Talbots, Cardiology Outfits, Amish Country

AHA! I've got your attention with the random combination of the above subjects.  Maybe you wonder how I will tie them all together, well, the answer is that I won't. In fact, I'd like to add some more topics to the mix: calligraphy, pink Marco Tagliaferri bag, lavender nails

While I was on inpatient cardiology teaching service, I managed to get dressed 5 times.  Please note my sock bun in the last picture.  My hair is super unwieldy and all of my sock buns unravel within ~an hour :(

1. Top: tailored in Vietnam, Skirt: Anthro, Belt: J Crew, Shoes: Sears
2. Top: Talbots (<3), Cardi: AE, Pants: H&M
3. Top: tailored in Vietnam, Pants: F21, Belt: J Crew, Shoes: Talbots (!)
4. Tshirt: Charlotte Russe, Skirt: Anthro
5. Top: H&M, Skirt: Anthro, Shoes: Sears

I sort of recently discovered how awesome Talbots is (over the last few months).  I also recently acquired new calligraphy markers and calligraphed while on an empty stomach until I became quite dizzy (over the last few hours).

Onto the Talbots...

The featured Talbots items are 1. Blue jacket and 2. Purple Espadrilles
Some favorite returning guest stars are: Pink Marco Tagliaferri bag, Seven7 jeans, Anthropologie trench coat skirt

Behold! I painted my nails purple and wished to 'casually' showcase them with everyday objects.
Clockwise from upper left: Marco Tagliaferri bag, keys with duck keychain, Groom quiz book c/o Danielle, Loathesome Pager

Mike and I went to Amish Country last week and stayed at a great Bed and Breakfast.  While there, we saw many animals, ate a freshly made farm breakfast each morning, learned about the Amish culture and other tidbits about life.

These are some images that evoke "Amish Country" for some.
I never did get a chance to ride on a buggy.  Truth is, they were noisy, slow, and the pooping of the horses was too frequent for my liking.
My hair is in a sock bun (for the moment)!

Chillin' and maxin' out.

Quite self explanatory: I pose by a tractor while Mike interacts with the animal residents of our B&B.
Outfit: Talbots jacket, H&M dress, J Crew pixie pants, Zigi shoes, purse from Amish leather shop (wahoo!)

This is legitimately cool: Mooney Warther train carvings of (right) ebony and ivory and (left) wood + ebony/ivory accents.  This museum, though located in a humble setting, was breathtaking!  Warther used no glue! He is indeed, the master carver. 

On the grounds outside of the Warther Museum.

And that is all, folks.  Coming up next....

- completed wedding invitation suite (2 years in the making?!?!)
- favor boxes

Of Pixie Pants, Other Apparel, and Pie

Wow, I am so glad I own the J Crew pixie pants.
Last year I proclaimed my love for them a few months after finally getting them.  I felt that paying $88 was a little silly for a pair of glorified leggings.

Then they went on sale. $_$  Unfortunately they seem to hardly ever go on sale anymore.  They are definitely nicer than leggings and the signature back seams and zipper are still well-loved by all, especially me.  I wear them a LOT and they are still as nice as ever! Yay!






Here are few as-of-yet unposted outfits featuring my beloved Pixie Pants:

1. Sweater: gift from Mom bought in France "Funky Diva", Shoes: leopard flats from Fashion Bug.
2. Top: J Crew, shoes: Bandolino
3. Top: Free People, Boots: paris hilton
4. Top: J Crew, Shoes: I Love Comfort from Sears, Earrings: leopard thrifted

I also have been wearing a lot of clothes lately, being forced to go to work everyday.  I finally got around to uploading all the pictures of them from my camera.  Well, I guess I'll go ahead and post them here.

I couldn't decide which shot to use for these so I selected them both.
Also shows the versatility of each outfit to exist in slightly different angles and poses.
1. Top: Trucco from Madrid, Cardi: American Eagle Outfitters, Pants: from Vietnam, Shoes: Calvin Klein
2. Top: Mango, skirt: from Vietnam, Belt: Talbots, shoes: unknown
3. Top: J Crew, Pants: H&M, Shoes: from Vietnam

1. Top: J Crew, Skirt: Anthropologie, Shoes: unknown. Necklace: I revived my Target necklace!
2. Top: Delia's, Coat: gift, Pants: from VN, Shoes: Talbots
3. Top: H&M, Skirt: Anthropologie, Shoes: leopard flats, Necklaces: Target and F21
4. Top: Adidas (old), Cardi: Target, Pants: H&M, belt: J Crew
5. Dress: Ann Taylor, belt: thrifted and very old, Shoes: VN
6.  Top: F21, Skirt: gift from Mom bought in France, Boots: from Madrid

Again, couldn't choose one pose, they are just all so good.
1. Sweater: unknown brand, tank top: Delia's, Pants: J  Crew Minnie bi-stretch wool, shoes: unknown brand
2. Top: J Crew, pants: Vietnam, Shoes: Banana Republic, Necklace: J Crew
3. Top: Mango, Skirt: J Crew petal skirt, Boots: from Madrid.  WOW I really like this outfit! Note to self: wear this again, consider jewelry.

1. Top: elephant top, need I say more? Scarf: Urban Outfitters, Pants and belt: J Crew, Booties: unknown brand
2. Top: Banana republic, Skirt: Anthropologie, Boots: Paris Hilton via Macy's, Earrings: you can't see them but I made them!
3. Going out outfit. Top: unknown, from Gabe's, Jeans: Seven, Shoes: from VN

Lately I've been in the cardiology ICU, which I consider to be a slightly hateful place.  Lately meaning for the last 2 days.  I think I am coming down with a le-cold (rhinovirus).  I will refrain from further discussing my sentiments regarding the CICU on the blog.  Back to something more palatable:

Mere moments later:

Mike has struck again!

Proof that I am Vietnamese: Making Xoi

I have been anguishing over the lack of xoi in my life for some time now.  My mom makes xoi in a contraption of an aluminum pot in which a straw basket sits, mystifying me ever since I was little.

Thus, I always associated xoi with magic and, therefore, unattainable for a mere mortal like me.  Xoi comes in so many flavors and colors that I had a hard time choosing which to make.  It was certainly a no-brainer to make Xoi with Lap Xuong (chinese sausage)...but why did the 2nd xoi turn out to be green? Mystic.

  

First I had to procure a steamer device.  The chinese store nearby did not have my mom's exact contraption so I bought a bamboo steamer.  I was instructed by various internet sources to line the steamer with muslin which I also didn't have so I lined it with a cut-up pillow case...awkward.

Post-soaking for ~4 hours, the wet grains are spread out onto the steamer tray.  I was excited that I bought a double decker steamer.  This doubled my steaming capacity!

The shallots and garlic are sauteed, then the Lap Xuong is added.  Aromas of awesome fill the air!!

Why is it that shallots and garlic look so pretty on a cutting board but so sad to cut? We shall never know...


DINNER:

Xoi Man with Lap Xuong

DESSERT:

Xoi Dua (coconut) with green food coloring

Engagement Photobook

I would like to share our engagement photos in the form of pictures of the photobook I made with them!

Credits

Photography: Paul Meyer Photography

Photobook: AdoramaPix

Outfits

Quyen #1: JCrew coat, Banana Republic dress, Urban Outfitters heels

Quyen #2: Anthropologie dress, Paris Hilton boots

Earrings-Charlotte Russe, bracelet-Anthropologie

Mike #1: suit and shirt tailored in Vietnam, JCrew tie, Neil M loafers

Mike #2: Sweater from Kohl's, JCrew pants

Thanksgiving Cooking and Recent Outfits

During the week preceding Thanksgiving, everyone had turkey on their brain.  All around the hospital people shared their plans of cooking, travelling, and taking time off.  As her roommate approvingly listened in, one of my patients told me her recipe for stuffing.  She said that even her daughter's boyfriend, a chef for a prominent restaurant, praised it.  I asked if she would write it down for me. No need, she said, it's super simple.  She listed the ingredients, no measuring cups, just instinct.  Never the same each time but always a Thanksgiving highlight for her family.  Luckily, I discharged her from the hospital in time to work her kitchen magic.



Vegetables dusted with spices.



My patient's stuffing recipe developed into my first Thanksgiving dinner, cooked by me! Hosted by me! I had to emphasize the fact that I cooked since it rarely happens except for on this blog, where it seems frequent due to publishing bias.  But note that I haven't posted for a month and during that time I definitely was NOT cooking.



Hey look, what's that?! You guessed it---MATZO BALL SOUP.  Yummie.
 Please refer to this post for the recipe and similar pictures (minus the Cutco knife and new polypropylene cutting board).
On this particular early Thanksgiving morning, I used chicken wings and drumsticks, you can see them peeking out
from underneath the lovely veggies.


Believe it if you will, I woke up at 6:30 AM as if it was any other work day and set out to chop celery, carrots and onions with my new Cutco Chef Knife.

Ok, then I baked an unplanned cake.  But you know, I had to bake something since I am the proud new owner of a Kitchenaid Mixer.  I had to bake something impressive.  No credits to me please; that Mixer is the Boss.



Extra points if you spot the cookies.
They are special Arrested Development cookies.
I had made the batter for them in a massive quantity earlier that week


I only own 1 cake pan so I had to wait before baking the 2nd cake.  But this provided time for the cakes to cool and prepare themselves for

BUTTERCREAM ICING.



nb: cake made with shortening, icing used margarine in lieu of butter



One day, I'm going to tell the gory tale of my buttercream icing failures.  In my misadventures, I learned about emulsifying oil-based and water-based products.  I learned of the importance of using metal/glass bowls over plastic bowls.  I learned about the bain-marie.  I learned about the sugar ball in water test.  I learned that there were Italian, French, and American schools of buttercream frosting.  In spite of all this knowledge, my buttercreams had a paltry success rate....that is until the Kitchenaid Mixer intervened.  That and I patiently let the stiffened egg whites sit in the fridge for a good 1 hour until their temperature equilibrated with the butter.  Let's just say that there were now 10 egg yolks leftover between the cake and the delicious perfectly-executed decadent phenomenal exquisite buttercream icing. 

And then it was time for the Famous Stuffing:



Is it weird that writing about the stuffing caused me to go prepare myself some leftover stuffing?



And onto the dinner party.....!



Mike made the matzo balls! They are buoyant and delicious.  The soup was light and flavorful with lots of veggies.



My friends endured my cooking and agreed to spend Thanksgiving evening at our humble little home, complete with 2 card tables pushed together to become a dining room table + a sheet masquerading as tablecloth.  Alas why am I so honest?



Clockwise on my plate: turkey breast, cranberry sauce then mashed potatoes made by Shana, mashed yams by Mike, stuffing.
I am thankful! And full!



Not too full for a little cake.
See the baked pears? Mike made them!



And as promised, a smattering of recent outfits! **Thanksgiving hostess outfit



1. Top: JCrew, JCrew pixie pants, Bandolino shoes
2. Sweatshirt: JCrew, Tshirt: from Gabe's, JCrew pixie pants, shoes: from Vietnam
3. Top: unknown gifted, Skirt: Anthropologie, Necklace: gift, Devil Horns for Halloween
4. Top: Free People, pants: from Vietnam, shoes: Banana Republic
**5. Tank top: F21, Sweater: KensieGirl, Skirt: from Vietnam.  



I Love my Anthropologie Trench Coat Skirt!

Ok, so I've coveted this skirt for MONTHS, specifically in navy.



Shirt: J Crew Factory
Skirt: Anthropologie
Necklace and shoes: Urban Outfitters

 Do you know how many times I've checked the Fresh Cuts on Tues in fits of desperation? Then, I had a birthday and around the same time the skirt finally went on sale.  It was an auto birthday present from the heavens!  The scary thing was that the olive color was sold out and even the navy didn't have many sizes left...it was time to act--QUICKLY.



The inside of this skirt is so adorable and meticulously made I could die.


The weird thing is I'd never tried it on before purchasing it online.  The first time I wore it was right after I tore open the package and took these pictures immediately.  When I saw it in the store back in August, I fell in love with its buttons and the soft but structured fabric. Then I put the regular size 0 up against my body and just KNEW that I had to have it.  I ended up buying the 2P size because the reviews suggested that it runs too long and too tight for some.  On me, I think I could still probably size down.  The 0P would be nice and fitted since the fabric is stretchy.  On the other hand the 2P looks good on me and you can't even tell that it's a little loose fitting. Besides I can tuck in all sorts of sweaters and thicker tops which would be good for impending wintertime.

That's all for now! 

My DIY Save the Dates

We sent out the save the dates recently! (3 weeks ago) Wow, now we really need to have this wedding. I was so nervous to send them out, thinking that they will all get lost, or worse, dumped into a creek. Luckily, our US Postal Service colleagues came through, and at least 5 people have received their save the dates, I know because I harassed them about it. I loved each and every one of them so much that I took pictures of them so that they'll always live on in pixel form on our majestic world wide web:

Behold some close ups.  I wish I could close up each card since they are all different but here are a few:



Who is Sivan, you ask?
This is Mike's middle name/Hebrew name.

Completing this little project was pretty rewarding. The highlight occurred when the postal worker lady gave us stamps in denominations of $.05, $.04, and $.20 so that we had to put no less than 3 stamps on each save the date to add up to the $.29 required to send them.   

All in a day's work!