Month: December 2017

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Mani Monday – Navy Sparkle Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard1 Comment

“What is he doing?” I think to my sleepy self.  “Is he putting away Christmas?” I consider with both delight and frustration.  I want to put it away myself, my way, but how nice would it be to wake up and have it done.  I need more sleep.  I try to rest and finally get up.  I descend the stairs and I am awash with memories.  The dining room table is set with our wedding china and place mats I was not even sure would work with our new table (they do).  “I just thought we should head into 2018 and our tenth anniversary by going back to our foundation.”  We have not used our china much since having our son, (who is quite careful with things).  I head into the kitchen and put my coffee into a breakfast cup and saucer just like when we were newlyweds, and everything just feels a little more civilized.

My pre-detox is going well, more on that this week.  My New Year’s Mani is full of sparkle and I am ready to close out 2017 and welcome 2018.

The mani is by Olive & June.  The colors are “Surrounded by Studs” by Essie Gel Couture and Essie Luxeffects top coat in “Summit of Style”.

 

Items in the photos include:

Plaid Tray (on sale!)

Plaid Flannel Pajamas (on sale!)

Velvet Coatigan

Velvet Mules

Leopard Velvet Blazer

Black Sequin Cami

Bow Sweatshirt

Sparkle Sweater

Black Silk Top

Sequined Tee

Tapestry Blazer (on sale!)

Camo Jeans (on sale!)

Happy New Year!

XO,

JAE

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Oui to Detox, Non to Shopping

Published on by thenavyleopard3 Comments

It’s time for a change.  And a detox.  As 2017 comes to a close and I write my last post of the year, my thoughts turn to 2018.  I am reviewing my goals and setting new ones.  Last year I quietly set out to improve my diet and only wrote about it after the fact. I was not sure I could actually give up dairy, sugar, grains etc. I proved that I could and that it had the longer-term value of changing my taste buds.  This year I am considering a different type of detox challenge.  A friend talked about a 28-day shopping challenge and my ears perked up.  Obviously, I love shopping and clothes. But, I also love dairy and grains.  So, I’m going to begin 2018 by challenging myself to NO BUYING for 28 days.  I am defining it loosely to include clothing, cosmetics and any non-essential items. Just like not having sugar for a period of time changed the way I crave it, I want to see what it’s like to just not buy anything.  I have cleaned out my closet with feng shui (this is a great book for that) and started the Kondo method many times.  That process does make you think about purchases differently and instead of just an impulse buy, I consider the life of the item.  I seek to reinforce that idea over the next 28 days.

I will clean out my closet (before and after photos to come) and also shop my closet. I expect to find things I have forgotten.  I will still be blogging and featuring outfits that I curate from my current inventory.  Full disclosure, Santa was good to me and I have picked up a few new things at end of the year sales, so there will be some new items featured.

This look includes a sweatshirt that my son surprised me with (and I love that it is yes and no!), my leopard coat (thankfully it has been just chilly enough to wear it in Los Angeles in the morning and evening), a new favorite clutch that I found under the tree, denim and my plaid shoes (see you can wear them after the holidays!).

Stay tuned – I hope the initial detox is not too rough. I wish you success in all of your January resolutions.

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Leopard Coat (other options here, here and here)

Oui Non Sweatshirt (also available here)

Striped Clutch

Denim

Plaid Shoes (other options here, here and here)

Happy Last Friday of 2017!

XO,

JAE

Ace is the Place

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“Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man”.  Some jingles from my childhood will never leave my memory.  This Ace Hardware, Hillcrest Hardware in the Hillcrest section of San Diego, is the place with so much style.  I have never seen such a well curated collection of housewares, hardware, cards, gifts and so many things I did not even know I needed until visiting.

I bought several stocking stuffers for my husband and picked up a few ornaments before Christmas.  If you are in San Diego, it is worth a visit.

For the outing I styled a plaid shirt with a favorite new jacket from the Gap, denim, tweed shoes and my Moynat tote.

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Jacket

Plaid Shirt (this would work great too)

Shoes

Denim

Moynat Tote (this or this would look great)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

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Mani Monday – Christmas Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard1 Comment

We are celebrating Christmas today and I can’t wait to watch my son open his presents.  At press time, he put himself to bed early, said no to dessert and declined the opportunity to open one present on Christmas Eve.  I remember being so excited and begging to open just one.  I stayed up all night waiting for Santa when I was six years old and my poor mom got thirty minutes of sleep.  My son’s self regulation and restraint never cease to amaze me.

I am so excited for tomorrow, I hope I can sleep.  Maybe just one more episode of The Crown…

The manicure and nail art are by Olive & June.  The color is “Lace Me Up” by Essie Gel Couture.

A couple of items in the photos that I wear over and over again:

Stewart Plaid Shirt

Camo Jeans (so comfy and on sale!)

Happy Holiday Monday!

XO,

JAE

Believe

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After a marathon wrapping session tonight with my seven year old assistant, I think I am almost done.  As we were wrapping and wrapping he said “We should put a sign outside and offer to do wrapping for the neighborhood.”  “I am glad you enjoy it so much.  I think this is enough for me.”  His excitement and sweetness about Christmas is so fun and heart warming.  When we were going over our menu for Christmas Eve he said “We need to eat early.  Everyone needs to be asleep by 7, so Santa can come.”  He turns 8 in 2018 and this may be the last year he wholeheartedly believes.  I am savoring every moment.

I wholeheartedly believe in incorporating plaid in every holiday season look.  This look is a bit more subtle with a black watch shirt, houndstooth bomber jacket, denim, sparkly shoes and a simple navy clutch. Another fun and casual way to wear plaid is with this tartan ruffle sweatshirt I have my eye on.  Santa, can you hear me?

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Houndstooth Bomber Jacket

Black Watch Plaid Shirt

Medium Pouch (with monogram)

Denim

Shoes (older style these, these and these would also look great)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Festive Casual

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One part lace, one part embellished plaid, a pinch of camo and one pair of plaid embellished shoes equals festive casual and comfortable. I continue to love mixing prints and patterns and my camo clutch has been one of my most reached for clutches this holiday season (and it holds everything!).

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Top (also here)

Flats (also here)

Clutch

Lace Pants (also here)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

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Mani Monday – Golden Plaid Edition

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It all started with one plaid nail two years ago.  I used to hate getting manicures.  I endured them every two weeks or so.  I always wore a very light pink so that I could get away with chips.  I decided to try to Olive & June a little over two years ago and have started to enjoy the actual process.  Then right before Christmas, I decided to get red nails (gasp!).  I was wearing a plaid shirt and shoes (duh) and was inspired to see how one plaid nail would look.  From then on, I have had some kind of nail art every week.    The design is often inspired by something I am wearing ( a few favorites here, here and here), an event (like my dog’s birthday or my son’s birthday or my wedding anniversary here and here), or my travels (here, here and here).

The manicure and nail art are by Olive & June.  The colors are “Emeraude” and “Canotier” by Chanel.

Plaid Bow Shoes

Tweed Jacket

Plaid Fringed Sweater

Black and Gold Studded Mule

Navy Velvet Bow Flat (on sale!)

Plaid Flannel Shirt

Plaid Leggings

Black Dress

Plaid Scarf

Houndstooth Bomber Jacket

Camo Men’s Shirt Jacket

Navy Sparkle Clutch (on sale!)

Plaid Bow Shoes

Vintage Denim

Happy Monday!

XO,

JAE

Gone to the Dogs

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This is not the first time Cupcake, my puggle, has crashed a flatlay shoot.  She once moved a cashmere sweater up on to the bed for a luxurious nap.  She was very intrigued with this particular shoot and perhaps a bit jealous of the sequined terrier.  This t-shirt is a great way to add a little casual holiday sparkle.  She also may have wanted to add a touch of leopard to the look.  Cupcake (CC) has been switching between her leopard bandana and a plaid one.

I styled the t-shirt with black denim, a navy pouch and plaid shoes (it may be time to admit I have a plaid shoe addiction).  These shoes had been sold out and I recently found them in my size.  I will link a couple of similar options below as inventory seems to change daily.

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T-shirt

Pouch

Plaid Flats (also here) Similar here and  here

Black Denim

Cupcake’s Bandana

Striped Canvas Bag (hanging in background)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Holiday Pattern Mix

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My plaid shoes get a workout from November through January and even make appearances year round.  This year I have loved mixing them with camo.  This clutch has been my most reached for bag as I head out the door and I have paired it with everything.  I am even considering a second one with this sparkly stripe. My camo jacket that I featured here has been a fun way to mix with plaid along with my faux fur leopard coat (a bargain from Gap).

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Saint James Tee

Camo Clutch

Denim

Plaid Shoes (similar here, here, here and here)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

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Mani Monday – Abstract Candy Cane Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard2 Comments

I am 99% done with my holiday shopping.  My son and I saw our fifth annual Nutcracker this weekend and also managed to bake two batches of cut out Christmas cookies.  This week I am looking forward to my son’s Christmas concert, a few holiday parties and dinners.  My nails are in the holiday spirit with an abstract candy cane.  I love wearing darker colors on my nails this time of year.

The manicure and nail art are by Olive & JuneHoliday .  The color is “Beauty Marked” by Essie Gel Couture.

Items featured in the photos include:

Pottery Barn Kids Pajamas in kid and adult sizes

Tartan Blazer

Plaid Shoes

Denim

Fitbit

Floral Blouse

Striped Shirt with “Love More”

Striped Blazer

Vertical Striped Silk Blouse

Striped Sweater

Moncler Vest

Striped Clutch

Burberry Scarf

Sequin Dress

Striped Pajamas

Scarf

Multi-plaid Top

Happy Monday!

XO,

JAE