Excuse Me While I Have a Fangirl Moment

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!

It's officially been announced that Harry Potter: The Exhibition is coming to Seattle, which means I get to go fangirl it up with my lovely friend (who's equally as excited).

In the mean time, enjoy some photos of the exhibit.











(All of the photos can be found here.)

Hogwarts Houses: Ravenclaw

... this is me being unable to think of a clever title for this post. I do like Ravenclaw, though. For those of you who don't know, Ravenclaws are known for being smart, clever, and prizing intelligence over all else. The most well-known Ravenclaws are Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang. Their colors are bronze and blue.


American Eagle: Jacket, Top, Jeans
Delia*s: Shoes

This is the perfect outfit for cozying up on brisk fall days. If it's too plain for you, you can always add accessories to spruce it up a bit.


American Eagle: Shirt, Jeans, Watch
Forever 21: Boots, Bags

Ravenlaws are known for being studious, and I picture most of them (the notable exception being Luna Lovegood) as being very put together. I kind of see them as perfectionists, and I imagine this translates to their clothes. Whether you prefer to tuck in the shirt or leave it loose, it'll still look good. Also, I want these boots.


American Eagle: Dress, Ring, Necklace
Abercrombie & Fitch: Cardigan
Delia*s: Shoes

This outfit is perfect for a date or anything else where you need to dress up a little. It's cute, but the cardigan will keep you from getting chilly (or being too exposed, if you need to be more conservative).


American Eagle: Blazer, Jeans, Bracelet
Wet Seal: Tank Top
Delia*s: Boots

Again, since I see the Ravenclaws as being very put together, so I thought the blazer was a nice touch to an otherwise casual outfit. Though if that's not really your style, you can always opt for a cute cardigan instead.


American Eagle: Shirts, Hoodie, Bermuda Shorts, Bracelet
Urban Outfitters: Asymmetrical Dress
Wet Seal: Tier Dress
Forever 21: Sandals
Delia*s: Skirt

These are all the lovely things that I didn't make an outfit for. I especially love the Urban Outfitters dress and the sandals. I have yet to venture away from standard flip-flops (I always end up spending my money on other things XD...), but I really want a pair like this.

Magical Monday

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It's Monday again, and not a whole lot's going on. Maybe going through some old clothes later (this is me pretending I'm actually going to be productive). Anyways, here's what I've been loving lately.


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1. Comfy sweaters. Or, in my case, comfy jackets. Mine's a too big, zip-up from Bartell's that I picked up after my other jacket got completely soaked at a street fair. My mom and I were boothing, so we wanted something dry to keep us warm. And oh my gosh, it's like wearing a blanket.


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2. Brad Goreski from The Rachel Zoe Project. I've recently started rewatching the show, what's not to love about him? He's smart, funny, and fabulously stylish. I kind of wish he was my best friend.


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3. Elephant ears. This is my favorite fair food. So, so delicious. Unfortunately, I can't get them very often, so I like to savor each and every one. When I saw a booth at the street fair, I jumped on it. Unfortunately, it was not up to par, but that just makes me even more excited for a good elephant ear. Also, I found a picture of an elephant from the fair I go to, and I was psyched, but unfortunately, I was unable to post it. Oh well.


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4. Leopards. I just watched Bringing Up Baby for the first time yesterday, and now I want a leopard. They're so adorable. Now all I need to do is find a nice, tame one...


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5. Gingers. This has two different parts. One is that I've officially replaced Tom Felton in my heart with Rupert Grint. I still love Tom, but I've come to terms with the fact his girlfriend Jade isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And then I started learning more about Rupert, and discovered just how cool he was. I already knew he was awesome (I mean, the guy's got an ice cream truck), but with everything I learned, I was even more convinced. The second part is that I adore red hair. I think it looks fabulous on natural gingers (and select other people), and I wish I had the guts to try it out for myself (though I'm convinced it'd look horrible on me).

Rules To Live By: If You Don't Love It, Don't Buy It

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So, I've been thinking, and I've decided to start a series about rules to live by (so far the only things I've brainstormed blogging about pertain to shopping, but I doubt it'll stick to that). I'm not pretending to be an expert, and I've by no means mastered these things, so these are just as much for me as for anyone else reading it.

I have problems spending money. I'm getting better, but every time I buy something, I mentally calculate exactly how much of my total spending money it is, which is a pain. Say I'll have sixty dollars, and spend twenty. Then, oh no! I've spent a third of my money. Logically, I know that twenty dollars is not that much money, but something in me makes me hesitant to spend even that much money on one thing.

All things considered, this isn't the worst problem I could have, however it's led to a number of clothes I never wear in my closet. I know, it doesn't make sense. You'd think someone so hesitant to spend money would make sure she absolutely loves something before buying it, but that's usually not the case. Instead, I hold out on buying things I truly love, because they're too much. Then, as I continue shopping, I begin getting frustrated that everything is more than I want to spend, so I end up buying things on sale that I don't really love.

Instead, I need to remember that just because it's cheap, doesn't necessarily mean that it'll help me save money in the long run. I mean, it's a complete waste of money if I never wear it. I need to learn to buy something because I love it, and that should be justification enough for maybe spending a little more money. And really, I am getting better at it, I really am. But I still have a long way to go, I know. So, assuming I ever have some spare change again (college student+saving up for multiple trips=zero spare change), but I need to tell myself sometimes it's okay to actually *gasp* buy something at full-price. Because, if I do truly love it, it'll definitely be worth it.

[In hindsight, this could just have easily been about quality, not quantity-- part of my cheapness is wanting more bang for my buck, which, in my case, referred to as many objects as possible.]

Hogwarts Houses: I'll Hufflepuff, I'll Blow You Away!

Haha, ignore the terrible pun.

This is my second post in my series about fashion inspired by Hogwarts houses. I've already posted about Gryffindor.

For those of you who don't know, Hufflepuffs are known for being loyal, friendly, and hardworking. It is generally the most overlooked house out of the four, and the most well-known Hufflepuff was Cedric Diggory. Their colors are yellow and black.


American Eagle: Jeans, Necklace
Forever 21: Bag, Sandals
Wet Seal: Shirt

I liked this look because it's comfortable, and it's perfect for hanging out with friends. You could go to the movies, hit the mall, or hang out at home (or do all of the above), and it'd work for all of those.


American Eagle: Tank Top, Watch, Jeggings
Aeropostale: Sweater
Forever 21: Flats

This outfit is good for school or studying, because it's comfortable, yet stylish and put together. You can head straight from class to an after-school meeting or a job, without having to worry about what you're wearing.


Forever 21: Dress, Sandals
American Eagle: Bracelet, Ring
I adore this dress. It's sweet, comfortable, and stylish, and perfect for a date or another event where you need to dress up a little. The shoes add a nice pop of color, too.


Forever 21: Boots, Bag
Dress: Urban Outfitters
Aeropostale: Cardigan

I need these boots. They're exactly what I've been looking for. And the cardigan, for that matter...


Wet Seal: Tunic, Skirt, Tube Top
Forever 21: Dress, Sandals
Charlotte Russe: Lace Top

Here's the things that extra Hufflepuff-inspired clothes. Isn't that skirt adorable?

Magical Monday

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I hate Monday. It's my least favorite day of the week, and I know I'm not alone. In order to help me feel a little better about the start of a long week, I thought I'd make a post of things I love every Monday. I've seen several other bloggers doing something similar, and a friend and I end every email with a list of things we love, so I thought I'd turn it into a regular post.


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1. Pretty Little Liars. I have been obsessed with both the books and the TV show lately. After seeing the first few episodes, I had to read the books, and I devoured them. The show is already taking a very different path than the books, but they're both guilty pleasures of mine. My favorite is Aria (the short brunette), though I also really like Hanna (the blonde). Thank God I have another friend, who's just as obsessed as I am. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone to talk about it with.


The day I got her [Dec. 2008].

2. My adorable cat. She's quite possibly the cutest thing to walk the face of the earth. I've known that for almost two years, though. The reason she's on the list today is that she has a complete angel when we had to give her a bath (damn you, fleas!). She made it way easier than I thought it would be, and for that, she made the list.


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3. House Hunters International. I saw the show for the first time a few weeks ago, and it's addicting. I like seeing houses around the world, and how the buyers make it their own once they decide. And the shots of the scenery make my inner-travel bug green with envy that I don't have enough money to hop the first flight there. So, instead, I fantasize about finding the perfect flat in London (my dream home), or a seaside home in Spain.


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4. Being sore. Bonus points if it's from doing something fun, so you don't even realize you're getting a workout. That was the case with me, this time around. It just makes me feel good, like I accomplished something. Now, if only I can find the motivation to go to the gym more...


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5. Chocolate Cake. So delicious.

Paint the Sky

A few weeks ago, I think I saw the perfect sunset. It wasn't even the sunset that was so spectacular (though it was absolutely stunning), but it was what it did. The reflection of the sunset in the river made it look like someone took a giant paint brush and made a salmon stripe down the middle of the river. It was amazing. I so, so wish I had taken a photo, but I wasn't anywhere that we could pull over :( Since I can't show you a photo of that sunset, I found a picture of an equally gorgeous one.



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Is that not stunning?

Anyways, I was outside, watching the sunset last night, and I thought, why not create a post about it? After all, the colors are fabulous.



Old Navy: Skirt, Cardigan, Water Bottle, Bag, Flip-Flops, Pink Sandals
Delia*s: Rings, Bracelets, Pink Shorts, Dress
Charlotte Russe: Purple Wedges, Tank Top
Aeropostale: Pink Boxer Shorts, T-shirt
Pac Sun: Romper

I've decided against providing links in my posts (I think I would end up certifiably insane), however I can provide one if you ask :)

I tried to incorporate the most frequent colors of the sunset. If you don't feel comfortable wearing something bright on top and bottom, you could try pairing a bright item with a neutral (like the pink shorts with a white top). Also, if you'd rather not wear bright colors at all, for whatever reason, I tried to add in some shoes and accessories.

So, get dressed, grab a friend, and scope out a good spot for watching your next sunset (or sunrise, if you're an early bird)!