andiekp

Sometimes we lose our way, and through it we find something unexpected about ourselves. My twenties have felt like a time of feeling lost, and then slowly realizing things about myself that maybe only those experiences could lead to. The last time I posted here was just under three years ago. I had moved to Austin and started what felt like my first 'real' job (teaching is a real job, too, overseas or not, but the experience felt like a strange extension of college for me - more on that another day). I'd also just bought a house, and for the first time, I was dealing with those real 'adult' issues of money, taxes, work/life balance. I lost my way a little, and my work/life balance swayed way off course with a heavy favouring of work. I wanted to write here, but I was leaving work drained and uninspired. I didn't even see it happening, until I reached a burnout. I was unsatisfied at work, but loved the people, which left me conflicted on whether it was time t...

 I swore to myself I would not buy the companion book to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up . How many books do I need on tidying? After having moved four times in the past year and a half or so, I've cleared all my unnecessary objects. The first move in particular forced me to get rid of a ton of stuff, including around 300 odd books (which I should mention I miss terribly. I never realized that books are my favourite and most comforting decor items, until they were gone). There's just something about Marie Kondo's complete love of organizing, useful tips, and adorable book designs that I'm weak to. The moment I saw the little pictures, I knew I had to buy it. That said, as I'm reading this one, I feel like I'm more likely to use it in the future. The layout and images make an easy (adorable) reference guide that you can look back on and find what you need without much of a search.  

Welcome to the second handbag confidential post, click to read the first . For years now I've admired Louis Vuitton bags. To me, they are a timeless classic and can't go out of style. Although, I'm not a fan of the Damier Azur. I now own both of the styles I had always wished for, and in the patterns I wanted most. Both are special to me and have happy memories attached. Today I am going to focus on the first one I got, my Damier Speedy 25, which I bought in 2012. We've been on a few exciting journeys since then. I bought this bag while on vacation in Paris with my brother. In the months leading up to the trip I saved, and saved because the cost was (is?) significantly less there. Unfortunately, I was a bit short when we left. I was disappointed, but what can you do? I still had an exciting trip to look forward to! Then, on one of our last days, my dad called and said he'd help out with the remaining amount. I feel I should mention, this trip came around th...

The excitement for this one was real. I absolutely love Kate Morton's books, she is amazing at blending past and present, and keeping you hooked trying to figure out how everything connects. The Lake House was no exception. I couldn't put it down and had to know what happened. I loved the characters and the story, it was just...so, so good. (5/5) "A missing child… June 1933, and the Edevane family’s country house, Loeanneth, is polished and gleaming, ready for the much-anticipated Midsummer Eve party. Alice Edevane, sixteen years old and a budding writer, is especially excited. Not only has she worked out the perfect twist for her novel, she’s also fallen helplessly in love with someone she shouldn’t. But by the time midnight strikes and fireworks light up the night skies, the Edevane family will have suffered a loss so great that they leave Loeanneth forever. An abandoned house… Seventy years later, after a...

I didn't used to make any sort of resolutions or goals for myself at the new year. However, for some reason in the past few years I always find the first few days of January a time when I think about my life and things I maybe want to change, stop altogether, or start afresh. In 2016 I will... ...not be participating in Goodreads Reading Challenge. This became a constant competition for me last year. I felt as though I had to read more, faster, rather than just enjoy a good book for however long I felt like reading it. ...start volunteering at least bi-weekly. The combination of starting a new job and moving in the past couple months meant that I didn't volunteer at all in November and December. I always have a ton of fun with the awesome staff, volunteers, and kitties. ...work out at least once a week, and stretch everyday. I can't believe how tight all of my muscles feel after two months of not stretching. Also, I hate working out. So, I'm hoping this will b...

This year was surprising in so many amazing ways. I never could have predicted that this year's highlights would contain half of the things it does. In 2015 I... ...started the year as a teacher in Korea. I made amazing friends and loved going into Seoul almost every weekend to meet up with them. I also learned quite a bit through my job. ...moved to Austin, a place I NEVER thought I would live. ...finally started volunteering at an animal shelter after years of saying I wanted to, but not following through. ...adopted Mochi and Pekoe! I seriously adore these kittens, they are just the sweetest pair of kitties. Adopting two was definitely not my plan going into adopting Mochi, but I couldn't resist her only brother. So, Pekoe joined us three days later, and I couldn't be happier. They've adjusted to the new place just fine ^^ ...got my first job in the US, and I'm loving it, which would probably surprise you if you knew what it is. ...bought a h...

I've moved into my house! It's all very exciting, and I'm loving it so far. My commute is a bit shorter, the cats have plenty of room to run and go crazy. I have a walk-in closet... Mostly, I just have plenty of exciting plans and ideas to complete the space over the next year. Our office Christmas party was this past Saturday, and I was actually surprised how fun it was. I thought there was no way I would stay the whole time, but I did. I'm still trying to learn a balance between work and my personal life, but it's difficult. I'll get to a place that's at least a bit better than now, soon-ish. Mochi and Pekoe are now 7 months old and are almost full-grown cats. They've transitioned to the move pretty well, although the first couple days saw two terrified kitties hiding in my closet.

Cutting through the Capitol grounds to get back to my car from the office This month has become an exciting, life-changing one. I started my first full-time job in the US, and it's far closer to my career interests than my previous. It's different in so many ways from teaching in Korea, but somehow my first week has been significantly easier. Everyone has been awesome so far, and the company has a sort-of cool, Austin-chill vibe. Working downtown means a longer commute, but it's fun being there five days a week! Speaking of Austin, it's official, I'm staying here for the foreseeable future. I am buying a house! How it all came to be is a long story, and a series of events (unfortunate for some, but fortunate for me!). It's brand new and absolutely adorable. The moment I walked in, I was in love. It's light and bright, and just has a happy feel. The cats and I move in next month. It's in area I wouldn't have considered, but the house is just so,...

First-Time-Reads The Driver's Clothes Lie Empty : ( Vandela Vida ) 2/5 A woman travels to Casablanca and is robbed of all her money and ID. Knowing that she won't get her possessions back, she feels liberated by her new freedom to be anyone she chooses. She becomes a stand-in for a famous actress and finds herself inhabiting the actress's skin off-set too.  This book was such a disappointment! It had such potential with the story, but the author chose to write it in a second person narrative ("you"). I absolutely hated that aspect, it threw me off, and rather than pulling me into the emotions of the story, it pushed me further away. However, if you don't mind books in this format, you may enjoy it quite a bit!   Emma : ( Jane Austen ) 5/5 Emma Woodhouse is content with her life and sees little reason to marry. However, she greatly enjoys acting as a matchmaker to those around her. When Harriet Smith comes to town, Emma takes her under wing an ...

May your day be spooktacular ! The cats and I are just about to snuggle down and watch Hocus Pocus. Best Halloween movie, hands down (in my opinion, but I don't like scary films!). New post coming up tomorrow ^^

As any proper book nerd knows, choosing one is hard/impossible. However, there are some standouts for me. This list is subject to change, and maybe in the future I will update it. We shall see. Author: Agatha Christie Christie's books are a guilty pleasure of mine, whenever I want a book treat, or am unsure what to read, hers are sure to please. I LOVE the Poirot mysteries, and have just started the first of the Miss Marple books. Series: The Harry Potter books (J.K. Rowling) I do believe I re-read these every single year. They helped define my middle and high school years. I don't think I will ever tire of them, and I doubt they will move from this spot. Stand Alone: The Thirteenth Tale (Diane Setterfield) I still can't explain what it is about this book that I love so much. Everything about it draws me in, and even when I reread it, I remember how I felt the first time I read it. It's about time to seek it out again... Movie Adaptation: The Devil...

It seems I never posted these photos last year, and since I'm missing proper autumn, I figured I would post a few of them now. These were taken roughly a year ago when I took a friend for her first (my third!) trip to Gyeongbokgung. I love walking around the palace, and the colours were stunning.

"The Knockoff is the story of Imogen Tate, editor in chief of Glossy Magazine, who discovers her twenty-something former assistant Eve Morton plotting to knock her off her pedestal, take over her job, and reduce the magazine to an app." I initially wanted to read this one because everyone seemed to herald it the new Devil Wears Prada , but with issues currently faced by the magazine and fashion industries. I had high expectations going into this book, but I was a bit disappointed in it.   Imogen is woefully out of touch, so much so that it felt unbelievable. There is no way someone in her position could make it to 2015 without being able to read her emails. I've met and know a few people who are in high positions, and all of them have adapted with the times. Especially those in news related fields. As such, I felt annoyed by Imogen initially, thankfully she adapts and learns. It just seems like she should have experienced this long before this year. Eve, on the ot...

First up, this week on Instagram: (a) I went to Cirque du Soleil for the first time last weekend, see more about it below. (b) My family and I went out for dinner on Thurs. to the nearby Nutty Brown Cafe. This photo just screams Texas to me, am I alone in that? (c) Sunday's are for Netflix marathons, and Mochi's got the controls. Cirque du Soleil's Kooza came to Austin, and my friends got tickets to go. Now, I've never been to one of their shows. So, I was ridiculously excited for it. The show was at the Circuit of the Americas, in a tent set up in one of the parking lots. Having never been out there before, I found the venue pretty cool, too. Especially hearing the race cars going round the track while we were parking.   The cats are 5 months old! How time flies, and how quickly they grow. Both have remained sweet and well behaved, so I'm happy and feel lucky to have such sweet kitties around. As I type this, Mochi is playing with my hoodie, and Pekoe ...

Well, autumn seems to have come to Austin. The weather has gone from hot (100+) and humid, to low humidity and, slightly, cooler weather (90s). Mentally, I am in full-autumn mode, I want to be wearing sweaters, or light jackets, jeans, etc. these days. This is my first time living in an area that isn't starting to get properly cold at this point, so I've been figuring out ways to mix my fall favourites with the summer-like heat. Light sweaters and shorts seem to be my favourite so far, so here's a look similar to what I've been wearing. 151009 by andiekp13 featuring a white sweater

Kittens be everywhere, Mochi recently learned how to jump up here. It feels as though Bath & Body Works' candles have become a real thing in the past couple years. It feels cliche to say, but I love their autumn scents. I also like a couple of their Christmas ones, and the Lavender Vanilla one. However, their spring and summer scents tend to give me a headache, please tell me I'm not the only one? Anyway, recently they had a couple different candle sales, and I decided to pick up a few of my favourites. Autumn - "Fall into the season with notes of bright red apple, cedarwood & fresh balsam." I bought this one in both the medium-size candle sale, and the three-wick candle sale. Fortunately, I adore it for it's fresh, crisp, and clean scent. Sweater Weather - "Fall's here! Grab your cable knit and enjoy a mix of eucalyptus, juniper berry & fresh sage." This is a new scent for me. I was partially drawn in by the packaging,...

First-Time-Reads Why Not Me? : ( Mindy Kaling ) 5/5 Mindy Kaling's second book is just as amazing and hilarious as her first, I LOVED her stories, wisdom, and jokes. Go Set a Watchman : ( Harper Lee ) 5/5 The controversial, and much-debated sequel to "To Kill a Mockingbird," you can read my thoughts in this post . Throne of Glass , Crown of Midnigh t: ( Sarah J. Maas ) 4/5 , 5/5 One of those absolutely addicting teen-fantasy series. This one revolves around an 18-year-old assassin, who is released by the prince to be his contestant to be the King's assassin. It's actually decent, and the second book was better than the first. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. The Knockoff : ( Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza ) 4/5 I'm planning to do a review of this book next week, so look out for the post, which I will link here once it's up. Re-Reads   Saving Fish From Drowning : ( Amy Tan ) 4/5 Art collector Bibi Chen planned a tr...

Beauty : Clinique Pop Lipsticks in Nude Pop and Melon Pop. These have become my go-to lip products. Both are wearable shades, moisturizing, and long-lasting. In Nude Pop, I have finally found my perfect MLBB colour. Melon Pop falls into my favourite orange-coral lip colour, but in a more natural shade.  Book: Why Not Me? Mindy Kaling. I LOVED this book and flew through it. Kaling has a relaxed writing style, which makes it feel a bit like reading a letter from a friend. Also, she is hilarious and all-around awesome. Song: I'm So Sexy 댄싱게놈 JYP & 유재석. I find myself singing this more than I'd like to admit, it's mega catchy. TV Show: How to Get Away with Murder . This show is addicting, I was finally able to catch up after Netflix added season 1. I was hooked instantly and marathoned the whole thing over a few days, which worked out, as I was able to start this season on time. Misc.: I love my Plum Paper Planner, it's helped me stay organized, and I love s...

Autumn is my favourite time of year, I love the crisp weather, I love sweaters, and it's probably the time of year I am most outdoorsy. I am going to miss these colours this year So, since autumn officially started a week ago, here are some of my favourite things: Candles ~ I LOVE the autumn scents that come out. My particular favourites that I re-purchase every year are Bath & Bodyworks' "Autumn" and "Leaves." Walking/hiking ~ I basically don't go for walks, and especially not hikes, all summer. Heat and I are on bad terms. However, once the cooler weather starts, I tend to go for walks everyday, and hikes when I can. Pumpkin ~ Why is this such a thing now?? I hate dislike pumpkin spice lattes, but pumpkin baked goods? Delicious, how come it now feels wrong to have them any other time of year? (I do anyway, but it's less common to see items for sale other times of the year.) We need to move past this. Foliage ~ Everything is so ...

Book shopping is the best shopping, isn't it? The Driver's Clothes Lie Empty ~ Vendela Vida A woman travels to Casablanca and is robbed of all her money and ID. Knowing that she won't get her possessions back, she feels liberated by her new freedom to be anyone she chooses. She becomes a stand-in for a famous actress and finds herself inhabiting the actress's skin off-set too.  I picked this one up because of the cover and was instantly hooked by the inside flap. I've summed it up quickly here. Where'd You Go Bernadette? ~ Maria Semple Told through 15-year-old Bee, this story is of her trying to find her bother after her disappearance. Along the way Bee learns more than she ever knew about her mother, including the secret past that Bernadette has been hiding for decades. This is one of those books I constantly see, pick up, and leave without. After reading about it in a Buzzfeed list, I decided to actually get it this time when I picked it up. The M...