Black Beauty

Its October! Hello my lovelies! Can I just tell you something really random right now? I am writing this post and a commercial came on for Pan- have you seen these previews? Oh my gosh I can't wait to see it. I absolutely went crazy for Cinderella. I was anticipating that movie for months and I've seen it about six times, no kidding. And some of those times without my daughter 🙈🙊 These remakes of Disney cartoons are right up my alley. I love them.  All right, back to this outfit. You all know how much I love wearing black. I think because I am so light and fair skinned (this is  a nicer way of saying I am basically translucent😀), I feel tanner when I am in contrasting colors. I think I figured out that the key for me to keeping monochromatic outfits from being too blah is to mix the textures. It doesn't work for every outfit, but for this one it sure does. Oh my gosh the shirt you guys! I am so in love with it. Its from Banana (by the way- -Banana Republic is killing it right now. And their 2016 line? I saw a ton of #NYFW snaps and it.is.incredible. I cant wait!) It's long, sheer at the bottom and pleated! And how about these leather leggings and black booties? I think they contrast with  the femininity of the shirt so well. The different textures just work, yes?  The booties are from Ann Taylor and they are so comfy! And they are open toe but not too weekend looking for the office, you know?  I think the light pink color of this hat really softens up this look.  It kind of gives it a smidge of boho.  I love hats, don't you? I think this hat would also look so cute with the 70s revival outfits that are everywhere. Anyway, dearest readers, we are almost to the weekend! I hope your day is fabulous and as always, thank you so much for stopping by! Xxoo Michelle

Shirt (its not on the website (rats!) but I linked one that is similar): Here|| Pants: Here|| Booties: Here || Hat: Here|| Bag: Here

A Floral Fit for Fall (or a Wall)

Hello beauties!!  How about this floral print for (in CA, pre) fall?  And while we are on the subject of florals, for some reason looking at this dress fuels my wallpaper obsession like nobody's business! I am absolutely dying to wallpaper a few rooms in my house (the hubs? Not so much) but we are currently in that weird phase where we want to make the bump up to a bigger house, but we don't want to leave our amazing neighborhood.   My neighborhood Is.The.Best.  I am so lucky!  My street has a book club, a bible study, children my daughter's age GALORE and at least once a month (and sometimes in the summer, once a week), we have potlucks and BBQs and get togethers. I don't know if this little magic comes along all of the time and I am paranoid that we will move into a new house on some sleepy street, with maybe people we don't have anything in common with, and that wont be great.  So until we decide, no wallpaper for me.

ANYWAY.....I  love the details on this dress. It has a strip of black lace that trims the sleeves and the bottom that is so feminine and pretty. It is still so warm here that I paired this dress with my fringe sandals. I think I wore them once this summer (story of my life). It's a great combination, especially with my fringed handbag.  And then there's this cuff. It is an original design by @vwearcollection by @whatwouldvwear.  Pictures do not do it justice.  It is heavy and shiny and gorgeous. I wear it with everything-- with an armful of bangle bracelets or just alone.  Either way, it's fantastic!  Please go and look at her jewelry line-- you will not regret it!

How about the cute train tracks? I love walking around in San Juan Capistrano. There are so many cute picture nooks and crannies (not to mention the charm of the little shops and restaurants in the Los Rios District). For some reason, I am a little bit of a spazz with train track pictures. Did you know that you are not allowed to take pictures while stopped directly on the tracks? I didn't know that (but I betcha some lawyer was involved in this restriction!!)  Because I am a total rule follower, I made sure all of my photos were in motion!    And that is that, lovely ones.  I hope today has been so lovely for you! Thank you so much for stopping by! Sweetly- Michelle

Dress: Here || Shoes: Here || Purse: Here|| Cuff: Here

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Date Night!

{Written while looking for pumpkin-themed crafts for the non-crafty (me!) on Pinterest}  My dear readers who are parents know how absolutely exciting and sacred date night can be.  It can feel like a holiday to take a little break from the rigors of everyday life--in my case involving two very busy working parents-- and just relax a little.   Sometimes it can tend to feel like too much pressure to plan something ahhmazing.  You feel compelled to take these 3 or 4 hours and cram in every little thing you've been wanting to do-- Dinner! Movies! Walk around Laguna! Watch stuff on the DVR! Shop! (this suggestion only comes from me😉)  And then you feel alternately like maybe you ought to take this rare window of child free time and be productive ... Grocery shop!  Laundry! Closet organizing!  Here is something I've learned about "date night"-- the wheres and the whats don't matter.  You are together and so long as you focus on each other, no matter what you are doing, it will be perfect.  We have at least one date night set aside every month where we get dressed up and sometimes, we will go to a Cinepolis (those movie theaters that serve dinner and coffee and like, warm cookies!) and we can sit next to each other, whisper a little, and get a dinner and a movie in simultaneously (I'm all about time management!) and after, grab a little fro yo and call it a night.  And that works for us.  Sometimes, my daughter might be with her grandparents for a few hours and we will just order dinner in, and watch a movie on the couch with no phone or social media interruptions.   Once my daughter goes to sleep during the week, we might have 2 hours max of time together ( and we both have laptops on our lap working :( before we head upstairs to bed  and we actually spend most of that talking.  (Well. I talk, and talk and talk and talk. He listens!)   So for us, date night is not as much about communicating (because we do a pretty good job at that) as it is an opportunity to shut the laptop, put down our phones and be a couple.    On Friday night, for example, we went after work and looked at the outside of a new house we are thinking about and then sat at dinner afterwards over Mexican food and mapped out all of the things we wanted to do it and how to decorate- which was so so fun!  What makes you and your love happy and content and fulfilled? Anything that makes you feel like a couple, a team, a unit, a family is so healthy, I believe. Just do it.  The feelings matter more than the place.. . and I love that.  I'm a person who thrives and blossoms in a team-type environment (I play doubles tennis, and I work at a large firm because I enjoy collaborating and strategizing and brainstorming) and marriage, with its ups and downs and in betweens, is an institution I have grown to respect and admire and love.  But it's work and you work at it. And I also think the longer you are married, the smoother things become.

The other problem we find is that family  time is precious and sometimes, we don't really want to leave our daughter on the weekends. But I've realized that I am happier and more content when I strike a balance – – when I find time for me, time for my family, and then time for my husband and I.  And I suppose that is what I would like to impart to you, dearest reader-- to try and ignore what everyone else is doing and to find your own brand of happiness.   Whatever that might be, it is just right. Right?  Give time to each other-- focused and uninterrupted-- and it will always be worth it!

So about this look... This little skirt I am wearing is from Red Fox Clothes and I bought it from their cute little boutique in Corona del Mar. Thank goodness it's still going to be hot for a while because it's adorable. It's the softest cotton and so comfy. I've had this one shoulder tank top forever and I brought along this long cashmere cardigan that I bought about four years ago and wear all the time. I'm telling you, investment pieces (when done right) really will last forever.  And this bag is my Riveter bag (which I posted about on Instagram) that is made by spouses of active US military, using recycled parts from tents and other material. I have equal parts compassion and pride for our military families and there is not much I wouldn't do for them!  Alright dearests, hope your weekend is incredible! Thank you for stopping by, as always! It truly means the world! Sweetly, Michelle 

Skirt: Here || Top (similar): Here || Shoes:  || Sweater: Here|| Purse: || 

Pumpkin Table

{GDSL AT HOME} So my friends, it's here. The season of the pumpkin. We have the lattes, the candles, the flavor... It's a pretty popular fruit.  I love this time of the year. I love the traditions that are created and carried through for the holidays and I have my mom (my extended family, really) to thank for that. My mom celebrates everything to the hilt and in me, she instilled that same sense of joy for celebration.   My mom is not only an incredible gourmet cook (absolutely none of that talent was passed down to me, by the way) but she has kitchen goodies galore! She comes to my house and we will be cooking together and she's like "Okay, where's your lemon zester?" And I'm like "My what?" :) Needless to say, she buys me items from William Sonoma all of the time.  I love this store and every single thing in it-- just walking in gets me so excited to cook something.  I thought I would round up some of my favorite pumpkin items for this season here! Maybe you can buy them for yourself or maybe they would make the perfect gift but either way, I don't think you can go wrong!

Ruffioni Cookware:  I became OBSESSED with these pieces a few years ago and decided to add to my collection little by little. I have a good set of All Clad pans but there is something about the copper and the gold accents in this collection that I fell in love with! They are pricey but they are something you will use all  year long, for many years to come.

2. KitchenAid Mixer: This color though. I have a light pink one (side note: My kitchen accessories are all light pink!  How much do you think the hubby loves this fact? :))  and I use it all the time (literally) but in this fabulous copper color? Oh mama! I can't justify the expense because I have one but if it (accidentally) "falls" off of the counter and breaks, you are looking at its replacement my friends!

3. Spiced Pumpkin Doughnut Mix: Seriously. Pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon. What more do I need to say?  Ever since I had my daughter, my parents and my grandmother spend the night at our house on Christmas Eve so that we can wake up on Christmas morning and open presents together. We have the same meal every year for Christmas Eve, we go to church together and then in the morning, we drag ourselves out of bed, make doughnuts, we have coffee and we watch the tornado that occurs once my daughter starts laying into the piles under the tree!

4.Spiced Pecan Bread Mix: These quick breads are just perfect mixes because you usually add water and that's it! You are done! And does anything smell better than pumpkin bread baking (maybe topped with a little vanilla ice cream?) Not to me!

5. Botanical Pumpkin Tableware: I have been eyeballing these beauties for a while and last year, I bit the bullet and bought place settings for 8along with a bowl and a platter.  I figure each year I will try to add to my collection and maybe throw in additional place settings in solid colors (like pumpkin!) to mix things up a little! I hosted Thanksgiving last year (I have a big family!)  and my table, with these plates and candles and little (gold) wishbone place card holders was so pretty!   I love a beautifully set table and I absolutely love the holidays.  It is a priority to me to create holiday traditions for my daughter too, and maybe someday I will pass these along to her.  Anyway, you really have to see them in person- they are gorgeous and heavy!

6. Pumpkin pie dish- come on! What is better to house that pumpkin pie that you/ Costco made? 😂 It's gorgeous and festive and can be used so many ways during this fall season.

7. Pumpkin Paws- If there is chocolate and caramel involved, I don't really need to know anything else, do you?  These are great to leave open around the house on Thanksgiving (people nibble them like crazy) or they make cute presents for your guests as they leave.

There's nothing like this time of the year-- and the best part to me is that I will spend so much time with my family.  That in and of itself is priceless to me.  What is your favorite holiday tradition?  I cant wait for us to share our moments with each other! Happy day, lovely readers!