Themed Parties

Today was my sister's baby shower. The theme was "Harujuku Lover's" after Gwen Stefani's clothing line. My sister and I are big Gwen fans, and we also wanted to throw props to our Asian heritage -- even though we are Thai and not Japanese ;-)

Since we were little my sister and I would throw "themed birthday parties". We would spend months upon months creating decorations and coming up with games for our themed birthday parties. 

Our mother would buy us butcher paper from Costco and we would make these elaborate cut-outs and decorations. If the theme was "Where in The World Is Carmen San Diego?" or "The Rainforest" we would draw jungle animals and then decorate our backyard to look like the rainforest.  Our entire house and backyard would be decorated with handmade props and posters and everything would tie back to our party theme. 

Over the years the we had the following birthday parties "Christmas In August", "Disneyland","The County Fair", "Wheel of Fortune" (my dad even built us a spinning wheel and we had our very blonde friend come dressed as Vanna White), "Dillard's Department Store", "Hollywood", and a "1950's Diner" among others. 

There would be competitions and games and often fashion shows. I would make my friends parade up and down our long diving board by the pool -- it was the perfect runway! I had a pink clipboard and I would whip that thing out and tell everybody what to do. I was pretty bossy and assertive as a child! 

My father would spend hours cooking a huge Thai feast, and 10 -15 little girls would come over for several hours of "themed fun". Those birthday parties were magical and the memories are very precious to me. 

Today took me back to those childhood birthday parties. And I can't help but get a little teary-eyed. Two very important people should be here, and they are not. There was no mom to watch my sister open baby presents and play host. There was no dad to help with the food preparation and "catering". And it breaks my heart thinking my sister is going to be a mother and not have her mother here to help show her the way. 

This month marks 9 years. I am not quite sure I am ready for this...but then again we never really are ready for most of the things life throws our way! But I know this is only a smaller piece of the bigger picture....I love you Jaime, you are the BEST sister ever...and I love you mom and dad...you were incredible parents...gone but never, ever forgotten!

Delivered

I am officially a Henri Bendel vendor. I dropped off my 59 headbands today. It took me two weeks to finnish all the merchandise, and at times I was feeling like I might miss my delivery. But it all came together and I made my "X-Factory" date -- retail lingo for when merchandise leaves the factory :-)  

Of course, I have a long list of people to thank -- my amazing sister for working her magic in AI, Bessma's mother for helping me glue buttons, and Amanda for taking care of all the invoice and packaging slip templates. I have an amazing community of friends and family and now I am a ready for all the amazing things that are about to take place...

Elated

Henri Bendels picked 7 styles to merchandise!!!!!! And I am going to have several trunk shows. I am beyond elated!!!!! Well no time for blogging. The next few weeks is all about headbands and getting my LLC in order!!!!

Fashion Honors

I woke up so excited this morning. I have an appointment with the accessories buyer for Henri Bendels, as a follow up to last week's Open See. 

As I was at the gym on the elliptical machine, I started reflecting my time in the fashion industry and the various fashion related events that have put me over the top and made me really elated. Fashion isn't everything in life, but these things have put a really big smile on my face...

Here is my list

• Getting accepted to Parsons
• Seeing Oscar de la Renta on a weekly basis as an intern
• Assisting with Oscar de la Renta's Bridal Week Fashion Show
• Going to a photo shoot the second day of my internship at Women's Wear Daily
• Working backstage at Olympus Fashion Week and getting to dress the models
• Going to the Olympus Fashion Week -- every time I am in the tents I am on cloud nine
• Getting emails from Tamryn (Aerie Pre Production Manager) saying how much she appreciated me and all the work I was doing for her
• Seeing my headbands on display at Debut New York
• Getting a call back to Henri Bendels

New York Times Article on Henri Bendel's Open See

At Henri Bendel, Wannabes Welcome - The Moment Blog - NYTimes.com

Memories of Friends that will be Friends Forever!

I am so excited for April and May and July!!!! Jaime is coming to visit, then Sarah is coming to visit, and then I fly home for Jaime's babyshower. Kealey and Sarah are helping me throw a "Harajuku Lover's " themed shower  for Jaime. 

July will bring baby Tischler and maybe a weekend trip to LA with Kealey for some trend shopping and vacation time! I sure miss my crew of girls back at home! And it is not easy being across the entire country from them! I  miss our weekly happy-hours out in Scottsdale, our Last Chance runs, running to get tea at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or Gelato Spot. All the hours we spend standing around in a parking lot because we have soo much to talk about and we spent most of the time bent over in laughter at the restaurant. The crazy dance parties with the Wielers that last until 6am, watching Kealey try and explain to Sarah R. Kelly's Trapped In The Closet music video!....ahh amazing friendships, they mean everything to me! 

Boy Style

So the posh prepster needs a little arm candy to go a long with her cutting edge style. 

I know Zac Efron is supposed to be marketed to make tween girls drool, but as his interview in Interview proclaims he wants to be cast out of the teeny-bopper role and considered for darker and more edgy roles. I can handle that. I am not going to hide my shame, I love him! 

And not just because he looks good all muddy -- see Interview's Editorial Photoshoot. I actually do like his style -- he has that relaxed, west-coast boy look. You know I love a good west coast boy, and he is from Cali!

And then there is Chase. Such a pretty boy, even without Gossip Girl's stylist Eric Damon. Just look at him in that suit. 

I admire a boy who has good style. It probably stems from the fact that my father was an extremely sharp dresser. He loved his Armani suits and he had the best collection of ties.

In fact, he was the one that would take Jaime and me to Last Chance. He was the king of bargain shopping. He could find that one amazing piece, and it of course would be discounted or on sale. He had a knack for it. And being an architect, I think he just had an eye for what worked -- maybe it's in my blood :-)

Growing up I went shopping more with my father than my mother for clothes. Sure, she dragged us around in search of the perfect handbag or shade of lipstick, but it was my dad who had the eye and talent for dressing his girls stylishly. 

I miss those shopping trips. And I miss my parents...gone but never forgotten....