I am part of history
Posted by: vuongat on: November 16, 2009
My good news/bad news of the week. Wednesday afternoon I started feeling sick with flu-like symptoms (my persistent cough, achey body, chills, fever which I didn’t realize for a day) and went to check it out the next day.
Swine Flu Test: Positive
So I was quarantined and told not to go to class the next day (I was in bed all of Thursday and didn’t go to class). Since home is less than an hour from my school, I decided to rest at home and spare my housemates any more germs than they needed. My fever was gone on Friday, but I still have a hacking cough and a semi-stuffy nose. My stomach also hurts from all the coughing.
Yesterday, I managed to catch up on almost all my shows! I haven’t decided if I am going to watch the rest of FlashForward, I’ll just marathon Heroes over the summer, and realized I will never get around to this fall season of So You Think You Can Dance.
Television is my drug of choice. I have way too many shows on my list, which is probably why I’ve been falling behind all season. The list of shows I want to watch is longer. Before I had style (because really, do I have style?) I had stories, and tv is my favorite source. I love books (and movies), but tv… my personal favorite.
I feel like waiting so long to finally watch the last two Mad Men episodes was a poor choice because I connected the dots from all the little mentions about the finale and it made everything that unfolded much less dramatic.
One of my biggest peeves this season is the lack of secondary characters. For some reason that I could choose to analyze if I wanted to, I am usually more drawn to the secondary characters than the main ones. Especially true of this show. All the characters are some of the most three dimensional and realistic (in that they all have strengths and faults) in television today. Even the most perfect lead imperfect lives and make mistakes for decisions. As much as Don and Betty’s storyline intrigues me, I want to hear more about Harry, and what’s going to happen to Sal, and I even miss the advertising pitches!
I guess the last two episodes just disappointed me because of the hype.
Other shows I caught up on:
Glee (one episode) [yes! an episode that showcased Artie and Tina! but Puck bores/aggravates me]
30 Rock (2 episodes) [always funny, but doesn't deserve every Emmy every year]
How I Met Your Mother (1 episode) [just off this season, especially this last episode]
Community (4 episodes) [the more I watch, the more I love; especially Abed]
Parks and Recreation (2 episodes)
Project Runway (three episodes) [poor season].
(I also watch The Office and Merlin, sometimes Top Chef, going to watch V soon…) Plus I watched Star Trek V: Final Frontier, what I was told was the worst of the original cast movies and it was pretty terrible.
{I was planning on adding pictures, but my internet is too slow to deal with any extra funny business. Sigh.}
Time to bundle up.
Posted by: vuongat on: November 10, 2009
I’m probably too lazy for my own good and should find a productive hobby for myself. I used to be more inclined, then I became too indecisive – there is too much to fix in this world! Where do you start?! But one of the more frivolous subjects I want to become adequate at is knitting.
[All photos are linked to their etsy page; from top left thrush, shannongerard, pixiebell, and TheSnoodyPoodle]
I feel like my winter wardrobe is so empty with only a handful of hats, one of which my sister crocheted for me. I want more. Another little quirk my accessories drawer is in need of are knitted hair accessories. Bows! Mustaches! And just because I didn’t post any pictures of hats doesn’t mean they’re not at the top of my list, I just assumed you all know what a knitted hat looks like. Preferably slouchy because I am growing my bangs out.
Then there are the scarves. This is the year for the compact, and I have a delightfully long Gryffindor scarf made by my mother years ago that hasn’t found use yet this season. Mostly, circle scarves are longed for this season. Easy to put on and off.
So those are some of my winter wishes. That and health care reform. What are yours?
Blooming up from the ground
Posted by: vuongat on: November 8, 2009
I don’t know how I feel about plastering my face all over this blog, so outfit posts might slow down (as if posts haven’t slowed down!). Last week has been quite long and full of procrastination, but nothing that could even be spun as productive. This week will be full of production because it has to.
[Photos and teapot earrings by Abby Kaufman.]
Blazer: Goodwill / Van Heusen
Sweater: Buffalo Exchange / J. Crew
Scarf: Target
Skirt: Harmony [antique shop in Olympia]
Tights: Target
Shoes: Bandolino
Halloween!
Posted by: vuongat on: November 2, 2009
I’m too indecisive to be just one thing on Halloween, so on Friday I was a strawberry. My lovely friend Abby made the stem and she took the pictures. So all thanks to her. There should be a close-up because the stem was adorable! Please excuse the messy, messy room of ours.
For Halloween, I was going to be the house from Up, but never got around to making my balcony, so I was going to be Russel from the same movie, but didn’t get the balloons. I ended up just wearing my friend’s boy scout uniform from his childhood (and it was still pretty big on me, so I tucked it in). We later found balloons (at Red Robin where I got a coupon for a free Monster Shake next time!) and became Russel.
Hope everyone had a good weekend/Halloween!
Sucker for Sale
Posted by: vuongat on: October 27, 2009
Here are a few of the items that I also wanted on sale but either didn’t buy because of money, fit, or size. The tights I should have gotten, but forgot about before I bought them. I could always go back and ask them to put them on like I did with the gray t-straps.
I have no idea how that mint bow skirt would look on me, so I don’t think I’d buy it before I try it on.
One of the downsides to internet shopping is that you can’t try them on. Sometimes an item of clothing looks amazing on the hook, but horrible on the body or the other way around. Shame, shame.
Hopefully I can look through all the weekend pictures from a couple weeks ago and write a few posts.
A few of my favorite things.
Posted by: vuongat on: October 26, 2009
I’ve had a cough for the past week that have been steadily getting worse. All weekend I’ve been eating these like they’re candy. Not that they taste like candy, and they’re losing their potency, but they’re better than nothing.
I’ve once again been internet window shopping a bit. I’m really searching for some good closed-toe shoes, mostly boots and booties. I also hope to find some flat oxfords and other flats. I don’t think my heels will fare well in Vietnam. Being able to BUY any of these is the bigger question.
Since it’s autumn and here in the Pacific Northwest that means changing leaves, but most importantly RAIN! This means it’s important to keep those toes covered, which is unfortunate for the peep-toe loving girl like me. Some days I will risk a little damp toe to wear cute shoes, but other days…
This means I’ve been scouring the internetz (okay, mostly etsy vintage) for some new boots. The problem is I’m going to Vietnam in February, missing half of the rainy season this year! I’m trying to figure out what to buy and what to wait to buy. Here are my top four choices right now, that fit in the budget.
All pictures are linked to the original sale page, but I still am hoping to buy a couple of those. Maybe tonight.
And the all important accessories. I haven’t been a big jewelry girl, mostly because I am just rushing out before remember to put anything on, but I’m trying to change that. Also, scarves are a must must must! And I’m trying to wear more hats as well.
I’ve been watching the old Star Trek series this week too, and it’s far more Twilight Zone-y than I was expecting. Delightful as ever, but also mysterious.
More outfits soon.
Links: Actual review of the Grizzly Bear concert in Seattle
I am so excited for this:
I am even willing to wake up early to see what’s on sale. This is big for a non-morning person like myself. I’ve never bought anything from ModCloth, only coveted. If I get anything, I’ll let you know, of course.
Also, good news! Public Option (where states can opt-out, but isn’t the trigger option where it could be ‘triggered’ later) is endorsed by Harry Reid!
BLOG ACTION… A week late.
Posted by: vuongat on: October 25, 2009
I signed up for Blog Action Day which was last Thursday. I didn’t get around to writing a post about climate change, so here’s my late entry! Since it’s 350 Day, it seems fitting anyway.
[Little] Things I Do To Make the World [A Little] Greener
01/ Walk around in the dark ; I avoid turning on the lights as much as possible. I turn off the light when I leave a room. I will stumble around my house, arms out, to avoid turning on and off the light. It’s not as difficult as you might imagine. Most people know the general layout of their homes pretty well. You’d be surprised.
02/ Shop second hand ; I also only buy second hand leather. It’s always more accomplishing to find something someone else didn’t want that is still fabulous than hulling hundreds for designer wear. At least for your wallet. ADDITION: Use your own bag!
03/ Go veg ; I fib. I still eat seafood (which makes me pescotarian). And I’m going to eat meat when I study abroad next semester. But cutting back on meat and animal products is one of the most efficient ways for you to be greener!
04/ Use a reusable water bottle and carry around travel mugs for coffee/tea ; I will avoid getting tea or coffee at the cafe if I don’t have my travel mug.
05/ Have crafty time ; Reusing is superior to recycling. Make a day out of it and use that extra paper, plastic, jars and make something!
06/ Unplug electric devices if you can ; Those suckers still suck out energy even when they’re off!
07/ Use blankets ; Set your thermostat a few degrees colder and just walk around with a blanket around your shoulders. Better yet, just layer up. Or buy a Snuggie! 
My favorite numbers are 4 and 7, so I like to end on those, or variations thereof.
No pictures because I am lazy.
Underneath your current, I do swim.
Posted by: vuongat on: October 22, 2009
Hello! After a stressful week, I decided to treat myself with the pairing of The Morning Benders and Grizzly Bear in Seattle. But as my luck would have it, I missed The Morning Benders picking up my sister across town and finding parking (because I thought it was doors at 8, but the show started at 8; we made it inside around 8:45 and The Morning Benders were busy tearing down their set). Not like I haven’t seen them three times before, BUT STILL. They just finished their second album and I was excited to hear some new songs!
Bummer done, and after a long wait (we got the entire wait without any of the awesome opening music), Grizzly Bear get on stage!
I don’t know what I was expecting, but they blew that out of the water. Even though we were on the second balcony, the acoustics were still sound, their harmonies were inspiring. Great experience, even if a little disappointing to start.
I deserve a Peace prize too.
Posted by: vuongat on: October 19, 2009
Not really.
Tomorrow I’ll write about my busier-than-usual weekend (Seattle, Portland, concert, shopping, movie!), but right now I’m going through my NYT emails from the week (remember my cycles of attention?), and the last day I didn’t go through the emails was the day President Obama was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
{Photo credit: The White House Official Flickr}
When I woke up to the news that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize a few weeks ago I was puzzled. Time has moved so quickly since he was inaugurated January 20th on a freezing winter day in D.C. It has taken me until this week to truly accept that it might even be deserved.
What swayed me most, and what I want to share is this “Common Myths about the Nobel Peace Prize” from the Associated Press (emphasis mine):
Added to the fact that most world leaders are accepting of this recognition, his humble acceptation, and a Nobel judge’s statement post-controversy, I am resigned to the fact that this isn’t just about America.
The troubles swirling in the states has taken some of the excitement away for us Americans, both on the right and the left.
I also don’t see it as a repudiation of President Bush (43). I think it’s hard to ignore the fact that President Obama is a compelling figure. The judges aren’t apolitical and never claim to be.
Of course all of this was before the hoopla surrounding the now-known-as-a-hoax balloon boy. So, really, relative to that, the Obama-Nobel story is hard news.
Multitasking.
Posted by: vuongat on: October 15, 2009
As a female society has told me I should be good at multitasking, but it just isn’t true. There are some things I like doing with a show or music on like laundry and writing papers. I love getting ready listening to NPR. But I can’t read with anything on in the background. I can barely pay attention the road without being distracted. I tend to forget what I’m doing if it takes a lot of brain power. I just tend to forget.
Here’s the point: I have noticed that I switch my attention every few days on the various topics I follow closely. Fashion, television/entertainment, and news. There just isn’t enough time in my day to follow each closely every day, so I have been skimming the surface of each every day, but paying attention to one or the other in three day cycles.
Blazer: Goodwill / Van Heusen ($5)
Shirt: Mossimo / Target ($6)
Skirt: Inside Vintage / Olympia ($5)
Shoes: Mossimo / Target ($15)
Sweater: Buffalo Exchange / J. Crew / Seattle ($12)
Shorts Marshalls / Bitten ($5)
Tights: We Love Colors ($8)
Shoes: Bandolino
I absolutely love this. Just casual with a nice dose of color. A good autumn outfit, or maybe a better transition from summer to fall. Too bad the day I wore this my rubine tights I was picking at them and created a large hole (more like a line). Hopefully I can fix them. I’m not a big ‘holey’ girl.
Flickr
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