My Forever Sweetheart

Baby the Stars Shine Bright headband : F21 sunglasses : F21 moto jacket : F21 dress : fishnet thigh highs from Taiwan : F21 Trooper combat boots: F21 necklace and bracelet

So I finally posted my first photo on Chictopia, and it happens to be for the new Forever 21 "Forever Sweetheart" contest that runs until Feb. 20th. Thought it would be fun to put together a Forever 21 outfit from items in my wardrobe, stage a Valentine's photo, and drag Bryan into it as well. I paired my fave F21 jacket in bright, bright blue with the super cute strapless dress I was supposed to wear for New Year's but never even got out the door. Pppfffttt. (Must wear again to show you the great details!)

Guess who also jumped on the bandwagon and started a Formspring account? Yep, that's right. So ask away! And sorry, I cannot give out legal advice. At least not yet...

Click below to ask a question:

Mechanical Girl

scarf from Soho : Marc by Marc Jacobs jacket : Insight tee : Tripp NYC denim : dinosaur socks from Taiwan : Converse Chucks : Target wrap ring : Murano glass ring from Venice

This is what happens when it has been raining non-stop all week, and I'm forced to find (un)productive things to do. Yes, I do get a little stir crazy. But hey, all the energy I let out helps me get a good night's sleep! :)

Oh, and I even made you a little video!

No Fancy Camera Here Buddy, Just Me & My Spirit

Vince. leather bomber jacket : Comrade necklace by Little Ghost Designs : Tommy Hilfiger breton top : Flying Monkey Jeans : Salvatore Ferragamo riding boots

I've been constantly dreaming of a new dslr. I already have one in mind. It's just a matter of ponying up the money to buy it. Besides the cost, I've been having a mental battle regarding whether or not I even need such a fancy schmancy camera. I mean we all know "need" is relative, right? I already dread carrying out my pseudo-dslr (point-and-shoot on the inside, dslr on the outside) because of its size. Will I feel the same way about a real one?

I would love to test out a new dslr at SXSW which is coming up the third week of March. I get excited just thinking about it. Ok, I'm pretty sure my mind is already made up on purchasing one. I've even redeemed my Lexis and credit card rewards for Best Buy gift certificates. So yes, I've been preparing. It's just a matter of when. Any thoughts or advice on the matter is greatly appreciated!

My Life is a Blur

F21 necklace : Generra dress used as top : vintage skirt : Faryl Robin mary janes

These days I secretly get excited when I have a chance to dress up even if it is just meeting friends for dinner.

I love this skirt that I picked out of a bag of hand-me-downs. My grandmother always seems to find plenty of friends whose daughters have outgrown their clothing. Digging into the bags, I usually pull out ill-fitting trousers or items from the 80s that should have stayed in the 80s. I had a little more luck this go around. The stretch adds a body conscious element to what otherwise would be a stiff wool pencil skirt, and the interwoven metallic thread adds just enough flair to tone down that secretary look. In general, I try to avoid knee-length skirts unless it's for work, but this I can make an exception for.

It is also the first time I have stuffed a dress into a skirt and passed it off as a top. The thin cashmere material definitely allowed me to pull off the look. I'm afraid anything else would have given me a bumpy torso and buttocks. Sexy.

For dinner, I met up with friends at Black Walnut, and we satisfied our sugar cravings afterwards with generous portions of sweets at Ruggles Cafe Bakery. Good dinner, friends, and yummy desserts always seem to make the perfect night.

Sorbet & Berries

Lowfat Tres Leches

Mint Chocolate Mousse Cake

I'm Currently Loving

Here is a roundup of some of the things I've been drooling over lately.

1. Erin Wasson's Casual Chic

2. Blue, nudes, and a hint of gray

3. Maria Nilsdotter's Snake Bangle (Thanks Yana for the tip!)

4. Growing a Mini Garden on Your Fingers

5. I Love You, Lover

6. Cliche Yet Oh So Classic Stripes

7. Crystal Power

8. Marc Jacobs Chain Mail Booties

9. Acne's Version of the Cowboy Boot (in moss green, of course)

10. Visually Stimulating Prints

Then Shopbop got these cuties in. The perfect pair of sandals for spring.

To go with the chain mail booties!

Pixie Dust

Moa Moa purple drape cardi : Eight Sixty tunic tank : Target leggings : Chaps ankle socks : Jeffrey Campbell Pixie booties : Kenneth Jay Lane stud ring : Little Ghost Designs by Day-Lab necklace

I think I'm in love with the color purple. It works oh so well with black and white or even gray. It's such a great punch of color to spruce up any outfit. And alas, I am finally wearing my Pixies in the States. The first time I wore them out was in Taiwan, but I quickly switched them out for sneakers once I realized the rain was not going to let up. The oversized stud ring was a giveaway win from Cheap Thrills, and I could not be happier to add this statement piece to my jewelry collection. The ring came in lovely black Net-a-Porter packaging and was a wonderful surprise to find on my doorstep. Thanks Raez and Net-a-Porter!

Game of Cat & Mouse

Bryan caught a photo of this adorable little boy!

F21 sunglasses : vintage plaid top : G1 suspender khakis : vintage purse : Taito Gloomy Bear claw key chain purchased from Domy : mouse flats from Shida night market in Taipei : no name cat mask ring

The weather has surprisingly taken a turn for the better lately with the perfect amount of breeze mixed with my favorite outdoor element, the sun. Whenever such is the case, Bryan and I scoop up the opportunity to go for a walk and check out some of Houston's best features, the art museums. These photos were taken in the sculpture garden across the street from the Museum of Fine Arts.

Oh yes, and instead of going the way of the furry fox tail keychain, I'm accessorizing with a furry bloody bear claw instead. Take that Louis Vuitton!