Summer totes 2018

summer 2018 totes beach bags

pictured from top left: straw beach tote / caramel gold studded tote / blue and pink tote bag / rose gold tote / soft red tote / structured navy tote bag /

Summer 2018 is fast approaching, so we all need a fabulous tote bag! There are so many amazing totes this summer season which not only function as both a work bag and beach bag, but also reflect the current trends in handbags.

For the summer 2018 season, the top trends in handbags include straw, white, and bright colors. Designers are showing a variety of silhouettes including butter soft leather and structured fabrications. If a traditional tote silhouette isn’t your thing, you can look for a large circle, hat box, or geometric shapes. Totes are getting fun for the summer season!

If you work in a conservative environment, and need to stick with a tote bag that is understated and classic, this trapezoid shaped tote can pass for conservative, yet still reflect your fashion-savvy taste without violating dress code. It’s strong construction can withstand a laptop and high heels stuffed inside. Love that! I’m debating which color to get! It’s so cool!

The straw handbag trend is huge right now. If you don’t want your everyday bag to be straw, but would still like to rock the trend, a straw tote might be your thing! It’s a fun bag for the beach, poolside, or anytime you are casual and feeling whimsical.

Would you like to be as fashion-forward as possible? Well then, a two-tone tote is a great option. Rose gold is another great way to be cutting edge this season. There are so many fun options! I found a few fashionable and fabulous totes around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below, I hope you love them!

Shop summer 2018 totes:

Which tote style is your favorite for the summer season?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Polka dots and circles

tommy hilfiger jumpsuit circle bag trendpolka dots summer 2018

wearing: rose gold circle earrings / lipstick / rose gold and lilac necklace / wide leg polka dot jumpsuit / mixed metal bracelets / Chanel summer nail polish / blue circle bag / black espadrilles (under $100!!)

There is something fun about mixing circle accessories with a polka dot jumpsuit. The circles play off of each other and create a lighthearted look.

Last week, my friend Laura from Have Need Want and I went to the “Rose Soiree” benefiting the Jr. League of San Jose at Santana Row. It was a really fun event which featured wine from local wineries in Saratoga, and the Santa Cruz areas. Twelve retailers participated in the wine stroll; it fun to be wine tasting while shopping, and also to be socializing with ladies I have done volunteer work with.

Since I knew it would be fun, I decided to go with a not-so-serious outfit. This polka dot jumpsuit has wide, dramatic legs which flow with every step. Since I am 5’4″ the jumpsuit was dangerously long on me. My wedge espadrilles barely lifted the hemline off the ground. I might need to sit down and raise the hem about an inch so I can wear other shoes with it this summer.

To play off the polka dots, I paired the jumpsuit with my favorite little circle bag and my large circle earrings. It was fun to mix together all the circles I could think of. Too bad I don’t own circle shoes! haha, Do those even exist?? Maybe I need some polka dot shoes to round off the outfit; pun intended. 😉

Shop my circles and polka dots outfit for summer:

Are you playing with polka dots this season?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Photo credit: Laura/Have Need Want

polkadot jumpsuitsummer street style

Signs of a heart attack in women

Beautiful silent auction prior to the lunch. I bid on the Kendra Scott lot, but ultimately got outbid.

Yesterday I had the honor of being a guest of the American Heart Association at their annual “Go Red” luncheon in San Jose, California. It’s an amazing fundraising lunch which features education about heart disease, survivor speeches, and tear-jerking moments. Yes, I did well up with tears during one speech a survivor delivered.

Pretty table setting at the lunch.

A woman dies every 80 seconds from heart-related illnesses. Sadly, roughly 80% of those deaths are preventable. While men tend to have more text-book symptoms of a heart attack, women often think they are suffering from the flu, stress, acid reflux, or exhaustion. Therefore, it is so important for women to know and understand the symptoms of a heart attack.

Donation cards from the tables

The following symptoms are signs that a woman could be suffering from a heart attack. These are the symptoms, detailed on heart.org.

  1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest which lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
  2. Pain or discomfort in one or both of your arms, back, neck, jaw or your stomach.
  3. Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
  4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
  5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is heart.org or discomfort. Some women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some additional common symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you ever feel any of these symptoms, don’t be afraid to call 9-1-1. Every second counts when you are having a heart attack, so calling 9-1-1 can significantly help your recovery if indeed you are suffering from a heart attack.

 

Please help spread the word to other women, so they too will know what to watch out for. Together, we can help increase awareness and reduce the annual deaths in women due to heart attacks. For more information, please visit heart.org

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Laura Adney from Have Need Want and myself after the lunch. I won’ 49er tickets from the silent auction!

*Please excuse the photo quality, all pictures were taken with my iPhone.