flashback friday

here’s a total oldie but a goodie.

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[my mom is on the left in the striped dress, my dear o vuong is in the red skirt // can you guess where i am?! // sam is in the gold and red áo dài // my sisters are in the the red jackets and skirts with the big, satin navy bow]

the other day, my friend sam {who lives in austin}, sent this picture to me! our friend vy had sent it to her. it was at my parent’s dear friend’s wedding {dì thu and chú thong} in texas. holy moley…it was delightful to see this picture! i got a good laugh from it.

i love the fashion and styles going on in this photo. the ruffles, the prints, the big collars, oh my! and how young we all are! my how time flies by. it’s overwhelming to see an old picture like this and to think how innocent and unknowing we were as little kids; and how lovely our lives have turned out so far. i’m feeling very blessed and thankful for my parents, my family, our beautiful healthy daughter, and my loving hubby charming {who is seriously the most caring man ever}.

it’s awesome how a picture can evoke so many memories and emotions from the past and present. so cool.

xoxo

secret world

“It’s a party, and you’re both talking to other people, and you’re laughing and shining, and you look across the room and catch each other’s eyes but not because you’re possessive or it’s precisely sexual, but because that is your person in this life. And it’s funny and sad but only because this life will end, and it’s this secret world that exists right there in public, unnoticed, that no one else knows about. It’s sort of like how they say that other dimensions exist all around us, but we don’t have the ability to perceive them. That’s what I want out of a relationship. Or just life, I guess.”

Frances Ha

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[photo by jen huang]

xoxo

happy beurffday!

it was my birthday this past 17.12!  my, what a difference a year makes.  last year’s celebration was non-stop.  this year’s celebration was non-stop with the babes!  it was low key and cozy.

obviously, this post if very delayed but nevertheless an occasion.  i had some other vip things to talk about that superceded this post.  don’t get me wrong…i love my birthday!  ever since i have been with hc, he’s always made it important and that means a lot to me. here’s a blast from the past…some photos from last year’s celebration:

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we had dinner at an italian restaurant, la luce, set up by my darling friend andrea and hc.  i was blessed to have some wonderful friends {matt, johann, danielle, dana, andrea, frank,  & kip} and family {kim, thuy, dan, & terry} celebrate with me on that special occasion!

hc commissioned a cake from alliance bakery in the form of a lv gift box!  how adorbs!  i loved the cake…and it was sooo delish.

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[birthday bash from 2012 – coat, vintage burberry]

***

here’s to my wonderful birthday celebration with our newest, adorable addition – baby olive!

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[this is my current look at home nowadays]

i definitely wanted to break out my tiara but it was buried downstairs in the basement 🙁  {i mean, pj’s aren’t quite the tiara ensemble but i’ll rock one for any occasion!}.  oh well, it can always make it’s appearance next year.  a girl’s birthday always deserves a tiara!

we celebrated at home with just the three of us.  hc made a delicious dinner [it’s called order out at mana…so delish] and i made my wish when i blew out my birthday cake candles!  shhh…wishes are always kept secret so they can come true!  hubby charming so thoughtfully gave me a gift from jcrew {a fav store o mine}!  a buffalo check coat…loves!  so outdoorsy chic!

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[mana… a modge podge of goodness]

http://www.manafoodbar.com

[happy beurffday!!!]

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[make a wish]

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[jcrew boxes are always filled with wonderful surprises]

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[my new coat!  woo!  rocking’ my paul bunyan look]

it was a wonderful evening with my family.  i couldn’t have asked for more!  a warm winter’s night with my two loves.

behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  psalm 127:3

xoxo

happy new year’s eve

happy new year’s eve my lovlies!

here’s a blast from the past.  it’s us on the eve of 2012 ready to ring in 2013!!!  my what a year it has been!

we celebrated at gt fish and oyster with our friends and family last year.  it was a delicious meal…entree after delicious entree.  gluttony at it’s best.  we started our feasting at 10pm and giddily rang in the new year at the restaurant with lots o hollering and noise!

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[2013]

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[the sassy gals]

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[dana and moi always matching in something, as usual]

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[bex and james, who live in seattle, celebrating with us!]

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farewell to a fantastic 2013 and hello to a fabulous 2014!  i wish for everyone health, happiness, love, and many blessings for the coming new year.

happy new year everyone!!!

“should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.”

xoxo

happy 2 years!

my how time flies and how things change!

it’s been two years since we had the most wonderful day ever!!

[relive the magic]

or check out our wedding that was featured on 100 Layer Cake!!!

our wedding day was seriously magical.  i know that sounds cliche but it’s true!!!  we had the best time of our lives!  our wedding weekend was so perfect.  from our fabulous rehearsal dinner {the grill on the alley}, to our beautiful wedding day {st. clement + a new leaf}, to our sunday brunch {roy’s}, and a family dinner, sunday night, at my parent’s with our out of town guests…it was a euphoric weekend!

of course, a special shout out to our friends and families who were able to share in this joyous occasion with us.  y’all truly made the day fantastic…it’s what makes life go round!

happy anniversary to my loving hubby charming!  the most wonderful, amazing, thoughtful, caring, romantic, sweetest, funniest, handsome, incredibly loving man {not in any order and not enough words to describe him!} that i know.

he’s my cliche ‘soulmate’ idea, the cliche ‘you complete me’ statement, and the bestest partner in life.

i love you.

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[a semi private moment after becoming husband and wife]

tandeminlove.com

[ribbons + bells]

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[customized wedding decor]

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[how sweet it is]

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[our welcome table]

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[first dance]

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[handmade favors]

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[alone time in the flower shop]

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[all photos + 8mm film by kate headley]

xoxo

happy father’s day

happy father’s day to the best dad ever!

i love my dad to bits and i think he’s the most amazing father ever.  his love, care, and guidance were uniquely his own.  growing up, you appreciate the craziness and kookiness your parents can offer.  i don’t think any child realizes that until they are an adult!

my dad, growing up, was warm and loving.  there were days i just loved to curl up on his lap, especially when he came home from work.  it was my favorite time.  he would put his wallet away, change his clothes, make his coffee, sit on the floor, and i would curl up on his lap.  we’d talk about our day or just sit and relax.  he always smelled a little of metal, smoke, and coffee…and that was actually really comforting to me {strange but true}!

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cheers to my dad, to his always unconditional love and support!

xoxo

a walk down memory lane

i want to take you back down memory lane.

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we are going to visit our first new year’s together {hold on to your horses!}.  i’m taking you back to 2008…whoa!  well, really the end of 2008 because this was new year’s eve.  i can’t believe that was many a years ago, time sure flies by!  it’s amusing to think that we were only together for, barely, a few months in these photos {wow}!

we started out the evening imbibing and noshing at leyla’s {old} condo in river north.  a little kookiness, a little goofiness, and a lot of fun.  when you’re with this bunch, it gets cray!

the girls...meow!

the girls…meow!

appetizers

appetizers

the boys

the boys

after some jovial moments with our friends + famille, we went on our merry way to broadway cellars {it’s been ages since we’ve been back and seeing this makes me want to go again!}.  we had reservations for two!  after many courses, after many wine pairings, and desserts, we were dunzo {i mean, how much can one consume without bursting?  i really don’t want to find out!}.  we gladly rang in the new year with all the wonderful folks in the restaurant, it was so jubilant!  we were happily stuffed, happily in love, and happy it was 2009!

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celebrate!

celebrate!

should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne!

for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne.
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

cold, cold go away

photo 1photo 2

sooo, cold, cold weather like this in chicago//10 degrees fahrenheit!// makes me want to be somewhere warm + on the beach!  a girl can only dream right now {meh}.  so, next best thing?  reminence on past holidays!  here are some pics of us in miami from 2010…we had just gotten engaged 6 months prior!  we relaxed, slept, explored, ate, sunned, + drank…what a vacay should be about!  well, my only hope is that punxsutawney phil predicted an early spring!  yaaaaayyyy!