29th April Is My Day!

I celebrated my birthday with my family recently at a cozy neighborhood Thai eatery called E-Sarn Thai Cuisine situated at Ridgewood Close.

At E-Sarn, I tasted one of the best tom yam soup ever! It's a must try!

I was rather hungry when I arrived and the tom yam soup was the first dish to be served. After taking just 1 mouthful, I couldn't stop finishing the whole bowl of it. Because of that, I suffered a minor stomachache midway through my meal. But it was all worth it! =)

Val's new pose

Acting cute with yee yee

The grilled pork was not too bad also and overall, the food is value for money. I will go back again to check out the ice cream cafe next door. It's a nice place to chill.

The next day on my birthday itself, bf treated me to a hotel stay. Guess which hotel this is:

Yeah, the rather new Resorts World Sentosa Hard Rock Hotel. The guitar-shaped toiletries container looks kinda cute eh?

The room is so so but the pool is simply fantastic!

View of sand pool from our room

I simply love the sand. I was told that they were specially imported from Australia at the price of SGD$500,000!

The sand is fine enough and yet, the grains are not so fine that they will stay on your skin when your brush them off. It's amazing! I really enjoyed the recreated beach at the hotel.

There is a total of 4 pools with 1 sand pool. Although my fear of the harmful sun rays and chlorine damaged hair have caught up with age, it wasn't enough to keep me away from swimming.

And I tasted my first rabbit meat pasta at Palio at Hotel Michael. Did you know rabbit meat taste like a cross between chicken and tuna? Anyway, The Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare is better. One of the better ones I've tasted.  

You're Invited! Now What Do YouWwear?

Today's post is something we've become experts on these past few weeks.  An old friend of ours is getting married this weekend (Yay, Mike!) and when we got the invitations in the mail we were excited.  Then, the excitement was overcome by stress as we both realized we had nothing to wear but black (inappropriate for the season) and white (how rude!)  So, over the past few weeks we've been busy scouring the racks for that perfect dress.  We've literally tried on dozens of different dresses, in a variety of different styles and colors and lucky for you we've decided to share some of the ones we found that we think are worth heading out to the store to check out. So, here are are picks for the top dresses to wear as the guest of a wedding this spring or summer:

 

This Calvin Klein Dress is perfect for the less formal event. We think this would be the perfect dress for a daytime garden wedding or an anytime of day beach wedding. This dress seems like it was designed perfectly for a women's body - the 1950's style fitted top and flared bottom will add curves if you have none or perfectly accentuate your assets if you are well endowed. 

For a dressier occasion, we love this green Grecian dress from ModCloth.  Our friend Maggie has had her eye on this one, and we must agree, the color and cut of this dress are simply fantastic.  This dress can easily be dressed up with some sparkly jewelry and metallic heels, or dressed down with some brown leather sandals and a little jacket.

Did you know David's Bridal dresses are not just for Brides and Bridesmaids?!  You can actually go and try them on just like any dress shop and many of the dresses for bridesmaids would be perfect to wear as the guest of a wedding.  Take this strapless number for instance.  It comes in a million colors, is only $99, and has pockets!  What more could we ask for?

Remember how we are in love with gray?  Well, we sure would have been fighting over who would have gotten to wear this elegant dress from J. Crew, but we found out the wedding colors were gray and yellow and neither of us wanted to run the risk of wearing the same shade as the bridesmaids!  Nevertheless, this is a fantastic color and the dress is so delicate and feminine with the pretty chiffon overlay.  Plus, a simple, muted dress like this one serves as a fantastic blank pallet for bold and beautiful accessories and sexy heels!

So, you're probably wondering what we picked for ourselves!  Jen had a terribly hard time finding a dress, as her body shape is extremely difficult to fit. Finally, after trying on at least 40 dresses and dreading the costs of alterations, she found this royal blue, spaghetti strap dress that fits fairly well and was only $60!  This chiffon tiered dress was purchased from Group USA in the Franklin Mills Mall in PA and will be accessorized with black and pewter shoes and jewelry for a more glam look.

Saira, luckily, came across this strapless navy blue dress 9 months ago (someone was a little eager).  This tiered dress by Adrianna Papell is modern with it's subtle, unfinished edges but classic with the soft, delicate layers of satin. This dress is simple and understated, but perfectly elegant for any formal or semi-formal occasion.

Whatever you do, don't wear white!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Thank you cards

Dearest Dolls,

Every modern girl knows that even though some social practices are outdated, good manners are still and always will be extremely important in both your personal and professional life.  Proper etiquette and good manners are not just for the old fashion, stuffy folks, they are crucial to building positive relationships with others and serve to show others that you respect, care about, and appreciate them. Therefore, we think it's always handy to have a good set of thank you cards ready!  Whether it's thanking someone for a gift, helping you move, or setting up a job interview, a thank you card is a nice, intimate touch that really shows you care. Here are some unique thank you cards that we thought are sure to liven up your correspondence:

This thank you note available at Barnes & Noble is elegant and tasteful. The front of the card is designed with Queen Anne lace, and the inside is blank, giving you plenty of room to share your thanks with a friend, family member, or employer.

If you want something more unique, then these handmade thank you cards by Etsy seller thecraftpantry are right for you. The simple design and the bright florals make this a fun and fresh choice to express your gratitude. 

These pretty note cards from Etsy seller Sweet Bella are also handmade, and are just so fresh and sweet. We love that the set comes with matching envelope seals, to provide a very finished look to your correspondence. 

Continuing with the bird theme, we recommend this card from PaperPrince Marami. The splashes of color and delicate print give the card a vintage touch, but it is still formal enough to send to co-workers as well as friends and family.

For a more eco-conscious choice, try this "green" thank you note by Night Owl Paper Goods. Made from layers of harvested wood bits and paper scraps, every single card is one-of-a-kind, not to mention absolutely lovely.

Sometimes less is more! This thank you card available at Red Stamp is so simple and cute, and would be a great for teachers and students alike. Plus we love that the card is gender neutral, so you can share them with whomever!

Thank you, ever so much, for reading!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Aqua & Lime

Here is a playful, modern color palette for a spring or summertime wedding.  The bright lime green with the shade of aqua is an eye catching combination that is youthful, fresh, and of course, bold.  These vibrant hues scream fun and excitement and will be sure to energize your party, wedding, or lifestyle.

Aqua & Lime Inspiration Board Images:  Polka Dots Stationary, Coco and Kelley, JMNPottery, BeachHouseLinens, InviteCottage, Prima Donna Bride, Zazzle, Gracious Paper, MeandMatilda, Trendy Treasure, AbbeyandIzzieDesigns 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Ahoy there, matey!

Summer is around the corner, and the nautical look is back in fashion. But, don't fret, you don't need to own your own yacht to try out this look. It's fresh and cool without being too preppy, plus it's a really simple look to put together...no eye patches or peg legs required! All you really need is a striped shirt, some oxfords, and a blazer, and you're all set to go. Here are some must have pieces to include in your wardrobe that will have you on deck and ready to set sail this summer:

This simple boat neck striped shirt by BDG is pretty and casual. Jazz up the nautical stripes by pairing it with rolled up jeans or khaki capris, and add some gold or yellow accessories or red heels (or flip flops if you're feeling a little more laid back) for contrast.

Don't just walk the plank... strut your stuff!  These wedges by Jessica Simpson will add a pop of color to all the navy and white and we love the braided rope look on the wedge itself.  Plus, it will draw attention to your cute summer pedicure!

But if you're looking for a piece that is a little more summery, we suggest something like this nautical sun dress by O'Neill. It has a fun sea gull and sailboat print and ties in the back to give it a nice slimming fit. 

Every girl knows that a snug blazer can go a long way, and can be paired with almost anything in your wardrobe for an instantly polished look. Chart your course to style with this navy blazer by Gap! It's all about the fit, so don't be afraid to get something narrowly tailored to fit your physique. 

It's probably pretty obvious by now, but we are crazy for charm necklaces. This nautical themed necklace available at Metropark is a great look for this summer. The gold will look great with your navy pieces and the white gives it that beachy shell look that will perfectly compliment your tan.

We love this flowy striped shirt available at Mod Cloth. The stripes are subtle and the bow and peasant style sleeves are just darling!  This top makes it easy to wear the nautical look without going overboard!

Those ocean breezes are killer! To stay warm during the cool summer nights, try on this cropped nautical-inspired coat from Delia's. We love the brass buttons and the bold red stripes but what's really fantastic is it's made from sweat shirt material, so it's super comfy!

All aboard!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Holiday in Rio

Vogue Paris June/July 2005

Photographer: Mario Testino

Chic Chanel tweed coats, feathers and swimsuits shot in exotic Rio by my favourite fashion photographer.

Rosie goes 80s Glam

Model: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Vogue Russia May 2010

M O D E L S

I love these shots of Rosie as they are so 80s - but in a good way! Lace bodices, body-con dresses, gloves - makes me want to hit the dance floor! I bought an 80s Lisa Ho bodysuit a couple of weeks ago that I can't wait to wear. I think I particularly find the 80s trends fascinating because those are the looks which were my first glances at fashion as a child. The first two images definitely have something very Madonna-esque about them, with the second outfit a 2010 spin on the pink dress worn in Madonna's 1985 "Material Girl" video.

Madonna - Material Girl

I Love Books... The Old Fashion Way

With the launch of the new Apple iPad, ebooks can only gain popularity. And not to mention that the ebook market is definitely growing in US and Europe and that many are even selling their own ebooks on the internet these days.

A friend casually reminded me of this when he saw me carrying a book to keep myself occupied while waiting for bf to finish work on Saturday. He showed me how easily I can download all that I wanted to read into my iPhone. Why would anyone want to buy a physical book to lug around these days when you can get all sorts of information from nifty high tech gadgets?

Well, I have an intimate relationship with my books. I love to read. And I love to read books with pages that I can flip, with new paper that I can smell, with interesting covers and book spines that I can display on my bookshelf. In other words, I simply find ebooks too cold and electronic for my liking.

I can't slot cute bookmarks into my ebooks. I can't feel the excitement of holding my book after paying for them. I can't choose special edition ebooks with interesting covers. I can't relax my eyes reading from these gadgets. I can't feel ebooks calling out to me on the shelves with their unique identity. And the list goes on.

To me, the classic book has more character than an ebook.

I am not rejecting new technology, I'm just slow to catch up with it. For now, I am happy with my bulky books and will remain as one of those not seduced by new technology.

Until the day when the inconvenience of carrying a few books outweighs the pleasure I derive from them, I'll just enjoy my books in the old fashion way that feed my soul.

What about you?

Travel in Style

The worst possible thing when traveling is losing your luggage! In a sea of boring black and grey luggage that can be easily lost in the shadows, one way to ensure that your luggage gets there and back is to have it stand out from the crowd. Plus, cute luggage is a great accessory if you travel often for work or for pleasure. Here are some of our favorite travel styles:

Roxy makes fashionable gear for cruising the waves, the slopes, and apparently the skies! This super cute rolling suiter by the popular surf brand is pretty, functional, and will definitely stand out on the luggage carousel. And you can get a matching carrying case to go with! Accessorizing is the best.

If you're more of a day tripper, then try out this stylish leather duffle by Love Luggage. We love this brand because it makes durable, handheld luggage, and throws in a skull and crossbones now and then to add some edge.

Carry-on luggage can be cute too! This piece by Orla Kiely features multiple pockets for extra storage, but is still compact enough to fit right over your head. Plus the trolley print adds some much needed kitsch to your travel itinerary. 

If you run into turbulence during your flight, never fear, your luggage is safe in this shell cased trolley designed by Hideo Wakamatsu. It comes in two sizes, and has a pretty purple interior lining so your clothing can ride in style.  

While we did caution to stay away from black luggage, something tells us that this polka-dot luggage set available at Target will still be pretty easy to find. It's a bit more understated than some of the other pieces we've shown, and it comes at a bargain price. Bargain style -- what more could a doll want? 

Happy travels!

Jen & Saira

Military Madness

I LOVE WILDFOX!

Studded Hearts

Fashion Gone Rogue

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There's something about military fashion that keeps it cool season after season. Adding a military coat, blazer, vest or hat instantly adds some edge to any outfit. Perhaps military helmets bursting with feathers are going a little too far, but in fashion fantasy land anything goes :)