Design(er) Diagram - Part 4

This has been fun and I'm contemplating of making this same picture format on my future posts! Though it's just a lot of work and it might remind me of work... so we'll see!!

Wool Wedding Anniversary

Lots of pix! Apologies if it slows down your browser....

-- dress: Yigal Azrouel -- cami: The Limited --- watch: Fendi --
-- peep toe shoes: Manolo Blahnik Nous --

If 'love at first sight' only happens in fairy tales, then I must have lived my own fairy tale.

Nine years ago, I met a dashing small town boy in Kansas. Right at the very front door when I first saw him, I just somehow knew he's gotta be THE one. And I didn't have to wait too long to know that he too felt the same.

Several minutes later when our gaze crossed, I smiled him a big smile, then shyly lowered my gaze. When I looked up to meet his gaze again, he was still smiling back. It seemed like the world stopped for five minutes right at that very moment and no one else mattered.

-- wrap top: Diane von Furstenberg -- jeans: Lucky Brand --- sandals: Saks 5th Ave --

Fast forward nine years and we're now celebrating this week our 7th year anniversary!

Nine years together and 7 years married but still as silly as two lovebirds can be! We still AIM each other sweet nothings even when we're next to each other! We still hold hands with the left thumb over the right declaring that it means "heart over mind"! We still give each other little nose kisses and reply back "I love you" when the other says "thank you".

To my dearest, darlingest Hon, I love you so dearly!
Thank you for our 7 years together.
They are the best 7 years of my life and looking forward to 70 more!!

Special thanks to our friend Faye and her hubby Chris for all these photos! Faye's not only a very talented budding photographer but also a very hardworking personal shopper!
If you need anything from Coach bags to Lacoste shoes, just email her and she'll gladly hunt it for you!

Thanks Faye, thanks Chris!!

The Tale of the Halter Skirt

-- halter top: Carmen Marc Valvo (skirt) --- vest: Sisley -- jeans: Lucky Brand
-- belt: Calvin Klein -- flats: Ferragamo Varina -- purse: Prada Vit. Daino --

Once upon a time there was a frilly skirt that magically turned into a flouncy halter top....

***

One of the good things about blogging is getting a lot of creative ideas from other bloggers! Last weekend, I was in the mood for some fashion experimenting and decided to wear this Carmen Marc Valvo skirt here as a top.

I opened the zipper to create the v-neck, belted it to make it less flouncy and added a vest for some structure and voila!

***

Had lunch at "Spill the Wine".
I had grilled salmon over tossed salad in raspbery vinaigrette dressing while the hubz had a lamb gyro & potato chowder. For dessert, we had banana wanton with vanilla ice cream in cinnamon sugar sauce and yumm, it was good!!!

***

...and so the halter skirt and the girl lived happily ever after. THE END.

Happy mid week everyone!!

happy birthday CHOO me...

-- halter vest: YaYa Aflalo --- jeans: Lucky Brand -- belt: Michael Kors --
-- chain bracelet: Banana Republic (necklace twisted around) --necklace: F21 --shoes: Jimmy Choo --

Weeks before my birthday, on AIM:

* * *

Me: Hon, can I have a Jimmy Choo for my bday, please...?

Hubz: Up to you hon.

Me: They're on sale and I really like them.
I promise I will sell those Coach bags that still have tags on them so I could make up for the cost.
Is it OK then?

Hubz: That's fine hon. It's your birthday, get whatever you want.
I'll just close my eyes...

* * *

happy birthday CHOO me... happy birthday CHOO me!

* * *


On a more serious note, my birthday is that one day in the year when I really try to reflect on a lot of things.
I'm so thankful to God for so many things in my life: I'm blessed to have a hubby who's always the first one to greet me at the stroke of midnight; I'm happy to have lot of friends who remembered and flooded my Facebook, mailbox and AIM with birthday greetings; I'm grateful to meet new friends in this new blog -- I seriously thought I would be toiling for at least a year before I get one fabulous fashionista to comment here!!

Thank you God!
Thank you dearest hubz!
Thank you dear friends!

Dow & Shopping

-- halter top: Badgley Mischka -- jeans: Lucky Brand -- burgundy patent pumps: Chanel --

W hen the Dow is up, I shop!

I have the rallying Wall Street to thank for all my shopping this month. Had it not for its bullish performance as of late, le hubz probably won't let me, not even my mere shadow, get close to any mall and smell retail.

* * *

I seriously hope that this recession is already behind us!

* * *

Just heard on the radio today that here in Minnesota, everything is starting to pick up slowly. Housing sales is up for the first time in a year!
And if shopping behavior is any indication, things are looking great because it's now very HARD to find a parking at the Mall of America on weekends!

From MSP to TX in 5 Seconds

-- Banana Republic blazer -- Ann Taylor top -- Lucky Brand Jeans --
-- Ferragamo ribes & varina -- Forever 21 coin necklace --
From office casual to casual dinner.

O f course NOT Texas the state, but just the restaurant. In particular, Texas Roadhouse - home of the best rolls & cinnamon butter known to mankind!

We met up with our friends early so I didn't get a chance to do a change of outfit so I just cuffed my jeans, changed into some comfy flats, dropped the jacket and off we went for a sumptuous dinner of bbq ribs and fried chicken. It was every calorie so worth it!

PS - The flats were fresh from the box from my lunchtime purchase at Off Fifth. At 60% off, it was practically begging to be bought and I was too weak to resist. =)

Banana Republic Long Cardi

-- Georgette babydoll halter from Myer (Aus) -- Banana Republic long cardi -- Lucky Brand Jeans --
A cute little addition to my Banana Republic obsession

I am a total sucker for Banana Republic tops, pants, accessories and shoes (basically their entire line!). If their design team decided to sell a band-aid, I might just fall for that too. (If only to have those bold "BR" logo bandaged over a cut or a wound, I probably won't mind getting bruised here and there!).

But really, the reason I am a huge fan is that most of their stuff are simple, classic and affordable. And you can count on them to eventually go on sale and run on several rounds of clearances.

Last week, my purchase from the store was a long cardigan, originally priced at $89, marked down to $38, down to $28 which I ended up getting for $10! How did that happen? Well, my Luxe card did its "mathemagic".

This evening's overcast skies was perfect for a cardi weather so I asked (begged) hubby to take outdoor shots and he happily (or forced to) oblige...