OOTE 12.19.12 {Company Christmas Dinner}

Diane von Furstenberg New Julian Two Dress, YSL clutch, tights from Target (very opaque & happy with quality - would definitely buy again...  I think they are Hanes), Via Spiga Estrella Pump

xoxo

Ocean Park {Giant Pandas in Hong Kong}

Already December and I need to start packing for our next trip... making me realize how far behind I am on posting about China (October)...

Before we left I asked my children what was on the top of their to-do list for Hong Kong.  My nine-year-old daughter wanted to see a giant panda.  So we set aside a day and made our way to Ocean Park in Aberdeen.

Here they are:

And some more pictures from Ocean Park:

 entrance to the Giant Panda Adventure section of the park

my son listening to panda sounds

 where the pandas are today

beautiful goldfish room

cable cars across the park

(At one point during this ride (which seemed like about eight hours) these go incredibly high. Admittedly, I don't like heights, but I was okay on the ferris wheel and fine on similar cable cars near Huangguoshu waterfall in China... but these nearly caused a nervous breakdown... ridiculously, unnecessarily high.  Didn't bother anyone else in the family.)

lunch -- I know, not very Chinese - but we had so many interesting dishes which I'll show in the Guizhou posts -- and felt like something a little familiar

our view at lunch

jellyfish room - classical music was playing as the colored lights changed - absolutely beautiful

more jellyfish

view from the ferris wheel

roller coaster

another great view

at the Pacific Pier exhibit where my children fed the seals

The South Pole Spectacular

this is one of my favorite rides - there is one at Tivoli in Copenhagen too - the little cars go up and down and around at such a high speed you feel like you're going to fly out of your seat... I think we rode it four times

view from one of those cable cars... my husband took this picture because I had my head down, crying, but I managed to hand him the camera

My son's top to-do (ride on a junk) and my older daughter's (shopping) up next.

xoxo

DvF Sale

Some great deals over at the DvF website right now.  The wrap dress is one of my favorite styles and at $207, the New Jeannes and New Julians are already at a pretty nice markdown.  Code HOLIDAYSALE takes an extra 30% off of that, and ground shipping is free.

2.5% cash back through ebates.

I have this one on the way:

New Julian Two Dress in Little Leaves Teal

originally $345, sale price after promo code $144.90

(update 11/25: ordered the Swirl Large Black New Julian Two too. Now I'm done looking at the Final Sale!)

xoxo

Hong Kong OOTDs

Scenery, hotel, and restaurant pics up next -- but here is some of what I wore in Hong Kong:

Ann Taylor Downtown Shift Dress, Loft Cardigan, La Scarpa Paris nude flats (few years ago)

Banana Republic Double Layer Top, Loft Cardian, F21 Denim, La Scarpa Paris nude flats, LV Eva

for dinner that night: switched out cardigan for Zara Blazer, YSL Clutch in Merlot (Net-A-Porter)

F21 Butterfly Peplum Top, F21 Denim, Banana Republic Ashley Bow Flat in Red

F21 Blouse, F21 Denim, Banana Republic Ashley Bow Flat in Indigo

Zara A-Line Jacquard Dress, LK Bennett Olive Court in Suede, YSL Clutch, Links of London Effervescence Bubble Stiletto Earrings, Michele Deco Diamond Watch

Shopping the Zara at the airport on our way out... Petit Bateau Dress (few years ago), Gray Leggings, Target Scarf, BR Indigo Flats, LV Damier Azur Totally, Evil Eye Bracelet (evileyestore.com)

xoxo

Huangguoshu Waterfall + Rainbow

My oldest daughter ( age 10) took some pictures during our travels in China last month which she just recently uploaded to my computer. This one - which she took at Huangguoshu Waterfall, southwest of Anshun in Guizhou province, is my favorite scenic photo from the entire trip.  I love the misty rainbow at the base. You should be able to click on it to enlarge.

I have so many recent travel pics to go through... the magical area all around this waterfall, interesting Guiyang, fun in Hong Kong... more posts soon.

Happy Saturday!

xoxo

Owl Sweater

Sales everywhere.  I recently took my nine-year-old to Gap Kids to pick out some cute things (sequins, sparkles and ruffles, oh my) and came home with this owl sweater for myself. It is soft and cozy (60% cotton, 40% acrylic) and features a sweet little pink-sequined nose.  The tag says the label is made from 100% recycled plastic. Sounds good.

This is an XXL (14-16).  The sleeves are actually just long enough - I have the cuff turned up in these pics.  I am usually a small at J Crew/Banana or medium at Zara.

Gap Kids Intarsia Owl Tunic Sweater

Owl Sweater #1 by seaandtea featuring lightweight jeans

xoxo

OOTD 10.31.12 {+ a sparkly necklace}

Maybe I've just been looking at too many pictures of tiaras over at The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor, I don't know.  But when I saw this little number at Forever 21 I thought it was just perfect. Sparkly and noticeable but not too over the top (I know that's a matter of opinion).  Pretty nicely put together for $12.80 too.  I wore it today with a sort-of-Tiffany-blue cashmere turtleneck I purchased at Ann Taylor over a decade ago.  Maybe they were making sweaters shorter back then (or maybe it's because I've had three children since) but I added a tank underneath because I wasn't getting quite enough length.  The brown herringbone blazer is from Gap, last year, and the denim F21.  I love blue and brown together.  Hunter boots all day because it's rather rainy.  My current polish is OPI Midnight in Moscow.

 graduated rhinestone necklace #19571546021

xoxo