i love designing my gals!

i am totally obsessed with designhergals.com.  it is absolutely addicting and i have spend (dave claimed wasted) countless hours on this site for the past few days.  the concept is simple.  create a version of yourself or whoever, then dress her up with cute outfits.  it’s like the modern day paper doll.  being the self-obsessed brat, i created lots of versions of myself…  well, if i was skinnier.

here i am on sunday, with my white marc jacobs dress and my bottega handbag

and this is me on monday, looking posh with my club monaco trench and my white ysl muse.

on saturday, i went out and tried on a vera wang wedding dress

ok, of course everything is imaginary…  but until i got enough money to buy a real ysl muse or bottega handbag, i will be happily settling for the virtual versions of it.  and if you love your gals enough, the cool thing with this website is, you can order paper goods with the gals you’ve designed printed on it.  yes, it’s probably more useless crap that i don’t need, but how can i resist myself looking so cute in a vera wang?

big red

my newest obsession is the color red.  for the longest time, i never felt comfortable or confident enough to sport such a bold statement.  now that i’m older, i don’t know if i’m getting more confident or just fashionably wiser, but suddenly i am super attracted to all things red.  if you’re still too timid to wear red, start off with some red accessories to pair off with your neutral color outfits. 

seychelles stitched woven heel – the best part about seychelles is not that it’s incredibly cute, but with its heavily padded insoles, it is also the most comfortable shoes around

diane von furstenberg hathaway dress - talk about bold!  well done, queen dvf!

mike and chris oliver trench hoodie – the hottest hoodie around right now

if you find a really cute red handbag, let me know…

not just another two dimensional actor

we saw paris hilton’s house a couple weeks ago, now let’s take a tour at the house of the highest member of the celebrity pyramid, a guy on the total opposite spectrum of paris hilton, mr. brad pitt.  i read somewhere that if he wasn’t an actor, he’d want to be an architect.  well, after seeing his house, which he helped to create, i think he might have possibly chosen the wrong career…  he might have made a even better architect than the incredible actor that he is right now.  brad’s house is heavily mid-century modern inspired, which automatically scores very high in my book.  every detail of the house, down to the spectacular furniture collection he has, is what mid-century modern is all about, clean and strong.  brad, i know you and angelina hear this a lot, but would you please adopt me into your beautiful home?  at least, invite me over and let me sit on your egg chairs…

second bridal melt-down and counting

fuck, fuck, FUCK!  i finally finished all the invitations, and even mailed out a few…  then the inevitable happend.  the invites have the wrong day printed on them!!!  fuck, fuck, fuck….

not just a place for sleeping

our bedroom is very minimal, where we only have a low platform bed and 2 blocks of wood for side tables.  i guess the look we’re going for is the zen look b/c the bedroom is a place where we find peace, a place where we hide away from the chaotic world outside, and just relax with our own thoughts…  of course, i’m just saying that right now until we can afford a medium size flat screen tv (i’d opted for a small vintage tv to match the bed, but dave insisted on his bully techy way), a sussex cabinet, and a mid-century chair.

sussex four door high cabinet - i love the clean, yet unique details.

eames RAR rocker – this is my first choice, not sure if i should get the white or green or light blue…

eames plywood lounge chair – i love the rich red.  it would provide a much needed color to the room.  except red is not a very calming color

vitra tom vac chair – the smooth organic shape will make a great contrast to the straight, strong lines that are already in the room.

summer/celeb/icon inspiration

the much imitated, but never duplicated miss audrey hepburn – summer casual, yet still so elegant and not at all sloppy

an anthropologie fantasy…

for the longest time, anthropologie has always been a store that i dare not venture into.  not that it isn't beautiful and lovely (their dresses are my favorite,) but spending 200 bucks on a trendy, yet vintage-looking skirt just doesn't go well with my wallet.  i know, i know, and a $900 marc jacobs bag was ok?  what can i say, my wallet is very picky and strict.  the good news is, they have some cute stuff on sale right now, and the bad new is, as usual, the things i want are still a little out of budget.  good thing i got this tiny little space on the web to act out all my wildest shopping fantasies.  well, just don't tell my wallet…

the black dress – so demure and sweet

paisley halter dress – the plum and the deep v neck is sexy, but the paisley makes it down to earth

heavenly wrap dress - a little boring, but who doesn't look good in a wrap dress?

nothing comes between me and my calvins… sheets

calvin klein, the name is synonymous with minimalist design.  while calvin klein is known for his clean and classic (at times boring) lines on the runway, my favorite branch of the calvin klein enterprise is actually his home collection.  who hasn't drooled over the calvin klein bedding collections?  i drooled so much that back in high school, i actually used up a whole 2 months worth of paychecks just to buy a duvet cover.  although at around 200 count, it wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing to rub my face on, but the important thing was my room never looked more beautiful. 

to get your calvin klein home fix, look for the rare macy's sale.  they only happen 465413246841361131481 times a year.

meadown grass collection – this is one of my favorite collections.  i love the mature and unisex elegance.

bamboo flowers collection - a calvin klein bedding classic.  also as seen on carrie's bed on sex and the city.

nightblooms and mahgony dinnerware - even the dinnerware shares the same serene and simple personality

celeb inspiration

rachel bilson – i love her simple and bold dress.  how can you not notice her?  the best part, she looks perfectly comfortable.  ok, now let me go lose 50 lb. so i can look just as good.

image via rachel-bilson.com

welcome to brazil

this invitation shit is finally over!  i'm free!!  ok, not really.  there are still lots to be done for the wedding.  i wish someone would just do all this for me, but alas, my cheapness over takes my laziness…

invitations are not the only things i did to prep for the upcoming wedding.  i also had my very first brazilian wax!  now you might say isn't it a little early to get that started?  but after hearing some horrid stories, i wanted to test the water, and see how my skin reacts to waxing.  after all, i don't want to walk around the beach with bruises and rashes down there, or even worse, scare the shit out of dave with a nasty surprise.  i'm no waxing virgin, but this was definitely virgin territory.  besides the exquisite pain, i think the most uncomfortable part of the experience had to be all the weird and awkward positions i was twisted into.  "put your hand down here, and hold it to the right," "arch your back," "face your butt this way," etc.  it also didn't help that here's this woman, whom i've never met before, was suddenly all up on my crotch.  when it was all over, i felt very proud of myself.  i didn't swear once!  after the sense of relief washed over me, i was able to finally appreciate the cleaniness that was appearing before my eyes.  everything looked magnified, but in a good way (yes, there is such a thing,) and i'd be lying if i said i didn't feel sexy for that moment.  in the end… i am hooked.  i will definitely be taking trips regularly to brazil from now on. 

yes, that was dave cheering.

temporarily preoccupied

i will be out this week to work on my invitations…  i already had a relative calling me to nag about how i still haven't sent them out yet.  bitch, i'm busy!  i mean, lazy!  anyway, i will be back as soon as i get them done.  sigh…  can't wait until this whole wedding nonsense is over.

the search for the perfect foundation…

for a while now, i have been searching for the perfect foundation for my wedding.  i am looking for something that will give me the "j. lo glow" (but not oily and greasy, there's a very fine line there,) medium coverage (enough to smooth out my complexion and even out my skin tone, but still allows my natural skin shine through,) nothing with spf (spf does not photograph well b/c flash will bounce off of it and create a very obvious white-face-dark-neck effect,) and something that is moisturizing enough for my dry skin.  that shouldn't be too hard, right?  well, not quite. 

here are some of the ones i tried: 

giorgio armani luminous silk foundation - instyle's best foundation is definitely close to its hype.  it created a very soft glow on my face, but surprisingly enough was a little dry for my skin.

laura mercier oil-free foundation - another super popular foundation.  being oil-free, it's a little drying for me.  it's not glowy on its own and the lady at the counter did not match my color correctly.  i might have to go back and try again.

shu uemura water perfect smoothing water-in fluid foundation - i love that this foundation is very moisturizing on my dry skin.  coverage is sheer to medium, which is good enough for me.  the makeup artist that worked with me did an excellent job in getting the right shade and making it dewy with the shu uemura face powder sheer in pearl, but by itself, it's not that lumunious.

there are some good contenders here, but i still haven't found the "perfect" one yet, so the search continues…  do you have any suggestions? 

reunited and it feels so good

the warm weather is here (well, barely in seattle,) but there is a hawaii trip coming up this summer, so it's time to start researching the vacation/resort attires.  if there's one store that does summer vacation right, i would have to say it's j. crew.  i worked at j. crew during my whole high school career, so i was pretty j. crewed-out for the next few years.  it wasn't until recently, did i, once again, start eyeing the preppy store.  j. crew's new collection stays true to its clean and comfortable root, but i find it to be extra adorable than usual. 

aloha-print shorts – these shorts screams a fresh and relaxing summer

critter chino bermuda shorts – awww…  the white and pink combo is so sweet

embroidered tulum tunic – white tunic is this summer's absolute stable

palm beach djellabah – i love the little ethnic color and details

fish dress – ok, it doesn't get any cuter or more summery than this!

it’s not that bad… actually, it’s kind of cute

along with the 99.9% of americans, i too find paris hilton to be obnoxious and unbearable.  however, from time to time, i'd jump off the bandwagon, and admire her many worldly possessions.  after all, she has so many, i can't possibly hate them all.   case in point, paris' hollywood villa.  granted, there are many flaws and at times almost a little tacky, but i do give her some credit for the marilyn monroe-esque glamour she is trying to emulate.

can't go wrong with the classic color scheme of good old b&w.  not too crazy about the furry pillows though…

it wouldn't be miss hilton's house without paying homage to… herself.  while we're shaking our heads at the blatant narcissism showcased here, i must admit that she is decorating according to the reflection of her own personality, which is what i think interior design should be about.

this is my favorite room in the house.  the light and airy room is accentuated by the modern chandelier, and contrasted by the heavy vases and sexy hot pink flowers.

the mirror dresser and the chandelier gives the room an instant feminine glamour

i love dark kitchen cabinets.  this room probably doesn't get used very much.

a room that gets used too much.  i like pink, but this room just looks like one giant marshmellow.

i'm not super crazy about juicy couture, but these doggie accessories did have me going "awww…"

good usage of pink here.  just a hint of it for accent purpose.

images via teddy & moo's celebrity gossip

victory is mine!

besides an extra day of relaxation, my favorite thing about the memorial weekend is the sales, sales, SALES!  no, it's not the best sale of the year, but it's definitely the first wave of the stream of summer sales that are going to bankrupt me. 

there are 2 purchases i made this weekend that are so great, that i must share (brag) to all you girls out there, after all, who else can grasp the concept of the satisfaction that comes from a good sale?  certainly not my fiance who couldn't seem to share my pride and joy when i waved my conquests at him. 

first, i found a pair of people's liberation skinny jeans for $60 at nordstrom rack, when it's retailed for $180!!!  it was the only pair on the rack, and it was my size!  D-E-S-T-I-N-Y!!!  i've always wanted a pair of people's liberation b/c i love the star pockets (i have a thing for star shapes,) and now i have a pair!!  a couple of days later, i went back to a different nordstrom rack to try my luck again, and there it was, the only pair of black j brand skinny jeans around, and again, it was in my size!  to top it all off, with the normal retail price at $138, the price tag presented before me was $34.95!!!  i feel like tom cruise on oprah winfrey's couch.  can i get a hell yah~! 

people's liberation bella skinny basic 5 pocket in dark wash – retail at $180, and i got it for $59.95!

j brand 14" cigarette leg in black - retailing at $138, and i bought it for $34.95!!!  please excuse me, while i wipe off my tears of joy…

dresses on a budget = do-able

like i've mentioned before, i have made wearing more dresses this summer's new mission.  since cash is low, my usual favorite names (catherine malandrino, rebecca taylor, dvf, bcbg, etc.) are even more out of reach than usual, so here are some cute budget (under 50 bucks) finds:

silk crepe wrap dress from la redoute - i love the cute boho floral print, and on sale for only $29.99

crush check puffball dress from asos – such a cute and trendy dress on sale for $38

pintuck smock dress from asos – i love the long sleeve and short skirt combo, and again on sale for $30.40

ladybug dress from forever21 – how can i mention budget shopping and not include forever21?  cute way to look like kate moss for only $29.80

bare no more

wow!  my first question from a reader.  how flattering!  i didn't even know people are taking my blog seriously.

hi! i’ve been reading your blog since your xanga days and i look to your site for help with decorating. basically…i’m a newlywed who doesn’t know a thing about decorating. i’m trying to figure out what to put on our bare walls and am kind of stuck. i don’t know much about art either. do you think you could help?

here’s the situation. real high ceilings and huge, bare wall behind couch. our coach is a tan/cream large, modern sectional with steel legs from room and board. our coffee table is a round one with steel legs and glass top..also from room and board. the colors of the room in the furniture, accent chair, cushions/pillows, etc are dark brown, green, and tan/cream. i was thinking of some of the strech fabric prints from amenity or inhabit (2modern.com) but im not sure. help! if you have free time and you’re bored…

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

first of all, thank you for reading my blog!  i'm not a professional, so this is just my random rambling about my thoughts.  as for your home, through your description of the room, it sounds like all the colors seem very neutral and muted, which is the perfect blank canvas to dress up.  the amenity print is beautiful and organic, hence very subtle and calm, so i think to really bring the room to live, you should play with the colors.  something vibrant, but not necessarily loud, to contrast the neutral furnitures.  blessed with your vaulted ceiling (lucky bitch), i would hang something big to fully utilize the space.  the most important thing is to choose a piece that reflects your personality and that you are comfortable with staring at everyday.

amenity twig print – the turquoise is lively, but not overly dramatic

amenity leaf print - the yellow amber is more subtle and will match the green perfectly

vencka by laird studio - if you like the graphic look, here is a more abstract contemporary piece that brings great colors and beautiful movement to the room

touch me then try to leave …

besides the cute names they come up with, i've never been a big fan of benefit.  however, there is one thing i absolutely love from benefit, and that is their body cream.  i have yet to find a body lotion that is as smooth and non-greasy/sticky as the bathina "touch me then try to leave" cream.  at $28 a jar, it might be a little pricey compare to the jumbo vaseline lotion dave makes me buy from costco, but if your skin can be so smooth that people can't seem leave you, then i say go for it.  personally i think it holds very true to its claim: 

Smooth on Bathina's "Touch Me Then Try To Leave"…Cream when you want to show-off some skin. Feel the cooling sensation of this refreshingly fragrant cream as it's quickly absorbed, leaving your skin healthy, moisturized and sexy to the touch.

benefit's bathina "touch me then try to leave" cream

urge to kill …

at the risk of sounding like i'm bragging, i must self-proclaim that our home decor is not too shabby, actually, it's pretty darn wonderful.  granted we don't have the biggest budget, but every piece of furniture and accessory is carefully selected through my countless sleepless nights of researching and digging.  and most of our furnishings are obtained by months of penny-pinching because to us, quality is always over quantity.  so what really brought on my urge to kill was when this guest came over, and said to me, "wow, your house is very ikea-ish!"  and then had the audacity of pointing at my le corbusier chair and ask me, "is this from ikea?"  bitch, get the hell out of my house before i slap the living shit out of you!  sure, the le corbusier in our living room is not an original, but it is an exact replica.  now, i know i can't expect everyone to be into interior design and know this kind of stuff, and i'm not saying there is anything wrong with ikea.  i think ikea is adorable, heck, i have a few very temporary pieces from that place, and i hope to one day redo my kitchen with ikea cabinets, but come on!  mistaking original mid century design with ikea is like eating a piece of filet mignon and say it taste like a hamburger.  not every modern piece of furniture is from ikea, honey!  ikea is not the only contemporary interior store in the world!  yes, i've decided to no longer speak to this person because THAT'S how seriously i am about my furnitures.

kids, today's lesson is don't ever confuse this:

ikea KRAMFORS loveseat – powder coated legs.  cute, but can't hold a candle to the lc2

with this:

lc2 – stainless steel legs and almost 80 years of history

educate yourself

looking good, boys

i don't think we talk about guys fashion enough, which is really too bad because with the right clothes, a guy can go from dud to stud (i know that was a little cheesy.)  personally, i actually enjoy shopping for menswear more than womens at times.  lucky for me, i have my own personal ken doll to play with.  dave has been such a good sport from the very beginning and i must say he definitely have one of the best closets out of all the guys i know, yes, thanks to me…

watch out!  hot boys on the runway for your inspiration

lacost spring '06 – i love the white pants for the summer. very let's-go-chill-on-piddy's-yacht

karl lagerfeld fall '06 – the short belted trench coat look is very 70's and very flattering to the figure

marc by marc jacobs fall '06 – i love the preppy/grudge look to the new marc by marc jacobs