Grown Up DPHIE Sister

I still love my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon! Our colors are purple and gold!

Tip of the Week

Some girls love shoes, handbags...I do too.  But at the end of the day the area of fashion that really makes my heart sing with joy is .......... JEWELRY.  I ere towards big bold ethnic pieces but I love monogrammed items and pearls as well.  I highly recommend you check out: Here a Chick, There a Chick.  Here is the facebook url
Here a Chick, There a Chick

" KL" the owner was a mommy friend of mine via Charlotte Mommies.  She now owns this lovely boutique and scours Estate Sales in the south to find artful, vintage treasures.  She holds Facebook style auctions and I am a devotee.  Her pieces are amazing and very fairly priced.

I love her items so much, I hesitated sharing.....  because now I will be fighting you during the auctions... smile... lol.  Artful jewelry and artful fashion is my great love.  What is yours?  Go enjoy it.  xoxoxoxox La Mommynista


Attached a picture of my first purchase for my 43rd birthday.


DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Baby Blue Baubles

Countdown to Vegas

So I while I'd rather not share when, in the not too distant future we are heading to Vegas for the final celebration of CP's milestone birthday. I bought these for one evening out... there. Sparkly, shiny, I adore thee!   They make me happy just looking at them.  Tre chic......Tarjay..  Looking at them brings me JOY.  Be happy and do something that makes you happy today.... xoxox La Mommynista, G   Dress is next. Stay tuned!

Easter 2012 Mommynista Syle

Easter 2012 Mommynista Syle by gigi-cc featuring wedge heel shoes

Topshop tee dress
$72 - topshop.com

Cap sleeve dress
$115 - modcloth.com

Dorothy Perkins nude shoes
$57 - dorothyperkins.com

Pumps
mercedeh-shoes.com

Polka dot bag
$28 - modcloth.com

Chanel logos jewelry
€1.289 - lindestore.com

Astley Clarke yellow gold jewelry
$795 - astleyclarke.com

Wedge heel shoes
wholesale-dress.net

My Tribe: The Girls of DPHIE SUNY OZ

I visited SUNY Oswego two weekends ago.  I have not been back to school in over 20 years.  I was not sure what to expect.. but these girly girls are my people.  We talked about all things girly, sequins clothing, hair products, faux eyelashes, nails, our husbands, our children, trips to Vegas.....diets, healthy eating etc.  I noticed a few very cool trends that I wanted to share.  I love my girls... they are my tribe of bling lovers!  Young and old... they are my tribe in many ways.  As you all are!


Trends from my visit:

Cool tees have always been a big deal in the college Greek World.   Additionally, I saw lots of really cute phone cases.




I am in love with all the cool fabric patterns the girls use for their letters.  I kind of live for anything LEOPARD!


Then of course, my roomates for the weekend were girls that I really adore!  Great girls on the inside as well as outside! Lovely Purple Irises each of you!



And let me not forget that one of my sisters wore these killer Faux Eyelashes that I am obsessed with now!

Sephora Collection false eyelash

Sephora Collection false eyelash

Mommy Uniform - Saturday Lunch with Family Visiting the Queen City

I had a wonderful family member come visit this past Saturday. I went uptown to meet her for lunch. My weekend Mommy Uniform is a blouse/jeans and accessories. I kind of live for accessories. My fave jewelry places are Stella & Dot, and Forever 21, and my mother's jewelry stash which I have to be very honest and say is AMAZING.

I love to look at Charm and Chain too GET READY TO GASP LOOK HERE
here

Although just for inspiration because they are out of my price range! The ring I am wearing is one of my current faves. It is an eco friendly ring. I believe the wood is made from some kind of sustainbly grown wood. I purchased it via CHARTREUSE. I love their products. Their non toxic cleaning products are great too.


groovy greenVintageUpcycledRing is here click here and it is 50% right now!

Friday Fun!

I love bags! If I had to pick my favorite fashion related item it would be jewelry, then clothing itself, bags, and shoes. Funny, because I know many girls who love shoes. I like them but am much more obsessed with baubles and clothing itself.

Here are some of my favorite bags of all time( in my closet). No particular order:


#1. Granny Bling: My mother gave me this one( well you know how that goes... I raid her closet!) A dear friend gave me a similar/smaller one too. Note: if you get tired of a bag.... SWAP with a BF!


But I love this one forever. This includes everything I love about clothing, and accessories... a bit of flowers, a bit of sparkle, with a hint of vintage vibe.




#2: Pink Paradise: This was given to me for Christmas. I believe it is by Parazul. I had not heard of this bag until recently but I love it.

here for info



#3. The artist called CJ:
Yes if I had to chose of course this is my fave. Designer, CJ( my oldest son) at age 18 months old


4 and 5: Coach bags. Two of my faves. I purchased these at considerable discount. Shop the Coach Outlets, and use coupons they give you as you enter the store. Head straight to the sale rack and you can ALWAYS find a great buy. Seriously, these bags last forever. I have about five! Some are over 15 years old!

6. Lovely Louie V.


I wanted this bag for awhile. I found it on Craigs List and then did alot of homework to ensure it was authentic. See the link.
real Louis Vuitton




Important to look at the tags inside and authenticate the date stamp. There is an entire process to how Louis Vuitton date stamps there bags. I was very lucky. My Craigs List Seller had all the tags, date stamps, and a receipt from South Park Mall. I researched it all before I purchased. My mom and I chatted on the phone for hours about the authentication process. She is as obsessed with the fun of this as I am! PS: I got a very good deal on this bag too! Some things will remain a secret! But I got a very fair deal.

7: Mediterranean Boho

I love this bag because I wore it the entire trip to Europe in 2005. It was perfect and I love it because when I look at it reminds me of the trip.



8. Night Fever
And this one because it is shiny gold loveliness!

Feelin' Very Red and Blue!

Hello Fellow Nistas....


I find myself taking pictures when I can. Still learning how to get good photos of outfits! Work in progress.

Seeing color everywhere. Decided to play too. Jax is Anthropologie - $30, blouse Old Navy $6, and pants are old from New York and Company.

Love and Fashion with Kate Spade

Kate Spade is cool. I love everything about this sweet video. I love quirky, romantic, girly!


i love everything about this video kinga burza made for kate spade ny. i want to go live inside it. I found it at one of my fave sweet little blogs rockstardiaries , who I believe found it via www.yishyene.com

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I believe in love, still and oh yes personal style.

Kate Spade "Henrietta Street" Fashion Film from Kinga Burza on Vimeo.

My Oscar Picks

I know the Oscars are long over but I have been thinking for a week, who wore what best. My pics are not in order but are:

I lie! My favorite dress was Guiliana Rancic of E News. Guiliana had the bling I love and was not covered up but managed not to give it all away. She is my 2012 favorite!

Viola Davis looked MAZ in stunning green. I love green and have been searching for a great green dress! My fave component of this look is the Au Naturel Hair. Ethnic women often feel alot of pressure to conform to white hair standards. She looks MAZ with it natural!

Octavia Spencer was flawless and just PERFECTION!



Four of my dress picks were white! WOW, I usually am not a huge fan but there were so many I adored! Did you know JLO wore two different dresses?



I love her. I personally am not a huge fan of the plunging front neckline but I love her and think she is BEAUTIFUL! And we Boricuas must support and stick together! She is one of my fave Mommynistas. She dresses very complete and finished. And she is very girly. She likes sequins etc.. like I do! LOVE her.

Gwyneth really is never wrong with fashion. She is fashion forward and she has a great NY edge to her dressing. I gasped when I saw this! Tom Ford you are a great artist!

Who were your picks for the nights best dressed? Leave me a comment.

Trend: Flower Power

Oscar picks coming but in the meantime. How excited am I? If I could staple flowers to my body I would.

Oscar Bling

Anyone who knows my mother EVA, knows she loves Bling. I have inherited this gene. In honor of Oscar's I uploaded two of my current favorite pieces! The earrings are from my MOM and the BIB neclace is from EBAY. $10.! I am insane for Bib Necklaces. See prior entry for more info on the BIB. Enjoy the OSCARS. I will blog my top picks for best dressed and fave baubles etc.

La Mommynista!

Shiny, Sparkly, Gold

This is one of my favorite tops. I bought it in 2009 in San Francisco, while visiting for a job interview. While there, I found a Loehman's that was amazing. Two floors of fun! I bought this for my friend's yearly holiday party. I still find every excuse to wear it. Yesterday, I wore it out to celebrate a good friend's 40th! Oh I love sparkly, shiny, gold! It makes me happy. Cost = $40



Check out Loehmann's San Fran

FAUX FUR FUN

Wanna feel glam, channel your inner Rachel Zoe? The best way to go is FAUX.... I love it. I grabbed this from Grandma Cha Cha's closet( mi madre, Eva). Yep, I just said, "You live in Florida and you don't need this". And took it right off her hands. I love it. I belted it which some may or may not like. But I think my pear shape looks better with a little cinch at the waist.

Cost : $0 because I took it from my mom. Nothing of the outfit is new in fact! And YES I AM THIS CHEESEY but I am who I AM!

Mommy Uniform

I will not pretend that I am the most fashionable girl ever. I try hard but some days are better than others. If I could add one thing to just about every outfit, it would either be a belt or a scarf. The belt is good for my body type.. which is very pear shaped. And the scarf adds flair.

Anthropologie coat. Gift Card from sister $50/$50 of my own. Total Cost = $100 Coat was originally $250. I love it.

Tip: I almost never buy Anthro stuff at regular price. I either store gift cards or buy end of season. This month( January) they have had great sales. Also anything with a slight tear etc can be bartered for some $$ off. While I am a nice person ... I am not at all afraid to ask.. with a smile.." What will you take off for this rip, seam issue etc.?"

La Mommynista Fave Places to Shop!

In no particular order:

Nordstrom Rack South Blvd :here
Saks Off Fifth( Concord Mills): here
Anthropologie Sale Racks
Marshalls
Old Navy
Buffalo Exchange, Plaza Midwood - take some stuff to consign and get some stuff. Very, VERY CUTE! BEST PICK OF THEM ALL, best deal: here
TJ MAX - Concord Mills but want to check some others locations out
Francescas - South Park Mall: here
Monarch Consignment( high end) but still really good deals on designer : here
Steinmart
Womens Consingment Sale of Charlotte (love, get on their mailing list, pretty cute stuff and really cheap, the secret is get there on the first day of their sales!) here
Junior League of Charlotte - want to check out more
Burlington Coat Factory

Outside Charlotte:
Loehmans( San Fran & NYC and LI NY, Love) = here
Mod Cloth = here

Honorable Mention Jewelry - Forever 21
Want to check out more - Good Will of Charlotte and Estate Sales throughout Charlotte , for vintage treasures!

What have I missed? I know you all are very aware. I would love your adds to this list!

Gigi

A secret for how to help with bad under eye darkness. SO NEED THIS!

Sequins by day I say!

I am really not one to shop by season. Rather my goal is do I love it and what do I do to get bang for buck(R.O.I.O.C.C. - Return on Investement of Cute Clothing)? With that in mind, I am always putting turtlenecks under springy dresses, tights under them, long sleeves under shortsleeved dresses or jackets etc. Additionally, I adore sequins. I channel Celia_Cruz and adore her. I definetly think the Latina girls( of which I am one, are grown to like the bling! I also love happy. Yeah the therapist in training in me knows.. life is hard and you must experience all emotions but to restore myself I flood myself with happy things and mostly happy clothes. So if I can wear sequins often I will. This fall and winter, I read several articles on girls wearing sequins all year round. I have seen them wearing them with pants and a turtleneck under the bedazzled blouses. Here is a cute example of how to do it for the day. Ok, I know some offices are very corporate but I think this look could work at just about any office on a casual Friday. Or this could be AH-MAZING for some kind of school event your attending for your children! I love this idea because again you get ROIOCC- Return on Investment Of Cute Clothing and that in this recession, is the goal. Wear things you love.. life is short.

Shine on Mommynistas and all nistas!

Picture taken from this girl's adorable blog whatIwore

Bibs not just for kids... I promise!

I believe my favorite fashionista of all time Olivia Palermo should get props for bringing this to prominence:

see here for lovely Olivia Palermo

I think Statement Necklaces will continue as a trend in 2012. I am sure some fickle fashionistas will move on and say tre passe..but I think we will continue to see the Statement Necklace adorn the necks of many lovely ladies. Honestly, I do not follow what people say is in or out too much. If I love it.. if it makes me gasp when I see it.. then I wear it! So look for what lights you up from the inside out chicas! Here are two I love off Olivia P's Twitter site

Mine is this one above. I got it here for $9.99 + plus shipping but it was well worth it because I adore it!