Red Hot New Year's Eve

Here's a sneak peak of my New Year's Eve BB Dakota Kassia dress, available at lulus.com. I love wearing red dresses and must own over a dozen in different styles as they're festive, eye-catching, and adds a big pop of femininity.



2011 was the best year so far. 2012, let's see what you can do!

A Travel and Outfit Post-Birthday Weekend in NOLA Part III

I grew up reading, rereading, watching and rewatching Gone With The Wind. I love everything about it-Scarlett, Rhett, the story, the love, the drama, and of course, the grandeur of Tara. The plantation was the visual hearth of the story as the state of Tara reflected the ever tumultuous plot twists. In essence, it was one of the defining characters in the epic tale.

As a result of my everlasting love for Gone with The Wind, I totally romanticize plantation life. Thus, a plantation visit was on the top of my New Orleans checklist. When the lovely Cajun Encounters, a locally owned and operated tour company that names Brangelina as their guests invited me to take their swamp and plantation tour, I was beyond thrilled! Not only would I get to take a peek into Scarlett's life, I'd get to do it knowing Brangelina stood where I stood. Two birds, one stone.

I wore the most dramatic outfit I'd packed to the plantation tour. Impractical for all day walking. But you know how it goes.








Tank: Vivienne Tam
Maxi Skirt: Gold Hawk
Silk Scarf: Thomas Wylde
Purse: Kate Spade

The Oak Alley Plantation is a stunning Greek revival style antebellum estate. It was so breathtakingly beautiful I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. The tour was informative and absolutely perfect...just like the rest of New Orleans!


Hydropeptide Even Out Serum-Giveaway and Youtube Video Review!

I was quite sick last week and had to stay home for a few days. I'm restless by nature so instead of resting and catching up on Gossip Girl, I made my very first Youtube video! I reviewed HydroPeptide Even Out Brightening Pigment Corrector, a serum that safely lighten all types of hyperpigmentation including age spots, sun damage, acne scars and pregnancy mask with 5 all natural corrective skin brighteners. I had been using the serum for the past two months and witnessed a dramatic skin transformation. Check out my video for more info on the serum and an in-depth review.


To celebrate my foray into vlogging, I am giving away two sets of HydroPeptide Even Out serum, each valued at $60!


GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. Follow me via google subscriber (the tab is to the right of the entries)
2. Leave a comment at the end of this post. Don't forget to include your email address!
3. "Like" this post (see tab at the bottom of this entry)
4. Giveaway ends January 2, 2011 at 11:59 PST. Winners will be contacted via email
5. Open to everyone WORLDWIDE
6. Want to double your chances of winning? Leave a comment on my Youtube video page!



Two Point Oh! LA Holiday Snowball

This past Sunday, I attended the second annual Two Point Oh! LA Snowball put on by my friend the Wonderwoman Kelsi Smith and held at the stylish and tré cool Palihouse in Weho. I had such a fun night with my fellow fashionistas! We celebrated the holidays in style-indulging in the gifting suite, sweet treats lounge, flowing wine bar and a spin-the-wheel Lulu's Clothing prize boutique. Of course, I couldn't attend this amazing fête without wearing a fabulous ball gown! BCBG Max Azria invited me to visit their Hollywood showroom earlier in the week to pick out a gown from their pre-Resort 2012 collection.The showroom had a rack full of sigh worthy dresses but my hawk-like eyes went straight to a rhinestone embellished lemon yellow grecial gown. It was love at first sight!

BCBG showroom, one of the prettiest in LA!

coveting thy closet

sneak peak at the BCBG Resort 2011 board

hello pretty!






the BCBG girls!

we're anything but mellow in our yellow

the BCBG girls anchored by the men of BCBG

Personal Style Outfit Post-Lady in Coral

Because I'm "dressed up" almost all the time, I love to take the phrase bumming it to a serious level when I'm running errands on the weekends. Usually, this means I'm wearing my old law school sweatshirt with a pair of ultra comfy but highly inappropriate flouncy and flanneled PJ bottoms to the supermarket, dry cleaners, and occasionally, even to the mall-which I know is entirely ironic. However, after recently re-watching The Joy Luck Club and admiring the characters' retro glam and ladylike styles, I've been inspired and motivated to look and dress like a lady at all times. I realized that sometimes it can be just as cathartic to transform from the OUTSIDE in as it is the other way around. So, I wore this outfit to the bank and the post office a few Saturdays ago. And I felt great!





Coral wrap dress: Sway Chic. I love this website! Everything is edgy, trendy and super affordable.
Cardigan: Lily McNeal
Purse: Kate Spade
Shoes: no idea
Sunglasses: Vintage
Jade and Gold Rooster Necklace: gift from one of my aunts in Shanghai

Miracle Skin Transformer Treat and Conceal Review and Beauty Giveaway

2011 has been the year of the eyes. Due to allergies, genetics and my natural eye shape, it seems like my dark circles and puffiness have gotten worse this year. So, in my never ending quest to address and combat my eye issues, I tested numerous eye creams, masks, devices and concealers hoping to find the miracle eye solution. A few eye products have been quite effective (and shall be properly reviewed in a future post) but as far as concealers go, I've found it in Sarah McNamara's Miracle Skin Transformer Treat and Conceal. The concealer transform the appearance of skin, covering dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections with a matte tinted effect. It goes on so soft and smooth and never ever looks cakey! A small tube goes a long way as I use about a microscopic drop of it every morning, using my fingers to pat the concealer around the under-eye area. And just like that, my eyes are transformed and issue free! If your skin is transforming because of age, you may be interested in checking out Medigap Insurance.





I'm teaming up with Miracle Skin Transformer to give away two sets of their amazing products. Two lucky readers will win the Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 (Sarah's version of the tinted moisturizer) and the Miracle Skin Transformer Treat and Conceal! Good luck and get ready for a total eye and face transformation!


GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. Follow me via google subscriber (the tab is to the right of the entries)
2. Leave a comment at the end of this post. Don't forget to include your email address!
3. "Like" this post (see tab at the bottom of this entry)
4. Giveaway ends December 21, 2011 at 11:59 PST. Winners will be contacted via email
5. Open to everyone WORLDWIDE
6. Want to double your chances of winning? Retweet this: @goodbadandfab and @MiracleSkin are giving away two sets of bestselling Miracle Skin Transformer products! Check out http://bit.ly/t05XSa for details!



A Travel Post-Birthday Weekend in NOLA Part II

I love eating almost as much as I love shopping which means when I'm travelling, good food marks the spot. I had very high expectations for the New Orleans food scene as I'd heard so many great things about their flavorful and inventive use of spices, herbs and ingredients. NOLA did not disappoint. From po' boys and jambalaya to scatterings of a few dozen oysters (raw, charbroiled, rockefeller) here, there and everywhere, my taste buds were treated to down South cooking at its finest. My most memorable meal was at Commander's Palace, a family run institution that truly captures the essence of New Orleans fine dining.




The restaurant sits in the Garden District right across the street from Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, a fifteen minute drive from the French Quarter. Upon stepping inside the restaurant, time lapsed and reversed as I felt like I was entering New Orlean's charming and glorious 1880s ante-bellum past. Opulent but inviting formal dining rooms stylized with ornate carvings and flourishes adorning the walls captured my senses. The Victorian fantasy-like building, complete with turrets and columns was utterly breathtaking. In fact, it took me a few minutes to take in the restaurant's beauty and grandeur, as I couldn't absorb it all at once. As I sat down in the restaurant's "VIP" booth once bestowed to the likes of Nicholas Cage, Sylvester Stallone, President Reagan, I began to realize that this wasn't just brunch. An event was unfolding.

Turtle soup, a New Orleans specialty and a Commander's classic. 

Endive salad. After trucking through several meals without any veggie or fruit consumption, I craved a healthy plate of greens.

Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish. The fish is tender and the cream sauce mouthwatering irresistible-no matter how much I tried to resist it.

Eggs Couchon de Lait. The poached eggs and shredded suckling pork dripped in wine sauce are flavor perfection.

Creole Bread Pudding Souffle. Bread pudding is NOLA's most popular dessert, after beignets of course.

Praline Parfait. So decadent, sweet and addicting! I had to use an inconceivable amount of  will power to stop myself from engulfing the entire plate.

No New Orleans Sunday brunch can be complete without the accompaniment of a fabulous jazz band. Here, they're belting out "What A Wonderful World." Indeed, it is. 
Thank you Commander's Palace a truly unforgettable dining experience!

After brunch, I did some much needed post feast walking in the Garden District and the French Quarter. Impromptu outfit pictures ensued.


Dress: Vintage
Purse: Kate Spade
Necklace: Gilt
Watch: Omega


Tulle Sample Sale December 10!!!

Tulle, a super cute boutique is having a one day massive sample sale! Check out www.tulle4us.com for a sneak peak of what to expect at their sample sale. Tons of girly frocks, jackets and winter essentials!

A Travel Post-Birthday Weekend in NOLA Part I

I went on an early weekend birthday trip to New Orleans a few weeks ago and wholeheartedly fell in love with the Big Easy's sights, sounds, food, and people. The city's charm, culture and history kept me busy and entertained all weekend as I traversed and traveled to plantations, swamps, the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, their world famous above ground cemeteries (hauntingly beautiful), upper crust Garden District, and one of a kind restaurants.

Amid all the walking, sightseeing, and gratuitous amount of eating, I was able to slip in a few hours of reprieve and relaxation each day while staying at the Omni Royal Crescent Hotel, a hotel that evokes the beauty and mystery of New Orlean's rich past while offering impressive modern luxuries and amenities. I indulged in the hotel room's whirlpool jacuzzi, basked in its amazing rooftop view of downtown while sitting in the hot tub, and even made it to the gym. Once. Since this was a last minute trip, I didn't get to do my usual mapping exercise (basically, I write out my full itinerary and use google maps to get directions from point A to B all the way to Z. OCD, right?) so I relied on the super friendly and helpful hotel staff. They provided me with the best recommendations, routes and smoothed out all the rough edges in my itinerary. Needless to say, the hotel and the city has left a deep and everlasting imprint on my heart!






Birthday Epiphany

My birthday milestone culminated in a bash last Saturday at the Parlour Room, a 1920s style bar/lounge in Hollywood that perfectly complemented my Roaring Twenties party theme. I'm not going to lie. I had been dreading this birthday for quite some time because now, when the clock strikes midnight on December 3, I'm not longer growing up. Rather, I'm getting older. What a morbid thought! But as Oprah Winfrey so eloquently pronounced in her Lifeclass "Aging" episode (which I coincidentally watched a day after my birthday), aging is fabulous! Because with age comes a new found sense of freedom and ability to let go of the superficial things in life that quite frankly do not matter very much so that we can embrace, strengthen and cultivate our inner selves and find truth and meaning in everything we do. And as we age, hopefully we get to know ourselves better, learn what matters in life so that we can live happily and truthfully.

I'm not quite ready to let go of the ties that bind me to my present reality just yet, but I hope this upcoming year will bring me closer to finding my truth!

Flapper Dress: Unique Vintage.
I love this store! They have the most amazing selection of vintage inspired dresses and special occasion outfits. I would seriously buy everything in sight if I could. In fact, visiting this store and rewatching The Joy Luck Club has inspired me to dress like a 1920s high society Shanghai girl from now on.

Photo courtesy of David Lin.
Super sweet, talented and smart photographer! I'm looking forward to working with him on some amazing photo shoots in the near future. Stay tuned!

Sole Society Double the Shoes Giveaway!!!

As an early holiday present to my fabulous readers, I'm giving away two gift cards each good for one pair of Sole Society shoes! Yup, I'm basically doubling your chances of winning! The site's December selections are simply covet worthy. Here's a sneak peek at a few of their stunners to wet your shoe appetite.

Brescia

Gwenyth

Bella

Esme

Emerson



GIVEAWAY RULES:
1. follow me via google subscriber (the tab is to the right of the entries)
2. leave a comment at the end of this post. Don't forget to include your email address!
3. "Like" this post (see tab at the bottom of this entry)
4. giveaway ends December 9, 2011 at 11:59 PST. Winners will be contacted via email
5. open to everyone WORLDWIDE
6. Want to double your chances of winning? Retweet this: @goodbadandfab is giving away two pairs of @SoleSociety #shoes. Check out www.goodbadandfab.com for details!