spring/summer 2014

I was recently invited to attend the ENK International Children's Club Show in NYC to preview the latest in children's fashion for spring/summer 2014.  The summer is almost over and I'm already looking forward to next summer vacation already.  The neon trend is definitely still going strong for next year and lots of British and European brands are happily making their way across the pond.  Here are some of my favorites from the show:

I absolutely love the British brand Rachel Riley and the summer 2014 collection is just too cute to miss.  Rachel Riley is known for their traditional children's clothing inspired by the 1940s, 50s and 60s.  The collection is really fresh with pops of neon for both boys and girls that really stand out.  Rachel Riley has definitely caught the Royal Baby fever and there is an adorable infant collection for all the little princes and princesses printed with crowns and tiaras.  

I am completely obsessed with ballet flats and can't live without them.  Yosi Samra Kids has seriously the most adorable little ballerinas in an amazing selection of colors, prints and designs.  Luckily they do a line for adults or else us mommies with be really jealous!  The flats look super comfortable and are perfect for all those little fashionistas.  My favorite are the patent cap toe flats and may have to get those for my girlie in a couple of colors.

Barefoot Dreams is another favorite in our house and both of my kids can't sleep without their fuzzy little blankets.  What could possible make Barefoot Dreams better than it already is???  Hello Kitty of course!  I can't get the Asian girl out of me and thankfully I have a daughter I can pass this obsession on to.  The Hello Kitty collection is already available and we don't need to wait until next summer to get our hands on it.

To get me through the cold and long London winters I have relied on 7 A.M. Enfant since the birth of my eldest son.  7 A.M. Enfant make seriously functional accessories while looking tres chic.  All of the pieces are made exceptionally well and my Le Sac Igloo still looks brand new after all these years.  All of the fun neon colors from the new collection are sure to brighten up any gloomy day.  I definitely need a pair of the warm muffs for pushing the kiddies around this winter and the kids version for the scooter is just genius.  In addition I'm digging their new bag collection and they have really thought through what us busy parents need when we are on the go.  The Hamper is just genius and this is the exact bag I've been designing in my head for years.  With a handy drawstring that can fit loads inside, a shoulder strap that can be worn and the best part it can easily be attached to your buggy/stroller with a Velcro strap.  I've got loads more to share so look out for another post on their amazing pieces!

Staying safe in the sun is a huge priority to me and I'm always making sure my kids are properly covered up in the pool.  It's probably because my husband's skin is quite fair and burns just by looking at the sun.  Luckily the kids seems to be a bit more resilient despite seeing sunshine for only a handful of days all year long.  Sunuva has an amazing collection of UV children's swimwear that means you can worry about one less thing while out at the pool/beach all while looking very stylish.  How cute is the skull design from the summer 2014 line?  I'm also really excited about the infant swimsuit with the floats built in.  Really wish I had one of these this summer!

Stuck on You Back to School Giveaway! (Contest now closed)

THE WINNERS FOR THE STUCK ON YOU GIVEAWAY ARE:

TINA MATLIJOSKI 

AND 

CHERON

CONGRATULATIONS!  PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.

Thank you all for entering and hope to have another giveaway soon.

xoxo

To help you get ready for back to school Stuck on You is giving away two $20 gift certificates!!!  There are so many fabulous goodies to choose from their collection to send your kids to school organized and in great style too.

CONTEST ENDS MONDAY AUGUST 26, 2013 AT 6PM

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*Please leave a comment below and your name will be selected randomly

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back to school must have - stuck on you

It's almost the end of August and that time of year to start prepping for the kids to go back to school (hip hip hooray!).  There is so much on the list to get but the most important thing is making sure everything that is  properly labeled.  There's nothing worse than spending all that money just to have it all go missing.  Thankfully Stuck on You have thought of everything a busy mom needs to make the back to school prep so much fun and more convenient.  I've been a huge fan of Stuck on You every since I've sent my son to nursery a couple of years ago.  The designs are always super cute and it actually gets him excited about going to school with a little surprise inside his clothes.

My top must have item from Stock on You is the personalized library bag.  It's such a good size with a convenient drawstring that can be used on it's own or inside another bag.  The best thing is that it is handy for all age groups and serves so many functions.  You can pack a spare set of clothes, diapers/nappies, wipes and a cuddly toy for your little one to bring to nursery.  It can also be used as a swim bag or to keep sports clothes in when the kid are older.  I actually just use it when I'm out and about with each of my kids' things stashed  separately in their own bags.  There are so many adorable designs to chose from too with a fun striped lining on the inside.

Stuck on you is known for their fabulous name and clothing labels and I seriously cannot live without them!  All of the designs are super cute and I love how much you can personalize them from style, color, and font.  The iron-on name labels are really easy to use and stay on there even after loads of washer/dryer action.  My son wears a uniform at his Montessori nursery so it is crucial that everything is labeled.  These labels really make his uniform pop out when they are mixed in with all of the others so it's easier to find his clothes on playdates with his school friends.  My son is very into super heroes currently and the Super Strong labels are perfect for him.  The designer name labels are another one of the products I cannot live without.  The literally just stick on and so simple to use.  Great for lunch boxes, drink bottles, snack containers and of course toys.  All labels are dishwasher and microwave safe and you can't get more practical than that!  I could not resist the Parisian Oui Oui design for my daughter.

Thankfully Stuck on You have lots global websites (USA, Europe, UK, Asia, and the Middle East) so you can all get your hands on their products and they do ship quick.

*sponsored post - I was not compensated for this post but was provided with samples for review*

santa barbara part 2 - coral casino beach and cabana club

Right across the street from the Four Seasons Biltmore is a private members club the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club that is owned by the Four Seasons.  Luckily for us, all hotel guest get to use the Coral Casino as part of the resort and this is where we spent most of our holiday.  The Coral Casino is so super glamorous and spacious with an Olympic size swimming pool, kiddie pool, direct access to the beach, changing rooms, gym and 2 restaurants.  It was so nice to sit around in the sunshine with gorgeous ocean views while the kids splashed around in the little swimming pool.  The staff are as lovely as ever and the reception desk sell loads of necessities from sunblock to swim nappies/diapers which I of course forgot.

There are a couple of dining options at Coral Casino.  Tydes is the more upscale dining experience located upstairs with panoramic ocean views and the poolside Coral Cafe is more casual with delicious and fresh food.  The best option is the lovely waiters bringing your food right to your sun lounger without having to move or lift a finger.  There are plenty of choices for the kids on the kids' menu including an oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich dipped in chocolate!

We really had such a fabulous time and we we return soon.

heaven at the four seasons biltmore

We packed up the kids and headed to a family friends wedding at the Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara in Montecito, CA for a much needed family vacation.  This was our first trip to Santa Barbara and as soon as we drove into entrance of the resort you could just sense that this place was magical.  Once we stepped out of the car from our drive from Los Angeles (of course with some drama involved with the kids) I was completely in love and was immediately trying to convince my husband to move to California.  I've never seen myself as a west coast girl but I may have to rethink this!  The resort is on an absolutely gorgeous seaside estate with beautiful Spanish Colonial buildings scattered throughout.  There is an amazing sense of privacy and so much to explore inside the resort.  The staff and service throughout our stay was incredible and you are really able to completely relax without having to worry about a thing.

We stayed in a ground floor garden room and was very warm and spacious.  I really loved all the character of the room and resort as there is only so much super modern decor this girl can take.  The bedroom doors opened onto a private patio that lead to the hotel grounds which was great for the kids to run around.  In true Four Seasons style there is a luxurious bathroom decorated with pretty hand painted tiles.  We have done a lot of travelling with the kids and this is seriously the most kid friendly hotel we have ever stayed in.  When we walked into the room a cot/crib was in there already with the cutest bedding and a set of organic baby toiletries place on top of the baby blanket.  The biggest surprise was the nappy/diaper wipes warmer sitting on the counter and a nappy bin/diaper pail already in the bathroom.  They really do think of everything to make you stay that much more enjoyable.  As if I wasn't already impressed the kids were given gifts constantly.  When we checked in the kiddies were greeted with their very own little Beanie Babies teddies (Ty Warner the founder of Beanie Babies is the owner of The Biltmore), snacks and beach toys were sent to our room, and when they came to turn down the beds little robes and slippers left on our beds.  It was really so sweet and the kids absolutely loved the spoiling!

There is an intimate swimming pool on the resort property that was a little too peaceful for my loud children running around.  The pool area was really beautiful and I would have happily relaxed there all day without the kids.  There is no beach area in the resort itself but I think the biggest perk of the hotel is access to the private Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club just across the street which more than makes up for all of this.  (Post to follow shortly!)

There are tons of activities for kids throughout the resort including a kids' club which we didn't have a chance to check out.  We did book a fantastic sitter through the hotel concierge which even my neurotic husband turned out to be completely comfortable with.  

I am a huge breakfast snob and pretty picky about hotel breakfasts.  I guess because it is my least favorite meal of the deal and really has to be something for me to be excited about.  I mean before kids the only way I would make it down for breakfast is if I was up because of jetlag.  Of course with the kids now we are all up and ready and there are hungry mouths to feed.  The breakfast buffet was definitely worth it at The Biltmore and such a great way to fuel up for the day.  There are an amazing selection of baked goodies, cheese and charcuterie selection, and most importantly an omelette station where you can order your eggs exactly how you want them.  I just loved having my breakfast sitting outside on the patio with ocean views and it could not be further from our meals in London.  There are plenty of young children running around so we felt really comfortable and even made a couple of friends.  We did have a celebrity sighting and sat next to Noel Gallagher of Oasis and his family.  They did have a nanny with them and I'm sure enjoyed their dining experience more than the chaos that follows me.

We really did have such a fantastic time at the Four Seasons and would love to go back again sometime.  What makes it so special is there is that relaxed California ambiance and makes it so easy to relax and unwind.  It truly is a little piece of heaven and I'm sure once it's winter again in London I will be plotting my escape to the gorgeous Santa Barbara.

Four Season Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

1260 Channel Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

USA

finally my chanel espadrilles

Ever since I laid my eyes earlier this spring on the Chanel espadrilles I knew I had to have them.  Such a gorgeous pair of shoes for the summer and very practical at the same time it has my name written all over it.  Just a couple of days too late to the game and my size was completely sold out.  I tried my very best to squeeze into the size 37 (which is usually my size) but it just wasn't happening.  Lucky for me Chanel sent out a second shipment to the stores just a couple of weeks ago despite being told there would be no more coming in this season.  I jumped on it like a hawk and scored a pair of all black leather espadrilles!  I would have loved to have the cream pair with the black toe but I think the all black ones are way more practical and less likely to get dirty.  And they have pretty much been glued on my feet since they arrived in the mail.

Images 

Top Row:

My all black espadrilles

A look from Haute Design

Paired with cargo skinnies

Bottom Row: 

Next to a gorgeous Celine Trapeze

On super blogger Sincerely Jules