Douglas and Bec

Trying to move on from Ikea furniture is no easy task especially when you love Scandinavian simplicity.  As a compromise, I like to venture out and find furniture in the same vein but with a little more of that "je ne sais quoi." Douglas and Bec, a family-run New Zealand company, embodies everything I find appealing about the style- light woods, sleek silhouettes, and a subtle hint of metal.  All furniture is handmade by Douglas, the designer's father. 










I can sit here all day envisioning these items in a bright lofty space.

Out & About: It's a Bánh Mì World

For those who have a preconceived notion that Houston has no soul, I've decided to add an Out & About feature that will not only motivate me to break out my camera again (yay!) but also show why I love this city more and more each day.

Last night I got to experience what could only be called the city's largest bánh mì fest. The Great Bánh Mì Cook-Off packed 11 chef booths in the original Kim Son in Downtown.  

The lineup was as follows: 

(1) Chef King & Co. - Darius King
(2) Copper Chefs - Conor M. & JP
(3) Culinary Creations Catering - Cristian Gonzalez
(4) Fat Bao - Pak Tsui
(5) Flying Saucer - Ben Rabbani
(6) Fung's Kitchen - Hoi Fung
(7) GiAu Bar n Bites - Nick Nguyen
(8) Hearsay Gastro Lounge - Edwin Chanas
(9) Kim Son Restaurant - Kim Son Chef
(10) R&D Barbeque - Dale Ellington
(11) Taco Nuts - L.J. Wiley  

Here's how it went down:

The ingredients...

Who doesn't love some Jack and butter?

Mmm... fried pork belly...

R & D BBQ

Chef King & Co.

Hearsay Gastro Lounge

 

The winner!  R&D's BBQ Bánh Mì was both the Judge's and People's Choice! It's true- we Texans can't have enough of our barbeque.  

The food scene has really exploded here, and this was a creative way to bring some notable chefs together to raise money for charity.  This fundraiser helped to support BPSOS, which has done great things for minority communities including spearheading efforts to cut down human trafficking.  BPSOS hosts a large fundraising event every year, and I'm excited to see if they can top this fun and scrumptious event! By the way, I did have a taste of every single entry, and my two favorites were the pork belly and quail egg bánh mì by Giau Bar N Bites and the sardines and watermelon bánh mì by Fat Bao.  Creative concoctions for the win (at least in my book)!  

Home is Where the Heart Is

and apparently, where all my attention has gone.



After several friends noticed I've been MIA from the Blogosphere, I'm here to dispel the rumor that I will be offline forever.  It's true that home life tend to get most of my focus these days, but I've really missed this special place where I can share my arbitrary ramblings.  So here I am, settling nicely in the new home and enjoying the little things including watching my cats' butts jiggle as they run down the stairs.

We've officially been in the home for three months, and I know there's a Housewarming just around the corner. I feel like there is still so much to do but alas, it's probably time to pick a date.

With the home filling up much of my mind, I hardly have any time to think about clothes.  I did, however, pick up some sale pieces online at Madewell.  Damn you internet, you make it too easy.  Here are the newest items in my arsenal:

Triomphe Striped Scarf 



Light, gauzy scarf repping the red, white, and blue.  Is it Team France or Team USA?  You decide.
{found here}

Sahara Short-Sleeve Jacket


I've wanted the Current/Elliot Infantry jacket when it first came out but never pulled the trigger.  Many seasons later, I'm finally able to get my hands on a similar version.  I'm kinda liking the fact that this one doesn't have a clunky belt at the bottom.  Plus, with the sale, I was able to scoop it up for about $40. Not bad.

I purchased the XS when it was still available, but you can get S and M here. Go one size smaller than usual since it has an oversized fit.


Black Paisley Romper

I know there's still quite a bit of summer left for me to wear this. No product pic but here's one of Jamie Chung looking real cute in hers. 

As if I couldn't get enough paisley, I also bought the shirt version in red.

Lately, I've been leaning towards minimal dressing such as pieces from a fave site of mine, Everlane.  It's hard not to want every slouchy tee they sell since they keep coming out in such beautiful colors! So far, I have the Cotton U-Neck in Copper (XS), the V-neck in Merlot and Forest (S), and the Silk Round Collar in Marine (S).  I really love the company- its transparency, prices, and products.  I'm looking forward to stocking up on some of the sweaters soon. And oh, Petra bag, I have my eye on you!