your faith was an illusion

Winter blues have finally set in. I'm sick of seeing snow, ice, and people falling on their butts. Okay, the last part will never get old, only because I have the humor level of a 10-year-old. Jennifer left last week for Vietnam. I'm so jealous that I felt like going to the airport and buying the first ticket to a warm destination.

The only good thing about this week are the new music releases: Cold War Kids, Iron and Wine, and Amos Lee. ALL AT ONCE. Plus, there's a new Peter Bjorn and John single. If none of those appeal to you, then I'd suggest resorting to Gucci Mane's "The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted" because despite his poor taste in facial tattoos, the album is poppin'. Also, I'm attempting to find a way to incorporate "Brrr" into everyday conversation. (This is in addition to N.Dubz's "BRAP!")






source: Citizen Couture, Fashion Gone Rogue, ffffound.com

wait wait stop the wedding

I hate spring. Aside from the seasonal allergies (sniffing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat), it's wedding season. And now that I'm in my mid 20's, those stupid envelopes keep coming. Am I the only one who pays attention to divorce statistics and global overpopulation? (Yes. My name is Alicia, and I'm a bitter single. Hi, Alicia.)

I'm always in a quandary when I open yet another white envelope inviting me to witness the union of Miss Betty Crocker with Mr. Uncle Ben. Okay, let's keep it real, Uncle Ben needs to be with Aunt Jemima. Betty Crocker can hook up with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Or maybe the fisherman from Gorton's.

Anyway, I need a functional dress this spring for a dry [church] wedding and another one most likely held in some country club. I've come up with two designers who have polar aesthetics. Thoughts???

P.S. Thanks to Stop It Right Now for bringing Leila's designs to my attention.


Leila Shams, L: Albino Gator Maxi, R: Masai Beaded Top, Origami Skirt (probably too risque but so cute)


Leila Shams, L: Albino Croc Maxi, R: Albino Peacock Mullet Gown (#1 right now for me)


Eudon Choi, Look #25, Look #24

a pearl in your oyster

"It is after all so easy to shatter a story. To break a chain of thought. To ruin a fragment of a dream being carried around carefully like a piece of porcelain."
- from God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

I'm feeling swamped by all the little things in life. I need to get my schedule together. Everyday there's another thing to add to my million + 1 list. I really hope all this matters in the end. If it doesn't, I'm going to be mad.

Jennifer and I were talking about 2012 and the end of days the other day. There are two things that we deduced:

1. We hope it's quick and painless. Like a flash of light. None of that "2012" movie mess. No flooding, fires, meteors, none of that.
2. We really hope that we get like a week's notice heads up. That way we can spend the contents of our savings account before we leave. I'd book a cruise to Antarctica. It's $13,000, but you get to see penguins! And polar bears!

i have kept your diary on tape

There was a huge cold spell over the weekend. Seoul was as close to a shut down as it will ever get. Going outside meant that tiny invisible icicles would stab your face. I didn't go outside at all on Saturday. I hate how they release spring clothes when it's clearly still winter. Such a tease.

I wish I had my Warehouse military jacket. It would look so much better with my St. James top. Is today going to be filled with empty wishes? Probably. Happy Monday.

Oh yeah, I found 10 euros in my jeans. I think this is the first time I wore them after Europe.





P.S. This lipgloss by Etude House is amazing. It's called Moon Crystal Power Gloss in Andrew (?) Pinkyway. The name needs obvious work.

forget about those melting ice caps

"This is a valley of ashes - a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air."
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

source: fashion gone rogue, oracle fox

we're doing the best with what we've got

Jet lag leads to great productivity. I bet I'm blowing your mind with the diligence of my updates. It's blowing my mind, too. I've got a list of a million things to do, and yet I diddle on the internet for inordinate hours everyday. Is this what they call "running from your responsibilities?" Looks like I'm going to be running for a while... "Never trust anyone, just run away, run, run, run, run, run!" (Shout Out Louds)

It's a whopping 30*F today in Seoul, which means I'm probably going to see girls in mini skirts. I thought I'd try out a less snow bunny bummy look today. Have you ever seen something at the store and thought, "This has potential" but you weren't really sure what you would do with it? That's what I thought when I saw this bizarre Victorian tent dress on the $19 rack at the BCBG outlet in Guam. I also thought that when I saw the red Bebe plastic belt at some godforsaken outlet in Florida. Now I realize that I was subconsciously thinking about Sea of Shoes when I saw the belt. Stupid leopards.







P.S. I got my camera back from the camera doctor, and the images are coming out a little different. These are completely unedited photos. The camera is doing the fade out on the edges completely on its own. Can't decide if I like it or not.

Neighborhood: Hongdae #3

I got a surprise visit from my friend Jennifer yesterday. I made us sandwiches at my apartment, and we listened to The Black Keys and looked up movies on imdb.com while we chowed. Afterward, we hopped on the train and trekked through the snow to Hongdae. Spent a few minutes browsing through the cafes before settling on Noi.

I think the only thing that really sets this place apart from all the other cafes in the area is the fact that they have turf instead of real flooring. It's mind boggling and fascinating at the same time. I also love being able to see green grass in the middle of an icy winter - albeit fake. The lofty feel reminds me of my old apartment in Decatur. High ceilings are my friend.

Coffee was the norm 5,000-6,0000 won prices. They had some cupcakes in the dessert case, but they didn't look particularly appetizing.

Offhand question: how long are you allowed to use Christmas decorations/lights? Until the end of winter?







How to get there: this is somewhat impossible to describe. It's parallel to the coffee prince street. I'm crap at giving directions to this area.

take my badge but my heart remains

Confession: this entry was mostly posted because I wanted something for 1.11.11. That said, I've worn this sweater everyday for the past 7 days. I love it so much. From byCorpus, available at Urban Outfitters for $68.




P.S. That's Particuliere by Chanel. I'm not a Chanel nail snob. I just find it difficult to stray from something that's totally awesome.

crush your cigarettes out on an orange sky

I'm back in Seoul. Parting with 55-degree weather was very bitter. There's molded snow on the ground right now outside my apartment, speckled with dirt, dust, and other nasty bits. Wearing my doodoo brown marshmellow coat is making me yearn for T-shirts, shorts with black tights, and sweet tea. Okay, I drool for sweet tea year round.





1. sweet tea at West Egg Cafe
2. Four Loko at Mike's
3. NYE at El Bar with DJ Double Dutch (P.S. Lillie and I blew 50% of those horns and put them back. We're horrible people, and you can't take us anywhere.)

tomato, aubergine, & mint risotto from "breakfast, lunch, tea"

When I got home a few weeks ago, there were two books waiting for me. One was "Breakfast, Lunch, Tea," a recipe book by Rose Carrarini who owns Rose Bakery near Gare du Nord in Paris. I'm not a huge chef, mostly because I have trouble following directions (as aptly observed by my 2nd teacher who then wrote it on a report card I still have lying around somewhere), but I found this recipe book so well done. Rose has filled it with simple, delicious recipes she uses in her own kitchen. They're fairly easy to follow, even for the saddest beginner.

I made the tomato, aubergine (eggplant), and mint risotto last night and found myself delighted that I could make it without spending four hours in the kitchen - unlike last time. The recipe is as follows:



Ingredients:
8 tomatoes, halved
3 eggplants, cut into 3cm pieces
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus extra for roasting
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 onions finely diced
salt & black pepper
1 3/4 cup carnaroli rice (arborio rice is fine)
6 cups chicken stock
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 large handfuls of chopped mint
1 teaspoon caster sugar (optional - I didn't use this)

Preheat oven to 400F. First roast the tomatoes skin side up for about 30 min., until the liquid is gone and the skins can be easily removed. Roast the eggplant chunks, covered well in olive oil, next to the tomatoes for about the same amount of time. The eggplants should be soft but not rubbery. Put 4 tablespoons of oil and butter in a saucepan and add the onions plus a pinch of salt. Cook over a very low heat until they are soft but before they are brown. Pour in the rice and cook over a medium heat, stirring, until it becomes translucent. Pour in the stock one ladleful at a time and cook, stirring, until all the rice has absorbed all the liquid before adding more. After about 5 min., add the tomatoes & eggplant. Continue adding the stock until the rice is creamy but slightly al dente. (I ended up not using all of the stock.) Remove from heat and add the parmesan and mint. Stir well and check the seasoning. You may have to add the sugar because of the acidity of the tomatoes. (I didn't add the sugar.) Serve with extra parmesan cheese & mint garnish if desired.





And.... the finished product....