Category Archives: Miscellaneous

When The South Freezes Over

Supposedly it snowed here over Christmas, but as Cath and I were at the beach and saw no proof (apart from the occasional FB photo), we doubt it actually happened. This is certainly the most snow I’ve seen since moving to Atlanta/Decatur ten years ago. We might have one or two days of snow a year in the South, but it almost never manages to stick to the ground, and our snowmen are usually more mudmen (30% snow/ice, 70% Georgia red clay). But this is for real! Most Southerners I know don’t own a snow shovel or have ever seen a snow plow lumber down their streets. Three inches and some mean ice means we are essentially house bound.

So like all snow-excited Southerners, I bounded(ish) out of bed this morning and ran around taking photos of the snow. I warn you snow-weary Northerners, your facebook news feed will be flooded with Southern friends and their snow photos (mine included). I took a few moody shots for you all to enjoy or skip depending on your scale of wintry jadedness.

P.S. Thank you again for all the supportive comments and advice about my wedding planning (or lack thereof). I’m still in turmoil over what to do. Every time I feel like ripping out of my hair, I’ll come back to your comments and reread them while cuddling my shoes.

How Martha Stewart Would Look if She Were AsianCajun

On Lar: sweater, Lands End; tee, Michael Stars; jeans, Madewell; boots, Frye
On Cath: button-up, Zara; jeans, Madewell; boots, Frye; necklace, Rockit Boutique in Decatur

Don’t these aprons look very Martha? Our mom gave us all lovely white aprons for Christmas. Next trend in fashion: aprons as day wear sans the ironic statement about being a feminist and looking like a 1950s housewife. Wear with boots and jeans instead of nip-waist dresses!

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Oh, and can I just say, you guys are the most awesome readers/commenters!!! Thank you so much for all the sweet words in the last post. Matt is the most wonderful person in the world, and one day soon I will introduce him properly on AsianCajuns (not just as that guy with the mustache).

So, do you want to hear about the wedding plans? I have two options for you: 1)Eloping! Or. 2) a courthouse ceremony! Yeah, I know. everyone  has told me those are crappy ideas. It’s not that I don’t like a pretty dress and creamy delicious cake as much as the next person, but weddings scare me. Big time. So, you know, I was kind of hoping to skip that part.

Tomorrow I’m actually having a pow-wow with Cath and the ‘rents to try to work out something that doesn’t involve a courthouse clerk, but not so big or stressful that I break out in hives. But don’t fret, I’m not completely inept at all things wedding. For instance, shoes. Shoes I can do. And shoes I have done. It’s one of three things that I have figured out about the *gulp* wedding, and I’m in love. What do you guys think?

Diane von Furstenberg via Shopbop.

Drumroll Please. . .

www.sacredheartbahamas.org viagra My dearest twin sister and her boyfriend Matt are engaged!

Many of you picked up on my “schmen-magment” hint in the last post. Sorry to keep you in suspense. I was going to wait for Lar to break the news herself, but she’s been so busy with work and I was getting impatient so she gave me permission to post the engagement photos.

Matt’s uber-talented sister Pam (check out her blog here) took these photos on Tybee just a few days after Matt proposed to Lar on Christmas morning. He proposed to her right beyond this bridge just before sunrise.

With some strong hints from Lar, I helped Matt find the perfect ring(s) by Kristin Coffin on Etsy. Lar was adamant about having a cruelty-free diamond so we settled on these two twig-shaped, white gold rings with a cognac solitaire diamond – all cruelty free and recycled. The wedding band will be a gold version of the white gold band.

Lar didn’t know she’d be taking engagement photos when she packed for Tybee before Christmas, but I think she pulled together a great outfit – it’s very Kiera Knightly and Sienna Miller in The Edge of Love. She’s wearing a 10-year old sweater from Wet Seal, a $15 dress of T. J. Max, necklace from Rockit Boutique, and her beloved Frye boots. The only thing I know about Matt’s outfit are his awesome glasses, which are from Warby Parker.

Out of all the photos, I think this one captures Lar and Matt the best:

I’m currently trying to convince Lar to have something more than a courthouse wedding, but I seem to be losing the battle. Nevertheless, we’ll be sure to cover any fashion bits that may pop up in regards to a wedding whether it’s big small or small really small.

Welcome to the family, Matt! I’m so glad we could all be together as a family on the day you popped the question!

Wearing Boots on the Beach

How was everyone’s Christmas? Lar and I had a great week. Spending the holiday on Tybee Island with family and friends is pretty much as good as it gets – delicious home cooked meals, great company, daily frolicing on the beach and three crazy dogs running around non-stop.

Lar and the rest of the gang are still in Tybee. Troy and I only stayed for a few days because we both had to get back to work this week, hurumph. We took a couple of photos at the beach on our last day. It was cold and windy, but Wheatie didn’t seem to mind.

I’ll leave you with this pic of my Simply Bags bag because I love how it fit right into the scenery at Tybee (you can see Lar’s Simply Bags bag being attacked by alligators here). Is it weird that it makes me giddy when my bags match my vacation?

Once Lar gets back to Atlanta with her camera, we’ll have a lot more fun photos to show off from the trip and some super exciting news that I won’t give away, but here’s a hint, it rhymes with schmen-schmagment.

Bauble Twins

So these necklaces aren’t actually Christmas presents, but Cath and I noticed the other day (pre-Christmas) that we were both wearing our Madewell baubles. (Who else still thinks Madewell is the jam? Me! Me!). We both bought ours on sale because we usually can’t afford regularly priced Madewell items.

Did you guys have a good holiday? Cath and I are still on Tybee Island (it snowed on the beach today!), but Cath is going back to work tomorrow (sniffle). I’ll be here another couple of days – woohoo!- and then have to make up my time off over New Years – le boo.

p.s. As per the last photo of this post, don’t you think Boo wears these baubles the best?

Happy Holidays, Lovelies!


On Cath: shirt, thrifted; skirt and tights, AA; black oxfords, H&M; bracelet, Aldos. On Lar: hat from a small shop in New Orleans; thrifted Michel Kors rain jacket via Finders Keepers; tunic from Forever21; boots from Asos.com; purse from Ann Taylor.

Cath and I are spending the holidays in Tybee Island/Savannah with friends and family. We’ve rented a big house near the ocean that has porches off of every room and a gorgeous view of the sunrise. It’s kind of a zoo here, we have three doggies, eight people and lots of stuff packed into this marsh house on stilts which makes it feel pretty perfect for a cozy Christmas.

Tonight we’re going to midnight mass in the historic part of Savannah: hanging moss, old stone buildings, and Christmas carols – I can’t wait!

We hope you all are having a wonderful break be it for Christmas or just a holiday heading into the new year!

xoxo,

Lar (and Cath- who is currently driving down from Atlanta to meet us- get here soon, lady!)

Red Tights and Recycled Wrapping Paper

Blazer, H&M; Shirt, AE; Skirt, H&M (circa 2002); Scarf, gifted; Red tights, Carrefour (the European Walmart); Purse, thrifted at Finders Keepers, Boots, Frye.

It’s a short week, Christmas is just around the corner, and DADT was repealed. this is a good Monday, people! I decided to celebrate with bright red tights (shown) and a few well-executed jigs (not shown- count your lucky stars).

Poor Kitcath (aka Cath) has been sick for about a week now. That’s why the blog has been very Lar-heavy lately- and I apologize for that! Know that she looked really cute today even while slumped in her chair with the sniffles. Next time I will sneak some photos of her sinus congestion or no.

Oh! Another less globally applicable positive to the week? I finished my Christmas gift wrapping! Most years I try to get creative with newspaper (generally I hate the look of wrapping paper and feel bad for killing all those wrapping paper trees- so festive). This year I used old paper shopping bags and craft paper (the kind you wrap your breakable IKEA stuff in after you check out), glitter, gold tissue paper and burlap as ribbon. I’m really happy with the result. What I’m less happy about? The four plus hours it took me to do it. Next time, present recipients, I’m tossing it in a plastic shopping bag and calling it a day.

P.S. I did a guest post on The Owl’s Closet today about what to get your book wormie friends (or me) for the holidays. Thanks for asking me, AB!

Yeahhhh Burgers and Cartoon People!

So last weekend Matteo (also known as “bf” ’round these here parts) and I finally made it over to Yeah Burgher! Atlanta loves a good burger (hello, Grindhouse and Farm Burger, we drool for you too).

The burgers were indeed mighty fine, but what really sold me were the illustrations on everything: the walls, the menus, my burger (via a sticker). As a graphic designer who would secretly love to do more illustration, I kind of drool and get green with envy when I see stuff this gosh-darn perfect.

Hat: H&M, Coat: Victoria Secrets (ironic to buy outerwear from them, non?), Sweater: Lands End, Boots: thrifted via Finders Keepers, Jeans: Madewell, Purse: Ann Taylor.

Glasses: Warby Parker, Blazer: H&M, Mustache curls: the opposite of gravity.

That’s my veggie burger on the left and Matteo’s real deal beef burger on the right. Yarmmmm.

Crispy, flaky onion rings

Awww just look at that guy! I couldn’t eat him! Well, actually I could and I did, but I thanked him (silently) the whole time we were there.

There’s another reason I feel an affinity to Cartoon People (the general cartoon population be they Adult Swim or Disney), I’ve been told I sound like one. On multiple occasions, in different settings, by different people. I guess that’s better than looking like one, right? One guy actually said I needed to stop my current job and get a job at the Cartoon Network (conveniently located in the great city of Atlanta). By the look on his face, I can tell you, he thought that was a compliment and would go over really well. like me saying “Whoa, Sailor, let’s start with dinner first.” It didn’t.

One day you might hear me on a vlog, and you will probably agree (I tend to get squeakier when I’m more excited or nervous). In person, that’s one way people tell Cath and I apart. Her voice hits normal, soothing octaves, and mine makes dogs wince at times. Wait, is it that bad? I don’t really think about it until someone says, “You sound exactly like.” And then I wince.

Holiday Blah-diddy Bloops

www.natlsunshine.com Holiday Blah-diddy Bloops/ noun/ hall-ee-deh blahh-deh-di blew-oops:
1. What happens around the holidays when you are so busy with the fun things (parties, gift-buying) and the not-so-fun things (work deadlines, obligatory holiday todos). You don’t have another free moment until the new year and by then all the warm fuzzy holiday feelings you were planning on savoring have whooshed by.

2. A made-up AsianCajun expression

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Here are a few things that have been going on in AsianCajun holiday land:

1) We finally met Sheemeka Ayers (aka The Broke Socialite)!!! What a sweetie, and a gorgeous lady to boot. For those of you who aren’t familiar with TBS, she is pretty much the most famous blogger in Atlanta. For reals. What the AsianCajuns are to about 25 people, Sheemeka is for the entire city. She is one inspiring lady.

2) Anddd we met Annette Joseph!!! – the same day we met Sheemeka! It was nearly too much ATL-celebrity for my easily-overwhelmed brain. Annette is the lady when it comes to amazing styling, and yet another person whom I look all googly-eyed at. You might have seen her on Goop (she renovated and decorated Gwyneth P’s pad in Nashville). Cath and I ran into Annette at Sheemeka’s (un)conference Lavish, where Annette showed her adoring fans how to style a room for a photo shoot (read more about it on her blog).

3) We wore victorian Christmas crowns and told stories at the  Chronicle Christmas party. Party-goers paid us to read Christmas stories and do a mini-danced version of the Nutcracker. All the money went to The Wren’s Nest– huzzah!

(Below: this is what happens when you let your storytellers have a few glasses of white wine before storytelling).

4) Receiving the best Christmas card ever from Diane at Snapshot for Fashion. Thank you, Diane! (she even captured my hair poof!)

5) Watching this awesomely inspiring short video about Toys for Tots. Locals, donate here. Non-locals, donate here.

6) Planning some last minute Christmas shopping at Mama’s holiday market this Saturday (p.s. this is not the AsianCajun’s Mama. Mama is a local store that sells all natural body products- made locally). Our favorite local jeweler June Shin will be there! Mama is located right by the best cookie place in the world The Cookie Studio. Might as well kill two birds with one stone this weekend: Christmas shopping and obligatory holiday weight gain. Perfect!

And next week even more madness will descend. So far our Blah-diddy Bloops have been just awesome, but I’m hoping to scrape together a less harried week next week.

How do you guys make sure you don’t just speed through the holiday season? Tell us what you guys are up to too! We know we’re not the only ones running like crazy holiday headless chickens (what?!). Exactly.

Best Dressed: Ramona West

I’ve been a regular stalker shopper at Ramona West for about a year now. Cath and I have always been big thrifters, but usually in person at places like Good Will and Salvation Army. Online vintage shopping usually makes my palms sweat: will that just look like a costume on me? will it smell extra funky? is the material super-itchy? is that a muumuu and can I pull it off*?

But the minute Daily Candy introduced me to Ramona, my palms stopped sweating and I felt instantly at ease. These vintage pieces are carefully edited and tweaked to look a bit more modern, and the simple joy at knowing that not everyone and his sister will be wearing the same thing as me makes it my go-to site (buh-bye, Urban).

So here are a few pieces that I have from Ramona (probs about half of my “RW collection”):

1) 1970s mini (tights are from high school and boots are old AE).

2) Polka-dot mini (belt from Madewell, boots are 5-year old Target buys).

3) *This piece I call The Muumuu, but I say that with true affection. I saw this on the site and fell in love. I’ve always had a thing for poppies (it started with my early obsession with the Wizard of Oz), and these are hand-painted and gorgeous. I know this is the kind of piece that makes my less-fashionably interested friends question my sartorial sanity. I completely understand. I really do. It makes me love this muumuu more. (Tassel earrings are from the Etsy shop IHeartNorwegianWood).

I can certainly understand why vintage isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love how unique and gorgeous it can be. Is it harder to wear than jeans and a t-shirt? Definitely. But the effort is worth it, even if people look at you with raised eyebrows, as they adjust their fleece Northface jackets and shuffle past you in their Uggs.