Going with the Flow and Going to a Show

In my last post, I told you that I was going to the Vietnamese American Cancer Society Gala that night. It was a very nice event, held at Twenty Eight restaurant in Irvine. That's about 20 minutes south of HB. Here is what I wore:

This is a light knit column dress from BCBG. The knit reminds me of Santana knit.

It has an elaborate beaded neckline that reminds me of a flapper dress or something from Downton Abbey. I wore a marcasite pendant with it.

On my right arm, two diamond tennis bracelets, an eternity band and a diamond solitaire.

On my left arm, a tricolor gold bracelet and my yellow gold wedding set.

I bought these shoes eons ago, when Spiegel was still around. I loved that catalog. They are Asian inspired, so perfect for the occasion.

Here's a closer look at the brocade part.

Here is the group at our table, with me smack in the middle. My date was Robin, the lady with the short blonde hair. The other ladies are Diane, Tanya and Thungya.

Thungya, me, Robin and Dr Wei.

The first hour was a silent auction and cocktail hour. They had two roasted suckling pigs and signature cocktails. I had a French Old Fashioned.

It was a pretty big crowd, probably 95 % Vietnamese folks. They had entertainment, also. There were three singers, then dinner, then a regular auction. The food was delicious.

After that, it was back to the grind for a couple of days.On Monday, I wore a knit shirtdress from Connected Apparel. It is an abstract print with a solid front panel and you just pull it over your head.

I wore Sam and Libby black and gold booties, a Versace belt, a coin from the Vatican and a gold herringbone chain.

On Tuesday, I wore the top of an evening suit by Patra with an Albert Nippon suit.

Here is a  closer look at the beading around the neckline.

On Wednesday, I went for comfort, since I had plans to go out that night. I wore Express slacks and a sweater from Old Navy.

The slacks are black on black jacquard. The necklace is Paparazzi.

Later on that night, I wore corduroy jeans, a tan turtleneck and a cardigan from Eileen Fisher.

I went down to Costa Mesa to play Thinky Drinky Trivia with some friends.

Here is our team. We won!!! There were 19 teams.

On Thursday, November 7th. I wore a Donna Ricco dress. It is paisley with a side tie and ruching.

On Friday, November 8th, I wore an intarsia sweater dress from Calvin Klein.

My red cashmere cardigan is from Saks Fifth Avenue. It's very soft and very warm.

I wore my black coral and gold bead necklace that was hand crafted for me in the 1980s.

My enamel and crystal ring is from Neiman Marcus and my cuff is Hermes.

On Saturday, November 9th, I met a friend for a concert at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

This is a very old lace column dress. It had no label.  The Speigel shoes came out again.

I wore a KJL crystal pendant.

The same diamonds as Sunday, but a different solitaire - the other one was my mom's.

And on my right arm, a Swarovski Trema ring and an opal/garnet bracelet that my mom gave me for my 40th birthday.

We saw Benise - he is the guy on the left. He is a flamenco guitarist and the lady next to him is Natasha, who plays the violin.

He has a group of dancers and an excellent backup band. They were discovered by PBS, playing at Fashion Island and Downtown Disney, here in Orange County.

It was great. The show was called "Fuego" and this is the second time I have seen him.

On Monday, November 11th,

I wore some ivory slacks from Ann Taylor and a knit top from Ivanka Trump. This top is so pretty - the body is a slubby knit and the border and cuffs are stretch satin. I got it in Philadelphia.

I wore two costume necklaces from Forever 21 layered on top of each other and the gold/opal earrings that I got in Ottawa this summer.

On my right arm, a seed bead cuff from the Chakra Shack in Laguna Beach, the gold band that I was "given" in London, and a chalcedony ring from Vegas. Very international !!

The next day, I wore a chevron skirt from JC Penney and a beautifully draped crepe top from Nordstrom.

On top, one of the Style and Co waterfall cardigans that I got at the after Christmas sales a few years ago. They were special items, only $7 each, so I got burgundy, tan and gray.

This necklace is a convertible pin/pendant from Joan Rivers.

These two bangles are papier mache - I don't know where they came from. The Black Hills gold rings were my moms.

Yesterday, it was finally chilly enough to break out some more fall stuff. This is a chiffon peasant dress, also from Nordstrom, a wide woven belt from Ann Taylor, and my Lewit over the knee boots.

 I am wearing them cuffed here, so they just hit my kneecaps.

 And on top, my new twill studded jacket from St John.

Today, I am wearing a satin dress from To The Max. It is different shade of brown and green.

On my right arm, a smoky topaz ring and a costume bracelet.

The neckline of this dress is very low, so I wore a brown velvet cami underneath. My statement necklace is from the gift shop here at the hospital.

Here is a look at the detailed bodice of the dress. You cans ee that some of the draping is chiffon.

And I wore my olive and black sock booties from Nordstrom with his dress. This style of bootie is very comfortable.

A few extras - these gourds were used as decorations for the Cancer Committee Fall Festival of Life. I didn't take any pictures there. But the gourds were given to us to take home, so I made a fall display on my dining room table.

I also got three candles at the Bath and Body Works sale. They were $4.95 instead of $14.95. I got Limoncello, White Gardenia, and Merry Cookie. I am currently burning White Gardenia, and the scent is beautiful.

My November Birchbox came.

 This is what was inside, from top to bottom:
1) Wander Mile High Club Volume and Length Mascara - I am currently using this and like it.
2) Let's Get Naked Frizz Fighter Hair Serum
3) Liquid Spell Reinforcing Bodifying Fluid for Sensitized or Fine Hair
4) R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo and Conditioner
5) Derma Vitamin C Concentrated Hyaluronic Acid serum
6) Lise Watier Lipstick in Prune

My November Ipsy bag also came. The theme was "Wild Side".

Here is what I got:
1) Wander Beauty Wanderess Glow blush
2) First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair THC and Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
3) Gigi Gorgeous The Sick Sculpt Bronzer
4) Skone Insanely Intense Tattooed Eyeliner
5) Murad Essential C Day Moisture with SPF 30


Anyway, that's a recap of my escapades for the last two weeks. Stay tuned for more shenanigans and lots of outfits!!

Lunch in Manhattan Beach and What I Wore

I know that many people have been seeing all the wildfires around California. Down at the beach, we don't have those, although we do get the poor air quality associated with the fires. The word from the experts is that we have encroached upon the natural landscape and chapparal, and the power lines we put up, the sparks we create, and the general disturbance to nature results in wildfires. Every October or November, the Santa Ana winds whip up and the fires start. It's really sad. I know that I got really angry one day because the Santa Anas blew pine needles everywhere for three days and I got so tired of sweeping them up. But I forgot to be grateful that my house is not on fire, like some people.

Anyway, before this all started, we went up to Manhattan Beach for Doc's birthday. He grew up there. First, we tried to find the house that his grandma lived in, but it has obviously changed a lot since the 1960s.

Then we went down to the pier. He used to come here every weekend as a kid and get pizza for 25 cents a slice.

It was a beautiful day, so we walked along the boardwalk a bit.

The hills in the background are the ones above Malibu and they separate the coast from the San Fernando Valley.

This hibiscus was too beautiful to pass up.

We had lunch at Hennesey's Tavern. I had tomato bisque - that is my favorite kind of soup.

We shared Irish Nachos - potatoes instead of tortilla chips.

And Doc got Ahi Street tacos.

The whole feast !!

The next day, I made home made taco bar with all the fixings.

So let's take a look at what I have been wearing lately. On October 21st,

I wore some very old moleskin slacks with a Liz Claiborne cowl neck sweater.

My INC opera length crystal necklaces finished this off.

The next two days, we had the "All Hands Summit" at work. The first day, I volunteered as a food host. We were allowed to wear jeans, so I wore black jeans with leopard trim.

I wore my Clio dragon T shirt.

On October 23rd, I attended the summit as a guest. I got this dress while we were in Manhattan Beach - there was a little store going out of business.

It has very unusual sleeves.

It's teal blue polyester with a crepe finish and machine embroidery all across the yoke.

The next day, it was back to business as usual, so I wore one of my favorite dresses. It's Carol Little, and I got it in Philadelphia in June.

On Friday the 25th, I wore a dress from Saks 5th Avenue Black.

It's navy blue with black leather trim.

On October 28th, I stayed home because I had the windows all washed in my house, and I had to do some dog wrangling.

On the 29th, I wore a plaid chiffon top from Express over black knit pants by Reebok.

I wore my collarless jacket by Theory on top.

On October 230th, I wore the burgundy cold shoulder sweater that I got in DC over a homemade plaid skirt.

My lab jacket is part of a set that has a matching skirt, but I never wear them together.

This tricolor necklace came from Macy's.

On Halloween, I wore a very cute outfit that always gets compliments. The jacket is a vintage number, with a black body, ivory satin collar and cuffs, and big pearl buttons.

My slacks are Sharagano, and the shell is ivory silk with black polka dots.

 On November 1st, all my pictures have my mouth wide ope while I am blabbing to Doc. SO I cut my head off, because it is NOT flattering.

This is the best shot. Not good. The dress is Mossimo (ugh) and the jacket is black tweed with silver lurex from INC. The necklace is actually a scarf ring that I repurposed.

Anyway, that is about everything. I will try to be more interesting. Tonight, I am going to the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation Gala, so I will have a nice outfit to show you, but don't expect Chiara Ferrigni again. this time I just pulled something from my closet, since the Fall Gala was way too much trouble to go to. I don't know how the celebrities do it - I guess they just get used to 5 hours for getting ready for the red carpet. Good thing I am not famous!!!