Sisters

One of the best parts of being in NJ is spending time with my lil sis. Of course nothing beats being with both my sisters - which I'm sooo looking forward to this Christmas - but I'll take one for now :)I'm wearing a blouse from H&M, necklace from my Designs by K Cayetano line, Zara belt. My sis is wearing a dress from BCBG

Though far, always near

Luckily, during my stay here in NJ, my sister Gail (from LA) was in Philadelphia for a wedding. We couldn't pass the opportunity up for the 3 of us sisters to get together (Christine lives here in NJ) so we drove about 2 hours to see her for dinner. Since all 3 of us live in different states, we rarely all get together at the same time. Its usually 2 of us together and rarely all 3. Gail was there in PA for a wedding and she was able to spare one night for us. She was staying at the Ritz Carlton and can i say, "wow!" Their interior design was magnificent! I wish i had my camera so i could take picsof their decor but all i had was my dinky camera phone. I totally have the itch to redecorate my home so i'm a bit anxious to head back to Atlanta!

I'm wearing H&M nautical top, awesome necklace from the Philippines

Gail is wearing an anthropologie top, bcbg wrap, and an Oraton purse

Christine is wearing a Club Monaco silk romper with a United Colors of Benetton sweater

New Joisey

My NJ accent was for sure "mad" strong this past week. Whenever i go home or hang out with my NJ friends - it always seems to seep back into my vocabulary. How cute would it be if Gabe had a mini jersey accent?

Here are I am with my sisters and my girls from NJ that came to visit for Gabe's baptism. We were drinking the night away having fun while the boys were playing Baci ball outside at Leon's in Avondale Estates. I loved being able to share my little world here in atlanta with my out of town friends. Plus, i have to say, it was my first drink since before i was pregnant with Gabe - very refreshing.

(Gail (my middle sister), Tina (my sister in law), Cheryl (my lil sister's BFF), Christine (my friend from way back when), Christine (my baby sister), and moi)

I'm wearing my Zara shirtdress in pink with a tan skinny belt, Michael Kors Gold menswear watch, rhinestone and canvas taping bracelets from my Designs by K Cayetano line, pearl button earrings, and my Louis Vuitton speedy bag is making a cameo right in the center of the pic

Cutiepie

My little cutiepie had a huge weekend!!! Not only did he celebrate his 4 month birthday but he received the sacrament of Baptism!! It was an amazing weekend with family and friends who flew here to Atlanta to celebrate with us. I'll post more pics in a separate post but in the meantime, here's Gabe at 4 months in his little whale bathtub. My sister, Christine, and her husband Eddie are creative with pictures and they decided to style Gabe's hair to look like Alfalafa. Cute :)

Gabriel Viggo Leano

4 months old

Tuesday Shoes Day

Its been awhile since I posted a Shoes Day. Conveniently, when i went outlet shopping this weekend, i found a great deal on shoes. Now, I had these shoes last year, but my sister Gail liked them a lot so i gave them to her for her birthday. I was pregnant at the time and had no use for them. I missed them so much so i was tempted to buy Nine West's Sacha -available this season. Its not the same but its a good substitute. (I posted pics of these shoes back in May)





When i went to the outlet, i found the same pair for $30!!!! How could i pass that up. Now all 3 of us sisters have the same shoes. But who cares? we all live in different states so makes no difference right? Obviously my sisters have good taste :)

Nine West - Kentaro

Gladiator Sandal

online price: $89

Nine West outlet price: 25% off $39.99

Here's a pic of mine and my youngest sister's birthday last year wearing these fab shoes. Now i have them again!!!Hard to believe this pic was almost a year ago. yikes!

NJ Baby Shower

Its better late than never! I got some great photos that my cousin Alex took at my baby shower in NJ, held March 27, 2010. I know its over a month late, but here it is. I still have to get the ones from the MN shower! Yikes!

Everything came out great. My sisters, my mom, and my friends did an amazing job with the planning.

Think blue!!!

Candy Bar!!Cupcakes and cake!yummy dessertsDelicious food my mom cooked :)Opening gifts with my amazing guestsMaternity Outfit:

literally bought that morning because I couldn 't fit into my original outfit

Simply Vera Wang: Navy satin dress

Kohl's: white shawl sweater

Lauren Conrad -grey stretch belt with stud closure

TJ Maxx - silver sandalsCute favors -courtesy of my dad :)

Baby Shower

Last weekend my mom, sisters, and friends in NJ threw me an amazing baby shower at the house. I was hoping to have some pictures to post which is why it took me so long to write this, but so far i don't have any. I just have a few that I wanted to share.

It was so nice seeing everyone and catching up with people. I do have to say, I hate being the celebrant b/c i feel like don't have enough time to hang out with everyone and i always worry whether people are having fun. But it was a great turnout.

My dad unfortunately was in the philippines but i know he was just as excited. Baby showers are his forte :) His thing are baby bottle favors with candy inside - of course that's what he prepared for the party -they came out great! He got personalized ribbons made. It was kind of funny they said, "Karen's baby" and i kept thinking, it definitely takes two to make a baby - but i know, the shower was for me.

My sister really wanted to display the favors nicely so we got this awesome 3 tiered silverset from HomeGoods (i looove this store.) The display was fab!!

While we were at HomeGoods, i found the best thing ever!!!!!! The world's roundest pig - i was so excited to get this for Wil - not for baby, for Wil - i just knew he would love it. In fact, he hand carried him on the plane back to Atl. Luckily the flight was empty so "baboy" (wil's name for him) had his own seat :)

Sorry, i look gross, i was so sweaty that day from doing errands with my sis. But i was wearing:

Banana republic creme long sweater

Zara miliary green tunic with emroidery on shoulders

Target Maternity skinny jeans that my mom bought for me at 8 weeks-they were a bit tight at this point....

Steve Madden gold ballet slippers (not pictured)

Louis Vuitton Bag

My mom did such a great job cooking and getting everything ready. I tried to help as much as I could, but i got tired so easily!!!

Eddie even helped make cupcakes, well he helped a lot more than that. Let's just say, he doesn't like being the Wil proxy. He gets stuck doing all the dirty work. lol. Wil was stuck in Atl for work.

My friends, Arch, Cheryl, and Joanne coordinated the games which were a hit.

My favorite part of the shower that was new to me, was included in the invites, was a little insert that read something like this:

A card is nice, its sentiment is sweet,

But a book will keep baby on his feet.

For years to come baby will read

Longing for stories will never be a need.

A shelf full of wisdom for all to give

For baby to keep as long as he shall live.

Filling the shelf should not be hard

If you would please sign a book instead of a card.

My sister came up with this and it was such an appropriate idea. I loved it. In fact, i've been reading baby books from these every night. I'll have to post a pic of the bookcase once its all set up :) Hopefully i'll be getting more pics of this shower and even the mn showers. As soon as I get them, i'll post them up.

Sisters

Heehee - used this pic for one of the games for my sister's bridal shower. So Old School - but brings back memories :) Its weird to think how far we've come. we're getting married, having babies, owning our own businesses. Time is flying by way too fast.

Clockwise from top left, Gail, me, Christine.

Bon Jour

I had an amazing time this weekend with my sisters and friends in Montreal for my little sister, Christine's bachelorette party. We chose this destination since it was driving distance for most people from NJ but still exotic enough to feel like we really were in Europe and not just across the border in Canada. Montreal is a beautiful city - great architecture, great shopping, tasty restaurants, great looking french Canadian men that probably look better because of their french accents - all perfect elements for a bachelorette party.

We stayed in downtown Montreal which is an ideal location if you don't want to spend too much money on cabs. Its central to their main shopping street called St. Catherine St as well as the Underground city, a network of underground tunnels that are home to fabulous eateries and shopping stores. Montreal's historic area is a 20 minute walk from downtown called, "Old Montreal." Normally i could handle this walk, but since i have a little person with me now, i had to cab it. Old Montreal is such a quaint part of the city with its cobblestone streets. Some of the shops included art galleries, souvenir shops, crepes restaurants, etc.

I found a little sign worth noting - one for my husband :)

And one for my son :)

The most famous landmark of this area is the Notre Dame Cathedral.

I had some of the most amazing food this weekend - but i feel like i'll need a whole post just for the food alone.

The ambiance of the city just complimented the great company. It was so nice to spend time with my sisters on a mini vacation, as well as with our friends. Its still unreal that Christine, my little sister is getting married! But hopefully she had a great time this weekend. My middle sister, Gail, did a great job with the planning.

Here are some pics of these fabulous girls. I love these "b*tches!!!!!!"