I canât believe that itâs that time of the year again, can you believe it â time to bust out those costumes and get out there for some sweet treats!
Speaking of treats â todayâs post is all about a GIVEAWAY!!! Yes yes, thatâs right, we havenât done one of those in a while.
I actually discovered this brand recently while corresponding with the lovely expecting mammas of Instagram (such a great community!). Turns out itâs a fantastic one-stop shop for the pregnant-chic lady, her cuddly chics, and those critical first few months when sheâll be nursing!!! Thereâs a little something for everybody, even accessories, robes, and too-cute-for-words toys.
Here mammaâs donning the black Aztec Dolman maternity cardigan (currently on sale!), ideal for this time of the year and so totally my style. I wore this the other day while taking little man out for a slice at Williamsburg Pizza.
The best part? Rockshic is partnering up with Pinkblush for a $75 giftcard giveaway! Exciting right.
Hereâs what you need to do:
Follow Rockshic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Pinkblush on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Leave a blog comment, tweet me, or simply send me a msg via Facebook and Instagram and let me know what your favorite #Pinkblushmaternity look is and how you will style it. The more creative the better â while youâre at it, why not mix it a little bit of that Halloween spirit?
Thatâs all, simple right? Giveaway ends this Wednesday Thursday, November 2 3, 2016. Iâll announce the winner then!
He loves his construction vehicles #cantgetenough #wallart
I hope you guys are doing well. Mammaâs been feeling a bit sluggish as of late⊠not surprisingly. Iâve been having some real trouble with my breathing, and after looking into this (thanks to âWhat to Expect when Youâre Expectingâ), it turns out that this condition is quite normal and that itâs a result of my uterus stretching and compressing my organs â chief of which being my lungs. Ouch! Hubs said that the same thing happened last time, though for some reason I canât recall any of this, suppose this is just some cruel trick that evolution plays on us to make us forget for the next time we bring life into this world?
Who knows⊠be that as it may, itâs not a great feeling, and on top of that Iâve been having âpregnancy sniffles.â Yes, apparently this is a thing! Although I canât quite tell the difference between pregnancy sniffles and actually having a cold.
All that said, whenever you have a crappy day, itâs always nice to see a âlittle me-upperâ when you head home, and thatâs precisely what recently occurred when I arrived back to my apartment building! A beautiful Bonpoint bag awaits with goodies for both Nuke Baby and our soon Nuke Baby Version #2 (as hubs calls it). Nothing like a little savoir-faire French couture childrenâs clothes to brighten your day. For the record, Bonpoint doesnât just make beautiful childrenâs clothes⊠itâs an entire brand of carefully curated luxury lifestyle items â see here. Bon Chic!
Youâve heard me write about them before, and Iâve no doubt that youâll see me write about them again. In looking back at the past three years, as munchkin just celebrated his third birthday (both with us at the Lake house and with his friends at the zoo), Iâm attaching some of my favorite Bonpoint looks that Iâve styled for him for school.
Sigh â too bad now he mostly wears his uniform Mondays through Fridays Ă la Landâs End (oh how the mighty have fallen). Though Iâm not going to lie, a part of me is somewhat relieved given both the time and money saved!!!
âWe canât always take trips for birthdays, you know.â
Such were the wise (and practical) words left by hubs, many moons ago, and I recognized then that he had a point. It can get a bit much, both logistically and fiscally. For as long as weâve been together (and we just recently celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary at Per Se, see here), weâve generally always managed to take a trip for each otherâs birthdays⊠including ones for our beloved Nuke Baby. However, with #2 on the way, I suppose it might be a tall order to do FOUR birthday trips, plus anniversary trips and other holiday trips every year, so I do need to tone things down and manage expectations.
That said, todayâs feature ALL about looking back a look back at a birthday trip we took for hubs back in 2011 in the Dominican Republic (2010 and 2011 were very travel-heavy years for us, then came the relative quiet after getting preggars and settling down in late 2012, coupled by the arrival of our baby boy in 2013).
So here goes, read on and I hope you can pick up a thing or two!
Five top travels tips:
Travelling can be a minefield if you havenât done your research from the very get go, even before you take to the air, we all know this to be true, but sometimes our lives get in the way â and we end up having to cut the frills on the side.
So my advice to you is (same as Ms. Erykah Baduâs â PACK LIGHT!!!). That, and find the right flights⊠and from there, youâre pretty much 90% covered.
Travel Tip #1: Take the bare essentials
When arriving to a new place, do you really want to be dragging cumbersome baggage around?
Travelling with just hand-luggage is what to aim for (and believe me we always do, I even instill this policy now on my 3 year old toddler). You donât need a dozen shoes and outfits, you just need the bare essentials. For more on my âpacking tips,â see here.
Take less and youâll travel cheaper too, with no check-in luggage fees, and travel faster without having to wait on your bag coming around the carousel.
My personal mantra has always been â make sure you have all of your electronics (charges, etc â that alone makes consolidation quite the task!), some fun accessories for sprucing up, and oh yes â donât forget a travel guide or two to get you in the mood. See post on my favorite travel guides.
Travel Tip #2: Pick your flight wisely
Tuesday afternoon is the best time to look for a flight. After the weekend rush, many airlines will put flights up a sale on Monday, and by Tuesday afternoon, most other airlines will bring their prices down to match that the prices.
This particular DR trip will always stick in my memory as one of the worst-planned flights⊠as I had to change and re-change the flight dates so many times (largely due to hubbyâs unpredictable schedule). In fact, it cause so much headache and dollars, that Iâd rather not think about them altogether.
Travel Tip #3: Get some extra holiday cash
Itâs all well and good when you book a holiday, but if you get there and donât have any extra cash to spend, youâll find your experience limited.
An awesome, quick and easy way to make cash could be to play fun online slots, and if you'd like to quickly earn a little money for holiday treats, you can visit one of Lucky Nugget's best slot games like their Jurassic Park themed game. There was also plenty of casinos in DR⊠though we were so busy popping from one spot to the next I donât believe we ever made time to hit the scene (though a part of me would have just gone for the experience alone).
Alternatively, you could freelance as a translator or even keep a travel blog of where youâve been (I may be partially biased to this approach!!) and what you have been doing.
Travel Tip #4: Back everything up
Whether someone steals your valuables or you forget them on a train or plane, losing these potentially important files and beautiful photos can be hugely saddening.
Therefore, backing up your photos and most valuable documents is a must, throughout your trip. (Seriously, I canât tell you how many times Iâve heard my fellow colleagues â many of them bloggers â cry me a river about how theyâve just lost all of their precious vacay photos). In fact, us bloggers can sometimes be the least organized cohort I know.
Something such as Google Photos works across multiple platforms and immediately backs up photos to the cloud as they are taken, where they can be accessed by any of your devices.
Our luxurious digs at the Peninsula House, in Las Terrenas, Samana. So pretty!
Travel Tip #5: Eat the local delicacies
Why travel to a new country without eating the nationâs delicacies? If you want an authentic taste of a country, taste their cuisine!!! This one is a given in my book â you know how much I love my food -- see culinary escapades here.
This might mean eating skewered bugs in some places, but youâll look like a local and immerse yourself in the culture
So there you have it, five tops tips to keep in mind for all of your travelistas out there. In the meantime, Iâm starting to get a serious case of wanderlust itch just be looking at all of these DR photos! This was our first DR excursion, followed by a SECOND trip to DR (Punta Cana) for my bestieâs wedding, how quickly time flies!
Shirt: Phillip Lim, last featured here | Shawl: Rachel Roy | Sunglasses: Ann Taylor | Necklaces: Kaight Eco-Fashion Boutique, from my recent trip to Beacon | Maternity Pants: Ripe Maternity | Hats: Ben Sherman, last worn here | Flats: Tieks, full review here, last worn here
Who said you canât wear white after Labor Day weekend?
This outfit has been by far one of my favorite go-to pieces throughout my second trimester. In fact, both of my Phillip Lim shirts (white and navy) have been staple pieces, see feature here on Phillip Lim for Target and why it basically rocked my world. It got to a point where I was literally seeking the same cut from other designers and/or seeking additional colors from the same designer. Alas, no luck.
For the record, what works during the second trimester no longer works as I'm entering into my third trimester, as I've recently discovered. I think that even here I am stretching the utility of my Phillip Lim shirts (no pun intended), since I was just shy of hitting the third trimester mark (for the record, your sixth month of pregnancy is supposed to end by Week 27). Thank you "What to Expect When you're expecting!!!"
Same kudos go to my trusty Rachel Roy silk-knit shawl. All jokes about âBecky with the good hairâ aside, the silhouette of this piece is absolutely genius, and I could not imagine my (early) pregnancy wardrobe without it. Sometimes when you need that extra coverage (but nothing too stuffy or hot given that youâve got a bun in the oven), this is the right piece of garment for you.
These photos were taken at Riverpark, which is a bit of an oasis right by the East River of Manhattan in the Murray Hill neighborhood. Itâs a Tom Colicchio restaurant with lovely water views and even a little locally-grown farm. If you havenât been, I would highly recommend it (coming soon to my "Eat Drink Love" series), as it truly feels like a slice of heaven that makes you forget about the hustle and bustle of the city. Plus, itâs a great dining spot for kiddos, so itâs a true win-win!
Little man brought his props from his 3rd birthday party from the Brooklyn Zoo! See here and here for more on the day's festivities. #Rockshicbaby #TurningThree
This was taken right at the front entrance of the Everett Children's Adventure Garden at the NYBG. He immediately took to climbing on top of that big pumpkin. #Rockshicbaby #threeyears
Happy Sunday! We spent the weekend canoodling as a family, making the most of this gorgeous weather. Hubs will be away next weekend on a business trip, so it was extra important that we make the most of our time together.
To be honest, I kind of feel like Fall just struck us out of nowhere! Do you guys feel the same way? One minute I remember I was still complaining about being hot all the time (doesnât help that Iâm carrying around a giant melon with me everywhere now that I'm well into my third trimester), and now suddenly weâre getting cool, crisp weather â busting out the scarfs, hats, boots and knits! Actually come to think of it, I am quite into all things Fall-fashion related. Bring it on!
Now that Iâm a mom, Autumn holds a particularly special meaning, never before has apple-picking, pumpkin picking, and all of that jazz hold so much excitement. You start to see and explore everything around you via the lenses of your child, and it can be a truly magical experience.
This was also the first âFall excursionâ we made as a family for 2016... not to mention the fact that we havenât been back to the New York Botanical Garden since the Holiday train show last December. Suffice to say, we had a total blast! The Everett Childrenâs Adventures Garden inside the New York Botanical Gardens was chalk full of magical creations by the artist Ray Villafane, master carver of pumpkins and repeat winner of Food Networkâs âChallenge: Outrageous Pumpkins.â Small trivia, he even won the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin sculpture ever made! Circa 2011.
Apart from the pumpkins scattered throughout the garden, Villafane also created a series of scarecrows along the Mitsubishi Wetland Trail⊠which our munchkin also marveled at.
It was the perfect trip, and quite possibly our last one to the New York botanical gardens for the year, if I were to be realistic (somehow I just donât see us venturing out there in December after the arrival of munckin #2, but you never know).
For me, it was an absolutely joyful family outing, and I highly recommend going if you have the chance! This very special "Scarecrows and Pumpkin" exhibit ends October 30, 2016.
For more info see here under NYBG Exhibition & Events.
Happy Thursday! Itâs been yet another hectic week, as we cruise toward the end of the year (yes I said it!!), and so much is happening on the work front. More on that another time.
Speaking of the perfect work accessory, today Iâm sharing with you my latest obsession â the classic GANT shirt. Now as you might know, the classic and iconic shirtmaker has been around for ages now (they actually launched in 1949 in New Haven targeting the style-conscious consumer with an active lifestyle). But did you know that the traditional shirt also has multiple variations? Yes yes! Just check out the GANT Monochorme Flower Print Voile Shirt, I fell instantly in love the minute I saw it. There are countless potentials for styling, buttoned, open, layered, you name it. Itâs the perfect combination of bold masculinity (with the signature box pleat at the back) enhanced with sophisticated touches of feminism.
These days, I like to style it with the shirt unbuttoned â to accommodate that growing bellybump! Hereâs a recent look that I wore to munchkinâs birthday party held at the Prospect Park Zoo, it was a hot day, but the delicate, lightweight, silk and cotton fabric kept this mamma *super cool*. The best part? This look is versatile enough for all four seasons!!!
Bonpoint head to toe! Scarf, sweater, and pants all from Bonpoint.
Coming back from Preschool -- now he scoots to school. So incredible how fast they grow up! #RockshicBaby #Bonpoint #CityBoy
Happy Columbus Day everyone!
If youâre like me, then your babies and toddlers are likely wreaking havoc back at home since school is closed today (gasp!). Thankfully, we had an active early morning and afternoon, filled with reading time at the Union Square Barnes and Nobles, followed by exploring the Union Square Green Market and some play-time at Evelynâs Playground (love that spot!).
Suffice to say⊠all of this excitement equates to one tired monkey, which means nap time for him, and an opportunity for me to tell you ALL about the upcoming Bonpoint Fall/Winter sample sale NEXT WEDNESDAY (October 19th) and THURSDAY (October 20th)!!! You better save this one, because discounts can be as high as 60%, and it just doesnât get better than this â especially now that the temperature has officially dropped and we are all revamping our mini-meâs wardrobe quicker than you can say flash sale.
Anyone who knows me and my precious Rockshic Baby knows that we are tremendous fans of the brand (thanks to the Daily Obsession circa 2013!). They make some of the loveliest pieces for littles that truly last, with the sort of detail that I just donât see anywhere else.
That said, munchkinâs incoming younger bro is going to be one lucky chap to be inheriting his Bonpoint wardrobe! Iâll be sharing some of my favorite Bonpoint looks from Rockshic Baby later this week, so please stay tuned!
Another one of my all-time favorite Bonpoint looks! Shirt, vest, and pants all from Bonpoint. This was taken last Fall at the Standard East Village, one of our favorite outdoor brunching spots. See City Baby Dining. #CityBaby #Bonpoint #theStandard
Button-down shirt and corduroy pants all from Bonpoint -- you can tell that munchkin couldn't wait to get his hands on this outfit
Completely OBSESSED with this fur vest (and can you really blame me)? Wish they carried this in my size. #BonpointBaby
Another week, another bump style! Belated, of course... with one of my favorite Rebecca Taylor silk pieces that I wish I had the occasion to wear more often.
This was taken on the very momentous week (I was nearly 26 weeks at that stage), right before munchkin started school, eeks! This year he's doing the 3's program (aka what they call "Nursery" at his school). See here for all of our Preschool related posts.
It was our last "carefree" days together, the calm before the storm, if you will -- and right before the madness of his Birthday Bonanza party at the Zoo!
Here I was feeling pretty good about myself and my body. On that very same day, my neighbor texted me and asked, "was that YOU on the roof? I thought it might have been with your son, but you didn't look pregnant."
Awww -- flattery will get you everywhere in life.
Incidentally, it was also this very weekend that I had quite the awakening, where, just a day before -- I was with munchkin at our local bookstore (see here where we used to go for "mommy and me reading class") and literally felt sick. I don't know what came over me, but suffice to say it ain't good. Perhaps it was something I ate, or the heat, or the fact that I was dehydrated, but the bottom line was, I was NOT well and I was all the worse and stressed because I had my Nuke baby with me. Thank goodness the patrons and staff at McNally took care of both of us... hubs rushed over in no-time, and just before EMT got there (yes!!! They called EMT!). One of the shop clerks even asked me whether my "water had broke." Isn't that nuts?
It just goes to show -- sometimes you have to take things easy, and acknowledge your own limitations. This certainly marked my awakening, and a real turning point for me during my pregnancy.
Well hello my lovelies. Despite my grand ambitions of writing each day of this week (ha! What was I thinking?), I only just managed to slide in for Sunday⊠which I hope you're all enjoying!
Over in downtown Manhattan, weâve been mostly shuffling from in-door activity to in-door activity due to the dreary weather. On top of that, our entire household has been feeling a bit down w/one form of sickness or another (call it the post-preschool blues). Little man kicked-off the trend last week, coughing straight into all of our faces, as toddlers do, and now weâve all got something. Yikes.
But onwards to happier days! This week marked our eight year wedding anniversary! Eight!!!!! Can you believe it. Somehow, the number 8 elicits more excitement for me than even the number 10, perhaps because eight just happens to be super auspicious among us Asians.
We were originally hoping to get away somewhere, but when it became too logistically challenging, we decided to treat ourselves to a fancy meal instead. Remember how we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary at MASA? Well, this time around we decided to head right next door to Per Se (the irony was not lost on us).
In fact, Per Se holds a special meaning for both of us (me in particular), as that was where I had my bridal shower more than eight years ago (on August 23rd, 2008 to be exact!!). Iâll have to share some photos from that day on the blog sometime⊠it felt like ages ago. Which also reminds me, I'm super late in sharing our 7 year wedding anniversary trip from Woodstock! Sight... so much to do, so little time.
So whatâs it like being married for so long you ask? Ha.
In some ways, I feel no different than when we first met in 2005. I suppose thatâs a good thing, right? Amazingly (or is it alarmingly?), against all odds -- I still find hubs incredibly charming, handsome, and all in all a great laugh and super fun to be around (when he's awake that is). Of course, three whole years of parenthood has made us a bit more weathered and certainly infinitely more exhausted (and to think, we have another baby on his way to meet all of us in less than two months!).
Truth be told, if I were to pick any other partner in the whole wide world to share this adventure with, it would most certainly be him. What can I say? I've found my match. Sure, weâre not as spontaneous as we used to be (itâs all relative I suppose⊠gone are the old days when we can just pick up for the weekend and fly to Malta). That said, I think that we still lead a pretty special life, and more importantly â weâre actually creating MORE life together!!
Imagine that.
Happy weekend you guys⊠and I hope that you all tune in for the second presidential debate tonight. Iâve a feeling that itâs going to be a good one.
This look was from a recent date-night that hubby and I had with another couple/friend of ours. I must say, these occasions are becoming quite rare!!! Yet another thing to work...
Itâs quite interesting for me to look back at myself from just a few weeks ago, itâs truly like night and day!! I thought I was so huge back then⊠and yet this is NOTHING compared to the size of my growing belly now. In fact, last night my little guy pointed at me and said, âwhy is your belly so big?â (As hubs made a âIâm not going to say a wordâ look whilst standing next to our three year old son).
Sigh â toddlers, you gotta hand it to them for being honest.
While this dress is not a maternity dress, per se â itâs definitely a look I recommend for ladies at the height of their second trimester for sure (in fact, I wore the same label during my Week 22 look here at the Chuang Yen Monastery). Itâs got a fun pattern, but still streamlined enough to give you a clean silhouette even at 6 months pregnant (I highly discourage against fringes and other unnecessary details at this stage). I actually wore a similar dress during an outing last year at the Heckscher farm (see post here).
Jazz it up with some fun accessories (shoes last seen here, and clutch here) â and I was good to go!!! Definitely felt like a âspecialâ night for this mamma.
P.S. We went full out for high-style pizza at Marta. Shockingly, Marta is also one of those places that donât take tips, much like my recent experience at Sushi Yasuda. Is this fast becoming a trend in NYC dining? Stay tuned.
Based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Rock Shic is an excerpt taken from my personal lookbook of real people around the world. It is a combination of aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and travel. I also offer personalized Lookbook Consulting and Styling upon request. Please contact me at rockshic (at) gmail (dot) com. Services include: Wardrobe Analysis, Closet Organization, and Personal Shopping.
