Wednesday Wishlist - Ponchos

Ponchos are seriously the best invention ever.  I mean, who doesn't love it idea of basically wearing a blanket, yet still looking cute and stylish?  Its a huge WIN WIN as far as I'm concerned.  I've rounded up some of my favorites out there right now, but you can basically walk in to any apparel retailer and find them.  'Tis the season. :) 

Top Row, L to R:
 -  The stripes and fringe on this one are so on point, and you can wear it with a long sleeve layer on a cold day, or as is on a slight warmer day.  Versatility is the name of the game!
 -  This poncho style blanket coat has 'blanket' in its name, so it must be snuggly.  Love that this one has pockets, come in handy to carry my keys when out walking the dog on a chilly morning.
-  You get two for one with this one, because it's reversible.  Although the plaid is so pretty, I probably rarely would. ;)

Second Row, L to R:
 -  Upon first glance this one appears basic, but with the cable knit and the darker accent trim its easy to see it dressed up or down.
 -  This one totally reminds me of the popular monogrammed Burberry capes that celebs have been been sporting, but without the price tag.
 -  You just can't go wrong with a camel colored basic.  Great fall color, goes with blue jeans, black jeans, white jeans, pencil skirts, slacks....stop me, someone.  Umm, and you can't beat the price here.

Third Row, L to R:
 -  I just think the colors of this one are so pretty: the blush is on trend and it looks great with the lavender.  And the fringe and pom pom accent make it fun.
 -  A very work appropriate option.  Clean and chic.  Good as its own top, or as a top layer.
 -  Similar to the one in the row above that it reminds me of Burberry, this one comes in regular and petite, and has a faux leather trim around the edges.  

Bottom Row, L to R:  
 -  The pattern and colors of this one are cute, and I like the v-neck style.
 -  This one has a toggle front closure that helps it stay secure, and the colors are perfect for this season, with the maroon, grey and plum.  
 -  Another very affordable option in neutral tones, this just makes me want to curl up with some hot chocolate.

Happy Poncho wearing!!!

Sorta Almost Sweater Weather

Here we go.  I'm cheating.  It's too hot for a full sweater, so I'm pretending with a chunky sleeveless turtleneck.  You do what you gotta do, right?  

Sweater, similar pants, similar shoes, bag, sunnies, similar pendant necklace

Not So Basic Basics

When I was growing up, my dad's office was near the Orange County airport.  The parking lot on the backside of the office complex basically looked out on the fields where the runways are, and when we would visit him at work, we would go out and watch the planes landing and taking off.  We take airplanes for granted as adults, they lose some of their excitement.  But if you stop and think about it: hundreds of tons of metal and parts and people and luggage are flying, controlled, through the air.  Defying gravity.  We are not birds, but up there we are.

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I now live about 10 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, which also happens to be next to the closest In'N'Out burger.  I think it has got to be one of the busiest In'N'Outs (I'd be curious to know if it or the Barstow one, on the way to Vegas, does more business.)  There is a small park of grass next to the diner, basically across the street from the airport.  There are runways several hundred yards away, and the flight path for some of them is basically overhead.  We have gone once before and picnic dinner-ed there with my son, but as he gets older, it gets more and more fun for him.  We went again last night.  And it is amazing to share in the excitement and wonder he is experiencing when the airplanes are coming in over us.  It brings back the excitement I remember as a kid at my dad's office.  It's just such fun experiencing life again with a child of my own.

We took these images in downtown Culver City, across the street from Sony Studios.  Culver City has a long history with the motion picture industry,  and there are little reminders around town, such as this ginormous old reel camera.  Couldn't shoot there without taking a picture with it!

Fall by Adam Lippes for Target

This has got to be tiring hearing about because it is SO tiring living it - we are having CRAZY heat in SoCal right now.  It was the second weekend in October and we had temps over 100 degrees this weekend.  We only have AC in my son's room, so I cranked it on high and had a fan blowing the cool air out into the rest of the space.  It was still like 85 or more degrees inside, but compared to the triple digits outside, it felt cool.  Fortunately the sun is setting earlier, so its cooling earlier, and we're supposed to have cooler weather as the week progresses, so fingers crossed!

I was able to meet up with an photog friend of mine early one morning, before the real heat set in, to shoot these looks that I'm anxious to actually wear.  He's the first photographer I ever shot with when I was attempting to model and act, and we've stayed in touch.  He shot my maternity photos when I was pregnant with my son and we always have a great time shooting, but haven't done it in quite a while.  It was such fun to work together again - I hope we can do it more regularly now that the blog gives us purpose. :)  

Adam Lippes recently released a very cute capsule collection for Target - all these pieces work so well together and will totally work apart.  The heels run about a half size small, but they are the perfect height, and so cute (there are some adorable flats as well.)  The shirt dress is long (I am 5'11" and wearing a small - the sleeves are actually long enought!!) And the sweater vest has pocket! Yay for pockets!  I think all 3 are still available online if you can't find them in your local store.

Click the images below to shop the links:

Gettin' Lace-y

We are 7 days into October already - what the....?  Don't have a Halloween costume for the little Dude yet - he's not old enough to have an opinion (or even know what is coming) but he's really in to "Finding Nemo" right now, so we can't decide if he should be Nemo, or a shark (he loves the sharks in the film, even though they only have like 5 minutes of screen time.)  Part of me doesn't want to bother with a costume because I don't think he's going to want to wear it, and trick-or-treating with an almost 2 year old doesn't sound like a very productive activity. But on the other hand, little kids in costumes are SO CUTE! LOL  So we'll see.

But once Halloween comes and goes, it will be Christmas time before you know it.  While I feel like the holidays make what's left of the year go by even faster, I do love the occasions to dress up more than usual that usually arise.  I'm loving this dress for parties to come.  It is SO comfortable, the lace is very soft and stretches, and the pattern of the lace and the fact that it is black makes it very forgiving, despite being formfitting.  It is dressy on it's own, but I think that it can even be dressed down for just a casual night out with a jean jacket and some moto boots.  And for less that $70, totally worth it.

You can get this exact dress below, and while my shoes are old, I'm loving these very similar ones, which are also a great price.