This weekend, one of my best friends is getting married and I couldn’t be happier that I’ll be standing by her on her big day.  We’ve been friends for more than half our lives and she’s been my partner in crime in our teenage years.  We used to dance Chinese folk dances together and then subsequently in our high school years when most kids were out playing we taught younger kids how Chinese folk dancing as well.  We dyed our hair together, we got piercings together, and even went to the Rose Bowl together too!  Like I said, our friendship goes wayyy back!

So excuse me if I’m MIA all weekend as I’ll be in Vegas with my best friend as she marries the man of her dreams!    But I won’t leave you empty handed, here is a look at their New York City engagement pictures photographed by the amazing Jeramie Shoda!

Aren’t they the cutest?  I am loving all the great backdrops that define New York City.  To check out more photos from this amazing session, head on over to Shoda Love blog!

Oh yes, and I have the Livy Love Designs giveaway winner to announce!  The winner is Connie from Daydream in Color, congrats!  Connie – please email me at sandyalamode(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll get you hooked up with Diana so she can send you the print of your choice!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Entries for this giveaway have been closed.

{shop} {blog}

Hi friends!  Today I’d LOVE to introduce you all to Cindy Hsu, the mastermind behind this blog and this shop.  She takes the most amazing pictures, foreals, of all different sorts of items such as food (yes!), landscapes, flowers, and more.  And they are real dreamy looking, mmyes.  And if you like reading my blog (I sure hope you do!) then you will love hers as well, as we have many similar things that we blog about… such as food, fashion, photography, and inspiration! 

{MEET CINDY}

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Cindy and in two weeks, I will be graduating from USC! I started my shop this year because I wanted to share my love of color and optimism in photography.

2) Your photography is amazing Cindy! Can you tell us what camera and lens you use?
I use a Canon 60D and a 28mm prime lens. I have recently been renting a 100mm macro lens and am definitely going to start saving up for one of my own!

3) Where do you draw inspiration from?
I am constantly inspired by delicious food, amazing architecture, art, and design, and the great time I have with my boyfriend Matt, my friends and family, and my dog Benji!

4) What are your favorite stores to shop at?
Anthropologie, hand’s down.

5) What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate!

{GIVEAWAY}

Win the print of YOUR CHOICE!  All prints come fully matted and ready for framing!

To enter:

1. Visit Jellyfishfaire shop and leave a comment with your favorite print!

For additional entries, leave a separate comment for each action.
1. Be a Google Friend Connect follower of Cindy Hsu
2. Be a Google Friend Connect follower of this blog
3. Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway (make sure to include @sandyalamode in your tweet) and include the link (one entry each)

Feel free to use this tweet:
Have you seen Jellyfishfaire’s dreamy photography? Enter a #GIVEAWAY to win a print of your choice on @sandyalamode! http://bit.ly/eN0EnE

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and closes on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 12PM CST.  Good luck!

Don’t wait to wait?  Take 15% off your order with code SANDY11!

Entries for this giveaway have been closed.

Many times when I travel for work, I find myself in small towns with a whole lot of chain restaurants and that’s about it.  But I always make it a point to find the treasures and charms of the city (if any) and that’s exactly what I did when I was in Kokomo, Indiana.  The highlight of my trip as visiting the Original Treasure Mart – the biggest antique mall I ever did step foot in!  Come take a look…

This building was FOUR STORIES tall, my friends.

In a small town in Indiana.

The setup of everything was like eye candy.

I pretty much wanted to buy everything in this little room.

Would you look at all those trinkets?

LOVE LOVE LOVE the fabrics and colorful shelves, tables, and chairs.

And a vintage bike?  Yes please.

And not to mention the collections galore… I could look at antique China for days.

Looking at all these metal food tins brings me back to my childhood.

And I LOVE glass bottles in all colors, shapes and forms.

This place was brimming with books and old records.

And beautiful antique jewelry by the glass case full.

Little treasures like this teapot put a smile on my face.

And antique sewing machines always amaze me.

These made me daydream about the outfits that women used to pin these on.

This made me want to bust out in dance to some oldies.

I totally didn’t know what this mason jar was used for.  But right when Marvin saw the picture he said “gumball machine”!  What would I do without him?

And lastly, wouldn’t that be nice if Coca-Cola was still only 5 cents, haha!

What’s the last thing you bought from an antique shop?

Dress: H&M | Cardigan: Ann Taylor | Tights: Forever 21 | Boots: Steve Madden | Belt: Gift From Mom

Here we go again with the boots and photos from a month ago.  I promise, these are the LAST photos for the season with these boots (I think).  This photo shoot was taken by my dad (yup, our family is totally talented behind the camera) at a park near my parent’s house.  One of my nephew’s absolute favorite things to do is go to the park, his ears perk up at the sound of “gong yuan”, or “park” in Chinese.  And then he repeats “gong yuan” incessantly and asks you to put on his shoes for him so we can leave to the park ASAP, melts my heart.  If you look at my outfits, I don’t actually own a lot of red.  But I am utterly in love with how this red bow belt (yes, bow!) looks against black and white.  And it ties together my coordinated outfit with Evan too, didn’t plan that one. 

Highlights from my Easter weekend?

1) Getting some orders made and packaged up to be sent out on Monday.
2) Sharing a booth at a craft fair with My Little Sunshine Handmade and going on a double date BBQ run!  If you ever come visit in Kansas City, we’ll take you to Oklahoma Joe’s, YUM!
3) Preparing for my best friend’s Bridal Shower and Wedding in Vegas next weekend!
4) Spring Cleaning. Like for serious.
5) Seeing me and Much Love, Illy’s Connection’s post go up on Susannahbean’s blog!  Head on over to check it out!

What did you do for Easter weekend?

Have you entered the Livy Love Designs giveaway for the print of your choice in 8.5 x 11″ size?

It’s been forever since I’ve done a Flavors to Follow and I have to say, I’ve missed them!  Lately, I’ve been obsessed with bracelets, bangles and cuffs.  I have to say, I can probably count on one hand how many of these I own.  I normally wear a watch on my left wrist and a black hairtie on my right wrist (I always forget to take it off for outfit posts, fail).  But I’m ready to branch out and add pops of color and fun designs to my outfit, in other words, just another reason to go shopping! 

1 Loving this super colorful African inspired cuff from none other than Anthropologie.
2 Pretty much two of my favorite colors (for now) in one Forever 21 bracelet set, seen on Cafe Fashionista.
3 Chevron’s are so IN right now, just ask Jess LC!
4 REALLY wanted to buy this Shop Ruche bangle set, but sad it’s sold out.
5 So perfect for girl’s night out or a date with your boy by Francesca’s.
6 Super cool DIY braided bracelet, made of… hex nuts! Thanks Tiny Twig!
7 And florals? Oh how I just love them. Another gem from Francesca’s!
8 So sophisticated and pretty, great color combo from Spool No. 72.
9 Choose your verse on this classic pearl bracelet from The Rusted Chain!

So pretty, yea?  I’m ready to start buying… them all, heh.  Or maybe if I make enough money from my craft fair tomorrow or if y’all use code GOODLUCK for 15% off your order to my shop, you can help me on my way to a new bracelet! 

Are you a bracelet, bangle, and cuff wearer?