shopaholics anonymous

  Hi I'm Sascha and I'm a spontaneous shopper. I don't ever plan to shop, I just do it. The worst part is, I don't even see it coming. Like the other day when Brent and I were having a day off together and he announced that he'd like to go buy something for himself. About an hour and a half later, I was about $100 poorer--or as I like to say, I had a wardrobe augmentation. I don't ever remember what I bought that day--maybe a new bra? Who knows? Since that day, my wardrobe has also gained a new pair of cowboy boots, two dresses, a skirt and a top--all while I diligently try to think about maybe starting on my Christmas shopping. It's been hopeless.

  To make matters much, much worse--I've been working at the mall again for the up-coming issue and there's a new store. Fortunately, they don't have their full selection yet. Unfortunately, by my next visit to the mall, there will be a Forever 21, Sephora and a Victoria's Secret all within walking distance. My life is in shamblesssss......

  At first I tried to resist but now I know that I have to just go with the flow on this. I've devised a plan--I've been spending the past few hours (and by few, I mean more like most of the day) thinking up exact presents for those on my Christmas list. I figured that if I have something specific in mind, there's no way I'd be tempted to stray from my plan...I hope. I've felt like it's been working so far. Instead of going to websites that I'd be interested in, I've been frequenting "guy" sites, trying to get as much inspiration as possible. So far, I've got four guys to shop for: Ken, Brent, Junior and Jermaine. In case you were wondering, I decided that I don't trust myself around the "girl" sites yet because it might lead to a relapse. The way I see it, until I come up with an awesome "girl present" idea (that would tempt me to shop for myself),  should probably back off Victoria's Secret, Bamboo Sky, The Butik, Sephora, American Apparel, Nine West and Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom (the department store and Rack). Sigh...wish me luck. I'll need a lot of it.

  On a related note, here's your first edition of Sasch Couture. Enjoy!

First order of business: Anime is in for Winter 2010-2011. Especially One Piece, Bleach, Naruto and Totoro--the perfect cold weather action-drama-comedy to watch while sipping on hot coco with big, fluffy marshmallows (hey! This is Sasch Couture and whatever I say is in, is in.). Proudly flaunt your anime-mania with phone charms, sweaters and cellphone cases.

Second order of business, Sasch Couture ins and outs--Out: mullet style, split-end, un-dyed shag cuts.

mullet....?

In: Henna-dyed classic bob cuts. :)

In: My new FOB friend, Mariko! You'll see more of her soon. I've totally taken her under my wing. She just moved out here. how did I meet her? She does my nails! Isn't she so cute?

Speaking of nails....In: Hand-painted floral print round-tip nails by Anri @ Salon Cherie. Oh, and this Kate Spade ring isn't too bad either, huh?

In: "The Royal Hawaiian" fedora. Available in April 2011. It's pretty sweet, huh? I kind want one for me.

 

 

In: Dinner dates with Vicki.

In: Dinner combo for 2 at India Cafe on Kapahulu.

In: Dinner date at Ichiben in Pearlcity.

In: Photobooth app on iPhone 4.

My favorite Engrish moment.

Can you inquire within if you're already within?

Holiday cheer

Oh yeah, you know I put some major gusto into my Christmas deco this year...here's a little preview

Sasch Couture, coming soon.

Hi. The deadbeat blogger is back. I know--everything's been a whirlwind of things over the past few weeks. Brent came home, Thanksgiving came and went, I've been on hiatus from the gym (and the weight scale because I really don't want to know), I learned a new drinking game from Brent, oh and I'm officially definitely not entering the Honolulu Marathon (in case you were dying to know). Like I said, I've been busy and I can find better ways to lose weight and not mess up my pedi, thank you. I'm currently very interested in Upside Down Pilates, a cool-looking class that I've discovered via Living Social, seriously the best invention since the iPhone, I think. You get great deals offered daily for a very limited amount of time (about 24 hours on average). Its got deals for everything and you should definitely check it out.

   Wow, free plug for Living Social much? I swear they didn't pay me to do that. Anyway, I digress. Right now I'm  working on the Spring issue of our fashion magazine so remind me to post a little fashion report....we'll call it Sasch Couture (you know you love it). I'm sorry I don't have pictures to post right now--I'm typing this up on a different computer (that's how much I missed you).  Keep an eye out for pictures. I'll see if I can post something from my phone in a little....k, bye!

"Sooner the better" is not a true statment.

Also, dilated pupils are no fun. I don't know who's idea it was to make an appointment first thing in the morning for her annual eye exam but she--(oh right....that'll be me)....I totally failed. I figured it would just be an in and out type deal. I thought, "yeah, the sooner I get this done, the better." FYI, I tend to mentally block all doctor visit and I seem to have the gift of selective memory when it comes to indescribable pain. Let me explain before you hit your head with the palm of your hand and say "doh!" You see, this is what happened on Saturday when I looked at my box of daily contacts and saw that I was down to my last three pairs: I quickly called my eye doctor and asked her to order me two more boxes of my daily use contact lenses.
 She said ok, she'll call when they come. We hung up and I continued watching "Nodame Cantabile" when suddenly, I get a phone call from an unidentifiable phone number. Curious, I answer and low and behold, it's my beloved doctor, calling me to tell me that she can't reorder my lenses until I get my annual exam. Eagerly, I asked to schedule my appointment first thing on Monday (ah, it's all coming back to me now...). The appointment itself was pleasant until the very last part. She applied eye drops, we talked about my work, speaking Japanese, visiting Japan and just as I was wondering when this conversation was going to transition to my dilated eyes, she turned off the lights and walked out. The rest was a blur. All I remember are bright lights and a pair of awesome temporary eye protective gear that resembled those ultra nerdy cheap 3D glasses. I was told to wear them whenever I was outside until the end of the day....yeah, I wasn't having it so I tired to avoid them by just wearing them in the car. There's a lesson here, kids--listen to your doctor. Wear the damn nerd shades. They--gasp!--work.

The good news in all of this is that my sensitivity to light wore off and I got my eye sight back to normal (I forgot to mention earlier that I was far sighted for hours--it was the weirdest feeling. Now I know how old people feel...just kidding!) And next year, I'm definitely going to try harder to remember this experience and 1. have someone drive me there and 2. make my appointment later in the day...

7 more days till Brent comes back...yay!!!!!! I am beyond extremely excited.

They look cool from here (mainly because I know how to rock just about anything...a thank you :)

Front of the shades. I know right? Pretty epic.

Back of the shade. Extend-able arms included.

I have a dream...

...I want to travel, badly. Like, I'm having dreams about it. Literally. I want to go all over the world and discover cultures old and new. I think I can make it work if I figure out a way to do it as a job that  I like. So in other words, I'd ultimately love to make a career out of traveling around the world. Where is all of this coming from? Well, to be honest, my friend, Ashley recently applied to be a Paradise Hunter (vote for her--you've got until November 12th to do so) and while I'm very happy and proud of her for applying I'm extremely jealous of the thought of having a 52-week paid vacation, visiting 12 different places around the world. Did I mention the salary is $60,000 plus a $150,000 bonus at the end (it goes towards property in a location of your choice or towards a year's worth of vacation rentals anywhere you chose. Personally, I'd take the property, but I'd have to read all of the fine print first)? Yep, I'm definitely jealous of whomever wins the host position but then again, maybe not. If it were up to me, I'd do things a little different. In fact, I still want to come up with a plan on how to get paid to travel around the world (without contacting The Travel Channel first. Obviously, those guys get bombarded daily with show pitches and industry people who "know people").  Besides, the type of travel I'd like to do differs from what the "Paradise Hunter" show wants.

  I mean, of course I'm going to find a way to get my way with this traveling career deal (duh, I think I'm cool now that I met Tim Gunn--oh yeah, remind me to tell you more about that later), but I need to think of the best way to do it. I mean, do I want to host a show? Write a book? Ride a boat? Join the circus? Teach a class---about what, I'm not sure? I mean there are so many options, it's mind boggling. And then comes the undeniable fact that, I'm sort of a big baby and I know I'm going to want Brent or my momma to come with me (you think I'm joking). Brent would be great to take with me because, hey, I get to watch him squirm over trying new things and I'd want my momma with me because she's my shopping buddy and Brent would just get tired of it after about two hours (my mom and I are troopers).

  Anyway, I've been putting a lot of thought in to that idea and I think I'm awesome. I mean, my idea is awesome, but I'm pretty awesome too so I can't take back that statement, sorry. That is also neither here nor there or anywhere. What am I even talking about? Is this what you guys put up with when I talk? A lot of babbling? (don't answer that if your name is Brent or Chihiro or any of my family members or friends who read this). That's my cue to leave and go to sleep now so.....good night.

That's Ashley in the front.

Hard core proof that I met Tim Gunn...Ha!

Down side of traveling with Harada. He's a scaredy cat. That makes two of us.

Down side of making me a TV host--I make weird faces. And I eat really fast.

Down side of traveling with my momma--she's also an iPaparazzi. We would never get things done. Except when we shop. Or open up a bottle of wine :)

Down side of traveling with Brent--he always craves pho. No matter when or where. But I'd travel with him any day :)

It's been a while

Sorry for the prolonged break. It's jut that when I get an overload of computers at work.....or obsessed with catching up on "One Piece," I tend to forget about other important things in life like updating you on my life. Meanwhile,

got a pedi at Salon Cherie in Waikiki,

and saw someone else get her nails beyond done

..it was a kimono inspired print.

went to the grand opening of the Greenroom (an art gallery) in Waikiki,

saw Pikachu dancing and hustling in Waikiki,

saw an awesome Engrish shirt that said "What is wrong with me? What do I think I think?"

Ate at Inaba on S. King St. with my momma and Salena,

went to Seychelle's bf, KeAloha aka K-Luv's debut CD release party at Maifest in Downtown,

watched him perform and got up in his face worst than the closest cameraman (hey, don't mess with an ipaparazzi, I insist on capturing moments, ok).

Also saw...Cirque du Soleil in Allegria at the Blaisdell!!!

I was also creeping on Harada as he was sleeping (becuase he looked soooo cute),

hung out with CJ, P-chan's doggie,

went to a potluck party at my aunty P-chan's house,

I learned that Brent was teaching a workshop at Caster Studio in Shanghai,

geeked out at a crackseed store by Ward (sorry, I totally forgot to check out the name of that place),

slept over Jace's house and carpooled to the UH homecoming game (American football),

got to see a few old teammates...

and danced as an alumni...yeah, I was sore for a few days after that.

view of the game from the dug out.

and went out after the game (I was a party animal) with Jace and her friend Lacie,

only to go trick-or-treating the next day with my momma (pirate) and Salena (Belle from Beauty and the Beast) at Kahala Mall.

 Dragged Sey and Zack along with me to the grand opening of 24 Karats Surf because they were shooting it for the news,

and saw my momma there (because she did the PR for it),

cute interior at 24 Karats Surf

Took a bunch of pictures of the product and interior (hey if you want a successful store, you've gotta invite me, I take tons of pictures AND blog about it--it's also in the rule book somewhere, promise),

I was diggin' the 1970's beach boy look and the awesome Engrish ("and there we find the sea of our dreams")

Oh and just in case you were wondering, I was a Hogwarts student for Halloween. My wand was a chopstick. My entire outfit was from American Apparel.

Oh, and the other night, I went to 12th Avenue Grill in Kaimuki for the first time

and ate the world's best beignets ever. Ever.

Oh, and I baked delicious dark chocolate chip and walnut pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and golden sprinkles (you're allowed to drool). I think I'm a cupcake genius. I also figured out how to take awesome photos with my iphone. Watch out world, ipaparazzi 4 is a scary, scary thing.

 

 

And now you're all caught up on the basics of my life....Oh and Brent's not back yet. He's in China for a few more weeks so boo.... :(