"Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want."

Dear Readers,

Huge apologies for being such a bad blogger this month. :o( I know I've neglected updating and I'm sorry. It's just been a really busy month for me, and I think I had more on my plate than I could really carry. Most of my spare time was spent trying to squeeze in sleep.

It's my last week for my first internship so I am definitely looking forward to more sleep and more time in May--which means, I'll be back to my normal blogging self! :o)

Big thanks to those of you who loyally follow me and still visited, it means a lot!

Gap sweater. People's Liberation jacket. Paige jeans. Swarovski earrings.
Marc Jacobs necklace. Tarina Tarantino ring. Gap scarf. Zigi Soho "Dean" boots.

My giveaway ends on Saturday, don't forget to enter for a chance to win a bird necklace I made!

<3 Samantha



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"She ain't got riches, but she's got fashion."

There are numerous fashion bloggers participating in the 30 for 30, and I opted to not participate from the beginning.  In reality, I would likely inadvertently end up participating because when I like certain items, I wear them over and over again (like these Zigi boots actually, as also seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and just a few days ago here...).  I'm not even going to bother listing all the posts where I've worn my black People's Liberation jacket because the number of links I provide would probably be double digits; my friend even told me that I needed to retire the jacket from wearing it so often (of course, that won't happen because I absolutely love it). 

However, I'm well aware of my habitual wearing habit and that's why one of my goals this year is to wear everything in my closet at least once.  Thus, this blazer is making its appearance for the first time in nearly a year!  Last time I wore it was March of last year (see here)!  Some items in my closet don't normally even get lucky enough to be worn annually, but hopefully, I can accomplish my goal and change that!

C  & C California top. William Rast blazer. Heartloom skirt. Zigi Soho boots. Moschino earrings.

I'm in love with this mural downtown and finally got around to taking pictures with it.  If my shirt wasn't in color, I could fully blend into the black and white! 

Special thanks to KC from Sequin Corner Cakes for awarding me with the "Stylish Blogger Award"!  I'm so flattered!  :o)

Rules receiving this award:
-Thank and link back to the person who gave you this reward.
-Share 7 things about yourself.
-Award 15 recently discovered bloggers.
-Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

7 Things About Me:

1. The first thing I would do if I won the lottery would be to go out and buy a classic medium Chanel "shopping bag" or a Louis Vuitton monogram Speedy 30 bag.
2. Writing is one of my biggest passions.  I published 2 books of poetry by the time I was 17 (see here and here).  I'm currently working on a children's book.
3. I have loved arts and crafts since I was a kid (see my recent painting and headbands).
4. I'm not good at any sports, I just run; I do the Susan B. Komen 5K annually.
5. I am a complete night owl; I am lucky if I can get to bed by 3am.  I just feel most motivated to get things done late at night.
6. When I was little, I used to change my favorite color every birthday until I ran out of the "good" colors and was left with having either orange, yellow, or brown as my favorite color; so I just gave up.
7. I'm a bit old fashioned and love reading and writing emails. (Email me at samanthavlee@gmail.com!)

I pass the Stylish Blogger Award to:

1. Kileen of Cute and Little: you can be sure to find her in a fabulous outfit every time.
2. Shin of Fashion Cappuccino: great pictures, great picks, and great outfits.
3. Michaela of Michaela Noelle Designs: she's just lovely!
4. Elle Sees: great photo collages!
5. Kryz of Thirstythought: has impeccable outfits.
6. My Closet in Sketches: love her illustrated outfits.
7. Melrod of Modanista Junkie: great style!
8. Jamie of Glam Latte: she has great taste!
9. Diana of Diana Kang: amazingly glamorous style, plus, I'm pretty sure we have the same taste in music.
10. Sheryl of Walk In Wonderland: really cute outfits!
11. P.S. I Made This: so fashionably creative.
12. Bonnie of Flashes of Style: always looks effortlessly cute.
13. Karolina of K Come Karolina: great blog!
14. Passports and Prada: love her versality.
15. Bonnie of Glam Kitten's Litter Box: her personality really shines through her blog.

Congrats everyone!  :o)




-S

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"Memories of the light in your eyes."

C  & C California top. Romeo & Juliet Couture vest. Joe's Jeans. Zigi Soho boots.
Marc Jacobs necklace. American Eagle and Nordstrom rings. Revlon nail polish in Minted.

I'm currently going through one of my nail polish phases (where I normally buy and use nail polish religiously for a couple of months and then get lazy and go sans nail polish for the rest of the year), and I'm currently in love with Revlon Nail Enamel in Minted.  I absolutely love the color.  I actually bought the polish because I thought it was the same shade as the Tiffany blue; unfortunately, when I painted my nails and compared them to my Tiffany bags and boxes, the nail polish has too much green in them so the shade is off.  Still, I find the color refreshing.  :o)

As for the nail polish itself, I give it a 3.5/5 rating.  I like Revlon for the fact that their polishes are DBP, toluene and formaldehyde free, but I don't like how runny it was, the slight bubbles, and how it takes at least a couple of hours for 2 coats of the nail polish to fully dry.  The polish is lasted me about 9 days before noticeable chipping. 

On a side note, I've been getting back in touch with my arty side.  Here is a picture I painted for a friend (it's Peter the Panda from Phineas and Ferb).  It's pretty simple but was rather fun to create.  :o)




I've made February my month to focus on art so hopefully I'll be posting more pictures of art pieces later.



-S

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"I'll give a little bit of my love to you."

Lucca Couture dress. American Eagle scarf. People's Liberation jacket. Zigi Soho boots. Target mittens.

I absolutely love to read, but have a thing about not buying books.  I always go to the library to check out books, and if I absolutely love a book and am willing to read it more than once, then I'll buy it.  I'm at the library in these pictures returning my copy of Lauren Conrad's Sweet Little Lies.  I give it a 3.5/5.  It was a pretty good read, but I wouldn't buy it.  I was also a little disappointed that it wasn't as good as the first book.  It irked me how Jane turned out (rather naive) and since she's the main character, it brought my rating down.  Overall, if you're looking for a nice teen drama book that's an easy read, give Sweet Little Lies a try.

I recently won a giveaway on Michaela's blog and thought I would pay it forward and do a giveaway of my own. 

I absolutely love Lancome's Juicy Tube lipglosses!  If you're ever looking for a nice, sheer lipgloss that glides on easily, Juicy Tubes are your answer!  This giveaway is for 5 sample size [0.28--it's actually a generous size; a sample size will last me at least a few weeks!] that is a combination of the Jelly glosses and the Smoothie glosses.




[Jelly] Bolole, [Jelly] Daiquiri, [Smoothie] Fruity Pop, [Smoothie] Pink Horizon, & [Smoothie] Beach Plum.

How to enter:
1. Follow me on here (via Google Friend Connect), Twitter, Bloglovin', or Facebook.
2. Comment this post and let me know where you're following me; each place is worth one entry.


Simple and easy!  :o)  Last day to enter is January 31st.  Good luck!





 
--S

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:o)

All I want...is to be thankful.

Obsession of the Week: things I already have

Warning: ahead is a lot of reading!

Though my usual Obsession of the Week posts have been things I currently have my eye on, want, am lusting after, etc., I thought I would bear in mind the Thanksgiving holiday and do a post about what I already have and was thankful for.  The following are items that I wear the most frequently--items that often help complete my outfits.  Though the more I shop, the more things I want, these are the staples of my wardrobe.




Jewelry
1. Linea Pelle studded bracelets, $25 each (mine are sold out but you can buy similar ones here); I bought these in the most basic colors (for me). They can instantly add edginess to any outfit, yet are pretty versatile. Plus, they look great alone or stacked.

2. Turquoise ring; I bought this at T.J. Maxx probably a year ago and as a huge fan of turquoise, I absolutely love it.

3. House of Harlow Large Peacock Cocktail Ring, $50; Definitely a statement ring, it's an great addition to any outfit--especially the most basic ones. Also, love House of Harlow and wanted this ring forever so I try to wear it as often as possible!

4. Hammered silver peace ring; Also bought at T.J. Maxx ages ago. That place has some good finds sometimes! I love hammered jewelry and also like the simplicity of the ring.

5. C.C. Skye Niko Ring, $66.50 (I bought it from Gilt awhile ago); The ring isn't that big, but it always makes a statement. The mirrored top is really unique and draws lots of compliments.

6. Nordstrom ring, $8.97; I love Nordstrom's sterling silver ring collection. Not only is it very reasonably priced, but the quality is excellent! This ring is definitely one of my favorites because of its intricate design; when I'm in a hurry, it's always the first ring I grab.

7. Tarina Tarantino Pink Head Puff Ring; I have a decent amount of Pink Head jewelry items, but I think I always gravitate toward this one because I love its cute simplicity.

Bags
8. Coach Signature Patent Stripe Convertible Crossbody silver handbag, $298; Both the silver color and the convertibility make the bag really versatile.

9. Marc by Marc Jacobs nile blue Pretty Nylon Tate Tote, $198; It's a really good size bag and the material is pretty low maintenance.

10. Coach black Signature Gallery Book Large Tote, $328; Despite that the tote is a fairly old style, I think it's pretty classic.

Jackets
11. People's Liberation gray Bomber Jacket, $59.99; Love the bomber jacket style in faux leather.

12. People's Liberation black Asymmetrical Zip Moto Jacket, $39.99 (from Ruelala awhile ago); What can I say, I love People's Liberation faux leather jackets! Throw in an asymmetrical zipper and I was sold.

Shoes
13. Calvin Klein black Carley heels, $79.99; My most worn pair of heels--classy, chic, versatile, and comfortable--they are everything I need in a pair of heels.

14. Gola silver Luxe flats, $36.27; The most comfortable pair of ballet flats! Plus, they're silver, an easy color to wear with everything.

15. Zigi Soho Dean black boots, $39.99 (from Journey's ages ago); For an edgy day!  Super comfortable, they are my go-to boots.

Basics
16. C & C California black Extra Long Sleeve Crew Neck Tee, $38; Great for wearing alone or layering. Plus, C & C California makes quality fabric so despite how often I wear it and how long I've had it (about a year now), it's still nearly new.

17. Banana Republic scoop neck puff sleeved black tee, ~$18; Can't go wrong with basic black! The scoop neck and puffed sleeves make the simple tee a little more unique.


P.S.
If you haven't already, you can now find me on:
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Let's be friends!  :o)

"You know me, in anticipation for precipitation."

Juicy Couture top. Joe's Jeans. Coach bag. House of Harlow earrings. Zigi Soho boots.

Quite unfortunately for me (and every other non-outdoorsy person around here), the end of summer in the Pacific Northwest means rain for the next 8 months...

Here are my Zigi boots again!  You may be seeing them quite often.  I think I had a Zigi-Soho-boot-wearing-hiatus during these last few months.  So if you missed them, here they are again!  And in case you were never introduced to these boots, see here, here, here, here, or even... here!  More often than not, these are my absolute go-to boots.

Not sure if I've said this before, but I'm a huge fan of Nicole Richie's House of Harlow jewelry line; it's hands down, one of my favorite jewelry brands.  I pretty much fell in love with these earrings after Ella Simms on "Melrose Place" (which I'm sad got canceled!) wore them!  I am still, however, currently lusting after the [Sunburst] ring to match (just one of the endless House of Harlow items I want)! 

Miss Independent.

Pictures from a little while ago...After spending hours managing volunteers and making sure our event was going as smoothly as possible, I took a walk on a pier nearby and enjoyed being done with work.  I love walks by the water on days with not a single cloud in the sky--bliss.




C & C California cardigan. LA Kitson top. Joe's Jeans. Marc Jacobs tote. 
Swarovski earrings. Linea Pelle bracelets. Guess watch. CC Skye ring. Zigi Soho boots.



And apparently, the day was exhausting enough that I tried to sneak a nap in on the way home.  (We had a stop then, which is why my seatbelt isn't on.  Wear your seatbelt when you're driving, kids!)



(P.S. I warned you it wouldn't be the last you saw of the Zigi Soho boots!)

"You say goodbye and I say hello."

Free People dress. C & C California cardigan. Forever 21 ring.
Tiffany earrings. Nordstrom necklace & belt. Zigi Soho boots.



Yes, you've all seen these boots before; you saw them here, here, and here, but I feel like this won't be the last post you see with my Zigi Soho boots.  Truth is, I am madly in love with them.  Every girl should own a pair of boots as versatile as they are!  I can wear them casually with jeans or dress them up with skirts and dresses.  Most of the time though, I find myself usually pairing them up with some girly skirt or dress; it gives my outfit a nice edge and balances things out.

I have also been finding myself wearing my cross connector ring from Forever 21 pretty often. I first saw the ring on That's Chic, was really sad to see that it was sold out online, but then became miraculously fortunate enough to find it in a Forever 21 store (after scouring multiple stores)!  Forever 21 rings are absolutely great--not only are the designs unique and fun, but the prices are always such a bargain!  Forever 21 is also the only place I've noticed with a good selection of connector rings.  All the connector rings I've gotten, such as the ones seen here or here are from Forever 21.  Definitely check out their selection when you get the chance!

"And I remember every word you said."

People's Liberation top.  Forever 21 tank top. Ed Hardy skirt.  Marc Jacobs tote.
Nordstrom necklace & ring. Vintage hoop earrings. Zigi Soho boots.

"She hides true love."

C & C California top.  Lily White cardigan. Vintage skirt. 
Juicy Couture necklace. Forever 21 ring. Zigi Soho boots.




I've come to the conlusion that because of my short height, I shouldn't wear such long skirts and high boots because it makes me seem like I have no legs at all.  In the future, short skirts and high boots or long skirts with heels or flats--just not high boots.

I have also concluded that I am in love with that necklace.  Normally, Juicy Couture seems more toward trendy rather than timeless  However, that necklace is both trendy and timeless.  It seems like a classy piece of jewelry that anyone from seventeen to seventy could enjoy.

"I'll leave when the wind blows."

I attempted to get shots of Mount Hood and the sunrise while driving.  They didn't turn out too badly.  Aside from the windiness, it was a pretty nice night out.

I sported my new Zigi Soho boots that day which I fell in love with soon after.  They are fun, versatile, and comfortable!  Plus, they were also an amazing steal!  How much better can shoes get?!  Shoes like these are pretty hard to come by!







William Rast blazer.  C & C California top. Free People skirt.
No name silver hoops. Forever 21 ring. Zigi Soho boots.