Style Loves: I covet thee @ the end of the week…

So it turns out the Zig Zags are not for all; even when mass produced for Target! Just for those folks that got to the store @ 4:00 AM or were online before the Target site crashed HARD…I was none of the above L

All I managed to get, was a pair of socks courtesy of my Boss, whom luckily scored some return items being carted back after the madness died down. Still, I continue to swoon over the Missoni style/brand, especially as epitomized by Ms. Margherita Missoni herself ;) 

via: http://www.style.com/peopleparties/celebritysearch/

Someday mis amigos, some day! In the meantime will continue to scour the return bins at my local Target in search of, at the very least, another pair of socks...

Ciao for now  :*

Lil’ Loves: Kids say the darndest things…

I have to say that for the most part, I had not experienced this parental faux pas…I had been spared, somehow, until recently. Probably due to my son’s slight delay in speech resulting from his ASD…Now that his speech has improved exponentially (early intervention my peeps) and while thrilled beyond belief at his greatly improved communications skills, I guess the flip side of this wonderful advancement is that I too, am now going to partake in this cringe inducing rite of passage.

And so it begins…D and I were at the local pharmacy the other evening, as always there’s this sweet older lady behind the counter who greets us each time we go to checkout…In the past, D would bashfully look at her and from time to time would reply back with a quiet Hello or Good-bye…But on this last visit, with his wonderful new-found voice, my lil’ guy went to wish her farewell by enthusiastically waving and saying “Good-nite old lady”!!! 

I felt my face flush hot and quickly and effusively apologized for his salutation and asked he correctly wish her a “Good-nite ma’am” but I don’t think she was tickled one bit L So, I swiftly ushered him out, while experiencing a strange mixture of embarrassment and amusement…Trágame tierra!! I needed a Twix Moment for sure @$&*%!!! I have not been back since, but going to have to get over it soon…my prescription refill is due next week…PLOP!!!

Ciao for now  :*

Food Lust: Trader Joe’s Insta Brownies…

I love me some TJ’s…HARD!!! They are reasonably priced, their selection fits my lifestyle and they always have some yummy new product to try and more often than not, enjoy over and over again. Such is the case with their “Ready to Bake Brownies”, which is really, my kind of baking ;)

and while more often than not, the end product of your average instant baked goods can leave a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the truly homemade...Thank goodness, these are far from average, more like the crème de la crème of their kind!   

You literally pull the pouch open, pour into a small greased pan and 20 minutes or so later…TADAAA!!! Moist, delicious chewy brownies…that rival any "made from scratch" version I’ve ever had… Que rico!!! Got Milk?

Ciao for now  :*

Daily Life Loves: Out The Door Outfit…

This is what I wore “OTD” today…This Dress is pure heaven…Divino!!! Super soft, comfortable, flattering, regardless of the “time of the month” and versatile; you can dress it up or down with just a few accessories or lack thereof ;) I’ve worn it to the park, for kiddies b-day parties, to dinner out on the town and today made office appropriate by throwing on the white pinstriped jacket...Gotta love a garment that can make that kind of transition J

The tie dye pattern (the phone shot does not do it justice peeps) of the Midnight and Royal blues remind me of shades of some far flung galaxy. A bit more sophisticated than your Grateful Dead influenced dye job, not that there is anything wrong with that look, just not always as forgiving as this haute hippie version ;)

Ciao for now  :*

Tunes & Reads Loves: The God of Small Things plus Adele’s Someone Like You…

Started re-reading this book while camping this past weekend…It’s beautifully written for such a gut wrenching story…

A very raw, emotional read! Hard to put down, but at times, I also find myself dreading the next page because I know what’s coming. Yet Ms. Arundathi’s gorgeous haunting prose is truly spellbinding…even as her story heads to tragedy time and time again.

I’m also finding Someone Like You, by the magnificent Adele quite spellbinding indeed…There is nothing bad I can say about this powerhouse chanteuse; I love everything she belts out and can listen to her raw, melancholic voice for hours on end…she rivals and in my humble opinion surpasses the likes of the late Amy Winehouse (whom for the record I loved madly, may she RIP)…Ms. Adele I hope to be listening to you put out tune after great tune for many years to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAc83CF8Ejk

Ciao for now  :*

Daily Life Loves: Weekend Rewind…Beach Camping Take Two!

Take Two of our previously failed Camp Trip went off without a hitch this time… Yeayyy! Muy bueno!! Happy-Happy-Joy!!!

We camped right on the Beach, north of Malibu, CA and had ourselves a lovely lil’ weekend…Lots of eating, playing in the sand, lounging in the sun, listening to tunes and some more great eating!

D and Lola had tons of fun and slept like babies in our tent, rocked to sleep by the sounds of the surf, even if the parental units didn’t (full size air mattress does not handle 2 full size adults {wink…wink} a 4 year old and a lil’ doggie well) Surprised it didn’t call it quits on us even after we dragged it out into the sun for D to bounce on while I “lounge” on it at the same time…Yikes!!!

This weekend reminded me that sometimes the simplest getaways can be the most rewarding and create the fondest memories for your family…No room service required!

Ciao for now  :*

Style Loves: Home Sweet Home…

September 23^rd marks the “official” start of the Fall Equinox, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, but I’m already getting our casita in Fall mode by switching out stuff to richer colors and textures that reflect the coziness of this awesome season. 

and just in time...before I'm compelled to swap it all out for creepy, crawly Halloween stuff come October…Oh Fall, I do love you so!!! Now if you could please give us some climate control here in So Cal, so my hair stops being more out of whack than usual; all will be good with the universe…mine anyways ;)

Going to attempt our camping trip once again this weekend...fingers and toes crossed!

Ciao for now  :*

Daily Life Loves: Out The Door Outfit…

This is what I wore “OTD” today…The weather can’t make up its mind around these parts…Dry and ultra hot for a couple of days, followed by mugginess and thunder storms the next and now we are socked in with a thick marine layer cooling things down a bit, only to revert back to serious heat by end of the week… Arrghhh!!! Makes getting ready on working Mamma mornings, a pain in the arse! coño!!! :&

Hence, the encore of the linen-cotton jacket, it’s a nice layering piece when it’s not so hot, but not cold enough for a heavier fabric. Paired today with a fave top of mine acquired this Summer, which I think is gonna transition nicely into the Fall based on its color palette and tribal pattern; my, accidentally ripped @ the R knee when I took a spill in them earlier this year but somehow still works for me, Gap jeans and a neutral colored pair of Marc Fisher pumps I got from my lil' sis, which go with pretty much everything in my closet. I do LOVE a good stacked comfy pump regardless of the weather J

Ciao for now  :*

Lil Loves: Open Letter to my lil’ guy… Be Kind!

D,

In life, please remember to be Kind!!! Even when at times, it takes every ounce of strength from your being to do so, because (and believe your Mamma) sometimes you will feel compelled to return unkindness with the same veneno!

In my life, I’ve learnt it’s not worth it! The damage it does to your own soul and spirit is not worth it!!! All you are doing is letting this attitude proliferate inwards; letting the poison corrode your being. Slowly but surely, rotting away at your core and your will to be a good person and THAT, above all, is what I hope you to be, a GOOD person.

So the next time someone is unkind, look them straight in the eye and let them know you are stronger than any ill word or action they may direct towards you…Look them straight in the eye and let them know you are better than their venomous ways…Look them straight in the eye; bless and release them and in turn prove to them and yourself that “lo cortés no quita lo valiente”

...and you, my dear son, were born valiant and kind...please never forget it!

Images via: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Ink-Riders/1763400

Love you mucho always and forever,

Your Mamma…Ciao for now  :*

Product Lust: Here come the Zig Zags for all…

Mañana, Target debuts it’s collaboration with Missoni and I’m gonna zig zag my way over to my favorite supah store to snap up some goodies…Hoping the quality translates well in mass production…fingers crossed ;)

Ciao for now  :*

Style Loves: I covet thee @ the end of the week…

Crushing hard on this bar setup…Totally perfecto!!!

via: http://thedecorista.tumblr.com/

Now, THIS is what I call "una hamaca" Wowie! I’ve lounged in quite a few great hammocks in my lifetime, but this one takes the cake for sure!!!

via: http://veronicalovesarchie.com/

Last but certainly not least, this dress is Absolutamente Fabuloso!  <3 <3 <3 so very much!!!

via: http://www.simplelovelyblog.com/

Feliz Fin!!! and Ciao for now  :*

Product Lust: Best Luminizer Evaahhh…

Fluid Sheer by Giorgio Armani, dresses skin in an illuminating veil of radiance...Ahhhh!  This is not an overstatement mis amigos, but the honest to goodness truth!!!

This magic potion, which I get in Golden Sand (pictured), is nothing less than radiance in a bottle for a haggard working mamma. Not only does it add polish and definition to my tired complexion, but it’s one of those miracle “all in one” kind of products, that you can use not just as a highlighter, but also as a base, mixed in with your face moisturizer, as eye shadow and as blush. Heck I’ve even mixed it with my body lotion to work up an allover golden glow. The best part is that a little goes a long way and @ $59 a bottle, every dab counts!

To top it all off, the radiance it imparts is not that fake looking shimmery mica sparkle that you see in so many of these “luminizers” Nooooo!!! Somehow this manages to be truly just dewy, glowy, smooth and radiant when you put it on, so that you don’t look like a frosted “chiqui vieja” or worse “Edward” from the Twilight series!!! ;)

It comes in a range of colors, so definitely check it out! http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/ InStyle's "Best Luminizer" 2010 Award Winner for the 3rd Year in a Row; Women's Health "Best Foundation" Award Winner.

Ciao for now  :*

Lil’ Loves: Eating OUT…

Dinning out was a HUGE part of my life...I truly enjoyed having a fantastic meal prepared by expert hands, in a lovely setting and not have to worry about the dishes afterwards...so long as the CC went through ;) While pregnant I would often imagine taking my son to share and enjoy in that experience. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening!!! Not only was eating out with a baby/toddler more difficult than I ever anticipated, but added to that was the fact that our son is Autistic. Especially in the early days of the diagnosis, when we were less skilled at handling meltdowns and redirecting him; a meal out was a mixture of dread and melancholy.

For a while, I thought eating out would be OUT forever!!! Alas, as with everything in life, time helps you adjust and move on. We learned to skip anything not family friendly; concentrating on having him enjoy the experience of being out of the house and giving him plenty of time to adjust to new environs. Now that he’s a bit older and we are a bit more adept ;) I find myself rediscovering the delights of eating out…and accepting that everything I imagined would be while pregnant, won’t always…but in its place are blessings that more than make up for the old ways!

Ciao for now  :*

Daily Life Loves: Long Weekends…

Nothing quite as sublime as a long weekend, even those that mark the end of another lovely Summer.

Ciao for now  :*

Daily Life Loves: Out the Door Outfit…

This is what I wore “OTD” today...Inspired by the color palate inside Beau and Aero, shared before and which I happen to heart!!! Grey "not so skinnies on me"; off-white lace camisole layered over longer one (for good booty coverage measures); sand colored linen jacket and my beloved YSL wedges. I wear these suckers so MUCHO-MUCHO...super high but supah comfy ;)

Today’s working mamma schedule includes; going to the office for AM meetings; followed fortunately, by a pretty mellow afternoon work wise; ending with an evening of family summer concert fun, with San Francisco-based band BlackMahal. They play a blend of hip-hop, funk and Punjabi music…Check them out ;)

http://blackmahal.com/

…just right for gearing up for the long weekend!!!

Ciao for now  :*

Style Loves: Beau and Aero Store…

Wanna live in this space...pretty please!!!

via: http://thelocalrose.com

Ciao for now  :*