finally...

Finally, I can catch my breath.

Dearest friends, my blog posts are way overdue - great apologies for not writing, but in my defense, I'd rather not post than give you crap. I mean... LBR, folks... the worst thing a blogger could give you is a pointless post.

Anywho.. Today marks two months since UW commencement.. I can't believe that time has flown by so quickly. Also now thinking back, I realized that I have never shared pictures from the photo shoot with you. A dear sister, Kelley who is two years younger took photos of me and fellow graduating sisters before Commencement. It was beautiful, sunny day (rare in Seattle, especially during the first week of June). I love love love these photos. Can't believe it's all done.

Hope you enjoy!

One last time in front of the beautiful Pi Palace.

<> throwing our diamonds <>

Hug Train!

where it all began.. Denny Hall (Bid Day '08, miss it!)

Looks like we haven't changed a bit since freshmen year...

Suzzalo <3 td="td">

pretty dresses. pretty sisters. 

image via

OOTD: Graduation Style #2 - navy, cream and collegiate

Saturday was the big day.. UW Commencement! So of course, I had to wear a different dress... here is graduation outfit #2! 

Just like my first outfit, I wanted to keep this one simple and classy. With a gold-buttoned, navy blazer, nude heels and pearls, this had collegiate all over it. I'm in love with this dress. It's one of my favorites.. why? POCKETS. perfect for storing lip gloss if you want to go hands-free for the afternoon. I brought my little LV clutch for this occasion though, since I had too much to take with me, which included my umbrella. I didn't want to endure another Noah's Ark downpour like Thursday. 

Thanks to my dearest mother for taking these pictures. They were taken by the Olympic Sculpture and Myrtle Edwards Park. Mama and I stopped by for a quick photo shoot before heading to Century Link Field. Hope you enjoy!!

OUTFIT

Dress: Ella dress in 'Rambling Rose' - classic navy, floral vine print; Blazer: Ralph by Ralph Lauren; Necklace: Nordstrom Bracelets: Banana Republic and J.Crew; Rings: Michael Kors, Alpha Delta Pi sorority and vintage crystal; Earrings: Kate Spade "Putting on The Ritz" studs (wore them with outfit #1, too!) Shoes: Patent, criss-cross nude from Austique (boutique in London); Purse: Louis Vuitton

*Also.. as I'm awaiting for photos from Friday's graduation photo session, I will be delaying my graduation recap until I receive them. Thought it would be best to keep it all in one post. :)

Mama told me to look into the distance? haha

Hope you enjoyed the outfit! xoxo

OOTD: Graduation Style #1 - florals, golds and bling, oh my!

Thanks, mom for the beautiful bouquet!
Peonies are my favorite, and these pink ones are gorgeous
especially with the contrasting neon lime green mums. 

Hello there! For graduation, I picked out two outfits - one for the Department ceremony and another for Commencement. You might remember reading my shopping adventures for these perfect dresses a couple weeks ago - thought I'd share with you my first graduation outfit! Second outfit to post on Monday :)

I wanted to keep the outfit simple classy, but with a hint of "fun" - so I chose a few accessories and went for statement shoes? Haha If there ever was a thing... Played up the bling with my earrings (a birthday present from m'friend Lindzee!) and my favorite Michael Kors pave eternity ring, along with two rings that I wore everyday when I was in college - one from my sorority and a vintage crystal cocktail ring from my aunt. The necklace was a gift from my mother in high school - a vintage treasure that is one of my favorites, and my statement shoes were sky-high, hot pink and purple, color-blocked, peep-toed, patent wedges. loves. 

These pictures were taken right outside the Communication Department on my big day - so happy the sun came out just in time for a quick photo shoot. Hope you all are having a beautiful week! Graduation recap will be posted on Monday!! Can't wait to share with y'all my favorite graduation photos <3

OUTFIT

Dress: J.Crew Ella dress in 'Garden Floral' - bold orange brushstroke floral print, silk; Shoes: Vince Camuto peep-toed wedges; Earrings: Kate Spade "Putting on The Ritz" studs; Rings: Alpha Delta Pi sorority and vintage crystal on my left hand, Michael Kors pave eternity on my right; Necklace: vintage hammered gold wreath from the late 70s; Purse: Louis Vuitton (pictured below, last photo Trench: Michael Kors)

awkward fashion blogger pose.. take 1

Love the detailed brushstroke on the dress. It has pockets, too!

Yay, the sun finally came out!! Just in time for pictures.

Mother, I beg of you... no more photos. please.

maybe just one more? :)

the perfect dress[es]

Graduation is right around the corner... which means another reason to go shopping! After a dozen of shops, hours online and adventures in Portland with dearest Mama Nguyen - I finally settled on two dresses from J.Crew.

Believe me when I say that I tried on every dress possible. My mother's personal shopper, Mary (oh, that dear woman) was the sweetest doll ever... she pulled almost every dress from TBD to Via C, it was a struggle to find a unique, bright summery dress that didn't overwhelm my petite figure. Every dress we picked... it was either too long and if hemmed would cut the print at a weird angle, or my torso was too short, or my neck was too short or worse... they didn't have my size... and of course, I waited until the last minute so shipping plus tailoring time might not have been the best. I was in love with a gorgeous Balenciaga - hot pink printed dress, but that didn't happen... it was too busy, and my mother didn't think it was "young enough." bahaha

Kate Spade New York 'Viola' dress in Cote Azur,  $358

I was also in love with this Kate Spade 'Viola' dress... but again, there was something not right about it. It was blue, and I was set on somehow incorporating my power color (PINK) into my graduation outfit.

Finally, we arrived at J.Crew where I fell in love with the Ella dress! Not only was it girly, brightly printed (had pink in it) but it also had pockets!! I'm a sucker for pockets... they are just so handy. I liked the dress so much... I may have gotten it in two different prints - one for my department ceremony and another for commencement.

lookie - these are my graduation dresses!
[left] Ella dress in 'Rambling Rose' - classic navy, floral vine print, cotton, $148 $99
[right] Ella dress in 'Garden Floral' - bold orange brushstroke floral print, silk, $198

You may be asking... how is my power color going to be incorporated with the "Rambling Rose" dress? Ummm.. strapless dresses pretty much beg to be adorned with a statement necklace or fun, over the top earrings. I'm thinking a bright neon pink necklace.... like this one:

Kate Spade New York 'Bauble Box' Double Row Bib Necklace in Fluorescent Pink, $278

OR

putting my hair up in a loose, elegant chignon and donning these beauties:

Kate Spade New York 'Moms the Word - Posey Park' earrings in Fluorescent Pink,  $58

Obviously in love with both... and to choose between the two will be quite the challenge. 

Ahhh... can't believe it's happening in less than a month. outrageously unreal. Next grad-related post? DIY - Bedazzle your Mortarboard. :)

Where did all the time go?

In exactly 5 weeks, the little one will be taking her first steps into the working world. Seattle, you ready for meh? #biggirlworld I can't believe it... the clock is ticking, and I will soon bid adieu to my college years.

Last night, I attended a Seattle Jesuit Alumni Event (regional gathering, not specific to class year). About 50 or so alumni enjoyed themselves at Palisades for appetizers, drinks, networking and catching up on the good 'ole days of J-High. 

During the "welcome" speech, the president of our school, John Gladstone, updated us on the new buildings, programs and the progress the school has made in regards to financial aid.. and of course, the tuition increase. (Can't believe it... but Jesuit's tuition is almost $11,000.. in-state college tuition.. wow) When Mr. Gladstone and our Alumni Director, Kathy Baarts, spoke, I thought about all the years that had gone by since my graduation from high school and the big days that lay ahead of me.

Was I happy? Did I accomplish all I wanted to do in college? Did I live my life with no regrets... aka did I live it up errrr night errday? 

I try to live my life without regrets, so the correct answer would be "yes" to all of the above. Not entirely sure, if I did everything I wanted to do in college... but I am sure hell as happy of what I have accomplished during my three and a quarter years here at the UW. I joined an amazing sisterhood at Alpha Delta Pi and learned the importance of ritual, loyalty and everlasting friendship. I learned to be sassy, wild and free - learning to let loose when appropriate and have fun. I discovered my passion for the technology and public relations industry - got involved with such a prestigious student organization that is UW PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). I met amazing people within and outside of the Greek Community -- fraternity guys who I may or may not keep in contact with depending on our friendship, ASUW friends who are so driven, motivated and inspire me to be a more involved leader on campus, colleagues from the Journalism sector of the Communication Department and of course, my PRSSA officers who I had a blast with in Orlando a couple weeks ago. 

Thank you, UW, for making my college experience all that it has been - simply amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better time. In the famous freshman song words of Asher Roth... "I love college." Yes ma'am, I do... I'm gonna miss your days of fun, but it's time to move on, now. 

Good-bye sorority life... 

hello to the working world of the pros!

75 Days.

image via pinterest

75 days

and counting...

I didn't think graduating early was going to be that momentous for me. Honestly, I was just thinking "Hey, I don't have to take exams or study anymore... woot, yay for a real job." But, today it really hit me. 

I realized: 

I won't be living at the Pi Palace anymore. I will no longer be in the "in" on all of the juicy gossip of my ADPi sisters. I won't have the luxury of wearing Lulus and an oversized fraternity sweatshirt as a uniform everyday. I can say good-bye to bumming it around the chapter house on the weekends. Farewell, to the frat-daddies and their fratastic ways of the Greek System.

Instead:
I'll be living in an apartment/studio (I'll let you know when I find a place). I will be living, breathing, eating and sleeping my work. (They say entry-level PR is 50+hours a week.. yikes!). I will be wearing business casual everyday errrday (well, my whole closet consists of that so it won't be too bad of a problem... hello J.Crew and Banana Republic!) Meeting people at networking events, after-work happy hours and did I mention... businessmen? #MeninSuits #Winning I will be running errands, cooking, and doing adult chores. WHOA buddy... my weekends are going to be so dull. Just you wait, I'll be starting DIY projects and learning the ways of a home-maker. Aka my Pinterest boards will be come reality.

This big realization that I'll be entering the the #biggirlworld began last week on my very last "first day of school." It was a full day of classes, running to the bus stop for my internship and writing press releases/pitches until 5 pm. Exhausted by the time I got back to the Pi Palace, I thought to myself... "Wow, I can't believe my last quarter as a college student leaves no time for play." Worth it? Chyeah, it is. Focusing on school and the internship will give me an edge. Plus, graduating early sets me apart from the rest of my class - allowing me to get a job before everyone else starts to bum-rush the recruiters. However as much as I have prepared for the big day of my last final exam and other "lasts," I am a bit scared.anxious.nervous.worried.freakedout. to say the least.

Part of me wants to still enjoy my last quarter of being a college student and a full-time srat star. I mean, let's be real, you can take the girl out of the sorority.... but you can't take the sorority out of the girl.

Dear friends... I can't believe it. Seventy-five days... you heard me right. 7-5.

It's happening oh-too quickly, and before I know it... I'll be out there. there. there. there. (hear the echo?)

a little fishy in the deep blue sea... that's what I'll be.

Hopefully, I won't be considered shark-bait.