Touch of Pink

Hello!
This military green jacket from Gap has definitely been my most worn item this Fall. It just seems to go with everything and anything. I'm starting to think I might just need another one since you guys might get sick of seeing it here on my blog. I have even been wearing it more than I wear cardigans, which is ludicrous seeing as how I have over 20 cardigans and only just got into jackets.

It's now the Friday before Halloween and I'm really starting to stress over costumes. Like I said before, I'm not really a Halloween person. I mean as a kid, I went trick-or-treating once and that was just up and down my own street. My parents turn off all the lights and pretend not to be home every year. So having it be such a big deal at work for the first time is a little strange for me. Since I'm not really big on Halloween, I'm really trying to find a costume within my closet, but I'll be going shopping today or later this weekend so we'll just have to see what I come up with.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Until next post,
Jasmine

military jacket - gap
grey dress - cotton on
loafers - aldo
lace belt - cotton on

Just Before Sundown

Hello!
I absolutely love the lighting in these photos! Usually Robert and I take photos in the mornings before work since when this great late afternoon light is happening, I'm at work; but over the weekend, we finally caught this great lighting! I was so excited at this chance that I threw on the first outfit that came to mind and ran out the door. I don't know if you guys have noticed, but I've been pretty good at remixing my clothes lately. There just doesn't seem to be anything appealing in stores right now, so I just have to continue to make due with what I have.

Can you believe Halloween is next week? Are you guys dressing up? I usually don't dress up, but it seems to be a pretty big deal at work so this year I just might get into the Halloween spirit.

Until next post,
Jasmine

top - charlotte russe
skirt - h&m
shoes - urban outfitters
yellow belt - gap

Hair Routine

Hello!
I've recently learned how to tame my once wild hair so I thought I'd share my super simple hair routine if you have thick, naturally-voluminous, not-the-good-kind-of-wavy hair like me. A bit of background: I never liked my hair. I was always jealous of my friends' long, shiny locks. I have thick hair and I also have a lot of it. And so I've kept the same a-line bob haircut for a few years now and will probably keep it for the rest of my life. I'm lucky that my mom has been cutting my hair since I was little otherwise maintaining short hair will get too expensive with frequent trims.

Since my hair is thick, it's pretty low maintenance. I wash my hair once every 3-4 days. I use Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly shampoo and John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start conditioner. I shampoo only the top half, and I condition the bottom half. After washing my hair, sometimes I put in Loreal's Out of bed Weightless Texturizer in damp hair if I want texture and to make my hair a bit piecey. I only blow dry my hair if I wash my hair in the mornings, otherwise I just go to sleep with wet/damp hair. Every morning, I have to straighten my hair otherwise I look like a hot mess.

I used to use a cheap Remington 1" flat iron that I got from Target; but Missiko sent me a HANA 1.5" flat iron to try out and review a few weeks ago, and I have been loving it! While I may still use my 1" to curl my hair because the 1.5" makes too big of a curl for my short hair, I actually like the extra .5" because it makes straightening a lot faster. I have found that it makes my hair so much more silky and soft compared to my other straightener. I also love that I don't need to use the highest heat setting with this straightener. The only thing I don't like about this straightener is that I wish the light indicating whether it's on or not was on the outside and not in between the clamps so I can quickly see if I left my straightener on (I am guilty of doing that a lot actually), but I'm learning to check the straightener before I leave the house each morning. I've also learned that it might just be worth it to splurge on hair styling tools like a quality chi straightener, especially since I use it everyday and it makes my hair can't-stop-touching-it-kind-of-soft.

Phew! Who knew writing about my hair could be so lengthy? Tell me your hair secrets! Hope you all are having a good-hair weekend!

Until next post,
Jasmine

herbal essences tousle me softly shampoo
john frieda frizz ease smooth start conditioner
loreal out of bed weightless texturizer
wide tooth comb
1.5" hana flat iron c/o missiko

In Cahoots

Hello!
Happy Friday! A while back, Nicole and I were exchanging emails and I asked if she were interested in doing a swap because she has some pretty awesome clothes. I've been craving dresses lately so I'm glad she let me borrow this adorable owl printed dress that she has worn many times on her blog. I love swaps because it allows you to try new clothes without having to buy them, but I also hate swaps because I tend to fall in love with the items that I have to eventually give back. This dress is so comfortable and I adore the print and the cut. I may just have to bite the bullet and make my first purchase from ModCloth soon!

The weather seems to finally be cooling down and I was able to finally wear tights in the morning on Wednesday. I didn't wear this outfit to work because I didn't want to ruin a dress that wasn't mine at work. The one day I wore a dress to work recently, it came home with a hole so I didn't want to take any chances. It was a good thing too because on Wednesday, one of the kindergarteners stepped in dog poo and decided to chase me around trying to wipe it off on me (I really do love my job). Hopefully I find a nice occasion to wear this dress before I have to return it. I can't wait to style the other items she lent me. Click here to see how she styled my peach floral dress.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Until next post,
Jasmine

red cardigan - gap
owl printed dress - modcloth (swap via nicole)
yellow bow belt - vintage (via etsy)
loafers - aldo

Foxy

Hello!
Real life is taking over! Now I can understand why people don't seem to have the time to mull over their outfits on a daily basis because I'm slowly losing that time to school, work, and graduate school applications. I'm so sorry I've been neglecting this blog, but Fall is usually the busiest time for me every year. I've been shopping way less than normal lately, and when I do shop, I've been buying practical clothes (ie. basics) that are good for work. It just seems silly to be buying clothes to wear exclusively for photo shoots or hopeful events and not to work (which is real and everyday), so I've stopped that mindset (my bank account thanks me) and now I just have to make due with what I have. I've been unmotivated to get dressed up because I want to wear Fall things, but it still doesn't feel like Fall around here. Oy, this whole paragraph is just big, fat excuse of why I've been a bad blogger. So getting to the point: I'm sorry and I will try to be better. I have some exciting things coming up on the blog as soon as I find the time to take pictures: a new dynamic duo and styling up some items that I've swapped with fellow bloggers.

While my blogging-life may be kinda grim, my real life is actually really wonderful right now. I am in love with my job and all my students. I seriously wish I worked more than I do!

And the winner of my Fall giveaway is... #13 BESTIE. Congrats sweetie! I'll be emailing you for details soon!

Until next post,
Jasmine

military jacket - gap
fox printed top - urban outfitters
red skirt - urban outfitters
boots - topshop

Not Sweater Weather

Hello!
California is experiencing a crazy heat wave this week (like 100+ degrees! Ah!). When it is that hot outside, I want to wear as little as I could get away with. I haven't worn this dress since Thanksgiving, and the last few times I've worn this dress, I had to wear a cardigan over because I hate showing off my arms. Since it's too hot to wear a cardigan, I decided to just layer it over a lace top. I really ended up liking this outfit even though Robert said it made me look like a "cartoon character." Thanks for all your encouraging comments on my last post! You all are so incredibly sweet and are definitely the reasons that I do continue blogging! I've been slowly putting myself back on track this week--less junk food, more fruit, and more exercise.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Until next post,
Jasmine

dress - f21
lace top - f21
belt - f21
heels - swedish hasbeens x h&m

How Lucky We Are

Hello!
Sorry for disappearing for a week, but I was drowning in my own insecurities. Even though I've lost 25 pounds since I began my weight loss journey in February, I felt like I was back in square one again with all the self-loathing and self-pity. Also, I lost my iPod that I've had for 3+ years and that Robert gave me for our very first anniversaries. I'm still devastated by it because I am usually meticulous as to the whereabouts of my things and I use my iPod every night, so it still boggles my mind how I lost it. So in short, I was definitely not my cheery self, and in no condition to prance around in cute outfits and smile pretty for photos. Reading blogs only enhanced these feelings because instead of being inspired, I was getting jealous. As much as I adore blogging, sometimes I just need to take a step back and not think about clothes or what about I look like. I hope you guys understand!

Two nights ago, I went through the We Are the 99 Percent blog and all of a sudden, all my worries of having huge pores and too many striped tops seemed so insignificant. So yesterday, I slipped on my cozy new sweater and my new boots, and basked in the beautiful California sunshine and realized just how lucky I really am. I am so lucky to have a loving boyfriend and family, to have a job that I love and pays decently, to be a debt-free college graduate, and to have more-than-enough clothes. It's wonderful what a little bit of perspective can do for you.

There's still a bit of time left of my Fall giveaway!

Until next post,
Jasmine

sweater - h&m
skirt - cotton on
boots - bakers
necklace - f21

Under the Bridge

Hello!
Even though these photos were only taken on Monday, they feel so long ago because now it's gloomy, rainy, and chilly. I guess Fall has finally arrived in California after all! I recently did a close look at my bank account transactions and realized just how much money I do spend/waste on clothes and other silly things. I'm really going to try to cut back like I did during the Summertime when I was unemployed for a little while. Just because I have a good job now doesn't mean I be more wasteful, so that means more remixing and less impulse buying. When I'm hopefully in grad school and in my own place next year, I can't afford to buy things only to wear them once--like this sailboat printed top that I insisted that I had to have. Also as a way to reward/punish myself, I'm really trying not to buy clothes (dresses/bottoms/tops) in general until I have reached another milestone in my weight loss journey, which has annoyingly remained pretty static for months now. It's crazy how many skirts (and clothes in general) I've accumulated since I bought this particular skirt--which was my second high-waisted skirt ever. Besides I'm looking to buy myself a new computer soon since I've had my precious and loyal Macbook for about 5 years now and it's just beginning to slow down. I want to get an iMac since I've never had a desktop to myself before; and those ain't cheap so time to get savin'!

PS. I'll be putting my outfit details down below from now on!
PPS. If you haven't already, enter my giveaway!

Until next post,
Jasmine

sailboat print top - urban outfitters
chambray skirt - urban outfitters
yellow bow belt - etsy
sandals - swedish hasbeens x h&m

Transient Withdrawal Fall Giveaway

Hello!
I hit 400 followers recently. And so to thank you all for supporting me and for reading this blog, I am hosting my own giveaway! When I spotted these darling socks at H&M, I just knew I had to give these away to you! I think they'll be so cute peeking out of your boots. Don't worry I bought some for me too (except mine have bows on them, of course).

The winner of this giveaway will receive...
1. A three pack of socks from H&M (one black pair, one owl-printed pair, and one polka-dot print)
2. A pair of glitter tights from Target
3. A tote bag from the ModSwap

To enter this giveaway...
1. Be a follower of this blog via Google or Bloglovin', and tell me how you follow!
2. Tell me what you want to see more of here on Transient Withdrawal; and/or tell me what is on your Fall wishlist.

*Open to everyone because I have lovely readers all around the world!

Additional entries (leave one comment per extra entry or they will not be counted)...
1. Follow me on Twitter.
2. Blog (copy me the link) or tweet (@jazzyhwang) about this giveaway.

Good luck! This giveaway will be closed on Wed. Oct 12, 2011 at 11:59 PM, and the winner will be announced here on my blog.

Until next post,
Jasmine