nina's holiday wishlist

far from being a stranger here in the blog, one of my dearest friends nina is finally visiting and sharing her holiday wishlist. we worked countless times together on different occasions - conceptualizing and brainstorming on parties we are hosting and we always end up having so much fun putting something together whether for our families, kids or friends.

you may also recognize her here in the blog from her twins 1st birthday party feature, our girlfriends katherine's pink and gold baby shower and phuong's girly birthday luncheon. we also collaborated on bestie emily's vintage-themed baby shower last year (and second part feature here). i'm also excited to announce today that her new gifts and accessories e-boutique will soon open, PBC closet! stay tuned!

fur coat // long cardigan // crocodile collier de chien cuff  // coat 

square-framed sunglasses //  cartier diamond bangle // scalloped flats (i want a pair too!)

in the meantime, if you'd like to take a peek at her store - follow her along on instagram (@pbc) and if you see something you like, you can order via emailing her  PBCcloset{at}gmail {dot}com

SHOP // INSTAGRAM // PINTEREST 

one-stop shop gift guide

i think you will all agree that heading to one store and scooping up all your gifts for everyone on one stop is ideal. for someone who does not have the luxury of time to shop around for the perfect holiday gifts, that is the perfect scenario.

target has really stepped it up this holiday season and i find myself finding amazing stuff ALL THE TIME. i totally missed their black friday sales but you can't still beat their prices all year round!

here's a little round up of some of my favorite finds perfect for everyone in your life : 

blue clutch // faux fur coat // sherpa throw // porcelain reindeer candle holder 
gold chevron iphone 5 case // pink polkadot ipod case //  kitchenaid standup mixer // polkadot boxer shorts 
green enamel bangle set // giraffe plush toy // camcorder 

are you halfway done with your list yet? i barely started but i got a few crossed out on my list already!

friends with style

hello wednesday! 

i am taking a quick break from everything christmas and the holiday's craziness and bring out these gorgeous imaginary friends of mine. they are effortlessly chic, fabulous and they seem to share the same closet. i mean, black skinny jeans paired with a black or grey shirt seems to be the outfit of choice. i can wear that everyday myself (and hang around with them too!) LOL. 

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i miss my friends all of a sudden. with the busy schedule of work and family responsibilities along with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to get caught up and forget the important matters. i need to find time to spend a moment with them. remember, facebook or instagram or twitter do not count. 

decking the halls

like everyone, we tackled holiday decorating last weekend in between cooking, baking, eating and shopping. it's always fun to get the family together and happily decking the halls with christmas songs playing in the background. such a heartwarming tradition! 

as every year, we also put out a baby tree (previous baby trees here) for aston and this year he was such a big help decorating the big tree as well as his own little one. picking out his favorite ornaments (while breaking a few along the way) and digging through boxes of christmas decor proved to be a fun thing to do for him. with still loads of decorating to complete, here are bits and pieces of our decked out home. 

i still have a few things to put out like our front door wreaths and kitchen island tree. but so far, it's really beginning to look a lot like christmas! 

merry metallics

last tuesday i participated in an exciting pinterest party featuring metallic inspirations and entertaining ideas along with some of your favorite bloggers and party planners. within a full hour that night, the board was filled with beautiful images of holiday decor ideas, gorgeous metallic tablescapes, hostess must-haves and more! 

here are some of my favorite pins :

Source: sweetapolita.com via Maddy on Pinterest

Source: livingathome.de via Maddy on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Lili on

Source: romantichome.blogspot.com via Lili on Pinterest

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Glorious on Pinterest

whether you are still shopping this weekend or already decorating your home for the holidays, stop by and take a peek at the merry metallics board for more entertaining and decor inspiration and ideas! 

huge thanks to kelly of the party dress and kim of the tomkat studio for making me a part of it! 

happy thanksgiving

for most of you, the thanksgiving holiday starts today (or earlier this week). school's out and work ends early to give way for everyone to spend quality time with their family and relatives. i will be back with my regular blog programming sometime in the weekend or so. in the meantime, i will be bonding with this handsome little fellow and the rest of our family. hoping you all will have a fantastic time this thanksgiving! 

from our family to your's, wishing you all a happy thanksgiving! 

insta-lately

is everybody ready for thanksgiving? we are getting busier over here as the holidays start rolling in. here's what we're up to :

~ i always enjoy holiday decorating and we started putting them up last weekend. aston was such an enthusiastic helper and had fun hanging up his ornaments and trimming his own personal little tree we put out every year. more pics on that later.

~ i also kicked off holiday shopping and in the process found some treats for me too that don't need to be wrapped! LOL. these backup iphone chargers are so adorable, i picked up one for me and the hubs. i also spotted some polkadotted boxer shorts i am dying to have!

~ a few weeks ago i shared our backyard project and it's almost complete. the putting green replaced our empty lawn and we've been out playing ever since the weather has been gorgeous! 

~ date nights have been pretty rare around here. so it's always a treat to go out, dress up and we did that last saturday to celebrate a dear friend's birthday!

more christmas decorating, cooking, baking and celebrating will be coming our way this thanksgiving day and long weekend. i am looking forward to spending time with family and friends and i hope you enjoy your celebration too!

lastly, don't forget to join us tonight for a Holiday Entertaining Pinterest party. starts at 9pm EST -  follow along the board here! oh, and you will have a chance to win a $100 credit from Minted!

monica's holiday wishlist

in true holiday spirit, we are kicking off a new series today with the fabulous monica of  classy and fabulous blog, dishing about her HOLIDAY WISHLIST! 

the beautiful monica is my go-to resource to some of  houston's local fashion event updates and schedules. this fashionista is also a talented artist and illustrator and you can check out (and purchase!) some of her sketches here in her shop. she has done some amazing work!

MONICA'S holiday wishlist list :

let's help make monica's wishlist happen ~ you can make donations to Texas Hearing and Service dogs here! 

thank you! 

you can stalk monica here : 

BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // PINTEREST // INSTAGRAM 

MONICA, thanks so much for being here today! 

pinterest party

come have fun and join our holiday entertaining pinning party this tuesday, nov 20 (9pm EST/6pm PST) on MERRY METALLIC HOLIDAY DECOR & PARTY IDEAS! 

hosted by THE PARTY DRESS and THE TOMKAT STUDIO, i am thrilled to join your favorite party bloggers and more for this pinning party full of holiday decor ideas and inspiration. and not only that, have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from MINTED! 

FOLLOW ALONG the pinterest board MERRY METALLICS
HASHTAG #holidayentertaining
tuesday november 20 9pm EST/6pm PST

let's have a merry metallic night! COME JOIN US!

popup store : birchbox home

just in time for the holidays, birchbox opens up a popup store with lots of goodies for your home. the long list of  lovelies for the kitchen, bar, home decor and tabletop are perfect gifts for the impeccable hostess, a gourmet cook, your foodie bestfriend or your home interior fanatic boss! 

head over to birchbox HOME popup store and snoop around for gift ideas. having trouble deciding which one to get? snap up one of the amazing limited edition home birchbox filled with handpicked items making up a most special gift!   

here are a few of my picks : 

decorative tray // candle // macaron trinket box (isn't this sweet?) 

salt and pepper shakers (love that it's orange!) // bamboo utensil set // syrup

home fragrance diffuser // vanilla bean sugar // coaster set

so, have you jumpstarted on your holiday shopping list already? i have a long one and i may have just fulfilled 2 or 3 in my list. most of the time, i find stuff for me! LOL! 

ENJOY THE WEEKEND friends! 

wrap it up!

i will be busy gift wrapping in the next few weeks. i find thrill in gathering my supplies and creatively gift wrap presents for loved ones (visit my last year's guest post over at a blissful nest on gift wrapping ideas). i adore seeing gorgeously wrapped gifts under the tree glistening against christmas twinkling lights! 

here are a few non-traditional gift wrapping supplies to adorn your holiday presents! 

all from anthropologie

scroll along to shop for your wrapping supplies :

giving thanks

next week we will be celebrating thanksgiving and i have so much to be thankful for. giving gratitude should be a daily expression of appreciation. i am so fortunate with things happening in my life and be surrounded by family everyday. 

i am most thankful for : 

• all the oppurtunities and privileges that have come my way
• good health and the ability to take care of it
• daily protection and security
• new and old friends who make me smile
• the teachers who continue to help us nurture our son everyday
• lovely pretty things around that inspire me
• my parents that are ever supportive 
• this little blog that has gained me amazing new readers and friends, relationships and precious lessons in blogging life
• my son who has made me a more loving, patient and understanding mother
• my husband for his kindness, generosity and love
• the relationship that i have with my own personal Lord and Savior ~ for His forgiveness and the endless blessings He had showered us. i give Him back all the glory and honor

the list will go on and on and on. as life goes on ~ everyday there is something to be thankful for. 

what are you thankful for today?  

audrey's top five fall favorites

the last guest blogger to share her top five fall favorites in our series is the gorgeous Audrey of 

Spilled Milk Style blog. a houston local blogger with stunning good looks and incredible style ~ this mommy to the adorable little guy conrad ~ always inspire me with her casual elegant style despite juggling her busy schedule and mommy duties! i can't wait to share her fall favorites here today! 

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I am super excited to be guest posting for Lili, a fellow mom blogger of one of my new favorite blogs, Swanky Chic Fete! I’m Audrey, creator of Spilled Milk Style, a blog for stylish moms despite all the spilled milk! Spilled Milk Style is a fashion, style and lifestyle inspiration blog for moms.

Today I’m discussing my top 5 Fall Favorites.

The first is my Hermes riding “Jumping” Boots. These were an investment gift from my husband two Christmases ago. They just say Fall to me and I love them! They look great with dresses, skirts and of course tucked into jeans. My tip for jean tucking is to wear capris. No one will know and you get a smoother look.

My next Fall Favorite are J.Crew cashmere tees in long and short sleeves. At the beginning of every season I always order a few in various colors. I know the biggest pain with cashmere is pilling, so I recommend picking up a sweater comb too. But honestly these tees aren’t that bad will pilling and are easy care by hand washing with cashmere wash. Here’s a pic of me sporting both favorites, my Hermes boots and a JCrew short sleeve cashmere tee. The skirt is by Rag and Bone and handbag is Celine.

My third Fall Favorite is actually a makeup item, Smashbox’s HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder. I use retinol on and off and my skin gets flakey as the temperature changes. When the cooler weather starts I switch my tinted moisturizer to this. It gives you a seamless look of a foundation but goes on smoothly like a powder. I highly recommend it! 

My next Fall Favorite are the Isabel Marant Dicker booties. By fashion standards these have been out for awhile now and are considered a classic staple. I recently decided to order a pair as an alternative to black flats. The heel height is very comfortable and perfect for running around with my two year old son. Plus the style is definitely more fallish than the basic everyday flat.

My last Fall Favorite will also be a Holiday wish list item as I don’t own it but would love to! It’s the Hermes H Hour watch in gold. I’ve never been a gold jewelry person but have recently started wearing more and have slowly started to collect. I’m definitely a watch person but I feel funny sporting my stainless mens watch with gold jewelry. The Hermes H Hour in gold would definitely solve my problem! The brown band makes it more Fall feeling to me and of course the style is so basic it’s definitely a classic to keep!

Thank you so much Lili for allowing me to guest post, I hope your readers enjoy!
Best, Audrey

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thanks audrey for sharing with us your fall favorites - now i want those cashmere tees too!

you can catch audrey over at : 

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST

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and lastly, i am excited to announce our next new series to run this november till christmas week 

HOLIDAY WISHLIST 

 i have an amazing line up of favorite bloggers, new and old friends who will stop by and share their holiday wishlist. i can't wait to kick of that series! 

weekend links

happy weekend friends! 

whatever you all are doing today, i hope you find time to quickly click on the links below to discover amazing things to check out or try this weekend : 

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• do i dare color my nails these? so fun! 
• feeling a little crafty and want to put that sewing maching to use? check out this  DIY tutorial on making your own foldover clutch 
• looking for ways to print your instagram shots? how about holiday insta-cards? lovely idea! 
• is thanksgiving dinner including fun kids crafts and activities? you need to download these FREE thanksgiving photo props!
• it'll be fun roasting these homemade marshmallows (make sure to click translate)
• crazy for chevron? try adding pizzazz to your plain white ceramic mug and add these chevron design
• and lastly, i am in LOVE with these rainboots ~ it's wellies with the look of the riding boots!

enjoy saturday! 

friday faves

so, i happen to stumble into this soft comfy sweater last week at a nearby ann taylor loft store. it was on sale with an extra 40% off. for under $40, it feels luxurious and the cut and look gives it an edgy feel but not very stiff. i cant wait to wear mine during the colder days in the winter (or next week where they predict weather under 60s!)! 

get it here

with colder months ahead ~ i am loving long cardigans, soft cozy sweaters and comfy jackets. here are a few of my picks :

enjoy the weekend, friends!

two looks for less

i've always loved recreating fashionable looks i spy in the glossy magazines, runway clips, fashion blogs and even the red carpet. i love giving it my own inexpensive spin. today i'm sharing two fabulous looks i've pinned in my style board and the alternate pieces you can use to recreate them!   

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black skinnies // blouse // necklace // pumps, similar here and here // clutch 

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printed pants // white blouse, similar here & here // sunnies // handbag, similar here & here  
wedges, similar here & here // bracelets, here here & here


have a fab wednesday friends!

arm candy

i've always loved the evening clutches by judith leiber. what girl does not like some sparkle and glitter dangling from her arm, they're like jewels. but the very pricey line now has a more budget-friendlier (yes, still not exactly cheap) line geared for the younger customer, called overture judith leiber. 

still with it's more familiar glitz  and glamour, each handbag still hold the elegant and classy look a judith leiber clutch is known for. with the holiday parties lining up this season, i am thinking of investing on one i can  use through the years!

you can shop for the overture judith leiber line here : 

overture judith leiber shopbop

overture judith leiber NM

a gilded thanksgiving

thanksgiving preparations have officially started for most of you. taking out the silver and polishing them. flipping through your family's cherished recipe books for traditional thanksgiving recipes. checking the grocery list and finalizing the guest list ~ so exciting! 

lately, i have a thing for anything gold and here are a few gilded inspirations to complete a festive thanksgiving tablescape. it just looks more luxurious and rich and with the warmth of the fall colors, they are the perfect accent finishes for your table. 

candleholders // flatware // give thanks plates // maple pumpkin butter // topiary

to shop more for your thanksgiving tabletop, scroll here : 

sunday sponsor spotlight

it's that time to quickly say hello to my generous sponsors. take time to visit and browse their site for amazing goodies and gifts. holiday gift-giving is almost here and i'm busy bookmarking and adding to my favorites some of the lovelies i'm planning to give to friends and family. 

there is something for everyone - whether it's skincare, scents, party supplies and  stationery - you are bound to find something you'll like! 

CHARLESTON NATURALLY

BIRCHBOX

SKINCARE RX

BUSHEL AND PECK PAPER

JULEP

if you are interested to partner with S::C::F, pls drop me a note at swankychicfete (at) gmail (dot) com and i will be glad to send over an information packet! thank you once again to all my blog partners for the support! 

saturday style

shop the weekend's look here 

enjoy! 

november is here!

i've got thanksgiving already in my mind. halloween is now over and it's full swing holiday mood in the house! 

love all these images from pottery barn. so much inspiration in creating your own thanksgiving home decor and feast on that special holiday. visit here, here and here for all the table details, food recipes and tips for a perfectly festive thanksgiving celebration!

happy november to all and enjoy the weekend! 

scenes from halloween

HALLOWEEN 2012

yesterday's halloween was so much fun. the day started with the annual school's halloween day parade and classroom party. the kids get to wear their favorite costumes (they were all so cute!) and enjoyed a post-parade party with arts and crafts, sweet treats and a party favor to take home. 

by the time i picked up aston from school, i can tell he was pooped. but he was a trooper as he knows later in the evening he has a whole block to T or T. his cousins daniel and david - ailynne's boys - were our early trick or treaters, so we headed out and finished the rest of the night with them. oh, and we also crashed a neighbor's block party - all in good fun!