Boudoir

I have many dreams for my house one day. One of which, as I declared to hubby tonight, is to have my very own "girly room." As it turns out, there's a name for it, the "boudoir." No, I'm not talking about a genre of photography but a type of room! Leave it to the French to know my thoughts and all things feminine! Per Merriam Webster, a "boudoir" is a a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room. I envision my boudoir to be a place where my teddy bears can hang out in midst of my clothes, shoes and of course fabulously fun accessories. I want the walls to be some shade of pink and adorned with all things cute. It'll be a place for me to retreat and do my girly things. At first I thought it might just be an over-sized walk-in closet with a generous mirror, but I think I'll have a corner for gift wrapping, and maybe knitting or sewing, too if I ever take these hobbies up. Here are some pics for my future boudoir inspiration.

Dressing room of Carolina Herrera Jr.

The "Princess Room" of Xiaxue.

Girls' Trip

Here's our very first Girls' Only Trip this year which took place in sunny California. That means, no husbands, boyfriends, babies/children, dogs or pagers. This was our first but I hope not last reunion.

Our "reunion" memorialized in sand, which was soon erased by the ocean wave.

At the Santa Cruz beach. As Laurel said, the ocean waves and vista make one contemplative.

I can't help but dream of living in California one day, but hubby never fails to remind me of the inconvenient threats that come with paradise: earthquakes, forest fires, and tsunamis.

Shadow picture, Shoreh's idea.

With Laurel at Firshermen's Wharf. That's an eyeball flower to the left of me!

The awesome foursome, R to L: Joyce, Shoreh, Laurel, and Linda. We've known each other for 16 years!! My oldest and bestest friends.

Obamamania

"Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King Jr could march, Martin marched so Obama could run."

Hazards of Having a Dog

In his short life, Hiro has already chewed up and thereby destroyed 5 pairs of our shoes. Something about me is that I love my shoes dearly. Luckily, the shoes that Hiro have preyed upon and killed have been ones I was only half-heartedly attached to, the ones I truly cherish are hidden in safe high spots. Here's my sequential thought process when I discover the useless carcass of a plaything that was once a shoe: 1. "Oh my gosh, I hope Hiro didn't swallow something bad and having internal bleeding." 2. "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to buy more shoes." 3. "Ohhhh, he's so cute, I have to forgive him."

However, it was different when Hiro broke a key off of my laptop! My precious laptop! Let's just say he was in one of his super-charged hopping mad episode (pun intended)... he jumped then landed hard on my laptop which he mistook for my lap since the said item was on my lap. The letter "K" flew off my keyboard like a mini UFO. Luckily, what's left of the key still works, and luckily, the letter "K" is not a often used key (never mind the fact that I just typed it 6 times!). Aggg, he's too cute, I forgive.

Anyone knows how to repair a broken key off of the keyboard?

Inspired to Clean

This was a very uncharacteristic day in which I came home from work early at 10am due to a scheduling mishap. As if to continue the uncharacteristic theme, I spent the whole day cleaning our home! After getting rid of loads of junk mail and other paper rubbish, dusting off the TV and furnitures, wiping clean the microwave and kitchen counter, washing trash cans (yes, I washed them), organizing my desk and vanity corner, etc., I found myself still with work left and utterly exhausted but wholly satisfied.

If only my hard work will last. . .I'm soo hiring a maid one day when I have more money. Like I said, it's very uncharacteristic for me to get inspired for cleaning.

My Day Off

The good thing about having weekdays off is that when you visit places like the park or store, it's not overcrowded. The downside is of course going to work on weekends, :( Here's our recent picnic and frolic at White Rock Lake. Yeah, we always go to the same spot.

"Too much sun in my face!"

Car ride home, "I'm pooped". . .

. . .Maybe not.

Once Upon A Wardrobe

On a whim, I decided to create a new blog dedicated to my inner fashionista and shopoholic tendencies. So from here on out, I will post my wardrobe thrills/experiments at www.onceuponawardrobe.blogspot.com. Unfortunately, "Inside My Closet" as a blog name was taken already, so I came up with a new name.

Actually, I haven't been shopping in a while ( a month or so) since starting my CCU month, but I've got enough fodder in my closet to keep me experimenting for a while. Lovin' the fall weather!

Hiro the Ominvore

I admit, I have been having fun feeding Hiro various non-dog foods. Not to mention that he seems to love it too. I just feel bad that his main sustenance consist of dried nibblets out of a paper bag. I mean, how natural of a diet is that for a dog? Over the summer, Hiro would devour watermelon with us everyday. Now that watermelon season is over, he's been crunching on apples and Asian pears every time I eat them. He also likes the occasional carrot, boiled eggs and cheese. In fact, he's got a sweet tooth so that makes most of the fruit family. He's not too much a vegetable guy but loves the really special occasion turkey leg bone and pork ankle bone. And our latest bon appetit adventure? Steamed acorn squash! I love it, too, so I'm going out to get some more.

Auto Theft

There was another announcement from our condo listserver about an recent auto theft. I wonder if that was the night I was woken up by loud car alarm going off. My car was getting conspicuously dirty and had thought to ask Paul to get it washed it for me, but now maybe I won't and the dirtiness of my car will deter the auto theives. You think?

What does Luck have to do with it?

It was one of those days that started so early that by the time it ended, the morning felt like it whole another a day ago. I was home at night before I remembered the jarring event that started my day. . .I was driving to work in the dark 'cause that's how it is at 5:30 AM in the morning, when I suddenly noticed a bicyclist literally just 20 feet ahead of my SUV! I quickly swerved to the other lane, so LUCKY that there was no car on the other lane, and even LUCKier because I didn't hit the bicyclist who had no reflective gear on him nor the bike! It was impossible to see him on a non-lit street. I wanted to yell out, "you idiot!", "do you want to die?!" but I quickly began thanking God for not allowing me to hurt someone and for bypassing (no pun intended) what could have been a tragedy. I had literally just missed hitting the man by a second! Yes, I felt lucky and grateful.

Now I'm thinking of an exchange of words that happened between my attending and a patient that same day. The conversation went like this,

Dr. B: You husband had a mini stroke and it has since resolved. It turns out he didn't have a full-blown stroke. He's a very lucky man.

Patient's wife: Luck has nothing to do with it, it's BLESSING, that's what it is, BLESSING.

The wife was so emphatic with her answer it reminds me of the mannerisms of a preacher teaching Sunday school or a politician rebutting his opponent.

LUCK and BLESSING?? What are their relationship, if any? Are luck and blessing the different sides of the same coin? Are they the same thing? Or some will say "there is no such thing as luck."

I wonder what will my patient's wife say to the spouses of the many many patients who have strokes and end up aphasic and paralyzed? Were those patients simply unblessed or damned? Was I blessed or just lucky to have avoided that accident on the road this morning? I certainly felt both lucky and blessed at the same time. Then how do I explain the poignant and tragic interview I saw on Oprah with a grandmother who accidentally ran over her young grandson while backing out of the driveway. Why? Why did I not hit the stupid man on his bike and the grandmother killed her beloved grandson? Does luck or blessing have anything to do with our similar but different scenarios?

The crutch of the problem for me is when one says "I am blessed by God because of such and such" that is to say others who are in opposite situations are NOT blessed by God. Does anyone have such power to make such a statement for God --whom He blesses and whom He doesn't? Yes, there are blessings in disguise which we find out later. But are "blessings in disguise" ever include untimely deaths of loved ones?

Anyways, just some of my thought. Good night.

the black blazer

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness. . .

. . .gosh, I need to be working on both. . .

. . .after residency.

Ambulatory Medicine

This outfit is what I wore to my last day of work this past Friday, I had my white coat over it, of course. Except I wore a pair of wedge-heeled peep-toes instead of these strappy sandles which are not meant for long hours of wear, I learned from one painful experience. Normally I don't wear the likes of this outfit to work because it's too cutsey and more fitting for a garden tea party or something. Yes, why don't someone invite me to a tea party? I'll find a big straw hat to match!

August has been my amublatory medicine month. A non-medicine friend asked me if "ambulatory" had anything to do with ambulances? Actually no, I always thought ambulatory meant that patients are ambulatory or able to walk, so they are walking in and out of the clinic. In any rate, ambulatory medicine is the same as outpatient medicine, as opposed to inpatient medicine where patients for the most part have to stay inhouse and can't be walking in and out.

I have possibly re-discovered my calling, ambulatory/outpatient medicine. What a great month I've had. In a nutshell, 8-5 job, weekends off, no nights. Most people's jobs are like that, but to me, it was a nice respite, a breath of fresh air. For a month, I was not a slave to my pager, I didn't stay at work a mintue past 5pm, and my weekends were my very own. I also loved the pace of outpatient medicine, I felt comfortable, in my element and competent. Our resident clinic has a fantastic bunch. Blanca and Javier (MAs), thanks so much for being always ready to translate, Ada (MA) for making breakfast tacos on my last day, Kathy (head nurse), for being the glue that holds the clinic together, Sim and Bettina (nurse and MA) for catching my documentation mistakes. And of course my two attendings, Dr.H and Dr.M, whom I've learned a lot from, not just strictly about medicine but about mixing life and medicine.

September means goodbye weekends and hello wards (inpatient medicine). In our residency program, being an upper level on wards means working all the weekends, we take our days off during M-F only. I will be on call the very first day of the month. Being a resident on call means cross-covering for the ICU when the ICU team has gone home, supervising interns' work, doing admissions fromt ER, and heading the codes anywhere in the hospital. It's a bit nerve-wracking just typing about it. Then again, I was ever so nervous when I started off as an intern one year ago. Just as I finally got good at being a intern, the bar is raised. I never feel that I'm quite ready or tall enough to reach that bar but somehow it gets done.

The Good, the Bad, and the Misc. . .

. . .not necessarily in that order.

Don't know if this outfit works at all. Do I look like someone out of Star Trek? This is an oversized "boyfriend" vest with tights and boots.

I found this white cropped jacket I like, but are these jackets still in fashion? I'm not sure but it's cute anyways. The white jacket is hard to match with stuff I already have. I like how the flared top looks with the jacket but the color of the top is just a tid-bit too dark for the bright white jacket. If the orange was a shade lighter, more pastel-like, it'd be perfect.

That same orange top with shorty shorts and my new white bag. I really like the white bag although the picture doesn't show its full details. I love white handbags as an accessory and it's actually not so hard to mix and match. I put together this outfit for the scorching hot Texas sun, but it shows just a little too much skin.

Another summer outfit, don't feel so exposed in this one 'cause the short is a bit longer and my shoulders are covered. I have since returned the big bright blue bag, I've decided the color is just going to be too hard to work with. Although it would look good with a plain black T-shirt now that I'm thinking about it. Oh well, I have enough bags as it is so unless I absolutely love it, I shouldn't keep it. Also, these shoes are called "kung fu" shoes, I just learned, funny huh?

Grown-up outfits

There's a fear in me these days that I don't dress my age, meaning perhaps most of my outfits are too high-school-ish. Well, more on that later. But these outfits here I put together for work so I'd look professional and stylish, and definitely NOT juvenile.

I love the color and ruffles of this blouse. I will wear it with a pair of grey slacks, too.

I've decided white pants CAN go under a white coat. I really like this sheer top with a camisole unerneath.

There's these shoes that I love

This pair of shoes caught my attention because it's unique and pretty. I've seen these shoes atleast on 3 different occasions in the stores but I said to myself, "silver shoes?! What am I going to do with silver shoes?" Well, it was not until this lasting shopping trip that I knew. And now it was on sale, too so I had to take it home with me.

Kitten heel slingback in silver by Arturo Chiang. I didn't know how he was, but now I know he's a shoe designer. Definitely will keep my eyes out for his stuff from now on. Here, those shoes are paired with my favorite yellow dress and a long string of pearls. Don't the shoes look dainty?

In it's full glory. Contrary to my prior beliefs, these silver shoes are actually very versatile and will go with a variety of outfits.

Two of the most good-looking things I have! What could be better! Hiro, the uber-cute maltipoo pup. "Good dog, don't chew mommy's shoes."

Olympics 2008

The Olympics commenced in Beijing China today at 8:08pm on 8/8/08. I enjoyed writing that date all day long. Chinese auspicious number eight!

How to wear a red belt

I bought this wide red pleather belt last year in the hope to match a black and white polka dotted dress. Well, the belt was too long and the excess material looked bad and I no longer have that black polka dot dress. I was resigned to thinking that this belt is one of those "bad purchases" that'll just retire in the abyss of my closet." BUT, I was looking through Kasmira's blog and she had a post about how to wear just such a excessively long pleather belt like mine!! All I had to do was to take the excess length and feed it through the buckle again in the opposite direction. The result is a uber-cute bow! This is ingenious, wish I was that creative. Take a look:

Red belt with old pieces from my closet. With a hint of 1920's chicness given a modern twist.

A red and white flowery dress. This was a $6 dollar dress because it was missing the orignal waist band/belt it came with but otherwise was in good condition. The dress was a little too big but the belt brings it in. The skirt part is really full and has a second layer. Not shabby for $6, the belt costed more!

Blue plaid dress. Another $6-ish dress. It was also missing it's orginal belt (I know b/c of the empty belt loops). I'm sure it was an older item that the store just couldn't sale, hence the big discount. But these are dresses that will never go out of style. I really like the length of this dress, not too short, not too long and plaid is always a fashion favorite.

Same dress with a grey cardigan and those silver Arturo Chiang shoes. Somewhat of a 60's look?
~

I do love a good deal but yes, it's rare to find such good fitting dresses for so less on the sales rack. I think they were considered damaged goods (belts missing and old items) but they were my treasures to be found. :)

Fashion Blogs.

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of fashion bloggers out there. Some are devoted to a single fashion item, like denim or purses and other cover all-purpose fashion material. Many have become famous enough to have a strong and loyal fan base and that have garnered them money-making advertisements and free promotions. Pretty cool to be doing what you're passionate about and earning a few bucks. Here's a few that I visit frequently.


1. Ma Petit Chou
http://www.ma-petite-chou.com
The blogger is a Chinese Canadian and she posts all kinds of fashion from couture to everyday. She introduced me to Yesasia and Yesstyle, a Korean on-line shopping place. I don't shop on-line 'cause I have to try on and feel my clothes before I commit but I love Korean fashion so I visit Yesstyle to "window shop".

2. Frugal Fashionista
http://frugal-fashionista.blogspot.com
This site features a different celebrity outfit almost daily. Then it tells you how to copycat the same outfit for much less at affordable prices. This is where I ascertained the fact that skinny jeans are still "in" as evidenced by Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan. Okay, these two people are not worthy role models in terms of their personal lives, but they are the vanguard of trendy fashion, hands down.

3. Kasmira's What-I-Wore-Today
http://whatiwore2day.blogspot.com/
Kasmira is a prolific blogger who's been blogging her daily outfits since 2006. She is super creative and have a uncanny sense for colors. Her outfits are always bold in colors and she's not afraid to bend fashion boundaries. In fact, her favorite pair of shoes are yellow pumps! Her svelte figure makes her look good in about eveything she wears although her eyes at times look scarily large to me. I visit her site for insipiration and admiration.

Anthony Boudain

I don't know why but I feel like writing about Anthony Boudain. He is a chef, a writer, and most notably the host of the show, "Anthony Boudain: No Reservations" on the Travel channel. He travels around the world, dipping his hands and tongue into some of the world's best and most exotic foods. This past week on the Travel channel, they were doing specials on China given the Olympics and all. Both hubby and I love Anthony Boudain's show because he's so entertaining, witty in his speech, and the food looks so delicious that I dream of going to the same places he's been.

Here's a couple of quotes by Anthony while in China:

"Given my relationship with livestock in this life, I might just come back as my favorite snack in the next life. . .the pig."
--While contemplating Tibetan religious beliefs in Lhasa.

"Even if you haven't had Chinese food, you've had Chinese food, whether it's in pasta or dumplings."
--While walking on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China

A few more caveats about the show. A warning message about offensive material precedes every segment of his show. Yes, he's foul-mouthed but that's all bleeped out. I think they are talking about the actual food that's on the show. All I have to say is that no parts of any genitalias of any animals should ever be eaten, ever. Just my opinion. I consider myself an adventuous eater. I AM Chinese, afterall, so I love the intestines and pig ears and even chicken feet, but after watching the show I realize that unlike Mr. Boudain, I DO have some reservations about what I eat.

It's all in the gray

What's the difference between "gray" and "grey"? I don't really know, but I do like the color.

Found this cute flowery summery yellow and grey dress. Look at the fringes! Interestingly, it is a size 16, hmm, must be a kiddie size. It fits super well. In kids' size, the shoulder straps are closer together and the chest area is higher up, both things I like. I also have a few camisoles in x-large kids' size from Target. Again they cover more of my chest area and are my essentials for layering. So, back to the topic, this dress is sooo cute in the grey calf-length leggings and the Arturo Chiang shoes. One of my favorite outfits recently by far.

Tokidoki brand clothing. Here's a model wearing a cute pink crewneck sweatshirt in size S from www.karmaloop. This is the first time I've heard of the brand but it features Japanese comic-con like characters.

Here's me wearing it in size M. I thought "cute, cute, cute" when I saw this shirt. But I was a bit hesitant to buy it, the pink is really a really bright baby/powdery pink (almost a "loud" pink, if that makes any sense). Also the style is very teen-ish, no? Call it urban streetwear, whatever. But I love it, especially with my new grey skinny jeans, pair #2.

I did return the purple halter top in exchange for this bluish one, I don't know exactly what color this is but I like it better, and it goes with the white jeans I have. Look at Hiro at the corner, hehee.

Yay or Nay?

I love layering, color schemes, and putting together the old with the new.

Some cute finds today. A pair of cute red and white striped flats, a pair of Rocketdog shoes (casual but with heels!), and a sparkly yellow scarf.

A $3 dollor dress, no joke! Not sure if the shoes match, but I can atleast wear the dress as a comfy house dress.

Close-up of my new flats. I liked it immediately when I saw it but I don't yet know what to wear with it. I admire these Asian fashionistas who manage to put together an outfit with a rainbow of colors that somehow all fit. I don't have that talent, yet.

Not too imaginative of an outfit, but the shoes add a cutesy flair.

So, here's to my love affair with tights. A grey tunic dress with those grey Rocketdog shoes. Asian girls are so good about wearing everything with tights, I'm just catching on.

Same outfit with a dressy coat that I bought from Taiwan last year.

Brown bubble dress with brown tights and brown ballerina flats. Yeah, the color scheme is not really exciting. I like the dress despite that it's a little youngish and shape-less looking.

With a brown cardigan for layering.

Halter tops are great, stylish with a touch of formal but not too showy. This is one in eggplant color. I'm thinking about taking it back to exchange for a turquoise one since turquoise will match my white jeans. But perhaps I'll just get two since it's only $7 each.

I also like the back detail of the tied bow.

I had a shirt like this as a child, my mom called it "bat wing" shirt. And here's my new white jeans from Express.

Because yellow and black looks good with white.

What do you think of this long cardigan on this outfit, yay or nay? I finally get to do something with these jewlry.

Grey tops go really well with white jeans.

I love it when I pull out different pieces of clothing in my closet and start experimenting. What do you think of this result? Yay or nay?

A close-up. A flower necklace I bought on sale while back.

Perhaps it's an okay outfit. Hubby didn't like the boots, but I was like, "this outfit is all about the boots!"

Yay or nay? I say "nay", the top is a tad too short, it's suppose to be a shirt to wear with jeans.

"Frumpy" comes to mind, but even frumpy can be fashionable when done the right way. I don't know if this is more frump or more fashion, but either way, I know it's a quite comfortable outfit so perhaps it doesn't matter.

With my warm boots if the weather drops a few more degrees. I'm looking forward to cozy fall weather already.

And this concludes another look "Inside My Closet.":)