Travel Savy

I love today's outfit! This Inspiration was from the August (2011) issue of In Style Magazine:

The minute I saw this combo I fell in love. Usually I cut inspiration photos like this and add to my list and don't wear them until months later sometimes a year even! But this one I picked a week after adding to my list!

 

Normally this scarf is too thick and warm (and a bit itchy) to wear often especially in San Diego. But for travel it was just perfect. Which made me realize shawl like scarfs are the ultimate accessory to travel outfits.

In unpredictable air plane temps they can be a life saver serving as a warm & cozy shawl. And upon landing simply wrap around neck for an effortless chic look. If there is too much material, leave the ends to dangle in the front a bit.

It can also camouflage those stains that occurred from unexpected spills during the flight! 

And if you are a mommy like me these can also serve as a blanket or folded up as a pillow to the little ones.

 This inspiration also gave me a chance to wear my new electric blue skinnies.
This is another thing I do: Buy a new item, create 5-6 new combos to my list with the item then don't wear it till much later. Mostly cuase unlike brand name clothes where it pays to wait until seosanl items go on sale by the time actual season comes, F21 sometimes works the other way. They bring a few coveted items and these are never seen again. Tights for example or a totally cute trendy coat or trench or lux looking shoes purses and accessories like leather shorts or pants.
You know the type of pieces you wear and everyone compliments and can't believe they cost under $30 from Forever 21!
So I know how to spot such items, for example a total classic looking trench in a unique sleeveless cut worth buying right away. An Aztec print chunky sweater priced at $35 is OK to risk the wait for a sale reduction.
These jeans were the type you buy right away before they run out of your size. I had been browsing the 'new arrivals' for such pair for a while.

Top, Scarf, Jeans, Sunglasses - Forever 21

Shoes, bracelet - on-line (can't remember the sites now)

Purse - Marshall's

TODAY: 

In order to spend a full weekend with the kids I decided to fly out Monday morning for work which sounded like a great idea until my alarm went off at 5:40 AM! I was so tired but managed to snap these photos before putting the tripod and the camera in the suitcase and jumping in the cab for the airport.

I drank a huge cup of coffee which of course woke me up just enough to not let me sleep but did not take my tiredness away. BUT, I came with these super cool post ideas for the week I will be on vacation so hope I can pull them off. They are mostly around Fall/Winter trends and finding items that fit these trends right from my closet!

I took a cab from the airport and stopped by my hotel so I can check in and drop off my suitcases then had the cab take me direct to work. Had a nice lunch with my direct contact at the client. Asked her how everything went over the weekend knowing the team was going to work and she said they wouldn't give her an update until I arrived and they updated me first. They are so funny cause I am such a short timer and they treat me like I am the manager of the group. There were some good and some OK news so I have a lot of auditing to do this week.

Had a Skype session again with the kids and finalized their Halloween costume choices and after hanging up ordered them. My daughter now wants a pink super hero costume. Found her the perfect pink Bat girl outfit with cape, mask and arm bands (her requirements) and even a dress and boot covers as well. She was very specific about the arm bands. Somehow that is very important to her! :)

I couldn't convince my son to go for the $20 Finn McMissile costume as  he has his heart set on the $44 one. So I had to order from two different website but luckily his costume did go on sale and got him the matching spy gadgets which he specifically reminded me. 

My  kids! I wonder where they get it from? :)

Bunny Wink

Today's Casual outfit was inspired by this Chictopia post:

When I saw this I immediately thought of the cute tee I won at a blog giveaway and my peach jeans. Plus I am always on the look out for outfits with converses and uggs as they are my go to combo's for sea world or zoo or disney trips.

 It actually never got cool enough to wear the blazer until the very end...

 This lovely tee was a win from a blog giveaway from the Freesia blog!

Other than the whimsical winking bunny rabbit in the front, what is super cool is the sheer floral back!

Blazer - Newport News

Tee - Freesia Blog

Peach Jeans - filomen's closet

Sneakers - Converses

TODAY:

My son started Turkish School today. It is a school designed to teach the language and the culture to Turkish kids living in San Diego. The youngest age they take is 4 so finally he is old enough to join. My daughter of course threw a fit when she realized she couldn't stay. I got to meet some a whole group of Turkish Mommies and Daddies living right here with kids same age as mine. But it is so funny cause I was so shy and self conscious right away. I never feel this way in American groups. Talking comes natural and I am very outgoing. But with Turkish people I don't know it is like I am back in high school afraid to hang out with the popular kids. So weird. 

During kids naps I tried to pack most of my stuff. When they woke up we left immediately to meet my friends at Sea World. Even though it is only October 3rd I am apparently already way behind in getting the kids their costumes. So, we barrowed some from my friend and kids did trick or treating with their friends.

My friend had given a list of costume options to barrow and from this list my son picked 'Nemo' and my daughter chose 'super girl'. He was so enjoying all the attention and compliments he got wearing a fish costume in sea world of all places. My daughter kept twirling the make the cape swing behind her and never took off the uncomfortable eye mask and loved her arm bands. She now switched from wanting to be a mermaid to super girl. I have to find something similar. My son though is still set on being Finn McMissile from the CARs2 movie. I need to order these asap since we'll be doing pumpkin patch visits as soon as I am done with work I am sure.

Here are some cute photos...

Her hi-top sneakers got so many comments today. Great purchase from children's place on-line. Best thing they have laces but with a side zip you never have to touch them!

Rusty Crochet

 I was so tired last night and went to bed early but then remembered I had not decided on what I was going to wear the next day. Sooo, since my list was somewhere in the un opened suitcase downstairs I just went off of my photos and picked this one out.

When I saw this photo I remembered this crochet dress I bought soooo many years ago from Victoria's secret catalog. And just like this photo it was portrayed on a model which must have been over 6ft tall cause I was surprised how long the dress looked on me. But kept it anyway.

 I have such a hard time finding cool ankle socks. There are always cute print ones but those do not go with what I am wearing and finding solid colored ones are a hassle. We Love Colors have a great selection but everything I pick only comes in size M/L and I bought some in this size and it is way too big. So I was so happy to find these cute socks in this rust color and mustard yellow at F21.

 Added a rust colored tank under to pick up the tone of the socks.

Dress - Victoria's Secret

Socks, necklace - Forever 21

Tank - do not remember

Hats - Asos

Mary Janes - Blowfish (Zappos)

TODAY:
Happy morning with the kids with lots of cuddles and kisses. Took them to their gym classes which they both love now. My daughter's class started early so my son and I watched her for the first 10 minutes and he told me how much he missed when I was gone. It just about broke my heart. Then my daughter's class ended early and we sat and colored together while waiting for his class to finish. And we got her a new gymnastics leaotard. Purple velvet bottom and silver shiny top. She loved it of course and didn't want to take if off.
Afterwards we hung out at the indoor play area next door until lunch. During which time my husband went grocery shopping to prepare for his single working dad week.
After nap/quiet time during which I napped too we picked up my dad and visited Ikea. The kids had fun sitting on the couches and going in the kid beds of the tiny furnished rooms. We then had dinner there and stopped for ice cream before coming home for baths and bed.