Temples and palaces are abundant throughout countries in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and more. With their complex and deep history rooted within these sites, a level of respect is expected and that is reflected in a visitor’s wardrobe. Modesty is polite and appropriate, but sometimes it can be overwhelming researching outfits. Below I am sharing my ideas on what to wear at palaces and temples in Southeast Asia, which include chic and fun styles that can be worn year round. 

After busy mornings filled with quiet visits to breathtaking Buddhist temples and finding ourselves immersed in Thai royal history, followed by afternoons lounging by the pool and soaking up the warm Bangkok sun, the beau was eager to take me out for a much needed romantic dinner. At home in Hong Kong, finding an excuse to dress up for date night has become more rare these days as our time is filled with family especially whenever the beau is not traveling. During our mom-and-dad getaway, I chose to don a romantic date night look in Bangkok for a special one-on-one evening with the beau.

This will be my fifth Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. While I will admit that Christmas is my favorite time of year, Lunar New Year is a very, very close second (with Mid Autumn Festival coming in third). You can really feel the energy become more positive and hopeful. After everyone puts their Christmas decorations away by 1 January, everything switches gears for Lunar New Year, which usually takes place in January or February depending on the full moon. Christmas trees are swapped for peonies and orchids, green Christmas garland is swapped for red lanterns, and Santa is swapped for lions, dragons, and snakes (this lunar new year will be Year of the Snake).

Lai see. Lion dances. Dragons. Prayers. That's just a small glimpse of the liveliness that happens around Lunar New Year. Since moving to Asia at the end of 2019, I have been able to experience a few Lunar New Years here in Hong Kong (and Têt in Vietnam), and it really might be one of the best times of the year. It's everyone coming together to welcome spring and a new year (this year will be Year of the Snake), and the streets are lively with vibrant colors and gorgeous blossoms. Popular colors this time of year are red for good luck and good fortune, yellow/gold for hope and power, and pink for love and happiness. 

The perfect white tee doesn't exi... actually, yes it does. I had been looking for the perfect white tee every summer and I finally found it this year. White tees go with absolutely everything, which is what makes them so essential for summer. Have the perfect flowy skirt? A comfortable pair of denim shorts? Or even a light linen jumpsuit? A white tee goes with all three and more. 

I'm pretty much in disbelief that this upcoming autumn will mark 5 years since I relocated to Hong Kong. How has it already been half a decade? I have now lived in Hong Kong longer than I have collectively lived in New York City, which blows my mind. It seems nearly impossible. I initially relocated here to spend more time with the beau, who first came to live in Hong Kong with his family when he was 6-years old. The beau has lived in Hong Kong since 1990, with a couple of years in Canada and Australia for school in between, so this has always been "home" to him. 

Stepping into the Mandarin Oriental Macau felt like stepping into a sophisticated yet extremely comfortable home. We had been graciously invited to the hotel for a few nights to celebrate the hotel's 15th birthday, and while the hotel was the star of the show for the weekend, we were all made to feel like very special VIPs. The hotel, part of One Central, calls home inside a stunning glass building that reveals the Macau waterfront in its reflections. There's no such thing as a bad view at the Mandarin Oriental Macau.

Evenings in Macau are such a lively, vibrant time. During the day, it's easy to find yourself purposefully getting lost amongst the streets munching on egg tarts as you explore the city's many cultural and historical sites, but at night is when Macau really comes alive. Of course there are amazing casinos and there's a plethora of restaurants to choose from, but we were lucky in getting to indulge in a romantic Portuguese experience in the heart of St. Lazarus Quarter that pays homage to part of the city's history with its cobblestone streets, Portuguese architecture, and winding alleyways. 

I am not a vacationer, I am a traveler. This means whenever I travel, if I have the chance to spend my days diving into cultural experiences to learn more about a destination's history and people, I'd much rather do that than spend my day laying by the pool (which does sound nice, but not my sole purpose for travel). As soon as the beau and I decided to visit Dubai, I immediately began researching on what to do in the city. Yes of course there are countless museums, fashion boutiques, spas, beach excursions, and day trips to the desert dunes, but I wanted to learn more about the people and one way to immerse yourself in a new culture is to learn about religion. 

When the beau and I traveled to Dubai, it happened to be our anniversary from when we eloped at City Hall. We knew we needed to mark the occasion with a romantic evening, and I will admit that it took a long time to find the perfect spot to celebrate. That's not because there weren't many options - quite the opposite! Dubai is full of magnificent date night spots, from elegant to casual, and it just came down to how we wanted to spend our evening. Since we has been staying in a very fast-paced, very busy area near the Burj Khalifa, so we wanted something a little removed from the city but not too far. We settled on the romantic location of Jumeirah Al Qasr, right on the Persian Gulf.  

No more gatekeeping - it's time for me to share my secrets to my latest skin care routine! I'm 35 - nestled right in that in-between part between 30 and 40. My skin care has definitely changed to reflect my new desires for my skin, mostly with brightening and anti-aging. As someone who has never had Botox, injections, or fillers, I am finding other ways to try to stall the inevitable aging process. This is not meant to shame those who have gotten Botox or fillers. There's nothing wrong with getting Botox. Everyone is different, and everyone's desires and preferences are different. I'm personally not comfortable with the idea of Botox on myself, but I am also not ready to welcome too many fine lines just yet. There's also nothing wrong with having lines - it's something that will naturally happen to our skin - but I am sharing my best skin care for mid 30's to delay some of it.

For 12 months, I lived the life of a celebrity as if I had always been one, being flown first class around the world and across the country, walking major red carpets that I never ever imagined I’d be walking on, making speeches like a public official, and appearing in ads and spreads in multiple magazines that I had been reading for years. Everyone wants you when you’re the reigning queen. And then, in another instant, it’s all gone. No team behind you, guiding you, or supporting you. It’s almost as if it never was. It very much feels like, “K thanks, bye!”

For 60 years, one woman would find herself wearing the crown and sash of Miss USA for a whole year. She would go down in the Miss USA history books, her name forever attached to that title. For six years, I had watched one woman’s life completely change on live television as she got crowned as Miss USA. I would follow her reign on the Miss Universe website, her travels, her red carpet appearances, etc. It was a job and responsibility I had really wanted for myself. It always seemed like an unachievable dream. I would daydream about winning a state pageant and winning Miss USA. I would daydream about what my reign would be like - living in the Miss Universe apartment in New York and traveling the world representing the Miss Universe Organization and countless charities. But then, one day, on June 19, 2011, that impossible dream became a thrilling reality. I never thought that one day, a girl from a small town in New Jersey, would find herself wearing the crown and sash of Miss USA. It was something I wanted, but the chances were extraordinary. 

A lot has changed since I competed, but every year a new Miss USA was crowned on live television. After nearly 3 intense weeks in June 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada with 50 other extraordinary women from across the country, the time had come to crown a new Miss USA. After a 2 hour internationally televised event concluded, one woman was walking away with the title and crown of Miss USA 2011. 51 of us competed for that crown. Only one could win. 59 other incredible women had already previously held the title over the last 60 years, and now it was someone else's turn to have that role for a year. One woman woke up that morning not knowing she would be going to bed that night as the new Miss USA. This is my experience of what it was like to win Miss USA, which I will be sharing in two parts. 

To start off the Christmas season this year, I was invited by Ritz Carlton Hong Kong and Clé de Peau for a special afternoon celebrating the holidays as well as Clé de Peau's City of Dreamlight collection. I am no stranger to both Ritz Carlton Hong Kong or Clé de Peau, so these two brands coming together for an epic tea collaboration meant for a very easy yes to the invitation.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve focused a lot less on makeup and more on skin care. These days, as a busy mom, I don’t have much time to put on makeup. It’s also summertime here in Hong Kong, which means the temperatures are soaring and the humidity is making our sweat look like we just went swimming in the harbour. So I am letting my skin do all the talking.