Hello, Halloween!

I’m starting to think about the things that I need to do to get ready for Halloween (the above picture is from my desk where we have a mini-pumpkin decorating contest).  Dominic is older now, so this is where it starts to get fun.  Last year, we had to push him around in his stroller and he didn’t quite understand what was happening.  This year, we’ll be here in San Diego at our local mall for a Trick-or-Treat excursion that will be easier to manage as he’s still only 20 months old.  Next year, he will be old enough to grasp the concept a little better and we can take him around our neighborhood. 

I’m including a couple of pictures from last year:  one is my favorite picture of Dominic in costume as Chewbacca from Star Wars; the other is from when we were in Vegas (the little one was with the grandparents).  I was an ever so slightly intoxicated Gothic queen posing with a strange character at the Paris hotel.  This year will much more tame in comparison:  we believe that we’re going to be Plex, Foufa and DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba for Halloween (Dominic will be DJ Lance).  How things change!

Club Monaco Online Exclusively at Shopbop

I’ve always loved Club Monaco from the moment I went to their store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Canada in the early nineties.  Like H&M and Roots, I felt that I had to get my fill every time I went to Canada.  Come to think of it, many of my favorite stores require me to travel great distances (see the previous post about my Primark jacket for proof).

Because of this, I’m always seeking favorite brands on-line.  Unfortunately, Club Monaco was one of those lines (like H&M) who do not have an online store.  Another happy email popped up in my inbox that changed that:  Shopbop have an exclusive capsule collection of Club Monaco available online (click here for the link).

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite pieces (click on each picture to enlarge).  Enjoy!

How Far Would You Go to Get What You Want?

For my Coat of the Week, I’m going back a little bit in time to 2008 for a fun little story of how I got my beautiful teal coat. 

I saw a version of this jacket on ASOS and loved it.  I would have purchased it for the £70 they were asking for at the time because I was attracted to the color, shape and ruffles.  Then as if it were fate, I received an email  update from Catwalk Queen (see my Blogroll), reporting that Primark had the same jacket for only £25.  I sadly discovered that Primark does not have does not have an online store, which meant that I had to actually go to a store to purchase it if I wanted the great price (click the picture for a link to the Catwalk Queen 2008 blog entry about the coat).

As luck would have it, my husband and I already had a trip planned to see the San Diego Chargers vs the New Orleans Saints game at Wembley Stadium (yes, American football).  This meant that I could get my coat in person and try it on! 

Once in London, we made the trek to the Primark on Oxford Street because we tried one in Wembley near our hotel and they didn’t have the coveted jacket.  Not knowing just how far it was up or down Oxford Street Primark was, we hopped off of one of the Tube stops on Oxford and ended up walking many, many blocks before actually getting to the Primark store in question (I was just reminded by my wonderful and understanding husband that it was eight blocks or so).  At five months pregnant on a cold October evening, I must have been very determined to get this coat to have walked that far.

We arrived at the store about 30 minutes before closing and almost didn’t find the coats because it was a madhouse, apparently due to a huge sale.  My only worry was not getting the fit that I wanted because I was showing and I would definitely want to wear it many times after pregnancy.  A wonderful thing about this coat is that it is very forgiving and roomy in the waist area, which was discovered after a very quick try-on.  This meant I could get my regular size and still have it roomy enough while pregnant.  We were not about to try to come back again the next day so we had to rush to the register, passed the crowds of people doing the very same.

After my triumphant purchase, we headed outside only to discover that a Tube stop was only a block away on the opposite side of the street.  Whilst heading to said stop, a chase had occurred right outside of Primark where a well dressed security guard tackled a would-be shoplifter and dragged her back across the street and back into the store.  On the way back, we stopped at New Look and then a small department store (I think called BHS?) where my husband purchased one of a few remote control mini-helicopters.

All in all, a very eventful day.  There are so many details I can remember and the memories all come flooding back each time I wear my beautiful teal coat.

95 Years Young

This past Saturday was my great-aunt’s 95th birthday, Dionisia Bermudez Ancheta, affectionately called “Mamang” by everyone (which is mommy or mother in Ilocano, one of many dialects of the Philippines).  Although my son and I both had colds, we still made sure to attend this fun-filled family celebration.  Relatives came from Canada and all over America.  All of the grandchildren were in charge of different parts of the party.  We donated my husband’s time as the DJ and the main birthday cake for the presentation (the fabulous cake pictured above, made by Laruell Olds).

The evening began with a presentation of gifts from all of the great-grandchildren, including my son and my niece (my father is the second cousin of Mamang).  They each brought little gifts that were her favorite things that she could use or wear, rather than any large expensive gift that she may not know what to do with.  Gifts consisted of crossword and word search books, lotion, romance books, slippers, socks, dentures cleaner and shampoo.  Each child placed the gift in a big basket next to Mamang, and handed her a rose.  After the presentation of the gifts by the kids came the cake presentation (pictured above, Mamang is in the middle).  There were so many people we had to get more than one cake (there are three pictured below, including the cake we had custom made)!

Included below are just a few more pictures from the party:  one with all of the great-grandchildren again with Mamang, another of three of my cousins doing a hilarious dance medley (the one pictured was the Lady Gaga portion) and a couple of my son (one with another cousin and the last with my niece) dancing to the music provided by my husband (in the background). 

 

Dominic’s outfit:  White button down, vest, tie and black jeans all from H&M; sneakers by Converse

Mei-Lin’s outfit:  Red dress from H&M; tights & shoes by Target

(Note:  There are no pictures of me because I definitely looked like I had a cold.)

In Sickness & In Health

It’s always difficult to accommodate a busy weekend when you’re ill, and I’m about to discover how much more difficult it will be when you AND your child are both ill.  My little boy caught a cold from my niece, so Thursday night was spent staying up with my husband trying to sooth an upset 20 month old.

After two hours of sleep, I had to still go to work and get through an 8 hour day on Friday, then go with my husband to pick up things needed for the party tonight.  Afterwards, my husband watched my son because I went to a birthday party for a very dear friend for just a couple of hours.  I came home to a son who was wired after a two-hour nap. 

So today, my in-laws will be in town to accompany us to a 95th birthday party for my great-aunt tonight.  Relatives will be coming in from all over for this event.  My family is in charge of the music (I think I mentioned my husband is a deejay) and the cake that will be presented to my great-aunt.  It will be good to see everyone all gussied up and in one place! 

Dominic has an awesome little outfit that I bought for him from H&M, so I’ll post pictures of him and the event after this weekend.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and most of all…stay healthy!

Hearts & Flowers

The weather is so ever-changing that I did start getting out my coats this week.  I wore my wellies to work earlier in the day because of the rain, and brought my new booties from Lulus.com to change into at the office (you can still get an exclusive 15% off discount until Oct 29 with this code).  The rain lightened up a bit and I was able to get a few pictures in a couple of my favorite pieces:  a floral print dress by Alice Temperley and a black wool empire waist swing coat with velvet accents by Erin Fetherston, both from their “Go International” lines for Target. 

This jacket is so well made and the heart applique on the back and pockets makes it that much more adorable.  I wore it everywhere when I first got it.  The empire waist was great for when I was pregnant and went London during the fall two years ago.  I only saw it on one other person just this year, when my husband and I were in New York in May.  It was the first coat I thought about when the weather started to cool down, and will be a coat I return to time and again.

Outfit:  Erin Fetherston for Target wool coat; Alice Temperley for Target floral print dress; Target tights; Mixx Sarah 01 Black Suede High Heel Ankle Boot (seen here in gray)

Mulberry for Target Giveaway!

If you have a Facebook account , you can enter a contest to win one of 25 Mulberry for Target large leopard satchels (before the official release on October 10th)!  Just remember to “Like” Target’s official Facebook page and go to their “Sweepstakes” tab for official rules.  Click the picture to get there (you still have to sign in to Facebook to enter).  Good luck!

Vince Camuto Special Offer: 50% Select Styles

Here’s your deal of the day:  50% off the pictured items with the code in the this Vince Camuto ad (click the picture to get to the site).  Enjoy!

Military Luxe

I’m very glad that I treated my new suede boots last week because we received an unexpected shower today.  You can see water the beading on the boots, which is a good thing (the rain just shook off of them when I got inside).  We only stayed out in the rain long enough to capture a few pictures of my military/utilitarian outfit today, softened with a pretty umbrella, vintage looking cameo and sparkly scarf.  If the rain persists this week, I may have to set aside my boots for when the weather is more permitting.

Outfit:  Coach umbrella; Old Navy jacket; H&M top; Topshop jodhpur pants; ASOS leopard print scarf; Forever 21 cameo brooch and ring; Steve Madden boots (seen here)

Shoe of the Week: Steve Madden Luxe

Because the weather is still quite on the warm side here in California and because I’ve purchased so many of them lately, I will continue my “Shoe of the Week” pictorials until the climate here changes to more appropriate “jacket weather” (The Wedding Singer).

Pictured left are the boots that I’ve raved about here.  The Steve Madden Luxe Yea Clog Boots (from DSW) are surprisingly comfortable and look fantastic with skirts and jeans.  I love the platform clog heel and rivet details.  The top buckle tightens slightly to allow for a more snug fit around the top of the calf (if that’s where it hits you for your height).  Since I still have my Jessica Simpson suede black boots from last season (that still look great), I got the taupe as pictured.  I see these becoming a staple in my wardrobe for the fall, winter and beyond.  Keep an eye out for these to appear in many a pictorial to come!