My Life: July - November 2013

I've embarked on a journey, where we'll go, I don't know.

But this is what I've been looking for all these years, I'm happy to give it my all.

God if this is part of your plans, I know you are good to me.

It started with every woman's biggest #firstworldproblem.

And a fairy godmother I met almost 3 years ago...

And talent.

Despite the age of typing, carpel tunnel still exists for some.

Blossomed an amazing partnership.

Through mutual need, respect, and strengths.

And slowly garnering supporters.

One by one.

Led to the point where we were ready to share our designs with the world.

Scared, nervous, excited.

And we found the perfect space, Guardian Angel included.

We love you Steve. You'll never read this, but thank you.

But it isn't all fun and games -- but long hours, lots of heart, and a healthy dose of masochism.

Love of learning, challenges, and the unknown. My assistant laughed at my box sketch... sads.

Including gutting a warehouse, renovation, and construction to make way for a showroom. Buying furniture. Track lights. Fitting room. Conference space. My mind is boggled.

Stop looking at me as if I have the answer to laying polished cement flooring, I can barely understand the technicals in English, and you want a coherent solution from me in Chinese?!?!

And visits to suppliers. Factories. Infuriating development steps for the most minute details.

Being nice will get you nowhere. Being sweet, maybe.

Looking at our whole collection, we know that we should be proud of ourselves... but it doesn't mean much yet until these clothes get onto some bodies.

Thus, self-medication via vino.

Only a few more days...

I can't wait!

Fresh Princess of Bel-Air

Several of my girlfriends and I organized a Spring Cleaning clothes swap + donation. Everyone came away with some great loot. Freaking awesome, I love my life here. 

THIS is what I call Shanghai Fashion Week. ;)

Now this is the story all about how
 My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there 
I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called [Shanghai]

In [Fresh Meadows] born and raised
On the playground where I spent most of my days
Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys, they were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said "You're moving [and groovin to a new life in China???]"

I whistled for a cab and when it came near the
License plate said "fresh" and had a dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought nah, forget it, yo homes to [Shanghai]!

I pulled up to a house about seven or eight
And I yelled to the cabby "Yo, homes smell you later!"
Looked at my kingdom I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the prince of [Shanghai]

What! HAHAHAHA.
xo.

Le Cafe des Neonaires

I'm leaving on a flight to New York early tomorrow morning and don't have much time to put together a proper post. Kind of just want to get this over with... so here you go! *PLOP*

My birthday party = Korean + Sex + Jager Bombs

Stayin' classy.

Kalbi + Garlic +Kimchi = one good smellin' (and VERY happy) birthday girl.

I like both of these cakes. ;)

My girls are sweet and spicy.

#Winning #Fail

NEON PARTY @ Le Cafe des Stagiaires, courtesy of The Cap'n.

THANK YOU TAOBAO! Only cost me ~50 RMB, muhahahaha.

BYE!

Fancy Seeing You, 2013!

WOOT~ FIRST POST OF 2013! :D

The Peninsula Hotel // Jetset NYE Party // Black-tie // Shanghai, China

Tried to make these photos look like they were developed ol skool style. Kind of like High School prom photos... because those were real classy, hehe. :)

Woke up this morning at the hotel still incredibly drunk but feeling like a total champ. No hangover. #WINNING!!!

Ringing in the New Year with my girls Julez, Viv, Flora.

Yea, there were LOTS of (and all sorts of) love going around that night. ;)

Ty characteristically raging hard (above), but apparently not everyone is a fan (below). HAHA.

xo!

Lots of bromance, bet you couldn't tell that this was supposed to be a fancy affair, did you? Hahahaha.

Stumbling back to the Fairmont Peace Hotel (to pass out) in terrific spirits. :D

4am, January 1st 2013.

Special shout-out to Maybelline 24 Hour Lip Color -- thank you for not making me look like a hot sloppy mess at the end of the night. You make it easy to love rocking red lips!

Blitzen'd

A few weeks ago around mid-December, the always lovely, always sassy Ailin threw a marvelous house party so all of us friends could celebrate Christmas together before we officially scattered for the holidays. Dress code: White. Beverage code: Alcohol. Behavior code: Irreverent. 

Ailin has a pimp-ass apartment with REAL FURNITURE and REAL KITCHEN STUFF, objects that I dream of acquiring in the near future as Shanghai becomes more and more "home". This is particularly resonant as I peck away on my laptop, precariously perched on my collapsible/collapsing Ikea table tray. Gah... I am also drinking Chianti out of a coffee mug at this very moment. Hahahaha. :p

Le sigh, perhaps my home one day will come with a gilded Baroque picture frame too.

Non-stick ladle (and sexy lady accessory)... included?

Somehow we managed to convince the guys to stage an "Evolution of Man" pose... and Kun ended up as the advanced homo sapien. Clutching a bottle of wine, ofc.

Boys doth protest taking photos, but we know deep down you love the attention. ;)

Oh, I guess cradling bottles of wine WAS the theme of the party.

Ms. Julie, partner-in-crime.

3 Js! Love you girls.

If you're looking for reindeer movers, look no further.

We played White Elephant, which turned out to be an awesome fiasco. 

Min as the Dungeonmaster, laying down the law. Those who wish to steal a present must take ONE HALF-CUP OF VODKA.

Taotao was so shocked that she dropped her red wine at a White party. O_O

But she ended up taking that uber shot for a gold digital Casio watch (that I bought!). I like you, you have good taste, Viv.

That half-cup of vodka means nothing for Ty.

If Ty looks at you while holding a bottle, that next shot has your name on it. RUN.

But deceptively, sometimes it wasn't just Ty. These pictures document how Jon and Ian cornered me (I tried SO hard to escape) to have a "mouth cocktail"... which is essentially a big gulp of hard liquor followed by juice that "you're supposed to swish in your mouth to mix". 

Don't plan on patenting this idea, boys!

Playing reindeer games!

Prance prance prance.

Our Shanghai Fram-ily. :)