Adapted!!

We are back from Lake Tahoe ski trip. Kids and all of us had a great time and the best parts is that I finally can maneuver the snowboard freely!! Yeah~ I even went on blue lane/route w/o fear!!

I am glad that we have this long weekend to rest and glad that we went to Lake Tahoe earlier than everybody else. The traffic is pretty bad on Sat. morning when we drove home!

Make a note to myself:

• Don't go skiing on the long weekend if we don't have to. 
• Rent kids' ski equipments in advance so they can still have fun w/o attending ski camp. 
• Bring a nanny/sitter if there are more than 4 kids and when everyone wants to go skiing instead of watching kids. ^O^ 
• Wear as many protection pads as possible when go skiing or snowboarding.  I wore helmet, wrist protector, knee pads and even bought a butt pad when practicing snowboarding!! (Just so you are not afraid of fall and thus learn as quickly as possible. lol)

Kids had their make-up piano lesson this morning. Ah, should the teacher be so disciplined that we parents dare not to take a one week break. :P 

 A frozen yogurt treats after their piano lesson.

Every year, during this time of the year, before I figured out what fashion trends I am going to dig in, I always shop at vintage store. Yes, even my friend, Isabel, noticed this eccentric habit of me!! That she thinks I had to find a way to spend, .....oh, no... to keep me from being bored!! 

However, not anymore!! I decided to change that habit!! I figured if I want to look refreshed and get ready for the spring, why not shop IN MY OWN closet and re-mix the style!! I got lots of vintage clothes already, didn't I ?!! ^O^

My ODJ.

1. Top:

M Missoni ruffle front sweater

2. Bottom:

Gucci cropped flared pants

3. Accessory:

white cotton bow collar (taken from other clothes)

Oscar de la Renta 11' sapphire earrings

Louis Vuitton perle vernis tote (as messenger style)

4. Shoes:

Lawrence Decade white lace-up booties 

Flared jeans/pants are in this season, let's go back and have fun w/ 70s' style! ^^

The detail is the "collar"!


Super cute and super refreshing!!
Both YSL 2011 S/S (style.com)

After fashion, let's go back to cooking at no time!! I had a great salad for lunch and here is the re-creation for dinner. I sub bacon for turkey for the crunchiness and add pear and sweet pepper for a fuller portion of salad as I am making a dinner.

What's the tip for tonight's dinner? If you can use only one or two pots/pans to prepare dinner, then keep everything simple. Although I can always use dish-washer to do the cleaning but just imagine how depressing it is after done dinner and when you look at the piles of pots and dishes awaits there.

My kids love sun dried tomatoes cream sauce
(it doesn't have to be sun-dried tomatoes...as long as it is tomatoe cream sauce)!


This reversible grill pan is awesome that I can place it right on top of my stove. 


(You can have those perfect grill marks on chicken breast and turkey/bacon in no time at home.)

some mushroom


Blue Cheese Crumbles


mixed green + sweet pepper + pear + blue cheese + turkey/bacon bites + grill chicken breast = Healthy and no fuss salad! 


Looking at that turkey bacon bites, I think I can even throw in dried cranberries for more vibrant colors!! ^^


You can have any kind of dressing. (My kids' fave. Deep roasted sesame dressing)
 (cut-off calorie: You probably don't even need dressing at all.)




Irene gave my kids those cute Micky mouse pasta!


Ta da~~
 A light pasta/salad dinner!


Ilona already pass out by 8 PM while I am blogging. I think we all adapted quickly, for the regular routine, for the eating habit, for the shopping habit, and for the whole family!

 Have a good rest of the weekend!

xoxo Rachel

Ahead of The Game!!!

This is ME dressed as Samurai look at Feb. 2010 ...here is the link to original post!! (For this old post: Please let me warn you that you can skip a whole lot of self-meditating talk at upper half post and scroll down to the bottom pictures!! lol.)

Here I cinch Marc Jacob dress w/ thick white leather belt as it would stay the way as is. 

So, what exactly are we look at here?

The belt!! 
The Martial or Samurai look whatever it is will be the hottest way to "accessorize" in 2011. 


2011 s/s Sonia Rykiel runway!!

I thought fabric belt cinched looks are familiar and it is not just Sonia Rykiel, there are also Haider Ackermann, Dries Van Noten..... they all up to the feminine w/ a twist of this tough-it-out belted look in 2011. 

 

I need a hair cut...yes, I know, "again"?!! 
I am not so sure what's the hottest trend for hair-do but I hardly stand my hair "style-less" for a week. ^O^ At least, I probably would want to grow my hair whilst keep the bob shape at back.  
( Barton perreira cat eye sunglasses n' Oscar de la Renta sapphire 2011 earrings.)

There are couple days left before new year, and new quarter of school begins. I am sure everyone hopes for the best in 2011 and so do we. 

Me and couple family friends went to Jelly Belly factory today. Kids are the most excited ones as they sampled a lot of jelly beans w/ lots of flavors. However, I'd give you an advice: "Tour the factory when it is in production"!!!!

Why?

I assume it is still holiday so unluckily, we can't see those cute tiny jelly beans being produced, polished, nor packaged on the assembly belts...... what a bummer, right?!!! We can only imagine it from viewing videos and watch those resting robots in the factory whilst listening to tour guide's explanation.*sigh*~~~

Lollipop~~ Jelly pop~~ Babes~~ :P



Do we look like Jelly Belly nurses or Marine chicks...? haha...



American Apparel 3d mesh jumper, Marni 10'A patched pants, Rochas pony hair leopard mid-calf boots, A. Wang Rocco duffel bag in gray.

Enjoy the last couple days of holidays!

xoxo Rachel

Refined!

Never thought the winter shadow could be so vivid and slender ~~
no bundle up if I don't have to!! ^^


hum.... I need to take a closer photo to show you Oscar de la Renta earrings.... 
they are huge and they are my ideal statement earrings supposed to be.

You know what's so great about living in west coast/California per se?
You can mix n' match all the clothes altogether all year round.... 
(Oh, no, I don't think I ever wear fur during summer just yet, that's for sure!!! lol.)

My ODJ.

1. Top:

Y-3 Charcoal quarter-sleeves turtle-neck

Lace blouse (bought at Anthro. )

et Vous rabbit fur vest (bought at Pairs 08')

2. Bottom:

Marni gabardine trousers 10' winter edition

3. Accessory:

Oscar de la Renta sapphire earrings

sapphire floral ring

Hermes ostrich belt w/ golden textured buckle

Ivory no-finger gloves w/ studs (you can buy them at shopattherapy.com)

Chanel 10' Rouge/orange 226 caviar reissue 

4. shose:

Christian Louboutin Bianca burgundy kid 140

That's a silly smile of me!~

I think I should find something in Vegas for my dearest darling~~ 

I shipped Christmas gifts to my parents back in Taipei and they told me that they are so happy to open those gifts!! ^^ (That made my day too!!)  

 

How about you, did you find something special for your loved one already?

xoxo Rachel

Ready For Las Vegas Trip....a DIY before I go!!

I found Oscar de la Renta earrings at their website. I was so anxious to see it in person that I decided to pay overnight shipping. I am quite satisfied w/ its' statement look which not only it is exactly as what I had expected and even better, it also matches my J Crew-find green glass cuff perfectly!! 

My friend, Isabel, laughed when she heard that I want to match Oscar de la Renta w/ my J Crew bangle. Well, yeah, but why not, we always mix high and low.... stuff like that as long as the results are looking fabulous! 

Again, ouch*~ it is not very cheap. If someone told me that they can find similar earrings at a flea market, I'd say, go for it!! ^O^

Oscar de la Renta 24-karat gold-plated green glass and sapphire drop earrings. 
(lower left) J Crew green glass cuff on distressed golden metal. 


This will be the outfit for our girls' first night dining at Guy Savoy!!

I love the super fitted look of this dress from Aqua.  I saved it for special occasions like our girls Vegas trip this coming Sat.

I love all Victoria Beckham's sheath/LBD designs but feel a bit intimating w/ its crazy price. Now I have to share w/ you those Aqua dresses based in London/British. Their dresses are  super sexy, and also a practical alternative to be wore to any occasion, may it be a wedding or a prom. Besides, they are relatively cheap.... mine is only Euro 50!!!

Check their site and I am sure you will love it!!!


I also love this one.... on sale for Euro 40!

Onto another Vegas outfit!

Don't you just love those vivid glass beads and vintage green ones?!


Remember Sonia Rykiel pour HM~ 
Yu reminds me of mine - hot pink dresses! You know Vegas is the perfect place to wear something fun and fancy!! :)

Chanel tweed/fur tall boots are on sale now and I am glad that I did price adjustment for them. Yeah~

I am bringing them to Vegas this time...(hopefully there is not much rain) and before I go, I did a fun DIY at home yesterday just to keep this boots company. ^O^

I love everything w/ waist details....such as peplum, and this one, tuxedo look of a tail!

 On me: Max Co. nude blouse, Wilfred floral cami. underneath, J Crew mustard green cardi. All saints smoke brocade leather jacket/tailcoat, Helmut Lang suede burgundy skinny pants, Chanel 11' cruise matte gold CC brooch w/ pearls embellishment, Chanel 10A brown tweed tall boots w/ fur. 

**NOTE: I just found that we have All Saints boutique in union square at San Francisco last Sat. haha.... I went all the way to London to buy this leather jacket! However, it is sold Euro 450 in London whilst we sell for $790. After plus the tax, and refund the tax in London, I bought it cheaper for $200 or so in London....not so bad!!

It has been a while since the last time I used my sewing machine. It does come in handy whenever I had a small DIY project in mind.

I made a double sides hand-warmer!! This way, you can have your hands free all the time w/o the hassles of putting on and taking your gloves off.


I adore this brown furry side to go w/ my Chanel brown tweed boots!!

Gotta a plan for Christmas?

Have fun no matter what!

xoxo Rachel