Mixing Prints

Q: What do you get when you mix a black leopard, a lion head and a snake?

photo credit: Google

A: An outfit!

-- Michael Kors leopard print black blazer -- Mimi di N lion's head belt --




-- vintage Givenchy skirt --

-- Sam Edelman faux snakeskin boots --

Have a great week ahead!

The Simple Life

-- top: Yaya Aflalo --- necklace: Rochas vintage -- belt: Michael Kors -- shorts: Banana Republic --
-- wedges: Banana Republic --

The days spent in Kansas visiting my in-laws was such a relaxing retreat for us. The small-town feel was a welcoming break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Their house backs out to a golf course and the hubz' room on the 2nd floor gets a nice view of the fairway. On a foggy morning, it's quite an eerie sight to see seemingly headless golfers giddily putting their way into the 3rd hole. And when the fog clears up, it's green as far as the eye could see and I can't help but exclaim, "We're in Kansas now, Dorothy!". (I know, I know, that's not how it goes, but it kinda rhymes... =)

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In the afternoon, sitting under Mom's pergola (and posing for pictures, what else?), we'd hear cicadas showing off their acoustic talent. They're nature's little buzzing orchestra.

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For sustenance, we had our daily indulgence of mega-caloric food extravaganza inhaled in gastronomic proportions! Be it Chinese, Mexican or American cuisine, a sit down meal for 4 people here won't set you back more than $60!

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It's all too perfect but just 2 key things missing: In this part of KS, there's no Saks or Neiman in sight! Not within a 100-mile radius, at least!
Big, big problem!

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And speaking of Neiman, I spotted this top which did not look too appealing at first. But at 90% off (Last Call) from its original price of $295, I picked it up anyway. I first wore it here and realized that it can be worn many different ways based on how you button, clasp, twist and tie it! It's so versatile I could probably even wear it as a hair extension someday when I decide to cut my hair short, who knows!

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Now would I rather be a golf-playing-dollar-store-

shopping small town girl or a fashion-blogging-designer-shopping city girl?
If only I could ask the great Wizard of Oz...

Long Weekend in the Sunflower State

-- dress: Johnny Was --- necklaces: Rochas vintage & Michael Kors chain belt --
-- wedges: Banana Republic --

For the long weekend, we followed I-35 for 400 miles south and after 7 hours of driving, we were back to where it all started for us, in Kansas!

The in-laws treated us to lots of love and lots of food over our 3-day stay! I swore I gained weight just by staring at all the food! We felt so pampered and didn't want to leave anymore. The long weekend was certainly not long enough.

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I really wanted a maxi dress but for some reason, every dress I try on fits oddly...

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Found this at Neiman. Not exactly a maxi dress but it'll have to do.

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It's very soft and flowy and seriously discounted, so I'm all happy!

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For a small town in Kansas, my layers of accessories is probably a bit much. A lot of folks were staring at me like I just I stole Dorothy's slippers!

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Hope everyone had a great long weekend!
Can't wait to visit all your blogs tomorrow and resume on regular programming of work, blog and shopping!

Uptown Art Fair

-- halter dress: Banana Republic -- tights: Forever 21 -- cami: The Limited -- belt: Michael Kors --

T oday was so hot, humid and muggy - exactly how summer should be! We went to check out the Uptown Art Fair - that one weekend in a year when artists from around the country showcase their works in the Twin Cities. We had a 4-hr window to do so because of the afternoon rain forecast.

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This has to be the cutest sculpture we ever saw there!

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Hard to believe but this guy is made entirely of resin.
I hope this is not what Anna Wintour saw when she described Minnesotans as "little houses". We are the 3rd most fit city in the country, hello!! =)

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Performers do break dance and hip hop.

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Belly dancers.

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We took refuge during the rain by having an early dinner at Chino Latino.
We used to frequent this place because it's the only one around here that serve Philippine Paella! We only stopped going when it became apparent that their crowd got hipper while we got older.

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They're fearless in pushing the boundaries of fusion food and run the cleverest of ads on billboards around the city.
This was the funniest from 2005: "Pupu parties til the wee-wee hours".
But they got in trouble last year when they used Chinese characters as profanity alternatives on an ad that said, "A 2-hour vacation from the 他媽的 weather".

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Their misfortune cookie is always so funny.
Mine says, "You think it's a secret but has never been one."
Before, I got something like "Hold that big smile, you've got food stuck in between your teeth" and
"Are you sure the chicken satay was chicken?"

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Tomorrow's itinerary is a toss-up between the Irish Fair or yet another Art Fair in the south side of town.

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Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

My Hips Don't Lie

-- Ruffle front cotton dress: Mossimo from Target -- Sunnies: Fendi -- Braided belt: Michael Kors --
-- Platform shoes: Banana Republic -- Long cardigan: Banana Republic --
...They're as BIG as the universe, there's NO denying!

H ips happen. Not much we can do about that. But in my case, hips happened in a BIG way! Not much I can do about that either.

Today, I make peace with it. Peace hips!

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Sorry for the rant, one of those insecurities we all have. =(

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Others have more serious and life-threatening things to worry about, and here am I am worrying about my hips.

This place provided just the antidote I needed for my shallow concerns. As I stand here at the Cancer Survivor's Park, I promise to always come back here if I feel the same way again about any part of my body that is otherwise perfectly healthy.

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So there, hips and all, today, I'm VERY grateful!!

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Steak dinner, why not? Gotta feed my newly befriended hips, after all!

We wanted to have steak but didn't want to spend $$$, so M&S Grill provided just the perfect place for it.

Also wore the dress and the cardi here:

BR Long Cardigan	Dress for a Latte Price

A Dress for a Latte Price

-- Ruffle front cotton dress: Mossimo from Target -- Sunnies: Fendi '08 Collection -- Braided belt: Michael Kors --
-- Bronze leather flats: Banana Republic ---- LV speedy 30 --

For the price of a tall latte, I got myself a dress. Mixing it up with the more classic pieces in my closet, who would ever think this only cost me a cup of coffee?