Tag Archives: Carlsbad

Images From the Grand Opening of Madewell at The Forum Carlsbad

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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!

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Such a fun, yet frenzied event.  Loved the bar, the food and the DJ!

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I adore the displays at Madewell.  It’s a perfect grab-and-go bag for a weekend summer getaway!

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Free tote with purchase (Bien Fait means “well done” in French).

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Also free with purchase: A lovely original piece by local illustrator, designer and blogger, Kelly Murray.

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Good night!

We Got The Beat…Blogger Party!

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Last Friday, I was invited to attend a wonderful little blogger soiree at The Beat Clothing in Carlsbad.  I saw the store when I attended the Carlsbad Village Faire back in May (original post here), but we didn’t get to venture inside.  I remember telling my husband that we should go back up to Carlsbad to go shopping and dine, so I was very excited to receive the invite.  Since I was coming from work, I was the first one to arrive, which gave me the chance to snap a few pictures around the store and to get the know Diana, the owner, and a couple of the staff who stayed through the party, Kelly and Ali.  Blues & Shoes, Ragz Dressware and The Beat Clothing are all sister stores, and all located in Carlsbad.

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If there could be a store that would define who I was, it would be The Beat Clothing.  The store is infused with rocker chic, along with all things musical.  Diana’s husband was in the music industry, and really had a hand in the design of this store.  Everywhere you look, there is some kind of musical instrument embedded among the cool, stylish, and trendy clothing.  From the rock t-shirts on the walls to the album covers in the dressing rooms, everything just calls to me.  I would wear everything in this store to the office, to the mall and definitely to a concert.

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These album covers adorned the dressing rooms.  I actually own a few of those!

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Photo 1:  Ali showing us how to wear leg jewelry. She looks fantastic!  Photo 2:  Love how each table has some kind of musical instrument.

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Too many cool things to choose from.  Check out that Union Jack leather cuff…want!

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Kelly, who set up the blogger party, painted the Rolling Stones picture on the left and the microphone on the right.  They look even more amazing in person!

Once I finished marveling at everything, my fellow bloggers started to trickle in.  First to arrive was the gorgeous Pat of PATFLOR, followed by lovely Laura of Laura Neuzeth.  Then the beautiful Alessandra of Alessandra Gonzalez arrived with her friend Melody, and a new blogger friend, Amber of Face It Catalog was the last to arrive (Bianca of The In-Between Girls couldn’t make it).  As bloggers, you know we love to take pictures, and not only did we take pictures of the store and The Beat girls, but of each other doing our blogger things.  Silliness ensued, which was expected when you get a fun bunch of gals together!  I want to thank The Beat Clothing for inviting me to such an awesome event.  Rest assured that I will be back to do some shopping!

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Pat, working her blogger magic with Laura.

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Photo 1:  Melody, Alessandra and Laura checking out the cute shoes.  Photo 2:  Kelly, Diana and Ali from The Beat Clothing. So stylish!

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The Rolling Stones or mustaches.  Which would you choose?

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Photo 1:  My addition to the wall.  Photo 2:  Laura getting her tag in!

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Michael Antonio has such awesome shoes.  I bought the Adan wedges in grey on the very right.  Outfit post to come!

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SD Style Bloggers at The Beat Clothing.  I’m wearing one of my favorite t-shirts: my Punk Masters John Taylor “Digital Truth” shirt.  BTW: The mural behind us surrounding the door was also painted by Kelly.  She’s just so talented!

Dinner at Bellefleur

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I’m playing catch-up with some posts about restaurants I have visited in the last month, and this will be a quick one.  When my mother-in-law came to visit at the beginning of May, we wanted to eat dinner close to where she was staying prior to the Carlsbad Village Faire.  I remembered there was a restaurant I had not eaten at yet at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets called the Bellefleur, and we agreed it would be a quick and easy way for a nice sit down dinner with the family.  Happily enough, we came at a great time because they had a 3 course chef special, celebrating their 15 years in Carlsbad.  The special was just $15, so we all chose to eat from their prix fixe menu.  My choices are all pictured below, and were all fantastic.  Because we arrived quite late for dinner, we saw the set up and asked our server about the brunch.  He described all of the wonderful food and we decided that when my mother-in-law returns to San Diego, we plan on going to their Sunday Champagne Brunch.

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Tomato bisque soup

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Blackened chicken pasta

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Chocolate mousse

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Dominic with Grandma

Weekend in Pictures: The Carlsbad Village Faire

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Back on May 5, 2013, my mother-in-law came into town to pay a visit to her grandson, and also because she had an Origami Owl booth at The Carlsbad Village Faire.  The Faire is the nation’s largest one-day street faire.  I know it’s in the name, but I was completely unprepared for just how many streets this faire would cover!  Although the weather left much to be desired (it rained at the very end), I had a great time getting to know Carlsbad.  I fully intend to come back to Carlsbad and explore more of this beautiful beach side northern San Diego city.  In the meantime, I’ve included a photo diary of our day at The Faire.  Enjoy!

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Carlsbad Faire 2013 Collage 1

My mother-in-law’s Origami Owl display

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My boys with my hubby’s first purchase of the day…a Steelers rolling cooler (that can be used as a seat)!

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Kettle corn is always a crowd pleaser.

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I bought a cute little handmade Geisha girl backpack from the booth on the left, and failed to get that cute purse on the right.  It was only $10!

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A whole lotta art everywhere!

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Music was also all around in the form of live bands, wares, and…hares!  Added another record store to my list to go back and visit: Spin Records. 

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While I add record stores to my list of places to visit, my hubby adds golf courses.

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Our food adventures:  kangaroo skewers and blueberry lemonade.  Deon enjoyed the skewers, but I loved the lemonade much more.

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You bet I’m coming back to visit Carlsbad and shop…they have a Bit O’ Britain there!