Instead of an emotional hiatus, I’m going to try to power through and suck it up and post. I’m currently traveling and figuring out life. Though I was the one who made the decision to leave, it hasn’t made it any easier. Thankfully, Jack and Cokes numb painfully long flights, memorable sunsets, and surprise “Welcome Back/Happy Belated Birthday” parties, Sprinkles, and caloric crazy cakeballs are all helping me cope. I have the most amazing people in my life, near and far, and I never want to take that for granted.

P.S.  Making slight changes to the site, hope you’re enjoying it!  Share on Facebook, ReTweet it, or leave a comment via Disqus because hey, I could use a little loving in my life about now.  ^_^

Photo Credit: Me

I have hated clogs until the day I laid eyes on these beauties.  My Anti-Clog stance disappeared as these clog + bootie babies appeared on several fashion blogs, and now I’ve been clog crazeeeeeeed.  I cannot get them out of my head and yet no one seems to know who they are by.  Help my poor little clog-converted soul and let me know which fabulous designer is responsible for this obsession!

P.S. Check out the Bachman Sparrow blog and enter their giveaway! Once entered into the raffle, you can win a $50 giftcard to a clothing store of your choice. She will also include one of my favorite products, CO Bigelow’s Mentha Vitamin Body Wash (for both guys and girls) and personal style consultation.

Just wanted to share a little Valentine’s Day love with y’all. I miss the days of elementary school, you know where you’d sit in class creating and decorating baskets to hold all of your potential goodies. The irreplaceable rush from shopping for special valentines and gifts for that first crush. Ohhhh, and having my mom help hot glue charms and knick knacks to make the ultimate card ever for the first boy who stole my heart in first grade. Oh, Peter how I loved you so… until my basket was overflowing with other potential suitors. Perhaps that was the boycrazy turning point (Mama dukes still thinks it was in pre-school with the playdough saga).

I wish I could say I’m a huge fan of V-Day, but it’s more like relationship D-Day this year. So while all you lovebirds are stuffing your faces with fancy dinners and chocolates & champagne; I’ll be busting my ass on the Santa Monica Stairs and biking from Santa Monica to Venice and back. Gotta get the mind & body right…

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours <3

[KAIN Label Tee, Cheap Monday skinnies, YSL Tributes, Tiffany Charm Necklace]

I’ve been in a funk since we returned from my birthday trip to Tahoe, but I promise to share more some of the 500+ birthday week pictures.  I could possibly bore you with all the minute details of the trip, but all in all, I definitely experienced a shit ton of things I’ve never done in my life.  And now I’m oh so old at the ripe age of 26…

So I’ve returned to the routine of normal daily life of client work, job searching, massive amounts of laundry, waiting for packages and returned phone calls, and Valentine’s Day prep.  All while wishing to be at NYFW or even back in Dallas covering the 2010 NBA All Star Game, which I passed on stupidly.  Quel imbecile!

In order to brighten my Friday funk, I’m sporting my obnoxiously purple suede Tributes and as an homage to V-day, little hearts around my neck to remind I’m still loved.   Weekend plans, my dears?

[Birthday Week Kickoff - Fresh Dungeness Crabs, Carmenere, Mango Mochi, and Cookies & Creme]

For as long as I can remember or care to remember, I’ve celebrated my Birthday (February 5th) as a Birthday Week. Seven days filled with loved ones, wishes, cakes and candies, and oh so many hugs and kisses. Before you begin to think I’m some egomaniac, it’s not about the gifts or just little ol’ me me meeeee. But more so that people’s schedules never align, someone’s working or out of town, and that my birthday always falls around the Superbowl and Chinese New Years.

So every year like tradition, I have different themes for each day, varying each year as my tastes and likes change as I age like a fine wine. There’s always a dance party if not several, sometimes a sleep over, potluck dinners as of the last few years, karaoke is a must, pinata busting is a favorite, cupcakes and champagne, several young years of a fishing competition, intimate family celebrations, Superbowl Sunday, models and bottles, Asian festivals, etc etc etc. Yet each year is different and unique, but reminiscent of years prior.

My birthday becomes a reunion of family (blood and acquired), a celebration of life, and reminders of why I’m thankful for each person in my life. This year, I’m turning 26 and in a bit of a whirlwind situation. A certain someone made arrangements for us to go to Tahoe to get out of town to go skiing. Now, instead I have an ultimatum to literally get out of town.  You can’t rain on my birthday week parade…

Don’t front like you didn’t fall in love with Miroslava’s vintage Hermes leather shorts during Fashion Week. It was the swoon heard round the fashion world. Well Zara is hooking it up for Spring/Summer 2010 with a collection featuring a pair of belted brown leather shorts.  Roomy enough for the girls with hips or even girls with legs as sticks. A pinch of naughty, yet so put together even while rocking your Alexander Wang-ish plait braid.

Credit: Zara Facebook

Trends that aren’t dying anytime soon: the omnipresent Americana look and Dree Hemingway as a campaign girl. It’s all good in my book; as I love me some chambray, classic white on denim, and of course my girl crush of the moment. Are you feeling it?

Credit: WWD

Flew back to LA into torrential downpours and flooding instead of the sunny skies norm. While the weather is quite depressing, this week is very much the opposite. Details to be revealed later… Today will be filled with writing press releases, editing pictures, doing laundry and unpacking; of course all whilst being snuggled up in some fur. Top it with glancing outside my Juliet balcony and wistfully wishing for glorious rays of sunshine, so I can get back to running and bike riding rather than Wii Fit games. *sigh*

Anyone care to partake in some puddle jumping with me later?

I apologize for the lack of posts lately.  It just so happens that a life has gotten insanely busy once my health returned and my hermit self came out of hiding.  In a few days, I’ll be returning back to the land of sunshine and silicone a.k.a. LA, and will be hitting the ground running with a few new things that all hopefully work out.  But for the time I have left in Dallas, I will enjoy the slower pace of life, laughter and love with my family and friends, and gorging on some delicious cuisines (of course while still keeping up with my NY’s resolution workouts).

In a complete surprise, my parents are off in a very distant land…. Vietnam.  Monday, they announced they may have to go to settle some family business.  Tuesday, I swear I lost 5lbs alone from this day of no sleep, extreme shopping, laundry, packing, and errand running.  Wednesday morning, dropped them off at the airport like I was a parent sending my kids off to kindergarden.

Let’s hope their trip is more like this:

(Scenic, relaxing, filled with rainbows, sunshine, unicorns, and happiness)

And less of this:

(With 11 brothers and sisters... *sigh* I feel bad for Mama Dukes)

Marc Jacobs releases another genius lineup for his modern-day “Love Story” at Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2010.  The looks include fur and feathers, touches of texture, ikat patterns, and skirts with swing appeal.  Jacobs, inspired by the late Sixties, keeps his girls looking flirty and feminine all while with a youthful elegance.  Cozy up to plaids and wool suits for day, while draping over a signature blanket cape for night.  While it may seem more subdued than what Marc Jacobs usually surprises down runways; the pops of fuchsia, eye popping patterns, and luxe leather and fur accents won’t have you yawning.

Photo Credit: WWD