I'm a Norbyah

Pink and green

2012-02-11T16:18:00.003+08:00

I saw this post on A Mischmash Life a week ago where she confessed to finding more and more of this hot pink appearing in her wardrobe. I left her a comment in which I admitted to being drawn to this shade of pink myself. In fact, I'd picked up a silk blouse in that very shade at a little shop that closed in Stanley Market. Good for color blocking, my friend had said when I bought it. I hadn't thought to pair it with green until I saw the post on Mikka's blog.

So I paired my pink blouse with my dark green skinny cargos.

Added a blazer and accessories, and there you go. Quite pleased, actually.

Didn't have much time for blog pics, though. I was busy helping with the school forensics tournament last weekend. I managed to get away just long enough on Saturday to watch my Ella perform Swan Lake near her school. The hubby was away in Shanghai for a basketball tournament, so I was glad the schedule worked out so I could get there.

Buddy helped me snap these on our way back to the tournament after her performance. I couldn't get any more because a crowd of people walked by as the show ended. It's a bit awkward posing when you have all those people watching.

Outfit details: silk blouse and scarf from Stanley Market, skinny cargos from Uniqlo, Dolce Vita boots, H&M blazer, necklace from Causeway Bay market

3 years old

2012-02-09T23:57:00.002+08:00

Three years ago today you came into our lives, Cally.

Birthdays start in our bed.

Your birth day was totally different from what I had experienced with your brother and sister (as was the first week of your life, which you spent in hospital).

New shoes in your new cardboard play shop.

You've defined yourself in our family with your distinct character.

The sweet face of the birthday girl.

Wearing her new shoes.

All day.

You had a good day today, even though it started and ended with a few tears You know what you want, but you can't always have it. Going downstairs at 5:45 in the morning is one of those things you can't have. Sleeping in your new dress up dress and the shoes from Ella and Buddy without taking a bath is another (but actually, you got that). I hope the shoes are comfy because I really didn't want you to be upset if they weren't still on your feet in the morning.

More pressies with Nining.

Two had it's ups and downs for you as we learned to understand you and you learned to help us understand you.

Birthday brownies. Daddy had to help you blow out your candles.

But now you are three. Three!

We can't wait to see what new adventures we'll go on together, big girl.

Happy Birthday, Cally.

Cally talk

2012-02-06T22:45:00.001+08:00

This little girl of mine; what an experience it is being her mother. She pushes me to my very limits. It's so interesting to see how she's come into our lives and really distinguished herself. She's so like her siblings in many respects, yet so different. She's tough. Opinionated. Oh, so loud (yet ironically, so afraid of loud noises and things).

And, so smart. She's sharp as a tack. I know as she gets older, that unlike her siblings, I don't think I'll have to worry about her getting bossed around.

This look says it all.

She's such a silly one, too. She's so clearly a ham. She loves to make us laugh. She's so expressive. Her language just blossoms everyday. I'm always amazed at how articulate all my children are.

Take, for example, the latest expression of Cally's. Poo books. Do you know what they are? At my parents's house, she spotted my father's pile of crosswords on the bathroom counter last week and called them poo books. My dad thought this was great.

Last week when we were on holiday, as I went into her room to see she was awake, she asked me Mummy, are we done sleeping? I wasn't, but she was. The next day, she called out, Mummy! I'm all done sleeping now!

She's oh so finicky when it comes to eating. Basically, the girl lives on rice, corn and bread. Oh, and cereal, too. I don't know how I'm ever going to get her to eat anything. I've tried all the tricks and them some that worked with my other two. She won't have a bar of it. She won't even let you put anything she won't eat on her plate. She rejects it and invariably tosses it onto someone else's plate.

But, when she's not being prickly and stubborn, she's being cute and cuddly. And tender. She caresses my face, strokes my hair, falls to pieces if she can't kiss me goodbye. She loves to have all her people around her (to boss them around...and help them).

I can hardly believe she'll be three in only a few days.

(She's wearing the cardigan that I knit her for her first birthday. It finally fits!)

Variations on a theme

2012-01-31T22:11:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, without noticing it, I will find myself coming back to looks that are very similar. I don't actually realize how alike they are until I've uploaded the images into my 'scrapbook of looks' on iPhoto and they appear next to each other. (I know, I should get onto Pinterest).

It happened yesterday.

Vanessa Jackman

Refinery 29

The Sartorialist

I think that I keep coming back to these looks because they each have an element of masculine detail (the oxford shoe, a leather jacket, a flannel shirt) elegantly balanced with femininity.

So I tried my own take on these looks today.

And, I tried something new. Taking pictures with movement. Anything to try to look into the camera. Only one really turned out.

The others captured me mid blink or mid word as I was trying to give my daughter some instructions.

It's usually a short photo session with her because her little six year old hands get tired quickly carrying my heavy camera.

She's improving though, don't you think?

Outfit details: leather jacket - thrifted, top - Gap, skirt - H&M, black oxford shoes - Sam Edelman, brass picture hook necklace - Cat Street market, Michael Kors watch

Happy Year of the Dragon to you...

2012-01-25T08:29:00.000+08:00

I'm a little late, but we're off for the week. We're all just moving slowly. And trying to stay warm (it's only 7 degrees Celsius today).

Dressed up for the first day of the new year.

Would you believe that all three kids slept in until 7:30 am today? That never happens.

Buddy's hair is long enough for a ponytail. He's thrilled.

Smiley Ella.

Cheeky Cally.

Kung Hei Fat Choi (or as Cally says Funny Pat Choy)!

Wishing you all prosperity and health this year.

We're waiting to meet our new little dragon cousin.

She's coming in only a few weeks!

Changes in Stanley Market

2012-01-22T14:07:00.000+08:00

It's no secret, one of my favorite places to shop is Stanley Market. I have these little shops that I always visit where the people know me. They know I'm not a tourist. They know I just like to poke around and explore what's new. Sometimes, I'll find a treasure that I hadn't seen before. Sometimes, I say joi gin or see you later and leave. They know they'll see me again.

On the stairs just outside my coffee shop and near the newsstand.

One of the best places to look for treasures was the Salvo. Sadly, they closed a month ago because of soaring rents in the market. Days before they shut, I found my last treasure there - a pair of Prada heels. I'm afraid to see what they open in it's place. There are some great silk and linen shops in the market, too. One of them closed a few months ago, the other closed last week. Now there's only one left run by a Filipino women in the stairway of her apartment building.

Wearing my Tea and Tulips dress.

Stanley has great little places to find jewelry (like vintage looking jade bracelets and earrings, among other things). There was an amazing lamp shop (and other beautiful ceramic things). These two places also shut last week. The lamp man had been there 20 years. His rent doubled, forcing him into retirement. It's almost ridiculous how quickly shops are closing. And heartbreaking, too. In their place, cheap trinket and fake bag shops have opened. When I walk by, the salespeople call out to try to sell me things, unaware that I'm usually on my way to art, ballet, drums or the coffee shop. Not a tourist. Just going about my business.

Close up of my jade ring and necklace.

I like to wander the windy nooks of the market, the shortcuts that only people who live here know about. To find new places to take outfit pictures. Or just get where I'm going.

But every time I do, something is gone. The vibe is changing. And, I'm afraid, not for the better. Stanley Market is losing it's charm.

Outfit details: dress - Tea and Tulips (Steffys Pros and Cons shop), vest - Shau Kei Wan market, boots - very old from college! earrings - Salvo closing sale, Michael Kors watch (birthday present), ring - a sweet gift from my lovely hubby and kids (from Ellis Jewellers a family business, also in the market), art deco jade necklace - one of my Stanley spots (luckily still open)

Hump day

2012-01-18T08:16:00.000+08:00

It actually feels like schlump day if you ask me.

I had a busy weekend of normal kid activities (throw in an extra ballet class and a rugby tournament) as well as exam marking. Grades and comments were due yesterday, and then I still had to make sure I was ready to teach.

The hubby and I were just saying (only last week!) that we're noticing that Cally is having far fewer tantrums since she's able to articulate herself really well and is beginning to understand how the process of negotiation works (or is at least a little bit more patient about it).

So much for that. Yesterday was hell. And, Saturday morning was a pretty tough one, too.

I've got an outfit post that I want to publish, but for now, I'm just trying to get to Friday. It's Chinese New Year here in Hong Kong. We get a week off.

I'm ready.

***I don't think I've had a post like this in a while. I was due for one, then.

Kid Fun HK

2012-01-14T22:08:00.000+08:00

One of the special things we did for Ella's birthday this year was to invite the lovely Adele from Kid Fun HK to come and do face painting and balloon bending for the kids.

I met her at a birthday party in October and was really impressed with not only her creative designs and quick work, but also with her management of the children she worked with. So, I grabbed her card and thought I'd like to have her come for one of our children's parties.

We threw Ella's party together in only one week. We usually don't really fuss much over our birthday parties because I don't think they need to be overdone. Just a few close friends and some fun activities. Ella's friends (and their parents) have all enjoyed Ella's parties because we like to have something laid back (complete with adult snacks and drinks) up by the fish pond. We've been lucky to have sunny weather every year for the last three years.

I hadn't thought too much in advance about booking the face painting because we were in the middle of a busy holiday season. I just took a chance and emailed Adele with less than a week's notice. I was pleasantly surprised with her speedy reply and personable response to my request.

Now, in addition to her artistic creations and general good nature with the children, one more reason I'm so pleased with having her come to Ella's party is that when it came to dealing with business things, working with Adele felt more like working with a friend.

At the end of her time with us, she even offered to show Buddy how to bend balloons and make a sword. He'd been given a balloon animal kit and pump and she was happy to show him some tricks.

He remembered how to do it all and recreated a sword for one of his friends just this week.

Seeing all the smiles on the kids painted faces made it worth every cent to have Kid Fun HK and I definitely plan to have Adele again.

Check out her facebook page here and if you're in Hong Kong, give her a call to come to your party!

A gentlewoman

2012-01-10T14:41:00.003+08:00

Not having internet at home for the last two days has proven two things for me:

First, I really am addicted to my nightly blog reading.

Two, I am really good at finding other ways to procrastinate.

Oh well, at least I'm honest about it.

Here's an outfit I put together last week for the first day back to school after the Christmas break. (Always a hard day, mind you).

My sister was weeding through her closet and lucky for me, I scored these lovely green thrifted Armani pants. My mum brought them with her from NYC for me. They fit just like a pair of men's slacks.

So I went with the menswear theme and paired the slacks with my blazer, my oxfords, and my new gold men's watch.

I wanted to get a close up of my newest necklace. It's one I mentioned I'd like to make back in the summer after I went shopping in Cat Street. I found this ornate picture hook in a store selling brass door knobs and hooks, etc. I thought it would be perfect on a chain. My sister took it back to Brooklyn Charm and helped me get it strung up. I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Now, here's a proposition for you. One of the ideas I've been cooking up for 2012 is the possibility of opening an online shop connected to my blog, which I was thinking I'd call You're a Norbyah. In it, I might sell some clothes that I've found in the my usual haunts in and around the city and even a small collection of treasures that I find in various markets (like this picture hook).

I've not a clue how to go about setting it up, and I'm far too busy right now to start. But, I'll do some research and I'm excited about getting it started. Any ideas from you experienced sellers out there are welcome.

The big question is this...Would anyone buy my stuff?

Outfit details: Armani pants (thrifted from Housing Works in NYC via my sister), H&M blazer, Cotton On top, belt thrifted from Artists and Fleas, Brooklyn, Sam Edelman oxfords, picture hook necklace, Michael Kors watch (a gift from my wonderful sisters), earrings thrifted from Salvo (in Stanley before they closed down)

Ella belle

2012-01-07T15:51:00.001+08:00

My big girl turned 6 on Tuesday this week.

It was also our first day back to school, so we started the morning bright and early with a few presents on our bed. I love how we start birthdays this way.

And, it was easy to get everyone up when there is a birthday to celebrate.

Later in the afternoon, sweet May dropped over to give Ella a special present and card.

The girls (including Ella's good friend and our neighbour Kaiya) were playing dress up. We got Els her own dress up make up. She was thrilled. What girls we have. They were so cute to watch.

May May gave Elly an Ariel barbie. Before May graduated nearly two years ago, she used to come over and sing The Little Mermaid songs for Ella.

Cally photo bombs. The girl loves to have her picture taken.

For Ella's birthday dinner, Ella requested we go to our usual birthday dinner place in Stanley, Spiaggia's (or Rolf's as we affectionately call it). Rolf had set the table with left over New Year's hats and noise makers. Ella walked right up behind Rolf and greeted him with a howdy! howdy! which is his usual greeting to us. His response was, well I know this voice! It was lovely.

Rolf made Ella a cake and showered her (and us) with his usual charm and personal attention, something which keeps this restaurant a favorite among all locals.

Cally photo bombs, again. She's quite good at this.

All in all it was a good family birthday. We are having a low key party for her (with friends) tomorrow.

Take 2

2012-01-04T13:33:00.000+08:00

The last time I wore this dress from Steffys Pros and Cons shop (Tea and Tulips), I was rushing to catch pictures before it got too dark. As a result, I don't think I did the dress much justice and I thought I should style it up again. It's so much fun to wear; I love the color and the polka dots...the pleats...everything!

It is quite a bit cooler now since the last time I wore this dress mere weeks ago, so I needed to wear tights. I didn't want to wear a cardi, and remembered that I had a capelet which I bought several years ago. I'm glad I dug it out of the back of my closet as I've been wearing it nearly everyday since.

To accentuate the waist (which is elastic), I added this leather obi belt. I quite like this dress belted, and can even play with the length this way.

I was torn between two shoe choices and opted for my black moccasin boots, for a more bohemian look. I didn't want to appear too polished, rather a little funky.

What fun to style the same article of clothing in different ways.

Outfit details:

dress - Tea and Tulips

coat - Forever 21

shoes - Minnetonka boots

purse - vintage Coach from etsy (Kennedy Holmes)

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T13:07:00.000+08:00

Wishing all of you many happy moments (like this one) for the new year ahead!

And, to all of my faithful blog readers and to all of you new readers, your support is most meaningful and most appreciated. I have some exciting ideas for this year, so I hope you'll enjoy them. In the mean time, life keeps happening so I'll keep writing posts about that, too.

Lots of love,

Norbyah

Scenes from Christmas

2011-12-29T12:07:00.000+08:00

A little glimpse of what our Christmas looked like...

We made Christmas cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

The house was all decorated with some of my favorites like these stackable Santas by the window.

Joey read The Night Before Christmas along with our family rendition of Wombat Divine (with the help of my uncle and neighbours since we were without the rest of the Tan clan).

Buddy was certain he saw Santa's sleigh in the sky and so they all ran over to check it out.

Except Cally. She was a little freaked out about big Santa coming in her house.

She did help pick which cookies would go on our Christmas plate for Santa and Rudolph. This year Buddy's only message in his letter was for a nose or hoof print.

Gathering around the tree for Christmas morning.

What a treat to have my Uncle Tony (a chef) cooking for us in our kitchen.

The best stuffing I've ever eaten.

Along with my uncle, my cousin Nik and his fiancee (they got engaged two days ago) flew in from Singapore on Christmas day.

Buddy's pressie from my uncle was this shirt and tie. He loved it.

And I love that I caught him smiling.

All the Rabino sisters (our Eva in white) and their families came too.

It was so nice to have so much family around.

Our very dear neighbours, Mike and Semele, whose daughter Kaiya is one of Ella's best friends, joined us too. They will soon have Eva's cousin helping them at home.

Joey and Uncle Tony worked hard, but had fun along the way.

The dinner was delicious...

...and the day was perfect.

A pop of color

2011-12-27T07:30:00.000+08:00

This orange jacket was a birthday gift from my mum and dad. It's Thai (I think).

The weight of it and the sleeve length work nicely for the slightly cooler weather. (Now as I reread this post, it's been far colder. We've got the heaters out and bed socks on).

I found this sandy colored wall just outside the Stanley sports complex where Ella takes African drum classes. I had to find a new wall since the rust colored one I have used before had been tagged with graffiti. Don't get me wrong, I love artistic graffiti. But, this was just an obscene word scribbled very randomly in the middle of a wall. No creativity whatsoever. Hmmpf!

These pictures were taken at the beginning of the Christmas holiday and the madness of our first week off. We're now into our second week, Christmas is over and I've got a birthday party to plan. We don't get much of a break with birthdays. Two at the beginning of December (at least I don't have to plan mine), one right after New Year's, and the last at the beginning of February. What were we thinking?

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Despite not having our family here as we usually do, we did have a most lovely day. We still had Eva and Jojo (the sweet couple who take care of us) and their family over, my uncle and cousin (who flew in on Christmas with his girlfriend), and our dear neighbors (who are practically like family anyhow). The house was full, just as we like it.

Enjoy the rest of 2011! I'll try to upload some pictures of our Christmas, but until then, see you in the New Year!

Outfit details:

jacket - Stanley market (a gift)

hat - gift from my sister

jean shorts - Goodwill

top - Gap

boots - dolce vita

Christmas in their words

2011-12-24T07:46:00.004+08:00

Ella made a Christmas countdown at school. Each day, she takes off a link and follows what it says. She has given hugs, asked about our favorite Christmas traditions, etc. Today the countdown read for her tell the Christmas story.

Here's part of the story she told. I love it because I can just hear her teacher's influence. FYI - her teacher is from New Zealand. Listen for there's a stable out the back and what kind of animals live in it. Loving every bit.

Buddy helped clarify some bits, especially the insence gift.

And Cally added her thoughts about Santa.

Based on her comment here, can you guess what her reaction to seeing Santa was yesterday?

On another note, I'm incredibly thankful for the arrival of our own Christmas elf, who we named Elvis. You can read about the elf on the shelf phenomenon here. I love that it's the story of another family's tradition and we can share in it. But most of all, for me, Elvis has renewed Buddy's belief in the magic of Christmas. He's been totally wrapped up in it ever since he arrived. And that's the best gift yet.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Wishing you all the joy of the season filled with the love of family and the spirit of Christmas.

My dear Dad

2011-12-23T08:15:00.001+08:00

He came back from Vietnam last weekend looking so smart, I had to snap this picture.

I love his purple dress shirt paired with the navy vest. Very stylo (his word). Not bad for 76, eh? He and my mum are already in NYC with my sisters and their families for Christmas. I'm missing being all together this Christmas, but I'm glad they can be there. My sister is too pregnant to fly, so there wasn't really much of a choice. And, I have my uncle here, so we're not totally alone or anything. I'll be seeing them for a quick week in March to meet my new niece and I can't wait!

A lunch date

2011-12-20T13:52:00.000+08:00

Not with the hubby, though. I had a lunch date with my uncle who is here visiting/working. You see, my uncle is a chef and he's reviewing the food scene in Hong Kong for an upcoming project. As such, we've been lucky to have him around for the last few weeks and have been invited to dine with him on several occasions (mostly my mum and my hubby).

Yesterday, it was my turn.

The place was Sevva, a gorgeous restaurant/bakery on the 25th floor of the Prince's Building, near all the banks in Central. I've never been given such excellent treatment. They'd prepared some signature dishes for us, we had the business manager come and meet with us to answer questions, we had both the maitre'd and the floor manager waiting on us along with two waiters. We were even supposed to meet with the owner herself, a big name in the social scene here in Hong Kong, but she was delayed in a meeting. All in all, it was two hours of culinary and aesthetic bliss.

Joey doesn't let me do my normal look down pose.

On top of that, I do love a good excuse to dress up. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wear my newly thrifted Prada heels. I got them at my neighborhood Salvation Army. Can you believe it? I really love this store (the sunglasses are from there as well). But I'm heartbroken because the place is closing down as of tomorrow, the 21st. Not only will I miss going there and finding treasures (did I say I also found some Miu Miu peep toes here a few months ago?), but I won't have a close drop off point for donations. High rent is forcing the store to close. How's that irony?

I've tried to be optimistic about the changes in Stanley Market (and the plaza), but I don't like this.

Not one bit.

Outfit details:

American Apparel skirt, Prada heels (thrifted), bbase sunglasses (thrifted), Coach purse (vintage) from Etsy,

sweater from Stanley Market (a shop I still like)

Seeing spots

2011-12-16T15:50:00.001+08:00

Apologies for the darkness in this picture. I really was trying to squeeze the last of the daylight out to get an outfit shot. The last few weeks have been so busy that I literally had about seven minutes before it would have been to late. I got this dress from Tea and Tulips, an online shop run by Steffy from Steffys Pros and Cons blog.

I saw her model it on her blog when I discovered her a few weeks ago, and it was just my color. I had to grab it. She has a number of things in her store now that I've got my eye on. Really, you should check her out. Very cute.

In the spirit

2011-12-13T19:35:00.000+08:00

In this last crazy week of madness before our Christmas break, the high school has become a hive of school spirit. Each day is dedicated to a particular theme. People who dress up can earn points for their class. Teachers are invited to dress up, too.

It's always fun to take part, so some colleagues and I have taken on this challenge together. I didn't participate on the first day, however. Monday was fashion disaster day. Despite NOT dressing for this, I was asked more than a few times if I was, starting with my cheeky hubby. One of my friends at work said she had hoped with my eclectic sense of style that people wouldn't ask me if I was taking part. Well, they did.

Here's what I wore...

I was quite pleased with this look - NOT a fashion disaster.

What do you think? I'm quite fond of the belted sweater look.

I even saw it on Street Peeper last night.

Tuesday was teacher-student swap day. Students dress like teachers and teachers dress like students, pretty straightforward. This was almost too easy for me. And, it worked to my advantage because yesterday morning was chaotic in our house and left me very little time to think about an outfit.

Imagine, however, how surprised I was to walk into my first class and find two of my students dressed like me! And, throughout the day, I stumbled upon a few other Ms. Nolascos.

I was totally flattered. They had me pegged. I hadn't realized that I had a signature look, but apparently, I do. In fact, after yesterday, I'll be looking back to some of their interpretations of me for some style inspiration.

Dingle Bell

2011-12-11T14:30:00.001+08:00

It's Cally's favorite Christmas carol and she sings it practically all the time. In fact, last night at dinner, she was already singing Dingle Bell when it came on the sound system at the restaurant. She squealed in recognition.

Cally sings Dingle Bell

Last week when we decorated our tree, she couldn't stop bouncing or bopping. It was fun to watch her getting so excited. I tried to get her to be a little more gentle on our decorations, but it was a futile effort. Really, there's not much she can do to the decorations because they're kid friendly and deliberately placed at her level so she can enjoy them, which is what we want her to do anyhow. Looking with your eyes, something all the others did reasonably well, is really hard for Cally to do.

Our bouncy Cally

Amidst all this excitement that Christmas is coming, my big boy told me something last night that I've been worried he'd figure out sooner or later. I brushed it off to downplay it, in hopes he'd forget (and Ella was standing close), but this morning I got in his bed to snuggle him and ask him why he'd said it. With a few tears in his eyes, he explained that because he's getting older, he just realized things about the handwriting on Santa's letters, etc. I asked him if he'd heard anything from school, but he didn't really say. Maybe he didn't want to tell me. I don't know.

All I could say to him was what I already believe about Christmas. If we believe in the magic and the spirit of Christmas, then the idea of Santa Claus will always exist. He's real if we believe in him. I really believe that, even at 37, and I told him so. I didn't want to go on too long, and he seemed comforted, a little.

Then I went back to my own bed and cried a little, too.

Feeling Christmas-y

2011-12-08T20:48:00.001+08:00

Probably the best thing about me and Buddy's birthday is that it marks the beginning of the Christmas season in our house. We usually get our tree and begin decorating the weekend after our birthday. This year, our birthday was on the weekend and we got to spend part of our birthday afternoon decorating the tree.

It was lovely.

Ummmm...and little stressful. Far gone are the days of careful placement of ornaments, taking time to balance out colors and fill gaps. Joey and I used to spend much longer decorating than we do now. With three little helpers, we had the tree finished in 30 minutes! And, we have to be super aware of what little fingers are grabbing at on the table. Our Little People Nativity set only keeps small people occupied for a little bit.

Now we have our ornaments labeled kid safe and breakable. We take out the kid ones first and get them laid out on the table so they can just decorate at will. Our tradition is to start with each person choosing a favorite ornament to put on first. Buddy's is his porcelain fire truck, a gift from Uncle Jared and Emmy. I like the little blue teapot. Joey always chooses the wooden Santa. Cally and Ella usually choose something sparkly.

We did very little rearranging of ornaments this year because the kids did such a beautiful job. Most of what we did move was just to space out the decorations (or get them to use more than just one branch of the tree).

When we tucked the kids in, we asked ourselves, do we leave the tree as it is or do we fix it up a bit? We both agreed that it looks quite perfect as is. And, I like that it actually looks like my kids decorated it. Christmas is so special for them, after all. It's so magical.

And this year it really is. Cally really gets it. Everywhere we go, she's thrilled at the sight of Christmas decorations - the big ones at the malls, outdoor displays, in coffee shops - she gasps everytime she sees them. When we are out, she'll often shout, Mummy, I want to see the Christmas! or in other words, hurry up.

Just this week, my mum recorded her singing her favorite carol of the season, Dingle Bell. I'll try to get it on video to share. It's so cute.

Hope your holiday season is taking shape, too. We have five more school days to go!

In jeans

2011-12-06T22:00:00.000+08:00

I used to wear jeans a lot. But now, I admit, I love to dress up in skirts and dresses.

This is a typical casual look for me. I love my skinny jeans.

It's funny, though, I hadn't realized how infrequently I wear them until I walked into class one day and my students practically all gasped, you're in jeans!

Another year older

2011-12-04T23:40:00.001+08:00

Cally wanted to be in every picture of the birthday people.

But forget about that, I can't believe it's been 9 years since Joey and I made our way into the hospital to become parents for the first time. I told Buddy the story last night before I tucked him in. I still remember all the details.

I really do love our shared birthday. I don't mind if the celebrations for his birthday overshadow mine. And, really, they don't. The special people in my life make sure of that. Our day is special because it's two birthdays in one. I can't imagine it any other way. And, I love how Buddy tells people that he was my birthday present the year he was born.

He has been everyday since.

A glimpse of Seoul

2011-11-29T22:45:00.001+08:00

I can hardly believe that my trip to Seoul was two weeks ago. We had a great trip, and I was really excited about seeing a new place. The weather was cold, like Melbourne in the winter. Two days were overcast and the third was cool and crisp with blue skies.

The front gate of Seoul Foreign School, our hosts.

Our dance festival was hosted by SFS who had a range of exciting workshops for the kids (and advisors). The school is nestled into the hills of Yeonhui-dong district, which as I understand is an older neighbourhood of Seoul. An ordinance states that no building there can be over five stories and there is a lot of old money and ex-presidents living here.

The view from the on campus housing.

Aside from the scheduled evening out to see a show called Nanta (which is like the show Stomp only with food), my friends Mark and Cathi took me out for yummy Korean BBQ and the Lantern Festival. You'll see the large clove of garlic perched on top of my serving of Korean BBQ...I ate several of these. The garlic taste was still quite fierce the following day, but totally worth it.

Korean BBQ with our friends Mark and Cathi.

Lantern Festival in Seoul is different from our Lantern night in Hong Kong. This one originated three years ago as a way for people to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and walk along the newly refurbished canal that runs through the city.

A walk under the bridge on Lantern Festival.

The city constructs paper lanterns around a certain theme and displays them in the middle of the canal. Under the bridge, people can buy lanterns and send them floating down the canal also.

Little lanterns sent floating down the canal.

Little children huddle around a street vendor.

There were huge crowds of people out to enjoy the sights. Some of the lanterns were quite spectacular; life sized recreations of warriors, legendary characters, or cultural displays.

I didn't actually get away from campus much during the day, but on my last night I was able to explore the area around my hotel. I stayed in Hotel Seokyu, which was located right in the heart of the university district, down the street from Hongik University (also known as Hongdae). As you can imagine, it was vibrant and buzzing with college students. There were coffee shops everywhere!

Accessories, accessories!

Even at night, the coffee shops stayed open. On this Saturday night, a street band performed, despite the cold winds, while a large crowd gathered.

A street band outside Starbucks.

This area of Seoul was an accessories heaven! There were lots of places selling hats, scarves, earrings, rings, glasses...everything! People here love to accessorize, so it was the perfect place for me to poke around and explore. Apparently, even Korean dogs like to accessorize, too. I came across several places selling jackets, hats and socks. For dogs!

Dog socks.

One of my dance leaders asked if she could take outfit pictures for me one day (she's a reader of my blog) and thought this outfit was blogworthy. She's a real sweetheart, and I was flattered.

On the street at the Nanta performance.

Fooling around for the blog.

I wish I'd had more time there.

Thankful

2011-11-28T10:28:00.001+08:00

Before the remnants of a busy weekend (Holiday basketball tournament and Buddy's first race, in addition to the usual weekend stuff) get the better of me, I had better take this opportunity to reflect and think about what I'm most thankful for this season.

It's simple, really.

I'm thankful for my family. There really isn't much more that I can say except that I know how blessed I am. To have my mother right here with me and as such a big part of our lives, of my children's lives. And of course, when my dad visits, he is, too.

Mum proudly displays her apple-cranberry turnovers.

I'm thankful for Eva and Jojo (with their families) and for the place they fill in our hearts as part of our family now, too.

Sweet Eva and Jojo.

I'm thankful for Skype, What's App and Blackberry Messenger, for making the physical distance between me and my sisters more bearable. How I wish they were right here, too. And all the people who come with them.

I'm thankful for my children. Though being a parent of three is an exhausting experience most days, it's also one I take really seriously. It is my number one reason for being. For getting up in the morning. The lessons I've learned as a parent are some of the most valuable ones. Ever.

A snuggly moment.

Cozy on the couch.

I'm thankful for my friends, both near and far. Just knowing they're there is all it takes, some days.

Cally lets Cathi snuggle her.

Kathy from 7 as Ella says.

Magic Mark with Joey.

And, I'm thankful for this man. My hubby. I mean, really, how lucky can a girl get? He helps me be who I am. He is my better half.

Joey gets ready to carve the turkey.

***Pictures are from our Thanksgiving feast at my mum's house. Mark and Cathi, close family friends, were in from Seoul while Kathy was in for our usual weekend meal together.

Proof

2011-11-24T21:00:00.000+08:00

When I saw this woman on The Sartorialist, I knew right away....

The Sartorialist, London

I really am a dresses-and-skirts kind of girl.

Longing for simplicity

2011-11-23T10:18:00.001+08:00

I'm scrambling this week to catch up from my trip to Seoul. I've been swamped with work, we've got two days of parent-teacher conferences and I'm totally exhausted (and starting to come down with something, I think). This is a sure fire recipe for a grumpy mama at home, which is totally unfair for my little ones. Part of my frustration is complicated by the fact that deep down I also feel guilty for being away and I wish that I could slide right back into the groove of things, but I can't.

I do have some awesome things to share about Seoul and a few pictures to post, but for now, I thought I'd go with this look that I found on The Locals street style blog. The simple and unfettered cut of the dress coupled with some classic black oxfords makes it a head turner, don't you think?

The Locals, Paris.

Alright, back to the grind. I'll be back in a few days.

Pony skirt

2011-11-18T20:30:00.000+08:00

In the dwindling minutes of daylight last week, I had to rush to get pictures of my pony skirt. This was one of those outfits that I didn't over think, which usually means a better result overall.

I know I've mentioned my new favorite skirt length is the midi. I get to feel like I'm wearing a super long skirt, but I don't trip over it all day.

This silk one, from Stanley Market (of course) caught my eye because of it's vibrant colors and unique horse and carriage print.

Because of it's bright colors and bold print, I thought it would work well with neutrals. I found this Zara blazer at my local Salvation Army. A real gem! I love it's longer length.

I finished off the look with my black booties. Because I didn't over think it, I even had time to style my hair in something other than my usual pony tail or top knot.

I love it when this happens.

Outfit details: skirt - Stanley Market, blazer - Zara (from Salvation Army), boots - dolce vita,

necklace- Brooklyn Flea Market

Seoul break

2011-11-17T10:27:00.001+08:00

I'm away in Seoul, Korea for the next few days. I'm with 10 dancers from my school and we're attending the annual APAC Dance Festival. Last year, we were in Beijing.

I've got a good group of dancers with me again this year. I have been advising them for the last five years and they are a big part of what I do at my job. I love working with these kids and getting to know them outside of classes. They are a big part of my own children's lives too. All three of my kids love to dance, in large part because of the big kids they've gotten to know, who have influenced them.

In our own dance room before our trip.

So far, I'm really enjoying seeing a new country. Seoul is at the tail end of Fall so the leaves are mostly off all the trees, but the cool brisk weather and the smell of the crisp air reminds me of Fall in Wisconsin. My hotel is right in the heart of a university neighbourhood so the vibe is young and vibrant. I had a bit of a look around last night. I'll try to take pictures to share. What I really love is to see how people dress differently in different cities. Here it's big wooly scarves, funky glasses and sneakers. And tights!

My HKD kids are so sweet that they even make sure to order Buddy, Ella and Cally their own shirts each year. We really are an HKD family.

My Littlest Ballerina

2011-11-15T10:32:00.001+08:00

On Saturday, Cally had her first baby ballet class. She's been asking me if she could start for ages. I promised her that once she was potty trained, we'd put her in.

She'll soon be joined by her little friend Laurene. She was a little clingy when I dropped her off because there were all new faces, but the teacher suggested I just leave. My noisy Cally tends to be quiet and shy in new situations (much to the disbelief of anyone who knows her). She was fine. She didn't even make a peep.

I peeked in through the door when I came to pick her up, and she was right into it with all her classmates. So sweet to see such tiny girls all dressed in pink ruffles and tulle.

After class, we had to take her in for her follow up flu shot in Causeway Bay. She was totally exhausted after class. She managed to tell me she did a spin and showed me her new curtsy before falling asleep in the cab. It turns out she had a slight temperature and was coming down with the cold that we've been dealing with in the days since Saturday.

No flu shot. No sweet ballerina. She's been a crabby sick two year old for the last three days. She doesn't do sick very well. Nor do we. Hope she's well soon before she gets the better of all of us.

Up to my knees

2011-11-11T17:16:00.000+08:00

Legit cardi weather has finally arrived. For real. To stay.

I have of course pulled my cardigans out before this, but I can really say it was the first time I didn't break a sweat while wearing one.

I also wanted to try out my knee high socks. I've got several pairs. These are a more wooly pair from h&m with cute buttons on the side. I've been really digging the school girl look with cardigans, socks and pleated skirts. When I came downstairs, the hubby immediately said, going for the man repeller look today? Ha ha. He didn't care for my brown shoes paired with the black socks.

I liked it, so that's all that counts anyway.

I found this blue wall at Buddy's school on Tuesday while we were waiting for him to finish soccer. The daylight is dwindling more quickly these days, so I asked my big girl to help. It's a bit harder for her to balance the camera, but she's doing pretty well. And, she just likes to be helpful.

I love how the blue wall coordinates with her school uniform, too.

Pizza Jam

2011-11-09T22:14:00.000+08:00

When I came home from running errands in Stanley the other day, I was greeted with the warm aroma of Joey's pizza and the rocking tunes of Pearl Jam (I got it on vinyl for the hubby for his birthday).

Joey always writes up a menu for the evening and includes a little picture. I think his picture this time was Eddie Vedder tossing a pizza.

The girls were his eager sou chefs.

Buddy, my mother and I were his eager pizza consumers.

His dream of opening up his own pizza joint is never far from his mind.

Fall Break

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000+08:00

I'm just finishing a week long break from school.

It was a week of catching up. Doctor and dentist visits, planning lessons, being a full time mum for a week. The last one is my favorite. I put Cally on the bus, picked Ella up from school, went to Buddy's rugby tournament, and even made pancakes for the family.

And I squeezed in some me time. Shopping with a friend, watching 30 Rock with the hubby. Good times.

These pictures were taken by little Buddy in one of those mummy moments when I was running into Stanley so he could go and look at something he's been wanting to spend his allowance on.

We're well into November, and even though I'd love to be snuggling up in cardigans, I can still get away with shorts and a silk blouse.

The necklaces were bought on that shopping outing I mentioned. There actually is some vintage shopping to be explored here in Hong Kong and I'm starting to find places. It's not as readily available as it is in other cities, primarily due to the fact that Chinese people are incredibly superstitious and are not likely to buy things if they don't know who owned them before. There could be bad luck if that person was in fact no longer living.

Luckily there is a decent sized expat population here who do frequent vintage clothing shops for there to be a fair few around. I'm definitely looking forward to the next break to do some more exploring.

Outfit details: silk blouse - Stanley market (closing down sale, only 20 HK dollars!), shorts - UO, shoes - Madewell, jewelry - vintage, markets

Skater boy

2011-11-06T09:36:00.001+08:00

Buddy has come a long way since he first started skateboarding three years ago. You can see a video of when he first started skateboarding here.

Lately, he's working on ollies over cracks in the pavement and drain covers as well as jumping off curbs.

One of his very good friends has taken an interest in skateboarding too, so when they aren't playing soccer, they're on their boards. It's cute. They're both a little scruffy and lanky, and they just make me think about what my Joey and his friends might have looked like when they were young skaters.

Of course, my Joey is a skateboarding adult now. Watching him yesterday, with his longer hair tucked behind his ears, showing Buddy how to balance his weight on his back foot, I realized that he would have been my type in high school, too. I had a thing for skaters.

Mini me

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

When we were carving our pumpkin the other evening, I snapped some random shots of each kid. I love candid pictures best because they capture each child in a moment I want to remember.

Catching kids in natural poses is difficult. If they figure out you're watching, they stop what they're doing and pose. Ella is especially aware of me snapping pictures and will change what she's doing and put on a silly grin.

This time, I managed to snap a few pictures before she noticed (the first two). When she saw I was taking pictures, I told her to just keep doing what she was doing and not pay attention to me.

Then I realized the poses I was seeing were the ones she sees me do when I'm taking outfit shots. Apparently she's been watching me very closely because she nailed these poses.

Even in her singlet and undies, she's a little style queen. Have I ever mentioned how she likes sparkly shoes? She's already told me that when her feet are big enough, we'll be sharing.

Cat lady

2011-11-02T09:15:00.001+08:00

Joey bought me this cat print dress the other day when he was out exploring Northpoint.

A neat building (possibly an old police station?) on Electric Street.

He spotted it in the window of a little Korean boutique opposite Mr. Taco Truck.

Close up detail and a peek at one of
my vintage store finds - the necklace.

He took a chance (after consulting with me about size) and, lucky for me, it worked out! I decided to wear it yesterday for an afternoon discovering some vintage shops in HK.

I love this print.

I jazzed it up Man Repeller style with my grey old man vest from the market. The vest is just right for the cool breezy weather of late. Joey's take is less is more (or lose the vest). I'd normally pair this with some heels or my favorite UO wedges, but opted for the black oxfords for shopping comfort.

Thoughts? How would you style it?

Happy Halloween

2011-11-01T10:30:00.001+08:00

This year's costume line up consisted of Cinderella, Tinkerbell and my personal favorite, Harry Potter.

Buddy has been really into Harry Potter after reading the first book with his father, so the choice of costume was a no brainer for him. We had to get a bit creative to make it more authentic so he and I painted a tie for him and Joey printed off the crest of Griffindore house for his cloak.

We went trick or treating in our old neighborhood in Stanley. The weather was really lovely and the kids had fun. As I write this, the girls are counting their candy (and probably trying to figure out a way for me to let them eat a lolly before brekky).

The downside to living on campus is that we had no trick or treaters at our house. Not even one. I'll have to think of a way to get all that candy out of here.

Earlier in the evening, we carved our pumpkin. Carving your pumpkin too early in Hong Kong results in mushy moldy mess. We learned that the hard way our first year.

The kids loved getting messy with pumpkin guts, well except for Cally. Every time she stepped on a seed, she gagged.

See how Cally notices the weird feeling on her feet?

It was absolutely hilarious.

The mum factor

2011-10-30T21:45:00.000+08:00

What is it?

Just that at any given moment,

I will be interrupted.

Like this.

Being a mum is a part of everything I do and my kids come first. So even though they can't always be seen in my outfit pictures, they're always with me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, I saw this look on bjones style, but considering that a few of my students took time to tell me my shirt was untucked, I'm not sure that it is a keeper. I did get a compliment on the necklace, though.

When the wind blows...

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000+08:00

Oh, the blustery days of Hong Kong Fall. I was not expecting the wind as I scrambled to catch the last minutes of daylight.

The light chiffon fabric of my skirt made for a fun session of picture taking. But I like how the wind helped highlight the flowy quality of my skirt. And, it's really such a gorgeous skirt. I feel like a ballerina, floating around, whenever I wear it. It is the ultimate princess as Cally would say. Hard not to feel like one in it.

Ella thought I should hold the frangipani that she picked up off the ground for me. It's one of my favorite flowers and we have several trees nearby our house, so she and Cally are always bringing me these. I'm so spoiled by these sweet girls.

Sweet Ella gives me the flower to hold.

Outfit details: chiffon midi skirt - Stanley Market, v-neck wool sweater - Shau Kei Wan Market ( the little old Chinese men wear these as undershirts in the winter, so I'm told),

vintage Native American turquoise necklace - gift from my hubby

A little package

2011-10-27T08:01:00.000+08:00

With birthday and Christmas season underway (the hubby's was Sunday), we've been getting packages in the mail. Just this week, we received two. Cally has quickly found uses for both of them. The bigs turned the first one into a car for her - drawing on a steering wheel, tail lights - and she loved it.

The second one she turned into a little movie watching bed. Doesn't she look comfy?

She cracks me up. She looks like a little dog in a dog bed.

Oh, the fun a simple cardboard box can provide...

Camp

2011-10-25T21:59:00.002+08:00

I'm about to send my little boy off to his first big boy camp tomorrow. Two whole nights and three days away from home. He's psyched!

I'm already without Joey this week - he's camping on the beaches in Sai Kung for Ms Peak week - but having only three of us at home for the remainder of the week will feel quite strange.

Not enough chaos. Isn't that weird?

The grey hair

2011-10-22T13:45:00.001+08:00

On Monday, my little sister turned 30. My baby sister.

That same day, I also found my first grey hair.

Joey confirmed it right before he left for work and left me to deal with the aftermath of my discovery alone. I have been anticipating its arrival for a number of years, but was hoping that genetics would work in my favor. My dad didn't go really grey until he was well into his 60s. He always seemed to have a head full of black hair.

Joey did not provide much of a sympathetic ear to my discovery, as he's had quite a bit of grey hair accumulating on his head for a while. Actually, his grey looks quite chic. I think it makes him even more attractive because it is such a contrast to his dark brown hair. Still, it's an entirely different feeling for it to be my hair turning grey. Granted, it's just one, but it marks the start. And, the thing about my grey hair is that it's texture is totally different to the rest of my hair. It's wiry and course, with a mind of it's own. I can find it almost instantly when I'm styling my hair in the morning, protruding from the top of my head to taunt me.

Up until this point, I had always thought that when I start to go grey, I'd let nature take it's course and allow myself to age gracefully. Now, I'm not so sure. I may be exploring hair coloring options in my near future. I realize that makes me seem quite vain, but I'm just not ready to accept the arrival of these grey hairs. Not yet.

This outfit is pretty much a go-to look for me. The long flowy skirt is a maxi skirt I wrote about here in the Spring. When I wore it this week, I decided to hike it up to my waist to make it more of a midi length. I like this sort of bohemian look. And now, the scarf on my head look may serve to be more functional for me to hide the grey.

Outfit details: skirt - Stanley Market, t-shirt from a mall in Kuala Lumpur, peeptoe wedges - UO, locket necklace - Brooklyn Charm, scarf - also Stanley Market

Tone on tone

2011-10-18T08:45:00.000+08:00

Tried this look two weekends ago. Might have to tweak it a little and try again. These two greens were too close in shade. I've see tonal dressing done very nicely on Flashes of Style.

Still, I'm glad that cardigan weather has arrived. And, I love this shade of green.

Sweet dreamer

2011-10-15T21:27:00.001+08:00

She isn't always this quiet.

In fact, she's quite the opposite.

But somehow, all the frustrating moments are forgotten at bedtime, when I tuck her in. She nuzzles into my chest. Sometimes she caresses my face, like I do hers.

And when she drifts off into a sweet sleep, I smile because I know she's recharging her batteries to drive us all crazy another day.

She's really a loveable little stinker.

Royal

2011-10-13T09:55:00.000+08:00

Here's another Fancy Treehouse find. What drew me to this dress was it's color. I think it's quite possible that royal blue is my favorite color.

Worn with my favorite shoes, of course.

I was worried that this maxi dress might be too glamorous for school. When I unpacked it, Joey wondered where I might wear it, to a wedding?

Oh no, not at all....to school!

Who said school teachers can't wear glamorous dresses to work?

Not me.

The hair was a challenge, though. It was quite possibly one of the windiest days we've had yet, and I decide to wear my hair up in swirls, bobby pinned at the back of my head. I was inspired by this tutorial which I found through My Style Pill, but I think my hair looked more like a bird's nest. That's why there are no pictures of it.

Outfit details: dress - Fancy Treehouse, Cooperative shoes - UO, jacket- Cotton On,

Necklace/bracelets - Hong Kong markets

Man repeller

2011-10-10T22:59:00.000+08:00

I tried mixing prints today. Stripes in my skirt with this mustard silk blouse I have. It felt very much like something The Man Repeller would do.

Don't know if it worked, though. The hubby didn't object, which only means it wasn't hideous. And, to do the Man Repeller properly, I should have worn more layers (at the very least some pants under my skirt), but it's too damn hot and humid in Hong Kong. Even in this cooler breezy weather. It's all the humidity. I keep thinking the weather is turning really nice, and then I suddenly get hot and sweaty.

BTW, I really love The Man Repeller and I wish I could pull off her look.

Black cat

2011-10-07T20:13:00.001+08:00

Busy weekend ahead. A soccer tournament for Buddy, a birthday party for Ella's friends, and a friend's 40th birthday bash tomorrow night for the grown ups!

That's just Saturday...

Sunday means rugby at Stanley Fort and we're invited to Canadian Thanksgiving, too. Phew!

Not sure I'll be checking into this spot much, so I'll just share this picture of cute heels that I saw on Streetfsn's blog.

Milan Fashion Week, Streetfsn by Nam

I've got a little thing for shoes.

Stark. Raving. Mad.

2011-10-02T21:23:00.001+08:00

In case I haven't mentioned it before, parenthood is the most challenging and humiliating experience. Ever. But, it can also be the most rewarding, too. I have to remind myself of that some days.

Cally in her new unders.

Our current frustrating experience is potty training child number three. Just when we think we're making progress, we go back to the beginning. In the first week, she was doing just about everything on the toilet. That was about two months ago. I foolishly thought then, that we'd have this one trained lickety split because it was going so well in only one week. Certainly better than my other two.

We tried getting her undies to jumpstart her enthusiasm again, but they were only very exciting for the first two days. She doesn't even care if she gets to wear them or not. In fact, yesterday, she actually wanted to wear her undies, so I kept on vigilant watch for wees (and poos). She went upstairs insisting on dressing herself and I kept asking her about using the toilet. Next thing I know, she comes downstairs fully clothed, announcing matter-of-factly that she'd weed. In her undies. On the floor of Buddy's bedroom. Nice.

I try hard not to have an over reaction. I don't want her to be embarrassed or anything. But it's not that. I've realized with this child that it's not actually about having accidents. With her, I really feel like she could do this if she decided she wanted to. She's that smart. It's almost like she gets a kick out of not going because she knows it's making us crazy.

I'm in some serious trouble.

In the genes

2011-09-28T22:42:00.000+08:00

How hilarious is this?

I got to school today to discover that my mum and I were dressed nearly identically. Quite by accident.

It was bound to happen one of these days since we have many of the same or similar articles of clothing.Our colleagues got a kick out of it, too. Hence, the picture.

My sisters tell me I'm turning into our mother.

I think this is solid proof.

Fancy Treehouse

2011-09-25T08:30:00.000+08:00

I'm back! Thanks lovely friends for your encouraging comments. I don't know why last week felt so chaotic and it just got away from me.

Oh, well I do. The two year old girl is getting the better of me in every way. And, work keeps me up till practically midnight every night, and I'm still not entirely caught up. And, feeling down, I started to look at my blog and feel uninspired by what I was doing with it, and think about how others might be uninspired, too. But, thanks to your sweet comments and some great advice from my dear friend Shan (check out her new blog here), I'm here. And, I really do love blogging. It's my me time.

Snapped on Instagram by my friend Jessica.

I received this new (to me) blouse in the mail from Fancy Treehouse, via my sister in NYC. (I have a link to Coury's blog in my side bar). She has such a good eye for vintage finds and sells them in her own online store, reasonably priced. Do check her out, you'll likely find several things you like.

And, so just like that, rather than over thinking what I'd wear, I just threw this look together in the morning and by the time I got to school, I was feeling quite happy with it. That's sort of how it goes for me, when I decide to do an outfit post. I had my friend Jessica snap a quick pic for me.

Then, when I got home, my little boy assisted me with the others. He loves to help with my blog photography. He even got out a little lawn chair and called it his director's chair.

And, he's starting to give me real feedback in our sessions, like Mummy, why don't you look up? Or, how about moving over here? In fact, he was the one who suggested the roof top. We hadn't been up there for pictures in a while.

Probably my favorite pair of shoes. Cooperative wedges from UO.

This one was Buddy's suggestion. He even got me to look into the camera!

Outfit details: blouse - Fancy Treehouse, shoes - UO, bracelets - Stanley market,

gold leaf necklace - Brooklyn Flea Market

And, before I forget, the weather is FINALLY cooling off here. Though I expect a heat wave before it stays cool, I'm excited about pulling out some scarves and cardigans!

In a rut

2011-09-20T23:05:00.000+08:00

I have sweater envy.

I'd love to be able to wear something like this ensemble to school tomorrow.

But it's not likely to happen until at least the end of November.

If I'm lucky.

And, if it seems like I'm a little absent from this blog lately (posts with other people's pictures), it's because life is busy for me right now. Three kids, full time teaching job, etc. I feel uninteresting. (Funny how being a blogger and not getting comments will do that to you). Bear with me. I'll get back to this, eventually.

Photos from B. Jones Style blog.

Looks from NYFW

2011-09-18T09:24:00.002+08:00

Here are some of my favorite street style snaps from last week. I love the midi length of the skirts. And I love them paired with boots and booties.

I've just found this woman's blog. Love.

Color blocking with bright separates.

I'd actually try a leather skirt given
how lovely it looks on her. And, that necklace.
Awesome.

These stripes are so gorgeous.

I like bright colors paired with neutrals, too.

I love how this woman accessorizes her LBD.

A cheeky dress. Perfect for summer.

More booties and a dress.

Following NYFW last week was way more entertaining that the crap work week I had. Nothing in particular, just way too many meetings and late work nights for my liking.

What looks have you found inspiring?

Photo credits: face hunter, the sartorialist, mr. newton, and vanessa jackman

Up all night

2011-09-15T23:02:00.001+08:00

I saw this preview for a new Fall TV show in the States on A Cup of Jo. It's called Up All Night, starring Christina Applegate and Will Arnett.

It looks hilarious. Really. The original preview clip is now marked private, but here are some other clips.

You mamas will know what I'm laughing at when you watch. The extended preview included...Arguing about who was sleeping and when followed by the husband's proposal to do it quick. Cringing when the champagne cork hits the ceiling and then wakes up the baby. Karaoke on a night out and realizing that you'll still have to get up with the baby when you get home.

Yep. Been there.

Beginning to heal

2011-09-13T22:34:00.000+08:00

I've been thinking about the tenth anniversary of 9/11 over the last few days.

I'm like this.

I think about - and tend to dwell on - sad things. I watched a few clips and read stories on the internet. Family members reading the names of loved ones, stories of choices made which resulted in near misses and survivor guilt, and clips of how the day unfolded, ten years ago. And of course, how our lives and our world has changed since then.

It's weird actually, to feel so far away from it now in Hong Kong, but to have such vivid memories of that day, when we were still living in Madison. I remember sitting at home, on the couches we still have, with my good friend from La Follette. We usually went on after work to our second jobs at the mall, working in retail. But, the malls were closed, so we sat together, trying to make sense of it.

I came across a statement, I can't remember where, from a person who'd lost someone in 9/11. He said something along the lines of, it's been ten years, let's put this behind us and move on. It made me think. We must never ever forget, but we must heal.

I found two posts on blogs I read that I thought I'd share. One comes from The Sartorialist, who was living in NYC at the time the World Trade Center Towers fell. It reminds me how the pain, especially for those closest to it, is still very real and raw. You can read it here.

Then, I found this post, from Soule Mama, about her own memory of that day and the ten years since. I'll leave you with hers because for me, it reminds me that while tragedy exists, there is always hope. And, we do move on.

Remembering

2011-09-11T21:54:00.001+08:00

...the day the world changed.

Ten years ago. Still feels like yesterday.

It's a jumpsuit

2011-09-10T15:10:00.001+08:00

The hubby took these pics on Monday, the day before I got slammed with this flu virus that knocked me back for the rest of the week. (Five days later, and I'm still not right). We had just a few moments of daylight left to catch, and he had sussed out this spot overlooking the bay at school.

I found the jumpsuit (romper, onesie, whatever....) in one of those market shops that specializes in clothes that come in free size. It's super comfy, the legs are tapered at the ankle and are billowy in a MC Hammer kind of way. Sorry, there's no way to make that sound fashionable.

I've been noticing (and admiring) jumpsuits on the street style blogs I've been reading, so I was eager to try one for myself.

Here's one I found on The Locals, a street style blog from Denmark. I love how this woman uses red accents (the shoes, the handbag and the bracelet) with her black and white jumpsuit.

And, though Cally asked me why I wasn't wearing a princess (her word for long skirts and dresses), I think I quite like this look. I don't think she objected, in the end.

Given the simple (and monotone) quality of this outfit, I thought it would be a good time to wear one of my favorite *statement* necklaces. To distract...just in case the jumpsuit look didn't go so well.

But I think it did.

Outfit details: jumpsuit - Stanley Market, turquoise necklace - a gift from the hubby, bought from a consignment shop specializing in native american jewelry and clothing, sandals - custom made copy of my sister's sandals.

Mama bear business

2011-09-08T09:06:00.000+08:00

Why do school buses have to be such scary places? Something about them makes them breeding grounds for bullying.

Yesterday, my little Ella came home from school and said that she'd been pinched by the girl sitting next to her (not her good friend who she usually sits with). This is the same girl we've had issues with before, the one who tells everyone of the little ones where to sit and who to sit with.

Ella on the big bus.

Right, time for some action. Joey told Ella in no uncertain terms that she could sit wherever she likes on the bus, and if anyone tells her otherwise, exactly what to say. I got on the bus this morning and pointed the girl right out to the bus mother (who knew about it anyway) and told her I didn't want her anywhere near my Ella.

We'll be dealing with the parents later. Frankly, I don't care what other people think about my actions (I live near all my colleagues), I only care about what's best for my kids.

Sick

2011-09-07T10:14:00.001+08:00

....and tired. Sore throat. Fever. Headache. Ugh.

I'll be curled up in bed most of the day.

Hoping to kick this so I can enjoy the long weekend ahead.

DIY sarong skirt

2011-09-03T08:58:00.000+08:00

I debuted my DIY sarong skirt the other day. I must say, I'm really pleased with how it turned out. And while I can't really say that I did it myself, at least the idea was mine. I really must learn to use a sewing machine because I can't keep sending things over to the Philippines to get them made, and I'm really not a fan of trekking up to Shenzhen just for a bit of tailoring.

I think this skirt will be a great transition to fall piece, too. I'm longing for weather where I won't be sweating within an hour of getting dressed each morning. Those days may not come until November. Unfortunately.

I got bored with my balcony for outfit shots, so the hubby and I went into the alleyways of Stanley to take some pics while Buddy was at art.

These are taken at the top end of that pink alley I've used before and are all taken using Hipstamatic on the hubby's iPhone.

Joey says I'm always looking down or away in my outfit poses. I've got to perhaps figure a way to look into the camera and not look silly.

Any ideas?

Outfit details: DIY sarong skirt/ top by Club Monaco (did I just wear it? Oops!) / most jewelry and scarf from Stanley Market / Seychelles shoes

Such a deal!

2011-09-01T14:26:00.000+08:00

It feels like forever since I did an outfit post. I got lots of compliments on these silk pants when I wore them last week, so I thought I'd have someone snap some pics to show you. My son took these pics, but he was more eager to get back to his legos. Even so, you get the idea.

It's a good thing he didn't get a closer pic.
It was so hot.

I found these pants in a little shop in Stanley Market, which was going out of business. Everything he had in the store was marked down to twenty HK dollars! (That's approximately $2.50 US dollars, people). He had amazing stuff - silk scarves, pants, blouses, skirts - all just piled in a few big heaps. I went back several times and found beautiful things each time. I felt like I was thrifting. Oh, the thrill!

I tried to keep my hair down all day.
The humidity did a number on it by the end of the day.

And, speaking of bargains, when I first saw these Matiko sandals on Kimberly of eat.sleep.wear, I fell in love. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find them on endless.com for half their original price! What you can't see well in the pictures is the navy blue hair bow I found when I was school shopping for hair clips for my girls.
I love it.

I love the little wedge in the heel.

I've got another outfit post planned soon. I finally wore my DIY sarong skirt yesterday.

Outfit details:

Matiko sandals, Club Monaco t-shirt from Salvation Army Store, silk pants from Stanley Market,

necklace and bow also Stanley Market (do I need to branch out?)

Pretzel hair

2011-08-29T20:50:00.000+08:00

I found another great hair tutorial on A Cup of Jo's blog (she has so many good ones).

I actually tried it today and it's super easy. Two braids and some bobby pins. I can't say that mine looked like the pretzel braids that Joanna featured, but more like upside down versions of the Heidi braids that I normally do.

Sorry, I have no picture of my own interpretation, only this one of the gorgeous girl who created this hair tutorial. I think her name is Caroline. She's a genius.

Pretzel braids

More first days...

2011-08-26T22:49:00.002+08:00

I can't forget the other important firsts last week...

First day of Upper Primary - Grade 3 "across the bridge." It's a huge deal, people. He now has a cafeteria at school and buys his lunch there once or twice a week. And, he now comes home with a school planner. Whoa.

My third grader.

All together at the start of a new school year.

Their two special 'made by Obbie' MER bags.

Big girl off to big school.

Cally knows she's next.

First day at 'big' school - Reception 2

Ella sits on the bus with her very good friend, who recently moved into our neighborhood. They've been friends since well before nursery school and I'm so pleased they get to sit together. It makes me less anxious about any bullying that might happen on the bus. (Am I the only mum that worries about this? I just remember how Buddy felt scared and intimidated by the bigger kids and decided he wouldn't go to swimming anymore. We haven't been able to get him to entertain the idea since then, two years ago).

Best friends on the bus together.

It's a busy time having three kids in school. Lunches to pack each night, bags to get ready with swimming suits or signed forms, three separate schedules to keep straight. I don't know how I'll have the energy to keep up!

Looking a lot like Ella did three years ago.

And before I finish, I can't forget the hubby. It's Joey's first year as a newly minted PE teacher.

A sweet kiss from Daddy.

All smiles on her exciting day.

When I feel stressed about the hurried pace of our lives these days, I have to remind myself to smile because I know how incredibly fortunate we are to all be so happy about school.

First day of school

2011-08-23T08:49:00.000+08:00

My littlest baby went to school for the first time yesterday. Where does the time go?

Here are some little clips of cuteness from her first day...

Arriving at school.

Finding her seat.

Going home.

Red hot

2011-08-21T22:23:00.001+08:00

The Hong Kong weather and these jeans.

A Pair and a Spare blog, Hong Kong

She says these J brand jeans are lightweight, but I live in this same weather.

I'd like to know, how is she not dripping?

My double life

2011-08-17T23:09:00.001+08:00

So, it's 10:45 pm after my first day of school this year. Buddy started back today, Ella starts big school tomorrow, and Cally begins next week.

I'm finally finished with all the preparations for school: making lunches, packing school bags, signing forms, etc. Now, I'm finally really to switch to my other life and do some school work or maybe take a peek at some of my blogs.

I'm exhausted. These last few days, I feel like I've been leading a double life. That sounds glamorous and exciting, though. I don't feel glamorous and exciting. I'm buggered.

I just wish the first two weeks of school were already over. Not that I wish to rush through the excitement of these next two weeks. We've got some milestones happening. Upper Primary for Buddy, Ella on the same bus with him to HKIS, and Cally off to nursery. I can't believe I will have three kids in school! But still, if the first two weeks were over, I'd already be in the swing of things.

Right now, I feel like I'm living two separate lives - that of a teacher and that of a mother. And, to be honest, I feel like I'm sucking at both. I can't seem to balance them. I feel like I'm always missing something or forgetting something, and I don't want to miss anything with the kiddos this week. Don't even ask me when the last decent conversation was with the hubby.

Sigh. Oh well. I'll get there eventually.

The Sartorialist, Stockholm

In the meantime, isn't this girl cute? She seems to have it all together. I love the little black socks with the sandals. The sweater vest for a dress. That top knot.

Do you think this look could work for school teacher? Or a mum? I think so.

Offline

2011-08-14T14:18:00.003+08:00

...and out of whack.

I'm back at work and the students start next week.

I haven't been able to workout properly since Tuesday (the day before I started back). I was feeling so good about exercising this summer and now I can't even seem to find time.

I've been feeling guilty about all the time I'm spending away from the kids and I still don't feel anywhere near ready to teach next week. I always feel nervous at the beginning of each year, uncertain about what I'll teach and how I'll teach it.

I'm feeling stressed out trying to re-establish a balance between work and home after the summer holidays.

And, on top of all this, my internet and cable has been on the fritz till today. I'm not afraid to admit that I really need it.

I'm longing for the simpler days of summer.

Repurposed...a DIY post (sort of)

2011-08-09T22:06:00.000+08:00

I like to think I'm the kind of person who sees the potential in a piece of clothing. A thrift store find that is just waiting to become something better. The problem for me, is that I have the ability to see these things, but no way of actually doing them. I can sew a button and even stitch up a small hole, but that's it.

Lucky for me, I have this sweet lady in Stanley Market who does alterations. I've lost count of how many items of clothing she's shortened for me. This project, however, was a step up for her.

I bought these pants in Causeway Bay (in the market there) because I couldn't resist the cute pattern of the fabric. The style was cute, too. They were slouchy, with an almost MC Hammer-esque quality to them (odd, I know, to refer to any item of clothing he wore as cute). The problem with these pants was the material had very little give to it. Not stretchy at all. In the markets (and some cheap Hong Kong fashion chain stores), you aren't allowed to try anything on, you just hope that you are free size. Usually, I am. This time, I was not.

All was not lost. I decided, and my sister agreed, that there could be enough length in the slouch to make a skirt. My alterations lady gave me the eyebrow up look when I explained what I wanted her to do and that in order to keep as much length as possible, she'd need to do a tiny hem. But, she did it.

And, here it is!

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. It's a perfect summer skirt.

Now for a DIY update. Several months back, I posted about some sarong fabric I'd picked up on my trip to Malaysia. I had plans to make skirts, blouses, etc. Yet, the same problem lay in my way. No way (or skill) to actually sew them. I took this fabric to a few tailors (my alterations lady did not want to tackle this one), but it was ridiculously expensive. All I needed was a hem and some elastic.

After overhearing my frustration, sweet Eva, who takes care of us at home, offered to send the fabric over to the Philippines with a friend to give to her mother who runs a dress shop. In a mere three days, her mother sewed this skirt and one other and I had it back in my possession in Hong Kong. She even used some of the extra fabric to add a pocket. I love pockets in skirts.

I realize I use the term DIY loosely. I didn't do any of this myself. I had the idea or design. But, I aspire to change that. My mum dug out her sewing machine this week, dusted it and as soon as it's serviced, I aim to learn to use it. Mind you, work starts again the day after tomorrow, and I have three kids.

Still, there's hope.

Big changes

2011-08-07T22:04:00.003+08:00

It's been quite a big week at home. The hubby has spent the last three days painting bedrooms so that we can give my son his own big kid room, and put the girls in together.

We chose bright colors to do accent walls after five years of living with the neutral pallet of rented flats. In the house we owned in Madison, before moving to Hong Kong, we had the autonomy to pick colors for each room. I look back now and realize that we played it safe with our color selection. Not this time. I'm really excited by the bright blue and teal that we've painted in their rooms. And, more importantly, so are they.

So, now Buddy has the big boy room he's wanted (though in the last few days before the switch, he was still having reservations). I'm okay with that. He's still my baby boy.

And, my sweet girls have their girly room, as Ella put it.

Everything in there is going to be girly!

Tonight is the first night of the switch. I've tucked my littlest into a big girl bed.

No more cots in our house.

And, pretty soon, no more nappies. Just this week, she's been using the potty and really getting the hang of it. We celebrate and cheer every time she goes in the toilet. She's so proud, as are we.

All you mums out there will know what I mean when I say it's bittersweet.

All in the details

2011-08-03T21:53:00.002+08:00

When my sisters were still here, I made my second trip to the Cat Street market in Central to show them around. It's always fun exploring new territory since I've been living here for five years, but it's perfect to do it with my sisters. We hunt and peck for the same kinds of things. And, of course, their opinions are what I trust most.

There is so much to see in this market, so many nooks and crannies to explore, that I imagine it is one of those places that you'd find something different and new each time you visit. When I was there last, I was with the hubby's family, and I was really taking in the big picture of Cat Street.

This time, I decided to look at little things and pay attention to the details.

We looked into this brass shop which sold door knobs, hinges, picture hooks and knockers of all kinds. I found a lovely brass picture hook that I'll be turning into a necklace.

It's right across from this shop which makes those metal carts that the little old men and women use to haul cardboard and paper to recycle. I loved the drawings of the cart with directions for construction.

Every shop has little trays of goodies. Vases, figurines, coins, etc.

It was in one of these shops that I found a gorgeous dragon bracelet. It was hanging on a wall next to an identical phoenix bracelet (the dragon phoenix is an auspicious pairing here in Hong Kong). I am a sucker for detail (I like when the lining of blazers or insides of pockets are made with unique fabrics). This dragon bracelet is beautiful - in the dragon's mouth is a ring that holds a clasp which meets up with the tail of the dragon. The links of the bracelet are the dragon's body.

I couldn't wait to wear it (hence the poorly manicured nails).

I wanted it to stand alone, so I didn't stack it with other bracelets.

And, I enlisted the help of my photographer sister to get a good close up. She's legit. The real deal. She studied photography in college and the last time she took posed portraits like these, it was for a project and I was 9 months pregnant with my oldest.

Head and tail.

The only piece of advice I have is to not go when it's a hot weather advisory. These little shops do not have A/C and it's not so easy to hunt and peck for treasures when sweat is dripping into your eyes.

Outfit details: American Apparel blouse, scarf and shorts from Stanley Market (both were thrifty finds!)

End of summer blues

2011-08-02T08:27:00.002+08:00

I'm missing my sisters. They left yesterday, so I'm left feeling mizzy.

I know I've blogged about it before, but it really feels like a part of me is missing now.

We really are the three headed monster.

But now we have attachments. And, they're missing their cousin like crazy.

They're mizzy, too.

Cally keeps asking where Milo is...in airplane? in New York?

Yesterday, as the van pulled away, she said Mummy, I want to go!

This year, a picture of all four was a bit harder than last summer.

Don't even talk to me about work.

A family walk

2011-07-29T07:26:00.001+08:00

Last weekend, we took a lovely (though sweaty) walk up to the upper reservoir in the country park near our house. The walk was kid friendly and stroller friendly, so all the kiddos were able to come along for an adventure.

Heading out our school gate.

Two strollers. Two babies.

We stopped to let this stick insect cross the road. Amazing!

Cally dressed herself.
An appropriate choice of hat for a walk in the country park, no?

Crossing one of the lovely old stone bridges in the country park.

What sights we all saw, from the views over the peaks and over the water, to the fish in the reservoir when we reached the top.

The view looking over the water toward the reservoir bridge.

Tons of little fish and some big coy fish in the upper reservoir.

My favorite view was of the cousins enjoying each others' company.

Milo loved holding his cousins' hands.

Look at his sweet smile.

And, they of course loved that he was so happy to hold their hands.

Oh, and maybe this view of little Milo finally warming up to his Uncle Joey.

It took a week. A long (for Uncle Joey) week of being patient and loving him from a safe distance. You can see how proud he was to finally be able to pick him up, even if only for a few minutes.

Date night

2011-07-27T09:43:00.001+08:00

July 25, 2011

An anniversary dinner at our favorite restaurant, Lucy's, in Stanley.

Lucky

2011-07-25T21:51:00.003+08:00

Thirteen years into a lifetime with you. Happy Anniversary, Babe.

A glimpse

2011-07-23T21:10:00.005+08:00

Here's a look at what's happening at my house since my family has been in town.

The first days were very rainy. We spent a good deal of time cooped up inside, but in the company of my sisters and the rest of the family, it wasn't a bad deal. We enjoyed just catching up with each other and being together.

PT gave the girls manicures.

We made block towers for the little ones to smash.

There is a lot of cousin-love going on.

My sweet nephew. I love hearing his cooing while he plays with his cousins.

My dad and my kids share many a laugh.

I'm picking up my little nephew as much as he'll let me.

Finally (after what seems like weeks on end), the weather is gorgeous again. Clear blue skies, lots of sun and super hot. We've spent the last three days at the beach. St. Stephen's beach is a hidden paradise in Hong Kong. Even on a busy day, there are hardly any people there, the water is clear, the trees provide the perfect amount of shade and the little snack shack makes a good plate of nachos and provides comfy beach bean bags to rent. At this beach, a short trip can quickly turn into an all day outing.

Digging tunnels in the sand with PT.

Our first afternoon on the beach.
Only one sister came, but we've had two car loads everyday since.

A cold Tsingtao to quench our thirst.

Beachy lazing on the bean bag with my baby.

I am loving every minute and we still have over a week left!

Beating the heat

2011-07-19T14:54:00.005+08:00

NYC and Hong Kong are similar cities in that the summers are unforgivingly hot. And, trying to stay cool, even without trying to look stylish, is a challenge to say the least. The humidity can be so unbearable in these summer months that even showering doesn't help. There is always a trickle of sweat on my face, down my back, between my......well, you get the idea.

So, check out how this chick, spotted in NYC, manages to stay cool and look cute at the same time. Long, bright flowy dress, easy up hairdo, strappy sandals and stacked bracelets. And, she does it all while looking like she doesn't really give a shit about the heat. I love it.

The Sartorialist, NYC

Oh, and one more thing. She's a New Yorker, so she's guaranteed to have a fresh pedicure, too.

Singing noodles

2011-07-17T08:41:00.001+08:00

The sisters are here, let the eating begin! We'll start here...

A delicious bowl of wanton mee.

On pins and needles

2011-07-14T22:07:00.004+08:00

Very soon now, I will be able to take this little one to my coffee shop in Stanley.

My sweet nephew at his mummy's coffee shop in NYC.

Oh, but it just doesn't seem soon enough.

(Photo taken by a friend of my sister).

Panamania

2011-07-12T21:57:00.002+08:00

I got my hat fix.

I have seen this panama hat on so many blog lovelies and have been trying to find one for myself. My H&M did not have one when I first went to look, but my persistence paid off. I thought I was going to have to take the display, but they had a hidden stash. Score!

I think I'll be wearing a hat when I'm not wearing a scarf this summer...

Outfit details: panama hat, cropped t-shirt and silky shorts ALL from H&M.
(Pictures taken by Buddy).

Sisters

2011-07-11T09:49:00.001+08:00

I look at these pics of my two little girls reading their Disney princess magazine and I think of my own sisters who will be here on Friday. Only, we'll be flipping through fashion mags, shopping together, enjoying each other's families, finishing each other's thoughts and just catching up.

I can't wait to spend some quality sister time with them.

A change of scene

2011-07-09T15:41:00.003+08:00

We've been in Malaysia this week. Just a little getaway to Kuala Lumpur for some eating and swimming. Seriously! I've had roti canai for breakfast every morning at our favorite restaurant, Ali Maju.

Roti canai and teh tarik - breakfast at it's best.

A take away ice lime juice. Bliss in a bag.

And, we usually swim twice a day.

We've squeezed in a little bit of visiting with friends, too.

Shortly after we get back to HK, my sisters, brother-in-law and nephew will be visiting from NYC and we can't wait.

Side note: One of my friends brought to our attention yesterday the huge government protests planned for Saturday, July 9. All the roads leading into KL are closed today. At breakfast this morning, all the tables were filled with soldiers dressed in their fatigues. A few different political groups are holding a rally to protest their right to free elections. They're expecting these protests to be the biggest Malaysia has seen in four years. It will be interesting to see what today brings. I hope we can leave as scheduled tomorrow.

A fresh look

2011-07-01T21:53:00.002+08:00

The hubby's family (oldest sister, her hubby and our niece) have been visiting this week from California. It's their first trip overseas and we're so excited that they made the long trip to see us. One of the things I love most about having people who are new to Hong Kong staying with us is the fresh view we get on this city. New people make Hong Kong seem all new again.

Wandering down Pottinger Street with the family.

Mak's Noodle bowls.

We wandered along this road.

I love living in Hong Kong, but in any place you live, when you're actually living there, you can get stuck in a rut. (I tried to convince myself of this when we visited Paris years ago. People there must get used to all the beauty around them, don't you think?) Working as a teacher, having three kids and doing the things we do each week doesn't leave much time for us to get around and explore Hong Kong like we used to when we first moved here.

Gorgeous lampshades.

Incense burners, perhaps?

I love these coils of incense hanging from the ceiling.

Detail from outside the temple.

For the better part of this last week, we've been sightseeing, exploring new places, eating lots of good food and basically rediscovering this awesome city. Yesterday, after our Macau trip fell through, we explored Soho and Central. We stopped in at Mak's Noodles for lunch and then wandered all the way down Hollywood Road, where I finally found the Cat Street markets. Along the way, we made a quick stop into the Man Mo Temple. I love taking pictures in the temples (but never of the deities themselves or of any worshippers).

Hong Kong is loaded with various street markets, but I only heard about the Cat Street Markets when I started reading A Pair and a Spare. She says these markets are perfect for thrifting (not an activity that is done too frequently in HK).

Cat Street Markets - good for thrifting.

The shops here were filled to the brim with antiques of all kinds - old pocket watches, rotary telephones, books, belts, pictures, clothes, etc.

One of many shops loaded with goodies.

I'll definitely be going back here again.

Swirl of hair

2011-06-28T23:23:00.001+08:00

I tried a new summer do today. Saw a girl on the MTR yesterday with some kind of twisted bun thing in her fringe, so I gave it a whirl.

Buddy took this pic at just the right moment.

It's really quite easy. First, section off a small portion of your hair at the front (wet hair works nicely). Next, apply some styling cream and twist. Twirl it into a bun and use bobby pins to pin the loose end to the rest of your hair. Use a few more bobby pins to secure the bun and spritz with hairspray (I used only 4 pins in all).

View from the top.

I think this fringe bun works with hair up and hair down. It reminded me of old Hollywood glamour. And, bonus...the hubby really liked it.

Summertime bliss

2011-06-26T09:27:00.000+08:00

Does it get any better than this?

The view from our roof top.

Yes, it does.

Waiting for the pool to fill.

We're getting a lot of mileage out of our kiddie pool.

Back alleys

2011-06-23T07:23:00.000+08:00

This week my friend Jessica and I met for lunch and shopping in Causeway Bay. It was the perfect chance to explore new spots for outfit shots. We found this spot in between Times Square and the bus 40 stop. I love the urban feel of this spot, with the graffiti and the piles of bamboo so typical of Hong Kong city living.

Lucky for me, she even took a few shots on her iPhone using Instagram. What a cool app that is! How awesome are these pics?

There are lots of alleys like this one in this city. Little sneaky passage ways between two main streets. And, as is normal in Hong Kong, they are filled with people going in many directions. This, of course, only added to the fun we were having when we took the pictures. People either just moved around us, or waited patiently for us to finish.

Also typical of Hong Kong this time of year, moments after our photo shoot ended, the skies opened up. It was a Typhoon 1 warning, after all. It's been steady rain and wind since. Still, I'll definitely be trying this again.

Outfit details: top and shorts - H&M, Raybans sunglasses, boots - Staccato, neckace - Artists and Fleas, Brooklyn, bracelets - Stanley Market

And for my love...

2011-06-20T21:58:00.001+08:00

First it was just us.

Now we are five.

I love how I can see little bits of you in each of them.

Amazing father. Wonderful husband. Best friend.

For my dad...

2011-06-19T22:46:00.000+08:00

Happy Father's Day to my dad who has given me so much that I can't even begin to mention it all here.

From you, I've learned what it is to work hard, be proud of who I am and where I come from, and most of all, to be thankful. I have the utmost respect for you and how far you've come in your life. I only hope that years from now, my children's children will know where their roots began, and will still be sharing the same stories we love to hear you tell.

Kuantan, Malaysia 2010

I feel so lucky to be loved by you.

Stacked

2011-06-17T11:53:00.002+08:00

I saw this cool DIY tutorial for stacking bracelets at A Pair and a Spare, which is a one stop DIY well of inspiration.

My take.

I really like the look of layering bangles, bracelets, watches, etc. I think one of the bloggers who does this exceptionally well is Bee over at Atlantic-Pacific blog.

I love her jewelry.

I've been emulating this layering of bracelets quite a bit myself, lately. I thought I'd snap a few pics to show you my interpretation.

Here...

I like bright colors.

And here...

I like different textures and materials.

I'm a little perturbed that my bangles are not as gold as they were when I bought them at H&M. I wonder if it's the humidity. I really like the look of the men's gold watch, but I don't have one to add to my layers...yet. I'll have to keep my eyes on the lookout for one.

Last days of little school

2011-06-15T21:13:00.002+08:00

While we're all on break for summer, Ella still has a few weeks left at her local school. She's been practicing for the graduation ceremony next week and being in school means I get to put her on the bus in the morning and take her off at lunch time. I love doing this because I don't often have the opportunity to when I'm at work. Summer time is when I can be a full time mum.

She's so excited to start at HKIS next year, to go to big school on the big bus with Buddy. Of course, I'm excited for her too, but I also feel a pinch of sadness knowing she won't be with all her lifelong buddies at the local Chinese school anymore.

I'm so grateful for the years she's had at this school. She's learned Cantonese and can speak it fluently, but more than that, under their care, she's grown to be a confident little girl. She's takes great pride in doing her work, in being a helpful little girl, she's always happy at school (and bubbly when she comes home) and she has a good group of little friends who have been with her since she was just one.

I don't let her know that I feel a tiny bit sad about her leaving this school, because I also want to share her excitement at starting big school. She isn't in the slightest bit nervous or apprehensive, so I don't want to project any of my own emotions on her.

I do try to help her understand that she won't see her friends everyday because they're all going onto their own new schools, and she always turns to me and says, Mummy don't worry, I can always have playdates with my friends! It's like she knows what I'm thinking and I'm so glad that she has this sentiment.

I hope that she always feels this self-assured, confident and happy.