Power of the Music of the Night

This is what I wore to the Andrea Bocelli concert in Las Vegas this past weekend…
It is my favorite dress from Anthropologie. I found it couple years ago when I was going to meet the girls for our holiday dinner and I had arrived early so popped into Anthropologie which was next to the restaurant we were meeting to take a look at their sales rack. And found this gorgeous dress, just my size and only one for only $50!
Bought it not even knowing where I would wear it to.
So far have worn it to many occasions and loved it every time…

Dress - Anthropologie

Jacket - Forever 21

Boots - Juicy Couture

Earrings - Cookie Lee

SATURDAY NIGHT:
We had bid on this concert with a meet and greet experience at the gala we went in Beverly Hills.
I was so surprised my husband even bid on it cause I have never seen him listen to classical or opera music. He usually grunts at going to musicals and listens to music that to me feels like people are banging on my head with a hammer and the words are so offensive.
So I was nothing but game when he wanted to go see Andrea Bocelli.
He educated himself with listening to all his songs before hand and kept telling me. I thought I didn't know his songs but sure enough at the concert when he started singing I remembered most of them.
I was primarily raised by my grandparents who absolutely loved movies from their time and classical music.
My grandpa used to play classical music every sunday morning with breakfast.
Hearing the music and the songs brought all those memories gushing back. I was filled with tears majority of the concert and enjoyed it immensely.

And told him may be now he will come with me to the Mozart festival. :)

SUNDAY DAY:
Didn't have time for a total photo shoot Sunday as I spent majority of the morning sleeping in and loving it.
This was as we were leaving the MGM hotel which had a huge rodeo convention going on hence the cowboy hat on the lion…

Jacket, Tee, Jeans - Forever 21

Hat - Vintage

Sneakers - Sam Edelman Circus

Shine On

My outfit Friday night to our kids' school Gala….

I have worn this dress many times and it is just one of those great dresses that look good whether it is day time or evening event. It is a bit sexy without going overboard and best of all it is very comfy to wear. And does not show wrinkles. A keeper for sure.

Tonight I accessorized it with booties and a leather and tulle jacket like I had for my sister's rehearsal dinner but added the pearl choker necklace which got a lot of attention…

Dress - Bebe

Jacket - Thread Sence

Booties - Juicy Couture

Necklace - Zara

FRIDAY NIGHT SHINE ON GALA:

With some of the mom's from the kindergarten class… We didn't take many photos as we were busy enjoying ourselves…. I did take a photo of my son's two teachers together but I think it was on one of their phones...

Right words to say

A pintrest inspiration on Saturday:

I loved this combination  of blue and black layers. I went with a navy tank and navy blazer but kept the pants and boots black letting the oxford blue shirt pop….

Blazer, Pants - Forever 21

Shirt - H&M

Tank Top - Kika Paprika

Booties - Juicy Couture

Necklace - Vintage

SATURDAY:
It was a tough day. I have recently lost a dear friend. He was my Boss for over 8+ years at a company where we were so much more than just colleagues. Trying to explain the dynamic is almost impossible. We did everything together as a group and traveled so often which allowed all of us to become closer. We worked super hard and partied hard too.
My husband at the time became good friends with him too and we would usually turn work trips into vacations by adding weekends and having our better halves fly out to join. My other friend and I were his #2's and ran the whole office.

In order to say good-bye to our dear friend we held a get together at a bar we used to go so often.
It was amazing to have this big re-union. So many people flew in out of town.

I was very anxious as this group of people who I spent sooo much time together and were so close represented my pre-kid career woman life. They only knew the crazy ambitious young girl who was probably a too strict boss but partied hard when we went out and did shots and could drink anybody under the table.
Some didn't even know I now had kids and couldn't believe. They couldn't picture me as a mom, driving a mini van and staying home.

On the same token, my friends now couldn't understand how much loosing this friend means to me and how close I was to him and all the other people I worked with. They don't know the me that was then and can't fathom how I was.

Only my closest and oldest girlfriends knew both sides of me and of course were there to support and hold my hand as I re-hashed a lot of closed doors as part of this re-union.

Here is my friend that I lost (can you see how young I was?):

 Always life of the party, the most generous big personality guy I know. He has thought me everything about the industry we worked in and managing but also how to play craps, how to order drinks and how to party in general….

HERE IS SATURDAY's Re-Union in his Memory:

The couple on my side flew in from PA and stayed with us one night…

My friend on the other side lives in San Diego 

Him and I were the #2's in the office than became the head guys when our boss moved to London to run a division there.

With our old assistant in the middle and my friend's wife….

 HERE IS TO YOU DEAR FRIEND…

We know this is how you would have liked to say good-bye….

When the laughter's dies, the drinks are gone and the bars are closed. You've slept it off the haze of the
hangover slowly disseminates .... under running water there's a quiet, still moment and that's when
the grief  rears  it's ugly head and the pain not physical but emotional surrounds you and
for a moment you let it happen...