Thursday, May 30, 2013

A Dream Workout


I had a really good workout today. 
I started with 30 minutes on the treadmill, another 30 on the elliptical and 
then did weights and about 15 minutes of ab workout. 
 
When I got back back from the gym, I had so much energy left and decided to salsa my 
heart out with a few Zumba songs. 

In all I burned 2000 calories. 
 
banana republic yellow long sweater - qi cashmere dress - givenchy shoes - prada nylon bag2 
 
 
  Just one problem: I woke up.
Apparently I napped and ended up working out in my dreams.
 
 
banana republic yellow long sweater - qi cashmere dress - givenchy shoes - prada nylon bag3
banana republic yellow long sweater - qi cashmere dress - givenchy shoes - prada nylon bag5


Tomorrow, I plan to go swimming . 
Whether it's for real or in my dreams, that is yet to be determined. 
As long as I burn calories, that's all that matters to me. 
 
Then I'll treat myself to a mocha cheesecake after. 
That, for sure, will be for real. 
Because I had cheesecake in my dreams before and it wasn't nearly as good.
 
  banana republic yellow long sweater - qi cashmere dress - givenchy shoes - prada nylon bag6
                                                                     TOP: Banana Republic striped yellow long sweater
                                                                     DRESS:  Qi Cashmere                                                  
                                                                     ACCESSORIES Prada baroque sunglasses.  Prada nylon bag.
                                                                     SHOES:  Givenchy open toe booties


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Symptoms of VitaMinn S3 Deficiency

My own wild and weird imagination will be the fall of me.
I worry too much, and sometimes even lose sleep because I cannot seem to reconcile 
the art of shopping and the science of the universe.
 
 
jlo skirt - mango cream top - gucci suede pumps2 
 
 
...I mean what if the earth loses gravity and everything is upside down, 
would my shoes look good worn in my head?

...Do you ever get curious about human  life forms in other planets and wonder if they like Prada too?

...Have you ever seriously thought about  the concept of an infinite open space?  
I worry if there are enough shoes in the universe to fill it up coz it won't look good empty.

...And the worst of my worries and my ultimate nightmare:  a zombie apocalypse -- 
because ghoulish green, bloody red and gray undertones does nothing for my skin tone!

 
jlo skirt - mango cream top - gucci suede pumps3 
Ah that's why I should never skip my medication.   
Excuse me as I take a healthy dose of my vitaMinn S3.   
S3 as in shopping, shoes and Saks Fifth Avenue.  

After this Gucci suede pumps, Prada Sport bow pumps and this lovely Chloe Paraty
I'm sane again.  
 
Winner winner chicken dinner! 
 
jlo skirt - mango cream top - gucci suede pumps1
                                                                     TOP: MNG by Mango cream top  
                                                                     SKIRT:  JLo Collection for Kohls.  Last worn here                                                      
                                                                     ACCESSORIES Gold collar necklace.  Only $2.89 from eBay here. (Spray with clear Krylon to avoid tarnish.)
                                                                     SHOES:  Gucci 'Betty' suede platform pumps in paprika.   Still available here.  More colors here

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Travelogue: European Roadtrip Part 3 (Dresden, Germany)

Part 1 - Hamburg, Germany
Part 2 - Berlin, Germany 

I learned to appreciate classical works of art at a very young age. 
 
I remember it like it was just yesterday. 
On a lazy Saturday morning, my brother
 would randomly pick up a book of the Encyclopedia Americana and 
enthrall me with pictures of The Last Supper, 
the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel and the enigmatic smile of  Mona Lisa. 
He'd tell me stories about the great Renaissance young masters, 
how their techniques are unparalleled and how it would be a great joy to view these collection in real life.
And so it has become my bucket list to see as many art as I possibly can.
 
 Our trip to Dresden had one and only one goal: to see Raphael's cherubs.
The treasure can be found at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meiste's Semper Gallery.

semperoper dresden tram RAR_8188

 
Like most everyone, what I did not know is it's part of a bigger painting: The Sistine Madonna. 
The cherubs were just lazily cozying at the bottom of the painting, grabbing all the attention instead of moving the eyes upwards to the painting's subjects.
 
I just sat there motionless for a good 15 minutes, 
admiring the cherubs and how they got into their art superstardom status, wondering how these winged darlings became more famous than the painting they're a part of!
Thanks to pop culture, they now now adorn almost everything from souvenir mugs,  umbrellas, countless repros and post cards. 
  Sistine Madonna and more paintings Sistine Madonna

The museum also houses some Rembrandt's, Vermeer's, van Dyck's and Rubens so be sure to allow at least 3 hours to enjoy them thoroughly!

more paintings RAR_8204


After the museum visit, we went to a cafe across and enjoyed some coffee 
while waiting for our train to Prague.


inside busmann's coffee cups

Please join me next week as we take this roadtrip adventure to the beautiful Czech Republic!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Easy No-Sew DIY: Rolled-up Clutch with Chain Belt

This DIY is so easy it borderlines on silly. 
But a promise is a promise so I'll share it anyway.
 
 It's basically just 3 easy steps:

chanel chain clutch DIY
 
 
 First, I tried to find a rectangular piece of cloth that I could upcycle and found this old crochet bag. 
I suppose a pillowcase would work for this too.

chanel chain clutch DIY2
 
 
Then, I turned it inside out and rolled it...

chanel chain clutch DIY3

I then looped the chain belt around and voila!

chanel chain clutch DIY4
 
 
And here's how I styled it. 
More photos from this post here.
 

chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps7

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Casual Sushi



I have to admit I probably will not be able to wear an outfit like this to work;
not even on casual Fridays.
The combination of bold accessories, tight fit top and non-traditional print pumps is
probably too psychedelic for our otherwise conservative corporate culture.

chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps2


Even more so, by adding the scarf below would surely land me an appointment with the HR department.
There would be plenty of clients filing complaints  that they are unable to concentrate on
my meetings because my scarf is too distracting.
Sure it's pretty with all the grape details, but still distracting.
And in corporate America, distraction is costly.


 chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps3



For a sushi date night with the hubby on the other hand, this is just perfect!
Sushi chefs are usually not quick to judge, nor complain, nor get distracted.


chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps10chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps7


Yes, I'm an uppity, buffed-to-a-high-sheen, sheath-dress-wearing, laptop-toting
conservative Business Analyst on weekdays.
But on weekends, I transform into a camwhoring, attention-hogging,
self-confessed narcissist and a hopeless-and-beyond-any-help shopaholic who
happens to love sushi.


chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps8 - Copy

Please don't hate me.
I promise I'm really nice in person.
Sometimes even fun and creative too!

Just to prove, I just made this DIY chain clutch here below.
Do come back next time for the tutorial.


chanel clutch DIY - purple 7fam - dries van noten pumps9
                                                                     TOP: Banana Republic black sweater 
                                                                     JEANS:  7 for all Mankind skinnies
                                                                     ACCESSORIES tufted detail scarf thanks to Sacred Accessories! Chanel 5120 round quilted sunglasses.
                                                                     PURSE Chain clutch DIY 
                                                                     SHOESDries van Noten curved python heel pumps


Sunday, May 19, 2013

Travelogue: European Roadtrip Part 2 (Berlin, Germany)

Part 1 - Hamburg, Germany 
 
We felt right at home the very minute we arrived in Berlin.   
The city is so clean, the people are so nice, the cost of living is reasonable, 
and there's so much history in its every corner. 
We fell so in love with the city and were so close to shouting out in unison, "Ich bin ein Berliner!".  
But we're no JFK, so we just contented ourselves to taking photos.    

The beautiful Berliner Dom is the seat of the Protestant Evangelical Congregationsberliner dom berliner dom (background) berliner dom

 
 
 Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament reichstag
 
 
 
Brandenburg Gate where President Reagan famously said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" pariser platz
brandenburg gate
 
 
 
 The Berlin Wall
berlin wall
  
remnants of berlin wall
  
 
 
Holocaust Memorial 
We actually visited a concentration camp prior to this but I just can't bear to post those photos...
the new holocaust memorial
the new holocaust memorial the new holocaust memorial the new holocaust memorial
 


We are such Jason Bourne fanatics, and so decided to visit a few landmarks from the movie.
 The World Clock where Nicky waits for Bourne, as instructed by him.
world clock at alexanderplatz world clock at alexanderplatz
 
 
 
Alexanderplatz where the scene were there was a demonstration and Nicky boarded a tram.
alexanderplatz alexanderplatz tram  
 
 
Just to complete our Bourne in Berlin obsession, we stayed at The Westin Grand Berlin
where Bourne tracked Pamela Landy and where Abbott committed suicide towards the end of the movie.

westin grand berlin different floors or etage
 
 
Next up is Dresden to see Raphael's cherubs! 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Accountability, Shopping and Logic

I can't account for exactly how much shopping I have been doing non-stop the past few weeks.
All I know is that I will have to wear sunglasses when I open my credit card statement next month!
The darker and blurrier those numbers appear, the better.


pink jbrand - chanel - kors flats - mulberry alexa5

Worse yet, I cannot account how I always end up at the checkout lines at Saks Off Fifth and
Nordie's Rack with dozens of items in tow.
It seems I have a habit of apparating there.  Every. Single. Weekend. 
  And never empty-handed, mind you!


 pink jbrand - chanel - kors flats - mulberry alexa4


Therefore, the only logical conclusion to this mysterious phenomenon is this:
If I can't account for any shopping I did, then I am NOT responsible for it.

Whew!  I'm off the hook, thanks to my impeccable logic!


pink jbrand - chanel - kors flats - mulberry alexa3
                                                                     TOP: Halogen
                                                                     JEANS:  Jbrand skinny jeans
                                                                     ACCESSORIESChanel necklace.  Prada baroque sunglasses.
                                                                     BAGMulberry Alexa in dusty pink.
                                                                     SHOESMICHAEL Michael Kors (gifted, thanks Normie!)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tales of the Untruthful Scale


I am so glad my weighing scale is no longer lying to me. 
For the longest time, we have not been in good terms because it's been constantly 
spewing  my weight with and an additional 25 pounds. 
(I do not know why I'm always stuck with gadgets that do not work)


escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo12
escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo8
 
 
Anyhow, I must also mention that out of frustration, I distracted myself by
taking up yoga, hot yoga, power Vinyasa and Zumba.
 
Months after my newfound yoga balance and coordination, I faced my foe once again.
To prepare myself, I did the requisite deep inhale into a mountain pose by its side.
On exhale I bravely stepped onto the scale with my right foot and placed my other foot 
on the inside part of my right leg.   
Simultaneously, I was stretching my arms out wide and bringing the palms together
into a prayer position. 
And before I looked down to see the number, I counted 3...2...1...


escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo7
escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo6
 
 
My conclusion: the weighing scale will give you a 12-lb credit if you weight yourself in a
yoga tree position.  Good to know!
 
 But my journey was far from over.   I had 13 more pounds to go.  
To my dismay, I must have purchased a very intelligent weighing scale because it 
caught on with my yoga antics almost immediately.
After a few weeks, it was hopelessly stuck in that same number.  
 
To my credit, I did try to weigh myself in a few other poses like the dancer and 
the seated chair  but the darn thing just won't budge.  
(You have no idea how much effort it took to weigh myself in a warrior 3 position and 
not weighing any few pounds lighter for it!) 
 

escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo5
 
 
But I'm not the one to give up easily so on to a few other tricks!  
 
Did the 14-day diet which worked but I was miserable.   
Did the less-carbs, counting carbs, no-carbs-after-6 but I was even more miserable.   
Also did the 12-hour diet which worked, but I got seriously so 
bloated which also made me very miserable. 
 
Now I'm down to the last trick ever known to mankind -- eating less.  
So far, the scale is liking it and took off 8 pounds which is why I 
decided to befriend it once again. 
 
We'll be besties as soon as I finish my journey of the last 5! 
 

escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo13 
 
 
I greatly welcome any of your tips and encouragement in this great endeavor of mine!! 
  Namaste.
 
 
escada skirt - marc jacobs top - ysl tribtoo4
                                                                     TOP: Marc by Marc Jacobs 
                                                                     SKIRT:  Escada Sport brown pleated skirt
                                                                     ACCESSORIES Heirloom pieces from my mother and mother-in-law. These necklace and bracelets are older than I am!
                                                                                               Shell thrifted necklace. 
                                                                     PURSE Gucci Bardot hobo bag 
                                                                     SHOESYSL Tribtoo in patent brown.

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