Valentine’s Day Date Tips for Couples & Families

Valentine’s Day is coming up! Stumped on what to do? I’ve got some great ideas on how to spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart.

Since I’m a writer for San Diego Family Magazine, I had the opportunity today to share some Valentine’s Day date tips for couples and families with Renee Nelson at ABC 10News during a FacebookLive. We talked about specific places to go in San Diego; things to do on a budget and to splurge; ways to keep love sizzling, and more.

Get more Valentine’s Day ideas in the February issue of San Diego Family Magazine, which is available for free at Albertsons, Ralphs, Party City and local libraries, as well as online.

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the shoot.

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With Renee Nelson, 10News reporter
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L-R Michelle Hancock, Marketing Director for San Diego Family Magazine; San Diego Family Magazine writer Kristen Castillo, and 10News reporter Renee Nelson.
February issue of San Diego Family Magazine
February issue of San Diego Family Magazine
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With 10News reporter Renee Nelson

Put a Ring On It!

As a wedding editor and writer, I’m always following wedding trends. One of those trends is wedding jewelry.

There’s nothing traditional about wedding rings these days.  Like never before, there are more colors, styles and metal choices for women and men.

According to The Knot, in 2016, couples said they spent over $6000 on engagement rings. There’s another jewelry expense – wedding rings for both spouses, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

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The next consideration is style. Gold, silver, titanium, tungsten and more metals, as well as colors and looks like simple bands, beveled designs and adding diamonds of other stones.

IMG_2157While brides often know what they want their wedding band to look like, men can be frustrated by the process. And even fashionable guys, can have a tough time finding a ring that fits their personal style.

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That’s why I was eager to check out Manly Bands, which promise to fit different personalities and budgets, all while being sophisticated.

Manly Bands sent me a few complimentary bands: The Gentleman, (below) a polished band made with tungsten carbide, 18K rose gold plated; and The Surfer, a modern ring made with tungsten carbide featuring dark Koa wood and genuine turquoise.

My husband tried both rings and modeled them. His fave? The Surfer (below) for its bold color and how it popped against his skin tone. This ring is very hip and a fit for his lifestyle. After all, my husband is a California native.

The rings, available in sizes five to 17, are all under $200. Wedding or not, some of these rings (like The Surfer my husband likes) can be worn as an everyday accessory.

Falling in Love With Fall Fashion

Ready for fall? Now’s the time to get your autumn wardrobe together.

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I recently had the opportunity to attend a few Neiman Marcus Fall fashion shows at Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego. This season has lots of stylish trends that are easy to incorporate into your attire. Here’s what to expect for ladies:

 Red is the “it” color this fall.

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All shades of red are in vogue but bold shades and burgundies are particularly hot.

The 90’s are back! “This is the look of the season,” says Alex Yanez, stylist for Neiman Marcus, who explains the 90’s style of graphic makeup including heavy eyeliner is in vogue again.

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Many fall styles are punk and grunge inspired, blending feminine and masculine looks. Yanez describes this style as having a “Courtney Love 90’s feel.”

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Bulky boots are making a return too. One black pair featured in the fashion show had a floral pattern, showcasing that mix of feminine and masculine.

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Suited Up. Modern suiting for women is very sleek and totally inspired by menswear.

Check out Dior’s take on menswear below:

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Covered Legs. Another throwback that’s in fashion this fall? Hosiery. Models wore stylish patterned tights and fishnets with booties and heels. A very polished look!

Cozy up to velvet. This season’s in-demand texture, velvet is smooth and soft. It’s making its mark on jackets, tops and accessories, including shoes and purses. One model demonstrated this trend with a velvet hobo bag. Others showed off velvet pants, paired with velvet shoes.

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Velvet works for night and day. It’s “less seasonal than it has been in the past,” says Yanez.

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Leather jackets can add a little edge to a lot of looks. For example, when paired with a soft dress, a leather jacket can toughen up the attire.

Embellishments. Ruffles and fridge are making their mark on the runway and in real life.  The shows featured ruffled skirts and dresses, as well as fringe and embrodiery on accessories like purses.

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Menswear

Not to ignore the guys, here’s what’s in fashion for men this season:

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Men are rocking red too.

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They’re also looking very seasonally chic in plaid jackets and plaid shirts. Camouflage is also fashionable.

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The velvet trend looks great on guys too. Dark denim, a strong choice for men, pairs well with so many ensembles.

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The big footwear trend for men? Runners, a fashionable and functional shoe.

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What’s fall fashions do you plan to try?

Wait For Me!

What a fun read! Simon Schuster and author Judith Viorst sent me a copy of her latest book, “Wait for Me: The Irritations and Consolations of a Long Marriage. ” It’s a quick read with great heart.

This book had me giggling and pondering many of the same questions as the author, namely where will my husband and I meet in heaven? The concept of designating a specific place to meet in the afterlife is brilliant! Too bad her husband is reluctant to pick a spot!

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Fashion Forward! Neiman Marcus Fall 2015 Fashion Show

I was honored to be invited to the Neiman Marcus Fall 2015 Fashion Show!

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During the show for local writers and bloggers, the retailer’s Style Advisor Alex Yanez showcased some of the great looks he’s styled for the season, including fringe, white on white ensembles and lots of layering.

Enjoy the photos and check out the fashion trends you’ll see this autumn.

Women’s Trends:

  • Fall fashion has a Bohemian and Folkloric feel, says Yanez.
  • Fringe is popular, which Yanez says is all about “fun and movement.”
  • Duster jackets and ponchos
  • Lots of layers
  • Turquoise
  • Ruffles
  • Tunic lengths
  • Floral looks
  • “Red is the color of the season,” says Yanez, explaining it’s good to mix reds. One of the models he styled wore head to toe red, including a crimson Diane Van Furstenberg dress with a red Burberry scarf and a red leather jacket.
  • Mixing texture
  • Winter white and layering white on white

Accessories:

  • Bucket bag
  • Saddle bags, a new silhouette, which can be worn crossbody too, says Yanez.
  • Platform shoes with chunky heels
  • Long layered necklaces
  • Mixing gold with silver
  • “Jeweling up the ear”
  • Leather leggings under shorter dress. Yanez calls leggings, “a great alternative to traditional hosiery.”

Mens Trends:

  • The look for men is casual, yet polished, says Yanez.
  • Lots of layers
  • Wearing hoodies under blazers
  • Luxe looks are in
  • Biker jeans
  • Return of the backpack, which Yanez says makes men “look younger and hipper.”
  • Mid-top sneakers
  • Mixing greens

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