2013 Year in Review

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season so far!  Sometimes it's hard to believe that the year is nearly over.  It's been a pretty full year for us as a family.  If you'll indulge me, I'd like to share some of my personal highlights.  :)

Favorite DIYs:
I cut down on buying clothing (1% vs. 4% last year) and focused more on making my own.  This year, I tried my hand at making more complex items like coats:

1). Graphic Coat  

2). Leopard Coat 

3). Winter Coat w/ Faux Leather Sleeves

I also played around with different details on maxi dresses:

1. Asymmetrical Leopard Maxi

2. Asymmetrical Red Maxi

3. Striped Maxi

4. Racerback Maxi w/ Twisted Straps

And experimented with more dress / skirt tutorials:

1.  Easy Shift Dress

2.  J. Crew Inspired Skirt

3. Box Pleated Skirt

4.  Reversible Colorblocked Skirt

Favorite Eats:
My family and I spent a good deal of the year exploring different eateries :)

• Gochi in Mountain View / Cupertino
• Hakka in San Francisco
• Mango Medley in San Francisco
• Everything in Hong Kong (1, 2, and 3)

Favorite Moments / Events:

• Food and fabric exploration adventures in SF, LA (1 and 2), and Hong Kong

• Meeting Elle, Cee, and Jean while reuniting with Ping, Sydney, and Aubs

• Mommy moments
• Toddler affection - when E asks for a "huck" (hug), or "I want to kiss your nose", or says "I wuv you" / "Hewwo Mom"
• Preschooler accomplishments - V's utter excitement about reading / listening to bedtime stories / doing homework / learning Chinese (enrolled in bilingual preschool w/ nightly tutorials from my husband)
• Building Lego castles with them and seeing their glee in knocking them down
• Christmas morning squeals :)

• Cycling with husband
• Went from an exhausting 10 miles on our mountain bikes to 30 miles on our new hybrids 2x a week

Happy New Year to everyone!!  May 2014 bring you happiness and many blessings!
A GIANT thank you for visiting this blog and joining me in my sewing, dining, and shopping adventures!