Monthly Archives: February 2020

My Little Room ~

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I live in NYC, rent is high, morale is low, but you make it work lol. I am renting a place because no millennial in their right mind would pay full rent for an apartment. My boyfriend and I are pretty handy with tools, so we DIY a lot of my room.

Its not super clear from the picture but I have a loft bed. My room is about 12X9 in total. We used the sides of a broken down IKEA bed and nailed them to the wall to create floating bookshelves.

It’s quaint, but I love my space. Marie Kondo has helped a lot with that, helping me to make sure 90% of my things spark joy!

It’s funny because when you live in a small space, if ANYTHING is out of place it will instantly look messy. Even a scrunchy on the floor will turn your room from cozy to catastrophic. Clever shelving and placement can make or break your space. Also I can’t say enough: UTILIZE VERTICAL SPACE. Build ALL the way up your walls for storage, use Command Strips if needed. If your lease allows, drill holes ( don’t forget to patch them up before you go to get your coveted security deposit back).

I like to read apartment therapy, and watch Japanese apartment walk-throughs on NHK World Japan.

Stay Trendy, Stay You
—TBG

I Found A Loveeee ( again lol)

Posted in Meow, Random Thoughts by

I’m getting a(nother) kitten! And since its Valentine’s Day I was going to name her Val. But since my other cat’s name is Yang, I went for Valyin!

She looks so sweet

All Smiles

We brought her home on a chilly February night to meet her older sister Yang.

New siblings

They got along famously — for a whole 24 hours TT_TT. On Val’s second day she made the unforgivable mistake of eating from Yang’s food bowl when we weren’t looking. So she has been getting hissed at ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

I’m innocent I tell ya!

She has a 2 hour cycle: Eat, play, sleep, repeat. Kittens are a ton of energy and wow I was not prepared.

Fur Momma and kitten — worn out. #Caturday

Playtime!

But I love her to pieces

She will have her first vet visit next week at Bond Vet clinic. Their prices are great! Will update sometime after that.

Stay Trendy, Stay You!
–TBG

Tryna Get My Workout On!

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So I started this crazy thing where I go to the gym at 7am every two days before work starts and flail around for 45 minutes lol. I haven’t gone to the gym in about a year, and i have seriously lifted weights in three. I look fit, but I can feel my strength fading, and I’m not happy with that lol. I STARTED THIS POST IN 2016. It took me 4 years to finish it, because I have the shortest attention span, and you know, life happens.

And some pics of my highest deadlift in 2013, 2 plates or 225 pounds

Here I am February 2020, again I look good. But I don’t feel as strong as I would like.

Instagram baddie? Not really lol. I’m sucking in my stomach and I did way too many sit-ups for this. Which reminds me I will post a rant about my feelings regarding social media and this so called Face Tune app that has me going to the gym like crazy. It really annoys me that people can just pretend, then have the nerve to body shame people who actually work-out.

That’s neither here nor there though.
Stay Trendy, Stay You
—TBG

Nails, nails, nails!

Posted in Fashion by

Okay so I want to say since mid 2019 through early 2020 I’ve made more of an effort to frivolously decorate my extremities. Manicures are a great way to do that. It has been a lot of fun discovering different ways to decorate.

As for me, this is one of my favorites, modeled by yours truly:

They make my battle scarred hands look not so terrible lol. I got to a local spot in Queens, NY called Crazy Nails. Your experience really depends on who you get, their skill level and station. I happened to find a pretty good employee so I stick to him like glue. I’ve heard male nail techs are better than female ones and while I am not usually one to stereotype, it may be true.

Hope you have a great day! Nailed it! ROFL.
Stay Trendy, Stay You!
–TBG

Senegalese Rope Twists – Attempt #2

Posted in Healthy Hair Journey by

Annnd I’m back at it. Got a lot of help from my partner this time with the parts and spacing. Reused the same hair from last time. Click here for a short timelapse video of the takedown.

Here’s what I used:
***********************************************

  • – Hair (taken out from last time)
  • – Your favorite hair gel & moisturizing products
  • – Any rattail comb
  • – some duck clips
  • – Small rubber bands & hair oil

Le process took about 6 hours. But it should last around 3 weeks or so, fingers crossed. We started with freshly blow-dried hair and a trim ( I don’t recommend this, the ends do not blend well with rope twists after a fresh trim)

(aforementioned trimmed hair)

Here’s me pouting cause he wouldn’t let me help lol

And finally the end result:

That’s that folks. ( I’m not angry lol just can’t see well when my glasses are off center).

Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG

Corny Self Love Post ~

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Lis for the way you look at meeeee

It’s February! Black History Month & a month where love is celebrated. So I am doubly thankful for my heritage and being a person with a big heart.

It has become very important to me to love myself in new and meaningful ways. For me, it starts with self care; maintenance, upkeep and beautification that promotes relaxation.

As I learn to love myself and others in new ways, I feel more gratitude towards people who freely mete out kindness and acts of love without expecting anything in return either short term or long term.

So if its thanking others, exploring art or just smiling at myself, I am definitely feeling the positivity that self love promotes. Things I used to dread or view negatively ( wasting time in the gym, makeup, fruitless actions) I have changed my attitude about.

It also helps that I found the love of my life, aside from me. He is my world and I am so very thankful he entered my life.

Here’s to us ๐Ÿ™‚

So three cheers for all of you loving people. And Happy Valentine’s Day โค

Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG

Throwback Thursday ~ 1999

Posted in Healthy Hair Journey, Random Thoughts by

Given that this is a personal hair blog, and today happens to be Thursday. I thought I’d share miniTBG from waaayy back in 4th grade.

Young TBG had very damaged hair. My mom gave me a “Super Perm” at the tender age of 8 years old, and most of my hair fell out. Three years later she would attempt again and it took the rest out.

This photo is also evidence of a burgeoning otaku, the early signs of a future cosplaying, track running, blog posting, culture-o-phile oddball.

If I happen to have some readers from outside of the States, I’ll breifly explain the African American system of relaxers/perms:

There’s tons more that goes into all of this, but I’ll save it for my future dissertation in grad school lol.

Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG

Twinkle Twinkle Little Bao ~โ˜†

Posted in Food & Fun, Random Thoughts by

There’s this super cute dumpling shop near my job. They have a nice bao + specialty drink special for like $10.34 lol. The staff is really friendly and nice to look at lol.

They have the cutest Heimlich Maneuver poster:

I accidentally broke their floating magnet tree thing by mistake too >.< Cause I’m clumsy AF.

Overall its a great healthy bite at a decent price. This place is cashless so be forewarned.

Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG

Let Me Tell You Bout Ma Bessst Friend~โ˜†

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It’s Tootin’ Tuesday! Ya know what that means! I reckon its time I told you folks about my not-so-secret office weapon: Poo-pourri.

It’s an office worker’s lifeline.

We spend most of our day at work. Heck, most of our lives. At some point we will need to use the bathroom. I suffer from a pretty gnarly case of anything-I-eat-comes-out-smelling-like-Armageddon-sulfur, or you know, lactose intolerance.

Don’t be this guy

No one wants the “Blew-Up-The-Bathroom” Award, least of all me. So when I am elegantly pinching a loaf, I make SUUURREEE I’ve got my spray with me. Trust me, you’d thank me if you worked at my office.

Stay Trendy, Stay You
— TBG

I Found A Love ~โ™ก

Posted in Meow, Random Thoughts by

I recently adopted a sweet older girl from the Best Friend’s Animal Society. They are an AMAZING no kill animal shelter in SoHo NYC, and they have lots of other locations as well. They take exemplary care of every soul in their care with a suite of veterinary services. Dental care, micro-chipping ( so you an your fur baby are never separated forever) and check-ups are included. You can be sure that any lovely baby you adopt has been thoroughly examined (expecting moms and sensitive siblings need not worry). In fact, they do not clear the adoption unless the animal has a clean bill of health signed off on by the vet. They even provide you with a host of resources for post-adoption care. Check them out if you live in NYC.

Yang2020 lol

Her name is Yang, and she’s a terror. She sleeps on my head. Yowls at the top of her kitty lungs at 6am like she’s never been fed, and best of all, she has no teeth lol.

I got her some nail caps from Amazon. Personally I am against declawing, and I definitely do not want to return her to the shelter.

And here are more pics of my little terror

I am planning on moving this summer, so like I have done for my other pets I designed her Pet Resume. Some buildings insist on it along with your application for tenancy. Here’s hers:

pretty short and sweet, simple pet resume

I can’t wait to spoil her with a whole bunch of necoichi products, I’m a sucker for anything Eastern and artsy. I’m getting her a little sister in a few weeks. So stay tuned for the next kitty post!

Stay Trendy, Stay You
–TBG