spring launch party

attention houston friends!

Elaine Turner, the texas-based designer of the luxury brand will be launching her spring line next tuesday march 3rd 6 - 8 pm at her newest boutique in BLVD place 1700 post oak blvd houston 77056. the spring launch party will be hosted by HOUSTON TEXANS Chris  and his wife Jenny Myers  and Operation Smile's Dane Hoang, my friends Viet Hoang, Duyen  and Marc Nguyen. 

20 % of proceeds will be donated to OPERATION SMILE, an international charity organization providing free and safe dental surgery for under privileged children and young adults born with cleft lip or cleft palate all over the world. 

enjoy and night of shopping and supporting a great cause 

and meeting the designer herself, Elaine Turner! 

see you there! 

saks beauty event

 it is spring beauty event once again. if you shop at saks beauty counters (and online) and spend $125, you get this beautiful tote filled with samples from some of your favorite beauty brands. use code BEAUTYW2 when ordering online.

i ordered a few items last week and i'm hoping to get them today. i am excited to try this concealer and primer that are holy grail status for some. now is the perfect time to try products you have not tried before and the ideal time to stock up on your daily beauty and skincare essentials. and great bonus that you get to go home with a free tote and goodies! 

here are my picks for spring : 

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sunday craving

with spring almost in the air, i am craving a bit of sripes and lots of tassels. enter this tote perfection that's so pretty for this upcoming spring and summer!

this monterey tote (comes in black and navy) from splendid is perfect for a weekend outing or an quick overnight getaway! 

the monterey backpack is way too cute too! 

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spring for the home

shop this home spring inspiration : 

elephant salt & pepper shakers // pink tray // pineapple pillow
peony napkin ring // muse d'or candle // pom napkins (similar)
lamp // candleholder set // curved side chair


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spring fling

the early texas spring break are just weeks away and
i'm dreaming warm weather, colorful patterns and beautiful prints. what are your plans for spring break? 

more prints and patterns to shop :

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happy sweets

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valentine's day is just a few days away and if sweet treats are your jam, these are the way to go. i never say no to sweets, so i would definitely love these........

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sunday craving

too cute scallop details on this perfect spring coat. possibly the only coat you need. period. 

talia coat, kate spade

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spring fever

somehow i ended up at forever 21 at the mall and i stumbled upon a boat load of cute stuff. i am not a big fan of their clothes but i can certainly handle their accessories and little knick knacks with inexpensive prices. i obviously don't need them but they're just too cute.

makeup bag / compact mirror

i also found this cool celfie tee but i can't find it online ;-(

here are a few more adorable accessories : 

shop this post :

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bejeweled

BE - jeweled.  

jeweled jeans available here & it's 40% off. no code needed. 

shop for more jeweled favorites here : 

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friday faves and weekend reading

it's friday again? i feel like the days and weeks just go by so quickly and we are fast approaching the end of january. i just like the feeling that today is friday and that the weekend is here to stay even for only 2 brief days! 

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let's kick off friday with some favorites from this week : 

• a collab that's all involving my latest obsession : sneakers --> kate spade staurday + new balance.

• turn those designer bag and shoes dustbags into a chic home accessory! (hint : designer pillows?) 

• diy acrylic side table? i need to follow the step by step tutorial asap! 

• dreaming of warm weather and pineapples? check out this soiree! 

• raise your hand if you love dulce de leche! you are not alone - here's a yummy spiced cake recipe with dulce de leche frosting. *dies* 

• 10 best travel instagram accounts y'all need to follow! 

• don't miss our valentine's day gift guide for him and her. it's never too early to shop for that perfect gifts! 

TGIF! 

enjoy the weekend folks! 

winter skin care

let's talk beauty and skin today. the cold and freezing weather does make my skin extremely dry all over. to combat all that, i have an arsenal of products i swear by. keep in mind that these routine change up depending how my skin is acting but mostly, these are what i use to keep them moist and hydrated everyday. 

1 / my current skin cleanser is the gentle purity facial cleanser. it cleanses skin without drying it

2 / i love applying a bit of that cleanser onto my wet konjac sponge. it helps to deep cleanse without overly irritating my skin

3 /  my new favorite lip balm hands down is the malin + goetz mojito lip balm. keeps my lips soft and supple for hours!

4 / i have added an argan oil product to my skin routine. i learned of a great tip to add a drop of this oil on to my makeup foundation before application for a smoother soft focus finish. i also love to mix a drop of argan oil to my toner and pat it directly to my face. instant hydration!

5 / i have read about the embryolisse moisturizer from beauty bloggers and all the rave about is true. it has a slightly thick consistency but absorbs quickly in the skin. i love wearing it under my foundation and i use it as a night cream before bedtime.

6 / i love using a tinted moisturizer, a cc cream or a bb cream in the winter for that added skin care benefits and coverage as well. the it cc cream has medium to full coverage and lasts all. day. long. i suggest you try it!

7 / this shower oil is the last thing i slather on before i step out of the shower. i love it more than applying lotion after. i love the scent and it keeps skin smooth despite the frigid weather.

8 / a hand creme is always a staple in my handbag, inside my car and my desk. this a cult favorite and i have several tubes of them all over the house and in the office.



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valentine's day : gift guide

top L-R  butterfly crystal / sweatshirt / necklace / print
middle L-R  sneakers / earrings / cologne / crossbody bag
bottom L-R  candle / envelope / compact / piggy bank

top L-R  men's cologne / biker jacket / bracelet / sneakers
middle L-R  messenger bag / travel kit / gingham shirt / foldable headphones
bottom L-R  weather station / bowtie (similar) / boxers

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saturday shopping

this freezing weather here lately is making me yearn for easy breezy blouses perfect to wear on an island. 

if you have plans to visit the beach anytime soon, you need these gorgeous lace blouses to wear for a night out by the bay. i love how girly and flirty they are. 

above is very pricey but below is an inexpensive version and i think much cuter (with pineapples!).  

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best NYE dresses

happy monday everyone!

i hope you all had a wonderful christmas break and that you're looking forward to the last hurrah for the holiday season and that's the new year's eve celebration! 

whether you have big plans or not, new year's eve is that one night to pull out the sparkliest and prettiest dress you have to dance the night away and ring in the new year!

if you're still on the hunt for that perfect dress, here are a few options : 

the little black dress

best in crimson red

bright colorful and patterned

wow, 2015 is almost here! 

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boxing day sale guide

• LAST CALL NEIMAN MARCUS extra 60% off clearance until noon
• PIPERLIME extra 60% off final sale
• extra 30% off all sale styles at MADEWELL (code : foryou)
• WAITING FOR MARTHA 25% off sale (code : merrymerry) 
• winter tag sale at ANTHROPOLOGIE extra 25% off on sale plus new added items
• LULULEMON sale and men sale here
• up to 50% off at JONATHAN ADLER
• holiday sale at JACK ROGERS up to 50% off 
• year-end clearance at BEAUTY.COM up to 60% off  
• designer sale at SAKS up to 70% off
• get 25% off extra on already sale items at KATE SPADE (code : jingle25)
• after christmas sale BLOOMINGDALES up to 75% off

happy shopping and stay warm! 

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last minute shopping : stocking stuffers

ear buds / lip shine / nail lacquer / compact mirror

notebook / washi tape / bow earrings / lip lacquer

fur key fob / thermal mug / hair ties / coin purse



enjoy the weekend!

mixed patterns

i love colorful mixed patterned sweaters this season. in the midst of everything dark and grey, the pop of abstract prints and colors does make for a bold wardrobe statement even with just a cozy fair isle sweater and jeans!

here are a few to check out :  

j.crew has a deal going on now where you can save up to 30% off with code MERRYMERRY. 

have a great weekend friends! 

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holiday wishlist

1 / five piece place setting
2 / instant camera
3 / bucket bag
4 / clear mod locker
5 / nespresso
6 / tray table 

hello december

it's december for real !?!

the turkey has been long gone and christmas holiday cheer is in full swing. it's the first day of december and cyber monday all in one busy beginning day of the week! 

how was your thanksgiving? our's was delightful. we travelled to chicago and indiana to visit with family and relatives. we are so grateful that we were able to do so without a hitch in our travel plans. all the flights were on time, the weather was ok and we mostly spent our holiday break enjoying the company of family and friends. 

we had a great time. it was hard flying back home this weekend but we were looking forward to decorating our home for the holidays. so that's what we did all sunday in between laundry and watching football. our tree is finally up and it's beginning to look a lot like christmas at home! 

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if you are taking advantage of the cyber monday sales, here are a few links to check out : 

WHHOSTESS - code : BETHANKFUL 25% off your order

NARS COSMETICS - code : TAKE20 take 20% off online and in stores

OLD NAVY, GAP & BANANA REPUBLIC - code : CYBER take 40% off 

TUCKERNUCK - 15% off sitewide with code : SHOP15

                               20% off over $150 order with code : SHOP20

                               25% off over $500 order with code : SHOP25

                               30% off order over $1000 with code : SHOP30

TOMS -  code : CHEER take 25% off select items 

NORDSTROM - up to 40% off storewide. no code needed

DESIGN DARLING - code : MANYTHANKS take 20% off  

ANN TAYLOR - code : CYBER50 take 50% off 

J.CREW - code : MONDAY take 30% off select full-priced items and additional 40% off sale items, free shipping, no minimum

ZHUSH - code : BFRIDAY25 take 25% off all purchases 

happy cyber monday and happy shopping! 

christmas ornaments galore

christmas ornaments are some of my favorite things to collect. through the years i have collected some dearly personal ornaments like the ones we got when aston  was born, little souvenir ornaments we got through our travels and vacations, those gifted by friends and family and most especially, ornaments creatively and imperfectly handmade by aston  over the years. those are the most precious ones that we treasure and proudly display year after year.

if you're starting a collection or just simply adding to what you have, here are a few ones that i am loving!

shop for the them here :

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