Viva Las Vegas!

After our 5 days in California we headed for the 2nd half of our vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada. My husband was officially there for an international real estate conference and I was there "unofficially" for some shopping and relaxing, as well as, spending some one on one time with the love of my life :)  Mission accomplished - for both of us!  Plus we fit in some really great sight seeing, incredible meals and some fun with friends that we met up with while in Vegas. 

It was a total of 10 days away from home....it was the longest time we had left all 4 kids behind, but it was a recharge that was very appreciated. I love that after 20 years together Derek and I both still enjoy being together as much as we do :)  

I tried to make sure to document my OOTD each day for my blog (and my lovely readers!). I am also fitting in a few shots of some fun things we enjoyed while there. 

So here you go:

~ Just minutes (literally!) after checking in we headed downstairs for our dinner reservations with friends at Wolfgang Puck's in the MGM ~

~ Here is what the outfit was that I wore out to dinner (above) in full view. So sorry about the grainy pics....we forgot our digital SLR camera and had to rely solely on iPhone cameras :( ~

Outfit details:

Pants: Alice and Olivia via Kyle by Alene Too in Beverly Hills (new purchase - LOVE the fit of these pants...super comfortable, sexy and flattering *now on sale* you can get your's here!)

Top: Double v-neck sequin sleeve sweater via White House Black Market (new purchase)

Bag: Steve Madden (old)

Sandals: Michael Kors via purchase from fashion show (current/new season)

Watch: Michael Kors 

Bracelet (right wrist): Silver and crystal "Jewels by Dunn" arrow bangle via Kyle by Alene Too store in Beverly Hills

Bracelet (right wrist):  white gold, yellow gold and rose gold multi-bangle purchased in a boutique in La Jolla (new)

Necklace: Stella & Dot (old)

This was a day that I spent shopping and in the spa (I was n the spa that day from 2-6pm...it was incredible!!).

Outfit details:

Barcelona Long Jacket via Eva Varro  (current season)

Perfect Form City Pant via White House Black Market (current season)

Black peep toe wedges via American Eagle (old!)

Zebra knit Jersey Top via White House Black Market (current season)

Francesco Biasia bag/clutch

(Same jewelry combo as above with the exception of the necklace)

~Pics above are from our visit to the Venetian Hotel. This was our first time visiting this hotel and it was AMAZING!  We had dinner at the Bellagio this evening as well and just enjoyed a really nice romantic evening out together :) ~

Outfit Details:

Barcelona Long Jacket via Eva Varro

Faux Leather Leggings via Mango

Crown Vintage Suede Booties via DSW

Gianni Bini Trixie Zigzag Blouse via Fashion Show purchase

(same jewelry selection as above - afterall I was out of town and only brought a few key pieces! ;)

~ Last morning of our 10 day vacation! Little bit sad and a little bit exciting....we were both really missing the kids and anxious to get back to them. So this was my comfy "plane ride home" outfit. The top is new - just picked it up in Beverly Hills at Kyle Richard's store, "Kyle by Alene Too" along with a few other great pieces I was happy to make room for in my suitcase!  I was anxious to check out the store and it was really great. Loved many of the styles and brands she carries and the women/girls working there were super sweethearts!~

Outfit Details:

Esprit Khaki Jacket via TJ Maxx

Express Animal print infinity scarf

Express classic black leggings

Cashmere blend tunic by Twenty via Kyle by Alene Too

Zara Riding boots

Sunnies by Coach

Thank you all for continuing to check out my blog and I really appreciate all the great feedback and comments more than you know! 

XO

Jessy 

Bye Bye California! (OOTD)

We had an amazing time in Southern California, as usual, even though this was the chilliest weather we had experienced there (60-70's).  I LOVE 70 degrees so it really worked out well for me overall and I was able to pull out some more spring type styles after leaving the frigid temps of home (Cincinnati) behind!

I have tried to remember to take pics of at least most of my outfits while in California. I had to take advantage of taking self portraits in my hotel room mirrors in the spirit of saving time and not forgetting to do it later so I apologize for the lack of good quality shots! I hope you will find some inspiration in them somewhere anyway :)

 Terrible pic - sorry! This was a late dinner at Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills.

Blazer: Eva Varro Barcelona jacket

Jeans: I.N.C. black skinny jeans

Boots: Corwn Vintage via DSW

Button up shirt: via Banana Republic

(we had spent the day traveling the PCH and stopping at beach towns - Laguna, Newport, Huntington, etc) so this was a quick change in the car before heading into dinner!

I rarely get dessert - not because I am "good", but because there isn't much I like for dessert usually when we go out. Villa Blanca had a classic chocolate lava cake with ice cream - perfection!  It was perfect and I followed it up with a great cup of coffee. :)

Spent the next day shopping in Santa Monica and finished with dinner in West Hollywood at SUR. It was Oscars night so it was a fun night to be out. We spent the first hour and a half in the lounge at the bar watching the Oscars before heading in for our dinner reservations at 9pm. It

These two pics are from shopping and then our hike up to the Hollywood sign. The last pic is shows my outfit for dinner (although it looks much the same as the rest of the day - it was different!)

For shopping and hiking (below and above):

Studded Shoulder top via Forever 21 (recent)

Jeans: I.N.C. (recent)

Leather Jacket: Steve Madden (old)

Bow Flats: Rocket Dog (I did change into sneakers for the hike! ;)

And dinner below:

 For dinner I did change:

Faux Leather pants: Mango

Top: Mango

Boots: Crown Vintage via DSW

Leather Jacket: Steve Madden (old)

Studded Clutch: Steve Madden (old)

Our final morning we spent in Beverly Hills shopping before heading out to Las Vegas. 

Outfit Details (for above):

Pattern ankle pants: Old Navy (new)

White v-neck tee: Ralph Lauren (old)

Blue faux Leather Jacket: Forever 21 (recent)

Bow Flats: Rocket Dog via DSW (recent)

Bag: Francesco Biasia (new)

We are now enjoying Vegas and I am writing you this from my room in the MGM Grand. My husband is in a conference for the afternoon so I have a couple of hours before getting ready to head out to dinner and a show tonight. I need the downtime!

 I did however just attend an amazing fashion show to benefit Susan G. Komen and of course came away purchasing a new outfit (Gianni Bini - which I adore). After seeing it on the runway I had to take it back with me...look for that in a post soon! 

I hope everyone is having a great week and I look forward to reading in comments :)

XO

Jessy 

California in Pictures #2

2nd morning in San Diego we got up early and took a morning run. It was so beautiful - and I loved seeing all the dozens of runners on the boardwalk - so inspiring!

After our run we headed out to breakfast at this incredible little neighborhood gem called Isabel's Catina. The food was seriously beyond incredible! They boasted all organic and natural ingredients and locally grown/farmed. I will dream about the cinnamon bread I had there for a long time, I am certain!

Above: this was my OOTD and my choice to go walking around and shopping in La Jolla after breakfast. I just loved the pop of bright blue :)

Jeans: I.N.C. (via Macy's - current)

Shoes: Mix no.6 (DSW - current clearance)

Tee: Old Navy perfect scoop neck (in stores now)

Scarf: Etsy 

Blazer: Just Ginger (via TJ Maxx - old)

Sunnies: Coach (current)

Bag: Coach (past season)

Our server snapped a quick pic of us with all our incredible food!  Oh yeah, the coffee - it was also incredible!!!  I do love a great cup of coffee :)

This croissant was incredible, as well. Inside was a tomato, spinach and onion omelet. If we had been at home I could have taken part of this "to go" and would have eaten on it for the next 2 days!  I was so sad to leave so much of it behind :(

The rest of the day we spent in La Jolla shopping and on La Jolla beach (and Seal Beach).  It was absolutely beautiful. We look forward to going back again some time. 

 (Shopping in La Jolla) I picked up this great bag in La Jolla on Prospect Avenue. It's Italian designer Francesco Biasia.  I have been carrying it this week and have gotten so many compliments and women stopping me to ask where I got it. I am not really a fan of yellow in general, but I like the pop of color and it just feels so "spring like"right now :)

(Seal Beach)

The following morning we headed up the coast. We stopped in Dana Point, lunch in Laguna and then shopping and massages in Huntington Beach before heading inland for dinner at Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills. After dinner we headed to Riverside to my husband's sister's house and to start "wave 2" of our So Cal/Vegas trip.  Everything has been so perfect thus far and we are now 6 days into our 10 day vacation. I will fill you in with some outfit posts, shopping hauls and fun dinners out in the next few posts when I get time.  As I am typing this we are on the 15 North heading into Vegas for "wave 3" (the final part) or our fantastic trip!  

I miss my kids so much, but my husband and I are really having such a great time together and just being able to connect as Derek and Jessica and husband and wife instead of our typical "mom" and "dad" alter egos has been so nice ;)

XO

Jessy 

San Diego in Pictures!

So my husband and I are enjoying a beautiful getaway in California right now. We started in San Diego staying in La Jolla and Pacific Beach before driving north to visit our family and orange county area. 

We started off by picking up our convertible for the next 2 weeks at the airport and then heading out to Phil's BBQ for lunch (we were told on good authority that this was the BBQ place to eat around here). 

 I still can't believe we ate all that food (okay well alot of it anyway! ;)  10 hrs in and out of flights and airports had us work up quite an appetite!

From there we headed out to some gorgeous San Diego beaches........

 My gorgeous husband :)

 Our beautiful San Diego sunset on the first night in CA :)

 Our beautiful rooftop deck at our hotel, Tower23. Our 2nd floor room's outdoor patio walked out onto this rooftop deck overlooking the ocean/beach.  

Roof top deck during the daytime hours (pic taken from our private patio)

More pics to follow! 

XO
Jessy 

{OOTD} Target

We had a quick warm-up here this past week (yes, with snow still on the ground!) we hit 50 degrees - even if we did start out at 30 something (hence the wool coat in the a.m.) - and I took advantage by wearing a lightweight and fun skirt! You may have last seen it in this post.

So this entire outfit is really largely for Target - totally unplanned! 

Skirt (Target - recent)

Shoes (Target - last fall)

Cami (Target - old)

T-shirt (Express - old)

Blazer (TJ Maxx - old)

Sunnies (Coach)

Wool Tie Waist Coat (Target - this season)

Scarf (Target - old)

Watch (Michael Kors)

Bracelet (made by a friend of mine as a gift for me)

Earrings (Stella & Dot Pippa Stone Earrings)

Bag (Steve Madden)

XO

Jessy

LOVE....it's just that simple!

Today my new bedroom furniture came...not my bed, but the order has been placed and it will be here in about a month! In the meantime I a totally in love with all my new "girlie" bedroom furniture (and my husband even said he likes it :) - even if it surrounds my mattresses on the floor - ha!

I also completely adore my new dress form mannequin that I picked up to go with my beautiful new bedroom! In preparation for my fun Valentine's Day I "dressed up" my mannequin with the cute sweater I bought last week from Target. I will wear it to the school for my kid's Valentine's parties and then out to see Safe Haven with my mom-in-love before heading home for dinner with my family and then off to my oldest son's Valentine basketball scrimmage. What a fun day indeed spent with all my "loves"!  

The roses on my nightstand were the ones that my husband gave me at my birthday dinner the other night :)

I haven't been able to move this gorgeous door chest to it's final resting spot in my room, but I still wanted to get a pic of it included here! Along with this piece we have the matching dresser and night stands...just can't wait to see the finished room when my custom made tufted upholstered bed makes it into the picture :) 

Soooo do you have any plans to celebrate love today?  What does your Valentine's day look like?

Whatever you do tomorrow or don't do I hope that you it is a day full of love for each one of you! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

XO

Jessy 

Sweet Dreams.....

I have been shopping for new bedroom furniture for the last month and it has been so much harder than I thought to find what I really want (or think I want!).

I have known from the beginning that I want an upholstered bed and light wood or painted furniture. Maybe it's influenced by having 3 son's and my husband in the home - everything seems so masculine! I decided my bedroom will be feminine, soft and fresh.....a place for sweet dreams :)

Here are a few pieces that I have been drooling over for the last few weeks:

Okay, so you get the idea. I think I have literally looked at every furniture store within an hour drive of my house in any direction and have even checked out on line options (although that scares me too much since I can't see it in person and know that I love it, it's the right scale, feel, etc.). 

Looking forward to eventually having furniture in my room so I can get my mattresses up off the floor (sold my previous furniture about a month ago) and my sweaters and jeans back into drawers! 

What about your bedrooms? Any dream furniture? I would love to hear about it!

XO 

Jessy