Getting Ready for Lunar New Year with Ling Ling Asian Kitchen

This post was sponsored by Ling Ling, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

One of the resolutions I made going into the new year was to cook at home more. Last year, I spent a fortune on take-out and wanted to find a way to cut down on costs. Well, the universe must have been listening to me because I was recently invited to take part in a Lunar New Year-themed cooking class with Ling Ling Asian Kitchen, hosted by Chef Katie Chin. Who here is familiar with them? I remember when I was younger, my mom used to purchase the Ling Ling brand potstickers for me at Costco (and boy did I love them!). So, imagine my glee when I got invited to cook with the brand! Full circle moment, you guys. I had always been familiar with the brand's potstickers but had no idea that they also made noodles and fried rice products. If you're just finding out about these products, or even the brand for the first time, then keep on reading - because I've got more for you. 

Stacker Style: Viva La Good Vibes

A midweek hello from your girl! It's raining here in SF, but a few weekends ago, the sun came out and this tee (and smile) came out. It's an oldie but a goodie from Marine Layer; I originally bought it for a trip to Palm Springs! I've actually found myself wearing it (okay, this whole outfit) repeatedly (give or take sunnies and denim jacket swapped for a huge puffer coat, lol) because of how comfortable it is. It's an added bonus that this tee is incredibly soft. Plus, good vibes are my standard for everything these days - if it doesn't make me feel good, I'm not into it. Negative vibes, closed minds, and anything/one else that doesn't serve me are not welcome. Nope. Not this year. I've got a lot of plans for this year, but am taking each day piece by piece. Should you feel inspired to ride the good vibe wave, I've linked to some similar tees in the widget below.

Stacker Style: Elevating My Closet

The older I get, the more my style changes - as it should be. For the most part, I'm still very much into comfy casual. I love my sneakers, I wear white tees (like the one above) more than I care to admit, I'm happiest in athletic wear, and I love my oversized outerwear. Having said that, I'm slowly getting better at purchasing items that complement my figure. And, better yet, over the last handful of years, I've ditched fast fashion (with the occasional hiccup here and there). I've been really into Everlane, ever since trying out their clothes for the first time last year. (You've seen my love of their wide leg crop here, here and here). I was pleasantly surprised when Derrick surprised me with these Everlane Oxfords for Christmas. To tell you the truth, I never would have picked out these shoes for myself as they're a little out of my comfort zone. But, as soon as I slipped them on, I was in love. Their great quality and though they're taking some time to break in, I know they'll be a staple in my closet for years to come. I originally received this trench as a gift from Two Feathers. Originally, the trench was a bit too big for me. But, after giving it another go, I decided the oversized fit worked the right outfit. Both the trench and the oxfords are two pieces really elevating my closet right now. And, of course, you can never go wrong with a classic white tee. Right?

Food Friday: A Couple of New Kids on the Block

This Friday, I thought that I would change things up a bit and share two new spots that have recently popped up in San Francisco. If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know what's what. More the reason to hit that follow button, eh? But in all seriousness, both of these spots are affordable, fast, and easy options for filling up. Read more after the jump!

Stacker Style: Bae Love

I grew up as a Niners & Giants fan. My grandma would (and actually still does, lol) watch hours and hours of baseball - it's her favorite sport. Of course, her favorite team is the Giants, so I pledged my allegiance early on. The same goes for the Niners. My parents watched a ton of football when I was growing up. I can still hear my moms screams, cheering on the Niners whenever they were on. Like every team, our Niners have had their up and downs. These last five years have definitely been a rollercoaster for the team, but I think they're finally back on the up and up. I got this Booger Kids sweatshirt years ago, and it's one I plan to hold onto until I have kids of my own. They'll obviously be Niners and Giants fans, too, so they're about to hit the jackpot when I hand over all my "vintage" goodies.

Stacker Style: Textures and Lengths

Another winning piece from my Boxing Day haul are these sweet straight leg jeans that I scored for $30. (I'm getting really good at finding under $50 deals, can you tell?) After taking a gander at my closet and realizing that all my pants were starting to become wide leg crop clones, I decided it was time to stick a straight leg in there. Still kept the crop, because I find them much more flattering on me. I will say that the crop style isn't quite the best for this cold, wet weather we're experiencing, but I'm not above wearing chunky socks and ankle booties, so long as it means I can keep my flattering fit, ha. Thanks to Boxing Day deals, these jeans have gotten gobbled up,  but there are still a few sizes left! These heels are long gone, but I've shared a few similar styles below. The heels (at a whopping $20, y'all!) were a major score from the Zara sale. They're of course a dupe of The Row's original kitten heel, but I'm balling on a budget so the knock-offs were a-ok with me. If you are, in fact, ballin', then I've linked to the originals in a few colors, below. I decided to layer my outwear (for extra warmth) and played with length to give my all-black ensemble a little something more than meets the eye. Texture and lengths are great ways to jazz up an otherwise monotonous uniform.

Stacker Style: Does This Make Me Look Cool?

When I asked Derrick if he thought I looked cool in this outfit, he said that he couldn't tell if he was just so used to seeing me wearing this style of 'fit, or if I really did look cool. Perhaps I'm biased, but I vote for cool girl vibes, right? I got these jeans and this fleece on super duper sale this past Black Friday. Jeans were (and still are) $10 and the fleece was under $20. I got the fleece in two colors because it's just that good and warm. The jeans have made it to the top of my favorite list. They do run extremely large - I am normally a 26/27 waist and sized down to a 25, but honestly, could (and should have) gone down to a 23. Not quite sure why they run so much larger than true, but strap a belt on and you're kinda okay. The coat is an old, old one from Nordstrom - actually a gift from my mom back in like the 7th grade. I'm not joking. How's that for something old and something new? Let me remind you that I turn 30 next month, so 7th grade is feeling waaaaaay long ago.  

Stacker Style: Here's to 2018

Here it is. My first post of 2018! It's crazy to think that I've been blogging since 2010. This blog (and you guys) have seen a lot. And yet, there's still so much more to see (feel, learn, and do). And that's what I am looking forward to this year. 2017 was a whirlwind - many valleys and many peaks, but 7 days in and I know (feel and truly believe) that 2018 will be the best one yet. Not just for me, but for all. I am looking forward to creating more, sharing more stories, meeting more people, and learning more about myself and everything else there is so soak up and learn in this world. Here's to 2018. Let's make it spectacular.