Chicago Trip

School started for the boys and things have been so busy.  Much too busy to even think about trying to get photographed.... sheesh!  It's been way too long since I've last posted.  I've been wanting to share my photos of what I wore on our trip to Chicago at the end of August.  We decided to visit Chicago to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.  I couldn't get us a non-stop flight out of Orange County using miles for the week of our official anniversary, so I made the sacrifice of not being there on our actual anniversary and booked for the following week.  It actually worked out very well.  We celebrated on our real anniversary the previous week by staying at a hotel for a night locally, and then we had the following week to look forward for our eight day trip to Chicago.  Here are some of the outfits I wore.

Hotel Lobby Outfit:

ECI 'Paper Lace' blouse, Lavender - Nordstrom

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'City Shorts', White - Nordstrom Rack

Lauren Jeans Co. 'Tamara Classic' denim jacket, Nolita Wash - Macys.com

Tory Burch 'Reva' flat, Metallic Silver - Nordstrom

Alfani two-toned cuff bracelet, hematite & silver - Macy's

Enjoying a "Cheezborger, Cheezborger! No fries, Chips! No Pepsi, Coke!" at the Billy Goat Tavern.  The classic SNL sketch was based on this restaurant.

 I wish I would have remembered to get a better shot of me in this navy draped dress I wore on the first of our two nights out without the kids.  We went to dinner at a very old school Chicago steakhouse with my husband's clients who live in Chicago during the summers.  Below is the stock photo of the dress.  I wore it with clear & silver chandelier earrings and copper croc pumps.  A lot of booze here at this table!  I was the wimpy one here and wanted the Baileys.

 Anrthropologie 'Whirligig' Dress, Navy - Anthropologie

Me and my boys in front of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House in Hyde Park.

Robie House Outfit:

True Grit contrast panel button-down shirt, Mint Green - Nordstrom

Not Your Daughter's Jeans denim bermuda, Resin Wash - nordstrom.com

Söfft 'Montera' Sandal, Patent Brown - nordstrom.com 

Argento Vivo 'Teardrop Dome Lace' Earrings, Silver - nordstrom.com

Probably my favorite outfit of the trip.  Hotel bathrobes for the entire family!  SO nice and cozy.

Frank Lloyd Wright House & Studio in Oak Park Outfit:

INC crinkle skirt, Gray - Macy's

Shimera horizontal striped tank, Gray & White - nordstrom.com

Lauren Jeans Co. denim jacket, Nolita Wash - macys.com

Cole Haan 'Air Olivia', Golden Yellow Snake Print - ruelala.com

Nordstrom crinkle leather handbag, khaki - nordstrom.com

Second date night out, again I didn't get properly photographed.  I wore this dress the previous week for our official tenth anniversary night out.

Shockingly, my husband agreed to go with me to Harpo just so I could stand in front of the studio and have myself photographed in front of the building. 


No Oprah Winfrey Show for me.  I was three months too late.  The last show taped in May, I showed up in August.

No Oprah Winfrey Show Outfit, Our Last Day in Chicago:

Filtre tee w/ navy & gray twist embroidery, Lavender - Nordstrom

Shimera tank, White - nordstrom.com

7 For All Mankind Mid Rise Bootcut jeans, Rinse Wash - Macy's

Land's End rain jacket, yellow - Land's End @Sears

Bo'em 'Adelle' sandal, Silver - nordstrom.com

10th Wedding Anniversary

On August 18 we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary by staying in a hotel in Newport.  We got a pretty good deal on the room through priceline.com.  I emailed the hotel telling them it was our tenth anniversary, and they kindly upgraded our room to a jr. suite.  The room was quite spacious and it had a very nice balcony.  This is what I wore for our dinner out at Bistango in Irvine.  The food at this place is soooooooo goooooooood.

The hem of this dress falls below the knee, and Clinton Kelly has advised against this length.  He has said before if the hem falls below the knee it can make you look matronly.  But this style the tiers seem to make it flowy and nice.  I think this length just works fine with this dress.  I'm going to have to go against Clinton's advice with this one.  You can't see the tiers very well because of the shadows.  Here is a link to the dress online.  I also wore my denim jacket to keep warm, but I do not have a photo with the jacket. 

My husband and I after we stuffed our faces with dessert.  Unfortunately, the server did not focus very well, and this is the only photo we have of us together on our tenth anniversary.   This is the same restaurant we went to for dinner just after our engagement back in 2000. 

10th Anniversary Outfit

RACHEL Rachel Roy 'Devi' strapless belted tiered dress, black - macys.com

Söfft 'Monterra' Sandal, brown - nordstrom.com

Nadri 'Hammered Pavé' Circle Pendant Necklace, rose gold - nordstrom.com

kate spade 'keswick caning' bracelet, black/gold/cream - kate spade (gift)

The next day we went to Sherman Library & Gardens in Newport for a lovely stroll and a drink.  This colorblock tank dress was a bit summery for our non-summery weather that day.  Covering up was a must.  The arm holes of the tank drop really low which requires a tank to be worn underneath.  I think the denim jacket makes the look more age appropriate for me.  I really love the colorblocking, so I had to make this dress work.  Here's the link to the dress so you can see what it looks like without a tank underneath.  I'm not sure how long this link will be available, it's at the Nordstrom Rack price and almost sold out.

Day After 10th Anniversary Outfit

Stem Colorblock Tank Dress w/ tie waist, Frost/Berry Nectar/Berry - nordstrom.com

Shimera tank, white - nordstrom.com

Lauren Jeans Co. Denim Jacket, Nolita Wash - macys.com

Söfft 'Monterra' Sandal, brown - nordstrom.com

Lauren by Ralph Lauren 'Lake Tahoe' double drop two-tone earrings, silver & gold - nordstrom.com 

Me & The World Trade Center - 1989

New York City is a very special place to me.  When I was little I used to dream about visiting there someday.  My mom is from Brooklyn, so I have a connection to New York.  This post is to remember the terrible tragedy of September 11, 2001 by sharing with you my photos of the building and the views from the observation deck back in June 1989 during my first visit to New York City.

My favorite part of the trip was visiting the World Trade Center.  These were my favorite buildings ever and I couldn't wait to go see them in person and enjoy the amazing views.

The following photos were taken on a very hazy, unclear, hot, humid day in July of 1989.  I was 20 years old.

Here I am with my mom.  I'm dressed in my favorite peach romper and matching peach hair scrunchy (it was definitely okay to wear scrunchies in 1989!) with the World Trade Center in the hazy background.

One of the towers, standing as close as I could get to include as much as I could of the tower.

View looking out from the observation deck.

If my memory serves me correctly, this shot looking north was taken while standing on the roof.  Yes, I stood on the roof.  This is one of the reasons why the World Trade Center means so much to me.  I stood on the roof of a building that has been destroyed. 

Unfortunately I didn't have my photo taken while standing on the roof of the World Trade Center.  I do have the following photo of me on that same day, so now I know what I was wearing while standing on the roof.  This fuchsia collared top with big buttons and matching bermuda shorts.  I probably wore my matching fuchsia scrunchie.  I bought this outfit at a store called Clothestime.  Today the same type of store is Forever 21.  We went to a beach but I can't remember if it was in Brooklyn or Queens.  I think it might have been Rockaway Beach in Queens.  This was just after our visit to the World Trade Center. 

Some thoughts.

It was unusual for me, someone from the west coast and under 25 years old, to have visited New York City three times.  I have been in the World Trade Center all three of those times.  The buildings were modern and cool, and just simply spectacular.  I even loved the first floor plaza.  I just loved being there.  Those buildings were damn special to me.

On each of my visits to the World Trade Center, I wanted desperately to eat in the nice restaurant that was on the top floor of the north tower, Windows On The World.  Unfortunately, the prices were high and the people whom I was with did not want to eat there because of it.  I wish I would have gone in there anyway by myself to enjoy the restaurant even if only for a drink and make my friends wait.  It's now too late.  I did at least stop on the floor of the restaurant and take a peak, but that was it. 

I was teaching fourth grade on 9/11/01.  It was the probably the fourth day of school.  I cried every night for weeks.  All I could think about was the building and how special it was to me, and all of those people who died in the building.

Here is an archived link to the original Windows On The World restaurant website.  You can see what was on the menus and everything.  I remember looking at this site on the night of 9/11 and many times after remembering, wishing, crying.

Modern House Background, Favorite Grey w/ Yellow Floral Blouse

This post will be all about the background.  My husband was involved in working on the design of this house back before we were married.  At the time he was working for another architect (he has his own firm now since '06).  This house was finally built in 2001.  We are friends with these former clients now, and their wish is to sell this very house and have my husband design a new one for them.  I hope their wish comes true. 

This blouse is one of my favorites.  This was the first piece I ever bought that has yellow in it.  When I first wore this blouse last year, I paired it with my yellow elbow-sleeve cardigan and brown sandals.  This time I was itching to wear my gold pumps, and I knew that gold pumps with a yellow cardi AND with the yellow print in the blouse it would be too much yellow.  I think the cream cardi worked out great.

I wish I had more pics of this house.  It is stunning. 

Modern House Outfit

Blue Velvet  Bow blouse, Modern Stroke Print Grey/Yellow/Cream - nordstrom.com

Halogen 3/4 sleeve cardigan, Taylor Ivory - nordstrom.com

7 For All Mankind mid-rise bootcut jean, Rinse Wash - Macy's

Juicy Couture 'Imagine' peep-toe pump, Old Gold Metallic Lizard - nordstrom.com

Another Line patent skinny belt, Grey - nordstrom.com

Nordstrom 'Plissé' crinkle leather handbag, Khaki - nordstrom.com

Natasha 'Barrie' bangles, Silver - Nordstrom Trend Accessories Dept. (I seem to wear these all the time.  I looooove these bangles so much, you can wear all of them at once or just a few.)

Book Club Outfit

Last night I hosted Book Club for my moms' group.  Somehow I got them to agree to read a book of my favorite genre, a celebrity tell-all book.  We read Stories I Only Tell My Friends:  An Autobiography by Rob Lowe.  We all agreed the front cover picture of him is just really, really, really gorgeous.

It looks like my cardigans are getting big on me.  I really don't want to buy new sizes. 

After a year of looking I am so happy I finally found denim bermuda shorts that
1. are a dark rinse and has NO bleaching or whiskering (most important)
2. the hem does not fall below the knee
3. the hem does not fall too high above the knee
4. are mid-rise
These bermudas meet all of my requirements except that they are slightly higher than mid-rise.  A true mid-rise is about 9.5 inches.  This rise is 10.5 inches.  Okay by me.  I found these by Not Your Daughter's Jeans with a big bonus of them being 50% off.  Oh dear, I must be getting older if I'm wearing this brand.  Oh well, they are a beautiful dark rinse with no ugly bleaching on the hips or thighs so they work!  I must remember I am no longer 20 years old.  I can wear these brands now.  LOL!

Book Club Outfit

Halogen elbow-sleeve cardigan, Heather Fair Grey - nordstrom.com

Shimera horizontal stripe tank, Grey/White - nordstrom.com

Not Your Daughter's Jeans 'Hayden' denim bermuda, Resin Wash - nordstrom.com

Another Line skinny patent belt, Grey - nordstrom.com

Cole Haan 'Air Olivia' stud ballet flat, Golden Yellow Snake Print - ruelala.com

Stella & Dot Turquoise Sea Drop Earrings - stelladot.com

Alfani two-tone bracelet, silver/hematite - Macy's

Shoe detail:

 Earrings detail:

All Neutral Outfit

I am wearing this TODAY and it's actually posted!  This gold petal tee is one of my favorite purchases this year.  I've worn it with a cream cardigan, denim jacket, black blazer or just by itself.  I can wear it with jeans, bermudas or a pencil skirt.

Sandal detail pic:

All Neutral Outfit

INC petal detail tee, Gold Shimmer - macys.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'City' bermuda shorts, White - Nordstrom Rack

Söfft 'Montera' cork wedge patent sandal, Brown with gold hardware - nordstrom.com

Nordstrom 'Plissé' crinkle leather handbag, Khaki - nordstrom.com

Alfani wood bangle bracelet - Macy's

My Favorite Mid-Rise Dark Rinse Jeans on Sale + Promo Code

I must share with you all this incredibly awesome deal on my favorite jeans.  Remember how happy I was to finally find jean with a true mid-rise, dark rinse, dark and simple detailing on the back pockets with absolutely NO BLEACHING or WHISKERING?  Clinton & Stacy recommended them!  They are just about impossible to find on sale, but I have found them on sale 40% off at amazon.com plus a 20% promo code is available, so you will get a total of 60% off these amazingly perfect jeans.

Originally the jeans are $165 and they are marked down to $97.45.  With the 20% discount they will be $77.95.  I have seen premium jeans between $79 and $150 or so at stores like Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann's, Marshall's, TJ Max but I have yet to find at these stores a true dark rinse with no bleaching.

1.  Sign up here to receive e-mails from amazon.com's clothing store.  Immediately they will send you the code for 20% off.

2.  Go here and find these beautiful, basic dark rinse boot cut jeans by 7 For All Mankind.  They say "high waist", but they are a true mid-rise which falls about one inch below your belly button. These are the jeans shown on the What Not To Wear 'Full of Glee' episode where the participant wore a sparkly tank and black blazer with these jeans.  These are the best jeans ever because it is so difficult to find a true dark rinse without bleaching and whiskering which adds emphasis to your hips/thighs. 

Here is a photo which shows the back pocket better than the amazon.com link.