A forgotten dress

Do you have a dress that you felt you have to have it in the beginning and then at some point, you forgot all about it?  A sign of too many cloth, right?  That is the case with southward stop dress.  I saw Kristin rocking her Southward Stop Dress (here)  the other day and it had recharged my love for this dress.  I also had a problems with sameness, that is with food or clothing.  I can never eat something repeatly even I love it.  I don't know how one of my friend can have a turkey spinach Sandwich 5 out of 7 days and still wants to meet at Sandwich shop after we haven't seen each other for a while.   Luckily that problem with sameness doesn't apply to people.  For a dress, it is difficult to get a new look with it so that is why I don't wear a dress too often.   Here is my attempt to create another look with it and then I forgot about this outfit in the camera, haha. 

Dress: Anthropologie Southward Stop Dress

Sweater: JCREW cashmere sweater

Jacket: Kenna-T Leather Military Jacket

You can see my other outfit with this dress here and here.

Review: Kinder Aggugini for Impulse Stripe Jersey Dress + OOTD

I get to go to the office yesterday and to show my appreciation of being able to go to work instead of chasing kids around , I put on this "official" outfit.

Top: LOFT flower tank

Caridgan: JCREW cashmere v-neck

Skirt: JCREW double-serge pencil skirt 

Belt: JCREW skinny belt

Shoes: Sam Edelman "Echo" Oxford (buy it here)

This reply email came from my manager this morning and I thought the conversation was kind of funny:

In Manager's previous email: I will be out of the office Thursday and Friday.  I will be checking email from home, and occasionally working.  I will probably be coming in tomorrow afternoon, though not related to work – I have Girl Scout cookie duty :O

My reply (b.t.w. this is the second girl scout cookie sale we got this month in the group): Girl Scout needs serious reform.  Even cookie monster from seasme street starts eating fruit and promotes health concept nowadays.... :-P 

His reply: That’s lame.  This is a direct result of all those nanny/democrat/liberal/environmentalists trying to interfere with the happiness of children!

Back to today's topic, one of the dress arrived from Macys, it is the Kinder Aggugini for Impulse Dress, Striped Short Sleeve Draped Jersey.  And here is how it looks on me and you can be the judge.  For reference, I am wearing a XS and it is not tight at all.  It is very thin and unlined so it clings to the body. Because it is clingy, it shows every bump and lump on you.  The designer remedied it  by using the black and white stripe in variable width to give the dress an overall sliming effect and distract you from the imperfections.  The neck drapes very nicely.  It is made of polyester and is machine washable.  It is pull on style. I like the style and the print, but I don't like unlined dress in general. Hubby hates the black and white contrast. So this one is going back, but I don't think it is too bad for its price ($69+25% off with coupon code MUSTHAVE)

Ski break - OOTD

Happy post Presidence day!  This week is the ski break for our school district.  Funny, right?  We get a christmas break and a ski break then a spring break, and then summer break, you wonder if the kids ever are in school.  So this weekend we took the kids to Tahoe to see snow.

We got a free deal at the Grand Sierra Hotel and I got some discounted lift tickets at Mt Rose Ski area for the kids for $5 each.   Both kids are super exited to see snow.  My son was so exited that he woke up at 4 in the morning and woke everyone else up.  It is interesting that in my daughter's mind that season is a place rather than time.  She suggested we "go to the spring place, pick up a branch so we can use the branch to hang the glove on snowman we make at the winter place".  I guess that time can be shrink with the traveling ability

I am really not a cold place person even though I am born and grew up in a cold place.  I bundle up layers and layers of sweater and fleece with thick down coat. It is almost ridiculous, I know.  I don't know how I had survived the winter in Chicago land for 5 years, but I do know that is the reason I moved to California. 

Mt Rose Ski area has a magic carpet, escalator type of lift.  It is great for beginners to try out the bunny slope.  My son is very natural in terms of skiing. I think it came from walking on the back edge of the couches and jumping between.   He won't fall normally and can naturally shift the weight on his body to avoid people,  but he gets scared when because after he gain some speed.  During that time he want us to hold his hand. Otherwise he did great.

My daughter on the other hand, pretty much turn into a wood block once she had her ski on.  She goes "Mommy, mommy, mommy, no, don't stay too far away from me, no, I am going to fall, no." and she hasn't even move an inch. At first we don't know how to help her, because she would put weight on us if we hold her hands and not using any of her core strength to stay up.  Consequently she will fall backwards on her butt once  the center of her weight is ahead of our hands.  Finally my husband figure out a way.  We would stand in front of her in a short distance and let her push us if she feel it is getting too fast.  With us in front of her, she felt much more secure.  After that she was able to let go of our hands and ski a short distance.

You can probably tell, it was a very tiring trip.  I was exhausted running backwards in front of both kids. Kids tired out too.  Both fall asleep right shortly after they get on the car on our way back to the hotel. Still, it is fun to see the snow once a year so I can appreciate the California weather.

As for the remaining the week,  our child care arrangement didn't fall through so hubby and I had to each work from home for two days for the remaining of the week so we can keep an eye on our son who will be in therapy for a good part of the day.  Today is my turn.  If you know autistic kid, you know they had the ability to escapes like Houdini.  You'll never know what kind of stunt they'd pull on you.  So if I am alone with him, no skirts.

Top: Anthropologie Two-story Cowlneck tee
Cardigan: LOFT Vneck Cardigan
Jeans: Lucky Brand Bootcut Jeans

Raise the Red Lantern

Fifteen days after Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival.  This day in the evening, People goes to festival and enjoy the beautiful Lantern display.  Latnerns comes in all color, size and design. They are traditionally hand made and really shows off the artist's craftsmanship.

My favorite has always been the the turning Lantern.  They have different paper cut out designs on each side and turns round and round.  Some tells a story.  The others has running horse on them, varied ever so slightly in each panel, so when the designs are turning, it became animated.  It is rather fascinating to me when I was a child because at that time, TV is rare and not to mention animation.  It also is very fun since kids don't usually get to go out in the evening and this is one of the holiday we hold our own little lateen and walk in the street look at all beautiful colors.  The experience is very much like seeing Christmas lighting in the western culture.

Of course there is always food associate with any Chinese festivals.  For this festival, the feature food is "Yuan Shiao".  It is a rounded shape dumpling, with the wrapper made out of sticky rice flour.  The inside filling can be salty or sweet.  Some people put meat filling and some put ground sesame,  and some puts ground up peanut with sugar.  You can even get really fancy and put osmanthus or rose petal inside.   I had always prefer the salty one. My husband never had salty yuan xiao in his life before he meet me.  He think the salty ones are yucky and prefers the sweet ones.   I guess there is a regional difference.  My daughter's class made some and they fill it with Chocolate.  Guess that is the US version :-)  It tasted strange, but hey, anything chocolate taste good.

This year school had a event for the children to parade around the school for it.  Turns out to be a rainy day so they end up have to just walk around different classroom inside with their little paper made lantern.  She was very happy to see us because not a lot of parents show up. She made me carry her lantern and it is great to feel like a kid again.

Macy's new Launch -- Kinder Aggugini for Impulse

As I often get junk email, one new product caught my attention today.  It is Macy's Launch on Kinder Aggugini for Impulse.


This designer for less concept is not new.  Macy's sibling Target is the master of it.  However I had never quite like the clothing line Target has to offer. I don't usually shop at Macys as I get overwhelmed by the selections.  I bought some princess or Dora or Hello Kitty stuff for my daughter there once a while or Clinique face lotion when there is a Bonus time.  That is probably the extend I shop there.  My mom however is a big fan and she often stack her coupons and find super good deals.  Inspire by her, I bought some cashmere crewneck during Christmas last year and only had to return them because they fit like a grand mother's sweater.

Will this line of Macy be the same disappointment? One thing I have noticed is that most material are non-organic. On the plus side they are machine washable.

As always I am tempted by yet another dress. Left side of both pictures are my favorites.  I wish there were in-person reviews like the Anthropologie ones available somewhere.  As we all know the way a gorgeous model wear something does not always equal to real life success.
Do you shop at Macy's?  Any favorite department that works? Will you be checking out this new line?

Doodle for Google

Have you notice how Google changes their logo due to the occasion for the day?  It is truly a array of beautiful artworks.   Around this time of the year, Google also have a competition call Doodle for Google every year for the students to exercise their artistic talent to design their logo.  The finalist gets to put their work on google's web page for one day along with the scholarships. You can find out all the details on how to enter your little artist on the website provided above.  You can also see an array of artwork in this them here.

My daughter is still too young to enter this contest,  but she did her version of her own in the art class the other day. While she is totally missing this years design theme of "What I’d like to do someday…" I really enjoyed her work.  I especially like how she use "e" as a hamlet. :-)

 I think her version should be named "The world according to Evelyn". That horse like thingy at the right top corner, b.t.w, supposed to be a unicorn.  She was quite offeneded when I ask innocently "is that a horse"?

Well, while playing with the template features of blogger.com, I accidentally lose my original template and I don't like what it is right now. I can't quite revert back because I didn't back the original up.  Well, it will take sometime before the skin turns to something to be desired...


Last I leave you with an outfit from this past weekend.  This is my favorite pair of jeans after the previous one got a hole on the butt.   Oh, how I wish I can wear that to work, but as casual as our company are, I didn't felt  it is appropriate to wear salvage jeans :( but they are super comfortable.

Top: Anthro don't remember the name
Bottom: JCREW Selvege jeans,
Cardigan: JCREW cashmere crewneck sweater

Valentine's day

Did everyone have a good Valentine's day? Or are you planning on celebrating this weekend when there are more time and leisure? I use to think very little of Valentine's day.  What is up with roses cost $100 for a dozen that dies in a week, right? However when you are older in life, everything became routine and comfortable, it is one of the day that remind you to put some extra thought to it.  You can do that everyday, but one day is a good start. Sometimes when you say everyday, it became no day because there is always other things distract you and prioritize over.

I want to wore something pink for the occasion, but I still have to go to work.   I don't want to look completely business like with the pencil skirt, so I tried out the idea of adding the foolproff slip with a pencil skirt that LC has come up with in her blog Bella Seattle.  You can check out more of her idea with the foolproof slip here, also how I wear it with my jersey dress here.

(Top: Anthropologie Vanilla Bean Blouse, Cardigan: JCREW femme cardigan in deep coral
 Bottom: JCREW double-serge  pencil skirt, Slip: Anthropologie foolproof slip, Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Tipband )

I really want to add the valentine's day gift I received to my outfit, but then it is a bit too shiny.  So What did I received?

Yes, the Katespade necklace that I was drooling over. No, he did not guess it.  Basically I was browsing the Nordstrom catalog and said "This is so pretty.  It is exactly what I want for Valentine's day".  I guess sometime you just have to say what you want :-)  After a long marriage, you learn that men are generous towards the women they love, but don't take hints very well.  At least mine doesn't.

As I mentioned before, hubby and I went to the Ocean Blue Sushi Club for lunch.  It is hard to believe how nice the restaurant from the outside.  It is in a rundown strip mall.  If it hasn't been the high review at yelp, I would have never went in. The interior is very modern and chic with low lighting. There are many walls showcases Kimonos with complicated embroideries.

The presentations of the dishes are beautiful. I came here three times already but this is the first time I remember to take a picture of it :-)

My favorite dish is the grill squid.  This version adds a little bit of Basamic vinegar to the sauce comparing to the traditional way they made it in the Japanese restaurant and I love it.

The sashimi and the rolls are very fresh and portion is generous.

In the evening, after dinner, my daughter offered to play "To love somebody", which was in the practice song list this week.   She kept making mistakes even though during practice she played much better.  She got a little frustrated so I told her that music is something she should enjoy rather than stressed out about.  I asked her to take a break from it and just play anything as if she is some famous pianist.   She started playing something randomly on the piano and insist my husband and I should dance to it.  We slow danced to the soft tune she played.

It was my favorite moment of the day.

Always be beautiful.

Before I start, I want to thank Lisa from Confession of  a Call Center Girl  for the shout out.  When I check on line today and first thing I notice is Laura, who has not comment before.  When you are a  blog that had hardly any followers, you notice a new face :-) I was further puzzled by  Laura's comment "I'm visiting you, becasue Lisa obviously thinks very highly of you." It is only till later when I visit Lisa's blog  that I realized that she had introduce her readers about my blog.  Thanks Lisa,  it is so sweet of you.  I had been doing this blog for a while although I am not always diligent in terms of updating.   Despite lack of followers or comments,  the few that does feel very close and personal to me.

Among the few who I felt close to in this blogging world is Cindi from Simply Cindi.  We came from a similar background. I like reading her blog because I can relate to a lot of things she said.  But I didn't know about that when I first visiting her blog.  What draws me first was her beautiful wedding photos.  They are stunning!  Now she is starting her own wedding photography business with her husband Chris.  They are great! I think a great photography is not only great because their fancy equipment or superb technical skill, but also a great eye for details.  They are able to find beauty from the most common subjects and capture that special moment that flees in a blink.  I think Chris and Cindi are that type of person.  You can just tell by the way they planned their wedding and the shots they have shown us so far.

Anway,  I was reading Cindi's blog on DSLR 101 the other day and find it very interesting.  I was inspired to do some experiment on my own according to her suggestion.  I borrow hubby's Nikon, and set the mode to manual.  ISO 800 because low light, Speed 1/60 and aperture F1.8 which is the max I think.  Here is the result.

The mistake of this experiment? I choose the wrong subject of study.  It actually doesn't matter how the photo turn out.  My daughter will always be beautiful to me so I can't really judge my experiment is successful or not.  Haha! We will just call that a success :-)

Valentine's day is coming up this Monday.  Do you have any special plans? Any special outfit to  celebrate?  Getting any fancy gift?  With kids around, it is kind of hard to do anything but hubby did made reservation for lunch at my new favorite sushi place. So sweet of him!   Of course, what would be Valentine's day without the chocolate, right? These dark chocolate covered almonds from Trade Joe's are divine!  I don't think there will be many left on Monday though. 

(Top: Antro Topsy Henley

Cardi: Lumière ruffle cardigan in papaya 

Bottom JCREW Cord Atlee skirt in brown 

Legging: Madewell Denim ) 

Spring has arrived....

Spring has arrived, so has Nordstrom's February Catalog.  I had always love the quality of the glossy photo paper those catalogs are printed on.   This month's catalog is particularly beautiful and romantic with the overall beige and pink tone. It somehow reminds me of a blooming pink peony.

Although I don't usually rings, not even wedding rings because it tends to scratch the kids,  I still like to look at those candy looking  rings.

I love this oversized bag in the photograph, and is very tempted to get one.  However the real bag is darker and greener than the picture to my liking.

And these scarfs are so beautiful, may I have one color each please?

And the lace dress model is wearing is so romantic.

Actually most of the time I am not sure I am drawn to the product itself, or it is the glamor created by the beautiful photography romanticized the material.  It is probably the later.  In general I like Nordstrom's impeccable service, but the place is too big to shop for a lot of times.  The pricing is good and they are quick to move their inventory.   They carry many of the brands Anthropologie carries, such as Leifstottir,  bailey 44, three dots, splendid just to name a few.

Also I notice this  Orla Kiely bag for $40.  I had a cross body one and really love it.  It is light weight and the print stands out against  a black or dark grey coat.

Classic Shoulder Bags In Sky Color by Orla Kiely $165 $40 eDressMe

Last I leave you with a not so spring outfit of the day.

Top: JCREW sequent ruffle tank,
Cardigan: Anthropologie set the course cardigan
 Bottom: Chalk and Charcoal skirt

Anthropologie Fantastic Field Skirt Review

I had a bunch of returns so I ran by the store over the weekend. I couldn't help browsing through it is supposed to be a quick return trip.  To my surprise, there wasn't many items I wanted to try and the Fantastic Field skirt with its stricking bold print of red flowers grab my attention.

First thing notice is that the size runs small.  I got the size 4 at first.  I was able to zip up  but the back of it wouldn't lay flat so I have to get a 6.  I think I read somewhere Moulinette Soeurs usually runs small.  The fabric is pique. It is thick and a little bit stiff, almost a canvas like feel. I am not sure if it would wrinkle after a day's wear.  It also claim to be machine washable, although I am sure it would need ironing after the wash.
It sits high, right on the natural waist. I wouldn't size up more because the skirt would pass my knee if I wear it on my hip (I am 5'4" for your reference).  The shape and length is flattering. The bold print is a good tummy minimizer because it distracts your attention from the bumps. I really love the print on this skirt.  The color is as vibrant as the website. However if you are picky you might want to go to store and pick out your favorite flower arrangement as the flower position seems to vary skirt by skirt.


There are two things about this skirt bothers me.  One is that the side print doesn't conect up so it has the disconnected feeling.  The other thing is on the waist part of the skirt, the "butterfly-pleat" of the skirt Anthro's webpage refereing to,  forms a triangle with the black waistband. It is not obvious in the picture because the picture quality of iphone is poor on the low light of anthro fitting room and my top is dark.  However, you will see it against a lighter color top.  If you wear a shirt over the skirt, the pleate would bulk the waist a little bit.  If you wear the skirt over the lighter top, the black waistband will standout, which has a unfinished feeling. Not really a deal breaker, but I would like more details to be taken care of with a $88 skirt.

Happy Monday!

Is there ever such a term? Happy and Monday? Hopefully Everyone has a good weekend at least.

We had an unseasonably warm weather this weekend.   Sunday afternoon got to the 76 degrees. We took the kids to YMCA to swim on Sunday afternoon.  To my surprise, my daughter did much better this time after not swimming for a long time. She used to have this big fear of me letting go even though I gave her a float board.   This time she  holds a floating board on her chest and kicks and kicks.  At the end she was so encouraged she told me to let go of her board so she can take the board and swim to the edge of the pool on her own.  Sigh, all this previous time where I threaten and bribe and persuade, I should of just waited and let her be ready on her own :-)

I spend my Monday morning  driving two hours round trip to a long due doctor's appointment for my son.  The is a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor who specialize in Autism treatment. Although mainstream medicine believes in Autsim is not treatable because there is no clinic proven method, parents could not just sit around doing nothing, could they?   Anything related to autism treatment is costly because the doctors are normally out of network and since mainstream medicine doesn't recognize it because it is not "clinically proven", insurance has all the reason not to cover it.   The whole appointment and supplements  costed $600 this time...Ouch!   The doctor reminded me again about the food restriction, which made me felt a little defensive about the few pieces of crab meat or a few byte of  fried fish bone we fed to my son the last few months.  Sigh, these days, the environment is so polluted that there really isn't too many things that is safe to eat any more.  Fish has mercury, Chicken has antimony and hormone, process food has MSG in various form of so call natural flavor. You may as well just starve to death.


****************

Lisa, from Respect the shoes is calling for outfit that is inspired by Anthro.  Basically a anthro worthy outfit without an actual Anthro piece.  I really love this idea.  Here is my spin at idea of Anthropologie's August cover page.

I know you probably think they are not the same at all, but it give me a similar feeling. I don't know why...

In this outfit,
Cardi: JCREW factory
Top: JCREW Lisette lace shell
Bottom: JCREW Chor Pencil skirt
Shoes: JCREW bow and chain ballet flat.

Chinese New Year performance

My daughter's school had a Chinese New Year performance today.  She attends a bilingual school and her Chinese is much better than English at this age. She told me the teacher said they need to have their hair in Chinese bun. So this is how she look leaving the house today.

The pre-school's main hall is decorated with the Chinese new year craft kids make.  My daughter's class made paper plate bunny for the year of Rabbit.

The artistic part of the performance is very questionable, but my daughter try to sing as loud as she can  :-)   It almost sounded like she is yelling.  

After the performance they each get rewarded with a self-made red pocket filled with gold coin chocolate.  She was generous enough to share it with us.

One thing I am proud to say is that although both of us are working, we rarely miss any of school event.  It is one of the flexibility of working in the engineering field. You make up what you need to do at night.  I am also proud of Hubby for attending all those events because I knew there are a lot of men don't attend those events even though they have that flexibility.  They felt their wife had already represent them and therefore unnecessary for both to be there.  I felt it is very important for men to witness the little steps their kids, not only for the kids, but also for themselves too.  

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New year!

恭贺新禧，年年有余，万事如意。（Congratulations on the new year! Wishing you have surplus every year, and everything in life went smoothly as you wish)

Well, today is actually Chinese New Year's Eve.  But since China's time zone is ahead of us, you can say it is Chinese New Year already.

To be in line with the new year sprit, I am wearing red and gold today.

Sweater: Anthro Don't remember the name

Top: Anthropologie Floreat Ice Capped Blouse

Skirt: Anthro Field Skirt 

Boots: UGG australia

In this foreign land and in the middle week that I have to work, not much celebration is going on, but when we were little, Chinese new year is the happiest time of the year.  Each family will cook up a feast.  There will be at least 10 course to go around and a fish dish is always included. Fish in Chinese has the same pronunciation as Surplus.  So eating fish brings good luck! When we live in the northern China, we always make dumpling from scratch and that is part of must have dinner too.   We don't get new cloth often as China was having a shortage in goods that time,  but on new year eve, my parents always change me to something new.  Children gets extra allowance too, a red pocket (Hong Bao).  A big chunk of those money would go into buying fire cracker and firework.  At mid-night new year's eve,  it is quite a display.  There are so many different varieties of firework and fire cracker.  None are grand like the ones at the night of Disney, but together the noise and the color fill the night and truly brings out the festival atmosphere. The best part of that is that you lit them yourself and the participation brings out more fun.

Tonight although we can't do much, we will have fish and dumpling for dinner (although the dumpling would be the frozen ones, haha :)  I will even let my daughter watch the New Year celebration broadcasted on the Chinese channels even though she is not allowed to watch TV on weekdays normally.

And of course, we all have to call home.  My parents are in Chicago right now.  They send me those picture this morning.  I just saw similar picture at Kim's blog and had a very Deja Vu feeling.

I wish they are near me. Notice the snow is over knee high of my Dad? I wish he hadn't have to do that at his age.

My mom was in a very good mood however.  Dad had to cancel his business trip and that means he will stay with her at home :-)  There is always a positive side of everything.

瑞雪兆丰年,  as the Chinese say,  A good snow brings ample  harvest next year.  For those of you get snowed in,  stay warm and May the snow bring you good luck in the coming year!

Luxe Lust

Do you like to look at expensive stuff even you know perfectly you cannot afford it?  Notherless, they are good to look at.  Actually as the moment I am browsing them, Hubby asked suspiciously that "You are not going to buy another trench are you?"

Did I mention I had a thing for polka dots?

This trench will be so great for spring.  Too bad it comes with a $1500 price tag.  Unless I have gone mad, there is no way I'd spend that much.  Actually I constantly wonder, other than the millionaires and princess of Arabian,  how many people really spend $1500 on a piece of clothing?  Hubby said it is a matter of perspective.  If we truly appreciate the cloth the way we appreciate a big TV or a piano, or feel it is necessary like the TV or a piano (neither of which is a necessity b.t.w, it just feels that way)  then we might save up to get one, but we don't.  I guess he's got a point.

I really love the way this Kate Spade Trench flares out. The bow in the back is a lovely addition.

Somehow the white and gold combination is super gorgeous.

This jewelry itself is probably be too over the top in real life, but I really love how this pair with the white blouse on the model.  It has a almost roman gothic look.

Back to reality, this is my OOTD. Now I look at the picture, I think this sweater makes me look fat.  Oh, well...

Top: Anthropologie flannel shirt (don't remember the name)

Sweater: Anthropologie Solstice Festival Cardigan

Skirt: JCREW chord pencil skirt in shadow

Boots: J-41