Red Hannah

Very late post today and not a true outfit photo shoot. Also wore the same outfit I wore on the day they did our mother's day newspaper article photo shoot. But what makes it unique is the event I went late at night. All the single women were wearing these red veils, I grabbed one to take a photo. So not much of an outfit post but let me explain the activities...

Today's Activities: My mom dropped me off with the kids at my friend's house before going to the summer house to supervise construction work. This was my best friend from high school. She has an 8 year old son and her house was perfect to spend the rainy day with the kids. Her son was a sweetheart entertainning both kids and sharing all his toys. I even managed to get them to nap there. After they woke up we visited to indoor play areas (all walking distance to their house) to check them out for potential venues for my son's 3 year b-day party. Once we returned home in the pouring rain and fed and put the kids to bed I was ready to go to a 'Hannah Night'! Old fashioned tradition here is before the wedding all the women get together and get hannah on their hands and have fun. In the modern tradition it is more like a bacheloratte party than anything else. This was for my aunt's friend's daughter. We went when it was half way over already but still managed to see some of the party. I got a hannah ink tattoo on my hand. See photos below...

With my mom...

my hannah tattoo...

Traditional musicians playing belly dancing music...

Nautical Knot

This is a combo put together here with some of the items I have purchased recently. Actually the whole outfit was put together so I can use this belt. Found the belt at a Mango outlet. Loved the colors and the knot middle. It barely fits. Thought these pants would be perfect to pick up that one strap of light blue in the belt. Jeans would have worked as well (might do another combo later with jeans). I do love the tulle front of this shirt but wish I could wear it without a tank underneath cause it adds unnecessary bulk. My new red shoes of course make any outfit just pop. Also notice I got my hair done a bit curly today. The hair dresser called this sea waves (su dalgasi). It looks better and better as the day goes on and the curls loosen.

White shirt with tulle front - Koton (store in Turkey)

Lace trim tank underneath - Closet

Red, navy, blue and white knot belt - Mango

Blue Slacks - Ann Taylor

Red comfy soled heels - Cengiz (store in Turkey)

Today's Activities: Got my hair dried then played with the kids on Kordon (bayside) with my mom. Got my son a new ball. There were lots of volunteer young teenagers to play with him. Below is my daughter in pigtails. I love that her hair is getting long enough. While the kids were napping and my aunt was at the house my mom and I went downstairs to a restaurant nearby to have lunch with a few of her friends. The kids took nice long naps. When they woke up it started pouring outside so we were homebound. After hosting some more visitors at home we ran to a taxi and went to an indoor mall. Had the kids play in an indoor play area (play barn) and had dinner at uncle's restaurant.

Chic on pebbles

Today's combo consists of items I have already worn but not together like this. I wore this shirt already with blue pants and a coral belt. The jacket was worn with a red tank top underneath and the scarf was worn with a denim dress. And of course the jeans and shoes have been worn many times. I got the idea of this combo when I saw a photo of a graphic tee under a striped blazer jacket and a colorful scarf. The jacket really does not serve any purpose other than its looks. It doesn't really add any warmth so it is purely decorative. I did always take off the scarf and the jacket when I was inside the house today as it was too warm to do choose with them on. But they were OK outside.

You can see my kids chose the oddest places in the city to play. Today, they liked this tiny stone path in front of a store. My son made his leopard jump from pole to pole while my daughter picked up and threw rocks. Since we had to stand there and wait and watch thought it was the perfect time to hand the camera to my mom to take photos.

White striped short sleeved black jacket - Forever 21

Grey Tee - from Turkey a few years ago

Red Scarf - Charlotte Rousse

Skinny Blue Jeans - Forever 21

Black Sandals - Boutique 9

Silver heart shaped hoop earings - Baby Phat

Today's Activities: Took the kids to park in the convention center. Got together with another mom who has a kid close to my son's age. Met her yesterday in the apartment we are staying at. She is the daughter in law of my mom's highschool friend. The little girl's name is same as mine: Defne (Daphne). This name is the most popular girl name recently. I must admit I do not like it. I liked the uniqueness of my name but now every little girl is called Defne and it bugs me. But, oh well...

After lunch and naps (only my daughter slept, my son just tossed and turned and sang in bed) we went back out. Did this pebble stone play time followed by grocery shopping. On our way home my mom decided to buy fresh fish. I absolutely love the fish here. It is sea fish so much saltier, tastier and smaller than ocean fish. Once you select your fish they gut it and clean it out. And this place cooks it and delivers it to your home for an extra 7 TL ($5). Can't beat that... Here is my son, watching the fish gutting. He kept saying 'the fish is saying stop mom'. But he had no remorse eating it at night. He ate almost the whole fish by himself. We couldn't cut it fast enough.