COBBLER TO THE RESCUE

Before

After


What do you do with a pair of gorgeous shoes that don't fit just right? You take it to your local cobbler, otherwise known as, a shoe repair person.

I bought these sublime pumps online. They were raved about in reviews. Problem, when I initially got them I discovered they ran a half-size too big so I had to exchange them for a smaller size. Thankfully, a half-size smaller was available. Painfully, I had to go through the whole returning and waiting for the new size to come fiasco. When I received the new size I was unpleasantly surprised that they were STILL slightly big. The back heels would slip off when I walked in them. I thought perhaps that it was just a matter of "breaking in" the shoes and eventually they would conform to my foot shape. No. Wrong. I even tried adding cushions, heel pads, and tissue inside the shoes. Nope, still slipped off. Dreading the reality that I wasted my money on shoes I wasn't able to wear, I came up with an idea... take it to my cobbler! Solution, add-on straps that help keep the shoes on. The straps were even dyed to match the shoe color. I tell ya, these pumps are now one of my favs. Woo Hoo.

If you ever have an issue with your shoes, take it to your local shoe repair shop to see if you can do anything to fix them before giving them up. The costs are usually reasonable, too.

POWER PLAY DATES

Not even walking yet.
Wondering "are you capturing this moment in a photo?!"
Good times, WOW... enjoying some yummy "mashup" treats.
"Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help you!"... were words from a colleague (now a dear friend) when I started my current job. Molly sincerely meant what she said to me during my first couple of weeks at work. I would have never thought that to this day I would be meeting up with her for power walks and power play dates. Every time we meet-up I'm always so happy to have hung out with her AND it amazes me each time we meet up just how much the kids have grown since the last time we saw one another. Amelia is a lucky gal to be one of Will's buddies. These days they're sharing their treats with each another and running around the playgrounds together. Amelia recognizes her buddy, Will, and often says his name when I show her a photo of them playing together. It's a wonderful feeling to have a good friend who relates to my current situation as a new mom and who ALWAYS gives positive advice. It's even more wonderful to see our children playing together. I'm so grateful for having such a thoughtful, optimistic, witty, and classy fellow nanay chic girlfriend. Good times, WOW.

THANKFUL TIME

I constantly want more, who doesn't? Let's be honest, WHO DOESN'T???!! Yet some unexpected turn of events usually happens during this time of the year that always reminds me I should be thankful for all that I have regardless of my damn wants and... I am. This is my second Thanksgiving being a mom. We're having TG brunch with my side of the family at our home for the first time. I'm excited to start some new traditions for Amelia like making delish dishes that my family will look forward to annually. I've been finding recipes for great dishes online. Why bother purchasing cookbooks when you have the internet or awesome friends to hook up recipes?! BACON BRUSSELS SPROUTS!! Total party in my tummy... so yummy, so yummy...


bacon brussels sprouts: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/bacon-brussels-sprouts-recipe/index.html

NI'NONG CHIC

GTW with AMC

Great minds think alike. Ni'nong Marc and Mimi with the same Halloween costume!


This post is dedicated to my dear old (old meaning the length of our friendship and not his actual age-- I dare not mean that!) friend, Marcomedes. Oh how I LOVE that name and him! Marc is one of my best friends. We were college roommates. We were actually high school journalism classmates who worked together on that fabulous Cardinal Tribune newspaper before being Aztec roommates. Ha ha... I laugh. Inside thoughts. Anyhesobetterbelaughingatthatlastsentence... I admire him for many things-- some of which are his confidence, intelligence, creativity, and his style. He's a sassy one who pushes my buttons and makes me a better person every time he does so. Oh, and he's a great person to get fashion advice from, which I do... mmkoy. I credit a bit of my nanay chic-ness to him. We were supposed to move to NYC together after graduating college. He made the move, and I didn't. I often wonder what my life would be like had I made the move. I wouldn't change anything as I'm thankful that we're still good friends regardless of the fact that we live on the opposite sides of the country. And, OF COURSE he's also Amelia's ni'nong (that's godfather in Tagalog). Yeah, I know. She's a lucky lil' gal to have him as her gdaddy.

CUSHY PURPLE PILLOW CASE

Sewing the zipper on...
all done.

The other weekend we were at the fabric store and Jason came across some textiles that were exactly the same (well, varying in colors) as what Amelia's favorite crib bumper is made from. When she was a baby she would cuddle that bumper and gently pet it with her tiny hands. We assumed she did that because its just an extremely soft and comfy textile. To this day, she slides her hands under the bumper and hugs it or she'll pull the bumper under her face to lay on. So, Jason suggested we buy a small pillow and that I make a pillow case out of the cushy fabric so that Amelia would have her very own special pillow. Inexpensive, easy to do, and made with love just for Mimi... I thought that was a brilliant idea! And, that's what we did.

**More photos under "projects"

FASHION DISTRICT

Fashion District crosswalk

Just a few reels of fabrics

Wanting to bring this dress form back with me



I'm a full-time working mom. There are pros and cons to that. Con- I don't get to be with my daughter as much as I'd love to be. Pro- I get to go on some fun trips to various places including several trips to La La Land's fashion district. This past trip my colleagues and I had the chance to walk about the district and spotted a few of the gazzillion textile shops. I'd have loved to spend hours checking out the myriad reels of textiles but there just wasn't enough time. Next time na'lang.

LIKE MAMA, LIKE MIMI.

I was elated when I was at Target (or said with your best bougie accent, "Tarjay") to find the last pair of toddler boots that look exactly like my UGG boots. I wanted to buy Mimi (what Amelia calls herself) a pair of authentic UGG boots but just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on a pair of boots that would last her a season. Thankfully, my favorite one-stop shop sold boots just as good, if not better, than a pair of UGGs. Here's why they're better-- at least for me-- there is zipper in the inner side of the boot making it effortless to put them on. UGG boots, not so effortless. Mimi LOVES to wear them, which is great considering it's the beginning of the rainy season. Ah yeah.