores).
• Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat. I originally bought this in conjunction with one of their miracle gel color line polishes. It worked decently but I wasn't a big fan of the huge packaging. I decided to try just the top coat along with my other polishes from O.P.I and Essie, and it's actually become my new favorite top coat. It's so easy to apply since the brush is on the wider side so usually one or two quick strokes is all you need. On top of that it lengthens the time of my manicures. There is some slight chipping since I'm always typing on a keyboard, but so little you can't tell unless you're examining your nails up close.

•  Essie Topless and Barefoot Nail Polish. I think because there has been more surgery days and it has forced me to be more neutral about my polish colors, I've actually come to enjoy them. I'm not one to wear the same color twice in a row, but I pretty much wore only this all of March. Along with the Sally Hansen top coat it has been my go-to manicure all last month.

•  Zoya 3-in-1 Polish Remover. I've been meaning to try this nail polish remover for a while now and finally picked it up from Ulta a few months ago. I always end up with half used polish removers, but this is the only one I've been reaching for lately. It does a great job of removing my polish, and its smell is not offensive. One of the main reasons why I like to use this is for its pump. I can't count how many times I've accidentally knocked over a polish remover bottle. The pump makes it easy to just take a cotton round and soak the remover onto the pad without having to pick up the entire bottle.
• L'oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray. The only time I put products in my hair is when I'm using a hair serum. Other than that I prefer to keep my hair product-free. Lately though I've been straightening my hair due to its length and the little baby hairs that stick up around my face have been bugging me like no other! I bought the mini size of this a long time ago just to have on hand, but I've started to use this pretty regularly.. I basically spray some into my hand and use it to pat down any hairs that are sticking up.

•  Shashi Lilu Bracelet. This is another old favorite that has come into rotation again. It's a simple, delicate bead bracelet with colorful, miniature tassels adorned all around. It's easy to wear by itself, but also looks great stacked up with other bracelets and even watches. Unfortunately it looks like the clear beaded version of this bracelet is no longer available, but Shashi still makes this exact item just in different colors. (I'm actually wearing this in my most recent Instagram post even though it's a little hard to tell).

• Michael Kors Stacked Pyramid Pave Ring. Most of the jewelry that my boyfriend has gifted to me I've picked out myself. His taste in jewelry and my taste in jewelry is very different. We've been together long enough where if I like something I'll show him and he'll keep it in mind for a future gift-giving-occasion. You won't believe how surprised I was when he actually picked out this MK ring HIMSELF. He knows I do like the whole pyramid/studded design which is why he ended up getting me this. I love how it's a statement piece, but you can subdue it by taking out two of the pieces. You can also wear it with the band (with the logo on it) facing upright or upside down. He did good folks.

Unboxing/Review: Daniel Wellington Leather Band Watches

How did I originally hear about Daniel Wellington? Through Instagram. Almost every blogger seemed to be posting photos of them wearing one. I had never hear of the brand before then and was intrigued. I had always been on the lookout for a simple, black leather band watch. When I looked through DW's website and saw the Classy Sheffield (26 mm) I decided to do my research.

If I'm going to be perfectly honest I'll admit that I was a little skeptical of purchasing a watch from Daniel Wellington. I have a decent collection of watches and don't mind spending money on them since I wear one every day. While I definitely have watches that were way more expensive than some of DW's watches, I didn't feel comfortable spending a still good amount of money on a watch I had a)never seen in person and b)from a brand I had never heard of before.

I ended up spending a few weeks looking around for a similar design from other watch companies. You would think it wouldn't be such a hard task seeing how simple the DW watches are, but it actually is! One of the main qualities I was looking for was a plain face with non-silver metal detailing. While Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade had some that almost fit the bill, I didn't want anything that had the brand's logo very apparent or with non-classic details (like the spade, even though it is quite cute).

So in the end I decided to go ahead and order the Classy Sheffield with the black leather strap and the rose gold case. BEST. DECISION. EVER. I always thought certain outfits would just go better with a black leather strap watch vs the metal/ceramic band watches (which I normally wear) so I would just rotate this in every now and then. I originally purchased my first Daniel Wellington watch back in August of 2014 and for the past 7 months I've been wearing it 95% of the time. It's so lightweight, goes with everything, and the leather is even better than it was when I first got it (it's gotten a bit worn in and fits perfectly on my wrist).

And that brings me to the Classy St. Mawes Lady (36 mm). I was also interested in the lighter brown strap too during my first look through so decided to order this one in the larger size (which seems to be more popular...on IG anyways). I like this style as well though I wish the brown was more lighter, but overall it's another amazing addition to my collection. Since it is the larger version it does tend to move around on my wrist a bit more (but all watches do) and the leather is taking longer to "break in." For this time around I remembered to snap some photos of the packaging so decided to share along with my review.

Got this delivered to my parents' place and the UPS man totally called me out! 
Mom: "Another package?!" Him: "It's something good though it's a watch!"

Pricing is fair. The US website shows $199 but apparently pricing can vary depending on where it's being shipped from. (That's the only reason I seemed to be able to find). It showed up as $159.20 for me during check out (but paid a total of $135.20 using a discount code).

Well loved Classy Sheffield. Listed as $149 on the website though at checkout it showed up at $119.20 (with a discount code paid $101.32). If anyone knows the reason for the differences in price let me know!

How To Removing Pilling From Sweaters

 I feel at this point most of my sweaters have gotten a lot of use seeing that winter has come and gone. I have this cardigan that I wear TO DEATH during the colder weather and it's definitely seen better days. It's held up relatively well considering that it was less than $20 and I've had it for a few years. The main concern I had about it was the pilling. It was out of hand. I had bought this in a second color (that's how much I liked this cardigan) and the same issue came up with that one. The pills are more apparent on the lighter color but I don't wear that one as much so I decided to first try this removal method on the blue one. And I am happy to say it worked like a charm and is ridiculously easy, if not a bit time-consuming. (I wouldn't recommend doing this on more expensive clothing items).

Here's my method of removing pills from your sweaters and cardigans in 2 simple steps using only 2 items.

 Tools: A disposable razor and some packing tape. That's it!

 Step 1: Lay out your clothing on a flat surface. Start firmly dragging the razor across the surface. You may have to go over certain areas multiple times depending on how much pilling it had (typically worse on the insides of the arms where the fabric would be in contact with the sides of the body).

 Step 2: Once you start seeing the pills gather take a piece of packing tape and pat all over to grab the now loose pills. This should also help remove any barely-attached pieces as well.

 I did the same with my other cardigan. And voila! I can now wear them for a couple more winters.

Working in my Giles Eek Hat

I never thought there would come a time where I would actually dread the weather getting warm. I hate being cold so I'm usually pretty excited when spring/summer comes back around. I feel like this year though just as I started really enjoying my "winter" pieces (I do live in California after all) I have to start putting them away again.

This Giles Eek Hat by Wool and The Gang is a prime example (back in stock in 'tweed gray'). I debated purchasing it for so long I only got to wear it three times. The most recent time I actually decided to wear it on my commute to work not caring if it would mess up my hair or not. This day was probably one of the last real cold days before it started crawling up toward the high 70's. Unfortunately it was still too dark in the morning to photograph my outfit so I had to take these on my commute back. (The hat looked more appropriate with my winter coat I promise).

I did a whole post on the unboxing which you can view here. I hadn't worn it at the time though. Regardless of the fact that I won't be able to wear this hat anymore (unless I decided to visit somewhere a lot colder soon) I am still obsessed with it! The eyeballs look even better when the hat is being worn, and it really does an amazing job of keeping your head warm. That thick knit, besides looking oh so cool, does wonders of keeping the chilliness away. 

Express shirt (similar), Old Navy pants, Target belt (similar), Ray Ban sunglasses

Almost Spring Wishlist

I think the fact that I have a trip coming up has actually gotten me excited about looking into new items to add to my closet. And once I get into one of these moods it's hard to stop. I mean, just the other day I made an Amazon order, a Loft order, and am pretty close to making a J.Crew one after obtaining a 30% off coupon code.

Here a couple things that I've only thought about buying but haven't (yet).
1. Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana Perfume. I normally try to avoid the pushy sales ladies on the department store floors, but one managed to hand me a sample of this and go into a spiel about how it was new and had some exotic flower in the ingredients. I decided to smell it just to be polite, and FELL IN LOVE. I know, that's pretty dramatic. But I'm picky about perfumes and have been using the same one for five years now. I picked up the smallest spray possible on Sephora (since it is quite expensive), but I've gone through more than half of it now. I think it's time to invest in the next size up.
2. Ray Ban Eyeglasses (RB5228 in Brown/Pink). I normally wear contacts but wear my glasses whenever I'm at home since my eyes tend to get pretty dry (typical asian female yo). I've never found any frames I like enough to consider wearing them out and about, but I tried these on and they just worked on my face shape. It's been almost a year since I discovered them and think it's time to invest. (Though with the amount I'm working at the surgery office I don't know how practical that's going to be. I mean it's a little weird to be working in a LASIK center and be wearing GLASSES).
3. Kitten Espadrilles. I need a pair of warm weather shoes that aren't sandals and these look comfy enough to wear out and about without being sneakers. (Though I still love my black Nikes to death).
4. Lexi Round Sunglasses. While I love the whole round sunglasses trend, I just know they won't work on me (*tear). These still have round lenses while the frames give the illusion that they actually have a slight cat eye shape.
5. Gold Apple MacBook. Okay this is more about the fact that it's GOLD. I mean, look how pretty that is. But I really couldn't live with just one port. And anyone who says they can is lying.
6. DV by Dolce Vita Cassidy Boot. A flat, black pair of ankle boots have been on my wishlist forever but I've never found a pair that I've liked. I honestly just wanted something simple and comfortable that could be worn with a variety of different outfits. These qualities were a lot harder than I thought it was to find. I tried these on at the store around Christmas time last year, but ended up buying another pair of shoes on my list (finally checked off a pair of tall brown leather boots). I'm tempted to order these before my trip and just switch between these and my flat tan suede booties...
7. Get It Together Pencil Pouch. I know Ban.do's planner with this saying is super popular but this pencil pouch appealed to me more (and it's in stock!). I like that it's flat and could even be used as a small makeup bag.
8. Tonal Windowpane Scarf. I've realized that I really like this windowpane pattern that's becoming popular. One of the items in my most recent Loft order is actually a blouse with a black and white windowpane pattern (will share if I end up liking it). I like how the pattern on this scarf is more subtle though and still lightweight enough to wear in this almost-spring-weather.

Life Lately: Don't Stop Me Now

1. I've been trying to be better about using my planner since I obsessed over it until I could get my hands on it. (It's the Weekly edition of the Simplified Planner by Emily Ley. Thinking of potentially doing a review on it after I've used it more and before she comes out with her 2016 version later this year). I've also been back to making my own iced milk teas now that a)the weather is warming up and b)I'm trying to spend a little less at boba places. (Key word: little).
2. My dad went to Seattle recently to show his high school friend from Korea around when he was in California to visit. Of course they went to the iconic first ever Starbucks and got me this mug. I've been keeping it at the surgery office since I can always boil up some hot water and make some tea when I need a pick me up.
3. I finally used the reusable bag that came with my Giles Eek hat (see my post here for more info). It's a little hard to tell in the photo but I ended up buying the same hat in two different colors. (I'm actually wearing the black one in my most recent Instagram photo). I just realized now that if I had bought it online I could have gotten 10% off the second one...*sad face* But I'm picky about hats so I'm glad I got to try them out in person.
4. One of our previous surgery patients was so sweet and dropped by a few days after with the biggest plate of homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I took a few home and I've finished them off already. (What diet?). I've also started a new book, The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters which apparently I've had on hold. I usually go through books pretty fast and a lot had already happened in the story line when I realized that I was actually only 35% through the book! If you're a Goodreads user check out other books I've recently finished here.

Work OOTDs: Incorporating classics

I haven't gone to the gym for two weeks straight since I've been working so much. It also doesn't help that healthy eating has also gone out the window during this period too. (I am sitting here writing this while drinking my leftover In-and-Out neapolitan shake from last night's dinner...).

The weather here has been in that weird transitional phase. It's still pretty darn cold in the mornings and evenings, but the afternoon can get quite warm (especially if the sun is shining out and you have to walk quite a bit to grab some lunch).

So I've been breaking out my cropped pants and pencil skirts (though still with stockings). None of these are ground-breaking outfits, but they're appropriate enough for work without being totally boring. I've been trying to incorporate more timeless pieces that I can rotate between outfits and style in different ways.

A few outfit details:

• Black cropped pants. I scooped these up from Target in their "work wear" section. I have to admit they aren't the best fit. They are a great length, and I like how the waist band area is thick but not constricting. Yet they are a little baggy around the knees and around the calves. That could just be due to my body type though since these pants have a good rating on the website. I've tried higher end cropped pants with a similar problem so I decided to just stick with these.
• Navy cropped pants. I know in the photos above they're hard to tell the difference, but the navy ones are the ones in the third photo. These are from Old Navy and fit a lot better. The only caveat is that they're not as stretchy so overall not as comfortable, especially since I feel like I'm in between sizes. These are just a tad too tight, but the size above was way too loose. These have over 1,000 reviews on the website and a four star rating. If the fit and comfort was better I would purchase them in all the colors. 
• White blouse. The first outfit above was actually inspired by Fran (from Franish, a medical student who blogs about fashion and medicine. Current favorite read! If the fact that I went back pages and pages on her blog wasn't evidence enough). I decided to wear something similar the next time I went to work when I realized I actually didn't own a single white blouse. This was actually the only white blouse that I could find in the store so I bought it without even trying it on. Luckily it fit and even luckier I love it!
• Black leather watch. I won't go into too much detail since I'm planning a post exclusively on this brand, but it isn't just a blogger-hype. I've had this for over half a year and wear it pretty much every day. And it still looks great. I can't recommend it more. (More details to come).

February Favorites 2015

I thought I would bring back these monthly favorite posts since I tend to shop too much and love trying new things. So why not share them on here? (Ironically I noticed the last time I did this was February as well...but two years ago, oops).

• Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple. I actually first noticed this book because of its cover. And this was before I even saw it in full color since it was one of the covers on my Kindle box when I first received it. My friend started reading it (and never finished) but she did rave about it so I decided to pick it up when I was feeling in the mood for a real, physical book. It was a pretty easy read for me so that was nice. Not too heavy but entertaining. Most of the book is written via correspondence between all the different characters. The narrator's mom (who is Bernadette) is hilarious. Definitely my favorite character throughout the novel.
• Symphonized Noise Isolating Headphones. Small, portable headphones that also isolate noise are a must for a public transportation commuter like me. I live pretty far from work so I have to get up extra early to arrive on time. Every morning I try to at least get some more sleep on my train ride, though it gets difficult when the moving train makes so much noise. I never cared about noise isolating headphones till I started commuting. Now I can't survive without them. I used to use these white Skull Candy ones that I was obsessed with, but after having to re-purchase them for a second time after they broke I decided to look into a different brand. I saw all the good reviews on Amazon and for the price I couldn't pass them up! They are made out of genuine wood and on top of looking pretty darn cool they work amazing. The only gripe I have with them is that they don't have volume control. This is a bummer since I try to keep my phone tucked away on the train (I've seen way too many people have their phones snatched). 
• Ariella Collection Crystal Ear Jackets. I have been looking for some ear jacket earrings ever since they started becoming popular. I know Bauble Bar usually has a good collection, but never got around to making an order since the ones I had my eye on were always sold out. I decided to browse through Nordstrom's earrings when I was making an online order and saw these. I had never heard of the brand before, but they appealed to me right away. I have pretty much been wearing them every single day since I've gotten them. I have never gotten more compliments on a pair of earrings until I got these (the fact that my hair is shorter probably helps too). They aren't too flashy that I can't wear them to work, but are noticeable enough that I've gotten comments on them from patients, coworkers, and other strangers alike.
• Laneige Multi-Cleanser. I originally was buying a cream from this brand for my mom at Target when they happened to be having a special where if you bought something from Laneige you got a free mini sample set. In it happened to be this cleanser. I'm pretty happy with my Cetaphil cleanser but decided to try this out one evening after I had finished taking most of my makeup off with a wipe. The description claims to "melt away sunscreen and makeup." Most cleansers that state this are usually too harsh and drying for my skin, but this one didn't give me any of those side effects. It almost gives your skin a squeaky-clean feeling without making it feel too stripped of essential oils. The cleanser does contain "exfoliating papaya" but I wouldn't recommend it if you're just interested in an exfoliater since the papaya dissolves pretty rapidly. I don't mind since I have a separate cleanser I use just for that and I don't want my main cleanser to have that property anyways. I now switch off between this and my Cetaphil cleanser.
• NatureBox Strawberry Greek Yogurt Pretzels. I've had a subscription to this company for a while since I love snacking. I try not to get them every month though since I'm the only one who's usually eating them and it takes me a while to get through them. I recently made a new order after not getting a shipment in a while and loved these pretzels. They are just the right amount of sweet and crunchy. I almost finished the whole bag in one day...(You can find promo codes online if you're interested in signing up for NatureBox. I also am able to send three invites to anyone interested in joining where you can get a free deluxe box [the size I get] for the first month).

Unboxing: Wool and The Gang Giles Eek Hat

Yep, I just bought that hat. I do remember seeing it here and there but I don't know where my sudden obsession came about. One day I just decided I needed to get my hands on it. I browsed through their site and noticed that they had a lot of cute designs in the same type of hat, but I had to get the Giles Eek one. And by had to I mean that it has EYEBALLS on it. C'mon. Do you know how hard it is to find stylish/unique/cool items with eyes/eyeballs on it? VERY. (See my I Heart Guts post below. It is so much easier to find dental-related items versus optometry-related items). 

So I thought about the purchase for a few weeks before deciding to order it when the website proclaimed that there was only "1 left in stock" for this style and color (though how true that is I do not know. The grey one did disappear after I put in my order, but then I noticed it back again the next day. Either way I did not want to risk it!) Ironically it looks like the hat is out of stock in the grey color as I am typing this post. But they have three other colors available here.

It arrived pretty quickly considering it was coming from out of the country. The package was simple but was just another reason I liked it. It came with a few #shareyourknit stickies and a REUSABLE BAG. (I get very excited about these, especially if they're cool like this one).

The actual hat itself came in a simple white "brown bag." And the product is exactly how it looks in photos. The huge chunky knit is amazing and I love the eyeballs knitted on there as well. On top of just looking cool it does a fantastic job of keeping your head warm. Unfortunately the weather isn't cold enough to be wearing such a thick beanie, but luckily it seems like it'll be getting cooling down again soon.