February Bullet Journal Planning

You guys seemed to really enjoy my post on my bullet journal setup so I decided to make this a monthly thing! I had so much fun setting these pages up and I added a couple of things I didn't before in my January setup. I also experimented with the layouts for a few of the weekly spreads (as you will see) and I really hope you guys will use these spreads as inspiration to set up your own bullet journals! It's never too late to start so if you think this method of planning is for you, please follow along!

Coffee Chats Vol. 2

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

I'm so glad you guys liked my first Coffee Chats post last week so I'm excited to do this again! I actually had a LOT of fun writing it because I just collected some of the stuff that I had bookmarked on my browser and wrote my thoughts on them. So here's another week of some of the things I found interesting: 

ONE || DC Bar Offers Government Shutdown Cocktails
Regardless of whose fault you think the Government Shutdown was, everyone can use a laugh at the names of these cocktails! "Affordable Beer Act" made me chuckle!

TWO || NYX Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in "Ruffle Trim"
I've been wearing this liquid lipstick every day! The last few outfit posts I'm wearing this matte lipstick and it looks amazing! I love how subtle it is (it's perfect for work) without washing me out. I don't know about you but a lot of "nude" lip colors make me look like I'm sick. Not this shade! I recommend this line too - the formula is long-lasting and non-drying.

THREE || 133 People Confront Larry Nassar
This was so powerful to read. Suffice to say, I'm glad that justice was served for Larry Nassar but we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to breaking down a culture and an institution that not only let Nassar get away with his horrible deeds, but also thrive.

FOUR || Stationery Showdow: Which Notebook is Best for Bullet Journaling?
I am a big fan of Amanda Rach Lee's Youtube channel - she is so inspirational when it comes to bullet journaling! She has a new video up where she compares a bunch of different dotted journals and lists pros and cons of each. You should watch it if you're into bullet journaling like I am.

FIVE || High Rise Classic Wash Jeans on Sale at J.Crew Factory
I recently fell and scraped my knee on some ice on the sidewalk, thereby ripping one of my favorite jeans. I decided I wanted to try a pair of high waisted jeans for a change to break up my sea of mid-rise jeans. Lucky for me, J.Crew Factory is having a sale on these awesome jeans! For reference, I am 5'3 and I bought them in a size 24 - no tailoring required (which is big for me because I'm quite petite!) These are now my  new favorite jeans and you will be seeing them a lot on this blog going forth!

SIX || Pachinko
I am nearly done reading this beautifully written book and I'm kind of getting sad that it's ending (does anyone else get that way about a really good book or am I crazy?) Maybe it's because I'm Korean and my parents are also immigrants (though not to Japan, obviously) so this story hit really close to home in a lot of ways. I will be doing a more in-depth review later but I really recommend this book!

SEVEN || Target x Who What Wear Grosgrain Knit Dress
How cute is this dress? I had a coupon at Target and I decided to order it. I can see it becoming a staple in my winter work wardrobe! The asymmetrical hem really adds a lot of interest!

EIGHT || Spicy Peanut Tofu Stir Fry
I made this recipe this week and it was a hit with me and Brian! It's super healthy and delicious. I've been trying to eat more tofu lately and this is an excellent way to incorporate that into my diet.

Thanks for reading!

My Pen Collection

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I admit, I'm a stationery addict. It's a bit of a problem but it does help me with my bullet journaling habit. 

My last post on my 2018 bullet journal setup was actually one of my most popular posts ever so I decided to do more posts to do with bullet journaling. Bullet journaling is actually a really big part of my life (as is stationery - that's kind of sad now that I write that out...) so I'm happy to get an opportunity to talk about something that I'm really obsessed with! Here are all of the pens that I own: 

Prim and Proper | Wool Skirt and Heeled Booties

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Coat: Zara (similar here) || Top: H&M shirt (similar here), H&M sweater (similar here) || Bottoms: J.Crew Factory skirt (similar here) || Accessories: Banana Republic belt, Kate Spade bag (similar here), LOFT tights, Kate Spade necklace (similar here) || Shoes: Sole Society Daphne

Why I Got Rid of My Keurig

Last week I wrote a post on how I managed to ween myself off of drinking way too much coffee in a day. You guys seemed to really enjoy that post so today i wanted to share another (somewhat) controversial thing I did as a coffee-addict and why I did it: I got rid of my Keurig. 

It happened when I moved from my old apartment to my current apartment (this was back in April of 2017). I had the choice to bring my Keurig and my reusable K-Cup but Brian showed me the way he had been brewing his coffee - He fills a plastic coffee filter with coffee and pours hot water over it into a mug. Old school? Yes. Have I converted? Absolutely! Here are three reasons why: 

Cozied up | Cocoon Coat and Blush Bag

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Coat: J.Crew (old, current season here) || Top: Madewell || Bottoms: Madewell || Accessories: Kate Spade necklace (similar here), Kate Spade bag (similar here), Forever 21 beanie (similar here) || Shoes: Sole Society Flynn

Product Review: Skin's Boni Yogurt Bonimini Wash Off Mud Pack

Disclosure: I received complimentary press samples products or services for this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I only ever accept products I truly love or believe in.

I'm always weary of trying non sheet masks because I find the long process of taking the mask off a lot more tiring than the benefits they tend to claim they provide. I was sent a few samples of these mud masks by Skin's Boni from 0.8 Liter and I thought it would be worth a try. Here are my thoughts: 

Coffee Chats Vol.1

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

I've fallen off the wagon with "Currently" posts and part of the reason why is because they felt rather limiting and I put a lot of pressure on myself to write them.I usually sit down on Sunday mornings to write them but my Sunday mornings had been so stressful and busy I just didn't bother for the longest time.

So starting this year, I will be getting rid of my weekly "Currently" posts and replacing them with "Coffee Chats" instead!

What does this mean? Not much, really. I just didn't like the limiting way that I had to only talk about one thing I read that I liked, or something, when I wanted to share several things from the same category. With Coffee Chats posts, I can write about just a few things that peaked my interest in a sort of rambling-with-a-friend-over-coffee kind of way.

Here we go:

How I Weened Myself Off of Drinking Four Cups of Coffee Per Day

I realize this is a bit of an ironic post to write considering the name of my blog but I'm going to write this anyway: I made a decision to cut back on drinking coffee in the middle of 2017 and I haven't looked back. 

I made this decision because I was drinking far more coffee than was healthy - four to six cups a day with lots of cream and sugar is not good for anyone, not even a self-described coffee addict like myself! It all started when they turn on the air conditioning in the summer. I get so cold so I would make multiple trips to the coffee machine just to stay warm. Then comes the headaches the next day when I don't drink as much as I did the day before, and before you know it, I was addicted. 

Well, I was determined to get a handle on this addiction - I am a very independent person by nature and I don't like the idea of being dependent on any kind of substance, even if it is coffee. I wanted to control my addiction, not let it control me. 

After a few months, I went from drinking on average four cups a day to now four cups a week! That's right, I don't even drink coffee every day now! It was a grueling process but I'm now ready to talk about ways I cut back and tips on how to do it too if you're in the same boat as me: 

Post Bomb Cyclone | Bow Boots and Oversized scarf

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Top: Forever 21 cardigan (old, similar here), Uniqlo shirt || Bottoms: Madewell jeans || Accessories: ASOS bag (similar here), Forever 21 scarf (similar here) || Shoes: Sole Society Flynn

Book Club: The Run of His Life: The People vs. O.J. Simpson

The O.J. Simpson case is something that has always been so fascinating to me. I think most people now realize that with the evidence given, O.J. was guilty of what he was acquitted of. But while I knew that major part of the case, I never really knew any of the details, or even why most people were shocked that he was found not guilty. When I found this book at a little free library and saw that this is what the FX series was based off of, I immediately picked it up. I had already seen the FX series before so I was excited to delve into more details regarding the case and how the prosecution could have lost a case that should have been in the bag for them. 

Neutral Basics | Striped Sweater and Camel Coat

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Top: H&M (old, similar here) || Coat: Zara (similar here) || Accessories: Kate Spade necklace (similar here), Kate Spade bag (similar here), Forever 21 sunglasses || Bottoms: Zara (similar here) || Shoes: Sole Society Blair

Product Review: Eva Nyc Freshen Up Dry Shampoo and Forget Me Knot Dry Conditioner

Disclosure: I received complimentary press samples products or services for this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I only ever accept products I truly love or believe in.

I have a love/hate relationship with dry shampoo. 

On one hand, I love the idea of a no fuss way to not wash my hair and be out the door quickly. On the other hand, I am so picky about dry shampoos. I like my Batiste dry shampoos but I hate the white residue it leaves on my black hair. I don't like the price tags on a lot of the other ones people on the internet recommend so I haven't tried them. Why is it so hard to find a good dry shampoo at a reasonable price point?

I was sent this dry shampoo by Influenster in their Tinsel Vox Box the night before I had to fly to California. I thought traveling would be a great time to test out this dry shampoo and conditioner system so I promptly packed these into my bag. I actually spritzed it into my hair the morning of my flight and let it take hold. I also used it quite a few times I was in California and a LOT since. Here are my thoughts: 

Ways to Prepare for a New Year of Blogging

I feel like I always go into a new year with a renewed sense of commitment to my blog - not that I'm not always committed but I definitely want to get my act together and blog consistently. I put together a list of ways to set yourself for success if you're in the same boat as me:

Empties (Vol. 5)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

I admit, I procrastinated taking photos for this post which was kind of dumb on my part because that just meant I had to keep all of these empty containers of used products around, creating clutter for myself. Ahh, the things we bloggers do...

In any case, here are a couple of products I've used up:

Baby, It's Cold Outside | Parka, Vest, and Tall Boots

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Coat: Zara (old, similar here) || Vest: Forever 21 (old, similar here) || Top: Forever 21 tee (similar here) || Bottoms: Madewell || Accessories: Forever 21 beanie (old, similar here, Kate Spade necklace (similar here), Kate Spade bag || Shoes: Catherine Malandrino

Book Club: Artemis (Guest Post by Jen)

I absolutely loved reading The Martian by Andy Weir and the movie was great (though not without its flaws). I had put Weir's next book, Artemis on my TBR book but luckily for me, Jen had read it already read it and promptly wrote this review. Without further ado, please let me introduce the very first book review on CPPC: Artemis. 

Casino Night | Little Black Dress and Black D'Orsay Heels

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Dress: Byron Lars for Anthropologie || Accessories: H&M clutch (old, similar here), Kate Spade necklace (similar here) || Shoes: Zara (similar here)

January 2018 Bucket List

I'm a bit behind schedule with my bucket list but these posts are honestly some of my favorite posts to write! I always write out my bucket lists in my bullet journal, a week or two before the new month starts so some of the things on my list I've already done. Still, I'll list them here so you guys can see it: 

Product Review: Luscious Cosmetics Pout Maker Lip Crayon

Disclosure: I received complimentary press samples products or services for this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I only ever accept products I truly love or believe in.

I love a red lip but finding the right shade is always a struggle. I have neutral yellow-ish undertones and surprisingly, it's quite difficult to find a nice red lippie that has the right amount of blue and orange undertones that would look amazing on me. It also doesn't help that I'm quite picky - I like my red lipsticks matte, long-lasting (because otherwise, what's the point?) and easy to apply. Fortunately, I was sent the #Tinsel Voxbox from Influenster and in it was a Luscious Cosmetics Pout Maker Lip Crayon in the shade "Queen Bee." They also sent me a bunch of other goodies, some of which I will review here on the blog later. For now, I will review this particular product. As always, my opinions are my own.

My Favorite Health Apps

With a new year comes new resolutions of getting in shape and focusing on my health, am I right? I actually managed to do quite well last year - I started doing yoga, I ran quite regularly, and made eating healthy a bigger priority. While I'm proud of myself for taking the first steps towards a healthier me, I had help from my good ol' smartphone apps. I tried a ton of apps and now I'm going to list a couple of my favorite ones in hopes to help you guys out too:

Thank You Cards

I don't know about you but after the holiday season I always write thank-you cards for people who got me gifts. Sure, you can send someone a text or make a phone call to say "thanks!" but there's something about a handwritten note. I know that I always love it when people send me handwritten letters so I can only imagine how happy others feel about receiving them too. Here are a few people you should most definitely remember to send a Thank You to: 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Crossback Sweater and Adidas Stan Smith

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Top: Madewell || Bottoms: ASOS jumpsuit || Accessories: Madewell Small transport tote, Feisedy sunglasses (similar here), Kate Spade necklace (similar here) || Shoes: Adidas Stan Smith

2018 Bullet Journal Setup

Something I started taking a lot more seriously in the last six months of 2017 was bullet journaling. I got into a good routine of planning my weeks and days found a bullet journal system that really works for me. So it was with preparation I started to set up my bullet journal for 2018. 

Pop, Fizz, Clink | Star Mesh Dress and Sparkly Heels

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Dress: ASOS || Accessories: Amazon clutch (similar here), Kate Spade necklace (similar here), Kate Spade earrings || Shoes: Forever 21 (old, similar here)