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.


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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