haider ackerman

haider ackerman

cat eye shades

tom ford cat eye glasses

house of harlow cat eye sunglasses

 Note to self: need to make a trip to Aldo soon!

my love

I realized at 5 pm today that it was Valentine's. This damn bar has made my days blur and I actually mistook today as a Sunday. I've never celebrated this holiday, even when I was in a relationship. It just seemed less special since everyone else was celebrating it, and the incredible amounts of mushy-ness drove me insane. Nonetheless, I'm not that cold hearted.  *_*  I thought about wearing red today, and even pulled out a dress that's really cute to wear out...but I didn't go out...so I'm reposting some pics of Paris ... because this is what I think about when I hear the word "love".  Paris is the city of love. Everything that embodies this word is boxed up in this gorgeous city. Couples walk hand in hand, the views are breathtaking, the history bringing everything to life....and who can forget the aprodasiac foods! Being a single girl in this city still makes me happy because the French don't just embrace the couples kind of love, but also the love of oneself. Here, in this city, when I was 17, was when I first fell in love...with me. I learned more about myself in Paris than in any other place I've traveled to. It allowed me the opportunity to explore my curiosity and passions, my friendships/relationships, and most importantly, my individuality. Since then, I've been back 3 times, and each time, it gets better. These pics were taken this last winter by Kat when we spent a heavenly month living in the Marais after a worldwind tour of Asia and Eastern Europe. We decided to walk to La Tour Eiffel that day, and it was bitterly cold, but I got myself a choclat chaud et une crepe nutella, and smiled gleefully at the camera [see below].

h&m hearts romper, gap long-sleeve tee, zara tights, h&m neck scarf

nirrimi's valentine

[one of the best messages to convey love i found yet]

my beautiful girl,

you are asleep beside me, and despite the deep rumbles and grating gears of the passing vehicles on the highway outside our window, I feel so content, listening to your breathing, and the wind in the tall backyard tree, and now it is silent of all cars and trucks and roadnoise, and now it is nicer than it was before. with you I have learnt the most about myself, and consequently the world, and with you I am calmest, clearest, happiest, realest, warmest, and all other superlatives that could be used to describe just how right things are with you. I have said it a few times but I'm not sure I've ever truly been able to express just how much I appreciate you, your presence in my life, all of the things I have learnt from you both directly and indirectly. the world will change and change often, sometimes dramatically, but I know our love will always remain. we are the strongest of the strong, and I will never leave your side.

thank you for all that you have blessed me with. i am indebted to you.

yours for all time, and timelessness,
m

blancs manteaux

I lived next door to this boutique in Paris. Everyday I walked by the window and stared wistfully in. Finally, I went in before going home, and found the most beautiful grey/black cape of my life. It fit to perfection, but through some idiotic frame of mind, i didn't buy it. The price was steep, but now i regret not getting it everyday. How can I get it now???

  blancs manteaux

 

korean stars dress soooo fly

G-Dragon and T.O.P. ... some fave vids I keep on repeat

rockin' King Baby rings!!

check out the amazing BOWTIES . i want !

the journey

louis vuitton the journey tv commercial circa 2008

the journey is not a trip, nor a vacation .

it is a process . a discovery . 

a self discovery

bringing us face to face with ourselves

to show us not only the world

but also how we fit in it

does the person create the journey

or does the journey create the person?

the journey is life itself

where will life take you?

woooo zaaaa

muir woods, redwood forest
one of my best friends sent me this pic after i failed one of my practice tests and was in a rut 
photocredit: lillian do

sartorialist

Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 

Just another one of the Sartorialist's images that I am blown away with. He's coming to Asia.

830sign lookbook

I've blogged about 830sign before, and here it is again. The new 2011 spring/summer lookbook is out and featured on Deminology. This season's biggest eye catcher for me is the olive green sweater for men. If I had a boyfriend, this is totally what I would get for him. Don't you think he would look AMAZING in this sweater?? I was lucky enough to see this sweater in person before the launch, and I nearly drooled over it. I didn't get it because I don't have a special guy in my life to get it for ... but I now regret not getting it for MYSELF!!! le sigh...

As for the women's collection.  I love the Italian soft cashmere and neutral tones. This season has more olive green, military like colors which I love. The pants with suspenders are a must have. I picked up a few pieces from earlier collections, so when I get my camera and photographer in order, I'll post some outfit pics with my new 830sign pieces!!!

janelle monae

NPR introduced me to her about a year ago and she is amazing. She just did a version with B.O.B. but i don't like it. Watch the original version with Big Boi here. I love everything about this video.

heather's art and things

some images that made me smile today

garden girl red


heather's art and things

this man is wow

the Sartorialist

Every so often, the Sartorialist just gets an image that blows me away. I am thoroughly impressed with his images already, but sometimes, he takes it to another level. I know it's because of his subjects, and this man is no exception. The Sart noticed him for the pocket square and the tee, but i saw everything else. The aviators, the easy glance, the white pants paired with the blazer, and a hint of bracelets. ahhh so very European and so very hot.

soirée avec gina

Every few months, my two best friends and I have dinner with our favorite professor of all time, Gina Gruwell. She was out high school French professor who took us abroad after our senior year, and she was the one that taught us all how to backpack and travel. She and her husband Rod have been our mentors and inspirations since we met them 14 years ago. It's amazing to me that this year is our 10 year high school reunion, and we still keep in touch with all the people we treasured the most from that time. I'm very blessed to have these relationships still...and cheers to many more years of wining, dining, and traveling!!!!

gorgeous table settings

Me digging into the caprese salad and Kat opens the Prisoner, a group favorite red.

Gina made the most amazing dinner. 2 in thick steaks with mash potatoes and veggies, topped with an insanely delicious peppercorn sauce. [she tweaked the recipe from Morton's but I personally think her reduction is much better than Morton's]. We brought over 5 bottles of wine from our latest trip to Napa, but Gina had a chilled bottle of white waiting when we got there, then opened one of HER favorites called Grey Wolf after we finished off ours, and then topped off the night with a malt scotch whiskey tasting. Goodness, i'm getting drunk just thinking about it...

Oh, and she also made amazing portobello mushrooms for the vegans! i wanted to eat this whole as well.

the original 4, but we've expanded to include the boys as well *_*

I got a new Club Monaco dress that fit this occasion perfectly, but I'll have to do the outfit shoot later. I also forgot to do a group photo! =/ Next time, we are going to go out to a Thai restaurant, my favorite one, so I will have to be sure to take one!

sunshine award

I received this award from Potent Cocktails, so I'm passing it on now! It's very much delayed due to schoolwork, but here are my inspiration blogs that I always make sure to read, even on a hurried day. The reasons are varied, some are for fashion, some for photography, and some are just plain fun to read.

1. La Tartine Gourmande

2. Life in Travel

3. La Couturier

4. Swank Heights

5. Sea of Shoes

6. Cherry Blossom Girl

7. Garance Dore

8. We Could Grow Up Together

9. Through the Looking Glass

10. Eyes of Me

11. That's Chic

12. Le Blog de Betty

13. In Her Stilettos

14. Glisters and Blisters

15. Au Pays de Merveilles

Please Pass it on to at least 12 other deserving bloggers (dont forget to inform them)
and dont forget to link back to the blog from which he/she acquired the award.

in alaska

My mom still has it. Simple, relaxed, and rockin' the round John Lennon glasses. None of what she is wearing is a brand name, and she isn't even trying. She's on vacation with my dad in Alaska. They just sent pics to me, and this is my favorite. The jade bracelet on her wrist has been worn since 1980, when she got married. It's never come off, which is a testament to how much care she puts into it. She's given me about 10 jade bracelets since I was 5, and every single one, real or fake, has broken within the first month of wearing it. Needless to say, she doesn't buy them for me anymore. =/

french inspired bridal shower

omg omg omg I want this for my own bridal shower! Actually, i just want to throw this party period ... or just be IN this party!
I was checking out one of my favorite photographer's blog, Jasmine Star, and she did a photoshoot for this bridal shower. The collaboration of Style Me Pretty, Jasmine Star, and classy girls make for an absolutely stunning shoot. French inspired color palate of black, pink, and white; Chanel parfum; and classy clothing are all the things that I love. LOVE.

alexa chung for mulberry

You may have seen this bag floating around blogs as of late. It's the Mulberry Alexa bag, named after the British it girl of fashion, Alexa Chung. I love this bag, but I can't justify the $1500 by any means. Nonetheless, I love Alexa's style and have been following her outfits for quite some time. She use to model, but since that was not a positive influence, she turned to media presentation, and soon became a fashion icon in Britain. She still models, but with a better sense of self confidence, and it definitely shows. Mulberry is a British luxury designer, so the combination of these two just makes for classy, yet modern fashion.

wingback chairs

The wingback chair is one of my favorite types of chairs for a living room offset or a library. I saw this one on Lonny magazine [which has an AMAZING site], and I instantly started to swoon.

This Massoud wingback is gorgeous as well. I can see this in my library with a dark shady lamp by its side to read! On the other hand, this Wilshire Wingback by Woodson and Rummerfield is just bizarre, but strangely fun. I think I would put that by a matching accent hall table...

I stumbled upon Coco + Kelly via Atlantis Home and immediately fell in love with the blog. I try to restrain from looking at interior designer blogs because I go nuts from lack of my own home to decorate, but sometimes, I just can't help it! Cassandra just has the ability to find the best inspirations to share, and I find myself clicking on one post after another, craving for more.

I browsed through her Rooms of the Week and found about a million great inspirations. This room tour caught my eye the most. The green is absolutely stunning, and I can see it on my balcony or patio or even backyard. I recently picked up 2 amazing wicker chairs from Craigslist and on the lookout for a matching table, so this is right in line with my vision for a perfect outdoor scene.