my honeysuckle blog

garlic noodles

2012-03-09T11:05:00.004-08:00

i mentioned earlier in this post about these delicious garlic noodles. since doing the demo for pow how, i've made them 5 additional times for dinner parties, quick lunch, quick dinner, etc. yes, i am extreme when i get into something. lol! but they are seriously so easy and quick that it's a no brainer when i can't come up with anything else to make.

here is the how-to video for you to try at home too! enjoy and let me know how yours turn out. :)

Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp water

mix (the above) well in a bowl, set aside

Fresh Shanghai Noodles from local asian market (9-12 oz.)
boil your favorite noodles - i love the fresh shanghai noodles at
ranch 99 but spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine is good too. cook til chewy and
drain.

3-5 garlic cloves
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil

melt the butter and garlic together on med heat, then toss in the
garlic and stir for about a minute until it starts smelling really
good. then pour in your sauce mix and be careful - it will sizzle. let
that mix together on the stove for about a minute or two and then dump
the cooked noodles and stir to coat evenly with the sauce.

put into bowl and add parmesan cheese.

enjoy! super duper easy and delicious.

floral pattern

2012-03-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

outfit details:

dress: h&m; shoes: zara; bracelet: gift; bag: rebecca minkoff; sunglasses: anthropologie

the weather here has been so weird. just a few days ago, it felt like summer had arrived early, but now the frigid cold is back and has reminded me that it's still, in fact, winter. i am so anxious for warm weather and can't wait to be able to wear these sandals again, i'm obsessed.

lucea colorblock

2012-03-07T11:23:00.001-08:00

i am absolutely smitten with this dress. from the architectural design in the front to the layered pleats, i love it all. this dress is very versatile for all seasons and almost all ocassions. i decided to make 3 looks - a spring and maybe easter appropriate outfit, a wintery night on the town, and then a weekend anytime look. which would you wear?

this dress will be mine one day! <3

a pow wow at powhow

2012-03-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

i was recently contacted by the fun and innovative people at powhow.com to start doing live cooking web-classes. powhow is a new website for live how-to classes of all kinds using your webcam. what i love most about this platform is that i can virtually interact with any student to make the class an even more exciting experience than just posting web videos. i often get questions on my youtube page about cooking or baking techniques and i'm not always good at replying in a timely manner, so this will allow me to do take care of the incidental questions on the spot! plus, it is always fun to cook together, even if it is through a computer. last week, i gave a demo through powhow and instructed my viewers how to make garlic noodles. it was such a fun experience for all involved! i will be doing 2 more demos in the next few weeks, so please let me know if you would be interested in joining me! more details to follow.

here are some pictures. honeysuckle how-to video to come!

Indulgences: cupcakes

2012-03-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

with the influx of cupcakeries around me today, i am fortunate enough to live so close an original - sprinkles cupcakes. when the cupcake trend came to palo alto and sprinkles opened its doors in 2007, i was introduced to the ever-popular red velvet cupcake. I didn't like it and immediately crossed off sprinkles from my list. the cream cheese frosting was tooth achingly sweet and the cake seemed dry. But, as fate would have it, four years later, a friend brought me a sprinkles black chocolate marshmallow. ok, it was time to give it another try. i was floored! it had just the right amount of sweetness, with its rich chocolatey goodness. i was converted at first bite and immediately addicted. since that day, i have been taking complete advantage of their "whisper words," a secret password you whisper at the register to get a free cupcake! this has given me the chance to try every flavor in the sprinkles catalog. unfortunately red velvet won't ever make it on my list, but it's comforting to know i will always have the chocolate marshallow to fall back on.

and have you read about sprinkle's ingenious idea of a cupcake atm? it's a 24 hour vending machine that dispenses 8 different flavors and containing about 600 cupcakes. incredible idea if you ask me! feed the cupcake addiction.

photo courtesy of abcnews.com

i pleat the fifth

2012-03-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

meow

outfit details:

sweater: anthropologie; skirt: club monaco; shoes: zara; bag: jason wu for target

to be honest, i'm not so much a cat person as i am a dog person. maybe i'm not so fond of when cats stare at me with their beady little eyes. sorry, all you cat lovers out there! i grew up with dogs and have had 5 over the course of my life. i cherish those days i would go for a neighborhood run with them, having "Taz" hang out under my desk while i'm doing homework, or "Kylie" sleeping at the foot of my bed at night.

in spite of my past feline disdain, i was so attracted to this bag when i saw it on tv and online. it's particular je ne se quoi inspired me to make it mine. maybe it's the black cat pawing at me, begging me to "take me home!" aw, so cute with it's cute little red flower collar. i'm a sucker for cute little collars.

strawberry lemonade

2012-02-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

have you ever been to your favorite neighborhood restaurant and ordered the bottomless refills of strawberry lemonade? i have. embarrassingly, i have repeatedly. this delicious drink really needs no introduction. lemonade has long been a classic summer drink, but this time i've sweetened it up with some fresh strawberry puree.

i'm almost positive that i'll be making this drink for every party this spring and summer.

Strawberry Lemonade
adapted from www.foodnetwork.com

Ingredients
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
2 cups cold sparkling water or club soda
Ice
Mint sprigs, garnish
Whole strawberries, garnish
Directions
In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon peel and lemon juice, stir, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely, then strain into a clean pitcher.

In a blender, puree the pint of strawberries and add to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Stir well to combine and refrigerate until well chilled.

Add the sparkling water and stir well. Pour over glasses filled with ice and serve, garnished with mint and strawberries.

a closed case

2012-02-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

1. marc by marc jacobs - dreamy logo case 2. tory burch - roslyn 3. kate spade keyboard laptop

4. ted baker - piannar 5. dvf - vintage collection 6. dvf - pedal dance

i've never been in the market for a laptop sleeve, but now that i have a laptop that i treasure, i want to protect it while making it look super stylish. i took a look at what is out in the market today and couldn't decide which to get! don't get me started on how long it took me to finally decide on a phone case. too long. i've rounded up some of my favorites above.

which one did i end up getting? i went with the ted baker piannar because it was made of pvc which looked like patent leather but also is water resistant. i chose the most functional one for me, since i tend to spill around every electronic item imaginable. and since my computer is relatively small, i also like that it could look like a clutch.

air

2012-02-28T07:06:00.001-08:00

meet my new best friend! i've wanted a macbook for the longest time (about 4 years), but i couldn't justify hunkering down that much for a computer. i just carried around my work computer and used it mostly for work and the occasional blogging / browsing. but, since i no longer have that computer available, i needed to get my own. i knew exactly what i wanted - the macbook air. i love it's light and compact frame that will be so easy to take with me anywhere! (i just had a flashback to the 100 pound thinkpad i would have to lug around, shuffle through airport security, etc. i don't miss you at all!)

i'm still new to the mac world, and am learning how to navigate my way around. i've used a pc my whole life but so far, so good. i think we'll get along just fine. mac user, what is your favorite feature, application, or little tricks? i would love to hear all your suggestions.

by the way... i can't get enough of the photobooth app. i may have a slight obsession with photobooths (here). FAVORITE!!

snakebite

2012-02-27T15:20:00.001-08:00

i did a little bit of spring cleaning in my closet this weekend, and found some items that i had long forgotten about. like these shoes - i bought them almost 5 years ago and didn't even know that i had them. i took the opportunity to wear them this weekend when we went out on a double date.

i have to admit, though, that i hate cleaning. but rediscovering forgotten things in the process is always worth the chore. it's exhilarating and feels like finding that stray 20 dollar bill in your pocket you put aside long ago.

outfit details:

shirt: zara; skirt: eva franco via anthropologie; tights: hue; shoes: banana republic; necklace: forever 21

in wonderland

2012-02-24T12:54:00.006-08:00

outfit details:

dress: anthropologie (super old!); shoes: kate spade licorice; necklace: forever21

with the oscars coming up this weekend, i thought it would be fun to play dress up and mimic one of the best picture contenders this year, 'the help.' the full skirt and floral print is reminiscent of hilly holbrook's wardrobe. okay, she wasn't the best or nicest character, but i really did like her dresses! but after uploading and taking a closer look at the pictures, it reminds me of a pink alice in wonderland dress at a tea party?

nevertheless, i'm looking forward to seeing all the beautiful gowns and hair-do's on the red carpet. what are you looking forward to most from the oscars on sunday? any favorite movies you've seen this year that you think should win it all?

Pin It

madeleines

2012-02-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

long before i ever knew it was a cookie, i always told my family that if i had a girl, i would name her 'madeline'. I proclaimed to everyone, "do not steal that name!" with a name like 'dzung', i definitely wanted my kids to have a beautiful one...'madeline' is just so sweet, sophisticated, and girly! it's a perfect coincidence that this delicious cookie has that charming name as well. in its beautiful shell form, its light and buttery cake-like texture always keeps me coming back for more.

a few years ago, i started creating cooking videos on youtube and with my recent, newfound freedom, i've decided to revisit this little hobby. here is a video on how you can create your own lemon madeleine cookies. i hope you enjoy it! please let me know how they turn out! what is your favorite madeleine recipe or baking technique?

cherry blossoms

2012-02-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

outfit:

headband: anthropologie; jacket: tulle faux fur via piperlime (so cozy!); top: gap;

flares: AG everett; shoes: vince camuto platform booties; bracelet: jcrew

with all the cherry blossoms, it's definitely beginning to feel like spring. i returned home from a weekend in so cal and was delighted to come back to petals falling everywhere, covering the pavement with pink goodness. it makes for a pretty good photo backdrop :)

beauty!

nailing it

2012-02-21T09:59:00.002-08:00

sparkle fingers! blush tones with a hint of golden glitters for my nails - it's the perfect combination for the season. i tend to gravitate towards this particular combo/style of nail design, also done here, particularly because it is understated but also because it's very easy to do myself.

from left to right: Sephora by OPI - i gotta blush on youSephora by OPI - looks like rain dearEssie - Good to go
"i gotta blush on you" is a very soft peachy/pink creme that is very similar to Essie's - a crewed interest, but with more pink tones and with an easier application. i think this will be my go to color for spring and summer, since it is so neutral and pretty, i just can't get enough. and the glitter? well, it just makes everything better.

indulgences: bagel fridays

2012-02-17T16:27:00.001-08:00

believe it or not one of my favorite perks while working was bagel fridays. i had this friday morning tradition of having breakfast with my friends, and we would fight the crowd for the jalapeno cream cheese. the sweet janitor whom i befriended started hiding the jalapeno cream cheese container for me because he knew we loved it so much. yes, it was THAT popular.

So now i've decided to commemorate bagel fridays on my own by going downtown and getting my favorite everything bagel with a jalapeno schmear. some things are hard to let go of and it's definitely the small things that count. while i miss the group of us sitting together chit-chatting in the cafeteria, it's comforting to know i can always head to the local bagel shop and create new traditions.

What are some of your weekly indulgence rituals?

punchy

2012-02-16T20:06:00.001-08:00

outfit details:

blazer: H&M, top: jcrew, belt: jcrew, jeans: gap, shoes: steve madden

i took full advantage of the warm weather today and went on a little stroll. it was a good reminder for me to stop and smell the roses. i threw on some of my favorite items, which i incorporated some bright and punchy items paired down with neutral basics.

can i also just say how much i love brogues? they're one of the best things ever. i never feel quite right in ballet flats or any old girly flats. but these are perfect: a little masculine with a bit of zig zag and eyelet details to give it a feminine twist.

a new day

2012-02-15T22:34:00.000-08:00

thank you so much for the encouraging comments from yesterday's post. it means alot to me and has really uplifted my spirit. better things will come!

"first day on" was an interesting one; i got to do things i never would've been able to otherwise during the day. i went with my sister and the twins to story time at our local library, which i never knew was such a big deal! the kids were so excited to sing and the room - the size of a small cafeteria - was completely full. it was so refreshing to sing songs, clap our hands, stomp our feet, and be so carefree, if only for a little while.

outfit details:

shirt: anthropologie

belt: jcrew

jeans: jbrand

coat: jcrew
bag: juicy couture

shoes: dolce vita wyatt

photos provided by: fotomokio

my funny valentine

2012-02-14T21:55:00.000-08:00

what a day. i started off today on such a positive note and so filled with joy, looking forward to everything we had planned for valentine's day. then something happened. i got laid off :(
i know i wasn't the only one today and i know there are millions upon millions of people who have gone through this in the past few years, but this is my first time, and i'm not quite sure how to handle it. i've always had my life planned and knew exactly what my next steps were.

the weak person inside of me cried all afternoon, but now i am looking forward to the unknown. i've received so much support from my friends and family since i told them the news, that i'm determined to turn this doom and gloom around. my mom reminded me that "when God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window." the options ahead of me are endless, and it's time to re-evaluate what i really want in life. my job didn't define me, but i did let it take over my life. i have so many passions and it's time to explore them and figure out what i want to do.

so, even though this day didn't turn out as planned or what i thought it would be like, i'm still here, staying positive, being motivated, and most importantly loved on valentine's day.

sweet hearts

2012-02-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

i was inspired by these gemstone hearts i happened to stumble upon this weekend. they are perfect for valentines day - pink and sparkly. what are some of your inspirations for valentines day?

we are keeping it simple for today - enjoy a nice lasagna dinner in the city (that was my only ~~requirement~~ request: lasagna), gelato, and then coming home to watch our favorite movie "i love you man". i hope you enjoy your day and receive plenty of ♥ 's from your loved ones.

fauxbruary

2012-02-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

coat: anthropologie

dress: anthropologie

tights: gap

shoes: steve madden

sick again... but it's finally february! have you done anything fun? i'm looking forward to a month of birthday celebrations for friends and family, valentines day, and the days getting a teeny tiny bit longer.

this is hands down my favorite coat ever. the faux fur, tweed fabric, and swingy cut makes a rather grungy outfit kind of interesting.

blow me away

2012-01-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, i am back! i am almost 100% after the surgery, but still need to take it easy as i still get exhausted after some time. Have any of you ever had this before? How long did it take to fully recover? Thank you so much for your well wishes and sweet comments!

So earlier this month, I was contacted by Misikko.com to review the Hana Air Professional Dryer. There were alot of things that I really liked about this product; the sleek design, powerful motor, and best of all - the ultra long cord that enables me to move all across the room. The results that I look for in a dryer are quick drying time and sleek, shiny hair that has retained its moisture (not fried from the heat). This dryer definitely does the job. I really recommend this dryer to anyone who is looking for similar results and is in the market for a new high quality dryer.

Winter Blues

2012-01-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

outfit details:

dress: anthropologie - garden party dress

jacket: gap (really old from like 8 years ago!)

shoes: sam edelman - ria

necklace: forever 21

The title is more of a feeling then anything the outfit represents. Sorry I haven't held up to my daily postings resolution! Unfortunately i was surprised with appendicitis last week and have been down an out since the surgery. painful. But these pictures were taken the day before i had to go in for my stomach pains. You never would have guessed, huh? I looked so normal and healthy. That's what I've been reflecting on this past week, in bed, with nothing else to do but recover. Things happen so suddenly in life, that you never know what to expect! Things could definitely have been worse, but i'm glad it wasn't anything too crazy or serious. I'm just missing an organ that I didn't need anyways. no big deal.

pop of color

2012-01-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

outfit details:

shirt: urban outfitters

pants: banana republic

shoes: jcrew

clip: anthropologie

my first job out of school was in a pretty conservative environment that required us to wear business attire - which meant that i wore boring slacks and a sweater to work everyday. when i switched jobs and worked in a business casual environment, i was able to wear jeans to work every day! i believe that is when my style started to evolve and i became more interested in trying new looks. these pants were from my conservative business working days - if only i was able to think of adding pops of colors and fun details to make my outfits more interesting back then. good thing i now work in a place where anything goes. yes - anything goes. our ceo once walked out of a meeting in shorts, a tee shirt, and tennis shoes.

a little bit of kourtney

2012-01-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

outfit details:

shirt: jcrew - scoopneck blouse in wildcat

skirt: anthropologie

shoes: sam edelman - ria

bag: rebecca minkoff mini mac clutch

sunglasses: anthropologie

i have to admit, i felt like i was channeling kourtney kardashian in this outfit. say what you want about them, i really do love her style. i love how she always pairs flirty skirts with unique tops (here, here, here) to pull her "look" together. her style is always trendy while ladylike and chic.

post impressionist

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

outfit details:

blouse: nordstroms

skirt: anthropologie - post impressionist skirt

shoes: forever 21 - platform mary jane

hat: nordstrom

belt: jcrew

it's been a little awkward getting dressed these days. it's the beginning of January and i feel like i should be in boots and bundled up in a thick coat, but it has been unseasonably gorgeous out!! i took full advantage of this by wearing somewhat of a springy (or i guess this could be fallish too) outfit. the skirt was long enough to cover and keep my bare legs warm. i could definitely get used to this warm weather; i'm kind of a wuss and don't like to do anything when it is cold outside.

Happy Monday!

let's get physical

2012-01-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

as tradition each year, my resolution is to be active and exercise more. and of course with each passing year, i tend to lose track of that goal more and more. i found it to be a drag to get myself to a gym to work out on machines for an hour, and even too lazy to put sneakers on to go running outside. something always seems to get in the way like a work, dinner with friends, or some random errands that must be done, all taking precedence over taking care of myself.

this year, i'm making a change. i'm going to make this a priority. i'm getting older, so of course it is more and more important to stay fit and have an active lifestyle. i've given myself a little test this past week to see if i could be consistent with my exercise routine (and blogging!... hooray!) and passed with flying colors, thanks to this amazing, awesome, and motivating pilates channel i found on youtube "Blogilates TV." i was looking for something that i could do on my own time, that was not too expensive, and that would keep me engaged. Well Cassey - the instructor who teaches a series of workouts called pop pilates, does just that. And she is so funny too! Best of all - each videos are only about 10 minutes, so i can mix and match the workouts depending on the problem areas that i want to attack that day.

printable workout sheet from blogilates

i'm not affiliated with blogilates in any way, but i did want to share with all of you who may have the same resolution, how fun working out can be. i haven't seen the results from of working out yet, but i am sore in every different muscle in my body, i hope to be able to keep this up longer than my other work out attempts in past years!

here are a few of my favorite workout videos:

the corset workout for a slim waistline - i couldn't last through half of this one (i'm really out of shape!) but she is hilarious and i love the beginning introduction. lol!!

a cardio workout - i wanted to die. enough said.

my favorite! this is the inner thigh and calves workout.

you can say that i've been spending a healthy amount time on youtube this past week to learn new things to better myself... and let's just say that i'm currently on overdrive with fulfilling my goals. :) i'll share some more favorite channels with you in weeks to come.

thank you for stopping by and for reading my blog. i hope you all had a great week and i hope you enjoy your weekend!

xo,
dzung

twilight

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

outfit details: dress: gap; shoes: jeffrey campbell - tribe 2 booties; belt: jcrew; earrings: vintage

this piece of jewelry is special to me because it's actually a first that i've received from my boyfriend! i'm not one to wear alot of jewelry because they always seem to get lost or broken or something, somehow. i remember when i was around 7 or 8, my mom bought me these beautiful sapphire earrings. while i was playing at the park, i didn't like how they dangled and got in my way. of course my friend told me to take them off and put them in my pocket. several cartwheels later, they had somehow fallen out of my pockets and were gone. i didn't realize that i didn't have them anymore until after i had gotten back. i was in sooo much trouble that night. and that was one of the last time i ever wore something valuable. except for the necklace you see around my neck, i've been able to keep that baby on since 21, a gift from my parents for being a full on adult. or perhaps it was a test to see whether i'm old enough to take are of jewelry. indeed, i am. whoo hoo!

canterbury blue

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

outfit details - jacket: anthropologie; shirt: jcrew; pants: jbrand; shoes: frye

growing up, i always wished that i was able to wear uniforms to school. not just the logo sweatshirt or polos uniforms that were enforced shortly after i graduated from grade school, but the preppy, full on plaid with skirt, tights, and saddle shoes type of uniform. the preppy and giddy kid in me couldn't help but grab this shirt from the racks immediately upon entering the store. of course that was also when my boyfriend perked up and said, "hey! i had to wear that same exact print at Canterbury (his gradeschool)! ... they are selling it at jcrew now? i wore this as a kid! wow, we were so fashion forward." and yet i'm just now catching up. this one's for you, dear!

art deco

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

outfit details: top: anthropologie; blazer; hm; pants: citizens of humanity; boots: steve madden

every closet has a "gem" piece that is most coveted and unique, and i believe this top is mine. i found it one day randomly hanging in the sale section of all places! and knew that i had to snatch it up. the bead work is phenomenal and i love that it feels very 1920's on. it kinda makes me feel as though i could be hanging out with zelda and scott fitzgerald.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

wishing everyone a very happy new year! i hope you had a safe and fun time celebrating last night.

2012 will be quite a big year for me, with a particular milestone later in the year. to make it somewhat bearable, i've decided to not set resolutions but more like goals for this coming year. one in particular is to focus and improve on this blog! i want this to become a space where i will be able to share some interesting and hopefully creative material and outfits based on inspirations of style all around me. i am so extremely lucky enough to work with and have fotomokio snap some pretty amazing photos for this blog!

outfit details: dress - Ruffian for Anthropologie; necklace: Anthropologie - Frozen Flowers Necklace; tights: target;

shoes: Steven by Steve Madden; Makeup: Urban Decay Naked 2 palette

Best wishes to everyone good luck to everyone in this new year!

butterfly creek

2011-12-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

outfit details - dress: zara; jacket: members only; tights: gap;

belt: anthropologie; shoes: vince camuto

i was immediately drawn to this dress when i first saw it online. upon first look, i thought the color patterns were butterflies, but it turns out that they are abstracted florals. either way, i love the bright teal and pink against the dark background. i'm meeting a few friends in town and this seems like the perfect edgy meets sweet outfit for a fun night out.

photos taken by: fotomokio

sweet tomato

2011-12-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

Outfit Details - sweater: h&m; blouse: banana republic; pants: jcrew; shoes: sam edelman;

necklace: jcrew; bag: juicy couture; glasses: elizabeth & james

hope everyone had a wonderful holiday; i'm on break this week and am having some fun shopping, relaxing, and catching up on my poor neglected blog. i have a few dinners and parties to attend this week as well. i have some more outfits and recipes to share coming soon! what are you doing this week to celebrate the upcoming new year?

photos by: fotomokio

an early start

2011-11-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

i thought i'd start the festivities a bit early with a little red and a little sparkle: an early start to the holiday spirit!

red: OPI - o'hare and nails look great!

glitter: warm and fozzie

Shadows

2011-11-07T21:44:00.001-08:00

Every few months, I find something new to collect or obsess about. Yeah it's an unhealthy habit but it keeps me going. You gotta have some interests in life! Last month was building on my Essie collection, the month before that was my Staub collection, and now my newfound urban decay palette collection.

I am so impressed with their eyeshadows, I can't believe I went on so long without them! I'm never going back to MAC again. I got the naked palette and the 15th anniversary palette. There are so many options I have no idea what I'm gonna do with myself.

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Cat Eyes

2011-10-20T15:01:00.001-07:00

I got new glasses today! They are the elizabeth and james "chrystie". I love them but cant tell if they fit quite right. Sorry for the glare! But I need help deciding. Are they too big for me? Keep or return? Hmmm...

hello... doll!

2011-09-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Cesena by Boutique 9

i've always had this affinity to wedges, and at least 50% of my shoe population are dedicated wedges. so naturally when i saw these, my heart skipped a beat. they are so perfect for fall and the hardest part is figuring out which color is even more perfect. they come in dark purple, black, and this beautiful rust orange. i'll take me a rust orange... and a black... oh just one in every color, please! (hah, dream on)

*drool*

29

2011-09-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

last week was my 29th birthday. i can finally blog about it now that i've finished hyperventilating. jk. but seriously, i can't believe this is my last year in my 20's!! it just seemed like yesterday when i celebrated my 25th. i have to say that i'm enjoying life more with age, so i guess that is a good thing.

its nice having a birthday so close to labor day weekend (or sometimes even on labor day itself!) so it's always been an extended celebration. i spent labor day celebrating with the family and then my actual day going on a mini adventure with nate. we've never been to mill valley or to muir woods (where the redwoods are) so we decided to take the day off and go on a little stroll. it was a good day... i'm thinking next birthday will be spent somewhere oh, i don't know... in a city of lights! ... at least that's what crossed my mind when i blew out the candles. :)

here are some highlights of my day!

free sprinkles for breakfast

The Embarcadero

Ferry Building

trivia with the cooking channel!

miette <3

Tyler Florence Store - Mill Valley

the most amazing library @ Tyler Florence Store

thanks for the wonderful day!

a wedding and a photobooth

2011-09-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

we recently attended a friend's wedding and had such so much fun celebrating with the lovely couple. good friends, good food, good booze, and even a photobooth! we went a little crazy going back and forth in line, but here are some of my favorite takes. you can be sure that when i get married, i will definitely have one of those sucks and hopefully not hog it the whole time... :) LOVE!!!

and here is what i wore to the wedding, an oldie but goodie dress! one of my favorites. :)

dress: rock and republic; shoes: guess (i'm dying for the real YSL tribute)

zara online is alive

2011-09-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

this news couldn't have come at a better time. happy birthday to meeeee, zara is available for online purchases!!! i've already made my first purchase(s) and i think they're classics that will last me for years to come! do you notice a theme? i'm in love with two tones! ... but i just love zara shoes! they're so comfy and so stylish.

investments, investments... at least that's what i keep telling myself. :)

sprinkling

2011-09-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to the chocolate marshmallow cupcake at Sprinkles and i just have to say, i'm obsessed. If it weren't for this 4 hour body challenge (basically i cannot eat any carbs including anything that could be white - potatoes, yams, etc. and get a cheat day to eat anything and everything every 7 days) that i'm doing with Nate, i would be eating these cupcakes everyday. Luckily today is my day 7 and guess what - first stop: Sprinkles cupcakes. and oh i'm so happy!

top: urban outfitters; shorts: jcrew; shoes: zara

ombre!

2011-08-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

I saw the Ombre nails idea from Lauren Conrad's beauty website and have been dying to try it out! I'd say i'm pretty happy with how it turns out. It may just be my go to nail theme for the rest of fall. :)

All Essie nail colors starting from left to right:

velvet velour, damsel in a dress, merino cool, lady like, sand tropez

what the pho?

2011-08-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

... can you believe there is actually a restaurant called "what the pho?" its in seattle! i've always been intruiged by their name! Anyhow, this past weekend was my first attempt ever to make pho. I've had my mom's homemade chicken pho many items over my lifespan, but have never dared to attempt.. until now. It was pretty easy, just toast some spices and boil with the chicken for hours to let the broth develop its flavor. I was so proud of myself!

... until i brought some over for my parents. my mom gave the broth a smell said, "you put star anise in here. you're not supposed to put star anise in chicken pho, only beef." oh how was i to know? nate did tell me that he thought i was putting too much of that stuff in... i guess i should've asked her for her recipe instead of scouring the internet only to find the wrong recipe. oh well, you live and you learn.

i'd say it still looks pretty good, wouldn't you say so? maybe there was a bit too much of the licorice flavor from the star anise, but hey - who's judging?! :) here's a video that nate put together of our little experiment! fun. fun.

investment pieces

2011-07-31T22:35:00.000-07:00

i made a deal with my boyfriend that i would sell away a handful - okay trunk full of items that haven't been getting used - to make room for items that i absolutely love and will use! his motto is - quality over quantity. i'm learning to adapt his motto (it's hard not to hoard sale pieces i find for such a good deal!) and have been eyeing more "investment" pieces that are more timeless and classic.

while i haven't actually sold anything yet, i'm already making a list of the more quality items i'd love to own. i have been looking at these beauties for a few weeks now and i haven't been able to get them off my mind!! with my birthday only a little over a month away, i can already see myself wearing some of these pieces for the special day... and of course throughout the years too!

starting from the top, clockwise: marc jacobs large single bag in poppy; anthropologie tangerine flicker dress; miu miu patent bow mary jane; chloe paraty medium in rock (my dream bag!); anthropologie noon & night bag; kate spade suede licorice

My Favorite People

2011-07-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since i've posted! I've kind of been in a funk lately, uninspired and unmotivated. Lot's of changes going on (i got a promotion - yay!) but at the same time super overwhelmed by the new duties that come with that. i can't even begin to wrap my head around most of the things going on! c'est la vie.

But on a happier note, my best group of friends got together yesterday to celebrate my friend Kirk's birthday at a local tapas place called Cascal. I cant believe how busy it was on a Thursday night! We were like vultures trying to get a spot at the bar. It took awhile, but it was all worth it! We sipped on Sangrias, dined over some delicious tapas, and laughed until our stomaches hurt. Though we don't get to see each other that often anymore due to our busy schedules, we always have the best times together.

It's funny because I've been reflecting on people or friends that have come and gone in my life over the past years. And while it is sad to realize that those friendships no longer exist, it's a comforting feeling to know who my real friends are and i'm so glad to know that these are the friends who will stay in my life forever. <3

Here are some pictures of us throughout the years.

for my 25th birthday

a holiday party

another birthday

out

hawaiian luau party

we met sara bareilles!!

Here are the ones from last night!

all grown up!!

Cooking Video: Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

2011-05-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm back with another cooking video post. It's been a busy couple of weeks but we're going to be keeping up with the summer edition of the cooking videos again! I can't believe it's been 2 years since we started this series. We've received tremendous support from everyone and wanted to say thank you soooooooo much for the loving comments!

Please let me know if there are any recipes you would like to see demonstrated. Thanks again for stopping by! :)

an Engaged! sneak peak

2011-05-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

So remember a few weeks ago I mentioned this little event that a group of us were throwing? well we had it this Saturday and it was a great success! i am so proud of everybody's work and wanted to share the event with you! My friend Indelisa provided the flowers, Wendy did the table setting, I did the dessert table, and Colson had his photo displays. Here is a video that Nate put together, so check it out! I'll have more photos and details coming this week. Enjoy!!! :D

the ms. & mrs.

2011-04-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

i can't tell you how many countless times there's been where i was in desparate need of an emergency kit at work. granted, we have a real first aid emergency kit full of bandaids, ibuprofens, alcohol wipes, etc. but the essentials for my daily emergencies were non existent. there always seems to be a button hanging loose from my anthro sweater or jacket (that is a whole different story or rant regarding workmanship on buttons!!) that made me wish i had my sewing kit with me, or that i had some bounce sheets on hand to get rid of that static cling, or clear even nail polish when my tights somehow snagged on the bolt holding the keyboard tray.

i sound like a complete mess. but experiences like these make me so happy to come across this working girl's survival kit from ms. & mrs. somehow they must have thought of me when they created this clever little tackle box. this box contains everything i need - and more! i'll definitely be keeping this at my desk at all times... never again, will i have one of those "sure"... "unsure" moments.

the beauty department

2011-04-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

i have to admit something: i love lauren conrad and everything she does. so naturally i was thrilled when i read from instyle.com that she just launched a new website called The Beauty Department. Her website is now live and she has very useful tips for everything beauty related; hair, nails, style, etc. I've always lacked the knowledge on how to apply beauty products, but now i can learn how to correctly put on red lipstick, paint ombre nails, and how to achieve the perfect vintage wavey hair. check it out!

photos via thebeautydepartment.com

i got it from my momma

2011-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

my mom recently sent me an old photo she found of her and her sisters, and what an amazing picture it is. this was taken back in the 60's in vietnam, where she grew up. she's the one in the middle! the sisters are wearing the traditional dress - ao dai's, paired with some pretty stylish sunglasses, i must say. my favorite is of course my mom's - the cat eye sunglasses - which is currently on top of my wishlist for summertime.

Royal Bloomin' It

2011-04-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

Lately, i've been fortunate enough to meet some of the most talented and creative people in my little community. My friend Indelisa, Wendy, Colson, Nate and I are joining together to do a wedding collective event in Palo Alto at the end of this month.

Lucky for us, Indelisa invited over to her shop to do some promotional videos and photo shoot for the event. I put together some mini cakes for the photo shoot and i'm really happy with how the final product came out. My friend Colson is a professional photographer, so we'll get the promotional pictures soon! i can't wait to see them.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of some of the cakes i whipped up. they were my test recipe and i made them in miniature size so i could do more than one big cake. we dressed them up in ribbons and flowers and they turned out quite charming and cute! How very shabby chic. :)

*update* - so i finally got the pictures from Colson! they look AMAZING! i need to learn how to take pictures like that!

a classic looking cake

My Easter Hat Cake

The Royal Bloom Shop at Allied Arts Guild

the "engaged" team

left to right: Colson, Wendy, Me, Indelisa, Nate

and finally - have some cake!

i hope to have plenty more updates of updates coming up. i will be baking cake or something sweet everyday until april 30th, so get ready for some more baking post galore.

Steel Magnolias

2011-04-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

One last blog about my NY experience, i promise.

so if you know me, you know that i kind of have a sweet tooth and absolutely love cake. in all shape, size, and form - so i had to, just had to stop by one of the most famous NY bakeries, Magnolias. Now the first time i went there a few years ago, i wasn't so excited because i had bought 3 things (pumpkin cheesecake, bread pudding, and cupcakes) and i think got on a sugar high so it was too much. This time, i stuck with 2 cupcakes. one for me and one for my sister.

(sorry, i was really (look) tired)

one of the things that i was really excited about at each bakery was watching them ice the cake. Both Billy's Bakery and Magnolias have very similar techniques, but they slightly differed in the way the final swooshing of the cupcakes. I was thoroughly impressed with both that I had to take a video. I have never tried icing my cupcakes with an offset spatula before, so this shall be one of my new challenges. Check out the videos that I took!

this was at the Magnolias on Bleeker Street

this was at billy's bakery

finally - just to pay my homage to Magnolia's bakery, here is a video that i did a little over a year ago on how to make their red velvet cake from their More from Magnolia's cookbook. It was actually a layer cake recipe that I adapted into cupcakes. Enjoy!! :)

in a new york minute

2011-04-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

literally, that was how short it felt. i was in nyc for my friend's wedding, as mentioned in the last post here, and was lucky enough to have an extra day or two to roam around to explore the city. nate and i around for 6 hours - from lincoln center where our hotel was located, to penn station and madison square garden area (what is that area called), to chelsea, to tribeca, to the meat packing district, to greenwhich village, to soho, to little italy, and finally through chinatown. i should also mention that with each district/area that we visited, we stopped by a famous eatery. i was stuffed the whole entire time, but luckily we were able to walk it off. :)

my favorite area was definitely greenwhich village and bleeker street specifically. it is such a quaint neighborhood and there are so many different boutiques and shops there, including mulberry where i actually got to touch the beloved alexa bag. one day, i will have you!!! here are some pictures of the trip:

gossip girl? chuck's hotel was seriously amazing. i didn't mind the weird half door shower or the teeny tiny room so much since it was so modern and pretty inside (of course i forgot to take a picture of the interior).

sippin on my dunkin donuts coffee and posing with martha stewart ('s studio)

at billy's bakery - oh look who i found!

yum

the famous arc in greenwhich village with my banana cupcake from billy's bakery. it was SO delicious.

the dvf store! i love all the bold colors.

the meatpacking district - dos caminos is soooo good. try the fish tacos!

date night to serendipity

for the frozen hot chocolate, of course!

can i just quickly tell you about my top? this is probably my favorite top in my closet. i found it by its lonesome at my local anthropologie so grabbed to try it on. i had never seen it online before! it was heavy with all the beading - yep, all those black lines you see are beads! - it's a beautiful vintage shirt that has a dapper flapper charm to it. and best of all - it was marked down from 350 to 80!!

and finally our walk through central park.

it was definitely hard to get me on the plane to go back to california. i love love love new york and felt right at home being lost and finding my way through the city. i would love to someday live there and experience more of what this great city has to offer! until i see you again.

xo,

dzung

a grand wedding event

2011-04-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I last blogged! Several big events has happened since we last met. one of my bestest friends just got married!!!!! it was the most beautiful, the most elegant, the most perfect wedding that i have ever been to, and i am so honored to have been a part of such an amazing day!

the ceremony was in a beautiful church in the upper east side and the reception was at the brooklyn botanical garden. here are some of the pictures! unfortunately i didn't have any from the day of since i was doing bridesmaid duties. hopefully i will get some from everyone soon.

the rehearsal at the church

how gorgeous is her dress??

the limo ride to the church

the brooklyn botanical garden - once it was dark the beams lit up. it was seriously like a big carriage ride.

party of the year. i love how everyone is jumping in the back. i know exactly which song too - you know you make me wanna... SHOUT!

end of the night with my dear friend

have you all seen the movie black swan? while melissa was putting on her makeup, i asked them to smile and marcy made a strange face. she and i do not take any serious pictures on each other's cameras. i haven't seen the pictures from her camera yet, but i know for sure there are no serious ones. lol! anyhow - once she made that strange face, i thought - oh my goodness, this is like the black swan! black swan/white swan. i made them retake the picture - melissa was completely unamused by our antics. but this is one of my favorite picture of the day!!

okay so this is going to be a super long post!!! anyhow, one more picture from the wedding that will be a nice segue into my next topic.

how amazing is this shot? this is one of the most romantic and artistic wedding shots that i've ever seen. it was taken the day after the wedding for a special photo session from our friend Colson. I mentioned this would lead me to the next topic, and here it is.

Engaged!

no, i'm not engaged. but i am a part of a group that is throwing a big party for anyone who is engaged, will be engaged, or just wants to get engaged! Myself, Colson Griffith Photography, Royal Bloom, It's Your Day Event Planning, and Made in Palo Alto will be featuring a day full of wedding services that you can check out for your big day. Food will be provided by yours truly, as I will have a dessert table displayed and passed hor d'ourves. sound good? If you are in the bay area, please pop in and say hello!! i would LOVE to meet you and i hope you will love event as well as the food. I'll post more details as the event gets closer, but it will be held at the Palo Alto Town and Country on April 30th from 2-7. Here is the facebook invitation link Engaged Event if you would like to forward the event along to anyone you know!

i have SO much more to share with everyone and am so sorry that i have been MIA for the past 2 months! unacceptable. but i have noticed that my blog posts comes in waves. i'll try to be more consistent and will be back tomorrow with my pictures and scenes from the big apple. plus i will have some more new and exciting cooking videos to share with everyone in days to come!

bye!

dzung

Style Inspiration: Olivia Palermo for Tibi

2011-02-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

pictures from Tibi blog

I am absolutely in love with the looks that Olivia put together for the new Tibi Spring 11 web campaign. Tibi first came under my radar when Olivia went on assignment in Japan to cover the brand on "The City." Since seeing that episode, I've noticed her wearing several other Tibi pieces. Olivia always manage to pull off interesting looks that are colorful, fun, and perfectly styled. The pictures above are some of my favorite looks from the street style campaign - they are casual but have a very sophisticated element to each of the outfits. I think these are looks that I'm definitely going to try to re-create for the spring/summertime. Now where can i find those amazing gladiator booties in the first picture...

Vegetable Tian

2011-02-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

I'm always trying to find ways to sneak vegetables into each meal. I invited my family over for dinner yesterday for a french feast that included the famous Boeuf Bourguignon, a tomato with lentil side dish, and the vegetable tian. I was impressed with how everything came out; it was the first time I tried my hand at making Boeuf Bourguignon, and i have been dying to make it after watching it on Julie and Julia.

While they were all delicious, I thought the Vegetable Tian was the most eye catching, therefore worthy of a dedicated blog post. This dish consisted of sliced zucchini, yukon gold potatoes, tomatoes, and herbs (i omitted the cheese) baked until the flavors blend to create a rustic and hearty dish. It is guaranteed to be the wow factor to any dinner table, and guests will be so delighted by the fun, bright colors that they'll almost forget you're making them eat vegetables. almost.

Vegetable Tian
adapated from Ina Garten

Ingredients
Good olive oil
2 large yellow onions, cut in half and sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound medium round potatoes, unpeeled
3/4 pound zucchini
1 1/4 pounds medium tomatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs
2 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Brush a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish with olive oil. In a medium saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the onions over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Spread the onion mixture on the bottom of the baking dish.

Slice the potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes in 1/4-inch thick slices. Layer them alternately in the dish on top of the onions, fitting them tightly, making only 1 layer. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme leaves, and thyme sprigs and drizzle with 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Uncover the dish, remove the thyme sprigs, sprinkle the cheese on top, and bake for another 30 minutes until browned. Serve warm.

70's Chic

2011-02-15T09:45:00.002-08:00

top: cavorting flora - anthropologie; belt: H&M; pants: Level 99 - anthropologie; shoes: zara platform lace ups; necklace & sunglasses - anthropologie

I am loving the whole 70's hippie bell-bottom trend that is making a come back this spring. I can't get enough of platform shoes and have my favorite pair on (even though you can't really see them - i promise they will make another appearance, soon enough). This top from Anthropologie stands out on its own and can be very versatile paired with plenty of other pieces, but i thought it was perfect for this 70's vibe.

Love Is In The Air

2011-02-14T10:07:00.001-08:00

dress: shopruche; shoes: jcrew (coddington); belt: jcrew; tights: HUE; bracelets: forever 21

This is one of my favorite dresses that i own. It is layered with tulle that makes it completely twirl worthy, and has a somewhat ballerina feel to it. We decided to celebrate early, and I decided to dress for the occasion and paired it with my red heels to give it a more romantic feel. The last picture is my favorite. I like how the colors came together and look forward to celebrating this heart filled day with my valentine, nate. :)

homemade raviolis

2011-02-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

I made these raviolis a few weeks ago in class, and decided to make our own twist on things with my cooking buddy, rachel. Instead of with the tomato sauce, as indicated in the recipe, we tried it out with a roasted red pepper sauce. It was delicious! The best thing about this recipe were the wonton wrappers. they make ravioli making a cinch and are so versatile i can basically stuff them with anything.
ps. don't mind the bangs, they were freshly cut yesterday and i just realized they seem a bit short in the video!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

2011-01-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

It turns out that yesterday was National Peanut Butter Day - how could I have missed that? For the past month, i have been on a PB&J kick, packing it up for lunch and sometimes making it my dinner. Call it my new years detox plan, if you will. Probably not the best idea, but it tastes good and provides me with enough protein and energy to go about my day.

Below are some of my favorite peanut butter treats that would be perfect to celebrate this (belated) holiday!

1. Smucker's Goobers Peanut Butter & Jelly Spread

2. Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

3. Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Filling

4. Thai Garlic Peanut Sauce

5. Specialty's Peanut Butter & Stuff

6. Peanut Butter Brownies

7. Peanut Butter Heart Jam Cookies

8. Kara's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

Insanity

2011-01-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

photo above from body by glamour

photo below from insanity

i don't believe in resolutions, but i do believe in goals. my goal for 2011 was to work on a more healthy lifestyle - meaning cutting back on eating out (i miss my fries and ice cream indulgences), and being more physically active. my boyfriend and i recently took on a work out dvd called "insanity" - 60 days, and 10 different work outs that include interval training, plyometric drills, cardio, and pure intensity. i've never been a fitness guru and my idea of working out was lifting my tv remote control. i couldn't run a whole mile if my life depended on it, and my first week of the program left me panting and gasping for breathe. i'm almost on my 3rd week and can already feel the difference in strength and endurance - my legs feel stronger, i'm pushing myself past my limits, and it feels great. best of all - i get to do this in the comfort of my own home, no gym or weights necessary! i highly recommend this program if you're thinking of trying something new that will give you great results and enough of a challenge to keep you motivated.

Bar Tartine

2011-01-20T08:16:00.000-08:00

As i've mentioned in an earlier post, Chad Robertson and his wife Elizabeth Prueitt has been the inspiration for most of my culinary efforts. I would love to one day have a cafe that delivers amazing food and is booming and bustling with people like Tartine Bakery.

I have been to Tartine countless times, but was recently visited their sister restaurant - Bar Tartine for the first time. Bar Tartine is every bit as exquisite as the original. Like the original Tartine, there was a line out the door with people eager to be seated, but luckily we were able to get bar seating quickly. I've been dying to try their famous bread after seeing this video, so we ordered the cheese and bread platter, and threw in an extra dessert to finish off the night. The bread was soft, chewy, delicious - everything I thought it would be, and the goat cheese was probably the best I've ever had. Stop by this restaurant if you ever have a chance to visit the mission district in SF!

breaking bread

2011-01-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

photo above: cranberry and walnut loaf

photo below: cranberry walnut & rosemary garlic loaf

There's a great level of satisfaction when you're able to produce something you that you never thought you could. For me - it was artisan bread. I always considered myself a "culinary chef", but never a baker. Never up until just a few years ago when my interesting in baking peaked - it was definitely a challenge for me. A good challenge that forced me to focus on the tiniest details like measurements of ingredients, and more specifically learning how scientific baking really is. I've definitely developed my baking skills over the past few years and it continues to be challenged and practiced daily, but recently, i was introduced by my friend rachel to a no fail, no knead bread recipe that has changed our lives. The recipe is simple, easy, 3 basic ingredients that pretty much leaves no room for error. I looked at the basic recipe as a blank canvas for me to experiment and try out different flavors, thus coming up with the cranberry and walnut (inspired by rachel) and the rosemary and garlic loaf (a personal favorite flavor combination). To my delight, they both turned out very well and nothing beats a fresh and hot loaf of bread steaming out of the oven.

Bread is such a specialized form of art that there are bakers out there that dedicate their lives to perfect their product like Chad Robertson of Tartine. Hopefully one day I can reach that kind of (Tartine's) status, but for now, i will keep working on developing my culinary and baking skills and work on unique and special recipes i can call my own, that everyone will want to try!

The Recipe:

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

Filled to the BRIM

2010-12-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

photos courtesy of Goodeye

We were invited to do a store opening for Brim at the Palo Alto Town & Country this past weekend. What a unique store that was opened by owners Joelle and Ana Cruz. The event brought in many bay area big wigs, local fashion designers - including Jay Sario from Project Runway! The front of the store displayed a grand collection of hats, wraps, and other fine accessories, and the back of the store presented an art exhibit by a local artist, who displayed his deconstructed and digitized apple products. I overheard someone at the opening literally say, "This is so F*ing New York!" To me, that statement is a pretty big deal since we (Bay Area - Peninsula) aren't usually that cool.

We (Mason Cookery) presented a sampling of our favorite desserts: red velvet layer cake with cream cheese frosting, gingersnap crusted cheesecake topped with candied citrus peel, french apple tart, and rosemary shortbread. It was such a hit! This was such an exciting event for us, as we were able to meet many high end clients and will hopefully get our business on the map!

To catch all the the action (and rachel and I at work) at the Brim grand opening event, check out the video below. (psst, the mix music and live music was provided by Nate & Andrew!)

BRIM Grand Opening from Captured eMOTION on Vimeo.

it's the most wonderful time of the year

2010-11-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

dress: twelve by twelve (f21); shoes: zara booties; cardigan: banana republic;

bag: mbmj pedal to the metal natasha

yesterday, i dressed up to go to a special fundraising event at Filoli Gardens, where Nate's band played jingle jangles to entertain the guests. this was a spectacular event as community members flocked together to buy unique gifts for christmas but at the same time raise money to keep the garden alive. Have you ever seen The Wedding Planner, where JLo and Matthew McConaughey were at the mansion and on the horseback ride? that place is so mesmerizing and beautiful i just had to snap a few pictures to share with you.

happy holidays!

Harvest to Heat

2010-11-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite things about thanksgiving is the opportunity to try out new recipes. last year, i tried my hands at making the bouchon version of the cauliflower gratin. my first time trying this dish was during a work trip to vegas and i just HAD to go to the famed restaurant. i was blown away by the combination of creaminess and melding of the cheese and cauliflower and crunchiness of the bread and cheese crumb topping. though my dish was nowhere as delicious as thomas keller's (restaurant) i was a stuffed and happy turkey.

this year, i will be trying out a few recipes from this book:

i bought it today from the anthro sale! score. i fell in love with the rustic tomato galette on the cover and especially love that all the recipes in this book are so clean, fresh, and rustic. it also features famous chefs from around the nation and how they prepare their favorite local produce, meat, poultry, etc. there were quite a few recipes that i thought would go very well at the non-traditional thanksgiving dinner, so stay tuned!i'm having trouble narrowing the choices down! but i'll definitely be sharing the recipes and letting you know how it goes soon. :)

anyhow, as excited as i was to get this new book, my neice must've been even more excited - because she threw up all over the back cover. it's a good thing this book is pretty sturdy because i was able to wipe it off with lysol wipes. thank goodness for wipes. oh well... at least the book is nice and broken in now.

all together now: ewwwww.

but how could you get mad at this little face? :)

all together now: awwwwwww! :)

iphone 4 fun!

2010-11-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

guess who just got a new iphone??? .... not me. :P i am still waiting for verizon to incorporate it into their plan, but in the meantime, nate got one so it's basically mine too. thanks buns!!! ;)

well we found a really cool feature that puts filters onto photos. i think the reason why i don't blog quite as much as i would like to is 1) i dont ever get around to editing photos 2) i need to learn how to use my new camera 3) the convenience of lugging around a big dslr camera is just not there. i envy all of you that have the ease of blogging from your phone and taking/uploading pictures so easily.

come january, i will have an iphone. and i will take a photography class so my other camera won't go to waste. new years resolution already! we're off to a good start. :)

here are a few outfit pictures from the phone. it's starting to get cold here, so i broke out the "winter" coat and boots. i doubt this jacket would keep anyone outside of california warm, but it did the trick for me. i would say this would be my cold weather uniform; a jacket, sweater, and boots really does the trick on most days. add in a sassy hat and we are good to go!

what are some of your favorite winter outfits?

Coat: Anthro skirted peacoat; Sweater: banana republic; Jeans: Gap Jeggings;

Boots: Frye Paige; Necklace: Anthro; Hat: Gap

an anthro bakery

2010-11-15T22:17:00.002-08:00

imagine my excitement when i stepped into a semi - real life anthro bakery! during my trip to chicago, i stepped into the new anthropologie off of michigan avenue and it was like a dream come true. it's amazing how they were able to translate what i would consider my dream kitchen/bakery to look and feel like into real life!

so naturally, feeling completely inspired, i decided to bake up a storm. for 3 days after coming back from the trip (after eating all the yummy foods too), i made everything from foccaccia bread to cake pops, to these delicious chocolate chip cookies.

... and finally a cute little ribbon to top it off. perfect for santa and loved ones this holiday season!

Sending out an S.O.S

2010-11-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

*Update: I FOUND THEM!! so thankful for Mariah at the Post street store to go the extra mile for me when the stock room said they were unavailable. I am one very happy girl!! :D

Hi Everyone! I'm back from a long hiatus, what a hectic fall season it's been! I just returned from my trip to Chicago, which I'll hopefully get to do another post on later today ... or this week. But I wanted to ask for your help!! I found a pair of booties that I've fallen in love with, but can't find my size!!! I'm looking for this pair of Zara Wedge Ankle Booties: Ref # 6101/301 in Taupe size 39.

I highly recommend these boots! They fold over and they look great with jeans or skirts/dresses. If you happen to be in a neighborhood where there is a Zara, would you be able to comment and let me know? Hopefully i can find them!! They would be the perfect winter booties. Thank you sooo much!! :)

introducing: mason cookery

2010-09-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

what a busy month it's been! sorry i haven't been updating at all!! we're finally catching a break so i wanted to fill everybody in on what's happening! rachel and i have finally come up with a name for our company!! it took forever but here it is.

designed by Fotomokio. if you need any graphic design help, contact him!

mason cookery! we felt it embodied alot of our identity as a company and our style. mason because we LOVE mason jars (and try to use them in pretty much all of our events) and cookery because it has a homey feel to it and one day, when we have a restaurant or cafe, it would make more sense. what do you think?

here is a wedding that we did two weeks ago. the wedding was low key and we were requested to do a dessert reception with some of her favorites.

The location of the wedding was at a historical house that reminded alot of a doll house! Here are a couple shots of rachel, anna, and i busy at work. we had a few action shots so here you go!

I wore my beloved Dagmar dress for the first time and learned something important. Note to self: never wear a brand new dress when you are working a big catering job. See those big coffee urns? Guess where the liquid ended up when i was carrying them to the kitchen to empty? ... yup, my dress. good thing i was able to get it washed (thank goodness for machine washable) right when i got home. it all came out and i have a clean dress to wear again. can't wait to wear it this fall and winter with boots! Until then... cheers!

a little bit of this and a little bit of that

2010-09-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

so i have a week's worth of outfits that i haven't had a chance to post yet. since it's labor day weekend and i'm finally getting a chance to catch up on everything, i thought i'd pop in to say hi!

What I am Wearing:

Top: Anthro Deletta from '07

Skirt: Botanist Muse Skirt (thanks goldenmeans for letting me know the name of the skirt!!!)

Shoes: She's got the moves - seychelles

hmm... i just spent the last 30 minutes sorting through old catalogs looking for the name of this skirt. i swear i remember seeing this skirt in the catalog back in 2008 with the maroon top, but i can't seem to find it so i'm not sure what the name is called - its by yoanna boraschi though and is one of my all time favorites!

What I am Wearing:

Dress: Urban Outfitters Pins & Needles floral dress
Shoes: Steve Madden Tuxxedo
Tights: Gap
Necklace: Anthropologie pearl & tulle flower

i should start off by saying that's not my car, it's my neighbor's (hi!!). i love how the volkswagon rabbit is so vintage/classic.. and kind of went with this outfit. thanks neighbor for letting me take a picture with your car. ;)

What I am Wearing:

Cardigan: Splendid from Anthro

Top: A meeting place tank from Anthro

Jeans: Gap skinny jeans

Shoes: Miss Sixty Jayden booties

i am sooo excited for the weekend because we're planning on going on a bike ride in sf and hopefully i'll be able to practice taking some cool pictures to you show you all! there are so many cool places to go up there and we'll be renting bikes to ride around. should be good times. i hope everyone is doing something fun this weekend. can't wait to see the pictures you share on your blogs!! :)

back from the meadows

2010-08-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

... so, you're probably wondering what happened to day 29 and 30? well, let me just say that they basically consisted of 3 pieces: shorts and a tee for both days. pretty boring if you ask me! i was in the middle of doing a MASSIVE house clean up both days so needed to be comfortable. needless to say, i never got around to taking the pictures. maybe i'll recreate them and finish posting the rest? it's only fair. but in the meantime... i have plenty to share with you. :)

the good news is: i have a new camera!! brand spanking new to me: the nikon d80. i haven't quite figured out how to use it yet, but trust that i will! this thing is amazing!! nate gave it to me for an early birthday present and i couldn't be more happy!! i plan on using this baby to take some food shots for the website rachel and i are currently working on, and of course for anthrobakery outfits and more! :)

warning: this post is going to be picture overload!!!

i'll start off with my outfit for the day from yesterday:

What I am Wearing:

Dress: The Discovered Lace Dress (Anthro)

Shoes: Delanie Heels by jessica simpson

These shoes are quickly becoming one of my favorites, i like the style of the pump but the uniqueness of the band that makes it look more like a mary jane. I was surprised to like these because i've never been a huge fan of jessica simpson and so i hesitated buying the shoes. Of course its only endorsed by her but did you know that BCBG are the actual makers of the shoes? My old boss told me when his sister in law worked for BCBG, they had meetings with Jessica to come up with the line (this was a few years back, i don't know if it is still relevant, but i heard this over the grapevine!)

Anyways this dress also gets added to the all time favorite section of the closet. It's so light, simple, yet elegant. I wore this to work and got mucho compliments! That always helps... As for a quick review: i'm wearing a 0 and it fits perfectly and true to size for this brand.

Now onto today:

What I am Wearing:

Top: From the meadows tank (summer '10)

Skirt: JCrew skirt (i forgot the name!.. and sorry for the wrinkliness. this baby loves to wrinkle. - summer '10)

Shoes: CV for Target gladiator platform in black

Summer is FINALLY here!! the past two days have been in the 90's and it was finally bright and sunny this morning so i thought it would be a good opportunity to snap some pics. i don't quite know how to use the setting and lighting on the camera yet, but this barely needed any editing! i also managed to figure out where the timer button was... go me! there are so many functions on this camera and i'm not the most technical person so things like this can be quite a challenge for me. :)

I love this top!! you can't really see the details on me because of the lighting but here a product shot in case you're not familiar.

i fell in love with the top when it first came out! so glad it didn't go on sale until after the challenge was over because it's now mine! it's such a statement piece and i feel like carrie in the opening scene of satc 1 when she walks down with the giant flower dress. okay maybe not as sophisticated and her look, but this works for me!

it's on sale now so go get it!

well lovelies, i hope you have a wonderful day! blog to you soon. :)

the real day 28

2010-08-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Look at this gross weather we've been having. when i looked outside, i thought it was raining! but just overcast... the cement looked kind of damp though so who knows. we've been having such strange weather this year, i kind of wish i lived somewhere with real seasons i can count on; summer = hot and winter = cold. plus its more of an incentive for me to wear seasonal clothes vs. being bundled up all the time in jeans and boots. lol!

I had another cooking class today which is why i the casualness. it's hard to find inspiration to dress up when the day starts at 630am and ends at like 10pm. (i didnt' forget to take the outfit of the day picture tho! only 2 more days... soooo close!!! i'm gonna finish this dang thing.) so this was what i was able to muster up in my zombie state this morning. i can't wait to wear real or i guess normal clothes again!!! but i plan to do a closet clean out this weekend and hopefully either make better use of what is sitting in the dark corner, or chuck it. maybe i'll have a blog sale. we'll see...

What I am Wearing:
Top: Gap Plaid Shirt
Pants: the same skinnies again
Shoes: same black heels

I hope you all had a good day today, thank goodness its friday tomorrow! Do you have anything fun to do this weekend?

day 27: but technically day 28

2010-08-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

i didn't post pictures of my outfit yesterday because i thought it looked awful. i tried to put a skirt over a dress and well, that just didn't really work with all the bulk, so no pictures. i liked today's outfit but sorry for the lack of enthusiasm in the pictures. it was right after i tried looking for my favorite earrings! one was still on the counter but the other matching pair was gone! nowhere to be found. the earrings elf must've taken it away since this weekend because i am pretty sure i left it on the counter. i hate when this happens! this is like pair # 100 that i've lost only ONE earring and perfectly good but now lonely one left. oh well.

if you see her, she looks like this: it's a good thing she still has lots of twins at the store.

What I am Wearing:
Top: A rose is a rose tank
Skirt: Black pencil skirt
Shoes: Black heels

3 more days!! (does yesterday's unposted count???)

day 25: izze fizze

2010-08-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

I have to start off by saying i love izze. I spent my sunday going on a hunt for bulk izze at costco with no success! i swear i've seen people carrying cases of these things around, where did they get them? i should ask next time because i am hooked!! they're basically natural fruit juices with sparkling water! something about the bottle is so vintage and pretty that i end up saving them to use as vases for fresh flowers around the house. a little quirky also also to recycle and be environmentally friendly! i should definitely go get some more...

We chilled by the pool in the early evening or late afternoon? and it was nice to get some snaps in. It was nice to be able to go a little casual today. i actually think these photos are kind of funny because if you guys have seen Zoolander, the sunglasses remind me of something Mugatu would wear! so big! oh well...

What I am Wearing:
Top: Yardarm Tee
Bottom: Walkabout Shorts
Shoes: My beloved Reef sandals. they seriously feel like a foamy pillow!

Only 5 more days! can you believe it? i am almost there... i can't wait!! :)

sidewalk chalk on day 24

2010-08-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

So glad that the weekend is finally here. It's a jam packed day - i have a birthday party to attend tonight to and just got ready to go to a business meeting with potential clients, hence the more dressed up look on a saturday. Things have been picking up lately so Rachel and I are feeling super duper blessed to be able to do what we love and be successful with what its become so far! We'll have a brand new website and logo coming soon, so i'll definitely share that once we've got everything developed. I know this is supposed to be about the challenge, but it's nice to be able to talk about what is going on in my life with you guys. Thanks all the encouragement on the challenge and also for letting me share a little piece of my life with you! :)

What I am Wearing:
Top: H&M polka dot shirt
Skirt: Lingering Rays skirt
Shoes: Coach Stefanie heels
Necklace: From Anthro last year
Sunglasses: From Anthro this year - i found it in the sale section for $10! what a deal!

I have to run right now for the meeting, but really quick on the setting today. I went outside this morning and saw some really special things on the sidewalk that reminded me of my childhood! i couldn't help but take pictures on the hopscotch or the other cute things the kids have drawn. I used to draw all sorts of things on my own driveway going up, the typical rainbows and butterflies, and hearts. Oh memories! I'll leave you with one of my absolute pictures thus far. It's me and my photographer - aka Nate! :)

day 23: Bonjour and never apologize!!

2010-08-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because i was exhausted by the time I got back home. I had my first teaching assistant job last night! The chef was so much nicer this time and actually taught me a few things about preparing duck and seafood! we made seafood bouillabaisse, duck l'orange, an heirloom tomatoes with caremelized leeks and grueyere cheese tart, and a grand marnier souffle! This was for the Celebrate Julia class - her birthday is this month, so every class pretty much revolves around her. Have you seen Julie and Julia? I love that movie!!!! I was able to actually teach the group how to make the tart so that was pretty exciting. I thought i'd be stuck washing dishes the whole night because i'm the newbie... what a great surprise! Anyhow this was what i wore my office job. I had to cheat and wear more appropriate clothes for the kitchen. you understand, right? :)

The Bianka blouse makes it's second appearance in the 30 for 30 challenge on day 23. Want to hear a secret? I completely forgot that i had this in the rotation!! how is that possible when i only have 30 pieces to wear and only 8 tops to rotate between? i don't know... thats why they called it a challenge! ;) i had ordered this back in May and as soon as I did, it sold out! It seems that the Bianka blouse has made it's return along with a new friend in a floral print. I personally like the blue one better because it is more versatile (at least with the pieces that i have). But the material is light and i feel like you can dress it up with a skirt or dress it down with jeans and boots and a chunky sweater for fall. Great transitional piece too! You can find it here. I highly recommend!!

this picture cracked me up; i was telling nate to go take it from the front - which is where the first picture came from, but he caught me in action being miss bossy. thanks babe! <3

What I am wearing:

Top: Bianka Blouse

Bottom: Bow Tied Mini

Shoes: Rensselaer T-Strap

Day 22: We Can Do It!

2010-08-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

doing the leprechaun dance

cheeese!

my whatever pose... lol!

i never know what to do when the timer is about to go off on the camera... there are so many mid smile cheesy poses or ones that my eyes are half closed or something. it takes about 10 tries for me to get one or two okay ones in. so here you have some of my semi decent ones....

i went for casual comfortable today. i feel like i should've put a scarf on or something to accessorize it better, a la jessica alba style. or better yet, a scarf on my head and show off my guns... i almost did that. *almost* i'll let her do it instead: the collared shirt, mean mug and all...

What I am Wearing:

Top: Velvet Striped Tee (Anthro '09)

Pants: JBrand Skinnies

Shoes: Rensselaer T-Strap

Hooray!!! Only 7 days left!!! :)

day 21: who wears short shorts

2010-08-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

shorts with tights is a look that i'm becoming more and more intruiged by. once fall arrives, its a good way to make use of the more dressy shorts you've acquired during summer! i would probably stick to the neutral colored ones with nicer fabric, but they also offer heavier material like tweed, herringbone, etc. that are super nice too! i have a pair of plaid wool shorts that i am dying to try with tights once the weather cools down. top it with a nice pea coat and i'm ready to go out the door.

i probably wouldn't wear it again with these shorts because the shorts is so thin and lightweight that it looks "off". oh well, i don't have alot of options to choose from right now so this works. i guess it could kind of pass for a really short skirt? skort? remember those? lol...

What I am Wearing:

Top: Arid Seasons Blouse

Shorts: Walkabout Shorts

Tights: Hue tights black

Shoes: Steve Madden Cuddless

Necklace: a really cool drop necklace i got from Nordstrom in chicago a long time ago!

day 20: back on the wagon

2010-08-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

today was exhausting! but i'm back with another outfit. i actually didn't wear this to work but i had a business meeting after work work for the catering business and wanted to be comfortable. do you recognize this dress (day 11) that i turned into a top? genius! i kind of like it as a top too, so i'll definitely be wearing it styled like this again.

ta-da

i was able to hold the top up with a corset belt and then tucked everything up to make it blousey. truth be told, this is the first time i'm wearing this belt. i'm glad i finally found a use for it, though unfortunately it was hidden underneath all the fabric... but at least it is now being used for something. i bought it last year at anthro because it looked so different and was the only one of its kind left sitting on the shelf. oh the powers of supply and demand. hopefully i'll be able to style it again with something else.

What I am Wearing
Top: Nordstrom ruffle dress
Pants: J Brand Skinnies
Shoes: Frye Corrina Wedge
Belt: (Cousin to the infinity belt, does anyone know what it's called? Anthro '09)

back to mon-day 19

2010-08-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

i'm still only on day 19? this outfit wouldn't exactly go down in history as one of my favorite looks. i kind of hated it and hesitated on posting it, actually... :-/

What I am Wearing:
Sweater: Field Game Cardi
Top: Eloise black ruffle tank
Pants: Grey Anthro Sailor Trouser
Shoes: BCBGeneration Tinas Pumps
Necklace: Pessinus something necklace from anthro

i'll be honest, as the new month has started and the summer days are getting shorter and shorter, all i want to do is make the best usage of what little of hot weather i have here by wearing my sundresses and sandals! with that being said, please don't get mad if i end the challenge at day 20. i know alot of you are almost done and have stuck it through! i'm thinking of doing a challenge that is going to be more applicable to me with less restrictions: wear an outfit from something i already have in the closet. i have 2 closet full of stuff and an overflowing dresser, i don't think that will be too big of an issue. we'll see what i can come up with, but i'll still continue posting the outfit of the day because i'm thinking they've been kind of fun! thanks for all the encouragement and the sweet comments that you've left me. i really appreciate it!! :)

*update: my accountability partner informed me that nobody likes a quitter and was disappointed, so as hard as it is for me to finish this, i will. i definitely should not have dressed in different stuff over the weekend because it completely threw me off! lol... such a tease. but i don't like to disappoint, so - 10 more days to go!!

fail blog

2010-08-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

i've decided to take the weekend off from the challenge since i've already missed friday and saturday. i'll be back in the game tomorrow, i promise! already have an outfit planned and ready for me bright and early tomorrow morning. :)

fail blog #1) i also decided to dress warm today because the weather forecast said 66 degrees high. fail. it turned out to be pretty warm and i was super hot in the fall gear i was wearing. although, i have to admit this is a typical "me" outfit and i feel the most comfortable and relaxed when i'm wearing a sweater and boots. these boots are super duper old, i bought a few years back but are made so well that they're still soft and so sturdy! they're the frye paige boots (i see them coming back every fall/winter, and they come highly recommended!)

fail blog #2) my friend rachel and i decided to go to berkeley today to grab lunch at Cheeseboard in the "gourmet ghetto" (Cat - i heard this is another great pizza place!) Unfortunately once we got there, we found out that they're closed for the next 10 days. Plan B - we decided to give Chez Panisse a try since their lunch menu is way more affordable than their dinner. This restaurant is by the famed Alice Waters, who also wrote the book "The Art of Simple Food" - which can be found at Anthro as well! (at least the ones around here?) I'm not sure how famous she is outside of the bay area, but she's all the rage around here. Anyhow, once we got to Chez Panisse, they were closed as well. I decided to console us by going to Love at First Bite for not one, but two cupcakes - strawberry and hummingbird, which is a banana and pineapple with pecans cake with cream cheese frosting. yum!! (Melissa - I totally thought about you and your cupcake blog!)

Fail blog #3) we got burgers at Barney's instead. i guess that wasn't really a fail but i dont think i'd go there again. :)

What I am Wearing:
Sweater: Gap Shawl Neck (really old but one of my favorites! '05)
Top: Anthro With The Sun Blouse ('09)
Jeans: J Brand Skinnies ('09)
Boots: Frye Paige ('08)
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier in wine (Nordstrom '09)

rock on

2010-08-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

so i may have broken the rules yesterday, but for a very good reason. Our band - Violencia, had our first show playing together live. We opened for a band called "Odd Owl" from SF (i should have taken a picture of her, she was wearing an anthro top from 2 years ago!!) It was a first successful event and we played really well together. Can't wait for the next one. Check out the songs here!

The band is pretty casual and indie, so i didn't want to look too dressed up with what i was going to wear (the studded fete dress). The outfit was inspired by a recent outfit i saw on the Sartorialist and i wanted to give it my own spin. i think it turned out well and really goes with the rest of the band's look (casual plaid gear) lol.
Right before the show, we met up at the studio and i was able to get some good shots by a vintage car, so i present to you a vintage looking photo-centric blog.

and now... in color. here is our band performing!!!

What I am Wearing:
Jacket: Army Jacket (Nordstrom)
Dress: Lace shift dress (Nordstrom '08)
Shoes: Aldo clogs
Necklace: Clover necklace (really old from Urban outfitters)

day 18: as good as gold

2010-07-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

This is an old dress from july 2008 catalog. i fell in love with it when i saw it in the catalog and the golden mustard color did me in! its a good transition piece for summer/fall.i would've worn it with the skylight mary janes if it were a bit warmer though. i think that particular outfit would've given it a more vintage vibe. its amazing what accessories/shoes can do to change an outfit or dress. kendi also has a similar piece from ann taylor loft that she wore belted. i should try that next time... 12 days left to go. on another note, i can't wait to go shopping again!! i think similar to this shift dress, the discovered lace is another shift that i must have. also fell in love with it in ... hey! what a coincidence - the july 2010 catalog.

every girl needs a good shift dress! and this one is perfect... :)

What I am wearing:

Dress: Goldenrod shift

Shoes: Cuddless Steve Madden

Tights: Hue Black Tights

Necklace: Gilded Impatien necklace

day 15 going on 17

2010-07-27T22:54:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind on my posting!! I've been catching up on everyone's blogs and can't believe some of you (Melissa, Linda, Alicia, Gee) are already on day 20 something! You girls all rock and i've definitely enjoyed going through and following this challenge with you!! :)

And now, i present to you: Day 15, 16, and 17.

I tried my best to remix this dress - and it was a success! Nate asked me where my "skirt" came from (he's been a big stickler and has been keeping me accountable during the challenge as well, tho i think he just likes that i'm not shopping. :) Anyhow, i wore it on day 9 but i've decided i like this dress on day 15 better.

What I am wearing:
Sweater: Black Cardi
Dress: Sabine Dress
Shoes: Coach Stefanie Heels
Necklace: Double stranded beaded necklace from Anthro
Belt: Leaps & Bounds Belt

Day 16 was a good date night outfit. We went to one of my favorite pizza joints. it's not just any ordinary pizza joint though, they have these thin crust pizza that they cook up in a wood fire oven, and best of all they're topped with awesome things like shaved broccoli, pancetta, and cheese!

What I am wearing:
Top: Black ruffle camisole
Jeans: Jbrand skinnies
Shoes: Bcbgeneration Tinas platform
Necklace: loopy necklace from Anthro
Clutch: Express

Day 17: Another working outfit. I'm not sure this skirt is the most versatile thing in the world. When i bought it, i had pictured it with so many different tops, but when i actually paired them with it, it didn't quite look right. I'm glad i'm making use out of it during the challenge though, even though i've only worn it twice. I kind of look like Bam-Bam or Pebbles here. Maybe it's the hair! lol... :)

What I am wearing:
Top: Arid Seasons Blouse
Skirt: Lingering Rays skirt
Shoes: Rensselaer heels

That wraps up the end of this catch up post. I'll catch you guys tomorrow with another outfit! It's supposed to be unusually cold here (as the weatherman has predicted - surprise, surprise) so we'll see what i can come up with. I'm thinking tights are definitely in the forecast...

Have a good night! :)

day 14: something corporate

2010-07-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

i've been so exhausted, i haven't really had time to blog!! i'm officially starting my new teaching assistant gig to a former French Laundry chef (!!!) tomorrow. I'll be assisting her with a knife skills class, which i am super excited about. I think of this as my "culinary school" where they will be paying me to learn and assist instead of paying them to learn! yea, i'm a smart girl sometimes. but i'm pretty excited about this opportunity and hopefully it will bring on more networking opportunities and maybe something even bigger later on. we'll see, but for now i'm really happy. :)

this outfit is one that i really like, its got the classic corporate or work look,but i like that it's a little edgier with the cropped jacket and the pop of print with polka dots. i'd say this is one of my top 3 favorite looks so far...

What I am Wearing:

Top: H&M Polka dot top
Skirt: Yoanna Boraschi Pencil Skirt
Jacket: Anthro khaki jacket (summer '08)
Shoes: bcbgeneration tinas pump

Tying to the theme of corporate world, i have actually started a new career in HR about 2 months ago and so far its been going well! I showed up to work with my coworkers drawing this on my board:

A daily challenge review on the 30/30. how awesome are they?!?! in the 2 years since i've been with the company (I was previously an Analyst up in Finance), nobody had ever done this or even seemed remotely interested in my life!! It could also be because I was the youngest in the dept and nobody really cared what i wore. But the ladies in my group completely made my day, week, month!!! this is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me there... (my first job was like this - we had all gotten out of college around the same time, we'd get coffee, lunch, break together, draw on each other's board, leave random notes on each other's desks, run to each other's cubicle and laugh when something funny happened, it was FUN to be at work!!! oh how i miss you, plastics). it's nice to be able to socialize and have a good relationship with your coworker. i mean, you spend enough time together - why not enjoy and have fun??? i love it. :) Thanks A & P. you're the best!! :)

why, hello there!

2010-07-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

a few months ago, i was lusting after these shoes. unfortunately because i'm not a millionaire, i cannot justify buying a pair of shoes for this much; they retailed for a whopping $700!! so i looked but never touched. okay i touched them, i held them up and almost tried them on, but decided not to. why torture myself?

miu miu patchwork wedge

well today, look what i found! an almost perfect knock off of them from steve madden! i've always been a fan of steve madden (dating back to high school which was many years ago)... and even though i've noticed them knocking off high end designers in the past year or so, i dont care. these are just as beautiful as the real deal, but in my price range! they retail for $129. what a steal compared to the real deal!

steve madden lancerr

there are slight differences, but for the most part, they're a pretty good copy cat and would do the job! too bad i already have the frye corrina wedge, they're kind of similar to these (the old me would have completely justified how different they were and bought them in a heartbeat!) now here is the most important question of all: should i get these? (after the challenge, of course...)

we're not alone

2010-07-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of New York Times

My friend just sent me an awesome article from the New York Times about similar shopaholics out there that are putting themselves on a self-imposed diet with only 6 pieces of clothing for 31 days!

Holy cow, i thought 30 for 30 was hard, i have no idea how i would be able to survive only 6 pieces (the pieces do have some flexibility, so it could actually be more than 6 if you have similar items in same color... cop out!!) Their rules are a bit different from ours, but the end goal and results are the same: Curb your shopping habits by putting yourself on a challenge to make yourself aware that you don't actually need that many items to look good! Quality always beats quantity, and it's a good way to be more creative and working with what you've got!

i love it.

To read the full article, click here.

day 13: swirls and stripes

2010-07-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

this is the second time i'm wearing the bow-tie mini and coincidentaly the second time i paired it with a striped top (refer to day 2 for my first time)! let me also start off by saying: this is actually not one of my favorite outfits thus far. looking at the pictures now, i probably shouldn't have belted the shirt since it further accentuated the chest area AND with the horizontal stripes? not flattering folks, not flattering at all. i probably noticed the bulk because i tied the "bow tie" ties to the back which added an additional layer of fabric on the waist. oh well... i'll definitely be wearing this skirt again for the challenge though, but i'll just make sure to tuck the shirt in!

What I am Wearing:
Top: Velvet striped button down tee (Anthro '09)
Skirt: Idra bow-tie mini (Anthro '10)
Belt: Grey Snakebite (Anthro '09) - tho it just went on sale this week for $19.95!
Shoes: All Black Skylight Mary Janes (Anthro '10)

i'm excited to be 43.3% of the way through with the challenge!! i have a few good remix outfits in my head that i will debut soon. i'm especially excited to show you the one i have in my head for tomorrow. I think it'll be good... stay tuned. :)

day 12: mad men

2010-07-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

menswear has always been one of my favorite look; it's sleek, simple, and polished. i also love when the fall fashion comes back around because that is when plaid and menswear is in full effect. bring on the oxfords, slouchy pleats, tailored pieces, and everything fabulous that goes along with fall fashion.

though it's not exactly fall yet - it sure feels like it around here. today was cold! at the time that this picture was taken, there was no sunshine in sight! complete overcast. i couldn't help but reach for the blazer and another long sleeve to layer underneath. also, i haven't really worn these shoes at all yet for the challenge so i thought i'd whip them out today. they're one of my favorites with the platform but not overwhelmingly high.

What I am Wearing:
Top: Gap Plaid button down with ruffles (Gap '09)
Pants: Hudson Trouser (Anthro '08)
Jacket: H&M Grey Blazer (H&M '10)
Shoes: BCBGeneration Tinas pump

Finally, i was digging the pattern contrast on my sleeve today from the jacket and the shirt, so here is a ginormous picture of it!

30 piece orchestra

2010-07-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

okay, not really - but it sounded like a good title to me! i'm a little late in the game with posting up my 30 pieces, but better late than never.

Let's start with shoes:

steve madden booties, miss albright naration booties, bcbgeneration black pumps, frye corrina wedge, all lack skylight mary janes, miss albright rensselear mary janes - oh wait! i forgot my coach heels! crap.

bottoms (all from anthropologie)
hudson trousers, j brand skinnies, elevenses grey sailor trousers, yoana borachi black pencil skirt, cartonnier khaki shorts, yoana boraschi lingering rays skirt, idra bow tie mini

Jackets & Sweaters:
H&M grey blazer, Anthro khaki jacket, Anthro field game cardi, Anthro black cardi

Dresses:
Sabine Dress, Studded Fete dress, Nordies ruffles dress, Anthro goldenrod dress

And finally to top it off...
Anthro Velvet striped maroon button down, H&M polka dot tee, Anthro Eloise ruffles silk tank, Anthro Fei button down, Anthro Odille blue top, Anthro a Rose is a Rose tank, Anthro Yardarm Tee, Anthro Anna Sui wrap blouse, Gap plaid button down. (i have alot of long sleeves in the dead middle of summer - i'm still waiting for the hot weather to arrive... or at least stay around)

So with the coach heels, it's actually 31 items. yikes, i didn't realize until i posted this. I guess it would've been helpful to have these pictures handy before i started the challenge. Well, since July has 31 days, what's an extra day? ;)

Do you recognize any of these pieces? Hopefully I will be able to mix and match better during the last half of the challenge. i have about 5 more unique outfits in my head, but the rest is pretty much same concept - blousey top with jeans or skirt and heels or top it off with a jacket for a "different look". Same old, same old. Do you have any suggestions on how i can style these pieces? I'd love to hear your suggestions! :)

Day 11: Au Natural

2010-07-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about growing out my bangs for awhile, but never had the patience to actually grow them out. I have haircut a.d.d and would get the urge to see my stylist about once a month or now every other month. I can't believe that my hair was down to my waist only just 2 years ago - until i chopped it rhianna style. No, not the shaven do that she's wearing now, but the a line bob. that was a cute cut for about 2 weeks, but after that i was really wishing i had my hair back. i've been trying to grow it out ever since. Anyways, i'm glad i'm able to pull it to the side and go au natural with my frizzy course hair. It has a natural wave to it and is so much easier to maintain during the summer because i could just walk out the door with wet hair knowing that it'll be okay.

Here is my day 11 outfit, the Frye wedge is quickly becoming my go to shoes for everything during this challenge. I love the height of the wedge and it really does go with everything. I opted for a lightweight piece this weekend because it was so hot here (finally!)! I love the ruffles and the pockets on the dress. If you look closely, the print has caged birds. I guess you can't really see it from here, but I have a soft spot for bird print so i love this dress.

What I am Wearing:

Dress: Mima Chica ruffle dress (Nordstrom '10)

Shoes: Frye Corrina Wedge

Necklace: I dont know what it's called necklace (Anthro '09)

Belt: Tellicherry Belt (Anthro '10) - i love the stretchiness of this belt!

I have some catching up to do but will be back tonight with pics of my 30 pieces laid out (i need to separate them in order to remember what I'm actually remixing!) and my day 12 outfit.

Almost halfway done with the challenge!!!

whew.

day 10: nautical inspired

2010-07-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a chance to post my day 10 outfit yesterday, so ta-da!

It was super comfy in these pants and this tee. The shoes are hidden underneath, but with these types of pants, i actually prefer them to not show because i don't want them to look too short. Do they look weird that long? The Yardarm tee is quickly becoming one of my favorites. They just went on sale on Tuesday and if i weren't on this shopping diet, i'd probably go buy all the other colors because it is just so darn soft!! and goes with everything!

What I am Wearing:

Top: Yardarm Tee

Pants: Sailor Pants from Anthro '08

Shoes: Frye Wedges - Corrina

Necklace: I don't know the name - Anthro '09

Going Through Withdrawals

2010-07-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

I knew this would happen the day I started the challenge: Withdrawals. Today is a big day - the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here. And it's taking every inch of me to not go crazy ordering things. I have a habit of "buying now, think later" and tend to accumulate more things i think i need than i should.

With that said, I found a great article online yesterday that gives you pointers on how not to be an impulse shopper. In summary, it states the following questions you should ask yourself before you buy anything.

Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy Anything

by Redbook

1. Do you have to buy this item?

2. Have you found the best deal?

3. Have you gotten your z's?

4. Are you buying just because it's on sale?

5. Have you asked about future deals?

6. Do you love it and do you need it?

I'm guilty of not asking myself any of these questions before buying anything. If i like it, i'll buy it (full price nonetheless) and sometimes it'll sit in the bag for a few weeks before i even take it out. Why would i buy it if it's just going to sit there? I should either 1) wait for it to go on sale or 2) ask myself if i really need it. I think a bigger lesson in this 30 for 30 challenge for me is learning how to not shop impulsively. Quitting shopping for a month is super extreme!! but if that is what it takes, then so be it. I may be going through major shopping withdrawals, but my bank account and hopefully diminishing addiction is better and happier for it.

I'll leave you with a few eye candy that I would have bought if I were going shopping at the sale today!

Miss Sixty Faux Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket: $49.95 (Find it here)

Sashimi Anorak Jacket: $37.80 (Find it Here)

Hmmm... if i return my curlytop sweater that i already own (still just sitting there) for these two, i'd still come out on top. Would that still count as part of the challenge? ;)

happy bastille day 9

2010-07-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

Happy bastille day! this was my attempt to look parisian. i'm not even sure what that even means or how its "supposed" to look but i guess in my mind, boldy colorful and girly. or maybe i should've gone for the more couture chic and high fashion look. haha... jk. i couldnt even if i tried. Being bold and color is my forte so it'll have to do for now.

Now onto the outfit so i can go into something even bigger and better!!! this is going to be an interesting post...

What I am wearing:
Dress: Sabine Dress
Shoes: Rensselaer Heels
Belt: I dont remember the name (anthro '08)

Remember when I mentioned yesterday I was going to have a cooking class today? Well .. ta-da! This turned out to be such an amazing class that I think I'm officially addicted. What it also made me realize (after a really long day of regular corporate world work) is that I want THIS to be my real work all the time!!! I love culinary arts and I love learning about new techniques and developing my skills as a cook. I was also able to make some connections tonight and a really great opportunity that might be in the works in the very near future. I'll keep you updated next week once I have some more information.

Anyways, this was one of the dishes that we made tonight: Smoked Trout Rillette. I was able to work on the presentation (which is helpful for the catering biz). doesn't it look like a beauty? I'm quite proud. The other dishes we made were:

Fennel Vichyssoise

Potato & Goat Cheese Gratin

Chicken Provencal with Olives, Tomatoes, and Basil

Floating Islands in Creme Anglaise & Raspberries

Fresh Salad with Herb dijon Vinaigrette

Hello, i ate ALL that tonight. I can feel my thighs expanding! Oh my goodness they 1) use alot of butter 2) use alot of cream and 3) oh man it was soo good.

Though I'm not sure if I want to go to culinary school officially (i've been cooking since 8 or 9 so i have some experience under my belt working at various restaurants, being trained through classes, grandmothers, etc.) I do know that I eventually will open up a cafe where there will be bright yellow sunlight shining onto the white walls, peonies in mason jars all around, scent of freshly baked croissants lingering through the air, and a dining room full of people relaxing, sipping coffee, eating deliciously fresh food, enjoying their company. doesn't that sound good? i think it does. it'll happen one day. :)