Supermoon Saturday Snapshots

Photography: JJ and me

THE AVENGERS !!! If you have not gotten your butt to a movie theatre yet, do so because this was 2.5 hours of in-your-face pure awesome. The actors were phenom (everyone loves some Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans, right?), comedic relief right on the spot, and interesting plot quirks ("ohhhh it all makes sense now") for those who have watched paid attention to all the Marvel movies. Not to worry - I have friends who haven't seen anything besides Ironman and they thoroughly enjoyed and followed the film. Stay after both end credits for two extra scenes.

Also, tonight is the SUPERMOON, the biggest moon this year. It's 15,300 miles (24,600 km) closer to Earth than usual and shining white and bright. Makes me want to track things in the woods by moonlight all folklore-style. Here are some photos JJ took with his mad cam skills (confession: I'm still having trouble figuring out where all my buttons are, let alone using them in manual T__T)

Went to Starbucks to study in an Express denim romper from Goodwill ($3 baby). It was well over 90 degrees and humid today, so lots of sweat was involved. Fear not, half off Frappucino Week is here (May 4-13, 3-5 PM) and we got a hugeee Mocha Cookie Crumble frappucino for free for JJ's bday. Will be there at the crack of dawn to hustle for a good table and get some neuro studying on, full throttle. Found some interesting things at Urban Outfitters too like flamingo flats and a studded fanny pack (nerd meets rocker - awesome). Picasa and Flickr codes don't like each other. After two hours of tinkering with code ... kthxbai

As always, my Instagram username is @pandaphilia. Follow me for foodporn and daily snapshots!

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The White & Stripes

Today I woke up after 6 hours of sleep naturally. Why couldn't my body keep up like this during cram season? Haha I guess the more you use your brain the more rest it needs. I decided to try out a nearby theatre, Reading Cinemas Carmel Mountain instead of the big IMAX/3D one in Mira Mesa. This one is directly across the street from Borders and is smaller but still has great big screens. I loved that the theatre was nearly empty because I was so absorbed into the events of the film I was watching ... INCEPTION. All the hype is so true! The plot was so complex and acting so well-done, I really have to applaud Dicaprio, Ellen Page, and the rest of the cast (yes, I did stare at her ill-fitting suit too) for their outstanding performances. If you haven't seen this yet, it's a must! I like movies that make you think and think and think long after the final blackout vanishes from your mental projection screen. I find that the worse the preview, the better the actual film. I wasn't interested in Inception at all until it came out and people started hypeing it xD I give it 5/5 stars!

I wore this cozy and casual chic outfit to the theatre and did some walking and meandering through stores before the 2:10 movie started. I peaked inside Marshall's for the first time but they didn't have nude pumps or any shoes on sale that fit me. I walked all the way down to the Claire's by Barnes & Noble and managed to rub blisters on my little toes : ( As I always say, beauty is pain! I found these really cute hot pink frame, clear lens big nerd glasses but they were $8.50. That's just not a good investment if I'm only going to wear them .. twice? xD If I can find something similar at Forever 21 I'll nab it and use for other nerdy outfits and goofing around. I did pick up this adorable white purse with ruffles today for $14. That's not bad considering it's probably cheaper than anything I can find even at F21 along these lines. I love it as a medium sized handbag. The straps don't keep falling down so far - which is a must for me. I usually prefer shoulder bags simply because I put it on and forget about it, never having to worry about constantly pushing the straps back up. Low maintenance is key.

This skirt I picked up from my haul yesterday (was it only yesterday? I still can't believe it's only been 2 days since my MCAT) for $11.80. It's a Small but the waistband gaps a tiny bit. I wish it could be half an inch tighter xD The left side has the hidden mini zipper (I actually hate those flimsy little zippers that always snag/break) and this skirt has 2 pockets! They're quite deep and sturdy and I can put all sorts of things in them - phone, camera, batteries, Loch Ness monster. It is a bit short for my comfort but it's not obscenely inappropriate so it's nice for summer/fall transition because it's a thicker heavier cotton material.

The huge turquoise long necklace I hauled from a F21 online purchase a while ago. It has double chains and has gold wire wrapping the stone. I think it's really pretty and can decorate any simple basic top. I finally get to show off the Varsity Boyfriend Cardigan too! I got all three colours and I took the grey one out for a spin in the SoCal heat. I was sweating like crazy walking around in the shopping plaza but it was perfect for shooting these outfits pictures in the setting sun. Speaking of which, I had to race the sunlight today! I normally take pictures around 11 AM or 4 PM but today I shot at around 7 PM. When the sun dips below the mountains it goes from being bathed in golden rays to dull grey in a heartbeat. This explains the random transition in lighting for my photos. I brightened the ones after the sun said goodbye. Also, for lazy panda like me, I figured out that my mini tripod's head can rotate sideways and take vertical shots! Yay for no cropping : ) It took me a while to adjust to the new location because I had to go all the way to the bottom of the stairs where the sunlight was still full-ish to avoid strange shadows cutting out random pieces of my body. Enjoy!

Wearing:

White scoopneck tee, F21

Grey boyfriend cardigan, F21

Navy blue and red striped skirt, F21

White low heel pumps, Payless

Turquoise gold chain long necklace, F21

White ruffles handbag, Claire's

All self-timers : ) I realize I wasn't very creative with my poses but casual outfits call for casual poses, eh? I guess the downside to closer up shots is you can see all my tired eye bags hahaha. This mineral stuff doesn't cover it. I will try Revlon Photo Ready next time.

Kind of blurry. This was right when the sun dipped below the horizon. My camera no likey hormonal lighting changes

"Do I put it here?" Haha talking to my camera. At least my legs look skinny from this angle.

I love me some (hot) POCKETS

What's a Pandaphilia post without some craziness involved?

The pretty white purse! Oh no I'm starting to become a purse addict D:

Turquoise with pretty crackling

 Interface

Hope you enjoyed this new style of outfit posts! I have so much new stuff to feature still. Does anyone know how to prevent blisters from heels? My pinky toes are complaining from all my adventures today strutting about. I wonder what I will do tomorrow. Ooh my family is moving to a new place next week so I'll have a new backdrop as well. Changes, changes for the busy relaxing beaver! Have a great one : )

Invictus Review: Feel-Good Sports Movie Meets Indie Flick

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernst Henley

When my friends and I arrived at Edwards IMAX Cinema in Mira Mesa, we didn't quite know what to watch. Most of us had already seen Avatar or Sherlock Holmes, so we chose Invictus without a lot of confidence. I didn't even know what it was about, but I was told it was apparently about "rugby and politics." Oh boy, two things I don't know anything about (Once in a while I dabble in politics but it's a nice mess to stay out of altogether).

The film started out pretty slow, with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela, former President of post-apartheid South Africa. I thought, oh boy, I don't know anything about this guy or his country. Sad not-history buff me. But little did I now this was a Clint Eastwood film, and he, my friends, is a man if there ever was one (have you SEEN Gran Torino?).

I think Freeman did a wonderful job playing the apartheid-prisoner-gone-hero, a grandfatherly stubborn man. I learned quite a lot about rugby and a little about history and the terrible cruelty that occurs when human beings not so different from each other decide to see the world in discriminatory shades of black and white. It was heart-warming to watch a country come together, maybe too good to be true you say, but it raised my spirits and made me feel proud to be a human being (nowadays many movies assert the contrary).

It's rare that I take away something from a movie these days, but from this little somewhat indie film (there were maybe 4 other people in the theatre with us), I learned a lot about compassion for a national sport, communication, and tolerance. In the movie, Mandela says, "How am I to expect my country to move forward if I don't forgive?" That brings into light something I don't do enough, forgive and forget. We should all aspire to be the most successful, happiest people we can be, but we must also remember that sometimes the best feeling and highest achievement is reaching down to help others out of the pit in which you were trapped for a long time. Sometimes being the bigger person isn't just something to brag about, but it's necessary for peace. My views on world peace are a completely different matter (I don't think it's practically achievable due to many conditions) - but there is such a thing as local peace, and very importantly, inner peace.

History is worth learning, because it's the story of people just like us, living out their lives, interconnected with the billions of others around them.