Date Night

2 week countdown until Valentine's Day!! Woo-hoo!!

I'm really looking forward to vday this year. Last year, Wil and I had a lot going on so we pretty much overlooked it - a sin - i know. Valentine's day is a pretty important holiday in my book. A lot of people think its so commercialized and its just a day for people to spend money on chocolates and flowers. But I disagree, how wonderful is it to have a day dedicated to being romantic, getting surprised, sending candy grams in school...Yes, people should be romantic all the time, but its still nice to have a day dedicated to PDA.

I love Valentine's day so much that i usually skip sending christmas cards and send valentine's greetings instead. Why be one of hundreds of christmas cards that get thrown out when you can be the one valentine's card that goes on the fridge?

This year, Wil and I are heading back to New Jersey. Not only am i excited to be home, but my mom and dad said they didn't mind watching Gabriel while Wil and I go on a date. I can't wait. Its so rare that Wil and I get to go out on our own. I'm really really looking forward to it.

I can't wait to dress up!! Have you planned your Valentine's day outfit? I have no clue yet what i'm wearing but here's sophisticated but fun outfit i created.

valentine's day by kleano featuring chains jewelry

ドレス
79,800 JPY - mirabella.jp
Stella mccartney dresses »

fancy fur coat
$140 - usa.frenchconnection.com
Fancy coats »

"I Love You" Hearts in Shop All at Dylan's Candy Bar
$22 - dylanscandybar.com
Dylan's Candy Bar »

Women's Christian Louboutin Patent Pointed-Toe Pump
$695 - neimanmarcus.com
Patent shoes »

Y-Mail Metallic Leather Clutch in Silver or Gold
$445 - ysl.com
Silver handbags »

ABS Pave Goldtone Chain Link Bracelet - Max and Chloe
$125 - maxandchloe.com
Chains jewelry »

David Yurman Albion Rose Quartz Earrings
bagborroworsteal.com
Rose quartz jewelry »

Ted Baker Sammy Pearls Long Single Strand Necklace
$29 - asos.com
Strand necklace »

3-D Hearts Set of 4 - Red : Target
$20 - target.com

Secrets of Cartier - History of Cartier - Bazaar.com
harpersbazaar.com
Cartier bracelets »

Cartier Bracelet
cartier.com
Cartier bracelets »

Oh Henri

It has been a LONG time since I've gone shopping with a girlfriend.

Nowadays if I do go to the mall, its a very superficial trip. Instead of scouring the racks and meticulously looking through each aisle, its just picking the stores that have enough space to push a stroller through. That's if I'm lucky. Normally, its just me running in and out of the mall to get what i have to get - no more perusing.

You can imagine how happy i was to go to the mall with my friend and stylist, Alba, last month. It was meant to be a quick trip to return something but there was no way in hell i was going to pass this opportunity up to shop around like a normal girl with no stroller in towe.

We walked past a store - i literally did a double take and insisted we go inside. It was a Henri Bendel Store. Oh my God. Its a candy store for the accessory junkie - and their marketing team knows it too. The shelves on the side walls have large clear vases full of colorful round lollipops, spiral lollipops.... Of course that's not what i was in there for. Imagine colorful tables, shelves, displays of posh looking passport covers, beautiful clutches with gold clasps, adorable journals, enameled bangles, chandelier earrings, make up cases, handbags, and my love...scarves.

The combination of the white and brown stripes that the designer is known for, along with the colorful pop art was hypnotizing.

As much as I'd take everything in that store home with me, if I had to choose one item, it would probably be one of their artsy scarves. I love scarves - of course I don't have an hermes one yet, but I'll take a Henri Bendel one anyday.

Here are some of my favorites - don't you just adore them?? They can all be found on the Henri Bendel website. www.henribendel.com

'Runway Girl Scarf" $125"Bendel Bow Print Scarf" $98 (with their signature stripe)"Girl Takes Off" Limited Edition Scarf $125

"Lady with Bow Scarf" $125

Just Because

My favorite type of flowers, "Just Because" flowers.

the kind that doesn't warrant a reason, no holiday, no "i'm sorry."

just something to remind you that you're loved and appreciated.

During a tough week, these hit home. Thank you to my loving husband.

You know me so well. I love you.

Sole Mio

Shoe haul!

Momma needed some trendy shoes that were cute without sacrificing comfortability.

Considering its so hard to find shoes my size for my tiny feet, i was really lucky.

I didn't find one, but 2 pairs of shoes.

I'm always carrying gabe around so since he's usually the focal point on top,

i like to look cute on the bottom :)

Flats are really the go to shoes for moms. They're easy to slip on and cute. I'm always rocking my gold ones so i've been looking around for silver/pewter colored one. I found these by Adrienne Vittadini. Really love the rhinestone brooch on top.

Adrienne Vittadini pewter flats

Now these are the shoes I was really proud to find. Finding boots for me is like finding a needle in a haystack. Not only is it hard to find my size, i like to find non-traditional colors (think camel, auburn, grey, taupe). I also care a lot about the heel height. I don't want to topple over while i'm holding the baby. And calf width is important, i never really thought about this until i tried a pair of boots a few months back and couldn't zip the darn thing up my leg.

I've also been wanting over the knee boots for a while so when i was able to find these elements in this one boot by Sam Edelmann, I was floored. (grey boots pictured in middle)

Sam Edelmann Boutique over the knee grey boots


i'm singing, "O Sole Mio......" I'm happy :)

Paper Hearts

Working on homemade Valentine's cards from Baby Gabe.

Of course his contribution to making the cards is zilch at this point -but next year you can bet he's going to get down and dirty with the glue and paper hearts. Love spending time with him and watching him grow and learn.

Its so rewarding sitting there teaching him something and watching him copy me or repeat it the next day on his own. I say this all the time but he's growing up so fast. So, as much as it would've been fun to have him work on these cards with me, i'm ok with him sitting there watching me make these cards while he plays with his Discovery toys "Go Go Caterpillar." I'm savoring his baby days as much as I can.

Eye Appeal

I'm not very adventurous when it comes to my eye shadow color. I find ones i like and I usually stick to it everday. Especially being a mom, you have a timeframe of like 5 minutes to do your makeup. My version of smokey eye or night makeup is the same as my day makeup but darker.

I saw a beautiful palette at Sephora by Urban Decay, called the Naked palette - its a collection of 12 gorgeous neutral colors that are anything but basic. After walking around the store and finally deciding to make the splurge, i realized that they were all out. Don't you hate that - when you see the sample but then realize all the stock in the back of it is gone. So everytime i would go to Sephora/Ulta/makeup stores i would look for this palette and it was always empty! Of course the more i couldn't find it, the more i wanted it. The cherry on top was a sign I saw around the holidays where it said something to to effect of, "sorry, we're working as fast as we can to produce more of this popular palette." aggghhh - i needed it!!!!

Well, ta-da! My girlfriend found a small stash of them at an Ulta near her - they just got the shipment in and the salepeople were even saying they couldn't keep them on the shelves. She grabbed one for me and here it is!!! (Thanks Ann!)

Urban Decay - Naked Palette $44

How could you go wrong with these colors? i love the champagnes/taupes/browns/blacks/smokey grey. So perfect for a tan skin tone. ;)

PS - you even get eyeliner and concealer as an added bonus.

Be-dazzled

I'm sure Jennifer Lopez is one of the biggest trending topics at the moment. The new season of American Idol just started this week and Lopez looks stunning to say the least. Her skin is flawless, her hair impeccable, and I want every outfit she wore during the show. Honestly, I've lost interest in this popular show years back, but I did watch it to see her as a judge. I've always loved her glam look. She didn't disappoint in her 2011 Golden Globes look. She wore a beautiful dress by designer Zuhair Murad. Many fashion stylists are criticizing her saying her rhinestone clad cape looked frumpy and that other than the cape her dress looked cheap. I personally loved it.

I would wear that cape with a simple corset, skinny jeans, and louboutin heels for a date night out.

I found a great article from one my favorite blogs:
From http://psimadethis.com/

Being that i'm a DIY person, this was perfect to help create my look.

Here's an excerpt:

"To create your own version of the caplet, use one yard of sheer silk chiffon, rhinestones or sequins, Gem Tac glue, and a sharp pair of fabric scissors. Round off 2 opposing corners to achieve a lovely draping. Measure the length in between your shoulders and mark on the fabric for cutting. Use scissors to create a slit for the neckline. Before gluing your choice of sparkle, line the underneath surface with waxed freezer paper to keep from gluing down to the surface. After sparkles are glued, wait until it’s completely dry to wear. Get creative with your embellishments! Style your caplet over any dress and PS- you will impress!"

(photo from psimadethis blog)

Outfit idea for Valentine's day dinner? Maybe :)