L'Wren Scot for Banana Republic

 Banana Republic just launched their latest collection/collaboration with L'Wren Scot. I have to admit, it's not really my style but the pieces are pretty and the timing is right for the holidays. There were blazers, skirts and some accessories as well but my two favorite pieces are below. I don't really have anywhere to wear them but if I did....

 This is the Navy Lace Collection dress. I reminds me a bit of the Erdem dress that the Duchess of Cambridge wore on the trip she and Prince William made to Canada last year.

I think this dress is called the sequin wiggle dress. Not sure I could say that with a straight face. Anyway, I think this would be great for a New Years Eve party. But since my New Years plans usually include flannel pajamas and kids, I'm going to pass.

Have you seen any of these pieces? What do you think?

A Fiesta!

My parents have some close friends who live in Mexico City that often come to visit at Thanksgiving. This year my mom threw a full on fiesta the Saturday after Thanksgiving to celebrate.

 

 Of course no fiesta is complete without music!

 Apparently it is traditional in Mexico that a Mariachi band be accompanied by a burro with beer and tequila on its saddle. We didn't have a burro but we had a pony!

 The piñata of course is the highlight!

Apparently when adults do piñatas in Mexico, every missed swing comes with a shot of tequila!

I Really Tried

Ok, I really tried to watch the new version of Sound of Music that was live on NBC this past Thursday, really I did. The movie version with Julie Andrews is literally one of my favorite movies, but I like Carrie Underwood so I tried to keep an open mind. I knew it wasn't the movie but more like the stage version so I didn't expect it to be exactly the same. Well, not so much. Carrie can sing, but she really can't act. Am I alone in thinking Anne Hathaway would have been a better choice?  Stephen Moyer, who played the Captain just seemed to young to me, plus I couldn't get past his True Blood persona. There was zero chemistry between him and Carrie as well. The kids were charming and I thought Rolf was way cuter, I've always thought the movie version of Rolf was just a tad creepy. It was Audra McDonald though who stole the show. I actually went to elementary school with Audra where she was 2 years ahead of me at Bullard Elementary in Fresno, CA. She's always been a star, even in Fresno. Her Climb Very Mountain was fabulous. Did any of you watch it?  What did you think?

Thanksgiving - California Style

We had really glorious weather here in Northern CA over the Thanksgiving weekend. WE went down to my folks on Friday as they live near the coast and went to the beach. The water was still cold but that didn't stop the kids!

 

 AGB tries out the wake board, not as easy as it looks!

 OPB is more the sand castle type

 I rolled up my jeans!

 The view down the beach!

This my hubby explaining to CMB how the wake board works.