Simple tees are like jeans — so hard to find, great value, and essential for every and all wardrobes. Here are my three favorite tees!
Yes, just basic white tee, but I saw this immediately on one of my most stylsih friends and I knew it was special. It looks SO good on. Relaxed, cropped, and the best cotton. A must. Hurry and buy because it is so popular that it sells out immediately when restocked.
I was fortunate enough to spend the last 2 weeks in Southern Spain with my parents, daughter, and Ken (for a week) where we relaxed and explored together. It was refreshing and rejuvenating to leave the US and get fresh air and tastes of a different culture. Here are the highlights:
Every morning, I ran. Over the two weeks, I ran 98 miles. Up hills, down hills, and NEVER on flat surfaces. It was the hardest place I have EVER EVER RUN in my entire life, and I hope that it makes me a stronger (and faster) runner. Each morning, I would dread my run, but I loved it so much afterwards. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to explore my surroundings and really have a feel for the area.
There is a lot to love in July — summer, sunshine, no school, and a shift in seasons; but here are some other things that I am loving this month.
1. Gazpacho
There is nothing I love more than gazpacho — it is my all time favorite soup — and I craved it when I was pregnant with Cruzzie the entire pregnancy. So now that I am in Spain, on the few times we have gone out, I have ordered gazpacho — and it has always tasted delicious. I love tasting the different restaurants and styles — all absolutely delicious, healthy, and refreshing.
One of my most stylish friends periodically sends me texts with clothes she thinks I would love (she is always right AND these are the best types of texts to get!). This Spring, she sent me the outfit with a sweatshirt she thought I needed(I did), but I was most interested in her straw bucket hat. Of course, she sent me the information and I immediately purchased it. It is expensive, but I always think cost per wear (if you wear it everyday, you divide the item cost per day), and it turns out to be a steal of a deal! The Chloe x Mifuko straw hat!
It is not a hat that looks stylish — but it protects every part of your face from the sun.
My dermatologist, Dr. Whitney Bowe, not only happens to be the most beautiful person, but also the smartest (don’t you love women who check the boxes off everything???). She has flawless skin, and has forever been committed to achieving and maintaining the health and radiance of her patients’ skin through inside and outside care. She is a big believer in what you put INSIDE your body is just as important as what you do on the outside. Dr. Bowe says that there is a skin-gut-mind connection and this“three-dimensional” approach to skincare, has led her to create her own beauty line, DWB Dr Whitney Bowe Beauty. And it goes without saying, that I am a huge fan. I mean, if Dr. Bowe told me that I could have her skin by wearing a paper bag, I would do it! So when she told me about her new line of products, I knew that it was top of the line and would not disappoint.
Dr. Bowe — beautiful inside and outside — and therefore, you must treat your skin from the inside and the outside.
My mother has been collecting shawls from all over the world her entire life — she literally has cabinets full of hundreds of shawls. Each shawl has a different story and represents the country and its craft work. So when I came across a vintage shawl dress, I had to get. It reminds me of my mother and I absolutely love it. I have been a long time fan of Bode — a NYC menswear company that specializes in one of a kind, handcrafted clothing that is cut from antique fabrics, victorian quilts, grain sacks, and bed linens.
Vintage shawl made in to a dress — one of a kind — each is unique and special.
Nothing says summer more than a straw bag (well that and hot weather). My newest purchase is a floral straw bag from Suzie Kondi — so if you like it (they are all one of a kind), contact the store and get one!
So light and easy — and a great present, too.
I love sunglasses as they are add style, pizazz, and flavor to any outfit without breaking the bank. And of course, they are essential for sunshine and protecting your eyes (obviously). I love to have a wide selection of sunglasses because you never know what mood or style you want for the day….but I love sunglasses that are off the beaten path and not as mainstream, well known, or at times, expensive. Here are the brands (and styles) that I am currently loving:
I have had the black pair since 2016 and love them so much — and I love this color. Different but great shape.
Scandinavians always do EVERYTHING right — not only are the most beautiful people, but they create a standard and quality of products that outdo any other region in the world. So when I found out about Amundsen Sports, a Norwegian outdoor apparel company, I knew that I would love it. And yes, it also helped that one of my closest friends is Norwegian with the chicest taste and style who is even more outdoorsy and adventuresome than I am, is the one who told me about this company. It didn’t take much and now I am sold — obsessed with my newest Amundsen shorts (to start with) for all my outdoor summer plans.
Pop up in Soho! GO, RUN, LOOK, TRY ON!
Memorial Day weekend here we come, which means summer is around the corner! Here is what I am loving this month.
1. Basiquat Exhibit: King Pleasure in NYC
An absolute must if you are in NYC. 200 never been seen pieces. Well put together, interesting flow, and great commentary and information. Highly recommend!
This past week, we celebrated my mother-in-law’s 75th birthday, my daughter’s 10th birthday, and the launch of Natori x Kasama rum. YEP, you read that correctly — RUM! Natori is doing a collaboration with Kasama, a rum company!
Look at the gorgeous bottle!
My mother-in-law with my kids — wearing the same print as the bottle!
Even Stevie has a matching print Natori ouftit! And check out my mother-in-law’s tall heels in the background. I wouldn’t be able to stand in them.
The whole Natori family with the Kasama lady — another Filipina!
Ken with the Natori model.
Me and Tusia — unintentionally wearing a floral jacket — I had no idea!
Unique and fun collaboration — but love how two Filipino female brands came together to support one another!
Although we are in already a week in to May, NYC has not been very warm or Spring like….better weather to come, here is what I am hoping to do this Spring (both in the city and in general).
1. Drive In Movie Theater in Brooklyn
I am dying to try out this Brooklyn Drive In Movie Theater where you not only watch the movie, but you have beautiful views of the city. Right now they are showing Clueless.
2. Visit The Whitney Biennial
I must go! I must go! I must!
3. Overall Spring Cleaning
I love Spring Cleaning – a fresh start to clean and purge and tidy everything.
4. See The Basquiat Exhibit
I love Basquiat and cannot wait to see this special exhibit.
5. Finish my Dr. Dre Needlepoint
Dr. Dre needlepoint — loving this creation but ready to move on to something new!
6. Enjoy a Show At The Forest Hills Stadium
Live music!
7. Devour Pizza
A newly opened Pizza restaurant in the Lower East Side, yes please!
8. Play MiniGolf in Williamsburg
A great family activity — mini golf in Brooklyn! It reopens May 16th!
One of my favorite adventures was glamping on Governors Island — different, unique, picturesque, and fun. A must do at least once in your life!
A new rooftop park to explore — sign me up!
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What are you looking forward to doing, exploring, engaging in this Spring? Do share!
Yes, another post with what I am currently loving for this month…I couldn’t help myself! Enjoy!
1. CODA
Best movie I have seen in a long time. Obviously, I had heard about it with all the Oscars, but I was never interested in seeing it, until this past weekend, we watched it as a family, and LOVE LOVE LOVE. Must watch (and not the most kid appropriate movie, but we all loved it nonetheless).
My newest beach bag obsession is the recycled plastic woven Mexican bolsa! They are inexpensive, colorful, practical, and oh so fun. You can buy them anywhere in Mexico — from a high end store to the airport — all different colors and shapes, but the same fun look.
Not precious, but oh so precious.
Last summer, I purchased a (daring? brave? risque? bootielicious?) pair of checkered biker shorts and have been wearing them nonstop the past week. Yes, they are a little particular, but I love them — especially when I found on netaporter.com a similar pair for almost triple the price! So because now I see them on a more mainstream and expensive website, I feel the need to tell you all about them!
Me and the shorts!
Started by Bobbi Brown, Jones Road Beauty, is the newest clean beauty on the market. It is easy, natural, and cruelty free!
Great simple packaging.
In my constant search for a new bra (even though I wear Natori Feathers 100% of the time), I decided to try the Muse Full Fit Wireless Contour Bra — and am so very happy with it! It is very different — a lot more fabric, fuller fit, but wireless and just as beautiful and comfortable as all the other Natori bras.
Botanical cross-dyed lace with feminine scalloped edging.
February — the shortest (yet longest) month of the year! Here is what I am loving (and wanting) right now!
1. Wordle
Wordle! I am obsessed — it is similar to my obsession with Spelling Bee — but I actually stink at Wordle. This meme made me laugh….I am totally Homer Simpson! If you don’t know about it, it is a word game.
Last month of 2021! I can’t believe it — this year has come and gone…..here is what I am currently loving this month!
I love Glennon Doyle — she is honest and acknowledges when she makes mistakes. I really liked this episode as it talked about marathons and what happens during them — her wife ran it and spoke about it. I also love Shalane Flannagan, but found the first half of the episode better than the portion when Shalane was featured.
Natori now sells a variety of shoes and slippers!!! And I am obsessed with these slippers — Bliss Genuine Shearling Slipper Slide!
Look at them! 100% shearling! 100% scrumptious.
Natori now has a mens collection and I am soooooooo excited! It has a mixture of pieces — solid colors to crazy and wild prints. I have three favorite pieces — (1) Hoodie (2) Crew Neck Tee and (3) Jogger Pants. Here they are, right in time for the holidays!
(1) The Hoodie!
This fleece chenille hoodie comes in three different colors, and in the comfiest luxurious chenille yarn. It is a modern take on a classic sweatshirt and is the perfect addition to the men’s lougewear.
Soft, warm, fuzzy, and looks good!
Many people comment to me that Natori bras are only made for smaller chested women. But truth is, Natori makes bras for EVERYONE! Big small petite large, everyone! A dear friend of mine has a much bigger chest size than I do — and here is her testament. Thank you!!!
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I am such a loyal Josie Girl follower that I regularly purchase many of the fun products she recommends. My latest purchase based on Josie Girl’s reco? Ruth & Dottie pencils for holiday gifts for my team at work – so cute! Alas, there is one category of recommendations by our beloved Josie Girl that falls on flat on my ears every time: bras.
Why, you ask? Well, I was naturally endowed with a 34DDD chest, so the Josie Girl’s favorite bras like the Flora and the Feathers would not exactly “hold up” for me. So, for any loyal Josie Girl followers who love the Natori brand but have bodacious boobies that need better support than some of the “daintier” bras offer, I highly recommend my all-time favorite Natori bra: the Bliss Perfection.
Bliss perfection!
It is so blissfully perfect…
I have been on a mission to cleanse my closet of clothes that no longer suit me by sorting through every article of clothing and deciding whether to keep, donate, sell, or alter. In this process, I found so many shirts that I LOVED but the silhouette was too long (because I used to wear a lot of long shirts with skinny jeans). So I took a handful of shirts to the tailor (if in NYC, I love Alteration Specialists — across the street from our apartment!) with high waisted pants and asked them to crop them. Yep, a 40 something year old wearing cropped shirts. I am so happy to recycle (upcycle!) clothes and I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe. Take a look at my awkward selfies in cropped shirts — and I highly recommend the process of making new from something old! Here they are!
I love this shirt and finally have so many different pants that it will work with.
Last week when I gave myself a self closet cleanse, I realized that all my camisoles were worn out, stained, and too long. Since I wear camisoles under my clothes all winter long to keep me warm, I went on to Natori.com to search for the perfect new camisole to replace all the tired old ones. And sure enough, I found the elite lace trim v-neck cami, so I bought one in black and one in white. This camisole is the perfect layer or pretty enough to wear alone.
The perfect fit as it is cropped and sits just below the waist line. The straps are adjustable.
The only bra I EVER wear is the Natori Feathers bra, but after reading a post on Cupcakes and Cashmere about the Natori Flora Bra, I decided to copy her and give it a try. And yep, I am now a convert and love the Flora bra almost as much as I love the Natori Feathers bra. Both are basically the perfect bra.
Innovative molded, floral lace overlays smooth cups for a seamless edge that disappears completely under clothes.”
