friday pic & pin + special giveaway

I'm kind of obsessed with the bright pinks going on here. Maybe it's because I have Ring Cozy on my mind (I used a pink in the logo) and I'm all "thinky thinky" as Joe would say.

It's the final three days of the Kickstarter campaign and while I'm not giving up hope that anything can happen from now until Monday morning, I am working on how my plan B will roll out. I'm both a dreamer and a realist so I need to be prepared to keep the dream going!

Along with being thinky thinky I'm also feeling givey givey. I fell in love with the textiles from Sapa North Vietnam (talked about it here) so I made sure to buy an extra zip pouch to share with you!

It has a combo of embroidered and applique styles and the naturally dyed fabric gives it a gorgeous muted tone. Some pieces look like they might even be vintage ... it's a fascinating little pouch and I can't wait for one of you to call it yours!

To enter to win, comment below with what you'd use it for - make up, keeping small items inside of a bigger bag, on it's own, whatever! It's approximately 5x7in so there's wiggle room to play with. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on next Friday's Pic & Pin.

Have an awesome weekend!

(image left: Patron prayer leaf, Saigon, Vietnam by Ana Maria Muñoz, right: Pin)

phu quoc & saigon

hover over each image/dots for the story

... a few weeks later and we finally have photos from our trip to Vietnam! It was our second time there (remember our early honeymoon?) so we mixed in some beach time with city culture.

Most of the trip was spent at Mango Bay Eco Resort, in Phu Quoc. It was a complete 180 from our experience in Con Dao in that even though they both boast an eco-friendly environments, Mango Bay was bare bones. No A/C, no phone in the room for room service, outdoor toilet, and unfortunately really crappy bed and pillows. However, the setting was gorgeous and it still felt indulgent with it's own grown-up summer camp vibe. We ate, lounged, and ate some more but my favorite part was spending the day out on the water while Joe and other guests snorkeled. I stayed on board due to my recent LASIK surgery so instead of swimming with the fish, I was invited to join the guides in catching them instead. I did pretty well - four total! The water was beautiful and warm and that night I went to sleep still feeling the rocking of the boat. Luckily it was more soothing than it sounds.

After three nights in Phu Quoc we headed to Ho Chi Minh City, or as tried and true locals still call it, Saigon. My first impression was "wow, it looks like a mini Europe but with all Vietnamese people!". The French influence and architecture is still very much present in the old districts as are the wide streets lined with trees - a rare sight in South East Asia. When Joe and I hopped onto motor bikes with our guides for a night tour we were instantly impressed with the ease of getting around. Everyone was so relaxed about riding motorbikes and most of all courteous. I'm sure locals might think differently (or even other tourists visiting SEA for the first time) but now coming from KL where people (mostly male) drive their bikes at crazy speeds and seem to always try to hit you, Saigon felt more like a pleasant bike ride in the park. There were so many more women on the road, even ones dressed up in fancy work clothes. It's just the norm and it's awesome.

The biggest treat was the next day when our guide took us to the building where an American helicopter evacuated people during the fall of Saigon. It was crazy to think of the iconic image and then look up/down and realize that we were standing on top of history. The location isn't advertised to tourists nor is it generally open to the public so if you want in, give Bao a call.

We had to catch our flight home that afternoon so with other cultural spots to see, the day was jam packed but well worth it. It was our first time hiring a guide during holiday and I don't think it will be the last. We did it mainly because we had less than 24 hours in the city and expected that there would be a lot to see. And unlike traveling in Europe where we're more familiar with the history, culture, and where cities tend to be easier to navigate, we've realized that we need a little extra help in this part of the world. Ubud, Bali is next for a long weekend so we'll see how we do there!

Have you ever traveled with a guide? What was your experience?

friday pic & pin

Hi guys, Happy Friday! I had every intention to share photos from our Vietnam trip this week but I forgot to change the camera RAW settings and iPhoto isn't too pleased with the big data (hint: laptop is definitely due for a spring cleaning).

Will work on them this weekend but in the meantime here's a pic from our eco resort, Mango Bay, in Phu Quoc and a Pin of shorts that I'm desperately drooling over. They're by a Vietnamese designer, THU THU, who incorporates the beautiful textiles of the H'mong women of Sapa. Though we stayed in the South and Sapa is in the North, I managed to pick up a few handmade goodies while in Saigon, one of which I'll share with you next week and by share I mean give away ;)

If you haven't checked out the Ring Cozy Kickstarter yet please click on over, pledge if you like it, and tweet, facebook post, and email the heck out of it! There are only TEN more days to reach full funding (Kickstarter is all-or-nada) so every bit helps. Thanks for all of your support!!!

Have an awesome weekend.

Oh and a BIG thank you to Jamie of KAYU for having me on her blog for a Q&A!

(image left: Palm and Sea, Phu Quo, Vietnam by Ana Maria Muñoz, right: Pin via A Boy Named Sue)

in tune with spring

It's been a bit quiet on the blog front regarding Ring Cozy but I promise that it's been the complete opposite behind the scenes. I'm putting the final touches on a really exciting next step and can't wait to share it with you real soon. Just like the flowers in this lily pad pond, Ring Cozy is ready to bloom!

photo by Ana Maria Munoz, taken in Con Dao, Vietnam

a year's worth of wanderlust II

This time of year always makes me reflect and one of the things that I'm most grateful for are the opportunities we've had to travel. We set out to live internationally for many reasons but traveling was/is priority numero uno. Looking back, I think we did a good job a sticking to our plan even though some days it feels easier to just veg out at home! Here are my fave moments, sights, and thoughts from our 2012 travel adventures....

Breaking away from Europe and landing in Marrakech. High hopes and expectations were met with a chaotic Medina with a character all its own.

Passed Berber Villages in the Atlas Mountains and seeing nothing but beautiful vistas. And snow. Who would have thought Africa had snow?!

Sipping on fresh mint tea while picking out our new/old Berber rug...the perfect souvenir!

Our first LA visit together and indulging in three things: In N Out burgers, Mexican tacos, and fresh American donuts. This photo was from our morning binge session while doing loads of laundry next door.

Re-discovering the cool designs and colors found in LA

Taking a quick break from LA to Anchorage, Alaska for a visit with Joe's parents. It was so awesome to be in the house he grew up in and see his childhood town.

a day-trip to Oxford - LOVED it there. For you Hogwarts fanatics - their cafeteria is just off to the left.

Stopping in Florence en route to Chianti. It's so true that the entire city is a museum.

enjoying an impromptu lunch overlooking vineyards near Greve Chianti. Hands down my fave meal of the trip...for sentimental reasons, mainly, because the other meals were aawweesooomme.

a "booze and chocolate tour" of Brussels with some sight-seeing on the side. A flea market was also involved - this one was one of the most legit I've been to.

Leaving our love-lock in Paris as we wrapped up our time in London.

Our first trip after moving to KL: Penang. So colorful and vibrant.

and with charming old character everywhere you look.

Piggy-backing on one of Joe's business trips to Bangkok and exploring by boat.

Visiting Singapore for the first time and wishing we had moved there instead since it was so clean, organized, and seemingly perfect. It was during a rough point in my new-home adjustment but now love and appreciate the imperfect and real character of KL.

The beach holiday that ruined it for any other ones in the future. Con Dao, Vietnam was utter perfection. Honeymoon is done and done.

Going back to LA to give these little ones hugs and kisses and begin research on my new venture.

Making a long-weekend out of Joe's business trip to London. We'll take any amount of time there, no matter how long the flight. Plus, Joe needed to stock up on his favorite Whisky and you can pack more with two people + checked bags than you can with one ;)

The unexpected layover in Abu Dhabi from London. I did my best to make the most of my 48 hours there despite major jet-lag (I was only one week back from LA!)

Getting to know and love the bits of Melbourne that give it it's reputation as a hub for good coffee shops and interesting street art.

Hanging out in Bondi Beach where I used to splash around as a toddler. Can't believe that we used to live just down the road. Part of me wonders what it would have been like to grow up there and be a little beach bunny...

... or just dance around The Opera House all the time...

...and with Australia, that brings us to a wrap!

But we won't be idle for too long. With the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa covered in one year (that is cray cray!) it's only fitting that we kick off 2013 with South America in February. Yep, I cannot wait to visit my parents in Colombia and say our "I Do's" with family, friends, and buñuelos!

I'm so thankful for this beautiful year....and to you guys for sharing it with me. I'll stop before I get all sappy but know that interacting with you via this blog, twitter, instagram, email is such a joy. And if you just joined me this year, you can catch up on where we went in 2011 by clicking here. Oh, the places we will go......

con dao vietnam

   

My my was it tough to pick just a handful of photos for this post! We had the most amazing time at Six Senses in Con Dao. We're usually the type to check into a hotel and return only after a day of exploring but this time we were total resort dwellers. Between relaxing in our villa, swimming in the warm ocean, and eating yummy local cuisine, there really wasn't much reason to leave. And to be fair, we were on a small island so the choice was made even easier. We did venture out for a snorkeling trip that was followed by the most incredible fruit picnic on a tiny secluded beach. I kept pinching myself because it all looked like something out of a magazine spread. It was the type of setting that dream holidays are made of.

The resort lived up to its scenery too. Everything was eco-conscious and the staff was beyond friendly and hospitable. Every villa is given a butler so if you need anything you call just one person. Ours was Nghia and I knew we had come to service-heaven when after turn-down on the first night I found a lens cloth cleaner for my glasses and a jar of detergent soap; Nghia had noticed that I was wearing glasses (and that they were dirty) and had caught a comment that Joe and I made about getting a stain on his clothes. How impressive is that? We hardly called on Nghia for things but I can imagine that families really get their monies worth with all of the details that the butlers can take care of for you.

We're already scheming our return because it truly did feel like a slice of heaven. Everything - the service, the scenery, the vibe - was perfect. Places and experiences like this is why we moved to South East Asia. Thanks for the reminder, Six Senses Con Dao.

words worth repeating / 24

Hi guys, we're back from Vietnam! What an incredible four days of rest, relaxation and eating well. We both returned with painful sunburns but it's a small price to pay for a weekend in paradise ... consider our honeymoon done and done! I've got a ton of work to get back to so a full recap with photos will have to wait until next week. Until then here are some teaser snaps from my phone using vsco cam and instagram. Paradise, right?

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{new series} let's!

1. Warby Parker / 2. Wren / 3. Cuyana / 4. Arrows Rain / 5. Bath Style / 6. Menorquinas

We're off to Singapore today and we've also booked our first beach getaway in Vietnam next month. Needless to say, my travel bug is very happy!

I thought this would be the perfect time to introduce a new bi-monthly series called Let's. In each Let's Getaway post I'll pick a destination and share what I'd pack if only my wardrobe were so lucky. Next will be Let's Play House that will be all about well, playing house! Since we can only do so much with our temporary living arrangement I figured that I might as well dream a little and share the inspiration along the way.

This first getaway is a bit of a cheat since we're actually going to Vietnam but I couldn't resist dreaming up my perfect packing list. That dress - it kills me!

Besides curating my favorite things, a goal for the Let's series is to highlight pieces from independent designers or companies that produce locally, use fair trade, are eco-minded  and/or practice social ethos within their business models. Of course high-street brands may make an appearance but only if I believe in their quality and longevity beyond seasonal trends.

I'm really excited to put my Pinterest and web-window shopping sprees to use. I hope you enjoy it!