Little Miss Sunshine and Mallzee.com

I'm alive! Finally have a free moment to update...I've been so caught up going to weddings and bachelorette parties lately. It's insane how many of my friends are engaged or getting married though. They are fun but can be tiring. Is it wedding season for some of you too?

Summer dresses are still my go-to choice on warm days and lucky for me, there have been quite a few recently. I love this yellow color and pairing it with classic tan shades. The vibrant color reminds me of the sun! I think they complement each other well and it doesn't feel too dressed up. The jersey material is also really comfortable and doesn't wrinkle easily which is a plus.

F21 jersey dress (similar) -- Nordstrom BP cardigan (buy) -- Steve Madden t-strap heels (similar) -- Sportsgirl satchel from Australia (similar and good deal!)

Better view of the purse

Looking down

Accessories: thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) -- faux pearl bracelet (similar) -- H&M link bracelet (similar in pink and yellow) -- no name watch (similar) -- tan layered necklace from HK (similar)

On another note, I was invited to partake in the pre-launch of a cool new site called Mallzee.com. It's basically a shopping site that will be live later this year that involves users creating their own online mall by selecting their favorite brands/stores! Once this personal mall is built, you will be about to invite friends to shop with you, talk about products in various social media outlets, and promote your preferred stores.  

So far, Mallzee already has 200 companies onboard (Urban Outfitters, New Look, French Connection, and more). You can also earn great discounts and users get paid whenever they or any of their friends purchase via their customized mall. Pretty awesome right? Register for a launch invite at Mallzee.com if it interests you!

Leaving you with another lovely photo taken in SF of the Palace of Fine Arts

What do you think about shades of yellow? Love it or hate it?

Featuring Anya from ShoeDazzle.com

When Anya reached out to me from ShoeDazzle.com, I had already been on their email list and seen what they were all about so I couldn't say no to a guest post from them. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to order anything from them yet but they have really cute, trendy shoes and accessories for reasonable prices! Has anyone used them before and if so, what are your thoughts on the products?

Without further ado, here is what Anya wanted to share on how fashion can boost confidence:

Using Fashion to Feel Good

Looking good means feeling good inside and out. Experts have shown that beauty is therapeutic and can lift women’s spirits. When we look good we feel good; when we feel good we feel confident! Fashion has always been a component in beauty. Women can put on a new dress or a pair of women’s shoes and feel like a million dollars. Fashion is has truly become a stylized expression of one’s self.

How Can Fashion Help Me Feel Better?

Many people are skeptical about how something as simple as fashion can help improve their health, but who doesn’t feel better after they shop? When women are confident in their appearance, they tend to have a more positive outlook on life. Believe it or not, even major celebrities sometimes need a confidence boost, and sometimes so do you! Fashion allows you to showcase your style and express yourself through your clothing and accessories. Dare to be bold this summer season and play with color—pair teal colored jeans with a floral print wedge, neutral hue silk top, and gold jewelry accents for the perfect beat the heat look. 

image provided by ShoeDazzle

Consider How Fashion Can Help

Fashion can provide the confidence necessary. One of my favorite looks for summer is the must-have maxi dress. There are so many styles, textures, and patterns out there, but the maxi really is a universally flattering style that works on all body types and can be dressed up or down in a matter of minutes! A summer inspired maxi dress paired with a bold patterned peep toe pump is not the cure all, but it can help the person remain in good spirits while looking stylish as ever in the summer season!

Feeling beautiful in your own skin and confidence are must have accessories this summer! Strut your stuff with you friends and don’t be afraid to be the chic fashionista you want to be! 

image provided by ShoeDazzle

Taken from the ShoeDazzle website, here is some more information about how they work:

ShoeDazzle Membership Is Free & Effortless...

As a ShoeDazzle client, you enjoy a personalized showroom as well as access to our exclusive boutiques, trends and style advice. Our stylists are here to make you look and feel beautiful, and spoil you with perks like free shipping and simple exchanges and returns. There's no commitment, obligation or monthly fees, so you can focus on the fun and fashion.

No Commitment & No Fees

You'll receive a new set of personalized recommendations every month, but you're never obligated to place an order. You'll also never be charged a monthly fee; the only time we'll charge your card is when you make a purchase.

Free Shipping

Orders shipped within the contiguous United States are delivered for free with our Classic Pink shipping method, and will arrive 5–10 business days after being placed. Expedited delivery is available for a small additional charge.

Easy Exchanges & Returns

If your order doesn't fit, or you choose not to keep it for any reason, simply exchange it for another item or size within 30 days of delivery in new, unused condition. You can also exchange for a credit to use later free of charge. Returns for refunds are subject to a $5.95 restocking fee. Return shipping is free* for orders within the contiguous United States.

Cancel Anytime

You can cancel your account with ShoeDazzle at any time, free of charge and without penalty. If you wish to cancel, please call Client Services Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (PST), at 1-888-508-1888.

Sign up for ShoeDazzle today!

The Liebster Blog Award and A Purple Summery Dress

I have recently been nominated for the Liebster blog award by With Each Passing Day. Thank you so much for this recognition...it totally made my day when I found out! I really appreciate all the love and support from everyone. 

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them.

5. Remember, no tag backs!

11 Things About Myself

1. My friends call me a social butterfly and I love meeting new people. 

2. I've definitely caught the travel bug and have been to over 10 different countries.

3. I lived in Sydney, Australia for a year with my boyfriend just to work and travel. 

4. My favorite band has been and always will be, Hanson (since '97)!

5. I love to eat and enjoy trying new restaurants/cuisines whenever possible.

6. I have an allergy to mosquito and other bug bites.

7. I only recently succumbed to getting a smart phone in March.

8. I have a major sweet tooth and can never turn down dessert. 

9. I tend to be a perfectionist and strive to do my best in everything.

10. I have 2 younger sisters who I adore and love shopping with.

11. I had straight cut bangs as a 10 year old and here I am today with a similar hair style.

With Each Passing Day's Questions

1. If you were given the chance to meet your favorite blogger, who would it be and why? Wendy from Wendy's Lookbook because I feel like we would hit it off and she's just so incredibly stylish.

2. What is your favorite movie? Hard to pick one but I loved the Harry Potter series. 

3. What is the one thing you cannot live without? My boyfriend (and sleep)! 

4. Do you speak another language? I speak Cantonese and a little bit of French.

5. What country have you visited or would like to visit? Just to name a few: UK, France, Indonesia, Japan but would also love to visit a country in South America or Africa someday.

6. If you could have any person's wardrobe collection, who would it be? Diane Kruger and Olivia Palermo both have pretty amazing clothes.

7. Have you ever done anything spontaneous? Hm, does quitting my job and moving to Australia count?

8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? To be a better cook because I love to eat! =P

9. What is one word that would describe your personality? Outgoing

10.What was the best advice your mom ever gave you? Never give up and be yourself.

11. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose to be? Katniss from the Hunger Games 

My Questions

1. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?

2. What is your biggest fear?

3. Who is your favorite music artist/band?

4. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

5. Do you have a special talent and if so, what is it?

6. What is your favorite dessert? 

7. Do you have any siblings? How many?

8. What is one thing you want to accomplish or try before you die?

9. Night owl or morning person?

10. What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

11. What is your current favorite piece of clothing?

My Nominations

I'm passing this onto the following bloggers to spread the love, give support to new and upcoming blogs, or just showcase a couple of blogs that I love! (all have less than 200 followers).
2 Petite
A Petite Treat
For the love of fashion
Chartreuse Amour
Pocket Sized
Bliss.Beauty.Love
City Girl
Fashion Girl Eats
Gracefuls
Soulstitches
S(e)oul and P(f)assion

Summer brings my dresses out of hiding! They are just so easy to throw on and look great with heels or flats.  I have been reaching for them when I don't want to think about what to wear. Wearing a chambray knotted at the front instead of a cardigan makes the look more casual and effortless. 

Old Navy western chambray (similar) -- purple dress from Ross (similar and love this one) -- Banana Republic strappy wedges (similar) -- H&M cross body messenger bag (similar)

I adore matching these wedges with my dresses!

Accessories: H&M braided bracelet (similar in a different color) -- thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) -- faux pearl bracelet made by my sister (similar and on sale here) -- F21 woven ring (similar in silver)

Close-up of my wedges

Feel free to answer my questions above even if I didn't tag you. Even though I don't have many, I appreciate each and every one of my readers! 

Chartreuse Tee and JPG Exhibit

I went fruit picking for the first time over the weekend and got a bunch of fresh apricots, nectarines, and strawberries. They taste so much juicier and sweeter when hand-picked. =P I was disappointed that I missed cherry picking season though because that's one of my favorite fruits. Did you guys do anything fun over the weekend?

From my Instagram (karenyee10) - the perfect little strawberry

Chartreuse has been one of my favorite summer colors to incorporate into my wardrobe so I wanted to feature it in my post today. I love this one because it's so soft and doesn't wrinkle! Back to my point-and-shoot photos while I'm still shopping around for a new camera unfortunately.

BDG v-neck tee from UO (buy) -- H&M black skinny pants (similar here or on sale here) -- Ann Taylor chunky cardigan (similar or cute one here) -- thrifted ivory kitten heels (similar with a bow)

Still love this chunky cardi!

Accessories: Target fringe necklace (pretty one here) -- Mossimo white python skinny belt (similar) -- thrifted silver cuff (similar)

I went to see the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the De Young Museum recently and it was pretty incredible! The mannequins had very life-like, holographic faces and the fashion was very 'haute couture' but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

My fave...stripes!

Mermaid on crutches?

The infamous cone-shaped bra

Interesting wedding dress

Any favorite summer colors you can't stop wearing? Please share!

Borrowed Camera and UO Linen Dress

The weather here has been such a teaser lately...it was so warm over the weekend and cooled down significantly by yesterday. Why can't it just be in the 80s the entire summer?? Anyway, I was in my friend Ping's neighborhood on Sunday and she was kind enough to let me borrow her fancy camera and photographer bf to get some blog photos. We also did some shopping afterwards at Urban and J.Crew of course...the beautiful weather gave us an excuse to go to an outdoor mall. haha

It was such a gorgeous day that I wanted to take this linen dress out for a spin that I got from Urban Outfitters. It's actually quite loose on  me around the torso area but nothing a waist-cinching belt can't fix!

Cooperative linen dress from UO (similar) -- thrifted tan belt (similar) -- Banana Republic strappy wedges (similar)

Accessories: tortoise shell sunnies (similar) -- H&M mini spike necklace (similar) -- no name watch (similar) -- H&M braided bracelet (similar) -- thrifted knot bangle (similar) -- oval button earrings (similar)

I think it's time to start looking into getting a new camera because the photo quality on Ping's DSLR is vastly better! The skin glows and the colors are vibrant...makes taking pictures more fun too.

Canon T2i or T3i or a different brand...any opinions?

More Stripes in Santa Cruz

Summer is finally here!! The schizophrenic weather in SF doesn't always reflect the seasons so we have to venture to places like Santa Cruz to get some fun in the sun. The boy and I took a weekend trip here for his birthday and we had a blast eating at various stands while making our way along the boardwalk. Wish I could do this everyday and finally get a much needed tan. *sigh* On the brighter side (literally), of course I wore my favorite pattern ever...stripes!

I liked the colors of this arcade area

 First time eating deep fried Oreos and it was a party in my mouth!

Old Navy western chambray (similar) -- F21 striped tank (similar) -- Old Navy shorts (current version) -- back zip sandals from HK (similar) -- H&M crossbody messenger bag (similar from F21)

On the pier

Accessories: thrifted leather belt (similar) -- H&M braided bracelet (similar in a different color) -- ASOS gold spike bracelet (buy) -- thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) -- leather cuff bracelet from Fiji (similar)

Instagram artsy photo of the day

I miss the beach!

What is your favorite summer activity?

Playing With Colored Pants

Wow it's been a crazy couple of weeks with jury duty and it being busy season at work. Yes I got selected to be a juror but it was an interesting experience and I would consider doing it again. I have been taking more pictures with my new smart phone than on my regular camera lately since it's easier to take self-portraits so some might look a little dark. I last wore the colored pants below in this post and I love them...they fit really well and were on sale for $10 at H&M! I wear them to work by dressing them up with heels and accessories or wear them casually. 

Work outfit:

Old Navy pullover sweater (similar) -- JC Penney striped blouse (similar) -- H&M skinny pants (similar) --  thrifted ivory kitten heels (similar with a bow)

Accessories: pearl necklace from Goodwill (similar) -- H&M 3D flower ring (similar) -- Nails - Kiss Nail Dress from this post 

Here is the more casual look:

Gap chiffon trim long sleeve striped T (similar) -- H&M skinny pants (similar) -- Rubi boots from Australia (similar) -- F21 feather necklace (buy)

Side view

Have you gotten any colored denim/pants lately and what color??

Denim-on-Denim + Stripes

I used to think that denim-on-denim looked really dated and was a fashion faux pas but I proved myself otherwise with this outfit. As long as the 2 denims are in significantly contrasting colors, it totally works! One of my favorite combos lately is pairing a chambray with stripes of any kind and I think a brighter top adds interest to the whole look. I wore this out exploring the city one day, hence the comfy shoes. 

Old Navy western chambray (buy) -- Old Navy pullover sweater (similar but more colorful) -- F21 skinny jeans (similar) -- natural canvas TOMS (buy)

 Side view...the sweater is actually more of a coral color in person but might look red in these photos

 Accessories: layered leaf necklace from Lovisa (similar) -- thrifted ring (similar) -- Nails - OPI, A Grape Fit!

Now some belated photos from a bike ride from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito!

 Ready to go on our Blazing Saddles bikes

The lovely Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day

I love how SF is such a walkable city, even with all of its hills. My TOMS are the most comfortable shoes I own and have been with me all over the place. Oh and if you have Instagram and want more up-to-date posts, follow me!

How do you wear chambrays and do you enjoy walking around your city?

Green Fashion: Eco Swim by Aqua Green Swimsuits Review

I was recently contacted by someone representing EcoSwim by Aqua Green to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their swimsuits and of course I was thrilled to since I'm definitely an advocate for anything that is environmentally friendly. They are a U.S. based company that makes stylish swimwear from sustainable materials and uses proceeds to fund beach/waterway clean-up projects. The brand has been featured in magazines like Cosmopolitan, In-Style, and Shape but their mission statement says it all:

"Our mission is to provide fashionable, excellent quality, and planet-friendly swimwear. We will achieve this by embracing sustainable technologies and methods, hence reducing our carbon footprint in the sand. Our vision is to be the most sustainable swimwear manufacturer on the planet. We're not there yet, but with every sunrise we try harder."

It's incredible how they are striving to find the most eco-friendly alternatives not just for their manufacturing needs but even for the source of elastics/tags on their swimsuits. They are partnered with Repreve, which is a brand of fabrics made from 100% recycled materials from post-consumer and industrial waste. This really proves how passionate they are about saving the environment and that every detail counts. 

Unfortunately, the sample sizes they sent were too big for me to try on but below are several photos that I took as well as some promotional ones. From browsing online, I can honestly say that most of the styles offered are actually functional and fashion-forward!

I loved the print on this! You can purchase the separates here and here. 

This style is super adorable if you want some more coverage. 

On a model to give a better idea of fit.

I actually really like this one too!

I won't be able to discuss how the suits fit on petite bodies but I know that size 4 is the smallest they have. Just from touching and pulling on the elastic parts of the items sent to me, I can tell that the overall quality is exceptional.  There is quite a bit of resistance on the bands which indicates that they will last and the swimsuit won't lose elasticity easily. The material in general feels dense and thus more expensive. One major selling point (to me at least) is that the tops are nicely padded...Hallelujah for all the small-busted women out there! The padding actually looks really natural and aren't the ones that you can remove so it will stay in place.

All in all, I think the EcoSwim suits are stylish and worth buying...I would get the polka-dotted one in a heartbeat if I knew it fit. Find EcoSwim suits online at various retailers and visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: Items were sent to me from EcoSwim for reviewing purposes.

Cream with Colorful Accents

Gosh I really need to remember to buy a tripod for my little point-and-shoot so I can take better pictures than the ones in my dinky room. =P Any recommendations that work for such cameras but won't break the bank? I still think I might be embarrassed to take outside photos by myself though. haha

This is an older outfit that I wanted to share because I came across a necklace I had never worn before and wanted to plan my outfit around it. I stuck to neutral cream and black but added a colorful cardigan so that it wouldn't look too boring. I would say 1-2 colorful accents typically work well to jazz up an otherwise 'blah' outfit.

old cream lace top from Ross (similar or cute one here) -- H&M cardigan (similar) -- H&M black skinny pants (similar here and here)

Accessories: F21 beaded necklace (similar) -- gifted Swarovski white watch (similar but with gold) -- silver mesh ring from HK (similar) 

cream-colored booties from HK that my sister got for me (similar)

Here are some photos from my recent food adventures at Sauce (131 Gough Street) in San Francisco.

tater tots with white truffle oil and cremini mushroom plus a smoked gouda and bacon cheese sauce = HEAVEN!!

prosciutto wrapped Hawaiian butterfish with arugula salad and herb risotto...so good!
Last but definitely not least...

My new Michael Kors watch in rose gold...been wanting this baby for months! (taken on Instagram)

What kind of colorful accents to you like to add to your outfits?

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend ahead of them! I'm off to Vegas for yet another wedding so I'll be back next week!