A RAINY MELODY

Laugh with me

2012-02-22T14:32:00.002-08:00

Sometimes when I'm working on things, I like to have things on as background noise. Normally it's just television shows and music. This time around, I had Youtube videos playing. I love to laugh and I mean laugh-until-tears-are-streaming-down-my-face laugh. I guess I feel like as I'm getting older, we don't laugh as much anymore and we should! It's such a great feeling.

While this video is a parody of things Asian mothers say...it's crazy (mind blowing crazy) how accurate they are. I showed this video to my mom and explained to her that she sounds exactly like this. That little bit about "if I'm not happy at home, go live with my friends"? I can't tell you how many times I've heard that growing up. My mom claims she doesn't sound like that at all. Except she does...she really does.

I decided to tweet Just Kidding Films to show some support and because they seem to interact very well with their fans. Boom! Response. I think it's super cool how they really care about their fans.

This serves as another awesome reminder to do what you love and keep doing it. With that said, Happy Hump Day! It's close to the weekend!

Sneaky Valentine's Day

2012-02-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

Which is exactly what I did. Imagine my surprise when I saw all this on his desk. I thought it'd be your cheesy typical red roses since that's what happened last year. (Plus a bag of Raisinets, but that's another story.) I knew he was baking something except I had no idea it'd be a fancy mini red velvet cake. I didn't even want to eat it because it was too cute.
How did I know this was coming? Because he tells me I can't come over until tomorrow at 4 PM. I found it endearing that he still doesn't see how obvious that made it. ~~It's that or he thinks I'm that slow.~~ ~~I'm hoping it's not the latter.~~ I honestly wasn't expecting much since we both feel that Valentine's Day is just like any other day. It was sweet and I truly appreciate all the work he put into making my afternoon a delightful one.
I love pizza so the pizza sticks idea made me ecstatic. I seriously thought he baked this too until I saw the Digiorno box on the kitchen counter. Not that sneaky, right? He should've gotten rid of the evidence. Anyway instead of buying chocolate since he's not a fan of sweets, I decided to get him Hi-Chew candies. So far he's eaten three out of the six...

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day and spent it with loved ones, friends, and family!

A token of appreciation

2012-02-08T00:40:00.000-08:00

I'm so grateful to all my readers and friends who are always showing me their support. Ego Closet is kind enough to host a giveaway with me. The online boutique was started in June 2011 by Amy and Jade. They're both from South Korea, which I think is so cool since I love Asian fashion! (Did I mention I love Korean food? As if you couldn't tell from my previous posts filled with Korean food...)

(Dress 1, Dress 2, Dress 3, Dress 4, Dress 5)

You must:
-"Like" the Facebook Page + Subscribe to the newsletter
- Follow A Rainy Melody on Google Friend Connect (Right side, click "Join This Site")
- & most importantly...leave your name with e-mail, and which dress you would like!
Extra entry:
-Follow Ego Closet on Twitter and tweet: "I just entered @arainymelody x @egocloset giveaway! http://bit.ly/vZiqAv #contest"
*Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. (One entry per day, including the extra entry.)

I asked what their mission statement is and they said, "Providing unique items with great quality and affordable prices. We love happy customers!" They wear the clothes they sell...and I mean, who wouldn't? I'd love to own any one of these dresses. Check out their Bloglovin' and Tumblr for more fashion inspiration.

Just another weekend

2012-02-06T00:26:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say thanks to Twenty-Two Blog for being a first feature. Click here to read the actual interview! It's a cool blog filled with everything from art to food.

This weekend...what did I even do this weekend? I feel like this weekend was such a blur. I had a banquet to attend on Saturday which was fun because I got to put on a fancy dress with crazy heels. I would have taken pictures but as I was rushing down the stairs, I left the camera battery upstairs. Luckily, there was an adorable photo booth with cute props!

(McKenzies! Always a good time.)

(Congratulations Ben and CPZ!)
Today I just cleaned out my trunk and did laundry. It wasn't too exciting but I love it when everything is clean. I feel like a clean "something" (in this case my trunk) means a clear mind. It's the perfect way to start the week.

Edit: Yay! I'm able to post the banquet pictures from the photo booth. Thanks Karen for posting up the pictures so fast!

Sephora photo booth fun

2012-02-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post my pictures from Vegas so you'll be seeing some of it this week! This was the night we decided to stop by Sephora because we needed lash glue. (I never knew it was an essential in Vegas.) While I never need anything, I always want something at Sephora. It's basically a second Disneyland for me. I get so happy inside just browsing.

Sephora had a cute photo booth with props and since it was empty...we decided to take lots of pictures.

Primer-Laura Mercier

Foundation-MAC Minerals

Eyebrows-Benefit Brows-A-Go-Go

Eyes-Urban Decay Naked Palette

Lip liner-Sephora Nano Lip Liner

Lipstick-Eyeko Fat Lipstick

The truth is out! He loves Sephora more than I do! By the way, I love how I'm carrying a Walgreens bag in almost every picture. I had to buy ban-aids just incase my feet hurt.

BE INSPIRED: A major sweet tooth

2012-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

I've been on a roll lately with cranking out posts and decided to take a quick breather last weekend. And now...I'm back with a new post! Did you notice it's a new edition to my BE INSPIRED series? This is my amazing friend Molli who I'm grateful to have met in college. I featured her because she followed one of her dreams and decided to try her hand (literally) at baking delicious desserts. Plus I've got a major sweet tooth and jump for joy when I see cupcakes. I was definitely intrigued when she began posting drool worthy images of her cakes on Facebook. She even presented them at a showing!

(Molli with her best seller-a luscious velvet cupcake with a classic cream cheese frosting.)

When did you decide that you wanted to be the one baking cupcakes?
I didn't always use to bake. I started my experiences in the kitchen cooking dishes at first. I've always had this innate passion for cooking. One day I decided to try baking from scratch, and fell in love with it. My first batch of cupcakes made from scratch are my now popular s'mores cupcakes, altered through trial and error from the first batch I've ever made.

What makes a cupcake a good cupcake?
What I look for in a cupcake is the cake itself. The cake definitely has to be moist and the right consistency of density. I don't like my cupcakes too airy or fluffy, nor too heavy in density.

Who/what inspires you?
My family and friends definitely inspire me. They are always there to support me and whenever I need anything, they never hesitate to lend both hands to help me. I am very lucky to have them in my life.

I asked Molli for a cupcake recipe and she gave me a Carrot Cake one. If any of you try it out, please let me know how it turned out! I'm excited to bake these myself. And of course...to share them!

If you've got any questions or are interested in catering, feel free to shoot her an e-mail: mollicakes@gmail.com. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Dash of gold

2012-01-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Dash of Gold by arainymelody featuring heart shaped jewelry

I'm a huge fan of pink lipstick...pink everything! I think it looks great with gold tones, don't you agree? I've been meaning to attempt more berry colored lipsticks but I'm wary still. Maybe because it's a tad bit darker than I'm used to? It always reminds me of the time I first bought red lipstick.

First of all, I had no idea I had to wear a lip liner to keep the color from bleeding! It went something like this, "You want me to try this on myself? What? I don't even...what? Lip liner?" She said it was tracing and easy. Let me tell you my lips were slightly crooked and she had to fix it. I'm pretty sure the lady at the counter found it painfully hysterical. As people say, practice makes perfect! It was a good hands-on lesson. I can vouch that my lips are no longer drawn crooked.

The sandwichgasm

2012-01-27T01:45:00.000-08:00

Drink: Oreo shooter

Appetizer: Calamari "Spaghetto" Carbonata

Entree: Angry Shrimp Roll, Shrimp Chips

Dessert: Fried Kool-Aid, Pop Rock Whipped

One of my loves has to be sandwiches. I love all kinds of sandwiches and you can't imagine the excitement I felt when I was invited to my first food event! My friend Kevin was attending an i8 Supper Club event and the theme was "The Sandwichgasm." Jeff, the chef, was so nice and explained all the dishes in detail. The main dish Angry Shrimp Roll was amazing. Why? It was paired with shrimp chips! I used to eat those all the time as a kid.

The craziest thing I had was the fried Kool-Aid. While the flavor tasted like what it should be, it was definitely the texture that was interesting. The Pop Rocks added to the dessert because well, it kept popping.

This made me realize I should slow down, enjoy life, and every bite! Oh...and cook more!

The lost pants

2012-01-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

(sheer top-Forever 21, top-Forever 21, skinnies-Forever 21, ring-Forever 21, shoes-Alexander Wang)

I haven't shopped in a while...which probably explains how I found myself inside Forever 21 and trying to restrain myself from buying everything. I really went for one particular thing and of course, I ended up grabbing a couple more things. Isn't the polka dot top super cute? I love that I can layer it over tank tops and it covers my arms. Also, I found myself drawn to the red top because of the collar and bow. I thought pairing the two together would make a nice simple outfit.

Now, can you guess which item I went to buy? Jeans! I somehow (I can't even explain this) lost two pairs of my skinny jeans: my dark denim colored ones and my black ones. I've never purchased jeans from Forever 21 and figured it was such a steal at $10.50 that it was absolutely necessary to purchase. They're pretty decent and I like the fact that I can wear them with everything! Lately I've been cuffing the ends of my jeans and wearing it with my Alexander Wang boots.

Back to the 90s

2012-01-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

(dress-Forever21)

Here I was helping out with an event for an internet dating company called, How About We. The theme was a 90s one, filled with ring pops and slappy bracelets! While it was lots of fun, there was work involved too. I definitely didn't wear heels and ran around in my flats all night. I had a great time with my roomie Farah and girlfriends. The DJ knew his music! I love the idea of using cut outs for photos and booths. The photographer was using me as a guinea pig to take test shots of faces in the heart.

Of course the next morning when I log on to see the pictures on the webpage, my photo ends up being used for the event...for online dating. This is when I laughed out loud and proceeded to facepalm.

Lady in red

2012-01-24T21:46:00.000-08:00

Polyvore Live and COVERGIRL Present Gavaskar by arainymelody featuring evening gown dresses

It's true. I'm always wanting to create sets on Polyvore now. It's a great way for me to express my love of collage making without actually creating a huge mess with scissors and glue. I love the very idea of coveting things and being able to see how I would style it.

On another note, yesterday was Lunar New Year's! It's the Year of the Dragon and guess who's a dragon? Me! I didn't make any resolutions the beginning of the year. I know what I need to do already. Now it's just a matter of walking the talk. I'm excited for this upcoming year and I hope that it will be the luckiest one.

Beyond the garden gate

2012-01-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

(cardigan-Rodarte x Target, tank-UO, shorts-F21, platforms-Topshop, belt-H&M, jewelry-random)

I'm always pleasantly surprised when I discover a quaint little place in a town. Who would've thought it'd be located in Davis? I saw the store (I think I was on my way to In-N-Out) and kept wondering what it was. All I could read was, Beyond The Garden Gate, which the sign on the iron gate already intrigued me. Once I stepped in, I just fell in love with all the lovely decor.

I wish I could say I left empty-handed. We know that's not the case...see the photograph of the crystal necklace hanging on the mirror? While I do love the sparkle it has, I really liked the intricate design of the hook holding the crystal. It's got amazing detail and is in the shape of a hand. Oh and I did end up leaving with it.

P.s.
When in need of a belt and you don't have one, try using a scarf. I wanted more color so I opted to use this floral pink scarf. I think the bow adds a nice touch, don't you?

The essentials

2012-01-22T01:46:00.000-08:00

They give goodies if you spend a certain amount. Love this lip gloss key chain!

One of the things New York has introduced me to is The Face Shop. I know this is stereotypical but I became really intrigued with the glow-y Asian look. (It's probably because of all the dramas I watch.) I wish I could say I have super amazing skin and the sad truth is, I don't. I have to work hard at maintaining a clear face. I do the normal three step plan: cleanse, tone and moisturize. I added the serum, pictured above, to my night routine to help balance my pigmentation.

I worked a few blocks away from Korea Town and decided to try a few skincare products. Since going to a spa gets pretty expensive, I bought a few face masks that people rave about. I now am an addict of these masks. There are lots to choose from and for all types of skin. I love the clean and moisturizing feeling I get after wearing it. My favorite is the rice cereal one-it smells so good!

Also big thanks to Dara of Dark Berry Beauty for my Beauty Secrets Revealed feature. Be sure to check out it out!

Blush with me

2012-01-21T02:37:00.000-08:00

I remember hanging out with one of my favorite fellow blogger gals, Chelsea of Dear Winnie, and asking about this lovely necklace she had on. Chels told me about Jewel Mint a while ago and I never took the time to take a look at the site. I finally did and I'm sad it took me so long-it's such a great concept! I love the idea of having my own curated jewelry box that fits my personality and style.

Here's a set I created using a few pieces I adore. I love soft pinks mixed with different metals. I already love skirts and now, tutus! If we're not on friends on Polyvore, then what're you waiting for? Let's be!

Getting all caught up

2012-01-19T01:19:00.000-08:00

(dress-DVF, wedges-Cathy Jean, purse-Coach, sunnies-Michael Kors)

(Photos courtesy of Profreshstyle and Going West)

It's crazy to think this was really just a year ago at Lincoln Center. It also tells me how much I've been lagging with posting on my blog. (And how I should never highlight my hair blonde ever again.) I know I've been changing the look of my blog and this time I think it's going to stick. I really like how minimal it is.

I decided that I'm going to catch up with all my old photos and post them anyway. They're such great memories I have that I have to document and share it. I've made such great friends along the way and there's never a time where I don't have fun when we're all together. There's a lot more to write about and update on. Thanks for following and bearing with me. My current mission? Clean desktop. No more folders and no more procrastinating.

Happy holidays!

2011-12-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

Everyone likes to take family style portraits except I find that never seems to work out for me. We're way too silly.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time with their families. I can't express how grateful I am for all the amazing people in my life. Merry Christmas and stay warm!

Knots galore

2011-12-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

A lot of my friends ask me what do I do to my hair to keep it wavy? Do I add product to it? Do I curl it? My hair's naturally wavy and I only blow dry it if I have the time. Most of the time I'm pretty lazy and I let it air dry. I will say that since my hair is so long, it gets tangled a lot. I use a Conair shower comb to get rid of the hot mess. And look, it's pink!

(Conair shower comb)

I do curl my hair with an iron just to give it more volume though. I know I should put heat shield products in my hair to keep my hair from drying out but I always end up forgetting! John from Misikko was kind enough to send a few of their products to try out. When the box arrived, I practically jumped up and down from the cute packaging. (I'm a huge sucker for pretty wrapping.) Inside the box was an adorable ornament, a flat iron cover, Hana's Shine Shield and Chi's Silk Infusion.

I did make a video and was in the process of editing except now I can't find one of the clips! It's somewhere on my computer...with the rest of my crazy folders.

HANA'S SHINE SHIELD
Likes
+Light weight feeling of product
+Absorbs quickly
+Great natural shine in hair

Dislikes
+Slippery when coming out of bottle
+Hands feel a little oily after

CHI SILK INFUSION
Likes
+Consistency is thicker than Hana's Shine Shield
+No leftover oily/sticky residue
+Doesn't weigh hair down
+Perfect size to throw into your travel bag

Dislikes
+None that I can think of!

Thank you so much John and I apologize for this long overdue post! Check out Misikko for awesome hair products.

My little soup dumpling

2011-10-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone who visits New York always makes it a point to go to Joe's Shanghai Restaurant. Since the place has high ratings on Yelp, people are constantly bustling in and out. When my friend Albert came to visit, we waited about 30 minutes before we were sat down. I can't remember the last time I had such scrumptious soup dumplings!

Now I'm totally craving this! It was such a great day. We spend the rest of it scouring for a different boba place to try...and then grabbing pizza late night!

Tickle me pink

2011-10-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from a while ago when I was still in school. How can you tell? I've still got bangs!

I remember being really excited that this headband finally shipped. Then I put it on and found that it was kind of too small. Or maybe I've just got a big head. I ended up wearing it with bobby pins.

(hair piece-UO, tank-UO, shorts-Forever 21, flats-Jeffrey Campbell)

Have you ever noticed that bobby pins are something you always use but always lose? I swear I must have a million laying somewhere around the house. They always pop up!

They say the more the merrier

2011-10-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

My housemate's friends came to visit and we decided to go to Battery Park together. The weather finally cooled down and it actually sprinkled a bit. I noticed when you live in New York, everyone wants to visit you. I wonder why that isn't the same for California. We're just as cool!...okay, we're totally chill.

(tank-Topshop, shorts-Forever 21, boots-Cathy Jean, bag-UO)

The is one of my favorite photographs because Nick is the one who dropped the jello and made a red mess. The truth is I'm normally the clumsy one who runs into things and drops everything. I'm glad I didn't waste any dim sum though!

If I had to pick

2011-10-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

Remember the two pairs of boots I wanted but couldn't figure out which ones to order? I decided and received them in the mail! The boots came with a sweet letter, saying keep up the good work on the blog! I love the look and feel of my Glasgow boots from Wanted Shoes. I even stuffed them in my suitcase all the way to New York!

(sweater-Olsenboyle c/o of DBB, jeans-Banana Republic, boots-c/o of Wanted Shoes)

Likes
+FREE shipping
+True to size-I ordered a size 7.5!
+Glossy rich brown
+Zipper had no snags
+Different hooks for the lace
+Angular cut on top
+Extra cushioning soles

Dislikes
+Slight odor to the boots (goes away after a few wears though!)

These boots are so comfortable and versatile. They're perfect for every season. I can't wait to wear them with cute dresses! I also wanted to thank everyone for the comments! I truly appreciate it!

Under Pressure - Queen

This and that

2011-10-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a lucky gal because I'm still friends with someone I grew up with. My kindergarden best friend's name is Wendy. We both went to PS 154 and then sadly moved away from each other in second grade. I moved to California and she moved to a different school. Before e-mail and Facebook happened, we actually kept in touch the good old fashion way: hand written letters! I'm always happy when I get the chance to catch up with her. I finally met her sweet boyfriend Andrew too!

We had gone to Otafuku earlier for the okonomiyaki. I wish I had taken pictures but I was too hungry. Later after we parted ways with Wendy and Andrew, Nick and I decided to go back to St. Mark's Place. Takoyaki was our choice for a late night snack!

You would think we'd be full from eating all day. I will say that one thing I love about New York is all the walking. You get to eat whatever you want because you end up burning it anyway!

Breaking rules

2011-10-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

The main reason why I wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum was to see Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty exhibition. I'm glad I was able to visit before it ended in early September.

I remember everything the day he passed. It was during my first fashion week in February and I had just landed. As soon as I got to my friend's apartment, the first thing I do (and always do) was turned on my laptop. It was all over my Twitter feed and I was truly saddened by the news.

Since I've been horrible at taking outfit pictures, Rachel insisted she take some. Look! I'm actually wearing sandals. I realized quickly that I couldn't wear heels in New York. Why? Because as I was trekking along in Brooklyn in platforms, I fell flat on my face (almost) and ended up with a bloody gash on my knee. Since then I decided flats were the way to go.

(tank-UO, skirt-Free People, sandals-H&M, bracelet-Topshop)

We weren't supposed to take pictures and as you can see, I did it anyway. I couldn't help it. I only took pictures in the very front and simply enjoyed the rest of the exhibit. Everything was breathtaking.

In this treacherous heat

2011-10-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Of course the week he decided to come visit, there just had to be an insane heat wave going through New York City. It was then I realized that the heat makes some people extremely cranky and not want to do anything. Yes, I completely mean him. While I find that we compliment each other well, he's much more interested in food and I'm more into sight seeing. (And by more, I mean way more.) I practically had to drag him out to do touristy activities.

The best part of this week was that a dear blogger friend Rachel was visiting as well. There was more trying new places to eat and lots of picture taking.

Here comes the food pictures! I've never been a ramen connoisseur until recently. I keep asking what makes ramen good ramen? We went to Totto's because a fellow foodie recommended it. It was definitely a hole in the wall type of eatery because there were barely any tables inside! At first I was surprised people would wait more than an hour just for a bowl of ramen...until I had it. Words can't even describe how good it was, which probably explains why I can't ever be a food critic. I just know that it was mind blowing amazing even in the damn heat.

I Would Do Anything For You - Foster The People

When your best friend visits you

2011-10-12T02:28:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize that I can't finish my challenge because I can't post consecutively. Why? Because I'm still living without internet. I know, it's incredibly sad. I even went back to using my old Blackberry! Don't worry, I'm in the process of getting wireless along with a new phone. I just can't decide which one I want. Until then, I'll post as much as I can.

During the middle of summer, my best friend came to see me. I wish I could say it was more of a surprise visit but we both had quite a crazy work schedule. (Actually, I think it was just me.) He came for a grand total of five days. I couldn't help but make an excel document of everything we would be doing. It proved to be quite useful since we were able to attend a lot of the places.

The night he arrived, we decided to walk to a nearby place called Cheeburger Cheeburger. The decor was flashy and more importantly, the food was good. We both ordered burgers and the cool thing about this place is you can pick up to 20 toppings! I could care less about burgers when fries and onion rings are involved. Fries are my ultimate weakness but we opted to share the onion rings!

(I especially enjoyed the cute water jars.)

All I know is when your best friend visits you, eating lots of good food is involved.