Gracie 🦢

My poor vintage Coach bag has been needing a break. I’ve been lugging it around 24/7 and it’s been showing serious signs of wear. Don’t get me wrong it’s SO cute and I get compliments on it all the time, but the bag has sentimental value. My mom’s old friend who was battling cancer and preparing for serious treatment gave it to me as a gift when she moved away. It is a bag I hope to pass down in the future in her honor. For this reason I’ve been searching for a new every-day bag. My requirements for the bag are: high quality, ~$100-400, no loud logos, fits sketchbook and pencil case.

After Christmas, LOTS of items go on sale. Great sales are expected January- February as well as less crowds after returns and exchanges. I used to manage in retail and these months were slow and sale on winter items were fantastic. That means there are great deals for the customer. This year, I needed to save as much as I could (and this have to will continue going forward). I've been waiting patiently to purchase some of these items for myself. I will only be purchasing if they go on a decent discount! It's time we as the consumers set some boundaries! That does not mean we bend our rules for a discount, though. Been there, done that (never EVER worth it!). Naturally, higher quality pieces will cost more than pieces not built to last. Expect around the $80-300 range for this list.

This year was an important birthday. I decided to purchase a fragrance for myself to commemorate! My Devotion is a wonderful peony fragrance that opens up soft, round, and fresh. It has sweetness from the vanilla and I have chosen it to remember the end of my 20s. A bittersweet goodbye. They say your 20s is the end of your youth, and yet I feel like life is only beginning to get better! I am reminded of how fleeting our time is and inspired to spend it with just as much vibrancy as I have thus far. I have linked the perfume from various retailers if you would like to try. This is not sponsored by the brand at all, just thought I would share an easily shoppable list with you after people inquired about the perfume in my Bday video :)

Okay I'm gonna be honest… I am a mouth breather. Anyone following my health journey knows that I have been struggling with TMJ Disorder. That means I have weird contraptions trying to juxtaposition my top and bottom jaw so the joints can heal and the blood vessels supplying blood to my brain are not constricted. So is this a lip balm rec video? Yes. But is it deeper than that? Of course! People can have a variety of reasons for having crusty lips. Having them moisturized is very important! Dry and cracked lips can not only cause pain, but it can lower your confidence. Having tried a plethora of lip balms and masks, I have spent way too much money trying to find the perfect ones. Some are too thick, some just sit on top of your lips and don't help them hydrate.

NO B.S.! A complete list of my TOP favs! Tried and true Sephora Sale picks, from a girl who actually cares about where her money goes! I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin so I'm selective and careful of what I choose to buy. Here is the complete megalist of products from Sephora I ALWAYS recommend!

“WHY is my hair falling out so much?!” is something I would say in the shower almost daily. My hair was thinning, dull, and lifeless. Turns out, not only am I prone to fungal acne on my face, the same issue occurs on my scalp! In fact, it seems to begin there. The best free habits to prevent hair loss are: drinking water and sleeping well. The most important habit from my experience, however, is cleanliness. Make sure to sleep with clean hair - that means washing EVERY day. Waiting between washes absolutely does not work for us Asians. Ensure no heavy or occlusive products are applied before bed and make sure the hair is 80-90% dry - prolonged moisture is bad news for your scalp. If you do these habits and try these products, I promise you will see a huge difference (and you do not have to be asian to follow this routine!). Now I barely lose hair in the shower. Anywhere from 10-20 strands is the average. Try for yourself!

All of my everyday essentials as an illustrator who is serious about living a romantic life. The heavy portion of my workload is sitting down on a desk, but the creation process all happens with my supplies that can fit into my bag. Sometimes the best ideas come to you on a whim!

Artists, writers, and stationary enthusiasts are always in need of a great pencil case. One that is portable and holds their precious tools. Here I have listed some wonderfully designed pencil cases. My personal background is from Art School. I have seen some interesting cases, but want to say that it ultimately boils down to your own preference. Maybe you'll find your next cool pencil case here!

I take my sleepwear very seriously! In my years of working many odd jobs, one of the more enjoyable ones has to be when I used to work for an Intimate & Sleepwear brand. That's when I learned that comfort is key to a good night's rest. Not only that, but cute PJs are something all women want. So why compromise on either?

Recently I have been going to a TMJ Specialist who is an expert in his field. The very front of his office says “NO Fragrance”. The office is extremely strict and will send patients home immediately if they are wearing any scented products. Being a fragrance lover, you might think I was offended. I actually appreciated it SO much. You see, I suffer from intense headaches. This is the exact reason why I love softer, lighter scents. If you are like me and you WANT to enjoy perfume, but have immense trouble navigating the booming perfume market: you are at the right place. I have delved deep into this hobby, determined to find fragrances that are not only soft, but wearable all day long. The key trick is this: the lighter the better. Longevity? We could not care less, in fact, we want it to be as light as can be. Simply reapply as needed. Eau De Toilettes, Water Based Perfume, Hand Creams and Hair Mists are what we are looking for! Feel free to jot down scents you want to try or gift to your loved ones.

Fall to me is particularly special. Not just because most of my family celebrates birthdays in the upcoming months, but because of the Mid-Autumn Festival. We celebrate with the glowing harvest moon and take in all of the fruits we've sowed at the beginning of this season. As we are officially winding down for the holidays, I want to share my cozy home picks. Wishing you a comforting rest of the year as you wind down during these colder months.

A former Barista's recs for the most delicious Fall Coffee syrups! I am very biased towards Monin syrups. Not only do they look fantastic on your kitchen counter, there are no artificial dyes in their syrups. I have had a flurry of stomach problems when working as a barista, ever since I quit and made my coffee at home with Monin syrups, I have had zero issues. Delicious and safe! These are completely commission-free, I just want to share the flavors of Fall with you!

Money money money! When you're a student, you’re young, full of energy, eager to learn, but Money! The one thing you don't have. It goes to books, school supplies, academic fees, sports equipment, and so much more. And honestly, I think that's a fantastic thing. It means you're learning, bettering yourself, and acquiring the skills that will set you up for success in the future. But just because school is expensive doesn't mean you can't look your best :) as an acne-prone and sensitive skin girl who takes her glam very seriously, I have the best recs for you. Cost does not always equal quality, and I have selected both KBeauty and Western Makeup picks so you can still feel your best to do your best in school! For OliveYoung and Yesstyle links, use OLXJEAN or JEANY22 to get a little extra off your order.

My entire life I had no idea that the occasional intensely itchy rashy acne on my face was actually fungal acne! A more accurate term would be folliculitis. It is an overgrowth of yeast that naturally lives on our skin. Some people like me are more prone to these overgrowths and some skincare can further feed this yeast called Malassezia, resulting in a never-ending cycle of breakouts and frustration :( Whether you’re going through a flare up or trying to form a safe skincare routine for your sensitive skin, everything on this list will help you minimize redness, irritation, and keep the malasezzia in check ✅