Category Archives: Holidays

A Trip to Del Mar

06/14/2019 Shirley

During the holiday season I went to Del Mar (in San Diego) with my friends for a mini-vacation. The main purposes of the trip were to go to the Del Mar horseracing festival (a first time experience for me), and to have fun with friends (Khwan and Michael) and celebrate the holidays.

Below are some highlights of our Del Mar trip.

Our trip to Del Mar, San Diego, began with drinking mimosas on the flight before it took off at 7:00am. (I don’t usually drink on the flight, but hey, we were on vacation to a sunny place and celebrating the beginning of our mini-vacation!)

After we arrived to San Diego, our first stop was the Old Town area of San Diego, for brunch and margaritas.

(Watch my short video below for the pitcher of margarita we shared and my brunch, Dark Chocolate Chicken Mole.)

Del Mar Racetrack

First day at the Del Mar Horseracing Festival:
After brunch, we went to the Del Mar Racetrack for the horseracing festival. It was my first time to the horseracing and it was definitely an interesting experience.

Horses are one of my favorite animals. It was stunning to see how pretty they were when they walk from their stables to the race track, and watch them race towards the finish line. It was fascinating!

(Watch my short video below for the first day at the Del Mar Racetrack.)

At the Del Mar Racetrack, we had the opportunity to meet my friend’s two favorite TVG Network (American sports-oriented digital cable) hosts and racing analysts, and had a group picture with them! (My friend was so thrilled about this encounter; it was one of the highlights for him.)

(Group picture with the TVG hosts and racing analysts, Todd Schrupp on the left and Simon Bray on the right)

Second day at the Del Mar Horseracing Festival:
We had brunch at the Del Mar Turf Club. Our brunch included a three-course meal and unlimited mimosa (or champagne) and liquor (i.e. vodka and rum). And we have a great view of the horseracing track.

(Group picture taken on the second day of the horseracing festival.)

My friends and I made small bets on each round of the races. Even though we didn’t win much, we had a great time watching the races and cheering for the horses. In my opinion, watching horseracing is a fun group event. It’s just like buying ticket to go to a concert — you are paying for the entertainment experiences.

(Picture taken at Del Mar Turf Club restaurant.)

Fairmont Grand Del Mar Hotel

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar hotel is just as pretty as I expected based on their Web site pictures. The check-in process was quick and easy. And I love my room and the private balcony.

(In front of the hotel driveway, picture taken on the first day, in the afternoon.)

(The fountain in the hotel driveway.)

(Holiday decorations.)

(Picture of my room.)

After I settled into my room and got ready for dinner. I had a pre-dinner party in my friend’s room. My friends have traveled over the world and have great connections with many Fairmont hotel managers. The hotel concierge even sent my friend a complimentary bottle of red wine to their room.

(Pre-dinner party selfie; from left to right: Michael, Khwan, and me.)

Addison Find Dining Restaurant

For dinner my friends made a reservation at the Fairmont hotel’s signature Addison restaurant. Our ten-course dinner (and wine pairing) was delicious and the service was great! I was so full towards the end of the meal, I had to ask my friend to finish some of my food and wine. (Stay tuned for a blog post on my dinning experience at the Addison restaurant.)

(One of our ten-course meal – Duck.)

Like many upscale fine dining restaurants, Addison provided us a printed copy of our ten-course meal and shortbread cookie as parting gift.
(Picture of the menu and cookie)

Hotel Turndown Services

Did I mention that the services at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar hotel was great? When I first checked into my room there were some complementary snacks on the desk. And when I returned to my room for the after dinner, I found a stack of chocolate covered oreo cookies in my room. The housekeeper organized my makeup tools / products and lined them up perfectly when they did the turndown services. They even organized my shoes. (Before I left for dinner, my makeup stuff and skin care products were all over the counter.)

(Picture of my organized bathroom counter, after the turndown services. )

My overall experience of our mini-vacation to Del Mar, San Diego, was great! I had such wonderful time with my friends, Khwan and Michael, and we had so much great food and great drinks. It was definitely one of the memorable trips I’ve had!

(Picture taken by one of the fireplaces in the Farimont Grand Del Mar Hotel.)

(The Christmas Tree in the Fairmount Grand Del Mar Hotel lobby.)

All Posts, Beauty, Holidays, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – December 2018

12/05/2018 Shirley

I always have mixed feelings about December. It’s the month for joyful celebrations, which I love. But it’s also the end of the year, which could be a bit depressing (because the year went by too fast). Nevertheless, there are still many things I want to do before the year ends.

See below for my list of things to do this month.

Nespresso Holiday Coffee

Each year I look forward to Nespress’ holiday limited-edition coffee and espresso drinks. Last year, Nespresso offered three different holiday coffee flavors: peppermint, banana, and cherry. This year, Nespresso offers several blended coffee with coconut flavor (Exotic Macaron), almond flavor (Paris Madeleine), hazelnut flavor (Paris Praliné).
As always, I love their fancy coffee capsule designs. They add more festival vibes to the holiday season.

(Picture taken with Nespresso’s new Orange Biscuits and holiday coffee capsules. The biscuits are delicious and perfect with Nespresso coffee.)

Enchant Christmas Seattle

Enchant Christmas is a holiday lights festival which began in Vancouver, B.C., Canada a couple of years ago. It’s coming to Seattle’s Safeco Field this holiday season. The festival will have Christmas light maze, ice skating trail, Christmas market, live entertainment, and more. I am looking forward to seeing all the holiday lights!

Sequins for Holidays

One of the fun things about the holiday season is attending celebration events. It’s always fun to look for new outfits and accessories for different occasions. I think something with glitters is the must-have! Click here for more details.

(Saint Laurent Loulou Glitter Bootie in my favorite purple color.)

New Everyday Lipstick

I always bring at least one lipstick (for touch-up) with me when I leave the house. But last week I forgot to bring a lipstick when I met with my friend for lunch. It felt really weird to be out and about without any lip colors on me, so my friend and I went to shop for new lipsticks at the mall. Most of my lipsticks are in fuchsia, pink, and red colors, so I picked a new one which is a more neutral color.

(GIORGIO ARMANI’s Lip Maestro Lip Stain)

New Dietary Supplement

I’ve never though about taking extra dietary supplements as part of my daily regimen. For years, one of my best friends has tried to convince me to take the dietary supplement she likes to improve wellness and skincare. After years of persuasion by my friend, I finally decided to give it a try starting this month. I am looking forward to see if the supplement really works for me.

(BeautyGlo – dietary supplement to increase skin firmness and radiance.)

All Posts, Holidays, Travel

New Year’s Eve in Barcelona, Spain

12/30/2017 Shirley

My family and I just returned from our Christmas holiday trip to Las Vegas. We are now planning for the New Year’s Eve. As I look back on what I did for last year’s holidays, I can’t help but think about my last year’s trip to Spain. It was my first time going to Spain and celebrating the New Year’s holiday in Europe. It was a great trip.

To celebrate the New Year’s Eve, my friend and I went to the New Year’s Eve party in the lounge at the W Hotel in Barcelona, where we stayed for the Barcelona trip. There were several memorable things from the celebration party: drinking tons of Cava, eating twelve grapes at midnight, and watching the fireworks from our hotel.

Drinking Cava
Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine made in the traditional method of the French sparkling wine Champagne. I don’t usually drink Champagne in the States because it’s too bubbly for me, but during my Spain trip (Barcelona, Majorca, Madrid, and Toledo), I drank a lot of cava just for fun. Since the Spain trip, I’ve become more used to drinking Champagne.

Eating Twelve Grapes
Eating a grape at each bell strike (total of 12) by midnight of the New Year’s Eve is a Spanish tradition since 1909. During the New Year’s Eve party at the W Hotel in Barcelona, each guest received a bag of twelve grapes. We were supposed to eat and swallow all twelve grapes by the midnight for good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. Based on my personal experience, eating all twelve grapes within twelve seconds is a very difficult task. Our local friends told us that for the little kids, they usually gave them chocolates instead of grapes, so they can finish them on time.

Watching the Fireworks
One of the perks of staying and parting at the W Hotel in Barcelona is the close up view of the fireworks. While we were busy counting down and swallowing grapes, we had no problem finding a perfect spot at the balcony for the fireworks. I have to say welcoming the New Year in a foreign country was definitely a fun experience!

This year, instead of traveling oversea during the New Year’s Eve, I am spending the time with my family and my two nieces in Irvine, California. It won’t be as crowded as last year, but it will be just as memorable as any other New Year’s Eve!

All Posts, Fashion, Holidays

The Five Best Shoes for Holiday and Evening for 2017

12/13/2017 Shirley

Each year around the holiday season I like to pick five shoes that I think are perfect for the evening. If you are into glitters, I have three that I highly recommend. If you prefer non-glitters, there are still plenty to choose from.

See below for my suggestions.

Jimmy Choo Hanover Bootie

Glitter boot is in for the Fall and Winter. If you haven’t had the chance to update your wardrobe with an eye-catching boot, try Jimmy Choo’s Hanover Bootie. It’s elegant and stylish. Pairing the Hanover bootie with a miniskirt or short dress will elongate your figure and show off your legs.

Jimmy Choo Romy Pointy Toe Pump

If you are looking for a pair of stilettos in glitters, I highly recommend Jimmy Choo’s Romy in ombré glitter. For me, Jimmy Choo’s Romy pumps are very comfortable to wear for hours and the glitters are perfect for the season! Try the Romy pump in pink and black glitters (my current favorite pair)! The shoes will go well with dresses in pink and black.

Miu Miu Studded Glitter Pump

If you are into silver glitter stilettos, try Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter pump. This point-toe pair of Miu Miu shoes is covered in silver glitters and embellished with sparkling studs. I have a pair of Miu Miu Mary Janes in a similar design and with crystal rhinestones. The shoes go well with almost any outfit. In my opinion, if you are traveling for this holiday and can only bring one pair of stilettos with you, this Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter pump will be it for you!

Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter Pump

Gucci Gucci Elaisa Embellished Bow Pump

If you are not into glitter shoes, there are still many options when it comes to the holiday and evening wear. For example, Gucci has the Elaisa Embellished Bow High Heel Pump, which has a removable elastic bow made up of pearl embellishments. You can wear the pump by itself or place the pearl embellishment bow on the shoes (or ankle) to upgrade your look instantly.

Gucci Elaisa Embellished Bow High Heel Pump

Roger Viver Red Ballerina

Red is a must-have for the holiday season. When you need a short break from wearing the stilettos for the evening, try a pair of the ballerina flats. I highly recommend something like Roger Vivier’s Embellished Satin Ballerina shoes in red. This point-toe shoes has crystal-embellished buckles. THe design of the ballerina flat will give you the comfort you need without losing your sparkling charm. I suggest you to pair it with a black dress like The Kooples Floral Lace Dress.

Roger Vivier Embellished Satin Ballerina

All Posts, Beauty, Holidays

Your Under $29 Holiday Gift Guide for 2017

12/11/2017 Shirley

One of the holiday parties I will be going to this month requires each guest to bring a gift under $29 for the white elephant game. While I was looking for gift ideas, I came across some products that I think I could bring. See below for the suggestions.

Fun Wine Glasses

Looking for a gift for cat lovers? Consider giving them some wine glasses decorated with fun statements related to cats.

‘If Your Cat’s Home’ Stemless Wine Glass, $12 each, or $24 for Two.

Bath Salts

After a long holiday shopping trip, nothing serves you better than a long rejuvenating bath. Try the sea salt blended with chamomile flowers, rose petals, and lavender.

Bath Salts, $26.

Beauty product

Lip balms are essential for the Winter season. Instead of the normal pink color of lip treatments, what can be more fun than trying the clear flower balms? The flower comes in three flower colors (yellow, green, and pink).

Flower Balms, $14 each, or $28 for two.

Makeup Kit

When it comes to makeup kits, we can never have too many makeup brushes. For this holiday season, try the MAC’s Snow Ball Mini Brush Kit. Included in the kit are a power brush, foundation brush, shadow bush, smudge liner brush, and brow groomer brush.

MAC’s Snow Ball Mini Brush Kit, $29.

Skin Ointment

Last month I tried various body lotions to see what works best for me during Fall and Winter. I came across the Lucas’ Papaw Ointment. I massaged it into my hands, legs, and knees. And I was surprised how great the product works on my skin and protects it from drying out!

All Posts, Fashion, Holidays, Top Five

The Five Best Holiday Shoes for 2016

12/23/2016 Shirley

We are in the 2016-2017 holiday season, which means there are probably plenty of dinners and parties lined up in this month for you. Have you figured out what shoes you want to wear for each occasion?

Below are my top five favorite shoes for this holiday season. Hope this will give you some ideas on what to wear for your New Year’s Eve parties.

Christian Louboutin – So Kate Patent Leather Point-Toe Pumps

A pair of red stilettos for the holiday season is a must-have. Nothing can ever go wrong when you spice up your outfit with the holiday color, especially when you wear this sexy red So Kate pump by Christian Louboutin.

Giuseppe Zanotti – Crystal-Embellished Suede Slingbacks

If you plan to wear a red dress for this holiday season, I’d recommend this pair of slingback sandals with crystal-embellished suede by Giuseppe Zanotti. The color of this sandal will complement the red dress silhouette and the crystals will catch everyone’s attention with every step you take.

Jimmy Choo – Romy Glitter Degrade Point-Toe Pumps

Jimmy Choo has many beautiful stilettos. One of my favorites is their glitter pumps. If you are looking for a pair of eye-catching shoes to complete your day to night outfit, try Jimmy Choo’s Romy Glitter Degrade Point-Toe Pumps. (Jimmy Choo’s Romy stilettos replaces its classic “Abel” pumps. I have several pairs of the “Abel” pumps that I used to wear back in my old clubbing days. They were surprisingly comfortable on the dance floor!)

Roger Vivier – Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay Flats

If you are considering ditching the high heels and going for comfortable flats for the holidays, try one of Roger Vivier’s Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay Flats. They come in many colors (red, black, navy, metallic silver, etc.). My personal favorite is Roger Vivier’s Ballerine Chips Satin D’orsay flats in red. I have had my red pair of this Roger Viver’s flats for over a year, now, and I still love them!

Saint Laurent – Paris Skinny Sequined Metallic Pointy Toe Pumps

These Saint Laurent’s Paris Sequined Metallic Point-toe pumps are my new favorite for this holiday season. Saint Laurent makes many nice sparking stilettos. When I saw this pair, I knew I got to have them. When I received the shoes in mail, I was glad to find out that the actual shoes looks even more stunning than the pictures. I plan to wear them with a black dress for my next dinner event.

All Posts, Holidays, Travel

First Time Making the Wreath

12/21/2016 Shirley

A few weeks ago, my dear friend, Jennie, invited me to join her and her friends to make wreath for the Seattle Children’s Hospital. I’ve never made any wreath before, but I love the idea of doing things that involves children. So I said “yes”, even though it required me to get up earlier than I usually do on any Saturday.

The day before our scheduled date for making the wreath, my friends notified me about needing to get gloves and gardening tools. This made me start to worry about the logistics of making the wreath. I couldn’t help imagine the pictures of me on the field for cutting branches and plants for the wreath’ draw materials.

Luckily, on the day of our scheduled appointment, we showed up and learned that all of the materials are already been cut and ready for use. I was surprised, in a very good way, that people had already put in effort for the project.

Now is the time to make a wreath. Luckily, they showed us how to make a wreath from scratch.

I was freaking out, because I wasn’t sure that I could do it. My friend, Jennie and I decided to work together.

It turned out, our wreath came up pretty good, even thought it took us a long time.

The wreath were to be sold for $40 each the following week, but I decided to buy the wreath we made. So I did.

All Posts, Beauty, Holidays, Top Five

The Five Best Holiday Beauty Products for 2016

12/18/2016 Shirley

I love sparkling and shimmering beauty products, especially around the holiday seasons. Many brands offer special editions of makeup, and perfume during this special season, and they’re usually hard for me to resist!

If you are still looking for gift ideas or need some suggestions to expand your beauty collection, below are my top five favorite beauty products for this holiday season.

Burberry – Gold Shimmer Dust

Each year I look for some shimmering powder to add to my holiday collection. When I saw the Burberry’s Gold Shimmer Dust, I knew that’s exactly what I needed for this year. ($29 via Saks Fifth Avenue)

Marc Jacobs Beauty – About Last Night Mascara and Eyeliner Collection

This Marc Jacobs’ About Last Night mascara and eyeliner collection is all you need for the evening parties. The O!Mega Lash mascara in this collection helps you to create the volume you desire for your eyelashes. The best part about this collection is the glitters in the Lamé Noir Ultra-Glittering Mascara Top Coat. Layer it on top of the O!Mega Lash will give you the instant holiday ready look.
($36 via Marc Jacobs Beauty)

Yves Saint Laurent – Touche Éclat – Strobing Light Highlighter

Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat highlighter is one of my favorite makeup products. I am glad that Yves Saint Laurent is offering the highlighter in gold shimmer version. I like to use it on my cheekbone and Cupid’s bow. I also put it on my eyelids, as the base for applying eyeshadow.

Viktor & Rolf – Flowerbomb Pink Crystal Limited Edition Fragrance

If you are a big fan of Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb fragrance, you can’t miss the Flowerbomb Pink Crystal Limited Edition Fragrance. This holiday edition Flowerbomb comes in a sparkling jar with a pink crystallized rose. I think your mood will instantly be uplifted by the very first spray of this flower fragrance!

Chanel Blush Harmony Palette

If you are traveling for this holiday season and want a multi-functional beauty product, Chanel’s limited edition Blush Harmony Palette will be perfect for you. You can use this palette for highlighting and contouring your face. And use the red-pink shade on the palette as blush.

All Posts, Holidays, Travel

I Love the Bellagio Conservatory!

08/19/2016 Shirley

I enjoy going to Las Vegas. The restaurants, the shows, and people watching are the best in the world.

One of my top three properties in Las Vegas is the Bellagio Hotel. I stayed at the Bellagio recently. The Bellagio has several world-famous areas, including the Fountains, the registration ceiling glass sculptures, and the Conservatory.

The Conservatory is amazing. There are flowers and plants and displays that will astound you. The Conservatory does a major change-over about every 10 weeks or so, to correspond to the season (Christmas, Chinese New Year, Spring/Easter, etc.)

When I stayed at the Bellagio, the Conservatory had a sea-theme. I loved the huge jellyfish hanging from the ceiling but my favorite thing was the sea turtle. Vegas — an incredibly amazing place.

All Posts, Holidays, Travel

2015 Chinese New Year’s in Las Vegas

03/02/2015 Shirley

I went to Las Vegas in February 2015 with three of my Chinese friends during the two weeks of Chinese New Year’s celebration. One my friends and I stayed at the Aria Hotel. The other two girls stayed at a different hotel.

I’ve been to Vegas many times, but not too often during Chinese New Year’s. I noticed that most of the nicer Vegas hotels had Chinese themed decor. But other Las Vegas hotels, like the Excalibur and the Luxor, did not have any Chinese themed decorations.

This fact reinforced the idea that there’s a somewhat clear distinction between the very best hotels in Las Vegas — those that adapt to different seasons — and those non-elite hotels that more or less remain static all throughout the year.

For example, at the nice Aria and the Wynn hotels, I saw many red lanterns and Chinese dragon decorations. And at the Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Encore resorts, I saw decorations for the ram animal, because this is the Chinese year of the ram.

Also, at the Aria (even though I didn’t get to take a photograph), I noticed that the employee name badges they wore had their name in English plus the Chinese characters for the ram animal.

I have no major conclusion, but if you’re going to Las Vegas, in my opinion, it’s worth it to spend a little bit more to stay at a top end hotel (Wynn, Encore, Bellagio, Venetian, Palazzo, and Aria) and get a lot of extras that can make your visit more special.

Shirley Style

Category Archives: Holidays

A Trip to Del Mar

5 Things to Try This Month – December 2018

New Year’s Eve in Barcelona, Spain

The Five Best Shoes for Holiday and Evening for 2017

Your Under $29 Holiday Gift Guide for 2017

The Five Best Holiday Shoes for 2016

First Time Making the Wreath

The Five Best Holiday Beauty Products for 2016

I Love the Bellagio Conservatory!

2015 Chinese New Year’s in Las Vegas

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