Photo Shoot Day

Today was our family photo shoot. Originally it was schedule at my dad's request to do a big family portrait for his holiday cars. However, my husband said we are not doing another photo shoot so we sneaked in a few shots for just our family of 4 for our cards. Won't get the photos till dec 3rd so you will need to wait. We all did jeans with black, red or white tops. I of course wore this pattern. :) My son was so cute though. Dressed him in distressed jeans, white button down with sleeves rolled up a bit, red and black tie, topped with a velvet vest and motorcycle boots to finish it off. Wish I had snapped a photo with my camera but after an hour of photo shoot he was done.

I thrifted this express zebra print cardigan. It is quite worn but love its cut and color.

Sucks to do shots at night. These were in the mall food court (almost all San Diego malls are outdoors). This cute lion was in the window of a nearby store (not sure which)....

I love the look of these mile high platforms with thick black socks. Don't you?

Zebra print cardigan - Express (thrifted)

Long black jersey top - Victoria's secret catalog

red scarf - Forever 21

Blue skinny jeans - Forever 21

Black platforms - Newport News Catalog

Before I talk about my day you have to check out my mom's outfit today. Total perfection of mixing patterns and very cool colors. Sorry for the horrible lighting though, took these in TJ Maxx and just horrible yellow light... 

Today's Activities: My son and hubby went out to get bagels this morning while I cuddled with my daugther and read 3 books in her room. It was so nice. After breakfast we tackled hanging our outdoor xmas lights as a family. My son and daughter handed me the strips of tape my husband would cut so I can secure the strands. Had to leave it half done though as we were short of extenstion cords (and in my mind not enough lights or decorations). My brother and sister-in-law took my son to see Tangled while I took my daughter to big lots for decoration shopping. My husband enjoyed a few hours of bliss at home. Went a bit overboard and bought two reindeers, a snowman and lot and lots of lights. Spent the whole nap time installing my new purchases with a lot of grumping from the hubby. Kids of course love them. After naps we got ready for our photo shoot and headed to the mall. My son had had enough after half hour and was quite difficult to finish the shoot. My daughter did OK but she wouldn't smile. She is pretty much faking a funny (but cute) face in every photo. Afterwards we didn't have time for anything but the food court. Which was fine. My son took two sets of family members twice to the new disney store. He might be finalizing his gift choice from Santa.

Still in the process of decorating but here are some random sections I finished...

Living room mantel 

Went with all silver and white theme by gathering everything I own in that color scheme. The clock, the lamp and the cyrstal ball are all normal decorations. The glass container holding the white balls is my crystal ice bucket.

This is my collection of holiday frames. Bought the first one (most left) for my son's first santa visit. The photo of him looking at the santa was priceless. Made the second one for my daughter's first santa photo. Then bought the rest and obviously have not put any photos in them yet. Will do in couple of weeks.

This is the living room window. I had purchased these colored lights for my son's tree last year but the white cord was horrible on a green tree so they were left over. They fit perfectly for the window. To compliment the multi colors added the ornament window decals I have had for 8 years now! 

Comfy Pencil Skirt

This is just a pretty basic ordinary outfit with a bit of punch from the designed tights and red shoes. I got my inspiration for this from this lovely lady in Chictopia:

This is not an outfit I would get overly excited about but I picked it cause it allowed me to wear my crop jean jacket that I haven't touched in ages. And that is what I look for the most in inspiration photos. New ways to wear my old and existing clothes.

Amazingly wearing a pencil skirt all day running after kids was not uncomfortable at all. This skirt is made of very stretchy material so may be that is why. It just shows you though you don't have to be in yoga pants or jeans all the time to be comfortable.

Could have added a bright red scarf (which I own) but though this tapestry burgandy colored one was a better choice.

These 'chevron' tights were a nice add-on to add a bit of interest to the outfit...

Bright big earings to glam it up a bit...

Pulled these red flats from the maternity bin I had loaned my sister-in-law. She wasn't wearing them so figured I could get some use out of them.

I am so sorry by the way for all the water spots all over my skirt and socks. I just washed the kids hands before getting out the door and this is what happens.

Crop Jean Jacket - not sure I don't recognize the brand

Pencil Skirt - Forever 21

Red Tee - Charlotte Russe

Chevron tights - not sure

Red Flats - Rampage

Earings - Forever 21

Scarf - Forever 21

Today's Activities: Oh it was just a perfect day today. The weather was georgous. Had this crispiness to it but totally sunny and clear. My son woke up all excited cause we promised to get down xmas decorations since Thanksgiving had passed. We first took a walk on the boardwalk (Pacific Beach, San Diego) before hitting our local xmas tree lot (which is 2 blocks from the beach).  I just love spending time with the family. Kids do too cause they are in a great mood when both my husband and I take them somewhere fun. We went on the pier. My husband walked along the whole pier with my daughter while my son and I watched the surfers trying to catch a wave in this very calm weather. It was just one of those perfect moments where you wish it would last forever. At the xmas tree lot my son selected his tree almost immediately. This is our family tradition where the kids get a fresh tree which they decorate on their own with their non breakable ornaments for the family room. Our fake tree with all the heirloom ornaments remain hands off in the living room. The minute we came home of course he wanted to decorate but we negotiated 3 ornaments only before nap then the rest later. He did nap pretty good and even tough we were invited to go to Legoland with our friends using their passes he turned it down so he can decorate his tree. I had already put the lights up when they were napping so it was ready. The ornaments are all bulked up on the back of the tree but hey this is theirs. My son also won't let anyone move a single ornament from the spot he put it on anyway.
Later my dad came over and while the kids played we started to decorate the big tree... It was just a perfect perfect day and not a minute was spent on shopping in a mall or online. Some black Friday. I would never want to trade a day like this to any day with great bargains. And this is coming from the shopping diva.

Here is us on the pier... Kids are too mesmerized with the surfers to turn around for the camera...

 Surfers we watched...

My son checking out his 'Santa Rock's Tee...

With their selected xmas tree and the mini pine bushes they got as a gift at the tree lot...

We actually posed in front of this huge 9 feet tree (worth $180) in the tree lot but I guess the lady took more of the trailer in the back ground than the tree itself...  

Decorating their tree at home in the afternoon...

And this is my son posing (very) close to his precious lion king ornaments (I got the simba and nala one from ebay last year as it is a 1994 ornament, but the pumba one was from hallmark's current collection last year) 

And here is Dad and I starting to decorate the big tree later on over couple glasses of wine! :) And see still wearing the same clothes earings and all... Like I said very comfy...

Thanksgiving Lace

So, this is what I wore today for Thanksgiving. I went through a lot of different choices but figured I wanted to wear this combo as there probably wouldn't be a better opportunity to do so vs some of the others I was contemplating.

This vintage lace blouse is my mom's. She purchased it recently but told me to wear it a little first. And of course the black leather pants are hers as well. They are also very old, hence the super high waist which you don't really see. They are leather in the front and strech in the back so very comfy.

Barrowed the pearly necklace from my sister.

Photos taken on my brother and sistern-in-law's deck. Overlooking downtown San Diego.

The sequined platforms again. Love these shoes. And look how high those heels look sideways. They have a really high platform so it does not feel this high. I wore nude fishnet knee highs. I just get too cold to go barefoot.

Lace Blouse - Vintage (Mom's)
Black Leather pants - Vintage (Mom's)
Black platforms - Newport News Catalog
Silk white tank (worn under lace blouse) - Newport News Catalog
Fishnet knee highs - TJ Maxx
Necklace and cuffs - Forever 21

Today's Activities: Spent the whole day at my Brother's and Sister-in-law's. Joined by my dad (who is also my brother's dad), my mother (who is not related to my brother), step dad, my sister (again not related to my brother but we share the same mother) and of course husband and the kids. They also had his best friend who is visiting out town, my dad's ex girlfriend's son, as well as 4 sailors who did not have a place to go that work for my brother (he is in the Navy). So, in case you were totally confused by my family ties, here is the deal. My dad has been divorced twice and is now single. My mother is on her third marriage. I am an only child from my own mom and dad. I have a sister from my mom's 2nd marriage and a brother from my dad's 2nd marriage. My brother and sister are a year apart and have absolutely no blood relation to each other. Cool, huh? After years we now always get together on holidays and become one big family. To go even further on our casual holiday parties we tend to also invite all of my dad's ex girlfriends which we love and both mine and my husbands first marriage spouses and their families. We are just that kind of people. Odd I know.
I am pretty sure the sailors never figured out all these complicated family ties and were probably not understanding what we were saying half the time since we tend to speak a lot of Turkish when together.
Great day though with everyone. My daughter napped there and my son rested while my mom fell a sleep next to him. :) We then played games and most watched football (me not a big fan).
Came home to devour leftovers we took with us and gave the kids a much needed bath and settled in for a quiet night.

Day Trip

This is the debut of my new sweater dress bought a while ago but it was never cold enough to wear it. As you know I like to create at least 3-4 different combos for each piece of clothing I purchase. This happens to be the least exciting combo with this dress but it was comfy and appropriate for my day's activities.

Went very simple. Brown leggings, rugged boots and I added the red long sleeve top underneath so my arms weren' bare. I do not understand why they make wool tops short sleeved. What kind of weather are you suppose to be covered in wool with bare arms?

As an accessory decided to wear this long navy blue necklace my husband brought from his work trip to India. It picks up the navy in the dress. It has a great matching bracelet but that was too clingy and loud for my 6 AM starting day.

Today's Activities: My day started at 5 AM. I actually couldn't sleep after 4 AM so you can imagine. Went to my Dad's by 6 and met my brother there and we all drove up to Los Angeles for my Dad's day of lab and dr appointments. Although it is a grueling day of running from one appt to another and a lot of car time it is nice to catch up with both of them without any kid distractions. After we got back to SD I went to pick up the kids but mom had promised to take them to a play area so I went to run errands by myself. Did the thanksgiving grocery shopping and came home to unpack everything. At night was my project of sock drawer organization. Which  my husband thinks I am insane to even have such 'project'. But as I indicated before I can't find any of my tights or ankle socks and it was a mess. I have too many tights now and in very similar shades and spend 5 minutes when getting ready to find the right one.

So, first used a smaller jewelry organizer to place my fishnet type stockings:

Then used this shoe organizer for my tights. Although as you can see the pink color is not helping me easily see the color of the tights. So, I am going to look for the same thin in clear.

Finally for the remainning socks in my drawer, used old shoe boxes to separate them...

Here I am with my dad and brother in front of one his appointments....