Ganguro Fashion Blog

Convenience store mini haul

2010-03-12T10:15:00.012-05:00

So I decided that I should try "My Beauty Diary" masks after reading rave reviews about it here on blogger. I know I'm really behind on this trend, considering "My Beauty Diary" masks have been on the market for quite a while and that these masks are produced here in Taiwan. Oh well..I guess I just haven't been studying up on the latest advances in skin care..just really lacking in skin care knowledge. While reading blooger posts about My Beauty Diary masks, I thought to myself these packaging looked so familiar so they have to be sold at major drugstore chains (LOL because makeup stuff is only other stuff I like to look at besides going to clothing stores...) WRONG! I could not find it at the largest drugstore chain on the island. Interestingly, My Beauty Diary masks are carried by the largest convenience store chain here. So instead of driving 10 min, I only had to walk 2 min down the block to the corner Seven-Eleven store. I picked up two just now. One is the "Platinum Nanocolloid Mask", the other is the "White Peony Tea Mask". Can't wait to try these two out!

"Platinum Nanocolloid Mask" on the right, "White Peony Tea Mask" on the left:
I also picked up a 6-pack si-wu drink from Seven-Eleven. This drink is specially formulated for young women, it is the concentrate of the Chinese herbs si-wu and usually with a bit of either papaya or cranberry mixed in. It is being advertised as providing iron and other nutrients to women, and if drinked after menstruation would aid in a woman's health and gives a rosy glow.
I picked out a few snakcs, too. This Bananna Cake was too cute! I had to get these for my nephews! My nephew loved how cute it looks also and couldn't wait to eat it!

Lantern Festival

2010-03-01T06:34:00.010-05:00

Lat week hubby and I paid a visit to the city hosted lantern fest at a park. The "Lantern Festival", celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar new year, actually was yesterday. Every major city in Taiwan hosts their own lantern fest which normally lasts 7 or 10 days, and this one is our own. It was pretty cold the day we went, but the display of these beautiful/unique lanterns kept our spirits high. See if you can point out sponge bob lantern from the photos below...

My outfit for the outing was simple and casual consisting of a creamy-color puff shoulder lace top paird with a black bowtie jumper mini dress and basic black tights. The orange bomber puff jacket didn't quite go with the outfit but the vibrant hue kinda helped me stood out in the photos a bit. Oh and sorry about the red eyes, I have yet to learn how to get rid of it with a photo editing software.

A Day at the Sun Moon Lake

2010-02-24T04:26:00.013-05:00

For my birthday this year, hubby and I drove up to Sun Moon Lake for a little day trip. Hmm.. I think this was perhaps our first out-of-town trip since Guam. Wow, time really went by so fast!

Sun Moon Lake, together with the Taipei 101, and so many other popular destinations in Taiwain, ranks as one of the best known tourist spots, is a two-hour drive from our city. I still remember visiting this inland lake surrounded by mountains with my family when I was a little girl. We took a 30-min two way ferry to take in the beautiful mountain scenery at the lake. We also strolled along the lake and took pictures. But unfortunately we arrived too late to board the sky-booth for a bird's eye view of the moutain and the lake. Next time!

Hate that I look so bulky in the photos, but it was simplpy too chilly at the lake on that day.
Right before boarding the ferry.
The dock.
View of the lake from our ferry.
Sky booths

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-11T04:50:00.007-05:00

Hey everyone! It's been too long since I last updated. I hope you all had a great start to the new year. Me and hubby huddled together for the New Year countdown at a local mall this year. "Huddled" and hugged because it was cold on New Year's Eve. We didn't plan anything spectacular before or after the countdown, in fact we were almost late driving to the countdown becasue hubby didn't get off work until very late. Later on we just went home after the clock hits 2010 and the big crowd dispersed. I did not take any photos to mark the event, but here's a video of this year's countdown at Taipei 101:

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T07:22:00.008-04:00

Hi all! I'm so sorry I'd been MIA for the past few weeks. This is to update you on part of what I had been working on. This slide shows some of my best picks from my store.

Hope you all have a happy Halloween!

Guam wedding photos

2009-10-05T06:22:00.010-04:00

Hi all! Sorry for the lack of posts! I don't have an excuse for not updating this blog other than I just wasn't in the mood for it due to some circumstances in real life. Though a little late, here are a couple more of our wedding photos from Guam. These were taken by a local professional photographer in Guam. CLICK to enlarge the photos.

Souvenirs from Guam

2009-09-18T10:52:00.014-04:00

Yes I've made gonig to the malls almost a focal point of my wedding trip to Guam if you've noticed in my previous posts. But I actually ended up bringing home only what I thought were the necessities - some souvenirs for families and a few snacks.

From left to right:
-"I Love Guam" mug from ABC Store
-Tootsie Roll inspired purse from JP Superstore
-Junk Food T-shirt from JP Superstore
-Guam ABC Store Men's T-shirt in charcoal from ABC Store
-Guam ABC Store Men's T-shirt in sky blue from ABC Store

And here're what I got from K Mart (left to right):
-2 packages of Pepperridge Farms Chocolate Chip Cookies ... because I couldn't yet find these in Taipei.
-2 large packages of chips ahoy... because the US version is much better with more chocolate.
-Mac & Cheese... also hard to find and more expensive in Taipei
-Neutrogena Visibly Firm Night Cream ... because it's not sold in Taipei
-Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads ... nope not sold in Taipei

I also stocked up on a few bottles of vitamins and supplements from Vitamin World and K Mart for my dad. Vitamin supplements are more expensive in Taipei.

If you're heading to Guam...

2009-09-18T00:12:00.004-04:00

Before our wedding/honeymoon trip to Guam, I had had to do an extensive research on the web. I thought I'd share a few websites that I found to be the most inform and helpful for visiting Guam.

The must-read Guam related websites:

1 Guam Visitors Bureau (This serves as a great intro to Guam.)
2 Clickguam.com (This offers a wealth of info on where to stay, where to eat, where to shop, transportation, and an excellent hotel map)

And if you're planning a wedding in Guam:

1 Naoco Wedding (We singed on with this Guam local wedding service company through our travel agency in Taipei. But you will most likely save on money by directly contacting a local wedding service company, this is just one of many companies to choose from. Don't worry if you can't read their all Japanese website. Go ahead and contact them directly, the people in their Guam office speak perfect English.)

Ginza Couture Naoco, Guam
P.O.Box 7959
Tamuning, Guam 96931
Tel: (671)646-1242
Fax: (671) 647-0479

2 Dream Weddings Guam (A local wedding service that turned up during my search on the web, specializes in smaller, or last-minute ceremonies for couples.)

Guam: Day Three & Day Four

2009-09-17T02:11:00.036-04:00

DAY THREE -
We woke up in our beautiful hotel suite to the early sunshine of Guam for the first time. And this day happens to be the Labor Day holiday, as well as our chapel wedding day.

After breakfast at the hotel, the local wedding service company that we signed on for drove us to their salon. While I was being pampered by the stylist for almost two hours, hubby waited and tried to familiarize himself with the chapel ceremony process. At noon, we arrived at the beach side chapel in a limo. With help from the pastor, the wedding coordinator, the photographer, the vocalist, the pianist, we said our vows. We also had a photo session by our photographer at the nearby beach following the ceremony. I've not seen these photos as they've yet to arrive from Guam by mail.

This was taken by the coordinator using my dc.

At 2pm, we arrived back at the hotel to change into more casual wear, then headed out to enjoy the remaining 1 + 1/2 days on Guam by ourselves without a local tour guide.

*It's super easy to get around most of Guam's tourist attractions as the island has shuttle buses that services popular routes.

Me, sitting on the windowless shuttle bus.

We got on the first available bus at our hotel and was taken to GPO "Guam Premium Outlets" within minutes, so we decided to grab lunch at the food court inside the outlet and maybe do a little shopping.

Guam Premium Outlets

Grilled sub, one of my favorite mall food.

Lasagna from Sabarros Pizza.

GPO houses a Ross, a Nine West outlet, a Guess outlet among other lesser known stores. In my opinion, you're more likely to find bargains from GPO than from Micronesia. But the shelves at Ross were more than half-empty on the day we went, I was kinda disappointed. Perhaps they couldn't restock fast enough than the speed at which the goods are flying off the shelves?

After GPO, we got on a shuttle bus again and took a ride down Guam's famous hotel road. We strolled down hotel road, checking out the many high-end shops, such as JP Superstore, DFS, etc. The biggest names, including Gucci, Fendi, Cartier, Tiffany, and many others all have set up locations here. Along with Guam's tax-free status, this area is truely a shopping paradise for the HAVE. Unfortunately for me, these high-end names are out of league. Although I still had a little fun getting souvenirs for my sisters from the JP Superstore.

A snap shot of the hotel road.

We had dinner at a small ramen house on hotel road. Miso Ramen and California Roll for dinner.

DAY FOUR (LAST DAY ON GUAM)-
In the morning, we stayed within the hotel compound and just explored its garden, taking in the ocean view from its backyard, and visiting the hotel's two on-site chapels.

Aqua Stella Chapel

Nestled at the top of the property is Hilton Guam's other chapel named St. Probus Holy Chapel, the larger of the two. This glass-walled chapel sits on the edge of the cliff line allowing undisturbed ocean view.

At noon we took a shuttle bus to K Mart, where I got myself some items that normally couldn't be found in Taipei. I'll devote another entry entirely to my guilty pleasures from Guam later on.

Guam K Mart is the largest K Mart in the whole USA.

We wrapped up our stay on Guam by taking an evening stroll down a stretch of the sandy beach of Tumon Bay, starting at Nikko Hotel and ending at the Hyatt hotel. We had dinner at a Korean restaurant on hotel road across from the PIC hotel.

Complimentary Korean appetizers including Kimchi

Bulgogi, Korean marinated barbecued beef.

Bibimbob

But I still had to get some last minute souvenirs for my brothers and sister-in-law before we had to head back to your hotel to pack. We had to settle for ABC Store - the local convenience store - since our flight would be leaving in a few hours.

Read about Guam: Day One & Day Two

Guam: Day One & Day Two

2009-09-16T09:06:00.014-04:00

Since our time on Guam is such a large topic (and picture heavy), it will be broken down into at least 2 posts. Let me get started with day one and day two.

DAY ONE -
Our flight to Guam was scheduled for 10 PM. Flying time to Guam from Taipei was approx. 3.50 hrs. In addition, Guam time zone is 2 hours ahead of Taipei time. So that meant trying to make ourselves comfortable and getting as much rest as we could on the overnight flight as we'd be arriving on Guam at 4 AM local time with a full day of planned fun ahead of us.

Unfortunately for me, the now less-frequent-traveler, the flight was less than enjoyable as I fought a newly-developed fear of flying and sleepiness. It was when our plane finally landed that I was able to relax a bit.

Me, looking excitedly on a bus on our way to the Taipei airport.

At the departure gate inside the Taipei airport.
Top: Express from years ago
Skirt: local boutique
Gentleman Hat: local boutique
Pink Tote: local boutique

Arriving at Guam airport.

DAY TWO-
Arriving at Guam airport, we met up with our tour guide and he immediately brought us to our hotel, the Hilton, and checked us in early. Our beautiful 6th-floor suite comes complete with a balcony with a fantastic view of the Tumon Bay. The balcony in my view would have been one of the two best Guam destinations during our stay. The other being the sandy beach of Tuman Bay just steps from the Hilton.

After catching up on some sleep and a light lunch at the lobby cafe, we joined our guide for a city monuments sight-seeing tour.

The afternoon guided tour was a quick and short intro to some of the well-known, must-see city monuments on Guam. I've already forgotten the exact order in which we visited these tourist spots, probably due to lack of sleep and the extreme heat.

Statue of Liberty

Fort Santa Agueda

Governor's Palace

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral

Two Lovers Point

Our last stop for the day is the Micronesia Mall. It's said to be the largest American style mall on Guam. In my opinion, It's really a small-medium sized mall compared to many others on the mainland. It does not house as many US brand name apparel chains as I would have liked. It's missing quite a number of the usual mall staples such as AE, Gap, BR, Express, Victoria's, J Crew, etc. Here's the website for Micronesia Mall with a link to their store directory. I did notice that Guam does offer quite a selection of swimsuits. I ended up not getting anything from Micronesa except for some vitamins for my dad from the Vitamin World. But we had dinner at Denny's Restaurant inside the Mall. Ooh how I miss eating at Denny's!

Swimsuits, bikinis rack at the Macy's inside the Micronesia mall.

Meatloaf w/ gravy for hubby. Baked fish for me.

Read about Guam: Day Three & Day Four

Back from Guam Wedding!!

2009-09-10T02:29:00.006-04:00

Hi All! I'm baaack!! And can't wait to tell you all about my wedding and fun on Guam. And I got sunburned for the first time in my life. (That just tells you how not an outdoor person I am.) I most likely got the sunburn wearing my gown doing the beach photo shoot following our noon ceremony. My shoulder have been hurting ever since, but I would still do everything all over again because not everyday I get to be on Guam!!

I will have more details on my fun in Guam in later posts.

Me still in makeup and gown after the ceremony:

Moving + Shopping Diary

2009-09-03T02:46:00.006-04:00

Just want to let all of you friends & followers know that my absence for the past 2 weeks has been due to my busy getting ready for chapel wedding and moving into a new place. Some of you may have already known from previous posts that I'll be going to Guam this weekend for a chapel wedding. It's honestly no fun at all with moving being so close to the wedding.

I have quite a few outfit photos that I should have posted, but are now still sitting on hubby's computer due to our moving. I'll get those posted as soon as time allows. Right now a little update on my recent guilty pleasures.

Gentleman hats are being popularized by all the Japanese fashion magazines. It's THE must-have accessory for Summer. I saw tons of gentleman hats in all sizes and fabrics at the night market, but I felt in love with this one when I tried it on. The color is neutral and will go with just about any color wardrobe, and I love love love the turquoise flower detail.

A nude/powder pink bandaged heels. Need I say more? Bandaged heels is a must this season. I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of this in my future postings.

I hardly ever fall for a skirt, but this high-waisted circle skirt catches my eyes. Besides I can't go wrong with black, can I?

Hubby and I had steak Taiwanese style - steak on spaghetti noodles, with a "sunny side up". Steak sauce is served on the side. The steak tastes different from those in the States, but still tasty.

THE Wedding Dress

2009-08-19T06:16:00.013-04:00

I headed back to the bridal gown studio on Sunday and was determined to pick out my gown from the three finalists. I knew I had to make a decision fast to ensure that I have the gown I want for Guam. The studio's 100+ styles are rented out on a first- come-first-serve basis. I needed to act quick, or someone else can reserve the one I am about to pick.

My initial favorite was the first one, the simpler, grecian style gown. I happily tried it on again, but was feeling less excited when I looked at it in the mirror. I was surprised myself at my sudden change of feelings about it. I have no idea why it looked less impressive to me the second time around.

I put on the second choice, and was feeling better in it than the first choice. I had to give up on the 3rd choice because someone had reserved it for the days I'll need to take it with me to Guam. The 2ed choice is a nice, clean, shorter gown, but a gown with longer tail will probably be more suited for chapel wedding. So I asked to try on a few more new styles. I did remember to bring my camera with me this time so here're my two new favorites:

The lady assistant was very patient, very helpful.

This is one of 4 more gowns I tried on Sunday. All are longer styles.

Here's another.

Same gown as the one right above.
Ultimately I settled on the strapless, lace & beaded gown that you see of the 2ed photo of this post. What do ya'll say? Which one would be your favorite?

Typhoon Morakot

2009-08-15T02:42:00.011-04:00

Exactly one week ago, I and many city residents ducked into the malls and movie theaters amid pouring rain brought on by Typhoon Morakot. Little did we know that the typhoon would leave a trail full of so much damage and casualty when it passed. The toll is Taiwan's heaviest in more than 50 years. Most of the damage was located in more remote, mountainous regions. Officals have put the toatl number of casualty at 500, with 120 confirmed death and 380 feared lost in mudslides. My prayers to all the families affected.

Dress: from our very own Ganguro Fashion Store
Dumpling Tote: local boutique
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby
Necklaces: Mom's

Ruffles and Florals

2009-08-14T10:26:00.004-04:00

Those harem pants are put away for now.....
Going back to dresses while Summer is still around.

Floral Chiffon Mini Dress: local boutique
White Layering Cami: local online store
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

One Shoulder Love

2009-08-12T06:11:00.004-04:00

Outfit post at last! This is my weekend outfit for visits to bridal studios. Sorry you're seeing the same gray harem trousers again, but I totally love these right now! I tucked in the Black Diamond Sewn-on Tunic Mini Dress and wore it as a one shoulder top. How do you like the look?

Top (a tunic tucked in): local boutique
Gray Harem Trousers: local boutique
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

Countdown to Guam

2009-08-12T03:34:00.014-04:00

Wedding Gown -
Thanks to all your comments and inputs on the wedding gown! It seems many of you are leaning towards the first choice for its sophisticated simplicity. I will go back to the bridal studio to try on all three gowns again and make a final decision. Whichever dress I pick will still need to be altered to fit me. I might take the opportunity to ask for other adjustments to the dress.

Flight, Wedding Date -
We will be leaving for Guam on Sep 05 if all goes according to plan. We will have the chapel wedding on Labor Day, Sep 07. So stay tuned for photos of Guam.

Bridal Hair & Makeup -
This is definitely the part I feel I'm most unprepared for. We will have a local stylist for the wedding, but our time with her before heading to the chapel will be short. I've been advised to bring photos of bridal hair and makeup looks I like with me to Guam. I am nearly clueless about what makeup look I want. I know I'd like my hair up, with lots of volume. Can any of you offer tips, or send me photos of bridal looks that you think would work for me?

Shoes -
I thought I am supposed to decide on the dress first before starting the hunt for a pair of matchy heels. I'm also clueless on the shoes. I think something that will give me at least a three-inches boost for sure.

Btw, here is a file photo of our chosen venue (click to enlarge):

Wedding Gown

2009-08-10T04:19:00.005-04:00

Hubby and I are going to have a chapel wedding in Guam next month. I've been taking time planning lately, thus the lack of new posts up here. Over the weekend, we went searching for my wedding gown, amid a windy, rainy typhoon when most people chose to stay indoor. This being my frist time in a wedding gown, and my tendency to be overly picky with anything to do with clothing, I really hope to find a gown that will make me think "This is it! This is the one!". We visited 3 bridal studios and tried on 16 different gowns. And I've narrowed my choices to 3. Wish I hadn't forgotten to take photos myself trying on different gowns. Hmm.. but I'll still give you a glimps of the gowns by posting file photos from one of the bridal studioss' site. These are the list of final three: (What do you guys say? Which one should I take to Guam for my chapel wedding?)

Click on the photos for larger view of these three gowns.

Easy Breezy Crop Harem Pants

2009-08-02T02:43:00.013-04:00

You may have noticed the quality of my recent photos haven't been as great. This is because recent photos were taken with my Canon G7, while previous outfit photos were shot with hubby's DSLR. I'm surprised at the difference in picture quality, but it may have been due to the different lighting at the time of photographing.

Anyway I've been crazy over these crop harem pants! They're just so comfy and look great with a bunch of tops I already have in my closet. Here's me on a quick run to the convenience store. Sorry for the blurry face in 2ed photo! More outfit posts to come... stay tuned.

Black V Neck Top: Banana Republic from years ago
White Lace Trim Cami: local boutique
Gray Crop Harem Pants: local boutique
Pink Dumpling Tote: local boutique
Indigo Denim Wedges: Sogo Department Store

Gray Cropped Harem Trousers

2009-07-30T09:03:00.012-04:00

The 80's harem pants has been making a comeback this Summer, thanks to all the amazing outfit photos inside the spreads of Japanese fashion magazines. I am jumping on the trend with a gray, cropped, trousers version. The light weight trousers fabric and the crop length means this is airy/breezy enough for the Summer. I love that I can just throw on a simple graphic T and a favorite pair of heels with these crop trousers and be ready for a date or just out and about. So tell me, are you digging this trend?

Cardi: boutique on Belmont St., Chicago
Cami: local boutique
Crop Trousers: local boutique
Indigo Wedges: Sogo Department

Top: Banana Republic from years ago
Crop Trousers: local boutique
Indigo Wedges: Sogo Department

Shopping Diary + 3-inch Mini Burgers

2009-07-24T10:02:00.003-04:00

Hello I'm back... to do a quick post on my most recent quilty pleasures.. and to keep you entertained until I find time to do more outfit posts :-)

This is one of my favorite areas to shop in the city. Photo captures only a corner of a street, which is actually part of a large night market. I often come here to scour the boutiques for trendy Korean, Taiwanese clothing for myself. Safe to say that I never leave empty handed.

These skinny capris fit me like a glove and are so comfy. The fit is actually like wearing crop leggings, only they're a thicker, super stretchy cotton fabric. I thought these would go with a few tunics already in my closet, and my gladiator heels. I can't go wrong with a black and a gray.

I love this strawberry with a hidden shopping bag! At first glance, it's just a big fabric strawberry shaped approx. 5" x 4" But after you loosen the drawstring on it, you can pull out a reusable nylon shopping/grocery bag. How clever and convenient is that! I'm going to keep it in my tote and bring it everywhere I go.

Every once in a while someone would invent a new street food and introduce it to the public at a night market in hopes of cashing it in. The latest comer to the night market : 3-inch mini burders. These are touted as the smallest burgers at 3 inches each...comes in several different flavors depending on the meat of your choice. I tried a chicken mini (can't remember the exact name), it was too much mayo though.

[SOLD] Diamond Sewn One Shoulder Tunic Mini Dress

2009-07-18T00:12:00.002-04:00

This is the exact same tunic mini dress (shown here in orange) as the one worn by me in my last post. I just had to get one for myself also when I saw it on the display shelf. This available in both colors - black or orange.

This is a boatneck style (so expect to show off your beautiful toned shoulder), has grecian asymmetrical length sleeves, one sleeve is accented with sewn-on faux diamonds (I absolutley love love love this part of the dress!) This can be worn either as a mini dress if you're petite, or as a tunic top. It can be easily dressed up with a long necklace, or a low waist belt with short shorts.

Details:

Color: Black, or Orange (be sure you let me know which color you want)
Sizing: Fits US Women XS, S
Cotton (fabric stretchy)
Measurements taken laying flat unstretched (in inches): Total Length (shoulder to hem)29.50, Bust (pit to pit) 22" stretches to fit up to 37" bust, Waist 19", Hip 18.25" best for up to 36" hip, Sleeve Length 8"
Condition: Brand new without tag.
Price: USD$24
Shipping (worldwide): $5
Please note that payment is accepted via PayPal only. Item ships the next day payment is received unless it's the weekends or a public holiday.

Please send all inquiries to chitown5445@yahoo.com

First to contact me wins!
And click click click on the photos for detail view.

Diamond Sewn One Shoulder Mini Dress

2009-07-16T05:25:00.001-04:00

Hubby took these photos of me on Monday after we just had dinner at this shopping center and were walking to the night market nearby. The flipflops were my favorite walking shoes, especially on a shopping expedition. Hubby complimented on my dress but didn't like the flipflops so much... but hey a girl needs to shop without hurting her feet!

Mini Dress: local boutique
Pink Tote: local boutique
Flipflops: Old Navy
Necklace: Mom's

Retro High Waist Denim Skirt

2009-07-15T09:19:00.003-04:00

I really enjoy the limitless pairings made possible by this High Waist Denim Skirt. For a long time I wasn't sure what best to wear with an Ivory Banana Republic Dolman Top purchased years ago. But now problem solved!

Top: Banana Republic from years ago
Skirt: Ganguro Fashion Store
Navy Polka Dot Wedges: local boutique
Necklaces: Mom's

Cascading Ruffle

2009-07-14T06:55:00.001-04:00

Top: Sweet Pea from years ago
Denim Short Shorts: local boutique
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby
Chunky Necklace: Mom's

Pretty Straps for the Bra!

2009-07-11T04:41:00.016-04:00

I love a feminine strapless mini dress or an off shoulder top in Summer, but I am not a fan of strapless bras (they lack enough support) and absolutely 100% will NOT be caught showing the straps of my most intimate wear (my bra that is). Well, the person who invented these removable/detachable/cute (not sure the right words to use)bra straps must be a genius. They are in my opinion a better improvement than the transparent/clear plastic straps (unless you like feeling plastic on your skin).

These come in an assortment of fabrics, colors, and patterns. There's leopard print, solids with faux diamonds, geometric, plaid, and even lace. I have the support my bra needs, and I get to flaunt these pretty straps (people think you're wearing a nice cami underneath your dress..hehe).

If any of you are interested in purchasing, please don't hesitate to ask me.

UPDATE: these convertible bra straps all come in pairs. (meaning two straps per set) You can wear both straps like you normally would with a conventional bra, or you can make use of just one single strap to wrap it around your neck. If you're interested in a particular pair (please choose from the limited photos I have), let me know. You can choose from:

1st photo - jeans silver, jeans gold, B silver, B gold

3rd photo - square diamond zebra, square diamond brown leopard, square diamond gray leopard, chain link diamond zebra, chain link diamond brown leopard, chain link diamond gray leopard.

4th photo - rhinstones solid (please choose from the available colors shown)

Yellow Butterfly

2009-07-09T21:18:00.001-04:00

I find the big sleeves (kimono sleeves, dolman sleeves) styles irrisistible. They are feminine, dramatic enough for my taste.

Butter Yellow Chiffon Poet Butterfly Sleeves Top: local boutique
Navy Lace Layering Halter Cami: gift from friend
Denim Short Shorts: local boutique
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

The top is a plunging deep v neckline so I layered it with my favorite layering cami. Since it's a tunic length top, I thought it best to match it with a pair of short shorts. Trying hard to put on a seductive face during the photo shoot, hehe..

Draped in Floral

2009-07-08T22:28:00.014-04:00

If you recall, I had previously blogged that I would make an outfit out of a violet cotton tank top and a floral shawl scarf. Well..here it is!

Violet Cotton Tank: local boutique
Floral Shawl Scarf: local boutique
Denim short shorts: local boutique

Very simple! The tank is layered under the scarf. The light-weight scarf was loosely draped over my shoulder with the help of a safety pin (to keep it in place).

What are your thoughts on the look?

Denim High Waist Mini Skirt

2009-07-07T23:49:00.010-04:00

Top: local boutique
High Waist Mini Skirt: Our very own Ganguro Fashion Store
Indigo Blue Wedges: Sogo Department Store
Necklace: Mom's

[SALE] Dark Navy Ruffle Flutter Asym Mini Dress

2009-07-06T12:12:00.004-04:00

Just in, gorgeous dark navy ruffle flutter mini dress! I love love love that the ruffles of this dress are beautifuly layered on the sides (from armpit down to the lower waist) as opposed to ruffles being piled right on the front like most other designs are. The short flutter cap sleeves are cute, and the asymmetrical dress hem (the front end being slightly shorter than the back end)is sassy. Just how gorgeous is that! The fabric is stretchy, and super soft (perfect for the hot Summer days). Would be absolutely amazing with a pair of metallic (either gold or silver) strappy sandals or bandaged heels/gladiator heels! This is a versatile mini dress that you can really have fun with, by adding a belt at the hip, by wearing it as a tunic top with short shorts, by adding a long necklace or two, etc.... perhaps you have a new way to make it your own (I'd love to hear).

Details on the dress:

Sizing: Fits US Women XS, 0, or 2
Cotton (fabric very stretchy)
Measurements taken laying flat unstretched (in inches): Total Length (shoulder to hem) asym length 26.50" at front /28.50" at back, Bust (pit to pit) 15.50" stretches to fit up to 35" bust, Hip 20" best for up to 36" hip
Condition: Brand new with tag.
Made in Korea
Price: USD$31
Shipping (worldwide): $6
Please note that payment is accepted via PayPal only. Item ships the next day payment is received unless it's the weekends or a public holiday.

Please send all inquiries to chitown5445@yahoo.com

First to contact me wins!
And click click click on the photos for detail view.

Old Favorite: Banana Republic Lace Trim Tunic Top

2009-06-30T11:53:00.005-04:00

Black Lace Trim Tunic Top: Banana Republic from ages ago
Black Short Skirt: Express skirt altered
Long Necklace: Mom's
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

This is a look that's a bit more mature, more wamanly than my day-to-day casual/laid-back style. (Except for the shoes .. hehe) I am not sure if this look really is working for me. What do you all think?

Silver Gray Chiffon Mini Dress

2009-06-29T10:11:00.004-04:00

Chiffon is great for the Summer, light and airy. I picked out this Silver Gray Grecian Chiffon Mini Dress from my very own Ganguro Fashion Store, and piled on a few necklaces, and completed the look with ivory wedge sandals. (a more dramatic black heels such as one of those bandaged sandals would probably up the look even more, which means I neeeed new shoes!!!!!)

Ivory Double Deep V Lace Ruffle Top

2009-06-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

I can't get enough of Summer tops with ruffle neckline. This ivory number has a deep v neckline both frot and back, so feminine! And the neckline ruffle is made of lace, so romantic!

Ivory Double Deep V Lace Ruffle Top: local boutique
Denim Short Shorts: local boutique
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

Tie-Dye Off Shoulder Ruffle Top

2009-06-27T05:59:00.001-04:00

A girl I had seen wearing a smilar style ruffle top at the night market inspired me to put together this outfit. The grayish blue tie-dye color is unique and right on trend, while the neckline's built-in elasticity gives me the option of wearing the top either on the shoulder or off. I prefer the off shoulder look, it's more feminine, sexier I guess.

This off shoulder ruffle top would be equally stylish paired with denim short shorts or a mini skirt. I chose black skinny pants and gray patent pumps to complete the look here. Thoughts?

Tie-Dye Off Shoulder Ruffle Top: local boutique
Black Skinny Pants: local boutique
Gray Patent Pumps: local boutique

Shopping Diary: Purple Cotton Tank + Violet Floral Fringe Shawl

2009-06-24T11:00:00.022-04:00

The Jing-Ming shopping district, a 20-minute walk from our apartment, is one of my favorite areas of the city. I headed over there on Monday in search of a simple tank top that I desperately needed to match a violet floral shawl puchased just a day earlier. I also thought I'd surprise hubby on his way out of his work place because the office building he works at is across from where I'd be shopping ^^

As usual I made the rounds on my favorite boutiques there. I finally was able to find a purple cotton tank that I think quite matches the floral scarf. It's in another of my favorite store called "Uncle Sam". Uncle Sam specializes in American College/Teen style type of wear. A&E, Hollister, etc are just a few of the imported labels sold there.

I got this idea of an outfit consisted of a floral fringe shawl + a simple tank + capris from a television show. I totally digged the look as soon as I saw that look on TV, it made me want to copy the look. I'm happy that I have acquired all the pieces needed to achieve the look. I hope to present an outfit post on the look very soon! So stay tuned!

Uncle Sam
Super soft purple cotton tank
Violet Floral Fringe Shawl purchased earlier on
And I leave you with photos from our Sunday lunch at a steak house. Where's the steak, you ask. Well, I was too hungry to take a photo of it!! But the steak house offers a buffet style salad bar. Yum..

Noodle salad (topped with sliced cucumber & carrots, with ground peanuts & drizzled with peanut sauce):
Steamed buns:
Sesame steamed bun:
Rice congee - the traditional Chinese breakfast food. Served with a side of sliced sausages and a side of salted peanuts.

[SOLD] Ivory Draped Lace Chiffon Sleeves Top

2009-06-19T00:04:00.003-04:00

I didn't expect Chiffon Floral Ruffle Tier Mini Dress and Light Apricot Ruffle Button Down Chiffon Top to sell this quickly. Ebay has always been my only choice of platform, and they were the first two items to be sold via the blog format. I'm very happy that people are actually paying attention to this blog.. yay! Well, I am offering up another item for you all blog fashionistas. This Ivory Draped Lace Chiffon Sleeves Top is feminine, romantic, very lady-like, quite different from what some of you may be used to seeing over at my webstore. This reason and the fact that there's only ONE prompts me to put it in a blog format. It's beautiful all on its own, with the almond draped lace detail at front, plus the chiffon flutter sleeves. Would look gorgeous with Summer short shorts, or your favorite denim jeans. Click click click on the photos to see the beauty up close. (it was quite difficult capturing ivory on white. Shirt is even prettier in person)

Details on the shirt:

Sizing: Fits US Women XS, 0, or 2
Cotton (fabric stretchy)
Measurements taken laying flat unstretched (in inches): Total Length (shoulder to hem) 23", Bust (pit to pit) 13" stretches to fit up to 35" bust
Condition: Brand new w/o tag. Never worn.
Price: USD$19
Shipping (worldwide, takes approx 7 business days in transit): $5
Please note that payment is accepted via PayPal only. Item ships the next day payment is received unless it's the weekends or a public holiday.

As always please direct all questions or request more photos at chitown5445@yahoo.com

Going Casual Romantic + Cheap Eats

2009-06-18T02:30:00.006-04:00

Muave Pink Butterfly Sleeeves Top: local Korean boutique
Black Nautical Short Shorts: my very own "Ganguro Fashion Store"

This was my dinner outfit this weekend to a BBQ restaurant. I was looking for something fun, more dramatic, yet still feminine when I purchased this butterfly sleeves top. Hmm...blue denim shorts probably would work better with this top than these black ones...I'll just have to experiment.

We went to this small, very modest BBQ restaurant. Their small menu consists of a number of set meals. Your choice of meat always comes served on this big plate, with egg covered white rice, stir fried cabbage, a side of potato salad, and dipping sauce for the BBQ meat. And all this for less than USD$3!!! No wonder the place is always packed with students from nearby university.

Ivory Poet Sleeve Top + Super Short Shorts

2009-06-17T07:26:00.015-04:00

Ivory Poet Sleeve Chiffon Top: local Korean boutique
Black Short Shorts: my very own "Ganguro Fashion Store"
Ivory Wedge Sandals: gift from hubby

I felt very much like a model as hubby shoots away at this photo session. He also gave me a few pointers on how to pose. I hope the kneeling on the floor pose is not too overboard for the style. Do you think the poses were too overboard? What do you think of the outfit?

Cobalt Blue Sleeveless Jumpsuit

2009-06-15T11:07:00.011-04:00

Some nice, clean, clear photos of myself at last! Kisses + kisses to my photographer hobby for taking the photos. He's under lots of workload already without me. Here I'm wearing a cobalt blue jumpsuit/romper that I picked out from my own webstore! Love that the bright blue hue brightens up my skin tone, the fact that it's a clean-cut sleeveless style, and also the cute side kanga pockets. And the ivory wedge sandals that gives me a 3-inches boost is gift from hubby. What do you all think? Do you like how I was wearing it?

Shopping Diary: Muave Pink Butterfly Top + Earrings Haul

2009-06-11T06:15:00.023-04:00

I've discovered a new favorite boutique. It's in the shopping center (near the night market) that I told you about a few posts earlier. The name is "ViVi". A few times I passed through this boutique, it looked too crowded with shoppers that I decided against going in there for the ladies' elbow war. Now that I've seen the cute stuff on their racks, I know I'll be back for sure. This is what I got: a muave pink geisha/butterfly sleeves top. I love the oversize butterfly sleeves, the nude shade, and how well it goes with a pair of denim jeans. I haven't worn this top yet, hence the lack of a photo to show you how feminine and romantic this top truely really is. But you'll see me in this top soon as I can't wait to put this on for a date with hubby.

I also ventured into the night market for a little treasure hunting. A low-price accessory store had these earrings on sale. Wow..on sale items at a low-price store... we're talking low low low pricing! I snatched 3 pairs which cost less than the 3+ hrs parking. Not too thrilled about paying for parking fees while shopping, but glad I did find something I like.

Lunch Date with Hubby & Solo Mall Trip

2009-06-10T11:12:00.048-04:00

Hubby and I did this Monday lunch date which is rare because he's too busy on most days. It's such a nice surprise considering I was given only 20 min to get ready and didn't know where we were headed until halfway there. He picked this popular Japanese restaurant that has been around some 20 years, that I've wanted to try and has been begging him to take me to.... he's so sweet! Well, here they are... be warned of some serious food spam LOL.

The restaurant entrance:
Just one of many fake foods greeting us at the display window next to the entrance:
Inside the restaurant, a small area for waiting customers:
The menu with 3D photos of exactly what you'd be getting:
Hubby ordered this set. The name of the fish I couln't say because I don't know the English name for it. Though it's one of my favorite fish dishes.
I had the miso glazed cod set.
Ordered a stir fried veggie, too.
One of the side dishes from our sets. I love that black stuff (beans?), they're said to be very healthy, too!
Hubby's fish:
My miso glazed cod:
After the meal, I took a solo trip to a mall nearby and hubby went home to his work.
The mall houses a bookstore I love because of its unique decor and shape. Notice how the bookshelves in the middle were circular. There're stairs that lead to different floors.
Here's SLY. I believe this is the only SLY location in the city.
This is a mall with thoughtfulness built-in. There're couches and places to sit wherever you go inside the mall.
I don't know why I was all excited the first time I realized I could also get Dunkin' Donuts in Taiwan. The mall location is the only Dunkin' Donuts store in the city. I had to get some.
Some of the offerings on this side of the Pacific are different from what I was used to in the US.
And finally...a quick snap of my outfit on this day.

2000 Ebay Feedbacks Reached!

2009-06-04T08:57:00.010-04:00

As I focus on the day to day webstore logistics from sourcing to shipping the clothes, the number of ebay feedbacks is often the furthest from my mind. But today marks the day my webstore garners its 2000th feeback rating...woohoo! It's not a big number, and it's quite a lot of work and time invested (alsmot 4 years now to be exact), patience, persistence, a few personal sacrifices here and there. Most importantly, without my fellow fashionistas I wouldn't be here. So thank you thank you to all who have shopped at "Ganguro Fashion Store"! Winly, Kathy, Aneta, Rony, Stephy, Vicki, Felix, Jerrilyn, Angela, Jennelyn, and many more (there's so many of you regulars so forgive me if I forget to mention you), thank you all so much for being the constant support and please leave a comment if you can to let me know you're reading this blog as well. You don't have to, but it would totally make my day!

Here's to 2000! And this is for ya all.

Shopping Diary: Night Market Earrings & Bangles Haul

2009-06-03T11:09:00.014-04:00

I went to the night market on Sunday, in search of a nice pair of short shorts. I really want one right now. It would have to go with all the Summer tops I own. But I ended up buying a set of earrings and too many bangles.
This is a shopping center at the night market. Inside are lots of small boutiques. This is one of my favorite places to shop in the city. All the nice boutiques are concentrated here and housed under one roof, so convenient! You'll hear more details on a few of my favorite boutiques soon, I promise!

Jenny in Town

2009-06-02T11:47:00.018-04:00

This past Thursday was the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, which is celebrated by the Taiwanese. Everyone got a 4-day long weekend off. Jenny, one of a few high school friends I still keep in touch came into town to visit. For two days, hubby was nice enough to drive us around and took us sightseeing around the city. The weather was soooo unbearably hot over the weekend, which is the norm for this time of year. But it was nice hosting Jenny and seeing areas of the city that I've not been to.

The Harajuku of Taiwan:I-Chung Street! Have you seen this many people on the street!!
I-Chung Street is packed with street snacks popular with the young crowd. My favorite is a whole baked potato w/ meat (vegie) of your choice topped with melted cheese!! Yum!
We also toured Brand's museum (Brand's as in Brand's Chicken Essence). They've got a pretty huge factory here.. hmmm looks like their chicken essence is in demand here because people over here work very hard.
We chilled with some bubble tea at a tea house just before Jenny took off by high speed rail.
Here's a quick snap of my outfit in the lady's room at a deparment store. Sorry for the covered face. (I'm really not good at taking photos of myself.) I promise to do better next time ^^

Explorers to Taiwan Wanted

2009-05-28T02:31:00.007-04:00

Here's good news to those of you planning a trip to Taiwan this Summer. The Tourism Bureau of Taiwan is hosting a contest to give away USD$225 daily for each day you're touring on this island during a 4-day trip. And you get a shot at USD$25,000 if you can beat out all the other contestants. And your chances are better if you're already a savvy blogger and are good with editing videos, and also know how to have fun! Click image below for rules to enter.

Shopping Diary: Peachy Pink Checker Ruffle Top

2009-05-27T11:00:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd let you all in on the fun I have shopping in Taiwan. Going back a few years, Gap/Express/Banana Republic used to be where I satisfy my shopping cravings. But being an Asian girl, shopping in Taipei should be way more fun than the malls in the States, right? I'll attempt to blog more about the many fantastic boutiques and shops I go here, while at the same time trying not go broke..ha!

"Chocolate", conveniently located near hubby's work place, is a clothing boutique specializing in Korea imports. Here's a view of the strip mall nearby. This is one of my favorite areas of the city because of the strip mall.

The storefront with its display window: This is what I got a few weeks ago from there. A very romantic peachy pink checker ruffle top. "Chocolate" tend to stock very feminine, very girly, semi-formal pieces, mostly from Korea. I paired the top with a pair of denim short shorts from my own eBay store. I'm carrying a Powder Pink Bowtie Dumpling Tote. And you're not seeing my feet because I had on my flipflops coz I was intending to walk a lot and do some shopping - a pair of high heels/wedges would have been a better choice for my look.

Hidden Boutiques & Shops

2009-05-25T10:43:00.014-04:00

I came upon these two different stores while shopping for a pair of shorts for myself over the weekend. I couldn't resist taking photos of their store fronts! Both are examples of how scarce(expensive) the retail space is on the streets of Taiwan. The first is a tiny (barely there because it's so small) accessory shop nestled between two buildings. There looks to be a stairway that leads to a 2ed floor, which I think houses a hair salon. The space down those staircase is so tiny that only 3 or 4 people could remain inside at a time. But the store offers some of the prettiest selections of hair clips, necklaces, bracelets in the city though.

The second one was even easier to miss! I think I mistook the metal cage for a decor effect/decoration of some sort when I walked by several times in the past. The cage was right there on the pedestrian sidewalk, in front of a tea shop. Then out of nowhere, this girl emerged from a staircase beneath the metal cage. So I walked in the cage and down the staircase, and discovered a very cozy, very fashionable clothing boutique. The name of the boutique is "blush", the cage is there to draw you in, and the tea shop where the cage stood is appropriately named "ZOO".

View from the Window

2009-05-25T09:37:00.007-04:00

This is the view from our apartment window. I took this on Saturday while waiting for hubby to come home.....

Head Home

2009-05-24T09:07:00.008-04:00

Hubby had to be out of town for another photo call with this friends all day. He left home at 6:30 am. I couldn't sleep anymore after being woken up by the alarm at 6. So I decided to get up and head home to my parents' house. I grabbed one of those ready-to-go sandwiches from Laya Breakfast, then hit the highway for the 30 min drive home.

[SOLD]: Light Apricot Ruffle Button Down Chiffon Top

2009-05-19T01:12:00.003-04:00

Up next for your shopping pleasure and also previously featured in a Ganguro Find post is this Light Apricot Ruffle Button Down Chiffon Top.

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles! It's what brings volumn/drama to this unique top. This would be gorgeous with denim shorts or just any shorts you already have lying in your closet. Or it can be dressed up with skinny pencil skirt and heels for work. (Can you already see the potential it has!) Note that the back side is plain with no ruffles except for the ruffled collar, hence the back is sheer. A like-color layering cami is recommanded, unless you put on a really pretty bra underneath.

Another way to make this top work for the office, is to wear a light-weight cardi over this. Be sure to unbutton the cardi and let the ruffles show. Denim pants would go perfectly with this top also. Details on the shirt:

Sizing: Fits US Women XS, 0, or 2
Chiffon, no stretch
Measurements taken laying flat unstretched (in inches): Total Length (shoulder to hem) 21.25", Bust (pit to pit) 16"
Condition: Brand new w/o tag. Never worn.
Price: USD$22
Shipping (worldwide, takes approx 7 business days in transit): $5
Please note that payment is accepted via PayPal only. Item ships the next day payment is received unless it's the weekends or a public holiday.

That's it! The only two items being sold in blog format! First person to contact me and complete payment wins! Contact me at chitown5445@yahoo.com or by commenting.

CLICK CLICK CLICK on the image for an enlarged view. You'll see better how pretty it really is.

[SOLD]: Chiffon Floral Ruffle Tier Mini Dress

2009-05-18T06:05:00.004-04:00

Fellow fashionistas, you are going to like what's coming up! Woohoo!! This darling mini dress/tunic was just featured in an earlier post. And it has been chosen to be the first item to be put on sale in the blog format!! I'm super pysched! This was purchased for USD$40 from a Korean clothing boutique in Taipei. It's the only one available. So don't ask me if I can get another. Here're the details on this super gorgeous tunic/mini dress:

Sizing: Fits US XS, 0, or 2
Measurements taken laying flat unstretched (inches): Total Length (shoulder to hem)29", Bust (pit to pit) 14.50", there's no restriction at the hip area
(Built-in elasticity at the empire waist seam, other than that this has no stretch as it's made of chiffon. )
Condition: Brand new w/o tag, Never worn.
Price: $22
Shipping: (any worldwide destination, estimated transit 7 business days): $5
Please note that payment is accepted via PayPal only. Item ships the next day payment is received unless it's the weekends or a public holiday.

Please please click on the image of the dress for the enlarged view!! It's toooo gorgeous!　I would have put up a larger photo if not for the constraints set by this blogspot template. If you need additional photos, please don't hesitate to shoot me a line at chitown5445@yahoo.com. Or you can ask by commenting.

Japanese Kawaii Stationary

2009-05-14T05:12:00.020-04:00

My friend whose family runs a toy & stationary store gave me these super cute/creative/kawaii/..(dunno if there's a word for them) gifts!! You wouldn't believe what some of these cute things actually are!! I'm addicted to these wacky, strange stationaries now, I think I need to go shopping for some more this weekend.

Put some clothes on your key before you leave house with these cute key covers. They are made of rubber, with tiny openings at the sides so that you can insert your key in it:
Hungry, yes? Chocolate covered waffle cookie! No, it's a fluid corrector!!
Delish cake-shaped candles! Makes for nice B Day presents, too! Hope they smell as nice as they look.
And don't swallow these vitamin pills just yet... they are erasers!!

Video of Jolin's May 09 Concert

2009-05-13T02:18:00.002-04:00

Here's a short clip of the Jolin concert I went on Saturday. It would have been nice if I left the camera on longer, but I was too far away from the stage and I am too short. My feet and arms were sore from having to hold the camara high enough to shoot.

Jolin Concert + Cow Parade in My Neighborhood

2009-05-12T11:48:00.031-04:00

Hubby armed with his DSLR, and I with my Canon G7 went to the free outdoor Jolin concert at the nearby Citizen Square on Saturday. (For those who don't know, Jolin is probably THE hottest pop songtress in Taiwan.) In fact, this was my first concert in Taiwan! I'd never been into Mandarin pop much. But hubby is a fan of Jolin. She is his favorite when he goes to KTVs. I enjoyed the show very much because I was with hubby LOL.

We got to the concert venue late in the afternoon, 2 hours in advance. Hubby wanted to claim a good spot at the park so that he can capture photos from a good angle. But I got hungry while waiting so we ended up waiting at a long line to get Indian food from a vendor. We weren't able to get really close to the stage by the time we finished our food.

I also took time to take photos of the concert venue and its surrounding area while waiting for the show to begin.

A view of the concert stage from afar:
The stage just prior to the show:
The media: At one of the sponsor tents, hot young show girls show off Yamaha's new scooters:
Jolin finally opened the show at around 7 in the evening. This is Jolin singing and sitting on a butterfly theme chair in mid-air. She would be shuttled by the chair from one end of the stage to the other in mid-air. Hmm..not very impressed with her shoes in this photo though.
She's wearing a gold shimmering bubble cape mini dress at the opening of the show:
And some photos of the cow parade which recently just moved into our city from a finished tour in Taipei. These cows are adjacent to the Citizen Square right by a shopping center.
Food porn!!! Hubby took me to TGI Friday's on Mother's Day.

Breakfast from Laya

2009-05-07T07:44:00.021-04:00

For as long as I could remember, my mom never made breakfast in the morning ... nope, not once. Actually the few times she did was because the weather out was so bad like a typhoon passing through or such. That leads me to think that probably the only family that still makes their own breakfast on this whole island is my BFF Sherry & her family. This is all due to the convenience of living on this island named Taiwan. The breakfast take-out business is a multi-billion dollar industry on this island. Everyone is either too busy (or too lazy ^^) to prepare and eat their own breakfast at home, hence the mushrooming of breakfast parlors on every corner of streets. From private mom & pop breakfast vendors selling steamed buns & soybean milk to big name breakfast chains with Western style taste, there's endless choices to rotate from. It's said that Taiwan has the most number of breakfast parlors (and tea stands! More on that later) per square mile than any other place in the world.

This place called Laya Breafast just recently opened near our apartment. They make the best take-out sandwiches & burgers. (Taiwanese tend to eat Western style for breakast then go on to have bento & Chinese foods for lunch/dinner. I'm not sure why. But who cares as long as the food is good.)

Just reading their menu on the wall is enough to make my mouth water....

This was my breakfast from Laya on Tuesday: a tuna salad burger and a cup of fruit tea. Yum yum!

You're supposed to eat the burder with the half-open paper wrap it came with. Neat huh?

Ganguro Spotlight: Camouflage Romper

2009-05-01T21:53:00.009-04:00

In the spotlight today is this super adorable camouflage romper! Normally camouflage print gives off a tough, macho vibe, but this romper is surprisingly girly in an unique way when tried on. It has super stretchy elasticity built in at the bust and waist for an amazing fit. And it also comes with detachable/adjustable shoulder straps. I also love how the camouflage print really compliments my fare skin tone :-) It will be hard for its colorful print and the gorgeous fit to not draw any attention on a sunny day!

Click on photo for more view.

Morimoto Bakery

2009-04-30T09:08:00.031-04:00

Last night I stopped by the Morimoto Bakery at a local Capitan supermarket to pick up some bread for breakfast for this morning. Capitan supermarket is a Japanese/Taiwanese joint venture that owns urban medium-sized supermarkets throughout the island. Capitan supermarket is not only complete with a produce section, a deli, the dairy, etc, it also has a sushi-to-go section and a large area devoted to ready-to-eat foods such as curry, salads, roasted chicken, and much much more...just the thought of their hot foods section is enough to make me drool already..argh..

But most popular of all is their bakery shop - the Morimoto Bakery. I was there last night past 9 o'clock. But look at the long line at checkout! I love the breads here in Taiwan, they are more chewy, and come in more variety of flavors than in the States. I normally eat only bread and milk for breakfast 3 days a week. My diet now is so much different than while I was still living in the States, heathier I think. Capitan is just one of several places to get convenient, yet still heathy meals.

Capitan supermarket:

Morimoto Bakery inside Capitan supermarket:

A view of the Sushi section:
Here're what I got from Morimoto...arghh I'm hungry again.

Ganguro Spotlight: Tomato Red Race Car Inspire Romper

2009-04-25T04:34:00.006-04:00

Summer is near. And if you've got great legs, my advice is to show them! A romper can be a refreshing alternative to a mini dress. Among the many romper choices that I have been fortunate enough to come across, this "Tomato Red Race Car Inspire Romper" definitely stands out as unique & chic. The race car theme is especially creative, and the red hue gives it the extra energy - it's a very lively, very different outfit! Gold charm zipper zips at front down to the banded/elasticized waist. Cute kanga pockets. Pair with sandal heels for maximum gorgeousness!

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Find: Light Apricot Ruffles Cap Sleeve Top

2009-04-20T03:05:00.001-04:00

One trend that has emerged this Spring season is the "ruffles". This "Light Apricot Ruffles Cap Sleeve Top" illustrates how layers of ruffles unexpectedly transforms an otherwise plain chiffon cap sleeve button down into a romantic & sophisticated piece. Back has no ruffles and is slightly sheer, so a light-color cami/tank is suggested underneath. The button-down style makes this top serious enough for work paired with a basic pencil skirt. For a more relaxed look, pair this with tan khaki cuffed shorts (or cutoff denim shorts).

Sophisca: Candy for Your Eyes

2009-04-18T03:38:00.000-04:00

I was strolling at a busy section of downtown when I stumbled upon a fun candy & gift shop, called "Sophisca". The store's all-pink decor, bright lights, and glass shelves full of sweets & gifts provide a really unique/pleasant atmosphere for shopping sweets and chocolates. It's easy to see why the store is constantly buzzing with giddy high school girls looking to find that perfect gift/sweets. Here're just a few of the coolest offerings in store:

Both my three and six year-old nephews were so blown away by the Marshmallow French Fries and the Band-Aid candies.

My three year-old nephew even thought I was giving him real fries from McDonald's until he tried one. Need a Band-Aid? I love the mint flavor! It has all the nutrition info on the back of the wrapping, too. And here's the perfect grown-up gift. My favorite flavor, chocolate! Tagline on the box says "cholocate is better than sex", huh! And how about a lunch box full of sushi shaped candies? The cool thing is you can eat these candies with chopsticks!!

Ganguro Find: Spring Floral Chiffon Mini Dress

2009-04-17T04:14:00.001-04:00

This airy, gorgeous floral mini dress is sure to wow him on a date! Floral is a Spring staple, and combined with chiffon, some ruffles creates the most romantic, most feminine piece. Dress is a babydoll style, with red florals set against muave backdrop. Beautiful ruffles - this season's hottest trend - is seen at the deep neckline and tiered skirt hem. A cami/tank is suggested for layering under the dress.

Ganguro Find: Powder Pink Dumpling Satchel

2009-04-16T06:20:00.000-04:00

If there's one accessory that you should never leave home without this Spring(besides the cell phone), it has to be this "Powder Pink Dumpling Satchel". Pink is the hottest hue this Spring season, and the feminine tone goes with just about any color wardrobe. (I know because I don't usually wear pink but carry pink handbags for a splash of color.) The gorgeous satchel is shaped like a dumpling as it has pleats right on the front (topped off with a girly bowtie) and has a wider top than bottom. Now this bag maybe doesn't fit an A4 size magazine, but it's roomy enough for tons of makeup and a little something else. It's made of sturdy patent leather, and comes with long shoulder straps for wearing over the shoulder if your hands are full. And at $29.99, who needs BagBorrowOrSteal!!

Ganguro Find: Almond Boho Chiffon Bubble Tunic

2009-04-10T01:55:00.000-04:00

I've always loved fashion from the 70s era. And this "Almond Boho Chiffon Bubble Tunic" evokes just that hippie, romantic feeling with its airy chiffon and tier lace front. The gorgeous bubble poet sleeves and double-layer flare bodice would also work to hide those chubby arms/tummy. To achieve a modern-day hippie look or what I'd prefer to call bohemian sexy, layer a super mini denim skirt/shorts underneath this tunic. The key here is the denim mini skirt/shorts must be extremely short to create boho sexy. A few long necklaces and a pair of wooden sandals work to complete the look.

Partying on A Yacht: VIP only

2009-04-01T04:32:00.000-04:00

When hubby suggested we celebrate his birthday by going clubbing on a yacht, I was so overjoyed with excitement. I thought here's my chance to show off my new ivory eyelet mini dress on the dance floor..ha! And plus I'd never partied on a yacht (or more accurately never been on a yacht) before, I thought this will be exciting!

The yacht party was an organized event and must be reserved days ahead. We arrived at Tansui Saturday evening and boarded the yacht by the river. Admission is $35 per person, cocktails are all free. And the DJ spun good tracks and hosted a great show. There must have been about a hundred party goers that night on the yacht. The riverside and yacht setting offered a different backdrop/mood for the party, unlike anything I've experienced in a regular club. It's definitely a memorable experience for me. Here're photos hubby snatched:

Miramar Mall

2009-03-26T10:39:00.000-04:00

Hubby had to photograph a wedding in Taipei this past weekend. So he brought me along for his trip so that we could enjoy some time together in Taipei after he finishes work. He worked all day Saturday and I was so happy when we finally could check into a motel and head out to dinner. On Sunday, we visited the Miramar Mall, which has this giant ferry ride on the top of the mall. Since opening, Miramar Mall has been the favorite dating spot for couples in Taipei because of the ferry ride. We both didn't feel particularly in the mood for shopping on that day so we had a little fun at the mall's arcade. Normally I'm not a video game person, but this arcade offers up many choices besides video games. Oh I love bowling! This is fun! Want an electronic horse ride? How about a little drum playing? Hubby's totally into violet gun shooting. And we sang karaoke in a private booth. With the touch of a few buttons, the KTV booth gives you and a friend enough space to rewind and relax for cheaper.

Sushi Express

2009-03-25T10:54:00.001-04:00

When I was still a girl, Sushi just wasn't my favorite dish on our table no matter how hard my parents tried to convince me otherwise. Maybe it's because it's raw? Plus the taste of wasabi in your mounth is probably too overwhelming for a child.

During college I started to warm up to raw fish by taking on Terriyaki, Sushi, then finally Sashimi, and in the process discovered some excellent Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Ha.. just an example of how life-changing college was for me!! Sushi has been one of my favorite foods in the world ever since. And the restaurant chain "Sushi Express" here in Taiwan is simply Sushi heaven for me!

At Sushi Express, freshly made Sushi on small yellow plates are rotated around the Sushi bar on a moving belt. Delicious, ready to eat Sushi is only an arm's length away on the rotating belt for every customer. Menu, soy Sauce, wasabi, napkins, chopsticks, and tea bags are already all set on the table when a customer is seated. A tap (serving hot water) is also right there on the table for you to make yourself a cup of green tea. Each plate of Sushi costs 1USD, and the waiter only need to count the number of plates on your table to determine the check total. It's fast, delicious, and relatively cheaper than the Japanese restaurants in the States. Yum!

CowParade in Taipei

2009-03-18T05:15:00.001-04:00

What better time to welcome the CowParade to Taipei than the Year of the Boar!! The CowParade, the world's largest public art event, is currently also going on in Hong Kong, and Madrid. CowParade first debuted in 1999 in Chicago (I was there, too :-) which is why I'm so glad it's finally coming to Taipei) Over 50 cities worldwide has hosted the event since.

The cows on display are created by local city/country artists. It's amazing seeing how the locally created cows reflect the different culture, histories of their respective cities.

Below is a close-up of a cow appropriately named "night market cow". The Taipei CowParade runs Feb 03 - March 31.

Cosplay Photo Shoot

2009-03-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

I had never witnessed cosplay in person, so I was thrilled to join hubby on this particular photo shoot. This time I was asked to help Wendy, our cosplay model, with her makeup. The photo shoot took place outdoor in a park. I'm surprised how dreamy Wendy looks in the photos. Can you guess which character she was trying to emulate?

Outdoor Photo Shoot and Mini Dress

2009-03-12T05:54:00.000-04:00

I love tagging along on hubby's photo projects, especially one that I could put my style savvy to use - helping dress the client. Jessica and her boyfriend, Jake, both still high school seniors, wanted to do an outdoor couple's photo shoot. Hubby asked me to help dress/accessorize Jessica for this shoot. Jessica is very young, with an outgoing personality so I picked out a sporty cobalt blue mini sweater dress for her. The shoot took place at an old wine refinery factory, thus giving the photos their beautiful color and interesting mood. I am loving how the photos turn out. What do you all think of the photos?

Night Market Continued: Tan Sui Fisherman's Wharf

2009-03-09T23:17:00.000-04:00

After the "Shih-Lin" night market, We arrived at our destination, Tan Sui, late at night. We checked into a hotel that we previously looked up on the Internet. The next morning, we wasted no time packing up again and leaving the hotel behind for a full day of sightseeing.

The hotel is just 5 min away from the Tan Sui coast:
It was a gloomy-weather day with strong winds. (The winds remind me of San Francisco Bay.) All the photos look a bit gray :-( This is a shot of Tan Sui Fisherman's Wharf, complete with the block of pedestrian stores and the shoreline right behind it. This is the place where the river of Tan Sui meets the Pacific Ocean.
We strolled along the river of Tan Sui.
Boats ferry tourists across the river and back.
Where there are tourists, there will be no shortage of snack vendors. A little girl is selling glazed cherry tomato w/ plum.
A trip to Tan Sui is not complete with a taste of its local specialty - Tan Tofu, Fish Ball Soup, and Steamed Pork Buns.
Turkish immigrants also set up shops along the river.
Wow..what's with the long line? Let's get a closer look....
Huge sweet potatos hang on the mobil mini cart. How cool is that!
Yummy!

Night Market

2009-03-07T08:27:00.001-05:00

Late last month, hubby took me on a trip north for a weekend getaway. This trip was my long-awaited holiday because hubby was so busy we had to skip doing anything for Valentine's Day and the Lunar New Year. We wanted to visit Tan-Sui, the northern tip of Taiwan. On our way there, we stopped by the famous Shih-Lin night market - an ideal place for grabbing a bite to eat after driving almost 3 hours. Shih-Lin night market is the best known night market on the island of Taiwan, and it's THE place to sample real authentic Taiwanese snacks. The place houses many Taiwanese food/snacks vendors selling traditional staples as well as new inventions. Tourists from the US, Japan, and mailand China crowd the night market to get a taste of the real "Bubble Tea", "Stinky Tofu", and much more. I've had most of the snacks when I was young, but after being absent for so many years living in Chicago, I got to experience a few items for the first time like a tourist which is a lot of fun!

The vendors and the bustling crowd at Shih-Lin night market:
Super Large Fried Chicken Fillet, could be as big as 9 inches long!!
Deep Fried Bread:
Jumbo Grilled Sausage:
Tea stands like this one greet you at every corner of Shih-Lin market, if not at all streets of Taipei. A tea stand offers everything from Bubble Tea to a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice.
A snap shot of the mass transit system in Taipei. The transit is the best way to get to Shih-Lin market, or any place in downtown Taipei.

Dumpling House

2009-03-06T23:45:00.000-05:00

Dear all,
It's been a crazy few weeks for me, and it took a while to get my life back in order. Gosh I have so much I'd like to share, but first let's have a feast for our eyes. Hubby and I celebrated the Chinese New Year early last month at the city's most renowned dumpling house. Only a couple of streets away from our apartment, this place serves nothing fancy but the most basic Taiwanese dishes. Their best is the Steamed Dumplings served in a bamboo steamer (pictured here with chopped chilies, soy sauce, and fresh ginger slices). Holiday atmosphere plus a table full of hot, delicious, family style Chinese meal: Ham & Egg Fried Rice: Sea Cucumber Salad: Stir Fried Cabbage: Hot & Sour Soup Noodle:

Warm and Hearty Brunch

2009-01-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

While I feel lucky to be living in Taiwan where there seems to be endless choices/invention of Asian cuisines, drinks, and snacks. Occasionally I crave a hearty American style brunch. No, not breakfast at McDonalds!!! It's a cozy little cafe hubby recently discovered near our apartment. With a Starbucks-like interior, this cafe has an American-style toast, bagel, waffle brunch menu. And it's a more health-conscious menu than most in the US because each meal comes with a side of fresh fruits and veggies salad.

One of my favorite is the Waffle Breakfast:

Here's the pre-meal salad:

Yum.. scrambled eggs sprinkled with almond slices, crunchy and soft!:

Hmm.. pouring sweet honey over my waffle:

What a great way to start a beautiful Sunday!

Eager for a New 09

2009-01-11T04:26:00.000-05:00

Dear fellow fashionistas,

Gosh I'd been neglecting this blog for so long. Christmas 08 came and went, and it's been over a week since the New Year started. But I'm eager and anxious to be back in the world of mini dresses, and just fashion in general.

Long overdue, here's the New Year's Eve fireworks hubby and I went to:

On New Year's Eve, we drove an hour south to the biggest amusement park on the island and joined thousands for the coutdown. At midnight, firworks were lit from the huge ferris wheel. I must say it's not easy photographing fireworks, my wrist was sore from having to hold my Canon G7 above the crowd for more than 5 minutes. Too bad my camera didn't catch the one when all carts on the rim of the ferries wheel were lit in fire. It was spectacular!

Ganguro Find: Botton Down Animal Print Cardigain

2008-12-11T08:35:00.000-05:00

"It's all about the cut and the prints." This animal print cardi says that well with its super cropped length and unique muted-purple-hued leopard pattern! The use of a muted purple hue for animal print, coupled with the lace trimmed heart-shaped neckline makes this cardigan so much more feminine. The extra long sleeves contrast with/yet compliments the cropped hem. Little black shiny square buttons give it just a bit more polish. This cardi is going on my must-list for the holiday parties this year. It's going to be so gorgeous layered with a long cami/tunic, and with a pair of favorite denim jeans!

Accessorize You Mini Dresses

2008-12-01T05:11:00.000-05:00

Fellow fashionistas,

Hope you all had a nice and rested Thanksgiving weekend. Before you embark on your Cyber Monday shopping adventure, I'd like to point you to a chic popular UK-based accessory shop - "Accessorize". (I stumbled upon an Accessorize store location here in Taiwan as I did my weekend shopping & finding - not related to the holidays, but more of a personal ritual, lol.) The chain's window display of handbags full of ethnic boho chic caught my attention. I went in and was instantly charmed by the many Indian-inspired long drop earrings and its selections of dazzling sequined, beaded cocktail-party purses and clutches.

My favorite in the store was the "Light Torquoise Multi Skinny Bangles". It's not shown on the chain's UK site, but is available at both its Japan and Taiwan sites. US and Canadian fashionistas sadly are not able to access the ethnic charm of Accessorize at this time, but hopefully they're working on this.

Accessorize UK
Accessorize Japan
Accessorize Taiwan

Favorite Find: Gray Leopard Boatneck Tunic

2008-11-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

OK girls.. you all can complain about the overexposure of leopard print items lately on this blog. (I may be falling into a leopard spell lol.) But I know a killer item when I spot one, and it definitely has to be put on our ganguro radar!

This grey leopard tunic is more subtle than the average animal, which is quite a nice touch if your animal instinct barometer is not as high in scale. The fabric is actually thicker and fuzzier like wool so this is suitable for cooler weather. Feminine boatneck allows for on or off the shoulder look. With basic black leggings, scarf, and heels, this leopard long tunic is quite smashiing!

Ganguro Spotlight: Hippie Bohemian Lace Trim Mini Dress

2008-11-24T03:20:00.001-05:00

I can totally picture Mischa Barton or Nicole Richie rocking this boho mini dress with knee-high mocassin boots! The cream-color lace trim really pops, bringing major dose of vibrant boho charm to the black. Especially worth noting is the slightly rounded tulip sleeve, it's such a genius design and is truely what sets this dress apart from those other similar frocks!

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Leopard Bolero Shrug

2008-11-23T03:03:00.001-05:00

Just when I thought I'd seen all the fashion possibilities leopard print can bring (Leopard Peasant top, Leopard Vest, Leopard Scarf, Leopard Hoody, etc), this gorgeous & stylish leopard shrug/bolero is discovered. The classic brown animal print is set against an ultra soft almost luxrious fabric. The cropped length is sure to add plenty of chic to a simple LBD. But I'll probably play it casual pairing the shrug with a tank and skinny jeans!

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Cinnamon Henley Mini Dress

2008-11-22T05:38:00.000-05:00

This cinnamon red henley mini shirt dress gives off an youthful vibe with a fitted style and buttoned scoop neck. The faux layered cuff and bottom hem is such a trendy add-on: layering is alrady done, so effortless!

A clean-cut and refreshing henley mini dress like this is gorgeous on its own, yet can still be easily dressed up with a simple scarf and favorite knee-high boots!

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Autumn Green Floral Mini Dress

2008-11-12T02:26:00.001-05:00

Are the gloomy weather and dark color wardrobe getting you down? A little floral might cheer you up! This boho babydoll floral mini dress is feminine and sassy with ruched surplice front, sexy racer back lace straps. The mix of green and purple florals is is not overly-shining and could make for a nice transition/layering piece. If you're out in still-sunny California (or Taipei where the Fall is unseasonably warm this year), all you need is a basic cardigan to go with this floral little number! Or layer with a pair of denim jeans for a different gorgeous effect!

Click on photo below for more view.

Spactacular Restaurant

2008-11-10T06:03:00.000-05:00

Hubby and I took a short trip out of town and headed south to this specialty restaurant with an elaborate Spanish style architecture. Its unique architecture has been the main draw of this Taiwanese-Western cuisine fusion restaurant. The food wasn't what attracted us here, but I'm just amazed at the enormous amount of investment the restaurant has made trying to lure business with its Spanish-themed gated 2-story courtyard estate complete with a fountain. I don't remember seeing any project similar to this in scale in the US, except for the Disney World. Thoughts, anyone?

Ganguro Spotlight: Purple Lavender Plaid Cropped Sweater

2008-11-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

Ok so everyone already knows that plaid is fab from the looks on Mischa, the Olsen's, and other trendsetters. But I just can't resist sharing this "Purple Lavender Plaid Cropped Sweater", the second plaid item to be spotlighted in as many weeks. The reason is simple: the unique color combination of darker purple with a lighter lavender, the sleek cropped length/flattering fit, and the cozy sweater fabric. It's gorgeous enough with just a pair flair/skinny denim, but I'll probably put a different spin on this by adding either a black cardigan or wool vest, plus tucking my skinny into tall boots!

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Leopard Elasticized Peasant Babydoll Top

2008-11-02T01:29:00.000-04:00

Animal fever has been a constant force of fashion throughout the year as evidenced by these hot Hollywood celebraties. Autumn 2008 feels like the fever is higher than ever before. Feel free to experiment with a walk on the wild side with leopard prints. Depending on your animal instinct barometer, choose from a leopard scarf at a minimum or go all the way for an all-leopard print mini dress!

This Leopard Elasticized Peasant Babydoll Top is my pick for a taste of jungle. I love the little details it has to offer: smocked empire bust, suede crisscross front ties, and the poet sleeves. This would look absolutely gorgeous with flare denims and heels! Or glam up the look even more with denim skinnys and a pair of knee-high mocassin boots.

Click on photo below for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Cotton Eylelet Smocked Mini Dress

2008-10-29T04:31:00.001-04:00

Seeing a mini dress as refreshingly adorable as this, I almost wish Summer would never end. This Ivory Cotton Eyelet Smocked Mini Dress has a peasant appeal to it with its squared neck, 3-button front, smocked waist, and eyelet trimed shoulder. It reminds me of a similar dress worn by Lindsay Lohan on the movie "Georgia Rule". I was lusting Lindsay's dress after watching her in that movie so I was glad I found this one. The hip is slightly shaped like a tulip, contrasting with the much smaller smocked waist. A light-color cardi would be excellent with this cotton dress if it gets chilly. What do you think?

Click on the photo for more view.

Annual Sale Celebration

2008-10-27T03:56:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! All major department stores in Taiwan each held their biggest sales event during the period from early October to mid November each year - now popularly termed as "Annual Sale Celebration". The yearly event is a huge deal for both the businesses and consumers because department stores here almost never discount prices except for this event. Marketing and media efforts go all out during this time. Shoppers crowd in the stores for discounted Nine West, Guess, and more. Many consumers who stayed away from department stores most of the year, only make their kills during the "Annual Sale Celebration".

This year is no exception, and record sales is recorded for the department stores. I guess I must have helped also in that department with my newly purchased Brappers skinny denim and the Indigo Floral Applique Wedges... lol.

Ganguro Spotlight: Black Scoopneck Pleated Hem Mini Dress

2008-10-23T10:19:00.001-04:00

Another Fall mini dress that absolutely must be featured in our spotlight is this "Black Scoopneck Pleated Hem Mini Dress". This seemingly understated piece has an amazingly flattering fit. The deep scoopneck, slimming waistline, and the slightly flare pleated skirt hem all combine to accentuate the female curve. And little details like the gold buttons against the basic black add to its gorgeous level. It's simply one of the most sexy mini dresses I've seen.

Click on photo to see more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Preppy Vest Plaid Sweater Dress

2008-10-22T08:24:00.000-04:00

This preppy vest plaid sweater dress deserves all our spotlight today for its smart and sexy style! The navy and dark green plaid button-down paired with basic black vest is clssically preppy and ingenious because the vest is sewn onto the dress and not removable, making this a 2-in-1 sweater dress. It's tunic length, and I'm all for wearing this as a stand-alone mini sweater dress with minimum accessories - probably with the additions of only leggings and boots/heels.

Do you occassionally dress preppy? Tell us by leaving a comment.

Click on photo for more view.

Ganguro Spotlight: Fall's Floral Mini Dress

2008-10-17T04:08:00.000-04:00

In the spotlight today is this "Black Floral Print Mini Dress". This little black knit mini, with its slightly puffed shoulder and leafy prints would be an excellent choice for the Fall. Crew neck, 3/4 length sleeves. The super short hem screams knee-high boots! Or you can opt for the basic black tights and heels to up its gorgeous level!

Click on photo for more view.

Favorite Find: Rich Indigo Floral Applique Wedges

2008-10-15T04:39:00.001-04:00

These wedges are to kill for! The indigo blue color is gorgeous against any skin tone, besides that it's a good transition color into Fall. The same-color chiffon floral applique with just a sprinkle of faux diamonds, breathes femininity and charm.

Label: Fioruuci

Play sexy by wearing these wedges with mini dresses/skirts. Or go trendy with a pair of favorite denim skinny!

Fresh Fields Hotel Wedding Photo Shoot

2008-10-11T01:11:00.000-04:00

Hubby's work (he's a professional photographer) brought us to the Fresh Fields Hotel this weekend. The greenly hotel is situated on a suburban hill just 15 min away. It's the city's only 5 star hotel to be located on a mountainous hill, so naturally it's known for the spactacular view it possesses. The scenery from up here is a mixture of the hill's green and a bird's eye view of part of the city and its main highways. THE perfect hotel to have an elegant beautiful wedding!

A view of the hotel's outdoor wedding venue:

Amanda and AJ, our bride and groom of the day:

Ganguro Spotlight: Sheer Bowtie Blouse

2008-10-03T03:59:00.000-04:00

A black chiffon bowtie blouse like this transmits both girlie charm and sexy femininity. Buttoned down style, with same-fabric sash at the neck that is self-tied into a sweet bow. I think wearing the blouse with the sash let down (as it is) is quite sexy, too! Pair this with your favroite flair denim jeans, and you're ready for a night on the town! Click on photo to see this blouse paried with a suspender mini short shorts.

Photo Shoot Location

2008-10-02T03:02:00.001-04:00

Hubby and I took a break from the city and visited this European style castle estate about an-hour drive away. Nestled on the mountain hills, the castle structure even looks visible and grand from far away. The main castle is part of the 3-building private residence/estate open to the public. Though we didn't get a chance to get inside the buildings, we took plenty of photos of the towering castle, beautiful/tranquil garden, fountain, and alleyway. Hubby is a photographer and we're thinking this place might just be perfect for Ganguro Fashion Store's location shoot debut! What do you think of mini dresses next to this European surrounding?

Favorite Find: Shiseido Mini Lip Balm

2008-10-01T03:15:00.001-04:00

Shishedo has come out with this cutest lip balm ever. The teeny size (measuring only 1.5" tall) would be just the perfect fit to your tiny bag and mini dress when you're out partying away. The cool graphic doll design won't make you shy on showing it to everyone besides keeping your lips moisturized. This line of Shiseido lip balm comes in several fruity flavors, shown here is the "Wine Grape".

Ganguro Spotlight: Diamond Strewn Strapless Mini Dress

2008-09-30T03:34:00.001-04:00

Under the spotlight today is this Little Black Diamond Strew Strapless Mini Dress. I love the dotted sparkles against the basic black on this dress. The faux diamonds make the dress dazzle and make sure you're always under the spotlight whether it be on the dance floor or at a party! Strapless, with built-in bra, empire waist. The skirt is surpliced and crossed from under the bust to the hem. Very figure flattering! Click on photo to see more view.

Favorite Find: Eyeshadow Brush Magic Pen

2008-09-18T03:55:00.001-04:00

If you're an eyeshadow fanatic like me and find it a challenge to keep the shadow brushes clean and organized in the makeup bag, this eyeshadow brush magic pen is the answer! The pen consists of 5 individual plastic enclosed brushes. The plastic case cover keeps the brush from getting dirty. And storage/organizing becomes an easy task when the brushes are put/connected one after another to form a pen. Clean the individual brushes like you normally do with other brushes to get repeated use :-)

Favorite Find: Star Multi Eyeshadow Brushes

2008-09-17T04:02:00.001-04:00

Anyone out there who's reading this and also has trouble keeping their eyeshadow brushes clean and not cluttered with other things in the makeup bag? I'm an eye shadow fanatic and buy tons of shadow colors to try out. And this star-shaped multi eyeshadow brushes is just a life saver!

It helps keep the brushes organized and messy-free. Each brush is pushed back inside the yellow star for keeping if not in use, and you simply push it back out again when you want. (though you can't remove the brushes from the star) Clever huh? And you would wash & clean the brushes like you do with your other normal brushes in order to get repeated use.

Favorite Find: Glitzy Hair Ties

2008-09-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

These glitzy hair ties are insanely gorgeous! Gotta love the contrast of smooth velvety texture and sparkling faux diamonds. The stretch/elasticity of these ties are superb and will last for much longer than the average hair accessories. At such affordable price, I snatched up 5 different designs (apple, heart, diamond, star 1, and star 2).

With buns being made into a Spring 09 trend at the just-closed New York Fashion Week, these glitzy hair ties are more the reason to celebrate the buns trend. I consider my investment paid off!

Toilet Restaurant

2008-09-15T04:26:00.001-04:00

To Satisfy the inner child in me and just for the fun of it, hubby took me to this funky, super unconventional restaurant over the weekend - a toilet themed diner. Not only is the restaurant's name - which literately translates to "Toilet Restaurant" - quite eyepopping, everthing here from the decor to the serving plates and bowls are all reminders of that special room in our house.

All the seats are actual real toilets, but not functional of course! The dining table consists of a large clear glass over bathroom sinks. Shower curtains hung make for interesting decorations.

Our meals arrived on toilet-like plates!! Hahaha..

And the jumbo sized ice cream dessert!! Came served on the most old-fashioned toliet..