Monthly New's

So remember my New Year's resolution of trying at least one new thing every month? I thought it'd be fun to document it here so I can remember and so I can be held accountable for that resolution. It'd also be good to summarize and reflect at the end of each month, instead of waiting until 2013 comes around. I'll be better at actually photographing it next month.

1. I've been really obsessed with spicy tuna and spicy salmon (aka real sushi). I used to not even want to try it because the idea of eating something raw kind of disgusted me. I tried it once in high school and didn't like it, but I tried it again this month, and I'm hooked (no pun intended!).

2. Now this isn't exactly a new thing, but I've been jogging almost every morning and night. I hated running, but now I find it to be so cathartic, even if it is hard for me. I'm also toying with the idea of running a 5K race in May.

3. Yesterday I went to my first a capella concert with some friends in LA. It was so much fun and I have a deeper appreciation for a capella.

Words I want to live by:
"What you put up with you end up with."
-- The Daily Love (aka my new favorite blog)

What new things did you try this month? Do you have any suggestions for me to try in February?

Until next post,
Jasmine

Out On My Own

Whew! What a crazy week it has been already. On Monday, it was raining cats and dogs. Tuesday was such a long day because I had to take a class in the morning, go to work, and end the day with another class. But I finally got some down time this morning to take my own outfit photos before lunch. H&M has recently become my new favorite place to shop. Is it just me or have they really been stepping up their game with great basics that I can't leave the store without? For example...the dress two posts ago, this top, and two other tops I bought recently. I just love that they're versatile and...necessary for my life and my closet. I'm starting to see H&M in a whole new light. I also wanted to take the time to thank you all for sticking by me this month. I promise that I'll be a better blogger from February on. With my last application due on the 31st, this is the final stretch! I'm excited for the future and whatever it holds.

Until next post,
Jasmine

shirt - h&m
belt - forever 21
skirt - zara
loafers - aldo
bracelets - cotton on

So Yesterday

Just popping in for a quick post this weekend with a super basic, casual look that I wore yesterday. There's always something about Fridays that make me want to dress extra casually. And so here I am in a comfy, plain t-shirt and my favorite pin-striped skirt. This week was pretty dramatic so I can't wait to enjoy this weekend, but next week I have so many things to do and so many things to look forward to: I have to finish up my last application and run all the necessary errands for that; Robert's and my 5th anniversary is on Thursday; and next Saturday I'm going up to LA with a friend and Robert to an acapella concert. The weather today--cold and rainy--just makes me want to lounge around in an oversized cardigan and skinny jeans all day. That's probably what I'm going to do. My family's getting ready to go out to eat delicious food so it seems I have to get of bed now. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

Until next post,
Jasmine

cardigan - gap
t-shirt - j crew
belt - h&m
skirt - gap
loafers - aldo
sunglasses - rayban
necklace - foreign exchange

Just a Feeling

Winter has finally hit CA. Anything lower than 60-degrees and I become the biggest wimp. But the cold hasn't stopped me from celebrating a little for finishing half of my applications on Sunday. On Monday, I went shopping with some girl friends. I got this dress and a top from H&M (I had a gift card so I don't feel so bad). Robert seems to think this dress is like an optical illusion with all the stripes, but it's really comfortable, has an exposed zipper in the back, and it has pockets. I love that it's black and white so it's a blank canvas for color accents. It's going to be one of those easy dresses to wear on random days, or when I might need to look a little nice but I don't wanna try all that hard.

I've been feeling like I'm on the top of the world, and at rock bottom lately. I've started to lose weight again since I've been jogging in the mornings. But I have one last application that will be haunting me for the rest of January, I got my first speeding ticket yesterday, and there are just some personal stuff going on too. This year is off to a crazy start. I just want January and applications to be over so I can enjoy life relatively stress-free again. Chinese New Year is coming up so maybe that'll be my true fresh start.

Until next post,
Jasmine

cardigan - gap
dress - h&m
belt - h&m
purse - madewell
loafers - aldo
ring - etsy

Gotta Get Thru This

This whole week I was so uninspired by my closet, but today I really felt like looking cute and taking outfit photos. This outfit came to together quickly and I set out on my own again to take photos after lunch and my eye exam. I probably should have waited for the dilation of my eyes to wear off before I took pictures though because it was hard for me to keep my eyes open in the bright light and to look closely at the camera to see if I was in focus. But I think the pictures turned out alright anyway. The elementary school where I took these photos was just newly remodeled. I love the new bricks and will probably be visiting this place regularly to take pictures over the weekend. Once my applications are all turned in at the end of the month, I hope that I can take outfit pictures more often because I think I'm getting better at taking them on my own. It's also pretty cathartic too to have that time to myself.

Daniel Bedingfield's "Gotta Get Thru This" has definitely been my anthem this past week. My writer's block finally unclogged and I've been writing my personal statements with so much more ease than before. By tomorrow half of my apps will be submitted and I am so relieved that this misery is almost over. Thank you for sticking by me through this process. I'll make it up to you all once this is over. Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Until next post,
Jasmine

cardigan - gap
lace top - h&m
skirt - urban outfitters
belt - urban outfitters
bracelet - jewelmint
shoes - charlotte russe

Day by Day

There must be something liberating about admitting you're in a rut. I was trying too hard to fight it and to stay in denial that I could blog regularly for a long period of time. After I admitted I was in a rut, the pressure of being a good blogger and a "fashionista" was off. That same day, I was looking through my Tumblr dashboard and saw a girl looking cute in a plain blue dress. I thought to myself that I could easily look like that. Suddenly I was inspired and excited to wear/document/blog this outfit, even though it's not particularly ground-breaking. It was perfect for a day of shopping and working on my applications with Robert. Just like Maggie said on her recent blog post, I too need to dress like I don't have a blog. I have been doing just that recently. Time seems to be slipping right through my fingers. The only good thing about time seeming to pass so quickly is that by Sunday, half of my applications will be done.

Until next post,
Jasmine

cardigan - gap
belt - charlotte russe
dress - forever 21
loafers - charlotte russe
necklace - foreign exchange

Weekend Photo Diary VIII

This is different from my usual photo diaries. I didn't bring my camera, but I'm thankful that Robert has an iPhone and Instagram so that I'm able to catch such spontaneous and beautiful moments like these. Robert and I took a spontaneous trip to the beach today to catch the sunset. I love that it's winter and it was still so nice out here in California. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen in a while. But then again, now that the sun sets so early, I rarely get to enjoy the sun setting because I'm usually at work or running some silly errand on the weekend. The world just finally seemed to stop spinning during that hour, and I was able to calm down from all the stress that has been clouding my mind. Robert brought up that I needed to let go more and stop trying to control every little thing in my life. I think he might be right. It'll be a work-in-progress this year.

I cannot wait to get my own iPhone (in May when my current contract ends) because I'll probably be on Instagram 24/7. It's so much fun! You can still follow me though @jazzyhwang.

PS. Thanks for all your sweet and understand comments on my being-in-a-rut situation! I have the best readers. I actually did take real outfit photos this weekend so look forward to that ;)

Until next post,
Jasmine

blouse - brandy melville
jeans - gap
sunglasses - raybans
purse - madewell

Pretty Little Things

I am in a rut.

And I'm trying to stick to my blog resolution of letting the outfits/post flow naturally. Hence this cop-out of a post. My mood and where I am in life always affects how I dress. I really did try this week to wear cute clothes, but I just couldn't. My creative juices are drained and it's even affecting my graduate school applications. For one school, they're due in a week and I'm still not done. I know what I want to write. I know what I want to wear. I just can't. I think I've just been stuck in my own head lately. I'm also starting to rethink the focus of my blog. I want to feature other things I may be interested in or might be doing--not just what I wear from time to time. I'm just not sure what exactly I want to add to the blog though. What do you think I should add/what do you want to see here?

It feels like my mind is racing 100 mph but also not really moving at all. I'm stressed and panicking, yet completely calm at the same time. I just need a few days to relax and work. I'll try to do a photo diary some time this weekend or a photo an hour post, but no guarantees. I will also shop in my closet and come up with new outfits. So until then...you can see more things that catch my eye on my Tumblr.

Until next post,
Jasmine

photo sources 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Blog/Style Resolutions 2012

(source)

I was pretty good about my 2011 style resolutions, so I'm going to make a few for this year...

1. Less skirts and dresses, more shorts and pants...on the blog.
2. Stop being a brand-whore.
3. Be better at layering, and mixing colors/patterns.

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My blog resolutions this year are to...
1. Take it easy more and let the posts and outfits come naturally.
2. Read blogs that inspire me instead of ones that make me feel jealous or inadequate.
3. Take pictures in different locations other than the park and the lake.
4. Be better at commenting back on your blogs!
5. Meet more bloggers from Southern California.

What are your style and/or blog resolutions this year?

Until next post,
Jasmine