It's my official Blog Birthday!

This little blog is 1 today!  Yes and happy US taxes day to you.

This year...
...I scored some insane deals

...I got married

...moved to London

...moved to Singapore

...pondered partnership and my own individuality

 Image from here

...met some lovely ladies while sharing pizza and cupcakes

 Image taken from here

...had some great giveaways (like the Florrie Mitton couture garter one going on now!)

It's been a really cool and crazy year.  Thank you for being a great community, sounding board, voice of reason, wedding planning/fashion/deal/pop culture guru, and so much more.

I've still gotta find a place to live, a new job, and kick start this life in Asia.  But I'm hoping the best is yet to come...♥

 

Blog Defined and Little Bit of Pretty Winner

2010 is official and the New Year spirit is still with me.  It's about renewal and hope.

Anyhoo, I'm safely back in London with my own laptop after my adventures in Asia and sorta the Middle East.  London is indeed colder than I left it but still home (for now).

Btw, don't take Gulf Air.  You'll thank me from saving you from boarding an American Airlines plane from 1985 and impossibly long stopovers.  The extra cost for another airline (like Singapore Airlines) is worth it.

I had writer's block for a few weeks because 1) my brain wasn't fully functioning due to some major congestion/medication/sleep deprivation and 2) I was wondering what I really wanted to blog about now.
This started as a wedding planning blog documenting my trials and tribulations in planning a chic NYC wedding at a (relatively) cheap price and practical/money-saving tips along the way.  I've finished the mini-wedding/the Taiwanese wedding as well now and as my bridal blogger buddies discover/will discover - the drive for all things wedding wanes dramatically.  But even before that I started blogging more and more about fashion, other deals, and unique things I saw in my travels.

So here are my musings:
1. I'm still sticking to what I think defines Chic 'n Cheap Living - cool products, places and things I see along the way kinda like Jessica of Style-Obsession or Kristin a la Bon Bon Rose Girls
I want to make Cheap a good word (totally second guessed myself when naming this blog, but totally am for it).  I also want to share the products that are worth the price.  Chic 'n Cheap Living right there!

And of course deals.  I'm pretty good at finding deals and love to share.


E.g. Sobella bags are 35% off with code special09
I'm kinda digging this bag.  It would be under $200 with the code and is functional and classic.

2. I still want to write about things NYC and London because that's what I know, my home(s), and defines so much of my life, kinda like Midtown Girl

3. I will still pass along some wedding inspiration because I still want to share cool ideas or images along the way esp. if they're from someone like Anna and the Ring.  I learned a lot from wedding planning and want to share the good and important stuff with you.

1 of my favorite Max Wanger images - he makes great postcards and t-shirts now from select pieces of images, so cool

4. It's time to get personal.  Well sorta.  I've had 2 weddings, lived in a few countries, and made tons of observations, mistakes, and everything in between along the way.  I will certainly add more practical wedding and relationship observations.  I think Ms. Anonymous scared me off from complaining and being too personal (esp. when I may not have explained the whole situation and I was left totally gutted).  But I do want to add my .02 when I think it matters.  I'd love to have open honesty, vulnerability as well as strength, and a sweet and sassy attitude like Liz of It's Unbeweavable.

I am definitely sassy and hopefully sweet.

I'll have a little bit of that but still not a lot because while I've opened up some, it still takes me a bit to warm up.  I also don't want to just vent and complain, I want to be constructive and helpful while intelligently trying to come to a solution.

5. Always totally working on finding cool products, connecting with artisans, and securing more partnerships for Chic 'n Cheap products.  Drop me a line at cncliving@ gmail.com if you want to share your products!

6. I'll redesign the blog this year.  Really.  I think it's time.

7. I am working on the blogroll.  It's going to start this week.  Would love to be on yours too.

At the end of it all, it's a blog about life, design, inspiration, cool stuff, and other observations.  Like a Cup of Jo with more attitude.  Is that cool?  Open to suggestions along the way of course.

Finally the winner of the Little Bit of Pretty earrings a la random.org was:

no. 1 or Gonna Be His Mrs.  

Congrats dear!

Have a happy, happy weekend!

xoxo