Happy Chinese New Year! I fell in love with the traditional qipao dress during my first visit to China and have been collecting them ever since.

These two are two of my favorites. Unfortunately, I don't have them with me at school and these were the only photos I have at the moment. Glamour shots are hugely popular in China. Last time I went, you could find them on practically every other street! These photos were taken from a book the studio made last time I got glamour shots done. I personally love getting glamour shots done! Not only do you get your hair and makeup done, you basically feel like a model for a day :)

There's a wide variety of qipaos available in various styles, lengths, colors, designs, etc. These two were custom made so I was able to pick out the style and fabrics. And since they were tailored, they fit me better than other off the rack qipaos I've purchased. I'm taller than average for an Asian girl so most of the clothes I found in China didn't fit me well. I love wearing them but unfortunately, there are not many occasions to bring them out...

What are your favorite Chinese New Year traditions?

Now is about the time I start dreaming of summer. Today, I wanted to share one of my favorite summer drinks! Pimm's is a liqueur that comes in several variations, with the gin based No 1 Cup being the most popular. It's quite versatile and I've seen many iterations of a Pimm's cocktail but in general, it involves Pimm's, lemon flavored soda, and some fruit/vegetable slices. Below is my favorite recipe.

Ingredients:

Pimm's liqueur

Seltzer, ginger ale, or lemon soda

Lemons, quartered and sliced

Cucumbers, sliced

Instructions:

In a tall glass, add a couple ice cubes. Pour Pimm's over ice, filling 3/4 of the glass. Add in seltzer or preferred soda, leaving enough room for garnishes. Squeeze 1/4 of a lemon into glass. Add 3 slices of cucumber and 3 slices of lemon, gently pressing with a spoon to better infuse flavor into the drink.

As I mentioned, there are several variations and I encourage you to experiment with different combinations to find one that suits your taste. Adding in strawberries, apples, basil, and berries is a great way to change the flavor as is experimenting with different sodas. Let me know what your favorite combination is so I can give it a try!

Enjoy!

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