Independence Day

 This was my 4th of July outfit! 

The inspiration came from a manequin outfit in the F21 store I think at least a few months ago...

I like this combo so much that I bought the two tanks. At around $4-$7 each they were a great bargain.

My khaki shirt is too thick tuck in so I used it more as a jacket... Also the tanks did not look that great tucked in so I left them out...

I do like the mix of neon yellow with the white-red-blue.

 

Khaki Utility Shirt - Gap

Tanks, Jeans, necklace, belt - Forever 21

Sandals - Victoria's Secret

4th of July Vacation: We sure had a busy but fun holiday over the 4th of July.
Sunday night we went to my friend's house as planned. They had a huge party with lots of families with kids our kids' age. They had a blast of course. Some families stayed to watch the fireworks of a nearby resort (yes a night early) from the top of their deck.
4th of July morning they cooked us a buttermilk pancake breakfast before we got on the road for our journey up north.
Arrived at the resort by lunchtime and met my husband's family. Let the kids swam in the pool for a while but running low on energy tried to got them to rest in the room with no luck. Met up at my SIL's room which overlooked a vast lawn and a sand dune covered vast beach. Kids played with their cousins and their grandparents all night. There was a lot of drinking done by the adults. We watched the fireworks from the same spot all cuddled up. My husband had my daughter and I had my son. It is so nice to watch to fireworks holding your baby (especially now that they are over the 'scared' age). We took them to bed afterwards while my husband returned back for more partying.
Tuesday morning we had breakfast with the family then enjoyed the beach and the pool before we checked out. Unfortunately the trip back took over 4 hours and we are exhausted.
After unpacking and 4 loads of laundry quite spent at this point!

Posing with my daughter in her 4th of July tutu outfit! 

Bought this whole set (headband, tank and tutu skirt) at Marshalls for $12!

My son of course is equally patriotically dressed, sporting a Children's place tee and hurley plaid shorts...

Perched up on a sand dune over looking the beautiful ocean!

My hubby with the kids on the grass lawn in front of the family's room...

Walking on the beach...

Daddy's Princess...

4 Cousins enjoying the sand dunes...

My son with his cousin who is 3 months older...

My daughter with her cousin. Love this photo!

Flying a kite...

The buzz light year kite!

The kids kept calling this pretty schooner parked in front of us 'the pirate ship'...

 

Lots of wine...

Ikat Scarf

This outfit was inspired by this French Connection catalog photo:

It is nothing majorly special but reminded me of this simple black summer dress I own and have not worn it for couple years.

I got this dress after I gave birth to my son as it was something comfy, breastfeeding friendly and very simple.

Added the ikat design/print scarf as a belt 

and the huge blue wooden necklace to pop...

 Photos were taken by my Step Dad in front of their lovely front garden which is my mom's pride and joy...

Dress - bought at a local beach boutique

Scarf - Forever 21

Necklace - Thread Show

Sandals - Victoria's Secret

I am finally getting around to acknowledging the couple of lovely ladies that have given me the  

'Lovely Blogger Award' 

last month!

First is Ahsen (a fellow Turkish Mommy Fashion Blogger) from a Wear A Smile who gave me the award on Friday, June 3rd. To see the post of the award click HERE.

Second is Gozde from Gozde'nin Gozunden who awarded me on June 22nd.
To see the post of the award click HERE.


As you know with these awards I am to list 7 (random) things about myself. I always draw blank when it comes to these things especially after doing this 3-4 times you kind of run out of things to say...
So, I think these are some things I haven't mentioned before:
1. I don't really enjoy speaking on the phone at length. I love face to face chats but for some reason on the phone I can't wait to get off. To
2. I am a planner with a capital 'P'. I love having a schedule and planning. I go a little nuts when things are not planned.
3. Even though I like having a nice garden and potted flowers, I really don't like to garden or take care of them.
4. I do a lot of digital scrapbooking with photos. I create annual family albums, a blog album, calendars for the family and keepsake albums for the kids every year. I also upload and share the photos I take with the kids with all the distant family members on a monthly basis by creating monthly albums that include select photos from our activities. All of this consumes a lot of my time!
5. I love dancing and going out to dance. Since kids those times have been few and far between but still...
6. Ironically I can't carry a tune for the life of me and yet that does not effect my ability to dance. Weird.
7. I enjoy social drinking. I have quite tolerance towards hard liquor and usually know my limit but I can drink most people (including my husband) under the table.

Today's Activities: Went to breakfast at my mom and stepdad's house this morning and stayed until after lunch. Kids love hanging out there. During naps I packed like crazy. We have a super busy schedule:
Afternoon: stopping by friend's house to see their sister who is visiting and for a quick swim...
Night: going to a BBQ at my friend's house then watching early fireworks from their deck and spending the night there since they are north of us and we are heading north the next day.
Tomorrow: Will be driving up north to Oxnard, CA (probably 60 miles north of Los Angeles) to meet up with my in-laws (My husbands parents,  older sister and her family) to spend 4th of July at a resort on the beach.
Tuesday: will be driving back to SD.

Leopard and Lace

Today's outfit was inspired by one of those crazy headline photos at F21's website:

I liked the idea of lace vest over blue with a big black feather necklace. 

Except mine isn't feather but leather fringe but the look is achieved...

Added leather cuffs and bracelets and watch...

The animal print shorts adds interest with blue...And they are very comfy both in fit and length.

Shorts and cuff bracelet - Forever 21

Vest - Marshall's

Ribbed tank top - Bebe (very very old)

Necklace - Bebe

Chain bracelet - Tilly's

Sandals - Boutique 9 (from zappos)

Today's Activities: Went to a super early (9:30 am) birthday party this morning. The weather was warm and sunny even that early. They served bagels and mimosa's so we were fine with the early start. After naps had an impromptu pool party with the family. Everyone kind of brought what they had at their house and we had a BBQ after hours of swimming. Glad we are getting to use our pool so much after all the backyard remodel. The kids love swimming and they love having family or as my son likes to call them his 'grown up friends'...

Both kids wanted to pose with my while my husband quickly snapped my photos before we walked to the party in the morning...

He likes to hang his 'shrek' bag from his neck like this. It contained his new cars2 set...

This is the dress my daughter picked herself at Marshall's with my mom and step dad. Apparently she immediately took off her existing outfit and demanded to put this on right away... My mom got the brown sandals from there as well. 

So I wore my animal print short to match her!

Family having fun at the pool!

My son having fun with the squirt gun with my step dad...