milgayi style diary

Mums the word – from one mom to another.

Mothers always have a special place in our hearts.   We take them for granted, sometimes don’t listen to them, argue with them but deep down in our hearts we know we can’t do without them.  It’s that belief that God gives us when He says He cannot be every where every time that’s why he created “Moms”.  That’s actually true.  And yes, we do need an entire day to tell them what a terrific job they are doing or have done in raising us.

This Mother’s day is extra special for me as it will be my first with my baby girl.  Since becoming a mom, I have started realizing what unconditional love truly means. While taking care of my baby, I get a sense of  what it must have felt like for my mom when she held me for the first time or cradled me to sleep.  

Yes, there are some trying days when you do feel overwhelmed and exhausted but there are more days when your little one melts your heart with their cute toothless grins or funny actions that make all those sleepless nights worthwhile.   I genuinely believe that motherhood is the greatest gift God can bestow upon a woman.  So, here’s to our little munchkins who always touch our hearts and break our backs.  And here’s to you Mom – You are simply the best.  Words cannot express how much you mean to me.   We leave you with some heart warming images of mother-daughter duos.

 

   

Get Studded!!

Being a mom does alter your life and your fashion choices for sure.  Gone are the days when  I could just throw stuff on and go without paying attention to it.  These days I’m really careful as to what I wear near my face since my baby is growing and grabbing things all the time.  Yesterday, she grabbed my ears and luckily I wasn’t wearing any earrings.  So, for the time being I have decided to go over to the other side and sport only studs for a while.   They aren’t my preferred choice of ear wear, but I still like these that I found online.  And yes, I did invest in some of them. Check them out.

                 

David Yurman Albion Amethyst Stud earrings             Elsa Peretti Eternal Circle Ear stud                     

Divya Diamond Stud earrings                                                 MARC by Marc Jacobs Zipper Stud Earrings

Flats – These shoes were made for walking!

Yesterday I noticed a funny incident...  While I was out and about with my baby running errands, I saw a woman walking painfully in her 5 inch heels.  Shortly after taking a few steps, she returned to her car, pulled off her sky high stilettos and donned a pair of cutesy ballerina flats.  Smilingly, I thought to myself “Why do we women suffer so much in the name of fashion?”

I admit - I used to be 'that' girl a couple of months ago but ever since I became a mom, I realized comfort triumphs over fashion...every time!  I have a new found respect and place for flats in my wardrobe and they give me the freedom to scoot around town in comfort.  In fact, New York designers have declared flats to be the favored show this fall.  Hearing that last week, I bought my third pair of designer flats and have been incorporating them with almost everything I wear.  So until my baby girl gets a little bigger, I know I won't be sporting my Choos for a while.  Ironically, you get so used to wearing flats, that you don't mind donning them for any occasion - day or night.  So give those a babies a try... your feet will thank you!!

Tory Burch Reva flat                                   Kurt Geiger - Ladonna flat

Canfora - christina yellow                           Canfora - Jamila Green

 

 

Happy New Year !!

Hello, 2010!  The Milgayi Family wishes you all a very happy and healthy New Year.  Here's to a fashion-tastic year!!  All the best...

It’s that time of the year – Resolution Time

In a couple days, 2009 will come to an end.  2010 will be the start of a new decade. Usually, this is the time when many of us start to reflect what the past year was all about; our trials, triumphs and tribulations. We put the old year behind us and look forward to the newness of the coming year.

Every year, this time, like everyone else,  I start to put together a list of resolutions for the new year and yes, it has all the usuals like lose weight, eat right, be more organized and the list goes on and on. Some remain abandoned, while some get fulfilled. For most of us the resolutions are the same every year. At times, I wonder why do we even bother to make a list when we don’t follow them.  Last year, on New Years, I remember saying to myself, this year, I’m going to commit to only two things from my list which is – Remain focused on work and Respect other people’s time and hopefully what started to be a resolution has now become a habit. In my opinion, it’s better to pick one or two items from your list and make them a part of your lifestyle or mantra rather than committing to bunch of things that never get accomplished. 

So go on, make that list shorter and have a fabulous year.

Happy Diwali!!

The Milgayi team would like to wish you all a very Happy Diwali!!

The best things in life are really free.

That’s actually true.  We know this, we hear this all the time, but our drive for conspicuous consumption is tremendous, even in these recessed times.  I’m not excluding myself. Infact, we have only ourselves to blame.  When was the last time you went out and did something that was absolutely free and you had the time of your life?  Ok, this happened to me this past weekend.

My husband and I decided to do break free and do something spontaneous, rather than sticking to our usual weekend routine of honey-to-do-lists, errands and pottering around the house.  We woke up late and headed to Half Moon Bay beach in California.  It was a gorgeous sunny day with a slight chill in the air. We carried a picnic basket and lazed in the sun for hours.  As we strolled on the beach, hand in hand, I thought to myself, ‘ no matter how many Gucci totes or Chanel bags I may have or long to have, nothing comes to close to the sheer joy of being here with my hubby on this picture perfect day, in tune with nature. What more could I ask for’.

I mean what price can you put on simple pleasures of life like brunching with your family on a lazy Sunday or driving with the windows rolled down and feeling the wind across your face.  How can anything beat the thrill of watching your kids play with their grand parents or your loving pet welcoming you home after a long day’s work or the bliss of being carried away on the wings of a great book with just a cup of your favorite hot chocolate for company. 

In my opinion, these are life’s most treasured moments.  No amount of Manolos, Bottegas or Louis Vuittons can beat the simple joys that life brings to us everyday, so go on, enrich your lives and live free. 

 

(Image credits: Istock Photo)

How to confidently shop online.

I admit I am a shopping addict. I just can't stop. I constantly feel the need to feed my closet. In my opinion, I'm helping out the recessed economy.  One thing I love to do is shop online. Online shopping sites are like best friends who are there for you when you’re down (talk about retail therapy). I frequent sites like Plazatoo.com, Pinkmascara.com and Bluefly.com with bright and dreamy eyes. But as fun as it is to buy stuff while sitting on your couch, shopping online can be quite tricky. If you're not careful, you might become a victim of a non-returnable item. Here are some tips to protect you from bad cyber buys.

What you see is what you get.
Rule No.1 - Never deviate from this rule. A great picture is worth a thousand words. Insist on excellence from the site or the seller, as you would do in any retail store.  Make sure the product imagery is immaculate.  Best sites: Bananarepublic.com, Maxandchloe.com, Nordstrom.com

You know what you know. 
Yes, we agree—the thrill of shopping online is finding unique boutique sites that offer styles not found near you. But if you’re not having any luck with online purchases, get strategic. Choose stores you've already had success with in person. Preferably stick with brands you know that suit your style, fit and quality.

Make sure the item is return proof.
This is the final testament of a successful cyber-shopping environment. I especially appreciate those companies that let you return items to the physical stores. Best sites: Shoe retailer Zappos.com offers free shipping and free returns so you can buy three sizes or three colors at no extra cost.

Follow these 3 commandments, and you'll be able to shop confidently into a buy you'll love. Last but not least, remember to always use your hubby’s, boyfriend’s or significant other’s credit card.  Happy cyber shopping!!

   

When I`m feeling blue, all I have to do is take a look at you...

I thought spring was officially here and summer was just around the corner but I guess not.  Today looks like a mundane wintry day from December.  Anyways, it’s in days like these that a serious dose of humor is required whether you’re at work, at home, at the gym or busy running errands. This is one of our favorite happy sites to go to when we are feeling blue. Yes, their stuff is reasonably priced, adds a dash of color, gives a mental lift and brightens up anybody’s day.   Check out www.fredflare.com for more cute stuff.

 

     

Rain Parade Umbrellas                                                                             Daisy Ring

     

80s Cube Clock                                                                                                Tulip USB hub

Fashion for a Recession.

These are bad times. All you hear are people getting laid off, salaries being cut, homes being foreclosed, boutiques and stores going out of business. Where does it stop? Can it get any harder? I know friends who used to look forward to their fashion choices every morning to work, are now wearing their pjs and surfing the net for jobs. It’s really sad!  On top of that, we are all under pressure for looking fabulous in this economy without breaking the bank.  I know I know we will get by very soon.  But in the mean time, here are some fashion tips that will lift up your spirits. 

Go watch Confessions of a Shopaholic – you will be inspired by the latest spring fashions and also learn what not to do with your credit card.

Shop in your closet – you’ll be amazed to find how you can pair stuff you bought a couple of months ago with things you already have in your closet. Come up with new pairings like pair your man's jeans with a pretty, floral tunic top and cute heels to add a feminine touch.

Set a minimal budget monthly (say 50 bucks) to buy things that will complement with items you already have. Like add a thin belt to your LBD and you have yourself an elegantly cinched waist. Or buy a new eye shadow for spring; add little things that make a huge difference.

De-clutter your closet – In these times, there’s nothing more benevolent than giving away things that you haven’t worn in the past 6 months. Do this and you will instantly feel like a huge burden has come off your shoulders.

 

Learn to be a bargain hunter - With today’s unstable economy, unsold designer goods are piling up in retailers’ stockrooms like never before. And since major department stores are desperate to sell stock before the arrival of the next season’s shipments, sales are no surprise. But a lesser known fact is that major retailers are willing to reduce prices even more on brand new clothing items and accessories. All you have to do is ask.