Jake Gyllenhaal, Brooklyn and Coffee

Forget raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...I just listed three of my favorite things!

This is totally random and unrelated to fashion, but since it's a long Thanksgiving weekend, I thought it'd be fun to keep up on "world news", i.e. celebrity sightings! I'll never forget the time my husband pulled an April Fool's prank on me and told me that Keanu Reeves was filming a movie in the area. I took one look at my mom and was eying my coat (and the door). He's so bad.

But this time, the sighting was real...I just read that Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift were hanging out in Park Slope recently grabbing some coffee.

Park Slope is my husband's old neighborhood, so I know it well. One time we were hanging out there and saw Jake's sister Maggie (also a Brooklyn resident) getting coffee herself. I wanted to run into the coffee shop to tell her how cool I thought she and her brother were, but I refrained. So you can just imagine how starstruck I would have been seeing Jake and Taylor. I'm suddenly in the mood for coffee...in Brooklyn!

Pasteles from Heaven

Nothing's better after Thanksgiving than eating all the leftovers! In addition to leftovers, pasteles were on the menu this year (thanks mom!)

How do I begin to describe pasteles? For Puerto Ricans, we look forward to these around the holidays more than the presents! And the are kind of wrapped up like presents too. Pasteles are basically seasoned mashed plantains with pork, potatoes, olives and garbanzo beans. You boil them for around 40 minutes and you get heaven on a plate. They don't look glamorous, but don't let looks fool you, these babies are delicious! Whenever my mom makes them, she knows I will be by soon to pick up a batch!

What ethnic dishes do you add to your traditional holiday meals?

Thanksgiving with the Familia

My niece

 My mom 

My sister

My hubby 

My parents (left), niece and friends

 

Party's here! My mom and I were rockin' with macaras!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

To all my pretty ladies...Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Even Fashionistas Get Cold

Even the most diehard fashionista knows that it can get brutally cold out during wintertime. So you have to have at least one down coat in your arsenal for snow days. I like this one by Calvin Klein. The faux fur on the hood is so dramatic, it looks like a built in wig! And the styling is all about slimming versus too much puffiness.

Viva La Juicy

I am a perfume addict.

I have been meaning to try this perfume for some time. That pink bow just drew me in, but the scent is also very heavenly. I finally bought it and I love it! The best price I have found for it was at Walgreens and I posted that link below. Good places for finding designer perfumes for less are your local drugstores or discount stores like TJMaxx, Kmart or Target carries what you'd like. You can sometimes find your fragrance there for less!

This Tree Needs You

I saw this tree on urbanoutfitters.com and thought it was adorable!
I love the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon since it
focuses on the reason for the season..the birth of Christ! 

Just a quick break from fashion...is it just me or have you noticed how quickly the holidays came this year?
With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas in the air, what are you looking forward to the most about this holiday season?

Welcome to Trench Town

What do you do when you can't decide between two coats? In my case, you buy them both! (when I can anyway). These are two trench coats I picked up at Target. One is a classic beige trench, the other is a fun printed one. Below are the links for each coat.

Fall and Flannel

 

Here's a simple and casual outfit I put together for a nice drive. I love the old school, buffalo plaid look.

Shirt: A.N.A. JCPenny
Jeans: Apt 9
Boots: Charlotte Russe
Necklace: Dots

More Silence & Noise...

A Sweater Love Affair

I am completely in love with this sweater. I'm not gonna lie...it has a lot going on. Chains, flowers, serious shoulders, but somehow it works! I bought it in a trendy store in the mall called Max Rave that I really had no business being in. But then again, who am I to resist true love? 

Here are other sweaters that are similar...

More Forever 21...

I couldn't find one with a flower pin so I included some cute pins you can add on!

More The Limited...

I'm on Fabsugar!

My look, Black with a Touch of Leopard, was featured as one of the Looks of the Week on Fabsugar!
Yay! Happy dance.

Outlet Treasure Hunting

 I love going to Marshall's and TJMaxx, but I also love finding a good deal at an outlet! Here's a great Steven Steve Madden bag I found at Saks Off Fifth at the Tanger Outlet. It's leopard, it's a satchel, it's love.

Below is a very similar bag by Cole Haan.

A Madonna Moment

I was definitely a Madonna fan as a kid. This purple top is from the Material Girl line at Macy's.  It's juniors, but it's a simple silhouette so I think I can get away with it. Those are the jeans I featured in the Kittens and Jeans post.

Top: Material Girl from Macy's
Jeans: Angels
Pumps: Nine West
Lace Gloves: Forever 21

More Asos...

Since it's the weekend, I added Madonna's Holiday video! I love the simple dance moves and background. It's just classic Madonna!

Black with a Touch of Leopard

This is me before a night out that includes Japanese food, a little pool and karaoke! In NY we do wear a lot of black! Guilty as charged. But that doesn't mean it can't be interesting. My not so basic black includes a gray embellished leopard blouse and a silver initial necklace. Ready for some fun? Always!

Jacket: Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker
Blouse: A.N.A.
Necklace: Macys's
Leggings: No Boundaries
Boots: Payless!

More Charlotte Russe...

Santa, I can explain...

Ever notice that when you go Christmas shopping for other people you end up spending a lot because you end up shopping for yourself too! I'd say I buy a lot more in November and December for that very reason! I am especially attracted to big, shiny things. Here are some items I bought while shopping for others. Santa, I've been very bad...

This is a Kathy Van Zeeland shopper in gunmetal. I have been wanting 

a gray bag for a while and I liked the studs.

I thought this was a fun bracelet at Forever21. When I checked on the website I saw

that it comes with a couple of extra bangles. But this was the only one in the store 

so I bought it for the price of a single bracelet. 

This is a Guess blinged out heart pendant. Big statement necklace for nights out! 

And when I come home, there's more shine with this Cynthia Rowley sequin pillow!

More Kathy Van Zeeland...