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!

Influenster Love VoxBox Reviews

I had been eagerly awaiting this package in the mail and after a few mishaps with the postal delivery, I finally received it about 2 weeks ago. The suspense as to what was going to be included in there was killing me too but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up...

If you aren't a part of this community already, I encourage you to join now! Influenster is an awesome site for bloggers to participate in if you love to try the latest products and want to spread the word about which ones you like most. The best part is that it's FREE!! Learn more and register here.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Bar:
If you enjoy creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate then look no further! This 32% cacao milk chocolate is not overly sweet and very decadent...I couldn't put it down after trying only one square. Let's just say I finished the entire bar in 2 days. =X  I obviously really loved this and look forward to purchasing it at my local Target or Safeway.

Truvia Natural Sweetener:
Truvia comes from the leaves of the stevia plant and is the first all natural sweetener on the market. I appreciate the fact that it is healthier and has zero calories but after being a loyal Splenda-user, it just doesn't taste the same. Personally, I feel like I need to add more Truvia to obtain the same level of sweetness as half a packet of Splenda. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky but am guessing it will grow on me after my taste buds give it a couple more chances.

Stash Herbal Tea Sampler:
This 9 flavor sampler is a tea lover's dream come true with exotic ones like mango passionfruit and wild raspberry hibuscus . They are caffeine-free and all natural so that's always a plus. I prefer my tea to be caffeinated but I still gave it a whirl. The aromas were what I enjoyed the most about these tea bags but didn't like that it tasted too fruity after a while.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor:
This one was a definitely winner in my book! The pivoting head made it easy to maneuver around tricky areas, the 5 blades gave a close and lasting shave, and the Olay Moisture Bars left skin feeling smooth. I love that the Olay Moisture Bars eliminate the need for shaving cream which in turn, reduces waste and saves money. I am sold on this product and will be running to the store to get extra cartridges once this one runs out!

Kiss Nail Dress:
Nail fashion is the new trend and I'm jumping on the bandwagon. This product is super simple to apply and comes in 18 fun colors/patterns! It includes a set of 28 stickers that you mix and match to fit your finger or toe nails. I was able to find ones that fit all of my fingernails and are meant to last up to 10 days. On the directions, it says to stick on and file off excess but I recommend cutting off the extra portion first with eyebrow scissors if you have short nails like I do. Gone are the days of nail polish fumes and messy spills...hooray!

Uploaded from Instagram

(click on product names above for more info)

I hope I provided some useful insight to these items and have convinced you to try them out for yourself. Leave me a comment if you have experienced any of these before!

Disclosure: Complimentary products were provided to me from Influenster for review.

Hello World! Tribal Print and Acid Wash Jeggings

Wow I can't believe how long its been since I posted! March was filled with weddings and Australian friends visiting so it's been overwhelming to say the least. I have missed blogging and of course my awesome readers. =) I'm back and am hoping I can keep this up!

Here is a belated outfit post from Chinese New Years:

At the Chinese New Year street festival 

AE cardigan (similar) -- tribal tee from Australia (similar) -- Target acid wash jeggings (similar) -- thrifted ivory kitten heels (similar) -- H&M brown slouchy bag (similar) 

Side view

Accessories: Marc by Marc Jacobs wishbone necklace (similar) -- H&M orange cocktail ring (similar) -- thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) -- H&M braided bracelet (similar) -- Nails - OPI, A Grape Fit!

Perfect bowl of noodles (aka pho) for a cold, rainy day with a side of Vietnamese coffee

Tribal prints are so in right now and I'm totally digging it! Are acid wash jeggings making a comeback or am I stuck in the 80s? haha Mmm looking at the food photo above is making my mouth water. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this post and look forward to hearing from you out in the blogosphere!

Recent Find: Cozy Ann Taylor Knit

Sorry for my lack of updates lately...I guess I need to make it a habit of writing on here more regularly if I want to keep my readers coming back! =P Life just gets busy or I'm too tired after work and I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. I was in Dallas for 2 days of training towards the end of last week and am still pooped from that. Maybe this is just a sign that I'm turning into an old lady.
 
Speaking of old ladies, I recently made a pit stop to the Ann Taylor outlet and got an item that is a new favorite of mine...I lovingly call it my 'grandma sweater' and it's so cozy. 

Ann Taylor chunky cardigan (similar here and here) -- F21 coral colored tee (similar) -- no name boot cut jeans (similar) -- Payless cheetah patent flats (similar) -- thrifted Gap leather belt (similar)

Back view

I adore the color and print of these flats!

Accessories: Lovisa necklace from Australia (similar) -- no name cluster ring (similar)

  

Here are some belated photos from Ping's birthday dinner at Cha Cha Cha!

Birthday dessert

Make a wish!

Girl photo

Random photo but this is one of the best late night eats in my neighborhood...tacos!

  

What is your take on 'grandma' sweaters and how do you motivate yourself to blog on a daily/weekly basis? 

Emerald Green at Work and Tahoe Trip #2

I find it hard to decide on what to wear to work sometimes since it's a pretty casual environment but I don't want that to deter me from occasionally choosing business-like outfits. I typically put some thought (or as much as I could muster at 7 am in the morning...ha!) into my clothing/accessory choices and my mood also plays a part in what I end up with. I guess my best bet is going with what I feel comfortable in and not worry about others viewing me as "overdressed" on a daily basis. 

  

I have been loving (most shades of) green lately and this cardigan I picked up on a trip to Hong Kong last year just adds to that undeniable fact. I try to shop as much as possible when in Asia because the clothing fits petite bodies much better although their sense of fashion could be questionable in comparison to what we are used to in the US. 

 Papaya white button up (similar) -- emerald green cardigan from HK (similar) -- F21 belted pencil skirt (similar) -- no name tights (similar)
Accessories: F21 green cocktail ring (similar) -- thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) 

 I borrowed these reddish cognac leather boots from my mom...love the gold trim details! - sz 6.5 (similar)

This is my mom modeling one of her business outfits from the 80s. =P

Finally some fun in the snow when several college buddies and I drove up to Tahoe again a few weeks ago. 

Group pic with the snowfall 

Fresh powder

View coming down the Heavenly ski lift 

Grub at Hard Rock Cafe after a long day of skiing (I shared and only ate half haha)

Lake Tahoe is so beautiful!

I had to take advantage of this photo op.

Hollister faux fur jacket - sz S (current version or similar)

H&M striped sweater dress (similar) -- Old Navy leggings (buy) -- brown riding boots from HK (similar here and here) 

Side view...I did wear a few more layers underneath (top and bottom) since it was freeeeeezing 

Accessories: owl pendant from Sydney (similar) -- F21 woven ring (similar in silver)

I adore my owl necklace and have been wearing it non-stop lately. The sweater dress is also really soft and comfortable to move around in. It's perfect for layering to keep your upper and part of your lower body warm in the winter too! 

  

What is the dress code at your work and how would you style a sweater dress?

Tea Party and UO Dressing Room Review

Ping (from All About Fashion Stuff) and I had a date last weekend at Crown and Crumpet for afternoon tea. We had an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones, and mini desserts paired with a tea of our choice. It was a 2-person tea party and we had a great time catching up! This is definitely an ideal place to have bridal showers or little girl princess parties. Check out Ping's post about our visit here. 

 Interior of the tearoom

 Only a portion of their tea collection

Such an adorable tea strainer!

This didn't look like a lot of food but we were stuffed...

With the lovely Ping 

Does my top look familiar? That's because it's the same as the one from this post but in a different color. Thanks Ping for being my photographer for the day!

Xhilaration sleeveless tank in Mustard (buy) -- H&M skinny pants in cobalt (although they look kinda purple in person (similar) -- Lux ribbed cardigan from UO (similar) -- Payless block heel pumps --> LOVE these shoes (see on Jean from Extra Petite) (similar)

Accessories: Target geometric fringe necklace (similar) -- silver mesh ring from HK (similar) -- you can't really see them but I'm also wearing Claire's yellow flower stud earrings (similar) -- thrifted Ralph Lauren belt - sz S (similar) -- H&M gray crossbody purse (similar)
 

And of course after eating, we did what we do best...SHOP! Urban Outfitters, which is one of my favorite stores, was at the top of our list and I snapped a few dressing room photos after raiding the sale section. =P

 BDG sheer v-neck tee - sz XS (buy) -- Silence and Noise tiered skirt - sz S (buy)

BDG sheer v-neck tee - sz S (buy) --  Staring at Stars chantilly shorts - sz XS (buy)

BDG sheer v-neck printed tee - sz XS (buy) -- Kimchi Blue bow shorts - sz XS (buy)
 

I ended up buying the mustard and printed BDG tees (soooo soft!), the tiered skirt, this Silence and Noise geo cardigan, and this Pins and Needles lace-trimmed babydoll blouse in black. I really liked the chantilly shorts but they didn't fit as nicely as I thought they would. Overall, very thrilled with my purchases! 

Have you had an afternoon tea experience? Do you shop at Urban Outfitters and what would you have gotten?