Pretty in Pink - Valentine's Day Edition

Pretty in Pink - Valentine's Day Edition by fashionmavenmommy 

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and i've got pink on the brain!  I honestly have a bit of a love hate relationship with this ultra feminine hue.  At times i want nothing more than to lay in a mountain of fluffy pink feathers and sip pink champagne, other times it just isn't my scene.  Clearly i have issues but that's a topic for another day!  Since i'm currently embracing all things pink, i thought i'd devote this post to some of my current faves in the hopes that perhaps you'll find something special to treat yourself with.  Why wait for your sweetheart right?? I'm all about treating myself... hey, you only live once!

Love this shaggy layered jacket and love the price even more! I'm so obsessed with Kate Spade jewelry!  This watch is insanely cute and can we please talk about how darling these earrings are??? OMG!  Speaking of Kate Spade, while this fragrance smells amazing, it's the bottle that had me completely smitten!  If you follow me on social media than you know i splurged on a new pair of Valentino Rockstuds which i'll tell you more about in an upcoming post but these pink ones are uhhhhh-mazing! Like shoes and bags, i have a thing for expensive lippies.  This one stole my heart!  OMG have you guys seen the new beautyblender bling ring???? I.need.this.stat!  I can't begin to tell you how happy i am that this stunning IT Cosmetics CC+ Ombre Blush is now sold separately!  It's so so soooo spectacular! Wear it as blush or shadow... i mean, why not?!  An envelope clutch is a must in every woman's wardrobe!  This beauty is perfect for date night!

Well, i hope you've had fun parading in this wonderful sea of pink!  You can shop this post below!  Happy Valentine's Day and HAPPY SHOPPING!

Paris Bound! Happy New Year!

You guys!!!! I'm going to PARIS!  Last Christmas, while at breakfast with one of my best friends (who btw shares a birthday with me therefore making her my birthday twin!), suggested that we celebrate our 40th birthday in Paris!  At first i was like, whhhhaaaat?!  But the more i thought about it, the more it made sense.  You only live once...  so why not?!  I quickly ran out and purchased the latest Fodor's Paris edition and began dreaming of this day.  Eventually with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Paris sort of got shoved in the back burner and was never discussed again.... until last month.  I thought about it a lot. This time of year is so difficult because my girls have their birthday in December so we always plan a big party for them.  In addition to that, we have a ton of birthdays and of course Christmas.  It just gets so expensive... add a trip to Paris to the equation and yikes! However, the more i thought about it the more i felt as though if we didn't do this, i would totally regret it.  After all, we only turn 40 once... and second, our birthday is always gonna fall on an 'inconvenient' time of year. So, just like that... we booked out tickets!  The past month has been incredibly stressful and honestly, i haven't had the time to actually sit and plan much.  Though as soon as Christmas was over, i felt this sense of relief in a way... like i could finally breathe!  It was so nice to actually sit with a blankie and my Fodor's book and finally devote a little time planning this amazing trip.  So here's the thing... we are only going for 5 days and while it's going to be amazing, I'm having some major anxiety about leaving my little girls behind.  I know they'll be in great hands, i just hate flying so every time i travel, i experience a little of this feeling.  I'm working on getting past that.  

Well, we leave tomorrow and i just organized my entire closet in order to make packing a bit of a more pleasurable experience.  Oh who am i kidding, i hate packing!  I'm a little overwhelmed with the wardrobe selection.  We will be doing a ton of walking so i have to make sure my shoe situation is comfortable but not frumpy.  I have a couple of pairs of flat boots and Tieks that are super comfy so they'll work.  Also, it's cold in Paris and since we'll be outdoors, i have to make sure that i pack my favorite winter accessories. I've found a ton of super cute things to wear while I'm there but haven't found one single thing to wear on my actual birthday.  We have dinner reservations at the Eiffel Tower (omg screaming here) and i want to look my best but at this point, I'll figure something out.  Who knows, perhaps I'll find something amazing while in Paris! I'm sure it won't be hard! After all... Paris is the fashion mecca of the world!  I'm excited to make some beauty discoveries as well (I'll be sure to share them with you of course). 

For this post, i thought I'd put together a few things I'm bringing with my for my very long flight besides Xanax, Nyquil and vodka of course! Check out my list:

Frends headphones - can't get any more chic than rose gold Frends!
My new Burgundy Tieks - oh so  comfy!
Bonjour sweater - i mean, can you think of a better option for a Paris arrival?
Orla Kiely luggage - because it's sooooo cute!
Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody bag - perfect for keeping hands free while sight seeing.
Amika dry shampoo - never ever leave home without it!
Cute hair ties - self explanatory!
Daily Concepts super comfy sleep mask - for when the Xanax, Nyquil/Vodka cocktail kick in!
Tatcha Travel Kit - obsessed with Tatcha and this TSA approved kit is everything!
Gorgeous plaid scarf - obsessed with this bargain find!
Christian Dior Diorific Vernis in Sparkling Plum - because it's Parisian perfect!
Book: How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are - oui oui!
Travel Pillow - again for when my anxiety cocktail kicks in!

Hope you will all follow along on this amazing trip with me.  Be sure to follow on instagram, twitter and facebook for loads of pictures!  Can't wait to tell you all about it!  Thank you SO MUCH for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

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Fall Beauty

So i recently purchased this gorgeous dress and was instantly inspired to search for the perfect beauty accessories to compliment it!  This is what i came up with!  

Risen Sun Sweater Dress

Tory Burch Lipstick in Pretty Baby

NARS Nail Polish in China Town - side note (this was the very first NARS polish i ever purchased a good 16 years ago - yes I'm old- but it just goes to show you how timeless this color is!)

Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 Zip Bag 

Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola  - Another makeup bag staple of mine for years and years!

But lets get back to the dress!!!  How stunning is it?!  When it arrived, it was seriously everything I'd imagined it to be.  It's very versatile.  I wear it with leggings, skinny jeans and short booties etc.  The possibilities are endless. Plus, i feel that it's so unique.  You don't see dresses like this one very often!  I'm seriously in love!  

Thank you so much for reading!  You can shop the post below! Xo, Carla - FMM 

(This post contains affiliate links)

Labor Day Deals!!!

There are so many great deals happening this weekend that my head is spinning!  I'm trying hard to control myself but I'm not gonna lie, I'm having a hard time!  I did a little browsing and these are just a few of the awesome deals i found so i thought I'd share them with you!  You can shop this post here!  Happy Shopping! xoxo, Carla - FMM

Back To school Style

Well it's that time of year again!  Parents are doing the happy dance while kiddies weep at the thought of going back to school!  While it's sad bidding farewell to summer, Fall is an exceptionally exciting time too, particularly for fashion!  So i thought I'd put together some back to school items that you won't want to go without this Fall!

A backpack is an obvious necessity.  But really, this is not just a school thing!  In fact, i find myself reaching for one more and more!  I always take one on short trips, particularly as a mommy, it's nice to have my hands free to tend to my girls.  Oh and your backpack can be a simple no fuss situation or a statement piece like this navy blue Rebecca Minkoff! Here are some amazing backpacks to choose from! A stylish pair of sneakers will ensure you get that extra mile in without hurting your pretty little toes!  I'm obsessed with this yellow pair! Being on time is important so you'll want to wrap a super cute watch around your wrist.  This functional accessory will ensure you're always on time for class!  Oh and yes, I'm still obsessed with the mirrored aviators so i think they're still a must have fashion accessory.  Plus, they're kind of timeless!  I found so many cute outfit options here! Seriously, I'm loving so many things that I'm having a hard time limiting myself!  Grrrr Oh and we could all use a super cute 'brunch money' pouch no?

Love a good sale?  Check out the amazing selection here!  With prices like these, I'm seriously not going to hold back!  Well, if you're going back to school this Fall, i wish you a successful and super stylish year!

Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

Lilac Love

OK so my love affair with this color began when i first set eyes on this Rebecca Minkoff cross body bag!  Seriously, i have visions of parading this beauty around town stat!  I find cross body bags easy, especially for shopping because it leaves your hands free to, you know... browse!   Oh and if you get the bag, you'll totally need the matching Rebecca Minkoff Mani/Pedi Fun pouch!  I mean, we all need a mani/pedi fund, no?  So if you want to go all matchy matchy, lets cat nails.  Can we please discuss this super chic Chanel number?  I adore Chanel polish!  I remember being pregnant and on bed rest and the only thing that brought me happiness was Chanel polish.  It was the one thing i could actually still do... paint my nails!  Needless to say, with all the time i had on my hands, my nails always looked flawless! I wear these Tory Burch Earrings all the time!  They look great and can be dressed up or down!  I love Ray Ban Mirrored aviators and currently own the green ones, but this pink option is super sweet too!  Love bright pink lips?  You need this lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous stat!

Hope you enjoyed my ode to lilac!  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

Shop the SHOPBOP SALE!!!

So a couple of days ago, i got an email alerting me that SHOPBOP was having a major sale! Since I'm one to never pass up a good sale, i quickly began to browse through the countless items in the sale section!  I thought it'd be fun to highlight a few of my favorites because i just know that many of you share my enthusiasm for fashion, shopping and of course, a great deal!

I fell instantly in love with this green flowy BB Dakota dress.  I'm envisioning myself wearing this beauty for an evening stroll on the beach!  It's absolute perfection!  How cute is this Marc Jacobs IPhone Case?!  I seriously need this in my life!  These Rebecca Minkoff wedges make a major statement!  I can pair them with jeans or a great dress for a fun look!  I'm loving these Tory Burch sneakers so much!  I can totally see me wearing these while running errands or to keep comfy during my summer travels!  I'm totally getting this Tory Burch scarf because I've been eyeing it for like... ever and now it's on sale!!! Yay... go me!  Lastly, i love love love this Tory Burch bikini so I'll be adding this beauty to my shopping cart!  The Navy is also super chic too!

There are way too many options to list at the SHOPBOP sale but these are just a few that truly caught my eye!  Check out the sale before all the good stuff is gone!

Thank you so much for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM

FMM Holiday Gift Guide Part 2 - Wish List

It's hard to believe that Christmas will be here in ONE week!  So have you completed your holiday shopping?  I'm almost done but still have a few items on my list.  This time of year is so busy for me since my little girls' birthday is also in December!  It's hard to believe they're already FIVE!  Between party planning, holiday decorating, shopping, baking, working, blogging... it's what Rachael Zoe might call BANANAS!  But regardless of the craziness, I'm trying to enjoy and savor this special time with my family.  Today in particular, I'm grateful that i have my beautiful baby girls to hug and kiss.  Sadly, many families in CT can't say the same as their babies were so violently taken from them.  So rather then complain about the madness of the season, I'm going to simply say... I'm grateful that i have my beautiful family to share this special time with and make yet another Christmas filled with wonderful memories. 

 

So with no further ado... here are a few of my favorite things!

 

1.  TOMS 'Classic' Canvas Slip-On
2.  Tory Burch Haircalf Printed Priscilla Bootie
3.  UGG® Australia 'Ansley' Slipper in Light Grey
4.  TOMS 'Classic - Metallic Dot' Slip-On
5.  Lula glitter ballet flats
6.  Tory Burch Chelsea Ballet Flat in Flame Red

1.  Anthropologie Spangled Bobby Pin Set (I rock mine all the time!)
2.  J.Crew Classic Chunky Link Bracelet (I may have slipped a hint to my hubby on this one!)
3.  Tory Burch 'Cole' Logo Double Wrap Bracelet
4.  J.Crew Classic pavé link bracelet
5.  Kate spade new york 'spade' thin hinged bangle
6.  Tory Burch Cole Enamel Stud Earrings

1.  Anthropologie Eileen Buttondown (I need this! Like really need it!)
2.  Tory Burch Satchel - Robinson Dome Large
3.  Anthropologie Stone-Dotted Wristlet (Totally asked Santa for this)!
4.  Anthropologie Tracing Stars Pouch (I purchased this for a friend but i wanna keep it!  Bad Carla!)
5.  Baggu for J.Crew
6.  Michael Kors Faux Fur Trim Poncho Sweater (I. WANT. THIS. NOW.)

1.  Kate Spade NY 'Ring' USB Drive (Because it's GENIUS!)
2.  Juicy Couture Faux Fur Headphone Ear Muffs ( I totally treated myself to these last year! So fun!
3.  J.Crew Printed Backup Battery for IPhone (O M G why didn't i know of this before?!)
4.  Rebecca Minkoff Pop Phone Handset
5.  Case-Mate® Monogram iPhone 5 Case (Nordstrom Exclusive) (Love Chevron!)

There you have it!  Some of my favorite things!  Hope you enjoyed!  Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  XOXO Carla

Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C

You know how you stroll into a store... Starbucks in hand.. not particularly looking for anything in specific, but just looking.  Suddenly, through the corner of your eye, you spot something special.  Wait, is that on SALE???  Your stroll suddenly turns into a fast paced walk... you spot someone headed in the same direction and you're thinking 'B... step off'!  Now you know it's on and you better step up your game!   So you walk a little faster until.... you reach her!  You pick her up, admire her beauty for a second or two.... unzip her, pull out the price tag and.... it IS on sale!!!!  It's that moment you realize, this was meant to be!  Think about it... there she was, swimming in a sea of bags... she was the only one... there... waiting to come home with meeeee!  I quickly strutted my two step right on over to the counter and made this pretty baby officially MINE!  Yipeee! I LOVE HER!  I especially adore the rose gold hardware making it the perfect compliment to its happy yellow color! You can get yours from Nordstrom like i did right here!  What do you think?  When have you ever felt that for a fabulous find you've spotted....