VIE Travel: January 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

Vote for Fashion Blog World's Inspiration 2012

Thank you everyone who sent your photos for the Fashion Blog World's Inspiration 2012 contest. There were many of you who entered the contest and that's fantastic. You all absolutely look beautiful in your fashion creations and you're truly an inspiration. It was really great going through all of the photos, although it took a lot of time. However, this gave me a chance to visit the contestant's blog. I've learned a lot more about your sense of style. That helped me choose the finalists who are going to share their looks here for Life-in-travel's readers, and I tried my best.

The winner of this contest is the one has the most votes from readers and will receive a $175 giftcard from the store of her choice (or cash). Please, help me pick-out the winner by voting for your favorite contestant by number and you are welcome to leave a comment for your contestant.

I will leave the vote open for 10 days which will end on March 9th 11:59:59 pm CST.

For contestants, you could tweet, blog, and/or post on your facebook about this vote. So, your twitter friends, your readers, your fans, and your friends...will come to vote and support you. GOOD LUCK to you all!!

For my readers, you could also do the same (tweet, blog, facebook) to support and vote for your favorite contestant. For anonymous readers, please leave your name and email address when you vote. I try to make it fair for all the contestants. Thank you very much for your time and your vote! I hope you have fun while doing this and have a fabulous day!! xoxo...Hanh ;-)

#1. Anjelica from Mode Junkie.

#2. Mary Grace from Mangotatoes.

#3. Tiffany from Beijos Tiffany.

#4. Juley from Swankheights.

#5. Marcella from Fashion Distraction.

#6. Irene from I'm Fashionstoned.

#7. Punkie from You Love it? Get it?

#8. Nathalie from Fashion for Idiots (like us)

#9. Samatha from Style of Sam.

#10. Chelsea.

#11. Khatu from I am Khatu.

#12. Mr Freddy's Mom from Mom And Son.

#13. Stella from In Love with Fashion.

#14. Ana from My Fashion Tale.

#15 Rody from Rody Radichkov.

#16. Soraya from Moda.

#17. Roberta from In The Mood for Love.

#18. Danae from A Style Theory.

Updated: FOR ANONYMOUS READERS, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN YOU VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CONTESTANT IN ORDER FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED.

Again, GOOD LUCK to you all!!

And thank you everyone for reading!! Have a lovely day ahead!! xo...Hanh :)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Feeling for Black

Had Rick Owens jacket on.

Wearing: American Apparel body suit, CdG skirt, Rick Owens jacket, Maison Martin Margiela curly ribbon leather necklace, Forever21 cuffs, Chanel bag, Ysl boots, and Nina Ricci sunnies.

I had this outfit taken a few days before Lunar new year and I didn't have time to share. The color of this outfit is the lucky color of the Dragon year; Black. Because this year is the water Dragon, there is an exception to the rule: wearing black for luck, not red. Why is black the lucky color of the year? The water element in the five elements (metal, water, earth, wood, fire) system is related to black. Therefore, 2012 is the black Dragon, water Dragon, or black water Dragon. So black should be the dominant color in your wardrobe this year. Everybody!! Pair black with any vibrant color.

Also some said that gold is also a lucky color of this year because it is the color of the dragon.

Seriously, do you believe that wearing certain colors will bring you luck? Or just a superstitious thing...Or maybe you believe so strongly that you can make your day become a successful day because you are wearing your lucky color?? I personally don't take it too seriously. But this way of thinking is interesting and I'd love to hear what yot think about this.

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!! xo...Hanh :)

Ps: last day to submit your photos to win Fashion Blog World's Inspiration. Good luck!!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Year of the Water Dragon

Following Lunar calendar, this year is the year of the Water Dragon. In many Eastern countries as China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam..., dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. And years of the dragon are always a popular one for anyone getting married, staring a business, or having a child. Dragon years bring luck and vim.

May this Dragon year brings you a year full of love, peace, happiness, health, great friends, great fortune!!

I shared this cutest postcard before and I'd like to share it again because of the Lunar New Year celebration. It's perfect postcard for this!! It's so sweet of Nathalie, from Hanna Bernhard jewelry line, to do this collage. Thank you Nathalie!

Wearing: Hanna Bernhard custom-made dragon necklace, and Hanna Bernhard custom-made Japanese lucky cat necklace.

Thank you everyone for reading! Have a wonderful day ahead!! xo...Hanh :)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Striking Blue

As I shared with you in the previous posts, the zipper sleeve top and the zipper hem skirt that I came up with an idea and designed them from a few yards of blue fabric leftover.

I'm so happy the skirt has become my favorite one -it is comfy, chic and yet very striking blue hue. So, I couldn't help myself to wear the skirt again for a night out. This time, I styled it with MMMargeila nude bodysuit, and this Rick Owens distressed leather jacket with zipper details gives a perfect compliment to the skirt. I intended to play with the diagonal angle of the zippers in this look and love it so much.

Again, thank you NhaKhanh, a Dallas designer, for doing the pattern and sewing to make my idea/design happen!

This Maison Martin Margiela nude bodysuit has a smooth texture and it's a great piece for layering. I love to wear it underneath an opened dress or an opened top when I don't want to expose too much skin.

Zipper detail at the hem of the skirt.

McQueen clutch, McQueen bracelet (similar here).

Shoes: Christian Louboutine Lady Daf.

Thank you everyone for reading and have a happy day ahead!!! xo...Hanh :)

Eight Lido Restauant & Cafe (Dine, Wine, Unwind) at Johor Bahru.

Eight Lido Restaurant and Cafe (N1.463042 E103.732175) is located along the coastal road - Jalan Skudai of Johor Bahru. Unique name isn't it? It's the lot number of the building, Number 8 along Lido Beach. :)

I was invited by Mr Euginn (Nov 2011) for the foods tasting at the restaurant that night together with others food reviewer and bloggers, it also a good opportunity for me to explore around this nice architecture bungalow house...

Too bad it was dark when I reached the restaurant, I miss the nice panorama view of the Johor Straits...let me show you some photos of the restaurant...

The outdoor drinking area...

The indoor area...

The dining area...

The romantic corner for couple...

Nice lighting...

The bar area...

The wine cellar...

Every corners were decorated nicely and beautiful! The rustic ambience display by the warm light makes the area feel comfort and relax...like the cozy feeling very much!

Once we introduced each others and invited by the Restaurant Manager to the upper lever for some Spanish Tapas.

Everyone were busy talking and chatting before the Tapas serve...

Once the bell rang...the food served!

Spanish Tapas

The lamb meatball...

I like the Yummy lamb ball! The shape of beancurd look alike which had a strong cheese taste was really special and nice! Too bad, I didn't get the name of each Tapas...

Well...as usual, everyone busy taking photo of the foods...

Food photos session...

The friendly Manager - Mr Prakash introduced the foods to the gentlemen...

Mr Prakash and the bloggers...

I finished the lonely prawn (below) without other notice! Ops!

One of the Tapas served...

Next...we were invited to the dining area for western food dinner...

I forgot to tweet...Ops again!

Before the dinner serve, another chit-chat session going on...

After a short speech from Mr Prakash...the dinner started...

First, Mushroom soup with garlic bread...

Mushroom soup with garlic bread...

Figure 'Eight' presented in the soup...

Satisfied! Creamy!

Second course...Twin serving - Smoke Salmon and NZ Lamb Rack.

Smoke Salmon and NZ Lamb Rack

The Salmon was good with the Citrus Mustard Sauce, but the Rack of Lamb was dry and it was not tender enough...maybe I was the unlucky one...

The dry Lamb Rack...

Third course - Lamb Shank and NZ Tenderloin Steak...

Lamb Shank (up) and NZ Tenderloin Steak (down)

Lamb shank was tender and Delicious! Everyone like it and we finished it within 5 minutes! The medium rare NZ Tenderloin was nice and flavourful...but I prefer medium...

Medium rare NZ Tenderloin Steak

I was totally Full after the third course! That made me activated my 'spare tank' for the dessert!

The Trio Dessert served right after the third course...

The Trio Dessert

The Bread and Butter pudding

The star-shaped Crème Brulee served with crunchy Caramelized top layer

Sangria fruit pudding

Among all, I like the Bread & Butter very much. The Crème Brulee was nice especially the crunchy Caramelized layer, but it was too sweet for me...I like the aroma of the Sangria fruit pudding, too bad cannot finish it due to my 'spare tank' also Full!

Overall, I like the foods tasting organized by Euginn and thank you very much to Mr Allen from Eight Lido. It was a good opportunity and my pleasure to know others bloggers at Johor Bahru.

Below are the guests photos of the night...