Variations on a theme

Sometimes, without noticing it, I will find myself coming back to looks that are very similar.  I don't actually realize how alike they are until I've uploaded the images into my 'scrapbook of looks' on iPhoto and they appear next to each other.  (I know, I should get onto Pinterest).

It happened yesterday.

Vanessa Jackman

Refinery 29

The Sartorialist

I think that I keep coming back to these looks because they each have an element of masculine detail (the oxford shoe, a leather jacket, a flannel shirt) elegantly balanced with femininity.

So I tried my own take on these looks today.

And, I tried something new. Taking pictures with movement.  Anything to try to look into the camera.  Only one really turned out.

The others captured me mid blink or mid word as I was trying to give my daughter some instructions.

It's usually a short photo session with her because her little six year old hands get tired quickly carrying my heavy camera.

She's improving though, don't you think?

Outfit details: leather jacket - thrifted, top - Gap, skirt - H&M, black oxford shoes - Sam Edelman, brass picture hook necklace - Cat Street market, Michael Kors watch

Happy Year of the Dragon to you...

I'm a little late, but we're off for the week.  We're all just moving slowly.  And trying to stay warm (it's only 7 degrees Celsius today).

Dressed up for the first day of the new year.

Would you believe that all three kids slept in until 7:30 am today?  That never happens.

Buddy's hair is long enough for a ponytail.  He's thrilled.

Smiley Ella.

Cheeky Cally.

Kung Hei Fat Choi (or as Cally says Funny Pat Choy)!

Wishing you all prosperity and health this year.  

We're waiting to meet our new little dragon cousin.  

She's coming in only a few weeks!

Changes in Stanley Market

It's no secret, one of my favorite places to shop is Stanley Market.  I have these little shops that I always visit where the people know me.  They know I'm not a tourist.  They know I just like to poke around and explore what's new.  Sometimes, I'll find a treasure that I hadn't seen before.  Sometimes, I say joi gin or see you later and leave.  They know they'll see me again.

On the stairs just outside my coffee shop and near the newsstand.

One of the best places to look for treasures was the Salvo.  Sadly, they closed a month ago because of soaring rents in the market.  Days before they shut, I found my last treasure there - a pair of Prada heels.  I'm afraid to see what they open in it's place.  There are some great silk and linen shops in the market, too.  One of them closed a few months ago, the other closed last week.  Now there's only one left run by a Filipino women in the stairway of her apartment building.

Wearing my Tea and Tulips dress.

Stanley has great little places to find jewelry (like vintage looking jade bracelets and earrings, among other things).  There was an amazing lamp shop (and other beautiful ceramic things).  These two places also shut last week.  The lamp man had been there 20 years.  His rent doubled, forcing him into retirement.  It's almost ridiculous how quickly shops are closing.  And heartbreaking, too.  In their place, cheap trinket and fake bag shops have opened.  When I walk by, the salespeople call out to try to sell me things, unaware that I'm usually on my way to art, ballet, drums or the coffee shop.  Not a tourist.  Just going about my business.

Close up of my jade ring and necklace.

I like to wander the windy nooks of the market, the shortcuts that only people who live here know about.  To find new places to take outfit pictures.  Or just get where I'm going.

But every time I do, something is gone.  The vibe is changing.  And, I'm afraid, not for the better.  Stanley Market is losing it's charm.

Outfit details: dress - Tea and Tulips (Steffys Pros and Cons shop), vest - Shau Kei Wan market, boots - very old from college! earrings - Salvo closing sale, Michael Kors watch (birthday present), ring - a sweet gift from my lovely hubby and kids (from Ellis Jewellers a family business, also in the market), art deco jade necklace - one of my Stanley spots (luckily still open)

Hump day

It actually feels like schlump day if you ask me.

I had a busy weekend of normal kid activities (throw in an extra ballet class and a rugby tournament) as well as exam marking.  Grades and comments were due yesterday, and then I still had to make sure I was ready to teach.

The hubby and I were just saying (only last week!) that we're noticing that Cally is having far fewer tantrums since she's able to articulate herself really well and is beginning to understand how the process of negotiation works (or is at least a little bit more patient about it).

So much for that.  Yesterday was hell.  And, Saturday morning was a pretty tough one, too.

I've got an outfit post that I want to publish, but for now, I'm just trying to get to Friday.  It's Chinese New Year here in Hong Kong.  We get a week off.

I'm ready.

***I don't think I've had a post like this in a while.  I was due for one, then.

Kid Fun HK

One of the special things we did for Ella's birthday this year was to invite the lovely Adele from Kid Fun HK to come and do face painting and balloon bending for the kids.

I met her at a birthday party in October and was really impressed with not only her creative designs and quick work, but also with her management of the children she worked with.  So, I grabbed her card and thought I'd like to have her come for one of our children's parties.

We threw Ella's party together in only one week.  We usually don't really fuss much over our birthday parties because I don't think they need to be overdone.  Just a few close friends and some fun activities.  Ella's friends (and their parents) have all enjoyed Ella's parties because we like to have something laid back (complete with adult snacks and drinks) up by the fish pond.  We've been lucky to have sunny weather every year for the last three years.

I hadn't thought too much in advance about booking the face painting because we were in the middle of a busy holiday season.  I just took a chance and emailed Adele with less than a week's notice.  I was pleasantly surprised with her speedy reply and personable response to my request.

Now, in addition to her artistic creations and general good nature with the children, one more reason I'm so pleased with having her come to Ella's party is that when it came to dealing with business things, working with Adele felt more like working with a friend.

At the end of her time with us, she even offered to show Buddy how to bend balloons and make a sword.  He'd been given a balloon animal kit and pump and she was happy to show him some tricks.

He remembered how to do it all and recreated a sword for one of his friends just this week.

Seeing all the smiles on the kids painted faces made it worth every cent to have Kid Fun HK and I definitely plan to have Adele again. 

Check out her facebook page here and if you're in Hong Kong, give her a call to come to your party!

A gentlewoman

Not having internet at home for the last two days has proven two things for me:

First, I really am addicted to my nightly blog reading.

Two, I am really good at finding other ways to procrastinate.

Oh well, at least I'm honest about it.

Here's an outfit I put together last week for the first day back to school after the Christmas break. (Always a hard day, mind you).

My sister was weeding through her closet and lucky for me, I scored these lovely green thrifted Armani pants.  My mum brought them with her from NYC for me.  They fit just like a pair of men's slacks.

So I went with the menswear theme and paired the slacks with my blazer, my oxfords, and my new gold men's watch.

I wanted to get a close up of my newest necklace.  It's one I mentioned I'd like to make back in the summer after I went shopping in Cat Street.  I found this ornate picture hook in a store selling brass door knobs and hooks, etc.  I thought it would be perfect on a chain.  My sister took it back to Brooklyn Charm and helped me get it strung up.  I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Now, here's a proposition for you.  One of the ideas I've been cooking up for 2012 is the possibility of opening an online shop connected to my blog, which I was thinking I'd call You're a Norbyah.  In it, I might sell some clothes that I've found in the my usual haunts in and around the city and even a small collection of treasures that I find in various markets (like this picture hook).

I've not a clue how to go about setting it up, and I'm far too busy right now to start.  But, I'll do some research and I'm excited about getting it started.  Any ideas from you experienced sellers out there are welcome.

The big question is this...Would anyone buy my stuff?

Outfit details: Armani pants (thrifted from Housing Works in NYC via my sister), H&M blazer, Cotton On top, belt thrifted from Artists and Fleas, Brooklyn, Sam Edelman oxfords, picture hook necklace, Michael Kors watch (a gift from my wonderful sisters), earrings thrifted from Salvo (in Stanley before they closed down)

Ella belle

My big girl turned 6 on Tuesday this week.

It was also our first day back to school, so we started the morning bright and early with a few presents on our bed.  I love how we start birthdays this way.  

And, it was easy to get everyone up when there is a birthday to celebrate.

Later in the afternoon, sweet May dropped over to give Ella a special present and card. 

The girls (including Ella's good friend and our neighbour Kaiya) were playing dress up.  We got Els her own dress up make up.  She was thrilled.  What girls we have.  They were so cute to watch.

May May gave Elly an Ariel barbie.  Before May graduated nearly two years ago, she used to come over and sing The Little Mermaid songs for Ella.

Cally photo bombs.  The girl loves to have her picture taken.

For Ella's birthday dinner, Ella requested we go to our usual birthday dinner place in Stanley, Spiaggia's (or Rolf's as we affectionately call it).  Rolf had set the table with left over New Year's hats and noise makers.  Ella walked right up behind Rolf and greeted him with a howdy! howdy! which is his usual greeting to us.  His response was, well I know this voice!  It was lovely.

Rolf made Ella a cake and showered her (and us) with his usual charm and personal attention, something which keeps this restaurant a favorite among all locals.

Cally photo bombs, again.  She's quite good at this.

All in all it was a good family birthday.  We are having a low key party for her (with friends) tomorrow.

Take 2

The last time I wore this dress from Steffys Pros and Cons shop (Tea and Tulips), I was rushing to catch pictures before it got too dark.  As a result, I don't think I did the dress much justice and I thought I should style it up again.  It's so much fun to wear; I love the color and the polka dots...the pleats...everything!

It is quite a bit cooler now since the last time I wore this dress mere weeks ago, so I needed to wear tights.  I didn't want to wear a cardi, and remembered that I had a capelet which I bought several years ago.  I'm glad I dug it out of the back of my closet as I've been wearing it nearly everyday since.

To accentuate the waist (which is elastic), I added this leather obi belt.  I quite like this dress belted, and can even play with the length this way.  

I was torn between two shoe choices and opted for my black moccasin boots, for a more bohemian look.  I didn't want to appear too polished, rather a little funky.

What fun to style the same article of clothing in different ways.  

Outfit details:

dress - Tea and Tulips 

coat - Forever 21

shoes - Minnetonka boots

purse - vintage Coach from etsy (Kennedy Holmes)

Happy 2012!

Wishing all of you many happy moments (like this one) for the new year ahead!

And, to all of my faithful blog readers and to all of you new readers, your support is most meaningful and most appreciated.  I have some exciting ideas for this year, so I hope you'll enjoy them.  In the mean time, life keeps happening so I'll keep writing posts about that, too.

Lots of love,

Norbyah