The pixie short hair do

So ladies... i finally did it, a highly textured, pixie short hair do. It's VERY liberating - as if you're telling the world: here i come, and don't mess with me! :)

This isn't the best angel, but right now
the only couple i have

took my friend Rachael to korean
bbq on her last day in town before london.
she looks so cute in this pic - i think
she's trying to look korean! :)

this is the shortest i've ever gone to!!!

and, if you want the stylist info - it's Laura at Red7 Salon!!  (http://red7salon.com/?page_id=39)

The butterfly shirt

I got this butterfly shirt from Zara last month, it has this vintage charm to it, was about $50, and needs dry clean. I like the black zipper in the back - gives this very summer-y playful shirt a bit of that heavy metal feel. The whole look says: relax and have some fun, it's summer! :)

The white pants are from Eddie Bower. I noticed that Eddie Bower always has some good stuff on sale, especially their pants, very good quality and inexpensive. Highly recommend!

i wore this to work that day, it's very playful but not
childish, almost a bit vintage charm

got the belt a while bck from beijing
- it was about $5!!

purchased these shoes at $70 about two years ago,
never had an opportunity to wear them. this time,
they went perfectly with the white pants
and eggshell butterfly shirt..

the whole look says: relax,
it's summer! :)

The day i was spotted by a nordstrom buyer!

Ladies, no joke - I (I!?!!) was spotted by a nordstrom buyer the other day in the nordstrom on michigan ave. She insisted taking a picture of me and wanted to use that as an "inspiration for us". We chatted about fashion during my 5 minutes of fame. Gosh, so here's what I was wearing!

Coat: Zara Zip Up Coat ($159, about half year old); pants:  Eddie Bower on sale cotton stretch pants ($10, about 2 months old); top: Zara dressy t-shirt ($59, about two months old; bag: MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton Large Tote ($300, over a year old) 

whole look

Just got these earrings on that day - Kendra Scott 'Danielle' Oval Earrings, nordstrom $58.  I think this was a big reason my outfit got her attention - these sapphire earrings popped on my nude colored background outfits and shoes. Sam Edelman 'Orly' Slingback Pump, got from Nordstrom, $115, about 4 months old - sling backs is a very cute choice for springy summer this year... plus nude color is very happening..

sapphire earring

very big girl shoes by my standard

Chrispy Chicken Thighs with Browned Mushroom, Squash, Roasted Carrots and Fried Rice

Total: 40 minutes. 


This is a great soulful dish - low carb, healthy, visually beautiful, and with a splash of Asian fusion! :)

Baby bella mushrooms, yellow squash, organic carrots with greens, Perdue Fit & Easy Chicken Thighs Boneless Skinless - 4 ct Fresh. Generous extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, teriyaki sauce, small cube of butter.

Please please please try using extra virgin olive oil - it will completely improve your diet. 

1). Preheat oven to 400F.  Chop up the mushrooms, yellow squash, rub butter onto carrots.

2). Apply extra virgin olive oil generously onto all veggies, splash of salt and black peppers. Put into oven for 15 minutes. While the veggies are roasting in the oven, season the chicken thighs with teriyaki sauce, salt, and black pepper for 5 minutes. Then, prepare a olive oil covered skillet and get it heated. Add seasoned chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side down. Cook over high heat until the skin is crisp, 5 minutes. 

you can get this sauce at domick's for
around $5very very handy

3). Move the chicken thighs from skillet to the oven, cover the veggies (so that the sauce and oil can drip down to the veggies.... hummmmm yuuuuuummmmmm!)  

Optional 4). I used the leftover teriyaki sauce in the skillet to fry some left over rice - worked like a charm! Left over rice is the best kind for frying, plus the chicken and teriyaki gave the rice much nice flavors without being too oily.  

The chicken is juicy, mushrooms just browned enough so very meaty, yellow squash soft and tender. This is the first time I included whole carrots in a dish - the organic carrots here were worth the money. The only bit of luxury of this dinner was the Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvighon, 2006 Napa Vally (drinkability 95, drink or hold). The retail price was over $70, but any red wine will go nicely with this meal! :) 

 

My first try of bruchetta

Everything in the following dishes were purchased from Trader Joe's and a smaller local mom & pop grocery store. This is why Trader Joe's will forever kick Whole Food's smart-pretencious-ass.

This was also the first time i roasted okra - just rub olive oil, black pepper, and salt, and roast at 450F for 15 minutes, very solid texture but not too hard. The bruchetta was a big success! The key is to cut the baguette into slices that maximize the surfaces that you put on the mix. And of course, FRESH basil.

organic corns, roasted brussels sprouts, okra,
ring pepeers, grilled salmon =$10

valentine's day romantic dinner for two - $20

bruschetta - organic tomato, onions, garlic, fresh basil
, mozzarella cheese, pitted olives, olive oil
and french toast slices $30

Some good times + good street foods in Beijing and Hong Kong

Have been traveling quite a lot in the past couple of months, and had some good times on the road - 

Beijing - my apartment building's elevator

Sunset in Beijing

The real Beijing

Hong Kong street food - BBQ pork

Hong Kong street food menu

Hong Kong street art

Original Hong Kong dim sum at the City Hall

My favorite old fashioned Chinese cake -
"3 treasure happiness"

Beijing - Yong He Temple under the modern sky

Roller skating in the middle of the big city

Another sunset in the old Beijing

Afternoon Delight

I find it rather charming to have a couple of snacks as an afternoon delight when the pm hits...

 water crackers, blueberry wrapped soft goat cheese,
smoked salmon, prosciutto, salami
and organic baby spinach

water crackers + triple cream brie with white molds

 fresh papaya (i added whipped cream later)

 orange + hint of sunset

Dinner For One

Hubby is in shanghai for business so i took this hard working week very seriously and cooked a couple of meals just for my self:

roasted Brussels sprouts + grilled salmon

cabbage and tofu soup; chicken and zucchini dish;
eggs and tomato

Chef (me) salad

How would you write your first post?

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