Summer goal #1: Learn Catalan.

It's officially summer for me as of today! I am now a senior, which is such a weird feeling. I didn't even feel like a junior this year, more like a 6th grader! But anyways, now with all this free time to myself, I am able to do a bunch of things that I did not have time for during the school year.

One thing that I've always wanted to do was to learn Catalan. I figured that it could possibly be convenient when I go to Barcelona or Marseilles, but the language itself has always intrigued me. I've started my self-taught lessons yesterday, and so far it's going well. I got the simple phrases down pat in a matter of hours. Since it's basically a mix of Spanish and French, it's not very hard at all. Hopefully I'll be able to carry out my lessons all throughout the summer. I always say, "oh I want to learn [insert language here]" but never actually get time to do so. So hopefully things will actually work out this time around.

Besides, how many people here can say, "I can speak Catalan"? Not a lot. This will totally work in my favor.

Annual hiatus.

Hello everyone! Everything has been crazy lately, so I apologize for not updating this blog in so long. Summer's within my grasp, so keep checking for some posts coming up soon!

Anna Sui for Target.

It is reported that designer Anna Sui will be the next designer to have their own GO International collection at Target! I'm quite excited, I love Anna Sui and supposedly the line will be by Gossip Girl. I'm sure the whole prep look has been reiterated over and over again ever since the show started, but I hope Anna puts her own unique spin on it. Plus, I wouldn't mind dressing a bit more like Blair myself. I can't wait until the collection comes out on September 13th. I think I'm in need of a headband and ruffled blouse restock.

It was fun while it lasted.

I won't go into details about the match, because quite frankly, there is nothing much to say.

Arsenal's season is pretty much over, with a very slim chance of getting third. Though I wasn't overly confident that we'd get through to the finals, I did not think that we would struggle the way we did tonight. It hurts to see Manchester United, of all teams, to win, and Cristiano Ronaldo, of all players, to score. I've cried all the tears I could during the match, and all I am now left with is a numb feeling.

It hurts to reminisce on finer Champions League moments...like the penalty shootout against Roma, Adebayor's bicycle kick goal, and Theo's chip, without feeling remorse afterwards.

That all being sad, I have high hopes for next season. May this be a learning experience, for the players and Wenger. Make the changes that may be needed, get those players out of injury, bring that soul back into football, have Andrey Arshavin in CL (!!!), and we can be unstoppable. We're not far off at all. It's very well possible.

Life's For Sharing.

Perhaps life would be more interesting (albeit eventually slightly annoying) if it were like a musical, full of dancing and singing. But pseudo-spontaneous outbursts of dance would work just as well! I must say, the T-Mobile UK marketing people are geniuses; what better way to promote your product than kitschy and memorable dance? I am dreaming that one day I'll actually be in a train station when dance troupes decide to invade with their moves.

Fever Pitch.

After taking about six months to finish The Count of Monte Cristo, I finally was able to read another book, this time being Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. And it took me a tiny fraction of the time it took me to read the aforementioned book!

Fever Pitch tells the autobiographical story of Hornby's tenacious and ever-growing obsession with Arsenal FC, from the time he was a little boy to in the years of his 30s (post-Anfield '89). If you know me at least a little bit, you can see why I would be attracted to this book; but in my defense, I am a fan of Hornby's other books as well, especially About A Boy, and I am planning to order High Fidelity sometime soon. But anyways, I read this book with an shy smirk on my face, because although I am not from England and have not loved Arsenal since I was ten, I understood where Hornby's love came from. Clearing his schedule for matches, waiting anxiously to watch, making personal connections with the club, they are things that I can relate to as a fan myself (though I will not go on a debate of "who's a bigger fan"). It might seem apropos that Hornby wrote about Arsenal in particular, but I think that even if it were about Liverpool, Fulham, or hell, even Leeds, I still would be attracted to this book. Fever Pitch is a fan's memoir, and Hornby's emotions throughout the book can be relatable to any football (or any sport) fan, no matter who they support.

I recommend this book to any passionate sports fan, whether you like football, baseball, or even golf. No matter if you like football or not, I think many can identify with the obsessive firmness that Hornby developed throughout his life.

"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

The runway designers channeled Marrakech and the exotic depths of the East for their S/S 09 collections, displaying numerous tribal prints, lavish ethnic prints, flowing linen, and even harem pants. Despite the fact that the whole look is not particularly my style, I've always had a partiality for vibrant, colorful eastern prints. I do have an ethnic-inspired dresses of my own that I would like to wear this summer. I went to Macy's last night to find a number of ethnic print dresses on sale, but my frugal instincts fought through to veer me away from spending more money. Although I do like this trend, I think I am a bit short and small for harem pants...they'd only make me look bigger!

I love this flowy piece from 3.1 Phillip Lim. He always know how to give classic silhouettes more edge and quirkiness.



While I do love the ethereal flow of this Lacoste onepiece, I do wish that it was a shorter dress.

This Max Azria design is a modern take on the classic linen shirt with khaki pants, a la Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca (sans adorable fedora hat).


I am absolutely in love with this bold printed dress from Anthropologie, though the $608 price tag does make me wince...

This dress, which is also from Anthropologie, channels exotic India, and is a fraction of the cost of the aforementioned dress at $138 (which is still quite over my budget!).