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.":)

Down with Step 3

I'm done, I'm done! Finally, took Step 3 today, a beast of a test that's 400 questions and 8 hours long. Now, there's that dreaded waiting period of "did I pass??!"

Dog as accessory? It's all the rage in Hollywood, just google Paris Hilton, Ashley Tisdale, Rihanna, Blake Lively and on and on. As for Hiro, he's too big, he's no micro mini maltese or teacup poodle, he won't fit into the palm of my hand or handbang. But he's a full 10-pounder piece of lovey-dovey!

Eye Candy

So, what makes you feel like a kid in a candy store?? Here are my inciting things:

A Louis Vuitton monogram handbag in white muticolor. I don't know this bag's specific name (maybe a Speedy 25 or 30?) but I love the splash of colors on the white canvas, like an artwork. Practically, I wouldn't know how to match it with an outfit, the bag would defnitely have to be the focus while your clothes take a subdued background role. Well, I'm not getting this bag as it would take my whole month salary to pay for it, so luckily, I don't have to worry about what to wear with it!

If a handbag ever took my breath away when I first saw it, this one did! It's a LV Damier Azur Berkeley at around $1,500. I think it's just beautiful. . . the bag, not the price.


The LV Monogram Neverfull. Not sure what size it is, as it comes in 3 sizes. "Neverfull" is a really apt name. This bag purportedly holds upwards of 200 lbs, yeah, my back would break first before this bag does! Sturdy and stylish. Isn't it lovely with the white roses?

Mixin' and Matchin'

Do you ever look in your closest and say to yourself, "I have nothing to wear!" It must be an universal experience for girls. Well, I've decided I'm going to prove myself wrong next time I feel that way. . .with photo documentation of outfits mixed and matched right out of my closet! Also, this helps me remember what top goes with what bottoms, which I can easily forget and so I end up wearing just two outfits the whole summer. Or sometimes, I end up wearing something outside only to realize later the outfit totally didn't work, then it's just regrets, regrets, which is very unfashionable. I dream of one day having a huge walk-in-closet and on the wall, a cork board full of Polaroid shots of different outfits, then it'd be no more, "I have nothing to wear!" Yep, that's how a fashionista roll, or rather just how a scatter-brained girl stay organized. And lastly, maybe this photo-documentation of my outfits will deter my next shopping binge. . .umm, nahh.

The mini skirt outfit. With my fave black tee this season, seriously, it looks good with every jean/shorts! I like these sandles, too. The mini skirt is not suitable for the conservative crowd, though.

I had to have a pair of white pants, don't you love the look of black stilettos with pants? The white purse is a no-go, a sleek black purse would look better.


Ah ha! A place for my white handbag. Super fun and funky top, is it called a muffin top? --I like how the stretchy waistband hides my tummy. W/ white pants and gold/silver strappy sandles.

Here's my super versatile black tee with my skinny jeans and those cute gladiator-ish sandles. Here's the secret: the cinched bottom of the shirt hides my tummy! Hubby doesn't like the sandles but think the rest of the outfit is simple and stylish, which is more to his taste than the more "adventuous" and colorful otufits here.

I'm trying to incorporate more scarves into my outfits. I was inspired by the Californians I saw on our recent trip, then again, the San Francisco weather lends well to scarves. Also, I want to wear more of these boots, just didn't know how until now.

More laid back Texan style: Something I can just throw on and go.

A casual cool outfit with my other skinny jeans. The outfit would be perfect if only my heather grey cardigan sweater is a little longer. Also, you can't tell how much I'm holding in my tummy in the pic, but I am, gotta lose the bulge before I can wear this Mickey Mouse tee.

Finding new ways to use my new red handbag, which is becoming so versatile, I love it. Also, I dug out this barely worn top and red shoes from my closet.

Another fave summer 2008 outfit b/c it's another throw-on-and-go outfit that's more formal than most. I wore this recently, out to lunch with Paul's school friend and his new wife.

Wore this outfit to San Fran, just wanna document it here so I don't forget it. I'm still very much smitten by the whole footless-tights-wore-under-a-dress phenomenon, but I can't find cute dresses to go with the tights. Only if there were more Asian styles here in Texas.

Another outfit with a scarf. I think the colors match rather nicely, but I could be wrong. Hubby again, does not like the scarf thing but I wore this to the library recently and the scarf saved my cold shoulders from the blasting AC (while it was 103 degrees outside, mind you.) Californians could soo wear this outside. My BFF Shoreh knows what I'm talking about!

I'm Proud of my Country

I have been having a taste of being a resident this past week. I thought I'd be horrible at giving orders, supervising interns, etc. It's only been what, weeks, since I was the one that had a upper level to fall back on. Suddenly, I'm that fall-back person.

Luckily, my intern is really nice and receptive. He's from India and actually have finished his orthopedics surgery residency there before coming to the states. He's the wide-eyed intern that most people are when they start. He kept saying how nice all the attendings are here and how much he likes this residency program. He has these horrible stories of residency back in India where residents are too scared to even talk to their attendings.

I'm reminded of Michelle Obama's words in a speech recently, "for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country." Her comment makes me go "ummmm," in a bad way. For her to say that is rather ignorant, not to mention unfitting for a presidential candidate's wife. There are people who would leave their home country AND go through grueling residency training all over again just to be in this country. I didn't even have to ask why my intern wants to be an intern again even though he's already a fully licensed doctor in India. I know the answer, a better life. There are so many foreign medical grads that do this every year. It's what my Dad did for me when he left China in the 1980's. Wealth, democracy, equity, human rights. . .no, these things are not perfect in America, but it shouldn't have to take a foreigner to appreciate the privilege of being an American.

So, for Michelle Obama to say that she's never been proud of America until now, well, obviously, she's never been to India, China, or Mexico.

Cool biking pics

Thanks to Sameer, I downloaded these from his Facebook site.

Now the chronicle of our SF trip is complete.

The Best of San Fran

Take a short picture tour of San Francisco with me. For more pics, check out my Facebook site. Darn blogger limits my picture memory!

We stayed with David, my BIL, at the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. It was within walking distance to almost everything: the Fisherman's Wharf, the beach, and Golden Gate Bridge. Look at that view! The highest incline of any street was up to 31 degrees.

The Golden Gate Bridge in the fog as seen on our ferry tour.


It was so chilly and windy on the ferry, but had beautiful views of the bay city, Alcatraz island, and the Golden Gate Bridge.



The Crookedest St, seriously, that's its name and what it is. See how winding the street is behind us? There's a 5 mph limit. A flower-filled and picturesque place, the Crookedest St is the last part of Lombard St. in the Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Beautiful flowers abound in San Fran.

With my best friend, Shoreh, who just recently migrated from the east coast and is already calling Cali her home. It was so awesome seeing her! We spent the Fourth on the Pier and took a ferry to Sausalito, a city across the bay north of SF.

Another view of the GGB.

Bike the Bridge. Here's David with his roommate, Sameer. On Saturday, the four of us rented bikes and rode along the Pacific ocean, all the way across the GG Bridge, and into Sausalito. We had well-deserved ice cream cones in Sausalito before heading back to SF on a ferry with our bikes. It was a really fun day and awesome way to experience SF.

Stopping for a pic. . . and for me to catch my breath. Biking with 3 guys was hard, being an out-of-shape wimp didn't help either, but I made it!

View of Chinatown at sunset. We had two meals here, different days but same restaurant. It was very good but not anything that Dallas couldn't offer. Some restaurants looked very sketchy to me as in I wouldn't eat there in a million years.

Another day with BFF, Shoreh. Here we are on Sunday at the Fillmore St. Jazz festival where good food is to be had, and one can stroll around with wine or sangria in hand admiring the expensive crafts and brave souls singing karaoke.

Paul and I at the Fillmore St. Jazz Festival.

Food at the festival. Check out the size of those baked oysters! So yummy that I wish I had more.

Caricatures with Shoreh at Fisherman's Wharf. Such a tourist trap, but I don't care!

At the beach at Crissy Fields.

I love the beach, even the unswimmable, chilly beach of San Fran.

Our last meal in San Fran, oysters and clams at the Hog Island Oyster Company.

Oysters on the half shell at the Hog Island Oyster Bar. The best place for fresh oysters in SF. It was uber fresh and full of yumminess. I was never a raw oyster person, but that won my over.

San Francisco was simply wonderful. I am ever so grateful that David is there this summer and had such a awesomely located apartment and cool roommate (Sameer) to boot. We took over David's room and I can only hope the couch didn't do much damage to David's back. I thank Sameer for being so friendly and for letting Paul play with his PS3 every night. Apparently "Call of Duty" is a very addictive game for the guys. It made hubby's vacation that much better.

There are tons of things to do. Of all the touristy things to do, we didn't get to ride the cable cars. The one chance we had, the cable car was full! I would have also loved to take a tour of Alcatraz island, bike to Tiburon, visit Napa Valley, and I can always spend more time at the beach.

It really does take planning to have a good vacation. And I took pains to plan our itinerary and get to know the city beforehand. But no matter how hard one plans, it's always wise to leave a little room for chance. As for my big plans to see the fireworks at the Pier. Well, it didn't pan out. The night got so very cold, so we went home and had take-out Thai food instead, not very patriotic. It turns out the fog was so heavy, even people at the Pier didn't get to see the fireworks. I also wanted to see the adorable sealions at Pier 39, but unknownst to me, they had migrated elsewhere this time of year. Then there are good things that come unplanned, serendipities! While at Sausalito with Shoreh, it was Farmers' Market day so we got to buy the freshest berries and peaches. It was so good!

So, food is definitely a big highlight of of trip. Our first meal was at a hibachi grill place in Japantown, the restaurant (I don't remember the name) turned out to be owned by Rocky Aoki, father of model Devon Aoki. Don't ask me how I know these people, just the random facts I know! The next day, we ate at Scoma's, a nice sit-down dinner at the Wharf where we had large bowl of clams and seafood sautee with prawns, crabs, lobsters, scallops. The dish looked just as beautiful as it tasted, no pic that day 'cause I know hubby would be embarrased if I took a pic then. Then there was the fresh crabs bought from street vendors, clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin's Bakery, dim sum at Chinatown, and oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Bar.

While we were gone, Hiro boarded at Petite Pooch Chateau. If only dogs could talk, but I assume he had a good stay there. The lady there told me Hiro had a "big personality." Now I wonder if that was her euphemism for "naughty" which is perfectly inline with Hiro's personality. Since I've been touting other commercial venues in this post, I will recommend Petite Pooch to anyone in the Dallas area looking for dog boarding places. This was a first for me and I had no idea where to pick, so I actually visited a few places as well as read online reviews. I liked Petite Pooch because it was clean, had a grassy yard, and only accepted dogs <30lbs.

Lastly, I have to say both Paul and I fell in love with the San Fran weather. We would move there in a heartbeat if it weren't for the outrageous housing prices and oh yeah, the little situation of employment. Coming back, the Dallas heat hit me hard, like hubby said today, Dallas "is next to hell." But home sweet home it still is!