Vancouver 2011: Granville Island Public Market

Granville Island purports itself as Vancouver's Town Square. Fair enough. It's that place in the city where there's everything for everyone in the whole family, in-laws included. You've got art, music, beer, food, sailing, shopping and lots of activities for the little ones to keep them busy.

For us, a trip to Vancouver isn't complete without a visit to Granville Public Market. From organic fruits and vegetables, freshly caught seafood and salmon smoked to perfection, to gourmet coffee, bread and chocolate, there's plenty of gastronomic delights in store.

Yes, excuse me, hello, I would like to know what those are?

An octopus. $7.99 a lb.

Salmon, with the head cut off. What is it about fish heads that freak people out?

Yes, I see I got good shots for Mommy's blog.

Smoked salmon, if you'd rather have them in a bagel with cream cheese... 

A variety of berries in all shapes, colors and sizes...

Mushrooms, peppers, beans, eggplants, cucumbers and herbs...

More leafy green vegetables...although what I am really in the mood for is bread...

A fine selection of pastries at Terra Bread

While I enjoyed browsing the food stalls, Berry had a blast trying to befriend pigeons, and then running after them. Angkong was so amused!

Meanwhile, I managed to coerce Dada to take an outfit shot, which is really just a wardrobe remix of what I've worn previously. Told you I traveled light.

striped shirt from Saint James, Gap jacket, Topshop pleather shorts, 

H&M scarf (the lighter version of the blue one I've worn previously), J.Crew belt, 

Wolford tights, Repetto Jacksons, Celine luggage tote

Los Angeles Day 3: Melrose Avenue

From artistic and conceptual, let's go commercial! Heehee! Here we are at the Western End, where Fred Segal,  and my fave online hotspots Madison Los Angeles and Creatures of Comfort hold fort:

I visited the original outpost of CoC, and it was love! It's just the kind of store I want to put up, filled with  pieces that are just so focused and tell a story. CoC stocks my favorite labels like Repetto, A.P.C. and Isabel Marant so I really made the effort to drop by. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size for the Repetto BBs in Tomato, and I didn't really see anything else I had to have. I didn't really get to shop, but I did find a button down shirt from Equipment for just a little over $40 at Madison Los Angeles. Score! There were other amazing finds at Madison LA - from  Elizabeth and James button downs and White & Warren cashmere cardigans at deep discounts to Marni dresses for $300 (down from $1000+), but since we were still going to Vancouver from LA, I erred on the side of packing light.

Well, window shopping was still a good way to bond with family and new friends:

My brother-in-law Jun, and my sister Trina

With Steph (Liza's sister), Berry and birthday girl Belle
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLE!

Steph told me we should have stayed longer in LA, because I ought to check out  with them the sample sales and vintage shops that brim with promising treasures. Suddenly,  at that moment, visions of  Nation Ltd. tees at sample sale prices and Hollywood cast-offs flashed before my eyes. Wow, that would be interesting! Till our next trip then, sigh.

Anyhoo, change topic! Here's what we wore to our Melrose Avenue jaunt:

Berry: Gap jeans and coat, Tiny Toms for Neiman Marcus

Me: Gap military parka, Saint James striped shirt, J Brand Lovestory jeans, 
Chloe wedges, H&M scarf, Celine luggage tote

Dada says my style reminds him of The Soloist, remember that movie that Jamie Foxx starred in? Well, this is LA. That's where he is from right? This is what I call, HOBO CHIC!

We capped off our last night in LA with dinner at Casa Sanchez, where we were treated to, or if I may say - tortured by, a Mariachi band. LOL. Overflowing nachos and salsa and yummy food though! Coupled with quality time with family and friends, it was a great way to cap off our LA stay before heading off to Vancouver to see Berry's Angkong & Amah!

Los Angeles 2011 Day 2: The Grove at Farmer's Market

Actually, before heading to The Grove, Berry did a bit of shopping. Tita Trina and Uncle Jun got her a pair of Tiny Toms! So cute, brown with pink hearts all over! A Neiman Marcus exclusive too! =)

Here's Berry posing with her shopping bag...

Berry and Tia, the babies in Beverly Hills!

By the time we were done drooling over shoes at Lanvin and Prada, we hied off to Farmers Market for a snack. Here's what Belle got, OMG. The biggest sweetest strawberries inside that crepe! Yummy!

Farmers Market  at the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue is a tourist and a food lover's destination, filled with food stalls and epicurean delights!

Across Farmers Market is The Grove, which you can access by simply walking across the street, or by trolley, such as this one:

And Liza, the celebrity spotter,  had a feeling it was worth squeezing into this crowd...

Turns out, she spotted Jason Biggs of American Pie! LOL! She got my camera, because she said, you have to have a picture of him! Hahaha! Ok! Game!

After our celebrity sighting, we went to Crate & Barrel, and then Anthropologie! Oh, how I've missed Anthropologie. I can browse for hours inside their stores. So well-edited. Whenever I need to find gifts for friends, I just head off to Anthropologie because I know I will find something nice there.

Had to go to American Girl Place too, so that we could finally get the doll Grandma promised Berry!

Oh, and I didn't realize toddlers can communicate so well with each other! Check out Berry and Tia in action (thanks Tita Trina for capturing this on camera, so precious!): 

Berry: I am trying to get my doll to sit on her stroller...

Tia: Yes, I can see that.

 Berry: On second thought, I would rather sit on my stroller. Can you hold her please?

 Tia: Sure!

Berry: Noo ni noo, let me strap my self...

Tia: Don't worry, Mommy Berry will get you soon. Hmm, you have such nice hair little dolly...

 Berry: Okie dokie! I am all set!

Tia: Here's your dolly!

 Berry: Thank you, Tia!

Tia: It was my pleasure, Berry!

 Thanks again Trina, Jun, Liza, Belle and Tia for such a fun afternoon at The Grove!

Tomorrow, we go to Melrose Avenue and the Rodarte Exhibit at MOCA, babies!

Los Angeles 2011 Day 2: Rodeo Drive

The following day after we arrived in LA, we went out to do a bit of shopping. Take note, shopping of the errands sort and not splurge shopping, hehehe. Dada took photos of his girls while we were getting ready to go out:

I think my outfit today will look good with Mommy's ballet flats...

Hmmm, I am liking these patent loafers a lot more...

Berry's top: a dress from Ralph Lauren, Gap skirt from Amah & Angkong, 

Trumpette tights, Repetto Jacksons

tunic top from AllSaints, leggings from American Apparel, H&M scarf, 

leather jacket from Hoss Intropia, Repetto ballet flats

Lighting is nice there, I want an outfit shot there too! - Berry

With my new Duckie - a gift from the hotel front desk, how sweet is that!

Same outfit, this time worn with Trumpette boat shoes from Tita Sarj & Uncle Toni

Soon after, Trina and Jun came by to pick us up so we can go tick off the items in my shopping list - but first, we had to pay a visit to my holy grail of sorts in Rodeo Drive!

Driven around in my stroller in Rodeo Drive, that's how I roll. - Berry

Barneys New York, in case you don't recognize that distinctive awning

We also passed a couple of boutiques I wouldn't dare enter into, because I do not want to fall into temptation. Not that Dada will allow me to, one look, and I know it is time to head out the door. So, why bother. Bitter ba?

Berry also finally got to meet the adorable Tia, and I finally met Belle (my sister's SIL and my online buddy,  now real life buddy) as well. Belle's friend Liza, the Rodeo Drive veteran (and in this case, our photographer) was there to navigate for us. These girls are all super fun to shop with. They just know which stores to take me to.

Rodeo Drive was fun! I loved browsing the shoes at Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Saks. And the bags, O.M.G. Too bad I was not there to shop for big ticket items. Well, window shopping is enough for me these days anyway. Talaga!