A wee Christmas present

...for me

Rebecca Taylor quilted silk corset in 'tea.' Big ♥

I'll be home for Christmas this year. Can't wait to sit by the Christmas tree with family and open gifts in our PJs. That's one of the great things about having a big family (of girls with good taste and a generous father). Psyched!

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you get to spend time with your family too.

A rainy weekend's to-do

1. Sleep in
2. Watch crappy movies. Sex & the City 2 anyone?
3. Experiment on macaron flavors
   
4. Overdose on chocolate
   
5. ...and my personal favorite, click "submit order" button for Thatcher by Alisse Thatcher gear

Look!

That's my 3.1 Phillip Lim dress on Gilt! I got it last year in HK and have worn it a gazillion times since :) Ok, the dress obsession stops here. Time for some shuteye.

*Yawn*

Hearts

Recent steals:

Thread Social tulip print dress. Finally found it on Gilt! 60 whole % off! I was never gonna get it @$588 anyway. Happiest day of my week :)


Grey Ant corseted black party dress, which I've worn and LOVE. To bits


Tylie floral one-shoulder dress. I don't know what Tylie is. And the price tag was kinda steep at full price too. Though I figured I needed a treat and was going through an off-shoulder phase. So I got it


Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent belted dress with cuffed sleeves


Bobi jersey one-shoulder ruffle LBD

...and a ton of random tops from Hula & Co. Yes! I love one-size-fits-all affordable stores. Especially when everything's at $30 a piece. Now it's onto accessories ;)

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I spent 30 minutes shopping on Gilt only to realize that they require a US billing address! *Sniff. Can't remember how I got my Marc Jacobs stuff in the past but Wendy must've helped.

So bummed.

Quintessential Marc by MJ print top


The dress I've been eyeing since last year. I don't think I'll recover from this :(

*Heart beating*

I just loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove this... Is there another word that could beat "love" with a gazillion Os? I think not.

Tulip print dress by Thread Social

But it's so ridiculously expensive at US$588, I'd rather spend the money on a vacation flight :( *Sob

Spring's here

These dreamy shots from Anthro's March catalog make me feel like a walk in the botanical gardens...

Another inch caused no harm

Homemade strawberry shortcake, redefining lazy Saturdays

Guess what made its way here this weekend?

The Alexa Mulberry bag in oak! Finally, something perfect for work and just fun enough to mix-and-match with spring's floral gear

I've been waiting for the Mulberry store to call me back about the over-sized version since I was there in Jan. But last I checked, the bag sold out all over Europe causing Singapore to be on the "country waiting list." The one you see above is slightly smaller, which although nice, is hardly practical for work

Through much collaboration with Suen, YC and Megan, this one made its way to Singapore shores from Hong Kong. Thanks guys! :)

Twinkle twinkle...

Twinkle by Wenlan, Visionare paper fan top

This one didn't even make it to the wish list. Isn't it just cute? Successful day in the kitchen today. Stay tuned!

Eyeing:

Pencey cube print dress

Address file made entirely out of recycled paper and sustainable maple wood, from Lovely Design

Cleobella Cantina vintage-inspired leather bag with super long straps


Marc by Marc Jacobs Puff Dot dress in white. Suen and I coined the term "Meet the parents dress" for this one


Everything from alldressedup's SS09 collection. And I mean everything!


Alexander Wang corset top or dress, as worn by Diane Kruger

Alright Toothfairy

Here's the deal. I give up my wisdom teeth, and you make this wishlist come true. Because I'm telling ya, as gentle as he was, there's nothing scarier than watching a dentist try to wrench your teeth out from your gums.

1. Cuisinart food processor
2. Dinner for 2 at the Tippling Club with Wylie Dufresne
3. Coach Gigi leather tote as seen on Bride Wars
   
4. A proper circle cutter. Fiskars maybe?
   
5. The Zuni Cafe cookbook because I keep forgetting to order it on Amazon
   
6. Trip to Southern Europe
   
7. Calligraphy lessons
8. Larok Bardot dress
9. Reiss Clementine shoes
10. Free People paisley racerback dress (because I can be hippy too)
11. A day with Max Wanger
12. Hermes Indian-inspired enamel bracelets
13. Breakfast in bed, freshly squeezed OJ and all
    
14. See by Chloe pale pink tank dress for lazy Sundays
15. Kova button down little black dress
16. Kerri Wilder's peace cuff in gold
17. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and The Incredible Book-eating Boy
18. ...and last but not least, I want Macarune to make a come back

Deal?

Maximizing

A few gfs and I went to the Club 21 sale yesterday. By 10AM, the doors opened and everyone was already in line, shopping bags in hand, ready to set off. There were neither dressing rooms nor mirrors. Just racks and racks of clothes ranging between $15-2000++ in a normally empty warehouse.

With 3 hours to kill before heading to work (yes, on a Saturday) we managed to blow a couple of hundreds each and ended the afternoon with fried chicken. What a sport I say!

$200 DKNY leather bomber jacket. Originally $1500++. Yes. I'm still in denial

$560 Alexander McQueen silk skirt. Originally $3800. The butterfly print was just gorgeous while the pockets added a McQueen touch


Taken by surprise.
I didn't get this as much as I wanted to. Figured it's too lavish a purchase in this current economy


Hena and her cutesy Galliano ladybug cardi

Instant gratification

I felt like 1 lunch wasn't enough today. So I had 2.
I felt like some freshly baked muffins. And so I whipped some up.
I felt like 3 blueberry muffins and a cookie before dinner. And so I ate.
I felt like eating 10 steamed dumplings with sambal. And so I did.
I felt like a new pair of shoes today.

...

Online shopping rocks but nothing beats blueberry muffins straight out of the oven, especially during berry season


So light and fluffy. Someone stop me before I blow up like a balloon and can't fit into my heels!

All-American fun

Borina's 21 yet again

Yesterday was spent spring cleaning followed by a trip to Mr Smith's for well-deserved drinks. There, we met a professional kickboxer from Thailand who wouldn't keep his hands off strangers. He was stroking knees, kissing hands and leaning against people's shoulders, men and women alike. This poor guy had to be advised by his friend, "In America, you don't touch so much" followed by a, "I'm stepping away for a bit. Don't touch her (meaning me, who was unfortunately seated next to him) while I'm gone ok?" It was a creepy yet comical scene.

The night got even more comical when a girl on the dance floor started grinding heavily (is that the right adjective?) with a random short guy wearing a sweatband. What made him more repulsive was that he wouldn't stop bobbing his head and spilling drinks all over the place. Her girlfriend who was watching in horror, literally manhandled her in a rescue mission to save her from Napoleon. Calm folks as we are, we continued with mild vodka crans and eventually All-American Slams at Denny's: the sole explanation for this post's title.

***

Today, I took on the tedious task of clearing our craft room with season 2 of The Sopranos playing on TV. I love discovering stuff the bf left behind, his Sopranos box sets being one of many. As often as I display my passion for the show, I have to admit I don't approve of the gory scenes. Perhaps "approve" is a wrong word. It's more like I can't take them. Who wants to watch someone's head get smashed in with a hammer while eating Chinese takeout? Doesn't help that the directors are so good.

Sifting through ribbons and paper scraps collected from 1258 Comm Ave to 855A Greenwich St and finally where we are now, I found some interesting things. 100s of accumulated business cards. Sculpey molds left unbaked. Handmade Thank You cards for interviews. Old journals and pictures. Christmas cards addressed to "Chris & Danielle" over the years. Since when did we become an entity? Seems like forever.

Here's an encouraging card I made for the bf when he was looking for his first job:

I thought it was genius.
He gave a 5 second chuckle and forgot about it

Do boys even care about stuff like this?

And here's the one he gave me on our 1 year anniversary:

He thought it was genius.
I knew it was store-bought :)

I guess it's good that I'm keeping myself occupied with errands and baking. Otherwise, it would be another day of shopping. And the way I've been behaving on the phone with the lady at Myla lately (her name is Lily by the way) I don't deserve to "treat myself" more than I already have. Truth is I was ready to stop at the rather "practical" Ophelia, especially with Edwin's disapproving IMs, but Lily herself said, "Anya fits just divine. You should get that too!" And of course, I obliged, not just with one piece but two, because everything has to match. Good Shopaholics Anonymous sponsor as she is, SW stopped me at Sara with a very clear IM: "STOP!! You HAVE to stop!"

This is the last time I'm mentioning this place because I've sworn off it. But while final reductions are happening now. Don't miss it!

NEVER

go grocery shopping hungry.

Just don't do it.

1. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish
   
2. Honey Bunches of Oats x2
3. Doritos Cool Ranch
   
4. Cereal Straws - I kid you not
5. Nature Valley yogurt granola bars
6. Strawberry Häagen-Dazs
   
7. Microwaveable food
8. Dibs
9. Fruit hidden somewhere beneath

On a sweeter (and slimmer) note, some pretty things arrived in the mail today:

It's like a gift even though I know I paid for them :)

What I learned this time around

While in London, I frequented grocery stores for cheap eats and more unconventionally, recipe cards. Waitrose (pronounced way-troʊs) my favorite supermarket beating M&S hands down, had lovely recipe cards at their door and lovelier still a website with archived recipes. Of course I collected these cards along with their catering catalogs for Macarune inspiration.

As a digital marketer, I have to say I'm especially impressed with what Waitrose's website has to offer. Don't be fooled by the Web 1.0 looking nav bar and ever-so-simple layout. There are a million possibilities to this site. You can read a professional food blogger's post, SMS yourself ingredients to a recipe, create a recipe scrapbook, utilize unit conversion tools, plan a summer picnic or donate to charity. Naturally I'm hooked, although miles away from the actual store. Sure the navigation threw me off a little (there's a link to food, drinks and then "summer"?) but it's still quite an exciting web journey for,might I add, sadly domesticated folks like myself.

Gluten-free summer berry polenta cake, by Waitrose for Laurie's going away party


Even though I accidentally doubled the berries needed for the cake (word of advice: read the recipe!) it turned out edible

Other things I learned in England this time around:

2. It's pretty easy to spend hundreds at Myla (or as I learned, a little more than that)

...even though it's worth a million

3. UK Glamour and Cosmo openly publishes the word f*ck
4. BCBG doesn't exist in London! What does a girl do without Runway?
5. Beyond the borders of California, people are generally a lot less health-conscious when it comes to food
6. New words - mostly involving clothes because what else do I educate myself on besides baking?

British	American
Boot	Trunk
Cozzy	Bathing suit
One thousand three hundred	Thirteen hundred
Plaster	Bandaid
Playsuit	Romper
Plimsolls	Sneakers
Quid	Dollar (yes I kept getting this wrong)
Suspenders	Hold ups
Vest	Underwear (top)
Waistcoat	Vest

...and here are some I've always known having grew up in Malaysia. This may come in useful should you plan to visit England any time soon:

British	American
Bill	Check
Biscuit	Cookie
Chips	Fries
Crisps	Chips
Football	Soccer
G Floor	1st Floor
Jumper	Sweater
Lift	Elevator
Macintosh	Raincoat
Nutter	Mad person
Queue	Line
Sarny	Sandwich
Scone	Biscuit

Feeling pink

I’m feeling in the pink today -- not to steal Lilly Pulitzer's tag line or anything.

Thinking back, I haven't bought or worn anything this color since college (unless you count blush). Black, gray, navy, cream, blue, white, and more white. That's been my wardrobe the past 3 years. It's such a lovely hue, I don’t know why I ever stopped. Effortlessly so, it all came back to me during an accidental shopping spree this afternoon.

Jersey pink top with bow on the side. I love the ballet neckline on this, and tried to take a picture of the back but this was the best I could do

Humble spoils of the day


This top makes me feel like I'm in college again: carefree, young, and innocent. And it matches the new Tod's wallet that just came from NY!

Could it be the recent opening of the girlie Sex and the City movie that got me into pink all over again?

The girls and I watched the much anticipated yesterday. First it was dinner at Out the Door, then IceBee for frozen yogurt, then the movie, and finally Cosmopolitans. Most of us thought the movie was disappointing. The script was lackluster and repetitive of the series, and the plot was to me, unrelatable. Regardless, it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday night.

There were SO many girls dressed up for the event, people-watching became an activity. Wendy even told me that in NY, some girl standing in line for the movie took off her flip flops and changed to Manolos. Lol. How funny!


1 last pink goodie: surprise 18th birthday gift for my lil' sis