How to Make a Blue & White Outfit Look Fresh

I've said it before and I say it again: I. Love. These. Shorts. It's such a struggle to find shorts and then to find polka dot ones that fit like a dream - this is a real unicorn here, folks. Last time, I wore a red white and blue outfit but this time I wanted to switch it up and breath some freshness into the tried & true combo of blue and white. So pops of pink! This simple and easy color combo feels so new and fun! It also doesn't hurt to mix 2 simple prints: stripes and polka dots #FTW.  

I've also worn this peplum top here tucked into a midi but I resisted the urge for this outfit. As a pear shape, I've always been a little hesitant to wear more fabric on my hips but I've seen many bloggers embrace it and rock it. Color Me Courtney (one of my favorites!) rocks the peplum well. 

Another little surprise factor of this outfit is my beloved watermelon purse (also worn to the beach here). Everyone went gaga for fruits this summer and rightly so! I kinda feel like a little girl again wearing this purse, especially when putting my heart-shaped sunglasses in it and then the only thing in my purse is my wallet, a mirror and lipstick. It's like playing dress-up all over again! 

I wore this outfit on date night and we had the loveliest time. We walked through Chinese Gardens to take these photos (and the sun kept playing hide & seek, driving me crazy trying to get continuity with the photos!). We also played the how-many-monitor-lizards-do-you-spy game. Spoiler Alert: Stephen always wins. I have no idea how he can spot these lizards camouflaged so well! It doesn't help my cause that these suckers are SO BIG. Then we finally tried the hot pot restaurant that's been on our list forever. It was soooo good and we ate so so so so so much beef. We also made friends with the owners who were so incredibly sweet. Great outfit, great night in my opinion! 

What was on your last date night's itinerary? Have you discovered an quick, easy way to freshen up an outfit? 

Shorts, Top & Shoes: Thrifted | Purse: Abaday | Earrings & Sunglasses: Bugis Market | Bracelet: Lovisa 

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Vintage Red Midi Around East Singapore

Eunos

Eunos was an area of Singapore I explored when I first moved here and then promptly forgot about when moving to the other side of the island. Luckily, Lauren from Fried Green Kimchi reminded me of all it's charm! (Lauren also took all of these stunning photos for me as well!)  It's a great spot in Singapore to see the quaint and iconic buildings of the region's yester-years. For me, I always think of the long corridors of shop after shop, where the paint and the tiles changes from each small business, but the crown molding and darling details are always present. Besides aesthetically, Eunos is a perfect place to explore the trendy cafes and restaurants. 

Sinpopo Brand 

Sinpopo Brand is a restaurant all decked out in mid-century decor and draws inspiration from traditional old-school Singaporean dishes. I love not only the vintage feel but the novelty of walking down retro Singaporean memory-lane. They had recently redecorated and while the 1950's vibe was still the same, they had changed from turquoise and red to grey and black. Not gonna lie, I was a bit bummed. But they were incredibly friendly and helpful and the chilled pandan soufflé was truly scrumptious. I want to go back next time and try their beef short rib horfun. 

Joo Chiat 

Lauren cleverly called these buildings "painting ladies". I have never been to San Francisco to see the real deal but it's still a perfect description of these absolutely adorable homes. On either side of the street are rows of colorful pastel two-story houses, each with their own personality. I can't even imagine how much run of these darlings would run ya, but a girl can dream! #housegoals  From what I've learned, this street is named after a man, Chew Joo Chiat who was a wealthy landowner of the area. He was part of the Peranakans - Chinese and Indian immigrants who married the Malay natives. There's a great museum in Singapore about the Peranakans and my one of my favorite part was seeing the intricate beaded slippers. 

As I'm starting to think of my next step outside of Singapore, I'm realizing I need to take advantage of the beauty and culture that is around me now! I wish I had done that when I was living in Korea for my blog but I guess ya live and learn! 

Once again, a very special thank to Fried Green Kimchi's Lauren for taking these gorgeous photos! Make sure to check out her blog - she'll give you serious wanderlust over her road trip in the Western part of America and you'll drool over her apple pie hotteok! 

Shirt & Shoes: Thrifted | Skirts: Choies | Headband: Korea | Bag: Bugis Market

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Off the Shoulder Top // Turquoise Ice Cream

I learned 3 things while wearing this outfit and shooting these photos: I don't look cute while eating an  ice cream cone (Tyra is currently yelling at me to eat pretty and smize), people think I'm pregnant in this skirt (keep in mind I live in Asia), and tassel earrings stick to you when you're dripping in sweat. Guess what? Don't care. I love this outfit and these photos. 

Especially obsessed with this top - I think I have nice shoulders (is that a weird thing to think…?) and when the off-the-shoulder trend came out, I was rejoicing from the rooftops. Okay, I'm exaggerating. But only a little. 

Btw, how fun is this wall? I wanted to wear an outfit that matched the spirit of a colorful paint-splatter mural. And a red and pink outfit just didn't push the fun envelope enough for me until I added the pops of turquoise (and the purple purse for good measure). 

What do you think about off-the-shoulder tops? There's so many styles to choose from! Which is your favorite? 

Shirt & Sunglasses: Cotton On | Watch: Lovisa | Skirt, Purse & Shoes: Thrifted | Earrings: Bugis Market 

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Bandita

Eek! These pictures were taken in February, for heaven's sake! Somehow they got lost. BTW, how in the world is it now June??? 

Anyways, for Chinese New Year my boyfriend, some friends and I rented a house on AirBnB in Batam, Indonesia . The house and grounds were great - we spent most of the time swimming in the pool and playing card games (and eating delicious cheap pizza!) at the nearby cafe. We've all been to Indonesia before and Batam island is mostly filled with resorts so honestly, we were terribly lazy about exploring.

This little dress is great because it does what I love - mix prints and the empire waist is incredibly flattering. A perfect dress to throw on and lounge around. :) 

Hat: H&M | Dress: Uptown Cheapskate | Purse: Ecuador
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