Pandaphilia Featured on Suddenly Darling 2-7-2011 to 3-30-2011

When I logged into Suddenly Darling today, I was surprised to see that I was the featured member for February 17, 2011. Read the article here! I've been so caught up with exams and craziness that I haven't even noticed until now! Thank you so much - I'm super flattered! It was an outfit I submitted for a Darling of the Month contest a while back and it made me smile to see all the nice comments. Sometimes when you feel completely un-gorgeous after a straight week of non-stop intense work, a little thing like that can absolutely brighten up your day. 

The Darling Tip was: "Lose the tights and boots on a sunny day! You'll still look darling!" I would love to agree but it's still freezing temperatures here in STL. Please, spring, come back !

Suddenly Darling is a site run by Katelyn Rose, and the key is modesty in how you dress yourself. I first learned about this site from Kristy's DOTM contest entry (I love this girl - she has such refined style!). This site is nice for girls to learn and share how they can dress fashionably without showing off too much skin and I've seen a lot of adorable outfits. 

Whew! An update on life: After a long week involving 3 difficult exams, a neuroscience summer research application, and more sleep-robbers, I finally got to exhale and have fun Friday and Saturday! It's been a long time and I realize that blogging is what keeps me sane during the school year, but time is short and my to-do list is long. I have been taking photos every once in a while, so I can sneak in a few posts every once in a while. 

Yesterday I went out with my research lab and we had a blast at a sushi bar. It was pretty affordable and I really enjoyed getting to hang out with my co-workers and let loose. My friends and I then went to a karaoke night and followed up with a costume party. My boyfriend and I went as Popeye the Sailor man and a Sailor Girl (I didn't want to dress like Olive Oyl haha) and I even used black lipstick to draw on fake anchor tattoos onto his arms. Of course we took photos and I'll have to post those later. 

Last night, I slept for a grand total of 14 hours to make up that accumulated sleep debt and went to the mall to celebrate. At H&M I picked up some interesting pieces, like an adorable swallow print skirt, some sale items I have been craving since early winter, and a butterfly cropped top complete with bowler hats. As the weather warms, I'll be taking photos outside again yay! I also discovered the gaudiest store ever: Love Culture; much worse than F21 in terms of layout and store decor. Speaking of which, at Forever 21, I scored a faux fur leopard jacket that I've always wanted and a shearling jacket for $10 each. We had Five Guys to keep us stuffed and happy (you MUST eat there if you ever pass by one - such amazing burgers and fries!) and I did a whole lot of walking in my furry boots. Maximum relaxation, accomplished. Other than that, how I relax is watching animal documentaries. Has anyone noticed how mean David Attenborough is to nature? He likes disturbing the balance for the sake of getting a nice look into a termite hive. I still love the old man - what animal show would be complete without his charming British voice in the background?

Tell me how you guys have been! I have missed you so much : )

♥ Angie

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Forever 21 x Petro Zillia Collection

Photo credit: Forever21.com

Hi everyone! It's finally Friday and I have some time to chill in my room and blog, what I DEARLY miss. I feel like I'm eating and breathing science and work 24/7 and I need a break for my brain to expand and inhale, exhale, repeat. I've also got a bug that's circulating around campus which is making me cough my guts out (yes to the ab workout, no to being sick) and sit in a stupor all day, so Forever 21's newly released Petro Zillia collection is definitely one to brighten the spirits, especially in ice-over St. Louis. I had never heard of this designer, but apparently this is an LA boutique and the major theme is super pop colours. Everything reminds me of the 80s but more psychedelic bordering on Hannah Montana section at Walmart. I'm into bright colours but not an overload of 5-year-old pinks. I'm going to sit out this collection unless I get my hands on those pair of adorable socks that apparently aren't for sale. It's a bit disappointing that the promo photos are so much better than on the models. 

Regardless, here are some of my picks: 

Fruit Punch Stripes Sweater Cardigan $24.80 USD: 

Very cute from the back, pretty meh from the front. This would totally cheer up those winter blues and look super cute with a big fluffed up white scarf and a cup of coffee while studying and turning heads at the library.

Left: Sweet Hearts Cardigan $24.80: Wear with high waisted pants/skirt or a long tank top

Right: Fruit Punch Stripes Sweater $22.80: I don't really know what to say about this ... it reminds me of Fruit Loops. Wear with leg warmers and a high ponytail and lots of other super electrifying bright accessories to look not-so-crazy

Left: Sweet Puff Slv Sweater $24.80: The yarn details are kind of cute but it still looks better/different in the promo

Right: Berries N Cream Contrast Dress $29.80: A dressier berry colour. Reminds me of the berries & creme Starburst candies. This would be pretty for a low-key Valentines date

Ribbons & Tulle Party Dress $27.80: I've always liked the look of tulle. The alternating striped blue and black and different textures also makes this a unique party dress. The least gawdy of the collection for those of us that like classic dark colours.

Do you dig the Petro Zillia x Forever 21 collab? I feel like if I tried these on I would request a pair of white vintage rollerskates and throw my hair up in a high ponytail and zoom back in time to a groovier time. Old fashioned soft serve ice cream at a classic hamburger joint, true fountain soda, red and white checkered tablecloth. It's so hard to resist shopping! I want to emerse myself in fashion magazines and racks of clothing until I can't walk in a straight line. I want to strut in my high heels and wedges and hip-hugging skirts. The ice is so slippery and treacherous and it literally feels like I'm being slapped incessantly by the wind. I heard the groundhog says we're getting an early spring. Please let it be. I don't know how many more days I can withstand looking like the most unfashionable Eskimo.

Another post later this weekend? ; ) We'll see !

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[VOTE] Hypeed Valentine's Contest + Glamour Shots Teaser

Score Angela C's contribution - fashion magazine by real people

Hi guys! it's been eons and eons, I know! What have I been up to? Well, aside from keeping track of my sleep records to collect data on my own biological clock, taking classes until 9 PM every weekday, and studying for Angie versus the MCAT Round 2, and conducting research, I entered a Hypeed contest featuring photos from a glamour shoot my boyfriend and I did in Taiwan at Modern Concept Studios. Here is a sneak preview of a Kodak perfect time and I will be posting more of those photos in the future.

I hope that you can take a second to vote for our photos, we would appreciate it! You can find the link in the slideshow above. The photographer was so fun to work with. He was an absolute pro in finding all the proper angles and lighting on a gloomy day. The screenshot shows Hypeed's take on our photo: "ONE WORD: CHIC" ! We're so flattered to be grazing the front page of the contest slide show right now.

I have decided that I miss blogging wayyy too much just to leave it but I do hope that I can learn something from having adventures in the clean, fresh air instead of hiding behind my computer screen all the time. This semester is hectic, but prepare for Summer 2011 - new camera, new style, and endless fashion.

I miss you all and thank you for your continuous support always ! ♥

Angie

New Year, New Start

Happy 2011, everyone! It's good to be back in the States after two and a half weeks and good to have wi-fi. Honestly though, I miss Taiwan so much already! I'm going to be so depressed without amazing cheap food every single breathing moment. I'm also officially the heaviest I've ever been in my life and with no regrets. My apologies for not writing scheduled posts like I had planned or updating for over half a month - never thought I could survive that long without constant internet access. 

This brings me to another point. I feel like since high school I have been practically living on the internet and not spending enough time with family and friends. If I keep the browser open long enough, hours are gone randomly clicking around and closing and reopening the same tabs. While I feel like blogging has been such an amazing experience, I feel like now it's time to take a break and get back to living offline. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm going to miss every one of you and I can't thank you all enough for the support you've given me these 1.5 years. I'm so blessed to have met so many people with dedication and kindness and interesting things to share. I will continue stalking your blogs and maybe occasionally update but this semester I'm going to focus on getting into medical school and living out my daily life dreams. It's been so long since I sketched for the heck of it. I keep saying I never have time to play videogames or watch movies or hang out but in reality I do. Blogging alone is not to blame but each post takes so much time and to this day I can't let go of trying to perfect what I perceive as a form of digital art and literature. Each photoshoot takes a while and editing even more. I envy and respect those of you who have a job and still blog daily. I am a student first and foremost and it's time I started acting like one. This semester is jam-packed full of science courses and research and MCAT class and community service and it never ends. I'm both excited for it and yet totally unprepared.

When I was standing at the metro station in Taipei surrounded by seas and seas of people, I felt comfortable, I felt excited and I had an epiphany. I want to spend my money traveling and seeing the world. I want to save up not for a fancy camera to take pictures of myself, but for experience, for memories, for Paris, Greece, Barcelona, Okinawa, the rainforest, Great Barrier Reef. I really enjoyed traveling and being in the big city and amongst a new culture - turns out Taiwan is really different from the Asia I know. I was really surprised that people like wearing those face masks while driving around on mopeds. I thought there was another SARS epidemic but actually people use them to stay warm xD There were so many interesting cultural nuances that piqued my curiosity and I'm itching to explore more.

A year ago I wanted to quit blogging because I was scared of change. I was scared of what I would turn into and of the uncertainty. I'm really happy I didn't stop then. Right now, this decision has been carefully thought over during my trip and I am at peace with what I have become as a consequence of the blogosphere. Yes, I have accumulated more clothes and makeup, but I also have more knowledge. I am more comfortable with my appearance and less self-conscious (of course it was more difficult in Taiwan where indeed all the girls were sooo thin!). I am a stronger individual and a faster writer. I close this chapter of my book to begin a new one. 

Good-bye for now my dear friends. Adventure is out there!