Forget me not

 This is what I wore to brunch and card making class with the girls on Saturday…

I found this super cute sweatshirt and pleated blush skirt at Nordstrom's lookbooks...

Added these such darling cat eye sunglasses trimmed with pearls…  Gift from my mom….

 This super fun ring was an airport purchase from 'swatch' years and years ago during one of my trips to or from Turkey….

The nude sandals my sister bought me to wear as her matron of honor at her wedding….

Sunglasses - Gift

Sweatshirt, Skirt (Tildon) - Nordstrom's

Sandals - Nine West

Purse - Shoedazzle

Necklace & bracelets - Baublebar

Ring - Swatch

SATURDAY:
Morning was brutal. It could have been worse but my husband took pity on me and took on the 7:15 AM team photo shoot for my son and gave me 1 extra hour. I still had to get up at 7 and leave by 8 to make it to his 8:30 AM baseball game. My husband left to watch the tennis tournament in Palm Springs with a friend and I had the kids. After the game we only had one hour which was not long enough to go anywhere so we stayed at the premises killing time then had my daughter's acting class. When it was over I rushed to drop them off at my mom's and step dad's and rushed back home to change into this outfit and drive 30 minutes north to meet my friends.
We had an amazing brunch hosted by my friend's sister. Homemade strawberry goat cheese salad and two flat bread pizza's! With signature gin and orange burst or white wine spritzer cocktails.

We then went to this up scale paper/craft store for our 'card making' class. My friend had won this class for 6 at a fundraiser auction event and invited me as well. Not sure if I will ever make cards like this but it sure was fun being all crafty with no children. :)

 Here were my creations:

'Thank you' card using rice paper design tape and also learned to line our envelope!

Using little sponge stickies to make a 3 dimensional pattern. And also heat embossing…. A term I learned there….

Using Glitter and also made our own envelope using calendar pages…

Yes, I know my glitter work really went south there… But the envelope came out good. :)

Heat embossing and soufflé pens to color in…. Soooo cute….

Star light star bright

 My outfit Christmas Eve. The inspiration for this outfit and Christmas Day outfit came from Anthropologie's holiday catalog. Loosely based as I altered the pieces a bit....

 I could have added a shrug and fur to this outfit but it was too warm as I was hosting and running around too much...

 Hi-Lo pleated skirt with the silver foil peplum top... Added a sequin collar and an embellished belt for more glam...

 Bought the headband in the photo from Anthropologie....

Headband - Anthropologie

Collar - Asos

Belt - Ann Taylor Loft

Heels - Shoedazzle

Everything else from Forever 21

CHRISTMAS EVE:
We had a great family gathering at our house Christmas Eve. Since my mom was hosting the big sit down dinner the next day we had an appetizer party where everyone brought an appetizer to share.
It was still very filling and yummy and we ate buffet style so it was simple.
The kids were the center of entertainment. After a few 'puppet' and 'magic' shows they performed upstairs, my daughter performed a very long one man show to everyone downstairs for us. I video taped the whole thing and it was hilarious. We were laughing till there were tears in our eyes.
She definitely loves the attention and stage presence for sure...
After the kids went to bed and cookies and food were left out for Santa and his reindeer, the adults had fun with games. Some of the guys played pool (finally our pool table being used more than a laundry folding table) and the rest of us played a long game of 'mexican train' (which is a form of dominos).
I then stayed up until very late to make sure everything was cleaned and put away before the gift frenzy that awaited us the next day....

Hope you all had a nice Christmas too (if you celebrate it)....

With My Dad....

The kids in their party attire... Put real pearls (necklace and earrings) on my daughter. She was showing them to everyone...

With my Hubby...

With Mom and lil Sis

The Buffet Table is ready....

Her 'One Man' show...

 Cookies and orange and 'rice milk' for Santa (kids wanted to give him Rice Milk)... And carrots and celery and 'reindeer food' for the reindeers...

Mad Prints

 This fun and interesting mix of prints and pieces was inspired by the August 2012 issue of the In Style Magazine:

 I love the idea of pairing a graphic tee with a dressy skirt like this silk pleated one... Adding the oxfords totally took it to a whole other level. Funny to think couple years ago I would not have the guts to wear oxfords like these under a skirt never the less, but now I feel totally comfortable with the concept.

Argyle Cardigan - Forever 21 

Tee - Target

Skirt - La Redoute

Belt - From Turkey

Necklace, cross bracelet - Cookie Lee

Ring  - Park Lane

Oxfords - Bass

And at night I went out with my bf for happy hour and to see 'Cloud Atlas' at the luxury theaters. Oh my goodness that movie was long. It was interesting but a bit hard to follow. Amazing acting for sure.

 Another inspiration from the same magazine (August 2012 In Style):

Top, Pants, Clutch - Forever 21

Booties - Michael Antonio

Necklace - Cookie Lee