Summer Vacay Part II

After visiting Disney World, we went on a cruise with one of my close friends and her family. The kids are roughly the same age so they had an absolute blast playing with each other everyday. I've been cruising many times and honestly, it is way more fun going on a cruise with a group of friends and family. 7 days of disconnection. No work, no internet, just lots of fun with our dear friends and family. Below are some precious moments we captured from the cruise. Outfit details: White crochet swimsuit | Purple floral swimsuit | Mint green cut-out dress | Matching swimsuits (kids version)

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Summer Vacay Part II

Summer Vacay Part I

The girls are back to school and summer is sadly coming to an end. Today, I am sharing a recap of our very eventful vacation =). If you follow me on social media, you already know what happened. I won't bore you with the details but ultimately, we were able to turn things about and had a wonderful vacation with our friends and family. We spent the first part of our trip in Florida. St. Pete beach was on my list to explore. It is one of the prettiest and cleanest I've been to. We enjoyed walking on the beach, soft sand, shells, water is not deep, very light waves, just nice to relax and enjoy the sunshine and the ocean. I definitely prefer beaches on the Gulf coast (warmer, calmer and family-friendly) than beaches on the Atlantic coast (colder and best for water sports). Outfit details: Swimsuit *available in so many beautiful colors* | Straw visor 

If you're in the Clearwater/St. Pete area, definitely check out the Pinellas Farmers Market. It has all the wonderful exotic fruits that I love. I bought so much fruits that I eventually got sick of eating them =) They only open on the weekend from 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (cash only). Madelyn turns 10 in a few weeks so we wanted to take her to Disney World while we were in FL. This was her 2nd time. I know Disney World is expensive but holy cow, tickets have gone up quite a bit. Previously, we spent a full day there and everyone was exhausted by 4:00 p.m. This time, we decided to take a mid-day break. Got to the park at 10:00, stayed until 4:00p.m then left to grab dinner and came back at 6:00p.m and stayed until 10:00 for the fireworks show. I've been to Disney World 4 times but this was the 1st time I stayed for the fireworks show and it was amazing. We absolutely loved it. I personally think it's too much money and effort for what it is but Madelyn had the best time and that's all that matters. Stay tuned for part II =)

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Summer Vacay Part I

Journey To College :: Finalizing The College List

The Common App is officially open so I thought I'd update you guys on how the college admissions process is going for Courtney. If you're not familiar with the Common App, it's one single application accepted by close to 1000 colleges. It simplifies the process of applying. 

{Her speech at the ceremony}

Before going into detail, I'd like to share a proud Mom moment with you. For Courtney, being a anesthesiologist was something she had her heart set on for years now. Back in March, she applied for MD Camp at the Ohio State University. She had an interview in April and got the acceptance letter in May. Courtney was one out of 35 campers to earn a spot, with more than 300 applications received for MD Camp. I couldn’t be prouder of her. MD Camp is an intensive, three-week summer day camp providing participants an experience in the rigors of medical school. MD Camp students will have the opportunity to shadow clinicians and researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. By the end of MD Camp, students will have a greater grasp of what a career in medicine is like and how to go about becoming a successful physician. She got to work on cadavers, visited the emergency medical helicopter that helps transport people in emergency situations, learned how to suture a wound on a banana. Completing this program will increase her value tremendously in admissions officers' eyes. She had the opportunities to work with different types of physicians and it further confirmed that anesthesia as her first choice of career.

The Common App is officially open so we are getting the ball rolling. She plan to apply "Early Action" to every college that offered it on her list. The EA1 deadline is almost always November 1, while the EA2 deadline is typically November 15. By applying early action, she'll get an early decision but it's not binding. If your child loves one particular school but still wants to keep their options open, early action is the way to go. Early action also put them in line for more merit and scholarships before regular applications are due. Some schools will send a full financial aid package with early action acceptances but that's not always the case. We did visit a couple of colleges and will continue to do so before the deadline of November 1st. Below is the list of colleges that she will be applying.

1. The Ohio State University (3rd choice):
Biomedical Science (major) and Health and Society (minor). This includes pre-med track but also includes classes in other aspects of healthcare (policy, cancer...). OSU is one of only a handful of colleges in the country to offer an undergraduate major in Biomedical Science. It's a highly competitive program. They accept approximately 26 freshmen are admitted to the competitive major each academic year.

 2. Boston University - Her dream school (1st choice)
Biology (major) and no minor. This is a safer (less stressful program) compared to their 7-year Medical Education Program (SMED). She is thinking maybe looking into their BA/MS in biology?

 3. University of Pittsburgh (2nd choice)
Biological Sciences (major) and Sociology (minor). She is very interested in applying for the Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) but I believe they only consider valedictorians. One of the huge advantages of this program is that the MCAT requirement does not apply to students admitted with SAT/ACT scores.

 4. Case Western Reserve University (4th choice)
Pre-med (major) and Bioethics and Medical Humanities (minor) or their Pre-Professional Scholars Program. This is an 8-year program and MCAT is not required.

 5. University of Cincinnati
Health Sciences Pre-Med (major) and Bioethics (minor).

 6. Northwestern University
Health Science (Major) and Sociology (Minor)

 7. Stony Brook University, State University of New York (5th choice)
Clinical Laboratory Sciences or Health Science or Scholars for Medicine

 8. University of Illinois at Chicago
GPPA Medical Scholars  (major). Medical Humanities (minor) 

 9. Hunter College of the City University of New York
Public Health (major) with pre-health program (offers early assurance pathways to med school)

 10. Temple University
Health Studies (major). Temple University offers the BA/MD Program. Students in this eight-year combined-degree program will complete their BA degree at Washington & Jefferson College. The medical degree is granted by Lewis Katz School of Medicine.
Sociology of Health (minor).

She decided to take UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego off the list due to the fact that they're too far from home. With the extremely high sticker price of college, money is one of the deciding factors for us. At this point, she'll more than likely will accept the ones that offer the most generous merit scholarships.

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Journey To College :: Finalizing The College List

The best short suit set for petites

I've been looking for a short suit set for what seems like forever. Most of them don't fit me properly. I saw someone on IG posted this set and decided to give it a try. OMG! I am so in love. This set is exactly what I was looking for. This suit is sold as a set but you can purchase the top and bottom in different sizes. I got both pieces in a size XS and they fit me amazingly. These shorts have an all-around elastic waistband to move with you without digging in. They give off a casual yet sophisticated look. Generous side pockets are an added bonus. I love this blazer. I didn't have high hopes for it but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm 5'2", 105lbs and the XS fits me extremely well. The biggest challenge for me when it comes to finding the right blazer is the length. They are often too long for my height. The length of this blazer was well-tailored for petites and accomplishes the oversized look without overwhelm my petite frame. The thing that I love the most about this set is the fabric. It has enough structure to achieve a more tailored cut yet lightweight for those hot summer days. The fabric has a smooth, silky surface, feels soft and cool next to the skin. There is no wrinkling in the fabric. The biggest advantage of two-piece sets is its versatility. The set can be worn together or mix and match with other pieces in your closet. I am not a fan of pink but this blush pink is perfection. It's been a long time since I've been this excited about a clothing purchase. If you can't tell I am obsessed with this set. I am so glad I finally own a short suit set. Outfit details: Short suit set *size XS* | Chanel WOC | Rolex watch *my exact one | pre-owned watches*

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The best short suit set for petites

My recent purchases

We are supposed to travel to London next weekend to attend Adele concert but decided to cancel the trip altogether. Flight prices are insanely expensive these days. One ticket to London from Ohio right now is roughly $2K. 3 flight tickets would cost us $6K, plus accommodation, food and other expenses. However, the real issue is that we only had 2 concert tickets. I cannot get an additional ticket for Madelyn right now. They are completely sold out. There won't be anyone to look after Madelyn when we're at the concert. The trip is going to be very expensive so we decided that we're going to wait. I sold both concert tickets and we're heading to FL instead! We will be spending a month in FL. I am so excited! We'll be staying with relatives for 2 weeks, then taking an 8-day cruise. Once we're back from the cruise, we'll stay with them for another week before heading home. It's been years since we've been on a cruise. Can't wait to relax and spend quality time with the family. I hope everything goes as planned. It's still very unpredictable these days when it comes to travel. Thank goodness for the ability of working from home. My husband and I can basically work anywhere. In preparation for the trip. I've been slowly buying things. Today, I wanted to share my recent purchases just in case you're interested. All pieces are super affordable. I don't tend to spend a lot of money on clothes. I ordered a lot more but this is what I am keeping so far. I have a few more orders coming =)

Swiss dot white dress: The upper half is double lined. The bottom half isn't but it's not see through either. The quality is decent. Lightweight and comfortable to wear. Great for those hot summer days. I also purchased the matching dress for Madelyn

Mint green cut-out dress: I love this dress. It's so flattering. The material is slightly ribbed which I love and not see through. The length is perfect on me (I am 5'2"). Available in a bunch of colors. I might pick up another one in a different color.

Green cami dress: I am into green lately so I picked up another casual dress in green. Even though it's not lined, the fabric is opaque. The quality is good. It's one of those summer dresses that you can throw on and look instantly chic.

High-waisted mom shorts: This is a repeat purchase. I have the same pair in several washes. They fit amazing and the best part? They're only $15. Go grab a pair and thank me later =)

Green floral dress: And we have another green dress =) This one is slightly dressier. I love it. High-neck dresses are my weakness and this one is so so cute.

2-piece set: A fun and comfy set for the summer. I have nothing to complain about. Keep in mind that I am short. The top is slightly cropped on me which I love. If you're taller than 5'2", the top might be too short for you.

Sleeveless button down shirt: It's not very cropped on me. This top is great pairing with a pair of cut-off denim shorts.

Beach Riot blue one-piece swimsuit: I picked up a few new swimsuits and this one is my favorite. The fit is amazing. I love the side cutouts. Availalbe in 22 colors and prints.

Becca by Rebecca Virtual Savannah Swimsuit: I've always been a fan of the brand. I have 3 or 4 swimsuits from her and I love them all. Added this pretty white one piece to my closet this year.

Blue high-neck dress: I bought a few formal dresses for the cruise. As mentioned above, I love high-neck dresses. This one is literally perfect. It fits me so well and the color is very fun!

Express satin slip dress: This is my very first slip dress and I am obsessed. Love the color and how it hangs. It runs slightly small so I'd suggest sizing up one size.

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My recent purchases

Memorial Day Weekend

Hope you're enjoying your summer so far. Managing working from home and taking care of the kids is no easy task but I am grateful to be able to do so (especially I don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on gas every week). Took the boat out for the first time this season for the Memorial Day weekend and we had a blast. Speaking of the Memorial Day weekend, I found this dress from T.J. Maxx and it was perfect for the occasion. Always love a good T.J. Maxx find. I am thinking about ordering the same dress in this paisley print. It's really well made and super comfortable to wear. We hosted a cookout at our house and I wore this all day. On Monday, we went boating with a couple of friends. Not much else going on these days except working and enjoying our crazy busy life with the kids. Have a great week ahead, everyone! Outfit details: T.J. Maxx dress *size XS* | Gucci bag | Gucci sandals | Le Specs sunglasses

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Memorial Day Weekend

Horseshoe Bend and my experience with Antelope Canyon tour

Happy Monday, everyone! This is a continuation of our spring break trip back in March. I know this post is super delayed but better late than never. We left Zion National Park and drove to Bend, AZ for our next adventure. Woke up early the next day and had breakfast at our hotel. Tour the Upper Antelope Canyon and visit the Horseshoe Bend were on our agenda for the day. We purchased 3 tickets via Viator since the date we needed wasn't available on the Navajo Tours site. I believe we paid almost double (cost $627 for the 3 of us). The tour started at 11:00 a.m. We'd need to check in at 10:15 a.m. There are several tour companies available for both Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Since the Canyon is located on the Navajo Reservation, it does not have a physical address. All check-in locations are off-road. Also, the hotel where we stayed is near a border between time zones. My phone kept switching back and forth between MST and MDT. We weren't sure which time zone we were supposed to follow. Long story short, we got to the check-in location 20 minutes before the tour started instead of 45 minutes. They refused to let us get on the tractor even though there were tourists still waiting around for the tour to start. The bottom line is they overbooked the tour. Since we checked-in 25 minutes later than expected, they decided to keep our money and sold our tickets to other people that were on the waiting list. They weren't trying to help us find the next available tour nor weren't trying to compensate anything. As the matter of fact, they kind of laughed about the fact that we weren't able to make the tour. The whole experience rubbed me the wrong way. It was a joke and the way they handled the situation was very unprofessional. Thankfully, I filed a dispute with PayPal and was able to get all my $$ back. If you plan to do the tour, make sure you pay attention to where you're supposed to be and the right timezone. I was super bummed as I was looking forward to this the most but there was nothing that we can do at that moment. We got in the car and drove to Horseshoe Bend (only 10 mins away from the canyon). You only need to pay $10 per vehicle to get in. It's worth checking out at least once. After one mile hike from the parking lot, you end up with the most spectacular view overlooking the Colorado River below. We truly enjoyed its beauty! Next stop - Grand Canyon, AZ.

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Horseshoe Bend and my experience with Antelope Canyon tour

Junior Prom 2022

Happy Friday, ladies! It's a beautiful day in central Ohio and I am so looking forward to the weekend. The kids will be done with school in a couple of weeks. This year is definitely flying by. Wanted to share a few pictures of Courtney in her prom dress. I am thrilled that prom happened this year for her. It's such an exciting and memorable moment for high schoolers and I am thankful that I was able to experience that with my daughter. As mentioned in this post, I had no ideas how expensive prom dresses are (especially for something that they only wear for a few hours). The practical side of me would never pay that much for a dress. The Mom side wants to spoil my kids. If you know Courtney in person, you'd agree that she deserves nothing but the best. Prom is the time for the kids to make unforgettable memories before they all leave for college. I want her to feel and look the best. Prom dress shopping was a bit challenging as there isn't too many specialty stores around us. Also, since prom didn't happen for the past 2 years, kids went crazy this year. Options are very limited. I wanted to stay under $500 but it was difficult. We ended up ordering this gorgeous Sherri Hill dress from their Spring 2022 collection. She did try on this dress in a different color/size on the first visit and literally fell in love with it the first time. She tried on a bunch of other dresses during several visits but nothing stood out. I love that she went with a bold color. Red is my favorite color. For someone who rarely wears colors, I am glad she stepped out of her comfort zone. We ordered this dress, paid in full without seeing it or trying it on in person. Of course, the sale is final. If the dress does not fit, we'll stuck with a $850 dress lol. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and she looked beautiful in it. The length was long on her (which was expected). She made it work by wearing these 6" heels. We didn't have to alter the dress at all. It was super cold and snowy that day so I didn't get too many pictures. Thankfully, the weather turned out nicer the next day and I was able to capture a few more pictures. I teared up a little seeing her in her prom dress. Courtney is a reserved and quiet kid but I could tell she walked out the door that night feeling beautiful and confident. My baby is no longer a baby. I've watched her grow into the most loving, kind-hearted, confident, motivated, beautiful young lady and I couldn't be prouder.

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Junior Prom 2022

A beautiful Spring day

My girlfriend and I took advantage of the beautiful weather we had last weekend and visited the Cox Arboretum MetroPark. I've been hearing about this park for awhile and finally made it there. We wasn't sure about the condition of the tulips since it has been raining quite a bit recently. I am glad we decided to take a chance because the tulips are still blooming and beautiful. Tulips are my favorite flowers. Summertime is upon us. Very much looking forward to spending time with friends and family, hanging out at the lake and enjoying more outdoor adventures. Outfit details: Ann Taylor pants | H&M denim jacket | Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis bag

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A beautiful Spring day

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you and your family! The girls opened their baskets this morning. No matter how old my daughters are, I will always make Easter baskets for them. As they get older, the contents change slightly but it is always filled with love. This year, I got Courtney a new bottle of perfume (she loves vanilla scents), false lashes (I've heard these are Kim K's favorite), candies and a gift card. For Madelyn, I got her a Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, a pack of Apple watch bands and a pair of stud earrings. She kept losing them =( I wore this outfit to church this morning. The sun is out but it's still pretty cool. May you enjoy this day surrounded by loved ones. Outfit details: House of Harlow dress | Chanel 19 bag

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Happy Easter!