FFF - Fun Finds/Fashion Icon Illustrations and Farewells

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Fun Finds
There are such bold personalities in the fashion world that one may be instantly recognized by her style.   These fashion icon illustrations made me smile - when I think of Anna Dello Russo, funky fab headwear definitely comes to mind and Andre Leon Talley simply seems natural with a regal cape.  They could be characters in some type of fashion comic!  See the rest here.

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...bidding adieu to a good friend who is moving back to London.  We met during our studies in France and reconnected when Mr. Spend and Chomp and I moved here.  She has always been a sweet, sarcastic friend and we will be sad to see her go.  All of my friends all come from other countries and I suppose we are all so comfortable in our little bubble that we forget that this isn't a permanent home for all of us.  My husband did think about stealing her passport temporarily but she is moving back to be with her new husband so I suppose that is a good excuse.  It is still a little sad to have friends move away.  But we will toast her goodbye with a last meal of pizza and wish her well.

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Hot under {$100-all under $75!}/Sale Spotlight: Summer Styling via Madewell and Yumi Kim

What is your summer outfit?

You may already know that I am drawn to dresses (I'm all about the easy styling of t-shirt/polo dresses or silk dresses!) and love to top it off with a straw fedora, easy sandals, and a great pair of sunglasses (Tom Ford will always have my heart when it comes to sunnies but I am always looking for a fun pair!)

Yumi Kim is known for its beautiful prints, light silks, and casual chic pieces.  Get 25% off everything with code FRIENDS12 through July 1st.

Madewell aka J. Crew's laid back, little sister is a great place for weekend wear.  I also hear the jeans are pretty fabulous there and it helps that they are pretty affordable.  It is even more affordable through today when you use code WHYNOT and get an extra 25% off through today (sale prices are good too before the discount!)

Lola top, Yumi Kim, $73.50

Starlet shades, Madewell, $26.24 (otherwise $34.99)

Biltmore Panama hat, Madewell, $33.75 (otherwise $45)

Stella dress, Yumi Kim, $66

DIY Decor/Everyday Glamor : Candle stick holders as bracelet/cuff stand

Shopping for home decor - decor that is both functional and affordable - can take a while.  I was looking for decor that could be beautiful and functional.  Every day glamor can definitely be hard to achieve when I wanted something minimalist, didn't take up a lot of space, and still looked beautiful.

But one day, I looked at my tangle of bangles and bracelets and a picture of someone's living room filled with candles and had this light bulb moment - why not use candle stick holders to artfully stack my jewelry (specifically my bracelets)?

I bought the IKEA BLOMSTER set of candle sticks - these are simple, glass candle stick holders for taper/long pilar candles.  The shape is lean and long which is perfect for stacking cuffs.  Note that it is more  difficult to stack delicate bracelets if they are of varying widths (the smaller ones will fall through the cracks!)  But I do like the fun presentation of bracelets in a unique and way that doesn't take up too much room!

Here is how I use the candle stick holders as the bracelet holders:
1. Stack the sturdiest/thickest cuffs at the bottom.

2. Place cuffs and bracelets askew to ensure that the bracelets at the bottom support the ones on top.

3. Remember to remove the bracelets when you actually burn candles (the wax can definitely overflow with this particular model of candle stick holders).

Photo Love: Subtle colorblocking via Elle Indonesia June 2012

I love a little touch of color at home and in my apparel.  This editorial from Elle Indonesia shows that a  few contrasting shades of color can really make an outfit or a room pop.  Unfortunately I still rent, so I can't paint walls at my current place (I love the concept of two tone walls though-what a statement!)  But at least I can more easily create color blocked outfits.  Remember that color blocking is pretty achievable with your current wardrobe - a few complementary colors in the same color family (cobalt blue with baby blue) or different shades paired with white all go well together; shoes or accessories in pop colors can go with more than you think!

Have you been color blocking in your home or outfits?

Worthy Reads Roundup - Lulu Guinness for Uniqlo, How to Save money while traveling through SE Asia, and berry rose tarts for summer

Hope you had a great week lovelies!

Here is what happened at Chic 'n Cheap Living the past week:

- Photo Love: Summer wash via Vogue Korea May 2012

- Travel Tips: How to save money while traveling through SE Asia

- Hot under {$100}: Style for the birds

- Fashion Highlight: Uniqlo in NYC and Kisses and cats via Lulu Guinness for Uniqlo

- Fun Finds/FFF - Cloud House

Here are other worthy reads from blogger buddies and beyond:

- I am totally trying to teach myself how to make a few more braids - here is a great place to learn 6 braids for summer.

- I love using berries (I just made blueberry lemon muffins last weekend) and this berry tart with rose sounds like a wonderful twist on a sweet way to use some of my favorite fruits

- It is interesting to see more and more fashion designers making their forays into homeward - Paul & Joe's dinnerware has such sweet motifs

- I'm always trying to get my husband to decrease his intake of sugary drinks.  Though I don't know how much sugar is in specific drinks, this little quiz was quite the eye opener - did I just drink a half cup of sugar?!

FFF/Fun Finds: Cloud house and going to the movies

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Fun Finds

It's a good thing to be on cloud nine, but what if you could live inside it?  I love whimsical designs brought to life, like this cloud house built by McBride Charles Ryan in Melbourne, Australia (hmm could I take a detour here on my business trip next month?).  If I lived here, I think I'd always come home and smile because my house would just be so fun!

{Source}

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...finally catching a movie at the movie theater.  My husband has been itching to see "Snow White and the Huntsman" (he's all about an action packed fairy tale) so we will likely see that this weekend.  I think the last movie I saw at the theater I saw was "Avatar" so it has been a while!  I usually can't be bothered to try to get to the movie theaters at a certain time, but this should be a fun Sunday afternoon activity.

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Fashion Highlight: UNIQLO in NYC and Kisses and cats via Lulu Guinness for UNIQLO

I fell in love with UNIQLO all over again during my last visit to NYC (ok I know they are in Singapore too but their stores in NYC are just so much cooler!)  See my first two pictures as evidence (similar one of another rotating display shared on Instagram, I'm chicncheapliving).

Life size Barbie?!  My 10-year-old self just squealed and I absolutely adore their rotating mannequin displays too.  But I really just love their affordable, well made interpretation of basics and got a great Velvet x UNIQLO dress for the beach and an awesome $10 striped dress.

One of UNIQLO's current collaborations is with Lulu Guinness - that quirky accessories designer from across the pond.  All of the t-shirts feature Lulu's signature prints and are priced at $19.90.  I'm not normally a t-shirt girl, but these are pretty adorable!  I almost, semi-seriously want to get a cat t-shirt for my cat obsessed friend (hmm she loves them, but would she wear them?)

 

See them all here.

Hot under {$100}: Style for the birds

Is it possible for a pattern to be too fun to actually wear or use?

I definitely thought that was the case with patterns and style that incorporated birds.  I also thought that the bird print was just trendy and I hate buying things that may seem out of date in a few months.  But it looks like birds are an aesthetic inspiration that are here to stay.  They paint such an unexpected picture when they are printed on clothing, enough to make one look really closely to decipher the pattern.

Here are a few favorite bird pieces for your closet and home:

1. Monserat de luca 3 birds ring, $69, Shopbop

2. I Adorn You Coral Bird Flight, $40, Zappo's

3. Jonathon Adler Bird salt and pepper set, $50, Horchow (on sale for $35 through 8 am today!)

4. Bird print tie playsuit, $72, Topshop

5. Cloissone bird napkin rings (set of 4), $56, Williams-Sonoma

6. Women's bird print charmeuse blouse, $17.99, Old Navy

Travel Tips: How to save money while traveling through SE Asia

I'm slowly becoming more familiar with South East Asia as I spend more time here.  I've been to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia (not to mention other countries throughout Asia too).  I hope to continue adding to this list and really get to explore these countries further in the years ahead (it is amazing how diverse different cities can be within a single country).  The great thing about traveling in this region is that it can be pretty inexpensive once you're actually here.  Travel, accommodations, and food can be very reasonable while still maintaining high standards (keep it chic 'n cheap always!)

Here are some tips I've used to save money while traveling:
1. Research low-cost airlines (as well as land routes)

Is it easier/cheaper to fly or to take a bus/train?  Flying is a great option in this region because there are a few low-cost carriers.  My favorites are SilkAir (division of Singapore Airlines), Jetstar, and Air Asia - in that order.  We have had a few late flights and poor flight management with Tiger Airways so I wouldn't recommend them.  If you don't fly, it is definitely possible to take a bus or train.  The options will vary by city or country, but the hotel front desk is a great place to ask.

1a. Check out local travel websites
A group buying site from Singapore or Malaysia like Reebonz or Groupon would also be a good place to start looking at flight and hotel packages (the price can be really low - just check out the hotel reviews on an independent site like Tripadvisor!)  Also start researching in country websites for a location in that country.  E.g. Metrodeal.com and cashcashpinoy.com were recommended to us when searching for deals to El Nido/Palawan (one of the best beaches in the world!) and we will be using this when we plan our trip there!  Just check that you can register your foreign credit card on that site!

I had mixed feelings about Bali, but it is a beautiful place!

2. Pick a hub.
It is good to pick one central place and then plan your travels from that hub.  When you pick your starting point, think about the proximity of it to the countries that you really want to visit and the ease of transportation from that location.  E.g. if you want to stay in Cambodia, but also want to visit Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, it may be easier to actually stay in Malaysia or Singapore because their airports are well developed and more people in those countries speak English.

You can use Kuala Lumpur as a hub and easily get to remote parts like Cameron Highlands to view the tea plantations!

Singapore is a small place, but there are some great fashion events here, like the Hermes graffiti event!

3. Research hotels and negotiate the rate
Is the advertised rate the lowest advertised rate?  Well it doesn't hurt to ask the hotel and confirm their lowest rates.  Let them know if you are going for a special event and it doesn't hurt to tell them about your blog either (especially if you will write about the hotel like I have).  You may get a lower rate and even if you don't, you may get extra services thrown in.  Who doesn't like a free massage right (yes my husband and I both got them in Cambodia when we visited for our anniversary!)
Otherwise, I try to book through hotels.com or agoda.com because they have loyalty programs that span across diverse hotel chains (I am a Hilton Honors member as well and if the price is the same, will book directly on the website).  You can get one free night for every ten nights even though some of those hotels may have been boutique hotels and the others ones are multinational hotel chains.

I negotiated free massages and we got to see a few of my favorite temples in Cambodia!

4. Carry USD
Hmm you're in Vietnam but are asked for US Dollars (USD)?  Does this make sense?  Well to some people in SE Asian countries, it does make a lot of sense, especially if they want to get away from their own currency.  I've also paid for Cambodian and Indonesian on-site visas, as well as Philippines exit tax with USD.  I would actually suggest you carry a decent amount of small change ($5, $20 bills) for both entry fees and tips.  You may also be negotiate a lower rate if you offer USD vs. the local currency (calculate the exchange first of course to make sure it works out for you!)

Photo Love: Summer Wash via Vogue Korea May 2012

There are some days when I will find any excuse to be outside.  Even if that means (groan) hanging up laundry.  My husband is a clean shirt fanatic and doesn't like wearing the same shirt for too long hence ends up generating a full load of laundry by himself every week (excluding his work shirts which are taken to the cleaners!)  While I don't love doing laundry (mainly the folding part), I do recall that the act of laundry is a bit more pleasant when I did it at my parent's house during the summer and could hang it out to dry (Asians do love drying their laundry outside whenever possible).  I would have a few peaceful moments to myself during the mornings when I would hang the laundry outside and arrange everything in a tidy line.

While I don't necessarily dress up when I am hanging my laundry like these ladies in Vogue Korea, I suppose I always could.  It just goes to show that even the most ordinary tasks can be a little more fun when one wears a fun dress (I suppose it is a similar concept to me wearing nice clothing while cooking and at least this way my clothes are safer!)

Have a lovely week!

Worthy Reads Roundup - Hot under ${$100-actually $5!} at CB2, Gold and black fashion and interiors, and Chanel Little Black Jacket Exhibition

Hope you had a great week lovelies!

Here is what happened at Chic 'n Cheap Living the past few weeks:
- Photo Love: Waiting for Summer via H&M magazine Summer 2012
- {Fashion} Highlight: Corto Moltedo bags in Singapore
- Fashion and Interiors: Hot under {$70}: Gold and Black
- FFF - Memorial Day sales via J. Crew, Intermix, and Nordstrom's


- Photo Love {Inspiration}: Happy Memorial Day via Victory Day Kiss
- Hot under {$100}: Floral print jeans
- Fashion Highlight: Styld by Gap
- FFF - Imperfections are beauty and exploring Shanghai


- Photo Love {Inspiration}: Summer weekend activities
- Hot under $100/Sale Spotlight: Thinking pink at Banana Republic
- Fashion Highlight: Zara TRF May 2012
- FFF - Bare Escentuals 20% off and NYC visit

- Photo Love {Inspiration}: Pastel power via Marie Claire Russia June 2012
- Travel log/Worthwhile activity: Seaside strolls at the Embarcadero in San Diego, CA
- Hot under {$100-actually under $5}/Sale Spotlight: Glasses galore at CB2
- Fashion Highlight: H&M for Water Collection (with proceeds going to charity!)

- Fun Finds/FFF - Dubai Underwater hotel

Here are other worthy reads from blogger buddies and beyond:
- I am supremely bummed that I didn't get to see Chanel's Little Black Jacket exhibit when I was in NYC (I was just coming out of my cocoon from my extended China trip) but am very glad that the online exhibit is up and so cool - how cute is Joshua Jackson?

- How do you research a location for your next trip?  How about using suggestions from bloggers (totally bookmarking this for a trip to Stockholm in the future!)?

- Yum, I have recently started eating more beets and how cool is it to find out that beet leaves are delicious too!

- Ahh fashion and power...here is a peek into how Anna Wintour's influence is spreading beyond the pages of Vogue

FFF/Fun Finds: Dubai Underwater hotel and Wild Things

Happy Fun, Free Friday!

Fun Finds:
Under the sea - don't you wish you could be part of that world (yep I just quoted a Disney movie, well sorta)?

 

{Source}

I will never cease to be fascinated by a hotel that offers something a bit different from the norm (after traveling so much, I have to say a room is just a room!) So I am definitely interested when a hotel offers something starkly different, like a full underwater view! This underwater hotel in Dubai is still a concept, but I bet these views would be simply amazing.

I've met a few people who have lived in Dubai now and this only adds to the allure of the place (ok maybe the cheesy "Sex and the City" movie contributed as well!)  Either way, this is still a fun find for a unique hotel!

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...relaxing with my husband and catching a movie!  Ahh and it's not just any movie, but I saw that there was a screening of "Where the Wild Things Are" at a local museum and I just have to see it.  It just brings me back to my favorite books during my childhood (who else was obsessed with Scholastic and Troll Book Club?)

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous week!

Fashion Highlight: H&M For Water (summer clothing and a charity donation too!)

I need no excuse to shop (or at least window shop, I'm an excellent window shopper!) and as I've mentioned before, shopping that combines cute clothing with charitable causes is always a win for me!  Right now, H&M has launched the H&M for water project and 25% of all proceeds from this collection go to water sustainability projects mainly based in Banglasdesh, India and Pakistan.  Florals and a few bright colors dominate the collection, but I mostly like that it is somewhat muted.  There are definitely a few great options for summer here!

Prices range from $9.95 for the sunglasses (hmm I wish I got these the other day now!) to $39.95 for the dress and up to $24.95 for the bikinis.

 
 
 

Hot under {$100-actually below $5!}/Sale Spotlight: Glasses Galore at CB2

I usually like to hit up SOHO and browse along Broadway when I am in NYC.  I did a screeching halt and jaywalked my way over (old habits never die) to CB2 when I saw it from the corner of my eyes while shopping.  CB2 has the cutest home accessories at extremely affordable prices so I wanted to take a peek in the store.  

I was shocked to find .95 (yep under $1!) stemless wine glasses in the store.   Here are some other hot finds at the store for well under $100, all under $4!  Time to stock up to drink up!

Oliver martinis, CB2, $2.95 (from $3.95)

Stemless wine glasses, CB2, $0.95 (from $1.95)

Tambien barware, CB2, $1.95 (from $2.50)

Bloom etched stemless flute, CB2, $0.95 (from $3.95) 

Save!

- Go to Big Crumbs first and get cash back off your entire purchase!  Here is my invite if you'd like it!