I’m getting to be quite the fan of Aerie. Awhile ago, I shared how I got free & practically free underwear from them and then today I managed to score a bra for just over $5! Now that’s a steal. Granted, $10 of that was from Wrapp (to be coming on another 365great day), but still, I’m very pleased. They always have really cute clothes and undergarments and when I wait for just the right time, I can snag them at fantastic bargains. I’ve got my eye on a bunch of clothes that I’d like to get there eventually… like maybe later this month when they have their $10 off $30 promo! I can’t wait – it’s gonna be great. 🙂
Posts Tagged ‘pictures’
365great Day 268: Aerie
07
December
2013
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Homegrown Collective November 2013 review
laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: almonds, boxes, chocolate milk, diy, drinks, eco-friendly, green, oil lamp, pictures, projects, reviews, subscriptions
07
December
2013
As always, it was such a pleasant surprise when the Homegrown Collective box arrived! This time there are two projects, one that is perfectly seasonal and one that is a more involved food project. I’ve already done the first one and I’ll need to find a blender to try out the other.
The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.
Hehe, it was really cute how they let one of the evergreen cuttings poke out.
Project #1, evergreen oil lamp: What an adorable idea! I love that this oil lamp makes use of very seasonally-appropriate items that totally remind me of winter. You also have the freedom to throw in whatever you might have in your yard or neighborhood to make it even more personalized. I think it’s fantastic and so simple yet creative. I can get more paraffin oil and keep on changing the look of this lamp throughout the months as I find random plants I can use!
Project #2, almond chocolate milk: Ok, so I’m generally not a fan of almond milk, but I don’t think I’ve tried chocolate almond milk before. The main problem with this particular project is that I don’t have a blender, so I’m not sure how I could possibly make it right now. The good thing is that the move into the new condo is the perfect excuse to get a few items for the home, like a blender! I’ll have to keep these ingredients stored away for the time being, until I can try making my very own almond chocolate milk. I hope I like it!
At the back, you get to learn about almonds and the awesome clean burning oil lamp!d
Have you subscribed to The Homegrown Collective? I’m absolutely loving all the cool projects they come up with – I feel crafty without actually doing much! 😀
[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]
365great Day 267: tigers
06
December
2013
I love felines of all kinds and my favorite of the large cats would have to be tigers. They have an air about them that is awe-inspiring and their strength yet grace is captivating. Their stripes are so fun and vibrant; it’s a unique pattern that no other big cats have. I got a chance to visit the Tiger Temple when I was in Thailand and it was such a special experience. When I approached the area where the adult cats were lounging, everything hushed and I carefully navigated through them with my guide. They didn’t seem to mind much that people were milling out and either let me touch them gently or didn’t even feel my hand stroking them. My favorite part was petting the baby tiger though – it was already quite big, with giant paws and far more strength than me. Yet, they still had an awkward, adorable quality about them. I absolutely loved being able to get so close to these creatures – what a great vacation stop!
Storytelling
laelene Posted in stories，Tags: autumnfall, childhood, desert, driving, experiences, friends, internships, katana, los angeles, movies, pictures, sharing, storytelling, travel, writing
06
December
2013
I’ve had some pretty random and interesting experiences in my life. There are the moments when I had crazy encounters with strangers, the cool things I got to experience as a result of living in Los Angeles, and wonderful childhood memories. I’d like to share more of these, since a good story can be captivating, entertaining, and powerful. Perhaps I can hone my writing skills enough to write short stories!
Driving, driving, driving, til she needed to go.
This, in addition with Katana’s recent request that I read over some ideas she has for a book, make me want to share more of my life stories and grand adventures. I could share the times I took rides with strangers in foreign countries, the wacky times I spent with rich guys, the amazing things I got to do as a child, the fun experiences from college, and so much more… I just wish I could put together words as well as the writers I know (Autumnfall & Katana). Alas, I’ll do my best and hope to provide some worthwhile reads. Stay tuned!
365great Day 266: cha for tea
05
December
2013
My all-time favorite boba place is cha for tea, both because they make their boba just to my taste and because they make tea flavors that I prefer. They also happen to be a great place to hang out and grab a snack (the crispy chicken is bomb!) or sip on your drink while playing games with your friends (Connect Four, anyone?). Ever since my friend took me there many years ago, I’ve dropped by whenever I’m in the San Gabriel Valley area. Over the years, the tea flavors I loved best slowly got phased out sadly, but I can still find plenty of drinks to delight me. Plus, I can never go wrong with their boba. It’s not too soft, not too hard and a delicious kind of sweet that’s not overwhelming. They’re a pretty popular spot with a lovely atmosphere and great drinks.
A sense of impermanence
05
December
2013
Hello future home.
Ever since I moved here I haven’t quite felt settled. There’s not much space for me, I barely brought along any stuff, and I didn’t know anyone other than Panda. Now I’ve got a job and (soon) a condo, so I can finally feel like this place is my home. I don’t think of myself as a Virginian yet and I don’t know how long it will take, but if I stay long enough it’s bound to happen. Going back to LA for Thanksgiving was a chance for me to bring over more things and the upcoming move to the condo is a chance for me to claim some space of my own. I’m looking forward to making 2014 the year in which I get to embrace life out here.
For now, I still feel like an outsider. Everything is an adjustment – I’m not used to the weather, the change of pace in lifestyle, even the people… at times I wish I could just retreat back to my parents’ home in LA, lounge around, and not have to worry about being all grown up. So much seems so out of place in my life right now. It’s a feeling I can’t quite put my finger on – a little bit of melancholy, a little bit of confusion, a little bit of yearning. I’ve dived into songs to try to express feelings I can’t place, but I think I just need to write about it. I’ve pondered putting together a fictional story to try to capture my thoughts and funny enough, my best friend recently reached out to me about her own writing. Perhaps reading her stories will help me collect my ideas for mine.
It’ll be nice when I have the move to focus on, so I can shift my efforts to building my new life.
365great Day 265: wave boards
laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, ninja, pictures, skateboarding, snowboarding, toys, wave boards
04
December
2013
Wave boards are one of those cool things that require a very strange sort of physical motion. I’m told the motion you use is similar to surfing or snowboarding, but I’ve only ever gone straight and never tried to carve with those. I did carve with my skateboard a little bit, so I think I understand the feeling. But then again, I find it most effective to sort of wiggle my back foot back and forth to propel myself on these things. I’m not sure if that’s a technique that is part of wave boarding well. My friend Ninja here is super adept at things like these, so he picked up right away. My wave board has these awesome wheels that light up when you move, so we watching flashes of blue and red go off into the darkness. It’s one of those random toys that is novel for everyone when they first see it and most curious people will want to try it out for themselves. I’ve had many a fun bonding session with friends that way. It’s a great way to be entertained and challenged!
365great Day 264: Sprinkles Cupcakes
03
December
2013
I don’t recall how exactly I found out about Sprinkles, but I do remember all the hype around it. I mean, who’s crazy enough to open a cupcake shop and sell that exclusively?? But hey, it turned out to be a hit and I happily lined up outside that teeny shop on Little Santa Monica Blvd. For me, it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The cupcakes were a generous size, fresh and moist, not too sweet, and just enough taste. I could hardly get enough! I’d go with friends whenever we got a chance to roam away from the UCLA campus. I still love those cupcakes, though I don’t go as much anymore and their size has shrunk. They did open up a cool cupcake dispensing ATM and an ice cream shop next door! Each day, there’s a special code to get a deal – it used to be a free cupcake, but now I think it’s BOGO. All kinds of goodness there. It’s a great place to try if you haven’t yet!
These are a few of my favorite things…
laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses, photo blog，Tags: adventures, beach, experiences, los angeles, ocean, pictures
03
December
2013
Every year as a child, my dad and I would watch the Sound of Music on TV together around the holiday season. It’s one of those things that reminds me it’s that time of year and I plan on watching the live version that Carrie Underwood’s doing in a few days. My dad won’t be able to watch with me, but it’s still a nice memory. I’m reminded of that because yesterday I got to enjoy some of my favorite things! Panda and I really took advantage of what LA has to offer and went around making the most of this chance to do many things I love. So here are a few of my favorite things (along with random tidbits from the day)!
Free sunglasses.
I kept smelling a really fragrant scent in the yard… and tracked it down to these tiny suckers. Jasmine FTW!
Are you surprised? Of course Missy would make it on here. She’s too cute not to.
Molly deserves a shoutout too. Here she decides if it’s worth it to go outside.
I <3 UCLA and enjoying peaceful drives.
Love the boba at cha for tea!
Crispy chicken at a boba place is usually bomb. A most excellent snack.
Driving in LA… palm trees, freeways, and beautiful skies in the distance.
Checking out a Tesla Model S and how the handles are flush with the body of the car. Do they push in? Are they sensor-based?
Time for fun at the beach!
The beach offers fantastic skylines.
Sharing a snack with my boo.
I mark off my territory.
Jumping for joy!
Splashing around gleefully.
I’m a starfish!
My new favorite move: the pistol!
Time for a backbend! I used to be a lot more flexible.
Hi world! Now how do I get up? 😉
Bringing out my beloved board for some springy fun.
I found a strand of seaweed that I decided to jump rope off my board with.
Do you remember those toys you spun around you ankle to swing a ball around and you jumped over it? I was trying to replicate that.
Taking a break to admire the pelicans gliding by. Too bad there were no dolphins this time.
Having some fun atop my skateboard. 🙂
Took another break to admire the patterns of nature this time.
I’d love to come here for my yoga practice!
Almost forgot to do some cartwheels!
Look ma, one hand!
This is where I pretend I can do a handstand and hold it. Just go with me on this one. 😛
So brilliant and beautiful.
While taking pics for me, Panda helps wear my ring.
And a little time with my awesome board. Best ever!
Time to leave this beautiful place.
I didn’t know the front of firetrucks could tilt like that!
Climbing up into the mountains and getting a colorful sunset.
I didn’t use the cupcake ATM, but I did get some Sprinkles!
For dinner, one of my favorite places. This is a new location I haven’t been to!
Classic hot and sour soup. They chop everything so finely it’s amazing.
I decided to try the wonton soup too. Great for cleansing the palette.
Most delicate xiao long bao known to man.
The Americana’s such a nice place to hang out at this time of year.
On the way home, I found myself behind this Maserati that had stalled and was just sitting there, dead. It soon got help from a tow truck and police.
365great Day 263: sunsets
02
December
2013
It’s amazing how every day the sun rises, crosses the sky, and sets yet it still is fantastic each time. I mean, you’d think we’d get bored but I often catch myself staring at a gorgeous sunset in admiration. It may not be every single day, but at least once a week I stare off into the horizon and enjoy the colors and brilliance of the sunset. Sunrises are pretty cool too, but I’m usually not awake to witness them, so I can’t gush about them quite the way that I can about sunsets. Between glorious ones where the sun dips beneath the ocean, behind trees, or light up the clouds on a rainbow of colors, I could be entertained for ages just standing in awe. I got to witness a dreamy one tonight, as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean and played at the beach in Malibu. Could life be more perfect in that moment? Next time it’s getting dark, take a moment to enjoy the sunset. I bet it’ll be pretty great.
