{GBF Spread Joy Road Trip}

 
I didn't understand the important difference between feeling happy and having joy until quite recently. For most of my life, I've been chasing things that I thought would bring me happiness and joy-the latest Proenza Schouler heels, an enviable job title, the newest Yogurtland flavor. When I conquered them, I did feel happy. But that state of happiness was temporal fueled by external stimulants that come and go quicker than Kim Kardashian's latest marriage. Joy, on the other hand, is an internal emission of feeling good and experiencing good vibes no matter what life throws your way. Joy is internal and fuses into you.

So, I'm making it part of my life mission to have joy and to spread joy to others. On Monday, I'm embarking on a nine day road trip to Portland where I hope to spread joy along the way. Months in the making, what started out as my own little Eat Pray Love solo trip has metamorphized into an ambitious journey fueled by the compassion of some very wonderful people and companies.

As a fashion and beauty blogger, I'm sometimes disheartened by the industry's excessive exercise in vanity. I've never felt quite comfortable taking and posting photos of myself and utilizing social media to self-promote. But I get the power of the age of digital media and I plan on utilizing and leveraging it to do some good on this trip.

I hope you'll join me on the Good, Bad, and Fab Spread Joy Road Trip. Follow my blog, Instagramtwitterfacebook and let's spread joy together! #GBFJoyRide #GBFRoadTrip

"People will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

photos by Kate Doherty taken at Mr. C Beverly Hills

tee {Cynthia Rowley c/o}
jacket {Townsen}
shorts {Old Navy}
sneakers {Nike c/o}

{live fabulously}

 PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

{What I Wore On A Thursday Night in LA | Summer Remix}

graf & lantz city tote black and nude purse handbag


cute geek chick asian girl
Lately I've been particularly enamored with summer's endless possibilities. There's so much do to and not a moment to waste! I'm planning meaningful trips, working on exciting projects, and taking time to do a bit of self-reflection and growth. Thankfully I've developed a fondness for Bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffee (my favorite flavor is coffee and milk as it's light in sugar and low in calories) as all this prep work requires a daily energy lift.  But even with the caffeine rush I find that I haven't had much time to update my wardrobe so I've been digging deep into my closet and remixing old pieces to create a new whole.

Although my denim overalls outfit made its debut at the Jet by John Eshaya BBQ and later the same night at the Urban Decay Summer Nights party in the hills, many of the pieces had been sitting in my closet for quite some time patiently awaiting their time to shine. My Threads 4 Thought tee has been a wardrobe staple for the past year while my Dieppa Restrepo nude patent oxfords have been accruing heavy interest as I've been saving them for just the right occasion.

However, my frames are new and they're from Eyewear Envy, an e-commerce site that specializes in frames that fit Asian facial features. Finally, I can buy frames online without worrying if they're going to slide down my face or pitch a tent on my cheeks due to my height challenged nose bridge.

Cheers to a summer filled with the new, the old, and fabulous remixes!
asian eyewear glasses
photos by Kate Doherty

Bottled Starbucks Iced Coffee beverages are the perfect blend of premium Starbucks coffee and 2 percent milk. Available in four delicious offerings: Coffee + Milk, Low Calorie Coffee + Milk, Vanilla, and Caramel, Starbucks Iced Coffee ready-to-drink beverages are the perfect on-the-go refreshment to get you through the daily commute, big projects such as spring cleaning, or an exciting road trip with friends. Look for it at major grocery and convenience stores, available nationwide.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Starbucks Coffee Company via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Starbucks Coffee Company.

{live fabulously}

 PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

{GBF Fab Five Beauty | Indie Beauty}

I learned from Shallow Hal that beauty comes from within which is why when it comes to beauty products I'm no longer a sucker for pretty packaging and glossy adverts as I now take time to read reviews and analyze ingredient lists before making any beauty purchases.

In doing so, I've discovered a slew of "indie" beauty products that have saved my skin time and time again. Carried and sold exclusively online and in dermatologist offices and med spas, these products are not household names as they don't spend millions of dollars on marketing and advertising campaigns. Instead, they rely on word of mouth and organic buzz to spread the testament of their effectiveness. And they've got me buzzing!

Here are a few of my favorite indie beauty products.
 This multi-purpose face treatment uses a high-potency combination of Mandelic and Malic Acids to rapidly even skin tone, reduce breakouts, and soften wrinkles I've been using the serum for my hormonal breakouts and have seen a drastic reduction in both pimple size and breakout frequency. The product feels sticky and your skin will peel so use sparingly at night.

{SkinAgain Rescue | $38}
Due to my clumsy disposition, I'm perpetually covered in scrapes and burns. This multi-purpose healing lotion effectively speeds up the healing process while reducing/eliminating scars. After a hiking accident, my body was red and covered in scratches. Within hours of applying the lotion, my skin color returned back to normal and the scratches started scabbing immediately.

{Hydropeptide Power Serum | $138}
Their ability to penetrate all three layers of the skin as they are made of smaller molecules make serums the superheroes of skincare. Unlike some serums I've used in the past, this one feels light and non-oily and features six unique peptides. It helps to keep my skin even and hydrated.

{Perfective Ceuticals Anti-Imperfection Eye Therapy with Growth Factor | $72}
Formulated with collagen and elastin stimulators and enhanced with retinol and ginseng extract, this is one of the most effective eye cream I've used to de-saturate dark circles, reduce smile lines, and combat puffiness.

{Yonka Gommage 303 | $42}
This non-abrasive, botanical scrub gently removes dead cells and provides clarity for dull complexion while hydrating and balancing the epidermis. Rich in citrus essential oils, this scrub is super gentle and won't scratch my sensitive skin.

{live fabulously}

 PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

{What I Wore To The Style 2020 Luncheon | Be Your Style}











photos by Stephanie Liu

A few weeks ago, I attended the Style 2020 lifestyle and beauty champagne luncheon where we were serenaded by a lively discussion on fashion and beauty from industry titans LVMH and L'Oreal Paris. When asked what does style mean to me, I stopped myself from word vomiting a potpourri of flowery definitions, metaphors, and anecdotes. Because at its core, style is a personal journey and an extension of the self. I've evolved from a girl born and raised in Shanghai to a fashion lawyer dabbling in the fashion/beauty blogging space. During that journey, so many iterations of my style took place because as I've grown, so has it. My style is a reflection of life's fluidity and it tells the tale of who I am, where I've been, and what I hope to be.

That's what style means to me. What does it mean to you?

top {Zara}
skirt {Keepsake | similar}
heels {boohoo "Pippa"}
necklace {Lulu Frost "Clarity"}
ring {Rue Gembon}
sunnies {ZeroUV}
purse {Katherine Kwei "Donna"}

{live fabulously}

 PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket