Happy {Mid-Summer Night's Dream} Weekend

My loves, it's finally Friday. Breathe a sigh of relief.




photos via automatism, everything fabulous and bonnie tsang

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for a slow, luxuriously lazy weekend. I hope you get to lay back and enjoy it too.

Till next week luvies,
*Mrs E

Young Actress Forced Into Nude Scene

A young Chinese actress has complained in a forum post that she was forced by a music video director to go stark naked when shooting a music video for singer Liu Jialiang (刘嘉亮).

The actress in question, who used the alias Ai Mei Xiao Mao Mi (暧昧小猫眯), said the director first asked them to wear just underpants for a bed scene.

But he was not satisfied with the results.

He then demanded they removed their knickers too.

Even though Jialiang opposed the idea, the director was insistent and kept telling them to respect his “artistic vision,” she said in the post.

The actress said she regretted shooting the MV and hoped the director would respect her modesty and delete the nude scenes.

Jialiang’s agent confirmed what the actress said was correct.

She added, however, the director had clearly told them beforehand the MV might require nude scenes and no opposition was raised at that time.

The agent said maybe the actress regretted her actions but went into filming in full knowledge of what was expected.

“Of course, we do not rule out the possibility that she has done this to attract attention.”

This would seem to ignore the fact that she doesn’t want to use her real name.

“Ai Mei Xiao Mao Mi” reiterated to reporters the director did not tell her he required FULL nudity.

“On the day of shooting the MV, the male director did not leave the set. That made me feel under a lot of pressure. I felt very uncomfortable!” she said.

I've Got A Crush

On being brave enough to bike in a skirt,



On design in bag that turns out this looking this good,



on fanciful fashion,



On fall boots and bags,



On totes for a cause,



and on the amazing work of my blog friends. Thanks again Lovely Clusters!

I'm Loving...

Billowy blouses. Pair them with cutoffs, skirts or skinny jeans to carry you through the summer.


sartorialsit via lots of spots, definitely golden, haute design

And in the winter they can be beautifully layered under blazers and boyfriend sweaters or paired with cropped pants, tights and ankle boots.


by tommy tom via jak&jil

Start scooping up a blouse or two now ladies. I know I will be!

Wedding Wednesday {Sugarcomb Event Design}

Wedding planning is a combination of skill and art. As any current or former bride will attest, you can never underestimate the importance of skilled wedding planning. Many brides will also discover that event planning in not in their genes. Nor in their mother's. Nor in their best friend's. For those brides, I highly recommend calling in a professional.

That's why I'm thrilled to welcome Sugarcomb Event Design as the feature sponsor of Apartment #34. This newly-wed can confirm - a wedding is really all about the details and if they're not your thing, that is where planning help from someone like Sugarcomb comes in!



photography by jack young and sarah rhoads

Based in Seattle, Sugarcomb helps brides with whatever they might need, whether that's narrowing down the vast universe of design choices, to managing all event planning and execution needs.

Sugarcomb also just launched a great starter kit they're calling The Sugared Starter (great name, right!), to kick off someone's wedding planning with guidance from an expert wedding coordinator and designer.



The package includes a customized wedding binder as well as logistical and design meetings to ease into wedding planning, and all of the decision making and questions that come along with it.

If you're newly engagd or know someone who is I'd highly recommend checking Sugarcomb out! A wonderfully planned wedding is sight to behold - and the key to a completely stress-free big day.


Would you like to reach thousands of style savvy readers everyday and let them know about your services, shop or art? Apartment #34 is offering a spnosorship special for August!

Email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com for more information!

Berry Berry Good Tasty Tuesday

My absolute favorite thing about summer is berry season! I am a self admitted addict.


Give me a flat of raspberries, blueberries or strawberries and they'll all be gone before you turn your back. Well, maybe not that fast, but damn close.

I'm currently on the search for the perfect berry cobbler recipe. A crisp would do quite nicely as well.What better way to enjoy fresh berries than wrapped in some warm baked goodness, don't you agree? Of course, the perfect kitchen in which to do the baking helps too!




fruit photography by katie quinn davies, sweetcakes bakeshop and sweetfineday via {this is glamorous}, bliss & coco+kelley, dream kitchen by rethink design studio via full house

My criteria for the perfect cobbler/crips include not too sweet, reasonably healthy, and something that lets the berries be the star!

This option currently featured on Food&Wine magazine seems like a contender.

Ingredients
2 pints blueberries (about 5 cups)
1 cup plus 2 teaspoons flour
5 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon kirsch
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
 
Check out the complete instructions here. And if you have a favorite recipe, please share! I promise to report back my results!

《ZHONG WU YEN》 2010 Taiwan idol drama Episode 1 online watch

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《ZHONG WU YEN》 2010 Taiwan idol drama Episode 1 online watch

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《ZHONG WU YEN》 2010 Taiwan idol drama Episode 1 online watch

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Monday Work Wear {Still Feening for Fall!}

Fall just keeps teasing me today. I just took a look at Apartment #34 sponsor Dace's fall line and now I'm really looking forward the first crisp night of the year! I'm planning on stocking up on cropped pants to wear with my wedges now and then with my ankle boots come September.


via dace.com

I know, I know, I should be appreciating every sunny, 80 degree-day we have in the Pacific Northwest, but what can I say, fall is my favorite season and as the new lines begin to trickle into stores my interest has already been piqued.

Especially as I flip through my favorite glossies and see coats like this from Ralph Lauren and Tod's.



And then there is my favorite fall purchase - a new bag and a pair of boots for the season (or 3 or 4!).



proenza schouler via because i'm addicted and reese hudson black leather bag via froufrouu

There are so many thick cable knits, layered looks and yummy tectured goodness to look forward to. But for the moment, back to our regular summer schedule. Enjoy those tanks and rompers now my dears.

Happy Monday luvies!
Mrs. E

《When Lanes Merge》Drama Synopsis Preview

English Title/英文:《When Lanes Merge》

Chinese Title/中文:《情越雙白線》,《安全第一》

Cast/演員:

演员 Starring:
郑则士 Cheng Jut Si
黄浩然 Wong Ho Yin
徐子珊 Kate Tsui
郭羡妮 Sonija Kwok
李香琴 Lee Heung Kam
曹永廉 Raymond Cho
姚子羚 Elaine Yiu
陈展鹏 Chan Chin Pang

Genre/ 類型: 時裝

Oversea Broadcast Period/播出時期: June 2010 to July 2010(2010年6月28日-7月23日)

Episodes/集數: 20

Production Year/製作年份: 2009年9月-11月

Synopsis/故事大綱:

的士司机每天在马路上兜兜转转，见闻识广，接载的乘客千奇百怪，祸福难料。退休司机何球(郑则士)因儿子何加宝(黄浩然)危险驾驶导致他人死亡，被迫重操故业，令冷淡的父子关係更趋恶劣。加宝受刑出狱後替父亲开工，的士失事撞毁，父亲刚好坐在车上，意外令他的精神及身体严重受创，加宝内疚不已，才开始明白小心驾车的重要性，从此加宝每逢开工都份外谨慎，但总会遇上交通女警高丽芯(徐子珊)来找碴，二人从误解到了解，遂成为情侣关係，但加宝的旧情人张晓雯(郭羡妮)和丽芯的祖母高李淑贞(李香琴)都成了他们的障碍，令二人在感情路上徘徘徊徊……

Rushing along the road every day with a vibrant mix of passengers of all kinds, what taxi drivers see and hear is far more varied than one can ever imagine. Retired taxi driver HO KAU (Cheng Jut Si) returns to the job after his son HO KA-PO (Wong Ho Yin) is convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. The incident has exacerbated the already fractious relationship between the father and the son. PO works for KAU after his release from prison. Before long, he has another serious road accident, in which KAU is also involved and severely injured, both mentally and physically. PO feels so guilty towards his father and comes to understand the importance of careful driving. He maintains a high degree of vigilance while driving but still gets picked on constantly by female traffic police officer KO LAI-SAM (Kate Tsui). As time goes by, the pair have gradually developed a strong attachment to each other and finally become lovers. But PO's ex-girlfriend CHEUNG HIU-MAN (Sonija Kwok) and SAM's grandmother KO LI SHUK-CHING (Lee Heung Kam) turn out to be the biggest obstacle to their relationship, leaving the pair stranded in dismay along the tunnel of love...

《When Lanes Merge》Drama Synopsis Preview

English Title/英文:《When Lanes Merge》

Chinese Title/中文:《情越雙白線》,《安全第一》

Cast/演員:

演员 Starring:
郑则士 Cheng Jut Si
黄浩然 Wong Ho Yin
徐子珊 Kate Tsui
郭羡妮 Sonija Kwok
李香琴 Lee Heung Kam
曹永廉 Raymond Cho
姚子羚 Elaine Yiu
陈展鹏 Chan Chin Pang

Genre/ 類型: 時裝

Oversea Broadcast Period/播出時期: June 2010 to July 2010(2010年6月28日-7月23日)

Episodes/集數: 20

Production Year/製作年份: 2009年9月-11月

Synopsis/故事大綱:

的士司机每天在马路上兜兜转转，见闻识广，接载的乘客千奇百怪，祸福难料。退休司机何球(郑则士)因儿子何加宝(黄浩然)危险驾驶导致他人死亡，被迫重操故业，令冷淡的父子关係更趋恶劣。加宝受刑出狱後替父亲开工，的士失事撞毁，父亲刚好坐在车上，意外令他的精神及身体严重受创，加宝内疚不已，才开始明白小心驾车的重要性，从此加宝每逢开工都份外谨慎，但总会遇上交通女警高丽芯(徐子珊)来找碴，二人从误解到了解，遂成为情侣关係，但加宝的旧情人张晓雯(郭羡妮)和丽芯的祖母高李淑贞(李香琴)都成了他们的障碍，令二人在感情路上徘徘徊徊……

Rushing along the road every day with a vibrant mix of passengers of all kinds, what taxi drivers see and hear is far more varied than one can ever imagine. Retired taxi driver HO KAU (Cheng Jut Si) returns to the job after his son HO KA-PO (Wong Ho Yin) is convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. The incident has exacerbated the already fractious relationship between the father and the son. PO works for KAU after his release from prison. Before long, he has another serious road accident, in which KAU is also involved and severely injured, both mentally and physically. PO feels so guilty towards his father and comes to understand the importance of careful driving. He maintains a high degree of vigilance while driving but still gets picked on constantly by female traffic police officer KO LAI-SAM (Kate Tsui). As time goes by, the pair have gradually developed a strong attachment to each other and finally become lovers. But PO's ex-girlfriend CHEUNG HIU-MAN (Sonija Kwok) and SAM's grandmother KO LI SHUK-CHING (Lee Heung Kam) turn out to be the biggest obstacle to their relationship, leaving the pair stranded in dismay along the tunnel of love...

《When Lanes Merge》Drama Synopsis Preview

English Title/英文:《When Lanes Merge》

Chinese Title/中文:《情越雙白線》,《安全第一》

Cast/演員:

演员 Starring:
郑则士 Cheng Jut Si
黄浩然 Wong Ho Yin
徐子珊 Kate Tsui
郭羡妮 Sonija Kwok
李香琴 Lee Heung Kam
曹永廉 Raymond Cho
姚子羚 Elaine Yiu
陈展鹏 Chan Chin Pang

Genre/ 類型: 時裝

Oversea Broadcast Period/播出時期: June 2010 to July 2010(2010年6月28日-7月23日)

Episodes/集數: 20

Production Year/製作年份: 2009年9月-11月

Synopsis/故事大綱:

的士司机每天在马路上兜兜转转，见闻识广，接载的乘客千奇百怪，祸福难料。退休司机何球(郑则士)因儿子何加宝(黄浩然)危险驾驶导致他人死亡，被迫重操故业，令冷淡的父子关係更趋恶劣。加宝受刑出狱後替父亲开工，的士失事撞毁，父亲刚好坐在车上，意外令他的精神及身体严重受创，加宝内疚不已，才开始明白小心驾车的重要性，从此加宝每逢开工都份外谨慎，但总会遇上交通女警高丽芯(徐子珊)来找碴，二人从误解到了解，遂成为情侣关係，但加宝的旧情人张晓雯(郭羡妮)和丽芯的祖母高李淑贞(李香琴)都成了他们的障碍，令二人在感情路上徘徘徊徊……

Rushing along the road every day with a vibrant mix of passengers of all kinds, what taxi drivers see and hear is far more varied than one can ever imagine. Retired taxi driver HO KAU (Cheng Jut Si) returns to the job after his son HO KA-PO (Wong Ho Yin) is convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. The incident has exacerbated the already fractious relationship between the father and the son. PO works for KAU after his release from prison. Before long, he has another serious road accident, in which KAU is also involved and severely injured, both mentally and physically. PO feels so guilty towards his father and comes to understand the importance of careful driving. He maintains a high degree of vigilance while driving but still gets picked on constantly by female traffic police officer KO LAI-SAM (Kate Tsui). As time goes by, the pair have gradually developed a strong attachment to each other and finally become lovers. But PO's ex-girlfriend CHEUNG HIU-MAN (Sonija Kwok) and SAM's grandmother KO LI SHUK-CHING (Lee Heung Kam) turn out to be the biggest obstacle to their relationship, leaving the pair stranded in dismay along the tunnel of love...

Happy {Dog Days of Summer} Weekend

My luvies, what are you up to this weekend? With a forecast of clear skies and 85 degrees I am sure ready for some good ole fashioned fun in the sun!

images via oh and design crush

I see farmers markets, dog parks, sunday brunch, chilled rose and maybe even a dip in the water in my immediate future.

Hope you stay cool this weekend my dears. A few more fun announcements about Apartment 34 next week!

Cheers,
Mrs. E

A Great Space

Now that things are getting back to normal after the wedding, I had to find another project to keep my creative juices flowing so next up...home renovation! At this point, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, but I'm loving step 1: bank inspiration.

Like this rad Brooklyn apartment's kitchen and dinning room.


via from me to you

I abosultely adore the mismatched Ikea chairs - brilliant way to add interest and play off of the (stunning) hard wood floors, and in totally economical fashion. And I spy lots of handy Ikea shelves in the kitchen too. Brilliant and on budget? Love it.

Definitely filing these ideas away for later! Be sure you check out the rest of the apartment here.

Pretty It Up With Pattern

Maybe it's the sudden infusion of vitamin d from the Portland sun, but I'm totally drawn to energetic patterns right now. Ask my husband - not my norm! It's certainly an easy way to make a bold statement without saying a thing.

pillows via bestill, dresses catherine malandrino resort 2011, chair via elite leather company

I've long been a fan of using pillows to reengerize any tired room. The tiny investment can result in big change to the space. And a dress with a fabulous print is an instant outfit. No mixing and matching required. Throw on, go out and be the life of the party. While a statement piece of furniture may be a bit harder to pull off, it's such a great way to break the matched set habit. 

Because sometimes you just get tired of being quite, right?

And the Elizabeth & James Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone who entered the Shopbop giveaway for an Elizabeth & James shopping spree. Trust me, this was a giveaway I wish I could win!

But without further ado, the very lucky reader is (cue drum roll)....


photo via elizabeth & james

Chop Suey! A fellow Seattlite at that. Huge congratulations to you!!! Please email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize!

Thanks again to everyone for entering this week's giveaway. Check back for another great one coming quite soon.

Happy hump day!

*Mrs. E

Trial of Opposition Leader Proceeding Unfairly

Source: Human Rights Watch
(New York) - Government prosecutors in the trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim should turn over their evidence to the defense before hearings resume in order to comply with fair trial requirements, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has charged Anwar, head of Malaysia's opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance or PKR) with "sodomy" for alleged consensual homosexual conduct.
Anwar, 63, faces a possible 20-year prison term and whipping under a colonial-era law that criminalizes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

Even if he is imprisoned for only one day or fined as little as 2,000 ringgit (US$625), Anwar would be forbidden by election law from running for office for five years. In 2008, the PKR had made political gains that ended the two-thirds parliamentary majority long enjoyed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN).

"Basic fair trial rights require giving Anwar access to the prosecutor's evidence so he can defend himself," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Unfortunately, the prosecutors have tilted the playing field against Anwar by keeping key documents from his lawyers."

Human Rights Watch said that the government has yet to fulfill a February 9, 2010 promise by Nazri Abdul Aziz, a senior government minister in the Prime Minister's Department, that the "rights of both the accuser and the accused will be respected during the trial of Mr. Anwar."

Since Anwar's arrest on July 16, 2008, the case has featured repeated court rulings denying defense requests to provide crucial prosecution documents. The courts have denied access to the list of proposed prosecution witnesses and their statements to prosecutors, including those of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide to Anwar and his accuser. They have also denied defense access to a security video recording from the condominium where the alleged crime occurred.

The courts have also denied defense requests for copies of clinical and other notes, reports, materials, and specimens related to Saiful's examination by three Kuala Lumpur Hospital doctors on June 28, 2008, two days after the alleged incident. Additional requests for the accuser's complete medical history, for the doctors' qualifications and experience, and for the standard sexual assault equipment and kits used to examine alleged victims were also denied. A forensic expert hired by the defense complained that lack of such evidentiary materials would hinder his ability to assist the defense during the cross examination of the three doctors.

In the latest development, the Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for August 6 on Anwar's appeal seeking access to the medical records, which will be several days after the three doctors are scheduled to be cross-examined by the defense.
General practice in Malaysia is for the prosecution to make all evidence available to the defense during the pre-trial period. In Anwar's case, the court concluded that the defense could request the information during the course of the trial. However, when the trial got under way on February 2, 2010, and the defense asked for disclosure, the judge said he was restricted by the pre-trial disclosure decision. The only information available to the defense comes from the in-court testimony of prosecution witnesses.

"Anwar's lawyers have been forced to defend their client with one arm tied behind their back," Robertson said. "By failing to turn over critical evidence, the courts and the prosecutors are only raising doubts about the fairness of the proceedings, and demonstrating again that the charges are politically motivated."

The proceedings appear to contravene section 51A, a March 2006 amendment to Malaysia's Criminal Procedure Code designed to encourage wider access to prosecution evidence. The section includes a provision for the prosecution to turn over "any" document that it will use as evidence and a written statement of facts favorable to the defense with the exception of any fact that "would be contrary to public interest."

"The Malaysian government asks the international community to honor its democracy and commitment to rule of law, but there is a wide gap between government rhetoric and the reality," Robertson said. "If the government is sincere about holding a fair trial, then it needs to order the prosecutors to turn over the documents Anwar's lawyers have requested immediately."

Wedding Wednesday {A Fashionable Crowd}

I had an entirely different post all set for this week's Wedding Wendesday, but as I was trolling my biggest wedding photog crushes (it's a weekly ritual), I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.

A recent Palm Springs wedding captured by Max Wanger not only took place in one of my favorite locales, at a kick ass and take names hotel, but it also had some uber-fashionable guests! I just had to be sure you saw it.



I thought the peaches and cream bridal party was equally fabulous. Note the shoes!


all images by max wanger

Note to self, make sure to take satorialist-inspired photos of your guests at your next fete. Such a great way to get pics of friends and to capture the personality that made the event memorable!