Head to Toe floral

 Going all floral today from head to toe!

 

This was inspired by a magazine photo but I couldn't find it...The idea was pairing all floral items together. 

Normally you wouldn't ever wear a bikini top and a cardi but actually today's weather worked perfectly for my outfit. The beach was chilly and cold so the cardigan was nice and warm and since we were on the beach wearing a bikini top underneath didn't look odd at all!

The scarf also provides coverage so I didn't feel like I was flashing with the bikini top!

 

 Got this super cute floral bikini top from Forever 21. Didn't even bother getting the matching bottom since my incision mark I can't wear bikini's but thought the top would be perfect for outfits like these.

These earrings are from Turkey. Crochet pieces hang from the loop.

This floral fabric purse with a nude leather handle was bought off of the internet. Supposed to resemble an older Gucci model. It is nice and large but because of the soft fabric and no pockets I always loose things in it.

 The canvas floral wedges are sky high platforms and made me feel very tall. I love wearing platforms under shorts. Too bad I couldn't really wear them to the beach with the kids. BUT that would have been interesting to try! :)

Hat, Bikini Top, Shorts, Shoes - Forever 21

Cardigan - part of a twin set from Victoria's Secret

Sunglasses - Channel

Earrings - From Turkey

Purse - online purchase a very long time ago

Today's Activities: Posting mid-day today so I can get what I wore and did in the morning out. We went to my son's friend's 4th B-Day party on the beach. Sun took its sweet time to come out but it did finally. Kids had a good time. Unfortunately we had to leave early before some of the games and the cake cause had to come home and get ready for our big party in the afternoon...

Here is the party spot from up above... Same friend/beach we visited on past Monday...

My daughter got her face painted... My son has never warmed up to the idea...

She played t-ball by herself for a very long time...

Once the sun came they started playing with the waves and my daughter hates having wet swim suit on so she took it all off and swam naked! She is fearless against the huge and very cold waves. My poor husband who was not even wearing swim trunks got a bit soaked...

With our two little monkeys!

FBFF - Blogging Effects & Cooking Day

Today's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday post hosted by
Katy from Modly Chic is about how blogging has effected us...

1.    Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Yes. I no longer shop for item for what it is. I always look for things that don't look like much on their own but could be great pieces to build amazing outfits. So a pretty dress that would be worn by itself no longer appeals to me.

2.    Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
Oh, definitely and yes they comment all the time. Mostly they are very supportive even when I dress quite different like hot pink ankle socks with heels, or a plaid tie, or red tights and white fedora's!
Everyone that knows me now expects me to dress in an eye catching manner and they are used to it.

3.    What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
The jumpsuits that are tight on top and super wide leg pants on the bottom. I love the way they look in photos but it is a bit too much for me. 

4.    Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
There isn't really any trend that comes into mind that I need 'build courage' to wear. If I truly like a trend I will totally try it out. And when someone comments, I simply reply: "I am a fashion blogger" somehow justifies any odd outfit you have on. Beauty!

5.    Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
I would have to say the #1 spot goes to by far Bee from Atlantic-Pacific.
I honestly will go back and look at each and every single post of hers if I missed it. I haven't had an outfit she wore that I didn't like!

I also love Diya from In Her Stilettos...

Mellow Mayoness

Liz from Late Afternoon

I also use a lot of the combinations from Carrie Fabulous as inspiration...

To See Others posts click HERE!

MY DAY:
Well it was nice to not worry about my outfit today. I already knew I would be doing a FBFF post and my day was just doing excessive amounts of grocery shopping and cooking.
Thanks to my Mom I was super lucky to shop without the kids. And good thing cause I barely fit in the x-large shopping cart without 2 kids in it and barely fit everything in my car again without them.
Shopping part I feel is the easy part. Taking 10+ trips back and forth from the car to the kitchen unpacking and organizing is brutal.
After all the shopping I cooked for hours and hours so that there is nothing to do tomorrow.
We have a big beach b-day party to attend all morning and then hosting our big BBQ & pool party at home right after. So everything had to be done.
This party we are hosting is our gourmet dinner party group. It is not the type of party where you buy everything ready and serve buffet style. Everyone that hosts goes all out cooking very gourmet recipees and preparing 4-5 course meals. Usually these are adults only parties but this time everyone voted to have a day party with kids so we can see how much all our kids have grown. Should be fun. HOpe the weather cooporates.

Here are some random cooking photos I took today...

 I decided to try out some Turkish side dishes that I love but have never learned to cook myself.

First up was fried eggplants. First you have to soak them in salty water to take off their bitterness...

Then you fry them. I pretty much never fry stuff so don't own a deep fryer which would have made this whole process a lot less messy I am sure...

When they get pink you turn them over.

Then cool them on paper towels. I couldn't help nibble on a few slices and they are yummy...

I also bought some long peppers to fry...

These puppies pop and splatter big time. Good thing my mom warned me but I was screaming jumping the whole time trying to turn them... Glad I only bought a few...

Then moved onto the zucchini... These are also salted and left under the sun for a while so they are not bitter

Before frying you soak them in a flour/water solution...

Here they are being fried but forgot to take photo of how they looked when done...

Didn't take any other photo for this corn salad but had to roast 12 corns on the grill for an hour then cut the kernels with a knife. Mixed it with cherry tomatoes, green onions and fresh basil. The dressing is olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Another dish I didn't take any other photo of. Unfortunately neither store i wen to had a big bag of grated carrots so had to peel 2 lbs of carrots then used the food processor to grate them. You cook it (as seen here) with olive oil until it is soft. Then mix it with plain yogurt and mashed garlic. 

Bike Parade

Today's outfit inspiration came from one of my favorite blogs Carrie Fabulous!

To see the post of this combination click HERE!

I love the mix of black and bright brown's don't you?

Check out the funky back of the thank!

 This is the necklace I had bought from a street vendor artist in Turkey off of embarking from the ferry boat by my late Grandpa's house. I will always remember that now when I wear this necklace. It is made of braided real leather with bronze old coins and beads.

Added a variety of brown and gold cuff bracelets to go with the tribal aspect of the outfit...

So you will see the inspiration photo includes a denim jacket. I also added the black straw hat with a brown leather trim...

She wanted to pose with me!

Tank, Shorts, Bracelets, Hat - Forever 21

Belt - Limited

Necklace - from Turkey

Sandals - Boutique 9

Denim Jacket - can't remember, very old...

Today's Activities: Another pretty fun outdoor class this morning. Today's theme was holding an early 4th of July parade. Each kid was asked to bring a ride of some sort. Teacher provided streamers and ribbons to have the kids decorate their rides with. There were strollers (for babies), wagons, tricycles, bikes, ride on toys and scooters of all sorts. Everything looked so colorful and cute. Too bad the sun never came out during our entire 3.5 hour stay at the bayside park. 

My kids on the other hand had a rough morning. My daughter started throwing a tantrum as soon as we arrived when she discovered we did not have an 'Ariel Scooter' for her. Then before even 10 AM they both insisted on constantly asking for food. Followed by her peeing in her pants. Yeah, so wasn't all that great at first but by 11 and all our lunch eaten we calmed down!

Nap and afternoon time was spent doing laundry, researching recipes for our big dinner party Saturday night and creating an elaborate grocery and Costco lists followed by drug store and dry cleaning errands and cooking! It is nice to be right now curled up in front of the couch with a glass of wine!

This was at the 'decorating' stage...

Colorful Bikes!

The Parade Starts!

Here are my little ones trailing behind...

My son has absolutely no interest in bikes or scooters and although all the kids his age are on bikes with training wheels he can't even pedal or steer ( or I should say does not try). So in 2 seconds he deserted his bike and they switched. 

My daughter on the scooter!

I had to help her a lot so we can stay with the group!

 And this is what he did. Ran and pushed the ariel ride on toy all the way...

My daughter than switched to pushing her friend towards the end!

Even without sun the park's view is very pretty...