With My Whole Heart Thanks!!

I obtained my Zumba 1, 2 and Zumbatomic licenses and now I am an official Zumba instructor. Yey~~~ {I have all my friends' and family's blessing with me the whole time... and, yeah, you know, my dear hubby baby-sitted 3 children all the way in Napa for 3 days just so I can be closer to them while I had my training in Fairfield!! ^O^}


However, even thought now I am an official Zumba instructor, it doesn't mean I am going to teach or stop going to my mentor, my Zumba instructor's class. In fact, after I completed those training, it only inspires me how much effort and time you have to put into practice to be a good Zumba instructor. No matter what style he/she is, no matter if he/she has dancers background, it certainly needs a lot of commitment to be responsible to your students and to fellow instructors who seeks inspiration while they attending another instructors' classes. {*Kudos* to all the Zumba instructors out there and around the world!!} 

{Thank you, Jennifer and Wendy. Good luck to your Zumba teacher career!!} 

Hubby isn't an epicure at all, therefore he doesn't fancy those 3 stars Michelin restaurants. {Although I really wanted to go Michelin star restaurants in Downtown Napa. lol} Good thing is there are a lot of nice casual dining options in Napa without leaving you a big, fat check. Here is one good Thai restaurant- Mini Mango!!

Green Papaya salad.

Short spareribs

Grilled squid Salad

Pad Thai 

Wide noodles in Thai sweet chili sauce 


Chocolate Wonton with ice cream n' raspberry puree 

A little souvenir of monogrammed coaster for me and hubby. 


Nothing beats a nice photo to mesmerize the happy moment forever!!

Cheers,
 Rachel 

Multitasking, without doing it on your own!!

I never notice I loved gray so much that it seems everything of mine such as my bags, my clothes, or shoes and now even my house would all coordinate in perfect harmony.


How?


I'll tell you later! 

Hermes' Gris T. Birkin (Gray-- beige gray), Chanel 08' gray jumbo classic, Alexander wang Gray (lavender) Rocco Duffel bag.  

This whole afternoon while we are making Rugelach (here is the recipe) in the kitchen , our painter finished one wall in our family room as well. {It has been a while since the last time I felt that I am a house-keeper as I am always on-the-go and seldom stay home whole day.} 

Rugelach 

(We only sprinkle cinnamon sugar and almond bits as fillings.)

We all try to be "Multi-tasking", don't we!!!?  But who says we have to do everything all by ourselves!! ^O^ It is just as good as it gets to have someone does house-painting for you and the other one demo./teach us how to make Panna Cotta ( a cold Italian custard, often served with fruit sauce or caramel syrup), Rugelach and Garlic bread!! And then we get to appreciate the nice work done on the wall and enjoy the succulent fruit tart right out of the oven all at once.  How sweet!!! 

I always eat warm dessert with couple scoops of Vanilla bean ice cream!!

It is always healthier to eat your dessert with fresh fruits on top! {No custard nor cream on this fruit tart, just the way I like it!} 



A very special "Thank-you" goes to my little fellow blog reader- Anna (the one with blue shirt)!!  She made a list of 3 semi-home cooking recipes for us so Yu and I benefit the most. She just graduated from high school and is going to be a fresh-man in UC Berkeley this year!! 
{Ah, how I love blogging, and flaunting.....oh, no, I mean she is only 18... so young! ... I know, I am young too!!! *wink*}



Easy and light dessert, Panna Cotta { Ah, we didn't garnish it, maybe we should!! Just to make it  picture perfect?... hum,... anyway... }

before:This is our original wall color in the family room. 

Ooh, la la~~~

I just can't get enough of gray... ( Benjamin Moore paint in Dior Gray.) See how much I love gray and now I have it on the wall as well. Oh, and look at that apple green new floor carpet, it echoes my green wall too. 

after: with nature lighting, and wall lightning 
 

only nature lighting 



with nature lighting and one floor lamp

I love our modern family room very much, how about you!!?
Try a new color on your wall, will you?! ^_*
xoxo Rachel 

Everyday Stylish!!

Weekday look 

BCBG black tee with lace trim, AllSaints grayish black knitting maxi dress, Opening Ceremony crochet leggings, J crew military belt, leather Converse with DIY studs, Chanel garden tweed 11' , Chanel sunglasses, brass necklace, lotta djossou Paris bird cuff

Today as on Saturday 

If you ask me what's the difference of my looks, I'd tell you, "my hair"!!  I have a more relaxed mood to do my hair extension during the weekends as opposite to the weekdays. lol. Ok, that sounds just lame, well, the point is no matter what day it is, you should always try to look into your best and have a smile on you!!

Wishfully my bang is long enough for me to do braiding.... well, if not, I just have to pin it all up.... ^O^



My ODJ 
J Crew metallic sweat shirt, Kapital black cotton jacket with attached scarf, yellow harem pants, banded heels, wool loop earrings, purple feather clip, momo's march sun-beam bracelet, madewell braided bracelet, Club monaco bracelet, Chanel 08' Rodeo Drive in perforated metallic black 





Big kisses to dearest hubby who pulled over our car on the road side just so he can take photos for me as my requests!! ^O^

Live, Love and Play!!

"Jet Lag" is the worst enemy for family traveling with young children. The kids can't understand why they are up whilst everyone else is sleeping and they also can't make themselves go back to sleep again neither. Parents, for instance, US, would be so devastated of wanting to go back to bed. We know that if we don't, we can't keep up the energy, and we might have a headache, or being super-hyper, either way, we know the whole day would probably be ruined that we couldn't enjoy a thing!! 


Well, it never is the case when the family travels back to their hometown where parents' parents can actually watch the kids, right?!! It does feel great when we know there is always someone we can count on, isn't it?


We are up and about since 5 AM this morning. My dad who charges the responsibility of taking care of my 3 kids since yesterday he picked us up in the airport at 6 AM. For him, it must be some kind of achievement, otherwise I couldn't think of the reason why I am so blessed that hubby and I can enjoy an undeniably joyous kids-free time. And because my Dad's help, 3 kids hardly have the problem of being jet-lagged!! 

At 7 AM, the whole crew were hunting for breakfast!! 



I really enjoy the early walk in a traditional market where you can buy the freshest poultry, and live shrimps. 

Above right, Shu Uemura fake lashes with crystal stars.

Below left, an accessory neon green glasses from "框框"！

Eric and us went out for lunch while waiting for Irene to get her hair done!! You know, almost every girl I know would do their hair while they are back in Taiwan. It must be the preferable style, always advanced hair-cutting skill and newest hair curling technique that attract them. They'd be willing to sit in the hair salon for hours...yes, I mean from 2 to 6 or 8 hours straight just to make their hair looks perfect!! No kidding!! As for Me? Nay......, I have patience for everything else but hair!! lol 

"欣葉“...Taiwanese cuisine!!








My ODJ
Etoile Isabel Marant one-shouldered linen-cotton blended blouse, KERAIA (Taiwan brand) boyfriend jeans, Proenza Schouler large satchel, Chanel brooch, Marni horn necklace, San Diego straw hat, Valentino plush/lace bow flip flops



3 of us infused ourselves with a sense of tranquility, a Thai massage, in the afternoon at Villalike. 


Pamper yourself in the tranquil massage!
xoxo Rachel 

Dance, Shoes, Friends and Family!

Summer shoes.



Hermes White CDC. 








Have a good quality time with both your family and friends. 
xoxo Rachel 

Life is All About How you Deal With Every Situation and Dress Accordingly!!

Be Smart and be wise!! 


A family time. 

Fun time hanging/partying out with friends!! 

Chic Choc green eye shadow, blush and Mac gold powdered eye shadow

Friends are always there whenever I needed them....to listen in!!


When Clubbing ~~


Top:
Stella McCartney nude sequins tank
J crew Gold tank (underneath)


Bottom:
no brand lace shorts


Shoes:
Miu Miu studded pump 10'

A moment for myself only......private tennis lesson!!

Finally my racket came and my coach done stringing it for me. Speaking of different occasions, couldn't have done it right without a proper outfit. ^O^

Hum..maybe my right hand should move back a little more.... 


Woman's adidas by Stella McCartney Tennis tank
Women's adidas by Stella McCartney Tennis Skirt
Rebok ZZig 
Orange socks with sequin ankle straps 



The elastic sequined band is attached with the socks.



 No, I am not good at tennis at all, merely a novice!! But I learn hard~~


Did you pick out something that you are not good at it but willing to challenge it recently?!!


How about joining my SHOPBOP $100 GC GIVEAWAY and use it cleverly!!?
xoxo Rachel 

Recap - Valentino Tulle Blouse!

I also bought this $34 lace shorts at "SWAY" in Santa Cruz last weekend. It seems that they have MYSPACE web page currently and just set up their FB account. ^^ The lace on the shorts is very intricate and it probably would look like $$$ with tulle. You know, like the one on Valentino!!

pic. source : Neiman Marcus "Valentino"
(Feather-like volume for this rose shaped tulle blouse and the longer leather trim shorts compliments with each other on this Valentino runway look.)

I love the voluminous tops I layered and when paired with this lace short-shorts, the juxtaposition is now perfect!!

This is my interpretation of tulle/shorts/sheer sexy!! ^^

My ODJ

1. Top:

Prabal Gurung sheer cut-out blouse with feather (10')

American Apparel 3D mesh roses sweater

2. Bottom:

Lace shorts (bought at "SWAY")

3. Accessory:

Chanel 10' Rouge/orange 226 reissue 

Hue patterned nude/hexagon tights

4. Shoes:

Valentino taupe bow platform 09'

Current fave. stuff of mine. 

(Laura Mercier gift set..I adore the scent of coconut scrub, Chantecallie neck cream)

Again, a friendly reminder that I host a $100 SHOPBOP GC giveaway. Please read the post and follow the instruction to get you an entry!! IT'S just that EASY!!! ^^

Have fun on Wed. 

xoxo Rachel