Thanksgiving & LOFT Pearlized Gem 3/4 Sleeve Dress

HBD, JET!

Fashion Fundamental: A chic little blazer; I never used to be a big blazer gal, but I am definitely one now.  They just add so much polish and style to your look.

Last weekend, I rocked this look to my nephew's second birthday.  I can't believe he's already TWO!  In some ways, time has absolutely flown by and he's grown so quickly -- suddenly he's a walking, talking machine...  on the other hand, it's like JET's always been a part of my life; hard to even remember how life was before he (and his sister) was born!

 I hope you're all doing well this week!


Brooch: Vintage | similar
Blazer: Nordstrom | similar
Top: Express | shop or similar without the pockets here
Jeans: Gap | shop
Shoes: JCrew | similar

An Apple a Day

Fashion Fundamental:   Down Vest

A puffy vest is essential to keep you warm during those chilly fall and winter days. I found this favorite at Crew, and what I really appreciate about this piece is it's versatility. You can add this to any look as it adds warmth without the bulk.

Have you busted out your winter coats, yet?

Headband: JCrew | similar
Vest: JCrew | shop
Shirt: JCrew | similar
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | shop
Jeans: Sweetheart Jean, Old Navy | shop
Shoes: L.L. Bean | shop

Ailyn & JET's outfit details here.

Jane & JET Take the Apple Orchard

Going to the apple orchard is absolutely one of my favorite autumnal activities. My family visits every year, and it's something I always look forward to.

This is JET's second visit to the orchard, but this time around, he's old enough to enjoy all it has to offer.  This time next year, JET will have a little sister to romp around with! :D

Fashion Fundamental: Denim Jacket

Necklace: JCrewlet | similar
Shirt: JCrew | similar - Zooey apparently love this too!
Pants: Target | shop - last seen here
Flats: Nine West | similar
Jacket: Gap | shop

JET
Jeans: Polo Kids | shop
Shoes: Puma | shop

New City + New Photos

I spent this crisp fall day serving as photographer for my brother.

Moving to a new city is fantastic because you get to try out new restaurants and discover amazing nooks here and there. As part of my exploration, I invited my family up for a weekend in the new city to help me try some new things. Chil & Michelle had some fun with some much needed family photos. 

The Midwest, no matter where you are, is getting legit --- cold! I'm digging out the sweaters and trying to strategize on how to keep warm for the rest of the fall/winter! How's your fall going?

Fashion Fundamental: Riding Boots

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | shop

Shoes: BP Runway Boots, Nordstrom | shop

Jeans: Old Navy | similar

Jacket: Harbourne, Burberry | similar

Sweater: Banana Republic | similar

Earrings: Kate Spade | similar

Linked up at the Pleated Poppy.

2012 Chicago Half-Marathon

This past weekend I completed my very first half marathon! It was hard awesome running along Lake Michigan. Good thing I had my favorite four-toothed fan to cheer me on! I specifically wore my highlighter brights so he wouldn't miss me at the finish line.

I upped my game from last year's 15 k and am thinking I may try a triathlon next year. What are you doing to stay fit & fly?



Top: Nike | shop
Bottom: Printed Woven Skort, Nike | shop
Shoes: Asics | shop

Weddings (and Children) with Swag

 

I rocked a new citron dress from Forever 21 to the wedding of a close family friend; see what Aili wore here.  For an outdoor wedding, flat sandals or wedges are a must.  I almost rocked a pair of black stilettos, but decided to switch to these flats at the last minute.  I'm so glad I did, otherwise I would have been sinking into the grass all evening.  Alas, my dance moves were safe and steady with these easy and pretty flats.

Someone else also brought his A-game to this outdoor bash.  JET was popular with the little ladies on the dance floor; must've been the layered look + summer appropriate plaid he was rocking.  

Do you love kids' clothes?  Then you should definitely check out Children With Swag. Little girls definitely have an advantage when it comes to style; their clothing is often a mini-version of an adult style with a few whimsical elements--like a bow or ruffle--but boys have footballs and monster trucks printed all over their onesies.

Ailyn

Earrings: So Good | similar

Blazer: Gibson | shop

Dress: F21 (recent) | similar

Clutch: Banana Republic (SS '11) | similar

Shoes: Winifred Braided Flat Sandal | shop

Nails: Complete Salon Manicure by Sally Hansen in Calypso Blue | shop

JET

Vest: Janie & Jack | similar in khaki

Shirt: H&M

Shorts: H&M | similar

Linked up at the Pleated Poppy & A Little Bit of Lacquer.

Crawfish Boil + Online Shopping Tips & Tricks

On Saturday, my family and I celebrated my nephew's first birthday with a extra delicious crawfish boil.  JET is turning 1 at the end of this week, and I can't believe he's already so big!

On an unrelated note, I wanted to confess that I am an online shopping junkie.  Actually, I much prefer shopping online to shopping in stores; I find it convenient, stress free, and available to me at any time; plus, everyone loves receiving mail.  There are some downsides to online shopping (no chance to try on or examine the item prior to purchase, item may not meet expectations, etc.), but overall, it's my favorite way to shop, and I wanted to share some of my best tips for shopping online with you.

Tips for Shopping Online

1. Shop through a cashback site.  Your credit card company or bank might offer cashback for purchasing through their shopping portal.  I've had a lot of success with Ebates & Mr. Rebates.  (Referral links. If you sign up for Ebates via this link, then we'll each receive $5 or a $10 giftcard.).  Last quarter alone, I received a check for $74.53 from Ebates, so needless to say, I'm a huge fan.

2. Never pay for shipping.  Reach the free ship minimum offered by many retailers by simply purchasing an extra item or two; I don't want to encourage mindless consumerism, but I'd much prefer to put my money towards a desired instead of shipping charges.

If you have a B&M store you can also choose the "ship to store" option, and the retailer will ship your items to your local brick and mortar store at no extra cost to you.  Plus, if you decide to return the items, then you are generally not refunded shipping fees.  Alternatively, you can look for free shipping codes at sites like FreeShipping.org.

Amazon.com also Amazon Prime accounts if you are an "Amazon Mom"; paid Amazon Prime accounts are $79/year.2. Keep in mind that everything (well, nearly everything) can be purchased at a discount.  Even high end items that never seem to go on sale, like Burberry trenches, Manolos, etc.

3. If you avoid online shopping because you're apprehensive about how things will fit, then consider shopping at retailers that provide hassle free returns at no cost to you.  And most retailers with B&M stores  (Gap Family of Stores, Macy's, Kohl's, Forever 21, Target, Lands' End, etc.) will process your returns in store. My favorite retailers that offer free returns include

- Nordstrom
- Zappos (1 year return policy)
- Endless (1 year return policy)
- Sephora (free returns, but free ship minimum is $50)

There is also a service called ShopRunner, which provides two-day shipping & returns for a few different retailers; this is a fairly new service, and my credit card company was offering card holders the opportunity to try a free one-year subscription.  I've used it a few times, and it works just fine, but I don't shop ShopRunner retailers frequently.  Check it out here, if you're interested and ShopRunner also offers a 30-day free trial.

4. Get discounts!  Nearly everything goes on sale or can be had at a discounted price--even those items that never seem to go on sale from Hunter boots to Manolos & Burberry coats.  The easiest way to get a discount are coupon codes.  In order to access these codes, you can do one or many of the following:

- Sign up to get e-mailed coupons to your favorite stores. 

- Or if you don't want junk mail sent to your account, then find a coupon code at sites like SlickDeals, RetailMeNot.com or Hip2Save.
- You can also check the social media sites of your favorite store.  Facebook pages and Twitter feeds often offer up exclusive deals & coupon codes.
- If you have a smart phone or tablet, then download your favorite store's apps.  Stores like H&M, Sephora, and many others offer exclusive promotions for customers that download their apps.

5. Use services like Savvy Circle or Sees the Sale to keep you updated on particular items that you're interested in.  Simply create a wishlist, and when items go on sale or are discounted, Savvy Cirle or Sees the Sale will send you an e-mail.

I hope you found that helpful, and please share your favorite shopping tips with us in the comments!

Happy Birthday Aili!

Wishing my Auntie Aili the very best of birthdays.

Love,

JET

Happy Lunar New Year!

We're celebrating with lots of amazing food, quality family time, and of course our lucky red envelopes! Cheers to the year of the dragon; we hope it's filled with luck, prosperity, and joy! Happy Chinese New Year! :D

Image via Nick Jr.'s Ni Hao Kai-Lan

Hot Chocolate 15k - Chicago Run

Can you spot Jane?

Finally...we've been waiting forever!

About a week ago I completed my first ever 15k! My brother was the driving force behind my success as he challenged and encouraged me to finish. 

My whole family came out to support me including my seven month year old nephew JET who has been featured in the blog a few times (JET 1, JET 2). The Hot Chocolate 15k was very cool as 8,000+ runners accompanied me around downtown Chicago. It was surreal and I still cannot believe I ran the whole thing.

Of course, I wanted to wear functional attire to the race, but fashion is always on the forefront and it can still be stylish. I've been checking out various gear for future runs and am excited about infusing a fashion flare into my sport activities. Onward runners! 

Top:  Under Armour

Skirt:  Eddie Bauer

Shoes:  Asics | shop

Gloves:  Nike

Music :  iPod Shuffle