A Day - Well Planned!!

I signed up as a volunteer for Niel's school. His school organizes a Project Cornerstone for parents to read books to each class once a month and do some fun activities according to what book is about. I am glad that I have a parter, Mark, whose son also goes to the same class as Niel. And he is a well-experienced volunteer for school.

9:00 AM

Today's book: "Have you filled up your bucket? "
Everyone has to write a "warm fuzzy" = nice words to the other classmate.

  How does it work? If I said that I am so grateful to have you stopping by my blog and leaving me a comment. I am filling up your invisible bucket!! Then, if I have a smile/Thank-you words in return, we are filling each other's invisible bucket. We'd both be so happy!! ^O^ 

10:30 AM
Figured I have only 3 hours alone and should put it to good use. ^O^

My ODJ.


1. Top:
Free people taupe lace tube top
Anthropologie jersey and silk shirt
Ports 1981 sequin cardigan 


2. Bottom:
Joie high waist leather shorts


3. Accessory:
Louis Vuitton silver loop w/ 3 signature charms earrings
gray socks
two tones croc embossed leather belt
Chanel 09' cruise matte white 227 reissue


4. Shoes:
Alexander Wang Abbey sandal heels 


It turns out this Ports 1961 second hand cardigan $89 is so practical to me. 


Same shade but different textures will give your same colored outfit some depth and fun. 

I intended to leave my bag unbuttoned...but I guess I won't even dare to do that when travel to Italy this November. 

Then I start putting Halloween pieces around my house... untill....... gotta go picking up Niel from school at 2 PM, and dropping off for Chinese class at 3:30 PM. Again, picking up Ilona and Heidi from school around 3:45 PM. Running errands in between, then picking up Niel at 4:30 PM and rushing from Cupertino to Los Gatos for both Niel and Heidi's 4:45 PM Piano Class. .... VROOM, VROOM ~~~~ (Of course I am, we are, late for 5 mins when we were there about 4:50 PM already.)

Anyone wants to be hired as private chauffeur?  lol

5:35 PM

It is 6:30 PM when we arrived home for dinner. Who says that I'd be Super relaxed and FREE when kids are all gone for school????!! 

"WOMEN and CATS do as they please. 
Men and Dogs should relax and get used to the idea!!!"

Have you filled up your bucket yet?
Have a good laugh!
xoxo Rachel 

Are You Dizzy?!!

Are you dizzy by looking at me?

Hope NOT!!

I am in a mood of being a busy owl these days... loving owl, thinking about owl and even stay up late like a nocturnal owl!!! ^O^

I went back to Castro st. in SF city to pick up Niel, Heidi and Ilona's pottery pieces. I also did a fun shopping in the neighborhood. I am surprised that there are a lot of cute stores hiding next block of homo-sexual district. (no offense here.)

My ODJ.

1. Top:

• Michael Angel digital print t-shirt dress
• H&M shoulder details cardigan

2. Bottom: H&M camouflage drapery skirt
3. Accessory:

• BR ivory beads necklace
• orange striped cotton belt from my M Mission dress
• Chanel 09' distressed white reissue 227

4. Shoes:
Lawrence Decade white peep toe lace up...... (Cathy and Pei insist me to change the laces on this heels...so I did!!!)

I received couple compliments because of my shoes today!!

I can't help doing all the layers these days.^O^

I let Michael Angel shirt hanging longer than my skirt....

Then we went to Betsy Johnson in Fillmore st. w/ Cathy....she wants to try some leggings AGAIN.....

We found an interesting home decor. vintage store in Castro st. and I bought this cute owl sculpture by c. Jere (signed).

Too bad, the owl had one broken leg... but I still adore them!!!



Aren't they the cuties owls in the whole wide world!!


I found this vintage bird necklace ($125) which is a great alternative to Erickson Beamon's ($640). .... still debating....

I must admit...there is no comparison between them..... this one is too precious!!!


Owl clocks.


Those owl looks like they need the sleep.....^O^!!

Good nite..... or good morning......

See you tomorrow.
xoxo Rachel

Winter White Glamor AND The Prettiest Christmas Tree ... w/ Christmas Gifts!!!

The YEAR OF 2009 is almost GONE!!

I always wear WHITE during winter season and just in time I had an inspiration from Chanel 09' look. 

Skip the poncho, otherwise you will be a COPY CAT!! JK! :P

The key is to have a white sweater/sweater dress, a pair of WHITE hosiery and leg warmers which I got them couple seasons back and never thought of pairing them together until today!

I like to wear things my unique way...... Oh, yes, my personal style!!! ^O^

My ODJ!

 1. Top: 

• Earl Jean chain-link shirt
• MNG white crew neck sweater

2. Bottom:  Orange Boss mini white jean skirt

 3. Accessory:

•  Erickson Beamon for Target necklace n' earrings
• BR distressed silver studs belt
• White patterned hosiery (bought at Anthro. last season)
• Beige color leg warmer (bought couple years ago)
• Chanel 09' distressed white reissue 227 

4. Shoes: Orange Boss two-toned mary-jane heels

I am so glad that I thought of this Erickson Beamon for Target necklace n' earrings this morning, and those clear/crystal accessories are a big thing for 2010 s/s runway as well.

All the pieces I kept for years and they are my classic in my wardrobe!!

Cathy and I went to Y-3 and I bought some pieces for DH as Christmas gift. They are having 30% off sale. 

Cathy bought their signature RED sneakers, while I also got a white shirt for $54 (classic look forever) and a very cool legging w/ 3 Adidas signature strips at back of the calves!!!!! lol

We all love what Cathy did for her hair....braids!! :)

After our kids messed around at Y-3 store, we were off to Anthropologies!! Oh, the SA in Y-3 are very nice and they didn't give us white eye balls for our kids messing around ... hha.....

 
r - for me, Rachel ; s - for DH, Santo!!
But I didn't buy them...hahahaha.....  (30% off for $6 each, I bought for my friend instead.)



 I prepared a little gift bag for my friend, Ann, who gave birth to her 2nd daughter one month ago and had her birthday couple days ago!! :) M is for her DH!!





Cathy and I were playing w/ those cute hair pins.... i love them but never really wear them!! 
I put them all back to shelf after done playing! :P


For our age, enough is enough!!  Isn't Blair who eventually takes off her hair-band in the show to show that she is grown-up!!! :) Enjoy them while you can!!

Next.....then I saw this cropped cardigan and I can't get my hands off her. I love the color, the tartan style, and the intriguing embroidery.

This is such a cute cardigan and if you keep it well, it will be a classic piece in your wardrobe!!

I am thinking of giving this cardigan to Ann for her birthday gift.....oh, should I...cause' I like it so much myself too!!!! Oh...... would you want something like this for your birthday??!!!:)




The embroidery is so dedicate.  This cardigan would not need to do style at all, it yells out style for everyone who simply wears it!!!

Then we went back to our home.....kids still need their nap and I get to have time to blog about EVERYTHING!! :P I start wrapping gifts for DH, DD, DS and for friends as well. I suddenly realized that our Christmas tree need "PRESENTS" underneath, otherwise, it wouldn't be a Christmas Tree at all!!

I like the bird on the tree ornaments which would give the tree a little look of being alive!!


The star beings to tarnish but I think it gives a nostalgic whimsical look to the tree!


A Reindeer in the blow-glass!



I have couple more angels on our Christmas tree as well.

Just a thought, I read about "YES or NO on recycling gifts" on Simple magazine this month,  I must agree that I DON'T like receiving nor giving recycled gifts at all. 

Well, one exception, if you think I can't tell it is gifted by someone else to you, or you tell me frankly that it is something that I might LIKE even it is gifted by someone else!!!!

Come on, people can tell if it is a gift from your heart or not!!!............... :)

It seems there is not enough Christmas gifts yet.......oh, MINE is all missing!! ho ho ho........ :P


Oh, gotta go wrap some more gifts for our gift exchange party!! :)

Blazer + Leggings!! The Ultimate Two Things for tis' Fall/Winter.

No matter your figures are tall, petite, chubby, muscular, skinny, slender, pear shape, boyish shape, apple shape or curvy shape, ......etc., must you have two up-to-date pieces in your wardrobe for this fall/winter --- blazer and Leggings. Seriously, they are an instant eye-catching outfit and never could go wrong on any type of body figure!!!

I just completed my blazer collection yesterday by adding ONE gray blazer/tuxedo style/jacket in my wardrobe. If you know me way back since last year, you must see my tuxedo style Emporio Armani wool jacket which I wore them to Paris last Nov. 2008. So pick a classic color such as black, gray, white or camel, it will be classic no matter what the style is!! ( I strongly believe that! :) )

I carried my-then-newly-bought Chanel Rodeo Drive large tote 08.

A local market next to the apartment we stayed in Pairs 2008.

Most my ensembles when visiting Pairs are leggings/pants tucked inside boots and that wool jacket. I never thought I had one single boring pic. for that trip!! :)

After you fab. girls vote from yesterday, I decided to wear just blazer and leggings for the rest of this week!!! Oh, can I do that? huh...? Let's see then!!!!!

My ODJ!

1. TOP:

• Tsesay coral wool tulip dress

• Plastic Island long (boyfriend) blazer

2. Bottom: Wilfred riding style leggings
3. Shoes: Givenchy wedge boots
4. Accessory:

• Banana Republic edition gold tassel necklace
• Chanel 09 cruise matte white reissue 227

I always seem to find boots w/ unique leather grain/pattern to it.




Thursday is Ilona's busiest day, she has painting class in the morning and swimming class in the evening.
Considering she is only 2 yrs. old and 2 months. :) Hum...maybe I should sign her up for modeling!!! ha ha ha.. JK!!


I don't know if weather is the #1 culprit for to blame for Ilona's Eczema back in the March, it seems all gone until next year!! (I should keep my finger crossed) :)


A simple feminine coral color dress would really soften the assume-to-be boyish look of blazer and leggings outfit.

Thoughts for your outfit!!!

Do you girls know what's the color would most flatter your skin tone?

I am not talking about eye-shadows. (the colors of best eyeshadow for you are different from clothes you put on and I know neutral color like brown, taupe, camel would flatter most woman's eye)

Why do I ask? I am desperately looking for the answer myself recently because of my acting class. You know, when you can't do whole black outfit or even black n' white outfit for audition, picking a perfect ensemble is a hard task!!!

I can answer what colors I like easily but when I seriously think what colors of outfits would compliment me, I stunned. I would only answer maybe... this or that, but never thought of the differences between colors I like and colors of clothes which compliments me the most!! lol hah... Ok, I think I need to jog down at least 3 colors look best on me in the future!! No black and white!! hehe...

I didn't sleep until almost 3 AM yesterday... geez, look at that black circle underneath eyes... *sigh*.