Lei Ann...Off Duty

a day at the MFA boston part 3: the samurai collection

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:44:48 -0400

the last part of my day at the museum of fine arts in boston involved touring their new samurai armor collection. needless to say, the exhibition was quite spectacular & breathtaking in real life. if you are a fan of anything japanese culture, past or present, this is definitely the collection to see this summer. i’ll just let the photos speak for themselves :)

disclaimer: i received free admission courtesy of the museum of fine arts boston, but opinions are 100% my own.

a day at the MFA boston part 2: stan sakai

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:10:04 -0400

here it is! the main reason for my trip to the museum of fine arts last weekend…stan sakai! i’ve mentioned before that my husband is a huge comic book geek & *by osmosis* i’ve become one too. the story of usagi yojimbo, a ronin (or masterless samurai) rabbit who roams feudal japan during the edo period, is one that quickly became my favorite over the years. since mr. sakai is rarely here on the east coast, the chance to meet the creator of this amazing character & his adventures was too great to pass up!

in a collaboration done with happy giant who developed the usagi yojimbo video game for android & iOS, the MFA brought mr. sakai over to lecture. it also fit in well with the museum’s theme of samurai saturdays for the month of may. more details on that in my next post. however, i wasn’t sure what kind of reception a “comic book” artist would receive at the museum of “fine arts”. i even thought, well i hope mr. sakai gets at least 10 people in the audience so i don’t feel bad for him. BOY WAS I WRONG! the line at the MFA was crazy that morning & i could see drooling fan boys (& girls) with their usagi yojimbo graphic novels already spilling out of their messenger bags (MDH included), ready to be autographed! he got a packed auditorium, no problem!

what i loved the most about mr. sakai’s lecture was the fact he illustrated while he talked…such a casual & entertaining demeanor he has. he drew everything from his famed ronin rabbit to even an audience member (lucky!). he talked about everything from his parents to his adventures with publishing to his creative process. even something simple, one image or one line, he will see on TV or read about will inspire an entire story line for usagi. it’s amazing to me that still, over his 30 year career, he draws & writes his cartoon all on his own. most comic books you see, an artist draws the comic while a writer pens out the story. unusual for such a successful cartoonist to do both for so long. everything usagi & his friends do is entirely thought out by him. he’s a true creator in the most authentic meaning of the word! thanks again to the MFA for the chance to meet mr. stan sakai!

a day at the MFA boston part I: the outfit

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:26:38 -0400

i spent an amazing saturday just recently courtesy of the museum of fine arts boston. so much so that i’ll actually have to break that day up into several posts. first up, my outfit. a simple & easy dress for an afternoon of museum meandering :)

wearing: akira chicago red label dress || target tan heels || gifted DIY duct tape bracelet || dooney & bourke clear lunch tote (similar)

neon abstract floral print for a rainy day

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:06:41 -0400

i wanted to wear something fun, flirty & BRIGHT to the marshalls spring #fabfound event the other night. easily done with another PBxT dress in striking neon colors & abstract “kaleidoscope” type print.

however, the rains we recently had in boston also put a damper on an *almost* carefree evening. don’t i always have a clothing item to the rescue though? hahaha! this newly found goodwill treasure of a rain jacket fit the bill quite nicely :) added some equally fun & bright arm accessories & i was on my way.

whoops, forgot the kicks ^_^ since this was a marshalls event, i took off the shelf, probably still my *best* marshalls find EVAR! stuart weitzman lavender cheetah print heels, but neutral enough to conform to any outfit…for $75. oh yeah!

wearing: prabal gurung x target dress || cynthia rowley ruffled coat (via goodwill) || kohl’s multichain bracelet || stuart weitzman heels

#fabfound event at the fenway marshalls with boston fashion bloggers

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:00 -0400

i was really missing my fashion blogger friends whom i have not seen in a while so i was *very* happy when this event popped up…co-hosted by the very lovely & 5 months pregnant, lani of mon petit chou chou!

i had not been to the new marshalls in the fenway area of boston & was all too eager to see the new spring items that were in store for me :) i was even joking with another blogger about it still having that “new store smell”…hahaha! there were cupcakes, lemonade, requisite dressing room pics & thanks to the $15 gift card generously given by the marshalls event staff, an already inexpensive w118 william baker dress ended up being a ridiculous steal & went from “possibly” to “definitely” ^_^

the blogger hostesses were also holding giveaways throughout the night. how awesome that najeema won the mirrored wall pieces that lani gave out? girl…hope you got those home ok on the T! even with seeing my usual blogger friends, it was also nice to make new acquaintances, like another co-hostess of the night, bettina of neatbit :)

overall, i always end up finding a great bargain at marshalls. even wore my stuart weitzman heels that i got…uh where?…marshalls!…which i’ll show off in my next outfit post :) it is definitely one of my go-to places for the best items. plus a night hanging out with my gal pals who *also* love to shop…doesn’t get any better than that!

disclaimer: i was given a $15 shopping card by marshalls for attending the event, but opinions are 100% my own ^_^

the easiest DIY ever - the floral hat

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:11:48 -0400

i was perusing online for a hat to buy for this kentucky derby party MDH & i had to go to, but really wasn’t wanting to spend mucho $$$ for something ridiculous that i’ll only wear once. DIY skills to the rescue! so easy. took a wide-brimmed hat i already had…found a ribbon that was already conveniently connected & fit around the crown of the hat…found all these black & white hair doodads in my drawer….then got to either safety pinning or clipping to the hat or ribbon in a pretty arrangement. the centerpieces were just a regular black silk hair bow & a grey mink flower brooch, then arranged the flower clips around. easy, peasy & ready for the derby! no hot gluing, no permanent fixation. i can easily disassemble the flower clips for hair use once more :) or…i can keep the hat the way it is & hope another garden wedding or some other suitable occasion pops up to wear again ^_^

black & white kentucky derby party outfit

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:52:16 -0400

truth…i’ve never attended a kentucky derby party. i know right? i loves me any excuse to wear decorative headgear, but it was just never anything i really got into. my husband had a work-related party though, so i was happy to oblige. as i recall, the way MDH RSVP’d for us was…”oh don’t worry! any excuse for my wife to wear a big ass hat, we’ll be there!” hahaha! he knows me so well.

wearing: target black/white floral dress || h&m hat || assorted flower hair clips || gucci leather handbag || bebe black platform pumps

scenes from full moon resort in big indian, NY

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:20:06 -0400

“oh give me a home…where the dharma neckplates roam. where the kids & the unicorns plaaaaaay….”

i have a sorta busy weekend coming up, so i leave you with photos from last week…when i was more relaxed & life was at a more leisurely pace. have a great weekend everyone ^_^

spring fashion staples ~ the denim jacket & floral wedges

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:33:46 -0400

who *doesn’t* have a jean jacket? it’s the best spring staple…easy, classic & that perfect layer for warmer weather when coats can be closeted, yet too soon for sleeveless. i’ve had this one for-rev-ver (as evidenced by i can no longer button it closed) but it has still retained it’s dark indigo color which i favor over lighter denim shades.

wearing: guess dark denim wash jean jacket (old) || h&m olive green military style shirtdress || target floral platform wedges

the kicks? just a subtle nod to my heritage (and namesake) of may day in hawaii ^_^ i haven’t had leis around my neck for a looooong time, but i can still wear footwear festooned with flowers ^_^

**apologies for the persistent use of paroemion. it tends to be my favorite way to write, but today was excessive even for me…hahaha!**

what i wore for a wedding in the woods

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:36:50 -0400

you know me…i wouldn’t go off “glamping” in the woods for no other reason than just to relax & get away from it all, right? you’re correct! actually, MDH & i attended a wedding that was the epitome of romantic country nuptials :) it was very rustic & down to earth with the ceremony in a moss-lined glade, yet elegant with a reception in a barn decorated with chinese lanterns & white lights :)

wearing: anna sui x target black lace dress || vintage wild mink stole || glamourai dharma neckplate || lori’s shoes patent leather heels

so, being out in the woods was an appropriate occasion to wear my wild mink stole that i rarely bring out. i bought it at a church rummage sale for $40. when i brought it to be cleaned, the girl at the local fur shop asked if i knew what it was. when i said mink, she corrected me with “wild mink” which she recognized by the striped fur vs. farmed mink. wow, lucky me to find such a rare piece!

**note: i think i’ve stated my opinions on fur before, but i share the sentiments of most bloggers i know. while i don’t seek out new fur clothing at all, when i see vintage items while thrifting, i still appreciate them for the quality pieces of fashion that they are. sometimes i buy them, sometimes i don’t, but the ones i do become cherished special occasion items that i wear & store with care. maybe i can pass them on to my nieces one day if they so choose :) **

so much for that tangent…whew! in any case, we had a great time at this wedding far-flung into the forest ^_^ i’ll post pics from it soon :)

what i wore for a walk in the woods

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:24:26 -0400

this past weekend, the hubs & spent a really nice quick weekend getaway at a resort in the catskills mountain area of NY state. i’ll be honest, i was leery at first. sounded too much like glorified camping to me…log cabin rooms, nowhere else to eat for miles, NO CELL PHONE SERVICE! *gasp*…can a city girl like me who is so “plugged” in all the time actually unwind & relax?

hahahaha…turns out i can! well, only because the property had strong wifi signals everywhere, so i was never truly “unplugged” :) guess they’re used to out of town guests still wanting to be connected to the outside world….haha! nevertheless, it was nice to spend time outside with the weather being that perfect blend of brilliantly sunny, yet comfortably cool. even had the foresight to bring “appropriate” shoe wear for an impromptu hike in the woods & across a creek…while still holding onto my cell phone for dear life. talk about city folk XD

wearing: express white blouse (old) || target bralette top || wet seal faux leather leggings || target sunglasses || kohl’s grey wedges

a different kind of animal print & denim

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:02:10 -0400

going kind of overboard with this elephant print dress by pairing it with my elephant chain belt, don’t cha think? hey, why not? if you’re gonna go with a theme, just GO FOR IT right? hahaha! *another* kind of animal print overload :)

i first wore this dress for my father-in-law’s & sister-in-law’s dual exhibit art show back in february. it’s one of my favorite shirtdresses so far…very comfortable, loose-fitting, light, airy & perfect for treating patients.

accessories: elephant chain belt (via lady luxe - now closed) || target watch || opal dainty ring (V-day gift from hubby)

also, goes well with my denim trenchcoat & denim sandals that i often wear together since they’re so matchy-matchy. simple formula for an easy, breezy day of work :)

wearing: gap elephant print dress (gap outlet in FL) || gap denim trench coat (gap outlet in MA) || lela rose x payless denim sandals

favorite spring outfit ~ black & white striped dress

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:56:50 -0400

ever since i saw *that* oscar de la renta striped ballgown, i had been goo-ga-ga for a similar outfit. granted, floor-length, full skirted gorgeousness is not practical for *everyday* wear, so, i’m glad i found this little swishy, bubble skirted lovely to tide me over :)

accessories: hello kitty ring (SF flagship store) || h&m black flower ring || swapped silver filigree bracelet || opal/silver dainty ring

funny how black & white stripes are nothing new for spring, but something about altering the direction of the stripes feels so fresh & new. forgive me too…being a child of the 80s, i can’t *not* love a bubble miniskirt as well. can’t wait to style this dress in different ways come (warmer) spring & summer weather :)

wearing; alythea striped bubble dress (via ebay) || contempo casuals satin blouse (that old!) || F21 earrings || aldo outlet ankle boots

black & blue

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:54:01 -0400

as a kung fu instructor, i typically have bruises *somewhere* on my body at any given time…either from training with the students or admittedly self-inflicted with weapons work. wearing black & blue today then would probably be a more *accurate* representation of my true personal style…bwahaha!

wearing: zac posen for target snaps dress || vintage brocade jacket via oona’s $5 bag sale || isabel toledo x payless mesh heels

on a final note about the past few days, those of us in boston have all been feeling a bit bruised. the physical scars are evident for the bombing victims, but in some way or another, we all have the mental, psychological and emotional scars. it still feels a bit frivolous to me to post my daily outfits & be happy about new shoes, but we also just have to get back to our normal routines, back to our regular way of life to see ourselves past these tragedies. let the healing begin…

for the love of watertown

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:54:19 -0400

“nothing ever happens in watertown.” that was mine & my husband’s mantra over the 13 years that we’ve lived here. we leave our doors unlocked. once we even left our car doors & trunk wide open at night after bringing in groceries & forgot to go down & close them all. a neighbor shut them & called us that he did…not wanting our car battery to die down. nothing ever happens in watertown.

yesterday, as most of you well know, the BIGGEST thing ever happened in watertown. i won’t rehash all the details…there will be news reel replays & analyses for weeks after for that. all i can say is i’m grateful. grateful the events in my neighborhood didn’t end in tragedy & even more loss of life. i’m so happy i can still drive down arsenal street on my way to target & be proud…not riddled with fear & anxiety. thank you to all the law enforcement, media & anyone else involved…especially that astute home owner who noticed the blood & rip in the tarp over his boat…in the relatively swift capture of the last boston marathon bomber. yes, we were on home lockdown for one day, but it ended with us, not at home crying & watching bloodshed on TV, but with us standing on the street waving & cheering police vehicles that drove by. so relieved it’s all over, but also grateful, proud, and thankful. it’s a brighter day in boston…and watertown…my town :)

for the love of boston

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:48:09 -0400

what can i say? it’s been a very difficult week for boston & will continue to be for a long time. my heart breaks for this city that i love so much. aurora…tucson…newtown…us. we’re now a part of the current landscape of national tragedies. never thought it would happen. however, to reiterate the sentiment, we’re boston, we’re strong, we’ll endure & we’ll heal.

nrmstyles: Love, positive vibes, and prayers to those affected...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:56:24 -0400

nrmstyles:

Love, positive vibes, and prayers to those affected in the city I still call my home. (at Boston )

a pop of color

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:57:33 -0400

the most overused terms in fashion blogging (in my opinion) are “obsessed, chic, stylish, pop of color & date night.” with that being said, on this most rainy, windy & dreariest of days, here’s my outfit featuring “a pop of color.” hypocrite much? hahaha!

wearing: michael kors fishermen net sweater || wet seal bodycon black dress || target neon pink bandeau || JC thigh high boots

style crush ~ tabatha coffey

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:14:37 -0400

i spent the easter holiday weekend in florida with my family. i have a 2-month old niece & i’m *perfectly* content to sit, hold, feed & coo her all day while my sister-in-law showers, naps or just does what she needs to get done. one of those days, i spent watching a mega all-day marathon of tabatha’s salon takeover and tabatha takes over. i vaguely remember her from that shear genius show. can i tell you though…her head-to-toe opaque black ensembles are truly enviable! these aren’t even the best of the outfits that i watched during those episodes. her penchant for leather, knee-high boots, dramatic fit & flare jackets with ornate shoulders & minimal embellishments, I LOVE! for someone whose own personal style involves lots of color & print mixing, it’s quite ironic that most of my style icons are those who wear solid black. *or* it could also be that tabatha reminds me of another one of my favorite ghost-haired, gothic black-wearing beauties…hahaha ^_^

images via bravotv.com & imdb.com

blogger day at wrentham village premium outlets - spring edition

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:03:00 -0400

it was blogger day at wrentham village premium outlets once more! we loved our first trip in the fall & when are kristen, sami & i *not* always up for hanging out together?!?! of course we went! this time, najeema of a stylized hysteria & kara aka the bostonista also tagged along for a super fun girls’ day out :)

this fine sunday morning, we started our shopping excursion at the oak room long bar & kitchen located in the fairmont copley hotel for a lovely brunch! the menu was amazing & i had a hard time deciding, but went with the yummy smoked salmon flatbread. everyone else had frittatas & brioche french toast & BACON which all looked delicious!

after brunch, our van picked us up & whisked us away for our afternoon of shopping! susan, the marketing director at wrentham village premium outlets, was just as accommodating & enthusiastic as last time. she even took us around to the newest shops there…joe’s jeans (so excited i *finally* got the perfect pair of white jeans) & max studio.

after that, we were left to our own devices to shop around on our own. najeema found a gorgeous blush pink/grey print dress & kristen, the cutest rebecca minkoff crossbody bag! i, funny enough with baby clothes so much on my mind, bought my nieces cute little things from carter’s. don’t worry though, i shopped for myself as well! can’t wait to show ya’ll what i got ^_^ thanks again to the management both at the fairmont copley & wrentham village premium oulets for such a wonderful time!

disclaimer: i received brunch via the oak room long bar & kitchen as well as gift cards from joe’s jeans & wrentham premium outlets, but opinions are 100% my own ^_^

Lei Ann...Off Duty

*a day at the MFA boston part 3: the samurai collection*

*a day at the MFA boston part 2: stan sakai*

*a day at the MFA boston part I: the outfit*

*neon abstract floral print for a rainy day*

*#fabfound event at the fenway marshalls with boston fashion bloggers*

*the easiest DIY ever - the floral hat*

*black & white kentucky derby party outfit*

*scenes from full moon resort in big indian, NY*

*spring fashion staples ~ the denim jacket & floral wedges*

*what i wore for a wedding in the woods*

*what i wore for a walk in the woods*

*a different kind of animal print & denim*

*favorite spring outfit ~ black & white striped dress*

*black & blue*

*for the love of watertown*

*for the love of boston*