Grape|Orange Soda

H&M bright orange pleated midi skirt (S) // Forever 21 purple v-neck tee (S) // Rue 21 braided belt (M) // 
Fioni cutout peeptoe pumps (5) // Forever 21 hummingbird gold chain necklace //

Photography: JJ

I like Wikipedia's definition of ... "Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals." Unfortunately I'm fresh out. Driving force makes me think of some kind of physics property, or was it chemistry? Where's the gas stop? I need to refuel.

When I put on these bright colours this morning (7/19), I thought "meh, this is nothing special." It's colorblocking all right. No statement necklace, just a dainty gold hummingbird chain I redeemed from Chictopia (it knots up like you wouldn't believe). My favourite pair of black flats are falling apart and giving me weird foot prominences. The back is also torn completely through - six years of wear will do that.

My new favourite place to take photos - the little boutique/apartment complex with the interesting blue door a few hundred feet from my house. Viridian, viridian is Lindell in this muggy heat of summer. Blurry, blurrryyy from the setting sun (a change of ISO nec. maybe?) Yes, that's my derp face for your enjoyment and the last photo is my current mood exactly. {Meanwhile, very proud that I found the quicker way to input html from Flickr ... gosh that saved me at least 15 minutes of fiddling with code} 

In other words, secondaries + MCAT + work concoction is brewing up a nice pot of fatigue.

By the end of this post, I already feel better. This is why I blog. Writing/talking is my happy drug.

Don't forget to enter my Alonai shoes giveaway and JStyleShopper $100 giveaway!

Lulu's 15% Off Code: PANDA

Lulu's offers a wide selection of dresses, tops, bottoms, and shoes shoes shoes! I have been eyeing their neverending Jeffrey Campbell collection forever and recently I've been checking out their clothes too. There are many beautiful sheer pieces and perfect-for-summer fabrics that are crave-worthy. They carry coveted brands such as BB Dakota, Chinese Laundry, and Lush with popular boutique finds like my mint green scallop hem shorts and the black lace crochet skirt also found at Pitaya and Modcloth ("Social Hour Skirt"). Items go fast, so sizes aren't always fully in stock.

Lulu's is kind enough to give a 15% discount off your total purchase with the code PANDA (case sensitive) for my readers. Hurry! This coupon code will only work starting today 7/18 to 7/20. If there's a piece you've always wanted, here's your chance! This code is valid for US & Canada only (sorry!), and one use per customer.

Here are my shoe and fashion picks (click on the number to view item): 

 

1. Jeffrey Campbell Skate Brown Scrollwork Wedge Booties $188

2. Bamboo Ceasar 01N Leopard Print Velvety Wedge Booties $36

3. Jeffrey Campbell Rockin Black Architectural Cutout Wedge Booties $162

4. Jeffrey Campbell Munroe Aqua Fuchsia Lace-Up Platform Pumps $145

5. Christie Pinkley Blush Pink Blazer $56

6. Do the Rustle Pink Mini Skirt $25 SALE

7. Irish Moorelands Pleated Green Maxi Dress $41

8. Genoise Cake Strapless Ivory Dress $42

9. True Blood Black Dress $32

All photos belong to Lulus.com

Don't forget to enter my Alonai shoes giveaway and JStyleShopper $100 giveaway!

I'll Hufflepuff and I'll Blow your House Down!

H&M yellow ruffle tiered dress (tucked into pants) (Euro size ???) // Ann Taylor cropped black pants (0P straight) // `twentythree "Hedwig's Ballad" dangling owl earrings // Xhilaration yellow strappy wedges (5.5) // Urban Outfitters double face watch //

Photography: tripod and remote

I feel quite proud of myself for coming up with that punny title. Of course, this is after all a disguise of an outfit - a wolf in sheepskin, or a snake in badgerskin? My my, the sly Slytherin in me is showing. This was my work outfit for 7/14, the day of the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 (aka HP7.2). Perfectly sunny and bright like any Hufflepuff, but my true colours will show in the Harry Potter inspired photoshoot my friends and I are doing soon. If you haven't seen the movie, go! Not as epic of a conclusion as I had hoped, but the WashU-filled theatre had some good laughs. Won't spoil it for you ; )

Ignore the large pimple on my nose. It's just chilling there, making frenemies with the local pores. Meanwhile, these beautiful earrings from `twentythree handmade are so unique and perfect for the occasion! I got lots of "wows" and compliments on them throughout the day. After an entire day of wear, they felt heavy and are most comfortable for a few hours. Still, Hedwig and cages - perfect. I put on my favourite red lipstick, Lancome Rouge Baroque after work for these pictures and it stayed on until 3 AM. 

Funny story about the H&M bright yellow ruffle dress I'm wearing here as a top - there's no size tag. It was lost somewhere inside the store but I figured it fit well enough, like a Euro 6? The black sash can go more than twice around my waist and is nice for cinching for a better fit. This combo was inspired by Jen of herwaisechoice btw, mad props to her sweet and always put-together style. It was a wonder that I could stuff all the dress material into my pants - seemed nigh impossible at first. Scored these cropped black work pants at Ann Taylor Factory at the Lake of the Ozarks outlet mall for $15. Apparently I'm a 0P Straight leg - funny because all the petite bloggers are much tinier than me, so I started out trying on size 4 Curvy xD

Work, MCAT, secondaries. Wear, shoot, edit. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Btw, the first winner of the Alonai shoe giveaway is

 KAYLA PEGA

 Congrats : ) Please email me your mailing address and shoe choice (up to $50) within 72 hours or a new winner will be chosen. If you didn't win this round, stay tuned because I'm drawing another winner in 2 weeks and all current entries are already entered. If you haven't entered, do so here!

Don't forget to enter my Alonai shoes giveaway and JStyleShopper $100 giveaway!

Grey Clouds, Black Thorns

Old Navy ruffle sleeve top (S) // Urban Outfitters two-faced double watch //
Forever 21 rose print pencil skirt (S) // Fioni peep toe cutout pumps (5) //
H&M camel leather belt (XS) // Claires black pearl necklace //

Photography: tripod and remote

The weirdest weather ever: St. Louis. Yesterday it was so muggy, humidity of probably 70%, "feels like" with the heat index a whopping 114 degrees Fahrenheit, today same dealio plus an interesting storm. Thunder, lightning, all during broad sunny daylight. Right when I got to my front doorstep, the wind started stirring and swinging in fury, throwing sticks and leaves and imaginary farm animals. Brave little me, needing to keep up with my fashion diary. Camera, tripod, and remote control testing in the middle of the crazy wind threatening to tear down my set up. Did I mention my neighbor thinks I'm endearingly crazy? Who else keeps snapping photos when it's a second from pouring and ... I think the lightning just hit my telephone pole. Or was it a firework? Stream of consciousness. Rapid speed thoughts in my head, run-ons necessary.

Yeah, so I did kind of risk getting hit by lightning or my camera rained on for the sake of capturing today's (7/12) work outfit. Half these photos turned out super blurry too because the remote doesn't want to focus at the distance I was standing at (distance necessary for TEH BLURRR aka bokeh). But, I did break out the tripod+remote combo. I got this Canon one on meritline.com for $4 I think - super cheap and it works great. The 2S button lets me fire it up and pose/hide the remote once I practice more. S is fire on command. Not sure what the others do. Research has been quite busy, secondaries are lining up in the inbox, MCAT studying needs some TLC. I promised myself I would stop being a completionist, needing to get every detail complete. Okay, maybe synonymous with perfectionist.

A girl at the lunch science seminar stopped me as I was headed back towards my lab and complimented me on my outfit and asked where I got it. Awkwardly, I matched the pieces with the places and shyly said thanks and bye. Wth, self. If you're somehow cognizant of this post, my apologizes, girl-who-made-my-day :) And guilt-free, I did feel summery and polished today.

Two more things. Yes, that is the face I make when trying to aim the remote at the camera [insert Harry Potter wand-wafting, totally excited for the premiere Thursday night]. Double watch: coolest thing ever. Functional and quirky. Yes, it was a little expensive ($34), but this sure beats wearing a pink panda watch to interviews, or does it? Paperless receipts too, you go UO. Tiny band to fit my tiny wrist - bonus. I fancied the idea of being able to set one face to CST and another to wherever I please - Paris, San Diego, whenever my love is when we're apart. Buying things because of the romanticism of the concept? Someone get me to therapy ... but not the retail kind.

Don't forget to enter my Alonai shoes giveaway and JStyleShopper $100 giveaway!