The last time I mentioned any life updates here was quite a while ago now, so in the past couple weeks I…
…watched
Moon (courtesy of Steven's roommate Daniel). It reminded me of both Memento and Never Let Me Go and it was good and weird and a little painful and I think underhyped.
Pitch Perfect, courtesy of Connie, and loved it, which was only to be expected. (Anna Kendrick, man.)
Iron Man 3 and concluded that Gwyneth Paltrow is kind of hot and was reminded that Robert Downey Jr. is the finest of wines.
…cried about
someone else's suffering (instead of my own) during yoga, which made me feel very… cleansed. It was a very, very difficult session that involved so much emotional distress I had to stop and sob into my knees like a small child several times because I couldn't breathe in downward dog, but the hardest part was when I thought I'd gotten it under control only to start crying uncontrollably after class ended. (On the bright side, feeling sorrow for someone else indicates to me that I might be done crying for myself, which can only be a good thing.)
the rapid development of my Situation for Onew, the leader of the Korean boy band SHINee:
AM I DRY SOBBING ABOUT ONEW BELTING THE SECOND CHORUS OF "I WON'T GIVE UP" YOU KNOW I AM
…failed at
feeling 22 during a Connie-induced outing in which we decided the goal of the night was to get a stranger to buy me a drink (the only rule: the stranger must be a man who approaches me first). I neither felt 22 nor succeeded in getting a stranger to buy me a drink.
darts, horrifically.
trying to fall in love with my vibrator. (It's just kind of… there.)
…smiled hard because of
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Jeffrey recommended this book to me once upon a time, so I picked up a copy for my morning commute and AM LOVING IT BECAUSE OH MY GOD JAMES AND QUENTIN AND ALICE AND SUCH A SMART WRITING VOICE.
a Boscia face mask sample from Sephora, because it's pitch black and I feel like I can invade foreign lands whenever my face is smothered in anything resembling paint.
The instructions said to avoid your hairline, eyes, brows, and lips, but I would've looked so much cooler if I went full bleed, no? (But then I probably would've gone full bleed for real when I peeled the mask off.)
the design of Target's mobile app (no seriously it is so well done just take a look at it).
this mashup of Britney Spears' "Lucky" and Taylor Swift's "22":
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I had a religious experience around the last "we won't be sleeping / it feels like one of those nights."
Um. And here's an outfit from January.
I am definitely breaking out in these photos but God bless terrible lighting for being forgiving. Should've done my eyebrows, though!
Hair bow: DIY. Light blue thermal: Old Navy, gift. Blue dress: Goodwill. Cardigan: not sure. Jacket: gift. Navy blue tights: BP Nordstrom. Chelsea boots: Cole Haan.
attended a yoga class that involved me crying harder than I ever have in yoga but also me laughing uncontrollably???
listened to "Heart Attack" by Demi Lovato and "Tangled Up In Me" by Skye Sweetnam on repeat (which probably says something about my state of mind y or n)
rerouted my commute home so it is longer but somehow (beautifully, miraculously) faster
was reminded I have the best friends ever because Spenser tweeted about how Trojan was giving away free vibrators, and then Connie went to get me one
Photo courtesy of Connie. I've never used or owned a vibrator (and I have my doubts about whether this is going to be satisfying), but I'm excited to try it! Plus, it's #20 on my 101 in 1001 list.
watched my skin start clearing up?! I don't actually know what's helping, because I'm on the good-skin portion of my hormonal cycle, and I modified my skincare routine recently, and I started exercising regularly, and I cut most red meat out of my diet and started loading up on vegetables, but WHATEVS I'M DIGGING IT
had the best macarons of my life, from Chez Berlue (the pistachio is incredible ok)
heard about a Japanese computer(?) game called Paca Plus, wherein you play as a guy who takes his girlfriend to the zoo (or something) to see alpacas, only to discover upon waking from a nap on the bus home that his girlfriend has turned into an alpaca. In the words of one forum user, "what in the name of graceful fuck."
left fingerprints all over my laptop screen trying to touch skinny Korean boys because how dare you
was vicariously happy about the career progress of my gurl Connie
could have married Patrisha for bringing pear jellybeans and gummy bears to work
was utterly delighted by Little Mix's music video for "How Ya Doin'?" featuring Missy Elliot, because it's 100% updated 90s girl group perfection
consumed literally the worst Chinese food I've ever had in my life, at Mission Chinese (and I know for sure my experience wasn't tainted by the company, because I went with GSP, who is fucking hilarious, but this has reinforced the lesson that you should never take Chinese food recommendations from non-Chinese people and I'M NOT AT ALL SORRY)
for some reason thought it was necessary to one-up GSP who ordered two dishes by ordering two of my own, only to discover that WE WERE EATING THE WORST CHINESE FOOD OF OUR LIVES
threw my credit card at GSP's face
watched GSP pay a 33% tip for THE WORST CHINESE FOOD EITHER OF US HAS EVER HAD GOD WHAT AN IDIOT "WAIT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I PUT DOWN" "SERIOUSLY?" "I JUST PUT IT DOWN AND SHE ASKED IF I WANTED CHANGE AND I SAID NO" "GOD" "NO IT WAS LIKE – YEAH THAT'S LIKE 33% RIGHT? THAT'S ENOUGH TIP RIGHT?" "THAT'S A HUGE TIP" "WELL THEN IT'S ENOUGH!" "YOU'RE FUCKING RIDICULOUS" (this is in all caps because we were 100% definitely yelling at each other)
wore these outfits to work:
…I was definitely trying to wear this skirt until it actually got dirty enough to hand-wash.
(I'm still breaking out. But I think it's getting better? But maybe it's all hormonal.)
{LEFT} Cardigan: Uniqlo. Black t-shirt: probably Target. Hot pink skater skirt: Express. Tights: Costco. Galoshes: Hunter.
{CENTER} Striped top: Banana Republic, grandmother's. Hot pink skater skirt: Express. Tights: generic. Shoes: Miz Mooz.
{RIGHT} T-shirt: Macy's. Sleeveless sweater: Esprit, sample sale. Hot pink skater skirt: Express. Tights: generic. Flats: Børn.
These are not at all work-appropriate, but uh, I cheat when my boss is out and there's no one important to meet. In the words of Patrisha, clad in leggings and a long blouse, to me in my 1D t-shirt and Joycie in her boat shoes, "I feel like all our outfits today are very representative of our personal style."
{RIGHT} Black t-shirt: probably Target. One Direction t-shirt: Hot Topic, gift. Green jeans: Target. Sneakers: Harajuku Lovers.
While I was wearing this, I went on a Victoria's Secret excursion with Jess to redeem our almost-free underwear, and "Heart Attack" by One Direction came on and I, like, SCREAMED in the store. Then when I was checking out, the cashier girl was like "Omg I was so relieved when I found out they're not like 15" and I was like "GURL I KNO"
tried rice pudding from Loving Cup for the first time (and loved it)
watched one of my boss's pugs get her head stuck in a paper bag
received some very good (financial) news
received the Kooba handbag I ordered (the Jane, in Navy, featured in this glorified wishlist), which takes #27 off my 101 in 1001 list
received the copies I ordered of A Brief History of Montmaray (as recommended by Chandler), Soulless (part of the Parasol Protectorate series, as recommended by Meg), The Magicians (as recommended by Jeffrey), and Reaper Man (because I like Terry Pratchett)
watched too many (or not enough) videos of skinny singing and dancing Korean boys
was not terrified by own happiness, which… hasn't happened for the longest time
ACTUALLY WORE THESE VERY OUTFITS BECAUSE I TOOK (REALLY CRAPPY) PHOTOS AT WORK:
(I'm still breaking out like crazy.)
(I'm not sure these are really office-appropriate but that's not the point of these pictures. The point is I've been getting really excited about dressing like I just crawled out of a gutter/like a hobbit on the weekends, because I always wear skirts/dresses to work and it's gotten kind of boring.)
attended my favorite yoga class yet (it started with hip-openers, which should have prepared me for how intense it was going to be for me, but I was still surprised at how hard I started crying when "Sail" by AWOLNATION came on aha x)
have been coming to terms with not having SMS-to-Gmail backup for my iPhone
went for a hair throwback and double French braided my way through half the week
caught up on Elementary and had metaphorical chest pains as I seem wont to do over Sherlock and Joan's intense platonic relationship
downloaded Evernote for my phone since I can't use Google Keep but like organized notes
attended Nightlife at the Academy of Sciences (and felt five years old as a nice side effect)
moved my RSS consumption to Bloglovin :( (I'm here if you happen to use Bloglovin and not some other feed reader but I think most of you use some other feed reader)
met Pandy (Paul and Andy, collectively) and doodled
I didn't draw these; Connie's boyfriend did, but I was told my penis drawings were surprisingly anatomically correct. (I once spent 15 minutes practicing, just in case I'd ever need to be able to draw one. Guess it came in handy.)
watched Someone I Used To Know, courtesy of Jess, and was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the dialogue and writing in general (and how hot Brian Yang is goddamn (also Emily Chang damn woman (AND KARA CRANE TOO GEEZ))) and how inexpressibly gratifying it is to see so many Asian American actors in a film that's not about being Asian American, but it also made me feel skin-crawly about how people choose what's no good for them and the appearance of having it all and high school friendships and growing older and apart and still being able to come together like these people are in your bones
Thanks to Jess for the photo of the poster!
made a couple Little Mix-themed Polyvore sets because apparently that's a thing I do when I'm overhelmed with fan-feelings but can't shop
didn't wear this, because this is from last September when I was trying to look like 1) I'd been living in a gutter since 2001 and 2) I'd made literally no effort for anyone
(I think I succeeded?)
Shawl-collar cardigan: mother's, Old Navy. Equus t-shirt: gift. Floral skirt: secondhand, gift. Tights: BP Nordstrom. Boots: Steven by Steve Madden.
tried a new yoga place with Connie, possibly overworked my triceps
scratched off the 1st of 7 undisclosed items for #17 on my 101 in 1001 list
was told "ya done good, kid"
scratched off the 1st of 11 new recipes for #48 on my 101 in 1001 list with this recipe (it was only mildly disastrous)
became completely enamored with 16-year-old Korean pop star Lee Hi:
She reminds me of Cher Lloyd, but even more compact.
got upset about this Led Apple music video because I don't even like K-Pop but OH MY GOD SKINNY KOREAN BOYS IN UNIFORM:
ate a lot of Sriracha-flavored potato chips
listened to Rihanna's "Stay" in the office so many times I stopped keeping count:
blushed
scratched off the 2nd of 7 undisclosed items for #17 on my 101 in 1001 list
scratched off #23 (undisclosed) on my 101 in 1001 list
listened to "Clarity" on repeat:
was told to watch the video for Swedish House Mafia's "Save the World":
accidentally witnessed the Bay Lights (light installation on the Bay Bridge) and felt very small and very big for the first time in a while
wore the same skirt 5 days in a row
didn't wear this outfit, because it's from Feburary of 2012:
I don't what I wore this for, but I can tell you it was probably uncomfortable based on my knowledge that these heels are slightly too big and this dress is slightly too short.
The bruise-like thing on my leg is from a spider(?) bite that left a mark that took AN ENTIRE YEAR to fade. At one point it was completely purple. #fashion
My name is Samantha. I am convinced that I was bred to be ornamental. This is a chronicle of my attempts to get dressed, learning to grow up, thinking too much, and that beautiful post-grad despair. To contact me or read about about how majestic I am, see my Blog & Blogger page.
currently
restless
hunting for a yoga mat
exposed ankles
little boys' clothing
falling down the KPop rabbit hole "Dreamer" Archer (4.10) Doctor Who (7.06) A Clash of Kings The Magicians
"Unless you love, your life will flash by."
