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CRAFTYLIANG. WILL TEACH YOU TO BE CRAFTY. RELAUNCHING SOON.

Halloween 2011 - Samurai Princess?

Some last minute Halloween planning (or lack thereof) lead me to borrow a piece from my friend Danny Nguyen, who just so happens to be a fashion designer. His Japanese inspired pieces from his S/S 2010 line were perfect. With an undeniable dexterity to create stage ready pieces, this dress was more than suitable for the occasion.

Although I had no clue what I'd call my "costume," I felt there was an appropriate mix of girly geisha crossed over with the daunting samurai, with a frilly flower blossom pattern and a leather waist belt reminiscent of samurai armor - I dubbed myself a "Samurai Princess." All I was missing was a sword.

Brasserie Max & Julie

Brian and I went to Brasserie Max & Julie in Houston a while back for brunch. I ordered a waffle with duck confit and wild mushrooms and he got the steak tartare. For dessert, we had an ice cream filled crepe with fresh fruit. I would say that the dessert crepe definitely was not their strong suit (nothing special, just a crepe filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with chocolate syrup). The duck & wild mushroom waffle was pretty good and very rich in flavor, but got increasingly salty with each bite, making it difficult to finish. The steak tartare, however, was excellent.

I'd recommend this restaurant for a brunch date. It's a very cute spot located in Midtown Houston right on Montrose.

Onset of Fall

Forever 21 outfit; Zara shoes

A very much welcomed chill has taken over Austin this week, and I couldn't be happier about it. My hangers full of coats and sweaters have finally started to get some use within my clothing rotation. I've also adopted a newfound adoration for the color brown. It's as if I just discovered how flexible and classy brown can be, while being low-key at the same time.

Work has kept me plenty busy over the last few weeks. I'll be attending two conferences next week. Nothing interesting enough to share, but if you're in the hotel or real estate industry in Texas, you just might just see me.