Valentine’s Day Lookbook: Casual Galentine’s Day Outfits with Graphic Tees

Disney Style, Style

Happy Galentine’s Day & (early) Valentine’s Day!💖 Instead of dressing to the nines this year, I decided to put together a couple outfits built around fun graphic tees. I love outfits built around easy shirts because…

1. Most people already have an all-time favorite sitting in their closet, so it’s easy to recreate these looks!

2. You can either dress it up for a more polished look or go make plans for an all-day at-home movie marathon. No judgements here.😉

3. Graphic tee outfits are super easy to throw together. And with Valentine’s Day sneaking up on me this year, I gladly welcomed any uncomplicated, yet fun outfits.

Vintage Minnie shirt: Etsy, Blazer: Frame via Nordstrom Rack, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Leith via Nordstrom Mask: Second Wind, Sunglasses: Karen Walker, Earrings: Bauble Bar, Bag: Loungefly

Play heart to get on Valentine’s Day!❤️ This vintage Minnie tee is comfy and so perfect for a polished, but casual Valentine’s Day look. To play off the hearts on the shirt and pull the whole look together, I wore a heart patterned velvet blazer. The velvet and embroidered hearts add texture and whimsy to an otherwise straightforward “t-shirt and jeans” outfit.

To complete this look, I found the perfect heart accessories. And to no one’s surprise they’re all Disney accessories.😂 To find the right mix that worked together, I kept color palette and scale in mind. I knew red, white, black, and light beige accessories would coordinate well with my vintage Minnie shirt and choosing only one larger scale statement accessory with other smaller accessories helps keep everything from looking too overwhelming. Because you are the star of the show, not your clothes — even if they are droolworthy.😜

I mean…it’s a Bernaise.💁🏻‍♀️
Shirt (gifted): Cakeworthy, Shorts (similar): Amazon, Scrunchie (similar): Amazon, Necklace: Stella and Haas

In honor or Galentine’s Day, I had to wear this amazing Bridesmaids shirt from Cakeworthy! Because ladies, I just don’t think we can do any better. It’s a Fritz Beenaise afterall!😆

I usually buy graphic tees that are slightly loose on me so I can get that perfect fitted slouch when I tuck them into pants and skirts (exhibit A shown above👆🏼). But for this shirt, I decided to go up a few sizes so I can comfortably lounge on the couch all day bingeing Bridesmaids and other gal pal movies! I paired it with fitted pink shorts (which is actually a bodysuit onsie!) for a playful loungewear feel. And for a little glam, I topped it off with a matching sparkly scrunchie.💖

I hope you like these easy and more casual Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day looks! I used to get caught up thinking all my lookbooks had to showcase extravagant ensembles and be a huge production. And honestly, it requires so much more energy I would probably stress about it more than I should’ve.😅 But I’ve finally come to realize that even my more casual looks are still worthy of documenting. Just because it’s not fancy, doesn’t mean it’s not worthy! Reminding myself of that is one small way I’m showing myself some self-love and grace.🥰

Are you celebrating Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day this year? Or maybe you’re going to shower yourself with some self-love. Either way, I hope you’re weekend is filled with snacks and rest.😆

ABW

Home Tour: Boo to You!👻

Disney Style, Home

DSC08971.jpgIf you were watching my Instagram stories earlier this year, you’ll know that I was renovating a new place with my boyfriend, and a couple months ago, we finally moved in!😱🏠 It only took us over a year thanks to a contractor that worked at a snail’s pace.🐌🙄 We’re still in the process of getting everything in its place and really making it a full fledged “home,” but Halloween was the perfect opportunity for me to have a little fun with home decor!

DSC08884.JPGLiving Room

This whole home decor frenzy really started after I spotted the cutest ghost pillow and throw from Home Goods! Since my boyfriend and I tend to like more monochromatic palettes, the name of the game for our couch is texture. So when we spotted a 3D grey tweed ghost pillow, we knew it HAD to come home with us! And just as if a spirit was conjured, we immediately stumbled upon a cozy ghost blanket. At that point, we were devoted to a ghost themed couch, so the Mickey Boo to You ghost pillow was a necessary spoopy purchase.👻DSC08889.JPG

DSC08922.JPGSince we still have no artwork for our living room walls, I focused on getting trinkets and decor for the coffee table to help bring some life and color into the room.  But because I went a little crazy buying anything that was cute, it’s a little bit of an odd mix.😅

One of my favorite purchases is the Jack Skellington candle holder from the Disney Store.  I love that it was actually pretty affordable ($15!), and that any kind of small candle can fit in it.  And for Christmas, it would look so festive with some poinsettias or cranberry stems coming out from the top!DSC08903.JPGThe other great and inexpensive item I picked up is a glass pumpkin jar from Target!  It’s perfect to show off my souvenir treats from Wizarding World at Universal Studios.  But once the treats are gone, it would look so magical with tiny LED lights!

One of the biggest pieces on the coffee table is a large Mickey etched glass vase from Ethan Allen.  It’s not necessarily Halloween themed, but it gave me the perfect opportunity to add some color to our mostly neutral living room.  I picked up bright marigolds from the farmer’s market that are a great contrast against all the grays and blues that dominate the living room.DSC08917.jpg

Tea Corner

Another area I loved decorating for Halloween was my tea corner!  I’m constantly drinking tea and hot water, so you can imagine my excitement when I realized I could buy lots of Halloween mugs and decor for this area!😆  One of the simplest ways to revamp this area is with a spooky sign.  I especially loved the simple typography of this Hocus Pocus sign and the obvious nod to a Disney Halloween classic.DSC08858.JPG

The other functional way to give this area Halloween flair, is with cups!  Though some are outright Halloween mugs, like a ouija board and ghost Mickey, others just have that spooky vibe.  I also like the mix of bigger, chunkier mugs with more delicate teacups.  The varying sizes make the whole mug tree look more interesting!

Bathroom

Another part of the house that was easy to update for Halloween is the guest bathroom.  During my recent trip to Orlando, I HAD to stop by Basin and pick up some seasonal soaps!  And what I especially love about visiting Basin is that you can easily find seasonal Disney soaps!

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I usually pick out the soaps based on the scents.  Since I’m not a huge pumpkin fan (I know, SHOCKING for someone who loves Halloween so much), I picked out soaps that had more wood and citrus based scents. And to my luck, the Sorcerer Mickey soap matches nicely to my white star and moon pumpkin and the orange bats match my Little Green Alien Halloween mochi cup from Tokyo Disneyland!🎃

Another simple Halloween update are these Sally jars. They’re more festive than my usual wood or fabric containers and perfect to display my makeup and brushes on the counter. I also love that there are three separate jars so I can easily separate my mascaras, lip products, and brushes!DSC08975.JPG

Nightstand

The last part of the house I added some Halloween flair to was my nightstand! Since the light switches are far from the bed and I’m not a huge fan of lamps, this Zero nightlight is perfect for my needs — my need for cuteness that is!😆  And honestly, it’s the combination of two things I love, ghosts and dogs.😂  It also has a timer option so it can automatically turn off after 15 minutes!  And if you need another reason to love this little trinket, Zero’s ears can also double as a ring holder.💍😏DSC09052.JPG

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays, so I can’t wait to improve my Halloween home decor skills for next year!  There are still some areas I’d like to spruce up some more, but for only being in a our new place for 2 months, I think it’s a great start! But I definitely need to create a seasonal inspo board over on Pinterest to really be in full swing next time!🙌🏼  Maybe I should start my holidays inspo board tomorrow.😆

ABW

A Holiday Outfit with Disney Flair

Disney Style, Style

DSC08525We’re a week out from Christmas, so trees, lights, and festive holiday outfits are in full swing!  In past years, I would wear the usual lace or sparkles, but this year, 🎶to save me from tears, I’ll give ‘fits some Disney style!🎶

What I’m trying to say with my horribly forced Christmas pun is that this year, I thought I would add some Disney flair into some of my holiday outfits.  I figured that would be a good way to help get me into the Christmas spirit, since I’m usually more of a Halloween ghoul.👻😆 I mourn the loss of fall weather and Halloween candy for a month.

DSC08534Since most of my Disney pieces are casual, I decided to pair a casual shirt with a satin, silky skirt to dress it up.  The mix of casual and dressy gives that cool, city girl vibe that I love.  But part of the fun in dressing for the holidays is also being a little kitschy.  Enter adorable Christmas light earrings!🎄  And since I have two ear piercings, I obviously had to capitalize on the opportunity and wear two pairs.😏  For this outfit, the green and gold pairs were the perfect accent colors.  BONUS: The earrings are less than $5 on Kmart right now!

DSC08543And even though I only intended to wear one piece of Disney apparel, I ended up wearing three.😅  Since the weather was gloomy, as it usually is during this time of year in San Francisco, I threw on my favorite oversized camel coat, which conveniently, features Mickey.  And to carry my essentials, I opted for my small Minnie Coach bag; also adding that perfect dash of Minnie style.🎀🐭❤️

DSC08527All in all, this was a perfect outfit for my afternoon work holiday party last week.  Dressy enough to be party appropriate, yet still laid back, fun, and festive!  And another bonus for ya…it’s an easy, comfortable, and cute outfit to wear for a visit to the Union Square tree!🙌🏼

I love that I was able to incorporate some Disney flair into my holiday outfit this year.  My usual holiday go-to’s are red, black, lace, or a dress of some sort, so it was fun to think out the box and incorporate some of my favorite mouses.🐭🎀🐭

What do you like to wear for holiday parties? Comment below what you’re going to wear for your holiday festivities or let me know over on instagram!

ABW

90 Years of Mickey, the True Original!

Disney Style, Musings, Style

San Francisco Disney Style Mickey Mouse True Original Levi's Golden Gate BridgeToday’s the day we’ve all been waiting for!  It’s Mickey’s 90th birthday! And you can bet I’m not just celebrating today.  I definitely celebrated alllll year long by buying into the many Mickey True Original collections that released throughout the year. 😆  Opening Ceremony, Forever 21, Cakeworthy, Vans, Target, and most recently H&MxMoschino and Levi’s — just to name a few.  So thank you, Mickey, for turning 90!  I have a closet full of amazing Disney Style pieces thanks to your birthday.  Unfortunately, my wallet doesn’t thank you so much.😅

A few months back, Disney Style asked me to share how I liked to style a classic Mickey tee and why I think Mickey is timeless.  For me, Mickey stands the test of time not only because his love for life, friends, and new adventures never goes out of style, but also because in everything he does or wears, he always makes it his own.  And that’s some life inspo I can get behind.

San Francisco Disney Style Mickey Mouse True Original Levi's Golden Gate BridgeThis is also why I loved all the Mickey True Original collections so much.  Each collection retained the brand’s DNA.  Forever 21’s collection was fun and spunky, Opening Ceremony was unconventional and funky, Rag & Bone was ultra cool.  Each brand that released a collaboration took Mickey as inspiration, but made the collection unapologetically their own.  And it inspires me to approach personal style in the same way.

San Francisco Disney Style Mickey Mouse True Original Levi's Golden Gate BridgeSo to take a page out of Mickey’s playbook, I KNEW I had to make this Disney Style Canadian tuxedo my own.  Obviously, I wanted everything from all the collections, but I knew I absolutely needed these Levi’s Mickey decal jeans and matching sherpa jacket for a few reasons.  It’s probably obvious by now that I’m a sucker for denim and an adorable classic Mickey.  But Levi’s was and still remains an integral part of San Francisco’s heritage.  The company was born and raised in San Francisco!  Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?😏

You might wonder why I’m sometimes overly aggressive about declaring San Francisco as my home. I can’t tell you the number of times someone has asked me “Where are you from?” and they don’t actually want to know what city.  Many POC and WOC can probably relate to this.  Sometimes, I keep telling them San Francisco until they ask me the actual question, “What race/ethnicity are you?”  Additionally, a good handful of people assume I wasn’t born here.  You would think at this point in our lives, someone wouldn’t be so shocked to learn that you were born here just like your own parents. 

San Francisco Disney Style Mickey Mouse True Original Levi's Golden Gate BridgeBut as a third generation San Franciscan and with Levi’s significant ties to SF, I obviously had to pair this denim set with a San Francisco, City by the Bay graphic tee.  The simple, yet strong font pairs nicely with the classic Mickey decals.  Laid back round sunglasses and practical, yet polished flats finish off this outfit and lend that perfect touch of city ease and California cool.  And of course, I added a little extra flair with a pin from the Disney Store’s new Mouseketeer collection!

DSC08389So here’s to you, Mickey!  Thank you for 90 years of laughter and magic!  You look good for your age, but I reckon it’s because you’re young at heart.  Just another life lesson that you’ve taught millions of people, including myself.  I can’t wait to see the countless number of amazing people you’ll inspire for another 90 years to come!  And of course, I know you’ll do that with your own unique flair. 😉

ABW

Styling the Target x Mickey Mouse Collection

Disney Style, Style

Disney Style Mickey Mouse True Original 90 Birthday Target DisneylandAs we all know, Target released a Mickey Mouse summer collection a couple months back and I’m sure thousands of Disney fans raced to their closest Target.  I, of course, was one of those people because I am always SO thirsty for all the cute Disney merch!😆  The one item that I absolutely needed, and prompted my last minute evening Target run, were these white Mickey Mouse sunnies!  But alas, you never visit Target and leave with only one item.

Disneyland Disney Style Mickey Mouse 90 Birthday Target CollectionThe first apparel item I  reached for at the store was these lightweight chambray embroidered Mickey pants.  Fun and “less conventional” pants have been everywhere this past year and for good reason.  I love that these pants have an elastic waist.  (Hello, Jack Jack cookie num nums!🍪)  And to maximize the comfort factor, these pants are more of a straight leg cut, which gives you a little extra wiggle room for running to that FastPass station.

Disneyland Target Collection Disney Style Mickey Mouse Cath KidstonPants, sunglasses, and handkerchief: Target, Bag and bag strap: Cath Kidston, Shirt: H&M, Shoes: Superga

I love pairing light blue chambray with white and ivory, so I dug up an old white H&M scallop edge top and tucked it in for a defined waist.  And accessorizing is a breeze when you end up buying all the coordinating accessories from the collection.😅  The white Mickey sunnies add that element of fun to an otherwise more proper-looking outfit, and the red Mickey handkerchief brings attention to my face.  The Cath Kidston bag originally came with a navy strap, but for that extra punch of fun, I switched it out for the alternate red striped one.  And to tie it all together, I wore my red Superga 2750 classics.  (Bonus: California residents can get 10% off Superga shoes with the code “abitwong10”!)

pixar California Adventure cars land radiator springs target disney style disneyland mickey mouse 90 birthdayAnother clothing item from the Target collection is this rainbow “Good Times” Mickey shirt.  I love that it’s a basic tee with a twist.  Rather than a blank white shirt, a simple rainbow graphic brings more character to an outfit.  And instead of just pairing it with my usual skinny jeans, I decided to try something more fun!  These coral linen pants are colorful and breezy, but beware… linen = wrinkles galore.😩

california adventure cars land route 66 disney style target mickey mouse 90 birthday pixarI also picked up this girls😅 straw drawstring backpack from the Target collection.  It has a frickin’ hidden mickey on it made out of pom poms.  How does one not buy it?  And this particular backpack carries so much stuff!  Aside from my denim jacket, which I brought along for the chillier pre-summer evenings, I also fit my DSLR, water bottle, and polaroid camera — and I still had room for extra souvenirs.😆

If weather permits, I also like to wear a denim jacket because it’s a great way to “tone down” an outfit.  These coral pants are definitely loud and a little different than what I’m used to wearing.  So if I ever felt self-conscious, I just threw on my denim jacket.  And being a jacket fiend, I just love the way it completes an outfit.  But we all know that the real outfit completer are shoes.  These Vans Winnie the Pooh shoes perfectly picked up colors from the rest of my outfit and it’s always fun to add a little extra whimsy to your feet!

california adventure cars land pixar disney style target mickey mouse 90 birthdayShirt and backpack: Target, Pants: Sears, Shoes: Vans, Jacket: Forever 21

Yes, I did pick up more stuff from the Target x Mickey Mouse collab, but I’ll spare you for now.😆  And even though we’re still a few months out from Mickey AND Minnie’s 90th Birthday, I’m so excited that Target and other big retailers are already releasing Disney Style pieces!  I actually heard that Forever 21 is dropping some new fall Disney Style pieces, so….I’m going to go online shopping now.🛍🙈

ABW

5 Favorite 2017 Disney Collaborations

Disney Style, Musings, Style

san francisco golden gate bridge mickey mouse disney styleIt’s the last day of the year and instead of making a list of practical resolutions, like how I should save more money, I’m instead reminiscing on the all the ways I wanted to spend my money this past year – aka my five favorite 2017 Disney collaborations!  There were so many great Disney collaborations that debuted this year, but I’ll mostly be focusing on apparel collabs because there’s no better way to show your Disney pride than to have it plastered all over your body. 😬

Coach x Disney

Last year, Coach released a special Mickey collection that sold out INSTANTLY.  I went to a Coach store around 1pm the day it released and the store was literally down to it’s last few items for each style.  So this year, Coach released another Mickey collaboration only in their outlet stores.  The assortment was reminiscent of the original collection, but included a lot more styles and variety.  You best believe I snatched up a bunch of the bags and maybe a jacket…or two. Well, one of the jackets was gifted to me, so that doesn’t count.  But regardless, this was probably my favorite collaboration of the year.  I wear those Coach x Disney bags so often and the jackets I’ll keep forever!mickey mouse disney style coach sugar cookie disney eats food

disney style mickey mouse true original 90 birthday walt disney family museum san francisco

UNIQLO x Olympia Le-Tan “Minnie Mouse Loves Dots”

Another collection I loved was the UNIQLO x Olympia Le-Tan “Minnie Mouse Loves Dots” collection.  I’m usually more of a Mickey lover, but the Minnie graphics were too cute to pass up.  I especially loved the embroidered details that tied all of the pieces together.  I’ll admit, some of the shirts were too sweet for my taste, but I fell in love with the cropped tattoo-esque shirts with Minnie’s face and banners flanking each side of the collar.  I loved it so much, I picked up both the black and red colorways.  I also picked up a couple of the bags, but my favorite is probably the red structured Minnie bag.minnie mouse style uniqlo zara san francisco disney style

Arezzo

This one, I’m quite sad about because THEY ARE ONLY SOLD IN BRAZIL.😭😫 I was actually so close to snagging something from this collection thanks to a sweet friend that offered to pick it up for me.  But I guess it wasn’t meant to be because my size was sold out in almost everything.  Anyways, Arezzo is a Brazilian shoe brand that released a super diverse Mickey inspired collection.  The range included espadrilles, classic pumps, and trendy slides.  I especially wanted the yellow Mickey ear slides because they are perfect for a Mickey disneybound and add that great pop of color to everyday outfits.  Hopefully, someone out in the world is re-selling theirs!🙏🏻

 

Cakeworthy

Cakeworthy released it’s first official licensed Disney collection earlier this fall and it is amazing.  Cakeworthy always delivers the coolest Disney streetwear clothes around.  Compared to many other small apparel businesses that create Disney-inspired clothes, Cakeworthy items always have that unique punk edge.  I immediately loved the Neverland denim embroidered jacket and the novelty Mickey pizza bag.  Both are a little out there, but super special pieces that can’t be found anywhere else.  I’ve known the brains behind Cakeworthy for a few years now and they are amazing people.  They always find that one thing that Disney fans want but doesn’t actually exist, and then make it into a reality.  Their ability to identify the white space within the Disney apparel world is what puts them ahead of the rest.mickey mouse disney style true original 90 birthday levi's levi

cakeworthy neverland peter pan denim jacket disney style second star to the right

Photo from Cakeworthy’s Disney Lookbook!

Pendleton

I know this one isn’t necessarily clothing, but I had to add it in after my boyfriend so thoughtfully gifted me the Pendleton Mickey wool blanket for Christmas!  After seeing it as part of a Disney Style gift guide, I immediate knew I had to have it.    They also released a few kids’ throws which are adorable for families with younger children.  But for the adult that’s young at heart, the Mickey’s Salute throw is perfection.  It’s the ideal mix of Pendleton’s classic geo patterns and old school Disney charm.  And I am a total sucker for that timeless Mickey.  If I ever end up not using it (stab me if that ever does happen though because that would be a heinous crime committed against this blanket), I love the idea of framing it and making it this huge piece of artwork to hang on the wall!

pendleton mickey mouse 90 birthday true original disney style

So those are my top five favorite Disney collaborations from this year!  There definitely was a huge number of Disney collections, but these were the few that I really coveted.  And the fact that I had to narrow down my choices is exciting!  Compared to 2016, I felt 2017 was the year many designers and companies finally realized that people love Disney and Disney products!  Within the past few years, I think more people are finally comfortable showing their love for Disney in everyday life – namely in apparel!

I could be completely wrong on this, but I feel like Disney lovers would wear all their gear in the park or to some kind of Disney event, but that’s the only “acceptable” time to sport it.  But nowadays, I walk around work and see other co-workers wearing their Star Wars sweater or a Mickey shirt and I get a little excited.  I think we’re coming into an age of “Screw it.  This is something I love, so I’m going to wear it.”  And now more than ever, people are braver about showing off the things they love.  And in terms of showing off Disney Style, I’m all for it.❤️

Cheers to a great 2018!🎉  And to more Disney collaborations!🐭

ABW

Shanghai Disneyland – Solo Travel Tips

Travel

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Forewarning: This is not necessarily advice on how to see the whole park in one day.  It is just some helpful solo travel tips.

So as I mentioned in my last post, I was fortunate enough to visit Shanghai Disneyland this past summer.  And navigating a Disney park alone isn’t new to me.  But navigating an international park is an entirely different situation.  Now, I’m not usually a solo traveller, but in case you ever find yourself wondering Shanghai Disneyland alone, here are a few tips that I hope will help make your visit a great and easy one!

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1. Use the single rider lines if possible and/or strategically plan your fastpasses.

This is actually a good tip for both solo travelers and groups.  I totally played it wrong this last visit as I didn’t take advantage of the fastpasses.  But when you first arrive to the park, find one of the fastpass stations and see what rides you’d like to get a fastpass for.  And some rides have single rider lines, that usually have shorter wait times than the regular stand-by lines, so take advantage!  Especially for Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron!  For more tips on how to beat the lines, search google!  There are tons of helpful blog posts from avid park goers floating around.

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2. Ask younger park-goers to help take your photo.

If you don’t get a castle photo, did you even really visit a Disney park? 😏 jk.  But I’ll be honest, I wanted at least ONE castle photo with me in it.  I found I had the best luck when I approached younger visitors that were dressed more stylishly.  Let’s face it, if they’re dressed in street fashion, they’re most likely wanting a good photo of themselves too.  And they’ll actually know how to use a camera phone or DSLR.  Sure there’s lots of people you could ask, but the majority are families with young kids and I just felt guilty burdening busy parents.  Especially since I didn’t speak Mandarin.  So find those street style, hipster looking visitors!  And of course, return the favor and offer to take a photo of them and their group afterwards.

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3. Or make sure you have a portable tripod of your choosing (gorilla tripod, selfie stick, phone back stand, etc.)

Before I found a pair of stylish friends that were willing to help me out, I actually used my camera on a gorilla tripod and had it clung to a nearby rail.  Did I look a little insane?  Yes.  But here’s the secret — no one knows you!  So what if older grandparents sitting around the park look like they’re judging you.  “Maybe I’m just trying to take some photos to show my own grandma, mister!”🙄  Anyways, having my gorilla tripod came handy when I wanted to take photos of myself.  If you’re savvy enough, you can also use it as an impromptu selfie stick.  Or even an arm extension for us shorties out there who just want a better glimpse of a parade.

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By the look of that bunny, I’m thinking this is a noms spot.

4. Learn basic words and phrases in Mandarin.  And don’t be afraid to charade your way through a conversation!

You should at least know hello (ni-hao, pronounced knee-how) and thank you (xiè xiè, pronounced sheh sheh).  This at least softens up the person you’re talking to because you’re at least trying to speak Mandarin.  And sometimes, that’s all they want to see.  Effort.  If you’re looking for a certain attraction, restaurant, or bathroom, have your map handy.  If you just point to what you’re looking for, the cast member will most likely understand, and point in the direction you should head.  And if you’re like me, you might be searching for specific kinds of adorable looking food and merch.  In that case, try to screenshot a photo of it on your phone BEFORE you get to the park.  Later, you can easily bring it up on your phone and ask a cast member.  And if all else fails, try your best to charade through your conversation.  It’s actually fun to be kind of goofy and cast members usually find it endearing and were more willing to help.

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Peace out, Shanghai! ❤

There you have it!  Just a few tips to help make your solo trip to Shanghai Disneyland a little easier and more enjoyable.  And I am by no means an expert of this park or solo travel.  There are tons of people out there on the interwebs that know this park inside and out and could probably give you so many more great guidelines and tips.  But these are just a few things that I found to be super helpful during my solo visit.  And honestly, part of the experience is not knowing what the hell you’re doing sometimes.😆  So here’s to hoping we can all be a little braver to be more adventurous!💪🏼

ABW

Disney Cruise: Aboard the Disney Wonder!

Disney Style, Travel

IMG_3094Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to sea we go!  A few weeks ago, I went on a Disney cruise with a group of friends and we were probably the only group of young adults without children.  I say young group of adults because there were actually older (probably retired) couples that were vacationing without children too.  AKA my life in 30ish years.

“Alisa, aren’t Disney cruises only fun for families and kids?”  On the contrary!  Yes, Disney cruises are aimed towards families, but as we learned, it is first and foremost a cruise.  Which means you still get great food and dining experiences, fun cocktails and drinks, and “adult only” areas.  All of these things just happen to have a little Disney magic sprinkled in.

So how’s a group of young adults supposed to enjoy a Disney cruise?  Well, let’s start with FOOD!

Each night we dined at a different “restaurant.”  The first night we ate at The Animator’s Palate, which honors the history of Disney animation.  You’ll find animation sketches everywhere and what once started as a still black and white drawing will then turn into a full-on colored animation by the end of the night!  Throughout the night, we were excited to keep tabs on the new changes we saw throughout the restaurant.  And to join in on the magic, we all Disney Bounded as Disney animated characters.  Erika and Vince of Village Haus were clever enough to bring a black and white outfit and then a colorful outfit to change into at the end of dinner!  So clever those two.  And spoiler alert (seriously, if you don’t want to know skip ahead now!): Sorcerer Mickey comes out in full force at the end and it was the best part of the dinner.

For our second night, we dined at Tiana’s Place, which obviously serves up tasty southern inspired dishes.  And we all decided to Disney Bound characters from The Princess and the Frog.  I probably ordered 5 courses that night, which was not ideal for my all white Mama Odie Disney Bound outfit.  And if you get a chance, take a lap around the room to see all the small details.  On one wall, there were cabinets filled with photos of Tiana’s parents, her dad’s recipe box, and various frog paraphernalia.  But again, the best part of the night was at the end of the dinner when Tiana and Louis led a fun-filled jazzy dance party!

golden mickey

Before or after dinner (depending on your scheduled seating time), be sure to catch at least one of the Broadway-style shows!  The first night was “The Golden Mickeys Live Show” in which Golden Mickeys are awarded to different Disney movies.  I assumed the usual characters would make an appearance — princesses, fab 5, maybe even Stitch and other critter characters if Disney was feeling adventurous.  But Disney threw me a massive curveball.  There was one portion of the show that featured Tarzan, Mulan, and are you ready for this…Hunchback of Notre freakin’ Dame!!  I may have cried a little while surrounded by small children that were constantly their parents who that character was that was walking funny.

And I cried not so much because they were some of my favorite movies growing up, but because it was just so great to see them represented in a show!  Quasimodo is NEVER in a show!  Just to see them get their moment in the spotlight and get recognition was somewhat emotional for me.  “Alisa, these aren’t even real people, they’re freaking animated characters.”  I knooowww, but they get validation and credit for being worthy Disney characters for once! 😭  But my tears dried up halfway through the Mulan segment.  Hopefully, more on that in a later post.

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Aside from great dining and entertainment, the Disney Wonder is full of prime instagram spots.  So for all those social media butterflies out there, you’ll love bopping around the boat getting all those cute photos.  For our group of social media enthusiasts, we were on a mission to take the most #basic Disney cruise photos.  And with the help of Taylor Jackson, we got some amazing shots and quite possibly the best basic Disney cruise photo ever.  Check out Taylor’s vlog to see how he captured these amazing photos!

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^The winner of the most basic Disney cruise photo.

Eating + entertainment + cute photo ops = fun for young adults on a Disney cruise!  And of course add a few drinks into the mix for an extra fun time. 😏🍹  But in general, you can always have a good time anywhere and anytime as long as you’re in good company!  And honestly, I think this trip was SO MUCH FUN because of the incredible people I got to experience it with.  Did I mention that I also cried during the last night of our cruise at dinner because I was so thankful for great time we had together and to just be there in that moment with all of them?  Oh, I didn’t? 😅  Well, now you know how grateful I was to be on this fun trip with these extraordinary people. 🤗  Go check them out! –> Leslie, Erika, Lindsay, VinceTaylor

ABW

Rock the Dots

Disney Style, Food, Style

dsc05877Since January is usually a birthday month in my books😉, I always tend to forget that it’s also a very special month for one of the top fashion icons – Minnie Mouse!  Throughout the month of January, Disney fans everywhere are encouraged to #RockTheDots to show off their own #MinnieStyle and Disney Style.

Rock the dots also purposely coincides with National Polka Dot day.  So a couple weeks ago, I brought out my dots!  I’ve had this American Apparel dot blouse for a few years now and I love it to death.  It always adds the perfect amount of whimsy to any outfit.  But with my round Asian face and short stature, going full on whimsy can tend to make me look a little tooo doll-ish.  And if you haven’t guessed already, I ain’t always a doll.😏

So I paired my shirt with sleeker items like a polished faux suede moto jacket and slick skinny jeans with a distressed knee, which helps give the whole look a little extra edge.  And to really #RockTheDots, I paired my dotted shirt with studded dot ballet flats.  Another great example of something sweet, yet polished with some edge.  And of course, I had to top it all off with my favorite Mickey bag.🐭

dsc05888Shirt: American Apparel, Jacket: Kohl’s LC Lauren Conrad, Jeans: Carmar, Shoes: Sam Edelman, Bag: Disney x Coach, Watch: Micheal Kors, Sunglasses: Quay

And since National Polka Dot day was on a Sunday, we of course had to go out for brunch.  So we stopped by The Palm House.  Got myself the spam and eggs benedict, which was much more filling than I was expecting it to be.  But the brown hash brown looking thing on the bottom…it’s actually a rice “hash brown” if you will.  Genius.  And the eggs… perfectlypoached.  Yolk splits that were food porn worthy.  And the spam wasn’t actual spam. Instead☝️, gourmet braised pork shoulder.  Yes, I may have had to wipe some drool off my face as I write this post.😛

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And aside from the food, the restaurant itself is adorable.  Is city beach house chic a decor term?  Lots of blue with palm green accents.  And if you’re sad about having to eat brunch instead of watching your favorite team play, fret not!  But come on, who actually says no to brunch?!  But if you insist on watching the game, there is a bar area with TVs and you can happily scarf down your jerk chicken tacos or huevos rancheros while watching people professionally tackle each other.  I, personally, prefer to enjoy a hot cup of tea.☕️

ABW

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Je Ne Sais Quoi

Disney Style, Food, Style, Travel

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There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the French expression je ne sais quoi, don’t you think?

Found that gem on google.  Did it make me sound posh and fancy?💁🏻 Unlike the cut off denim shorts I lived in while visiting Honolulu.  And even though many tourists and locals alike can enjoy all the luxurious things the city has to offer, my sister and I usually like to pretend we’re kama’aina.  For us, that means lots of shopping and eating.

To fuel up for our shopping pilgrimage, we stopped by Koko Head Cafe.  Opened by Chef Lee Anne Wong, a finalist on Top Chef, Koko Head Cafe serves up hefty dumplings and brunch-style Asian comfort food.   The cafe also captures that hometown diner feel with surf town decor and Wong’s framed personal photos.  And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Wong’s book Dumplings All Day Wong!  If you ask nicely, you can even leaf through it while you wait for deliciousness to be served.

After stuffing out faces, we needed to walk it all off…before heading to dinner of course.😅 So we stopped by Ward Village South Shore Market.  It actually underwent a huge re-model and I was excited to finally see it.  South Shore Market is comprised of 18 local merchants to showcase and cultivate Hawaii’s creative scene.  Shopping small couldn’t be any easier.  Walking through the stores, I also realized that many of the shop owners are probably POC.  Since Hawaii’s population is almost 40% Asian, it’s also likely that many of these creatives were Asian American.  So not only are you supporting small businesses, but you’re also supporting businesses owned by POC.  So. Much. YES.👏

Do you see that suitcase?  It’s filled with watercolor cards of creatures from Fantastic Beasts.  Yeah, ah-ma-zing!

And speaking of amazing, I also picked up these sparkle heel Zara boots the day before.  They were the last pair left and in my size, so you know…had to get ’em.  Don’t worry, they were on sale.😉  And one of the many apples of my eye, my Disney x Coach red cross body.  The perfect size for your phone and credit cards and comes with the cutest little Mickey hand charm.  It just has a certain je ne sais quoi, non??😏

ABW

dsc05573Shirt: Sincerely Jules, Crossbody: Disney x Coach, Shoes: Zara, Sunglasses: Free People, Shorts: Vintage