There’s really noting better than the smell of leather on a man… Leather, Amber, Smoke are such sensual smells that not only attract but evoke a feeling of nostalgia, a timelessness that resides in black and white films and locomotive trains.  I have been looking for a bag that meet these requirements and alas, I have found it!!!  LL Bean’s Heritage Tote offers a practical bag with durable  tobacco vegetable dyed leather and rugged rolled leather handles.  I am a sucker for a good rolled leather handle.  My new bag will look great for years to come because brown leather ages so well and gains character the more beat up it gets.  $200

A little departure from what I usually blog about but this is what I am thinking about right now… How connected we all are and how things can change radically in a matter of days, months, years….  I have a working knowledge of American History and there is a section in my brain for all the stories about how my mother was robbed of an adolescence during the Cultural Revolution but I never really understood exactly what happened.    She would tell and retell us about how she was snatched from her Au Pair, whom she has tried to find for years since coming to America to no avail and about how her family was displaced to Socialist Labor Camps, but I never learned about it in school…  Her stories was the stuff of novels and a movie (of which I dreamed of producing and making one day when I was a Director).. I secretly fantasized about who’d play me, in the movie.. (LOL) and what old photos would I use as inspiration that we still had (they were mostly burned when the Red Guards came into my mom’s house, 8yrs old at the time, and took all their possessions, land, hospitals- my great grandmother was a doctor, she was like, kind of a big deal (pardon my sarcasm)… (I’ll get her name asap)  I really thought about this stuff when I was eight or so.. that was the first time I went to China and she took me to all these places that she grew to love.  She made very close friends, most of whom she sees on a annual basis.  She became a high school teacher in Kunming, China where she met my father and the students she taught became an extended family…  She taught this homeroom core group of students till they went to college and was a sort of Michelle Pfeiffer type teacher from “Dangerous Minds” (only set in a City in China).. They would come over and cook and clean her house apparently and even babysat my brother, they hung out at her house after school a lot, went on field trips to peach orchards… My mother always lights up when she talks about it.  She decided to go to America, she didn’t trust China and Nixon had just opened the doors to America from China so she got sponsorship from my grandmother’s uncle  whom lived in Arlington Heights, IL at that time…. At the last minute, however, Granduncle Huang rescinded his sponsorship  believing that she would become a burden upon him and his family and thought my mother had no work ethic.  Many, today and then, thought that you were just handed everything, in America.  My mother knew better.  Defeated, my momma went back to work, but received a call from the Emigration Office and was told that she was approved… and here I am today.. typing this over the internet…   Life is weird.  Till this day, she still visits Kunming every few years and is in close contact with all of her former students.  Her former students are in the forties, now, and are very successful…

The Down to the Countryside Movement (上山下乡运动) was a policy instituted in the People’s Republic of China in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a result of the anti-bourgeois thinking prevalent during the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong declared certain privileged urban youth would be sent to mountainous areas or farming villages, in order that they could learn from the workers and farmers there. My mother was one of these “privileged” youths.  The government took her family’s hospitals and sent my grandfather to jail, while my grandmother, a hypochondriac socialite to work as a farmer.   My mother became a teacher to the villagers because one major flaw of the Great Leap Forward and The Cultural Revolution  was that the farmers were mostly illiterate and were incapable of running the government, Mao Zedong just wanted political upheaval so he could gain power by using the Red Guards as his weapon.

Essentially, Mao used the “up to the mountains and down to the villages” to quell unrest and remove the embarrassment of the early Cultural Revolution from sight.

As a result, many fresh high school graduates, who became known as the Rusticated Youth of China, were forced out of the cities and effectively exiled to remote areas of China. Some commentators consider these people, many of whom lost the opportunity to attend university, China’s “lost generation.” Famous authors who have written about their experiences during the movement include Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, Jiang Rong, and Zhang Chengzhi, both of whom went to Inner Mongolia.  My mother is one of the lost generation.  Luckily, she emigrated to America with my brother (4yrs old at the time) and grandmother when Nixon “opened the doors”, my father came a year later.  The rest is “Her”story… more to come…

My Momma @ Spiaggia Mom's Day 2009

THANKS SANDRA for the link to this beautiful model!! He’s like Mr. Perfect, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but DAYUMMM… Not only that, he speaks Mandarin AND English.. Chinese is such a beautiful language that I am SO grateful to speak it and this only cements the long-standing belief that I must have a partner that shares the love of the language, as I do.. He’s Chinese (Taiwanese) and he is FIIINE, doesn’t seem too keen on his Asian heritage as he kind of belittles the culture and makes sure to distance himself from it, even though he works in the Asian markets and has a limited English vocabulary… Not only that, he claims to eat a very “American”/Canadian (where he’s from) diet–he is either stupid or being fed lines. (sorry, but it’s true…) Come on, what is about the dog eating “thing”?!!

I love love LOVE that he is the cover boy for Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2011 campaign, however.. such a nice departure from the Caucasian faces we always see in magazines… Given, LV’s market, he IS an ingenious choice… surprisingly, Godfrey Gao is their FIRST Asian male model. and WHAT an Asian male model he IS! LOUIS VUITTON DAMIER GRAPHITE “ELVIS” might be the new purchase…don’t love the strap, but it is a great summer bag, perfect size and versatile–the zippered exterior “slash” pocket is very handy! If you know me, you know I love my Looey Graphite! Can’t envisioning it costing more than $1500…

The interviewer should rethink her juvenile questions and close her legs!!… shoo…. He’s worth the look, though… UNNNNHHHH!!

My Sociology thesis project, ten minute independent documentary..

I’ve been in the market for a bedroom lamp for some time now, so here are a few interesting options that I’d like to share with you.

now of course the ones above are my number one choice- made of resin, they take the guilt out of having a traditional barbaric mount while serving as an alternative to a sconce or a light source… It’s being a conversation piece, to say the least.. Con- Approx. $8,000.00

The WET Lamp (approx. $280-$400) is an elegant and playful series of glass lamps with an alluring water-submerged light bulb at its center. Putting an exposed light bulb in water certainly raises some eyebrows, but it also creates an intriguingly simple dimmer switch. When a thin silver rod is slid into the water, the WET Lamp turns on and becomes progressively brighter as the rod is submerged. I’m definitely getting the clear one, I am just deathly afraid of breaking it and getting electrocuted (and losing a sexy lamp).

Despite its precarious concept, the Wet lamp is a completely safe and isolated system of low voltage power. Comes in three sizes and two finishes, frosted and clear.

Do you want to distinguish your Apple product from all the other Apple-philes at your local Starbucks?!! There’s a plethora of products out there to enhance your toy but I have found the wood grained decals made by Karvt beautiful and they’re made of high-quality (no bubbles and definitely not cheesy) 100% real wood veneers. Comes in four different wood options: Cherry, Pine, Walnut, and Bamboo with two color choices for each option as well… Natural and Chocolate… These are a smart choice for protection and style- the decals leave no residue and do not add much bulk to your iphone, ipad, macbook. Easy to install and pretty much foolproof! Check out the simple application instruction video below!

KARVT – How to Apply Our Skins from KARVT on Vimeo.

According to Men’s Health, the holiday season has become synonymous with mindless eating. Half the weight we gain all year comes during the weeks leading up to the new year, and this weight tends to be the kind we keep on for the rest of our lives. Uh Oh… Even though I had a modicum of restraint this holiday season, I definitely helped myself to seconds (and thirds) this bountiful Carbfest, I mean, Christmas 2010.   It’s back to the gym for me…  I’ve been toying with the idea of committing to the P90X challenge.  I call it a commitment, because it is ninety consecutive days of intense workouts, the workouts are based on this principal of “muscle confusion”which is supposed to trick our muscles into building and repairing faster and more effectively as compared to traditional exercise.  It is a do-it-at-home system which requires you to have several pieces of equipment:

Yoga Mat

Manduka Mats are great because they're highly durable, shock absorbent and eco-friendly!

Set of dumb bells**

Space saving PowerBlock dumb bells offers the convenience of having a full set of weights without the need for a dedicated home gym. Although, I think an industrial set of weights look great in a huge loft- many would beg to differ.. In Sight, In Mind- I say...

A set of Dumb bells can range from $200-$500, the PowerBlock can cost up to $800 for the full "set"

Resistance Bands

Pull-up Bar

Iron Gym and Beach Body both make a similar product where drilling is not necessary... Simply hang the bar from a doorway and voila! You have an effective and non-intrusive piece of equiptment. Just make sure to take it down when done, otherwise, it could prove hazardous if the you try to shut the door (learned from experience).

Polar GPS- $330

2 Yoga blocks

Push-up Stands

Heart Rate Monitor*

Body Fat Tester*

**Ranging in from 5 to 50 lbs for women, and for men weights up to 90lbs.  Preferably the hexagonal ones as they lend for a solid foundation when you do push-ups.

*I had a Polar Hear Rate monitor and it was very successful in helping me keep track of how intense each workout was and how I progressed but as far as it being absolutely neccessary, it’s not.  Don;t buy into the hype, it’s useful to keep track and there are those that swear by them, but I lost the transmitter that attaches to the band and it is not worth it to me to get it replaced.  It is a superfluous expense that is “neat” to have.  Especially if you are accustomed to breaking a sweat, you really should know your body well enough to know when you had an average workout or an intense workout.

*Again, one of those superfluous items that you don’t need to waste your money on.  Especially if you are a member of any gym, they should have one at the front desk or the personal training desk, they might try to sell you on buying a training package, however so tread lightly or buy training!  Shoo, it worked for me!

Wish Me Luck!!!  It is going to be hard to work out everyday for 3 months whilst working a full-time job but, No Pain-No Gain or some other cliched saying that will get me motivated!!  Update to this resolution to come soon…promise…..

‘Clueless’ is one of those movies that will remain a classic for life, it’s hard to believe that it’s been SIXTEEN years since I first saw this movie at the tender age of eleven and have since memorized this iconic piece of history.  This movie is probably my first exposure to the store, Fred Segal, which I was lucky enough to cross off my style-bucket list this past trip to California.  I found some great pieces and was surprised to see that everywhere in LA really DOES have valet, or in most cases, parking… a very refreshing amenity for this Chicago boy.  Fred Segal was the first denim-only store started in the 60′s and has since blossomed into a trendy, celebrity-clad store that has been referenced in films (Legally Blond, Clueless, The L Word, Bret Easton Ellis‘s Less Than Zero) songs (that Pink song, ‘Stupid Girls’) and is the backdrop for many of today’s tabloid photos of celebs.  There are two outposts, Santa Monica and the heavenly Hollywood locale, where the service was great, location is central and did I mention, FREE PARKING?!!

One of the more stylish celebs, epitome of LA style- Nicole Richie

Hillary Duff at Fred Segal, Santa Monica Sidenote: Ron Herman is the name of the actual store, Fred Segal is the name of the entire "mall" which houses Ron Herman and Fred Segal Shoes, etc.Ron Herman is Mr. Segal's nephew and buyer.

I got two great Zanerobe pieces, a windbreaker that can be folded up into the hood (I love functionality) and a great tank or singlet.

Founded in 2004, this Australian line designs great swim wear, active casual, preppy, graphic clothing for men, women, and now, children.  It has a very laid-back, LA look and is a more refined surfer look.  The fit of everything is sexy casual, with proportions that I love, fitted but not skin-tight, in versatile materials and great graphic color combos. Here’s my jacket

blue and white color block nylon windbreaker $125, Fred Segal, Naked and Famous Black Skinny Jeans $150, Y3 Studded Black hightops $350, Karen Walker Jumbo Wayfarers $180

SHopping alongside the Venice Beach Promenade

I am big on Monogamy.  I stand for it.  I like it.  However, I have cheated on you and now I’m in love with California.

NYC- You’re the BEE’S KNEES!!! J’adore you!  J’Can’t live withOUT you… BUT, I want to move to California and be with <pause> Him.  I’m legal, in more ways than one and just love life more, when I’m there!!  Maybe, it’s the honeymoon phase, but I THINK I’M IN LOVE!!! Here’s a glimpse into my Iphone album, which might as well be my brain, at this point.  Why does it have to be West Coast VS. East Coast?!!  Didn’t we learn anything from the whole ‘Biggie V. Tupac’ ordeal?!!!Santa Brought sunshine this year!

Venice Beach on Christmas Eve

The 2 hour drive to San Diego from Los Angeles was actually the first day of sun, 4 days into our 6 day/7 night trip!! What made things worse was everyone Californian we talked to said the same thing... "OMG, what a relief from all the sun we've been having.. I've lived here all my life and I can't remember the last time it rained like this for days! You sure picked a GREAT time to come.. HARHAHRAR!!" Seriously, though, I had a BLAST! I saw, I ATE, I conquered and I found true love... LA Unica.. L.A.

Lunched at The IVY

CHRISTMAS!!!! IN CHINATOWN, NATURALLY... My family usually spent XMAS Doing the whole "dim sum thing".. A "thing" that I LOVE. Afterwards my dad would sleep in a movie theater and my brother, mom and I would be shushing each other at said movie. Meanwhile, neighboring movie patrons are giving us the evil eye.

Nestled in the feet of the Angeles Forest... Shang-ri-la

Visited Art Center College of Design in Pasadena