first ever giveaway!

Hey loves,
Prepare to be barraged with posts in the upcoming days. But you'll like it. Promise. Just try to keep up! :)

First off, the Alexa Chung for Madewell 2011 Launch. I went to the one in South Coast Plaza, my old stomping grounds. (I used to work at J. Crew, and if you didn't know, Madewell is the "little sister" of J.Crew. Oh, the days when I used to get a 40% Madewell discount... Sigh.) In the pictures I'm trying on the Alexa Chung Cora Dotted shirt, which was beautiful, and I tried to convince my sister to get me it for my birthday coming in two weeks, but you can see her facial reaction to that idea in a picture down below. I ended up getting the Carine Dress shown at the very bottom, and the Eyes Eyes Eyes pouch in pumice, which is now sold out.

My coworker, Cindy, came with me, along with my sisters and my friend/photographer Emma and Alisa. Afterwards I went to Boiling Crab with Cindy and got real messy. Here are the pictures of my adventure. Also, scroll down past the pictures for a fantastic giveaway-- my FIRST!-- related to the Alexa Chung launch; you won't be disappointed!

I'm wearing:
Old 3/4 sleeve J. Crew cardigan
Thrifted white blouse
Old J. Crew corduroy shorts
Madewell shoes















Now, the giveaway!
It's for the Alexa Chung for Madewell Eyes Eyes Eyes pouch, in the color that is sold out, it's no longer for sale on the website! One lucky reader/subscriber will win this, and inside the pouch you'll get a candy from Alexa's hometown and a zine that she wrote! The giveaway is until October 3rd, a week from today at midnight! Winner will be chosen at random by a generator. I'll let you guys know who wins the following day. In order to enter, just leave a comment with your favorite piece from the Alexa Chung for Madewell collection and your email, as well as subscribe to my blog Sometimes Almost Always, and my HoneyBee Vintage Etsy Facebook page. Each step gives you one separate entry!

fall fancies!

Hey, y'all, I've still been super preoccupied, but in the meantime, here's a little blog feature on me, on Niyah's blog Inexpensive Chic. Her blog is pretty neat, with fashion tips for the budget-minded gal to Street Style features on "real people" to her own outfit posts. Check it out! It's my first little interview sort of thing. :)



New post to come soon. I'm at the moment working on secret plans, pen pal parcels, special (possibly video) posts, guest blogger posts, AND an exciting photo shoot. I took the week off to write, since the last year of my master's program is starting up on the 26th. Wish me luck. Any of you have short story suggestions? All are welcome and appreciated.

Also, it's almost my birthday which I'm never very excited about, except that it's in the best month of the year, October! I love fall!

white after labor day

All day every day. :) Last picture is me. That dress is still for sale in my Etsy shop, HoneyBee Vintage. Sorry for not posting in a while. Been pretty preoccupied with some other things. Good things, though! More to come soon soon soon!

manatee friend

I know I've been on Madewell overload lately but you guys are just going to have to deal with me! :) It'll be over after September once I go to the Alexa Chung Madewell event and get it all out of my system by emptying my bank account there. Not to worry, too, I'm in the midst of some good things to post about soon like a DIY, a guest blog, and some more insight into me (like my obsession with books--I AM a fiction writer after all-- postcards, etc.)

Anyway, the very first ever Madewell catalog came for me in my mailbox today. It's beautiful! I love how oversized it is. When you have it opened in front of you it's almost like a newspaper. :) If you guys want, I can do some scans? In the meantime, here are some pictures of me sitting by the pool tonight at J's mom's house, while J did some jumps and kick-flips with his water-skateboard (no, not a surfboard).

I came from work so I'm still wearing head-to-toe American Apparel. I didn't do an outfit shot cause it was getting dark, but you can see I'm wearing the Round Collar Lawn Button Up. Forgive the poor picture quality, I snapped these on my Macbook Pro Photo Booth.





What you can't see is that I'm also wearing the Knit Pencil Skirt. And on the table are the shoes I wore, my faithful fringe loafers. They're on the table because a mischievous frenchie loves chewing on 'em. As a conciliatory gesture for not doing an outfit picture, I present to you my manatee friend, who loves Madewell just as much as I do. :)

shop update

Short post today! Just letting you know I added some new inventory to HoneyBee Vintage this morning. :) All of them are perfect perfect skirts for fall and back-to-school. Knee length, midi, maxi. I gots it all! Check 'em out, please!




Also, for those who haven't already seen it, this is the behind-the-scenes video of the end-of-summer lookbook for my Etsy shop, HoneyBee Vintage. If you haven't already, you can see more of the pictures on a previous post, here. HoneyBee Vintage Summer Lookbook!

lover of loving love

I love Alexa Chung! And Madewell. So this collaboration is a dream for me. As I said in an earlier post, I went to the event in LA for her debut collection last year and got a few choice pieces. This year is an even more lethal collection and I already have my eyes set on a couple pieces: The rust colored long sleeve dress (click the link below to see Alexa frolicking around in it!), the polka dot peter pan collar button up, the green plaid coat, and the navy chunky ribbed knit sweater! Not to mention the pouch (I have last year's as well).

Can't wait! I'm going to the event this year, too! Will I see you there?

Watch "Alexa Chung in 2011 Madewell Campaign" at New York Magazine




Also, I pretty recently got a tumblr going, though I don't go on as much as most. It's just for pretty little things I find, books I like, literary quotes, funny gifs... Friend me if you have one too! Denouement.

day off

T-shirt + skirt combo, yeah!

Hey, y'all! I hope your week is going well. :) Yesterday, I met up with my friend and photographer Emma, and Alisa, to go to Rowland Heights and get some dim sum, which turned into getting boba and other tasty treats in the form of pastries!

After dim sum, which was quick, and good, and cheap just like dim sum should be, we drove a few blocks over to Half and Half, this super cute boba joint. Their cups are chubby little things, as you can see from the pictures below. Also, the inside is nicely decorated, with lampposts and flower boxes.

Then we stopped by this place that just opened up (there's a location in Irvine, too). It's this amazing bakery/cafe called 85C (or 85 degrees Celsius). The breads and pastries are perfect; delicious and flavorful and soft. Some reminded me of Filipino pastries I'd had before. So tasty! I got a cheese danish, an almond sponge cake, taro bread, and a chocolate chip bowl, which was my favorite for sure. There's apparently always a huge line that forms, but it moves quickly. You get a tray and fill it up with pastries and then they bag them for you and put 'em in a box. It's like a little cafeteria line. I'm not a coffee drinker but I hear that the Sea Salt Iced Coffee is super. If you live in the area or are visiting, I'd say you should scope it out! It's not badly priced either! Mmm, carbs. :)

New Yorker vintage cover t-shirt: Zara
light blue chambray button down skirt: Salvation Army
belt: American Apparel freebie!
shoes: thrifted
satchel: Urban Outfitters years and years ago