Fashion. Music. Family. Life.
Hello and happy Monday! I thought I’d start off the week by telling you about a nice little local event happening later this week at emma jane boutique, called the Summer Solstice Festival on June 19, 2014 from 5-8pm! All the details are in the flier above, and I’ll be there, so I hope to see some of you there!
If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know I’m a sucker for a great pair of glasses. The love of spectacles runs deep in my family, so when I was asked by the folks at Lookie Lous to try their readers, I immediate thought my sister would love them. Touted as “The headband that’s a reader, that’s a headband that’s a reader,” Lookie Lous bring practicality and style together by creating glasses that are fairly difficult to lose. Created by mother and entrepreneur, Kelly Coty, the idea for these functional frames came out of necessity: she became tired of losing her reading glasses or stretching them out because she would always put them on her head so she wouldn’t lose them.
Rholnna chose the smoky London Grey readers in a magnification of +1.5, and we were also given a clear pair to try out. She loves the fact that the London Grey pair are dark enough to use outside, but light enough for indoor use. But she also states her favorite feature is without a doubt the fact that she can easily push them out of the way by either wearing them as a headband, or dropping them to her neck, where they fit just as snugly as they do on her head. In her work at a residential unit, she loves that the functionality carries over to the workplace. But from someone who knows my sister well, these readers sleek look truly fit Rholnna’s active lifestyle. I think Lookie Lous has a new fan on their hands! Have a wonderful weekend!
The reason why I like Lookie Lous is that they are very convenient to use at work. I work at a residential, and at the end of the day when it’s bedtime for the kids, I have to sit and do my paperwork. When the kids are calling my name or asking questions, I usually put my glasses down and then sometimes forget where I put them. All I have to do with the Lookie Lous is use the feature of the headband and I will always know where they are. I love using them at work because working with kids is non-stop, and there is no way of ever loosing these glasses!
– Rholnna Jiao
(FTC Disclosure: I received free product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive free product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.)
I’ve been posting a lot about Fashion Valley Mall, because it is one of the premier malls in the San Diego area and one of my absolute favorites. They are a part of Simon Malls, which is a part of Simon Property Group. Recently, Simon has revamped their look and strategy, resulting in an elevation of their brand. Some of these changes can be seen immediately at Fashion Valley Mall, where they will be introducing new amenities to enhance the shopping experience, such as free Coat & Package Check, which will be available at Guest Services during regular shopping center hours. Fashion Valley will also offer several other unique services including complimentary personal shopping sessions, electric vehicle charging stations, soft seating areas, mobile charging stations and free Wi-Fi, all leading a more enjoyable and convenient way to shop. I’m excited about the changes and for those of you in San Diego, the weekend is a great time to take in the “New Simon” at Fashion Valley!
Starting today, you will see a number of exciting changes at Simon.
We have a new simon.com uniting our malls, Premium Outlets and Mills centers in one easy to use, beautifully designed website. We’ve launched our first Simon national advertising campaign in industry leading magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle and GQ to name a few. All key centers will feature our new, modern, stylish look and feel with updated collateral, signage and Guest Services uniforms. In addition, we will soon unveil a number of new, innovative digital initiatives and cutting edge event programming to support our retailers’ business and deliver the joy of discovery to our shoppers. All of this (and more) will enhance the shopping experience for millions of consumers and reinforce Simon’s position as the nation’s preeminent shopping center destination.
Stay tuned for more news over the coming months from the new world of Simon.
(Thank you again to Noelle from Curator PR for allowing me to share these changes at Fashion Valley! )
I’ve always wanted to do a post about what’s in my bag, so I was excited when the folks at Credit Card Insider approached me and a few other bloggers to join their “What’s In Your Purse?” campaign. It’s always a fun topic, and I decided to show a more “grab and go” version of what’s in my purse. I attended an event recently and I needed to carry something smaller than my tote bag because I was already carrying my vintage camera bag. I always carry a simple zip top clutch purse in my larger tote, so that I can throw all of my essentials in it and go. From my iPhone and going clockwise, here’s what I consider “The Essentials”. What’s in YOUR purse? Let me know in the comments below, and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Last Thursday was my birthday, and after I spent a wonderful morning and afternoon with my family, I attended the Mother’s Day Indulge event at Fashion Valley. As I was heading to the event, I ran into Jennifer of Malcriada, which was another wonderful treat. Also in attendance was Lisa of Mona Lisa Marie, who was on hand to style some lucky attendees, and she is SO adorable pregnant. As I type this, I realize how apropos it was that we all were in attendance for this event, as we are three San Diego Style Blogger moms (and mom to be)! There were so many things to indulge in, from food to live music, to fashion and beauty. It was quite a lovely event, and it was most definitely a nice way to end my birthday, leading into a busy weekend. Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day with your loved ones!
Live music provided by the band Liquid Blue.
Lots of yummy food samples from restaurants throughout Fashion Valley!
Fantastic fashion and beauty finds as well.
Jennifer got a nice little refresh from Hair Drezzers On Fire (love The Smiths reference).
How. Cute. Is. Lisa?!
Jennifer has some of the best tattoos, and what an adorable retro dress!
My outfit: Zara sweater, Madewell denim leggings, Miista Val Tex booties; Suki Bijoux necklace; Eva glasses c/o Bonlook
(Photo courtesy of Jennifer)
Love this gal!
Hooray for fun happenings and awesome grand openings at Fashion Valley!
Firstly, Fashion Valley presents Indulge: A Stylish Treat for Mothers, presented by Diet Coke. It will take place tomorrow night (my birthday, May 8, 2014). I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there as well!
At Indulge, event attendees can do much more than just shop for spring style must-haves. Moms and their friends can experience fashion tips from Francesca’s, The Walking Company and Tous Jewelry, style consultations, beauty services from Carlton Hair Salon and Day Spa: Fashion Valley, gadget bar from Microsoft Store, delicious refreshments and drinks, plus special event giveaways from Harlequin® books and retailer offers throughout the mall. Additional Indulge offerings include:
- Mini-Style Makeover Giveaway: During the first 30 minutes of the event, three lucky attendees will be selected to experience a free mini-fashion makeover. Lisa Moore of fashion blog Mona Lisa Marie and Style Setter for the center will surprise women at random with the chance to shop for a new look, receive expert style advice and reveal their new ensemble at the end of the event.
- Mixology Stations: Mixologists will shake up appealing drink combinations for moms to sample and explain how to replicate recipes at home. Bacardi will be sampling their Grey Goose Le Melon Vodka brand.
- Food Sampling: Moms can try samples from some of the area’s best restaurants and hear about the latest food trends. Moms can try lite bites from Stacked, appetizers fromCalifornia Pizza Kitchen, and healthy desserts from Pinkberry, as well as hear about the latest food trends.
- Stylish Sounds: Local musical performers like Liquid Blue and a live DJ spinning tunes will transform the mall’s atmosphere into a chic, lively entertainment event venue.
- Diet Coke Sampling:Enjoy a refreshing ice cold Diet Coke.
- Chicest Mom Photo Op:Moms can walk the red carpet and strike a pose as they remember the night with a fun photo op and share their experience via social media (#indulgeatsimon).
- Swag Bags: Swag bags containing retailer offers and discounts will be given to the first 200 shoppers who register at the event on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Many moms are long overdue for – and certainly deserve – a break to celebrate themselves and all they do,” said Jayne Stilson, Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Simon Property Group. “That’s why Simon Malls are hosting Indulge events just for them, where moms can shop, socialize and be recognized for the important role they play in our lives.”
Simon Malls’ Indulge events are free and open to women of all ages. For more information, visit shopfashionvalleymall.com. Follow Fashion Valley at www.facebook.com/FashionValleyMall, www.twitter.com/fashionvalleycaor www.instagram.com/fashionvalleyca/.
Secondly, I’m beyond excited to announce that TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are opening jointly at Fashion Valley this fall! Read all about it below!
TOPSHOP AND TOPMAN TO TOP OFF FASHION VALLEY
First-in-market TOPSHOP to Join Retail Scene at Fashion Valley
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 5, 2014) – Get excited for the British invasion San Diego fashion connoisseurs! TOPSHOP and TOPMAN, the men’s version of the British fashion retailer, will be calling Simon Property Group’s (NYSE: SPG) Fashion Valley home this fall, with its first-in-market joint stores in San Diego.
Known as a major British fashion authority with more than 440 stores in 37 countries, TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are slated to open 17,500-square-foot adjoining stores on the lower level of Fashion Valley, near JCPenney.
“We are beyond thrilled to have TOPSHOP and TOPMAN call Fashion Valley their San Diego home,” said Chris Lane, director of marketing and business development at Fashion Valley. “The addition of this iconic retailer will up the fashion game in San Diego, even further establishing Fashion Valley as the premier retail and lifestyle center in this region.”
The retailer specializes in trend-driven fashion, which includes glamorous pieces for going out, footwear, accessories, an extensive selection of denim and jewelry, and TOPSHOP Make-Up. Founded in 1964, TOPSHOP is a pioneer of design collaboration with young talent and fashion icons.
TOPSHOP and supermodel Kate Moss recently launched their spring/summer 2014 collection, a range of pieces encapsulating the British fashion icon’s unique style. Key design categories for this collection include Balearic Dressing, Pyjama Dressing, Cocktail Hour and Tailoring Noir.
San Diego’s TOPSHOP is one of just four new store openings for the retailer in the U.S. by 2015. It’s also slated to open the second largest TOPSHOP and TOPMAN flagship store in the world at 40,000 square feet, on Fifth Avenue in New York this fall.
(Thank you Noelle from Curator PR for allowing me to share these exciting happenings at Fashion Valley! Photos 1 & 2 courtesy of Fashion Valley.)
(FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.)
This past Wednesday, my husband and I attended the grand opening party of the new Madewell at The Forum Carlsbad. As you know from previous posts, I started a love affair with Madewell last year (posts here and here), so I just had to visit this new location. Note: I thought I knew every mall in San Diego, but I have never been to The Forum Carlsbad until that night! I also saw a familiar face: Lauryn, who worked at the UTC location, is now the stylist at the Carlsbad one. I want to thank Lauryn, Scott and Amanda for making me feel well taken care of, even though they were very busy that evening! I’m definitely going back to The Forum Carlsbad to explore it a little more, and of course to do more shopping at Madewell. Have a great weekend!
Such a fun, yet frenzied event. Loved the bar, the food and the DJ!
I adore the displays at Madewell. It’s a perfect grab-and-go bag for a weekend summer getaway!
Free tote with purchase (Bien Fait means “well done” in French).
Also free with purchase: A lovely original piece by local illustrator, designer and blogger, Kelly Murray.
Good night!
For Dominic’s picture with the Easter Bunny this year, I decided to style him in a newsie style, right down to the bow tie. I love that my son is up for anything when I dress him, but I guess it’s because he’s only five and wholeheartedly trusts me as his mother. My hope is that when he’s older, he can look back at these pictures and can appreciate that I was just trying to ensure he had an incredibly fun, yet stylish childhood.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend and happy Record Store Day Eve!
A bow tie can make any situation a dressy affair, even when having a corn dog and fries!
Dominic’s outfit: H&M shirt, bow tie (which came with another shirt) & high top sneakers; Calvin Klein vest; Zara hat; Walmart pants
Two Saturdays ago, I took Dominic with me to a San Diego Style Bloggers meet up at C Wonder in Fashion Valley. I had been to C Wonder before, but never all the way in the store, which was quite deep. It’s bright, clean and bursting with fantastic ideas for gifts, from clothing to accessories to home goods at amazing prices. I love all of the possibilities for personalization, down to actual monograming! It was an early morning meet up, right when the mall opened at 10:00 am. We were treated to croissants, fresh fruit and sparkling drinks to help make for a very lively event. As usual, I loved meeting up with my favorite San Diego Style Bloggers, and also meeting new and upcoming bloggers. Plus, I had a mini-haul because of the awesome sale they had going on that day. If you’re a current blogger or just thinking about blogging, be sure to join the San Diego Style Bloggers for networking, making friends and meeting up at awesome events like this. Hope you had a great weekend!
Beautiful and bright, a perfect place for SD Style Bloggers to meet up!
Yummy food and drinks. Tanya of La Bella Tanchi caught my attempt at a candid!
Paulina of Lil Bits of Chic (and one of the founders of San Diego Style Bloggers) listening intently to the story of C Wonder. C Wonder was started by J. Christopher Burch, ex-husband to Tory Burch and aims to be a one stop shop for everything a woman needs for herself, her home, and gifting. It has been hailed by The New Yorker as “the World’s Fair of retail” and by Architectural Digest as “the next generation of shopping”.
Tuyaymya of White Tee Black Dress, Karla of Karla Vargas, and Eva of The Fashion Fairytale, all listening to C Wonder story.
With upcoming blogger, Joann (sorry if I spelled your name wrong!). She wanted to check out the event and find out how to get started with a blog. We all pretty much said, “Just do it!” I know, how very Nike of us!
Bloggers all posing pretty. I think Bianca of The In Between Girls is in all of these shots, intentional or not! She cracks me up!
Photo 1 – This is going to become some kind of photo tradition with Laura of Laura Neuzeth and Bianca (courtesy of Bianca). Our first one was at my little Madewell event (picture seen here). Photo 2 – Adrienne of Pretty Chouette, Bianca of Just Ask B, Paulina and Sara of Sara’s Sweet Style.
A bevy of iPhone pictures! Clockwise from top left to right: Photo 1 – The BEST selfie ever, courtesy of Bianca; Photo 2 – With Jennifer of Malcriada, my favorite rocker-chick-blogger (we have the same musical taste); Photo 3 – The whole group of us, courtesy of Sadai of Sadai Ayala; and with Laura, another stylish blogger with great taste in music.
Dominic was such my little trooper! He did so well while mama was meeting and greeting with fellow bloggers!
Uh-oh…my mini-haul! Naughty me bought some things before Easter. The items: Portable Printed Speaker; Hashtag earrings; Printed Cork Zip Top Pouch; Mini Nylon Easy Tote in Navy