Summer is persistent

First, I am very happy to announce I finally updated some of the content on the right side of my blog. Primarily the 'what is in style now?' section and the list of mommy blogs. I also added a new photo of my kids on the left hand side and added a few more looks to the slide show on top left.

Summer is back here. Soooo annoying. I am now getting scared as I won't have enough cool days to wear all the outfit combo's on my list. This was a 'spring/fall' look so it somewhat worked. I only wore the  jacket for 10 minutes in the morning than just stayed in the tank top rest of the day. And you will see the bottom half of the photos have the sandals I wore while with kids but thought these heels looked so much better. The blazer is part of a suit. The top is old (and one size too big but you can't really tell). It is cute though with sheer ruffles on the straps (which you can't see). Bought when I still had a tummy after birth. Loved that babydoll style was in during my entire pre, during and post pregnancy stage. I rolled the cuffs of these skinny jeans to showcase the heels and the sandals. Just this simple bronzish gold necklace and the white/rose gold watch was enough.

Here is the look with the sandals instead of heels:

Blazer - part of a suit - Bebe

Blue tank babydoll top - Arden B

White skinny jeans - Forever 21

Black sandals & Platform heels  - Boutique 9 (coincidence)

Necklace - Charlotte Russe

Watch - Michael Kors (from Nordstrom Rack)

Today's Activities: Went to the outdoor preschool class. Realized it was picture day while I was driving there. At least my daughter was in a somewhat cute attire but my son was just in boring shorts and t-shirt. Oh well. Bought the collage with one shot of the kids together and the class photo. It was so nice out almost too nice. I think it was in the 90s and 4 hours in the park in that heat is a bit tough. Plus the kids refused to stay under the shade so we were all beat at the end. They napped while I cooked and we went to the indoor play area (couldn't deal with another park outing) with my mom in the afternoon.

Here are the shots when my daughter joined my photo shoot this morning:

My Anthropologie Look

I have to say this outfit looked better in person. I always take photos in a rush and it never seems to be in good light. I had a mommy today told me I looked I stepped out of an Anthropologie catalog so hence the title. Although I use their catalog and store for inspirations only and shop their sale rack amazingly this look is not from them or inspired by them but the pieces do look like things they would sell. This skirt is just one of those finds that work great any season and looks so much pricier than its $15 tag. And with its pockets it is so practical. I love this idea of adding burgandy tights under clothes for that unexpected look. And of course going with brown shoes instead of black is another little twist. I had this combo on my list with a khaki cardigan but as I put everything on, thought this old cardigan would be better. The dark pink in the flowers compliment the tights. The cardigan is something I had when I was 12 or 13! Must have been big and chunky then and it is nice and fitting now. I love its tassles and large wooden buttons. It did get warm today so it was perfect that I had a (grey) tank underneath.

This is at 7:30 AM this morning and i have not had coffee yet. You can tell from my face...

Chunky cardigan - I guess you can call it vintage

Grey Tank - from Turkey

Skirt - Charlotte Russe

Burgandy tights - we love colors website

brown mary janes - blowfish from Zappos.com

Today's Activities: Actually left on time for preschool this morning. Possibly cause I caught my husband before he left for work to do my photo shoot and both my son and I were dressed before breakfast. It helps cause kids have lots of play time there before the first circle time starts which causes them to be better behaved during the circle time. We had lunch outside as it was a georgous day with summer warm weather. After naps, took down the halloween decorations against my son's cries and pleads. He hates to let any holiday decorations go. Christmas is the worst and lets face it after Christmas not much to look forward to. I did put two cute scarecrows out for 'harvest' decorations and he was pleased with that. I might go to my favorite discount store for decorations (pic'n'save) and get some more Thanksgiving/fall decorations as the kids really enjoy this kind of stuff. We met a friend with kids at the indoor play area for the afternoon.

Rocker Chic

So, this is the last costume post I swear. Although this feels more like a real outfit than a costume but I am a bit too old for this dress in normal life so it is a costume for me. This dress was in my 'evening gown' bin from who knows when. May be the early college years. I am sure I bought it cause of the tulle underlay. This wasn't as mini as yesterday's outfit and the tulle weighs it down but I wore shorts underneath to be comfortable just in case. The black fishnets amazingly kept me warm. Of course I switched out the juicy booties for uggs after the party before the trick or treating walk.

The stacked up cuffs and bracelets will be my new thing. I have been accumulating pieces that go together so this was not a cosumte look perse. And I really like the two shorter necklaes stacked up like this. Might wear this again in normal life. The biker leather jacket which is back in style is also from my either college or highschool days. I had this packed up to give away and my mom saved it for me. She makes me thank her for keeping it now that it is totally in style.

To make up for the non real outfit posts for the last 3 days I figure I would talk about my inspirations...

You see for the last 3 days I have been browsing through catalogs and adding many more outfit combos to my list. I now use clothing store catalogs as inspiration photos instead of shopping from them. My favorites are Victoria's Secret, Anthropologi and JCrew. Although in the past I have also liked Urban Outfitters and Ann Taylor.

Sometimes I copy the whole outfit with similar pieces I already own. Sometimes it is a different way of wearing something such as shorts with tights, or a shawl worn with a belt. Sometimes it is the color combination, such as pink with orange, lavendar with hunter green or dark tights with bronze shoes etc...

When I see a photo in these catalogs or magazine that inspire me I do a few things:

1. I write my own version of the outfit right on the page.

2. I cut out the photo and save with my other inspiration photos.

3. Add the combo to my excel outfit combo list and mark it as dressy or casual and according season (fall for lighter, winter for warmer).

Just wanted to share...

Went to my best friend's house for a halloween party in the afternoon Lots of kids and a lot of fun. When it got dark we all went trick or treating as a group in their neighborhood. My son was so into it. He would not let us empty out his goodie bag even when it got so heavy. He actually wouldn't even let us look into it. My daughter took a while to get how it worked. She cried the first house when she grabbed 5 candy bars and I had her put back 4 thinking this was her only chance to get candy. Then she realized what was going on. We took our wagon and when they got tired they would sit and eat a candy. The group wheeled a huge cooler full of drinks for us adults. We stopped when they got very tired and made it home just by bedtime.

Here is my best friend and the host of the party:

Our annual Halloween family photo (I have been taking one since my son's first to compile a halloween photo album for when they grow up)...

My mom and step dad were there as well...

And my dad came right before trick or treating to walk with us...

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT HALLOWEEN!!!