Another adventure by Mingy and I was to Dylan’s Candy Store. We were on our way to a café called Serendipity (yes the one featured in the movie), when we saw an array of color and candy. Even just the outside of the store was eye catching so we went inside to put our curiosity to a rest.

Inside was of course, candy; walls, shelves and pillars of candy which went on for not just one, not just two but three floors! I felt like a little kid inside a dream. There were all sorts of candies from your typical convenience store to old school candy that made me feel all sorts of nostalgia. It was then that I felt really old in the sea of kids with their parents.

In addition to candy, there was also merchandise like clothes, bags and pillows. I really wanted to splurge on this cute bag I saw but it was way over my budget and anything I would spend on a cheap bag ($50). Heartbroken, we decided to make our way outside to see the clothing displayed in the front.

Turns out it was from Project Runway Season 4. We were really surprised and happy to see it as it was Fashion Week. Looking at all of them, we both voted for the Reeeses Pieces wrapper dress made by Season 4 winner, Christian.

View the rest of the photos here.

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The Japanese franchise Beard Papa’s claims to make the world’s best cream puffs. Very bold of them and honestly I couldn’t believe it at first, but then I ate one. Along with my love for Victoria’s Secret Men’s cologne is desserts and these cream puffs are one of my favorites.

These are definitely not your average cream puffs as they are bigger in size and better in taste. They’re equivalent in width and height to a cheese burger from Mcdonald’s which is considerably big for a cream puff. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth as each of these cost roughly $1.75.

If you’re not convinced by the size, then the cream should be the tipping point. It’s specially made using all natural ingredients and whip cream giving it a sweet creamy taste. Also, they don’t fill the cream puff until you order it so the cream is fresh and cool. But I suggest you’re careful when you eat it because it’ll explode all over your face as they really do fill it.

So far the franchise is concentrated on the East and West coast but they are looking to do worldwide. More »

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I’m taking a class called Visual Culture and it’s caused me to think about many things we take for granted about the image-based world we live in. I’ll spare you all the dense philosophical bs (although if you’re into that kind of stuff I would recommend reading Guy Debord’s The Society of the Spectacle), but it got me thinking about the concept of commercials and the point at which they transcend advertising to become their own source of entertainment and cultural influence. It’s actually really tough to make a good commercial - you’re not just selling a product, you’re selling a lifestyle and a brand - and the more you can accomplish in less time in making that impact the better.

So in acknowledgment of the artistry of commercials, here are some that I think are pretty memorable. Of course I can’t remember every great TV commercial I’ve ever seen, but these five in my YouTube favorites because they’re totally worth rewatching every so often. If you don’t want to watch all of them (but trust me, you do), they are vaguely in order from funniest/lighthearted to most serious/intense, so you can pick which to watch based on what you’re in the mood for. More »

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If you have naturally kinky, curly, coily, or even wavy hair, then you know how difficult it can be to “control” it. I say “control” because we all know waves and curls look best when they’re chaotic, but it’s a controlled chaos we curly girls strive for. However, with all of the evil alcohol and silicone laced hair products out there, sometimes the price we pay for pretty coils is a heavy one. The damage most mainstream products wreak on our hair is serious and frustrating, especially when you try so hard to treat your fragile curls nicely. Well,ladies, if you’re looking for a product that gives you luscious body, no crunch and is all natural, then let me introduce you to Kinky Curly Custard. It’s the gift of the curly gods and trust me, once you try this stuff, you’ll be hooked!

It’s so fun to use: it has the consistency of snot, or slime…but it smells sooooo delicious. Kinda like warm vanilla cupcakes or some other sugary confection. The first time I used it tho, I got this white sticky residue after my hair dried (alright you pervs, that’s enough), so be careful when you use it that you don’t glob on too much. A little REALLY goes a long way with this stuff. More »

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This is my all time favorite cologne for guys. I found it one day by randomly smelling it while visit a local Victoria’s Secret store. I couldn’t believe the sexiness it brought to my senses as I took a big whiff. I recommend it to all my guy friends (especially the ones that smell horribly). I even bought one for my dad and recommended it to my boyfriend. He was sweet enough to buy it just for me then again he’s gotten great reactions from it so I’m sure he’s happy with it too.

This past weekend I converted another non believer Ming Min Hui. Yes, my fellow GirlyBubble blogger. While Ming, my boyfriend and I were waiting around for our subway train after she got us lost, I told her to smell my boyfriend because of the cologne. Her and my boyfriend stared at me like I was crazy but after a few more tries, she surprisingly smelled him. Funniest thing I saw all night because honestly who smells other people other than me? Afterwards she admitted that it did smell really good and would buy it for her future boyfriends. Mission complete.

You can buy yours at any of your local Victoria’s Secret in the beauty products section or online. There’s two version, Very Sexy and Very Sexy 2 (or squared), both of which smell excellent but I prefer the first one.

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NYC Fashion Week is over and I’m a bit disturbed by the sudden decrease in the amount of posts from fashion blogs clogging up my reader every day.

In reflection, there’s so much buzz about the fashions designers put out and between all the runway videos, lookbooks, media coverage, and hype, everyone gets to see the fashions one way or another. But one thing you don’t get to see much of is what goes on OFF the runway. For me, one of the most interesting aspects of joining the ranks of fashion media and attending a show in person is what everyone else is wearing. I mean, it’s Fashion Week right? More »

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LOL I love David and Goliath Tees. They’re so cute, “punny“, and midly offensive, that you can’t help but to just shake your head and laugh. As their slogan says: “We make stupid stuff so you don’t have to.” HAHA so true.

Whenever I see someone rocking a DGT, I always want to point and laugh, but of course one can’t do that, so I just smile inside. I also love their notebooks and things. I have a couple of the “Boys Are Smelly/Dumb/Stupid” notebooks, and I really want to get the “Goodbye Kitty” stuff. LOL Get it, “Hello Kitty” vs “Goodbye Kitty”?!?!?! ROFLMAO. Speaking of “Goodbye Kitty”, the arcade game,along with the ‘Boys…’ game, is hilarious. Think Frogger con un gato. Poor Kitty. I killed him on purpose a few times. >.<

Back on topic: David & Goliath is like the red headed step child of cutesy girl paraphernalia, no? Their tees and things are just so saucy and sassy. My favorites from the tee shirt character lines are “Eve L.” and “Day Old Sushi“. I probably like the Eve L. line because it reminds me of how much I used to obsess over “Emily the Strange”. More »

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My favorite songs regularly change as my musical tastes morph and evolve. But now that I’m back at school and diving into massive amounts of heavy duty reading, I need a solid set of new and good study music dimly playing in the background. Thankfully the Genius feature iTunes 8.0 helps me generate playlists. Here are my five favorite songs that I use as a starting point for those lists. They all create similar lists because they’re similar in genre and feel, but they’re my current favorites (as represented by the fact they’ve all had stints as my ringtone) and all come with stories. More »

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This past Wednesday September 12 was the Seventeen Magazine Rock-N-Style Concert and Fashion Show in honor of Fashion Week here in NYC. I had the privilege of attending but didn’t get to enjoy all of it.

I arrived about 30 minutes late which didn’t seem to make a difference as we were still able to enter as press. Thanks to Jessica and the numerous Seventeen staff for being so kind. Unfortunately it was raining and made it really difficult for ChelseaDan and me to take photos and maneuver around. Luckily there weren’t as many press people (5 at most in addition to a few young bloggers); however, the red carpet was a little cramped as it wasn’t that big. I didn’t realize photographers could be so pushy sometimes. Nonetheless, the celebrities were there: Delta Goodrem, Jaslene Gonzales, Donnie and Nastia Liukin to name a few. More »

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Wednesday night’s party was so much fun! But first, before I give my take on the night, I’d like to officially apologize to all of the people who’s toes I stepped on (figuratively and literally). Also, I’d like to say mucho thank you to Scene PR for sponsoring our little shindig! Woot!

And now, for those of you who could not make it out: you really missed out on some fun! hehe! The model competition was feirce, and I was so suprised that so many models participated! There was an abundance of beautiful faces, all lined up and ready to strike a pose for the photographers in the VIP pit. It was a little hectic, and we almost ran out of time for each model, but everything worked out great, thanks to the cooperation and understanding of everyone involved.

More »

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I just finished watching the second episode of America’s Next Top Model (tonight, yes, I’m about a week and a half behind). The photoshoot theme is voting issues and that’s fine and dandy except that one of the models, Clark, doesn’t know what “bureaucracy” is. To make matters worse none of the other girls around her seems to know either. I get it that I’m probably a little more politically-minded and SAT word-happy than the average girl but seriously?!? Am I being too harsh? It’s moments like this that make me wonder whether I’m watching Beauty and the Geek as opposed to ANTM.

So anyway this goes into the hall of fame of good-lord-how-far-into-a-hole-is-your-head TV moments. The winner, however, still resides with Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 (and for your reference, here is Jimmy Kimmel’s explication of that episode).

I look forward to adding onto that list as new instances surface over the next few months (which they undoubtedly will).

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I love shopping! Then again what girl doesn’t? A day of retail spa is what every girl needs once awhile (I’m overdue for one). Since there are so many stores in the mall to choose from, I make sure I hit up my regular stores because if I don’t, I feel empty on the inside. It’s quite unbearable really.

They’re obviously popular choices but there’s a reason behind it. I picked these stores because they suit my style and they always have discounts. Being an Asian girl, I can’t resist discounts/deals. Why pay more than you have to? There are other stores I do visit like Hot Topic and Pac Sun but let’s face it; they’re not always cheap and within budget. I rather buy a lot of cute clothes than splurge on one piece of clothing. Plus creativity can go a long way!

Until I make my own clothes (hope to do so one day), I got to settle with what’s in front of me and so far it’s not too shabby. More »

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When I was younger I would wake up at 5am to turn on RAI television to watch the fashion shows from San Remo and Rome. I would watch these larger than life models take to the stage in the best of the best couture had to offer. So when I had the luxury to witness Chris Han’s show at Bryant Park I was elated at the opportunity.

Chris Han’s prêt-a-porter spring collection for next year transcends a classic femininity to a more of a progressive femininity for today’s fashion savvy chick. The runway was ablaze with many selections of style that diverted from her traditional monotone garments. Although, she has never had a bad collection, in the past there seemed to be less of a choice in the color palette of her collections. The colors she used for this collection truly embraced the season she was designing for. This is Chris Han’s best collection yet and her audience was very appreciative of her rising to the occasion. More »

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On Sunday, Lan and I tried to get a table at Serendipity but decided against it because there was a half hour wait. While walking to our next destination we stopped by Duane Reade and browsed cosmetics (Sephora was fun but a bit pricey). I didn’t get anything but while Lan waited online to get liquid eyeliner, I spotted a rack full of Beanie Babies 2.0 and of course had to take a closer look. I used to collect Beanie Babies and never realized there was an attempt to revitalize the fad from my elementary school days. Of course the first one I picked up was a panda because I also used to collect stuffed pandas (I have a lot of stuffed animals if this isn’t becoming increasingly clear). It was very cute, but not something I would splurge on having stopped buying stuffed animals years ago - until I checked the nametag. More »

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Pink is a doll. Meaning she looks good in just about anything she puts on. Her body is feirce, and so’s her attitude to match.  In anticipation of her soon to be released album, Funhouse; I thought, why not do a style star look based on the promo photoshoot!

As you can see, Pink isn’t afraid of spandex, but if you’re like me, and jeans are more comfortable, you can pull off the same idea with a pair of kelly green skinny jeans like this pair here. Pair it with either a black or white tank top,some funky heels and a faux leather jacket. Don’t forget to stack on some bangles and if you’re feeling crafty, you can try your hand at making a waterfall chain necklace like the one pictured. If not, any funky necklace should do. Now, grab your attitude and you’re ready to go!

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Thank you to everyone who came to our Fashion Shoot Party! We hope you had a blast watching all the models do their thang, schmoozing, dancing, drinking, and having a good time (I know I did ;D). Many many thanks our wonderful volunteers, sponsors and co-host SCENEPR for helping make that night possible. We had some trouble with the venue and the party hosted there after ours, but the Plumm was very swanky and we enjoyed a great turnout of guests and an impressive showing of eager models and photographers. You can enjoy photos from the night here. It’s still growing as we get more photos coming in from various photographers, so be sure to check back and maybe you’re in one of them! More »

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To everyone who came, thank you. It was a great turn out for our launch party which was only put together in two weeks. I was told numerous times about how awesome the party was and they couldn’t wait for another one.

The party overall was a lot of fun. I spent most of the time taking pictures which murdered my hand. Nonetheless, I got some great shots in addition to several other photographers who will also be adding their photos to our selection. Thanks to them as well in addition to the models that were fantastic. They were very creative and weren’t camera shy at all which was our biggest concern; big props to them for stepping up without any direction.

I felt the party was short lived because I really enjoyed myself. We do plan to do another Fashion Shoot Party next Fashion Week in February; however, it’s still all talk but we’ll keep you posted here on GirlyBubble.

View the rest of the photos here.

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I downloaded the newest iTunes today and like Google Chrome, I’m impressed with its look and functionality but a bit peeved by some of the lag (it’s a lot of jazz that my poor computer is having trouble loading quickly enough). Click on the picture featured here to see a larger version of my personal iTunes browser (and don’t laugh at my music!).

I’m not completely done playing around with iTunes 8.0 but it seems that the two biggest changes are the way it sorts your music and this new feature called Genius. Instead of a long list of all the songs in your music library, the music is now sorted by thumnails divided into albums, artists, genres, and composers to reflect the way iPod touch and iPhone browse through your music. More »

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Gifted One is my new audio crush, people. Started in 2007, the group is comprised of dancer/choreographer D-Low , who has choreographed stars such as NANA, and w-inds. TRAK STA, producer extrordinaire and singer/songwriter Ippei Brown.

I would describe their sound as maybe Funky-Soul. Ippei’s vocals are so fresh and crips and over the beats produced by Trak Sta, it sounds LOVELY DAHLINGS! Then to top it off, you’ve got some fly choreography by D-low, and all is well. My favorite songs from them would have to be “Before It’s Too Late”, “Ocean Blue” and “Just A Friend”. What’s even more great in my opinion, is live, they sound just as great, if not better than the recording. Peep this clip of the guys performing “Before It’s Too Late” and “Just A Friend”

Awesome right? Yeah, I know.

If you like what you’re hearing, I recommend heading over to their myspace to hear some more of their stuff, and add them =)

GIFTED ONE OFFICIAL MYSPACE

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To the tents! For the second installment in the Fashion Week Series, we bring coverage of Vivienne Tam, who showed her spring collection Tuesday night to packed house in the Promenade at Bryant Park. As the woman standing behind me as we waited for the room to clear out explained so eloquently to a friend on the other end of her iPhone, “Vivienne Tam used to be like, huge, in the nineties. She does a lot of, like, Asian-inspired stuff.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself: over a decade later, Tam’s iconic look— the only look really easily associable with the brand—remains the slinky stretch-nylon dresses silk-screened with a repeating print of Mao’s face, released in 1994. Tam, still drawing from China’s vibrant culture for inspiration, has established herself as one of the country’s premier designers, and purveyor to the West of what she calls “China Chic”. More »

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