Feeling crafty~**

Please read the subject line carefully..feeling crafty, not crappy hehe.

Many people have no clue that I am capable of creating handmade gifts. Hey, I do have a creative side lol. Flower arrangements and craft projects are my most favourite things to do in my freetime (I love blog/web designs too). Both are great stress relievers and hobbies. I also used to dream of being a florist because I just love, love and love flowers. Would not it be nice if all you see are beautiful flowers everywhere everyday, not your grumpy co-workers?

I wish I were capable of sewing and making jewelry but I am far from being perfect in those departments so I will leave a needle and yarn in the hands of people who know how to use them beautifully. Sewing and tailoring are truly something that require years of experience, skills and lots of patience (which I do not really have).

Earlier this month I had an opportunity to put my crafting skills to the test since I had not done anything like this in a loooong time. I came across a very inspring post called Pay it Forward which I decided to post on my blog as well. It turned out to be a really good decision because I had a reason to get back into my craft projects. It is more fun to create something for someone else. So these are 4 of the the eight handmade gifts I made. Obviously, the first four bloggers already received them last week (for the other four lovely ladies, I haven't forgotten about ya).

I took this picture and realized that two "S"s are missing - oops (but I added them before it was shipped). My female cat especially loves Curls and Pearls creation, she just couldn't stop sniffing it.

It is always fun to create something from scratch and let my imagination run free. Amazingly, these hobbies give me a similar effect to the meditation. I feel calm, happy and relaxed.

Do you have a hobby? What is your favourite stress reliever (please don't say "shopping", dont' we all love that ;)?

Express Part II

Can you guess what I like about this particular top? Sleeves!!

I had never been a fan of Express until my recent visit. Their latest collection resembles me of Bebe for some reason. I was thining about going back and purchase a few more items since they offer 15% off the next purchase (too bad it's for in store only). I know it is a trap to get me back there and spend more but I will pretend that I don't know hehe.

One major complain that I would like to make is why in the world you make the top so ridiculously long. Average women/girls do not have the height of basketball players. Who would have a torso that long, please tell me. I would look funny wearing this top untucked. It is almost a tube dress, seriously!

Express shopping@Express

It was not an ordinary day for me when I had an urge to shop. If you have read my blog for a while, you know that clothes shopping is not something I do regulary. I can count on one hand how many times I went clothes shopping in 8 months. My husband and I are on track with our saving goal and we have been doing so good, so why don't I reward myself a bit I thought.

I went to the mall during my lunch (10 mins from work) break earlier this week. Hey, it was a good mid day stress relief from work. Forever21 and Bebe were the biggest disappointments, I should have known especially Forever21.

My pleasant surprise turned out to be "Express", I didn't remember owning anything from this particular brand before (believe it or not) but I was pleased with what I saw. I tried on at least 5 differnt tops in XS. You know I used to be a type of shopper who goes in, grab what I like, never try clothes on and end up with clothes which do not fit. I am quite pround that I have been doing much better nowadays. It takes me a little longer in store but it's worth the effort, I just hate returning things.

Top: RUFFLED-SLEEVE ROUCHED

Skirt: MINI RUFFLE TIERED SKIRT

When I purchased these two, it was not my intention to pair them together at all. I was thinking about using each item for other stuff that I have already had but the color combinations looked quite interesting when I put them next to each other.

Mini skirt is not really my thing. I do not feel comfortable wearing anything above knees but this skirt is too irrisistable and I think I should try something different once in a while. As for the top, it fits nicely and I love the ruffles on the shoulder

I just love the color of this skirt. It is so girly girl but I wish it was longer. I ended up getting two tops (the next one is coming up in the next post) and one skirt. There were so many cute tops which I tried on but their necklines were way too wide and deep. There are so many good looking tops, jackets and skirts on their website as well but I am going to resist my temptation!

Petite Fashion Challenge #1

Okay..here I am with Petite Fashion Challenge # 1 by lovely Jean at ExtraPetite



The Challenge:
Create an outfit for weekend brunch with your girlfriends. The outfit must include one garment that is typically notorious for being a petite "don't." Such garments include: dresses, skirts, or pants that hit at the scary mid-calf length (not cute, cuffed jeans...I'm talking real capris) or below the knee, maxi dresses, full A-lined skirts, or wide-legged pants. If this is too much of a challenge for you, you can take the easy route too with stuff like horizontal stripes, huge prints, or a gigantic belt, or oversized items.

And I picked "a gigantic belt" and "a carpis", the width of the above belt is almost 2 inches and that capris hits mid-calf lenght (woo-hoo two items of diaster and my puffy face)

Ooops..crooked belt in the above picture. Honestly, I really have no idea whether this look is a "yes" or a total diaster. I think it is medicore. I didn't purchase that belt on a purpose, it came with a jacket and I had never used it until today. However, I do think that it would look better with shorts (but I dont' have any or else I would wear them). What do you think?

Carlos Santana shoes~~I didn't know he has his line but good for him lol. Would be perfect to wear to a Salsa dance class :D

But you never told me so~**

I remember how people told me about the wonderful things about having a child. However I don't recall any single person telling me the challenges and downsides that accompany with the previous little angle. So here is my version of "10 secrets that new moms won't tell you".

1) Attention, please (not)

When you are expecting, you automatically get LOTS of attention. It is almost like an instant thing that comes with a purchase and sometimes you just don't have a choice but to be a center of attention. People also give you sympathy more than you ever want especially when you are in your last trimester and you look like you are ready to pop. You want to tell them that you are just prenant, not dying. Strangers in the grocery store would come up to you and talk to you as if they know you forever and start telling you about "things".

2) People no longer recognize your existence
If you survive and get past stage #1 above, I am happy to tell you that you can now relax a bit. The minute you pop that baby out, boy oh boy, people no longer care about you. All the attentions shift to that precious little bundle of joy..forever...YES i mean "FOREVER".

3) Your chance of divorce increases by 100%

That's right! The lack of sleep + frustration of new parents + intervention of well intentioned parents and in laws = a diaster which results in a total meltdown. You never realize how much anger you can have towards your partner until you have a baby. For newlyweds, please wait and enjoy your time as a couple before you head down that direction. Baby brings joy along with stress, frustration and unpleasant mood swing. It takes more than putting a bottle in their mouth to keep them from crying.

If you are a type of person who visualizes that a baby will complete a picture, a baby will make a relationship between man and wife stronger than ever..you are totally daydreaming. While it can be true, it takes so much of your sanity and energy to work as a team with your partner to build a "strong" relationship when you are tired and sleep deprived. Your "perfect" husband (or wife) can be a lousy and mean person that you have never seen.

5) You are a paranoid freak

When you are a brand new mother, you can't help but be concerned about EVERY little thing when it comes to the health and safety of your little angel. People tell you that you overact and are a overprotective mother.

6) You are no longer yourself

It happens when you spends day and night caring for your helpless little baby who entirely depends on you to feed, to love, to cuddle, to change, to rock, to play and etc. You simply realzie that you don't have time for yourself anymore.

7) Lack of sleep is a thing of the present and the future

Baby will sleep through the night after 3-6 months. Those liars! If you are lucky, your baby may sleep through the night for you to enjoy your beauty rest. Most likely, he or she stilll wakes up a few times at night proably until age 4-5 (years old)! There is always soemthing after another when you have a child that keeps your baby (and you) from sleeping through the night. Illness, teething, nightmares, night terrors and so on. Children go through different stage and challenge in their lives and I won't say that things get easier as they get older. On the opposite, the older they get, the more challenges we face as parents. Boy..I won't be prepared when my little girl becomes a teenager. That seems like the worst nightmare but I still have over 11 more years (phewww!)

8) You do not always like your child

When you a part time caregiver or babysit a child temporarily, it is DIFFERENT than when you are a full time caregiver/parent. Temper tantrums are not fun to deal with when your cute little angel turns into a little devil.

9) You have more meltdowns than you can imagine - no further explanation for this one

10) All of sudden you understand all parents out there

I can relate this one to myself as I was not a mother material or a kid friendly person AT ALL in the past. As mean as it sounds, I would rather get a dog or a cat rather than having a child. I used to give a "mean" look to the parents who can't seem to control their young children in public. Now I am in their shoes and I can totally understand how that feels when your child doesn't behave and you just don't know what to do.

By the way, those are my sarcasms of motherhood. You will not believe how much love you can have for a little person. It is the kind of love that you will never experience until you become a mother. Something as simple as little laughs and giggles can change everything in the most wonderful and loving way.

This little rabbit always relaxes in the front yard of my house on hot days. The mulch is moist and cool, perfect for him or her to chill out. I filled up a small container of fresh water and threw some veggies out for this little rabbbit, not sure if he/she ever eats it.

Benefits of Blogging~**

It has been about 3 months since I jumped on the blogging bandwagon. I remember really well how clueless I was at the beginning of this whole blogging thing. I had no clue what to write, what my blog's focus would be and who would read it other than me. In real life, I was as confused as my online life. Motherhood turned my world upside down, I just couldn't find the right balance between motherhood and my "just me time".

Nineteen months ago..the day I gave birth to my baby, it was a major life chaning moment. I literally "gave up" everything I used to enjoy to care for my baby around the clock. I felt "obligated" to be there for her and do everything I could as a mother. I simply added stress and pressure to myself without realizing it. My daily routines were all about baby, chores, cooking along with my full time job at the office, no time for leisure. Period.

My thought was that I fail as a mother if I ask someone for help. Someone had to really pull my teeth to get me to spend my alone time. It was a stupid thought..they are my family and they are there for me. More importantly I NEED a break more than anything else. Taking care of a baby is no easy task, I have a high respect to all stay at home moms and single parents out there. I don't know how they do it. One year and a half later, I EVENTUALITY realized "I have to be happy as a person..as a mother in order to raise a happy child".

So I decided to start this blog as a journey to learn about myself and discover things that I loved to do before my mommy life. It is ridiculous how I totally forgot what my life (without a baby) used to be. Blogging is a like a self therapy, I get to express my thought, stress and whatever I want. Blogging has benefited me in several ways so far.

1) I am having a "me" time here. This blog is all about things I love and what I discover along my journey.

2) I have discovered things I used to enjoy and I am having a great time. It is like getting to know my long lost friends all over again. I am so excited and happy to start my favourite good old time activities such as craftmaking, web design, shopping, gardening, reading (something other than children book!), listening to jazz music, spending more time to bond with my husband, having fun with clothes and make-ups. In addition, I see an opportunity to turn my passions into $$ (cha- ching).

3) I find tons of reading materials and inspirations.

4) I get to know some of the sweetest people in the blogging world. Some ladies who seem very genuine and I surely enjoy frequent interactions with them.

5) I wish to improve my writing skills and organize my thought process. Writing is a powerful and sentimental way of communication, you can touch someone's life in a very profound way.(thanks to you who endure my poor writing skill - I am not a native English speaker, you probably notice)

6) Blogging has changed the way I look at people. I admit that I used to be someone who "judges" others without taking the time to know them. I am sure most of us are that way, in real life or online life. Blogging only represents a small piece of our lives, what people share on their blog does not reflect their entire self being. A girl who owns a beauty blog may be a very successful career woman offline, not just another girl who piles layers of makeup on her pretty face online. We can be whoever we want here and people blog for so many different reasons. It is like a hobby (for some it is a work). It is amazing how much I have learnt and come across so many different type of bloggers within a short timeframe.

7) I am happier. My husband and I have noticed that I have been in a better mood nowadays. My spirit is up because I learn to let my obligations go, enjoy myself and am better at balancing my life as a mom and a "me".

Now...What I have learnt from blogging:

1. It is so darn addictive that I start putting a limit on myself!

2. Gaining followers is like a hunting game. That is not a good thing for me personally. At the beginning of my Blogging experience, I was so excited everytime I gained a follower (I still am these days). I tried to think what would attract readers other than what I really wanted to share. I also came across some bloggers who added me and politely asked me to return their favors. There are some that I am really interested in and visit their blogs on regular basis, the rest I only visit once in a bluemoon . These blogs are ones I followed as a courtesy (do you do that?).
At one point I realized, it is my blog and I should write about whatever I want. I am not going to write to please or attract more readers because I will soon lose interest and fun. I would rather gaining readers who show genuine interest in what I share than having hundreds of followers but only one person reads it. However it is different for bloggers who conduct their business through social networking and nothing is wrong with it (honestly), I know numbers are very important especially if you are selling or in a persuit of sponsorship but please do not do it excessively on my blog. Please be courteous.

From now, my goal is to blog with one focus in mind "blog to learn about myself and to discover inspirations along the way". I hope that one day I can come back and find the fond memories about myself and my passions here.

Last but not least, special thanks to Jean at ExtraPetite, Sydney at PetiteLittleGirl, PetiteXXS, Sydney at PetiteGorgeous and ReallyPetite for your warm welcome to the Blogging world during my early days and your continue support. You ladies make a significant difference in my blogging experience.

What about you? How does blogging benefit you? :)

An outfit that was worn once~**

Have you ever bought something and used it once? I am pretty sure half of us do. I bought this "Bebe Silk Blouse" a while back when I attended a company's party. It was really a last minute find because I found it a day before the event! Since it was a night event, I thought something elegance would be nice. Its price was between $80 - 100, I couldn't remember exactly but it sure was the most I ever spent on one blouse. Then a month later, it went on sale!

The fitting was perfect, I purchased this blouse in XS. I paired it with a black pencil skirt.

Love those laces, beads and embroideries. No jewelry was necessary! It would look more like a sleeping gown without those details though, I thought.

This little purse was a steal..can you guess how much it was? $25 and brandnew! It was very tiny and gorgeous in person.

Never heard of this brand before but later found out it was Brazilian brand. Most of their shoes run from $150 and up but I got these heels for just $50.

That was the only occasion I wore it. Just couldn't think of any other place I can wear this to except for night functions. It is definitely too much for daytime wear, so I guess I'll have to wrap it up and keep it in my treasure chest or sell it.

Ready for Fall~**

I know I am ready for Fall. Not only I am excited about Fall fashion but I can't wait for the brutal summer heat to be over with. The heat index is 98 degree or higher almost everyday in August! It is just crazy hot and impossible to enjoy any outdoor activities right now.

I found several pieces in my closet that I can possibly wear in a couple of months ahead. Mixed and matched them..threw a few twists in by adding a belt and a handbag. My creativity brought me a new outfit without costing extra money.

I love this lightweith white blazer that I bought back home a few years ago. It is pretty cheap but lasts for a long time. I am not quite sure what type of fabric it is but very strechy and light. Perfect for Spring and Summer as well.

Without a blazer - I found this top at Kohl's a while back. It was a little too big to begin with but it shrunk after a few washes.


Close-up shots

I still can't believe it is already August! Time flies when we have fun, doesn't it?

eShakti~**

First of all, I highly recommend my dear friends to check out this article "Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live". This is like a security alert, a wake up call for us bloggers who use different channels of social networkings. It is long but so WORTH reading it for your own sake and safety. I am literraly FREAKING OUT after reading it.

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Okay to the topic, sorry it took me a while to do a review on my 1st order from eShakti. Some of you have been expecting it so here it is. For those who haven't heard about eShakti, you can read my old post here. I ordred a custom size and style Pleat waist cotton poplin dress in canary yellow. I placed my ordered on 8/2. It was shipped within 3 days as stated on the website and my dress arrived 8/9. The package was straight from India.

Image from eShakti.com

Please excuse the lighting, I took these pictures in the evening. The color of the dress is so gorgeous, everything looks exactly like the above picture (except wrinkles). However, when I took this dress out from the package, I went "whoaaa, that's very big". I could tell right away, the sizing was too big.

Their dress was beautifully made. I wish I could show you all the details. The fabric was of good quality but it didn't fit right in certain parts. I ordered a custom size and style but there was plenty of room in the chest and waist areas. The fittings around the armholes, neckline and dress lenght were perfect. Maybe I didn't do the measurements correctly as you can see how much fabric I had in my hand. This particular style is super adorable but somehow not flattering on me at all. Therefore I returned it.

Verdict: Will I order from eShakti again? - Probably. I may give it another shot if only I can get the measurements correctly.

Bebe....**

I love "Bebe" brand for several reasons..their designs are chic and sexy. More of a party girl dress than work appropriate but I love browsing their stores (both online and physical stores).

This Ruffle Front Coat is absolutely feminine and adorable. Love that vibrant color. It was under sale section of the website but my size was not available online. I am dying to get it!

Since that first coat was not available in my size, I was so excited when I saw this cute top but I personally think the open back design looks sort of "strange" and kills the beauty of this top.

Cute..cute..and cute Maxi Dress

This little vest is sexy but I don't think I want to spend that much for it.

Below Ruffle Silk Top is a possibility, I would love to try it on in store.

Oh my goodness, I would not hesitant to buying this beautiful and elegant maxi if I were taller and curvy. Stunning fabric and print!

All images are from www.bebe.com

Pay it Forward~**

Have you ever heard of any random act of kindness that put a smile on your face or done something like that to someone? Last week, I read this post from Joy at HowJoyful and I thought "what a wonderful idea!". The original story is very inspiring and hearwarming especially these days when stress and anxiety to make ends meet arise, when people care less about other people, when people judge others by their outside looks or materials they posses rather than their beautiful inner soul, when people no longer smile to strangers or next door neighbors, when a friend only becomes a friend of interest. What a cold society we we live in these days?

I love a hearwarming story like this one. It simply reminds me that there are still people out there whose hearts are so pure and beautiful. This little boy's random act of kindness turned into terrific movements. This story insprires me to be more concerned and sensitive to other people's feelings . You never know that a simple smile can brighten up someone's day, a simple caring question can save someone's life.

This is not about the value of the gift but it is all about "giving, sharing and making someone's day a little more special". It is about the gift that keeps on giving and friendship that keeps on growing. I thought it is such a fun way to connect with blogger friends whom we often share our thoughts and interests through writing. Plus, who doesn't love a surprise in a mail :)? Here is how it works:

I am going to try my best on the handmade gifts. However I'll make sure to find something thoughtful in lieu of my handmade items if I fail to beautifully craft a gift for you.

Instead of 3 people, I'd like to send gifts to 4 bloggers - 2 of those will be the first two to comment and the other 2 will be picked randomly so everyone has equal chance. You have until noon on Thursday 8/12 to leave your comment and I will identify who the other two are. This is opened to my followers only but for those who are not my followers, feel free to keep "spreading the love" on your blog. I will email each individual for shipping address on Thursday.

You are more than welcomed to copy and paste the above banners to place on your blog when you post about it.

Casual Sunday..~**

It was quite a relaxing Sunday for me this week so I decided to put together a very casaul outfit - yet different and young. T-shirt is a quick find but I thought I paired it with this little gray vest for fun. All three pieces - t-shirt, vest and pants were from overseas.

Under the "brutal heat"..it was HOT!

I wore these Nine West shoes in the photos above. I have this pair for over a year but do not wear them as much. The comfort level is not too fantastic so it is not worth the good look.

I started my "Annual Closet Clean-out" project this weekend and happened to find several long lost items that I haven't worn in a while. It was literally like discovering a whole new wardrobe!! "Do I have that skirt? that top?" I repeatedly asked myself.

Many more clothes, shoes and handbags to come in the future posts.

~ One of my favorite pair of shoes which I bought before a budget spirit possessed me ~

My mom bought this cute little pink handbag for me last year but I haven't used it. Love the sweet girly girl color.

My necklace from Etsy arrived Friday and it looks as beautiful as in the picture. I am very pleased.

Necklace on me..I probably should have put on a different shirt but here it is.

My dress from eShakti is scheduled for delivery on Monday. I do not normally expect for Monday to come but I am quite excited about tomorrow for some reasons!