Geisha School Dropout

My Lane Bryant Holiday Look and GIVEAWAY!

Today is Day #5 of the 12 days, and I am so excited to be chosen for this opportunity, as Lane Bryant is already one of my favorite places to shop!

I headed over to the Long Beach Towne Center location yesterday to pick out a holiday outfit.  My style can be best described as quirky retro rock star, and I was on the lookout for neutral colors with bright or metallic accents: something comfortable enough to wear during the day, then I can just throw on some gold chains and smoky eye shadow and be able to take on the big city by night.  

Right when I entered the store, I was greeted with sassy, uplifting music and lots of adorable clothes just BEGGING me to try them on and take them home.

 

Wonderful day-to-night outfits: black with flashes of gold

Check out the gold foil skulls on this baseball jersey-inspired shirt! So playfully edgy -- just my style!

I definitely bought the skull shirt, and also this silky safari-inspired blouse:

 

Bubble Hem Utility Blouse in Moon Rock. Again, love the gold detailing.

It looks a little on the casual side on the model, but it fits me tighter all around and I paired it with dark jeans, so I truly believe it can be dressed up for a night out:

Just for kicks, this cowl neck sweatshirt also caught my eye.  It has the perfect California casual, effortless chic vibe:

And of course, I gotta give props to my photographer, Emi:

After a nice, relaxing hour of shopping with my pint-size bestie and a couple awesome new tops, and I'm totally ready to kick off my holiday season!

What's even more amazing is that I can share the love with a giveaway!  Two of you will also receive $30 gift cards.  All you have to do is pin your favorite Lane Bryant looks to your own Pinterest account using the #LB12Days hashtag. Then leave the link to your pin in a comment below to be eligible for a prize.  Easy peasy, puddin' pie!

Today's special surprise offers are: 

In store and online: Select sweaters are $20 (Rayon V, Dolman V and Shaker sweaters), 40%-off all sleepwear
In store only: All earrings $5

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tesla Girl (and Boy)

On Saturday, the kids and I got the treat of our lifetimes: an opportunity to drive a Tesla Model S, courtesy of my friend Kevin who works for them.

In short, this car reinvents the driving experience.  It is a quiet and comfortable ride while still letting you feel one with the road; not like you're floating around in a mobile living room like my parents' luxury cars.  The display in the front pwns any iPad in both size and definition.  

But holy bojangles, the acceleration on this thing!  Apparently there are no laws (yet) that inhibit acceleration rate, so when you punch down on the "gas," it feels like this:  

Even Isaac and Emi knew they had a good thing going, and they whooped and raised their hands up like they were on a roller coaster.

All this without a drop of gasoline!

Saving the planet has never been so sexy, baby.

Let's take a look at the engine...what the hell? If that's not the epitome of cool, I don't know what is.

She looks good from the back, don't she?

Tons of room in the back - enough for 3 full carseats

So, what was the verdict?

One thumb up and one shaka sign signify supreme Mang approval!

So, how much is it?  Depending on the package, it runs from $49,900 - $97,900.  

Well, at least it's in the 5 digits.  And apparently, development is in the works for a $30k model.

So yeah!  I know what I want for Christmas!  Anyone have $50k just sitting around?

Word of the Week GIVEAWAY #2!

Congratulations to Dusty for being randomly selected to win the $50 Amazon gift certificate!  I will contact you shortly.

Here is Dusty's hilarious use of the word "gorgonize":

Using the word gorgonized is very challenging and spell check says that it's misspelled and it suggested that I should use the word organized instead.

 

This week's prize is a 450 mL bottle of Shu Uemura brightening cleansing oil.  I use this on my face instead of soap or foam to remove make-up and cleanse, all in one step.  Retail price is $81, and the reason why I'm giving it away is that one of these puppies lasts me a year, and when I reordered one recently, I didn't realize I had already received one as a gift a few months back.  So, might as well share the wealth!

The non-soapiness takes a little bit to get used to, but let's face it peoples: no one's skin benefits by stripping away all the natural oil it creates.  Dry skin gets drier, oily skin makes more oil to compensate.  These cleansing oils leave your skin clean and baby-bottom soft, and this specific formulation works to even out skin tone and fade sun and age spots.

In order to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below using the latest Word of the Week: BIDDABLE.

Biddable means: easily led, taught, or controlled.  Synonym: docile

Example sentence: The pool boy turned out to be the labrador retriever of lovers: biddable and eager to please.

Good luck to all!

Heeeeeeey, Sexy Lady!

Harry Shum Jr. of "Glee" fame delightfully photobombs his co-stars...Gangnam style.  Love it!!! (h/t Angry Asian Man)

A Piece of Korean Romance

When people think of the world's greatest tragic romances, they may conjure up Romeo and Juliet, Rhett and Scarlet, or Cathy and Heathcliff.  However, I hope after this, people will also think of Eung-Tae Lee and his widow.

In 1998, South Korean archaeologists found the mummified remains of Eung-Tae Lee, who died in 1586, buried with one of the saddest, most romantic letters I have ever read, written by his widow.  Here's just a small snippet: (hat tip to Letters of Note yet again...seriously, folks, it is the best blog out there right now.)

How did you bring your heart to me and how did I bring my heart to you? Whenever we lay down together you always told me, "Dear, do other people cherish and love each other like we do? Are they really like us?" How could you leave all that behind and go ahead of me?

So long ago, and she was so distraught, she could easily have jumped off the nearest Lover's Leap to rejoin her love.  But she didn't!  She had to raise their son, and here's the dramatic twist...SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR SECOND!!!  So instead of completely succombing to her grief, she cut off her hair, weaved her locks into one last pair of sandals for her husband, and buried them with him!  Even Sophocles and Shakespeare couldn't come up with a gesture more poignant than that.  Le sigh.

Romance, it's in our blood, Kimchi brothers and sisters, and for much longer than "Winter Sonata" has been on syndication. Now go forth and woo.

Cross-posted on Kimchi Mamas.

Darth Vader and Daughter

My little sister, Joanna, sent us this book a few months ago, and it is one of Emi's oft-requested bedtime books:

It imagines what would happen if Darth Vader were raising a 4-year-old Luke Skywalker, in "Episode Three-and-a-Half" of the series.

Sample panels:

Emi likes voicing the part of young Luke. Here is a recording of her doing some panels (co-starring Tim as Darth Vader):

Darth_vader_and_son

GIVEAWAY SUNDAY: Happy National Strawberry Month!

May is National Strawberry Month, so YoKids is teaming up with Tom's of Maine on Strawberry flavored goodies!  Starting May 21st, each tube of children's toothpaste purchased on the Tom's of Maine site will come with a coupon for $1 off YoKids Greek organic yogurt. You can also save 20% on your entire order with the coupon code:  YOKIDS20.

Just to be clear, I'm not getting paid for saying this.  I sincerely appreciate that both companies provide high quality, all-natural and/or organic options, and we seriously use their products multiple times a day.  Isaac and Emi grew up on YoBaby yogurt, and now I pack a Yogurt Squeezer in their lunches every day.  We all use Tom's of Maine toothpastes, which have no artificial sweeteners or dyes, are cruelty-free, and come in environmentally responsible packaging.

To promote this special deal, Stonyfield Farm sent me a strawberry-themed goody bag to give away to one of my readers.  It is packed with the following goodies:  Reusable cotton YoKids lunch sack filled with several Tom's of Maine products including a full 4.2oz tube of Silly Strawberry children's toothpaste, as well as samples of their Naturally Dry deodorant and Daily Moisture soap.  The bag also includes FREE YoKids and YoKids Greek coupons (both available in strawberry!), YoKids Greek temporary tattoos (in strawberry AND raspberry!), and YoKids Strawberry-flavored Eco Lips chapstick! 

 

To enter for a chance to win this goody bag, just comment below with your favorite way to eat strawberries!  Mine is chocolate-covered, mmmm....

Good Things Still Come via Snail Mail

Yesterday, I received a CD-size envelope from an address in New York.  When I opened it up, there was a letter that read:

Dear Human Being,

Enclosed is a burned compact disc version of "Henrietta," a single from our upcoming album.  We wanted you to hear it first.  Please know you were chosen (1 of 200) at random from over 7 billion people on the planet earth.  Pls share w/ the internets.

More details soon.

x- Yeasayer

I about near wept with glee.  Yeasayer is one of the best bands out there, and here they appear on my doorstep!  What a great surprise for an otherwise uneventful Wednesday.  What an awesome way to market a new single, right?  So I shall obey my musical overlords...here is Yeasayer's new single, "Henrietta":

 

01 Henrietta

(You can stream it from here, or right-click module to download.)

GIVEAWAY SUNDAY: Guess Who?

I decided to spice things up...blame it on Cinco de Mayo.  I will hold giveaways every Sunday this month.  The prizes will be new or handmade items from our home.  Call it a virtual garage sale...except there are no price tags!

This week's prize:

A set of 4 polka dot knives by Kuhn Rikon!  I bought these at a Woot-off a while back, one in every color.  I currently use a blue paisley set, and they are indeed really handy tools: sharp out of the box, easy to clean, responds well to a sharpening rod, food clings to them less than normal steel knives.  And look at how adorable they are!

You can look here for reviews, product details, and more pictures.

This week's contest:

Tim recently doodled our family as animals.  Can you guess who's what?  

Just comment below with your best guesses, and I will randomly select someone (doesn't have to be a correct answer) on Friday.  I will contact the winner by email, so please make sure to comment with a legitimate email address.

Comment for a chance to win!  Good luck!

 

May the Fourth be With You!

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Julie on Pinterest

 

Today is unofficial Star Wars Day, one of my favorite unofficial holidays.  Here is a round-up of my favorite Star Wars-themed finds:

Avatar: The Last Airbender/Star Wars Mash-up, via io9

 

Source: hottopic.com via Julie on Pinterest

 

Awesome Princess Leia Hoodie by Her Universe for Hot Topic.

 

Source: fangletronics.com via Michelle Frae on Pinterest

 

 

 Clothespin dolls made by the very crafty family at Fangletronics.

R2D2 apron by Etsy seller HauteMessThreads

 

"The Imperial March" sung by a Brazilian cockatiel