summer 2020


Givenchy Antigona celebrates ten years

it bags fall 2017

pictured: my favorite workhorse bag of all time, the Givenchy Antigona in black /

It’s been ten years! Let’s see, ten years ago I started my blog, and ten years ago Givenchy launched their iconic Antigona handbag; which has become a classic IT bag everyone must-have in their closet. I love this bag so much, after owning the black one for a few months, I purchased another one in baby blue! Yup, I’m addicted!

My Givenchy Antigona has gone to almost every New York Fashion Week with me. It has also traveled on vacation with me, as well as been reached for on a regular basis for day-to-day life. This bag is strong, and has just the right amount of room inside for everything I need to carry with me. You can see my original review here. My two Antigona’s are size small. I feel like this is the perfect size for the structured version of this bag. Of course, now that Givenchy has launched a soft version to celebrate ten years. . .my size preference could change!

OK, you read that right. In case you haven’t heard, Givenchy launched a soft version of their iconic Antigona bag in order to freshen up the style, as well as celebrate ten years of being fabulous. I am hooked! The soft version is equally fabulous, and I definitely need to purchase one for my collection. The question is, which size?

The Givenchy Antigona Soft comes in three sizes right now; small, medium, and large. While I am normally drawn to smaller versions of a handbag style, the medium appears a little bit more floppy; and floppy is catching my eye. I feel like the small version would be ideal for what I normally carry around with me. That being said, the medium has the perfect silhouette out of the three sizes. I’m not sure how I would fill up the medium, but I feel like it is the size I need. I mean, more interior capacity can’t hurt, right?

If you don’t already own a Givenchy Antigona, what are you waiting for? It’s an IT bag classic. Also, what do you think of the new soft version? It is starting to emerge as one of fall 2020’s new IT bags!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Exploring Drawbridge | a Bay Area ghost town

Hiking outfit: polka dot mask / black tee / summer nail polish / backpack / water bottle / black leggings / black sweatshirt / black socks (similar here) / hiking boots /

Have you ever been to Drawbridge, California? I had no idea it existed until my husband suggested we take the kids there, and explore the area. Apparently his Mom took him there when we was a child!

Drawbridge is a ghost town. The only abandoned town within the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay Area. It was originally a little vacation spot where people enjoyed duck hunting. It also had a train station, which made it fairly easy to get to in the late 1800’s through the late 1970’s. As the salt industry changed the landscape of the Bay, the landscape of the town began to erode, causing the town to begin sinking into the Bay. This was the main reason the town was abandoned.

Drawbridge sits at the bottom of the Bay, adjacent to Milpitas, San Jose, and Fremont. It’s slightly hidden from view, until you hop on an Amtrak train which speeds by the town. Although there used to be tours of the town, which is how my husband visited it several decades ago, it is now fenced off; with plenty of “no trespassing” signs around the area.

We parked at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in San Jose. This area offered a flat hiking trail filled with wildlife, which has returned to the area after massive restoration efforts over the past few years to bring the Bay back to life when many of the salt flats were removed. It’s incredible to be able to see so many different types of birds, and plants, in the area; which used to be desolate when I was a child. It makes the long hike into Drawbridge both pretty and educational.

Initially I was excited about this hike. Since it was flat, I assumed it would be fairly relaxing and easy. Apparently I was wrong! While wearing a mask helps cut down on the bottom-of-the-bay smell, it did nothing to shorten the length of the hike. The trail looks easy, but the surface is hard, and it’s roughly an hour and a half down the trail to get to Drawbridge.

Our kids were fine for the first two hours of the hike, the last hour was a little tough on them, and on me. Keep in mind, if it’s ninety minutes to get from the parking lot to Drawbridge, it’s ninety minutes to get back. The three hour, round trip trek was tough on a hot summer day. Thankfully I packed snacks and water, so we were at least fueled and hydrated-just really tired!

I don’t recommend bringing small children on this hike. My kids are teenagers, so they could handle it with a little grumbling. I did see people biking, and one person on a scooter. Those are great alternatives to navigating the trail and making it easier. I highly recommend being prepared, and going out to see Drawbridge at least once in your lifetime if you live here in the Bay Area. If you don’t live around here, and you love ghost towns, check it out!

Drawbridge can be viewed from a lookout which has a bench and signs detailing the ghost town’s history. It’s a fun little part of our local history, and it’s interesting to see a ghost town!

Have you visited Drawbridge before? What did you think? Do you enjoy visiting ghost towns?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


3 brands I’m always crushing on

how to use the liketoknow.it app

Photo: Me in 2017 at the rewardStyle Conference, standing under the outdoor LTK sign and logo. You can read the full post here.

LTK Day July 2020 is here!

We all have our go-to brands, and I definitely have more than three brands! That being said, there are three brands I am excited about right now. Colleen Rothschild, because skin care is so important and all her products are always fabulous and work so well, Frame Denim, because their jeans always fit and their bags are both functional and cute, and Sam Edelman, because their shoes are on-trend and super comfortable.

Since I am looking closely at these three brands and loving their current collection, I thought I would share my current favorites with you from each one!

In addition, LTK Day is happening this Sunday, July 19, 2020! These three brands will be offering amazing discounts for one day only through the LTK app. Get ready to shop these great deals!

If you are wondering what LTK is, it is a shopping app where you can create an account, screenshot photos or products you like on Instagram, and then shop them through the app. You can follow all the bloggers you enjoy-like me!-and then see our new posts in your LTK feed. This makes shopping photos you find online easy since you will have a ready-to-shop feed in the app. If you don’t already have the app on your phone, you can download it from the app store. The one day sale will be exclusive to the app. You can find and shop my feed here.

Frame Denim

I am in love with Frame Denim’s jeans, jackets, and handbags. They are functional, comfortable, and downright fabulous. For one day only, through the LTK app, you can save 25% off your purchase! Here are a few of my favorite items from this website right now. To save 25% off, please shop through this photo link from the LTK app. Please note, this discount is for full-price items only.

Colleen Rothschild

colleen rothschild hand cream best

I love this skincare brand, and am fully addicted to her hand-cream. On LTK day, you can save 25% off everything on her site through the LTK app. Shop through my photo link on the LTK app to save 25%! Please note, this deal cannot be combined with other offers.

Sam Edelman

sam edelman shoes on sale

I am huge fan of Sam Edelman’s boots. Every fall season I snag at least one pair from his collection. They are super comfortable and I can walk for miles in them. They are my boot of choice when I attend fashion week since they are so comfy! Of course, they are always fabulous and fashionable too! You can shop my current favorites, and save 25% off your purchase on LTK day, through my photo link in the LTK app. Please note, this offer is for select styles only.

Which sales do you plan to shop? I’m definitely stocking up on beauty products, a new pair of jeans, and some cute shoes! Be sure to use my LTK photo links and click on the products you love in order to qualify to save 25% off your purchase, and unlock the one-day-only discount codes. Be sure to download the app to shop my photos through the app. I would be honored if you followed me too 😊

Thank so much for your support and happy shopping!

XOXO
Cathy