Posts in Lifestyle
2019 Intentions
2019 Intentions Pau Dictado

Reflecting on 2018. Oh man, where do I begin? It was a great year for my career but I struggled a lot internally. I was too hard on myself, doubted myself a lot and lost self-confidence at one point. But through my struggles I found faith, strength and most importantly, I found myself again. I cried a lot, laughed a lot, and loved a lot. I’m so thankful for the past year, for all its lessons and blessings. Now I can honestly say that I’m coming into the new year with so much light and joy, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me!

2019 Intentions Pau Dictado
2019 Intentions Pau Dictado

I took some time over the holidays to reflect and reconnect with myself so that I can set my intentions for the new year. I love this time of year because it gives us a blank canvas to start over, where we can draw and paint to whatever our heart’s desire. I prefer setting Intentions than goals because intentions align us with our purpose, while goals pressure us to have an external outcome. It’s important to set intentions for the new year because it helps to keep you focused, prioritize what's most important and start making transformations from within. So in today’s blog post, I’m sharing with you my intentions for the new year!

2019 Intentions Pau Dictado
2019 Intentions Pau Dictado

2019 INTENTIONS

1.     New adventures

I traveled to so many places in 2018 but decided to buckle down the past few months because of my big move plus the holidays. But now, I’m ready to travel again and making it a goal to travel at least once a month in attempt to venture out and get inspired. I’m currently listing all local, domestic and international destinations and already have a few trips in mind! If you have any recommendations and would like to share your favorite destinations, I’d love to hear them on the comments section below!

2.     Read more

I always try to make this a goal every year but never really made the effort to stick with it. This year it’s all about less screen time and more reading time. I’m making it a goal to read a book at least once a month! If you have any recommendations and would like to share your favorite books, I’d love to hear on the comments section below!

3.     Start journaling

This is also something I’ve been wanting to do but never made the time. This year I’m making it a goal to write everything down. From ideas to feelings, to-do lists to recipes, you name it! I religiously write to-do lists everyday on my planner, but I want to go in deeper and write literally everything that goes on in my head in attempt to fully express myself more and have a more clear, peaceful mind.

4.     Put my name on it

I’ve always dreamed about creating my own product. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved designing (I dreamt about being a fashion designer) and creating something of my own (I’ve always been the artsy type!). I’m making it a goal this year to be more proactive in terms of creating something tangible, and some of my ideas include (but not limited to): creating a capsule clothing line, a lipstick shade, staple black boots, or even my own hair color shade?! It excites me just thinking about it!

5.     More self-love

This applies to all aspects of my life: career, relationships, and well-being. I’m making it a priority to not compare myself to others and to forgive myself more when it comes to my job; I’m only choosing loving relationships and filtering out toxic ones (‘cause let’s face it, no one’s got time for that!); and making sure I workout 3-4x a week and eat clean with necessary cheat days, because I deserve to be the best version of myself without overdoing it. This year, I’m lovingly choosing myself.

6.     Help the environment

This year I’ll be making an effort to learn more about creating a sustainable lifestyle and making it a goal to work with more sustainable brands. I’ve already made to switch from plastic items to reusable materials, but I want to continue by supporting sustainable clothing and clean beauty—choosing sustainability whenever I can. I plan to choose more investment, quality pieces in my home and closet. It’s going to be a process, but this is the year where I’m going to take the necessary steps to help the environment.

Today, I encourage you to make a list of your intentions for the new year.  It’s never too late to reflect and reconnect with yourself—your purpose. Write it down and share it with someone close to you, someone you know who will support you and will help keep you focused throughout the year! Writing down and sharing my intentions excites me so much for the new year—it gives me something to look forward to and work towards to, and I hope it inspires you to do the same :)

Shop similar looks below!

Wellness Intentions for 2018
Pau Dictado Wellness Intentions

Coming into the new year, I made a commitment to myself to practice self love more.  And I knew that loving myself meant taking better care of myself. In order to do so, I’ve set a couple intentions to keep throughout the year:

Have a healthy mind AND body.

In my attempt to have a healthier mind and body, I’ve decided to start practicing yoga. I always thought that I needed to do high intensity workouts when it comes to being active and healthy, and never thought that I would enjoy yoga. However, after hearing first-hand experiences from a few girlfriends, I thought I should give it a try. I recently started my membership at Core Power Yoga and have been loving it so far! I’ve been trying to go 3-4 times a week (mostly in the mornings) and I can honestly say that it’s helped a lot with my mood and productivity as well as my mental health and awareness. I feel more calm and stress-free, and also feel more mindful of my time and surroundings. Core Power Yoga offers different types of classes but I have been loving their yoga sculpt classes because it includes cardio and weights (yes, you heard that right!). If you're interested in checking them out, you can sign up for a free 7-day trial here. On my lighter weeks, I also try to go to the gym at least once or twice to do cardio and heavier weights.

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Always remember: It's not about how you look, it's how YOU feel about yourself.

Pau Dictado Wellness Intentions

We all get motivated in the beginning of the year but it’s so easy to get side tracked, especially with our busy lives. But once you treat your workout as more of a habit than a chore, it gets a lot easier to be more consistent with it. Simply put, avoid all excuses and make your health a priority!

Keep a healthy, non-strict diet.

A few months ago, I found myself feeling more sluggish than usual and even got sick a couple times. I took it as a sign and started making healthier choices when it comes to what I eat. I started cooking healthier meals at home and have been incorporating more fruits and veggies in my diet. After a couple months, I started shedding a few pounds even though I wasn’t working out! I have been replacing white rice with brown rice, quinoa or greens, and I have been trying to avoid refined sugars. Note: this is my secret to getting those abs pop out!

Don’t get me wrong, this was such a HUGE challenge for me because I’ve always been surrounded by dishes that come with rice, and I have THE biggest sweet tooth ever. But since I crave healthy food when I workout, it got easier over time. It also helps a lot when you make yourself food at home.

Remind yourself that HEALTHY is better than SKINNY.

Pau Dictado Wellness Intentions
Pau Dictado Wellness Intentions

My biggest advice to you is to find out what works best for you and your body. Crazy strict diets are not always the solution, and I’m not planning on doing one anytime soon. I just try to make sure that I maintain a healthy diet by including fruits and veggies in my meals, and then I treat the weekends as my cheat days where I can indulge with friends and loved ones. With that being said, I’ve been able to keep a healthy weight and still live my best life. It’s really all about balance, and my goal is to simply feel good inside-out (without sacrificing too much).

Pau Dictado Wellness Intentions

That’s all I have to share for now! I will try to keep you updated on my wellness journey as time goes by, and I do hope that this post will inspire you to make better and healthier choices for yourself. You can shop a few of my current favorite workout essentials below:

Photography by KSOLE

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

It has been 8 years since I visited Oahu and I couldn’t have started this trip any better by checking into Alohilani. Located in the heart of Waikiki, the all-new Alohilani is an oasis of tranquility. The welcoming staff, relaxing vibe and elevated experience will sure to make your stay a very pleasant one. Keep scrolling as I give you a sneak peek at aloha chic.

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

A little history about the property:

Alohilani is proudly named in honor of Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. She was a music composer, an author, an ardent supporter of her culture, and loved by her people so dearly. To welcome a fresh perspective on resorts in Waikiki, her spirit is infused into the property just like her beachside home Ke‘alohilani, which means royal brightness.

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

The amazing view of the diamond head greeted me as I stepped into my room, and I immediately walked to my balcony to take a moment and enjoy it. I had a great view of the city; seeing all the hustle and bustle of the streets right in front of me, and the waves crashing in the ocean just right across it. The décor is minimal and features vibrant artwork in every room. It was very spacious and I loved how natural light filled the room thanks to the sliding glass doors to my balcony. I have to say that my experience was very comfortable and pleasant overall.

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

With just steps away from the beach, Alohilani is in nearby many hot spots in Waikiki. It was only about 10-15 minutes away to shopping centers like Ala Moana, and about 20 minutes away from Chinatown Market. There’s numerous options for great restaurants around the area and one of my favorites, Musubi Café, is just around the corner!

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

Note that they offer complimentary breakfast buffet during your stay! 

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

Alohilani features a stunning infinity pool where you can watch the most amazing view of the sunset. They also have two bars (O Bar is located by the lobby and Swell is by the pool), a restaurant (Lychee) and two more restaurants opening soon, a casual ramen spot and signature dining experience by Renowned Chef Morimoto.

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki
Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

I can’t thank Alohilani enough for such a wonderful stay, and I hope to be back very soon!

Pau Dictado Alohilani Waikiki

Photography by KSOLE

My Lasik Experience with IQ Laser Vision

As you may know, I had my Lasik procedure by Dr. Robert Lin of IQ Laser Vision exactly a month ago. This post is dedicated to share with you my experience, the whole process, and how it changed my life for the better.

My career as a fashion blogger + digital influencer requires me to always be on-the-go, whether it’s driving from meetings to events, or traveling from different states and countries. Most of the time my eyes get dry in the middle of the day or during my flight because of my contact lenses, and honestly, I hated dealing with them. Things that annoyed me the most are: forgetting to take them off after an exhausting day (or after a fun night), dryness that caused headaches, and occasional eye irritations. I've shared my frustrations with a couple friends and they recommended Lasik, saying that it was the best investment they had ever made. It all sounded so promising, so I started asking around and did a little research.

So, what is Lasik? Lasik is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct your eye sight, whether it be nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. It reshapes the cornea to allow light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision. I explained the procedure more into detail below.

I knew about IQ Laser Vision because one of my best friends used to work for them and got the procedure herself. I went in for a consultation because I wanted to see what my options were. What a lot of people don't know even before getting this procedure is that you must be a good candidate for vision correction, so it's important to get a consultation and run some tests. After my initial consultation, I was told that I'm eligible for the Lasik procedure and I was so happy to hear such good news. The idea of having 20/20 vision made me extremely ecstatic! Next thing I knew, I had scheduled my dilation exam to run more tests and make sure I was ready for the procedure.

The Lasik procedure itself was very short and was less daunting than I expected. Several people asked me if I was nervous, but I couldn't wait to get it over with! The procedure took about 10 minutes total, spending about 5 minutes on each eye. Dr. Lin explains to you the process step-by-step, before starting and even during the procedure. Dr. Lin and the rest of the staff made sure I knew every detail of the procedure and reassured me every step of the way--from running the tests and answering my every question. This made me really trust them and made me feel comfortable all through out.

Before the procedure, the staff gave me detailed instructions for post-procedure care. They went over it with me a few times to make sure that I understood. I was also given the necessary medicine and eye drops to use.

During the procedure, the laser is used to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea. Dr. Lin opened the flap and the laser reshapes the cornea. In my case, my cornea was flattened to fix my nearsightedness, and then the flap is laid back in place right after. Dr. Lin put numbing drops before he performed the procedure while your eyes are held open and see everything happen. I know it might sound scary, but you don't feel anything at all! It's over before you know it. The staff told me that it's important to sleep immediately after the procedure to allow your cornea to heal itself naturally. It's also important to have someone drive you home and check up on you for the next few hours.

Why I Recommend It

IQ Laser Vision has an amazing staff that genuinely cares for your well-being. They also offer a financing option, which makes it great for some of you that are not able pay the full amount right away and would like to pay over time. If you're interested, I recommend scheduling a consultation to check out your options. The best part is, It's free! I'm so glad I did Lasik, and it is definitely life-changing. I love waking up in the morning not having to worry about my glasses or contact lenses, and being able to do my daily activities without any worry.

For After Care, I was instructed to do the following for two weeks:

  • Do not touch or rub your eyes
  • Do not wear ANY eye makeup (or anything that can cause infections/irritation)
  • Do not let anything get inside your eyes, like running water while washing your face, or sweat while working out.
  • Wear eye mask while you sleep to protect the eyes
  • Use lubricant drops every hour (essential for the healing process)
  • Use antibiotic drops every hour (for the first 24 hours) and every hour the rest of the days until you finish the bottle

If you have any questions at all, please comment them down below!

Ramy Brook Blazer + Pants / Zara Top / Marks & Spencer Bag + Shoes

Photography by Virisa Yong

Cyber Monday Deals

Ready, set, shop! 

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Happy Cyber Monday, loves! Now that the long weekend has come to an end, today just got better with some amazing online deals. I did some Black Friday shopping for myself, but today, I plan to shop for friends and family. It’s best to start your holiday shopping now to avoid all the last minute stress. I’ve listed my my favorite places to shop below and I hope you find something for yourself!

ALL SAINTS: 30% off sitewide with code CYBER

AMAZON FASHION: 30% select items

ASOS: 30% off sitewide with code THANKFUL30

BEBE: 30% off with CYBERSALE

BNKR: extra 50% off sale items with code OMG50

COLOURPOP: 20% off sitewide (no code necessary)

DOLCE VITA:  60% off items and an extra 20% off sale with the code CYBER20

FOREVER 21: 21% off with code CYBER21

FOR LOVE & LEMONS: 25% off sitewide with the code OUIOUI

FREE PEOPLE: 25% off sale items (no code necessary)

KYLIE COSMETICS: 20% off sitewide (no code necessary)

LEVI’S: 40% off sitewide with code HOLIDAY40 

NARS: 20% off sitewide (must enter your e-mail to get code)

NASTYGAL: Up to 80% off sale items (no code necessary)

NORDSTROM: 20% off select sale items (no code necessary)

SCHUTZ: Up to 70% off select items (no code necessary)

TOPSHOP: Up to 50% off select items (no code necessary)

URBAN OUTFITTERS: $50 off on orders over $150 or $15 off over $75

ZERO UV: 40% off sitewide + free worldwide shipping with code BLKFRDY16

Happy Shopping!

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Photography by Virisa Yong

The Elevated Fit
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Finally, eyewear that fits perfectly!

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My career as a fashion blogger includes a lot of driving or getting in and out of meetings and events, which means I spend a good amount of time outdoors. For that reason, sunglasses have become a part of my lifestyle. I have an enormous collection in different styles and colors, each to match any outfit or occasion. But unfortunately, it’s really hard to find a pair that perfectly fits my face.

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Did you ever own a pair of frames that either sat on your cheeks or slid down your nose? I had the same problem, and most Asians do. COVRY Founders Athina Wang & Florence Shin addressed this problem and created a design to solve it in what they named the Elevated Fit. It features longer nose pads, a reduced frame curvature and a narrowed nose bridge. With this design, you can finally wear your eyewear confidently (without any worry)! You can read more here.

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They also recently launched their Specs Collection, which I’m really excited about since I’m due for a new pair of reading glasses! You can check out the full collection here. My personal favorite is the RIGEL frames for its minimal and lightweight style!

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Philippines Trip with CALPAK

For my summer getaway to the Philippines, I had the chance to partner up with CALPAK to show you my travel diary on their blog! There I talked about visiting Manila, which is the capital city—and Boracay, which is one of their island destinations.

Read about all the places I enjoyed visiting and all the amazing food I ate. I had the best time with all my adventures there and I can’t wait to share with you, so check it out here! :)

Koi LA
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This past weekend, I had the chance to visit Koi Los Angeles for dinner.

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Koi offers contemporary Japanese cuisine that will excite your taste buds in a modern, yet Zen-inspired setting. The décor is elegant, yet sophisticated; the ambience is perfect for a date night, or a night out with the girls!

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Our host gave us a rundown on Koi’s signature and must-try dishes. They’re well-known for their crispy rice so this was first on our list. We had them with kobe beef and spicy tuna on top, it was delicious!

Roasted Shishito Peppers

Roasted Shishito Peppers

The roasted shishito peppers had a nice, spicy kick to it (spicy food lovers, I suggest you get this!) It was served in sweet soy sauce, which was a good balance to the spicy flavor.

Oysters

Oysters

 

Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

Omakase Roll

Omakase Roll

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Lobster Tacos

Lobster Tacos

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The lobster tacos was bite-sized and fun to eat! The taco shell was made with wonton wrapper, which gives it a good crunch. The lobster was topped with mango salsa, and a refreshing yuzu guacamole on the side.

Creamy Shrimp Tempura

Creamy Shrimp Tempura

The Creamy Shrimp Tempura was creamy on the outside and meaty on the inside, topped with crispy grilled onions.

Toro Sushi

Toro Sushi

The Toro Sushi is my favorite. It was fresh, delicious, and most of all, fatty. It's $20 for two, but it was definitely worth every penny.

Salmon Carpaccio

Salmon Carpaccio

The Salmon Carpaccio was beautifully plated with black truffles and ponzu.

Overall, my dining experience at Koi was amazing. Everything I ordered was delicious, and most of all, service was great! Our server was really helpful, and food came in a timely manner. I look forward to coming back. :)

Tips:

  • Top 3 must-try dishes are: Crispy rice, Toro sushi and Omakase roll
  • Make reservations, especially ahead of time for the weekends. They get really busy!
  • If you can, reserve a seat at their patio—it’s gorgeous! (for my fellow foodies, go get that perfect lighting outside)

For more info and reservations, visit http://www.koirestaurant.com/

Ways To Graze
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Being a full-time blogger requires attending quite a few meetings each day, which means I’m always on-the-go and barely have time to spare. There are times where I cannot sit and eat a decent meal, and when that happens, Graze comes to the rescue! Graze is a weekly subscription service that offers 8 different snacks that’s customized especially for you. They’re not only healthy, but they taste as good as your ol' bag of chips that you love munching on. I’ve also been working towards a healthier lifestyle (exercising regularly + smarter food choices), so Graze has not come at a better time.

Multi-tasking is key to getting things done efficiently. So when I’m driving to my next destination or waiting for my next appointment, I use that time to grab a snack from my Graze box so that I at least have something to fuel myself until I can grab a meal. I love how I can easily throw a snack in my bag when I know I'm going to have a packed day, like back-to-back meetings or shooting content for my blog and other social channels. Each box has different snacks: salty, sweet, or anything in between—they got you covered! My favorites are the Sesame Garlic Crunch (which you can also add to your salad for that extra crunch) and Chocolate Cherry Granola (which is so good by itself and even goes well with yogurt). You can try it for yourself with the first box free by clicking here! They offer 4 snacks for your first try, and if you like it, you get to choose 8 snacks over 100 options for only $11.99 per box—delivered straight to your door! Sounds pretty cool, right? It doesn’t only help me on my busiest days, but it’s become essential to my lifestyle.

Thank you to Graze for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

Never too late
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I’m starting the new year (or I should say this month) with a bang: I’m back on the grind and working harder than ever, booked 2 trips for the next few weeks and a few projects are in the works! 

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Couldn’t have started this year any better. And talking about the new year, I want to share with you some New Year's resolutions I have for myself. I hope you’re not tired of this subject yet—but I really want to inspire you to make your resolutions.

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So here are some things I want to change this year:

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Start a healthier lifestyle.

I’m not gonna lie, I haven’t been taking care of myself for the past year. Having the worst possible diet, drinking out a lot, not exercising, and lack of sleep (which equals to consuming more coffee than water everyday, yikes!) has taken a toll on my body. So last week I finally took the step by buying a gym pass so I can start working out regularly!

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Don’t wait for tomorrow and get shit done.

I tend to put things aside or wait til last minute…no more of that. I’m working on finding inspiration daily, and answering my emails right when I get them!

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Travel more and see the world, one location at a time.

Talking about traveling, I’ll be going to Chicago this weekend and attending NYFW in February! I had so much fun traveling to NYC and SF the past few months and can’t wait to see more cities (both familiar and unfamiliar) this year.

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Better organization and time management.

This is something I need to constantly work on. As more work piles up, I get so caught up and I stress out more than I need to. I want to  use my time more wisely, focusing on reaching my goals.

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 Avocado Pullover Leggings / Nike Shoes c/o Zappos

Photography by Mark Nguyen

Farewell 2015 - Hello New Year!
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Coming into 2015, I told myself that it was going to be my year. I had a really good feeling about it. And as I reflect upon the past year, I see it as a year of learning and growing. It has taught me so many things in regards to my career path, my relationships and myself. I wouldn’t say it was an easy year; it definitely had its ups and downs. However, it was an amazing year overall.

Here’s a few lessons that I want to share with you coming into the new year:

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 “Surround yourself with people that are going to lift you higher.”

Spend time with people that genuinely support you in all that you do and have your best interest, and don't waste time on people that do not otherwise. Keep those who matter and learn how to cut those that don’t. I’m lucky enough to have the most supporting family, boyfriend and friends in regards to my career. After all my fears and doubts, they always believed in me and that’s what kept me going. If the people that matter to you the most believe in you, it should be enough reason to believe in yourself. 

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“Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.”

One of the things I learned this year was challenging myself to overcome my fears, doing things I didn’t like doing. It made me realize that it’s not as bad as I think it would be.  It made me feel empowered, and made me believe that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

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“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

Being the perfectionist that I am, I tend to overthink my craft and overly criticize every detail. Is it good enough? Will people like it? Could I have done it differently? Is it worthy? And then I realized, life isn’t about perfection. You learn and become better by learning from your mistakes. Progression > Perfection.

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“Learn to be alone and like it. There is nothing more freeing and empowering than learning to enjoy your own company.”

This is my favorite lesson of the year. I’ve never enjoyed my own company so much, and I’ve never been this happy about myself and life overall. You need to know how to depend on yourself and truly love yourself above all else. You don’t need a man or anyone else to make you happy, you can do it all on your own.

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Now coming into the new year, I have a lot of expectations for myself. 2015 was filled with many struggles, but I’m ending the year on a good note. Let’s welcome 2016 by giving all that we’ve got. Happy new year!

Top + Skirt by Runaway The Label / Boots by Shoegeeks

Photography by Johnson Le

Black Sunday
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My hair needed a temporary makeover.

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Last Saturday, I attended the Organic Shimmer Event held at Brighton Salon in Beverly Hills and took advantage of the hair services that was offered. I got some corn rows on my hair thanks to Misty (@misty_extensions). My hair turned out to be so effortlessly badass; I loved it so much that I shot a few looks with it—so stay tuned!

Playsuit by NA-KD / Cuff by Lena Bernard / Clutch by Like DreamsBoots by Simmi / Sunnies by Chilli Beans

Photography by Mark Nguyen

City Chic with Cluse
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Time is of the essence.

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Cluse is an essential timepiece in my lifestyle. It gets me through the busiest of days, timing every second to help me reach my goals—big or small. 

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When my day is fully booked with meetings and shoots, my Cluse watch helps me keep track of time without other distractions (for example, I would end up going on an Instagram rampage if I was to check the time on my phone). It helps me meet my deadlines, which is crucial when it comes to working with a variety of brands. 

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Its simplicity keeps me focused, and completes my look overall. Its sophisticated in its own way, with an elegance that enhances my style. Simply put, my Cluse watch brings out the best in me both internally and externally.

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Greater Heights
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“Never let the fear of falling keep you from reaching the top.”

 

I’ve always been afraid of heights—the thought of falling and the possibility of hurting myself scared the crap out of me. As I grew older, I learned that it was just all in my head. Although I still get that eerie feeling when I look down from a high angle, the satisfaction of overcoming that fear grew greater and greater. Just like anything I’m scared of or makes me feel uncomfortable, I perceive it as my motivation—a goal—to overcome it and not let it hold me down.

Going on a rooftop of an unfamiliar building and getting a 360 view of LA is something I don’t do everyday. It was breathtaking and I cherished every second. The perfect moment for my white kimono, where it stood out from the buildings and architecture. I polished the look with patent booties along with my favorite bodysuit and distressed jeans to give my laid back LA-look a city vibe to it.

 

Kimono + Boots by Boohoo / Bodysuit by Pylo / Jeans by Shop Civilized 

Photography by Alec Dibell

#ShowYourThreads + Contest

I've gotten the chance to partner up with the Threads App and BNKR (Australian labels) to showcase my style by curating my very own Street Style collection on the mobile app!

***Winner announced at the end of this post***

Let me introduce to you, Threads:

Threads is an authentic fashion community and mobile tool for creators and fashion lovers to showcase their style as well as be inspired--whether you're a fashion or lifestyle blogger, stylist or photographer! It allows you to get discovered, find other creatives, and collaborate. The app keeps the bar high by featuring curated, high quality content.

Another cool thing about the app (and my personal favorite) is the shop-able feature where you can shop looks directly by collection, whether you're feeling minimalist or boho chic, they've got you covered! You can even earn rewards when someone shops your look using your affiliate links!

Here are the app's top 5 favorite categories that inspired me to curate the Street Style Collection:

THE MINIMALIST:

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BACK-TO-BASICS:

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BOHO CHIC:

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URBAN WEAR:

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DO-IT-DENIM:

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Photography by Alec Dibell

All the pieces are from the one and only: Fashion Bunker.

They are the leading Australian fashion retailer that offers a wide selection of clothing, footwear and accessories from brands C/MEO COLLECTIVE, Finders Keepers, Keepsake, and The Fifth. Fashion Bunker never fails to offer fresh, versatile and effortless pieces so curating the Street Style Collection with them seemed fitting.

Overall, this campaign was a wonderful experience and definitely a milestone for me--working with a great team while showcasing my creativity and personal style was nothing sort of amazing!

CONTEST TIME!

The rules are simple: download the app here and upload YOUR street style to our new collection for a shot at $100 BNKR credit!

Winner will be announced 11/14 on my blog.

*EDIT*

Congratulations, LUXEANDLINEN !

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You're the winner of the #showyourthreads contest! You will be emailed shortly x

If you want to see more of her looks on threads, download the app here and follow: luxeandlinen!

For everyone else who uploaded their entries, thank you so much for taking part of the #showyourthreads contest!

This post is in collaboration with Threads – a fashion community and BNKR – Australian labels.

Next (Generation) Radio

Whoever said radio is dead, might just be completely wrong. I introduce to you, the NextRadio App!

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NextRadio is a smartphone app that lets you listen to tune in to your local FM radio on your mobile device for free!

What's cool about the app is you can tune into your favorite station at any time, anywhere. You also don't have to worry about battery life and data usage because it gives you 3 times better battery life and 10 times less data usage.

What does NextRadio App have in store for you?

  • You have access for the stations you love
  • You can have real time access of on-air content
  • You can browse by genre, favorites, frequency, and recently played content.
  • You can instantly hare music through your social media channels
  • You can instantly buy music through your device

So, what are you waiting for? See here for a list of their supported devices and download it now :)

Black File: Nail Social

"To all my ladies in the place with style (and nails!)" ♫

If you’re looking for a place to get pampered during your “me time,” you should definitely check out Black File located in Fountain Valley, CA. 

Black File prides itself as a “nail social”—a place where you can bring the girls and have a fun time. It’s definitely not your typical nail salon. Right when you walk in, you’re greeted with a friendly staff and incredibly chic interior.

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There's a small boutique by the entrance where you can shop (yes, you heard that right!), which makes the experience more delightful. Where else can you get your nails done and shop at the same time?! You can spoil yourself two ways in one place!

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There’s also a lounge area in case you brought your boyfriend with you ;)

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When it came to my nails, Jordan always kept them looking flawless. For my previous visits I’ve gotten my nails done with her, I had broken nails left and right. However, she managed to fix them up no matter what state they were in and I never have to worry!  She was extremely delicate with my hands compared to the past salons I’ve been to. She’s also very meticulous on getting the design right. And being the perfectionist that I am, I loved that about her.

The boss lady, Laurie, always checked in on her clients and offered drinks like water, juice or coffee. She’s also very helpful when it came to nail designs, etc. at the times I was being indecisive.

Pictured below (dress + top) are a couple of items I snagged at their boutique!

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Body Chain by Stinnys

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I don’t think I’m going anywhere else for the main reason that my experience was nothing short of amazing. They’re currently only taking appointments so go to their website here and book yours today!