Wedding Fun

I spent a good portion of the summer fulfilling my Maid-of-honour duties. Not complaining though, because it was a lot of fun! Starting with a Parisian themed bridal shower held in my apartment, we spent the afternoon celebrating with mimosas, cupcakes, and macarons. I made a white & lavender two-tiered fondant cake for the special occasion and stuffed the couple's favourite candies and hand lotion from Crabtree & Evelyn in each of the party favours. Our Whistler weekend getaway was perfect for the Bachelorette party. We had a fun night out with drinks and dancing followed by a girly night in with chick flicks and face masks. The big day came before we knew it and there we were... three bridesmaids in yellow dresses standing at the alter! The couple tied the knot on a sunny and beautiful summer day. As the Best Man and Maid of honour, the boy and I couldn't be happier for them. It was wedding day to be remembered and like we said in the speech at the reception... "May the joys of today, be those of tomorrow, and forever."

Hong Kong Part I

Zara blouse, J Brand jeans, LV bag, Hermes belt, YSL arty ring

I'm back from nearly a month away. First, it was a wonderful time in Hong Kong and Bali with the boy. Days after my return, I was devastated by the news of my grandmother being hospitalized... followed by an unexpected trip to Beijing for her funeral. Without much time to adjust, I left for New York city to meet my dad. Nevertheless, here I am... back on the blogging train and starting with pictures from Hong Kong. No matter how many years away, HK remains a place where I feel at home. I spent a good chunk of my childhood living in the city and there's something about it that's luring me back in. During this visit, I realized that it's time to get off cruise control and get on with my career development. A possible move to HK? Time will tell.










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Tea at the Castle

Joe Fresh cashmere cardi, Club Monaco tee, Chanel pearl necklace

Just a quick post with a few photos from my weekend at high tea with the girls. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is the perfect place for afternoon tea. We indulged in petit sandwiches, pastries, and freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream. It's becoming my favorite place to spend Sunday afternoons and we intend to make high tea a monthly thing. In other news, I'm off to Hong Kong and Bali this weekend! Hustle and bustle of city life followed by beach and paradise is my kind of vacation. Of course, I'll be blogging on the go ;) Please send any restaurant and shopping recommendations my way!

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GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thank you to everyone who entered the $100 Shopbop gift card Giveaway. I wish I had 150+ GCs to give away! Drum roll please... the winner by random selection is Dylana from Nana in Wonderland. Congrats! I adore her blog and can't wait to see what she picks with the GC.

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Time Travelers

Club Monaco top, F21 skirt, Steve Madden sandals, Michael Kors bag, Harriet Grey ring from BeautyMark

Like most girls, I both love and hate the humidity.  Despite walking around the city feeling like a steamed bun, the moisture acted like a miracle product giving volume and texture to my usually straight, heavy, and lifeless hair! It was also nice having the bestie do a French braid for me the night before our adventure into historic China. She flew over from Korea for the weekend and we managed to squeezed in all the major sites in 4 short days -- the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven to name a few. Together with J, we were the 3 musketeers roaming the through the city eating Peking duck, bargaining at Silk Street Market, and (sadly) getting scammed by pedicab drivers. It was amazing sharing a piece of Beijing with them.

Keeping wardrobe choices light, short, and breathable was key to surviving the heat on this trip. The yellow silk top was from a few seasons ago but I still love the pick-me-up color and the origami details. The cotton floral skirt has bits of yellow to compliment the vibrant colored top and I opted for simple sandals and belt in neutrals to avoid looking like I'm heading to the circus. One thing I missed? Sunblock on my feet. I have to live with a hideous sandal tan for the next little while!







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Bird's Nest

Banana Republic blouse, H&M shorts, Nine West Wedges, LV tote, Fossil Bangle

Birds often never return to nest once they've learned to fly. I, for one, love visiting Beijing - my birthplace and my "original" nest. I spent 5 years of my childhood in the capital of China. But now, I find it hard to keep up with Beijing's constant progress when the humble landmarks I used to recognize seem to be overshadowed by the waves of trendy shopping areas and skyscrapers being built every 2 years. From the famed Forbidden City to futuristic highrises, Beijing is a true blend of traditional and modern, and is home to nearly 20 million people! J and I fully embraced both the old and the new by playing nerdy tourists for most of the trip. This was my first time at the National Stadium, aka "Bird's Nest" since it was built for the 2008 Olympics. Despite the hazy weather condition, the structure more than impressed me. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be there during the summer games.

I love packing shorts during my travels for the endless options. Pairing them with different tops can create multiple looks, whereas one dress is often just one look and it takes up a little more room in the suitcase. I paired these neutral H&M shorts with a much needed pop of color in a breathable silk to avoid disappearing into the infamous Beijing haze. Although I'm not a huge fan of monogram, this Louise Vuitton Palermo GM tote was a gift. I've grown to love it for its practicality. The size and shape is perfect for everyday use, and it's also an iconic print and a "forever" bag. I could definitely see my future granny self wobbling down the street sporting this!

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From San Diego with Love

F21 top and ring, Michael Kors crossbody bag, Seven jean shorts,

Home sweet home! I spent the week in San Diego - A few days of work and a few more to shop, visit the zoo, and hang with my Honorary-Canadian/LA-fashionista friend Annette from The VersaStyle.  We spent the day shopping at the Fashion Valley, but shocked ourselves by leaving the place with absolutely nothing! Determined to do better, we made up for it by finding a few things on 5th Ave before having dinner at a quiant little Italian place.  The San Diego Zoo was a must, especially to see the Pandas! I'm just a little obsessed.... and I was pleasantly surprised by how active they were.  Zhen Zhen, a two-year-old girl and a little acrobat, did not stop running and climbing for the entire 20 mins I was there.  I'm sure Cirque du Soleil would love to have her! 









xo,

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Little Miss Homemaker

BCBG dress, Apron by Elisharon

They say strangers are friends you have yet to meet. Well, that couldn't be more true. Ever find certain bloggers particularly sweet? And if it weren't for the geographical location, you know she/he would make a great friend? I say hallelujah to the internet and to fashion, for bringing people from all over the world together.



I received this beautiful package from the very sweet Sharon of Elisharon recently and was delighted to find delicious Hawaiian treats and a handmade apron! I was really touched by the lace details and her thoughtfulness. Although wearing a pretty apron doesn't instantly make me a good cook, I'm inspired to have another go at cooking! Thank again Sharon :)

---> Vancouver Style & Shopping -Read my article in Issue #7 of the Style Sample Magazine - Pg 16!


xo,

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Let Them Eat CupCake!

Aqua Couture dress, House of Harlow ring, Chanel Nail Vernis in Nouvelle Vague

Now that I'm slowly approaching my mid-20's, the dinner+club Birthday routine just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Instead, I celebrated my birthday this weekend with my favorite ladies over afternoon tea. It was just what I wished for: simple and sweet.

Every year around this time, I tend to feel that there's a lot more I wanted to accomplish by 20, 21, 22... But this year is different. I'm starting to identify with the saying "live for the journey, not the destination." It's true, we often set goals and beat ourselves up on days like New Years, Birthdays etc. But no one counts the incremental changes and accomplishments that occur everyday. I chose my birthday dress to reflect what I wanted for the year ahead - Bright and bold. This will be the year to take chances, stay positive, and see every opportunity as an experience.






I'll leave the contents of the box for a post all on its own...

A dozen helium balloons = major photo-op! I had a little fun before the girls arrived. It wasn't until they arrived that I realized these balloons were in baby-shower colors, oh well :)


xo,

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