FNO recap.

FNO was the perfect opportunity to be part of the vibrant scene of San Francisco fashion and bloggers. I had so much fun seeing so many wonderful fashion lovers in one place. Any night that requires party hopping from Macy's to Saks and then to Neiman Marcus is a OK in my book. I was too busy taking mental pictures of every single outfit that I couldn't talk to a lot of fellow party attendants. OK, not quite, I was shy. I'll work on getting over it next year. But I was really taking mental picture of everyone on the street of SF that night. So many inspirational outfits! The incredibly stylish, Ms. Blair of Atlantic-Pacific and some of the looks that she put together. Such a fan of her! I have to recreate this look for one of my upcoming casual Friday! The sweet and effortlessly chic, Ms. Anh of 9to5Chic. Ah, I. Want. Her. Zara. Dress. Please. Yeah, I wore black to FNO. My creative level was -2 on a Thursday night. Here are some of my favorite looks that the talented bloggers put together at Saks. When your bff gave you a grey dress, you add an orange cardigan and some flowers...

Help!

I'm so, so, so in love with this shrug by Holly Stalder but for the price, I want to be able to wear it more often than just to hang it in my closet. How would you dress down this TDF piece? Do you think that it's too much for work? Please let me know, I'm so ready to click that buy button. And the model's hair, too cute...!



If you are looking for a perfect shrug to wear with your wedding dress, this might just be it!


Holly Stalder

A stylish friend

My husband left today for a 12-week internship. I've been sitting in my PJ for a couple of hours, not quite blog material. While stalking my friends on Facebook, I revisited pictures of a very stylish friend of mine. I hope she doesn't mind me showing them here with you.

I love, love the way she mixed the prints together!!


I want to look like this when I'm on vacation. Her husband is a one talented photographer as well!

Happy Friday!

I wish my living room could look like this 5th avenue Kate Spade store.

Kate Spade's Behind the curtain

Flea market anyone?

My productive level at work is zero to none today. Shhh... I assure you this mood won't be here long. However, once in a while, I need a vacation from my day job. Here it is, my third post of the day!

There are some genius designers and stylists walking around Anthropologie. I always hated science but I fell in love with this decor before from a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty. While I don't have some extra cash lying around to buy these cylinders at Anthropologie, flea markets or yard sales are fine alternatives. A cool science looking living room without all the not-to-pleasant chemical smells!



P.S.: I just remember that fiance was in a Chemistry specialty class in High school. Yes, we had those classes in Vietnam, thank you very much.

You & I

Forgive me for being such a copycat but this sign is too cute, I think I must have it. Anthropologie, Here I come!



By erinheartscourt via 100layercake



By Jillthomasphotography via 100 layer cake

Thimbly things

Kristena at Thimbly things is the queen of clothing makeover. Umm, my first attempt at sewing came from the story below.

A while ago, she got this dress from a thrift store. If I had been her, I would have walked so fast by it that I would have not known that it was there. Totally reminds me of the crazy 80s, and I said that with love.



Now, how cute is this skirt after she did her magic?



Hello 2009!

I'm so excited to see what she would come up with this, (ahem!!), thing....



Images from Thimbly things



Stay tuned...

Elisabeth Messina - Kiss the groom.

I'm starting to belive that Elisabeth Messina has magic with her camera or whatever she uses to take her pictures. The red dress...please let me know if you know where it comes from. Too beautiful.



Pictures by Elisabeth Messina




I hope you all had a wonderful Labor day. Visit A Cup of Jo to read so many wondeful secrets to happy marriages. Some of my favorites so far are:

* According to my grandfather: "Any disagreement can be settled with two words: 'Yes, dear.' ". (Jessica)

*Talk it out: No matter how angry you are, talking always helps. (Grace Bonney )

*"Once the initial courtship is finished, be real about who you are. I'm not a cook, I can be organizationally challenged--but I've never pretended otherwise. You don't need to be perfect, just be yourself. Because once you find that special someone you just can't live without, everything else is bonus from there," (Patrick and Erica )

Inspiration Board with my wedding's actual venue.

There is one thing in my wedding that I'm SUPER excited about besides marrying my fiance: the Venue. Let's just say that I luck out and have a great venue without paying an arm and leg for it. I'm proud to have some talented relatives in the family, sadly I'm not part of that cool group.

The restaurant was designed by my uncle, who is also the architect and construction engineer for all of our homes in Vietnam. My aunt decorated it with random things she found by, sometimes, wandering into strangers' houses during her trips to the villages. It was my first choice of venue and it's an honor for me to be able to have my wedding there.

I'm not decisive at all when I needed to pick a theme. I don't know what I want: classic, elegant, modern or rustic. I know that I need a theme that works with all the venue's decorations as it would be a shame if we can't incorporate them. You will see that modern decoration doesn't quite fit. Contemporary is also not working. That leaves me, or so I think, rustic and vintage. Another detail that is also very important: everything has to be doable and practical in Vietnam. I'll go into Vietnamese wedding culture in the future.

Well, this board is dedicated to my cousin, who is my wedding planner. Luckily, I'm her third brides. I hope that she will do all her trial and error with the first two so my wedding can be perfect. I'm just kidding!!! I don't pay her anything so I can't really complain that she hasn't started working on anything yet.


(Please click on picture for bigger image =) )

Pictures credit (from left to right)
Row 1: Antique piano by Suthi Picotte via Style Me Pretty * My venue!!, picture taken by my sister =) * Floral arrangement by Myrtle & Marjoram via Style Me Pretty
Row 2: Antique Vespa, picture taken by my sister * Wedding cake by Jamee Photography via Style Me Pretty * Cocktail by Myrtle & Marjoram via Style Me Pretty * My venue, picture take by my sister
Row 3: Cinnamon candle holder from here via Weddingbee * Initials from Twig & Thistle via Weddingbee * Picture frames by Tec Petaja via Once Wed

Yes, there will be an antique piano and vespa. Actually, they are already there. SCORE!

Happy Pink Monday!

Waking up Monday to go to work is hard.

I love looking at catalog, especially J.Crew. I read it like most people read a book, cover to cover, memorizing things that I love and wish that they would go on sale soon.

I don't think that I would ever be able to pull the sock-with-heels trend. I secretly love it though.



Then I saw this photo from Green Wedding Shoes



Photo by Angela Anderson Studio via Green Weddin Shoes

I only can wish that I knew this bride personally. Visit Angela Anderson Studio's blog for many more gorgeous wedding pictures.

Another food post today.

After reading this post by David Wenzel, I was so inspired and felt like I should change the way I eat. 5 hours later, I ate all of these for dinner.



It's a Vietnamese traditional dish with so much fat and salt that you could possibly eat. I'm not a junkie eater but I'm sure not living a very healthy life either. I can't picture myself not eating fried food again so I know that it takes a lot to maintain such diet like what David is doing and I admire him for that.

What a beautiful day!

Weather today is just perfect...upper 70s, sunny! We should indulge this day before the stormy weekend arrives.

I don't dislike my current job. There are some aspects of it that I love: I feel challenged (sometimes), I work with really nice group of people (!), the view from my cubicle is really to die for. But I know that this job is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a great admiration to all the talented artists, musicians, writers and photographers out there. Every time I think that nothing else could top how beautiful something is, I find myself lost for words again. I'm thankful for the World Wide Web for introducing me to so many great people out there. They are my inspirations and constantly remind me of how beautiful life is.

I'm going to a sewing class tonight because of this lady: Thimbly Things



Image from Thimbly Things

I'm going to a photography class because of so many amazingly talented photographers, too many to list. However, I'm listing two now because I was blown away this morning when I saw their latest works. I'm sure if you are like me and go back to look at everything that they did, you will feel the same way.

Visit Kelty at Steep Street musings by Kelty. When I have the funding readily available, I have to have a shoot with her.



Image from Steep Street by Kelty

From all my stalking at Carolina's blog, I know that she was a Physics teacher prior to becoming a photographer. I really hope that one day I will get to ask her about her experiences and if I ever move to California, I will trade anything for a chance to learn from her. For now, I will keep stalking her blog via Carolina Tran's blog



Image from Carolina Tran

Today I read...

These wedding pictures are ridiculously beautiful! If no one had told me that these are real people and it was their wedding day, I would have never guessed. These images belong to a fashion magazine, a really good one. Please CLICK HERE and HERE

My newest must-read fashion blog. I have a thing for real people blogging about their daily style. It's amazing to be able to look around you for inspiration. How cute are Elaine and her flower necklace? She made it for $5! The same style is selling for hundreds and hundreds of $$!

I can't get over how beautiful these Polaroid images are! I don't know why but they remind me of how simple and beautiful life is! Please visit Nectar & Light!