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Monday, August 20, 2012

Renegade Craft Fair Part III

It's been too long since my last post! I'm happy to say that it's actually because I luckily got a teaching job for the upcoming school year! It all happened w/in the last two weeks and I've been setting up my classroom, getting ready for the year.  Today was the first day with the kids, and I am really loving it!

Anyhow, I thought I'd finish off my renegade craft fair post with a final entry.  So this isn't necessarily of the fair, but I thought I'd share a little bit more of what we did afterward.
 A stop at the macaroon shop

 Was drawn to the packaging of these chocolates!

 So pretty and dainty.

I flipped when I saw this.  So when I went to Japan w/ the husband, we spent so much money trying to win me the rilakkuma toys.  What a waste! haha, and I should've known this, but I couldn't help but be gravitated toward the cuteness!  Luckily, I have learned my lesson, and did not get suckered into trying the game.  Besides, I could've gone next door and bought one of these myself for $7.

Monday, August 13, 2012

7

These are the rules: 

1) Post the award logo on your blog and link back to the person who nominated you.
2) Tell seven things about yourself.
3) Nominate up to 15 additional bloggers whom you think deserve the award.
4) Post a comment on the blog of each nominee to tell them they have been nominated!



I was tagged by Miki for this blog award!  Thanks Miki - I enjoyed reading your 7 random facts.  Thought I would do this since it is indeed fun to think about and to also learn about from other bloggers.

1.  I am huge fan of quite a few makeup gurus on youtube even though I am not one to really try their tutorials.  my favorite is bubzbeauty

2.  I hate when I spend too much time on Facebook - especially in low points in my life.  I get envious of others and then become irrationally ungrateful. Facebook is not healthy - it brings out a bad side of me!

3.  Before I became a teacher, I was actually an accountant.

4.  I named my bunny, Gogi

5. I nicknamed my husband "boogie" because when I first started dating him, he had too many boogers in his nose.  I know that probably sounds so weird and gross, but I'm a lot shorter than him, so looking up, you can see that stuff!

6.  I come up with the best names, don't I?  poor future kids of mine ~_<

7.  The next place I want to go on vacation to is Seoul - i am obsessed w/ korean music, dramas, and food.

As for who to tag - I tag you! if you are reading this and do this tag, I'd love to see it :D


Friday, August 10, 2012

Airmail Vintage vs. Pop of Color Kawaii


I know that title sounds a bit strange, but I've been thinking about "style" and "taste" lately, because I feel like I have two very opposite "tastes."  I wonder if there is a fusion of the two, and what it would look like.  

But anyway, what I'm talking about is the difference between a more vintage, neutral color palette vs. a more bright color palette that follows a more Japanese aesthetic.  I have a long list of favorite blogs and they vary across style and taste, but what I notice most, is that a lot of blogs tend to stick to one style and taste.  Think the difference between "Hello Sandwich" vs. "Oh Hello Friend."   I absolutely LOVE both blogs, as I am sure many of you are also fans of both (and what a coincidence that two of my favorite blogs have the word 'hello' in the blog title... must be something about that word).  But which style I gravitate towards more, I don't know.  So whenever I package a gift or make a card, I tend to think about the personal style of my friend and which one she would gravitate towards more.  However, it tends to make blogging a bit harder since I can't seem to focus the style of this blog.  Perhaps it's just a matter of creating a third way.   Maybe something I should consider experimenting with.

But until I figure it out, I have made a stack of birthday cards to have on hand that reflect varying styles.  It's always nice to have something on hand and ready to give out.  Saves on time, and you are ready if anything comes up.

This is what I mean when I say "airmail vintage"


Perhaps this is slightly a fusion of the two.  Although it looks to lean towards airmail vintage (w/ the pastel and neutral colors).


 Pop of color Kawaii - I love the colorful neon and cute kawaii touch


Which style do you gravitate more towards?  Or do you find yourself torn in the middle like me? Or maybe somewhere in the middle? 

Friday, August 3, 2012

July Favorites

July has come to an end.  I can't believe how quickly it went!  I will miss the summer, but am looking forward to the upcoming school year.  It's going to go so fast though, and all I want is for time to slow down. 2012 is more than half way over!!

Anyhow, every month, I share my favorites of the following:

1.  Favorite Washi Tape
2.  Favorite Etsy Store and/or "etsy-ish" store
3.  Favorite Blog
4.  Favorite beauty and/or health product
5.  Favorite foodie find
6.  Favorite DIY tutorial
7.  Favorite package/mail/letter that you either sent or received

As always, I invite you all to do the same! I enjoy seeing what other people enjoy for the month since it gives me ideas.

1.  Favorite Washi Tape:

I've really been loving this pastel, colorful washi tape.  It is so pretty!  This pair was the one I used for a baby shower gift I gave to my cousin.  These two go really well by themselves or with other striped/dotted patterned washi tapes.  I love them so much!



2.  Favorite Etsy Store: Comme Les Loupes

This shop has such pretty packaging supplies from washi tapes, to paper bags, to twine, etc.  What I really loved most at this shop though was their sticker collection.  I haven't really seen these around, but I would love to have a set of these masking sticker sets.  They have pretty patterns and I can imagine all the fun things you can do with them to letters, packages, and gifts.

3.  Favorite Blog: Papered Thoughts
I just found this blog in the last few weeks and I absolutely LOVE it.  Letters, packages, washi tapes, stationaries, etc.  Everything I love and captured beautifully through her photos. I admire her blog very much.

4.  Favorite Beauty and/or healthy product: Nude 'Tude Eye Shadow Palette


It would have to be my Nude'Tude palette that I won from a youtube giveaway.  One of my beauty guru's did this giveaway and I have been really loving this eyeshadow palette.  Many youtube beauty gurus claim this is comparable to the highly coveted naked palette.  I can't really compare since I don't have the naked palette, but I do really love this one.  There are a variety of neutral colors that can be used for simple, every day looks.

5.  Favorite foodie find: Sapporo Ya in Japantown SF
photo via yelp

Tried this place a week ago and really enjoyed it.  It's not my most favorite ramen place in San Francisco, but they handmake their noodles.  I'm more of a broth person when it comes to ramen - broth will be what will win me over.  This place was delicious because of it's noodles.  They look delicious right?

6.  Favorite DIY tutorial: Pom Pom Cushion from The Craft Bureau

via the Craft Bureau

When I saw this, I thought it was so pretty.  It totally looks like something I would buy for my house to spruce it up.  Kat from the Craft Bureau made this based on a tutorial she saw from here.  I really love love love the pattern she chose too - which she said was inexpensive.  I hope to try making one at some point in time because it's just so cute!

7.  Favorite package/mail/letter that you either sent or received



My favorite would have to be what I sent out for elevated envelope.  As you may have already been able to tell, I love kawaii faces.

Hope you all had a fabulous July! Cheers to the new month!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Elevated Envelope

Who has ever participated in this project?  If you haven't, you should try it! Go to elevatedenvelope.com and click on their blog. I had a lot of fun doing this.  I'm not much of an artist, but I enjoy doodling in my notebooks during lectures.  My notebooks are full of cute little random drawings like this.

Anyhow, the theme this summer was "sweet" and I took it literally and just drew a bunch of sweet foods w/ kawaii faces.  I included a pack of fruity tea to go in with each envelope for a sweet surprise!

 hehe, I kinda made a mistake and wrote her name as "tara ephemera," when that is not her last name! oops, sorry Tara if you are reading this! I hope you liked it regardless :)

Konnichiwa!  My poor penmanship probably shows, but it still looks cute! I made the envelopes out of kinokuniya book covers because I really liked the thin paper.


They probably look like something an elementary school kid would make/draw, BUT hey, that's why I am an elementary school teacher :P  I'm very in touch w/ that part of me.