2016 resolutions: retrospective

Before moving onto (a new format) for 2017 resolutions, here's a progress check on how I've done in the past year:

• Overarching theme of being patient and trying harder: I think I accomplished this? I don't recall specific events or actions that qualify, but I have been less hard on myself which is related to being patient. I've also not slacked off in school (both final year and also in grad) so that counts towards trying harder? Communicating better through fighting issues out with Jeff instead of burying any disagreements is my biggest improvement in trying harder. Also been pushing myself to be decently social with photography club activities. 
• 1-in-1-out for clothing purchases: haha yeah this definitely didn't happen. Retry!
• Exercise more: I didn't keep up the light jumping jacks but am doing some body weight exercises circuit style. Writing down exercising as an activity in my planner has been the most helpful in keeping up the habit. I also feel a slight improvement in my physical abilities. 
• G2 & bike: hahaha...nope. Still hoping for faster widespread adoption of self-driving cars! I did ride a bike one evening, and safely looped around the block multiple times. It was quite uncomfortable and I was super tense the whole time, which made for a bad experience so I never continued. I do want to bike, so perhaps I need the financial pressure of owning my own bike before I can summon sufficient willpower. 
• Pickle and bake more: pickling - no, baking - yes :D at least until I came to Bath. 
• Learn Japanese: I did actually learn hiragana well, but that's the extent of it. And now I've forgotten pretty much everything, opps. 
• Grad school apps: clearly not good enough for Cambridge but oh wells! At the very least I can say that my personal statements aren't full of bullshit. 

...

Later add-on:

The best decision I made in 2016 is to get an IUD. First because it was covered under my student insurance as well as my mom's insurance, so I paid nothing for the item and procedure. Second it stopped my hormonal acne from appearing so my skin's pretty much clear and free of any primary concerns. Third because I chose an IUD that's the most likely to prevent periods from occurring, and life is so much better without having to deal with periods and cramps. Even if I paid out of pocket, the savings from buying menstrual products would have been worth it (and all the extra luggage space now that I don't have to bring pads on trips). Luckily I didn't experience much side-effects aside from continuous spotting for the first month, so my experience likely lies on the positive end of the spectrum. 

noodles

ringing in the new year with a big, bright moon (see crane in lower right corner for scale)

preggo

The downside to travelling to Italy in the winter is the seemingly endless grey sky.

Here's a selection of my favourite scenes. Otherwise photos are scattered over Facebook and tumblr.

Bergamo

 Bologna

Florence

 Rome

Venice

2017 Clothing Purchases

Let's see how I fared:

1. ASOS navy pleated skirt: I haven't bought an item too small for the longest time but this is not the skirt to wear if eating is involved. The fabric is also quite wrinkle prone. Sigh my unicorn skirt still awaits :(
2. MUJI shirts: two striped long sleeves because I wanted the clover embroidery very badly, and a collarless flannel shirt. Very happy with all three purchases, Muji's clothing are worth the cost premium, although mom generously paid for this.
3. Many pretty things on Taobao: skirts (including another try at the unicorn pleated skirt), dresses, shirts, a pair of shorts, hair accessories, and lots of socks and tights. My success rate is actually quite high now that I've identified and stuck to stores that I trust. Aside from basics, it's hard to resist buying from Taobao where I can find a) style that I like b) sizes that fit and c) cheap. While the quality is nothing to write home about, the clothes I've bought have actually lasted a long time. 
4. THEORY white silk shirt (thrifted): with Everlane no longer stocking their initial silk shirt style, I need to find alternatives. This is alright, but still too sheer for wearing without a cami. Also was still pricy since it was a new, unworn item, again mom generously paid for this. 
5. ZARA KIDS green trench coat: fitting into Zara kids clothing is the best (or worst) discovery of the year. The kids line is so much cheaper! But I refuse to support Zara in principle so it's a tiresome mental struggle to not buy anymore items from the brand.
6. FJALLRAVEN kanken backpack: wanted a slightly larger backpack with laptop compartment since I'm required to bring laptop to class at Bath. Mom generously offered to gift this.
7. UNIQLO tee: I didn't have a close-fitting tee before, and have worn this decently often.
8. COMMON PROJECTS white archilles sneakers: 110% Jeff's influence, but at least I never need to think about white sneakers again. 
9. ADIDAS stan smith: this went on sale before the CPs so here I am with two pairs of sneakers. Currently wearing this pair.
10. JCREW chino shorts and pants: the shorts are to replace my super old AE pair with a permanently wrinkled cuff whereas the pants are to replace another super old pair of Uniqlo white jeans. Unfortunately the pants are a bit big, but I prefer to think of that as just low-rise and relaxed fit.
11. SKAGEN watch: I'm a sucker for starry sky themed items and it matches well with Jeff's watch. This is definitely an impulse purchase. I still haven't fully developed the habit to wear watches, but I've definitely started to follow Hondikee and want better ones "orz
12. AERIE bralettes: this is borderline want/need, and they always seem on sale @_@

Overall, the purchases have been good in terms of my satisfaction with the aesthetics and cost-per-wear (with a couple of Taobao items being the exception). I'm fortunate enough to still have parents buying me stuff, but hopefully by the same time next year I'll be buying them gifts. Not sure how I feel about the quantity of items, on one hand it's not a lot so I feel okay, but on the other hand I bought a lot of stuff during PEY so I could've done better? Most of the items are bought in response to summer travel plans and also moving the UK, so at least they're not thoughtless purchases. I have a couple of related new years resolutions, but that'll be its own post. 

duo

Another trip, another map to my collection:

and of course the first meal we have after getting back is noodles:

a new variation: hot oil green onion noodles (with some dried shrimp)

flake

Happy winter solstice featuring Epic High ft. Lee Hi:

I like the photos the video chose :D

please stop for a moment for me

More Epik High as I rush to finish assignments:

The ballad is a bit soft for my liking, but holy are the lyrics for the rap parts good:

I used to have dreams, out of fear of becoming ordinary
Now I envy those who are ordinary
As I stand all alone in the rain
If I don’t grow, growing pains are nothing but pain

and

As time goes by, I grow more afraid
My heart and two feet are running, but I’ve forgotten what for
My dream has become nothing but a burden
My only hope is to leave it behind and run
It eggs me on to take just one more step
Once I look up, I’m facing a cliff
Looking back, I see long rows of expectations
Pretending to support me, they push me from behind
I’ve wanted to give my heart a break one day
But it’s become entangled within the numbers
The world puts out a calculated hand
I don’t want to hold onto it, but I’m more afraid of having nothing in my hands
Is time really the only thing that keeps moving, even when you hold onto it?

lyrics via Epik High Translations

...

This makes me miss Kyoto so much :(