That Girl is Hoisin

What a Faux Pas

2012-02-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

Earlier in January, Ryan and I had a small engagement dinner where our two families could meet and socialize. My family from Ohio happened to be in town so it worked out perfectly - we didn't want our families to meet at the wedding for the first time, so my family hosted Ryan's family at Brodard Chateau, a Vietnamese restaurant in Garden Grove.

I'm an avid photo-taker at events, so is my sister, Christine, but I didn't want either of us to worry about taking pictures of the night that we would miss out on the real fun. So we asked Ryan's cousin, JD and Jeck of JD Fauxto to document the night for us. Now, I may be biased because these two kids are my future cousins-in-law, but admittedly, I was really impressed with the work that they did. Check out some of my favorite pictures:

But also, can I just say that my favorite part of the night was my retro-inspired red dress? I got it from a Bettie Page in San Diego. I actually bought it in the summer, but finally found the perfect occasion to wear it.

JD Fauxto also has a photobooth for events, they recently set one up for their cousin's congratulatory party for passing the bar...and YOU KNOW I had to take a couple. The graphics (of the Ace Attorney videogame) are all customized, so they'll change based on the event and your style, pretty sweet.

So if you guys are in SoCal and need up and coming photographers to take photos for yourself, for an event, or a photobooth, check out their stuff (and tell them their most beautiful cousin-in-law sent you).

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Spring 2012: F21 Picks!

2012-02-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

I normally don't put my "picks" for Spring or whatever season, normally because it's not the same seeing it on a model or a collage than it is on an actual HUMAN BEING with a normal body. But Tramanh and I were recently asked to post our favorite picks for F21 as well as our spring trends, so I thought I would do it here! I mean, just because I have to save for a wedding doesn't mean I can't browse? All look...no touch. Much like strip clubs.

This year, spring is all about being feminine and flowy, and this year, about prints and sheer materials. I love Fall/Winter for structured skirts and dresses, but when the flowers start blooming, don't you want your dress to do the same? Or your onion (aka: the bloomin' onion...you guys know what I'm talking about).

Abstract Leaf Dress, Flutter Sleeve Dress, Flutter Sleeve Chiffon Dress, Zig Zag Ikat Print Dress, Tiny Umbrella Dress, Forrest Floral Dress

Spring in LA is weird because sometimes it feels like winter (aka: high 60s) but sometimes it feels like summer (low 90s), WTF am I supposed to do with that weather? A combination of skirts, shorts, and jeans is clearly my only solution. I know that everyone is on the colored-jean wagon, but I don't know, I don't see myself wearing hot-pink skinny jeans...just so...not me (and kinda gross). Instead, I chose loose skirts, some shorts, and of course, BOYFRIEND jeans. I hope this trend never goes away...I'm just too lazy to have muffin top.

Petite Stretch Skinny Jeans, Suedette Shorts, Pleated A-Line Skirt, Destroyed Skinny Jeans, Destroyed High Rise Denim Hot Shorts, Flowy Cascade Skirt

For tops, I like effortless tops that drape across your body and that allows you to eat said bloomin' onion (man, I need to go to Outback Steakhouse). The thing about F21 shirts is that while I think they look great on these models, I'm skeptical on how they'll look on my long-torso, especially since some shirts look on the shorter-end. Either way, I just bought an epilator so I'm excited to wear more tanks! And that cat sweater-shirt made me laugh so I'm adding it.

Sleeveless Shirt, Sequin Scallop Top, V-Back Top, Contrast Collar Tank, Draped Shirt, Kitty Drawing Top

Surprisingly, F21 didn't have that many shoe choices online though I think in-store, they're expanding their shoe collection. Here's my gripe about F21 shoes - I have a few pairs, but the heels have broken OFF (like completely off) on two of my heels! Though I did get them fixed at my local shoe repair, it cost me another $25 to do so and honestly, the whole point of F21 shoes is that they're affordable. When I end up paying another $25 to get them fixed or reinforced, it kind of defeats the purpose of finding the deal. Hopefully the chunky heels I chose will fair better. That, or I need to stop walking like an elephant.

Scallop Lace Ballet Flats, Braided Metallic Toe Sandals, Open Toe Platforms, Lace Up Tennis Shoes, Abstract Oxfords, Chunky Ankle Strap Heels

Miscellaneous stuff. Now who hasn't gone to F21 and was like "Ooh, nail polish! Ooh, bracelets! Ooh! A hat!" - it's no different online either. They have over 37 pages (at 100 products per page) full of accessories. Talk about @__@. Here are some random accessories/things that would be cool to have, including a chip clip that makes an "oink" noise every time you open it. That's a total deterrent (no it's not, nothing gets in between me and my chip addiction).

Mixed Print Headwrap, Buckle Trim Hat, Suede Fringe Crossbody, Contrast Strap Belt, Looped Hinge Bracelet, Talking Pig Bag Clip

There you have it - some trends, some picks, and some secrets (now you know how much I love the blooming onion). After browsing for so long...maybe I CAN squeeze in a few new items in my wedding budget. I mean, I gotta look good to go check out vendors and venues, right? RIGHT?

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Holiday Wrap Up

2012-02-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

I know I've been MIA lately because of the ENGAGEMENT, holidays, and travel, but one of my favorite things to do as a stalker is look at everyone's Christmas and holiday photos....and really, who isn't a voyeur?

So without further ado, here is a quick wrap up of the past few weeks!

Christmas Eve at Ryan's (our first as an engaged couple!). And YES, Ryan is totally wearing an ascot. I bought it for him, lol.

This is Dallas, she hates her life.

That night I flew to Ohio (the lovely red-eye flight) for Christmas with my family:

New Year's Eve was family-filled, like our Christmas, except this time, I totally got my sister wasted (like THROW UP WASTED) and blamed it on under-cooked eggrolls. And you know what? PEOPLE BELIEVED ME.

As soon as I got back from Ohio, Tramanh, Tu, May and Calvin came to visit...and YOUKNOW how that goes:

So now the part of catching you up is done, I can start blogging, regularly, right, RIGHT?

Here's what I'm having a hard time with - I'm on a tight budget with the wedding (I mean, I've looked at prices per head for open bars and I nearly shit myself), and don't even get me started on wedding dresses! So I'm out of a budget for shopping for new clothes, unless you know, it's like, super cute and die-worthy. Maybe I'll back to how I started - random thoughts, my outings, and of course, beauty stuff.

On a side note - thanks to all of the Ask Phivy readers who haven't forgotten about me and my blog. I promise to upkeep this...STARTING...NOW!

The Proposal

2011-12-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

As you guys may or may not have heard, last weekend I got engaged!!! WHAT?! I KNOW. It was a complete surprise to me (but apparently a lot of my friends and family were in on it).

Short version here:

Long story here:
It was a normal Sunday day; I had just gone through the Rite of Acceptance (the next major step in becoming a confirmed Catholic) with my sponsor, Rhona, and we took her out to lunch. NORMAL.

Then we went back to Ryan's, where played Assassin's Creed for 2 hours. NORMAL.

Then he took a nap while I answered Ask Phivy questions. NORMAL.

Around 4pm, we got ready to go to dinner:

Ryan: I'm craving Benihana's.
Steph: But we only go there for special occasions.
Ryan: I know, but it's been awhile.
Steph: We just went there 2 months ago for our anniversary...but okay.

NORMAL.

When we go to Santa Monica, Ryan suggests that we take a walk alongside the beach to take photos by the sunset. I WOULD say that this isn't normal, but come on, YOU KNOW I love taking pictures of myself, so this is "normal" (for me). After fidgeting a few times with the camera, I start getting impatient and say, "This is why you don't take my blog photos and why I use a tripod...you take too long!" Ryan smiles and keeps setting up the camera. He walks towards me, but this time, it's weird because he's kind of shaking . WHY ARE YOU SHAKING? And, by the way, it looks like forgot to set the timer for the camera! Man, THIS GUY.

He holds my hand and says "I love you," I LOVE YOU TOO. OK WHY ARE YOU SHAKING?

Ryan kneels, asks me to marry him and I have no idea what's going on. I'm pretty sure I blacked out. Of course I say yes, jumped up and down a few times and stared at my hands for what seemed like 2 years. I immediately call both of our families, who all KNEW! They were all anxiously waiting by the phone waiting for the good news and they all kept it hidden from me. Those sneaky snakes.

I call my close friends who of course, started screaming. After calling immediate friends and family, we walk around the 3rd Street Promenade for an hour to kill before our dinner reservations. Ryan's totally normal at this point. He's browsing, he bought a pair of slacks and a pair of sunglasses. WTF. I was a crazy woman. I was staring at my ring in all sorts of different lighting, I kept looking in the mirror and playing with my ring, I was bursting into tears at random moments. It was all so emotional.

When dinner time finally arrives, we head over to Benihana (our tradition for special occasions) and surprise! My friends are there waiting for me with big hugs and congratulations! They had known the whole time and had kept it from me. Those sneaky snakes. Tears and hugs all the way around.

It was an amazing proposal. The actual proposal was intimate on the beach, but the immediate celebration was with my close friends so I could share my moments with them.

The wedding won't be until Fall, 2013 so I have lots of time to plan, but OF COURSE I'm already looking. Hell, I started looking a year ago, just don't tell Ryan that.

Just an Orange County Girl

2011-11-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

A great inside joke that I have with my mentor (and director) was when she had just gotten back from a client meeting and our conversation went like this:

Her: I just got back from the ARM PIT of California.
Me: Where?
Her: Orange County. THE WERST.
Me: Where in OC?
Her: Some God-forsaken city, called Tustin. It was the werst!! We literally went from the client meeting and took a tram to a place called the Irvine Spectrum and went to Dave n Busters. I wanted to die.
Me: Uhh...lol. I'm FROM Orange County. Specifically, from Tustin.
Her: WAT? I mean, no, Tustin is cool. Yeah.

Haterz gonna hate...but I honestly couldn't stop laughing. I love Orange County and luckily because of work, I'll be down here for the next few weeks! My best friend lives in Tustin so I'm bunking with her to avoid the dreaded 50-mile trek back and forth.


zara blouse (cooler version found here) lululemon leggings jessica simpson slouched boots (similar version found here) uniqlo linen blend cardigan (similar version found here)

I'm working on the top-bun hair style, since it always looks so demure; unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) my hair is so layered that it tends to have the "messy" bun look, versus a perfect ballerina bun. I'll keep trying!

Feeling Refined

2011-11-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

I was on a mad hunt for more pencil skirts, but not any pencil skirts, HIGH-WAISTED pencil skirts. Because of my long torso, high-waisted skirts help even out my proportions, and also makes me look a lot slimmer/longer than normal slacks. It's usually my go-to outfit when I have a work meeting or something fancier to attend.

This blouse was a great find in Ryan's parents' garage; one morning Ryan decided to get rid of unnecessary things in his parents' garage (you know how things can easily accumulate) and while sorting through a "keep/trash" pile of clothes, I found this blouse. I love it! Love the bow, the color and fit...and love the price - ZERO DOLLARS.

vintage red top (similar ones found here and here)
zara high-waisted pencil skirt (similar one here)
LAMB pumps (similar ones found here)

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One Last Summer

2011-11-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found pictures (or money) and was like, "OH SWEET! I totally forgot about you!"? That's what just happened with this outfit post. WHY DID I NEVER POST IT? It's been like 6-8 weeks! But it's one of my recent purchases that has quickly turned into a favorite.

I bought this dress from a local LA store called MayMe that I did a "modeling" gig for. And I use the term "modeling" VERY loosely. They just needed some help showing off their clothes...in return, I got a discount off this dress...that I stole from a mannequin. Shaisty.

MayMe dress, Jessica Simpson Dany platforms

I'm wearing Relvon's Orange Flip since it was summer, but it looks more coral on my skin. I'm surprised I liked it as much as I did.

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Seattle: Where Friendships Take on a Whole New Level

2011-11-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was full of tomfoolery. Tramanh and Tu definitely showed Ryan and me a good time and what Seattle has to offer. Here is a play by play...with pictures because really, who cares about me writing stuff.

We land in Seattle and go straight to a bar (80s new wave night)...we were worried no one was there. And we were right. We were half of the bar's occupancy.

ryan waiting for tramanh and tu

just the beginning of the night

laughing because we did not like ANY of the pictures we originally took. TAKE ANOTHER ONE.

fixing our hair capes.


neither of us remember this picture, but i think it's our new favorite.

waiting for our stupid photobooth pictures to come out...worth it:

if you follow us on twitter, you've probably already seen this picture

what is happening

You guys, that was our first night - STRAIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT. The next day, we went to Pike Place Market, since that was the thing to do. We also went to the Aquarium because Tu and I really wanted to go, lol.

walking from the parking structure

never seen someone so happy to be wearing something

kyoot sea otter

pretty great picture of me

That night was good food, meeting new friends (May & Calvin, whom we love) and again, more drinking. What did you think this weekend would encompass of?

shots of grey goose...why do Asians only drink top shelf? (an ask phivy question...true story)


das yo man

the explanation for this picture is slightly NSFW

so much ecstasy on tu's face


a pretty damn good LMFAO costume...and tramanh's husband.

Next day was the Seattle blogger meet-up. I'm not going to even go into it, here are the pictures:

just getting to our seats, so excited

what we feared...

what actually happened (we just switched sides)

So...what we feared the most came true. Alas, it was just Tramanh and me staring at each other commenting on our skin, hair, and lipstick colors. It's okay though, maybe next time? NO THERE WILL NOT BE A NEXT TIME, OK?! To make ourselves feel better, we decided to go to F21 and wear slutty club clothes for a laugh. It worked.

look at our muscular legs, looks good

It also happened to be a beautiful day in Seattle (a rarity, I hear) so we went to an awesome viewpoint where we took a few quick photos:

what happens when i wear 5 1/2" heels and tramanh doesn't. i am a GIANT.

this is the 2nd and only other picture i have with ryan the entire trip!

That night, we went to our new friend's house and chilled...played Apples to Apples (I won...no one cared). It was a PJ party and I was happy to not have to wear my 5 1/2" heels that night. Everyone cooked while Ryan and I happily ate it all.

so relaxed

everyone cooking away

Next day, after lunch, Tramanh, May and I took our friendship to the next level by going to the piercing parlor. Tramanh's piercing is the only one I can show:

tramanh got her septum pierced!

And finally, it was one last night in Seattle so Ryan and I treated May, Calvin, Tramanh and Tu to dinner:

new friends!

Where they forced us to take a Seattle-staple shot: Yeahhh buddies:

taste like lemon drops

An amazing trip...no awkward moments, just a lot of laughing, inside jokes, and tomfoolery. I can't wait to go back!

Spruce it up, Make it pretty

2011-10-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one TOTALLY EXCITED for the return of Portlandia in January? I don't even have IFC and have to order the season through my Zune account on my Xbox. One of my favorite skits is "Put a bird on it" where they go around putting birds on random things...but isn't it true? When you see a blank tote bag, you don't even care about it, but the moment you see a bird on it, it's ethereal and "organic-looking."

Anyway, this Autumn, while everyone is into animal print in the traditional sense, I'm taking a different stance on it. Instead of typical giraffe prints, leopard prints, and tiger prints, I'm about prints with ANIMALS ON THEM. I love it! I'm on the hunt. (Pun intended).

ark & co bird print dress, zara pumps,black tights, martin + osa belt

Btw, this past weekend was Ryan's & my 4-year anniversary! Yay us. How did we celebrate? Lunch a Benihana's, pizza dinner and a bottle of wine at home. And Disneyland (of course). We'll also be celebrating our anniversary in Seattle with Tramanh and Tu next week, so if you're in the SEA area, please let us know so we can meet up!

The Animal Inside of You

2011-10-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

It was one of our friend, Anthony's, birthday and we went to Animal Restaurant on Fairfax. Their menu changes daily and it's all small plates, and INCREDIBLY delicious...super decedent. The restaurant is small (seats about 45 people) and the ambiance is pretty chill. Some of our fave dishes included: pork belly sliders, poutine, foie gras loco moco, bone marrow with chimichurri, and the bacon chocolate crunch bar (yes!). After 15+ courses and 3 bottles of wine, it was a good night.

Aqua vest (similar one found here), Patterson J Kincaid tunic, Lululemon Wunderunder (similar one found here), LAMB pumps (similar ones found here)

Enough with the outfit, here are some pics of the food! To be honest, we were SO hungry, that everyone started to dive in before I even got to take a picture of the food! RUDE. Don't they know I have a blog to upkeep?

pork belly sliders

fois gras loco moco

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Product Review: Hana Flat Iron

2011-10-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I was approached by Misikko.com to do a product review on a Flat Iron straigther and I'll be honest, at first I was like, "I have the straightest hair ever!" But I do use a flat iron every once in awhile to curl the ends of my hair...or if I'm feeling adventurous, do "beachy waves." I use quotes while saying "beachy waves" mainly because I have no idea if I'm doing it right or if I'm going to sear my fingers off (it's intimidating!)

I currently have a Magic ceramic flat iron that works really well, but is chipped on the side and is pretty beat up so I was pretty excited to try a new one.

First off, the packaging is AMAZE. It comes with all sorts of goodies from a sleeping eye mask to anti-bacterial (lol wat?) to elf makeup products (awesome):

After skimming through the manual (come on, you know I dive right into things), what I really liked is that they had a scale of how hot to put the flat iron depending on what condition your hair is in. For instance, if you have very thin, fragile or damaged hair, you should set the heat setting to 230 degrees (F), but if you have very thick, healthy hair in good condition, you can amp up the heat to 450 degrees (F). That is HOT! The big selling point for the Hana Elit Flat Iron is that it's 100% solid ceramic plates (versus the typical coated aluminum plates), which allows for better heat distribution/retention and a smoother process. Let's get to the pictures!

This is my hair at a natural state: Day 2 hair, no curling or straightening, kind of stringy:

I decided to do half of my hair with the quick and easy "curled ends" where you just slightly run your flat iron through the ends, curling before you let go. I set the heat to 370-degrees since I didn't want to scorch my hair or my hands.

Overall, it was a smooth and easy process. It took a few swipes of the flat iron to really get the ends curled, but I'm sure a little more heat would have helped (as well as some patience). I would curl about 1 1/2" - 2" sections of hair, I should have probably stuck with 1":

I always see how great people can curl their hair with the flat iron - for me, I personally prefer to use either hot rollers or a curling iron, but hey! I wanted to try something new and show the versatility in a product. It took some getting used to (and I admit, a few "ow" moments of me holding the tip of the flat iron a little too long), but I think I may have gotten the hang of it:

For me, it was about sectioning my hair first, doing it layer at a time. I tried doing strands randomly and I got frustrated after the 4th or 5th strand. This is the first layer:

After awhile, I got used to it, allowing it to set, before running my fingers through it and fixing it up. I think I like this look for something that isn't SO curled. This is definitely "romantic" hair - adding a braid would really spruce it up too...hmm, not a bad idea for next tutorial!

You can really see how different these hair styles are, even from the same product - and though the beachy curls took a little longer than the curled ends, I think once I get used to it, it might be just as easy as using a traditional curling iron.

And to round out the review, I decided to curl my bangs both ways (oh you didn't know I went both ways? Lol, jk) to test it out. Though my bangs are naturally straight, everyday I curl my bangs inwards, even today I had used a blow dryer and a round brush to curl them in.

Using the flat iron, I curled my bangs in quickly:

I decided to flip my bangs outward to see if it would look as cute (IT DOES NOT), but hey, I ain't ashamed of some failures - how else do you learn?

It looks a little more "breezy" (lol, what a weird description) but I think it's just because I'm not used to how it sits on my face.

Overall, I really liked the Hana Flat Iron, I give it an 8 out of 10. It's a little pricey, but since it's 100% ceramic (and not just ceramic-coated), I think it's worth the investment if you're going to use it on a somewhat regular basis.

Also, through this partnership, we are giving my readers a $10 off of any $100 purchase! That includes Flat Irons, the T3 Dryers, and The Best Flat Irons - just use the code: ThatGirl10 during checkout! Sweet man, that's 10%, like Los Angeles city tax rate. Plus they have free shipping, so you know, can't beat that.

What are some of YOUR favorite flat iron tricks? I need to know1

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When I Gif, You Gif, We Gif

2011-10-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

After a failed attempt at seeing the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA a few weeks ago, we were smarter this time around and bought our tickets in advance (who knew that a museum would sell out of tickets! I figured since it's a constant rotating door, that would be impossible) - I was wrong.

Unfortunately they don't allow picture-taking in the exhibit, but if you're in LA and you haven't seen the Tim Burton exhibit, NOW is the time. It ends on Halloween (fitting), so I know it's going to get super packed. What was amazing was his ability to create so many characters and story lines with just various creatures, sartorial commentary, and you even get to see the hand-written script of The Nightmare Before Christmas. I ended up buying his short story book, a journal, and stationary. What can I say? I liked what I saw and I had to get me some.

This was the only photo I was able to take, but still pretty awesome, right?

Since my friends and I were already at LACMA, we just had to to the obligatory "Urban Lights" photoshoot, which turned into random .gif making:

Don't mind my face or the fact that I have my hands DIRECTLY OVER my goodies, I was literally saying, "What kind of ANGLE is this?!?!"


zara shirt, 7 for all mankind jeans, f21 belt, jessica simpson booties

We also ran into a little someone I believe most people know or have heard of. You know what the craziest part is? HE HAD AN iPHONE. It was probably the 4S too. Do you think he waited in line?

ATTENTION:

Ryan and I will be visiting Tramanh and Tu in Seattle next week!! We'll be in town from Thursday, 10/27 - Monday, 10/31, and Tramanh and I are looking to do a meet-and-greet. GASP!!! So if you're in Seattle that weekend and would like to meet us up, PLEASE let us know so we can figure out the details - just add a comment on our Ask Phivy Forum. Expect something like this, but a little less creepy:

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Step 1: You Put a Cake in the Jar

2011-10-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

So it was my sister's birthday last weekend and aside from getting her the Game of Thrones bookset, I wanted to add something special. Since I wasn't able to celebrate her birthday with her in-person (and enjoy dericious cake), my friend (who's sister's birthday was the day before Christine's) and I decided to bake our sisters a cake...in a jar!

My friend got the idea from here, and it looked so cute and so simple to do. Except here's the thing: the entire CITY OF LOS ANGELES was out of mason jars! Home Depot, Target, Michael's! It took us 3 days to find mason jars and even when we DID, they were 1/2 gallon each, NOT the cute little quart ones you use for jams. At that point, we were like, SCREW IT.

Here is our step-by-step process, it actually turned out pretty good...though I have no idea if it made it safely to Ohio. I'm pretty sure it's going to look like throw-up by the time it gets to her doorstep. Oh well, at least I tried!

We baked yellow cake and added sprinkles in it to make confetti cake, since my friend isn't a fan of white cake (which is normally what confetti cake is made out).

What you'll need:

Cake mix (confetti cake mix or yellow cake mix and separate sprinkles)
Mason jars
Vanilla frosting
Food coloring
Sprinkles
Candles

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Where For Art Thou, Fall

2011-10-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

No seriously, Fall, WHERE ARE YOU? It is mid-October and literally, the high today is 101 in mid-LA. I cannot handle this.

We had one day of rain earlier last week and it was bliss. Now THAT is what Autumn is supposed to feel like, not this hotter-than-hell feeling. It's really ruining the experience of me reading all these Fall Fashion choices when I know really, I'm wearing my summer dresses and Toms to work.

The wrap-around braid is one of my go-to hair dos when I'm feeling lazy and I'm tired of my wet hair touching my back. Similar to how I braid my hair to get my bangs out of my face , I just continue with the braid, reaching it around the nape of my neck and all the way down to the other side. It's a little tricky when you go from your right side to your left, but with practice, it gets easier.

f21 dress, h&m cardigan, martin + osa belt, toms shoes

This weekend is my sissy's bday - but she's all the way in Ohio, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER from sunny and hot California! How's that 50-degree weather treatin' you? HAW HAW.

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To Boot

2011-10-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

I miss taking photos of myself. Can I just get that out of the way first? It's been a few weeks since the last time I've done it and honestly, it was like starting from scratch. How do I stand? Where do I put my hands? What do I do with MY FACE? So many weird outtakes.

Last weekend I went to Cabazon Premium Outlets, which I love. It's pretty far - like 1 1/2 hours away but WELL WORTH the trip. I got these Theory leggings for 1/3 of the cost! They're so comfortable, but don't have any pockets...though stitching OF pockets. That's even worse, makes me think I have pockets until my nails get caught in the seams. Trickery.

I was asked how to pair up combat boots, and I love this pairing because the leggings are tucked while the floral blouse gives my outfit some femininity. These boots will definitely be a staple in my Fall 2012 wardrobe.

hinge tank, theory leggings, steve madden combat boots

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Weekend Update

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

With Ask Phivy consuming my entire life, I know it's been awhile that I update my personal blog...and how could I forget about YOU GUYS?! You're the best!! And so Tramanh did a weekend post and I was like, "Well people think I copy her anyways, I might as well do a weekend post as well..." ESPECIALLY since I did stuff this weekend!

Friday night I went to Fritto Misto in Hermosa Beach, a great little Italian restaurant that you can BYOB. So 3 bottles of wine later, this place was even MORE amazing. Can you blame us? $12 for the corkage fee. Definitely worth it considering I didn't even buy the wine we brought, lol. How gorgeous are my white friends? They're so sweet.

Saturday, I was ALL about the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA. It's been there for the past couple of months, but closes on Halloween (how fitting), so I was like I NEED TO GO HERE NOW. Unfortunately, they sell tickets for the exhibit and were all sold out. What the what? How is that even possible? I was sad, but was able to go see the other LACMA exhibits (for free, y'all).

Then on Sunday, Ryan and I took his God-Daughter to Disneyland!! You guys, just the two of us. With a 3 1/2 year old. It was TERRIFYING, but she's so easy and we've known her since she was a little bean in her mom's belly, so it was what we considered "practice."

Alright guys, I promise to keep you all updated with more posts (I'm hoping to do more tutorials...any suggestions) and outfits.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Closet Tour

2011-09-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

On Ask Phivy, I was asked to do a tour of my wardrobe / closet to see how I organize and display my stuff. Thought this would be a perfect video, since pictures can only do so much.

Sorry for the constantly s-s-s-s-s-s-stuttering of my tripod. It was like, SUPER TIGHT (lol TWSS) so I need to like, grease that up.

Enjoy!

How To: Trimming Yo Bangs

2011-09-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Tramanh & I love getting questions that we can do video responses to...it makes things much more interesting! So when I was asked how I trimmed my bangs, I thought that was a great video tutorial. Except...I kept missing the camera while I was actually doing the camera (see what happens when you rely on a tripod?!). Anyway! I hope this helps viewers know how I usually trim my bangs for a side-swept look.

Summer-Fall Transition

2011-09-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

I bought this "leather" (haha, it's not real leather) jacket at Loehman's for...$70!! I went online for a reference photo & the real leather one costs 10x as much. Talk about steal! Same brand, same cut, but no animals were skinned AND I still look FAB, lol jk.

We got a question on AskPhivy about how to pair a leather jacket, and I mentioned printed or loose dresses...THIS is totally what I meant. The jacket easily transitions this summer-time staple into a more fall-appropriate outfit. Plus, I mean, I don't think I'll ever take this jacket off. EVAR. I'm sweating in my office right now, but IDUNCURR.

h&m maxi dress, max studio pleather jacket, shiekh shoes

questions? ask here!| twitter tracker

Top 10 Wardrobe Essentials

2011-08-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Tramanh &I were recently asked on AskPhivy what our top 10 wardrobe essential items that we thought every girl should own. So instead of writing a list & linking each item, we decided to take it one step further & do a VIDEO REPLY.

You guys may have noticed in my past videos, I never talk (TOO MUCH NERVOUS), but we thought it would be fun (yet incredibly nerve-wracking) to actually talk. So, if you have a few moments, take a look &let us know if you like them!

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

The Office

2011-08-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

This morning, I had to decide between taking blog photos or getting gas for my car...so Ryan suggested I just take my blog photos FROM MY OFFICE. So strange, there is a window that people can see through...WHAT IF THEY SEE ME TAKING PHOTOS OF MYSELF? They don't know I have a blog, they'd be like, "Umm..vain, much?" And I'd be like, "Oh this is awkward..."

Anyway, lately I've been posting so many work outfits, but I mean, I wear them 5 out of the 7 days, what do I expect? I don't do wardrobe changes on the weekend (unless you count my sweats as a change of clothes). Anyway, the lighting in the office is never great (hello florescent lighting!), but I have pretty big windows that let sun in (sometimes a little TOO much sun & I end up sweating mid afternoon).

PMN blouse, cynthia steffe shorts, f21 belt, hue tights, wanted oxfords

And for funsies, here is a quick "tour" of my office:

my bookshelf...that houses NO books. pictures of friends,ezio & ryan. A RICE HAT (from Vietnam!), my customized Xbox360 controller & x-men figurines everywhere.

candles from a blogger swap I did, they don't smell like anything & one has started to melt onto some drawers, lol.

my poor orchids, one is barely hang onto dear life while the other has given up on itself


2 of my favorite things: my real simple magazine subscription & band-aids (for when my work heels hate me)


the view outside my office; i'm on the 20th floor, so i get a nice overlook of beverly hills & century city

By the way, my colleague & I are in the middle of a heated SHOE OFF battle and NONE of my friends have voted for me! What gives, man? I need your help! Next time I tweet about a SHOE OFF...VOTE FOR ME! Or I'll never hear the end of it.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Rock Mobstah!

2011-08-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

An IM conversation between my sister & I on what to name this post:

stephanie: what's a good title for this outfit
christine: mob mentality
christine: because your pinstripes look like mobstah
stephanie: lol k
christine: or ROCK MOBSTAH!
stephanie: LOL!
stephanie: djfkhasfjilksafdlisjfdsa
christine: hahahaha
stephanie: I LOVE THAT ONE
christine: hehehehehehihiihihi
stephanie: OH MAN
stephanie: so good
christine: lol yey

You know I love me my puns AND it's a play off of one of my favorite B52's songs? Ah, sheer genius. This is one of my favorite types of work outfits, loose blouse + a high waisted, formfitted skirt. My kind of outfit, if you ask me. OH GUESS WHAT? The dry cleaners lost (or stole) this top! I'm so sad. I only got to wear it once. :(

peppermint tank, banana republic skirt, f21 belt & bangle

Last weekend, Rye Bread & I went to Santa Rosa, Petaluma & San Francisco for a long weekend. It was nice because we've been to all of those cities before, so it was really to see his family & my colleagues in our SF office. I did NOT do any shopping...well I lie, I got a pair of LAMB heels for $110 at the Off 5th Avenue outlets. SCORE.

Sail Away

2011-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

On Ask Phivy, we recently got a question about what would be a great first day work outfit & I mentioned one of my favorite go-to is black cuffed shorts, tights & pumps. Actually, that answer is still in the queue waiting to be published, so you'll see it soon, haha. Since it's summer (and my workplace is a little more casual), I opted out of the tights - plus my shorts aren't BOOTY shorts - so it works out.

Kitson LA was having a huge sale & I scored this silk tank for $30! I love the little anchors on it. SO NAUTICAL, MAN. The zipper in the back is a really nice detail, except it makes it difficult to tuck the shirt into (like into a high-waisted skirt) because the zipper will fold & bend all weird. It's best to just leave it alone. I also love that the tank is loose (forgiving) so I added a fitted black jacket pulls the entire outfit together.

This weekend, Rye Bread (isn't it weird that I refer to him as "Rye Bread" on my blog & "Ryan" on Ask Phivy? HE IS THE SAME PERSON, WHY DIFFERENT NAMES?) & I are going to Santa Rosa! We'll be visiting his eldest sister & their cousins. Since we've been there a handful of times (and there's only so much we can do there, let's be honest), I'm interested to see what we'll find ourselves doing. Any suggestions? I guess I can always go for some more wine tasting. NEVER ENOUGH.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

PMN: Emerald Dress

2011-08-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to everyone for all of the support, comments & questions on Ask Phivy!! Second of all, that literally has taken over our lives. BUT WE LOVE IT. So keep asking us questions & giving us feedback. We love the idea of having Ryan & Tu as contributors, so we'll let everyone know when that's up.

In the meantime, back to the FASHUNS at hand! Actually, someone recently asked me if I get a discount on PMN since I'm irl friends with Tramanh & Issa. And while I do, it only incentivizes me to BUY MOAR STUFF. This dress is one of my favorite purchases. I love the color, fit & style of it. Hands down, I'll be wearing this a lot more. The only sucky part is that it's silk, which means, any spills is like, fatal.

PMN dress, F21 belt, Steve Madden heels, Hermes scarf & bracelet

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Ask Phivy!

2011-08-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Totes excites news you guys!! Every so often, I get questions on my formspring...a lot more often, Phi-Style will. We realized that, you know what? We have some pretty interesting takes on some pretty interesting questions. So we decided, you know what would be AWESOME? If we worked together! Tramanh & I have JOINED FORCES to start...ASK PHIVY!

This is meant to be a forum where you guys can ask one or both of us any questions about anything. It's also meant to be a time-waster if you just feel like reading. We've conveniently tagged everything so you can search through any past questions we've answered. We promise to answer honestly (and HUMOROUSLY, because umm...we're just that funny) & everything is anonymous (unless you want to add your name). We'll be answering all of our formspring questions on Ask Phivy, so please check out our answers there!

We hope you guys are just as excited as we are about this & don't forget to bookmark this shiz! lol.

In case you were wonder where "PHIVY" came from:

Phi-Style + Hoisin Ivy = PHIVY!

Thanks for your support guys! You da you da best!

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Fly Girl

2011-08-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Unexpectedly, I decided to go out to ElevateLA for an event called House vs. Hip Hop - I knew it would be clubby (so much DANCE), but a little more casual than a typical Hollywood club. I rarely wear typical "club" clothes, you know what I'm talking about...when F21 & SPANDEX collide, it's just not my steez. I'll usually end up wearing shorts & a loose top (ahem, what I'm wearing below) or jeans. I find it incredibly difficult to DROP IT DOWN LOW when my skirt is riding up my a-hole, lol. Also this shirt made me feel like a flying squirrel.

That night, I was walking to my car when a homeless man commented on my outfit (specifically, my shoes), he said "Damn, this girl didn't even BOTHER with wearing heels, she straight up wore flats." I'm pretty sure I should start wearing heels a little more often.

trouve top, american eagle shorts, f21 hat, toms

One of my favorite lipsticks to wear when going out is Revlon Blackcherry. Phi-Style & I are one of the few girls who have no problem wearing BOTH a smokey eye & red (or dark) lipstick...fashion faux pas? WE EMBRACE IT. MOAR MAKE UP PLEASE.

Few pics from that night.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

More Than Mint: CCT Style Dress

2011-08-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Like my GUHLS over at PMN, Erica (of CloudsofTulle) also had some great finds for sale at MoreThanMint & of course because I'm too impatient to go shopping regularly (and who doesn't love a great deal), I spotted this dress & immediately bought it.

Except....it sat in my closet for MONTHS before I decided to wear it. I tried wearing it to my family's Christmas party but it wasn't "white enough" for my mom, so it went back in the closet. But then it's TOO white for a wedding, and I haven't gone to any fancy dinners lately, so...it just sat & sat. I would pull it out, then put it back in, only because I didn't think the places I was going was fancy enough to be wearing the dress.

Until I gave up & just wore it to work. I needed to break it in. And you know what? Just like getting your first scratch on your car or on your new phone's screen, once you do it, you're suddenly much more comfortable with it.

cct style dress from morethanmint, michael antonio heels, f21 belt

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

It's Just an Hermes Outbreak

2011-08-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

A short few years ago, I really had no appreciation for high-end brands (YSL, Chanel, LV, etc.) mainly because they were so far beyond my means, why would I even bother going into their stores? My mother, on the other hand, understood the value, quality & prestige these brands held. Slowly, as I (and my income) matured, I've been able to splurge OCCASIONALLY on fancy shmancy items. I also am very brand-loyal: I purchased my first LAMB purse in 2006...and haven't bought a non-LAMB purse since (I may have a problem). Last year, Rye Bread surprised me with my first Hermes scarf & it still remains in the tissue within the box for safe-keeping.

Don't get me wrong - these splurges are just that (I am so far from rich, it's ridiculous) - I keep my checkbook in balance with clothes from H&M, F21,thrift stores, and the sale racks at local department stores. Blending the affordable with the occasional extravagant is sometimes the perfect recipe.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Russian Red

2011-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

So I didn't want to title this post the cliche of "lady in red" but then I realized I'm not clever enough to think of anything else...so I named this post after my favorite Mac lipstick, Russian Red. Between Ruby Woo & Russian Red, I have to say (though I own both) Russian Red compliments my skin tone more. It's also a little more subtle & matte than Ruby Woo. Maybe I will do a post on the differences between the two?

I think a lot of girls are timid by red lips (mainly because it's such a huge shock when you look in the mirror), but like anything new, it just takes some getting used to. And just to reiterate my #1 rule when applying red lips for the first time - apply the lipstick before your eye makeup & blush - work around your lips so you don't overdo the rest. And more importantly, have fun!

This is one of my favorite dresses (on sale at a BR outlet on top of that!) I love structured dresses & I tend to gravitate toward button-down dresses. The slight A-line is the perfect length (for my short legs) while also adding volume & femininity. The picture of my legs below honestly motivates me to continue to run. Naturally, I have very shapeless legs, so it took over 200 miles (says my Nike+) to eventually get them this way. Gotta keep doing it.

banana republic dress, LAMB heels, hermes bracelet, russian red lipstick

special thanks to DRU!!! from WWT for the tip: if lighting is bad, just make black & white...problem solved!

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Just a Little Closer

2011-07-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have a few go-to summer outfits...this is definitely the other one (out of the four I have). A loose top & linen shorts is totally easy for a hot summer day when the last thing you want are pit-stains! (I mean, that's never happened to me, what are you talking about, that's so gross.) Actually, I have worse BO than Rye Bread does, it's really embarrassing.

This time I decided to SPICE THANGS UP, but just ever so subtly as I didn't want to scare the chirren or have service turned away. I recently purchased pasties from Patches of Freedom & realized that you don't need a low-cut shirt or a backless dress as a reason to wear these - they can be a slight hint of sexiness without being overtly in-yo-face. It gave me a little boost knowing this secret as I thought, "Teehee, I know something you don't know." Although if you looked hard enough, you were in on my secret too.

martin + osa top, f21 shorts & belt, patches of freedom nippies, hermes bracelets, toms shoes

I was recently asked where my necklaces were from & while I like to accessories, I have 2 necklaces that stay on permanently. The first necklace is from Tiffany of a single clear teardrop hanging from a silver chain (similar one here). That was given to me by Rye Bread on our first Christmas together - funny side story, he ordered it online & when I opened, I said "Wow, this is beautiful!" and his reply was "Oh I thought it was going to be bigger..." in disappointment. (TWSS) The second necklace was recently given to me by my really good friend, Rhona; after she heard of Ezio's passing, she bought this necklace as a memento of affection & remembrance. Both mean so much to me that unless I'm getting a massage, they stay on (shower, gym & all).

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Red & White All Over

2011-07-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have about a handful of summer go-to outfits in my wardrobe - just the same 4-5 that I rotate between. I can buy new clothes, but no matter what (like a good pair of jeans), I resort back to the same few. Luckily work outfits break up the monotony. This SUPER CHEAP (and I am talking INEXPENSIVE) outfit is one of my favorites - monochromatic white is something I normally don't do (as someone who constantly has food in my teeth, hair & clothes, I avoid it all costs), but for the past 3 weeks, I think I've worn it at least 4 times. The men's Fruit of the Loom wifebeater comes in a 3-pack & I simply used household scissors to cut the neckline & this F21 skirt was no more than $30. Pair it up with a bright-colored bra (this one also from F21 for $5), slip on a pair of sandals & I look way more put together than the actual thought-process behind it. Easy breezy man!

men's fruit of the loom wifebeater (DIY neckline), F21 skirt, F21 lace bra

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

So What'd I Miss...eh eh eh?

2011-07-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true...your eyes do not deceive you: I have returned from the living dead! Here's what you missed while I was away:

After Ezio passed away, I was pretty emo
Shortly after, I had a pretty bad accident to my left hand, which resulted in 17 stitches & a broken pinky
I rushed into surgery to get a pin implanted, which ensured my bone healed straight
I recently got the pin removed (it was only temporary) & I am now in physical therapy 2x a week for at least 8-weeks to recuperate

my left hand, right after the accident

day of surgery


so close to being...

As fun as it was to pretend I was 1/10th Lady Deathstrike (or 1/6th Wolverine), it's been a rough 3 months trying to get acclimated with not using my left hand & once I was able to - reconditioning my hand to function after all of the trauma. I'm still in physical therapy & working on being in good spirits, but after being away for so long, I really did miss blogging. But as you can imagine, I could barely shower, nevertheless wearing FASHUNZ clothes, so it's been a rough journey. Let's list some of things I COULD & COULD NOT do!

Stuff I COULD Do:                                                                    Stuff I COULD NOT Do:
1. Take as many painkillers as I wanted                               1. Take a normal shower
2. Watch an immense amount of Netflix                               2. Put my hand through sleeves
3. Put on eyeliner (I am right-handed)                                   3. Put on contacts
4. Type & text with one hand                                 4. Submerge my hand in water
5. Travel (with ice)                          5. Type & text with 2 hands
6. Go through airport security      6. Run, exercise, or go to the gym
                                                                                                     7. Extend, flex or bend my hand & fingers
   8. Button my jeans

Anyway, no more sob stories, but I hope that explains my MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. Unfortunately, I did not come back with a different nose or bigger boobs...just the same ol me, but slightly broken, lol.

This past weekend I had a fun little trip with Rye Bread (afterall, I DID get the pin removed, it was time to celebrate!) Going out deserves a little spiciness to an outfit, but I am OVER tight Herve Leger wanna-be dresses, so a loose top, jean cut-off shorts & a little thigh-highs was my go-to outfit. Apologies for the gross room lighting. Doesn't it know I have a blog to upkeep? GOSH.

romeo & juliet couture top, american eagle jean shorts, victoria's secret thigh-highs, LAMB heels, gucci watch, hermes bracelet

Thanks for everyone's well-wishes on Formspring - I know I should have at least written a quick "BRB" note, but I could barely muster up the energy to turn on my computer, so thanks for sticking by me! MY READERZ ARE DA BEST MANG.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

F_ck Sh_t Stack

2011-04-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Last night Rye Bread, his cousins, Tim & Anthony, & I went to The Music Box to watch Donald Glover (and his alter-ego Childish Gambino) on the iamdonald tour. Best decision EVAR. My coworkers also went & we spent a good amount of the time tweeting back & forth - I'm pretty sure this might be our new "team building" activity. Drinking + comedy + music? What can beat that? Definitely check out Donald's tour dates & see if he's coming to a venue near you; it' really cool because he does half stand-up & half his music - which, btw, blew the house down. Really amazing stuff.

But! One of my favorite parts was when I spotted the amazing Reggie Watts (you might have seen him on Conan - he's a regular) when he walked right by me. He ended up doing a few freestyle songs with Childish Gambino & Rye & I were AMAZED. Definitely a highlight of the night. When we got back, we spent another hour watching youtube videos of Reggie Watts - one of my favorites is a song called "F_ck Sh_t Stack" - totally explicit lyrics, so put your headphones on if you decide to listen.

Yup, these are the same shorts I wore here (so versatile!) but the funny part is, the reason why I belt it is because I accidentally lost the top button & the belt hides this flaw! How embarrassing! Also, this is my hair au naturel (no curls) & still wet - with the exception of my bangs, where I used a 2" curling iron. (Seriously can't stand flat bangs against my face.) Even when I leave my hair straight throughout the day (and especially if I do use heat products), I prep it with Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Serum & Garnier's Nutrient Glossing Spray.

ashley leather jacket, threads for thought tee, cynthia steffe shorts, wanted shoes (gifted), j.crew belt

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Springing into Action

2011-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ugh I need a better title than that. What is wrong with me? So many spring puns, and THAT'S what I came up with? I'm sorry readers.

As you guys may (or may not) know, I'm a huge fan of consignment (or second-hand) stores - Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading, etc. Like any thrift / vintage stores, it's hit or miss, but I've been able to find a few gems; especially when it comes to jeans. 7 for All Mankind for $25? Not bad! Citizens of Humanity for $17? Can't beat that! When you sell your clothes there, you end up getting more bang for your buck if you exchange it for store credit (versus for cash), but the only catch is, when you are trying to sell your clothes, don't you feel SLIGHTLY OFFENDED when they DON'T want your items? I understand that usually it has to do with seasonality (e.g. they don't want me winter coats when it's June), but when they pass on things like blouses, shoes, or even Rye Bread's suits...we were both like o.O! "What do you mean you'll pass on this? Do you know how MUCH THIS COST ME?" Rye Bread experienced that for the first time when he was trying to sell his designer suits & shoes - they were like, "hmm...we'll just take your shoes." I saw the look on Rye's face when they DENIED the rest of his clothes (and even some of my shoes!). Oh well, out of his one pair of shoes that they did want - I ended up exchanging it for this Tulle skirt that I wore on Easter. And $4 cash, lol.

martin + osa blouse, tulle skirt, martin + osa belt, LAMB shoes, hermes bracelet

Also, as a birthday gift (half from Ryan, half for myself), I snagged these (among another) pair of LAMB heels. So tall, but I LOVE THEM SO HARD.

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Back in Black (and White)

2011-04-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

First, thank you guys for 1. your understanding 2. your support and 3. your patience. It was really sweet receiving emails & comments of your thoughts while I was going through a rough patch. I've gotten a few questions about Ezio, so to kind of sum it up - when we admitted him to the veterinary hospital, the doctor was very wary of his condition & outcome. In her words she's very "guarded about his outlook." This of course, tore us apart. We left Ezio there under immediate, 24-hour care, and after 4 days, he wasn't improving & actually ended up getting worse - he was still having grand mal seizures, not eating, incoherent, etc. So after long & heart-breaking talks, Rye Bread & I decided that Ez E wasn't living a full life & about a week & a half ago, we put him down.

It's been a rough 10 days, the first few days were the worst. SO MUCH CWYING. It was heart-wrenching since he was such a small, lively & happy puppy but wasn't able to live the full life that we had planned for him. As the days move on, we've been able to pick up the pieces, move forward & even one day thinking of adopting another puppy. Rye Bread put it best when he explained that Ezio opened our hearts with so much love for a puppy, we just know we'd be good parents for another puppy one day. ONE DAY.

So thank you all again for all of your support - you can imagine the last thing I wanted to do over the past few days was to take photos of myself; but alas, I'm much better now, and the FASHUNS MUST GO ON.

I wore this outfit for my good frand's son's 1st birthday; they had the best thing EVAR - a taco cart! Have you seen those? It's basically like having a taco truck...IN YOUR BACKYARD. I definitely know what I'm doing for any next event.

martin+osa top, cynthia steffe shorts, f21 belt, martin+osa wedges

with the birthday boy

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

A Quick Paws

2011-04-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

First of all, a big thank you to EVERYONE for your thoughtful comments & well wishes for Ezio (Ez E if you're nasty). Unfortunately we had to admit him to the ER where he still is today but the prognosis doesn't look promising. We're being "cautiously optimistic" (per the Vet) but we're preparing for the worst.

As you can imagine, it's been really difficult for Rye Bread & me, so I'll be taking the next few days off to
1. hopefully take Ez E back home & make him better or 2. be making a very difficult decision.

Here are some of my most favorite pictures of Ez E to cheer all of us up! This looks like a morbid memorial, but hopefully cute puppeh pix always makes people happeh!!

MXC

2011-04-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Do you guys know whatever happened to MXC (which I thought stood for Maximum Extreme Challenge, but apparently stands for Most Extreme Elimination Challenge - who knew?!). I was watching Wipe Out the other day & it made me miss the original - just not as good.

Anyway, I went to Ontario Mills Mall the other day & bought this great maxi dress from H&M. The store was so crowded I seriously just estimated if it would fit me & just bought it anyway (figured I could always return it if it didn't...of course it did & now I'm wearing it). After taking these photos, I did not like how I looked with my hair like that PLUS the outfit...so much hippie. So I let my hair down & just wore it in loose curls. LAZY. I scored these Jessica Simpson heels from a Nordstrom Rack in Chicago for $32.Good find indeed.

h&m maxi dress & cardigan, f21 belt & scarf, jessica simpson heels

In sadder news - Mr. Ez E took a turn for the worse & isn't doing very well so we're off to a second opinion tomorrow to see if he was misdiagnosed or if the medications weren't simply working. :( We're sads but hoping for the best. Thanks to everyone for your warm wishes & thoughts - we'll keep you updated.

Cabana Chat

2011-04-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been MIA for the past 2 days, my 6month old pup, Ezio, accidentally fell in the pool & now he has an inner ear infection (vestibular syndrome) & Rye Bread & I been taking care of him relentlessly. The good news is that he should be back to normal within a week or two! Hoorah! When I first got Ezio, I was like, "he's a cool dude" but wasn't really attached to him - cut to 4 months later & now I'm OBSESSED (as you can probably tell by always featuring him here, here, and here, here, here...the lists goes on but I worry I would look like a crazy woman). But here he is at the vet, looking real sads:

And on the way back, feeling a little happier. He put up a good fight, but we got him the meds & shots he needed:

Those were taken with my Blackberry which is why they're so terrible-looking. Anyway, it's weird how pets because part of the family so quickly.

As you guys may know, I went to the Texas Style Council Clothing Swap while I was in Austin at SXSW & I was able to snag a few key items. While most of the stuff was already picked over, but I saw these pants & were like, "do you think I could pull these off? MUST TRY." So what do you think? Of course my coworker asked if these pants changed colors with the season & my sistar asked if they were PJ's...but they're comfy man...and I'm being fashuns forwards.

banana republic jacket, love on a hanger tee, swapped pants, js dany platforms, lipstick: mac seriously rich

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Flower in Your Hair

2011-04-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Guess what guys? It is totes my birthday today! Hoorah! You know those people who are like, "Yeah, whatevers, it's my birthday, no big whoop. It's no big deal, it's okay...just another day."? That is NOT ME. This entire weekend I was like, "It's my bday, it's my bday, it's my bday" (even though it wasn't yet)...Ordering at Starbucks? "It's my birthday" In our weekly work status meetings? "It's my bday" Celebrating my co-worker's birthday at his house "It's my bday." The airport security guy checking my ID & boarding pass even wished me a happy birthday. It's my birthday ya'll!

2/3 of my outfit is from PMN, since I gotta support my FRANDS. Except this skirt. So tight. Cannot breathe. Cannot eat. Eating & breathing is overrated anyway.The basic rule of thumb when wearing skirts like this is to balance the materials - so since this skirt is a heavier material, I balanced it with a silk, flowy top. Heels is a MUST with this skirt as it cuts me at a weird point in my legs (making me look shorter), so the heels help negate that. At least, I HOPE.


pretty much new top & skirt, martin + osa wedges, daffodil flower

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

How To: OPI Shatter

2011-03-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

I do love doing tutorials (or how-to's); whether they're picture-based or a video, I always find a step-by-step process easier to follow than a shot of the finished product. But for this particular tutorial, I literally felt I was doing this:

I decided to use a bright yellow for the increased contrast (though I wanted to do a teal...maybe next week!). Look how cute this Bonita nail enamel is - it's a mini nail polish! I got it from Francesca's Collections awhile ago & like eyeshadow palettes, I really like these small nail polish bottles for colors that I wouldn't wear often (or that could be trendy). Why spend a good amount of money on a full bottle of nail polish when the color is seasonal & you'll only end up using like half of the bottle before it gets gooey?

Everyone knows how to paint their nails...but I got so many nice compliments on my nails in my this post, I thought it'd be cool to show the process of OPI's Shatter. This definitely seems overly obvious, but enjoy anyway!

What you'll need:
+ a base coat {seche clear}
+ a base color {bonita nail enamel in yellow}
+ OPI Shatter
+ a top coat {sally hansen dry instantly}

+ Start with clean nails - I have the worst cuticles, so I use Sally Hansen's Instant Cuticle Remover to help push them down & cut them (I KNOW it's not good for you to cut your cuticles...I can't help it!)
+ Apply a base coat - I never used to use a base coat before but I really notice the difference in the color application by using it - it also has allowed the color to stay on longer.

+ Apply two (2) coats of a base color

+ The trick is to allow the base coat to completely dry before applying Shatter

+ Then apply one coat of Shatter - it should be relatively thick to cover the nail in a couple of strokes.

+ Be warned: this stuff dries fast! Apply a single black layer & within seconds it starts to dry & crack. To give you a sense of how quick it dries, by the time I finished painting my ring finger, my pinky finger was already dry.

+ Allow a few minutes to dry (doesn't take very long)

+ Apply a top coat

And you're done! Oh! To clean up any mistakes, I simply dip an old concealer brush into some acetone and brush along the sides. Very easy & super effective - much better than using a q-tip that can leave cotton strands behind.

Now draw the rest of that fucking owl.

questions? ask here | twitter tracker

The Burning Man Project

2011-03-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Which, by the way, I had no idea what that was. Maybe because I don't do acid...but apparently I dressed the part today as the first thing my colleague said to me was, "What time does your drum circle start?" But to be fair - I've been on the hunt for maxi skirts for awhile...and since I haven't found one, I transformed this old maxi dress into a skirt MAGICALLY. And by magically, I mean I put a sweater over it.

martin + osa top, style xpress maxi dress, f21 belt, various bangles

I'm off to Chicago the rest of this week, I'm totes excites...except it's like 20-degrees. Luckily one of my most practical purchases (a North Face down jacket) has now quickly become one of my favorite purchases. I'll definitely be posting throughout my stay in Chicago, though hopefully it won't be of the same thing (e.g. my North Face down jacket).

You guys, you should have seen how big my KOOL AID SMILE was when Francesca's Collections, one of my most favorite stores, featured me on their newsletter! Am so excited & honored to see my mug on it! Check out the full newsletter here or sign up yourself for updates!

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Back in the 714 Days

2011-03-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Even though I live in LA now, a lot of you guys know that I'm from Orange County (a quick 40 minute drive south) & love going back on the weekends. I don't know - maybe it's nostalgia, the free parking, or the less douchebaggyness that brings me back; either way, I always find it a treat when I go down on the weekends (twss). What's funny is that I sometimes feel I do have an "OC-style" ingrained in me. In my opinion, OC is definitely more laid-back, girls in tshirts & Chucks, guys in Rainbow sandals. When I wore this to go down to South Coast Plaza & I saw three other girls wearing jean shorts & tights, I was like, "MY PEOPLE!"

I love this men's shirt but totally forgot what brand it is; though I did get it at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, if that helps at all (probably doesn't). The kind folks at Wanted Shoes were gracious enough to send me a pair of these Oxfords & I love them! Though I'm pairing them up with something more casual, I can't wait to wear them with floral dress & tights.

fred segal men's top, american eagle jean shorts, f21 belt, hue tights, wanted oxford shoe

I've been wearing OPI's Black Shatter nail polish pretty religiously over the past 3 weeks (since purchasing it). It probably is one of my favorite purchases this Spring! Yes, trendy. But for $8.50, I am going to wear the CRAP OUT OF IT until it goes out of style. My friends like it with a light background color (e.g. gold or white) because of the dramas it brings...but I like more rich & bold colors as the base (e.g. teal or greens). Here, I'm wearing it with Confetti brand nail polish in White Knight - it's literally $1.99 per bottle from CVS. BEST FIND EVAR. They have really nice, muted colors - I'd totally recommend (though I can't find the link to it).

Also, after a month of searching, I found a primer & foundation that I like! I went to Sephora at South Coast Plaza - did you know they have a sub-store just for Makeup Forever? AMAZING. There, I tried on their All Mat Primer (purchased), HD Foundation in 128 (purchased), Sculpting Blush in 8, and topped it with their HD powder (next purchase!). I'll have to pace myself when it comes to buying new makeup - I tend to go a bit overboard. I wanted a foundation that would give me full coverage, yet not looked CAKED ON in-person. Such a delicate balance. This is how it looked in the car on the way back to LA:

Not too bad, right? This weekend I also got my (early) birthday present from Rye Bread! This is how it went down:
Rye Bread: "Want to look at L.A.M.B purses?"
Steph: "Duh."
Steph: "OoH this one is nice! Feel how soft it is! And it's a crossover bag! Awesome."
Rye Bread: "Happy Birthday!"

Welcome to the family. Also, here's a picture of EZ E.

questions? ask here ! | twitter tracker

Put a Bird on it

2011-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Does ANYONE have IFC or am I the only one missing out on the delciousness that is Portlandia?! I've only been able to watch snippets on Hulu & on IFC's site, but it makes me so sad knowing there there are FULL episodes of these sketches I'm missing. Fred Armisen cracks me up.

Anyway, isn't it weird when one little purchase can set off an entire inspiration? I'm pretty obsessed with this big bow clip & have decided to find new ways to do my hair with it. I was in a rush this morning & so I took my pictures in my office conference room. Resourceful, I am...though the lighting wasn't the greatest. Sorry!

While my friend was in town last weekend from Chicago, we decided to have BESTIE-VILLE 2011, where we did the girliest things possible. One of these activities included me doing her nails where tried to do the opposite french manicure on her, adding glitter to be fancy. It turned out...AIIGHT. She asked if I wanted to take pictures of the process but I was fearful that it was going to turn out horrible, but now I regret it because I know I can't do a tutorial on myself! I then decided to do glitter on my own nails to be fancy & it was the WORST idea ever. First of all, it only lasted for 2 hours before the sequin & glitter started falling off...and second of all (and worst of all), I CUT MY FACE while washing it! That mother effin' sequin...

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Northern Exposure

2011-03-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I swear I've never seen it rain so bad in LA. It was a constant pour - to the point where it was incredibly dangerous to drive. Rye Bread & I drove down Sepulveda (that runs alongside the 405fwy), and a passing car had so much backsplash that it covered the entire windshield & we had to brake to a halt. I was scurred mang!

Then it cleared up for a few days. And now it's raining again. My mom (who lives in Ohio) is worried about a "SuperStorm" heading towards California that's supposedly going to wash away the entire west coast of the United States, taking the entire state of California with it. My parents are so worried that for my upcoming birthday, my Dad bought me an emergency kit. Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like some canned food and blankets. I'm pretty sure it also comes with a life vest...in case California DOES fall off into the Pacific Ocean, I'll have a life vest to keep me afloat. All joking aside, we should all be prepared for any sort of emergency & it's definitely better to be safe than to be sorry. So I'll use my Emergency Kit...even though I really wanted a watch for my birthday. Ha.

Since it's so cold & rainy, all of my Spring clothes are put on hold. Instead, I grabbed this sweater that keeps me incredibly warm without being itchy (don't you hate wool sweaters that you buy only to NOT be able to wear it because it makes you claw your skin off?)

columbia sweater, martin + osa shirt, f21 jeans, toms shoes

Oh yeah, a word to the wise...if you have a teething puppy, it's not the best idea to leave your Toms out...just saying.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

The Farfalle

2011-03-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Whenever I feel like I don't quite have the money to buy new clothes or makeup, I often look to accessories for some inspiration. And while I go through phases of what I enjoy wearing (one month is full of bangles, the next is necklaces & scarves), every once in awhile something new will come my way & it'll give me a new sense of inspiration...aka: start a new obsession. I came across this clip-on bow & fell in love. I wish there were more than the one that I bought, I probably would have added 5 immediately. Oh, I also dyed my hair a true black. I was getting tired of how two-toned my hair was looking...I'm still getting used to it; I still insist it makes me look like a Disney villain. With my grown-out bangs pulled back, I kinda am diggin' this retro look.

varga bow, banana republic jacket, cotton on scarf

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Hot Lips {& Shabby Apple Winner!}

2011-03-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

So while at SXSW, my good friend & coworker, Sarah, asked me how I apply my red lipstick. And I was like, "Durr, there are like 100 tutorials out there...why are you asking wittle ol me?" but then I realized that she's not scouring the interwebz & magazines like I am to figure out how to apply red lipstick; so I thought it would be great to post my personal steps to achieve long-lasting red lips.

Of course, just like with anything, everyone has their own go-to methods, but this seems to work for me - having a base, blotting & reapplying ensures that my lips are still intact while I eat...though I wouldn't recommend eating a burger or something where it could potentially get on the sides of your face. NO it's never happened to me (yes it has).

Also! I would like to say that the movies are LIARS & if you DO start making out with your bf while wearing red lips...unless it's a lipstain that does NOT move (even as you scrub your lips with every makeup remover possible), both you AND him will end up looking like...well...this.

How To: Long-Lasting Red Lips from hoisinivy on Vimeo.

What you need:
+ Foundation / Concealer (I used L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle in Buff Beige)
+ Loose powder (I used Physicians Formula Mineral Loose Powder in Translucent Medium)
+ Nude lipliner (I used Nars Lip Pencil in Tortola)
+ Red lipstick (I used Sephora Lipstick in Rouge R04)

Also, the winner of my Shabby Apple giveaway has been chosen! W00t. I've collected everyone's names, added those who were already followers (hey, I want to rewards those who have always been followers in addition to those who just started)...and the winner is...

....
Miss Kat from Dallas, TX! So Kat, please email me {stephthuynh [at] gmail [dot] com} so I can collect your information (like blood type, social security number, and first born) & send along your fabulous Shabby Apple dress!

Thanks to everyone who entered - even those who didn't, I added you. NO CHOICE.

questions? ask here / twitter tracker

For Japan {Corter Leather Bracelets}

2011-03-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

While I was in Austin about to embark on SXSW, the devastating news of Japan hit the news waves. There was definitely a sense of "What do we do / how do we feel here?" feeling at SXSW - afterall, we were there to explore the best & worst of film, interactive & music, but it was hard to not have that heavy feeling in your heart for those who have lost so much.

While I know everyone is doing what they can - donating to the Red Cross, the blogger's Day of Silence, etc. I saw a post from Becs of Style with Benefits of this amazing bracelet with all proceeds going to The Red Cross. Corter Leather, based out of New England, noted that as of March 17th, they raised over $14,000 for The Red Cross...in less than 72-hours. Now that's some purchasing power. My sistar, Rye Bread & I got one to show our support.

Of course I encourage you to do what you can - donate via text or online to help those in need. Aside from the Red Cross & Corter Leather, there are other companies incentivizing people to donate. LivingSocial.com has a "deal" where they will donate an additional $5 for the $5 you donate ($10 for $5) - they already raised $2.1M. And American Airlines & United Airlines will award you frequent flier miles for your donation.

Call Me Capt'n {& SXSW Recap}

2011-03-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

6 hours after I landed in LA from Austin, I flew out to SF for a day trip. LIKE A ROCKSTAR. On top of that, my flight back home was delayed over 2 hours, so I didn't get home til midnight...needless to say, 5 days in Austin plus a turnaround trip to SF & back meant 12-hours of sleep the next day. HEY, BODY NEEDED IT MAN.

My favorite part of this outfit is the color combination between the coral of the trench & the navy blue of the sweater. Add a crisp button-down top under & I am looking mighty nautical. Somehow "nautical" & "radical" are always interchanged in my head...so I guess I'm looking pretty radical here too. A messy bun is great for the hair-out-of-the-face look, but to avoid looking like I'm going to the grocery store, I added a bow. Unsure if it worked.

martin + osa button-down, evie sweater, h&m trench, citizens jeans

To avoid the LONGEST POST EVAR, click {read more} to find out my 2cents on my trip to Austin for SXSW. Read about some of the panels I went to, some personal experiences, and my blogger meet-up with IRL frands.
**UPDATE: I just added an amazing 4 second video that cracks me up***
This year, instead of going to CES in Vegas, I went to SXSW in Austin, TX. Before that, I've heard mumblings of it, but wasn't quite sure what it was. For those who don't know - it's basically a 2-week conference broken out into 3 sections: Interactive, Film, & Music. The music section has really eclipsed the rest of the two, but unfortunately, I did not stay long enough for that...which is a major bummer because one of my favorite bands, The Sounds, was playing the night I left. WHAA.

sarah, caroline & me with our freshly minted badges

There were panels after panels, panels during panels, panels here, panels there, panels everywhere! During these panels, speakers talk about their subject of choice & expertise: anything from design, marketing budgets, viral campaigns to even...yes...the Sexual Survivor's Guide for the Geeks. Which, of course you know I went to.

lynn & me with NSFW stickers they passed out

There, they passed out "goody bags" & by "goody bags" I mean...protection (YOU KNOW), toys (YES), and latex gloves (WUT.) Though my colleague, Lynn, and I went there as a joke, we actually learned some valuable lessons, like:

+ Did you know that if a woman does the same move to you 3x in a row, she's probably attracted to you?
+ Make sure to have an exit strategy: know when to leave & how...after the deed is done

+ And etiquette post-sessy-times: don't ask for a job & don't @-reply them on Twitter or tag them on FB with pictures, especially if those pictures are OF your sessy-times.

+ The Golden Rule: do not have sex with someone tonight that you are not okay with seeing in the hallway the next day.

You are quite welcome for those tidbits; next time you go to a conference, you take those rules of thumb with you, okay?

In more work-related panels, a lot of speakers talked about past programs, what they learned, how amazing they were, etc. Some were insightful, some were boring, some were things a 5th grader could teach me but one of my favorite panels was hosted by The Oatmeal. If you guys haven't heard of The Oatmeal, go there immediately & read his comics; he is HILARIOUS. Also...gorgeous in person. Like, I may have wanted him to sign my bewb after his panel. This is how I imagined him to look like:

But this is how he actually looked like:

WUT. I KNOW. The Oatmeal guy (that's just what I'm going to call him) talked about how he got started, his creative processes, what makes him think of funnies, etc. Caroline & I...okay just me...were swooning towards the end.

Later that evening was the Texas Style Council Clothing Swap - in which style bloggers (and anyone else who wanted to participate) brought a bag of gently-used clothes & fill up your now-empty bag with other people's gently used clothes. On top of that, any clothes leftover would be given to Goodwill. GREAT IDEAR. Caroline & I participated, but I was so worried that no one would like my clothes. I guess they did...I didn't see them at the end of the night! Hoorah!

That same night, we went out to a few bars, one to meet up with our old colleagues, the other bar to meet with fellow style blogger, Phi-Style & her husband, Tu. BLOGGER MEET-UP FTW!

a denuo reunion

blogger frands turned IRL frands!

You guys, drinks in Austin were SO CHEAP. Like $4. In LA, they're like $13!! Tu was going crazy & bought like 5 rounds...what a great host. We also went out the next night.

It was OPEN BAR.

Next day, I went to the Texas Style Council panels - I went to two of the several they had that day. The first being Photography 101 with Kendi & her husband. They talked about lighting, posing, composition, etc. Great backpocket information for those who either have their friends / bf's take their pictures & even those that use a tripod (me). Following that was a panel about longevity - how to keep your blog going for more than 6 months without feeling fatigued or burnt-out. This was SO ME you guys. You all know I tend to go MIA & after this panel, it was great to hear of ways to make sure you never run out of steam.

But the biggest part was that NO ONE WOULD TALK TO ME. Srsly, I felt like such a loser; so much JUDGING. Being a minority (I was really only 1 of 3 Asians there), I wonder if that played a role? Anytime I tried to talk to someone else, they acted like I was 1. hitting on them or 2. bothering them. It became really evident that I stood out. I suppose most bloggers already had a virtual relationship with one another & were finally meeting for the first time (like Phi-Style & myself), but I was really looking forward to meeting other style bloggers & trading stories, business cards, etc. I left there pretty defeated. My coworkers & Rye Bread spent the majority of the night trying to cheer me up because I felt like an outcast. I still kind of don't get why no one would talk to me? Maybe I was really nervous & thought too hard about it. Either way, I learned a lot from the two panels I sat on & still love going to fashion blogs, so I guess that won't stop me! NOTHING WILL.
So that night, we had a pretty FANCY dinner at Truluck's, where I spent most of my time trying to pry crab meat out of this damn leg:

Since our SVP was the only guy in our SXSW group, we started calling him our "husband" & he started calling us his "sisterwives." Because we're weird.

The next day, I went to a few other panels, one of them being about how bloggers & brands can come together. Even with my defeat the day before, I still mustered up the courage to talk to a few people, including a manager from one of my favorite boutiques, Francesca's Collections & the folks over at Teen Vogue. Made me feel better about myself. Afterwards, we went to visit the SXSW tradeshow...where all the vendors have displays...but more importantly where they had the FREE STUFFS. Any place that had a photobooth - we were there.

shamless promotion on the chalkboard

Overall, it was a great trip - while I didn't get to meet as many people as I would have liked, I learned a lot, was re-inspired to keep up with my blog (and perhaps take it to the next level) and saw interesting POVs on topics I thought I knew a lot about. I definitely can't wait to go again next year - maybe this time I'll actually stay for the music!

And what do you get when you're in windy Austin + thumpin' trance music?

SXSW Wind from hoisinivy on Vimeo.

How To: Scarf Braid

2011-03-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is my 3rd video tutorial & I realize that all three have been about BRAIDS. I apparently do nothing but braids. BRAIDS HUNGRY. This tutorial though involves a scarf...ESCANDALO!

Seen here, I've been meaning to do a tutorial for this for awhile now. It's super fast & easy...all you need is: your hair, a long, thin scarf, and an elastic tie:

I absolutely love this scarf - my good friend Rhona gave it to me as a "get well" gift when I was sick last year...and I find every way possible to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

Hopefully you'll try this look for Spring & Summer! Don't forget to enter my dress giveaway! It's really easy & if you don't enter, I will take the dress myself. More of a promise than a threat.

Questions? Ask here! / Twitter Tracker

Not Too Shabby (Apple)

2011-03-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll! YES, now that I have spent 5 days in Texas, that is how I speak. Just kidding. So without this being my official recap of SXSW Interactive & Film, I wanted to let you know I have an awesome giveaway that I want you (yes YOU...and maybe your friend) to sign up for. I'm actually so totes excites for this that even before I touchdown back to LA, I wanted to post about it. Thank you wireless interwebz on planes.

I've partnered with the great folks at Shabby Apple & they requested I pick out a dress I'd like to give away to one lucky reader...HARD JOB MAN. They had a lot of great women's dresses, but when I saw this one (Cider), I was like, I need this...yesterday. To me, this simple dress is perfect for Spring; also, the orange color is unexpected but still pretty fab. Somewhat fitted with a detailed collar makes this dress easy to dress up or dress down..imagine belting it with flats or wearing textured tights & heels. I put some serious thought into this! Maybe because I was imagining myself in it.

So, what do you have to do to make me totes jelly? Here are the rules...SO SIMPO MAN. Each of these counts as one (1) entry...as many as four (4) entries total. I am that nice.
***UPDATE*** I've added a simple 5th way to enter:
1. Become a follower on my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. RT or tweet about the giveaway! (THIS is the 5th way to enter)
4. "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook*
5. Leave a comment on this post with your name & how beautiful I am (jk about the latter)
**Sorry, we can't ship internationally. :(

I will pick the winner next Monday, March 21st...so you have a full week to DO IT TO IT.

*Note: It actually is advantageous to "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook because they give some pretty sweet deals & coupons there only. I really have become a fanboy of their stuff & have a few things in my cart...now I just have to wait for payday...and for Rye Bread to look the other way so he doesn't see a big box of new things. "Wut? I already had this dress...You never pay attention to me!"

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I was just in Austin, TX for 5 days for the SXSW Interactive & Film as well as the Texas Style Council panels. As a hint as to what my next post will be about (sorry, not a FASHUNS post), this is one of my favorite picture of the trip:

me, sarah, lynn, & caroline -
the female denuologists WERKIN' our free Groupon headbands.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Tomorrow's Outfit...Today

2011-03-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

Do you ever put on an outfit & you think, "Shieet, this would be perfect for TOMORROW...but I'm wearing it NOW...but I'm too lazy to change...who will I see tomorrow? Will it be the same crowd? I'll just wear it twice in two days. No one will notice, right?"

No? Anyone? No? Just me? That's totally what happened today when I put on this casual (and comfortable!) outfit & realized this would be great for the airport tomorrow. It has layers to keep me warm, stretchy jeans to keep me comfortable (e.g. the button doesn't stab my stomach), and just a little of style so I don't look like I just put on sweats to go (p.s. I really do wish I could wear sweats to the airport but everyone frowns upon it). If you see me at LAX tomorrow, do not judge my copycat outfit okay!

b.d. foundry men's button-down, fruit of the loom men's wifebeater, f21 jeans, j.crew belt, toms shoes

I'll be heading towards SXSW in Austin, TX this weekend & I'm chompin' at the bit to go! Unfortunately I won't be staying for the music section (which has eclipsed the rest of the conference), but will be staying for the Interactive & Film portions. If you're interested in what my team & I will be doing, head over to our Denuology post for some tentative stuff we'll be hittin' up. Of course I'll be going to some fashuns stuff (like the Texas Style Council Clothing Swap) & also some interactive panels (MY JOB).

Feel free to tweet me or reach out to me via email if you'll also be at SXSW & want to do a meet-up! MOAR FRANDS MAN. I'll be meeting with Phi-Style for the weekend, though with her technology fast, she won't be posting any pics until like a month later. /tear.

I will be sads to be leaving this guy for 5 days:
Oh whoops, was I supposed to put a picture of Rye Bread? Yeah, him too.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

How To: 3 Braids & a Bun

2011-03-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, did you hear? Braids are totes in right now! Okay I know they have been for awhile, but like every magazine (ever) writes, they're really versatile & easy to do. Plus braids get my hair out of my face, which is always a plus.

Worn here, I often wear my hair like this to go hiking or to run errands...why?
1. Day-old hair = I don't need to wash my hair that morning
2. No heating products = saves my hair from additional damage
3. Relatively quick to do (depending on how many braids you want to do)
4. Did I mention it gets my hair out of my face?

The lighting in the bathroom was terrible, the backlight made it look like a ghost was standing right behind me, and even though it was broad daylight, I was scaring myself...so I had to turn the camera around. Also, apologies for the video being longer than normal - I know you guys know how to braid, I just couldn't figure out how to fast-forward certain parts without the whole clip being fast-forwarded. In addition, I'm wearing this super comfy Nike sweatshirt (similar one found here)...I know, SO FASHUNS YOU GUYS.

What You'll Need:
+ 3 small elastics
+ 2 medium / large elastics
+ hairspray
+ glossing spray (optional)
+ rat-tail comb (optional)

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-02-22T11:04:00.001-08:00

Because LA rarely has any major weather changes, I do secretly love when we get a few days of overcast & rain. HOW ELSE am I going to justify buying rain boots? I mean, I'd just look like a crazy person wearing them when there's not a drop in the sky.

Which is what I did because I thought it was going to rain the day I wore this...only to have it rain the next day (when I wore 4" heels). I'm awesome at looking up weather. And even better? It was windy the day I wore this so my dress kept flying everywhere.

I love these rain boots because not only is the detailing cute with the laces, but they are WEDGES. Just because I'm stomping around in rain & mud puddles doesn't mean I don't want to look stout doing it, lol.

h&m jacket, f21 dress, f21 belt, f21 tights, sperry rain boots

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Photo Bombers

2011-02-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day, Rye Bread cleaned the broken table that blocked my favorite backdrop for all of my pictures - that brick wall. Well, I don't know if it was actually for Valentine's Day or not, but I counted it as so (I think he got off easy).

I get asked a lot if Rye takes my pictures or if I use a tripod. The answer is both depending on time & day; but there are definitely some pros & cons to having Rye take my pictures:

Pros:
+ He gets great angles (aka: makes my legs look long)
+ He can take close-up shots of my shoes
+ I don't look creepers taking pictures of myself, setting the timer & running into focus
Cons:
+ It's hard for me to make "serious" face at him or look away
+ I feel somewhat rushed ("ARE THESE GOOD ENOUGH?!")
+ People think he paid me to be a "model" (gross)

But a big pro when we're taking pictures in the backyard is that he's able to CONTROL THE DOGS. By myself, the dogs LOVE to sit on my feet while I'm standing still for longer than 3 seconds. This makes it impossible to get them out of my shots...if you can't beat them, join them!

I got this skirt from Nordstrom Rack for $7.99! WHAT! It was $22 then on clearance then an additional 60% off. Even if it is a bit of a snooze fest, it's a great work skirt. The belt I'm pairing it with actually belongs to the Gillian Dress from PMN.

h&m button down, nordstrom rack skirt, pmn belt, express tights, aldo heels

poncho (half chow / half lab)

ezio (lab mix and 5 months old) & poncho
all three dogs: poncho, sydney (some terrier mix), & ezio

And now for some pictures of Poncho, Sydney & Ezio. Sydney's giving me a major STINK EYE in her picture, it cracks me up, "Take the GD picture already!" Meanwhile, I tied a Henri Bendel bow on Ezio's collar to Rye's dismay.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Valen-TIMES Day

2011-02-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

This weekend I realized that my parents constantly say ValentiMes Day...and oddly enough I think some rappers do too. Probably the only commonality among my parents & rappers. Although one time I did make my mom sing Sisqo's THONG SONG. (Just as amazing as you think it would be).

I bought this chunky knit sweater from my favorite store, you know, PMN. I like it a lot, it's my 2nd time wearing it...the first time I spilled hot sauce on it when I was eating a burrito. Also, Ezio likes to steal my thunder by being in my pictures.

pmn knit sweater, american eagle shorts, f21 belt, guess sandals

Momma & Poppa Ivy (ha) were in town this weekend for a "wedding engagement party" (no kidding that's actually what it was called), so it was nice to spend quality time with them, eat good Vietnamese food...but seriously can we go back to the "wedding engagement party"? Apparently the bride & groom (to-be?) couldn't decide if it was an engagement party or a wedding reception; according to the bride, it was "more than an engagement party, less than a wedding." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! The actual party (let's just call it that) was just as confusing, with the exchanging of rings, but no officiant, a multi-tiered cake, first dance, but no "Mr. & Mrs." SO CONFUSING. It was making my mom mad.
For Valetime's Day, my friends decided to surprise our boyfriends / husband to K1 Racing (same thing we did for Rye's 30th Birthday). Unfortunately, due to lack of babysitters, one of our friends couldn't make it to the go-kart racing. But both boyfriends were surprised & it was the perfect gift for such an awkward holiday...I mean, I don't want to blow my load on Valentine's Day when I still have birthdays & anniversaries...I ain't mades outta money! Also Rye Bread cleaned the backyard & moved a broken table that was blocking my brick wall...now I have my photoshoot backdrop back! (I counted that as my Valentine's Day gift).
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P.S. In case you're reading this Rye Bread: Thank you for the tulips...much better than roses.

How To: French Braid

2011-02-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

So I did it!! My first VIDEO tutorial! Mostly done because I needed both hands for this look & can't take pictures without losing the braid.

So for this look seen here, it really only takes less than 10 minutes. It may take some practice, but what I like about it is that it's super easy to do & if it's messy, well, that's just part of the look.

BONUS FOOTAGE includes an alternate ending, which I normally wear to work when I don't have time to do my hair.

My hair was damp & I prepped it with Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Serum & Garnier Fructis Nutrient Spray.

p.s. I'm looking to the side because my camera has a flip screen so I could literally use it as a mirror.

Let me know thoughts? DUMB? AWESOME? MOAR? LESS?

questions? ask here / twitter tracker

The Illusionist

2011-02-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, it was my friend's bday (same friend where I went to Bar Copa wearing this), the next night we went to The Room in Hollywood. Rye Bread was feeling lazy (read: OLD) and he said...and I quote "I'm 30, I don't need to go to clubs in Hollywood anymore!" so I flew solo that night. WHOO HOO. Not really...who is going to hold my clutch while I go to the bathroom? I kid!

I bought this skirt a month or two ago & thought, HEY WHY NOT. It was a nice contrast to the short lacy shirt the night before. Having a long torso & short legs, I felt like this high-waisted & floor-length skirt gave the illusion of LONG LEGS & a proportional torso (something I can only DREAM of). The 6" Jessica Simpson Dany platforms didn't hurt either. I might have to start wearing more skirts like this more often...hm.

h&m skirt, pmn tank, js platforms

I also hiked on my own that day and (gross secret alert) did not want to wash my hair afterward, so I pulled it back into 3 braids & a bun. Sometimes, washing, drying, & curling my hair TAKES TOO LONG.I've been meaning to do a tutorial on french braiding my own hair in addition to this one, I just can't figure out if I should do a video or if I should do snapshots like I have in the past. It's tricky when you need both hands to do your hair & you're trying to take your own photos. Maybe it'll be video...I need suggestions!

P.S. How long does my neck look in these photos? lol

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Why Oui Oui

2011-01-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm totally into french braiding my hair...maybe because I never knew I could do it until one day I was on a conference call & instead of picking at my split-ends, I decided to braid my hair out of my face. AND IT WORKED. It doesn't look professional (or like this for that matter), but I like that it's somewhat messy with my layers falling out in between. It's great for hiking / walking around to get my stupid grown-out bangs out of my FACE. I shall do a tutorial soon.

It was one of my good friend's birthday and I can't even remember the last time I went out. But I did buy this skirt at F21 in Columbus, OH, just in case I needed an appropriate going-out outfit. After I put it on, I spent the next 20 minutes figuring out if I should tuck in my shirt or leave it tucked out (I opted for tucking it in).

united colors of benetton sweater, f21 skirt, chinese laundry shoes

We went to Bar Copa, a place in Santa Monica, that I enjoy. I went there for my birthday & they play pretty good music...but the place is SO SMALL and it gets SO HOT. Like everyone looks like they spent 3 hours in a sauna by the time they leave...I'm talking bangs & hair sticking to your face, makeup smeared off, and random wet spots on your clothes (could be from the spilled drinks, or from your sweat...or even someone else's sweat. I KNOW.) But music is good.

I realize that all of my pictures look the same. I'm with the same group of guys and we (basically) always have the same expressions.

For those who were wondering, running has been good, but I'm really into hiking! Recently went to Runyon Canyon in Hollywood & while I didn't enjoy it as much as Mandeville in Brentwood, it was still fun to go with my friend. JUST CROWDED. And everyone goes to BE SEEN. WHY DO YOU NEED FULL MAKE-UP ON A HIKE? The views were nice, and you even got to see the Hollywood sign. But last Saturday I went to Mandeville by myself because it was closer & a little more...hiker-ish. Is that a word? Ugh, when did I become a HIKING SNOB?

me with my friend, rhona

you know i took mr. ez e!

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

The Calorie Counter & Backpacker

2011-01-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

I wore this to a dinner with my friends...we went to Outback Steakhouse. Did you know they now put the calorie count next to the menu items? WHY! Does not need to know how much a Bloomin' Onion is in calories! (I still ate it) Although, it does deter you from adding extra fries on the side.

lucie rose top, express shorts, aldo heels, jcrew bracelet

The weather in SoCal has been REDUNKULOUS you guys. I'm talking, it's like 80-degrees in the day, low 60's at night. Apparently we don't believe in much of a winter, and definitely don't believe in spring.

I've been taking advantage of this by doing what I've never done before...HIKING! Apparently that's like, the hip thing to do in LA...WHO KNEW? It's such a great workout, without you really knowing you're working out. I lie. Sometimes it's painful. Like is-this-hill-done-oh-when-will-this-pain-end-painful. But the feeling of accomplishment, plus the views (when the smog is gone) makes it all worthwhile. And yes...I take Ezio! Hikers are so friendly, like almost-scary friendly. Dogs are off their leashes, people offer your pooches water, and you can literally strike conversations with any passerbyer (definitely not the case when you're on the streets of LA).

on one side of the view - the pacific ocean

on the other side, downtown LA

the hills that we've just hiked - 2 1/2 miles in

my friend bri & i and our two pooches: duke & ezio

atop of one of the peaks

i'm pretty sure aliens did this

mister easy e chompin' at the bit to start walking

a pooped ezio gets the VIP treatment from rye bread

taking a breather!

one of my favorite pictures

Also, per your request! Extra pictures of Mister Easy E himself:

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

A Much Needed Recap

2011-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

I know I've been MIA for awhile now, mostly because my smugmug account (aka sistah's account) was not allowing me upload pics, so everything was just sitting on my hard drive. What's the point of blogging without pictures?

So I'm back from the O-H-10, which was amazing. The weather couldn't be "better" (relatively speaking) - I had a white Christmas, but the snow quickly melted when it hit 50-something degrees, making it hard to go sledding, but easier to go shopping. PRIORITIES PEOPLE.

This post will be some highlights of photos to quickly recap the holidays...and I'll be back to fashuns / outings / makeup postings quickly hereafter.

On Christmas Eve, it's Rye Bread's family tradition to spend it at his parents' house:

banana republic dress, hermes bracelet (my christmas gift!)

my "growing" family

rye bread: united colors of benetton sweater, club monaco slacks / ezio: mickey mouse sweater

rye bread's cousins

Cut to my red-eye from LAX to Ohio

my ohio-based family
martin + osa button-down, citizen jeans

christine: express shirt, american rag jeans
red lips for my nieces

I decided to stay in Ohio for NYE, as I haven't seen my family in quite awhile. So I was scrambling after Christmas trying to find an outfit to wear.

h&m lace top, f21 skirt, chinese laundry heels, hermes bracelet mom: "we're late! what are you doing?"
me: "taking pictures"
mom: "why?!"
me: "for my blog"
mom: "okay i want a picture too"
my dad taking a shot
my cousins & mom having fun on the dance flo'
my turn to dance with my mom

I spent the entire week between Christmas & New Year's with my family & we went to the zoo, the mall (a lot), and ice skating. It's good to be back in LA, but I already miss my family!

How were your holidays spent? Any good presents? Because, let's be honest, that's all I care about. New Year's Resolutions? Do you guys even believe in those anymore?

OH! I just got nike+, so find & add me as a friend if you guys want to start running challenges, username: hoisinivy (of course).

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

PMN: Chains & Roses

2010-12-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

When I met up with Issa a couple of weekends ago, she was gracious enough to bring a little present courtesy of PMN. It instantly became one of my favorite shirts to wear! I did the sniff-test on this one too. Looked clean enough to me.

thifted shirt, american eagle shorts, js dany platforms

We had our "inner sanctum" Sekret Santa exchange last night at Jones in Hollywood. To help ease the gift-giving process & avoid the dreaded sole gift card exchange, we all made a list of 3 or more actual things we'd like (in addition to a few stores that we wouldn't mind getting gift cards to). For instance, I listed a french coffee press (which I did get!), Rhona listed a DVD set or some weights, Tim listed a baseball cap & books, Anthony listed a KCRW membership, & Arthur listed items from Uncrate & J.Crew...

jones

whoa where IS my HAND going?
"zomg you got me a j.crew shirt!...WTF i said XS! this is an S! RETURN IT IMMEDIATELY." "but we couldn't find XS at J.Crew" "UNACCEPTABLE"
chu know me mang

early johnny depp years with 21 jump street. a baseball cap that fits tim's noggin'? that's a first.

classin' up my mornings with a french press.

...When it was Rye Bread's turn to list some items...he only listed places he wanted gift cards to. BORING. We wanted GIFT ideas, not gift card locations. After several emails making fun of him (including he should have asked for the United States of America Gift Certificate, aka: cash), he amended his list to silver bullion or the Chinese Yen (being a smart ass). As luck would have it...*I* ended up getting him (son of a bitch! I already have to get him a gift, now I have to get him ANOTHER one?)...so what did I get him? You got it. SILVER BULLION! That's what he gets for being a smart ass about our gift exchange. He had no idea I would go that far...SURE DID.

anthony says "i wish my gift would appreciate in value"

As you saw in my other pics - we got a Christmas tree! I've never picked out a Christmas tree before, but I had this fantasy that it would be after sunset, on a cold winter's eve with a thermas full of hot cocoa under a string of lights...well cut to last weekend where it was over 80-degrees with a 40-minute line. But I was able to bring Ezio, so that was a plus.

on the car ride to home depot
"omgwtfbbq, i am not moving yet i am going somewhere"
"is THIS the right one? this is the THIRD tree!"
"please don't pee on the floor...mehhh you just did...how am i going to clean this up?"

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

As a gift for dealing with all of my pictures...here is an outtake!"me so tired...me go night night.."

Tonight, Tonight

2010-12-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

Rye Bread is a HUGE fan of musicals.

Me? Not so much.

But maybe that's because he grew up with them (and two older sisters) and like the closest I've come is the high school musicals my school (horribly) performed. So it's kinda a big divide between us because he's such a huge fan & I just don't have the experience or knowledge around them. I mean, when I watch them, I like them, but do I go "OH MAN I HAVE TO SEE THIS MUSICAL?" No. That makes him sads... and makes me think I'm barking up the wrong tree.

We saw West Side Story at the Pantages Theater & like I said, when I actually watch musicals, I thoroughly enjoy them - this was no exception! Loved the choreography & I didn't realize how many songs I actually knew. West Side Story has completely infiltrated everyday pop culture without me realizing the references.

So I bought this dress like over a year ago & I never wore it because it I CANNOT BREATHE. But I braved it. Also...why no one dresses up for the theatre anymore?

banana republic dress

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

New Friends

2010-12-06T15:11:00.001-08:00

No seriously. I consider them friends. Premature? Perhaps. Do I care? NO! As one of the lesser (read: un) popular girls in high school, I love that I consider my readers & fellow bloggers my friends. Like if I ran into one of you guys down the street, please say hi, but do expect an awkward hug. Perhaps even a little pelvic thrust.

On a whim, Issa & DRU!!! from WeWearThings visited LA & we took this opportunity to finally* meet. Melanie of WreckedStellar & Becs of StyleWithBenefits were at the Holi-Pop-up event at Space15Twenty, so we it was just one big blogger meet & greet!

*apparently my digitally-close relationship with Issa, Erica & Tramanh has made people believe we've been friends for awhile...i have yet to correct this theory...lol.

Btw, I promise to do a makeup / outfit post...I just realized my past few posts have been a visual diary, which...I mean, gets boring, even to me. I got a few great steals from PMN, so I'll be showcasing those soon!

becs, jeannie, melanie, issa, dru!!, me

this guy came up to us & told us he worked in radio. i was not surprised.

i have a new girl crush on issa!

a twin sandwich! love these girls! they got amazing feather extensions done by a local vendor; i'm sad i didn't do it. maybe next week!

A key question I got when I told my friends (and Rye Bread) that I was going to meet with these girls was "Are you going to dress up?" After going back & forth for awhile, I opted for my new fave jacket & jeans...a good compromise, no? But you better believe I did my hair & make-up! We also talked about bloggers we did & didn't like. Well, they did before I came...I wonder why it got so awkwardly quiet when I showed up...lol, jk.

Here's to new friends! (Raises my coffee mug)

questions? ask here / twitter tracker

Rags to Riches

2010-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Mine was great overall, some highlights:

+ I made most of the Thanksgiving side dishes (including caramelized-shallot mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing & caprese salad)
+ Ryan's sister bought a new car! An Acura TSX...after going to the dealership with her, I'M convinced I want an Acura too.
+ My sister flew into town from Ohio & I spent all weekend with her!
+ Lots of Rock Band & Kinect playing
+ Ice skating in Santa Monica

Some pictures!group photo - left to right: christine (my sister), me, jenny (rye's sister), rye's mom, rye, rye's dad, jason (yvette's fiance), yvette (rye's sister)

"future in-laws"

both the dress & tights are SO old, i can't even remember where i bought either! lol

hark! tis over there!

nommies

playing kinect. do you spy all of the rockband equipment?

my sister's celebrity doppleganger. SERIOUSLY. this has become a running joke. look at how eerily similar they look. LUPUS! Could be worse...could be for Vagisil or an STD, lol.

ice skating in santa monica

just landed my triple lutz...with a handle bar.

mocha at french market cafe

my open breakfast sandwich

And if you follow me on Twitter, you know the biggest news is that I recently adopted a stray puppy!! PUPPY!!!! BEST THANKSGIVING EVAR! He was found wandering the wilderness in Desert Hot Springs and after holding him for a few seconds I knew I just couldn't let him go. And so did my sister & Ryan's entire family. You should have seen the "uh oh, what did we just do" look they gave each other. *teehee*

when we found him on 11/26

"from rags...

Ezio, named after the Assassin's Creed character (can you guess who named him between Rye Bread & me?) is a Lab-mix & was 10-weeks when we found him (he's now 11-weeks). My sister & I then spent a majority of our weekend preparing the house & buying supplies & taking him to the vet to get his first round of shots.

ezio, 11/28 ...to riches!"

Since he's a puppy, he's incredibly time-consuming & instilling A LOT of patience in me...which, if you know me personally, I have very little of. Potty-training, timing, feedings, & a lot of attention. If you have an tips / advice, I'd be indebted.

excuse the uggs, they're the easiest things to slip on when trying to beat "accidents"

And don't worry - we didn't want "the real OG's" to feel left out...so Rye purchased these presents for them!

poncho with his monstrous raw hide...he had no idea what to do with it.

sydney's is much more reasonable...she immediately hid it.

On a side note, how hee-larry-us is it that because I'm documenting my GMAT progress that I'm getting GMAT comments?! Speaking of which, we only have 2 more classes left. I'm still working on implementing the strategies Kaplan is teaching before I start timing myself. It's a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. A majority of what I'm learning has nothing to do with the actual "work" or "how-to" of the problems, but figuring out "what" the GMAT is asking & how to score points. A word to the wise: You are expected to guess on a few questions...the GMAT is not about whether you know how to do the problems, but about knowing what to do with the information it gives you in the time it gives you. So good luck to everyone!

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Crab Cakes & the Capital

2010-11-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Hey, remember when I went to MD & DC last month? Sorry it's taken me so long to post pictures, but as you guys may know, last in October, Rye & I went to Maryland & Washington, DC to visit my sister, brother-in-law, niece & also to site-see. Neither of us have been to either areas so it was definitely exciting. My sister's lived out in MD for over 6-years, and JUST NOW do I have the funds to visit. Now that I've been, I can't wait to go back. I especially want to go back for the Cherry Blossom Festival, but I know that it's such a limited time (I think like 2 weeks) and can range anywhere from March to April...so we'll see if I make it in that window!

In summary, our trip:Overall, we had an amazing time. There was A LOT of walking & A LOT of picture-taking. Between Rye & me, we had over 700 pictures for 4 days. A lot of them were repeats or of the same thing in different angles, but 700?? Thank goodness we had huge memory cards (twss). To avoid the longest post ever, I'll try to keep it quick with some of my favorite pictures & memories.

In Maryland, we visited the Naval Academy, but more importantly, ate these AMAZING crab cakes at G&M Restaurant & Lounge, which were to die for. They were the size of a halved grapefruits & just full of crab meat (versus random filling). We also drank margaritas & played Rock Band the rest of the night.

my sister & i at the US Naval Academy (cat-call to the sailors!)

h&m trench coat, banana republic scarf

my niece TERRIFIED that she had to go in the car with rye & me. sads!

ripley, a little more comfortable, and like her aunt...very fond of the camera.

In DC, we of course went to all of the monuments, museums & touristy stuff. Walked a lot. Ate a lot.

rye & his "washington monument" (done on purpose)...very classy
f21 sweater & jeans, steve madden boots
imagine waking up to THIS face every morning.
love
ripley again, terrified to be in my arms...i'm going to be a GREAT mother!
my fave pic of ripley & me...and maybe of the entire trip

j&g steakhouse
hey guys, look, it's the white house!
lady-like, per my usual

mike & chris jacket, f21 jeans, steven madden boots, chanel sunglasses

fell asleep during the IMAX dinosaur movie. and i LOVE dinosaurs!
capitol hill
steph: what are you doing?
rye: i was pretending to throw it like a paper airplane. what are YOU doing?
steph: holding the plane on my hand. we didn't coordinate that very well, did we.

ripley garden

Thanks again to everyone who sent me great recommendations on where to go! Can't wait to share my next trip (still TBD).

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker