My May purchases and cut consumerism challenge

This month, I am joining Amber’s cut consumerism challenge. This is something that I've been wanting to do for awhile. Having a fashion blog, it’s somewhat expected to a “fresh” look every week. To me, it’s not easy to write interesting content without constantly buying/reviewing new things. I wanted to apologize for not putting good content on this blog for what seems like forever. I am struggling with managing everything in my life right now. I recently took on new responsibilities at work on top of my normal 8-hour work day. Between no shopping and absolutely no free time, blogging has fallen to the bottom of the priority list. I will switch things up a bit and hope to put out good content on this blog soon. Thank you for sticking with me!

 

For this challenge, my goal is to spend less than $100 on clothing and accessory purchases for the entire month of May. Well, guys. I am proud to say that I did it. I only made 2 purchases for the entire month. My first purchase was these Mavi Serena low-rise skinnies via Hautelook for $50. Aren't they cute? They will be arriving today. I love the lighter shade denim and hope they fit.

My second purchase was this H&M blouse. I am recently drawn to draped blouses. This one is so light and airy. It looks great with jeans, shorts and is appropriate for work if wear correctly. I am sure it will be in heavy rotation this summer. I am going to set the same budget for the month of June. It will be more challenging because I am in need of a few things for my upcoming vacation. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks, Amber for hosting the challenge. My total money spent in May on clothing: $75 (I am pretty darn proud of myself..LOL =). It was tough but I am glad I did it.

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My May purchases and cut consumerism challenge

One-piece swimsuits

Polka-dots | Floral | Crochet | Print | Solid

With my beach vacation just a few weeks away, I've been on the hunt for a new swimsuit. I used to never look at one-piece swimsuits (too granny and not sexy) but these options have proved me wrong. They can be cute, flattering and super sexy. I actually find myself liking them more than the bikini options I see. From floral to prints, to polka dots, to solids, there are just so many options to choose from. My favorite is the floral one. What do you think of one-piece bathing suits?

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One-piece swimsuits

Weekend wear: Anchors aweigh

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Those 3 days sure flew by fast. Something about Memorial Day weekend and the start of summer screams white denim to me. For this outfit, I paired my trusty white skinnies with an anchor tee. While my style is not preppy, I enjoy a hint of the nautical theme this tee brings to the outfit. If you like the print, check out Skip N Whistle. There are tons of designs to choose from.

 

What I am wearing:

Denim: GAP always skinny jeans - size 25

Tee: Nautical anchor tank c/o Skip N Whistle- size S

Jacket: H&M *super old* (buy similar here)

Sunglasses: Retro mirrored aviator sunglasses c/o Zero UV
Sandals: LOFT *old* (buy similar here)

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Weekend wear: Anchors aweigh

Petite Online Store | Gambita - Silk Rompers

This is the last look I did for Gambita (see the first look and the second look). I am a fan of rompers (please don't judge!). I think rompers are so fun and easy to wear for the hot summer days. The only drawback to any romper is that you have to plan bathroom breaks accordingly =) Besides the silky soft material, I also like the tab sleeves. Did I mention the pockets? It has pockets. Always a bonus! In general, rompers are great for vacations. They can be easily dress up for dinner at night or dress down for a walk along the beach. Some rompers can also be worn as a beach cover-up. I hope you enjoy the series. To all US readers, have a wonderful Memorial weekend and be thankful for those who have sacrificed.

What I am wearing: 

Rompers: Beth romper by Yumi Kim 

Sandals: LOFT *old* (buy similar here) 

Bag: Burberry satchel in smoked check 

Necklace: Amrita Singh *old* (buy similar - extra 30% off) 

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Gayla (on Gilt for $69 or here)

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Petite Online Store | Gambita - Silk Rompers

Petite Online Store | Gambita - Flower Power

This is the 2nd look I did for Gambita (see the first look here). I am not exactly crazy for the floral print trend but I love this blouse. It’s silky soft, flowy and so easy to wear. When it comes to floral print, I prefer more subdued pattern. For this outfit, I decided to pair the blouse with a blue pencil skirt to create sort of a monochromatic look. Gambita generously offers a discount to readers of this blog. You can use code “Gambita4Sydney'sFashionDiary” at check out to get 30% off your entire purchase. I have one more look for you and will be featuring it in the next few days. I am sooo looking forward to having a 3-day weekend. What are your plans?

 

What I am wearing:

Blouse: Mya top by Yumi Kim (also available here)

Skirt: J.Crew No. 2 pencil skirt in wool

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Gayla

Shoes: Banana Republic Jenna (identical style here)

Watch: Michael Kors 5128 in rose gold

Bag: Tory Burch Robinson double-zip tote

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Petite Online Store | Gambita - Flower Power

Petite Online Store | Gambita - Jewel Tones

A month ago, the founder of Gambita reached out to me and asked if you'd be interested in working with the company. She is a really petite girl herself and always has struggled with finding clothes that fit properly. This year, she decided to do something different and launched her own company. Gambita is an online store that sells clothes exclusively for petite women. While this blog is no longer cater specifically to petite women, I am more than happy to help spread the word.

 

What I am wearing:

Skirt: Ana skirt by Yumi Kim - size S (also available here)

Top: Bebe *a gift from my sister* (buy similar here or here)

Shoes: Express two-strap heeled sandals

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Gayla

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Petite Online Store | Gambita - Jewel Tones

Leafy Spring Print

Besides this dress, I also found these pants in the back of my closet while packing. They are practically brand-new. I bought them years ago for an interview and only wore them once. I don’t wear pants every often so it’s been fun to rediscover those forgotten items that I can use to change up the look. Besides this pretty blouse, the Shop Velvet package that landed on my doorstep a few weeks ago also consisted of this pretty top. I am always open to try different cuts and shapes when it comes to fashion. With that in mind, I am drawn to this top because of its unique characteristics. I absolutely adore the interesting neckline. I am participating in Tara's what I wore to work link up today. Gosh, I can't believe that it's Thursday already! Where did the week go? Not that I'm complaining =) Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone!

 

What I am wearing:

Bottom: BR Martin pants - size 00R (buy this year's version)

Top: Morgan top in black and white c/o

Watch: Micheal Kors 5128 in rose gold

Purse: Tory Burch double-zip Robinson tote

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Leafy Spring Print

It's been three years....

It's been 3 years since I've started this blog. For the most part, I still enjoy blogging. Although, can’t say I am as excited as I was 3 years ago. This past 3 years, I've learned a lot about my personal style and how to dress for my body. Blogging certainly becomes a part of my daily routine. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your continued support during the past 3 years. Your readership is appreciated.

I wrote a post about making plans for our lives on October 2010. Fast forward 2.5 years later, we are pleased to cross another item off our list and that is finding our “dream” home. It's not a million dollar home by any means but it’s everything we wanted to be. Last weekend, we've packed our belongings, said goodbye to neighbors and moved to a 2-bedroom apartment while waiting for the new house to be built. Downsizing from a 4-bedroom home to a 2-bedroom apartment was definitely a challenge. I had to downsize my wardrobe from 2 closets to 2 cardboard boxes and that is everything I have for the next 5 months =) The rest of it goes to the storage for the time being. On the flip side, a small wardrobe hopefully will force me to be more creative with combinations. Over the next few months the blog will be very sporadic so please bear with me.

With all that said, my Mother’s Day weekend consisted of hauling boxes, unpacking and cleaning for the most part. I had no time for myself but to me, everyday is Mother's Day when I am with my kids. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend full of love and laughter.

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It's been three years....

Colorful Chevron

Just a quick casual look with some bright colors and bold accessories to brighten up a gloomy day! I love this dress (it's available in 2 colors). It’s fun, easy to wear and of course, bonus points for the pockets. FYI, this dress runs super small. I am wearing a size medium here and it fits me perfectly. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

 

What I am wearing:

Dress: Orange Dress With Rainbow Wave c/o - size M

Shoes: Banana Republic *old* (splurge - love! or steal)

Necklace: Amrita Singh *old* (buy similar)

Watch: Michael Kors 5128 in rose gold

Jacket: H&M *old* (almost identical )

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Colorful Chevron

2013 Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is just a few days away (this Sunday 05.12). I've been on the hunt for the perfect gift for a very special woman in my life. I can't stress enough how lucky I am to have my mother around. Mother's Day is an opportunity to show how much we appreciate all she does. Here are some ideas that I think would make wonderful gifts for Mother’s Day.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

• Chanel Chance: I'm not a fragrance type of person but my Mom is. I tested this scent a few months ago at Sephora and I LOVED it. It is a beautiful soft and seductive scent. It smells insanely good. I got this for my Mom this Mother’s Day and hope she’ll like it. Sephora currently offers a free mini fragrance with any $25 purchase. You can choose one of the following items: Dolce & Gabbana The One Desire, Chloe Eau de Parfum, Narciso Rodriguez For Her, Versace Bright Crystal and Clinique Happy. I ended up getting the D&G The One to try. Beauty insiders also get triple points on any fragrance purchase.
• Clarisonic Mia: I got this for my Mom last Christmas and she’s been enjoying it ever since. 
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: After seeing how great this product works on me, my Mom requested this too (read my review). She’s been using it for a couple of months now and it works wonderful on her skin as well.
• If you want something a little more personal, monogram jewelry is the way to go. 
• Flowers and personal notes never get old. You can get $40 worth of Mother’s Day flowers for $20 from FTD.com via Groupon. I did get one for myself.

It doesn't have to be any sort of gift. You can take her out for brunch or who doesn't need a little pampering, right? or just simply pick up the phone and say Happy Mother's Day. Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy your day with your Mother. As always, it's the thought that counts. I sure will enjoy this special day with my 2 precious girls.

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2013 Mother's Day Gift Guide

Soft colors

What a gorgeous weekend in the Midwest! Yesterday, I took my newspaper skirt out for a spin. Lately, I can't seem to get enough of circle/full skirts with flowy blouses. I wore this skirt with a black turtleneck a few months ago when it was cold outside. This time, I paired it with a moss green blouse for a spring look. I love the soft colors of this outfit. The combination of moss green and newspaper print certainly gives this outfit a vintage vibe. I hope you enjoy your weekend as well =)

 

What I am wearing: 

Skirt: DIY (see my tutorial) 

Blouse: Velvet Felicity shirt c/o

 Shoes: Express two-strap heeled sandals

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Gayla

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Soft colors

Black and White Pompeii

I am a huge fan of fit and flare dresses. Personally, I think the fit and flare dress is flattering to most body types as it is designed to achieve the ideal hour-glass shape. Thanks to Rosy Ruby for sending over this beautiful dress. I love that the material is lightweight and breathable but not sheer. The dress fits great and hits just above my knees. Since the flirty silhouette of the fit and flare dress can be childish, I like to offset it with a more mature print. Black and white pattern adds a timeless touch to this rather youthful looking dress.

 

What I am wearing:

Dress: Call Me Maybe dress c/o - size UK8

Belt: H&M (buy similar here)

Shoes: Tahari Sarina pump

Sunglasses: Selima Sun for J.Crew (similar style by Selima)

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Black and White Pompeii