Business travel

So I'm super-d-duper excited because on Thursday I'm going on a business trip. Read: free trip to the US, land of Target and malls galore! I was a tad disappointed when my boss sent me the itinerary as it doesn't leave much time at all for shopping. But a little and that's all I need can afford.

Today I decided to go through my closet because I was having a tough time thinking of what I could pack. Well for once it wasn't a case of memory loss. I really have nothing to take that I'm happy with. First of all I have to take weather into consideration. It's a little cooler in Florida so I can't exactly dress up some of my summery dresses. Second of all I haven't done much shopping for chic items in a long time. The single item I pulled out is a winter white trench with lavender lining that I got at Benetton in London 5 years ago. How depressing. And Im working in fashion retail. Double whammy. I've got to come up with 2 traveling outfits a meeting outfit and a post-meeting outfit. I'm sooooo tempted to scout out the local shops but I'll end up spending a fortune. It's really bugging me.

At first I didn't even have a "look" in mind. I went to visit Chloe (that girl knows how to dress!) and did get some inspiration. Thanks Chloe!

Tomorrow I just may embark on a hunt. Any suggestions from savvy & chic business travelers out there?

BTW this will be my first trip away from my kids. Only 2 nights. I'm looking forward to it but I know, at the same time, my heart will be aching.

And if you are wondering what I wear to work normally - we are still at a pre-opening stage. So I can wear pretty much whatever to our temp office. Our first deliveries should arrive next week from which my work wardrobe comes.

Hope you had a lovely weekend - I did!

Elle :)

I'm so happy

I could explode! Here's why:

About 15 years ago (holy moly has it really been THAT long?!?!) my husband's (then boyfriend's) cousin started dating a lovely Danish girl. She & I got along like 2 peas in a pod. The 4 of us did stuff together every weekend for a few years pretty much. Dinners out, movies in, travelled, etc.. We became best of friends. Then they got married and had a baby and it changed a bit, but not much. They moved abroad, came back, had another baby. I finally joined the baby club about the same time they decided it was time to move abroad again. She & the kids left when my first child was about a week old. That was a little over 4 years ago. Well this past summer they split. Things got pretty crazy for them. We understood but were so sad. You know they were the couple you thought would be together forever. Then the slander started. The can you believe she did this and he said that? I wondered if I'd ever be able to visit my best friend again. You know when family is involved it gets even stickier. Well tonight we got a call from them. They are BACK TOGETHER!! Hooray! They are planning to come visit this summer and I'm just so stinkin thrilled I had to share it with you. I love it when love wins.

:) :) :) Elle :)

Kate, you're killing me!!!

I was getting a little bored doing Play-Doh "sand art" with Miss S.

As it goes, I often do a little blog surfing when I get bored and don't have other more pressing things to do. Ok, who am I kidding, there are obviously more pressing things to do but sometimes I just don't feel like it.... Well I found

Chloe. She captured me in an instant. I love the David Yurman heart necklace and I read on. Read on to find some fabulous discount codes and a super chic gal with some lovely "outfits of the day". Her Kate Spade discount code led me to do a very dangerous and ill-advised thing: I headed to KateSpade.com to see if there was anything on my imaginary wish list that a 20% discount would justify. I fell in love, once again.

With this

and these!

Kate! Please, stop. Every time I go on your website I am soooo tempted. Which really means you are doing your job but it's not helping me one bit.

So Chloe inspired me, because I thought it was hilarious (my attire in comparison, not the concept!), to post my very own outfit of the day. I couldn't figure out the self timer on my 2 month old camera so I had to resort to the photo in the mirror. Taken in Miss S's room.

Polo, Lacoste. Shorts, J Crew.

Oh and flip flops (taken whilst trying to figure out the darn self timer) Havaianas.

Tres chic!!

Elle :)

I'm crushed!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm a big fan of the Yonka line. It is my facial cleansing routine. These products won me over a few years ago mostly for one reason: they smell fabulous. This is the one splurge I have allowed myself to continue as a stay-at-home mom. The products are on the pricey side, but they do last for a while.

So I recently ran out of my regular moisturizer (Creme PS, still love it) and my local day spa was out of stock. Since I had several sample sized moisturizers, I decided I would use the samples as they would surely last until the next shipment arrived. Now usually anti-aging products don't work well for me. Especially if they contain fruit acids - my skin gets all prickly. But as I had a few anti-aging samples I thought I'd give them a try. Much to my surprise - there was only a slight twinge of the prickly feeling upon application and then it completely disappeared. But in no time, I noticed a difference in my skin. It felt softer and smoother. I had a change of heart and instantly requested the Fruitelia moisturizer. A few days later the product was in and ready for my collection - the bill: the equivalent of about US$89. I thought there must've been a mistake. My regular moisturizer usually sets me back about 40ish dollars. So she must've had both products put aside for me. WRONG! I struggled with it a bit and then thought "oh what the heck - it amounts to cents a day" and bought it. (Don't you wish you had a twin sometimes for these experiments? Ok twin #1 - you use the $6 moisturizer and I'm going to use the $60 moisturizer and lets see where we are in 10 years... ) Well that was on Saturday and today.....it fell off the shelf in the bathroom and smashed on the floor. I thought I might cry! Why the glass bottle?!? I'm kind of torn. I don't know if I should bite the bullet and buy another bottle, replace it with my other cheaper Yonka moisturizer or attempt to use the cream I scooped up off the (clean) bathroom floor and placed in the plastic container. Yes, with the latter option I am running the risk of spreading glass shards on my face... it sounds horribly foolish. Don't you just hate it when things like this happen?

You may be wondering how the bottle fell off the shelf and I'll tell you. It was totally my fault. My little boy had just stepped on the scale and we were doing a little celebratory dance because he's back up to his pre-stomach virus weight of 22 pounds. In our craziness I managed to swing him around in just the right way to knock a few things off the shelf. Only one being glass.

*sigh*

Elle :/

PS - To end on a brighter note. My friend is treating me to a "Thai massage" & a pedi tomorrow. Apparently they give you some type of loose clothing to wear during this type of massage. Sounds interesting.

Changing the subject...

There's going to be a little of that going on because I haven't posted in a few days...

First off I hate to report that we still have pesky viruses attacking my kids. It's been bang-bang-bang this year. Runny noses and coughs barely phase me these days. Overall we are all doing pretty well.

On to American football. I'm minutely pleased that the team I was pulling for won the Super Bowl. Frankly I don't have much interest in the sport. For the life of me I cannot understand the game. Even with the fancy yellow lines they stick in electronically these days. I've lived in a family of sports lovers my whole life. It just isn't in me. I aced (ok maybe a B) Trigonometry, Calculus and Statistics in my high school days, but the rules and game play of American football are completely beyond me. I do enjoy the Super Bowl for one reason: snacks. It's like the Thanksgiving of snacks. And I like it when a newcomer wins. I needed no further info than the Colts have been to the Super Bowl before and won (I think) and the Saints had never been to know that I was pulling for the Saints.

On to Kate Spade.

Dear Kate, I wish I could afford to adorn myself in your label. I trust other labels in my price range will have similar items in their Spring offering. I know it's not quite the same but it will have to do. I do find it quite interesting that your handbag prices are not, in my opinion, crazy expensive. Though I'm sad to report I don't own a single one.

P.S. I'd love to know where I might find your Outlet.

I mean seriously - I love this outfit. I don't need to be fancy.

{via Kate Spade.com}

And how lovely is this? Living on an island and all - it's so nice it's not cliche´.

{via Kate Spade.com}

I really should stop stalking her website. It's just a wicked thing to do to myself.

Subject change #3.

I'm getting excited about my job. I think I can totally handle the hours and I know it'll be fun. I am admittedly worried about the whole "getting vacation time approved" again. My dreams of summers in Europe have been tossed out the window. And let's not even talk about the subject of December holidays in the retail world. But heck, I'm going to give it a shot. And I couldn't have picked a nicer boss. For now I'm working a few hours here and there till the shop is ready to open which should be in late March. Then I'll be a regular. I let you know how it goes.

Well I guess I better get back to the laundry. Before I have to turn the dryer on another 5x to get the wrinkles out.

I'm going out for Sushi tonight - yum. What have you been up to??

Elle :)