Floral designer, makeup artist, travel maven, food critics and hip mom of Salad, Canna will start contributing her shopping/ fashion/ beauty tips!! Canna is a certified bridal make up/ hair consultant and she got her professional training from Make Up Forever Academy. And she is also our personal shopper for all these years!! Stay tuned!
Right after Charlyn (nickname salad) was born, I decided to start a stationery line – Charlyn Koo. It was really an absurd idea because I have a full time job and Mints, and I had no idea why I would like to start another business when I complained about not having enough time. I still don’t understand why I would want to start CK so badly. Nevertheless, my family, especially Canna and Mei really believed in me and encouraged me to give it a try. I am so thankful for having them around all the times as they sure know how to push me to work more and watch less TV. =P After almost 2 years of trial and error, Charlyn Koo made its national debut in New York and of course, the tengs and choys didn’t leave me alone. Instead they formed a little fan club and followed me to New York to show their support.
P.S. CK will soon be available in Japan and in Australia. so excited. IoI
Soho
M&M’s, Hilton Times Square
Times Square & MTA
Mei and Mono
Finally we are back from New York!! Charlyn Koo, my stationery collection, made its national debut at the National Stationery Show and I can’t wait to share all the great news and pictures with you, but gotta work on weddings first. =P
want a quick peak? Check out designspongeonline.com, where you may find one of my designs. More to come!!
Many people wonder how I manage a full time job, 2 businesses (Mints and Charlyn Koo), 2 blogs (one for Mints and my personal one in Chinese).
hehe, it may seem like I am a crazy girl juggling 5 balls, but to be honest, it is nothing true. Needless to say Mints is well-taken care of by my sisters, Canna and Mei, and CK by Mono. (It’s always good to have business partners to share the work IoI.) Almost all the pictures on this blog are taken by my brother-in-law Gary, and my parents provide the best baby-sit and food service on earth. Plus, many good friends help us with free copy-edit, tax, legal services…etc.
So early this year, I decided we all deserve a little nice treat, right?! So YEAH, we are going to Big Apple and gonna stay at Hilton Times Square for a few days. I am sure we are it will be a chaotic blast!! I am counting!! Only 23 day to go.
(oh and we are spending this weekend in Phoenix. just to chill. hahaha…I am so excited.)
“Could one dinner with one friend, on one night, make a difference in the life of one woman thousands of miles away?”
It’s just perfect timing. I got this email from a very good friend Sheila right when I was preparing tax return, evaluating my year round spending and credit bills, and yes, I was shocked how much I spent on FOOD last year.
And Sheila introduced this powerful idea by Friendship Foundation. Have dinner with your friends and $10 will be donated to support a woman in a war torn country such as Darfur, Afghanistan, Iraq and Rwanda to name a few. Just this simple. Eat and help. =)
So I attended the dinner at Trapeze, a trendy European restaurant in Burlingame tonight. Had fun hanging out with friends, enjoyed a buttersquash soup (with a bit of ginger IoI), a very very well presented salmon fish and my favorite dessert tiramisu, and every little bite I am helping a woman out there!! What a great excuse to indulge myself, right!! so check out there website or maybe next time you and your girlfriends can join their events too. http://www.friendshipfoundation.info
About a month ago, we received a phone call from yelp.com telling us that Mints has been rated 5 stars and is on the top of the lists of Oakland and Alameda florists!! I am sooooo happy and excited!! Thanks for yelping and for your support. We will continue our good work for sure. Meanwhile, if you want to show your support and yelp about us. below is the link. IoI
Want to help the world and be fashion-forward?!! Come check out Shakti’s first trade show on MARCH 13th at the Regency Center in San Francisco between 5pm to 9pm.
Founded by MIT and Berkeley Alumnus, Shakti’s aim is to use fashion as a means to help economically excluded and socially marginalized communities around the world. Their team incorporates local artisans’ techniques in the design and production of all our products. No two items are alike, and each has its own unique story.
If you RSVP online you will get into the trade show for HALF PRICE. Just enter the discount code DESIGNERSF on the ticket purchase page at www.appelandfrank.com. (Note, this code is only good for pre-event ticket sales; tickets at the door will be $10 each.)
Please pass on the word to all your friends and family. and remember to bring either Cash or Check as I bet there’ll be tons of interesting, one of a kind pieces just for you!
Have you met Charlyn (we called her salad)? She is a funny and groovy trouble maker, who can be serious and of course a smartie! haha…like any terrible twos, she sometimes (just sometimes) has a little bit of attitude problem, but who can stay mad at Salad? she looks sooooooo darn cute. So right after the Valentine’s day, Canna and Gary took a little break and brought Salad to Happy and Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose. She has been there a few times, and it is a super fun park (for 2 years for sure). Most of these pictures are taken by Gary. Enjoy.
(Happy Chinese New (rat) Year, Full of Laughs, Best of Health, Wishes Come True)
Since last Summer, Canna has been bugging me to give Mints a new look. But we were in the midst of the wedding season, then it came Thanksgiving and Christmas and I really can’t help but got soooo into the holiday (shopping) spirit. =P finally, it is up and running!! Check it out www.mintsflower.com.
