OFFICE UNIFORM

Zara Blazer, J Brand jeans, Theory t-shirt, Zara pumps

As things get really hectic at work, I often don’t have the time or energy to think about what to wear and the only thing appealing to me is a t-shirt, sweatpants and sneakers. If I’m in that situation in the morning, there are few fail-safe outfits I rely on, one of which is this blazer, t-shirt, jeans and pumps combo. I like that I can wear t-shirt and jeans at work (a dark wash, classic cut is office appropriate) and a nice fitting blazer finished off classic pumps pulls the whole outfit together. My new ‘wash and go’ haircut also compliments my lazy attitude most mornings.

WEEK ROUNDUP

09. 20. 12 By kcgines in FASHION

Our home feels more complete with our “100 Bullets” art that takes up a wall in our living room

I spent this week easing my way back to normal life and routine. It’s been fun catching up with my girl friends and finally getting to watch “Magic Mike” with them. I got to dress up for a date night at Grand Hyatt hotel and celebrated my father-in-law’s birthday at a new boutique hotel that donates 100percent of their profit to charity. I’m going to savor this weekend as I feel that it’s the last relaxing weekend I’ll have before hoping into Festival train of madness. Here are some things that makes me smile this week.

On another note, I was suffering from delayed jet lag this week but this Iphone app helped me relax and have a peaceful slumber. I now use this every night and particularly like the rain and the ocean sound.

Current read: Gone Girl

Loving my mustache key chain

A great vintage find in Cabaret in Toronto

This is how I feel about muffins

CELEBRATED RETURN

09. 19. 12 By kcgines in LOVE, TRAVEL

My husband goes on business trips a lot ever since we started dating, I never failed to drop him off and pick him up from the airport and now that I started traveling for work as well, it quickly became our tradition. Being away from each other can be a good thing, you get some alone time and it gives you an opportunity miss each other. We make it a habit to give each other little surprises to show how much we missed each other and welcome their return by either downloading his/her favorite TV series to catch up on or simply coming home to a freshly made bed and a home cooked meal. This time, Anthony pulled several amazing surprises which really makes me the luckiest girl in the world to have a husband that know how to make me feel right at home. Here’s a sneak peek of his surprises for inspiration:

Banner he lovingly prepared and put up

Got to love a guy that knows your favorite flower

I discovered sweet messages around the house

He bought my favorite magazine and chocolate and placed it on my bedside table

INSIDE MY TRAVEL HANDBAG

09. 18. 12 By kcgines in TRAVEL

Large Zara tote bag, Klipch headphones, passport holder, travel pouch, wallet, clear cosmetic case, slippers

I’m not a frequent flyer but I did travel quite a bit this year and have a pretty much solid routine when it comes to flying and what I pack inside my carry-on bag. Last week, I endured a dreadful 14-hour flight to Toronto and a 6-hour layover in Heathrow so before I left, I made sure that I had a well-equipped carry-on bag so I feel comfortable on my journey to far far away. I thought it would be an ideal time to offer some of my tips to flying better.

1. WHAT TO WEAR: It’s tempting to wear comfortable sweats and sneakers on the plane but I think it’s important to look smart yet feel comfortable. My trick is layering since it’s the easiest way to adapt to varying temperatures on the plane. I have 4 key pieces: vest, light breathable sweater, blazer or jacket and a large scarf that can double as your blanket (I don’t use airport blankets anymore). I then wear my stretchiest pants and stay away from skinny denim as it causes bad circulation especially if you’re sat for however many hours. As for shoes, I wear a pair of boots that I can easily slip on and off and a thick socks underneath.

2. WHAT I PACK: I have a carry on luggage with me that has my tech stuff (laptop, camera,etc) and a change of clothes and underwear in case my luggage gets lost or if If I need fresh clothes in the middle of a long flight. You can see the content of my carry-on bag on the pictures below but what’s not pictured are the items I buy after I clear security which are: big bottle of water, gummy bears (I’ve had disasters with melted chocolates in my bag so I stay away from them), water-soluble magnesium citrate (it calms your nervous system and brings stress level down), magazine for light reading while waiting to board and chewing gum.

3. BEFORE TAKE OFF: Once I’m on the plane, I head straight to the bathroom to pee and freshen up. Once I’m all seated and comfortable, I take off my shoes and slip on my fluffy slippers and I take double dose of Echinacea to boost my immune system (planes are swimming with viruses) and drink a big glass of dissolved magnesium citrate. It’s tempting to start watching in-flight entertainment right away but I actually wait until we’re up in the air so I don’t get interrupted by stewardess announcements. I read that setting your watch to the time zone of your destination helps prepare you mentally and physically (I have yet to do this).

4. UP IN THE AIR: You hear this a lot but it’s really vital to stay hydrated hence I buy the biggest bottle I can find in duty-free. I also apply sand sanitizer and moisturize my hands from time to time and spitz refreshing mist on my face. When I want to sleep, I put on my noise cancellation headphones and listen to my jazz playlist. I also calculate the number of hours I have to determine how many films I can watch and prioritize which one to watch first (it’s nerdy I know). Finally, I like to freshen up an hour before landing and change my clothes if necessary.

I’m sure in time, I’ll be a more efficient traveler and can manage to pack a week worth of clothes in a carry-on luggage. I’d love to hear your own tip and tricks to flying better.

Toiletries: Bliss tidy refreshing towel, Purell hand sanitizer, refreshing mist, hand lotion, tissues, Benefit pocket pal, mint, lip balm, rescue drop and pill box.

Travel pouch: Ipad, notebook, pen, Iphone, coin purse, hair tie, sunglasses

I keep my important travel documents in this handy passport holder from Mango. I pack a different wallet that contains my credit card, copy of I.D. and passport and some loose change.

SAVORY BREAKFAST

09. 17. 12 By kcgines in FOOD Tags: Savory Oatmeal

There are times when I crave Asian breakfast like noodles, fried rice, or dumplings. But since there’s no street food scene here in Doha and there’s no way I would prepare an elaborate feast at 6 in the morning, I satisfy my craving by making a cheat savory pudding using oatmeal. The idea sounds vile in the beginning as we’re accustomed to having oatmeal sweet but it’s actually quite tasty and easy to prepare. It’s also the type of dish where you can customize the toppings as per your liking. I opted for shitake mushroom and green onions and topped it with a fried egg similar to a congee. A simple dish that you can have for breakfast, lunch or dinner.