sparkle and shine in 2013

tops : sequined wool dress // striped sequined tee // gold top // pink sweater (similar here)
shoes : black skull & sequined // glitter ballet flats // gold sparkle pumps // pink toms
clutches : black party bag // silver bow clutch // gold clutch // pink pouch

happy new year!

2012 highlights

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i can't end the year without looking back at highlights of the past year. it gives me great pride and joy to recount once again some memorable events and oppurtunities for this blog to shine a bit and i am just thankful for all the wonderful experience.

• with a special article from paula of frog prince paperie, aston's 4th soccer-themed birthday party was included in a print feature in florida's local lifestyle publication space coast living
• joining some of my favorite bloggers in contributing to society social's online magalog
• we celebrated aston's 5th superhero party with a big bang! 
• meeting the most amazing and sweet amy atlas, whose work and creativity i admire
• so thankful for all the guest bloggers who made time to share their voices in my back-to-school, fall favorites and holiday wishlist guest blogger series
• and finally, some of my personal favorite blog posts : easter ready, instagram obsession, our budding little artist and so much more!

as a reminder, my blog continues to accept sponsors/giveaways and that remains the same for the coming year. email me at swankychicfete {at} gmail {dot} com and i will send you more information. i am looking forward to working with you and building your blog or business! 

i can only hope 2013 will bring brighter and bigger things for all of us. i am looking forward to sharing my passions and joys through this blog and i hope you will still join me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

new year's reflections

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the year is almost over and i just look back in great wonder and disbelief on how time flies so fast. 2013 will be here soon and i eagerly await the promise of yet another fruitful year! 

i am not committing to any new year's resolution this time as i know i wont commit to it. ha! certainly, i don't want to make the same resolutions over and over so, i'll spare myself the humiliation. although i will say, i will try my best. i just won't enumerate them here :)) 

seriously, i am so thankful for the whole year of blog support from all of you. so many new friends, new blogs that inspire, new inspirations. i am aiming for bigger, better things for this little blog of mine for the upcoming year ~ so, i hope you stick around!

wishing you all a safe and blessed new year! 

NYE dresses

let's face 2013 with pizzazz and gusto!
party on but before all that jazz, let's pick out the perfect dress. choose from the little black dress, a sparkly number and a bright pink frock to ring in the new year! 

black dress  (similar here and here) // black enamel ring // black clutch (similar here and here) // red pumps
gold dress (similar here and here) // gold cuff // earrings (similar here and here) // strappy heels
pink dress (similar here and here) // necklace (similar here and here) // lip gloss // perfume // black pumps (similar here and here)

christmas weekend

here are a few scenes from a wonderful weekend and christmas holiday spent with friends and family!

i hope you all had a great time too! 

our little family is gearing for new hopes and dreams for 2013! 

boxing day sale

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early shoppers after christmas always gets the BEST deals. but seriously, who gets up THAT early after christmas day's festivities? i let my online shopping skills do it's early trick and scoop up some great deals even as early as christmas day! 

here are quick links to some of my fave stores to shop! 

what are your boxing day deal finds? do share!

merry christmas to all!

Spreading love and good cheer 

to all this glorious Holiday Season! 

xoxo, Lili 

holiday break

i am looking forward to this holiday break. we'll be focusing on spending time with the family ~ joining the little guy's school christmas party, preparing for christmas eve, last-minute shopping, delivering gifts, enjoying some hot chocolate with marshmallows, driving through beautifully christmas lit neighborhoods and ultimately making memorable moments with loved ones this season of giving! 

so before i sign off for a long weekend break, this was how my week started : 

• tying grosgrain ribbons on design darling gifts (no need for a box ~ so pretty!)
• hanging our latest inexpensive T ornament (from michaels!)
• singing carols with kindergarteners last monday at their annual christmas sing-along
• driving through river oaks
• painting my nails nude again (chanel frenzy is a new favorite!)
• dining out with my girlfriends and having fun exchanging gifts
• holding tight the special christmas project aston did at school (adorable)
• and dressing up candycanes with washi tape flags (fancy!)  

also, don't forget our ongoing 

DRESS SOCIAL SHOP GIVEAWAY

details on how to join here

we will pick a winner on Christmas eve! 

FRIENDS, i sincerely hope you all have a wonderful time with your families! 

i'll see you back here next week! 

kelly's holiday wishlist

we've only got a few days left before christmas eve and all the little elves are busy. there's still time of course to update and make add-ons to your wishlist (mine changes daily - ha!) and today we've got kelly of
the party dress and WHHostess stationery share her holiday wishlist! 

let's check out kelly's picks : 

1. bow necklace 2. makeup brush set 3. buckle leather tote 4. smart tools for the kitchen

5. dotted silk shell  6. silver cakestand 7. ballet flats 8. navy and white throw blanket

and yes, i have to revise my wishlist to add that cozy blanket and i think my kitchen island needs that ipad with stand! thanks for stopping by kelly! 

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

social dress shop giveaway!

i am excited to partner with sarah, founder and owner of the recently launched online dress boutique social dress shop, for a fabulous $ 100 gift card giveaway! 

sarah's e-boutique boasts of some of the most beautiful dresses meticulously handpicked by her. you can select from the collection a variety of gorgeous dresses perfect for any occasion. with new year's eve parties coming up and a line up of special holiday celebration, they pride in carrying simply stunning party dresses from high-end and new ready-to-wear designers that will fit your party wardrobe needs! 

so let's go ahead and browse the shop as i have picked some of my favorites too :

truly there's a perfect dress for anyone's personal style in her shop. love glitter and color? can't decide between pink (my personal fave!) or canary (on sale too!)? obsessed with cobalt blue or leather? i love them all! 

and before i get into the giveaway rules, i have another surprise ~ SDS is sharing a very generous 20% off discount to all SCF readers and friends with code SWANKY20. please also note that the shop offers FREE 2-3 day priority shipping to all purchases! simply hard to resist! 

now let's get into the giveaway details and get this party going! good luck everyone ~ we will announce a winner on christmas eve, dec 24th (US residents only) : 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

stocking stuffers

9 days left before christmas day. and if you're like me ~ still struggling doing last minute shopping and getting everything done, is my mantra.  i can never explain why i do this year after year but i believe it's the holiday season rush that i've grown to love no matter how hectic or crazy it is.

this week will be full of last minute trips to the post office, gift wrapping marathon, dinner get-togethers and a school luncheon party to lead.  and if you still need stocking stuffer tips, here's a round up of goodies that will surely bring smiles to faces this season of giving!

nailpolish // bracelet // lipcolor // compact powder 
owl hand cream // lip gloss candies
snood (similar here) // bubble earrings // scent 

bows and ribbons

 a gorgeous pair of shoe with adorable bows or ribbons is on my hot wishlist for the holidays. i can't get enough of this dainty shoe accent. this is one gorgeous shoe tree!

red bow strap pumps

blue suede bow flats // glitter bow ballet flats

green bow-tie flats // patent leather flats // pink ballet flats

seafoam patent leather heels // plum bowed wedge // grey bow pumps // patent black bow pumps

a sad heart + christmas pjs linky party

my heart goes out to all the parents, families and loved ones affected at yesterday's senseless tragedy. may the good Lord's comfort and warmth be upon them during this very difficult time. 

couldn't be more thankful for this little guy we get to hug and kiss everyday. so grateful for this precious innocent life we continue to treasure and nurture. guide and support. love and cherish. we pray that we continue to have strength to protect and shield our children from any terror and we can only hope and believe that this will never happen again.  

on a lighter note, as soon as december hit ~ we had aston wear his christmas jammies (some old and a couple new ones from target) and it does add a little holiday cheer at home (and for bedtime)! 

and while you have sweet photos or a blogpost of your babies' in their chirstmas pjs, link them up with my friend, meredith's christmas pajamas linky party ~ as i am doing today! 

friday frocks

friday is here and i'm sure there is a holiday dinner or party happening somewhere later tonight!

i love wearing jewel tones for the holiday season. the bolder the color, the merrier. what's a more better way of wearing the color of the season than the elegant red and vibrant green. pair it with your staple neutral accessories and you got yourself a perfect polished look!

shop the look here :

have a merry and bright weekend, friends!

all i want for christmas

just for fun, here's my unofficial (meaning it does not end there - lol) lust list for the holiday season. it is composed of some glammed up black and gold accessories, my endless love of rosegold, something in bright pink, a heavenly scent and a pair of cool tortoise sunnies! i don't mind seeing them under the tree!

black heels // gold clutch (similar here)  // pink tweed jacket // rose-gold watch (stainless steel version here)  // sunnies // perfume

what's on your christmas list?

missing you

i am getting a little personal today on the blog, just skip this post if you're quite not into that. 5 years ago today we lost a sister. not a day goes by without thinking of her and missing her terribly. our little aston was just a few months old then and he never had the chance to get to know her. our family holds dearly all the fond memories we had with her. i miss her giggles, smiling eyes and contagious laughter. she passed right before christmas and ever since, our holiday celebration were never the same without her. 

it reminds us of how precious our lives are and how swiftly it can be taken away from us. everyday i get to give our boy a tighter hug and blow lots of kisses for that extra dose of love. everyday is a moment treasured with our loved ones. 

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Lili on Pinterest

14 days before christmas

only 14 days left before santa is here! 

~ is your home all decked out with all the bells and frills of the holiday season? 

~ are the kids naughty or nice? 

~ are all gifts wrapped and tied with a pretty bow nicely placed under the tree? 

~ did you try and taste a new christmas cookie recipe for santa?
~ have you hung the mistletoe?
~ have you picked out the perfect outfits for this season's merry parties?
~ did you mail out this year's family holiday photo cards for loved ones near and far?

i am a busy bee over here. here's what's going on : rehearsing with our little guy for their school's nativity play, wrapping gifts and being buried under bright ribbons and sparkly paper, last-minute shopping searching gifts for those hard-to-buy people in my life and finding time to attend to a few dinner parties in between!

are you ready for christmas? 

one-stop shop gift guide 3

hello monday! hello friends!

my one-stop shop gift guide is back for the third installment (visit my gift guide 1 and gift guide 2) and i am featuring gifts from west elm today. with unique, modern and price-friendly items - west elm is a go-to place to for me to shop for that perfect gift. if you are not quite done with your holiday shopping yet (like me!), a visit to the store should be on your to-do list! 

hopefully my picks here will give you a quick headstart :

measuring spoons // measuring cups // dots pillow (similar here)
lacquer box (to hold all your trinkets!) // bag (note : can be monogrammed too!) // agate coasters // lacquer tray 

vegas report

hello friends! 

we just came back from a very quick visit to vegas. it's always fun to witness the extravagant colorful fare that is las vegas and especially at this time of the year, it was over the top fancy to say the least. we accompanied the husband to his annual conference there and for a short visit, we all had a great time. unfortunately, i had to endure travelling with a severe head cold and congestion and despite my foggy head, we had fun! 

while the hubs attended his meetings, me and my sweet sidekick aston had the perfect time bonding over brunch, shopping (btw, that colorblock navy and pink dress is pretty - and on sale (sorry SOLD OUT) but available in this color too!) and treating ourselves with delightful desserts over coffee for me and milk for him. although i'm sure he was disappointed we were not in disneyland, on our way home he had the time of his life meeting our plane's pilots and crew - he was so excited and can't stop talking about it! 

it's great to be back home. i've got my to-do list on pause-mode because of our trip but i am determined to cross those out this coming week!  how was everyone's weekend? 

rae's holiday wishlist

one of my chilhood bestfriend is back in the blog today to share her holiday wishlist. rae was here last time sharing her fall favorites and i'm glad she can stop by and be a part of this holiday wishlist series! 

here's rae : 

Luke 2:14 captures number 1 on my wish list. Seeing God glorified for giving us reason to celebrate Christmas is first and foremost.   

Now Lili wants to know what are other things I wouldn't mind having? Here's a list:

~ Great ski conditions with some awesome champagne powder for our ski trip(s). 

~ New ski goggles. A fearless nephew used mine last year while having fun on the slopes. He was unscathed. Can't say the same for the goggles.

~ Python Lucchese. Yes, I'll take a pair.  

~ New Running Shoes. Adds motivation to run and create a calorie deficit to offset the holiday calorie overages. 

~ A new flash for my camera would be nice.

~ I wouldn't complain about a nice Oriental Rug for the dining room.

thanks so much raez! and THANK YOU for reminding us what the real reason of the season is!

 and oh how i wish we can go with you on your annual ski trip with the family! so much fun! 

silver charm

i love the look and feel of using heirloom sterling silver pieces as part of the home's holiday decor. it has a vintage lovely charm that undeniably brings warmth to the whole holiday look for any home. i pulled a few images from pinterest and found these inspiration! 

Source: flickr.com via Glorious on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Lili on Pinterest

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Source: housetoyourhome.com via Lili on Pinterest

Source: stacynashprimitivedesigns.blogspot.com via Lili on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Lili on Pinterest

holiday photo cards

every year i try to come up with new ideas how to display all the christmas photo cards we receive in the mail. this year, after seeing a fantastic idea in pinterest ~ all the old photo cards we received, i placed in a glass bowl in our coffeetable. i also gathered them together, punched a hole in the corner of each card and tied with a beautiful red dotted ribbon. 

it's now gorgeously displayed in our family room where friends can easily snatch it up and flip through it. the new ones we receive this year goes on a silver platter in our formal dining room. i'll snap a shot of that one of these days! 

 

here are a few other ways i did with our photo cards received (2010) ~ hung on a string by our formal dining room's buffet table

last year, all the cards were hung on our two golden mazanita trees (courtesy of my friend Nina) along with some green ornaments

how are you displaying your holiday photo cards this year? do share! 

white wonderland

amidst all the colorful hues, sparkle and glitter that the holiday season brings - a fresh new burst of white is such a refreshing break from all the splash of psychedelic color everywhere. whether its using winter whites as a backdrop with a hint of silver or fresh greenery, the look is so crisp and pure that it's so invigorating and beautiful. 

i pulled a few inspirations from pinterest and i think i'm bookmarking this and recreate the look next year! 

Source: houseandhome.com via Lili on Pinterest

Source: blog.purehome.com via Lili on Pinterest

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Source: pinkandpolkadot.net via Lili on Pinterest

happy monday to everyone!