No More Frump: July 2012

Friday, July 27, 2012

Color Under Crochet Sweater

My biceps are so sore from doing handstand push-ups in Wednesday's training and then today's was completely brutal, so typing hurts. The workout today has its own title of The Robin. The Robin is tough.

The Robin

Run 4 laps
25 modified burpees
100 modified push-ups (My trainer rarely lets us do modified push-ups or burpees. He's all about making us girls do real boy push-ups. Only during The Robin he allows modified.)
50 toes-to-bar
200 air squats
Run 4 laps

I do this for fashion. I mean my health.

Color Under Crochet Sweater

Rubbish® Sheer Crochet Button Back Sweater, Stone - Birch - nordstrom.com
Hinge® Princess Seam Camisole, Purple - nordstrom.com
Halogen® 'Taylor' Bermuda Shorts, Dark Indigo - nordstrom.com
Kendra Scott Large Stone Pendant Necklace, Berry - Ebay.com
kate spade 'becca' cork wedge sandal, Old Gold Metallic - amazon.com
MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Addison' straw tote, Mocha - Nordstrom

Friday, July 20, 2012

One Scarf, Three Different Versions

There's this wonderful little fashion boutique in Laguna Beach, C.J. Rose. I browsed the shop a couple of weeks ago one day while visiting my husband's office which is in the same center and found this beautiful orange, navy, cream and gray printed scarf. I'm just in love with it.

Version 1 - wore to moms' night out to see Magic Mike: I wore the navy cardigan in hopes to bring out the little bit of navy floral print in the scarf.

Version 2 - wore this to take boys to karate: I wanted to try wearing the scarf in a different way; without the drab navy cardigan; and bring out the navy in a different way by wearing glittery navy flats.

Version 3 - the next morning after I wore version 2, I woke up realizing I probably needed to bring out the orange somehow, and I remembered my orange skinny belt and tucked in the tee this time. Threw on the clothes and sunglasses to hide my no-makeup eyes and caught my hubby before he took off to work to take the photos.

One Scarf, Three Different Versions

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

1st Product Review - Kipling Handbags

I am very excited to announce I've been asked to do my first product review of Kipling handbags! Just so you know, I would only review products I would consider purchasing.

Kipling handbags offer that chic, casual look that would perk up any outfit. My favorite is the Alvar Medium Shoulder Bag in Bright Purple.

The purple hue seems like it gives just the right amount of punch, and the color could go spring or fall. The color is quite versatile since it could be worn year-round, don't you think? The adjustable strap is quite functional, the zippered compartments will keep your things organized.

I can't seem to decide which is my favorite feature of this bag:
1. The Original Furry Kipling Monkey (my 8 & 6 year olds would adore
this Kipling Monkey)

2. The fact that this bag actually has twp PEN compartments! I always wanted a bag with a pen compartment, this feature is not an easy find! It seems I'm always searching frantically through the zippered compartments and the bottom of my bag looking for a pen. This bag would definitely solve the problem.

Here you can find see the entire Kipling Bags collection and for my UK readers too can buy them from Collectables.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Orange & Blue Will Love Each Other Forever

I'm excited that I've been able to remix my orange colored denim so much this season. I've been trying to get away from too much cardigan-wearing, and with the hot and humid weather lately, I really don't need cardis. Button-downs have become my favorite types of shirts lately, especially this one by Caslon, the 'Boyfriend Shirt'. It is slightly sheer and very light-weight. The best thing about it: it's not too long. I love it when shirts and tops come in petite and regular sizes. I have one in white and in this indigo color. The only complaint I have about the shirt is that when I roll-up the sleeves, they don't stay unless I button at least one of the cuff buttons. When I do button one and roll it, it hurts my wrists.

Orange and blue are opposites on the color wheel. Aren't they gorgeous together? I just can't seem to stop wearing orange and blue (or navy) together.

The location of my skinny belt is on the actual belt loops. In the recent past I never would have considered wearing a belt below my natural waist along with partially "tucking" in a blousy shirt. I decided to try it again after a copycat Kendi tucking disaster, and I think this time the tucking works.

Orange & Blue Will Love Each Other Forever

Vince Crop Skinny Stretch Jeans, Coral - nordstrom.com
Caslon® Boyfriend Shirt, Indigo - nordstrom.com
BP. Stretch cami, Navy - Eclipse - Nordstrom
Nordstrom 'Starlight' Long Pendant necklace, gold - nordstrom.com
kate spade 'Keswick Caning' lever-back earrings, white/gold - kate spade
Halogen® Two Tone Skinny Belt, snake/tan - nordstrom.com
Paul Green 'Leslie' wedge sandal, brown - nordstrom.com
Coach 'Carly' Tonal Bucket handbag, Chocolate - Nordstrom (7th anniversary gift, 2008)

Friday, July 6, 2012

Copycat Quinn from Glee

Guess what? I hunted down another outfit I saw on TV. Here's the outfit on Quinn. I found her outfit very interesting because of the mixing of the dots and pop of green stripes. The most difficult part of hunting down the outfit were the shoes. Jeez. What a story.

Since she was not shown carrying a handbag, I was clueless what to do. Since I did not have Quinn's green headband, I think my clutch works since it has a lime green trim all around the outside of the bag. The color just doesn't show that much in the photo. It really is nice in person. I also have earrings on that are light green.

My husband really likes this photo below. I was trying to think of what to do differently with my pose.

Later that day our family rented a duffy boat in Newport Beach. I ditched the blazer and added my green straw hat.

Copycat Quinn from Glee

Juicy Couture 'Sharp' Classic Blazer, Regal - nordstrom.com (Rack online)
J. Crew 'Jacquard Dot Popover' shirt, ivory/navy dots - jcrew.com
Blue Essence 'Eliot' Skinny Jeans, Indigo Mood Wash - nordstrom.com (I need some DARKER skinny jeans)
kate spade 'Tasha' striped flat, green/navy - Bloomingdale's (40% off, worth the MAJOR hunt-down)
Trouvé 'Large' Envelope Clutch, chocolate brown/lime - Nordstrom
Nordstrom 'Starlight' Long Pendant Necklace, gold - nordstrom.com
Liz Palacios 'Zodiac Confetti' Earrings, light green/gold - Nordstrom
August Straw Hat with adjustable tie, green - Nordstrom (not available online) This hat is truly wonderful because of the adjustable tie. Last year I tried 5 hats, all "one size". Every single one of them were much too big for my head. I bought the hat for a hat party in June, here I am wearing it with my good friend, K:

Hat Party Bunco

RACHEL Rachel Roy Dress, Devi Strapless Belted Tiered, black - macys.com
August Straw Hat with adjustable tie, green - Nordstrom (not available online)
kate spade 'Double Exposure' Long Necklace - green, navy, gold - katespade.com (65% off with promo code - major score)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

California Mission at San Juan Capistrano

Last weekend we finally got around to using the Groupon I purchased months ago to visit the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. It's sad that this was the very first time I've ever been there, and I've lived in Orange County my entire life. It was difficult not to post all the photos. My husband had a good time with this incredible background.

I like this neutral scarf against the bright pink, but the skirt and bag look blah. Perhaps a scarf with a bolder print would have made the outfit more interesting. Or a white skirt would have brightened things up a bit. Oh, I think my white handbag would have worked. Most of the time I'm rushing out and don't have time to change bags. Ah, well!