Sunnies

I've been in the market for a new pair of sunglasses for a while.  In Hawaii, there really aren't many options for prescription sunglasses, which I find ridiculous because people here practically live in them.  Places like LensCrafters wanted up to $500 for Rx sunglasses and as a broke college student, there is NO WAY I can fork over $500.  After some online research I came across this online optical and sunglass company called Warby Parker.  I was really impressed with their company and how affordable and fashionable their product is as well as the philanthropy behind the brand.  I'm quite picky with things like this because I can't stand the flashy styles that have been dominating the market.
Read: simple and classic.

  When you purchase a pair of glasses, whether they be optical or sun, they donate a pair of optical glasses to someone in need.  How awesome, right? So my $150 for Rx sunglasses not only bought a dope pair of sunnies for myself but also someone else in the world who needed a pair.  The company also does this cool try-on program where you can pick out five frames to try on.  They mail them to you and you have five days to test them out for free and find your favorite.  However, they don't offer this service yet to folks living in Hawaii.  I hope they do soon though because I'm in the market for new Rx glasses! *hint hint* 

I chose the frame style Thatcher in the color they call greystone.  (The picture directly below has it's color altered by the light on my desk.  The color is true to the last two photos.  I just wanted to show the inside of the case.)  I'm in love.  As much as I'm a all-black all the time kind of girl, my friends will definitely vouch for me, sometimes even I can admit that it can come off as too harsh.  The greystone option looked less harsh yet had the vibe I wanted out of a black frame.  They came in this super sturdy hard case complete with a lens cleaner inside.  Tomorrow I'll take them out for a spin and report back! 

Check out Warby Parker here

slim pickings

I've been on the hunt for a new wallet for a while now.  Here is the checklist for possible future contenders:

1. Must be slim and sleek.  Nothing oversized that I will be tempted to fill to maximum capacity.
2. However, it must be big enough to hold cash, credit card, ID, and diving license. 
3. Simple and minimal is key.  Leather is best.
4. No crazy colors.
5. No metallics. 

I found these options that I'm definitely considering.  From top: Madewell, J.Crew, American Apparel, American Apparel.  

Liebster Award

I was graciously tagged by Amy of Scenique Route! The Liebster Blog Award is for bloggers with no more than 200  followers.  I've never really done this sort of thing so I thought I'd give it a go!

The Rules:

• You must write 11 things about yourself
• Answer the questions the person who tagged you has set and add 11 questions for the people you tag
• Choose 11 people and tag them in your post
• Go to their page and tag them
• No tag backs

11 things about me

1. I am the eldest of three children, my sister being the middle and my brother, the youngest.
2. I am Japanese and Okinawan yet I have a Hawaiian middle name.  Actually, I'm the only one in my family who has a Hawaiian name.  Long story short, my mother's adoptive family, or hanai family, is Hawaiian. 
3. I'm going to be a junior in college this upcoming fall semester where I am studying English.
4. I love to eat.  If you want to try out a new place, call me up!  I love exploring what's out there. 
5. I get sentimentally attached to things and find it hard to part with them.  Possible hoarder tenancies?  Nah, I eventually give in to the clutter and purge. 
6. Music is a big part of who I am.  I connect better with people and ideas when I can relate it to music.  People have told me that I'm a walking ipod; I sing to whatever song is playing.    
7. I can get lost in books.  I have quite the vivid imagination and tend to "see" the book as I read.  This makes it difficult when there are film adaptations because I get very annoyed when it doesn't turn out how I envisioned in my head.
8. I'm addicted to scuba diving.  If you haven't done it, what the hell are you waiting for?
9. My favorite movie of all time is Grease.  
10. I would like to move to the East Coast, preferably New York.  
11. I may like to shop a little too much. 

Questions from Scenique Route

1. What is your number one goal in life?

• I would like to have the opportunity to travel the world.  I'd love to become a fashion/travel writer and document my finds and ideas as I globe-trot.  

     2.  What do you gravitate towards more, shoes or makeup?

• As much as I love shoes, I'd definitely say makeup.  I am obsessed with makeup.  It's a little strange as well because I don't wear much, yet I have and know about so many products.  I enjoy doing other peoples' makeup more than my own.  

     3.  Are you more of an outdoors or indoors person?

• Ooh, this depends.  If we're talking full on nature outdoors, I'm definitely an indoors gal.  I hate getting dirty so things like hiking are out of the question.  The only exception is the beach and being in the water.  But I love being on boats and at parks on a nice day.  

     4.  What is your favorite restaurant?  

• I have far too many.  But one of my favorites is Himalayan Kitchen.  The food is amazing and I love the atmosphere.  I'm all about the right kind of atmosphere of places and this place definitely has it.  Laid back, eclectic, yet simple and effortless.

     5.  What is a talent you'd like to possess? 

• I'd love to be able to sew.  My life would be so much easier if I could make exactly what I wanted, when I wanted it.  I would save so much money and be able to tailor items to fit my body rather than the general public's.  

     6.  If you could have one material item besides money, what would it be?

• I'd love my own rent-controlled loft or brownstone apartment in NYC (does that count?).  I thrive on independence and Hawaii is way too slow for my liking.

     7.  What is one place you'd like to travel to?

• Italy.  I've wanted to go there since I was in the fourth grade.  It's the perfect blend of the old culture and new.  Not to mention it has amazing museums, art, architecture, fashion, music, and culture.           

     8.  What is the last thing you purchased?

• Food/Drink: Mocha Cookie Crumble frap at Starbucks
• Clothing/Shoes: Black suede ankle boots from Target that totally look like the Dolce Vita Jamison boots
• Makeup: New shade of Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua Foundation
• Random: EOS hand lotion 

     9.  Shoes of bags?

• BAGS, hands down.  It's a problem...

     10.  Who is your favorite musical artist?

• Noooooooo. This question is impossible!  Too many too possibly just choose one.  Always on rotation are: Citizen Cope, Michael Buble, Led Zeppelin, Ella Fitzgerald, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, old musical movie soundtracks, and...so many others. Hahaha this question is hard!

     11.  If you could meet one person in the world, who would it be?

• I'd really like to meet J.K. Rowling because I think the woman is genius.  I am such a fan of Harry Potter and I cannot believe how detailed and extensive of a world she created in the series.  I'd love to have a chance to pick her brain. 

My questions

1. If you could live in a foreign country, where would it be?
2. What is your favorite type of food?
3. Is there anything that you hold onto (physical object) from your childhood?
4. If you had $5000 to spend, would you spend it on a plane ticket, a handbag, or a killer pair of shoes?
5. If you could see one musical artist, living or not, who would it be?
6. What is a book you can read over and over again?
7. How did you become close to your best friend? (I'm curious because I can't remember for the life of me!  It just seems like we've always just been best friends.)
8. What is your dream job?
9. What do you splurge on?
10. If it was impossible for you to fail, what is one thing you would love to do?
11. What is one thing you'd like to accomplish in your lifetime?

Tag! You're it! 
I'm drawing a blank...I'll tag more blogs as I remember them.

http://theroamingrussian.blogspot.com/
http://freshnectar.blogspot.com/
http://trendcastmtl.com/

http://kaimanadivers.blogspot.com/ (Kaimana Divers has like, a billion fans because they're so damn awesome, but do check out their blog!)
I wish I could tag Amy back but that would be against the rules haha. But do check her out!
http://sceniqueroute.blogspot.com/

1, 2 Step

Current shoe rotation...minus the slippers. It is Hawaii after all. 

Opening Ceremony Pt. 2

Lust

Bought these babies on Target earlier this evening.  So stoked.

Shoe Lust: Summer Edition

 

 

Find them here

Steve on Parade

 

Merry Christmas to me?

These are made for walking

I've been on an insane boot hunt.  Going to school in Manoa means that in the fall/winter, the days are even more unpredictable and bipolar.  Pouring rain one minute and blazing hot the next.  The weather is killing my flats and sandals and I can't afford to have them ruined (mostly because they're the most comfortable flats I've ever owned and I can't find them anywhere).  Thus marked the beginning of my boot hunt.  It was madness.  I had the hardest time finding flat, neutral colored boots without fur lining that are school appropriate and will fit seamlessly into my wardrobe.  Took me a hell of a lot of online browsing and store hopping but I found a pair!  Say hello to my new boots courtesy of Aldo.

 

Orlena

Clean Cut

I have a love affair with my hair.  It grows super fast, its insanely long and super thick, and it was only ever dyed once in my life (horrible highlights that I completely drawn a veil over).  But I've had the same hairstyle forever.  It's literally almost to my ass and it's heavy and gets in the way.  I want to cut it short and donate it because I know it'll grow back in no time.  I just don't know what I'm looking for.  Tonight my nook downloaded the new Glamour magazine with Kristen Stewart as the cover model.  Her hair is amazing.  Maybe I've found my new hairstyle?

 

Fall Lust

The perfect fall uniforms

J.Crew

Rainy Days

Back to school in Manoa means back to wet and rainy days.

Last fall semester I ruined a couple pairs of shoes because of the rain so I'm thinking maybe it's time to invest in some rain boots.  I'm digging the style of these Hunter Brixen wellies.

 

However, when it isn't raining I'd like to strut around campus in these babies.

Adore

I absolutely love that Helena Bonham Carter is in the new Marc Jacob's Fall Campaign.  The woman is brilliant.

Case Study

I need a new school bag.  Let's all pray for the paycheck to come on Friday.

Strut on, baby.

Lust