I'm a huge TJMaxx fan. I can always find cute and trendy things from designer clothes and shoes to things for the home at an affordable price. TJMaxx is also really good about ensuring their designer items are authentic and in good condition. Sometimes I'll find something and sometimes I won't, but I like to drop by every now and then to see what I can find. I went a few weeks ago, and here's what I managed to score.

I picked up an Anne Klein blouse which had this unique blue and green pattern on it. I thought it'd pair well with my pink pencil skirt for work. I also saw these pocket size Kate Spade notebooks in their stationary section. They were cute and I couldn't resist. The highlight of my trip though were the bags I scored. I spotted this Ralph Lauren cross-body bag and fell in love. It's a classic design that's in this rich cognac color which matches anything. It's the perfect size to carry all the things I needed, and it's a great everyday bag. Then I literally took 5 steps and saw this bright hot pink Kate Spade bag. It was in perfect mint condition. It's a great spring bag and would add a nice pop of color to any outfit. I had a hard time deciding between the two, but in the end I decided to get both. The best part is how much I managed to save altogether. 

Ann Klein Blouse $25 -- originally $60 

Kate Spade Notebooks $7 -- originally $10

Kate Spade Bag $99 -- originally $248

Ralph Lauren Bag $99 -- originally $228 

Paid: $250 -- original price of everything $546

Basically for the price of the one Kate Spade bag, I managed to get 2 designer bags, a shirt, and designer notebooks. Not bad right? I'm not a designer/brand-a-holic. However, I do like to invest in classic, timeless, quality pieces that will last for a long time especially if they're ridiculously discounted. I have absolutely no regrets. I am definitely a maxxinista for life. 

With warm regards, 

Lovely 

A few of the interns at my marketing internship were leaving, so the entire group of interns decided to go hiking as a kind of farewell get together. The whole thing was a hot mess! Everyone was late to the meeting spots. My group that I was riding with got lost on the way to the hiking trail. We drove past the parking lot we were supposed to park at, so we ended up having to park at another lot that was further down and walk all the way back up. It was a one-way road, so it's not like we could turn the car around. It was too far up so half-way we ended up hitch-hiking in a van with a family to the said parking lot. 

We started hiking and were trying to catch up with the others. However 1/3 of the way up the trail we got annoyed because it was cold & windy, we didn't have signal so we couldn't contact the others, and we weren't sure where they were. We decided to forget the whole thing, and we hitch-hiked again back to our car and floored it to the mall. We did a little shopping and waited for the rest of the group to come back from their hiking to go eat lunch at this restaurant called MTO Cafe. Their chicken and waffles were freaking amazing! Best thing to eat after a long, tiring hike. ;) At night we met up again to eat dim sum and to go drinking. I had work early the next morning so I skipped out on the bar hopping festivities. 

And that is how you fail at hiking! Even though everything was a hot mess, it was so much fun. I was laughing the entire time, and I got to know the others really well. Lesson to be learned: it's in those spontaneous and outrageous moments where you create a bond with others. AND Never ever go hitch-hiking unless you're a trained professional group of marketing interns. :) 

With love, 

Lovely 

The other day my capstone class met up at the alcohol distributor's warehouse that's partnered with our event to learn about wine and get a tour of their facilities. Their warehouse is huge, and the amount of beers, wines, spirits, kegs, and liquors they store is freaking ridiculous. It's just 34,000sq. feet of over 16,000 products. Go big or go home, right?

Afterwards I grabbed dinner with my best friend since she lived nearby. I've had meetings and class all day with no time to eat, so dinner turned out to be breakfast and lunch as well. We went to eat at Kyara, a Japanese tapas restaurant, and they had the best takoyaki. It was almost like the ones I had when I went to Japan! They also had this super delicious matcha green tea waffles with strawberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream. It was perfection.

We stopped by TJMaxx & HomeGoods because I wanted to ask for donations for our event, and I also wanted to look for pieces that I'd want to put in my room once I begin redecorating. Worst decision ever. I didn't plan on buying anything. I just wanted to look around, but while we were browsing my friend convinced me to get these cute Nine West heels and a Ralph Lauren bag that I've been eyeing for months.  I tried talking myself out of buying either one of them so many times, but she's so good at brainwashing! She brainwashes you in to believing you need and deserve something, and by the end of it all, you end up over your budget. sigh... Love her though! :P   

With love,

Lovely