Tory Burch Riding Boots, J.Crew Gallery Tees, Lace Peplum Top and Sparkly Things

Happy New Year!  I've been very, very behind with blogging and pictures.

Here are some of the favorite things I'm wearing now and/or recent holiday gifts.

I am obsessed with Tory Burch boots lately.  In November, I got a pair of Bristol Riding boots in coconut.  They look great with jeans, leggings, pencil skirts - you name it.  I wanted a pair of black boots as well.  I tried the Tory Burch Kiernan Riding Boot in Black (see side by side below with my Bristol).  I didn't think I should get two pair so soon, but really wanted them.


Luckily, I got the the for Christmas!   Now my Bristol boots have a new friend!

I love the gift boxes and bags from Tory Burch:

I love them both so much.  I can't decide which ones I love more.  I think it depends on the day and outfit!

Tory Burch Kiernan Riding Boot

Tory Burch Bristol Riding Boot

The Bristol Riding boots look great with the J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer Beaded Tweed.  This is my favorite blazer.  I love at the tweed and collar.

Speaking of J.Crew, I got the Lace Peplum Top and love it.  I copied this look for New Year's Eve at the Space Needle with the top, black minnies (substituted the flates with my Black Tory Burch Kiernan Riding boots):

I'm also a fan of the new gallery tees from J.Crew.

I got the Hugo Guinness for J.Crew "Blah Blah Blah" Linen Tee.  I wore mine like Nicky Hilton did below.  I paired it with j.crew black minnies and flats.

I love this tee. I paired it with a a cashmere cardigan and J.Crew cerise bouquet-dot wool scarf.

I also got the J.Crew Hello Tee.  I haven't wore it yet and need to come up with some ideas for it.

J.Crew Hello Tee

Did you take advantage of any of the after Christmas sales?  I did and got the Darby glitter loafers.  I got them 40% off at $39.99.  I love some good sparkle.  Plus, these are super comfy.  I love these shoes.  I try to find any excuse to wear them, including less practical ones like walking the dog.

J.Crew Glitter Darby Loafers 

Speaking of sparkly things, I got the J.Crew Pear Bracelet on sale for $24.99.  I love this bracelet.

J.Crew Pear Bracelet

This bracelet is so much fun.  I have it on with the OPI color Honk if You Love OPI, which is more dark purple, but darker than I normally wear.

What are some of your favorite things?

J.Crew 2012 Black Friday Holiday Shopping

Happy Thanksgiving!  I did some pre-Black Friday shopping yesterday.  I went to J.Crew at Pacific Place on Wednesday and took advantage of the in store 30% off for cardholders. Score!

I got the polka-dot sequin top on sale for $70 with the additional 30% off:

I love, love, love it.  Did you know it's black and not navy?  That was a surprise from the catalog and online.  This will be great for the holidays.  The sequins are placed well and the polka dots are not obnoxious.  It fits true to size, perhaps a bit short with low-waisted jeans.  This will be fun layered or on it's own with jeans, cafe capri, pencil skirts - lots of options.

Here it is in real life:

Here it is with a chambray shirt, bright dahlia capri pants and Tory Burch Wedges in an awkward pose:

J.Crew Keeper Chambray

Here's how I will style it with items I own:

Polka-dot Sequin Top by handbagaficionado featuring skinny jeans

I must have been on a polka-dot kick, because I also got the Gabby Top in Dot for $62.99 after the Black Friday 30% discount:

In real life (my 13 year old daughter took this - we were being silly and posing.  She told me to "work it" and this is my sad attempt).  I paired it with an old chartreuse Halogen cardigan from Nordstrom (this is a great quality cardigan that was quite a bargain for under $10.  I've got plenty of use out of it in the last 2-3 years):

J.Crew Gabby Top in Dot - silly pose

I also got Colorblocked Infinity Snood in store item only (#ED2014).   After the 30% Black Friday discount, I got it for $24.49 (it was $55)!  This scarf is gorgeous.  I had to have this scarf.  It will go with so many things I own.

(My boatneck tee and my J.Crew Crystal necklace under)

Beautiful shades of orange, red, pink and purple

Underneath I had one one of my Painter Boatneck Tee with Gold Snap - they are in store for $17.49.  I now have navy, modern red, grape and neon pink.  They are great for layering or on their own.  I saw black in store but not in my size.  I will be on the lookout.

Here it is with the J.Crew Excursion Quilted Vest in candied cherry.  I love this vest and wear it a lot.  I want one in pink and navy now:

Do you plan to take advantage of the Black Friday sales?

Blog Break - I'll be back very soon...

I've taken a bit of an unexpected blog break (my beautiful mother passed away when I was in London for work, flew back to the states to be with my kids and husband in Seattle then we traveled to Ohio for the funeral, etc.  It's been a hectic few weeks and I am glad to be back in my home).  Then Christmas came a couple of days later, etc. and I've spent time much needed time with my family. My plan for the new year is to get back in the groove before I go back to to work end of week, respond to comments and check out what I've been missing, and post some things I got for Christmas.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Happy Holidays!

What a busy month!  Work, travel, shopping, wrapping presents...


I did a lot of Christmas shopping online and in stores.  I stopped in J.Crew and bought a couple of sweatshirts for my son and husband and had to get a few things for me.  Hey, it was 30% off with a $150 purchase.   How could I pass that up?

I  got two beautiful wool wraps shown below.   I love this scarf, but now I am trying to figure out what I should wear with it.  There are so many color options, I know, but I'm still pondering.  Let me know if you have ideas.

I also bought the Vintage cotton traversa-stripe tank for myself:

I love Navy.  Now I need a nice cardi or jacket to go with it.  Any suggestions?  I also tried on the Vento Tunic in Small, but didn't love it.  I passed on it.

I also got my J.Crew order with the Lodge Puffer Jacket and Tissue Drape Tee.  It's the best of both worlds with silk and cotton:  the silk makes it polished in the front, and cotton makes it comfy in the back and sleeves.

Tuesday evening by Handbag Aficionado featuring j crew necklaces

We went to Ohio before Christmas to visit family, then returned to Seattle a couple of days before Christmas.  My son got the flu, and was felt pretty bad Christmas Eve, then we made a trip to Urgent Care on  Christmas Day.  He's feeling better now.  Other than that, the kids had a nice Christmas.  

For Christmas, my husband and the kids got me perfume, Apple Airport Express, a beautiful Coach Handbag (seen below)

 and a Coach Signature Messenger bag in Plum.  I'm usually not a fan of signature anything (Coach, LV, Chanel), but this plum color is a so fun compared to my leather tan and black laptop bags:

Check out the Coach Leopard Shoes!  I went to Nordstrom Rack and found these shoes (I used the $50 off Groupon - it expires tomorrow 12/31, so if you have a Rack nearby, take advantage of it).  These were so cute, and since have an affinity toward leopard, I had to pick them up.  Grrr.....  

I also got a new Washer and Dryer.  I realize that makes me sound really old and boring, but clothes are an investment and it has a steam option!  Now I just need to figure out how to use it.

My big happy present is a trip to Maui in February.  We went last February and in August, and I am so excited to go back.  It's my happy place!  The skies here are gray now, so I am looking forward to warm weather.

I'm inspired by bright colors.  Here's a pic of me with one of my new wool scarves.  BTW - I took this at work in the ladies restroom.  I had a lady walk in a few seconds after I took the iphone pic.  That would have been incredibly embarrassing and awkward.  :)  The top is the Muse Tank in Heirloom Pink  with a Halogen cardigan very similar to the J.Crew one in style and quality, but I got this on sale for $12.99! Woo-hoo!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Holiday Shopping Adventures

I decided I couldn't resist some pre-game black Friday shopping with J.Crew's 25% off purchases of $150 or more. Seattle got hit with a big snowstorm, so I've worked from home for two days while Madison's been out of school. We both had cabin fever! My son Dylan is in from college for Thanksgiving break and we all went to

Bellevue Square. After going to Zumiez with Dylan and Justice for Girls with Madison to hit their holiday sales, and I went to J.Crew.

I tried on so many things in J.Crew that the Sales Associate (who seemed new, since I seemed to know more about what they had than she did) innocently asked "Wow, are you buying a new wardrobe?" I said,"No, adding to the existing one, since I can't pass up a good sale." I was too embarrassed to admit that I went through this ritual a month ago. :)

I ended up with the Infinity Cardigan in black, Muse Tank (both pictured), Merino Boyfriend Sweatshirt in lilac (I love it - want another in another color), another Coralie Cami (in cream, I have one in Iris) and another pearl necklace that I don't need but had to have another (cream this time, I have windsor grey which I love) at J.Crew. It was funny, there was one Merino Boyfriend Sweatshirt left in medium. I saw it and picked it up and there was a lady nearby headed in that direction. She asked me if I was going to try it on, I said yes, and she waited around while I tried it on, because if I didn't want it, she wanted it. (It was fabulous, too bad for her, but I wasn't letting go, even though she cased the dressing room). The Sales Associate offered to call the other stores but this lady seemed committed to what I had picked up. I was wearing my J.Crew sequin sweatshirt walking out of the dressing room, and the lady came back and asked the sales associate to find her the sweatshirt I was wearing. The sales associate had no idea what she was talking about, but I did, and showed her at the front of the store where they were. Why can't I commission as a helpful customer? :)

I also picked up some Stila products at Sephora. I tried on jeans and tops at Nordstrom, didn't see anything I loved (shocking, I know), so I will try the downtown store. I didn't see anything at Ann Taylor or Banana Republic that caught my eye, either.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my family on Thanksgiving, some more shopping on Black Friday. Amazon has some great deals online (my cart is waiting to be clicked!) and I got a $50 Groupon for Nordstrom Rack (for $25, couldn't pass it up). I saw some Cole Haan boots at the Rack on Sunday for a sweet deal. If they are still there, then it was meant to be. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Holiday Shopping Adventures, Part #1 by Handbag Aficionado featuring j crew tops

Women - merino - Long merino cardigan - J.Crew
$90 - jcrew.com
J crew tops »

Citizens of Humanity Kelly boot cut jeans
$170 - net-a-porter.com
Citizens of humanity jeans »

Cole Haan Air Talia Pump Dark Chocolate Suede - Zappos.com Free...
$198 - zappos.com
Cole haan pumps »

Sydney Metallic Leather Shoulder Flap
$798 - coach.com
Metallic handbags »

J. Crew Pearl cobblestone necklace - pearl
$98 - jcrew.com
Pearls jewelry »

Amazon.com: CHINA GLAZE `Tis the Season Holiday 2010 Collection Phat...
$3.28 - amazon.com

stila cosmetics -category: lips >> lip glaze & gloss
$25 - stilacosmetics.com

J.Crew - Search
$60 - jcrew.com

stila cosmetics - search: dramatic eye
$15 - stilacosmetics.com





PS.  Here it is on.  (PS- the shirt looks bunched and wrinkled the way I have my hands on my waist,  but you get the idea).  Tying it a bit more seems to work better, which i didn't do in my picture, but the J.Crew model did). 

J.Crew Infinity Cardigan
J.Crew Muse Tank
J.Crew Pearl Cobblestone Necklace