Archive for January, 2009

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Leggings and Tights Are Not Pants

January 27th, 2009 by Manda | 22 Comments | Filed in Style

For a while now, people have been confusing leggings1 and/or tights2 with pants. It’s slowly becoming a fashion epidemic, and a horrible one at that. I see people that substitute pants with leggings and/or tights everywhere from my local shopping mall, on the subway, or even as I make my way from class to class. These people look perfectly normal, and often appear to be more well put together in terms of fashion except for one thing – they’re not wearing pants.

I don’t care how “in” the current look of using leggings or tights as pants is or how comfortable that look may be, they still aren’t pants. Leggings and tights are meant to be used for layering, such as with short skirts or light summer dresses. They were not designed with the intent of being paired with only an oversized hoodie and a pair of Ugg boots. When worn as pants, leggings make you look like your wardrobe is lacking an important element for any clothing ensemble: the bottom half of your outfit.

It’s not an attractive look, nor is it flattering, and the people that are able to pull off the leggings look are few and far between. If you can’t pull off a particular look for whatever reason, then even the most fashionable of fashion trends make a person look ridiculous instead of sophisticated. Being able for others to see your underwear lines displayed by your leggings-covered butt is not my idea of looking stylish, and frankly, I know very little people that have the right body shape to rock the leggings look without needing to feel self-conscious (leggings aren’t flattering, they hide nothing) and are able to pull it off without looking frumpy or clueless about fashion.

Leggings are only acceptable as pants if you’re off to a fitness class such as yoga or aerobics. Otherwise, they are not pants, and should only be used to layer an outfit, and never as actual pants.

ETA: While Googling about this subject, I found a very good resource. ;D

  1. Exhibit number one, number two [↩]
  2. Exhibit number three [↩]

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A Post Generator for Lazy Bloggers

January 26th, 2009 by Manda | 3 Comments | Filed in Online

Everyone runs out of ideas as to what to blog about every now and then; it happens even to the best of bloggers. All the brainstorming in the world might not be enough for a blogger’s writer’s block, but The Lazy Blogger’s Post Generator might just be enough to do the trick!

The Lazy Blogger’s Post Generator is pretty straightforward. There are three paragraphs that are littered with dropdown menus, and from those menus, you choose which phrase you’d like to be used in that particular sentence. Once you are done selecting your phrases, you generate your blog post, and ta-da! You now have a blog entry to post! I gave the generator a try, and this is what I came up with:

Holy Blog Of Doom, Batman! I just got slapped with a wet salmon – really – I have not updated this since people stopped clapping and Tinkerbell died… You would not believe how terribly tardy the Victorian internet can be. But I’m sorry you’ll just have to take my word for it..

I am flat out like a lizard drinking with setting fire to people wearing Crocs, selling my soul to Google, just generally being a delightful mistress to anyone unfortunate to cross my path. My day seems to involve the authorities from the second I am woken by murderous Teletubbies to sun down and beyond. I am wearing my budgie smugglers, but this damned rock is heavy.

I will try to remember I promised you I will write something that makes sense soon. Well, I’ll try. The Piccaninnies say I have to!

What post did the lazy blogger’s generator generate for you?

(Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!)

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I Love Chinese New Year

January 25th, 2009 by Manda | 15 Comments | Filed in Life, Question of the Week

Today, January 25, is Chinese New Year Eve. This means that I need to run around in preparation for the New Year today, getting everything ready before the Year of the Ox arrives. I need to clean my room and do all my laundry so that all of the bad spirits of the previous year are washed away with the arrival of the new year, and tonight I have to wash my hair as well as shower because washing hair on the first day of the New Year is bad luck. It is traditional for the entire family to get together and have a Chinese New Year Eve dinner, but as the majority of my family is in Hong Kong and I’m in the States, that’s not really an option for me this year.

Tomorrow, I have to call my family and wish them a happy new year (新年快乐) and prosperity for the new year (恭喜发财), among many other well-wishes. My personal favorite is 心想事成, which translates to “May all of your wishes come true.” Then comes the distribution of red packets (红包), which is one of the many perks of Chinese New Year! Additionally, I will abstain from eating meat for the first day of the new year, for it is believed that doing so will increase one’s longevity. It is also customary for people to visit their elders such as their grandparents, but due to geographical distance, again, that’s not an option for me. Altogether there are fifteen days of Chinese New Year (much like how there are twelve days of Christmas), and while I really only observe the traditional customs on the eve of the new year as well as the first day, it’s my favorite holiday.

I just love the feeling of a fresh start for a new year – cleaning, cooking, the well-wishes… I love how families get together and wish each other prosperity for the new year, how people visit their elders to pay their respects, and how everyone is always happy, giving out red packets and enjoying the delicious food that is served around New Year. There’s so much culture and tradition that is steeped into the customs of Chinese New Year, and I love the festive atmosphere and excitement that is part of the holiday. This is my first Chinese New Year without my family, and as it is my favorite holiday I am a little scared to spend it on my own – but I’m confident that my friends and I will make it a Chinese New Year to remember. Happy Year of the Ox, everyone!

Question of the Week: What is your favorite holiday, and why?

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