a treat

Shibuya day 2.

Today,  I was able to explore other parts of the city with a friend.

More good food, more shopping. The cake is from a fancy cafe called comme ca. Doesn't it remind you of gelato? We also randomly passed by Opening Ceremony and there was a live radio broadcast called `Go! Hunt My Style!' featuring famous Japanese artists -Anna Tsuchiya, Mademoiselle Yulia, and VERBAL from m-flo. I'm a huge m-flo fan, so this was a treat! Photography and video-taping wasn't allowed though, so sorry for not being able to post pictures!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading over to Osaka. Gotta get a good night's rest. Sweet dreams everyone!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

harajuku & shibuya

Started my week off right by hanging out at Harajuku and Shibuya, 2 of the best places to shop in Tokyo. I met up with a girlfriend I hadn't seen in 10 years, and she showed me around :) We stopped by Harajuku first, and I spent a while at the Forever 21- the inventory is much better than the ones in California. There are shops lined up endlessly on each side of the street, and it was especially crazy down Takeshita Street. Shibuya is famous for 109, a sort of shopping heaven. It was so cool to see all of the Japanese brand names in one place.

Well, that's it for now. Good night everyone<3

Love,

Samantha Mariko 

cute & comfy



Some new items I purchased in Japan!

I am already addicted to Uniqlo (the dress, shirt, and panties/tights are all Uniqlo). It's similar to American Apparel, but I personally think Uniqlo is better. The denim jacket is from a shopping mall that is 10 minutes away from where I am staying. So convenient. Stay tuned for more photos! :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

hello japan

These are a few photos from my first few days in Japan.

A bit overcast and some rain, but it's beautiful. I can't get enough of the food here! Panda cream puffs and bear-shaped donuts - gotta love it.

I've also been doing some shopping and I love how clothes are so cheap here. I'll probably have a new wardrobe by the time my trip is over.

Love,

Samantha Mariko

take off

I can hardly contain my excitement as I type this blog post. 

In a little over 24 hours, I will finally be in Japan! I used to visit every summer when I was a girl, but this will be my first time returning in 7 years. I'm really looking forward to reuniting with old friends, seeing my relatives, and familiarizing myself with the Tokyo area. I'll try to update my blog with photos of my trip as often as I can.

Today was a relaxing day, just packing for my trip and seeing my friends before I leave. I'm not sure if Japan has boba places like OC does.. good thing I had my boba fix! 

Next time, I'll be writing to you from Japan :) 

Love,

Samantha Mariko

shine

I had my hair color touched up and & styled a few days ago by a friend that goes to Toni & Guy.

 So happy with the results! Plus, the service was great, and I enjoyed observing the talented students at work. I definitely wouldn't mind going back again. Thank you<3

Love,

Samantha Mariko

red blue white

(blazer: H&M; shirt: Zara; belt: Urban Outfitters; tights: F21;

 heels: Christian Siriano for Payless)

The weather has gotten so much nicer again after the rain. 

I got this camel-colored blazer at H&M for only $40, and it's perfect for spring weather because it's not too thin. I also love the red detail on the inside. One of my other favorite purchases this spring are my Christian Sirianos from Payless. They are so comfortable! I even wore them for my recital because they were the only heels I had that didn't squeak on the piano pedals when I played.

And my Jason Wu bag that's in almost all of my posts... it just goes with everything :)

Hope you had a good weekend!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

mayer hawthorne

I was fortunate enough to be an extra in Mayer Hawthorne's single "No Strings" this weekend. It took place in Malibu, and one of the locations was a private beach - my first time ever! It was a beautiful day, perfect for a beach shoot. And all I had to do was play with a beach ball with other models :) To top it off, Mayer turned out to be really sweet and genuine, and such the gentleman. I was not expecting him to sweep me off my feet... 

I really recommend his music, especially his song "The Walk." His music has a retro soul vibe, and I personally think it's perfect to listen to on a summer day. He told us that he usually comes up with the ideas  for his videos, which is pretty cool. Check it out!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

san diego

(photos by A. Wang & yours truly)

Photos from my brief trip to San Diego yesterday. My friend took me around to all the hot spots in the area - Balboa Park, the Salk Institute, Hillcrest, and "the Cliffs." An abundance of breathtaking views, delicious food, and phenomenal architecture. I had a lovely time. Hoping I can go back before my trip to Japan!

Love, 

Samantha Mariko