best of prague!

While I can't really do much with this cold, I can think about Prague and organize all my past semester's memories. (Yup, blogging in bed with my glasses on... so chic.) So... voila! I humbly present my Best of Prague guide, a series of my recommendations on local attractions, day trips, food & drink, nightlife, and Czech specialties + souvenirs. You can take a girl out of Prague, but you can't take the Prague outta her! Hope you enjoy! xo

newspaper shoes

Oh wow. An environmentally friendly fashion company in Taiwan is making shoes and bags out of newspaper! Talk about corporate social responsibility. Not to mention, these eco-friendly goodies are hot items in the green niche markets of Taiwan, the US, and Europe! The shoes take 3-4 hours to make and sell for $100 - 150 while the bags can take up to 2-3 days and can go for up to $260. Worried about durability? The newspaper strips have cotton lining attached and plastic coating to make them waterproof!

Would you buy a pair? I think they're so cool.

Newspaper shoes: a do or don't?

(via my lovely friend Isabel; photos from here)

"The One"

Annnnd that is how you sell a perfume. Yep.

I'm sick!

It took me three days to realize that this congestion and fever and headache were all because I had a cold, not jet lag! So I'm resting, drinking soup & OJ, reading NYMag's "Reasons to Love New York" (these two are my favorite reasons!), and listening to the Pride & Prejudice movie soundtrack. (So relaxing.)

Also, I chose a photo! You liked... Photo #1! (It won by a landslide, I never would've imagined.) Thank you so much for your advice, I could shower you with hugs and kisses right now! I'm so lucky to have your honesty and support. xoxo

HELP! which girl would you hire?

The situation: Choosing one passport-style photo to send to potential employers in the beauty industry at the corporate level. Would you prefer the more subdued, professional candidate? Or the much more friendly-looking one (though with squinty eyes)? We all know that first impressions matter! Keep in mind the final photo will be 400 x 300 pixels.

Photo #1:

Photo #2


I would really appreciate your help!
Voice your opinion in the comments below
or vote in the poll.
Thank you! xo

(photo credit: My little sister, Jessica)

Poll: Which photo should I send to future employers?

ghosts of christmas past

I'm working on a little photo project for my Dad's upcoming birthday (shh!) and just came across some pics from my very first Christmas (in Canada) back in 1995. We had just immigrated from China and so had to learn all these new customs, although I think my six-year-old self was more thoroughly excited than confused.

I thought it was just wonderful -- don't let that forced smile fool you! I still love the old pink Christmas decorations, wacky orange furniture and cool seventies lamps. Oh, and that star that didn't quite reach the top of the tree somehow, ha!

(Also -- what the what? My Mom seriously does not age.)

recently thrifted...

Mexx blazer... old, scuffed leather, full of character. So in love!

tea, how I love thee

Some people like coffee,

But I prefer tea, 'cause

Coffee makes me jittery,
But tea brings me, to me.

*mini-poem because I love
tea THAT much. xo

(adorable tea cozy by knitstorm)

what we must always remember...

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

-- Maya Angelou

(Listen to or read the full version. I just adore this poem.)

merry christmas xoxo!

I'm cozied up in bed, eating fruit (mango + kiwi!) and reading Eat, Pray, Love. Downstairs, the fire is crackling, my Dad is drinking the Czech beer I brought back from Prague, my Mom is singing along with her Josh Groban CD, and my little sister is googly-eyed in front of the flat screen. I think The Grinch is on? Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Christmas tomorrow. I know I'm loving being home for the holidays. :)

PS: Did you notice the poinsettias on my plate! Underneath the fruit is a Christmas tree too. Yay for holiday festivity!

sex and the city 2 trailer!

Take a looksie right HERE. Are you excited??? (Ack, am I asking a silly question or what? Of course you are!) This looks like oodles of fun and fashion (and sparkles... and cupcakes!).

the nook

I spent a huge chunk of today at Barnes & Noble, just catching up on some magazines + Starbucks indulgences... it was divine. But even cooler, I was introduced to B&N's newest product, the Nook! AKA, Kindle's worst enemy. I was super impressed with the Nook's customizable features (designer covers!), Wi-Fi accessibility, and overall sleek, easy-to-use eReader design. (Maybe even prettier than Kindle's design? What do you think?)

And how savvy and appropriate for Barnes & Noble, America's top bookseller and publisher, to herald this new technology! I'm betting Amazon's sweating in their Christmas sweaters right now. The Nook is currently sold out, but with a $259 price tag (same as Kindle's), we'll have to keep an eye on how competitive it'll stay in the market. It's still too pricey to tempt me!

fryes on fire, pt. 2

Not that I can afford any big purchase right now (traveling has drained my savings, poop!) -- but aren't these vintage-inspired, studded Frye oxfords just un-freaking-believable??? I have always loved Fryes and own a pair of Engineers myself, but this is another level of holiness to obsess over. (I can't help it! Without quality leather, high-heeled boots on my footsies, I feel impotent, to quote Cher from Clueless. It's that serious!)

inspiration walls

I am just dying to have my own little apartment with lots of pretty prints in elegant, simple frames, EVERYWHERE. In fact, I've collected a whole folder of inspirational decor, in addition to my everyday Inspiration folder. Isn't this apartment just amazing? I'm taking notes. (Photos via M.Dash)

I wish, I wish...

Chunky, cozy cowl scarves are one of the reasons why I wish I knew how to knit. New Year's resolution? I really am an old lady. (Photos from the lovely Etsy shop, Yarnovermovement.)

alicia keys

...Is gorgeous beyond belief! This performance is phenomenal.

sartorially inspired

Remember this photo from The Sartorialist about two weeks ago? I was so in love with her boots that I combed through all the comments and finally found them at Surface To Air, a very cool high-end boutique (and creative studio).

Sigh. I really do have a weakness for platform wedge booties.

"Ma, I met someone...in China"

I made all my friends watch this short film a month ago, because I loved it so much. Just wanted to share "Tall Enough" with all my blog friends as well! It is really lovely. :)

back home

It's amazing being home, absolutely amazing. But I will never, ever forget Prague and the 12 other cities I visited in the whirlwind 3.5 months of fall semester. Currently reading my old Helen in Prague posts and feeling a little sappy. (Haha, get it?)

PS: Check out my "Prague Weekly" posts on this blog!

paul smith

I rarely say this, but I would be completely happy with only Paul Smith in my wardrobe. His clothes are always so chic and fun. I love the classic Black collection, but Paul X's fresh, young, and hip Autumn/Winter 09 looks have truly captured my heart.

PS: I'm flying home from Prague tomorrow morn! Feeling a bit emotional about it. Three months have gone by fast. :(

swan lake!

Most wonderful night ever! I sat in the 7th row for Swan Lake, and I think I held my breath the entire time. Tchaikovsky score + Incredibly, inhumanly graceful and gorgeous ballerinas = Absolutely unreal. I was so lucky to see every detail and gesture, every pirouette and lift. Swoon.

sweet picture album

This is such a great idea. (via Cup of Jo, by Fine Little Day)

& furry boot accessories!

Because I found the cutest socks and gloves to go with those furry boots! Is it really old-lady of me to only want knit socks and soft scarves and chunky sweaters for Christmas?

Gap argyle socks


J.Crew shearling gloves

furry boots

This to me is the non-fug version of Uggs. Me likey. Especially its cute name, "Buttercup" by Very Volatile.

blackbird and the end of prague

Lately, all I want to do is wear sweaters and T-shirts and converses and be a boy. Is that weird? I haven't touched my jewelry, pretty shoes, or even makeup in a few weeks. It's nice to be so relaxed and natural, especially since that's the norm in Prague. People never dress up or wear heels, not even to clubs!

shirt-dress, t-shirt, and high tops at blackbird

Thank you Prague for being such an nonjudgmental place -- it will be bittersweet to leave you in four days! And thank you, Blackbird, for showcasing such effortless chic apparel and helping make me feel like less of a leggings-and-baggy-shirt wearing slob. Well, sort of.

poem in response to a poem

do feelings come first?

my legs do what normal legs do:
they stand tall and walk strong,
cross anxiously at the knee,
kneel sometimes to pray;

but my eyes are made to talk
openly, unabashedly, though they
blink, occasionally, for fear of
blurting out premature secrets.

and these lips, they have no such fears;
they love: words & lipstick,
kissing, chocolate, freedom,
speaking when not spoken to:

but when legs play wallflower
to eyes, and eyes are replaced
by lips, and lips grow afraid,
then, then feelings are born.

(and feelings have no ears:
they cannot listen to lips;
they are blind in the eyes;
they have no legs to run; so,
how come they come first?)

---
my response to e.e. cumming's poem "since feeling is first"

persimmons

I know I'm supposed to wait for these persimmons to get more fleshy, but I think I'm fighting a losing battle. Too impatient!

František Kupka

Just an incredible Czech artist I was introduced to in my art history class. I visited one of Prague's national galleries earlier, and it was such a treat for the eyes! But now I have to write a paper on one of his pieces, which is not nearly as much fun.

coca-cola and... velcro?!

This Coca-Cola Grip Bottle advertisement in France is ah-mazing! The velcro poster gets the campaign's message across perfectly (and very creatively, I must add) and the consumer interaction is a major bonus. How fun! Makes me recall this equally awesome, innovative Tylenol ad that I bumped into last year. :)

(via Directdaily.com)

great lakes prism paperweight

I think this paperweight is so creative. Sand from the Great Lakes? Yes, please! Would love to have it on my desk. (Find it here!)

sonia rykiel for h&m

Oh my god, I'd wear every piece in this collection in a heartbeat! I know, I know, the roses are not very practical... but quirky and romantic is totally my undergarment style! Just charming. (Photo via Fashion Week Daily.)

cheeky czech poem

Misspelled

So restoration is not spelled au
I spelled it so thinking of the czech word restaurace
to restore
and go with a lady to the Room
like a unicorn in the mirror
all naked in the mirrors
so that I could see the blood trickling.

-- Ivan Blatný

monique lhuillier spring 2010 RTW

There's just something irresistibly sexy about the combination of metallic and black. One part classic, one part rock 'n roll. All parts fabulous. (Let's just ignore how ridiculously malnourished these models look! Ick. Eat some pizza!)

photos via Monique Lhuillier

art in real life

Water on the side of my street...


Or Matisse's Icarus?

gorgeous gloves

These Steven Alan quilted color block gloves are beautiful. (And have cashmere lining!) But how could you possibly choose between the two? They are both magnificent!