Find of the Week: Lancome Free Gift

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Hi ladies,

My Macy’s promotional catalogue arrived yesterday and I saw that Lancome has a free gift with purchase! Yay! I use Lancome products and needed to buy the eye cream, so this was perfect timing! The promotion is a 7 piece gift set with any $35 or more Lancome purchase. It includes a cosmetics bag and six best selling products (pictured – you choose: a serum, a moisturizer, a perfumed body lotion, a make-up look of blush & lipstick, and receive a mascara). The eye cream I purchase costs $60, so it qualified for the free gift. I actually use most of Lancome’s gift with purchase items, particularly for traveling, and find them useful as a way to try out new products. The lip stick is full size, so it is quite useful. I’ve used their serums before and selected the Vissionnaire option to try it because my friend Lizeth recommended it recently. I like using the perfumed body lotions on weekends instead of perfume or at night before going to bed. I selected the Blush Subtil option because it is more of a brown/orange tone bronzer and because I already have a few pink blushes. Instead of the moisturizer, I requested if I could exchange it for a small eye cream and the sales associate accepted, which was very nice of her.

I am not one to buy items just because there is a free gift with purchase, but with Dior and Lancome I do because these are brands I use daily and I like the quality of their products. In this case, I know I will use the items from the gift set.

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When you arrive at the Lancome counter, the sales associate let’s you select the items from the options available – and you mark them on a sheet.

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There is an additional bonus gift available for two days only – on Friday, August 16 & Saturday, August 17, receive the deluxe sample of eye cream (while supplies last). Since I went today, I asked if I could pre-buy today to receive the 7-piece free gift and receive the bonus gift. Luckily the associate was nice enough to say yes since she was unpacking the bonus gifts. Hey, it never hurts to ask, the worst they can say is no.

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And, while at the Lancome counter, I noticed that for a $70 purchase you could receive  three more additional items: an eyeshadow palette, the eye make-up remover (which I exchanged for a serum), and a face wash. So, I purchased a mascara ($28) and that qualified me for the $70 minimum.

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The free gift options with the $70 purchase included the eyeshadow palette or this eyeliner in brown or black. I selected the eye shadows, but since the associate noticed I was reading the info on the sample eyeliner, she also included it, yay! I chose the brown eyeliner. I guess it helps to pre-buy and be one of the first customers!

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This is the eye cream and mascara I purchased. I like both products and use them regularly, the eye cream in particular because it is effective and hydrating.

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In total, I paid $93.96 for both items and received all of the items pictured below! What a great deal! The 7-piece gift set alone is valued at $101 – $128! The eyeshadow palette, serum, and face wash are valued at $132 – $171, So in total, I received an additional $233 – $299 in products.

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And, since the bottom of the form I filled said “Choose a Makeup Look – be sure to ask for a free sample of you ideal foundation,” well I asked for a free foundation sample that best matched my skin. These samples are useful for travel and to test new foundations.

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The Lancome free gift with purchase is good while supplies last. These promotional items run out quickly, so if you plan to take advantage of it, I suggest you go soon!

Do you use Lancome products?

Hugs,

Paola

Weekend Trip to San Francisco

This past weekend we visited San Francisco (SF). We have our second home there and it has become my second favorite city! My hubby was born in SF, so this is his hometown. This time we hadn’t been there since June due to our busy schedules. Since we are up there often, we don’t do the typical touristy things, but we do like to get out and explore the city. We enjoy visiting the restaurants, the shops, and just driving through the city, by the bay, seeing the architecture, homes, and people watching is always interesting in SF! We have friends up there, so we usually do something with another couple while we are there. I usually do not take pictures while we are in SF, unless it is something special, but this time I decided to take some so I could share the experience with you, hope you enjoy it!

Friday, we ended up getting in late because our flight was delayed, which is very common for SF. On Saturday, we relaxed in the morning, which I really like to do in SF – I am able to disconnect because when I am home there is always something that needs to be done. In SF, I sit in the living room and enjoy the view of the bay, while I have breakfast or read a book. I was able to write a blog post, then we got ready and hit the city.

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A location we must visit every time we go to San Francisco is my hubby’s favorite German restaurant, Suppenkuche. He gets his German fix! I usually order a soup or salad – and love their bread. My hubby rarely drinks, but at this restaurant he usually orders a beer with his dinner. It is a small place and gets very crowded and loud, so we learned the trick is to get there as soon as it opens. We arrived five minutes before the door opened and there were already people in line waiting for the restaurant to open! That says lots about a place! It is a casual restaurant and they sit you at tables with other people. After dinner, we like to walk around the area on Hayes Street, do some window shopping and stop by a few key stores we like, in particular two travel stores and I like an Italian shoe store called Paolo. We noticed a new mens clothing store and a coffee shop that are built out of containers. San Francisco has so many unique shops, always interesting!

Have you been to San Francisco? What is your favorite thing or place to visit at the city?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Our trips to Hawaii and Baden Baden in Germany.

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We went for a walk by the bay, and a drive through Fort Mason and the Presidio. It is a national park and beautiful! I like seeing all the tall trees in the area!

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Driving through the city allows me to see a new street or houses we had not seen in past visits.

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While we are in SF, I always like to get a glimpse of the bridge…

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…and of course, going over it never gets old.

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Sunday, we met some friends and went to the Walt Disney Family Museum. It is run by the Disney Family Foundation. I did not even know it existed. It was a nice place to visit, lots of information regarding Walt Disney and his family, his beginnings, plans, and many successes! It was very interesting and informational! Plus, it has the Disney magic touch, with lots of nice exhibits and videos! I may do a separate posting on the Museum, I have more pictures to share and it was that interesting! It was also inspirational – Walt Disney was a visionary, artist, and driven! He wouldn’t give up on his dreams and visions, and created an amazing company that is known around the world!

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By Sunday night, it was time to come home….we love visiting San Francisco (and will be back soon), but it is always nice to come home to San Diego!sf airport gates pic aug 2013

Smiles & Amazement: Visit to the Circus

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The circus is in town! We don’t have children yet, but I really enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews and taking them to theme parks, movies, various outings, and this week to Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey. This time the theme is Built to Amaze! And amazing it was! We were awed and left in surprise by not only the acrobatic performances, but also the animal presentations! They are so cute, from horses, to doggies, tigers…and my favorite, the elephants! The joy and amazement on my nephew and niece’s face is priceless to me. Ringling’s performances are not only for children, they are also very entertaining for adults! My sister and I had a wonderful time, and many times we were the ones with our jaw opens by the acrobatic performances and smiling when the animals came out! In addition to the circus performance, ticket holders have an opportunity to see the animals up close before the show begins at the Animal Open House. There is also an All-Access Pre-Show on the arena floor, with games and activities for children, a jumper, wardrobe section for children to try on the costumes, music, dancing and fun!

Ringling is in town for a few more days, you can catch a performance today or tomorrow at the Valley View Casino Center (previously Sports Arena). More information can be found at Ringling.com. And, it is a traveling circus tour, so you can catch it in other towns as well! Have fun at the Circus – we did!

Hugs,

Paola

Espanol: El circo llego a San Diego! Nosotros todavia no tenemos hijos, pero me encanta pasar tiempo con mis sobrinas y sobrinas, y llevarlos a parques de diversion, el cine, a pasear, y esta semana a Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey. Esta vez el tema es Built to Amaze que significa Construido para Asombrar. Y la presentacion circense si que es asombrosa! Las presentaciones acrobaticas y de los animales son impresionantes! Los animales estan preciosos, desde caballos, perritos, tigres….y mis favoritos, los elefantes! El asombro y la expresion de felicidad en las caritas de mi sobrino y sobrina no tienen precio para mi! Las presentaciones del circo Ringling no son solo para ninos, tambien son impresionantes para adultos! Mi hermana y yo nos divertimos mucho, varias veces eramos ella y yo las que nos quedabamos en asombro y boquiabiertas, y por supuesto sonriendo con las presentaciones de los animales! Antes de la presentacion del circo, las personas con boleto de admision tambien tienen la oportunidad de ver a los animales de cerca en el Animal Open House. En la arena hay un show antes de la presentacion con juegos y actividades para ninos, bricolin, bailes, disfraces circenses, bailes, musica, y diversion!

Ringling esta en San Diego por unos cuantos dias mas, lo puedes ver hoy o manana en el Valley View Casino Center (antes Sports Arena). Puedes encontrar mas detalles en www.Ringling.com. Y, por si no vives en San Diego, Ringling es un circo que anda de tour, asi que lo puedes ver en varias otras ciudades. Que se diviertan en el circo – asi como nosotros nos divertimos!

Un abrazo,

Paola

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Summer Bay Surprise

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Lola and I were on our regular walk by the bay and saw lots of beautiful sailboats! I had seen them before, but this time decided to stop and just appreciate the beauty of our bay and these boats! Lola told me they are part of the Annual Beer Can Race Series. I did some research when I arrived at home and this tradition has been going on for 34 years. It was started by a group of friends that did not want to wait until the weekend to sail, so they started sailing every Wednesday. It has grown over the years, they really isn’t drinking involved while they sail, but there is a trophy for the winner. Every Wednesday, beginning around Memorial Day in May and through the beginning of August (Aug 7 this year), many sailboats fill the bay for this competition. It is a beautiful, breathtaking scene, particularly the stretch with the Coronado Bridge in the background! The races begin at 6pm in the center of Harbor Island, spectators can get a good view from Shelter Island, Harbor Island or Seaport Village. We saw it while we walked on the bay & stopped at Seaport Village to take these pictures.

Enjoying the beauty of these sailboats on the bay reminded me of how fortunate we are to live in San Diego! We live in an amazing city, with such beauty! It is nice to enjoy in the amenities we have….and take time out our day for a nice walk by the bay during a warm, summer afternoon!

Let’s get out there and enjoy summertime! We only have a few more weeks of summer left, let’s not take them for granted!

Have you seen these sailboats on the bay? Do you have other summer tips for easy & free outings?

Hugs,

Paola

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Look of the Day: Purple Beauty

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I usually do not buy long, loose fitting dresses, but saw this one at Ann Taylor when I was shopping recently at Carlsbad Premium Outlets and decided to try it on. I loved it! It reminds me of a roman style dress….and that is exactly what my sister-in-law said when she saw it on me. I’ve worn it twice, once for my hubby’s birthday dinner and recently to go to the theatre with Lola. I also wore it to work with a cardigan the day we went to the theatre (and got many compliments). It is very comfortable, the material flows, yet has body to it. Bright tones are in right now and this dress is perfect for summer! And yes, it is versatile! Can you think of how many ways or to how many events I can wear this dress? I can! It’s exciting! I can also add a sweater or scarf to wear it for a few weeks into the fall and again in spring, fun!

Do you have any loose fitting or purple dresses you like? Share your dress finds with me!

Hugs,

Paola

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Dress: Ann Taylor; Belt, Ann Taylor, Shoes: Max Studio; Earrings: Chanel; Necklace: Macy’s Fine Jewelry; Bracelets: Forever21

ESPAÑOL:

Hola amigos,
La temporada de primavera trae ropa en tonos claros y pasteles, los rosas, morados, azules, y amarillos, entre otros. Este año en particular, la tendencia de estos tonos están muy de moda. Se esta viendo mucho en blusas, vestidos, y hasta zapatos y jeans.

Este vestido me recuerda a un estilo romano. Viene con un cinto de tela en el mismo tono, pero decidí ponerme un cinto de piel en tono dorado. El color es un morado vibrante y profundo. El vestido es cómodo, la tela y el corte tienen fluidez. Este vestido también me lo pondré durante el verano. Lo podré usar solo, con un suéter ligero, o alguna mascada veraniega. Para una ocasión formal le puedo agregar accesorios de vestir y zapatillas, o para una opción casual me lo puedo poner con sandalias o alpargatas de tacón corrido. ¡Ojalá les guste este atuendo!

¿Tienes algún vestido en colores pasteles? ¿Te lo has puesto para alguna ocasión especial?

¡Recuerda, la mujer feliz es la mas bella! ¡Haz tu estilo relucir con atuendos en los que te sientas cómoda y contenta!
Un abrazo,
Paola

Vestido: Ann Taylor; Cinto: Ann Taylor; Zapatos: Max Studio; Collar: Macy’s Joyería Fina; Pulseras: Forever21

Find of the Week: Coach Purse

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I was at an event at Viejas Casino & Hotel recently and arrived early. Since I was early, I went to the Viejas Outlet Center and was pleasantly surprised to see they have a Coach outlet store. I have a few Coach purses and like them, particularly because of the good quality! The leather purses last forever! During this visit, I bought a few small purses for myself and liked them so much, I bought four for gifts! My nieces, sister, and Lola got Coach purses as gifts for their birthdays (all their birthdays are close to each other).

I particularly like this light pink purse because, first of all, it is adorably cute! Secondly, the color is versatile. Plus, it is leather, so it will last me for a long time. My wallet, cell phone, lipstick, lip liner, powder, & keys all fit – also known as the basic items I need in my purse for an outing. I know Coach purses can get a bit pricey, but since I was at the Outlet Center the prices are more reasonable and they are worth it!

I also like that I can use it as a clutch or with the strap, this is what I call versatility! And because it is leather, you can clean it if for any reason it gets dirty.

I’ve already used it a few times, for dinner out with my hubby and for a baptism. I’ll post a picture of how I wore the purse with an outfit soon.

For me, purses are a fun part of being a woman! They are an accessory that can help dress up an outfit or add that extra touch to any attire!

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Find similar Coach pink purses here & here.

If you live in San Diego or close by, there are also Coach outlet stores at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets and at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro. Simon Fashion Valley mall and Westfield North County have a Coach stores (non-outlet store).

What was your last good find? Do you have a favorite purse? Share your good finds with me!

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Light Colored Coats You Can Wear Year-Round & picture of Lola with the Coach purse I gave her (love how she matched it)!

My Weekend in Photos

Hi everyone –

Much of my happiness comes from spending time with family & friends! I am truly blessed in so many ways!

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It was a very busy & long work week, so by Friday evening, I was ready to party! I say party because my sister-in-law organized a small birthday party for my niece. It was nice to celebrate my niece, spend time with my family, laugh & relax! It has been a pleasure and honor to see my niece grow up all of these years! Next year is the big 15th birthday….her Quinceanera!!

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I was looking forward to Saturday because I was going to spend time with one of my closest friends, Lizeth! She is like a sister to me! We went to the baptism of our friend Xochitl’s son, Maximiliano. The baptism was held at the beautiful Holy Spirit Church in Tijuana and the reception at the Campestre Country Club. In Xochitl’s words, it was a “Fabulous Baptism!”  She did not forget any detail, it was beautiful! From the dessert table, the centerpieces and decor, the view, the baby’s baptism attire, Xochitl’s outfit, everything was exquisite! Baby Max is growing so fast, he is a cutie! I carpooled with Lizeth and her husband, and we chatted the entire time, from the drive there, to the time at the reception, to the drive back, haha! It was nice to catch up with her!! I’ve missed spending time with my friend – we talk on the phone often and each time we get together we simply continue where we left off. I am lucky to have her as a friend!  When we arrived back at her home, I was able to visit with her mom and aunt for a little while, and see baby Mauricio, he is precious, just two months!

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Today, I did something I have not done in about three years! My hubby was out of town, so I slept in until my body woke up, then read in bed and caught up on my Facebook friends posts! Ahhh! I used to sleep in on Sundays when I was single, but hadn’t done it in a long time! I spent a much needed relaxing day at home and started editing a video for my vblog (video blog – coming soon)! I enjoy our social, active lifestyle, but appreciate at least one day a week to relax and get some down time!

How was your weekend and did you do anything fun? What do you have planned for the week?

Best wishes for a wonderful, productive week! Let’s go out there and make things happen!

Hugs,

Paola

Highlight of My Work Week

Hi everyone, how was your past work week? Mine was fantastic! Extremely busy…got lots done! I am working on four large projects and it’s exciting, lots going on, love it!

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One of the highlights of my week was an interview segment I produced. In addition to being a TV host, managing the community outreach projects and doing lots of production for ABC10/10News and Azteca San Diego, I also produce segments for the Live Well Network, our sister station. This week I produced a segment with Joey Fatone, singer & actor, host of  the cooking show My Family Recipe Rocks (he is best known from his days on ‘N Sync and season on Dancing with the Stars on ABC). He and his team (Disney production staff) were all friendly and it was nice to work with them. Producing these segments is always interesting, the best part is the people I get to meet and work with!

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My other highlight of the week was a meeting I had with Joice Truban Curry and Carola Cardenas from the YMCA. I’ve known Joice for years and she is full of energy! It was nice to meet Carola and learn more about the YMCA in North County. I rarely leave the station for meetings or lunch due to my packed schedule, this meeting was wort it, we had a nice time and it is always a pleasure to see Joice!

Simple Beauty Tip for Moisturized Lips

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There are some beauty tips that are pretty basic and simple, yet have great results! I have a few beauty items in my night stand, one of them is a small jar of petroleum jelly, I use the Vaseline brand. I have been using this product every night to moisturize my lips for years! I keep this tiny jar of Vaseline in my night stand, this way, it is the last thing I do just before I turn off the light to go to sleep. Since I keep it in my nightstand, it is convenient, at an arms reach & I don’t forget to apply it. Even when I travel, I have a small tube of it in my bag with my facial products & place it on the night stand at the hotel. Due to the weather and in my case, the make-up, lip liners, and lipsticks I use, my lips can get dry. Just a dab of Vaseline at night helps keep my lips moisturized year-round. I don’t use chap sticks throughout the day, and don’t need them because this nightly routine does the trick! Occasionally, I also apply a little on my nail cuticles and hands to moisturize them.This tiny container costs only about $1 and lasts for months. You can find it at most pharmacies, grocery stores, or Target/Wal-Mart. I like using this tiny jar because it does not take up hardy an space in my nightstand.

Petroleum jelly contains a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin, and waxes which will moisturize your skin and help protect and repair it from dryness, according to Livestrong.com. It helps your skin retain more moisture, so it will repair itself.

So, give it a try…put some petroleum jelly or lip moisturizer in your night stand and start a nightly routine to keep your lips moisturized and looking luscious!

What do you use to moisturize your lips? Do you include a lip moisturizing product in your evening routine?

Hugs,

Paola

Note: As with any new product, if you have never used petroleum jelly, test it by applying a small amount on your skin, to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction.


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The Magic of a Broadway Show

 

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If you can’t go to New York to see a Broadway show….go see a Broadway show in San Diego (or your city)! Going to the theatre is a fun outing, there is something magical and special that happens from live performances and amazing musicals! I’ve seen a few shows on Broadway in New York….and a few here in San Diego, the main difference is the city, the quality in the performances is wonderful! The Broadway shows which appear outside of New York are considered Broadway Shows on Tour (see explanation of touring show here & here). The group that presents the performances locally is Broadway San Diego – A Nederlnd Presentation and they also have Broadway presentations in other major cities. So, if you’ve ever wanted to see a Broadway show, just drive downtown and catch one! The 2013 season has several good shows scheduled for this year! This week you can still catch Sister Act, it is a wonderful, a feel-good musical! You will laugh, be touched by the message in the story, be awed by the musical performances, the stage scenery, and the costumes. Sister Act, based on the hit feature film, is winner of five 2011 Tony Award nominations and music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken. It is a family friendly, spectacle with nuns that rock! The performances are this week, July 30 – August 4 at the San Diego Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego. There is one evening performance Friday (7pm), and two on Saturday  (2pm & 7:30pm) and Sunday (1pm & 6pm). Tickets start at $39.50. For more details, you can visit BroadwaySanDiego.com/Sister-Act or Sister Act.

Enjoy the theatre!

Have you seen a Broadway Show? What is your favorite Broadway show?

Hugs,

Paola

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Today’s Look: Polka Dots

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This is a dress that is not only pretty, it is super comfortable to wear! Polka dots & black/white outfits are really in right now! I saw this dress at Target and just had to try it on! Most of my dresses and blouses are usually v-neck or round necklines because they are more flattering, but this one is so cute I made the exception! It met the length and fitted at the waist criteria, so I tried it on. To my surprise, I really liked it! I have worn it about three times for work, for the Opening Night of Film Out – LGBT Film Festival where we gave the welcome on stage, to host an interview, and to attend a reception. As you know, my mind starts visualizing how versatile a dress will be and this one can pretty much be worn year-round, with heals in the summer, and sweater and tights in the winter, or even a cute scarf! It is also work appropriate by adding a cardigan or a suit jacket, and can be used for a casual look with sandals or dinner/cocktails with heals. I am “muy feliz (very happy)” with this dress! And, the price was quite reasonable, around $30 at Target. There was also an option in dark blue .

I matched it with: bright pink belt from Gap, black Marc Fisher heals, a gold tone necklace from Target, and bracelets that are fun to wear from Forever 21. The only thing I suggest is, take off some of the bracelets at work, they are too loud & distracting in meetings (which according to some experts could look unprofessional) and it is uncomfortable to type with so many bracelets on. So, at work, I only wore the purple bracelet which is thicker than the other and put it on my left hand due to the mouse. What do you think about the dress? Do you like the new trends in polka dots? Do you own any dresses in polka dots?

Hugs,

Paola

Español: Este vestido no solo es bonito, también es muy cómodo! Las tendencias de ropa con bolitas o lunares, esta muy de moda. Vi este vestido en Target y me lo tuve que probar! La mayoría de mis vestidos son estilos en cuello v o redondo ya que me favorecen mas, pero este esta muy lindo así que hice la excepción. Incluye los criterios de largo y marcado a la cintura, así que me lo medí. Para mi sorpresa, me encanto! me lo he puesto como tres veces para el trabajo, para la Noche de Apertura del Festival de Cine FilmOut donde dimos la bienvenida en el escenario, para conducir una entrevista, y para ir a una recepción. Como saben, mi mente comienza a visualizar que tan versátil será el vestido y si me lo podré poner para varias ocasiones. Este vestido lo es ya que se puede usar prácticamente todo el ano, con zapatillas en el verano, con un suéter y mallas en el invierno, o quizás una bufanda bonita. También es un vestido apropiado para el trabajo agregándole un saco de traje o un suéter, y para una ocasión casual con sandalias o salir a cenar agregándole tacones. Estoy muy feliz con este vestido! Y, el precio fue muy razonable, como $30 en Target. También tenían el vestido en azul.

Lo combine con: cinto rosa fucsia de Gap, zapatillas negras Marc Fisher, un collar en tono dorado de Target, y pulseras de Forever 21. Lo unico que sugiero es que para el trabajo no te dejes todas las pulseras puestas ya que hacen mucho ruido, particularmente en juntas (y los expertos dicen que eso no es profesional) y es incomodo teclear en la computadora con tanta pulsera puesta. Así que, durante mi día de trabajo solo me deje la pulsera morada que es mas ancha y me la puse en la muñeca izquierda debido al mouse.

Que te parece el vestido? Te gusta la tendencia en lunares? Tienes algunos vestidos o blusas en lunares?

Un abrazo,

Paola

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At Opening Night –  2013 FilmOut. En Noche de Apertura del Festival de Cine FilmOut 2013.

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Hosting an interview for the 2013 Latino Music Festival. Conduciendo una entrevista para el Festival de Musica Latina 2013.

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At Reception for Spirit of the Barrio Fiesta. En Recepcion para Spirit of the Barrio Fiesta. 

My Weekend In Photos

It’s hard to believe another weekend passed! It definitely felt like summer time because we went to the Races in Del Mar, and to visit my grandmother and aunts in Rosarito, something we do each summer!

Friday, we went with a group to the Races in Del Mar, it was fun, nice to see the beautiful horses, and to spend time with my hubby & friends!

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Saturday I woke up excited, felt like a little girl! For a few weeks now I had been anticipating this weekend because I made plans to to go visit my Mamita (grandmother) and aunts in Rosarito! They spend some time there in the summer. We’ve had plans the past few weekends, so this was the Saturday I had reserved to go visit my beloved Mamita! She is very, very special to me, as close as a mom, one of the wisest people I know and has shared her advise with me over the years. Fortunately, my nieces were able to go with me, so it was like old times (when I was single), and we took a day trip to Rosarito! Just the three of us! It was  a treat to spend time with my nieces! I still see them often, but don’t get much one-on-one time with them! They are growing so fast! We chatted during the entire drive and while visiting my Mamita. It was nice to see my grandmother, aunts, cousins, and mom was also visiting, so it was an extra nice time with family!

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Sunday was a relaxing day at home! Finally! We’ve been busy lately, with all kinds of fun plans & outings, but I was looking forward to being at the house & enjoying our home! I made myself a cappuccino, ok two cappuccinos to start my day, and enjoyed the day with my hubby! We did not leave the house all day….ahhhh, I needed a day like this! The car search continues, so we spent time looking for cars on-line. I decided I wanted to make my own homemade baked plantain chips, which ended up becoming a four hour process. They came out yummy, but I decided I will just stick to buying them at Trader Joe’s. Their plantain chips are quite healthy, low on fat & sodium, and natural with only oil and salt. Plus, they keep longer. But, at least I tried it and realized they are probably just as fattening due to the oil the recipe included. I’ll write a separate post of the recipe I used (found it on-line) and steps I followed.

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We got to spend some time with the kitties! They are so cute! My husband showed me a trick Blackie does – when he climbs on his back. I must admit, I’ve become quite attached to the kitties! I was not much of a cat person when we first got married, but I have become attached to both of them!

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Hope you had a wonderful weekend too! What did you do?

Best wishes for a great week! Let’s get lots done this week!

Hugs,

Paola

Highlight of My Work Week

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I have busy weeks every week, but I laugh and have fun at work everyday! Really, I do! We have a great team & they say the funniest things! My days are stressful & full of deadlines, but I love what I do & feel fortunate to have a career that I enjoy! This week was quite good, with lots of production, shoots, and exciting projects moving forward. Every month, I meet with the Salvation Army Public Relations Committee. We are mostly women & recently Jesse Navarro joined the committee so we took a group picture. The women that form this Committee have become my friends and I look forward to seeing them every month! This Committee does so much to help the underprivileged, it is very satisfying work. The meeting was one of the highlights of my work week.

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The other highlight was hosting and producing the interviews for Races at Del Mar, mainly because of their spokesperson Luis Valdivia, Marketing Manager, Del Mar Fairgrounds, and meeting Craig Dado, VP Marketing Del Mar Races/Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. In addition, I got to work with Robert Santos, 10News anchor, one of my favorite people at the station! Luis and I have known each other since we volunteered on the board of the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (in my mid-twenties). I was working for a non-profit at the time and Luis was working for a public relations agency, this was about 10 years ago. He is a genuine person, a professional, and always kind. We’ve known each other so long we joke and can also be direct when it comes to business matters. It was my first time meeting Craig, but he was nice! It’s always nice to meet new people and even more when they are nice!

What was the highlight of your work week? Maybe….seeing your co-workers/friends, helping a client, getting a promotion, saving a life? Share your highlight of the week!

Hugs….now, let’s enjoy the weekend!

Paola

Today’s Look: Black & White

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I bought this top a few weeks ago at Ann Taylor during my power shopping at the Carlsbad Outlet’s during the fourth of July weekend (I posted about it on my blog that weekend). When I bought it, I visualized how I could mix & match it – perhaps to add some flare to a suit for work, with a skirt for a reception or summer dinner, and for a casual look with skinny jeans. I was looking for a fun way to wear it – and since we went to the Races at Del Mar today, this was a good occasion to bring it out! I’ll post about our Day at the Races later on, we had fun!

Today, I had to wear something that was appropriate for work, yet could transition into a fun outfit for the Races. We sat at the Turf Club with a group and the attire is dressier in that section due to the dress code. During the day, I wore a cardigan over the blouse and some bright pink heals which are more comfortable. I changed into the blue heals on our way to the Races. These blue heals are comfortable for about four hours, but not to wear all day for work. I wanted to add some color to the outfit, so I went with bright shoes. Initially, I tried on a few colored belts (instead of the colored shoes), but ended up wearing my favorite Ann Taylor black belt. I just love this belt! Since the cardigan has gold tone buttons, I wore gold accessories. I am glad gold tones are in right now! I have lots of silver jewelry, but it is fun to wear gold accessories more often. The black skirt I wore has a satiny feel to it and has some spandex, making it quite comfortable. I also like that it has spandex because my weight seems to fluctuate about three to five pounds every so often and this skirt fits every time I want to wear it. The only thing I didn’t like about wearing the blouse was that I wore a strapless bra and I find bras with straps more comfortable, particularly if I a wearing them all day. Overall, I like the outfit, it was comfortable & I felt good in it!

Do you like how I matched the blouse? Do you have any black & white outfits you like? Do you match bright shoes with black and white outfits? Share your outfit ideas with me!

Hugs,

Paola

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Cardigan sweater: Tory Burch;  Blouse: Ann Taylor, Carlsbad Outlet Stores;  Skirt: Xscape by Joanna Chen, Nordstrom;  Shoes: Ann Klein, Macy’s;  Belt: Ann Taylor;  Bracelet: Coach (other bracelet & gold ring were gifts from mom, years ago);  Purse: Louis Vuitton (this is my everyday purse & I don’t change purses daily, so you’ll see me with this purse often)

Today’s Look: Aqua Blue

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Summer is in full thrive and I like to bring out bright colors! Plus, bright colors are in! This aqua blouse is fun to wear & you can never go wrong in a black pencil skirt (so versatile too). I had an interview to shoot regarding the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Races (picture from interview posted below). I regularly wear bright colors for television shoots because they look better with my skin & hair color, plus they lighten up the shoot. We shot in the studio, which makes wearing bright colors even more important due to the neutral colors on the set. I matched the outfit with a black and white zebra belt, black bracelet with silver tones, black peep toe heals, and silver accessories. I added a suit jacket after the interview to get me through meetings. Do you have a favorite bright blouse this season? How do you wear it? Share your outfit ideas with me!

Hope you are enjoying your summer….& wearing fun colors!

Hugs,

Paola

Note: The blouse has a clip to hold the bra straps, which is helpful due to the scoop neck and the way the blouse falls in the front (this way your bra strap does not show if the blouse moves around). The blouse was a gift from my comadre Marissa – thank you!

Español: El verano esta en su mejor punto y me encanta ponerme colores vivos! Y los colores vivos están muy de moda! Esta blusa aqua es divertida y no te puedes equivocar con una falda negra (es muy versátil)! Grabe una entrevista sobre la Temporada de Carreras de Caballo Pura Sangre en Del Mar (inclui una foto de la entrevista).  Por lo regular me pongo colores alegres y vivos para grabaciones ya que van bien con mi tono de piel y cabello, y hacen que la grabación se vea mas animada. Grabamos en el estudio, por lo cual es aun mas importante usar colores vivos debido a los colores neutrales en la sala de entrevista. Combine el atuendo con un cinto negro con blanco estilo zebra, pulsera negra con tonos plateados, zapatillas negras, y accesorios de plata. Durante el día me puse un saco de traje para asistir a juntas de trabajo. Tienes alguna blusa favorita de color vivo? Como la combinas? Comparte tus ideas sobre atuendos conmigo!

Ojalá esten disfrutando el verano…..y vistiéndose con colores vivos!

Un abrazo,

Paola

Nota: La blusa tiene un ganchito para detenerse con el tirante del brasier, que es util ya que la blusa tiene cuello drapeado al frente y asi no se ve el tirante del brasier si la blusa se mueve. La blusa fue un regalo de mi comadre Marissa – gracias!

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In the studio:

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Blouse: Trouve, Nordstrom;  Skirt: New York & Co.;  Belt: Ann Taylor;  Shoes: Nine West;  Necklace: Gucci;  Bracelet: Macy’s;  Ring: Tiffany & Co.;  Purse: Coach

My Weekend in Photos

Another fun weekend! I feel fortunate to have friends and family that include us in their festivities! My career also keeps me busy and provides opportunities to attend interesting events!

What did you do this weekend?

Mine was packed with fun outings:

Friday, after work, I went to the The Family Health Center’s – Spirit of the Barrio Fiesta. It was a fun event! They had an “Elected Officials Tamal Making Contest.” I spent time with my friend Carlette Lewis at the event, we used to work together eons ago at the Workforce Partnership and have remained friends. It was nice to catch up with her!

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Saturday was a very anticipated day – my nephew Andrew’s 5th Birthday Party! It was nice to celebrate this amazing, cheerful little guy that brings so much joy to our lives! I love my nephew so much, he is very important in my life! It was nice to see family and friends!
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After the party, we went to my sisters home to unwrap the gifts. It was a fun day with family and friends as we celebrated one more year in our beloved Andrew’s life! He is a true blessing in our lives!

A funny story about my outfit that day is that I tried it on with about three pairs of shoes, all wedges, to decide which one’s I would wear. When I arrived at the birthday party I was handed a pair of socks to wear – instead of my shoes. I had forgotten about the “no shoes” rule at this location 🙂  I felt like Carrie in Sex & the City, from the episode where she is asked to take her shoes off as she arrives at a child’s birthday party, haha! I was fine with it, I just laughed because I had put some thought into which shoes looked best with my outfit.

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Sunday, we went to Long Beach for baby John’s baptism. John is my friends Susana & John’s son. He is a cutie! Susana and I have been friends since college. She has been a good friend to me throughout the years, always lending an ear when I needed career advice. I was meeting baby John for the first time, he is adorable! I have remained in contact with Susana and had seen many pictures of him. He is a beautiful baby, even more adorable in person! He could be a Gerber baby!

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By coincidence during our drive to Long Beach for the baptism we got a call regarding a car we had looked at on-line (I am considering getting a different car). Since we were going to be in the area we drove a bit further north to Los Angeles after the baptism to see the car. By that time, I was in need of coffee – and we searched for a Starbuck’s! I drink coffee every morning, either at home or work, but rarely go to a coffee house to get one. The coffee was a nice treat! I really enjoy road trips with my hubby because we chat about a million things, from plans we have, to our thoughts and opinions, to stories about our past. My hubby in one of the smartest and wisest people I know (and I know some smart people!), which leads to interesting conversations. My hubby’s previous boss describes him as MENSA due to the amount of knowledge and level of retention he has. After a long day & the road trip, I was ready to hit the sack by the time we got home! But, as we say in Spanish, “La bailada nadie me me la quita!” Which means, “no one can take the dancing away from me” referring to the “good time I had”!

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Happy Monday to everyone – and best wishes for a productive week! Make it a great one!

Do you have any big plans for the week?

Hugs,

Paola

Find of the Week: Deluxe Beauty Essential Palette

This is the third time I buy this eye shadow, lipgloss, and blush palette kit at Nordstrom. They call it Deluxe Beauty Essential Palette. It is one of the products included in their current Nordstrom Insider Access Anniversary sale, for Nordstrom card holders. It is on special sale for $28.90, after this sale it goes back to $42.95 (if you can find it), the sticker says it is a value of $150. Last time I bought it for about $40+.

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I bought this type of palette two years ago and have used it a lot! I posted a pic of my used palette below. I like it so much, I bought one as a gift for my friend Lizeth. I don’t wear lots of eyeshadow on a daily basis and usually wear neutral colors. I use this palette mostly for special occasions, evening looks, or when I want to get more creative with my eye make-up. It is also useful for daily use if you like to change your eyeshadow colors around or change tones according to seasons. I have also used it for the make-up tutorials I am starting to record for my vblog (coming soon). The blushes are the items I went through first. I like the lipgloss’ because there are so many options! I particularly like the very light pink and pale colors for a nude lip when I do a smokey eye. The quality of the eyeshadows, blushes, and lipsticks/lipgloss’ are good. The eyeshadows last all day or night (I apply them over Urban Decay eyeshadow base), and the blushes and lipsticks last several hours.

This palette comes with 1 bronzer (which I like!) and 4 small brushes, which are new and useful additions. It also has 79 eyeshadows, 8 lipgloss’, and 4 blushes. This is a great value for all the items included and the variety of eyeshadow colors.

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I suggest this palette if you are starting to wear make-up, want to increase your creativity with eyeshadows, or want to use it like I do for special occasions or when you get the desire for additional eyeshadows. It is also practical for everyday use, but you may run out your favorite eyeshadow colors because the individual quantities per color (eyeshadow squares) are small. You can’t beat the price, this is the lowest I have ever seen it! If you were to buy separate eyeshadow, lipstick, & blush palettes you would spend more.

In order to give you accurate information, I called Nordstrom today to confirm this palette is still on sale and it is! The associate told me the price is still $28.90, quantities are limited and that price will only last for one more week. This item also makes a nice gift! So, if you have a friend’s birthday coming up or want to start your holiday shopping, this will make a nice gift! Or, you can “gift” it to yourself, like I did!

Have you used this type of palette before?

Hugs…and stay beautiful,

Paola

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This is my current (old) palette. As you can see, I went through all the blushes and a few eyeshadow colors, and used many of the eyeshadows and lipgloss’. 

Zumba Motivation!

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This was taken today, just outside the gym after completing a Zumba class – that is a huge smile on my face! Can you see the dewy glow I have on my face  (ok, the dewy look is really from sweat & the glow is from the work out)!

I am always looking for ways to stay motivated to exercise! I find Zumba to be a fun way to get a work out & it keeps me motivated! I wasn’t feeling like exercising today, but forced myself to drive to the gym after work for a Zumba class. I know every single time I do Zumba, I will feel good, smile, and have fun! Really, every single time, it never fails to make me smile, sing, and gets my endorphins going, so I feel happy! Unlike other exercise classes that can be grueling, Zumba is fun, you dance, that’s it!

Do you remember how much you like dancing? Zumba will remind you. The Latin rhythms automatically get your hips and shoulders moving! Before you know it, you are singing along and moving to the rhythm of the music. Even if you don’t know all the steps, you can go at your pace and the more often you go, the more you will learn the steps. Most routines are repetitions of the same four or five steps.  According to dietandfitnesstoday.com, you can burn between 400 – 500 calories in one hour of exercising to Zumba. That is pretty good! It is mostly a cardio, aerobic workout but there are also specialized Zumba classes for abs and toning (I’ll include more about that in another post).

For those of you that are not familiar with Zumba, it was founded in 2001, by Beto Perez, it’s is described on Zumba.com as a global lifestyle brand, which fuses fitness, entertainment, and culture into a dance fitness solution. It is a latin inspired, easy to follow, calorie burning, dance fitness party! It is used in 151 countries, by 141 million people, in 140,000 locations. Wow, I was aware it is popular, but those statistics amazed me! I admire Beto for his entrepreneurial spirit to make his invention a success!

It really is like a party, some instructors even bring dj style spinning color lights to the class. The songs aren’t all Latin either. I usually take Zumba at 24 Hour Fitness gyms and the instructors also mix in hip hop, rap, african, and even hawaiian songs and rhythms. I have been exercising to Zumba for about 6 years and still love it! I even have the DVDs (available for purchase at Zumba.com) and do the videos at home. Sometimes, if I don’t have lots of time in the morning or weekend, but want to exercise, I will do three songs on the cardio DVD and the cool down. It takes about 15 minutes, but it is amazing how energized I feel when I start my day exercising! The cool down serves as my morning stretches. I’ve even taken the DVDs to my friend Lola’s and sister’s homes, and we’ve exercised in their living rooms to the DVDs. I admit it, by now I know the songs to the exercise routines on the DVDs!

So, next time you are not feeling very motivated to exercise, go to a Zumba class or put on the DVD! Trust me, you will start to dance and exercise! You will be smiling, have fun, & feel better! Think of it as an opportunity to dance, in comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, and without having to worry about how much you sweat! You will actually be glad you are breaking a sweat, it means you are getting a workout & burning calories! Plus, you may learn some steps that you can use on the dance floor at the next wedding, Quinceanera, or party!

Have you taken a Zumba class before? Do you like Zumba as much as I do? I am even getting motivated and excited just writing this blog post!

Hugs,

Paola

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These are the Zumba DVDs I have at home! I have even taken the cardio DVD with me to San Francisco & Germany, so I could exercise while on vacation. I need to exercise and be active, even on vacation – after a few days I get the need to exercise, otherwise I start to feel lethargic and tired!

Note: As with other exercise, you should check with your physician before starting a new work out routine, to ensure it is appropriate exercise for your level of health.

Today’s Look Feeling Red

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Red is in and so are skinny jeans and tapered pants!  I found some work appropriate skinny pants in red and matched them with a white cotton wrap around blouse, black wedges, and silver with black accessories.  I am enjoying the warm summer weather, and dressing with lighter and more comfortable clothes.Loving summertime!

Are you rocking the skinny pants look? What do you match them with? Share your fashion tips with me!

Español: El color rojo y los pantalones al cuerpo “skinny” están de moda. Encontré unos pantalones “skinny” rojos apropiados que me puedo poner para el trabajo, los combine con una blusa blanca de algodón, zapatos de tacón corrido, y accesorios negro con plateado. Estoy disfrutando el clima cálido del verano y vistiendome con atuendos mas frescos y cómodos. Me encanta el verano!

Estas usando “skinny” jeans o pantalones? Como los combinas? Comparte tus sugerencias conmigo!

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Pants: Calvin Klein, Macy’s; Blouse: Banana Republic; Shoes: Steve Madden; Bracelets: Coach & Tiffany & Co.; Ring: mesh style, Tiffany & Co.; Necklace & earrings: black onyx, gift from Lola; Sunglasses: Prada; Purse: Louis Vuitton

Here’s a pic from earlier today, in the track room at the station recording a VO (voice-over) for a television commercial. This is one of the “fun” parts of my job! I get to work with a wonderful team of producers and editors!

Español: Les comparto una foto que tomamos temprano en la televisora, estoy grabando el audio de un guión para un anuncio televisivo. Esta es una de las partes “divertidas” de mi trabajo! Tengo la buena fortuna de trabajar con un equipo maravilloso de productores y editores!

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Happy Tuesday!

Feliz martes!

Un abrazo,

Paola

Today’s Look: Going Green

This is the outfit I put together for today. I love this green skirt, it’s easy to mix & match. I’ve worn it with white, blue, yellow, beige, and black. I usually do not wear sleeveless blouses during weekdays, but the weather has been warm, and at work I wore a cardigan over it. I also keep a few suit jackets at work and put them on for meetings – and have them handy for unplanned shoots. I am hardly ever too casual at work, I have to be ready to go on-air in a few minutes in case of an unplanned shoot or for breaking news (both have happened to me before), or attend a press conference or event at the last minute. Those suit jackets I keep at work have come in handy on a several occasions! Today is a perfect example, Nelly Cervantes was at the station for an interview with my colleague, Claudia LLausas, and we took behind the scenes pictures in the studio which were posted on the station’s Azteca San Diego Facebook page.

I worked late tonight and it was dark outside by the time I got home. My apology if the pictures are not as bright as when I take them outside, these were taken inside when I arrived at home.

Here’s the look without the cardigan:

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With the cardigan:

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These are two of the “behind the scenes” pictures we took at the station today:

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Cardigan sweater: 14th & Union, Nordstrom; Blouse: New York & Company; Skirt: Worthington, JcPenney (bought this in San Francisco, a friend recommended I check-out the “new JcPenney”, they did have some fashionable pieces); Shoes: Gucci; Belt: Ann Taylor (one of my favorite items, I wear this belt about once a week, love it!); Bracelet: Forever 21

Do you keep any “just in case” suit jackets, sweaters, shoes, or other clothing items at work?  What do you wear on these warm, summer days to stay cool? Share your summer outfit ideas with me.

Hugs,

Paola