Category Archives: Miscellaneous

22 May 2011

Busy Sunday: Outfit Post Cheating

Hello lovelies! Lar, here. Stuck in bed on a steamy Atlanta Sunday with what I think is strep throat. Delightful, eh? I’ll try to not cough on you!

What I should be doing is helping Cath move (she’ll be about 5-10 minutes closer to me in her new place- woohoo!). Argh, I hate feeling like an invalid, especially because I know Cath is stressed today and I want to be there to lend a non-contagious hand.

Since Cath and I are not in any shape to be taking outfit photos today, I thought I would do a little cheat and show you what we wore last week when the weather decided to go all San Francisco on us and dip into the 60s as a high (we’re usually in the 80s and 90s this time of the year). Cooler weather means layers, even tights, which I usually can’t stand wearing. I love the way they look, but as a bunhead for more than 15 years it’s nice have have your legs free after so many years of incarceration. Oh and check out my brogues! They aren’t Prada (where for art thou,  color blocked platform?) but thrifted Anne Klein finds!

(Below: Lawd, girlll, what is going on with your har?! Apologies, readers- I’ve given up. The haircut is still a few weeks away, but I can’t even be bothered to run a comb through my mane these last couple of days. Long hair and great amounts of Southern humidity do not mix well with me. I’ve always been hair lazy, but add frizz and I can’t even pretend it looks beachy-chic any more).


On moi/Lar: Betsy Johnson tee (hand-me-down from well-dressed cousin), dress is Ramona West vintage, tights unknown, brogues Finders Keepers, bag is Anne Taylor, trench is DKNY (both years old).

Cath has always been much better at mane-tenance (get it? sorry – stuck in bed all day does bad things to my blog writing). I aspire to be like her in the hair department. Though it is thoughtful of me to give you a good way to tell us apart, non? Lar = disheveled mess with a pouf, Cath = sleek, gorgeous locks regardless of style.

 

On Cath: H&M blazer and trousers, F21 leopard tee, Madewell belt and shoes, bracelets thrifted and Gorjana.

Happy moving, Kitcath! And to the rest of you, happy lazy Sunday!

Category: Cath's Style, Lar's Style
15 Comments
20 May 2011

Doughnuts and Guns

Confession: I love doughnuts and am scared of guns. But that’s really being unfair toward guns because I’ve never tried one (and doughnuts and I go way back). I hate being scared of something just because I’ve never tried it, so I’ve always wanted to go to a shooting range. I figured once I understood how to use a gun (just like I understand how to shovel doughnuts down my gullet with not-a-crumb-wasted precision), I would, if not be a fan, know I had nothing to be scared of.

Okay, true that guns can be lethal and doughnuts are comparatively benign (unless given a plate of Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen doughnuts- and then you’re done for). I still felt that guns would be less scary with the proper instruction.

Enter Chloe of Chow Down Atlanta. Not only is she a genius foodie blogger, but she also happens to be a NRA instructor. Chloe introduced Cath and I to our first shooting experience at Quickshot last weekend.

We finished the day off with these (below)- those doughnuts from Duck’s that I mentioned. Seriously, you guys need to come visit us just to try these! And as much as I loved shooting (much less afraid of guns now), I do kind of wish we had more doughnuts than guns around. What a tasty world that would be!

Lulu’s Giveaway Winner!
We used a random sorter and this lovely lady (below) won our Lulus giveaway! Visit the lovely Ashley’s blog if you haven’t already. We hope everyone else had a chance to use the AsianCajuns Lulus discount too! Thanks to all of you for entering! Cheers, Ashley 🙂

 

 

 

Category: Decatur/Atlanta
17 Comments
19 May 2011

Nifty Thrifting: A list

We hope you guys had a chance to enter our give-away earlier this week and our Lulus discount! If you missed out, no worries! This post is for you (and me. . . and anyone else trying to save a buck).

I know I’m not the first “fashionista” trying to scrimp and save. When I say that, I don’t mean I’ve placed myself on a temporary shopping ban. I usually don’t cut out all shopping, but I just always keep my buying to a minimal at all times – I think especially compared to a lot of self-professed fashionistas/style bloggers.

Don’t get me wrong. I dream big. And I would love to spend a lot. I fall in love with the latest Mulberry bag and drool over the clothes in Anthropologie catalogs. I file away digital images on my desktop of Celine bags and Prada shoes seen on street style blogs. I love the escapism and fantasy of fashion, but very rarely do I literally buy into the fantasy. For one, I can’t afford them (and pay rent, and save and be all mature about my roth IRA- sighhh- adulthood). Secondly, should I?

And Cath is the same. We both love fashion/style, but we very rarely pay full price for anything over $100, and most of my recent purchases have been thrift finds ($3 belt, $4.50 for a stripped button up, etc.). One day I dream of having a really well-made purse, but at the same time it makes me a little queasy to think I would wear an accessory that could easily pull a bunch of  families in Rwanda out of poverty for good (especially when that couple of thousands is applied to women getting micro loans).

Well, enough fashionista proselytizing! I get long-winded when I stay up too late! All of this is to say, I put a list of thrift and second-hand stores that Cath and I love at the end of this post. Most are local, but one is online. Sifting through racks of pre-owned clothes is not everyone’s idea of good time, but it softens the blow of not being able to escape into a land where we can actually afford the fantasy.


On Lar: Thrifted jacket and purse via Finders Keepers • UO dress (on sale years ago) • Jeffrey Campbell boots • American Eagle belt

On Cath: Boyfriend’s shirt • Blank shorts • MIA shoes • tote from Scotland

AsianCajuns’ Thrifting List
• Finders Keepers, Avondale Estates and Decatur
• Last Chance, Decatur
• Good Will, North Lake
• Good Will, West End
• Poor Little Rich Girl, College Park
• Ramona West, online

 

 

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta, Lar's Style
19 Comments
16 May 2011

Reader Giveaway – A Dress From Lulu’s

Update Thursday, May 19: Congrats to Ashley of I Will See You in Far Off Places for winning! We used Random.org to pick the winner. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Hello dear readers! Boy-oh-boy, do we have a great giveaway for you! One lucky reader will win a dress of her choice from Lulu’s.

Most of you are probably familiar with Lulu’s – it’s a fashion blogger favorite. Lar and I embarrassingly didn’t discover this sweet shopping site until a couple of months ago. I actually fell in love with so many items on Lulu’s while I was writing this post that I ended up making a few purchases myself. All in the name of research!

How to Enter: Leave a comment letting us know which Lulu’s dress is your favorite and why, and we’ll choose a reader at random on Wednesday (psst.the dress you mention in your comment won’t necessarily be the one you win).

Contest ends Wednesday, May 19,  at 11:59 p.m.

But wait! There’s more! You can get a 15% discount on your next Lulu’s purchase by entering CAJUNS at check out (it’s case sensitive). The discount is good for AsianCajuns readers throughout the whole site until Thursday, May 20.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Category: Uncategorized
49 Comments
16 May 2011

Derek Lam and Braids

Hello dear readers! Thank you for your wonderful comments on the last post. It is definitely going to be hard to be apart from Lar for a few years, but we’ll visit each other a lot and still blog together – just in two different time zones.

Lar and I had a great weekend that included visiting a shooting range, going to see Bridesmaids, watching Eurovision, eating another delicious meal at Miso Izakaya, attending a baby shower at Watershed, going on a day trip to Chattanooga and watching season 2 of Twin Peaks.

Lar’s outfit: secondhand necklace, Zara tank and skirt, secondhand jacket, Jeffrey Campbell heels.

 

I love, love, love Lar’s Zara skirt. The pleats, the length and the color are all perfect.

But the best part about Lar’s whole outfit is her jacket. It’s a Derek Lam she found at Finders Keepers! She got it for less that $40, which is about a tenth of what it’s worth. That’s almost as good of a find as her Bottega Veneta bag.

Lar and I have decided we both want a hair style change. So we’re going to get our hair cut together in a few weeks. We’re thinking Alexander-Chung-inspired, shoulder-length hair. I suppose that doesn’t sound too drastic, but it’s a big deal for us since we’ve both keep our hair pretty long for the past 10 years.

Before I get my hair cut, I’m taking full advantage of the length – wearing my hair in braids, in a high bun or a sleek ponytail.

Cath’s outfit: Gap cardi, dress from Lulu’s, Aldo shoes.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Expect some future posts on our shooting range trip and Lar’s day in Chattanooga. And don’t forget to enter the Lulu’s giveaway!

Category: Uncategorized
20 Comments
12 May 2011

So About This Moving to the West Coast Thing

Doesn’t Cath look so cute and west coasty in this photo (above)? So cute in fact that she should move there when I go? Yeah! I think so too!

So it’s not definite that I’ll be in California just yet (Boston and Edinburgh are the other glittery possibilities), but this whole leave-your-twin-sister-for-2-to-3-years is stressing me out no matter if it’s north, east or west of the ATL. I haven’t actually given it much thought because (crosses arms and pulls grumpy face). . . I don’t wanna!


On Lar: LNA dress • thrifted sweater from Finders Keepers • necklace c/0 NOVICA • Kenneth Jay Lane cuff • Jeffrey Campbell sandals • Deux Lux purse


On Cath: Hat an top, F21 • Necklace, local boutique • Shorts, Urban Outfitters • Belt, thrifted J.Crew from Finders Keepers • Clogs, MIA • Sunnies, thrifted

I keep telling people I’m trying to be zen about the whole thing and just go where life takes me, but who am I kidding?! I like plans, I like goals, I like charts, and calendars and to-do lists! AND! I like being only 20 minutes (at most) away from my twinie at any given time. I guess my only choice is to lasso Scotland, Massachusetts, and California into Georgia. Totally doable. Any other ideas? Anyone?

In less grumpy news . . . stay tuned, lovely readers! We are going to have a Lulus giveaway contest in our next post. And the great part about that? Even if you don’t win you’ll still get a special AsianCajuns discount code. Woohoo! I’m excited cuz I’ve had my eye on these awesome tribal shorts.

 

Category: Cath's Style, Lar's Style
13 Comments
10 May 2011

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Last week, post royal wedding bash, I went to San Francisco to visit my boyfriend husband. He’s out at Stanford setting up his worm machine. Really. A worm sorter, technically speaking. Well, two weeks later, I’ve been back on the east coast all grumps because he’s still out there and doesn’t get back until the end of the week. Harumph! Apparently worm sorter machine set-up is trickier than you’d imagine (if you are in fact imagining such a thing).

We did have five lovely days together- my first in California! Once I got the public transportation down (Caltrain, Bart, and most confusingly the Muni), San Francisco and I became great friends, just as I knew we always would.

Helloooo delicious foods:

 

Spotted one of my favorite pieces at the SFMoMA! It’s called Lick and Lather (chocolate and soap self-portrait busts that the artist ate and washed with, respectively):

Our hotel in Palo Alto had an old telephone booth in it. I had to sit in it and pretend I was (a less chic) Audrey Hepburn in “Charade.”

Matt and I might be moving out west in the not-too distant future, and I loved my first glimpse of California. Next month is my first ever visit to L.A. and I’m tres excited, though I expect to feel a little fish-out-of-water-y. I think in my case you can take the girl out of the east coast, but you can’t take the east coast out of the girl (certainly not after 27 years of indelible Atlantic winds making their mark, huh?).

Category: Lar's Style
25 Comments
8 May 2011

Kylie Minogue and Wedding Chicks

So one of my best wedding presents? My bestie bought us tickets to see Kylie Minogue in concert – the pop queen’s first visit to the ATL! The concert was a terrific spectacle, best summed up by the gentleman who sat in front of us at the concert, “That was the gayest thing I’ve ever seen. and I LOVED it!!!” Me too, sir, me too.

We pre-gamed for Kylie with some sweet tea vodka and flower poufs from my wedding decor:

On Cath: F21 shirt, thrifted necklace, Gap jeggings, Dolce Vita shoes
On Lar: Zara tank and skirt, Express necklace and cuff, Madden Girl shoes, Sally Hansen nail strips

Oh! And you lovely readers, my engagement photos by the wonderfully talented Aharon Hill made it on the Wedding Chicks blog! I’m tres excited. We are trying to get some of my wedding photos out and about too.

I hope you guys had a wonderful, wonderful weekend and Mother’s Day!

xoxo,
Lar

Category: Decatur/Atlanta
8 Comments
2 May 2011

SCADlanta

I’m ashamed to say that going to see Waris talk was the first time Lar and I had been to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Atlanta. The Atlanta campus has been around for a few years now and has a full calendar of events open to the public. I love the images on the outside of the SCAD Atlanta building (above).


Outfit details: tank from Rockit Boutique, skirt from? and wedges from a clothing swap.

Lar is trying to show off the swishiness of her skirt that she bought years ago at a cute boutique in Birmingham, AL – it has a print of some famous painting on the bottom layer. She’s currently in San Francisco with her hubby who is working for a few weeks at Stanford – otherwise I would pick her art historian brain and ask her about the painting.

I am so in love with the Clare Vivier clutch Lar got me. I use it every chance I get.

This sweater might not be the most flattering piece I own, but I’m liking big drape-y tops this season.
Outfit details: H&M sweater and skirt, Clare Viver clutch, and Jeffery Campbell flats.

I hope you all had  good start to the week. The Decatur Arts Festival poster unveiling is this Thursday – I can’t wait!

Category: Uncategorized
6 Comments
29 April 2011

Our Royal Wedding (Experience)

We arrived in our Rolls of course (silly how our chauffeur forgot to take those brochures out of the driver door), red carpet rolled out, Kate and Wills sooo excited we had finally made it. I’m sure you guys caught it all on TV.

Okay, okay, the real life version: we got to the party at Piedmont Park a little past 6 am (we watched Kate walk down the aisle, bleary-eyed, from home). We had a sniff at some beautiful wedding flowers:

We tried on hats made by our local Grand Diva:

Drank champagne (more of those Sally Hansen strips on our nails- I’m totally hooked):

We watched the wedding via flat screen around the tent. Our beautiful hostess from The Piedmont Park Conservatory, announced raffle prizes while Kate and Wills rode to Buckingham Palace:

My absolute favorite part of the morning? The head sommelier from the St. Regis sabered the champagne when Wills and Kate had their first kiss on the balcony! And! They used the same champagne that the royal family had at breakfast – and we got a glass to ourselves. nomnombubbles.

Then we piled back into our Rolls Royce, told Jeeves to hurry over to Buckingham so we could catch the rest of the activities in person, and lived happily ever after

We aren’t big Disney princess girls, but a little bit of real life fairy tale never hurt anyone, eh?

Did you guys watch? Tell us what you did!

 

 

Category: Decatur/Atlanta
15 Comments