[CLOSED] Giveaway: BagBeautiful Medium Handbag Shaper

In celebration of 100,000 pageviews on Pandaphilia (WOOHOO!) I have an exciting giveaway for you today. Erin, the co-founder of Bagbeautiful, reached out to me and wanted to give Pandaphilia readers an opportunity to win one of their products: a Medium Handbag Shaper. It keeps the shape of your beloved bags so you can keep flaunting them for many years to come (like a shoe tree but for purses). It retails for $14 USD and measures 10 x 13 inches. I know that some of my less structured purses could do with a bit of support and pillow-lovin' (doesn't it look like a comfy satin pillow for your purse? haha).

THE GIVEAWAY: Requirements are listed inside the widget below - you must complete ALL of the requirements on the first page of the widget to be entered (these are mandatory). The widget may take a few seconds to load and you need to have Javascript enabled. Rafflecopter makes counting and verifying entries much easier, so the winner get chosen faster. If you cannot use the widget, send me an email and I'll give you the instructions to enter via commenting.

This giveaway is for United States only (sorry international friends - there will be more giveaways for you soon). Please ask parental permission if under 16. The winner randomly chosen using Random.org. Giveaway ends at 12/11/2012 at 12:01 EST. The winner will be drawn and contacted by email. If there is no response within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 Medium Handbag Shaper will be provided by BagBeautiful. I am not otherwise affiliated with the company. Image credit: BagBeautiful.com. Compilation by me.

Maxi to Hi-Lo Hem

H&M lace chest sweater dress (S) // Pitaya/Solemio sheer pleated maxi skirt (S) (tucked in as a hi-lo hem skirt) //

From Taiwan opaque teal tights (M/L) // Pitaya yellow patent skinny belt (S) //

Fioni for Payless zip up black cutout booties (5) //

Photography: JJ

BUSINESS IN THE BACK, PARTY IN THE FRONT. Hi-lo hem, fishtail skirts, mullet skirts - there's a different name every week for this style of skirt. What makes sense to me is the fact that it's high in the front like a mini/knee-lengther and long in the back like a maxi. It shows off your legs, shows, and you get a big tail trailing behind you when you strut. While I've been hunting high and low for these all season, I decided to faux it by tucking in the front of my sheer maxi skirt into the waistband and secured with a bright yellow skinny belt. It's not exactly the same thing, but it's more like a really long tulip hem and shows a bit of leg (which I dutifully covered with bright tights to vibe up the black-black block). This also made it slightly easier for shorty me to walk without tripping.

JJ helped me snap these shots in the walk of naked gingko trees quickly after a delicious carvery wrap lunch at Holmes Lounge (1/27). Their house sauce plus a tad of spicy barbeque makes my mouth water just at the sound of it (like right now ... man I feel like one of Pavlov's dogs). It was freezing, so campus bystanders onlooked quizzically while I threw off my coat and pranced around for a few minutes trying to look as un-cold as possible. This weekend consisted of hanging out, attending the best ever Lunar New Year Festival performance, eating dim sum, pho, bubble tea, and Asian supermarket shopping. Somewhere in the fun, there's work to be done. One is as a poet, in the mood before you know it. (Ima dork, forgive me)

By the way, I announced the winner of the Poshlocket giveaway in the original widget. Congrats! Don't worry there's another giveaway for you lovely readers tomorrow!

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Year of the Dragon

Photography: me

EYE OF THE TIGER. Happy Lunar New Year Festival 2012! All of the Asian multicultural student groups had a big preview party last Sunday for the sold-out performances tonight and tomorrow. There were sneak peeks of acts, free snacks and games, bumping into old friends, and a re nao firework display outside at the end. I'm very pumped to see this year's show - JJ is choreographing Chinese yoyo and many of my friends are getting their dance on. Thank you event-goers for bearing with me as I shamelessly walked up to you and asked if I could snap pictures of your body parts (erm ... not quite as creepy as that sounded). If you hover over each photo, there's a strange and telling title for each.

Whew editing these photos took a lot longer than I thought they would. Early morning bloggin' sans coffee (7:30 AM what what), after dropping that horrid anatomy lab which single-handed threatened to turn my sociable and fun last semester into a raging nightmare. Imagine Caveman Angie, holed away somewhere mumbling things like "arbor vitae" "trochlear nerve" "posterior commisure" to herself while prodding at some plastic model labeled with miniscule smudged numbers. Given, I do enjoy learning anatomy a lot but this is all too much too soon. Isn't that what med school's for? My other 6 classes should keep me happily busy instead of stressed to the limit. Happy weekending! 

Readers - do you celebrate a cultural New Year?

Snow Bunny

H&M taupe button neck turtleneck LS top (XS) (gift from JJ's mom) // H&M faux leather biker jacket (Euro 4) //
H&M plaid tweed coat (Euro 4) //

H&M leather camel belt (31-32") // Forever 21 ankle zip skinny jeans (26) //

From Taiwan furry camel chunky heeled boots (36) // From Taiwan white rabbit (?) fur ball scarf // 

Photography: JJ

TAUPES & FUR. Happy belated Chinese (Lunar) New Year everyone! I've been gone from the blogosphere for a mere 3 days yet it's felt like eons - I would blame it on schoolwork but honestly for once I'm caught up and even ahead in certain courses and spend most of my free time catching up with old friends. This is such a sharp contrast from last semester and despite a crazier courseload now, day-to-day is much more live-able. So 'scuse me if I was off writing poetry or having an afternoon coffee to relax (versus to prop up my eyelids) or playing racquetball.

This was what I wore for the Lunar New Year festivities on Sunday (1/22): a twist on the turtleneck theme, leather jacket, and boots with the furrrr. To accessorize, an interesting scarf from Taiwan last year - actually a replacement one bought on the street near a night market because I somehow lost the one I got for ultra cheap (like $4?) at a department store. It's fuzzy and soft but smells kind of funky, so I worry what it's really made out of ... We snapped these shots in the dim lights of the business school after the event, but the T2i picks up light from absolutely nowhere and makes pictures bright as day - still in awe.

Meanwhile, today was a strange day of days. It rained the entire day and I was alternating between sopping wet/drying/sopping wet. I found $11 on the ground outside a bar on my way home (it too was sopping wet). Cold is not my friend, but it keeps insisting that we get to know each other better. Can it be spring already? There's only so much layering permutations my winter wardrobe can handle. Hope y'all have been having a wonderful year so far and keeping up with all those resolutions *wink* : )

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Ice Cream and Planets Nook Covers

Ice Cream Shop Nook Cover: Oh. Ma. Gee. I want this one so badly! The turquoise/orange and graphics are fun and perfect

Inside: no pocket but lotsa orange.

Planets Nook Cover: It'd be cool if the dots glowed in the dark. I like the simple line graphics and nerdy -little-boy feel.

Image credit: BarnesandNoble.com

Readers - do you like cute covers for your tech?

Don't forget to enter my Poshlocket jewelry giveaway!

Seeing the Beautiful You by Jackie Clark

Today's post is going to be something different, more personal, and hopefully eye-opening. I am happy to introduce my first guest blogger ever, Jackie Clark. Jackie does outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, an online resource for mesothelioma cancer. She contacted me to discuss a serious issue, one that has unfortunately touched many of us in this world. Some of you may silently be caretakers, loved ones, or cancer warriors/survivors. Jackie's knowledge of the disease and advice on living a full life despite the diagnosis can give us empowerment through knowing. I might emphasize that physical appearance is important in self-esteem but hair is just hair. Having a strong inner strength powered by loved ones and hope shines through to the outside. If you have any questions or want to talk, don't hesitate to email me. Thank you Jackie for writing this article. You can read her latest post here.

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Seeing the Beautiful You

By: Jackie Clark

According to medical researchers, emotions play an important part in our physical health and well being. While it is always traumatic to deal with a physically debilitating illness, scientific studies support the theory that a healthy state of mind and self-image can help promote healing and faster recovery times. Likewise, even if the disease is a recurrent or chronic one, a high level of self-confidence can help a patient deal with chronic illness and live a better quality of life.

Women diagnosed with illnesses such as cancer have a particularly challenging road ahead of them. For example, women who are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure know that one of the most effective mesothelioma cancer treatments is chemotherapy. This treatment, however, often causes physical side effects such as hair loss. Likewise, cancer treatments also cause weight loss or gain, and the disease itself can sometimes change a patient’s physical appearance, particularly if radical surgeries are involved.

This is why it’s so important for women with mesothelioma cancer and other cancers to find a way to look as good as they can on a regular basis. Pursuing a consistent regimen of outer beauty can give cancer patients a healthy dose of self- confidence, which in turn will empower them to take control of their disease. This empowerment is crucial for women who are trying to maintain a high quality of life while battling cancer.

Clothes, scarves, hats, wigs and shoes can help cancer patients to attain their optimum physical attractiveness. While going out to shop may be difficult for some patients, most clothing retailers have online catalogs offering a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles. In addition, some specialty sites feature wigs, hats and scarves made especially for cancer patients. These are not only flattering but also fashionable, so a woman need not be afraid to be seen because of the hair loss she may have suffered due to radiation treatments.

Makeup is also important to a woman’s appearance, and makeup kits can be a fun way to experiment and try a new look. In addition, many makeup stylists are also willing to make house calls for those patients who aren’t yet able to get out and about.

While clothing and makeup may seem the last thing a person with cancer wants to think about, doctors advise that the most important thing a cancer patient can do is to try and return to as normal a life as possible. This means taking the time and effort to do all the things one would ordinarily do in order to look good.

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are contemplating or undergoing treatments, remember that it’s crucial not to lose sight of yourself in the fight. This means that you may have to dig deep inside in order to find the part of yourself that existed before cancer. By holding on to that part of yourself, you’ll be better equipped for your cancer journey. Finding your own inner and outer beauty serves as a reminder that after all, you’re still you.

Image credit: webclipart.about.com

Checkmate, Metallica

Forever 21 checkered peacoat (M) // H&M sparkly metallic silver light sweater (XS) //

H&M light pink lace shoulder LS top (S) // H&M black and white striped pleated mini skirt (Euro 4) //

Forever 21 burgundy tights // CLAWS jewelry turquoise trio gold ring necklace (c/o WhitWatWear) //

From Taiwan fringe heeled boots with bling (35) // H&M super chunky long beige scarf //

Photography: JJ

CTRL+P MIX. So it was freeze-my-butt-off-like-a-wart cold today. And yesterday. And tomorrow. Thank you JJ for braving the bitter temperature to snap these pictures outside (1/19). Oh what I won't do for fashion. Last night, as I tried picking out my outfit in advance for once, the sparkly thin knit came back to mind, along with the lace top and burgundy tights from the pink blazer outfit, yielding a remix of what was in my Winter Break suitcase. While I had plans for my pink tulle skirt again, it just looked downright silly for a day of science madness, so my favourite go-to pleated skirt took its place. Better luck next time, tutu.

OFF THE SHOULDER, PEEP LACE. I remember getting the inspiration for peeping lace shoulders in the H&M dressing room during my pre-Christmas sale hunt. Pulling down the lightweight sweater to reveal a bit of dainty femininity, I tossed on a favourite small statement necklace (if there is such a thing) to top it off. To cover everything up and switch things up, this checkered coat rotated to the forefront to temporarily replace my plaid one I've been wearing daily this year. It was purchased on sale for about $13 last last winter, on a whim of course. I liked its dolly shape and potential layering space for a medium size. Like is to chunky as my scarf is to soup.

Meanwhile, I LOVE second semester senior year. I LOVE my science classes (never thought I'd confess that aloud), and I love having free time to catch up with old friends and do the things I love. I also enjoy sitting in a room bursting with intense neuroscience majors and feeling like I know something for once ; )

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[SOLD] Urban Outfitters Blue Velvet Loafers

Do you remember these blue velvet loafers (size 6) that I picked up from Urban Outfitters a month ago? I'm selling them for $28 + shipping (United States only) - I paid $36 for them and they're sold out on UO online. They simply won't fit my little feet after a lot of trouble hunting down shoe pads and trying all sorts of methods. After all this stretching, it will probably fit size 6-7 no problem. Otherwise, they're quite new - I wore them to school once and for outfit pictures another (total 2 times). If you're interested, email me at angie [at] pandaphilia [dot] com.

See more pictures here. See my styled outfit post with them here.

Biker Ballerina

Forever 21 leather panel strapless mini dress (S) // Forever 21 light pink tulle skirt (S) //

Aldo nude pumps (35) // Poshlocket Celeste Silver Roped Bracelet (c/o) //

Rings: real pearl silver from Epcot Japan (4), green topaz from medieval fair //

Forever 21 birds double gold chain necklace //

Photography: JJ

TOUGH LOVE, BABY. It was freakishly warm for a St. Louis January day yesterday (1/16) so I took the opportunity to style an outfit that was meant for frolicking around in SoCal sunshine: LEATHER MINIDRESS + TULLE SKIRT. With a strong breeze, it was too chilly to run around in this all day so it was a play-dress-up-and-change kind of outfit. Good thing too because it started hailing soccer balls at my windows at 2 AM - geez, Mother Nature's mood swings are scary as *@$! sometimes. I love paradoxes in life, and pairing leather and girly tutu skirts makes for the perfect oddity. This dainty pearl ring is actually a real pearl I got out of an oyster at Epcot Center Japanworld. I had the 7 mm yellow beauty set in a sterling silver band, size 4. Pretty costly, but for the experience and magic, right?

Today was the first day of my last semester in college, but I didn't go to class (bad kid, iknowright?) Nah, I was at an interview. It's weird being at two different stages of your life at once - it's like being two places at one time. Awkward moment: when you realize that the doctor sitting across from you actually knows more about fashion than you do. Karl Lagerfeld what what?

I have Selena Gomez's "Love You Like a Love Song" stuck in my head on re-peat-peat-peat-peat

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