From Country Chic to City Sleek: Painted Plaid Dress

From Country Chic to City Sleek
I had the honor of doing a guest post this past summer for Alison from Get Your Pretty On where I took an eyelet top from country chic to city sleek. It was a fun concept to work with so I thought I’d give it another whirl with this super versatile Anthropologie painted plaid dress. I have no shame when it comes to this dress. I fell in love with this dress the minute I lay my eyes on it but, as always, I could not bring myself to purchase it at full price. I stalked it as if my life depended on it. When Anthropologie had a sale, I totally pounced on it and I’m glad I did because I snagged one of the last ones left at my local store.  Continue reading

Crop Tops and eShakti

Crop Tops and eShakti
I think the last time I had anything custom tailored was over 13 years ago when I purchased my wedding dress. So when I had the opportunity to have an item custom fit for me from eShakti, I didn’t hesitate, especially since I had read such good things about them already from many other bloggers. eShakti offers both style and fit customization for women size 0 through 36. There were so many styles and options to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down to one. In the end I decided to take a risk and pick out an item that would normally not be my first choice, a midi skirt. I was a little hesitant about the style but I figured, it would at least be a perfect fit. Well, I was right. The skirt fit like a glove. The fact that the skirt had pockets was a bonus. Continue reading

The Love Language of Words

The Love Language of Words 1

We started out as friends. There were a handful of us who would hang out together, a group of young adults trying to make it in the world, uncertain of anything except for the fact that the world was our oyster. Slowly, those around us faded and we found ourselves spending time alone together, you know, as “friends” often do. Little note cards would be exchanged, at first as simple platonic gestures of good wishes, whether it was for safe travels or good luck on an exam. As our relationship developed, so did the written notes, focusing not exclusively on me or him, but us. Those words on the cards became road signs indicating that we were both headed in the same direction. Continue reading

Outfit Highlight: Falling for Faux Fur in Fall

Faux Fur for Fall 1
Can you say “Falling for Faux Fur in Fall” 10 times quickly? Bet you can’t! Can you say faux fur fan? I sure can because I’ve been a huge fan of faux fur for a while now. I’ve been eyeing several faux fur coats and vests but the ones that I’ve liked in the past have been out of my price range. I remember a couple of years ago, I had found one at Saks while shopping with a friend. It was the end of the season so it was marked down to 60% off the original price but even then it was still not within the price range I was comfortable with. I showed it to my husband and he said I was crazy for wanting to buy it. Speaking of which, do your husbands, or significant others, have a say in your wardrobe? How much influence do they have? Continue reading

Recipe Highlight: Korean Noodles with Black Soybean Paste Sauce (Jajangmyeon)

Jajangmyeon
When the weather gets colder, I always seem to crave comfort foods. Jajangmyeon, a Korean-Chinese noodle dish is one of those foods for me and also one of the few Asian dishes that I make on a regular basis. The funny thing is that I didn’t care too much for this dish when I was little but have acquired a taste for it as I got older. The literal translation for ‘jajang’ (also jjajang or chajang) is fried black soybean sauce and ‘myeon’ (also myun) is noodles. It is a popular “fast food” in Korea, enjoyed by both young and old. It is also a staple in the menus of many Korean-Chinese restaurants here in the United States. Continue reading

Outfit Highlight: Mixing Patterns and Textures

Mixing Patterns and Textures 1
There is no denying that fall is here. As I drive around my neighborhood, I see beds of red, orange and yellow leaves adorning the driveways of almost every home creating a beautiful fall color palette. Too bad the temperatures have also been very quick to catch up to the season here in Michigan, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 40s. I ran to the car after we took these pictures. Continue reading

Outfit Highlight: Side Stripes and Sheer Panels

Side Stripes and Sheer Panels
Continuing with the ASOS theme this week, I’m wearing one of my first and favorite tops from ASOS. I love how the sheer panels create an interesting geometric pattern. I’ve been wanting to purchase a pair of casual side striped pants for a while now and I finally found these at J.Crew Factory. I was there to return a sweater and ended up snagging a shirt and these pants for virtually the same price as the sweater. When the sales associate said, “And your total comes out to 5 cents.” I was like, “Say what?!” Who doesn’t love a good bargain? Talk about a natural high. Continue reading