All posts by Angela Lan

About Angela Lan

I make clothes and do that blog thing. Writes a 124 paged manuscript no one knows about. Proud supporter of messy hair and sweatpants. x View all posts by Angela Lan →

Fall Bucket List (aka a list of things I’ll never get done)

So that is what California looks like right now. Yeah, super colorful. Here is a picture of what it SHOULD SOMEWHAT look like:

Fall just isn’t coming (I mean, it’s November already) and yet it’s really really cold in the morning but really hot in the afternoon and then super cold again. It’s like the weather is having a seizure between summer and winter. Nevertheless, I still want to do all those “tumblr-y” things that Tumblr is all about during the fall, though the weather is just not cooperating so I’ve listed a bunch of things I hope to have done before winter. There’s plenty of sarcasm involved; therefore, don’t take this post too seriously. It’s just for fun. ;) Hope you enjoy!

1. Attend a campfire and eat roasted marshmallows.
2. Buy a sweater or 10 (one down, nine to go lol).
3. Make pumpkin pie (or just buy it because I burn everything I bake).
4. Try wearing a dark lip.
5. Form a collection of different cute boots for winter (one down, plenty to go).
6. Have a shopping spree (but by looking at the pile of cut-off price tags I just cut off of just-bought clothes, I think I’m already done. But a girl can never have enough clothes, right?).
7. Drink homemade apple cider (not going to happen I’m telling ya).
8. Sunday brunch (DONE, IT HAPPENS EVERY SUNDAY).
9. Go vintage shopping.
10. Decorate my room.
11. Go on a road trip to nowhere.
12. Wear a super cute layered outfit everyday and not just the same thing for 5 days in a row (this is legit true and should be moved to the top of the list).
13. Keep a journal, or just spill everything in my life onto this blog.
14. Watch movies and cuddle (with a blanket).
15. Try a bunch of Starbucks drinks (the pumpkin spice latte is screaming my name).
16. Go to a concert and pretend to have the time of my life even though I hate loud places.
17. Finish making the pack of instant caramel apples I opened but never finished because they got too messy.
18. Plan an actual fall themed photoshoot, not just taking pictures from my phone.
19. Buy candles and try lighting them.
20. Drink loads of hot chocolate while reading books.
21. BLOG MORE.

What’s on YOUR bucket list for fall?

XX,

Fall Favorites ☂

Today I’m playing the role of beauty guru and showing you my “fall favorites.” Keep in mind that I live in California, so we don’t really have a “fall” or winter, really. So if you live somewhere colder, these things may not apply to you. But if so, tell me what some of your favorites for fall are in the comments below!

DISCLAIMER: Photo used in the graphic background above and the “music” section below is by Is a Belle and is protected under Creative Commons. I do not own the original photo, and changes were made to it. Images in the the “clothing” and “misc” section are all from Tumblr and Pinterest and I do not own those as well. However, the ones from the “beauty” section are by me. Also, although this post isn’t sponsored, affiliate links are used, which means at no additional cost to you, I will be compensated with a very small commission if an item is purchased through my link. All proceeds will be used toward this blog, keeping it updated and covering the cost of materials and such. I only recommend products that I think are worth the money, and will never link to products I do not use or cannot justify for. Thanks for reading! ♡

Clothing:

Bomber jackets, cardigans, sweaters, knee-highs, flannels, anything layered, beanies, and black booties.

Beauty:

Psssst! Dry Shampoo– Since I don’t wash my hair everyday, this product is a must for me. Dry shampoo is really just shampoo that is dry, so you spray it in your hair for freshly washed looking hair without having to actually use shampoo or even water. This one is my favorite because it’s cheap yet works really well absorbing the oils in my hair. It also adds a lot of texture which I really like. The smell isn’t the sweetest scent, but I find that it usually goes away within minutes. A must try for anyone who doesn’t washes their hair daily!

Satinique Overnight Treatment– I use this to prevent split ends and also to fix them. It works like magic, is like a leave-in conditioner, and also smells AMAZING. Even though it’s a “overnight” thing, I like to put this in my hair when I wake up in the morning. I do heatless beachy waves daily (aka sleeping in a bun), and the ends are usually very scuffed, so I’ve been really liking this product.

F21 Nail Polish in “Rose Petal”– What I love about the F21 nail polishes is that they’re cheap and come in a bunch of colors. This one is in a nude-ish pink color, and while it’s not exactly a fall color, it is really pretty.

Artistry Lip Liner in “Nuance” and “Sparkling Wine“- Since it’s fall, mauve and darker lip colors have been my favorite. I like using liners because they gives me more control and I can dupe Kylie Jenner’s look by over drawing a little (sorry if that sounds gross). The darker color has a brush at the end for blending out the color which is really handy.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer– My everyday concealer. A lot of people don’t like how the twist tube works on this, but I really like it. You twist it and the product will come out of the brush and you can just use that to apply it onto your face. I use this for highlighting as well. My shade is in “Nude”.

Artistry Mascara- I’m not quite sure why I put this in here, since it’s discontinued and I don’t even know what it’s called. However, this is the mascara I use when I take photos and my go-to mascara. Even though it doesn’t claim to be, it’s waterproof in my case in which I’ve taken a shower with this on and there wasn’t a single smudge. No clumps either, and makes my eyelashes look amazing. If I find something similar or this exact one comes out again, I’ll let you guys know!

Body Blends Chapstick in Pink Blush- I believe this is discontinued as well. It’s my current favorite chapstick though, very moisturizing with just a touch of color and a tingling mint feel and smell.

Music:

To see a complete list of what I’m listening to, visit my Spotify!

Tech:

Vinted– Recently discoreved this app and am so glad I did. It’s an online market place for only girls to sell their old clothes and accessories. I’ve already done the research for you and have come to the conclusion that Vinted is the one who takes the least percentage of your money (Poshmark takes more). I’ve been using Vinted to sell last season’s or outgrown items. If you use THIS link, you’ll get a free $5 credit to spend there! It’s really user friendly, so check that out if you have time!

Spotify– Music player, like iTunes but you can listen to all of your favorite songs for free. It doesn’t get better than that. If you’re like me, you buy a song on iTunes, listen to it 4 times, and then start hating it and wonder why in the world you even bought the song. Spotify prevents that. There are also “radios” and you can browse pre-made playlists. Be sure to follow me there!

Stylebook– I haven’t started using this app yet, but I really like the concept. You catalog your wardrobe into this app, and then you’ll be able to see all of the clothing items you own and can also make outfits using the pieces you have. It’s like your personal online wardrobe catalog, almost. The only con is that you have to take pictures of each item you own in order to get it into the app, but I’m sure it’s worth it!

Misc:

Apple cider and hot chocolate. Do I really need to explain this? I mean, just look at the pictures….

Happy Sunday!

XX,

DIY Inspirational Quote/Message Jar

I’m a huge fan of sending positive messages around. These “inspiration/message” jars have been all over Tumblr and Pinterest, so I’d thought I’d share with you how I made mine. I love these for when you feel down and need a boost of positivity. If you didn’t know already, they are just a jar full of inspirational quotes or sayings to choose from and use to inspire you. Simply pick a strip out of the jar, just like you would with a hat. “A message a day, keeps the sadness away.” And there you go, your own inspiration jar!

Ready to make one?

All you’ll need is a jar (mine is a mason jar from Jo-Ann for a dollar), pretty paper (mine is double sided), and a chalkboard label and chalk if you’d like. There’s a bottle of glitter pictured, but I highly suggest you don’t use any unless you want to spend an hour cleaning up. Ask me how I know (sarcasm intended). (But if you’re seriously wondering though, I sprinked some into my jar so whenever I picked a strip out, some glitter would come with it just for fun and adds a little punch. Not a bad idea, just how glitter can be so annoying and likes to go everywhere. If you can make it work, props to you!)

Tip- When you go and get the chalkboard labels, don’t get the fancy chalk that’s from the same brand. The labels are pretty inexpensive ($1.50 for 12), but the chalk runs around $9 for a pack of 6 I believe. Don’t get them. Instead, go walk yourself over to the kid’s “Crayola” section and get yourself a pack of 12 for a dollar. Trust me, no one is ever going to know that you didn’t buy the “nicer” stuff.

I first stuck on my label and wrote “inspa jar” with a piece of chalk to the lid of the jar. “Inspa” stands for inspiration, since I couldn’t fit the entire word on there. Pretty self explanatory? It took me a bunch of tries to get the writing the way I wanted it to look; chalk handles differently than pencil I suppose. If you don’t want the writing to rub off, you can seal it with a clear sealant. Beware though, when I tried doing this, the chalk just washed away and I had to start over on a new label (since you can’t write over the seal), so make sure the spray you’re using is ok to use with chalk.

Then cut your paper up into strips. Pick a few quotes and sayings you like and write them on! Since the back of my paper was black, I used a white gel pen to write and I think it turned out pretty cool! Need some help picking out your messages?

Here are a few to get you started:

-Whatever you are, be a good one.
-Do what you love to do.
-Be with someone who brings out the best in you.
-Happiness is ours.
-You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough -Mae West
-Don’t do it tomorrow, do it today.
-Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
-When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye. -Cathy Gulsewite
-To live will be an awfully big adventure.
-Be gentle and kind, for everyone is righting a battle you know nothing about.
-Forget the rules, if you like it, wear it.
-In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.
-Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating YOU.
-We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.
-Life is like riding a bicycle, in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.
-You’re the fairest of them all.
-I will be grateful for this day.
-Live your life. Take chances. Don’t wait. Because this is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.
-Take the time to appreciate what you have.
-A smile is the best makeup any girl could ever wear.
-Life isn’t about aiting for the storm to pass, it’s about dancing in the rain.
-Start the day off with positive vibes.
-You decide who your are, not society.
-Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.
-Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?
-Life is too short to be anything but happy.
-Enjoy the little things in life for someday you will realize they were the big things.
-Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they’re always there.
-Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius. And it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
-Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening and live each day like it’s your last.

When you’re done, just roll them all up and stuff them into the jar. Screw the lid on and you’re done! Add any sort of decoration you’d like to add personality and to pretty-up your jar. I just stuck on a line of blue washi tape around the rim.

These would make great gifts; you could tailor your messages towards the person, or let someone pick out their “fortune” by choosing a strip out of your jar. I plan to just give the strips all away as “fortunes”, letting people pick one each time they meet me (mostly because I have all of these quotes memorized already lol). Or you could make one as a room decor piece with crazy printed paper. It’s a pretty fun concept, and your message could just brighten someone’s day! Hope you guys enjoyed this DIY!

PS- A “fall favorites” is coming tomorrow. Be sure to check back here to read that post! ♡

XX,