Any Second Now

Insider Event at Madewell UTC

Last week, the folks at Madewell UTC invited me to have a little Insider Event with a few of my friends to view their new spring looks. Bianca of The Inbetween Girls and Laura of Laura Neuzeth joined me for a fun evening of shopping. I was especially excited about the wonderful new tees that I saw because they’re simple yet chic. Thankfully, this Insider Event provided me with my last haul before my Catholic service of giving up shopping for Lent. So I’ll be “shopping” in my closet and doing quite of bit of re-mixing until Easter. It’s a nice challenge because I want to feel inspired without having to constantly buy something new (although I will admit that it is fun). Thank you Lauryn and Joseph at Madewell UTC for setting up the event, and special thanks to Ashley and Courtney for showing Bianca, Laura and me a great time that evening!

The tee I was going to get, but…

I decided on the following: the linen Paris stencil muscle tee (which runs big, I’m wearing a small) and the Tête-à-Tête tee (seen below in medium, but I could not locate it online). I also purchased the Inlet Cardigan in Colorblock (at the time was on sale for $49.50), Skinny Skinny jeans in cream (on sale for $24), and the Braided Geochain Bracelet in true black (not pictured).

Afterwards, we all had coffee together before Bianca had to leave. Then Laura and I bought more macarons to take home from Lette Macarons La Jolla (their kiosk is pictured below) because we loved them at the event. Now, I’m completely addicted to their macarons, especially the Salted Caramel ones.

Affordable Eyewear: SelectSpecs.com Review

Ever since I’ve discovered affordable prescription eyewear online, I feel I’ve hit the goldmine in finding fashionable frames at fantastic prices. SelectSpecs.com is one of those sites, and I was pleased to be asked to review a pair from their Value Collection. They have quite the selection of affordable frames, and I couldn’t believe that the prices included the prescription! Additionally, they have a designer range, sunglasses range, and even contact lenses. After spending quite a bit of time looking through their vast selection, I finally decided on the Savannah Animal Print frames because I wanted to try something really fun outside of the glasses I already own.

Ordering was self explanatory and incredibly easy. After making your selection, just click on the “Customise & Buy” button, and you’re given quite a variety of options on how you can customize your lenses to suit your needs. There’s even a selection for “Fashion/Non-Prescription” if you so choose! Entering my prescription was also easy: follow exactly what is on your most current prescription and you’re done! A tip: your eye doctor may not add your Pupillary Distance to your prescription, so be sure to ask. Because they were shipped from the UK, they took a little while to get to me (around 2 weeks), but they arrived in a nice hard case with a cloth wipe.

The verdict? I love them! My frames are completely cute and so different from what I’m used to wearing. Any “prints” I have in glasses are usually tortoise, so it was fun to get an animal print. I’ve gotten compliments on them, and I love telling people what an incredible price I got them for. My friends were really shocked that they were just $14.33 plus $10.12 shipping. Adorable glasses for under $25? Yes! Check out SelectSpecs.com, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have a great weekend!

(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.)

Record A Day: February Wrap Up

I know I didn’t really get a chance to post any of my “Record A Day” February pictures, so here is a complete wrap up. Remember to follow me on Instagram if you want to see my day to day posts. The March “Record A Day” list is already up, and it’s never too late to participate (see the last picture below). Hope you had a great weekend!

Day 1: Oldest record I own – My parents got us this when we were toddlers. It’s dated 1963 (but I was born 1970 & my sis was born ’73).

(Photo 1) Day 2: “The Meaning of Love” by Depeche Mode in yellow colored vinyl. I didn’t have time to look thru my hubby’s record collection for marbled vinyl, so I just picked a colored record. (Photo 2) Day 3: Don’t a 2014 release yet, so this is a special Depeche Mode 4 track release from 2011 during Record Store Day. It’s a promo of “Personal Jesus” that accompanied the 3CD Remix album. Details of I almost didn’t get it are in post here!

Day 4: I have a record from a local band, but I’m saving it for another day. But I bought a record from a local San Diego musician who sells records outside of his music career. Who remembers Skid Roper from the band The Beat Farmers (he used to also play with Mojo Nixon)? I bought a 7 inch from him for my mom on Record Store Day last year.

(Top Row – Photo 1) Day 5: A box set – Louis Armstrong from the “Giants of Jazz” series. Another treasure from my hubby’s record collection. (Top Row – Photo 2) Day 6: This is a fantastic Gabriel and Dresden house mix of “Here is the House” by Depeche Mode. Don’t own a record that is a re-press, so I’m posting a favorite remix. I convinced my hubby to get it. The night he first spun it at an event, people were asking where he got it. I should have made him tell people his wife got it for him! (Bottom Row – Photo 1) Day 7: Any 7 inch – “Whistle Down The Wind” by Nick Heyward. Most of the Nick Heyward or Haircut 100 records are owned by my sister. But this lovely song is mine. (Bottom Row – Photo 2) Day 8: “White whale” record. “Leave in Silence” 7 inch by Depeche Mode. Back in the early 80s, I was attempting to collect ALL of DMs 45’s. For whatever reason, this single was THE most difficult to find at the time. I went to every indie record store in San Diego & couldn’t find it. Finally, I went to a DM convention in LA & found it at a vinyl vendor.

(Photo 1) Day 9: Solo album – “Hydrology” by Recoil, Alan Wilder’s solo project. I posted this before, but it’s been awhile. When Alan signed this, he said “Awww, I remember THIS…” (Photo 2) Day 10: Any 10 inch – Strictly limited edition (and numbered) 10″ of “Everything Counts” by Depeche Mode. It came with a window sticker & 2 postcards. I put the sticker on my car back in the 80s (it’s gone now lol).

Day 11: Collection of an artist – A few items from my Duran Duran one. Smaller than my Depeche Mode one, but still a collection. Top are albums & 12″ singles. Bottom are 7 inch singles (original post here).

(Photo 1) Day 12: Artist that starts with L – Lone Justice. “Ways To Be Wicked” is a brilliant song. Can’t believe my hubby had this in his collection! (Photo 2) Day 13: Album from (Jr) high school – “Parade” by Spandau Ballet. Bought this in LA back in 1984. February 13tj was it’s 30th anniversary!

(Photo 1) Day 14: Red or pink record for Valentine’s Day – “Broken Heart” by Red Flag. Saw a free show by them back in the 80s at UCSD. (Photo 2) Day 15: An artists best album (IMHO) – “Reckoning” by REM (from my hubby’s record collection). So many great songs! Glad I saw them in concert in 1989. (Photo 3) Day 16: Dollar bin find – “Quartet” by Ultravox. SO lucky that I got to see Midge Ure perform “Reap The Wild Wind” at the Rewind Festival back in 2012 at Henley On Thames with my BFF Janice.

(Photo 1) Day 17: Acoustic song – “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode. This is the 7 inch single with booklet. (Photo 2) Day 18: I don’t own a split EP, so I’m just posting a 4 track 7 inch EP of “Blasphemous Rumours” by Depeche Mode.

Day 19: White colored record – “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division from Cleopatra Records. Recent purchase from eBay. Cool isn’t it?!

(Photo 1) Day 20: Album with an animal on the cover – “Shabooh Shoobah” by INXS. Fantastic record! (Photo 2) Day 21: Favorite Record Friday – “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol. Awesome record & he’s great live.

Day 22: Compilation or soundtrack – “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. We got buttons & this 7 inch single on opening weekend in 1986. Does anyone do that anymore?

Day 23: Clear or transparent record – Limited Edition Depeche Mode interview disc. I didn’t realize how clear it was until I took this picture & added a filter.

(Photo 1) Day 24: I like all of my own records, so here’s the least liked of the ones in our house – “Hello” by Lionel Richie (my mom’s 7 inch). Quite the sappy love song, no? (Photo 2) Day 25: Album in classic black vinyl – “…In A Chamber” by Wire Train. “I’ll Do You” & “Chamber of Hellos” are 80s classics.

Day 26: I don’t have another splatter record, so here’s an interview picture disc of Depeche Mode.

Day 27: Album to drink to – “Let’s have a Black Celebration/I’ll drink to that” by Depeche Mode. It’s right in the lyrics!

Day 28: Any record – “Complete Madness” by Madness. Such a fun band & fantastic live!

Wanted: I'm a Sucker for Cleo B

I discovered British designer Cleo Barbour’s line, Cleo B, through the Instagram profile of Vanessa of FashionMixtape, and instantly fell in love. Although Cleo has many fantastic shoes and accessories, I’ll have to say her “It’s Like That” line spoke to the musician and fashionista in me simultaneously. Cassette tapes as heels, shoe clips and purses? You know I’ll rock them! Cheers and have a great weekend!

(Photos courtesy of Cleo B)

Happy 5th Birthday Dominic!

Today is the 5th birthday of our fantastically awesome son, Dominic. We have a small celebration at home planned with immediate family and a Spongebob Squarepants cake. This weekend, we’re planning a day at Legoland with his cousin, Mei-Lin, weather permitting. The contingency plan is a day at the mall with lunch at John’s Incredible Pizza Company followed by “The Lego Movie” (which will be the second time for everyone). As you can tell, Lego is definitely the theme, and Dominic just can’t get enough. You can follow our adventures on Instagram to see where the weekend takes us.

Happy Birthday Dominic, we love you very much!

One of the many Lego sets we have built with Dominic in the last three years (both in San Diego, and in Las Vegas). This one is from “The Lego Movie”.

Emmet and Wyldstyle

50% Off Coupon From Tiecoon.com for Any Second Now Readers!

I thought I’d start of this week with a lovely little offering from Tiecoon.com, where I recently purchased the four ties pictured above for my husband, using an exclusive code for Any Second Now readers. Use tiecoonblog2 when you’re ready to place your order, and you’ll get 50% off of your purchase! There are plenty of handsome ties to choose from, many of which are $5.95, like all of the ones pictured above. I helped my hubby pick out the ties, because you know I’ll be borrowing them for my own outfits (like in the posts here and here). But you better get to shopping because the code is only good until 2/28/2014. Cheers and happy Monday!

If I Had My Own 80's Radio Show

If you didn’t know, I’m on Spotify. This is my first playlist, because I entered a contest to “Become a Rhino Musicologist“. A lot of my favorite bands are on Rhino like INXS, Depeche Mode and Joy Division, due to anthologies and reissues. My first playlist is rife with my 80’s alternative favorites that I know Richard Blade (former KROQ DJ) or Steve West (current 91X DJ) would be proud of. This won’t be my last playlist, so if you’re on Spotify, please follow me here. Cheers and have a great weekend!

Shining for me, Majestically

There’s a saying I saw somewhere that somewhat goes “When a woman says she can’t decide what to wear, she really means she can’t decide who to be that day.” Well, this past weekend, I decided to be everything. I wore this while running errands with my husband and son, and I completely felt like this was a combination of dressy, yet casual and edgy. Wearing flats with a plain white t-shirt and long skirt felt comfortable, so I put on a classic black cardigan with shiny silver accessories to bring a dressier edge.

Outfit: Cotton On cardigan; Bitten t-shirt (old); unknown brand skirt from Shimmer; Tieks California Navy ballet flats; Rebecca Minkoff Jody “C” leather pouch; Suki Bijoux rings; London Tube Metro cuff c/o Designhype; Blue Triangle necklace and earrings c/o Majestical Jewelry; Timex Originals Classic Round watch c/o Timex; Eva glasses in Sepia Kiss c/o BonLook

Post title is a lyric from the song “The Darkest Star” by Depeche Mode.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. (Majestical Jewelry)

(I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.)

I Love My Tieks!

I have always wanted a really good pair of ballet flats. The basic black ones I currently own (I have two pairs) are comfy to a point, but ultimately start to pinch in the back and eventually tighten up front. I remember first seeing Tieks by Gavrieli ballet flats on Keiko Lynn and thought they were not only adorable, but looked incredibly comfy. So recently I ordered my first pair, and I’m so very glad I did! Firstly, the customer service I received from their company was outstanding (I love the handwritten note accompanying my package). Secondly, the highly anticipated shoes arrived quickly and quite beautifully in the signature “Tiek Blue” box, topped with an adorable flower. Thirdly, they fold into their own carrying case for the ultimate in convenience, and they come with an additional tote to carry your heels when your feet are in dire need of rest.

My California Navy Tieks are far and away THE most comfortable ballet flats I own, and I wish I had them on my London trip back in 2012. The backs of the shoes are cushioned rather than elasticized, which make them so easy on my heel. The leather is soft and supple, and because of the split-sole design, I carry them everywhere I go (if I’m not already wearing them). I chose the California Navy because I wanted to stay away from another pair of black shoes, but I wanted a versatile pair that I could still wear them with most everything I own. As you can see in the pictures below (and upcoming outfit post later this week), I’m wearing them all the time. I’m now plotting for my next pair (it’s a toss-up between the Metallic Pewter or the Metallic Gold). What’s the most comfortable pair of shoes you own?

The first time I wore my Tieks. Love how they stand out against black textured tights!

Wore them to work with the Supernova Twirl Skirt from ModCloth.

Worn in an outfit with my niece, when we accidentally wore the same thing one day!

Worn with my son, while waiting for my hubby (who was buying popcorn) at “The Lego Movie”.

FTC Disclosure: I received a generous discount from Tieks as a courtesy, but not as compensation for this post. Although I did receive a discount, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Happify Shares the Science Behind a Happy Relationship

Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t think I’ve shared this with you all, but I am a Happify Pioneer. Happify believes there is a science to being happy as a person. They measure your personal “happiness” through personalized daily activities, where you will learn valuable skills to help you feel more motivated and excited about your future. According to Happify, if there is a science behind being a happy person, there is also a science behind a happy relationship. I’ll share a couple of takeaways from this graphic, and you can check it out yourself by clicking the link at the end of this post.

One thing I know my husband I do continually is talk and laugh. We were friends first, so we talk a lot, several times a day, in fact! Not a day goes by that we aren’t in some kind of communication with each other, even if it’s just to say hi during lunch or a break. Then we still have so much to say when we get home, because we just want to share all of the funny, scary, sad or frustrating parts of our day. A large part of that communication for us is laughing, and one of the things that made me fall in love with my husband is his sense of humor. There are times where we have belly aching laughs, and those are the absolute best.

Another part of the science behind a happy relationship is to have five positive interactions for every negative one with your partner on a daily basis. This can be in the form of a compliment, doing something nice for the other person, showing appreciation (no matter how small), or reliving a fun memory. My husband and I both agree that Valentine’s Day is a time where we do something special for each other, rather than making a huge grand gesture. So tonight, he’s cooking one of my favorite dishes (shrimp scampi), and I’m going to enjoy it!

If you want to learn more, just click on the following link: The Science Behind a Happy Relationship. Cheers and have a wonderful Valentine’s Weekend!

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