Response Post #3: Be Jeweled

After reading Miss Major Substance's blog post about jewelry, I felt compelled to respond to it since I am a jewelry-lover myself. My theory is, the gaudier, the better! I know tons of women go nuts over diamonds and carats but I've always preferred more fun, funky jewelry that you can mix and match. This is probably because every time I've gotten something fairly expensive as a gift, I always end up losing them (terrible, I know). Do you all remember that episode of the Housewives of Beverly Hills when Taylor Armstrong dropped $60K on her daughter's 4th birthday and bought Hello Kitty diamond necklaces for all her friends? Insane! I honestly couldn't imagine spending that kind of loot even if I had it. 

In college, I went through a Juicy Couture phase and was obsessed with collecting their charms. I hardly ever wear them anymore but still love their cutesy studs. 

Speaking of studs, Kate Spade also has a few on my wish list like these Sea Glass earrings.  I like the glamourous but simplistic feel of these studs and how they could compliment any outfit, whether it's for work or going out (plus, turtles are good luck!). 

Although I love perusing Juicy and Kate Spade, my favorite, favorite, favorite place to buy jewelry is Forever 21. Their jewelry is versatile, fun and best of all, inexpensive. You can find the coolest pieces for $3-$15. I have gotten tons of compliments on pieces from Forever 21 and love seeing people's reactions when I tell them where it's from and how much I paid for them. My fashion philosophy is: it's not about how much it is or where you got it from, it's how you wear it! I'm a fan of mixing designer pieces with bargains. 

2010 14th Annual Prism Awards: 

Dress- Forever 21 $40 

Earrings- Forever 21 $6 (!!!)

Bracelet- Forever 21 $10 (!!!) 

Shoes- Jessica Simpson $60

Funny story about this night. The event was held at The Beverly Hills Hotel. I walked into the bathroom to fix my makeup and a girl said to me "I love your dress! Where is it from?" I told her it was from Forever 21. She then gasped (I'm serious, she gasped) and said to me "Oh my god, don't say that out loud! Tell people you got it from Saks or something!" I shook my head and told her to have a good night.

Week #12: Confessions of a Restaurant Junkie

I've always had an appreciation for good food. Growing up in a Filipino home, I was always used to having elaborate dinners full of traditional dishes such as adobo (stew made with pork or chicken), lechon (a roasted full pig), lumpia (vegetable or meat eggrolls) and pancit (noodle dish). Meals were always served with white rice whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. My diet has changed a bit since living with my family but luckily, they live nearby so I still have access to this delicious food (since I am still trying to perfect these recipes!)

As I mentioned in a previous post, it would be wise to plan your meals for the week to avoid overspending at restaurants. I have tried to be a little more strategic, for example, making two dishes on Sunday and eating that for dinner throughout the week or buying a bulk of greens and making my own salads for lunch. Along with this strategy comes the best part, eating out on the weekend! This can be a dangerous habit but it just gives you more incentive to hit the gym the next day.

My favorite food has always been sushi but I tend to stick to my favorite place, Sushi Jin, just because I'd rather not waste money trying to find a place to top it! A couple months ago, I went through an Italian phase especially after eating at Acqua al 2 in Capitol Hill. Lately, I've been in a French phase and have been dying to go back to Lyon Hall in Clarendon. My friend Samantha and I tried it a few weeks ago and the food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Diver Scallops (see below) with saffron couscous, fennel, lemon puree and Taggiasca Olives. Absolutely to die for!


Back to my notion of things being exciting when you can spread the word, Shirky says not only do we consume media but we also like to produce it ("Look at what I made!") and share it ("Look at what I found!"). I decided to create a "Food Diaries" album on my Facebook page. I'll be adding it to the Gold Rushed Facebook page soon, in hopes of attracting fellow foodies. Similar to the concept of "homophily," which Shirky also discusses, if I am able to engage my friends (who share the same interests and love to eat), I will have a better chance of engaging their friends as well. "Like with like."

Here are a couple pictures I have added so far:

Diver Scallops- Lyon Hall, Clarendon 

Grilled Branzino- Ozzie's, Fairfax

Hot Stone Bowl- Hama Sushi, Herndon 

Slow Roasted Prime Rib Queen Cut- Boxwoods at the Mason Inn 

Fellow foodies, what are your recommendations for good restaurants? Leave a comment below!

Week #10: Lady With a Mean Punch

One of the things I like to do in my free time is work out. I don’t do it so much to “lose weight” but more as a stress release. Just as Allison Gittings mentioned in her Chameleon blog, I will feel completely unproductive if I don’t get a work out in and will be in a funky mood all day. As many people would experience, the gym can become boring after a while especially after going on the same machines over and over. Working out was especially easy when I lived on campus at Mason because the fitness/acquatic center was literally across from my dorm. I would take pilates classes, run around the circle and then do some cardio at the gym.


Now, my workout routine is a little different. Last January, I signed up for LA Boxing. Boxing was definitely outside of my comfort zone but I wanted to challenge myself and do something completely unexpected. Growing up, I wasn’t involved in sports. Instead, I danced and competed in pageants. So you can imagine how surprised people were when I told them I joined this new gym.

If you’re local to DC, then you’ve heard the commercial with Sarah from Hot 99.5 about “handling your bizz-nass” LOL. It sounded like fun and games at first but not even midway into my first class, I felt like I wanted to die. There were about 30 people, ages 10-40 with a surprising large number of females. Strong, fierce females! The workout lasts an hour and consist of a rigorous warm up, ab and leg exercises, high-energy combination punches and kicks (if you’re in the kickboxing class) and then a cool down session. The next day, I literally (literally!) couldn’t walk. But, even though this workout had caused me so much pain (but a good pain), I became hooked. No pain, no gain, right? It’s an awesome workout for anyone but especially women who like to burn calories and also learn to defend themselves. 

Pro Boxer/Instructor Jennifer Salinas Training Session 

I admit that I’ve been a slacker and haven’t been going as much as I should, especially during the winter months. But, with the sun peaking in, I know it’s time to step it up. Aside from being a great stress relief, one of the things that keep me going when working out, especially in class, is the music. Here are a couple songs from my “Get Ready for Summer” playlist:

**Some songs NSFW**

Response Post #2: Fashion and Friends for Japan

Reading Nicki Anderson’s blog post "A Shake Felt Around The World,"reminded me of how fortunate we are, especially as we reflect on the tragedy in Japan last month. I felt so foolish as I remember, a couple days prior to the first earthquake being so upset about dropping my IPhone and a couple weeks before then, accidentally putting my IPod in the washing machine. Yes, my careless mistakes annoyed me to no end but they were so incredibly trivial after putting things into perspective. Since then, I’ve learned “not to sweat the small stuff” and be appreciative of what I have, no matter how small or large.

Last week, while browsing ITunes, I came across Songs for Japan. The compilation album consists of 38 popular artists including Lady Gaga, U2, Bruno Mars and Madonna and is available for $9.99. Proceeds will benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society. Even though people can still donate traditionally through websites like the American Red Cross, it’s interesting to see how retailers are using their resources and creativity to encourage donations.

Online auction Fashion and Friends for Japan kicks off today until the 28^th of April. Organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and it’s fashionable friends, fashionistas can bid on one of kind experiences and over the top fashions.

Items include:

• A made to measure Tom Ford suit
• One week stay at Parrot Cay
• Invitation to the Elton John Oscars Party
• Ticket to the Victoria Secret fashion show
• Seats at Vera Wang’s fashion show (and a chance to meet her!)
• A stay at Diane Von Furstenberg’s Bahamas Home
• Lunch and style consultation with Fashion Extraordinaire Rachel Zoe
• A $3000 shopping spree, lunch with Tory Burch and backstage tickets to a Kanye/Jay Z concert
• A chance to meet Michael Kors backstage at his Spring 2012 fashion show and a $5,000 shopping spree

As if this wasn’t fabulous enough, visit CharityBuzz for the complete list! All proceeds will go to the Japan Society and their relief fund to aid victims of the earthquake.

Say It With Me

Whether he's got issues or not, homeboy is talented. I will definitely be downloading the rest of Chris Brown's new album FAME. This song and others on this album remind me of Michael J. :(

Do you all remember his tearful yet amazing (don't hate) tribute to the King of Pop? 

 

Week #9: Are you engaged?

I have to admit I was a little late in joining Facebook. I remember freshmen year at Mason, everyone going nuts over it, asking people to “friend” them. This was around the time that Myspace was still cool. I finally gave in my junior year and have been hooked ever since. It’s a super force of it’s own as it’s transformed from a network of college students to a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone is on FB.

When I think of FB, a couple words come to mind. Share, connect, networks, Mark Zuckerberg. But, going back to the idea sharing, the reason why FB is my favorite social network is because it’s the easiest and fastest way for me to keep in touch with my family and friends. I love being able to share photos of my adventures and post updates on my daily happenings (only if exciting) to people I may not have a chance to see and interact with everyday. I’m a firm believer in things being more fun when you can share them!

I also love being able to reach a large number of people in an instant. What used to take light years can now be done in a click of a button. Clay Shirky touches on this notion in “Here Comes Everybody” as he discusses how difficult it used to be to publish something and then have it reach various populations outside of your geographic area. He says, “Now, once a user connects to the Internet, he has access to a platform that is at once global and free. It isn’t just that our communications tools are cheaper; they are better.” So now that we are able to share more efficiently, we have to take it a step further and engage.

One of my favorite bloggers, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere does this very well and has created a strong following on her blog. She uses FB and Twitter as a supplement to her blog and shares photos of her outfits, travels, interior design and food. Emily has the ability to make everyday ordinary and otherwise mundane objects look like art. 

Photo from C&C  

When I first created the Gold Rushed page on FB, my intention initially was to build my presence by posting statuses of new posts and urging my family and friends to “like” the page. Now, my goal is to dive deeper and make it more interactive and focus on engaging, instead of just announcing. I could treat the Gold Rushed page as a semi-personal FB account, allowing followers to get to know me (if they don’t already). Here a couple things I have considered doing that may attract new followers and drive like-minded people to my blog.

1. Posting some of my personal photos to Gold Rushed
2. Posting inspirational quotes  (I’ve started to but need to more often, perhaps as a “Monday motivation” or “Mid week motivation”)
3. Posting random YouTube findings or new songs I’m into
4. Posting video blogs
5. Posting relevant and current news and happenings

The only minor problem I see in this approach is the slight redundancy of posting to my personal page and then to Gold Rushed, as a good number of my friends are followers on my blog. But, maybe the double exposure isn’t so much a bad thing—maybe, the more the better especially since it’s so easy to get lost in the sea of updates.

I’ll leave you with a song that’s been stuck in my head for the past week.

Week #7: Blessing in Disguise

The weather in DC has been anything but normal this winter. One week the weather man is calling for a snow storm and the next, we've got 70 degree weather. It seems pretty inevitable that with these crazy weather changes, we are more prone to getting sick. I can't blame 100% of my sickness on global warming though. For the last month or so, I've been spreading myself thin. As I mentioned in my previous post, I always get into a little funk in the late winter months. Working full time and being a grad student is most definitely rewarding but to stay on top of things, one must be persistent, have good time management and self care. Many people become so consumed with their work, projects and events, that they forget and find very little time to take care of themselves. As a result, they become stressed, feel drained, lethargic and unmotivated which make them more susceptible to colds.

I am in no way a health or time management expert but I am guilty of being one of those people that forget a little self TLC. I definitely can't say that I'm surprised that I've been fighting a week long cold right now. Here are some tips from personal experience that may help you stay on top of things, including your health. 

Do write yourself a daily to-do list. Some people use their phones and there are those that just have excellent memory. I find writing it down much easier. 

Don't wait until the last minute. Yes, I know-- easy to say, hard to do. My Mom always says "If you have something to do, do it now." No matter how big or small it is, whether it's a project or grocery shopping, you'll be happy that you got it out of the way. 

Do spend some time outdoors. Instead of getting on the treadmill, take a brisk walk outdoors. Studies have shown that 30 minutes outdoors can greatly improve your mood. This is especially easier to do with your furry friend! 

Don't over exert yourself when it comes to exercise. Studies have also shown that 30 minutes of cardio a day is all you need. 

Do indulge in some quality sleep. If you can't get the recommended 8 hours, aim for 7. You'll be happier during the day and you'll be able to think more clearly. 

Don't think negatively. Worrying or complaining about something will not make the situation better. Negativity is like a disease and it can be incredibly draining. Never let someone steal your joy. Resist feeding into the negativity of others.  Instead, try to find the solution or an opportunity in the situation and move on.  

Do occasionally treat yourself. Reward yourself after a long week or after you've tackled your page long to-do list. 

Don't deprive yourself of the foods you love. Like they say, everything is good in moderation. But if you fully deprive yourself of having Starbucks or cupcakes, you'll find yourself craving it more than ever and eventually over indulging. 

Do spend some time in the kitchen. For the past couple of weeks, I've found myself grabbing food on the go or eating out at restaurants 2-3 times a week for the sake of saving time. Though it saves a couple hours away from the kitchen right after work, it ends up being very costly. So, plan your meals and hit the store ahead of time. Even if you're not the best cook, it can be fun experimenting and learning! 

Lastly, Don't over plan. I am especially guilty of this as I love, love, love to plan. I would have a panic attack if I ever lost my planner. But, over-planning can lead you to become over-stressed. Allow yourself a couple of nights out of the week (if possible) or a full weekend of no plans. Stay in and hibernate-- sleep, relax and make Netflix your best friend. Remember that Italian saying from Eat Pray Love? "Bel far niente"- the beauty of doing nothing. Yes, still trying to master this.

Many of these tidbits are things I've learned from my family, friends and through surfing the net. Thank goodness for Google which makes questions like "How do I de-stress?" or "How do I get over a cold quickly?" seem normal when it shoots back a million answers. To make my blog more relevant to Google, I've been linking to rich text and also utilizing tags. Because the topics I blog about tend to be pretty random, I am hoping it will drive a diverse audience and will allow me to connect with a larger group of people. I'm sure this post will resonate with a lot of my peers, especially those who are busy bees and love to be on the go. Who knows, maybe even you could use a little more "me" time :)