life lately

i promise i didn't abandon this blog. reality life took over and ultimately that's my priority. the summer has been an absolute blast for us and the last few days was kinda hectic. i got aston ready for 3rd grade. we shopped for school supplies and completed yearly checkups. we also took a few last minute trips to close out summer. i'll share some of our pics below. 

this week is his first week back at school. everyday he's been excited to share details about his new friends, classroom and teacher. i am optimistic that this will be another great year for him. today is day 2 and we still got new routines to get used to. i am back to my carpool duties and early wakeup call as well.

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scenes from our last two trips this past summer, destin and chicago. just a brief change of scenery for us before school officially started! 

i'm hoping to keep this blog rolling more as i settle back into our routine. in the meantime, i'm still busy in IG, if you care to scroll. thanks and have a great day! 

the boss says so

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i wish he'd say that and without a blink, i'd be out of here. 

the weekend seems to pass by so quickly without hesitation. and before you know it, monday is here in a fast and furious manner. sorry to have been missing in action for a few days. my husband decided last minute to book a trip to chicago for our last summer trip before school starts. tuesday night i was still searching and probing reasonable airfare rates for a thursday flight to the windy city. 

this is also the last summer week before aston  starts school this coming monday. and just like the weekend, summer came and went quickly. and with NFL preseason on tv last weekend, we're looking forward to fall and the cooler weather! 

so long summer for now. hello monday! 

travel log

we had a back to back weekend trip last week. two weeks ago we took a quick trip to chicago for my husband's conference and then another one in las vegas last weekend. they were both quick short trips but we were able to make the most out of them. in chicago, we briefly visited with my sister and sister-in-law and had a really nice dinner with them. the weather was nice and cool and not as humid as texas. we got lucky as it quickly rained the day we flew back to houston. 

chicago july 2015

we flew back last monday from las vegas. when ben  had to go to his meeting, aston and i window shopped and hung out at the pool. we didn't last long outside as it was so hot. clearly, i am still recuperating from those trips but it's great to be back home and be around this time for the weekend. we have yet another busy one ahead of us. we've got 2 summer birthday parties to go and aston can't wait to see his friends again! 

if you want to follow along our summer adventures, come check out my IG!

las vegas july 2015

happy weekend!  

oh the places we go

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READY TO PACK?  above are few luggage options and accessories
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this summer i'm sure you've got lots of travel plans. i love the travel part, hate the packing part of it. no matter how often we travel, i am resigned to the fact that i am not an efficient pack-er. my husband usually does all the packing and he's so good at it. he's got a method of organizing and folding in such an efficient manner. 

i usually take out all the clothes for us  including shoes, under garments, nightwear and then he sorts them out and trims out items he thinks we don't need. me on the other hand, i usually end up

 stopping by the hotel gift shop for something i'd forgot to include in my toiletries. ha! 

we usually take our blue rimowa - lightweight and sturdy - and most recently, i found the best tote carry on for the plane (super large and reversible too) and the best part, it's under $40. inside my tote, i sort my stuff such as earphones, tissues, hand sanitizer, glasses etc. using assorted travel bags to organize them. it makes easier to find items in such a huge tote. aston  carries his own back pack and loads it up with toys and snacks enough to keep him busy through the flight.

a few helpful links for your future travel plans : tips, tricks and musts. once you've got that all down, make sure you enjoy your trip. getting to your destination is just a portion of your vacation and remember to enjoy the rest of it.

safe travels!

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REMINDER : don't forget to join our latest giveaway + 15% off code : SWANKY*CHIC
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weekend lookbook

happy tuesday friends! 

we had a fantastic long weekend to celebrate july 4th. we didn't have grand plans but we drove to nearby hill country to relax and unwind for the long weekend. here are a few pics :

dressing comfortably and getting ready for the 3 hour drive
new balance sneakers // tote bag // chambray top

 

to get an early head start, we took off as soon as we get off work on thursday. we enjoyed a nightcap at our resort's lobby lounge right after we checked in - here i am savoring every bit of my blood orange margarita. 

friday was spent all day at the pool and the lazy river pool. i slathered on my spf and truly relaxed the whole day. 

these boys did nothing but hung out at the pool. aston  met a few new friends while ben  and i sipped mojitos and pina colada under the sun. 

my weekend gear was all about comfort and ease. i lived in my casual denim cutoffs, soft blouses and sandals. safe to say, that's my summer uniform.

tunic // shorts // sandals

we ate a little, drank a little. 

we had a great time that when sunday rolled around, it was hard to drive back home. it was nice to getaway even for a short time. 

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LASTLY, don't forget to check out our giveaway with FUN FLOORING. 

details on how to join here!

summer lately

we officially kicked off summer last thursday and we flew to destin, florida the minute school was over. we stayed for the weekend. we get to enjoy the beautiful beach and it's fine white sand. the weather was perfect. there were no dark clouds, only pure warm heat and salty winds.  

for more images, visit here. IG = @ swankychicfete

hope you're having a great summer so far! 

weekend snapshots

it was indeed a beautiful weekend. we took a quick trip to chicago and we were thrilled to see the color of changing leaves and enjoyed the crisp cold weather. the short trip has enabled us to complete a few errands and met with my sister for a brief getaway in the city. 

we are looking forward to this week. halloween is this friday and we can't wait! trick or treating is always fun and aston  loves it!

how was your weekend? 

new york, new york

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obsessing over new york lately especially when i saw these videos : 

and yes, i follow missglamorazzi!

have a great weekend all! 

life lately

i feel like my tuesdays are my new mondays. weekends are always packed and i find myself regrouping on mondays and not even able to put out a blogpost to start the week. oh well. 

there will certainly be days like that and i'm finding that it happens more and more lately. this past weekend, we took a quick trip to chicago to visit family - glad to be able to spend time with my sister and also hang out with ben's family at the same time. 

the weather was perfect. we strolled down michigan avenue, get to visit an amazing italian restaurant (excellent!), window shopped and also met the architect/designer for a little project we are getting ready to start soon. 

despite a cancelled flight early sunday and more delayed flights on our way back to houston, i felt like we were able to accomplish a lot in a short weekend trip. we made it back home super late sunday night ~ tired yet relieved. just happy to be back home sweet home. 

staycation

we have one last week of summer before school starts and i will surely miss lazy days hanging out with my buddy. but i do know he misses school and have fun new adventures with his classmates.

so with the last few days of summer, we took advantage of it and checked-in at the modern hotel sorella for a little staycation treat this past weekend. the convenient location was perfect to stroll and window shop around as well as pick over a great restaurant list to dine in. i just wished the weather was cooler. 

some of the images from our weekend via my instagram (@swankychicfete)

disney report

and just like that....it's monday yet again! 

we are back from a disneyworld trip and we return slightly tanned and maybe had a bit too much fun. apart from the park hopping, we truly loved witnessing the parades, fireworks and shows and meeting disney characters. every night from our hotel grounds, we enjoyed the float parade of lights by the lake, movie nights and smores by the poolside. there were also daily pool games and activities for all the kids but most of all, the magical service and convenience in staying in one of the disney resorts or hotels is always a memorable experience.

hope your monday is off to a great start! 

travel tips guide

summer vacations are always in order year after year. travel memories are forever treasured and it's nice to look forward to a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

we recently came back from a great short trip to chicago. we always go a few times a year. before summer ends, we have planned two more trips so that's coming up and we're excited. today i thought i'd compile a few helpful link travel tips for a fuss-free vacation getaway. 

// TRAVEL APPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR TRIPS 

// MUST-HAVES TO BRING IN EVERY FLIGHT

// HELPFUL TIPS WHEN FLYING LONG HAUL FLIGHTS WITH KIDS

// PACKING TIPS

// AIRPORT SECURITY FAST EASY TIPS

// TOURIST VISA GUIDE : WHEN YOU NEED A TRAVEL VISA OR WHEN YOU DON'T 

// PRE-OVERSEAS TRIP QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR BANK

// HOW TO PACK EVERYTHING IN A CARRY-ON BAG

// BEST NEW TRAVEL GADGETS 

// ESSENTIAL TRAVEL PACKING LIST

wherever you may head to this summer, i hope you all have a memorable one! 

safe travels! 

chicago weekend snapshots

we went on a quick trip to chicago this past weekend. my parents had to go see the philippine consulate in chicago to renew their passports and we followed a few days later and flew back home with them. so today i'm sharing a few images of a pretty summer day in chicago!

we stayed at the water tower room of the hyatt and enjoyed this view everyday from the balcony. the weather was a little muggy but it was not as humid as texas like we are used to. it rained some but not for long.

continue reading.....

sunday at the beach

SUNDAY AT THE BEACH 

shop the beach necessities here :

spring is here

spring is here (along with my allergies). yesterday was the first day of spring and i am definitely feeling it. it's finally warming up here in texas and we are loving every minute of it. but don't ask me again come summer :(

speaking of spring, the second part of our spring break was spent driving to san antonio (first part here). we took my parents with us and enjoyed down time on our last weekend of spring break. 

now that we are all back at work, that one week was surely not enough. we booked 2 trips in one week and squeezed medical and dental appointments in between. that was one heck of a busy spring break - but i would not have done it any other way. we did as much as we can and maximized free time together!

how was your spring break? do share! 

spring break scenes

so sad to be leaving disney world after kicking off our spring break vacation last saturday. we are back home and we've got doctor's appointments and check off a few house improvements to-do list that needs to be completed this week. 

we had an absolute blast. the last time we were in disney world, aston  was just 3. he vaguely remembered meeting woody and taking the kilimanjaro safari tour - which i guess were highlights for him back then. 

we've got our days packed back to back hopping from one park to another. i swear it gets to be enjoyable each time you go. to top it off, disney's customer service is top notch. our reservations and travel accomodations thru my disney experience was smooth and seamless. we booked at the grand floridian and availed the disney's magical express service which provided transportation to and from the airport to the hotel. best of all, they claim your checked-in luggage for you - so you and your family can go ahead and start your adventure without having to wait for your baggage!

our stay was definitely fun and would go back again in a heartbeat! 

BubbleBum car booster seat review

i am always thrilled to be introduced to products that are new to me. i am eager to try them out and would love to share my thoughts on them. so when the PR team (thank you!) of BubbleBum reached out to me, i was unsure what it was but i was really intrigued to try it out. 

BubbleBum, in case you have not heard of them - they are the latest in portable, inflatable booster car seats for children ages 4 - 11. we have a 6 year old and we travel a lot and sounds like this is perfect for us!

it comes with a travelling bag, small enough to fit in a backpack or your carry-on luggage. the booster seat itself is super lightweight but sturdy enough when inflated to support kids weighing 40 - 100 lbs.  it inflates easily (it took only a few mouth inflation by the hubs to fully inflate it - easy peasy!) and deflates (by turning the air valve) in no time for storage.

here are BubbleBum's features :

- portable and lightweight
- inflatable and reusable
- inflates by mouth, taking less than 20 seconds to inflate
- folds flat
- packs away into it's very own stretchy bag
- comfortable and colorful (comes in purple/green and black/grey color options)
- affordable (retails for $ 39.99)
- with added belt positioning clips for extra comfort
- it meets all US safety standards

this is how it looks inflated

kid-approved! 

we find this product a must-have for families who need something portable to switch out in cars (especially if kiddos visit with relatives/grandparents routinely on weekends). or perfect for flying to a destination where a rental car or limousine will be utilized and easily avoid paying extra rent for car/booster seats.  

if you are in the market for a new booster seat that's safe, portable and lightweight for your daily activities and travels with the kids - check BubbleBum inflatable car seats. we truly love our's and we are currently enjoying it's convenience as well as safety features! 

watch to see how easy it is to install : 

visit BubbleBum U.S. for more information and

you can purchase them HERE

{the car booster seat was provided to me by the PR Team of BubbleBum US and as usual, the reviews are my honest and unbiased opinion}