San Francisco through the eyes of Instagram

We are in San Francisco right now. The opportunity presented itself, and I could not resist packing everyone up with me, even on a one second notice. My mom has never seen California and the timing could not be more perfect. 

California had always been loved by us, but San Francisco ( the NY of the West for me) has stolen my heart forever. It is one thing to see places when you're touring with a company and are single, and it is a completely different story when you bring a family with you. I will tell you more later, as we are trying to pack as much as we possibly can in the few short days we have here, but here are a few pictures for you to enjoy until then...

^^ utah can be beautiful. the beginning of the salt flats on our way north ^^

^^ looks like snow, but it is all salt. stunning ^^

^^ sunsets on the road are gorgeous ^^

^^ no road trip without some sort of a long lecture these days. too independent for their own trouble. mom's all seeing eye is always there ( iphone in this case. those selfies can come in really useful ^^

^^ my heart is going to stay here forever ^^ 

^^ nothing like heading out to breakfast in style. we've met a few stokke lovers on the way too! xplory didn't get her name for nothing : small footprint, secured shopping basket ensures that nothing falls out, and highseat-turn-highchair possibilities take you everywhere, seriously. plus it's fashionable and stylish - it always gives me a boost of confidence if a new place tumbles with my own, you know... ^^ 

^^ and my little rider. just scoot-ing along. fyi: ease of public transportation perfection + full stroller features = dream come true for city moms. SF approved too^^

^^ best disney store visit yet. the magic mirror made a lot of great impressions. and fulfilled some wishes along the way too^^

^^ the beach. the gorgeous ocean. people i love. i am tearing up looking at this picture. in a few short days we will have to say good-buys until next time^^

 ^^ beach bums. literally ^^

^^ far from the best angle, technically imperfect, but absolute the best picture to my eyes. all the ones i love. in the city we love. by the ocean. with all of us in it. i will cherish this moment forever^^

^^ a sail from a fairy-tale. make a wish, it will come true, i promise ^^

Wishing you a wonderful start of the week. As always. 

Much love from all of us. 

100 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT JEANS : Going Skinny

The world has changed when Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss invented jeans in 1873. Everyone knows historic brands like Levi's, Lee and Wrangler and terminology such as "skinny", "slim", "boyfriend", "tapered", "bootcut", "flare", etc is a part of a daily vocabulary of any fashionista. It is nearly to impossible to imagine a style conscious individual without a denim staple, and let's be honest : jeans are great - they save the day ( or night) when nothing else seems to work. These new series will be dedicated to answering the very question every woman has - how to find the best fitting jeans for your wants, needs and style.

Skinny jeans are all over the place. Some love them, some hate them, some don't care about them. And though it may sound surprising, but almost everyone can wear skinny jeans.

Just because you tried a pair of skinny jeans that you didn't like does not mean that skinnies are not for you. Nearly every modern designer - big or small - offers some sort of a version of slim fitting jeans. And here are a few things to remember when on a quest for a new pair of your faithful denims.

* don't settle for a one-time/one-pair fitting. there are as many skinny styles today as there are trees in the forest. if you didn't like fit "a" from a store/designer "n", go try a fit "b" from a place "c". in other, simpler words - go to a different place and/or try another pair. a subtle difference in the cut can make all the difference. 

* try a size up - going a little looser will make you look 10 lbs thinner. long, lean and slim is something we are all going after, right? 

* don't sacrifice quality over quantity. a pair of a good designer jeans will fit you better, last you longer and boost your confidence like there is no tomorrow. 

* don't be sold on just a "big name" : some lesser known designers often can offer an amazing fit and a better price then big well-known names. smaller brands competing with larger names often some up with some genius ideas. after all , it is all about how it looks, fits and wears, and not about who makes it. 

* stretch can be a double sided sword - it can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. look for thicker denim and two way stretch : it will allow your jeans to keep the original shape and boost your silhouette.

* try different washes. going graphite or gray can be a nice alternative to a typical blue, although a great shade of blues will aways be a classic. if choosing grays, go for medium or dark shades - deeper colors with the right fading are very flattering on and universally will take you from day to night with minute adjustments. 

* rise matters. long gone the days of the extra low-rise jeans ( and thanks heaven for that!)  mid to higher rises generally create the appearance of longer legs and smaller waist, slim the silhouette while eliminating the possibility of never desirable wardrobe malfunctions.

* experiment with lengths. from cropped to ankle to all the way long extra skinny, different lengths have different effects on the look achieved. remember, when going to all the way below the ankle bone skinny, choose a the length a little longer then typical and the ultra skinny cut: a bit of bunched up material between the calf and the ankle will balance out the hip nicely and create the illusion of an extra long leg. 

* don't underestimate the power of shoes. the right shoe will make the outfit, no secret here, but shoes are twice as important when choosing a skinny jean. pointed toe slim shoe will look beautiful with slightly cropped or ankle length jeans, while slightly rounded ballet flats add certain charm to full length ultra skinnies. Mind the height of the cropped boots - ones that fall just above the ankle bone but cut before the calf are most elongating. And a little heel will always add a dash of necessary sexy for the night out. 

The truth is that , most likely, one pair won't cover all your "skinny" needs. here are a few of my current favorites : one, two, three, four, five, six, seven  - simple, basic, but won't fail you whether you need a little confidence boost or a proven go-to for a cozy weekend. 

Are you a skinny jean person? 

*images via madewell

Life lately through Instagram and IPhone

^^ this cute button nose has stolen my heart forever ^^ 

Last couple of weeks have flown by like nothing else. The land of baby-hood ( the newborn-hood, I should say) that taken it's usual front and center place has swallowed me up a bit , though I will say that , considering the amount of new ( and some unexpected ) happenings around, we've done quite well at juggling it all and dropping nothing. Though I may just be about 5600+ photos behind on editing , more then 100 ( literally ) important emails to send out, and about 20+ posts still in my PDF files, it is all worth the late night catch-up work in exchange for every daytime minute with my mom. After a five year long break between the visits, much paperwork and schedule adjusting, she is finally here, and this time is treasured beyond anything there is.

^^ taking off from the minute one like best friends. thanks heavens for skype and technology"

^^ priceless time with newest baby. higher is better for many reasons. this is one of them ^^

^^ sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to get an extra game of mini-cricket for grandma ^^

^^ mini-person and mini-bowling. and the best partner to cheer one up ^^

^^ having an extra set of eyes and hands is amazing. concentrating on work while mom is near after 5 years of not seeing each other - impossible ^^

^^ play-grounded out ^^

^^ dady + business trip = endless love to see him back . even if he didn't realize that t-shirts have sizes ^^

^^ scooting around in comfort and style with polka-dots and stripes ^^

^^ you've most likely seen it already, but we are so over-the-moon excited, and the new releases are so gorgeous, it's worth another mention.^^

^^ see what i mean?!^^

^^ and this classic beauty?! makes me want to keep the baby stage forever ^^

^^ red carpet worthy and ready to stroll...^^

^^... right into the arms of the hollywoods' bests^^

^^ do you think the kids love it too?! ^^

^^ this has touched my heart so much. children's love is unconditional, always ^^

^^ good words to remember...^^

^^...and the words to live by^^

^^ these blue eyes have stolen my heart . what wouldn't i do to see the happiness in them. even if it means i live on 2 hours of sleep. constantly ^^

^^ some fresh hair-do and a little red lip ... ^^

^^...and i am as good as new doing what i love best : making memories (photo credit to my mini-photographer. #caughtinaction ^^

sps: strollers seen in pictures are the  Stokke Connection line: Stokke Crusi, Stokke Xplory and Stokke Scoot with Soft Bag.

FALL FASHION MUST

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Fall is in the air, and after the latest news releases, getting ready to go out and about has become even more fun and fashionable. It seems that we've been non-intentionaly matching clothes to the stroller, and I love it, because a)  my stroller is my biggest accessory,  b) stokke unique designs and colors spark up my imagination to create something new, and c) everyone involved loves it and is having fun, which is a key to a happy family, right? 

Would you match your baby's or your clothes to your stroller?