my week in hello kitty bags.

This was a pretty low key week. A big photography paper this week and preparing for a slew of presentations and midterms next week. I wanted to give my nails a rest, but I decided on a whim to paint them with a cheery glitter polish.

Last Saturday, I helped out my friend Ben with his photography assignment—it was so much fun! We kind of took over the courtyard, I think a guy on the phone was staring at us when Ben had me pose with a bird bath. This is the shot his professor chose for the assignment.

After my internship on Friday, I went to the opening of the 34th st Uniqlo. I got myself a new pair of heat tech tights!! and socks! They really are so warm, and I love the knit patterns. And, I asked if I could have a Hello Kitty shopping bag. It's so cute!

This weekend, I also packed up my summer clothes and brought out all my winter jackets and sweaters! It took me two days to organize, but my wardrobe is officially ready for the cold, and just in time. The weather this week has cooled down considerably.

On Friday, I wore a new quilted coat that I got for my birthday this year. I wanted to wear it in a different way (since it's quite a common style) so I threw my little fur collar over it.

I made the first pumpkin loaf of the season earlier tonight. I think I should have baked it longer, because the slice fell apart really easily.

Snapshots from the week:

Haven't seen these toys since the Shanghai metro stations

hehe, eating candy at work

must be an important Escada meeting!

a new chandelier

cute backpack!

Amalia and I strung ghostie lights between our beds (cute ghostie faces not shown)

my week in food and fall breaks.

Last weekend, I randomly had a five day weekend because NYU gave us Monday and Tuesday off for Columbus Day! Super random, since I've never had Columbus Day off before, but certainly welcome! Going home would have been nice, but I was able to relax in an empty apartment, watch lots of TV and catch up with friends.
Sunday, I finally went to the Hell's Kitchen Food Truck Bazaar! I've been trying to go all summer, but the August one was postponed twice, and eventually cancelled due to rain. And I got to go with my friend David!! who I haven't seen since before I left for Shanghai. There were only five food trucks, since it was the last food truck bazaar of the year. I had Kimchi Tacos and a pear citrus Kelvin Slush! David had a pulled pork Gorilla cheese. After we ate, we browsed the flea market, tried on lots of hats, jewelry and looked at old pictures.

Since I had Monday off from school, I volunteered to go to my internship on my day off to help with the Thomas Lau photo shoot. The clothes seen on the runway are actually only a percentage of the collection, about a third I think. So, Thomas Lau, the photographer, comes in each season to photograph all the garments and accessories that weren't in the show. It was pretty exhausting, just constantly changing mannequins, and getting the next looks ready. It was really cool to see all his equipment though!

Thursday I had dinner with Eunice!! We grabbed lobster rolls from Luke's Lobster truck, located conveniently a block from Carlyle that night. We went back to my room to eat and chat. I've been having a lot of anxiety about  internships and jobs lately, and she really helped ease my anxiety. And I just found out yesterday that I have an interview for an internship next semester!
Friday after my internship, I went to the new Uniqlo 5th ave! It's huge! Everything is so sleek, clean, modern and really beautiful. The store is definitely a must see, especially if you love Uniqlo.

+J jacket with an adorably massive hood!

snapshots from the week:

new Halloweenie kitty stickers!

sweet potato fries and falafel sandwich that I made! 

berries in the Carlyle courtyard

night photoshoot next to the Flatiron building

more doodles

pumpkin cream cheese!

Hong Kong: Day 3

My day was pretty low key, since my other friends have been staying out until dawn every night, but David and I had only gone out once since being in HK. So while everyone else slept, we were ready to shop! We got a quick lunch at a local cafe and then headed to one of the many malls in TST. We both love Uniqlo, so we headed there first.
The Uniqlo we went to wasn't particularly big (they didn't have the +J collection), but we didn't care. From there, we split up, so I'm not sure what David purchased. I got two pairs of pants, one of which I got altered in 10 minutes!! Asian sizes are so different, because Asian people tend to be of a smaller built, especially compared to Americans. In the NY Uniqlo, we have jeans from size 24-32 (size 0-12), but in Asia, the largest size is a 29 (In between an 8 and a 10). I wasn't sure if this size would fit me, but it did surprisingly! So I decided to get a different color of a pair of pants that I already own in two colors and a pair of black cropped pants, that are actually ankle length on me.
That night, we wanted sushi, so we went to a sushi bar that has the conveyor belt and you simply choose what you want off the conveyor belt, and then they tally up your plates at the end. After dinner, we went to KTV. Karaoke is HUGE in Asia. Instead of going out to bars or clubs, high school and college kids go to KTV. The people I was with are very, very good at KTV-ing. I am not. le sigh.

so dangerous for hungry college students

FALL.

You know it's too hot when you consider 80 degrees cool, well, that's become my new standard this summer. It's been miserably humid in New York City going on two months now and I simply cannot wait until fall arrives! Falling leaves, chilly temperatures, crisp apples, pumpkins, new school supplies and fall fashion! I've just started to shop for fall/winter clothes, but I'm absolutely ecstatic about the pieces I've gotten thus far. Now all I need is a statement coat to make it my most fashionable fall yet!

 blouse, belt and skirt from the fall/winter '10 collection of Uniqlo.

 purple angora beret for $1.99 at the Uniqlo sample sale (!!!!!)

Summer 2010.

Ah, I have finally settled into my new home for the summer, Broome St Residence Hall! I'm in a studio apartment, but I don't have a roommate yet—so it's all mine! I'm really digging the location (border of SoHo and Little Italy and a mere two blocks from Chinatown) considering I don't really cook, and I love clothes! I really can't complain about the five minute 'commute' to work either. hehe.

Tomorrow the Costello Tagliapietra  for Uniqlo line comes out! They're a Brooklyn based design duo that are still up and coming, but this collaboration of 14 dresses (ALL priced from 29.50-39.50!) is sure to make them a household name! I'm deciding between three dresses right now:

(images courtesy Refinery 29)

sigh.

This coming week is the last crazy week for me. yay. Work is as crazy as ever, but now I have the WORST schedule imaginable. kind of upset. actually, REALLY upset.
In other news, I finally started my picture per day chronicles. I decided to post it on my tumblr for ease. check it out! lifebylinley.tumblr.com

salve.

I'm so terribly sorry devoted readers (all 0 of you) that I've been absent for three weeks. But, I can do a quick recap of the last three weeks.

Came back to NY.
Worked and had to wear all black—which I did not appreciate.
Started classes.
Found out prof is taking attendance is 200 person lecture (where is the logic??)
Got to train people at work.
Did two months worth of laundry and discovered more clothes!
Bought lots of clothes.
and slept.

I know, sooo boring. In other news, my rooommate, Laura, is out of town this weekend meaning, the Linley will play. and by play, I actually mean turn on the holiday lights...I find joy in the simplest things (aka, I'm easily amused). don't judge.

Well, that's all for now. It is currently 2:36 am, and I must, must, must run errands before going to Uniqlo tomorrow. and eat, so I won't faint. Not that I ever have.

shoes, vol. 2.

Before picking up my sister from school the other day, I decided to drop by a different Nordstrom Rack to see if they had the shoes I wanted (see previous post). I was fully ready to pay the $70 price tag, but I was pleasantly surprised! They only cost $40 at this Nordstrom Rack! I grabbed the shoes, paid and went to pick up my sister. And I've been wearing them ever since. well, inside the house that is.

See, I use to wear heels of the four inch variety every monday, without fail. My high school dress code included formal or dress up mondays. Every monday boys would have to wear an oxford shirt, dress slacks (or at least khakis), dress shoes and a tie. The girls' dress code was a tad abstract, but you get the point. Anyway, I would wear heels without question on Mondays, but sometimes during the week if the outfit demanded it. I was quite good at wearing heels I must say. However, this ended in early May, which is when I was last in school. Meaning, I haven't worn heels regularly in seven months. So, with good reason, I need to build back up to my days of running around (literally) campus in four inch heels!

I've been wearing my new shoes around the house (it did JUST snow yesterday) in preparation for romping around the streets of New York.

today was AWFUL.

Today (really yesterday, because it's 2:45am) was actually one of the worst days in my life. It all started at 7pm, Monday night.
I went to a review session for my last media studies test and these review sessions are usually really helpful. This one was absolutely useless. We spent the entire  time talking about the terms...that's what wikipedia's for! And then Jen (my ta, who also happens to be teaching the course next semester) goes, "guys, I took the test. It's REALLY hard." That's just PERFECT Jen!
So I go home, study for two hours, and then have Kenny quiz me. I was basically getting every other term wrong and I was getting really frustrated. I go back to my room and make a list of all the terms I need to know. Then, I just wrote the definitions over and over.
3:30am, I had a media policy epiphany! and media policy and neo-liberalism and the public sphere just clicked.
Went to sleep around 5. Turned off both alarms and went back to sleep for an HOUR. And I only woke up because Stephen texted me at 9:05 saying, "I'm not going to class..."
Threw on some clothes and booked it to 35 w.4th (and I made it in 10 minutes!) I was a hot mess, but I got there in time and took the test.
I'm really not sure how I did on the test, but the t/f and multiple choice were absolutely ridiculous. ex: "From my lecture on December 3rd, I said.............." Victor, that is NOT reasonable. That's just wrong. and totally upsetting.
Then, while I was walking home, I either tried to zip or unzip my coat. Either way, I managed to get my silk chiffon blouse completely caught in the zipper, like, it was so caught that to take off my coat, I also had to take off my shirt...awk. And then I went to Uniqlo for closing.
There were a few other mishaps involving me seeing things/possibly hallucinating, but I don't want to frighten you like I did to Kenny.