You're probably gonna write what you didn't see

Dress: T by Alexander Wang

Necklace worn as bracelet: H&M

Lace bicycle shorts: Urban Outfitter

Booties: Spring

Am currently feeling exhausted.  This week has been non-stop editorial and volunteer meetings, and event attending.  It can be quite exhausting trying to be insightful and intellectual all the time.  Is it boring to say that I want a quiet Friday of some hot yoga and reading?  Unlikely to happen as my roommate is planning to have friends over to drink up our stock of beverages.  Perhaps I'll feel more social once I have some winter ale in me as well.  That would be more fitting considering this outfit is pretty festive.  Here I am doing my best celebutante sitting on a toilet photo while waiting for a friend to pick me up before an event.  One of my friends was teasing me about being a "famous blogger," which I SO AM NOT, but if I were, I would be sure to live a more interesting and scandalous life of debauchery - all of which would be documented with compromising photos such as this.  This A. Wang dress I'm wearing was a steal - especially since I thought it was a t-shirt online and then when it arrived voila, dress!  Perhaps it was always a dress?  Or I am just that short?  I'd like to think a fellow Asian wouldn't do that to me.  What are your plans for the weekend?

And don't forget to check out my new shop! New items coming to the store soon :)

Lust of the Week: Betsey Johnson Angel Wings Heart necklace

via Betsey Johnson, $65

This necklace from Betsey Johnson has me all aquiver this week.  The mix of edgy and girly is just perfect for my style.  It's the little details that get me: the ridged "feathers" of the wings, the cute little stars on the chain, and the extra sweet charm appended near the clasp - it all just smacks of Betsey's fun-loving, girly aesthetic.  While I'm not a fan of her overly poufy retro dresses, her jewellery always makes me drool with its abundance of sparkly, charms and embellishments.  Will you be saying yes to this necklace this week?

The SuitSak: no more excuse not to bike to work

For many people, helping the environment is an important thing to do.  Sure, we all try to recycle, or to reduce our electricity usage (and bill), but for many of us, helping the environment often implies a big inconvenience.  One of the best ways we could help the Earth is by reducing our emissions output by not driving our cars; however unless you live within walking distance of your workplace, that just isn't feasible.  Bus schedules can be unreliable, crowded, and just plain unpleasant, and bikes aren't practical at all if you have any sort of office dress code.  For the more determined of us, that solution can be partially fixed by putting your business attire in a backpack, but that usually means wrinkled suits and crumpled ties.  Now, there's a neat solution that excels where the homely backpack lacks: the SuitSak.

Invented by Vancouver businessman Chris Thom, the SuitSak is a specially designed backpack that allows the wearer to store their business suit and shoes while biking, without the resulting wrinkles!  The pack is water resistant and weighs only around 1kg.  Thom's invention has been gaining lots of buzz, with articles in Canadian Cycling Magazine and a spot on business pitch show, Dragon's Den.  With the growing eco-movement, this handy bag could not have come at a more perfect time. 

Currently, the SuitSak retails for $100 at Moore's Clothing for Men and is soon to be at Sportschek and Atmosphere.

Be sure to check out Chris on tonight's episode of Dragon's Den on CBC.  Check your local listings for details.

A Libra's Dilemma: tale of 2 watches

I don't care what the recent news hub-hub says. I am staying a Libra dammit. I do not suit a Virgo's characteristics at all. However one definitely bad thing about being a Libra is the unfortunate ability to see both sides of an argument overly well; this can make simple things, like making decisions quite difficult. Case in point, the two lovely timepieces below. Both are simple, luxurious watches designed with a faceted metal wristband and analog face. One is silver, one is gold. Both pieces offer endless reasons why they should be chosen. How does one ever decide?! Which do you prefer?

Invicta Angel, $93.83

I really love the warm glow that gold imparts on the skin. Nothing says old-world class and luxury more than gold. The delicate hands are neatly offset by the 3 small inner faces, which add a charming visual interest to the watch.

Bulova, $203.66

This Bulova watch on the other hand, is as cool, as the Invicta is warm. Offering a more sophisticated, but no less luxurious, feel, this Bulova watch is set with diamonds and stainless steel. Silver is a more subtle look that doesn't quite call the same attention as gold, making it potentially more versatile. The diamonds are another big selling point on this watch, making it sparkle and shine in a way that the gold does not - but are diamonds all that matters?

Check out my new store!!!

You may have noticed today that my blog has undergone a big change.  Or maybe you didn't (boo). In any case, there's been some changes!!  Right underneath the blog header, you'll notice a nifty little tab bar.  There are now 2 extra tabs:

• About: Thanks to Ricademus for this idea!  The concept of this blog was a little murky and there was nowhere explaining it. Now there is. Yay.
• Shop: This is the more exciting one to me!  

So about the shop.  After much deliberation, and scrutinizing of my ever decreasing closet : storage space ratio, I decided to be proactive and make like all the bloggers I so admire: I decided to start a store selling my pre-loved and brand new stuff that was just lying unloved in my closet.  Don't worry, I won't be unloading crap, but will carefully curate what goes straight to the trash, the donation bin, and to you.  Only the best for you readers!  Please check it out, and share it with your friends and peeps! 

Shop High Maintenance

Lust of the Week: Miu Miu cage platform pumps

via Bluefly, $424.80

Shoe porn. If I had to describe these heels in 2 words, that's all I would need to say. There is something definitely naughty about a black cage pattern like this; it's like saying look, but don't touch. These shoes are alluring, mysterious, and certainly coy. The no-holds-barred 4.75 " heel and hidden platform require a strong strut to pull it off, but all this powerful sexual imagery is offset by a very feminine light pink sole. Not that anyone can see the sole when the wearer has these puppies on - at that moment, all they'll notice is how damn hot this woman looks.

(Psst, also stay tuned for an upcoming CSN product review! CSN is your source for literally everything, from kitchen goods, to clothes, to handbags, and laptop messenger bag!)

You got the peep hole to my soul

Top, leggings: Zara
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Flats: Steve Madden

I'm not sure what to write here. Originally, my post was going to be rather personal, but often I feel very afraid to be personal here. It seems people like to read my blog and that is both and bad thing. Personally, I don't mind being a bit personal. I know some bloggers basically document their lives online, but I'm a pretty private person, so exposing myself in that way isn't really desirable. However, even the times when I've briefly hinted at things in my life have resulted in people trying to read the lines. So I have to ask, where does one draw the line when it comes to sharing your personal life online?

Sale Alert!! Tension Designer Women's Warehouse Sale!

It's January and frankly by this point, I'm getting a little depressed. The New Year resolutions are starting to lose their novelty, the holidays bill have arrived, and the weather is perfectly boring. What you could use right about now is a pick-me-up that only a little retail therapy can provide. Enter in the Tension yearly warehouse sale. Allowing you to indulge without breaking the bank, the Tension sale is like the low-cal snack option that you crave. Check out the details below...




This sale will contain items from Tension, T by Tension, and Sweet Chemise. This means you'll be able to pick up anything from office wear, to casual sets, to kid's clothes! Come by on Thursday night and join me in roving the racks, I'll be on the hunt for these two sweet dresses below:

The Harmony dress, $242

The Mischief, $213

Happy Shopping!

So I surrender, to every word you whisper

Dress: Conversation Pieces
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Tights: Nine West
Booties: Spring

Wore this outfit awhile back to an event. It's always tricky dressing for events. Often times you're given the most vague of dress code descriptions and left to work with a "huh?" as your guide. Please PR writers, just be specific. If you want fancy, nothing wrong with a "dress to impress" as played out as it is. At least it's understandable! Much better than a "dress like you would to a secret lover's date in an English spring." Well, I made that one up, but can you imagine what it would be like to dress for that?? Maybe I should go into PR (j/k!)

Lust of the Week: V-moda leather shorts

via V-moda, $395

Sometimes I get strange ideas in my head. Like that I'd look really good in an all-over fur coat, or classic Ray-bans, or in a cape coat. The last one is the only one that was actually on the money. My recent crazy idea/obsession is with leather shorts. Oh leather. Such a seductive material, providing warmth and edginess. These leather shorts are even baby soft lambskin to boot! And look how hot they are with their hourglass emphasizing waistline and their elongating zippered pleats! They would look so hot with literally anything in my closet. Or so I believe, until my daydream ends and I realize I would probably look ridiculous in leather shorts. *Must suppress horrible moment in Aritzia trying on leather short monstrosities*

Do you have any strange fashion obsessions?

Get your slim on, with Shape Magazine's Denim Guide!

After swimsuits, is there anything more agonizing than finding a good pair of jeans? There are so many factors to consider: color/wash, length (long enough for heels, short enough for flats?), width (skinny, boyfriend, boot cut??), price, fit, and of course, the all-important ass factor. Good denim makes us feel confident, super sexy, and powerful. Weak denim makes us feel like a short grandma with a beer belly. Grandpa cardigans may be in, but grandma waistlines are not.

This month's issue of Shape Magazine has a great comprehensive guide for woman of various shapes and sizes. There are photos so you can determine which shape you are, key tips, and affordable shopping suggestions! Get to your local stores today to snap up this essential issue. Can't get to the store right away? Here are some quick tips for your shape:

• Athletic: go for longer lengths with a wider hem to minimize thighs and calves
• Curvy: dark washes slim and a higher rise offsets curvy hips
• Boy shape: avoid wide legs and go the opposite with skinnies. Small, high-placed pockets accentuate your bum
• Apple: jeggings!
  
• Tall: Higher rises accommodate longer torsos
• Petite: vertical fading creates the illusion of longer legs

Didn't get the advice you needed here? Then check out my past denim guides on jeggings and unusual shapes, and if you have any of your own denim advice, please leave a comment!

Product Review: Haute Nails 3D Nail Decor

The Product
Doing your nails is the cheap(ish) way to quickly pamper oneself if you're looking for a good pick-me-up. The condition of your hands is a detail that surprisingly many people notice, so if you have raggedy, unkempt nails, listen up! Since I've accumulated a small collection of polishes lately, I've been trying to keep my nails done up in polish more often than before. Once you done polish a few times though, it can get a little boring. Why not try to spice things up a bit? Being a big fan of Japanese fashion, I've long admired the crazy/cool beauty of Japanese nail art. Google "Japanese nail art" and you'll find all manner of gorgeously girly ornaments to stamp onto ones fingers - from jewels, to flowers, animals, and dangling charms, Japanese nail art has it all. It's all too much for the tame Vancouver market, but I resolve to help this city branch out a bit by dipping my toe into nail art with some 3D nail art stickers care of Haute Nails!

The Guts
Available in many locations around Vancouver and across Canada, Haute Nails specializes in providing Japanese hand-made nail stickers. Made of non-toxic, acid-free rubber, these stickers are eco-friendly and antibacterial, making them very safe for hands.

Price & Packaging
Haute Nails are also very affordable. A single sheet cost me around $7 total.

Effectiveness
Following the directions, I applied the stickers one at a time onto a nail wearing 1 layer of base coat and 2 layers of polish. I then applied another 2 layers of clear topcoat on top. Tweezers are recommended to carefully peel these babies off and they do make it a lot easier to control with their pointed tips. The stickers are quite sticky coming off the sheet, but don't worry, they won't split unless you really tug at it. Once applied, just put some gentle pressure on top of the sticker to push out air bubbles and presto! You have a seal that lasted me about 1.5 weeks before the stickers literally started rubbing away. I think if I had applied a couple more topcoats initially so that the surface was smooth, it would have lasted longer. Here's my shoddy nail job below: super cute and girly flowery nails!




Buy or Ditch?
I literally could not stop staring at my nails the entire time I had these on, but it was a bit more high maintenance than I was used to as I had to be careful not to nick my nails on anything. Definitely worth buying again!

Final Verdict: A

I Sip My Kool-Aid

Watch locket necklace: Front & Co
Sweater: Suzy Shier
Leggings, purse: Zara
Shorts: Garage
Sapphire bracelet: ICE.com
Gold watch-band bracelet: Urban Outfitters
Heels: Aldo

I really really like this outfit, so please don't diss it. My feelings will be hurt. I know black and brown is supposed to be a no-no, but screw the rules right? One's gotta live a little and rules are for chumps. I think I could wear a sack with these heels and it would still look hot to me. Too bad they are as easy to walk in as a math exam is to write. I wish Mr. Artist could be like other blogger's boyfriends and take endless hi-res photos of me in my outfits and support me while I totter around in ridiculously high shoes. Oh well, at least he is now convinced on the amazingness that is leggings.

Thanks go out to my latest music yogi, D. Thai of KillahBeez for this week's song. He turned me on, quite literally, to this funky little band called Sleigh Bells. I like how nonchalantly rebellious and dirty they are. Check them out!

Lust of the Week: Rachel Sin Michelle dress

via Rachel Sin, $130

I've never watched Mad Men, but I can definitely understand all the frenzy over the fashions. While a world of chauvinist men puffing on cigars and staring at cleavage doesn't really appeal to me, the cinched waists and slim skirts does. It's a period of dressing that is very sexy in a subtler, classier way than what goes as sexy nowadays. If I were to travel in time, I would seduce my Mad Man with this hot little number by Canadian designer Rachel Sin. This highly affordable dress boasts couture pedigree with its sculptural lines and folds, Japanese angora wool, and saucy peek-a-boo cut-outs in the back. It's a one-two punch sure to leave any man, of any time, drooling.

Learn the power of Bliss

The fact of the matter is, that yoga changed my life. Yes it sounds cheesy and it is, but sometimes you just have to go with the cheese. Don't resist the cheese. In the few short months that I've been really practicing yoga, and that means more than once a week, I've noticed a big change. Yoga has not only made me much more flexible, but it has also strengthened my mind, body, and spirit. Again, don't resist the cheese. If you learn to let go of your inhibitions and the urge to giggle, then I truly think you'll find that meditation and the focus that yoga gives you will give you balance and a center in your life that helps you deal with stress and other things. Every yoga class, I walk out calmer and taller than when I entered, cleansed of all the toxicities of modern life and of negative thoughts. That being said, finding a good yoga studio that makes you feel this way can take time; however once you do find one, it's worth every penny.

Vancouver is lucky to be home to many yoga enthusiasts, one being renowned yogi Eoin Finn, of Semperviva Yoga. Starting next week from Jan. 10-14, Finn will be hosting a week-long series of special lifestyle events that not only will teach you about yoga, but about a whole new way to live your life. It sounds very exciting, and what could be a better way to start the new year right? Check out the so-sincere-it's-hilarious video below for more details:

You can also find out more details and register online here at the Blissology Project website!

Why, hello there 2011 + Winner Announcement

At first I didn't want to be doing the same sort of looking back, looking ahead type of resolution post like everyone was doing, but dammit they are pretty much what everyone has on their minds so why not! 2010 was a good and bad year. It was a good year for creativity as I worked hard to help organize some really interesting and innovative writing workshops and got to interview some very cool people. It was also good for celebrating good times with friends, witnessing a historical moment for myself and my country, and of course for lots of eating and shopping. On the flip side, 2010 was bad for some hard lessons learned about friendships, about loyalty, respect, and trust. I learned more about myself and about others. From what I've been told, such hardships are a part of growing up, and while I look back on them with a lot of sadness and hurt still, I'm happy to say that letting go of that negativity was a huge relief and made me a happier person, if a more guarded one. Here's to hoping that 2011 will be full of better positivity!

As for resolutions, I don't really have many, but here's what I've got so far:

1. spend more time with family and friends
2. exercise 3-4 times a week alternating between the gym and yoga
3. increase my snowboarding skills so that I may go down Blue level runs comfortably
4. do all my blogging for the week in one concentrated night so that I will have more time for accomplishing resolutions 1-3
5. visit somewhere new
   

How was 2010 for all of you, and what do you wish for 2011?

P.S. Congrats to andbythewei for winning the Karmin G3 Flat Iron from part 4 of my Holiday Giveaway Bonanza! I really loved and appreciated all your hair stories, but in the end, I had to give it to her as seriously, what could be worse than burning your hair?!