Closet Update: Victoria Beckham for Target

Hello friends, how was your weekend?

In addition to my Sephora VIB Sale Haul, I also got the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette and Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk from Nordstrom. What a productive weekend for my wallet... I'm wearing both items in this post, but I only took two close-up pictures. So I'll be posting some swatches tomorrow hopefully Friday if you want a closer look. I'm so sorry packing has been crazy....

Today, I would like to update you what I've added to my closet from the VB for Target collection (read my wishlist here). The first few pictures were taken by my mom when she had time and the rest of them I could only manage to take selfie-style. I hope I can still get my ideas across.

When the collection launched online on Sunday, April 9th, I stayed up and was able to order everything on my wishlist. I also went to my local Target with my mom in the morning, prepared and expecting it to be a total madness like Lilly Pulitzer collection in 2014. To our surprise, it looked just like a regular day at Target. I saw people check out the collection, but no one tried anything on. I also checked online mid-day and everything was still available. I guess either people are not as interested in this collection as previous ones, or Target increased quantities this time?

Below, I'll be showing you, side by side, how they look on the website (all taken from Target online) and on me. For the tops, I will also be showing you how I pair them with pieces from my closet. Lastly, I will be sharing with you the items I liked, but returned and why. So let's get started!

Women's Dark Floral Scallop Trim Top (Sold out, $26):
Material: 100% polyester; Size: M

Shopping Haul: Sephora VIB Sale

Good morning, friends! I woke up at 6:05AM today, a little dehydrated (might be the wine last night), but I felt surprisingly awake and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to sit outside as the sun is rising (a little chilly...) and write this post, maybe I'll take a nap later. How's your morning so far?

This week felt incredibly long. Work was not bad, but I felt overwhelmed just thinking about what to pack for my trip next week, which lasts almost 3 weeks! The last trip that lasted this long was also when I went to China with my family 3 years ago. So it's been a while since I packed for longer trips. I'm sure I'll feel better once I actually start packing.

But today, I will be sharing with you what I picked up during the Sephora VIB Sale (read my wishlist and recommendations here). I got a few items that were not on my wishlist, but things have also been selling out so quickly! I shopped at Sephora inside JCPenney (abbreviated as SIJ below), which does carry everything I need, but a lot smaller than Sephora. I'm too scared to go into Sephora nowadays, knowing I'll be tempted to get too many things that I probably won't end up using. After all, when you see other people buying bags and bags of products, how can you not be curious and get one for yourself? The other thing I like about SIJ is their own version (sometimes even better value!) of Sephora Favorites sets and I'll show you the ones I've found in store. Lastly, I will be sharing with you two brands being discontinued at SIJ (one still available at Sephora) so that you can score some major discounts!

This haul is from Thursday and yesterday at two different SIJ's and one item I ordered online. I'm planning on stopping by Nordstrom today to try the Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk and Instant Look in a Palette (Nordstrom-exclusive), recently released from Charlotte Tilbury. There's also a SIJ in that shopping mall, so I might take a look there too :P

Enough chatting (I didn't even have coffee!) and let's dig into the goodies! :)

Handbag Reveal: Alexander McQueen Small Legend Bag

Hello friends, Happy Friday! :)

The weather is so nice in SoCal this weekend and I'm excited to spend some time outside, but will probably end up just packing for my trip next week. If you plan on doing some shopping this weekend, Sephora VIB Sale (read my wishlist and recommendations here) is still going on until Monday 4/24. Anthropologie is having extra 40% off sale items starting today. They also sent out a survey email earlier this week and you'll receive 20% off full-price purchase until 4/30 if you complete the survey.

Today, I'm sharing with you the newest handbag in my collection: Alexander McQueen Legend Small Tote Bag in Patchouli, which I purchased from Desert Hills Premium Outlet on Sunday. I will talk you through the background and details of this bag, "What's in my bag?", pictures of me wearing it and lastly, my purchasing story. I hope you'll like it as much as I do!

Announcement: My Vacation

Hello friends! Hope you are doing well! :)

Just a quick announcement that I will be on vacation, going to China with my family next Wednesday 4/26 until Monday 5/15. I have a few posts planned and I will try to keep up with my regular posting schedule during this time. However, please bare with me as I have no idea what the Internet situation is going to be like there. If I couldn't manage the posting for any unforeseeable issues, I will be back here on Tuesday 5/16. But I certainly would like to keep posting! I will be documenting my trip and sharing with you all once I come back. If you have any specific questions or requests, please let me know!

If you haven't read the last post on my Sephora VIB Sale Wishlist and Recommendations, you can read it here. Come back on Friday to see the reveal of a handbag that I picked up from Desert Hills Premium Outlet!

Thank you for your understanding and support! Let me know where you are going for your next vacation? :)

TBT last time I was in China during Chinese New Year in 2014. It was so cold!
This photo was taken in front of a fish tank inside a hotel. 

Sephora VIB Sale: Wishlist and Recommendations

Hello friends, how was your weekend?

I shopped Nordstrom Rack's Clear the Rack sales (as expected...) and went to Desert Hills Premium Outlet with my mom on Sunday (shopping haul coming soon!). On Saturday night, I watched Lady Gaga's performance at Coachella on YouTube live (Coachella at home!), which started at 11:30PM and lasted 1.5 hours. I LOVED every second of it and could only imagine how amazing her World Tour is going to be!

But today, we are talking about the Sephora Spring VIB sale, which is finally here! Is it just me, or is this year's sale much later than normal and Sephora seems less organized? As a VIB Rouge member (who spend way too much at Sephora), I didn't get this card in the mail until last Friday and the email came out on Sunday afternoon. Tsk Tsk Sephora...

Shop: Texas

Hello friends, Happy Friday! Who else is excited for the weekend?

Today, I'm bringing you along to San Marcos Premium Outlet and showing you what I got. If you haven't read my last post about what/where I ate in Texas, you can click right here. I'm seriously craving more sushi at Lucky Robot... Now onto the shopping!

There are two outlets in San Marcos right across the 234 Centerpoint Rd from each other: Tanger Outlet (list of stores here) and San Marcos Premium Outlet (list of stores here). I went to the Premium Outlet on the right.

See & Eat: Texas

Hello friends, how was your weekend?

I spent my weekend recovering from travelling and shopped the Victoria Beckham for Target collection on Sunday. I will be updating you once I receive all my items in the mail, but today, I'm sharing with you where and what I ate in Texas last week.

This post is possibly the longest (and most time-consuming) I've written so far. But I really enjoyed writing about my experiences at these places and I hope you'll enjoy reading it :).

Power Plant Texas Grill (Seguin, TX) 
The old municipal power plant is located in Seguin, TX, by State Hwy 123. You get a glimpse of the Saffold Dam on the Guadalupe River, which runs through Texas onto the Gulf of Mexico.

Power Plant Outside

Outside Seating Area and View

Travel: Grocery Shopping

Hello friends, happy Friday! How was your week?

These two week's of travel has been quite tiring for me, but I did get a chance to explore the city a little bit this week (more on that next week!). Today, I'm sharing the food items I always buy during a business trip to eat a little healthier.

As soon as I get to my rental car, I look for grocery stores. We generally fly into a bigger city, which has a lot more grocery stores, than the smaller city where our company is located. So I try to get some food items before heading to the hotel. The grocery stores I tend to look for are Costco, Trader Joe's and Sprouts, as I already shop there regularly back home. For this trip, I went to the Sprouts about 10 miles away from Austin and this is what I got:

Current Obsession: BECCA One-Piece Swimsuits

Hello friends, how's your week going?

I'm in Texas for work this week and it's been so nice and warm that I'm seriously craving some pool time. Well, I did spend some time last weekend in my friend's apartment roof-top pool drinking margaritas and wearing swimsuit #2 below. Today, I'm sharing my current obsession with BECCA one-piece swimsuits as a bonus post this week. Friday's post will be travel-related. Now onto the BECCA swimsuits!

I came across this (1) BECCA Color Play One-Piece Swimsuit (on sale, $79.06) during Nordstrom's Triple Points. At first I wasn't sure about the color, but when I tried it on, I loved it! The cut is super flattering and slimming and the color looked great on my skin tone without being too sexy (like black). One-piece swimsuits are so easy to wear and glide over the tummy area, which I'm always self-conscious about. Currently, only the Henna color is on sale, but it also comes in 3 other colors ($118).

Victoria Beckham for Target Collection

Hello friends, can you believe it? The Victoria Beckham for Target collection is almost here!

I have long been a huge fan of Target's designer collaborations. It's a great introduction to the brand and for you to add a few statement pieces at an affordable price. I still have pieces in my closet from past collaborations with Altuzarra, Peter Pilotto, and Lilly Pulitzer that I love. I'm particularly excited for this collaboration with Victoria Beckham, because she always looks so chic. I came across one of her dresses in a floral print (similar to the Retro Floral print below) at Nordstrom Rack that was marked down to around $170 (from over $1000), but it was just a little bit too small!

I can't wait to add some of these pieces to my closet. The collaboration will be online and in stores this Sunday, April 9th. Today, I'm sharing some of my favorites below and shopping tips for online and in stores.