Kat Kuan

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Allen Edmonds: The Presidents’ Shoes

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You’ve heard how great shoes can make the outfit. And to look like a classy guy, check out the shoes from Allen Edmonds.

In fact, this brand is American-made and worn by many past Presidents for their inaugurations, which include Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. They wore the Park Avenues.

The shoes are well-made. You can tell by the look and feel of them that they would last you a long time. More about the quality of the shoes here.

Here are some photos from inside their store. I went with Vince, and he ended up boxing up his sneakers and literally walking out with a pair on his feet! More photos on that below.

allen edmonds shoes

He tried them on…

And fell in love with them.

Look at that smile.

Perfect photo-op with the Stanford Shopping Center logo in the background too

Another close-up of the beauties.

Yes he needs to hem those jeans

They also have casual sneakers too! Great for looking good at work in Silicon Valley.

After admiring all the shoes, we checked out. Vince bought shoe trees as well.

allen edmonds store

Then we headed to dinner! Date night in his new shoes.

He was happy and walked with an extra spring in his step.

Alright, hope you enjoyed reading about this shopping experience with Vince!

To check out the shoes, visit Allen Edmonds or find a store to go in-person.

If you need style help for your wardrobe and you’re based in the Bay Area, email me at styledbykatkuan@gmail.com and let’s talk.

September Favorites

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These are my favorites for the month of September 2018!

1. Pur Water filter – 18 cup capacity.

2. Crest White strips

3. Everlane Cotton Box-Cut Pocket Tee – Muted Pink. I got size XXS.

4. The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. I listened to the audiobook version.

5. KKW beauty

Nude Creme Lipstick – Nude 5

Nude Lip Liner – Nude 2

I also mentioned the EM cosmetics brand Rose Nude Infinite Lip Cloud.

6. Morning motivation YouTube videos

Just do a youtube search on “morning motivation.” Example: Live Your Dreams.

Thanks for reading and watching!

Keep an eye out for my blogpost soon about the author talk with Kevin Kwan from the book Crazy Rich Asians.

And register to vote if you haven’t already!!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I enjoy these items regardless and want to share them with you!

August Favorites

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These are my favorites for the month of August 2018!

1. Priority Pass – Get access to select airport lounges.

2. Cardholder from Ann Taylor – They don’t have it anymore but you can just search for “cardholder” online (i.e. Macys).

3. Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation – I got the shade 25 Soft Beige.

4. Ardell Deluxe Pack Lashes – You can choose from different lash styles. Also available at CVS, other drug stores and beauty supply stores.

5. Self Journal – See my unboxing video here or podcast episode on it.

6. The Alchemist – A powerful story about self-discovery from Paulo Coelho. It’s an international bestseller and was on the NY Times bestseller list for 358 weeks.

7. Luluemon Speed Up Tight Full-On Luxtreme tights – Comes with the side pockets and the back pocket. Free hemming in store. Shout-out to Ali for the recommendation!

Thanks for reading/watching!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I enjoy these items regardless and want to share them with you!

Answers to the 3 Most Important Questions in Life

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The Three Questions By Jon J. Muth

This book has so much wisdom.

The Three Questions is about a boy who wants to be a good person but doesn’t know how to do that. He has 3 questions:

  • “When is the best time to do things?”
  • “Who is the most important one?”
  • “What is the right thing to do?”

All very important questions that I also have…

He seeks advice from his animal friends, but feels like their answers are missing something. He goes to see a wise turtle for an answer and along the way, discovers some powerful answers to his questions.

He learns:

  • The best time to do things is now.
  • The most important person is the one you’re with at the moment.
  • And the right thing to do is to do good for the person in front of you.

Those are such beautiful answers. Love this book so much!! It’s inspired off a story from Leo Tolstoy and told with beautiful pictures and a simple storyline for kids to understand.

For more info, here’s the Amazon link for the book The Three Questions.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. And of course, I would recommend this book regardless.

December Favorites: Holiday and Winter-Themed Kids Books

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Holiday season is in full swing! I have been checking out handfuls of kids books from the nearby libraries on anything winter / holiday themed. Here are my favorite finds of this month!

1. Tacky the Penguin

2. The Mitten

3. A Hat for Mrs. Goldman

4. Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect

5. An Orange for Frankie


6. A World of Cookies for Santa


Okay the below books are not holiday themed, but they’re so adorable, I had to include them! 😉

7. I Love You Through and Through


8. The Big Orange Splot

9. The Jolly Postman

And for my random item…

10. KitchenAid Blender

In the last few months, I have been using my blender A LOT – like several times a week. I’ve been making green smoothies in the morning for breakfast or for a snack. I have an older model with 4 speeds that they don’t sell anymore, but this one looks closest to it. I heard Vitamix is great too, but out of my price range for now, so I’ve been happy with my KitchenAid one!

Alright, hope you discovered something new in the list that you didn’t know about before! Happy Holidays and enjoy the rest of your December!!

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links, but I would recommend these things regardless. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thanks for your support! 

Love Warrior: The Most Soul Baring Book I’ve Read

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I could not put this book down. It usually takes me months to finish this book, but I zoomed through these pages in about a week. I read at every spare chance I got, early in the morning or late at night. I had wide eyes at what the author was saying as I turned each page of the book.

LOVE WARRIOR BY GLENNON DOYLE MELTON

This is a memoir of the author’s life. She writes about growing up and wanting to fit in. She describes the first time she stares down at her thighs as a pre-teen and is uncomfortable with her body. She talks about these insecurities and flashbacks from school as if they just happened yesterday. She pretends to fit in with all the makeup, clothes, and parties through college and her early 20s. But they lead her into a downward spiral of bulimia and alcoholism as she desperately tries to escape her pain.

She goes through an abortion and then finds herself pregnant again. But this time, it’s different. Lying on the bathroom floor, she decides to take the pregnancy test as an invitation from God. An invitation that He trusts her enough bring a child into the world. She gets married and has her first baby, followed by two more children.

On the outside, it looks like she “has it all,” but on the inside, she grapples with feeling like her life is in shambles. If people ask her what’s wrong, she continues to say “it’s okay, I’m fine, really.” She admits a lack of connection with her husband. She starts to hole up in her closet and finds freedom in writing her true feelings on her blog – feelings she can’t verbally express to her husband face-to-face. One day in a counseling session, her husband confesses to being unfaithful throughout their marriage. It sends her into another downward spiral. She hits the bottom-est bottom there ever was. She questions the fundamentals of her identity – “Is my marriage a sham? Is my life a sham?” She is angry, hurt, and all the emotions that ever existed all at once.

But this time, she learns to face the pain. In a winding and messy path, she becomes reacquainted with her true self, which is buried miles beneath all the years of pretending. It’s underneath all the lies from society that is piled on top of her about what a successful life is supposed to look like. Her path to healing is full of false starts and stops. She learns to connect her mind and body through yoga (even learning to breathe again) and attempts to rebuild a life on her own terms.

I don’t think my description of the book can do it justice. Numerous times throughout the book, tears would well up in my eyes because the story was deeply touching. Glennon is able to capture into words the most gut wrenching feelings of isolation, loss, and hurt that is so core to the human experience.

The book is about what happens when we get stuck in the most stuck places of all, and how we manage to crawl out of those dark places. There are certainly very beautiful moments as she rediscovers herself and what unconditional love feels like. Because there is a God that loves us for every ounce of who we are. Whether or not we feel like we deserve it.

I loved the book and it made me feel like I’m not alone in how I feel, even in my darkest, most selfish feelings. Because paying attention to our needs can actually nurture our souls and lead us to a more beautiful authentic life.

If any of the story sounds interesting, Love Warrior may be worth a read for you during the holiday season. You can get it online, at a bookstore, or your local library, which is how I picked up the book.

If you’ve read any other good books lately, I would love to hear about them too!

Lots of love,
Kat

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, but of course, I would recommend this book regardless. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

November Favorites: Kids Books on Family, Food, and Gratitude

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The holiday season is upon us! I wanted to do this month’s favorites on children’s books in the spirit of Thanksgiving. I chose books that reflected the themes of family, food, and/or gratitude. So hooray, here we go!

1. THANK YOU BEAR


This is “for anyone who ever thought they had something great,” as described on the dedication page. This endearing story is about a little bear who comes across a box. He thinks it’s quite awesome, but as he shows it to the other animals (monkey, fox, owl, etc…), they scoff and say that the box is nothing special. I could empathize with the poor bear as he got sadder each time. He starts to think that the box may not be so great after all. 🙁 I won’t spoil the ending, but I think the book has a great lesson in gratitude and in staying true to yourself when you see the value in something – despite what other may people think.

2. THE BLESSINGS JAR: A STORY ABOUT BEING THANKFUL


A little girl starts off her day feeling bummed and thinking that the day will be no fun. Her grandmother grabs a jar that they call the blessings jar and they set out on an adventure to make the most of their day. Along the way, they gather little reminders of God’s blessings to put in the jar. It’s an adorable story of counting your blessings even in the smallest details of every day life.

3. COOKIES: BITE-SIZE LIFE LESSONS


In this clever book, the author explains life lessons (or rather character development traits) in the context of cookies! For example, “patience” is explained as waiting for the cookies to finish baking. Oh I definitely know that feeling. “Generous” is described as sharing cookies with others, while “trustworthy” means not eating someone’s cookie when they briefly leave the room. Ha! I love how everything is described as it relates to cookies because who doesn’t love cookies?! And the book ends with a recipe for chocolate chip cookies!! I think that would be a perfect activity to do with a child after reading this book. I love when you can feel and taste the story! 😛

4. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS


Ah, such a classic. I remember reading this growing up and loved reading it again recently. The story stretches your imagination to the extreme. Unrelenting torrents of food. Yup, that appropriately describes Thanksgiving. I get hungry thinking of hamburger storms and a pancake big enough to cover an entire school. P.S. Apparently there’s a movie and a sequel out too!

5. THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!


From the author of the Elephant & Piggie series, Mo Willems brings another entertaining book. This is a silly and fun book about a tricky fox who tries to invite a goose over for dinner. Uh oh, be careful! 😮

6. YOU GET WHAT YOU GET


Melvin the squirrel doesn’t deal well with disappointment. (Who can relate?) He throws a tantrum if he doesn’t get what he wants. But at school, his teacher has a rule, “You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.” Melvin tries to outsmart his family, who doesn’t know the rule… or will they find out? This is a fun story of learning to accept how things turn out, without complaining! And wouldn’t that make the world a more pleasant place… 🙂

7. THOSE SHOES


This is a touching story of a boy who really wants a pair of shoes that the other kids at school all have, but his grandmother can’t afford them. As he navigates the embarrassment of having to wear hand-me-down shoes, this story about wanting something badly turns into a story of generosity. The author and illustrator do a great job of showing diverse characters and providing a glimpse of poverty from the eyes of a child.

8. SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE


Sylvester the donkey loves to collect cool looking pebbles. One day, he finds a fantastic magical red pebble that grants any wish you want, as long as you are holding the pebble. He get into a little predicament when he gets startled by a lion and accidentally wishes to become a rock. The pebble falls on the floor beside him, so he cannot reach it to make a wish to be his old self again. The book goes into how he tries to deal with that problemo! Ultimately, I like how this fanciful story shows that the love in a family can be worth more than a silly pebble, even if it can grant you any wish you want.

9. UNIQLO ULTRA LIGHT DOWN JACKET

Source: Uniqlo

And for my last random favorite, I would say that I can’t survive without this black puffy jacket. I get cold easily and Bay Area weather can get unexpectedly chilly (I know, I’m a pansy.). I’ve had this jacket for so long and worn it everywhere. If it’s summer time, I’ll will wear it. If it’s winter time, I’ll wear it. It’s washable and you can squish it into a teensy bag for travel purposes. This one time, I was wearing it, and my 2 friends decided that they needed one too, so now the 3 of us have the same jacket! You’re welcome Uniqlo for being a walking ad.

Alright, that’s a wrap! Do you have any favorites that you discovered this month? Leave them in the comments below!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday! Eat until your eyes and hearts are satisfied. 😀

And keep reading! Perfect weather for cozying up with a book, magazine, or anything with words. Cheers!

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. At no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Regardless of this, these are books that I honestly enjoy and would recommend anyways. Thanks for your support! 

October Favorites: Children’s Books & More

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Lately, I’ve been reading more children’s books for inspiration.

It’s become a bit of scavenger hunt to find great books. They’re like hidden gems – hidden among the stacks of books available in libraries / bookstores, or even buried within random book discussion threads on the internet.

And when you find a magical book, it feels amazing!!! So here goes my favorites for the month of October.

1. You are Special by Max Lucado


This is the book I’m the most excited about!! Thank you to my dear friend Ines for suggesting this gem to me. So touching, with such an important message for kids and adults. The symbolism in this book runs deep (Max is a talented Christian author), and his writing here is quite masterful. I hope that you get a chance to read this one at some point in your life.

2. Toot by Leslie Patricelli


On the opposite end of the spectrum, this book is completely silly and fun. Toot is a book about farts, which is always a topic that makes people laugh. The format is in a board book for babies. Warning: the word “toot” will get stuck in your head. 😛

3. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn


Little Chester the raccoon doesn’t want to go to school. He would rather stay home with his mother, but she tells him a family secret to soothe his worries. 😉 This book gave me warm fuzzies. Would be perfect for kids who are feeling anxious about leaving home to go to school.

4. Doctor De Soto by William Steig


This book turned out to be a suspenseful page-turner for me, haha! Doctor De Soto is a mouse and he’s a dentist for other small animals. One day, a fox comes for help with his toothache, and the dilemma becomes: if Doctor De Soto fixes the fox’s tooth, will the fox eat the doctor and his wife??

5. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes


Turns out that this is another story about a mouse! There’s just something endearing about them – in paper form (not in real life). From the time she was born, Chrysanthemum loved her unique name. Until she went to school and the kids relentlessly teased her about it. I could feel her blushed cheeks and embarrassment, poor girl! The charming book uncovers how she deals with this and comes to terms with her name / identity.

6. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen


This is an entertaining tale about a bear looking for the hat that he’s lost. Even though the bear is in such an unfortunate circumstance, I couldn’t help but laugh at his expressionless face. 😆

7. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Harold has a purple crayon that he wields with great power! (Don’t you just love crayons?) On his walk in the moonlight, he is able to draw what he imagines and wants. Oh the possibilities! This is a fun bedtime story about the power of imagination. Thank you to Chris and his aunt for the book recommendation! And P.S. this makes me want to draw on my plain boring walls. 😛

8. My last favorite for the month are my pink slippers! Fall is upon us and it is getting chill-ay! I like to keep my feet cozy as I read books, hang out on the couch, cook, or write this blog post. And despite this image, note that they come in a pair, not just one slipper lol.

Alright, that’s a wrap! Hope you enjoyed this post! Did YOU discover any new favorites in October? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

I also want to mention that I am part of the Amazon Affiliate program, so if you make a purchase from here, at no extra cost to you, I will receive a small commission – which I’ll be using towards my living expenses as I write my first book! Regardless of this though, I would honestly recommend these items. Thank you for your continued support and awesomeness!!

Official Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Favorite Children’s Books

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As I write my own children’s book, I am continually inspired by books that others have written and illustrated. Here are 10 of my favorite ones! For a description of these books, check out my latest YouTube video!

1. What Do You Do With An Idea? By Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom

2. Indestructibles: Baby Faces By Amy Pixton and Kate Merritt

3. Indestructibles: Baby Peekaboo By Amy Pixton and Kate Merritt

4. The Family Book By Todd Parr

5. Dragons Love Tacos By Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri

6. There is a Bird On Your Head! By Mo Willems

7. Can I Play Too? By Mo Willems

8. Green Eggs and Ham By Dr. Seuss

9. The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein


10. Love You Forever By Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw

Many of these authors have written other books, so I’ve included links to related books from them. Not all sequels are as great as the original 😛 but I wanted to include them in case you’re curious. Especially for some of the series like Elephant & Piggie and Indestructibles, I haven’t read all of them yet, but I’m sure there are some other good ones in there too!

Anyhow, hope this list was helpful!

And I’m curious, what are some of your favorites? Leave them in the comments below and I’d love to check them out! 😀

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. At no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Regardless of this, these are books that I honestly enjoy and would recommend anyways. Thanks for your support!