[anchor di] i'm famous! *not* so it was so much fun doing this! i hope i get to do it again, and this time, i think i should look more at the camera and try not to slouch. this was the second take, and it was really hot in that office, so maybe that's why i'm slightly hunched over.

and hopefully i'll get to talk more about purses!

is it just me, or do i just seem like a blabbering prop?

[olympian di] ever since the olympics started, my desire to get fit and have abs like kerri walsh has increased even more. it's been so funny seeing a similar trend in my coworkers and friend alike - everyone is signing up for fitness classes, doing core conditioning, and even boot camp!

so olympics 2008, even if you have had a negative impact on my sleeping schedule, at least you made me exercise more in these 2 weeks!

[fashionista di] is frustrated! why is it so hard to find a simple black vest that does not cost 200 bajillion dollars?! grruhh!

and phillip lim, you have truly outdone yourself this Fall.

[superstitious di says happy 20 08 2008!] it's a lucky day!

[just dumdeedum-ing] why is it that every time i put lotion on my hands, i need to go to the bathroom, and it all just gets washed off again? sigh.

[jie jie di] is so proud of her little brother and his first gobbl claim to fame.

http://eater.com/archives/2008/08/listage_502.php

[domestic di says] happiness is a relaxing saturday night baking biscotti, watching the giants, and sipping a glass of wine shipped straight from Chianti. *ah* wish there were more nights like these....

[dancing di says] courtesy of my hilarious co-worker:

There are 5 basic steps to Bollywood dancing ...
4 traditional --
1. Push the wall
2. Lift the roof
3. Fix the bulb and close the tap simultaneously
4. The Ostrich walk

And one hot new step (recently introduced) --
5. Spanking (no touching please)!

everyone together now!!

[career woman di says] work travel always taints a new city for me. the one thing i'll always remember about it is that i had to go there for some client. the way from the hotel to the client. where the nearest bofa atm is. where the nearest mall is. the direction of the airport. not that i don't try to have fun while i'm there, but most of my initial adaptation feelings always get rooted into the work routine.

given the number of years i've been consulting, i've been pretty fortunate to be staffed locally. when you're staffed locally, teams respect your personal schedule and space. it's great that you can go to the gym, or go home and cook, or meet up with friends at Americano after work. but when you're traveling, it seems less okay to do that. or does it? i always have a hard time deciding on hanging out with my very cool and nice colleagues at a new restaurant, or to keep up the exercise routine and head back to the hotel for a good workout. the lazy foodie part of me will always choose food. but the impending bridal di in me says work out! team i've definitely had great experiences with my various teams when i've been traveling, but i always regret how tired i am the next day, or how flubby i feel the following weekend. on the other hand, after that great workout, i always feel somewhat lonely at my room service meal, re-runs of SATC, and hotel room routine.

for my (perhaps non-existent) audience - how do you balance your work-personal life when you're traveling?

[fashionista di says] i think i'm the only one that thinks about outfits when she's about to go camping :) what to wear hiking, how to keep warm, what to wear when we might meet civilization the next day. kekekeek. silly di.

[fashionista di says] i am hearting phillip lim these days. his dresses, his cute cropped pants, his artistically created tops. all with great cuts and perfect fit! let the fall sales begin soon -- please! one of my favorite tops can be found on my shopstyle stylebook (along with a coveted bottega knot clutch that i must save up for):

[jetsetter di says] one of the best ways to pack shoes is to wrap them in shower caps. recylable shoe bags, often found free at any hotel you may stay at, and transparent so you can pick what you're sporting straight out of your suitcase! whoops, i just realized that a little bit of fashionista di snuck into this snippet. oh well. i can't help it :) yes, i'm off again on another airplane ! if i count the number of times i've been to the airport this year, i will quickly run out of hands! i had to pack for two getaways today because when i get back, we'll be off to clear lake for camping!

[domestic di says] tide-to-go is amazing! a staple in my purse wherever i go for many months now, i got to put it to good use on one of my co-workers shirts after she got too excited over her pasta.

and we should all spend more time at home. with a good book. showing our couches some love. it's good for the bottom -- and for the pocket book!

[back to reality] it's been less than a week since i lived a very charming life in europe, and there is nothing like a good dose of vacuuming, laundry, 256 emails waiting, and bills to pay to shake you back to... life!

actually, it feels pretty good. too many plush rolling green hills and errand-less days can't be good for me, can they?

the hills are quite alive, no? (and yes, that is a propeller of a propeller plane!!)

[fashion fix] for anyone that knows me, you know that one of my hobbies is fashion. can i just say i looooove loooooooove loooooooooove my new purple intreciatto pleated bottega bag? fall here i come! i haven't been able to find a photo of it online, but once i break the zipper seal and bust it out of its duster bag, i will let you know!

[a simple me update] after a whirlwind of a summer in houston, atlanta, phoenix, italy, and germany, i think it's time to pick up wedding planning where i left off. we're at 8.5 months and counting till the big day! who knew that there were 8 bajillion ways to word an RSVP or to extend a simple invitation to my loved ones?

[ok enough] of me rambling. i am boring myself, and am feeling a desire to post, but uninspired to write. i blame the delicious grass fed beef sliders we just made. oof.

[buon giorno] ah italy, the country of long vowels, pasta, gelato, and stylish men and women. it's been divine vacationing here and having no planned schedules, but at the same time, i miss my brian and wish he was here too!

[on the fashion front] vogue and bazaar weren't kidding when they said that italian cities are the place to be to get a preview for the next season. i'm sensing purple and grey are the colors of the fall, belted styles are still in, and booties are going to be rejuvenated. more so, they're combining belted styles with outerwear too, so yay! more use for the many belts i've stocked up on over the seasons. i've been eyeing the oversized pleated purple Bottega hobo.... i still have a week to ponder it ;) sadly, no cute shoozies have been found yet, though there were these adorable red ruffle Dior heeled sandals -- without my size :( boohoo.

men and women alike here just have a flare for fashion. like our driver, Josef, told us, it seriously just comes naturally. a certain suit goes with a set of shirts, ties, watch, and even sunglasses (hoo boy florentines love their sunglasses!). even old women wear these cute belted outfits with espadrilles and matching gucci purses and large sunnies. i love it! it brings a whole new meaning to people watching to me.

[on the florence food front] lucky was i to try enoteca pinchiorri - the 3 star michelin restaurant in 2007. it was fabulous, fine, and you know what, not overly indulgent. with over 3,000 wines on their list, including the likes of richebourg, screaming eagle, moutons, lafites, crystals, doms, and the oldest mouton i've ever seen (1840), you can only imagine how delicious their food and wine pairings were. other good eats recently were buca lapi - with superb florentine steak ,and a flourless, sugar-less, butter-less cake to satisfy my every chocolate craving. the roberto cavalli cafe, where roberto, celebs, and stylish people of all kinds rest their feet for lunch on the sidewalk spread, is my pick for a daily lunch. skip the paninis you see in the little alleys, and grab a sandwich, salad, and sweets here! great value for money, and quality quality ingredients. it reminded me of dining at neiman's. fashion + food. my kind of scene!

[on the family front] my parents are so funny. i truly enjoy spending time with them now that my mom has more things to worry about than nagging us: like which purse to buy! haha! difficult decisions i share :) my dad is a much better listener now that he has slowed down his life, and they are just quirky as ever. if i can age and be like them, i would have done very very well. dru also teases me less and is a lot more mature than i remember. yay him. i love my fam-lie :) kekekeke.

[my note] i learned that i really enjoy perusing vintage and antique jewelry. every piece is so glamorous and tells some story, and they were truly truly handmade with quality stones back in the day.

more later! time for a vacation nap!

some quality italian fare from Buca Lapi = happy di

[more] hahahahahah ok i just read through posts from 3 years ago. check this one out! oh how naive di was...

"Wednesday, April 13, 2005

[vroom, vroom, OUCH] i just paid $42.75 to fill up my tank. that is $2.99/gallon.

(though i guess i shouldn't complain, b/c i could have paid $3.12/gallon at the next shell station)"

[welcome back] ok, how bad is it that reading my old blog posts actually inspired me to write THIS post? it's a secret that i have decided to start blogging again, but there is nothing like a good introspection break during a work day, right? hush hush for now ;)

[when can di have time for di] is the story of my year so far! it seems that a lot of the decisions that i've been making lately are based on doing/seeing/meeting/giving/celebrating other people. i love that i can do that and feel fortunate that i have the means and man support to do so, but there is an itty bitty part of me that wants a weekend for me! a week for me! an evening for meeeee! maybe in 2009 :)

[oh btw] and if you are a true blog follower and not friend, i am engaged to the best man in the whole wide world. multiple *muah*s!



[shout out] and a shout out to Pachi for getting me to write this blog! she may have to remind me from time to time to update.... *cough cough*