Shine Your Light

{Written while trying to make sense of this world we live in} Hi loves. I am not as excited as usual about discussing this little holiday outfit, and I know you know what I mean. Its just our world right now.  It gets to me. I am kind of a person who has way too much empathy.  Everything hits me and stays with me.  It can be real-- things my family or friends are going through--or something I read or see in a movie but it all hits me the same.   And I just carry it-- worry or fear or anger or whatever it may be.  If someone I love is going through something, it feels like I am too.  It's kind of the same thing right now with our world.   I feel so terrible for innocent people everywhere, just going about their lives and out of the blue,  some terrible terrorist disrupts it (or ends it).  I don't understand it, this intolerance and hatred.  I believe every human has the absolute right to live in whatever way makes them happy and we all just need to let each other live.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I am going to try and overcome this feeling of hopelessness by just being as kind as I can to everyone I meet and to look for the commonalities in people I think might be different from me.  I think this is so important-- to realize that we all want the same thing out of this life; to love and be loved, to have a family, a home, friendships, our health.  Maybe this recognition will slowly build tolerance and love for our fellow man... I don't know. It is a dilemma that humanity faces together and we can hopefully over come it together too.  I pray that we can someday just have peace, but it feels like the road to peace is going to be a long one...

Sooo, onto this amazing little skirt (that I think I will wear with tights pretty soon because it is getting chilly chilly around here!) Its so festive- I could literally wear sparkles and feathers all year round, couldn't you? For some reason, its only acceptable around the holidays (um, why?) but I will take what I can get!   It is perfect for drinks after work or for holiday parties or even to the office with a little blazer.  I cant wait to pile on the shine (and cant wait to see your shine too!)   Happy day, my beauties.  Thank you for stopping by and for taking this journey through life together... Sweetly- Michelle

Sweater || Skirt (similar) || Shoes

The Perfect Suit ♣️♠️

{Written after a Golden Spoon vanilla with rainbow sprinkle fro yo break} So, we've had a cold spell of perhaps, 48 hours but folks, I don't think it's going to last. However, once it gets (and stays) cold, a chic little pantsuit is a girls best friend. You stay nice and warm, you don't have to worry about snagging your tights on something if you're wearing a skirt and you can dress it up or dress it down. This one in particular is just a beauty. It's the gold buttons and the feminine cut of the sleeves. I just adore it. It's the little details that always wind up really adding that little something.  If you had to take this look from day tonight, you could pile on the gold jewelry, add some strappy sandals and maybe a sleek ponytail and you would be set. You could even add a little sparkly headband. I have actually been into embellished headbands lately, which are so great for the holidays. I will have to do a post on it one of these days (yeah, yeah. I will add it to the list!) And the leopard clutch! I just love adding little touches of animal print here and there, don't you? It's an easy way to add a little pop to an all black ensemble (my specialty!) ❤️ Happy Saturday beautiful ones! Thank you times 100 for stopping by- Sweetly, Michelle

Jacket || Pants ||Shoes || Clutch || Sunglasses

Cape-tivating

{Written while watching RHOOC Reunion Part 3 and eating Swedish Fish. It was a good night!}  Hello sweet readers!!  How was your Halloween? I sure hope it was lovely!  Aren't holidays the best? I can't wait for this time of the year to get into full swing! Speaking of swing... Capeity cape cape! This has to be my most favorite accessory of the season.  I live in hot California where we basically just make believe we have different seasons, and it's hard to pretend I'm going to get very much use out of over the knee boots or leather. But a cape? If you buy the right kind, it can be light enough to serve as a sweater {although there are some heavy capes out there--pretty wool and plaid--that I would wear in a heartbeat if we had the weather!} There are so many things I can wear this cape with to the office... And this dress! A little flarey, twirly hemline is all I need to be happy! It's a beautiful texture too! I've been really into dresses lately- maybe because they are so easy.  One piece and voila! You are set! On a side note, I'm telling you-- Banana Republic has been killing it lately! It's one of about 3 or 4 stores that I know without a doubt will have something office appropriate for me to wear, but lately, it's just been divine. And from what we all saw at New York Fashion Week, spring is going to be even better!  Alright, my loves! Thank you for stopping by and as always, I hope your day was just terrific! I just finished a fabulous book and I think next time, I might throw a little book review in here! 😘😘 Sweetly- Michelle

Dress || Cape || Shoes || Purse (similar) ||

Photos: Wendy Kathleen Photography @wendykathleenphotography

One Day At a Time

{Dictated from the car while inching along the 405 freeway} Doesn't it sometimes feel like Groundhog Day? Like, about 15 minutes ago, it was Friday and here we are again tiptoeing into Thursday! It is crazy sometimes how fast time flies by. If you're anything like me, you could really use a few more hours in the day.  Let me tell you about my next 2 days.... tomorrow I will begin the day at my daughter's school for a costume parade and a little Halloween potluck because I am the room mom. And I absolutely love doing this with her and would not trade it for the world. Then I will race off to work because in the afternoon we are playing hallway golf. We do this a few times a year, where we close the office a little early, everyone pairs up and makes golf holes in the hallway in front of their office and we putt, booze and eat (and booze. My office runs on booze!) . We are doing Halloween themed holes – – my hole is going to be My Little Pony themed- how cute is that? My male hole- making partner isn't crazy about this. But since I'm the one that hustled around buying everything (figures) he can zip it!! On Halloween, all of the neighborhood kids are going to play games, decorate Halloween cookies and do crafts before we have a little chili potluck together and then trick-or-treat. For some reason, this is my personality and I plan the heck out of most events. I believe in celebrating everything and wherever and whenever possible, have people together for a party!  l like to bring everyone together even though it causes me crazy amounts of stress. What can we do about this? Our lives are never going to get any less busy, especially as families expand and more activities get added into the weekly rotation.  I have a few thoughts as to how we can handle this (definitely not applicable during the holiday season when all bets are off) and I would love to hear your tips and tricks too:

1. Limit Activities:  In everyday, non-holiday life, I try to commit to only one event per weekend day. When I have to go from a breakfast, then straight to a lunch, and then to an afternoon activity, the rush and the lack of down time makes me crazy.  If I limit myself to no more than one event per day, it seems to keep things a little more balanced.  I also try as much as possible to limit (non-client or firm management related)  weeknight activities too, because it seems to snowball.  A few late nights and I am dragging around by Friday.  And you parents know-- there is just no time to catch up on your sleep or take a nap. Yeah...not so much.  Again, we are getting into the holiday season and there is just no getting around parties and late nights. Maybe I will do another post soon about how to keep our energy up (and our sanity!) during this crazy time!

2.  Split Up Errands:  Because daily life is so hectic, and unless I am meeting with clients, I usually eat lunch at my desk so that I can work through the lunch hour.  I am not one of those people that needs to get outside and for me,  it's all about the billable hour.  Whatever I don't bill during the day, I have to bill when my daughter goes to sleep later that night--ugh. However, it is sometimes helpful to take an hour during a weekday and check some errand off of the list--make a Target or a Costco run or something else that might typically take up valuable time on the weekend.  Same thing for laundry- instead of staring down multiple loads on the weekend, I will try to do a load or two during the week. It just seems to help a little and I don't really mind sitting on the floor, folding clothes and watching Ladies of London on some random weeknight. Wayyy ok by me!

3. Online Shopping is Your Friend: Another thing that I find to be super helpful is to shop as much as possible online (not just shoes and clothes,but like, real stuff!)  When I first had my daughter, I ordered all of her things off of diaper.com. It's the bomb.  It now has all sorts of other spin-off websites -- soap.com and wag.com. Soap.com is like Target. You can get household and cleaning supplies, paper towels, toothpaste, shaving cream, vitamins- whatever.  I think if you order by noon, it will be to you the next day- hello?   Why wouldn't you use this? That is super convenient. I haven't done too much comparison-shopping to see if the prices are way higher but they don't seem to be.  Wag.com is all pet related, so that deletes the Petco run from your list (that reminds me-- I also use a mobile dog groomer.  It eliminates the need to make and take your four legged babies to a grooming appointment because THEY COME TO YOU!)

4. Plan Ahead:  I get overwhelmed when I have nagging " I need to make a dentist appointment"  items on my mind. I try to schedule all my appointments as early as possible.  When I am leaving my cleaning appointment at the dentist, I make my next appointment right then for six months out.  It takes a little item off of my plate and I'm able to plan my schedule so that I can actually make that future appointment. I do the same thing with my hair, my optometrist, the vet, everything.  It also keeps you on track with your health (bonus!)  When I know some appointment needs to be made in a short time frame, it causes me way more stress to try and squeeze in an appointment when my own schedule is packed, rather than have it on my calendar months in advance.  I apply this same philosophy to time with friends too--I have a group of 5 girls and for the past 10 years, we meet every two months.  We rotate who gets to choose what we do- sometimes its a concert, sometimes its horseback riding,  a play or brunch-- it kind of doesn't matter to us as long as we are together. But when we are leaving an event, we pull out our calendars and we pick a date for the next one.  If we don't do it right then, the days fill up and we won't see each other. You know? Girl time is sacred but its hard to squeeze it in to life sometimes, and so we need to plan!

5.  Find Time for You: I think everyday, you need to try to find a little time for you.  Whether it's exercise, a little time to journal, a little time to read, a little bath, whatever makes you happy.  For me, I take a bath every night rain or shine – and with this drought, it's only in a tiny little bit of water– – and just shut the world out. I read a book while in the bath and relax, sometimes only for 10 minutes.  And that is my little treat.  Even 10 minutes will calm your stress a little bit, I think.  Just something to reset your mind and feel content. 

I suppose my biggest suggestion regarding time management is to just try and be as organized as you can. Which is sometimes not possible because we are human beings, not robots, and on those days, just go with it. Cut yourself some slack. If you can't do it all, that's OK.  We are all doing the best we can and if the clothes pile up, you need to cancel some event to go flop on the couch or whatever- its okay.  Right? Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.  What do you think?  What else do you do that helps? I'd love to heat it!

So can I just tell you how much I adore this outfit? It is the most wonderful material. Again, I bought a ton of things from CAbis fall 2015 line and these two pieces were included. The Claire dress is stretchy and non-wrinkly.  The blouse is sheer and so great to layer. The blouse has very delicate trim along the front that would also look cute under a blazer and a pencil skirt. I really don't think you can go wrong with a silhouette in these colors. It is appropriate for just about anything, right? All right dearest friends, I hope your day is terrific. As always, thank you so much for your comments and for stopping by. It really and sincerely means the world. ❤️❤️❤️Sweetly- Michelle

Dress || Shirt|| Shoes || Bag