SWEET SUMMER

Oh, sweet sweet summer. 

After our dreary winters, I love watching the earth spring to life. The rain nourishes the earth, the sun shine longer & life blooms.

Summer brings up childhood memories of gardening with my parents, berry picking, weekend fishing and camping trips with family friends, adventures around the world, summer camp, etc. It is a season of growth. 

So many of those memories were formative and helped me become the woman I am today. Especially when I think back to those trips to developing countries that opened my eyes to injustices around the world, to different cultures, etc. And when I remember those important lessons from church summer camp and how I learned to make my faith in God my own.

Summer is a fruitful season, literally and figuratively. Berry, cherry and peach season are my favorites. During cherry season, I scored rainier cherries at the farmers market. And the farm's cherry trees definitely bore sweet cherries!

My hope is that the fruit I bear is sweet; that in everything I do in my life is filled with love, joy, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness and glorifies the Lord.

Photography: Cranberry Tantrums

SUMMER SUNSHINE

If you've heard that Chicagoans live for the summer, you've heard correctly.

This is the first summer out of my 7 years in Chicago that I've had to truly enjoy Chicago's sunny days and it's been bliss. I went to the farmer's market for the first time, made it to the beach before the end of summer and my balcony garden is thriving because I have time to give it TLC. 

The extra sunshine in my life has given me so much more joy in the everyday. In the past summers of medical school and residency, I didn't know what I was missing. But I hope to never miss these sunny summer days ever again!

I look forward to spending more summer morning walks, brunch and ice cream dates with friends and farmer's market visits!

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cranberry Tantrums

STYLE STORY: FLORAL SISTER STYLE

Happy Monday! It's been a while since our first sister style post, and to celebrate the fact that we've been making music together for 20+ years, a realization I recently had, I thought I'd share some shots from our shoot with N3Lau Photography. We've been wanting to get pictures for our band, June & July, and for our YouTube channel, and finally found a moment of spare time this summer, so we asked him to take some pictures. We love how they turned out!

We chose our dresses separately and true to sister fashion, we just so happened to both choose floral dresses from our closets! But I love how the prints aren't too similar. I styled the rest of our outfits with pops of color to bring out the gorgeous hues in our dresses.

I chose to style my outfit with the Benevolent Jewels Crystal Flake Collar Necklace, one of my favorite statement necklaces that so simply dresses up any outfit. And the best part is that 10% of the purchase will be donated to Patriot PAWS, an amazing organization that trains service dogs for disabled veterans. The average cost to train one full service dog is $27,000 and there are currently 107 veterans on the waiting list. This program addresses this need and help disabled veterans regain lost independence and emotional stability. Incredible right?

And even better, with the code JHCODE20, you can get 20% off your entire purchase at Benevolent Jewels! So get shopping!

Isn't my sister beautiful? And she has a beautiful heart to go along with her looks. I'm so thankful to have a big sister like her to look up to!

If you'd like, check out our latest video and subscribe to our channel! We are so thankful for the sweet encouragement we have received from friends old and new!

Love you guys!! I hope you all have an amazing week ahead!

SHOP OUR LOOKS:

Jess's outfit:

Dress: Anthropologie (Similar)

Shoes: Casa de Hernandez (Similar)

Necklace: Kate Spade (Similar)

Clutch: Kate Spade

My outfit:

Dress: Hong Kong (Similar)

Shoes: Just Fab (Similar)
Bag: Asos (Similar)

Necklace: Benevolent Jewels (Use code: JHCODE20 for 20% off any purchase!)

Bracelet: ILY Couture

Linking up with:

Watch What I'm Wearing

Manic Monday

Style to Inspire
Let it Shine
Monday Bloom
How I Fall
Fashionably Employed

Style Sessions

Trend Spin

Stylish Tuesday
Confident Twosday
Style Me Wednesday
Tres Chic Fashion
Throw Back Thursday

Friday Fab Favorites

Friday Frills

Fashion Friday

Passion for Fashion

Favorite Fashion

STYLE STORY: NELLCÔTE

Happy Monday! There are few things I love more than summer in Chicago. It makes withstanding the long arduous winters worth it. Seriously, that's how much I love Chicago summertime. This past weekend was one of the most beautiful summer weekends in Chicago and I made good use of it by eating out with amazing company.

This summer has been a fatty fest for me. I'm trying really hard to put a sizeable dent into the list of Chicago restaurants I have been dying to visit since the list only gets longer as more and more amazing restaurants open up here. But let's be real, this list will just keep getting longer no matter how hard I try.

Nellcôte is one that has been vying for my attention. We finally went for brunch this past Saturday and it was delicious! First of all, the service was amazing and our food and drinks arrived so quickly!

KITCHEN STORY: BAKED BLUEBERRY LEMON DONUTS

One of the best parts of summer is berry season. I have so many great memories of going berry picking with my family and friends. My parents would tell this story to everyone of one time, when I was little, we went berry picking and my clothes and face ended up covered in berry juice after we finished picking. People joked that they should've weighed me before and after since I probably ate more than I picked! Good thing I was cute enough to get away with it!

Anyway, I wanted to bring a treat for my friends' house warming party and it was such a beautiful Chicago summer day so I decided to make something light. For some reason, lemons come to mind when I want something light. Then I thought I'd add blueberries to the mix since I had some in the fridge. And then these baked donuts came to be!

STYLE STORY: CHAMBRAY & LACE + STYLE TO INSPIRE LINK UP

Happy Monday! This week I'm cohosting the Style to Inspire link up with Rhea Et Cetera! I hope you join us! This is your chance to share your latest looks with your fellow style bloggers. Here's the story behind my latest look:

STYLE STORY: CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS MODEL

Photo by: Shane Collins (Crain's Chicago)

I am so excited to share that I was chosen as a Crain's Chicago Business Model!! What an honor and fun opportunity for me to share some more style wisdom when it comes to dressing for work.

Head over to Crain's Chicago to check out the article and the gorgeous shoot I did with the talented Shane Collins! We shot it on a perfect Chicago day at Navy Pier and let's just say it made me love my city even more, if that's even possible.
PS. You will have to subscribe to Crain's (it's free!) to view the entire article and photo shoot.

SHOP MY LOOK:

To my fellow Chicago fashionistas/os, share your work style on Instagram with #ccbstyle for a chance to be the next Crain's Chicago business model!

Linking up with:

Tres Chic Fashion

Friday Fab Favorites

Friday Frills

Fashion Friday

Passion for Fashion

Favorite Fashion

STYLE STORY: SUMMER BREAK

My presence here will be limited until the end of this month because I'm studying for my boards right now. But have no fear! I'm still working on some awesome projects that I cannot wait to share with you!

I am also putting together a little somethin' somethin' to show just how much I appreciate you and your presence here. If you haven't visited my Facebook page yet, you might want to click "like" to be the first to hear! (hint hint wink wink)

To tide you over these next few weeks, I put together a few of my favorite summer outfits that I hope will inspire you!

STYLE STORY: BLACK + WHITE

Top: Anthropologie (SIMILAR)

Shorts: Anthropologie (SIMILAR)

Shoes: Just Fab (SIMILAR)

Clutch: Kate Spade (SIMILAR)

Earrings: Benevolent Jewels (I also love THESE)

Bracelets: ILY Couture, Benevolent Jewels, ChicWish (I love THIS too)

Rings: Jeweliq, Urban Outfitters (I love THIS too)

MORE SIMILAR STYLES (ALL UNDER $55):

Linking up with:

Manic Monday

Style to Inspire

Style Sessions

Stylish Tuesday

STYLE STORY: RED, WHITE & BLUE

I think I deserve a pat on the back because for the first time, I'm posting a Holiday look early! I thought I'd share a Fourth of July look as well as some other red, white & blue inspired pieces that would work perfectly for different Independence Day festivities. 

Travel/Style Story: Hong Kong Style Haul

So sorry for the short hiatus. A couple days after I left Hong Kong, my dear grandma passed away. It was a tough time for me since she was one of my favorite people and her love for God was infectious. She always spoke of being with Jesus one day, and it brings peace to my heart knowing that she is no longer suffering and is now in the comforting arms of Jesus. I'm dedicating this post to my grandma since we share a similar love for fashion. Her style icon was Audrey Hepburn & she always kept up with the latest fashion while also being a smart shopper. She was brilliant with sewing and knitting allowing her to make her own clothes & for her family. Basically, she was amazing. There are so many memories with her that I will always cherish. I love her and miss her so much, but I'm thankful that this goodbye is not forever for us.

As you may have read from previous posts, I was in Hong Kong for a much needed vacation. And as always, shopping sprees are involved when I'm visiting this city because it is the place to find incredible clothes for a steal. Also, it's a chance to get a good look at new fashions and quirky Asian fashion which is always fun.

Travel Style Story: Hong Kong Island Adventure

I've been so incredibly lucky to have been able to travel to Hong Kong numerous times throughout my life and it never gets old. You'd think that Hong Kong is a tiny city, but you would be so wrong! Each section of it is worth spending a bit of time to explore and there are small islands and new territories to visit as well!

Style Story: Boho Chic

Hello from Hong Kong! Yes, I'm back again and pinching myself for being this fortunate to get to spend so much time here with my extended family. I'm on my two weeks of vacation between third and fourth of med school so I'm not going on any side trips to other countries in Asia and I'll be relaxing in this wonderful city the entire time. My plan is to eat back all the pounds I lost this past year (I may or may not have already accomplished this...) while scouring the street markets for great deals on clothes. I plan to share my fabulous bargain finds with you all soon, so stay tuned! Now on to this style story...

Style Story: Chambray & Polka Dots

"I'm a tad bit polka-dot obsessed." Understatement of my life.

I've always loved polka dots, so when it came back into style, my obsession worsened now seems only slightly ridiculous. Which leads to this style story...

Style Story: Emerald + Cobalt

There are some things about emerald green and cobalt blue that make me happy. They are colors that can be worn all year round. By themselves, they are beautiful colors that look good on anyone & any skin tone, as is evident on Allison Williams, Lupita Nyong'o, and Jamie Chung in cobalt blue and Sarah Hyland & Lupita in emerald. But together, they are a bold and powerful visual force that are so aesthetically pleasing.

Style Story: Bright Color Blocking

As I've said before, I love wearing color. The brighter the merrier!

I recently found beautiful bright sheer crochet tops. I've been loving this perfect summer Chicago weather for giving me the opportunities to wear them! For a casual lunch downtown with my friends, I styled the hot pink version with my yellow pants. What do you think of this look?

Pants: Bossini | Necklace: old | Ring: JewelMint | Earrings: borrowed from my sister

Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to follow me via Bloglovin'! :)

Entertaining Guide: Indoor Garden Party

I was flipping through photos reminiscing about my last-ever summer break (does anyone miss it as much as I do?) and realized I never got around to sharing about a fun little party I threw for a few of my friends. So just to bring back the good memories, I thought I'd share some fun party ideas with those of you who love hosting parties as much as I do!

To celebrate the end of the school year & the beginning of summer, I decided to throw a garden party themed potluck brunch and invited some of my classmates. My rules were the following:

• Floral attire
• Floral-themed food (or at least an attempt!)

Luckily, Kim, one of my good friends from my second home state who is a baker-extraordinaire & also loves to throw parties was visiting me and helped me throw this party together in no time!

I found DIY instructions on how to make your own giant paper flowers & instantly knew I had to incorporate these into my party somehow. I've always wanted to do a DIY photobooth because who doesn't love fun photobooth pictures? So I made these giant paper flowers as a fun photobooth backdrop instead of having a boring off-white wall background. I loved the whimsical look of it!

I also found free photobooth prop templates of glasses & mustaches and printed them out. Kim helped me cut them out on construction paper and stuck them to stirrer sticks. They turned out so great!

I also made medium sized versions of the flowers and attached "stems" to them with a stirrer stick. I bought $1 planters from Target, lined the insides with foil, then filled them with corn chips, mango-peach salsa (from Costco), & homemade guacamole. Then, I stuck one medium flower into each planter as if they were potted plants. They turned out super cute and doubled as table decorations!

Next came the food. Kim made delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I found cute flower-topped food picks at a nearby boutique and we used those to decorate the cupcakes. We also made a Tuna-filled Crescent Wreath which was scrumptious.

My favorite floral-themed dish made by one of my friends was a delicious & beautiful peach cake decorated like a rose. Beautiful right?

Thanks for reading!

Style Story: BE BOLD, BE BRIGHT

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. Well, not the part where I have to walk in pouring rain...it never turns out like those romantic rainy scenes in movies, especially with the Chicago wind...I end up looking more like a wet unattractive mess. But what I do love about spring is that color breaks out from the darkness of winter. The sun shines longer, the flowers bloom & people start wearing brighter colors! 

My new obsession is with bright colored pants. I know it's been a thing for a couple years already, but I've shied away from it for various reasons. When I visited Hong Kong recently, we were browsing Bossini and found a great deal for adorable colored ankle pants. I fell in love with the colors and I had to give in and buy them. 

Some may pair their colored jeans with a more neutral top which is totally great, but I love pairing them with even more color & prints! And spring is the perfect time of the year to mix colors & experiment with your style! Be bold & be bright with your style! Here's how I wore them:

Two of my besties and I wore yellow pants to school on the same day!! We promise it wasn't planned! I love how they styled their pants too! Look at those beautiful colors :)

Red Swing Jacket: Forever 21

Pants: Bossini

Shoes: Toms

Top: Old Navy

Sweater: The Limited

Pants: Bossini

Ring: Jeweliq

Here are other ways I would pair them:

Simple prints.

 Top: Old Navy (old)

I have polka dot fever... 

Top: Forever 21

This is my favorite color combo...Blue & Maize (GO BLUE!) 

Top: Romp (from Malaysia)

PRINTS PRINTS PRINTS!

Top: Wet Seal (old)

Hope you enjoyed this post! Remember, BE BOLD, BE BRIGHT this season and all year round!