Fashion and Interiors: Bright and white for summer

There is something so clean and sophisticated about a layer of white.  I guess Diddy was onto something with those white parties huh?

I love a clean white palette in a few rooms in the home.  It can feel so chic and modern.  One may find this all white coloring a bit too cold, but I find that fun accessories really liven up a white palette.
Similarly I find that my white flared skirt (that is ahem over 7 years old but so easy to wear!) is one of the staple items in my summer wardrobe because it pairs perfectly with a whole host of lively colors.   White is after all the color that can brighten any other color so it makes sense to wear it in the bright times of warmer weather.

W Magazine Nov. 2011, 2, 3, 4

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Strength via Vogue Nippon September 2012

Life demands from you the strength that you possess.  Only one feat is possible, not to run away.

Dag Hammarskjöld

Vogue Nippon September 2012

What is strength?  One aspect of strength is to inspire and exude confidence in a certain area.  I've become stronger over the years (emotionally and mentally though I'm also working on the physical part!)  It hasn't been an easy path to getting stronger, but I've learned from the bruises and bumps over the years.

I remember crying in front of my boss when I was 25 or 26 years old because a client has lied about my performance and written a bad review of me (actually our whole team).  I remember feeling betrayed and hurt, but I also clearly remember the look of panic and disbelief from my boss when I started tearing.  He wanted to run, and he wasn't actually listening to me anymore.  Nope, showing emotion in this situation was not a good thing.

Though I am naturally a sensitive soul and quite emotional, I knew from that day onward that I needed to master my emotions.  I unfortunately had a few more bad experiences along the way (politics and shadowy games are just part of the job as one ascends that ever long food chain) but was determined to find a way to become stronger.  The process has been a combination of breathing exercises, playing the game a bit better, and learning how to effectively express myself.  I found and gained strength in myself along the way.  We all have strengths and weaknesses, but our strengths may sometimes be buried a bit deeper inside.  Go find it and discover how strong you can be.

Have a lovely week!


  

FFF/Fun Finds {Decor} - Duffy London shadow chair and Life phases

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Fun Finds
Were you ever good at making shadow puppets?  I will admit that I was pretty terrible, but can still throw out the eagle or yapping dog!  Now I never thought I would think about shadows in decor, but came across these shadow chairs by Duffy London and was smitten.  There is such a fun twist on perspective - doesn't it looks like the chairs are almost floating?  I bet people would love the last chair with the wolf shadow silhouette!

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...seeing a friend I haven't seen all year!  The little lady is now 5 months pregnant!  It is funny how life changes so suddenly (ok I know it has been a few months!) but my friend's life will be completely different very soon.  Most of my friends are having babies or have had babies so I guess we are wrapping up the wedding phase (with first and second weddings, it keeps happening!) and entering the baby phase.  The husband and I are still content in our phase (just married and enjoying it!), but it would be interesting to be in that next life phase whenever that happens!
What phase are you and your friends in?

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Hot under {$100-under $25}/Sale Spotlight - Stripes for summer via Old Navy

Count me in as another lady that has fallen head over heels with stripes.

It's funny because I had all of two striped items in my closet up until June.  Then I went to NYC and Altuzurra for J. Crew and Uniqlo held me ransom in their dressing rooms and forced me to admit that stripes are awesome (ok they are fun).  There is just something about this simple design that adds a dash of playful chic to one's outfit.

When I think of playful chic, I don't necessarily think of Old Navy - I don't shop there much at all.  But my friend was wearing such cute tops when we vacationed together in India (she says she loves to stock up on Old Navy pieces for vacation) I also shopped at the Gap for the first time in years last month and have now secured one of the best and affordable exercise pants ever (who knew!)  So I am most definitely willing to step inside its sister store and look at its selection.  Old Navy is affordable and offers tons of options so why not right?

It is a great time to pick out a summer dress or two (striped of course!) because you get 30% off everything until  July 26 with code July2012.

1. Button tied shirt dress, Old Navy, $19.60

2. Drawstring v-neck jersey dress, Old Navy, $10.50

3. Drawstring tube jersey maxi dress, Old Navy, $22.40

4. Flared jersey dress, Old Navy, $17.43

Save!

- Go to Mr. Rebates first and get cash back on your entire purchase!  Here is my invite if you'd like it!

Travel Log: Escaping to the past in Qibao, Shanghai

I am a city girl, through and through.  

But sometimes I like to escape from the usual concrete jungle and step into a different environment.  I visited Qibao aka Seven Treasures in Shanghai and got to see a bit of what an ancient town would have looked like.  The town itself was established around the 900s, but the main temple and streets were rebuilt only 10 years ago; only a large bell from the Ming Dynasty survives.  The town streets were super crowded so be warned if you visit during the weekend!  But it is an interesting change of pace from the usual Shanghai scene and the small pockets with fewer tourists are nice.

Old and new...museum in front of apartment buildings...

Bubbles!

Quail eggs inside a salt dome!  What a snack!

This was a beautiful poem and plea written by someone on the street.  I hope he gets what he is seeking!

Beauty Product Review: Chanel Delight Summer 2012 nail polish

Rose gold is such a romantic color, don't you think?

I'm a little obsessed with rose gold and I am a little obsessed with nail polishes with a foil finish.  For some reason, I find it a bit harder to find metallic nail polishes that give the drier, matte finish.  I travel a lot for work and personal reasons, so I am always passing through the airport and tempted by duty free cosmetics (the best place to get high end cosmetics!)  Changi airport actually has one of the best selections and prices among international airports I've visited (I bet CDG in France would be great too).  I've amassed a Chanel nail polish collection and wanted to start reviewing them for you.

I loved the finish and easy consistency of this polish.  I was surprised to see that it actually resembled rose gold (initially I just thought it was champagne).  The peach and pink undertones are pretty fabulous.  Unfortunately my nails dried under my husband's usual super blast of air conditioning so excuse the small bubbles (direct blasts of air or a short drying time between coats leads to bubbles in your polish!)

Pros
- Polish goes on smoothly
- Drying time is relatively quick

Cons
- It's not cheap folks

Price
- $26 (or about $21 where I am depending on the exchange rate)

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Remembering to relax via Vogue Italia June 2012

Sometimes the most important time in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths

Etty Hillesum

Vogue Italia June 2012

When was the last time you really relaxed?

Most of us are so busy in our daily lives and sometimes pride ourselves on being busy.  "Oh yes, it's been a crazy week!  I'm doing so much at work!"  We all want to show that we are putting in our time with our careers, kids, and other activities that we are always busy.  I am guilty of creating my own full schedule as well and filling my free hours with all day activities with friends, prepping/cooking most of our meals, and doing other household chores.  At the end of it all, I am exhausted.

I have tried to relax by building in my own time on Sundays.  I try to do either nothing or surf through the online fashion magazines to fill my mind with pretty pictures.  I am also trying not to schedule too many activities together so that I am exhausted.  It helps me feel more relaxed, even if I'm just surfing the web!  That is the way for me to decompress and renew myself.  After all I need to take the time to enjoy the fruits of my labor rather than keep on laboring right?

How do you relax?

Have a lovely week!

FFF - National Ice Cream month and Reliving spicy memories

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Fun Fact
Did you know that it is National Ice Cream month (in the US - seriously who makes this stuff up)?   So now it is your obligation to have some delicious ice cream!  I am definitely a vanilla (with vanilla bean please) lover, but Bailey's Irish Cream is also up there among my favorite ice creams.  I also love to have ice cream with fresh berries - cold, sweet, and refreshing indeed!

{Source}

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...lunching at Nando's per my husband's request and having lots of their spicy peri peri sauce.  We first had Nando's when my husband was a poor grad student living in London.  There were quite a few Nando's around and I remember a group of us once having a veritable feast at Nando's complete with their signature grilled chicken, baskets of fries, orzo, and garlic bread.  It wasn't fine dining, but it was a tasty way to end the week with a few friends!  I can't eat there again without thinking of London and the very different lifestyle we led there.

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!    

Fashion Highlight: Hayden Harnett NYC style purses and cuffs

How cool is it to run a successful fashion business with your partner?  Well maybe you should ask Toni Hacker and Ben Harnett - the duo behind Hayden Harnett, a handbag and accessories company based in Brooklyn.  Toni is the designer-in-chief (with a fab design team) and Ben the business guru.

I've met Toni, Ben, and a few designers at their LES store and at the two sample sales I've been fortunate to attend (psst they have a sale now and you can get 50% off if you get 4 items!)  They started with handbags and leather accessories and have added on scarves as well.  They used to design clothing and I have a few of their beautiful sand washed silk pieces - with leather trim - so chic!  Make clothing again some day please!

The style of the purses and accessories are quite New York to me because they are chic and slightly funky, but totally wearable and fun.  Think of this as perfect for the girl lounging in the Lower East Side or brunching in Brooklyn Heights.

Bags

I can't mention their handbags without mentioning their best selling handbag, the Havana (I gifted this to my future sister-in-law and she loves it!)  It's a great size and squishy enough to hold everything.  It isn't cheap at $525, but they now have the Havana2 version for $398.  It is a pretty versatile though and some colors will go on sale occasionally so look out for them!  Isn't the atlantic patent color lovely?

The Biblio bag is a new favorite.  I'm a sucker for a satchel and love the braided leather hangtag.  At $650 it's nothing to sneeze at but such a great investment.

The Ibiza bag is another classic bag in their collection.  My bestie gifted me this bag when I went to grad school and I loved to convert it from an everyday purse to hold my notebooks to a travel tote (ahh gotta love the roominess!)

Cuffs
Hayden Harnett have created several seasons of edgy and modern cuffs.  They usually entail their trademark luxe leather and awesome studs.  The Hadley cuff in Turks is a prime example of this and I just love the color.

Scarves
This is a newer addition to the Hayden Harnett family.  The brand now makes bespoke scarves (regular ones are a reasonable $65 too!)  I actually thought of this for mother's day before my husband already picked out a gift for my mom.  You can create your own design and have it imprinted on the scarf.  How lovely would it be to wear a painting made by a loved one or imprint an image from a special trip?

Hot under {$100}/Sale Spotlight: ASOS Maxi skirts and dresses for summer

Maxi skirts/dresses are the sartorial equivalent of summer to me....warm weather is coming, boom maxi skirts come out and on for instant summer chic.

While I'm only average height, I have found that maxi skirts/dresses can also lengthen as well (if the top is a bit shorter) and who doesn't like the illusion of longer legs?  The look serves double duty of not only being chic, but also providing coverage from pesky insects and hiding wandering eyes from looking at one's insect bites/tanning/shaving mishaps.

I've posted about my love for ASOS before (it's huge and has a great selection in all price ranges).  Get an extra 10% off the sale selection with code 10sale through Monday, July 23rd.  I love shopping.  I love saving at retailers that don't frequently offer discounts.  Win!

1. Mango Zebra print caftan, ASOS, $79.79

2. A Wear split Maxi, ASOS, $66.28

3. Three Floor Maxi dress, ASOS, $91.71

4. Mango stripe maxi dress with belt, ASOS, $61.89

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

Travel Log/Hotel review: Living in the 1500s via Fort Neemrana in Rajasthan, India

What was life like before air conditioning, the internet, and smart phone (seriously, I barely remember life before the internet  - ahh the dark ages!)

Overall Review
I embrace the trappings of modernity, but am also enamored of architecture and sites that recall the past.  It is pretty amazing and difficult to find sites like Neemrana Fort-palace in Rajasthan that was built in 1464.  My good friend got married there and it was a great chance to stay at the fort as well.  While you have to endure a 3+ hour drive from Delhi to the fort, you will see so many interesting things (the drive itself is an adventure and we got in an accident on the way back - keep your eyes closed).  We slowed down for camel traffic and saw the city melt away into the country side.  Have patience during your drive and don't be afraid of oncoming traffic (I would have a heart attack if I drove here!)

The fort itself has such beautiful character.  The outdoor areas had such vibrant color without being too bold.  Don't you love the turquoise chairs?  I also loved all the beautiful doorways - each one peeked into another corner of the fort.

Room
I loved attending a wedding at the fort and getting to stay here.  Keep in mind that the amenities aren't super modern so the shower may take a little longer to warm up and you'll have to remember to bring your large key around.  There is a wide variety of rooms too so I'd recommend a splurge if you want a bit more space.

Service
Service is great and there is always someone to help with a bag or offer a drink.  There is a lot of staff around, but their English isn't always great so keep that in mind.

Pricing
The pricing really ranges - right now the rooms range from 2500 to 22000 Rps (or about $50-$440).  If you're with a group, get a suite for a lot less!  Our room was on the lower-middle end of the range.

Facilities
Be careful and wear comfortable shoes around the complex because there are a lot of stairs everywhere as well as a steep walk up from the front gate.  Otherwise the restaurants were modern and the pool well maintained.

I hope you enjoyed my peek inside this fort palace!

Photo Love: European Summer Vacation via Neiman Marcus Resort 2012

The longer days of summer are meant for exploring!

Neiman Marcus Resort 2012

As summer keeps on going in full steam and colleagues talk about their summer vacation plans, I keep on thinking about summers in (Western) Europe.  I lived in a lovely little country house in France during part of the summer during school and it was worlds apart from my NYC upbringing.
The long days in France (the sun set well after 9 pm) allowed my friends and I ample time to explore the lush, green forests, drive through the country with the windows rolled down, or have an impromptu cookout in out cobble stoned courtyard.  When we weren't in the country, we ventured out to soak in the vibe of the city.  A perfect summer day in Paris included wandering from one district to another with warm baguettes in hand, listening to outdoor music by the Seine, and watching chic and silly passers-by from a cafe.  Those long days really enabled me to see and do so much more during the summer.  I had really wanted to go to Europe this summer, but have a pretty intense stretch coming at work.  Alas, I'll have to live vicariously through pictures like the ones above to satisfy my cravings for European wanderings.  Perhaps next year then?

Where are you planning to go this summer (or where would you like to go)?

Have a lovely week!

FFF/Fun Finds - Painting with people via Craig Alan and Trying out Beauty Clinics

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Fun Finds
I really wish I had artistic abilities.  My mother and father in law have that ability to so beautifully capture images on canvas (hopefully my photography can get better at least!)  My mother painted with oils and watercolors, but never used people (seriously!) to form her images.  Craig Alan created a few interesting pieces of art by placing people in strategic positions.  It is amazing how one can visualize and then create art with just about anything!

Otherwise this weekend, I am...
...resting from a long week away from home.  Melbourne has been fun, but I've been so busy here I haven't really gotten to explore the city.  I am looking forward to relaxing at home and finally using a certificate to a beauty clinic.  I am actually going to try out IPL for the underarm area.  I really hope that it is safe, but am loving the idea of having baby smooth underarms and my friend has had a good experience.  Have you ever tried IPL?

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Travel Log: Details in downtown NYC

I love being a visitor in my own city.  I really recommend breaking out of the routine and doing something out of the ordinary - talk a stroll down a different street, look at the details in a place you pass every day, or just pause and observe the people passing around you.

I try to get back to NYC every June because the weather is usually mild and the days are already a bit longer.  This is the first time I had my DSLR with me and it was fun to actually the normal details I never really noticed before.  I miss the details everywhere in NYC: beautiful moldings, plaques in the most unexpected places, and funky signs everywhere.

What are details you appreciate in your city?

Hot Under {$100} (under $75!)/Sale Spotlight: Prints aplenty at Anthropologie

Anthropologie is not a store for a shopper looking for the basics.

T-shirts will have edgy cuts.  Patterns are usually statement making, if not outright bold.  I always think Emma from "Glee" would likely shops here to get her blouses with the chic and feminine cuts or those adorable, ornate cardigans.  There is usually an extra bit of flair to Anthropologie's clothing and that is the way their shoppers like it!

The clothing, however does come with a price so I like to wait for a sale before shopping there.  You're in luck because there is now an extra 25% off sale clothing through tomorrow.  Why not go for a fun print for summer?

Here are a few favorites:

1. Medusae blouse, Anthropologie, $59.96

2. Marbled waters shift, Anthropologie, $74.96

3. Taupo Maxi Chemise, Anthropologie, $29.96

4. Reactive shimmer skirt, Anthropologie, $74.96

Photo Love: Summer Reminders via Vogue Paris July 2012

Hello summer (for most of you!)

Here are a few reminders via Vogue Paris July 2012...

 ...wear a fun hat and have a refreshing drink handy

...take advantage of the warm weather and do something active outside...yoga, volleyball, or running/strolling on the beach are wonderful warm weather activities (given my unfortunate lack of hand eye coordination, the last choice seems best!)

...have a leisurely dip in a pool, the ocean, or if you're lucky a nice natural body of water in a grotto (given the lack of grottos, this means you're hopefully going somewhere tropical!)

Unfortunately, I am in a winter environment in Melbourne today, but I definitely have plans to revisit the pool in our condo this weekend and enjoy the warmth!

What is on your checklist for summer?

Have a lovely week!

FFF - Gap and West Elm Weekend Discounts and Returning to the cold via Melbourne

Happy Fun, Free Friday lovelies!

Online Discounts
Summer (although it is summer most of the year where I am!) signals a more casual, laid back time of year.  It is a time for cookouts and dining al fresco.  I also start to pair my t-shirts with skirts a bit more now for that casual chic look.  I've been looking to add a few more basic shirts to my wardrobe (a perfect white t-shirt is a wardrobe must!) and have been looking for some cute plates for entertaining (how perfect are the schooner plates below?!)

Good 'ol Gap had some great t-shirts when I was in the store a few weeks ago ranging from jersey fabrics to super soft washed cottons.  Here is a great option and get 25% off Friday and 20% off Saturday with code GAPBOOM.

Mason crew t-shirt, Gap, $11.24-$17.21 (from $22.95 - depends on the color)

West Elm has a range of beautiful patterns for decor, dinnerware, and the bedroom.  I'm eyeing a new duvet set as well as smaller, casual plates for a casual cookout.  These plates are a good start and are an extra 15% off with code SUMMER15 through July 10.

Schooner Melamine plates, West Elm, $1.69 (from $4.50)

Otherwise this weekend I am...
...flying to Melbourne!  This will be my first time in Australia and it is unfortunate that I am visiting during the winter.  Seriously I don't remember what cold weather is like anymore and am not sure I'm even prepared (ok I do have one coat here so I guess I should be ok). But I am very excited to be traveling down under (for work so this will be the first of many times!)  Have you been to Melbourne?  Where should I eat and shop (always the first priorities for any new city!)

What are you doing this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Happy July 4th!

Happy Independence Day American friends!

1, 2

Celebrate longer days.

Celebrate white outfits.

Celebrate the overindulgence in watermelon.

Celebrate upcoming trips.

Celebrate summer (and beyond summer) love.