HISTOIRE HOMME

Hey guys! This is a proper update for once, the last proper post regarding my life was my Chinese New Year's post and that was a month back! I guess the majority of February was focused on my school work and after school extracurricular activities.

Sometime mid-February, I decided to finally get up off my butt and FINALLY pick up my camera and start photography up again. As a personal project, I went ahead and photographed myself and my friends Nikki and Sara in order to create a faux fashion magazine spread. I barely post photos of myself on this blog so hey, if you forgot what I looked like, then here are some self-obsessed "professional" shots of me.

The photos looked absolutely wonderful and for an amateur such as myself, I feel like I outdid my own expectations. With the pictures, I attached an interview questionnaire I borrowed from lookbook.  Of course, there needs to be a magazine in order to create an editorial right? Instead of biting off already established magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, I took it a bit further and created my own. 

Introducing, Histoire.

 

Click on to enlarge and read the interview! I give an in-depth look on what the fashion scene is like in Las Vegas, what I love about this city, and were I see myself in four years. 

Stay tuned for HISTOIRE FEMME, coming soon.

What I've Watched.

Hey guys! I know I promised an update, but that's coming real soon! I've got one big post planned for this weekend, so do stay tuned! Here's another portion of my blog dedicated to things I've watched. Remember the first post with this theme? It was a while back, but hey why not continue it? 

I've only watched one movie throughout this busy month but darn did I absolutely loved it. 

I watched Julie&Julia late last night and finished it today; but, a part of me wants to sit down and watch it over and over again. I guess this movie climbed up in my top five favorites? 

Julie&Julia, directed by Nora Ephron chronicles two true stories of two very different women. The first part of the story examines Julie Powell, played by Amy Adams, a thirty year old woman stuck in a rut. Working as a call center agent at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Powell answers calls from bereaved victims of the September 11 attacks, and the general population's complaints about the LMDC's controversial plans in rebuilding the World Trade Center. 

Played by the ever-so-lovely Meryl Streep, the second part of the story weaves Julia Child's foray into the cooking world. An American woman in France, Child strives to learn the art that is French cuisine. Striking up a tutelage at Le Cordon Bleu, Child's talent impresses various chefs and in turn begins collaborating on a book that introduces French cooking to American housewives.

 What I adored about this movie was the fact that it was completely focused on the cooking and both women's dreams. Romance aside, I loved the message that a person's dream is valid no matter their circumstance and that when one pursues it with utmost effort, anything is possible. 

The cast comprises of Amy Adams and Meryl Streep as Julie Powell and Julia Child. Respectively, Chris Messina and Stanley Tucci play their doting and loving husbands. Messina plays Eric Powell, Julie's husband and Tucci plays Paul Child, Julia's husband. 

The chemistry between the characters is phenomenal. Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci as a married couple in 1950s France was probably one of the most adorable sights I had ever seen. 

Eric Messina and Amy Adams portray that early millennial couple who've recently moved to new territories. Their portrayal of a young thirtysomething couple is overwhelmingly relatable. Messina plays the over-doting husband who supports his wife to the nth degree. Though both husbands love and support their wives so much, there is a point in which Powell's hobby consumes her life, causing a rift between her and her husband. 

One thing's for sure however, I loved this movie. I think foodie bloggers or foodies in general will enjoy this a whole ton. It inspires me as a blogger myself to keep going with this little ol' blog of mine. Julie Powell expresses her disbelief in the movie when she realizes she's got readers. I related to that scene on a monumental level; I know I'm blogging not only for myself, but for others as well. 

Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child's no-nonsense go-with-the-flow attitude completely enamored me. She tells her students that in regards to mistakes they've got nothing to apologize for. A mistake's a mistake, and only improvement can make it better! 

I don't consider myself a fantastic cook, I can cook myself proper food but don't expect a gourmet meal! Watching this film however inspired something in me in which I have this hankering to go to my kitchen and cook everything I see. One recipe in the movie in particular I would love to make is Bouef Bourguignon. I think I'd rather pester my sister to make it for me instead. 

Thank you for reading this month's What I've Watched! I'll update properly soon, I promise! 

-s.

#WEARECONNECTED

Can I just say how much I freaking love Diesel's Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign? With Nicola Formichetti as Creative Director, his vision creates their slogan, "WE ARE CONNECTED". 

Instead of models only, Diesel went all out and searched high and low for not only gorgeous people, but real life gangs, cliques, families, and tribes to star in their SS '14 campaign to represent the unique "in-yo-face" attitude and bravery the Diesel brand is known for. I am in love.

Nik Hampshire, Robert Nelson, and Ricki Hall

Instead of the plain faced models we're used to seeing in ad campaigns, what Diesel had found were a rag tag group of galvanizing, yet very intriguing individuals to each of their own had outstanding personal style and innovative artistic vision. Artists, students, models, writers, and musicians chosen for the campaign all shared one thing in common—to promote artistry, to stand above the rest, to be original, to reject the status quo, to accept oneself as a whole, and to make it known. These fantastic individuals want to change viewpoint through art. 

Together, the chemistry within the diversity helped manifest iconic portraits of fierce fashion gangs: Greasers, Asian Pop Stars, Cyberpunks, Blonde Bombshells, and among many others.

 Ryu Goda & Hirari Ikeda

Ming Xi, Charlotte Carey, & Hirari Ikeda.

The diverse cast help stimulate the mood of an organized chaos. Everyone, though very different, fit in well with one another. I'm extremely impressed that Diesel went ahead with a different routine. Then again, Nicola Formichetti is the Creative Director, and being part of the Haus of Gaga, the flamboyant casting isn't something so surprising coming from him. 

James Dazzle & Jillian Mercado

Jessica Miller & Wouter Schipperen

Chloe Mackey, Carly Caparros-Janto, Consuelo de Santis & Akita Nara 

James Dazzle, Kirsten Kilponen, Abdul Kircher, Kesewa Aboah, & Gavin Lindemuth 

Paris Roberts

James Dazzle, Dorith Mous, Charlotte Carey & Solomiya

Val Bird, James Dazzle & Wouter Schipperen 

As a budding photographer, the vision Nicola had for these models completely inspired me! I love the fashion factions he created, the message underneath it all that art and fashion, no matter how different, can unite those despite utter contrasts. Only unfortunate that one, Nicola took the idea already (lol), and two, I can't afford all those coloured backdrops!

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Oh &

do forgive for the sudden inactivity, life happened. stay tuned for an update! until then, see ya. 

-s

CNY 2014

Gosh this post is late, so I do apologize! For all of you who know or don't know, it was Chinese New Year last week. Normally, my family and I just have a simple dinner elsewhere but home and do the like, but this time around, my mom decided to throw a party the day after. So for something simple but delicious, my mom prepared some Shabu Shabu, or how westerners would call it, Hot Pot. 

wait wait wait, Sydney. You're Chinese??? Since when???!! I'm part Chinese, and I think I've been part Chinese since forever?

If you don't know what Shabu Shabu or Hot Pot is, here's a rough definition from good ol' wikipedia. 

Hot pot, less commonly steamboat, refers to several East Asian varieties of stew, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table. Typical hot pot dishes include thinly sliced meat, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, and seafood. Vegetables, fish and meat should be fresh. The cooked food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce. In many areas, hot pot meals are often eaten in the winter.

It's kind of sad how Vegas is such a wonderfully and culturally diverse metropolis, but we lack a genuinely delicious Hot Pot place! Maybe Hot Pot will be the new food trend for 2014. Wasn't it ramen in 2013? 

I digress, on to the pictures!

Tangerines symbolize wealth! So we had a bunch of those in a really pretty circular dish thing. I'm not too well with words, so as a blogger I do apologize for my inarticulate way of writing! 

corn, carrots, bok choi, napa cabbage, and enoki mushrooms!

I think one of the things I love whenever my mom throws parties is that there are always unbelievably fresh flowers around. Really puts a refreshing touch to our modern decor. 

 

 

I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to house parties or gatherings. My mother throws such amazing ones that my standard regarding them is really high! Presentation is everything when it comes to my mom's preparation, and she most certainly delivers. 

Hi Mom!

When she called me down for some help I was immediately awestruck with these amazing cupcakes. I posted a picture of it on Instagram and many of my friends thought my mom made them, but alas I did not have the heart to tell them we ordered it specially from my mom's friend! Sorry guys, I guess I was too caught up in the moment. 

 

The tangerines have texture! I appreciate good food and when cute pastry comes around I melt into a puddle of absolute bliss. 

Horse insignia because it's the Year of the Wood Horse :)

Look at that detail! The fondant koi fish are absolutely adorable! I was way too hesitant to eat these but the red velvet cupcake was too tempting. 

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

After doing the initial preparation, my sister got home and finished up whatever was left. I was there to photograph! 

My sister was making a Japanese salad following Grandma Elsa's (My mother's mom) recipe. 

Unfortunately, you can only get the Roasted Sesame Dressing in Japanese convenience stores, or Konbini. Luckily, this Japanese grocery store in the Philippines had it when I visited! 

Kani Salad and Shrimp and Pork Shumai were our appetizers. 

We just had a small gathering, so our guests consisted of my grandma and grandpa (dad's parents), my aunt and uncle, and my mom's aunt and uncle, along with my sister's boyfriend and his sister. Once they came, we went ahead and ate. We were all so hungry! 

I just had to sneak in these two cupcake pictures again. The cuteness, it kills me. 

Hi Dad!

Hello adults! 

Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Uncle, and Aunt! I think they're drunk.

I hung out with my sister's boyfriend and his wonderful sister for the most part.

Katrina, Kyle, and my sis. I think Kyle's too excited over ang pao haha! 

The "Soap Opera" shot. lol 

Ended my night with an unusually strong cup of cappuccino. I didn't know it was that strong until I tried going to bed! 

OH AND BEFORE I FORGET, HERE IS A VERY CRUDELY TAKEN OOTD. I think I'll start doing proper ones when I go out more often. 

Do forgive for the sudden change of image quality. This is from my iPhone 5. 

Shirt: Comme des Garçons

Jeans: Levi's 

Shoes: Dr. Martens 1460 in Yellow

I hope whatever prediction you got for Chinese New Year will be filled with prosperous achievements! I know mine will. Thanks for reading!