Peyton Manning's Last Rodeo

Not a lot of people know this, but before I was a hardcore Patriots fan, I was also a Colts fan. The first football game I vividly remember is the 2005-2006 Divisional Playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts (Disclaimer: I didn't write the following from memory). Peyton Manning still hadn't made it to a Super Bowl, and this was his best shot to do so: the Colts were the #1 AFC seed for the first time in the Manning era. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the #6 seed, and before this game no #6 seed had beaten a #1 seed, so I think everyone was pretty shocked when the Steelers took a 21-3 lead into the fourth quarter. I for sure was upset. The Colts scored two touchdowns in the fourth to close the gap 21-18 but it was too little too late until Jerome Bettis fumbled the ball at the goal line with less than a minute to go (Now this, I remember). The Colts recovered the ball and were on their way to scoring the go-ahead touchdown when Big Ben Roethlisberger miraculously came from behind and tackled Nick Harper at the Colts' 42-yard line. Nevertheless, the Colts were still alive. After driving 20 more yards, the Colts were in position to send the game into overtime, but the infamous Mike Vanderjagt, who hadn't missed in the playoffs yet, shanked the 47-yard field goal attempt. The Steelers as we all know went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Colts would go on to win the Super Bowl the next year, but my loyalty to the Patriots was solidified in the AFC Championship game when the two teams faced off against each other. It was either Manning or Brady, and sometime on my football journey, I chose Brady and the Patriots. I wouldn't root for Peyton Manning again until today.

I wasn't sure of who to root for at first, the Panthers or the Broncos, in Super Bowl 50. A part of me wanted to root for the Panthers because a Denver loss would continue to make Brady look better than Manning in terms of Super Bowl Rings (I was still bitter from the previous week's loss), but the emotions surrounding Peyton's supposedly last game got to me (I also thought the team with the better defense should win, but that's another story). He was stuck on 199 wins, one away from setting the record for most wins ever for a quarterback, and I wanted him to get to 200, a nice even number. I wanted him to solidify his legacy. I wanted a fairytale ending because who doesn't? (besides Carolina fans, of course) I wanted him to win because I remembered how funny of a host he was on Saturday Night Live. I remembered how I used to root for him, and if he was going to retire, I wanted him to leave on top, not at the bottom like the Pittsburgh game. 10 years later, I finally got that win from Peyton.

The Asian American Experience: Parents

Last week, I walked to work because my car was stuck knee deep in snow. It wasn't bad-only 20 minutes away, 15 minutes if you're walking fast. But my mom didn't share this sentiment: when I told her I was walking to work, she was sad and felt bad for me. My mom had to endure a whole worse in Vietnam, or so I imagine, but here she was feeling sad for me because I had to walk on paved sidewalks no less to get to work. She didn't want me to have her life-now or never. As a result, I've always felt guilty for having such a spoiled life. This was one of the few times I could actually experience something my parents had to endure. I wanted to walk in my parents' shoes to gain a better understanding of them, but they never wanted me to have those shoes in the first place. And that my friend is the Asian American experience: immigrant parents spending their whole lives doing whatever it takes to give their children new pairs of shoes to walk in and when you try to borrow theirs, they won't let you. Their only wish is for you return the favor one day with a lot less walking.

2015 Holiday Looks

Christmas 2015

• 76° 
• (New) Express Tank $10 
• Forever 21 Necklace 
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyebrows 
• Maybelline Red Revolution Lipstick
• Covergirl Rose Silk Blush

New Year's Eve 2015

• 57°
• ASOS Dress
• Stooshy Blazer 
• My Michelle Coat
• Deb Earrings & Necklace
• Liz Claiborne Heels (not pictured)
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyebrows 
• Maybelline Red Revolution Lipstick
• Covergirl Rose Silk Blush
• Maybelline Blackest Black Gel Eyeliner

Winter Lookbook

Lost Stars

The Minimalist's Guide to Jewelry

My everyday jewelry look consists of four basic pieces, all of the same color (choose either gold or silver based on your personal preference): a watch (Peugeot), bracelet (Alex and Ani), earrings (n/a), and necklace (n/a). I don't really like wearing rings, but they're certainly an option for your basic look. 

All of these pieces were actually given to me. That isn't to say that I wear every piece of jewelry ever given to me. These have just conveniently made themselves into my everyday look. 

1 My dad gave me this watch. It was a gift from his workplace for being a loyal employee. Because the watch was too big for my wrist, I actually had to get it cut, but it only cost $5 at a pop-up store at my local mall. If a watch is the only thing you'll be wearing on your wrist, then you might as well go for a nicer one for your minimalist look. The same advice applies for all these pieces because the minimalist's guide is all about quality over quantity. Just make sure it goes well with the rest of your jewelry. 

2 My friends/roommates gave me this bracelet for my 22nd birthday. I really like how each Alex and Ani charm bracelet has a different meaning and cause (20% of the proceeds from this bracelet have gone/will go to Women & Infants Hospital). Here's the description of this bracelet courtesy of Alex and Ani's website:

A celebration of the female spirit, the Lotus Blossom is a symbol of beauty, strength, and grace. The strong stem's connection to the flower represents an eternal, unbreakable bond between two people. Spiritually enlightening and divinely beautiful, the Lotus Blossom Charm reminds us that our relationships and shared hearts are the key to happiness.

I don't know if my friends chose this bracelet because of its description or not, but I think it suits me. I never wore bracelets before, but this one is simplistic and goes well with my watch and the rest of my minimalist jewelry. Look for a bracelet/watch or bracelet/bracelet combination in matching colors for you minimalist look.   

3 These earrings are actually the original ones from my first, well second, ear piercing. My first piercings closed after I stopped wearing earrings after an irritation from fake earrings (it hurt too much to put in earrings). Because these earrings are real, I can wear them every day without them bothering me. Look for gold, silver, or combination ball stud or regular gold, diamond, or combination stud earrings for your minimalist look.

4 This necklace was a gift from my aunt (my dad's brother's wife) in Vietnam. My sister has a similar one. Unfortunately, our aunt passed away from cancer a few years after our visit to Vietnam in 2002, but her memory still lives on through our necklaces. Look for an 18" or 20" chain with a simple pendant in either gold or silver or a combination of both (there are diamond studs in each of the petals and in the center of the flower of my necklace) for your minimalist look (the chain should be the same color as your pendant).

Maybe one day I'll add a ring to my everyday jewelry look, and maybe it'll have a sentimental meaning too i.e. a wedding band lmao. JK I can get a gold class ring. #strongindependentwomanwhodontneednoman 

How to Look Good While Cheering on Your Favorite Team

Today I’m featuring three looks found in my summer look book. They’re outfits I like to wear on game day when I’m not actually at the game, to show school spirit, because let’s be real, oversized t-shirts aren’t really stylish. Now these outfits are UVA themed, but these style tips can work with any college or athletic team.

For my first look, I’ve paired a fitted v-neck T in one of my team's colors with a pair of shorts in another one of my team’s colors. The heathered orange color makes the outfit versatile and not just something I can wear on game day. I've also tucked in my shirt for a more fitted look. 

For my second look, I incorporated my team's colors using an accessory and the main component of my outfit, my shirt. The white pants neutralize the look and hide my loyalty when needed. E.g. when my team is embarrassing itself on national television. In my previous look, I didn’t need a statement necklace because the v-neck provided enough definition for my outfit, but for this look, a statement necklace is needed to define an otherwise plain shirt.

Lastly, I paired a dress in one of my team's colors with a cardigan in another team color. The red and orange pattern on this dress gives the outfit an added dimension (and once again makes it more versatile and less obvious that I'm rooting for UVA), which wouldn’t be present or possible in a plain orange dress.

And if you’re looking for a more casual, yet stylish outfit for the game, look for a more fitted t-shirt in the kid’s or women's section of the university bookstore. For example, I have a white v-neck tee with VIRGINIA printed across the front of the shirt and a long-sleeved navy Virginia t-shirt from the women’s section of the UVA bookstore.  

Now you're ready to cheer on your favorite team on Saturdays: Go Hoos!

P.S. At UVA, it’s actually a tradition for guys in ties and girls in pearls to dress up for football games. However, no one dresses up for basketball games, so the good ole t-shirt and jeans combo is totally fine and socially acceptable at UVA basketball games.