Lightyears Pocket Watch xoxo

QOTD: What is your favorite wearable accessory?

I grabbed some frozen yogurt on Franklin Street today with a dear friend of mine. I got red velvet cake flavor + Oreo flavor + chocolate chips. Yes, red velvet cake froyo! It actually wasn't that bad...on the other hand, the froyo guy gave me way too many chocolate chips! I know you must be thinking, how is 'too many chocolate chips' even possible? Trust me, it's possible! I feel compelled to create a funny analogy, but the thing is, I have nothing to compare a mountain of chocolate chip froyo to...

After froyo, we stopped by Lightyears, a cute jewelry shop that has every type of jewelry imaginable and some really quirky items too--like Lip Service Mustache Picks. My friend (shout-out to Jingyi! <3) got me this beautiful gold pocket watch necklace for my birthday (even though it's still a month away!). 

Pocket Watch Necklace

Lightyears Jewelry since 1985

Y'all, I am totally in love with this thing. Ever since I saw the Chelsea Doll pocket watch necklace at Fashion-Train a couple years ago, I've always wanted one. Isn't it pretty? 

Okay, on another note: despite my lack of ROW80 Days blog posts, I promise I've been writing! I've even crossed off a couple of my goals for this round! I just haven't had time to write about my progress due to recent family visits and summer classes. I will do my best to write a ROW80 post in time for Wednesday's check-in. :)

What do you think would go nicely with this necklace? What is your favorite accessory? 

Lightyears Pocket Watch xoxo

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My Latest Obsession: "Brown Satchel" from Mossimo Supply Co.

QOTD: Would you rather indulge on an airplane ticket to the Bahamas or on a brand new iPad?

What you see to the left is my trusty, old handbag of 10,896 years (just about). My bag officially retired from its carrying duties yesterday. I got a little teary, especially since I've had it such a long time, but I felt it was finally time for us both to  move on. *sniffle* You have served me well, dearest blue-floral-satchel! 

I went shopping this past weekend to find the perfect new handbag - which is always really, really hard. A handbag needs to have just the right amount of pattern and solid color. It has to have a lot of pockets. It also needs to be big enough to put a couple of books in. The chemistry between me and my handbag also has to be strong. We can't get tired of each other too fast, you know. 

But more often than not, when I do find something that I like I get really attached and I know that bag is the one for me! Which is what happened when I set my eyes on this baby yesterday: 

Brown Satchel with Festive Inserts

Mossimo Supply Co., $30

Photo Credit: Wendy Lu

I have become a huge fan of brown leather and imitations lately. My sister has a purse made of faux brown leather too and it's gawjuss. It just both looks and feels good, and this handbag in particular has a little bit of everything - three pockets (on the inside), a colorfully lined pattern reminiscent of weaving looms and simple leather bows on either side of the handles. 

One of the best things about this bag that first caught my eye was the thick braid in the front. It's so unique and convenient!  I can't tell you how many times I have needed to reach into my purse and grab something--only to get irritated while fumbling with the clasp or zipper. Now, all I have to do is flip the braid! 

Throw in the feather, and I might as well be a hipster. Just kidding. Check out the satchel here for more details and other similar handbags that are perfect for spring fashion.  

My Latest Obsession: "Brown Satchel" from Mossimo Supply Co.

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Reveal of the Red Angel + NaNoWriMo 2011 Begins!

QOTD: Tell us about your Halloween. Did you dress up? Did you go trick-or-treating (you're never too old for this, I promise!) or hand out candy to the kids? Did you stay at home and watch scary movies? Let us know! 

When I was a little girl, I used to get really paranoid about being in the dark and having bad guys snatch me away from the safety of my home. Both figuratively and literally. These bad guys include dangerous creepers, but also verbal attackers and anyone who is wrongly judgmental of who I am. Honestly, I think I worry too much about what other people think of me.

Which is totally understandable, right? I mean, I know I'm not the only one who cares about how my opinions and lifestyles will shape what people see the parts of me that I share with them. But to an extent this sensitivity is a setback, seeing as I'm a writer and journalist/psychologist-in-training. How can I give other people solid advice on how to improve their lives for the better and write articles on topics I feel strongly about when I'm nervous about what nice or mean things Jack and Mary are saying behind my back? 

A major lesson I have learned in college so far is that it really, truly does not matter what other people think of you. There are just way too many individuals in this world, and focusing on one's rank in popularity and likability is just a waste of time. Of course, that isn't to say reputation and presentation of one's self doesn't matter, because they do--especially in the corporate world and in the job market. But it's important to balance reputation and individuality. 

Be who you want to be, and don't let the fear of what others may think of you prevent you from trying out new things, expressing yourself and saying what you believe in. 

This sensitivity is also what has kept me from becoming too public on the Internet. I can say anything I want to online...but doesn't that mean other people--strangers, friends and colleagues alike--can say anything they want about me too? My answer to my own question is...yes, but so what? I have nothing to hide except myself, and why do I want to hide myself when there is so much to share and so much to do in a single lifetime? 

I don't. 

So after much thinking, I have decided that I'm going to share with you all who I am--not just as "the red angel," but as me. I feel like by doing so, all of you readers and fellow bloggers will be able to identify with me better now that you can put a name to a face and have a better picture (no pun intended) of who I am. 

Yup, that's me! My name is Wendy Lu 

(Sometimes I get called Cindy Who/Wendy Wu/other forms of Wendy Lu, so whichever you prefer ;) Red Angel works too haha)

So I made this costume for a "Super Rave" that took place in one of the dorms last year. What do you guys think? And hey, Supergirl could be Asian...you never know! Haha. I am always really curious as to how Halloweeners (LOL) put their costumes together, so I'll break down my Supergirl facade for you: 

• The Superman shirt was a gift from a wonderful friend of mine. He knows how much I love Superman! You can find different versions at Hot Topic. 
• I bought the blue/violet stockings from the mall, though I forgot which department. $3.00 on sale. Check out various styles at ModCloth! 
• The red skirt is from a local thrift store. It was originally a long skirt, but another friend of mine who is excellent with the sewing machine was able to hem it for me. Only $3.00! 
• The red cape is a really long piece of fabric that I got from Hancock's Fabrics. About $6.00 or so. 
• My red headband was part of a set of headbands that my sister gave me for Christmas a few years ago.
• You can't see my shoes, but I'm also wearing black Converse All-Star high-tops. They weren't originally going to be a part of the costume but they actually fit really well with the Superman look, so I figured it worked! 

Sadly, I was not able to go out for Halloween this year due to my American History (1865-present) exam, which took place yesterday (hence, the late blog post!). Halloween wasn't all just textbooks and studying, though. I live in a really quiet apartment complex and there aren't that many families or children living near me. But to my surprise, starting at 6:30pm on Monday night, three adorable little kids dressed up as princesses came knocking on my door. I quickly tossed some Kit-Kats into a bowl, threw on my Superman shirt and showered them with candy! :) How was your Halloween? 

NaNoWriMo Word Count: 582 (I blame History. But...major write-in tonight! If you are a participant, how is NaNo going?)

Reveal of the Red Angel + NaNoWriMo 2011 Begins!

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30-Day Challenge 4: 83rd Academy Awards Fashion Review

Question of the Day: What is one habit that you wish you didn't have?

The QOTD just so happens to be the topic of today's Blog Challenge. Just between you and me, I have a bad habit of starting books that I never finish reading. Hmm, that sounds backwards. *rearranges* I have a bad habit of never finishing books that I start to read. It's true... I am currently "reading" The March by E.L. Doctorow, The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott. Not to mention my Economics and Adolescents & Media textbooks! AND I also promised my good friend that I would begin Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin soon. You get the gist. Yikes...I don't think I even realized how many books are on my to-finish list until I just wrote them down!

New Goal for Spring Break: Finish the books above!!!

This past Sunday on February 27, the 83rd annual Academy Award show took place in--where else?--Hollywood, California. What I love most about award shows is that you finally get to see actors as themselves, not as characters in movies. Who knew the Love & Other Drugs star Anne Hathaway had such a remarkable voice? In case you missed the show...

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Best Actor: Colin Firth from The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale from The Fighter

Best Actress: Natalie Portman from Black Swan

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo from The Fighter

Visual Effects: Inception

Best Animated Film: Toy Story 3

Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland

Cinematography: Inception

Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland

Best Director: Tom Hooper from The King's Speech

Best Documentary: Inside Job

Best Documentary Short: Strangers No More

Film Editing: The Social Network

Foreign Language Film: In a Better World

Makeup: The Wolfman

Best Original Score: The Social Network

Sound Mixing: Inception

Best Original Song: Toy Story 3

Best Animated Short: The Lost Thing

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Social Network

Best Short Film (Live Action): God of Love

Sound Editing: Inception

Writing (Original Screenplay): The King's Speech

Major kudos to The King's Speech! However, if it had been up to me, I would totally chosen Inception (click for my movie review!). :) Congratulations to Inception for receiving four Oscars!

Here are my top picks for this year's Red Carpet beauties:

Helen Mirren from The Queen and producer Taylor Hackford

Aron Ralston from 127 Hours

Shaun Robinson from Bruce Almighty

Singer Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman from Rabbit Hole

Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit

Halle Berry from Frankie & Alice

Click here to see last year's Academy Award show picks!

What do you think about this year's Oscar winners? Who do you think looked best on the Red Carpet?

30-Day Challenge 4: 83rd Academy Awards Fashion Review

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Black Friday Hot Deals: JC Penny Is My Hero

Question of the Day: What would YOU wear to the Yule Ball (yes, another Harry Potter Reference)?

I literally just got back from .:Black Friday shopping:. about two seconds ago! I am SO pumped about my amazing purchases....in fact, I am SUPER EXCITED!!! We were only able to stay for about two hours or so and spent that whole time at JC Penny. They had the best sales going on and everything was discounted 30%-70% off. Totally worth getting up early!

One week ago, I signed for "The Intercollegiate Yule Ball," a local semi-formal dance especially for college students around the area to attend. It's based after the yule ball in Harry Potter and takes place Dec. 4. Thanks to Black Friday, I now have two more dresses to add to my wardrobe. As a rather petite, pixie-like little lady, it is extremely hard for me to find dresses and gowns that fit me well. By some miracle, I was able to find TWO today, and now I can't decide which one to wear to the Yule Ball! What do you think?

Red Dress: Speechless. Original $50.00. Sale $19.99. Alas, these photos don't do this dress enough justice! It looks much prettier and shinier when it's worn. This is one of those dresses that you think isn't that great until you put it on and wham! you feel like a new person. =D There's a crystal brooch in the middle, which finishes off the dress nicely. I especially love the halter top sleeves....very elegant, yet modest.

Purple Dress: Ruby Rox. Original $50.00. Sale $19.99. There's something special about this one that totally caught my attention. I love the different shimmering shades of purple and the eye-catching sparkles. It's a little short and makes me blush, but hey we all need to feel beautiful sometimes. :)

I also bought a "pea-like" waistcoat! Winter is fast approaching and I've been meaning to find a nice, warm garment to keep me toasty while walking in between classes. I suppose it can also serve as my "dress robes" for the Yule Ball too, eh?

Waistcoat: St. John's Bay. Original $200.00. Sale $50.00. I'm a sucker for garments with big buttons, I think they're so cool! This coat is part cashmere and is VERY, very warm. :3 Can't wait to start wearing it on Monday when I go back to school!

I bought A LOT more neat things, but they are all gifts for friends and family! D: Therefore I won't be able to post pictures, names, or prices at least after Christmas when they have been given. Sorry if I cause any disappointment with that! So...did YOU go shopping for Black Friday? How early did you get up? We drove to the mall around 9am...none of those 2am, 5am crises. Surprisingly, I would be more worried about getting trampled on by hoards of people than getting a $150 laptop or a $5 Barbie. xD

What do you think about these clothes? In your opinion, are they hot deals or pricey buys? Would you spend $50 for a coat? What should I wear to the Intercollegiate Yule Ball??

~TRA

Black Friday Hot Deals: JC Penny Is My Hero

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Scrabble + Eggs = Scrabbled Eggs!

Question of the Day: What's your favorite Youtube Video to watch?

Firstly, I'd like to say HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! Thanks to all the wonderful daddies in this world for being so awesome. :) My sister and I cooked scrambled eggs and a variety of omelettes this morning for the family. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of breakfast but I'd be more than happy to describe the entire meal. A-HEM:

My Breakfast: A single brown egg, scrambled to perfection with creamy Velveeta cheese tossed in. A blend of Garlic Salt, Garlic Powder, and Coarse Ground Pepper seasoned over the egg. 1 slice of honey ham, fresh from the deli. A side of whole wheat bread, toasted lightly, and served with real butter.

I think I just made myself hungry again. xD

Yesterday, me, my sister, and my boyfriend played Scrabble! Here were the results: Sister: 156, Boyfriend: 156, Me: 128. I guess you don't have to be good at EVERYTHING you love, eh? It was tons of fun and our completed board looked pretty damn epic if you ask me!

Can you find the word that was used twice in this one game?

I thought the angle of this photo was really neat. Ahh, I love photography. :)

These poor loners were the only letters that we couldn't find places for. I couldn't let them sit out on a photo shoot, so I'm featuring them as well. :3

Ohh, and Cheryl Clarke is hosting an amazing sunglasses giveaway right now. Click HERE if you're interested in entering!! Best of luck to all entrants.

Hope you all had a great day!! Once again, Happy Father's Day!

~TRA

Scrabble + Eggs = Scrabbled Eggs!

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Prom 2010: A Night On the Town - New York, New York

Question of the Day: What was your prom like?

Happy Grey Sunday! Where I am right now, the sky is rather dull-looking but the winds feel nice and breezy! Sorry these prom pictures are so late! I was naturally exhausted when I got back home on Friday, and yesterday I spent half the time cooking and half the time nursing my poor aching feet.

Our theme for this year's Prom 2010 was A Night On the Town: New York, New York. I didn't take a photo of the actual prom area because unfortunately it wasn't as well-decorated as I'd hoped it to be. There were only large street signs with famous New York street names like Broadway and 42nd St. On our tables there were several plastic sunglasses, and the ceiling was adorned with bright yellow lights. Other than that, it was quite dark and plain.

Unfortunately, the music was a big disappointment. The only genre they really had was hip hop and R&B. I definitely don't have anything against that type of music, but it was literally ALL they played for the bulk of Prom. :( Only at the beginning and towards the end did they play other music such as Train. There was only one slow-dancing song.

Food included an assortment of many fruits, some amazingly delicious Cheddar cheese cubes, fried chicken and honey mustard, cookies, and much more yummy stuff!

Here are photos of my complete outfit that I wore to prom. Photos of my shoes will come soon. Enjoy!

Halter Top Dress: The Body Shop. Approximately $30. Red sashes, printed flowers. Since I am rather a petite little creature, buying dresses for myself is pretty difficult. I found this lovely dress over a year ago and it still fits me! Love, love this dress...it's just formal enough for prom (see the ruffled lace at the bottom of the dress in another photo), but also appropriate for a dinner party. Only thing is that it's rather cut low so I had to fasten a safety pin at the back so it wouldn't show off too much. xD I feel really lucky that I didn't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money for my prom dress like some of the other girls did!!

Close-up on the dress.

Lace detail! Gives the dress a perfect finishing touch. Makes the dress fancier and longer than it would've been without it. I usually don't like lace on my clothes but I really like this!!! What do you all think of lace detailing?

Flower Hair Accessory: Claire's. Approximately $5. Adorned with feathers and glitter. I chose this to match my dress and it also seemed like something that a New York flapper would've worn back in the Roarin' 20's. There's a clip on the back so you can easily fasten it on any side or at angle in your hair.

Black Clutch Purse: New York & Company. I forgot how much this cost. =( At first it doesn't look very roomy, but once you really open it up you see exactly how much space you have...which is a lot! I put in tons of stuff, including a bottle of water, my camera and cell phone, and lots more trinkets. Simple yet made fancy. It's a great addition for outfits of any occasion!

~TRA

Prom 2010: A Night On the Town - New York, New York

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Spring Skirts n' Things

Question of the Day: What are your goals for the Summer of 2010?

One month and seven days until I fly out for vacation. Four weeks until I graduate from high school. Six days until Prom. It is so hard to think that the first half of 2010 is almost over, and even harder to believe I will be 18 years old--an ADULT!-- and going off to college to begin writing the next chapter of my life. It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. As always, I am sitting here wondering, Where did the time all go??

Anyway, enough of my contemplations. Recently, I went shopping with some friends for the first time in a while and bought some really neat things! I thought they'd be perfect for this season. What sort of outfits or styles do you enjoy wearing for warm weather?

Dress: Papyrus, $12. The bottom skirt is lacy and slightly poofs out. Spaghetti straps. Tutu-like. Would look good with leggings and Converse.

Up close on the jewelry attached at the top. Includes pearl necklace, ribbon necklace, and chain necklace. Ruffles on the neckline.

Up close on the ruffled details on the back of the dress. There's a small teardrop opening on the back as well.

Earrings: Charlotte Rousse. $4 with the purchase of two more sets of other earrings (not shown). Three pairs of feather earrings in one set! Great bargain. You can't really see, but attached at the top of each earring is a silver sliver...take a closer look at the bottom to see them hiding underneath the earrings. Bold.

Top: Rue 21. $5. HUGE bargain! I had to refrain myself from buying a whole set of them in different colors. I tend wear this top with black leggings but jeans look good with them as well. Wide neck opening. Very soft material and rather thin and stretchy.

Up close at the top. As you can see, I enjoy wearing this top with the eye-popping emerald-green owl necklace.

Owl necklace: Body Shop. A little less than $4. A bit expensive but I REALLY liked it. =)

What do you all think of these purchases?

~TRA

P.S. Prom is on Friday!! Photos of my dress and more will be up by this weekend.

Spring Skirts n' Things

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My First Blog Award

Question of the Day: What was the last accomplishment you made?

Today, I received my first nomination for a blog award from Cheryl Clarke! This really means a lot to me, so thank you very much, Cheryl! =]

Rules:

1. Thank the person that nominated you.
2. Copy the award and place it on your own blog.
3. Post a link to nominator.
4. Express seven things about yourself.
5. Nominate seven other bloggers.
6. Link them.

7 Things About Me:

• I enjoy writing Harry Potter fanfiction (go on and say it...I am nerd. :D)
• My favorite music genre is rock. Bring on the Nickelback, Boys Like Girls, and Green Day! Some other artists/bands I enjoy include Evanescence, Hilary Duff, Weezer, Taylor Swift, Linkin Park, and Carrie Underwood.
• As a child, the movie Lion King was my one true love. I had bed spreads, pillowcases, and wall art that were all Lion-King themed. And the movies, of course! For my 3rd birthday, I even had a Lion King-themed birthday cake.
• I think Maltese dogs are simply adorable!
• My hidden talent: I can burp by will.
• I am in an uber-awesome relationship of 3.5 years and counting. =] Haha I don't think I've mentioned that in my own blog yet, so yeah.
• I have very bad luck with socks. Almost every pair I get ends up with holes within the first three months. D:

I would like to nominate the following bloggers:

Little White Lights - Video Blog - I can't say enough good things about Megan and her videos, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet: this blog brings me joy everyday!

Where Lies My Tarp? - Everything Blog - My good friend Jordan-Marie covers a variety of topics, but mainly writing. She often includes cartoons and photos.

Nathan Bransford - Writing Blog - NB is a professional literary agent who gives advice on query letters (and other aspects of a literary life), provides confidence boosters for writers, and shares his opinions on everything literary from E-books to self-publishing.

Fashion Train - Fashion Blog - Becca introduces a variety of the latest styles and unique fashions. She has several competitions for her audience to participate in and always includes great photos in her blog posts.

Frankie Writes - Writing Blog - Here's a story of a young, prolific writer who is getting her work out into the world and enjoying what she does best: writing!

Thick or Thin: Game Writing - Gaming Blog - Just like it sounds! This blogger writes video game reviews and provides several valuable resource links for gamers and writers alike.

Oh to Be a Muse - Fashion Blog - I chose this blog for my last one just because I didn't have any more to share. No, I'm totally kidding! :P I love Cheryl Clarke's blog because she always incorporates her life within the blog: she shares her fashion experiences and loves, her thoughts and her personal advice with readers. There is always some variety, so it never gets boring! It's hard not to love a blog like this. :) (CC - haha don't worry, you don't have to redo the whole award thing again)

My First Blog Award

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The Oscar's Academy Awards

Question of the Day: If you could switch lives with one big star of the modern world, who would it be and why?

I usually do not write about fashion, but the ladies and gentlemen really Wow'ed me when I watched the 82nd Annual Oscar's Academy Awards of 2010. There were definitely a few that I thought were completely hideous, but as I am a relatively optimistic and happy-go-lucky person, I would like to share only the attire that I did think were absolutely magnificent.


First, for all of you who were not able to watch this year's show, here are the 82nd Annual Oscar Awards for 2010:


Best Picture: "The Hurt Locker"
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - "Inglorious Basterds"
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique - "Precious
Best Original Screenplay: "The Hurt Locker"
Best Adapted Screenplay: "Precious"
Best Animated Feature: "Up"
(Source: Yahoo)

Here are my top favorite gowns and tuxedos adorning Hollywood's greatest stars!

#1: Penelope Cruz: Her gown is absolutely gorgeous and definitely made my eyes pop and my mouth utter "WOW!" I really love the scarlet, as it goes well with Cruz's perfect skin tone. The sweep of the dress skirt has a sexy flair to it as well. Cruz definitely wore this dress well, with a confident pose and just the right amount of matching jewelry. This is definitely my favorite outfit out of all the Oscar attendees. It is simple yet stunning. Why can't we all look as good as Penelope Cruz in this guise?
#2: Cameron Diaz: Cam has always definitely my favorite "Charlie's Angel." Here, she looks even more like an angel, though not the kickass one we all love! Her gown is so very glamorous and somehow reminds me of royalty. <3>

#3: Taylor Lautner: Nay, I did not choose Lautner because he is "the hottest thing around," according to Yahoo, though that is a nice factor. :] I like his outfit because, unlike the other male actors, Lautner's tuxedo is sharp and simple but not too plain.

That cute bow is a great add-on and looks a lot nicer and lighter than those dull black ties. The buttons complete the outfit to give it some sort of pattern without looking too tacky like Robert Downey Jr. This is really the one tuxedo that I thought looked really nice, and thus Lautner is my tuxedo winner!




#4: Queen Latifah: Okay, so every time I see Ms. Latifah, I can't help but think of royalty. She reminds me of exactly what her name indicates: a queen. In this figure-hugging garment, her name suits her even more. I absolutely love the sparkly one-shoulder strap and diagonal waist sash. The bodice hugs her upper and middle torso, while the waves flow around her and emphasize the curvy shape. Latifah wears this gown proudly with an award-winning smile and has a matching clutch to complement her outfit.



#5: Jennifer Lopez: Although J.Lo was first famous for being a music star, throughout the years it has been clear that she is a multi-tasker. Lopez has had several accomplishments as a prolific music artist, restaurant business manager, actress, dancer, and fashion designer of a successful clothing and perfume line. I really admire Lopez and the inspiration she gives to so many people; she is a great role model who truly shows that minorities can make a difference.
Okay, on to her gown. What I really like about this one is the creativity and uniqueness of it. The unexpected folds at her chest and at the side of her waist flatter her curves and are dramatic enough without being too out there. Lopez finishes up with matching jewelry and a clutch as well.

I have come to realize that this classic pose that I admire so much seems to be a classic pose for actors and actresses. Three-fourths of the Oscar attendees (according to the Yahoo photos I've been flipping through) used this pose and looked most confident and comfortable in their skin. I like! :)
~TRA

The Oscar's Academy Awards

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The Lucky Necklace

A few days ago, I stole from my sister's drawer. As I was getting ready for school last Wednesday, my curious little mind wandered towards the small, box-like drawer that sat on her bedside table. When I opened it, a mountain of treasures were revealed to me and immediately I had a blast from the past of when I was a young child rummaging through my mother's things.

Now, I have always some sort of infatuation with shiny things, especially jewelry. Even when I was little, I enjoyed tinkering around with clip-on earrings and plastic necklaces and rings that were too big for my finger. An old home video of my third birthday shows a Little Red Angel wearing faux rings and bracelets and demanding that a grownup take my picture with those flashing things on. As I grew up, I could often be seen creating doll clothes and using those jewelry-making kits that I got for Christmas and my birthday to string together my own colorful beaded necklaces and other accessories. I grew up loving the famous and ever-so-lovely Swarovski crystal shop and visited often. My mother finally took me to get my ears pierced for my 9th birthday when I was in 4th grade.

This obsession with jewelry died down after I turned to the age of tomboyism around middle school. I became the opposite of what I used to be, but thankfully my personality and style balanced itself by the time my high school career began. I still was automatically attracted to the jewelry section in various department stores such as Body Central, Belk's, and, of course, Swarovski (the image is from Swarovski.com; check the store it...their shiny stuff rocks! :P) whenever I went shopping with family. I still loved touching the smoothness of a pearl necklace and placing an assortment of earrings up to a friend's lobe one by one, trying to decide which one looked best on her. I always mix and matched for others, but rarely ever for myself.

Until last Wednesday. As I opened the first plastic drawer, my eyes widened and sparkled as they glazed over all the sparkling pieces of jewel set before them. They were mostly earrings and necklaces--my favorite types of accessories. Here was a set of gold hoops with a line of jingles decorated at the bottom. Over in the corner was a long, shiny silver necklace adorned with pearls and crystal balls. In there were two matching wooden teardrop hoops, painted purple. Underneath all of those lovely little things was a chain, simple enough to be overlooked. Hooked around it was a green heart pendant and several crystal ball shaped drops surrounding it.

Sounds pretty anticlamactic and somewhat plain, I know. But you know that really nice item that you have always REALLY wanted but never had the luck of finding at a store? Well, this necklace has been that item for me.

The excitement was even greater than if I had found the necklace at a store because it was right here waiting in the drawer this whole time. :) It may not be an exclusive teardrop necklace from the Swarovski crystal shop with a thousand shards of crystal cut in exact proportions that create mirrors even in the dark. It is, in fact, even more special than that.

It's amazing how the littlest things can make you feel like you're on top of the world. When I saw this necklace and searched for the rest of the chain with my too-eager fingers, I felt like a kid again, pretending that I was a princess going through my jewelry box and picking out my accessories for the day's tea party. Although it did not quite match the outfit I had put on for school, I wore the necklace anyway. All day long, I couldn't keep from grinning ear to ear and having an extra spring in my step as I waltzed down the school hallways. My self-confidence raised to about thirty degrees higher than normal as I received compliments from friends who stopped what they were doing just to feel the heart pendant and eye it with admiration.

Needless to say, this necklace made my day. And just in case you were wondering, my sister let me have it. :)

5 Recent Events That Made Me Feel Beautiful:

1) I found a simply dashing n e c k l a c e that I've always wanted hiding in my sister's drawer (she let me have it, by the way).

2) I gave my good friend an SAT workbook that I no longer need. The next day, she randomly came up to hug me and said that I was an a m a z i n g friend.

3) I made a m o n s t e r s a n d w i c h filled with delicious honey ham, a fantastic garlic cheese spread, white cheddar cheese, salami, and turkey! Two pieces of each ingredient was piled up between two pieces of potato bread. It took me two tries to fit my whole mouth on the concoction and take my first bite. :P I felt like a queen eating a royal sandwich!

4) I got an impulse to randomly d a n c e my way through the downstairs hall in my pajamas, singing the love song "Mouse Loves Rice," (or "Lao Shu Ai Da Mi") in Chinese.

5) I received many compliments on my recent "Texting While Driving Sucks" article that I wrote for my high school newspaper. The biggest praise that I can receive is one dealing with my writing; knowing that others are reading my writing and actually enjoying it and getting something out of it is my greatest pride and joy.

My question is this: What recent events, activities, and/or pleasant surprises have made YOU feel beautiful?

~TRA

The Lucky Necklace

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