Gleaming Inspiration Monday

Posting totally out of order since I want to get in today's outfit for participating in the  

Inspiration Monday event hosted by the Two Birds Blog.

Here was their photo for this Monday of Brooklyn Decker:

 

So my take on this outfit was a light denim shirt paired with a glittery mini skirt. So here it goes:

This is the tucker skirt from Target. I have worn it once and have one other combo in my list so was happy to use it today. It is quite dressy but when paired with a denim shirt I think it works for the day...

This thin denim shirt has sleeves that can be rolled up and buttoned so works great for summer....

Close-up of the skirt's material:

These shoes looked very similar to the one in the inspiration photo:

Denim Shirt - from Turkey

Skirt - Tucker for Target

Shoes - Newport News

Necklace - Nordstrom Rack

To see how others wore today's inspiration click HERE!  

Today's Activities: It was the last day of preschool today. Not that it means much since we'll be starting summer session next Wednesday. But we did have to empty our cubbies and take all the art work that was hanging on the walls home. My daughter once again threw a huge tantrum over a cookie that was given after class. After half the tantrum, I gave in and gave her her cookie before she finished her food. Then she went on for 25 minutes of non stop crying over my son's cookie. My son never went through this stage even at her age as he has always been very easy to reason with and very advanced in comprehension. So I always feel helpless and don't know what to do when she does this. In short we had to cut lunch short and come home.
After naps my parents came over to play with the kids...
Later today I will post 'SUNDAY's outfit and photos... Like I said out of order today...

Roar and Snore

 This was my outfit Saturday. The inspiration had come from the following polyvore combination:

 

I can't figure out how to post polyvore photos correctly yet. When I post from their site it just creates a post automatically not allowing me add/edit first. Anyway, this photo actually made me want this necklace and I bought it from there...

The top is from forever 21. I like its boxy and crop style for over skinnies like these jeans or high waist pants.

 

Here is the necklace close-up...

Since I only had my son with me I didn't need a wallet/purse or a diaper bag and got to use a 'purse'!!!

 

My hair blowing on my face...

My sister snapped all these photos on a bridge in Wild Animal Park...

 

Boxy Tee, Skinny Jeans - Forever 21

White Fedora Hat - Target

Necklace - 1938

Sandals - Boutique 9 (from Zappos.com)

Purse - Marshalls

SATURDAY'S ACTIVITIES: We left quite early in the morning bags, sleeping bags, pillows packed with my sister and her boyfriend and my son to the wild animal park (WAP). Which is actually now called the Zoo Safar Park. It was their company family picnic that day at the park which was such a coincidence with our overnight stay. We had lunch at their company event plus got free drinks/cups and discounts for everything. Spent the day walking around the park with them and their friends. One of her friend's brought her friend's son so my son had a friend to play with. Although he totally thinks my sister's boyfriend is his buddy. 

It was a tiring day for all of us but especially for my son since without a stroller he walked a lot more and no nap or quiet time for him either. At 4:30 PM we checked in for our 'Roar and Snore' camping event and my sister and her boyfriend left with our car. We followed our guide to the camp site and first had dinner. By the time we finished our dinner our bags were delivered to out tent. The tents were huge and they provided thick mats. We first set our bed's and took out our PJs etc while we had the daylight as there is no electricity in the tents. Then put on slightly warmer clothes and set out for our evening walking tour. Our guide was very kid friendly in fact the kids were fighting to hold his hand during the walk. Got to see the lions behind the scenes, the elephants and the giraffes. Even got to meet an Armadillo up close and personal. 

After the hike they lit a campfire and had everything ready to make smores. My son likes to eat smore stuff without roasting and separately but he enjoyed roasting one marshmellow for the fun of it. Then they thought us how to drum and had more popcorn and drinks as snacks. The bedtime was 9 PM which was 1 hour later for my son and about a few hours earlier from my usual bedtime. But I slept . He really enjoyed spending this one one one time together and held my hand before falling a sleep... I also realize once again it is so easy first of all with just 1 kid, second of all with the older kid and third of all given my son's personality (he never runs away or wanders and listens quite well). It also helps that my son and I are soooo alike in personality. This helps us get each other and understand each other. I would have never thought I could get along this well with a 4 year old and with a boy. But we do.

My son all dressed up appropriately for his big camping adventure:

With My sister in front of the giraffe's...

At their company picnic lunch...

Trevor petting an Armadillo shell at the campsite...

This was one cool animal to see up close...

Roasting Marshmallows at night

In our tent at night my son reading with his flash light!

Dress up from my closet and Vacation Packing

Today's outfit was inspired by a collage that was pictured in the Bon Bon Rose Girls Blog back in March.

To see more of that post click here!

This top is new from TJ Maxx bought a month ago. Loved its fluid cut and the lace neck. It can be worn without a bet or tucked in without looking too baggy. They had it in a pink color too I think but I liked this mintish blue color.

Th

Nude heels added height without taking away from the colors...

 I decided to add the flower pin which I see in ShopRuche website all the time. Finally figured out how to pin it sideways like this. I like it. I have two of these pins/barette's bought years ago.

Since I didn't have peach colored feather earings decided to add the peach feather necklace instead...

Top - TJ  Maxx

Pants - Bebe

Shoes - Steve Madden

Necklace and flower pin - Forever 21

Today's Activities: Was about to hit the indoor play area but my mom came to take the kids to the park so stayed home instead. Prepared for our big mother son camping trip by washing the sleeping bags and letting dry under the sun for that fresh smell. Expecting super cold nights and very warm days so packed bunch of layers for my son. Have to figure out what I am wearing still.
During naps, had lunch with my mom then my friend came over to bring us dinner for the night and we chatted with her over tea. The kids woke up and played together while we finally finished my kids' preschool scrap book and printed all the paperwork for tomorrow's camping trip.
When my dad decided he is not up to coming for dinner told my friend to stay over and had her husband join us for a nice family dinner together.
My son and I are both just ecstatic about tomorrow. We will go to Wild Animal park with my sister and her boyfriend so we can join in on their company picnic. Than in the afternoon my son and I will check in for our Roar and Snore camping event. We'll get to spend the night in the wild animal park and tour after hours. It should be quite an adventure. But the best part is it will be just the two of us. We might meet people of course but we are not going with anyone we know. The next (Sunday) morning my husband and daughter will join us for a family caravan tour. Can't wait...

So better late than never is my Fashion Beauty Friend Friday post hosted by the lovely Katy from Modly Chic blog.

Now that summer is in full swing here… and vacations are coming up, today's topic is about Vacation Packing...
1.    When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?
Obviously it depends on where I am going and what I will be doing. Back in the days I have done a lot of adventure travel where you have to pack light. If I was going on  a cruise where I will only worry about my luggage in the beginning and the end of the trip only I pack more where I can wear a separate outfit day and night. But, no matter how I am packing I always make an outfit list first and make sure the outfits re-use a lot of the same pieces and especially shoes and pack from that list only.

2.    What are your must packs?
A pair of jeans. A jacket or cardigan of some sort even for a hot tropical vacay. Pair of comfy shoes. I usually opt to wear these shoes on the road to save space and weight off of my luggage. A book. A journal. Socks.

3.    What are you happy to leave behind?
Daily life chores and worries!

4.    Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?
Not really. I either unfold everything and pack them flat or just folded. It is usually not an issue of fitting in a suitcase but the issue of keeping the suitcase under the weight limit!

5.    Beach reading… what are you taking with you to read in the sand?
If the vacation is a beach vacation, I would pack some fun and light reading. When it comes to light books: I truly enjoy authors that right in first person and talk/think about everyday stuff.
I know this is not the question but I will add, I enjoy reading 'fiction' books where the story takes place in the region I am going to visit before I travel. Before our big safari trip to Africa I read 5 books that took place in various parts of the continent and even Hemingway's hunting trip in search of the great kudu (couldn't remember the title). It makes me feel much closer to the place once I get there.
Of course now traveling with kids, you are lucky if you get to finish half a book on vacation!

To see how others answered these questions please click HERE!