Summer day in San Jose

wearing: gold hoops / lipstick / short sleeve sweater / summer nail polish / jeans / black handbag / sneakers /

There is always something going on during the summer! In July, the annual Italian Festa took place at History Park San Jose, located inside Kelley Park.

We arrived a bit early so we could snag a parking spot in the closest parking lot, which meant we arrived before the festa began. So, we took that opportunity to take a relaxing walk through the Japanese Friendship Garden. The garden has been refreshed since we last visited, so it was nice to see the fountain on, the koi fish swimming, the gardens manicured and a turtle enjoying life in San Jose.

After walking through the gardens, we walked over to the festa. It was fun to see a street fair inside the park. This made the event feel safe and the booths easier to visit. Love the venue!

There were flag throwers from Italy, booths with history lessons, delicious food choices, and a showcase of all the Italian Immigrants who contributed to the building of San Jose and the greater Bay Area. There were parts which included my ancestors, so it was extra special. Love!

I am looking forward to attending the fest again next summer when it returns to History Park San Jose. If you are local, I recommend attending too!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Bon Parfumeur 402 Guilty Vanilla review

pictured: 402 Guilty Vanilla / nail polish /

I love a good vanilla perfume, and 402 Guilty Vanilla by Bon Parfumeur is the perfect version. Don’t be mistaken, this is not a simple vanilla fragrance, it is complex and grown up; perfect for anyone who not only loves vanilla but enjoys and appreciates artistic fragrance. Love!

Let’s dive into the notes in this perfume.

Top notes: almond blossom, icing sugar, almond

Middle notes: vanilla, caramel, jasmine

Base notes: musk, benzion, sandalwood

This combination creates a beautiful, long lasting dry-down which offers a vanilla gourmand fragrance experience without being sweet and sticky. It is smooth, clean, fresh, and ideal. Love it!

Although I purchased the 30ml size, I can already tell I will need to order the larger size next time. I am going through this bottle rather quickly; it’s so good!

So, if you are looking for the perfect, complex vanilla, this is it!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

BAF Weekly List

top selling clothing beauty handbag shoes july 2026

BAF Weekly List from top left: navy dress / lipstick / Hermes summer nail polish / Chanel summer nail polish / Dior summer nail polish / short sleeve sweater / lip balm set / gold hoops / canvas tote / grey boots / high heels / belted tote / caramel top handle bag / black boots /

The summer season is flying by, and I am so ready for fall! I love the fall boots we are seeing for the cool weather season along with the timeless styles and return of color. Our neutral ensembles need a little pop for fall!

Summer nail polish is flying off the shelves, and fall nail polish will be here in a couple of weeks; so stay tuned!

This is the perfect time of year to take advantage of the Nordstrom Sale, which ends August 9. So if you like something, snap it up before it goes back up to full price! Here are my favorites from the sale:

Vintage handbags, and handbag styles from the early 2000’s are hot right now as well as classic bags. Also, the continuation of the anonymous handbag is holding tight. So, look for handbags which are high quality and don’t bear logos. There is no reason to pay for a name which lacks quality. Remember, quality is king!

Shop the BAF Weekly List online:

Stay tuned for fall coverage as we head towards the cooler season!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy