Month: May 2021

Music
30 May 2021

The Linda Lindas

We’ve been away from Yow Yow! for some time, but I promise this post was worth the wait! I got wind of The Linda Lindas recently when their performance spread across my Instagram stories. Intro’ing their song, they referenced a classmate of theirs who was both sexist and racist and if this wasn’t the theme song to all of our childhoods, I don’t know what is. In 2021, this is the energy that we aspire to have! Also, these young women have the coolness we all wish we had. Major props to them for this overly catchy track and may they continue to have a successful musical career. I heard this week they just got signed!

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Music
17 May 2021

Bottlerock 2021

We are back to our regularly scheduled festival announcements again! While Bottlerock is historically in the springtime, they’ve rescheduled due to COVID to be at the end of summer instead. I’m not particularly excited about the headliners, but I miss concerts and festivals so much, I would consider buying a ticket. San Francisco festival goers will be thrilled to have Bottlerock and Outside Lands back to back in September and October. Locals will know that these tend to be our summer months anyways. Readers, do you feel comfortable yet attending large scale events like these? I’m curious to know! Luckily, we’re many months out until this event, but it feels like things are opening up safely again.

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Design
17 May 2021

Beauty for Breakfast Pt. 39

If there’s anything that truly saved me during the pandemic it was the combination of Mighty Patch’s Micropoint for Dark Spots and Invisible+. My face wasn’t used to having a mask on along with everyone else! Essentially this further trapped the oils on our face underneath our pores, but once the maskne hit, I quickly found a solution. For years, I sampled different patch products never quite landing on a favorite. Along the way I learned about Hero Cosmetics and its founder, an Asian-American woman named Ju Rhyu. I did some internet research from their Instagram and reviews and found that products were easily purchasable through Amazon or at my local Target.

Within a couple of months, my maskne was clearing. For everyday use, Invisible+ is what I frequent the most. For the pesky ones, a combo of the two products works best. Sold at an affordable price point, I can’t say enough good things about Hero Cosmetics and it’s the one product I boast about the most. Plenty of product I’ve tried promise “invisibility,” but none quite like this. And if patches aren’t your thing, might I suggest using silk masks?

Hero Cosmetics is a brand I’m keeping my eye on. Since the release of the patches, it seems they’re exploring other avenues for skincare too!

Style
16 May 2021

BHLDN x Free People Bridesmaids

Given how long these two have been under the same parent company, I’m surprised by how long it took for this collaboration to come together. What I’m not surprised about however is their powers combined to create a magnificent and whimsical collection. It embodies qualities that belong to both brands – the elegance of BHLDN and free-spiritedness of Free People. As I begin to rack up weddings in 2021, I’ve started to think about how these collections have evolved. And given the overlap in the two brands, it has the potential to be wildly successful!

The collection was released May 10th and will range in pricing from $168-$398.

Here are just a few of my favorite looks and colorways:

Read more “BHLDN x Free People Bridesmaids”
Life
16 May 2021

Moving Forward + Mask Wearing

Even as the country started re-opening, I never rushed to be first in line for anything. Whether it was outdoor or indoor dining, I was fine waiting until I was comfortable to take that next step. The CDC has been rather inconsistent so when they announced that fully vaccinated people can go without a mask, I had reservations. Retailers I follow on Instagram quickly came out with their own post that they still require masks indoors. Clearly, not everyone was comfortable with this change.

When asked how this would be enforced or verified, responses were “it’s an honesty policy.” Doesn’t it remind you of how individuals who committed anti-Asian hate crimes said it wasn’t racially motivated and people accepted that? When has an honesty policy ever worked? A rebuttal is that despite being vaccinated and continuing to wear masks, it signals that there’s something to be concerned about. I’ve learned from this whole process that no one will ever be on the same timeline. After traveling in Asia the last few years, I’ve observed that mask wearing is normalized as part of the culture. It signifies that one is being courteous to others or even protecting those around them. A friend mentioned to me that Americans sees masks as something to be cautious of. In television and movies, we see villains and robbers wearing masks to conceal themselves because they have something to hide.

You’re either up to no good or you feel like a piece of cloth is infringing on your freedom and rights. As we move forward, my concern is that because many Asians don’t find it discomforting to wear, they will continue to do so. It’s the kind of behavior that might continue to trigger the anti-Asian hate crime that we’ve been hearing about. And that brings this full circle to what we’ve seen in the last year. People don’t like to be told what to do. They want to be in control and they want those around them to behave the same way as they do. It’s never ending, isn’t it?

Style
16 May 2021

Snaps for a Snapshot

This may seem a little out of character for me to highlight a look like this especially with so much bling! But I actually love it. It’s a fun take on something that feels like a classic foundation to me and it’s both dressed up, but sexy at the same time. Now, we’re not saying that we could ever pull something like this off, but for Maya we love it!

Who: Maya Jama

Wearing: Area

Where: 2021 Brit Awards

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Music
15 May 2021

Song of the Day

For some reason, the last concert I could remember seeing was Leon Bridges. Though this time has been challenging on everyone, I’ve actually loved seeing artists become more inspired during the pandemic. And because we have some time to slow down, I’m finally able to catch up on all the new releases that are being put out. Instead of listening to a new track just because it’s out, I get to spend more time with it and be reflective because I have the time to do that. We’ll always love anything that Leon puts out and “Motorbike” is a breath of fresh air.

Uncategorized
14 May 2021

This Weekend:

I always pull up the last time I wrote this post so as to not have any duplicates, but was surprised that the last time I told you about my weekend was February! Admittedly, we’ve been pretty absent with Yow Yow! in recent months. Between getting vaccinated, socializing more, working later and returning to some normal parts of life, it gets hard to juggle. That being said, Yow Yow! has always been my first love. And for pieces that I’m more passionate about, it doesn’t make sense for them to live on Instagram or TikTok.

The good news is that we’re getting our second dose this weekend so I’m anticipating that I’ll be out of commission for most of it. I’ll either be well enough to be productive in writing or too sick and only consumed by my television, we’ll see! Since we haven’t gotten the dose yet, I’m getting a head start by writing this post:

What We’re Watching: Navillera

I started this show around the same time I was finishing Vincenzo and had heard great things about it. It’s the first K-drama that I’m watching that has less than 16 episodes in the series. It’s a slower pace of a series than I’m used to, but lovely at the same time. I’m into the budding friendship that blossoms between a young troubled dancer and the man who lived a life never getting to pursue his dream of being a dancer. Since I’ll be resting all weekend, it’s the perfect time to binge watch the rest of the series.

What We’re Listening To: ENHYPEN – BORDER : CARNIVAL

For our second dose, Kevin and I are taking a road trip to Sacramento and while he can expect a BTS playlist of some sort, I like to mix it up by bringing in the rest of the family. ENHYPEN is a group under Big Hit that I’m new to, but enjoying all the same! Their latest drop – BORDER : CARNIVAL has a somewhat punky edge to it that intrigues me.

What We’re Wearing: [Oak + Fort T-Shirt Dress] – $38

An impromptu shopping trip led me to Oak + Fort’s Hayes Valley Boutique last weekend where I spotted this dress and a few others. I’ve always been on the fence with t-shirt dresses or rather pieces that are shapeless. While they may not do much for my figure, they are the comfiest and easiest pieces to style. As good as form fitting looks, it doesn’t always feel great when you’re wearing it. This t-shirt dress came at such an affordable price and felt like a blank canvas that I could do a lot with. Even though you can’t see it, it comes with pockets and a slit on one side.

What We’re Eating: Revolution Winery & Kitchen

Since we don’t spend much time in Sacramento, it’s a good opportunity for us to explore a few spots particularly in the food and coffee realm. We’ll be with a local tomorrow so I’m excited for their recommendations!