Short Story :: Petite Subscription Box

Happy Friday, everyone! It's been a draining week keeping up with everything going on in our country, the kids, work life and everything else. I am so ready for the long weekend. Today, I have something exciting to share with you - A clothing subscription box for petite women! I started this blog a decade ago dedicated to petite fashion. Although it no longer rings true, I am always open to finding petite resources, sharing tips and tricks hoping to make your daily dressing a bit easier.

How it works:

1. Take the style quiz to tell them your sizes, style, and budget
2. Get 5 handpicked pieces styled for you, delivered to your door (free shipping)
3. Try on everything at home. You only pay for pieces you keep.
4. Mail back the rest using the prepaid shipping label.

It's that easy! Below are the 5 pieces that the stylish picked out for me:

Starting off with my favorite piece from the box - a classic pair of black skinny jeans *size 0P* - If you're a petite lady, you know finding the perfect pair of jeans with the right inseam length is not easy. These jeans fit me like a glove! It's rare to find a pair of jeans that hug your hips and your waist so perfectly. Can we talk about the inseam? As a 5'2" petite, the 25" inseam is absolutely perfect for me. They hit about 2" above my ankle bone which I prefer. For me, a 25″ inseam works with different types of shoes. The fabric is very soft and has just the right amount of stretch. Styled with: JCF sweater *under $20*| Banana Republic pumps | Chanel classic flap

The next piece in the box is this black jumpsuit *size XSP* - You know how I feel about jumpsuits and rompers. I love them in general. They are a no-brainer. Throw one on and you've got a complete outfit. This jumpsuit is perfect for working from home. The material is so soft and feels amazing against the skin. You do not have to sacrifice style over comfort in this case. Again, I am in awe of how great the inseam is. I can wear flats with it. The waistline hits me at my natural waist which is rare for me. This jumpsuit was definitely designed with petite proportions in mind. Styled with: Snake print flats | VCA earrings | VCA necklace | Chanel classic flap

Next piece in the box was this square-neck elderberry top *size XSP* - This is one of the pieces that can be styled for both business casual office settings to casual or date night outfits. In this post, I created a fun look by pairing the top with my faux leather culottes. You can wear it underneath a blazer for an office look. This rich color would look amazing with a pair of light denim as well. The possibilities are endless. I really love the material of this top. It's thick yet so comfortable. The bust area is double-lined which is nice. I prefer to roll my sleeves up but the full sleeve-length sits about an inch below my wrist bone if you're wondering. Styled with: Express leather culottes | Banana Republic pumps

Moving on to this blue suede jacket from BlankNYC *size XSP* - I own a couple of jackets from the brand so I know I would love this. Again, the fit is spot on. Their sizes are always consistent based on my experience. I know sky blue is not a common color when it comes to outerwear but think of this as another take on the double-denim look. Styled with: Levi's wedgie jeans | VCA earrings | VCA necklace | Gucci sneakers

Last but not least is this dress ribbed dress *size XSP* - This is probably my least favorite piece from the box. The reason is because I am not sure where I would wear it to. It's too fitted for work, yet too casual for going out. Also, it's a bit small for me. Thanks to quarantine weight gain =) Although, I do love the material of the dress. So buttery soft! Short Story also included a classic black belt that goes with everything that I am showing here. Styled with: Colehaan boots | VCA necklace

My overall thoughts: 

• I am pleased with the pieces my stylish picked out for me. Every item is curated for my body type and my style. 
• I am seriously impressed with the fit of each pieces. I couldn't have asked for a better fit. 
• I discovered clothing brands that cater to petite that I didn't know previously
• The entire process so simple and stress-free from the start to the very end
• Subscription boxes are a great way to discover new pieces to spruce up your style
• Styling fee is very affordable. If you use my referral link, the $25 styling fee is waved.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Short Story :: Petite Subscription Box

Matching sets under $50

For the past 10 months, I traded my professional attire for comfy pieces. Since I will be working from home for another 6 months (could be longer), I thought I would add a few more sets to my rotation. I remember at the beginning of the lockdown, comfy matching sets were so expensive. I couldn't' find a set that was less than $100. Now, you can find plenty of affordable two-piece outfit sets. They're practically everywhere. These are the best working from home outfits. For Christmas, my family got me a few new sets and I love them all. They are cozy, comfortable and appropriate for a Zoom call (of course, it all depends on your organization's dress code). Styled with: Adidas Cloudfoam sneakers | VCA necklace | Louis Vuitton Multi-Pochette | Cartier bracelet | Rolex watch

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Matching sets under $50

What I got for Christmas 2020

Hope everyone had wonderful holidays. Yesterday was my first day back to work (a.k.a my closet) after a 2-week break. Let me tell you, it was rough. Everyone in my team sounded so sleepy on the 9:00 a.m. call =)  Today, I am here to share my annual "What I got for Christmas" post. I love watching this type of video on YouTube. Sometimes, these videos give me some really good gift ideas for next Christmas. Despite unexpected challenges in 2020, we pushed through obstacles and achieved our goals together as a family. A month before Christmas, my husband asked what I would like for Christmas and to be honest, I literally had no idea. It's been a strange year. We are not going to anywhere nor seeing anyone so all my designer items are collecting dust in my closet. There is no reason for me to acquire more so I asked for comfy stuff and a few things for the house. Starting off with what my husband got me for Christmas.

1. Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer: I am a fan of the brand. He got me this multi-cooker years ago for Mother's Day. I accidently destroyed it. He went out and got me another one because he knows how much I use it. For Christmas, he got me this Breville smart oven & air fryer combination. Sadly, the estimated delivery date is April 1st. Never thought I have to wait 4 months for an oven =) We don't eat fried foods regularly but if you have a list of delicious and healthy air fryer recipes, I would love to know.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

What I got for Christmas 2020

Reflecting on 2020 :: Planning for 2021

2020 - Where do I even begin? A year full of unforeseen challenges, hardship, grief, adapting and learning. Just like many of us, we are as full-time working parents trying to navigate homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the kids and the dog between meetings for the past 9 months (and counting). It's exhausting. There is no doubt about it. Stress takes a heavy toll on physical and mental health. 2020 is finally coming to an end, I want to take a few moments to look back, reflect on the past year as well as set our goals and intentions for 2021.

{Outfit details: Jumpsuit | Chanel WOC | VCA necklace}

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly created unique opportunities and new habits for our family:

1. Courtney got a job: Courtney is currently tutoring a 4th grader twice a week. The pandemic has created this unique/perfect job for her. She is able to earn some extra cash, develop a sense of responsibility, learn basic work ethics and most importantly, still able to concentrate on studying.  

2. Spend more quality time with my family: A true fact - Before the pandemic, I rarely got to walk Madelyn to the bus stop. My husband and I left for work early and couldn't stay with the kids until the bus arrives. My in-laws watched the kids before and after school. Since I am working from home, I am able to walk Madelyn to the bus stop 3 times a week for the past 9 months. I truly appreciate and enjoy the little things.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Reflecting on 2020 :: Planning for 2021

After Christmas Sales

Hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas with your loved ones. I certainly did. We've been laying around watching movies and playing with new toys for the past few days. We watched Wonder Woman 1984 with the girls last night. Hubby is back to work today for a few hours. The kids and I are hanging out at home. I wanted to quickly share a few really great sales that are happening right now. They are so good. I already placed a few orders last night. Check them out below if you're interested.

J.Crew and J.Crew Factory: Take an extra 70-75% off clearance styles.

1. Sweater with shoulder buttons *$22*

2. Classic lace shirt *$18*

3. Classic turtleneck sweater *$17.50*

4. Cheers sweater *11.25* - Great for NYE at home*

5. Funnelneck pullover *only $10*

6. Zebra pullover sweater *$11.75*

7. Tweed skirt *$27*

8. Sweater skirt in leopard *27*

9. Leather block heels *21.25*

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

After Christmas Sales

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Christmas has always been a big deal in our family. I love spending the holidays with my family and close friends. Our Christmas lunch/dinner typically consists of multiple courses that would last us the entire day. We then spend Christmas Day eating, opening gifts and chilling in our Christmas PJs. With that being said, I couldn't bare the thought of not spending Christmas with my family. We decided that 10 of us are going to get tested for COVID (including the kids). We got the test results back yesterday and thankfully, all 10 of us tested negative. I fully understand that testing negative isn't a guarantee. However, we are all working from home, not seeing anyone outside of our family and taking all necessary precautions to keep us safe. We feel comfortable spending Christmas with our parents. I am cooking up a storm today. We'll have a traditional Christmas meal as well as some amazing Vietnamese dishes. The kids are looking forward to see their grandparents and the uncle's family. I made this Bûche de Noël cake for the first time ever! I had to redo a few steps but it turned out better than I expected. My love for baking definitely grew during quarantine. Even though it's been a very strange year, may your heart and home be filled with all of the joys. Before signing off for the next couple of days, our family wishes you and your family the very best this holiday season.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

Easy Hot Chocolate Bombs

Hope you're enjoying the most wonderful time of the year with your loved ones. The kids and I are spending our downtime together. We've been doing a lot of baking, walking and watching Christmas movies together. Yesterday, they had so much fun making cocoa bombs. If you're not familiar with cocoa bombs, they are chocolate balls filled with chocolate milk powder and marshmallows. When hot milk is poured to the bombs, they explode to let the hot chocolate mix and marshmallows out =) It's a fun way to enjoy a cup of delicious hot chocolate. Super easy to do. On a related note, if you like peppermint, do yourself a favor and get the original Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark (I like the dark chocolate). It's insanely delicious and addicting. I can eat the entire box in one sitting =). I filmed a tutorial below just for fun:

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Easy Hot Chocolate Bombs

Last working day of 2020!

Yesterday was my last working day of 2020. Today is the start of my 2.5 weeks off from work. I have a list of things that I would like to do during my extended break: heading to my hair appointment today, watching Christmas movies with the girls, go for long walks (or runs) with Finn, making delicious chocolate bombs and just spending quality time with my family in general. It's been a really hard year so this long break is much needed. At the beginning of the pandemic, I temporarily converted a corner of my closet to my workspace. Little did I know, this corner is where decision making, endless meetings and coding happened in the last 9 months. While it's not ideal, I am grateful to be able to work from home during the pandemic. I will not be returning to the office until the summer of 2021. My family is financially stable, everyone is healthy and the girls are adjusting well to life changes. I am really looking forward to a relaxing break. Matching lounge sets are a must these days. This set is extremely comfortable and does not sloppy by any means. I can head out for a walk, pick up my mails or to the grocery store in these during my lunch break without looking out of place. I do wish it's available in more colors. The best part? The entire set is less than $40. Outfit details: Wild Fable joggers *size XS* | Wild Fable cropped hoodie *size XS* | Dotted sneakers *only $16 - I promise they will be the comfiest sneakers you will ever put on*

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Last working day of 2020!

My experience with BBL treatment

Taking a break from shopping to share a skincare procedure that I got done recently. I had 3 BBL treatments over the course of the last 3 months and I wanted to share my experience with you just in case you're interested.

What's BBL?
BBL stands for BroadBand Light. BBL technology uses the power of intense pulsed light to treat a range of skin concerns, including acne, age spots, sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles and uneven texture. BBL treatment is not a laser treatment. Laser treatments are a single wavelength, while BBL uses a broad spectrum of light that we can filter several different ways to treat different conditions.

My skin history:

Fortunately, I haven't experienced any major skin issues. No eczema, acne or any types of skin allergy reactions. I'm a very low maintenance kind of girl when it comes to skincare. Moisturizer and sunscreen are the 2 skincare products that I put on my face most days. I am just about as low-maintenance as it gets when it comes to makeup. However, I have a lot of freckles on my cheeks. They are genetic. I inherited them from my Dad. Along with freckles, sun spots and age spots are accumulated as I get older (you can clearly see in the footage). In 2012, I had 2 laser treatments to treat dark spots on my face. However, the recovery took almost 3 weeks after each treatment. 

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

My experience with BBL treatment

J.Crew Day Coat is 50% off

I've been waiting for this sale! The classic J.Crew Day coat is my favorite coat of all time. It's classy, well-made and timeless. Mine is 5 years old and I still love it like the day I bought it. I wear a size 00 regular. Today, the Day coat is 50% off. This is the lowest price I've seen this season. Sizes/colors are still in stock but I suspect they will go fast. Take $200 selected coats and jackets here (some styles are under $100). I reviewed this coat here.

• Blue ladyday coat in boiled wool *less than $100 - available in 5 colors petite/regular/tall*
• Lady coat in Italian tweed *61% off - all sizes still available*
• Teddy sherpa coat *under $75 - available in regular and petite*
• Classic Day coat with Thinsulate *50% off - available in 8 colors petite/regular/tall*
• Chateau parka in stadium-cloth wool *60% off - available in 9 colors petite/regular/tall*

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

J.Crew Day Coat is 50% off