Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here, can you believe it? I hope you are enjoying the day with your loved ones and embracing the spirit of the holidays. Here are some Christmas-y posts to brighten your day:

The First Lady and their adorable pup, Bo, reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

Motorcyclists and citizens recently linked arms in the streets of Connecticut to block hateful, extremist group, Westboro Baptist Church, from protesting the Sandy Hook vigil last week. How awesome is that?

Oh my gosh, these stories made me tear up. Phew, hand me the Kleenex. 

Santa sightings around the world. 

Fruitcake taste test. Do people still buy these anymore? Apparently there are fruitcakes that actually taste good. Who knew?

Hate that sweater your Aunt Mildred bought you? Here's your guide to returning your gift with minimal hassle. Save. Your. Receipt. 

The North Pole and all it's wonder. 

Fight Winter Blues.

Pouting is my specialty.

I don't know about you but this time of year can be a tad depressing. Every year once we turn the clocks back it's game over for me. But, this year I am fighting back, taking action and you can too! Here are my fool-proof tips that are working for me:

1. Color, color, color. I have made a point of adding lots of color to my winter wardrobe. Normally, winter style boast darker hues but frankly, colorful clothing makes me happy. Bust out those brights and neons and keep them on rotation this winter. Remember there are no rules when it comes to fashion!

2. Remember those resolutions you made early in the year? Studies show that there is a big link between your mood and your behavior (duh). Simply put, get on that treadmill, keep the cigarettes at bay and act on those January resolutions. The healthier you are, the happier you are. 

3. Embrace the season. What about winter is fun to you? Build a snowman, make hot chocolate, go sledding, make hearty winter soups, go skiing, or jump in a hot tub. "Oh hey, winter is fun after all."

4. Pamper yourself. Whether that means a getting a massage, a manicure, or indulging in a facial remember that when you look good you feel good. You know you've been wanting to make that appointment - just do it already! 

5. If all else fails, watch these darling videos.

 

Glam & Glittery.

It's hard to believe but the Christmas season is officially 

upon us! One of my favorite parts about this season is the 

array of fabulous holiday parties. I love to get dressed up and 

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to go glam, glittery and  

extra festive. Here are my picks for the perfect party dress: 

 I am a big fan of Zara and this elegant holiday

 dress. It screams "Jackie O" in the best way 

and the embellished neckline is so pretty.

 Gold is a staple for me year round (let's be honest), 

but especially during the holidays. Plus, this dress 

is currently on sale for under $30. Cha ching!

I love this dress because the pattern looks 

like Christmas lights which is so festive. The

$25 price tag is kind to my wallet too. 

Pair these picks with strappy black heels for an 

elegant look or with black ankle booties and 

a  cropped leather jacket for an edgier vibe.

Gwen + RiRi Love Child.

Is it just me or does new British pop sensation Rita Ora 

look like a combination of Rihanna and Gwen Stefani?

 Gwen's signature blonde locks, red lips and effortless look

+

Rihanna's sassy attitude and tomboy style

=

Rita Ora - ta-da! Am I right or am I right?

Oprah's Favorite Things.

 

I don't know about you, but I live for Oprah's Favorite Things episode 

every year. I live for it so much that I rearranged my entire day (read: week) 

to make sure I was free for the Sunday evening 8pm premiere. 

The best part of the show is not the gifts (although they are fabulous). 

The best part is how the audience loses their minds. They go Looney Toons, 

bonkers cray cray. And it is amazing. So very amazing.

 "I have never been so happy in my entire life."

 "I just won a Tempurpedic mattress. I can die happy."

For a list of Oprah's coveted 'favorite things' click here. 

Ok, sure many of the items are not exactly affordable but 

whatevs. Half the fun is that the items are luxurious and that they 

are given to truly deserving folks, such as the military spouses 

in this year's over-the-top episode. Go Mama O! Did you watch?

Facebook's "Us" Page.

Did you know that Facebook now makes a digital version of your relationship status? Yep, that's right. If you are in a relationship check out Facebook.com/us. The page is a visual representation of your relationship with photos, posts, and events that you are both tagged in. 

As somebody who rolls their eyes at the couple who always refers to themselves as "we" this is just too much for me. Does this new Facebook page not make you cringe? It is possible, then, that you are that annoying Facebook couple. Look, we have all been there (ugh, hello college years!) so I get it. 

If you're unsure if your Facebook posts to your hubby (clue number one; use of the word 'hubby') are cringe-worthy take a looksie at these helpful tips.

So, dolls, is Facebook's "Us" page:

A) Cringe-worthy - make it stop right meow! 

B) So sweet! Why are you such a bitter Betty, Veronica?!

C) Indifferent - who cares?

Update: Love this.  

Curry Queen.

If you know me, you know that I call myself the Curry Queen. 

I love all types of curry dishes - from sweet and mild to hot, hot, 

hot. I recently took a stab at making the traditional Indian dish, chicken 

vindaloo, and was impressed with how it turned out. Indian cooking has a 

reputation (at least with me) for being complex and timely to make, but this 

recipe could not be more simple. Oh, and it is delicious! Here is how:

 The first matter of business is to create the spice mix. You'll need:

Small palmful of tumeric 

Palmful of cumin

Palmful of coriander

Palmful of paprika

Small palmful of dry mustard

Small palmful of cardamom

Use half of the spice mix to marinate your chicken for at least an hour, 

if not overnight. I also added salt, pepper, garlic, ginger and lime juice.

 Cut up a small onion and saute the onion with the second half of the spice mix.

 Add ginger and garlic to the pot to your taste. I personally use jarred 

ginger and garlic found at the Indian stores near me. The flavor is much 

more intense than ground ginger and garlic and less of a hassle than peeling 

the real thing. Plus, it costs next to nothing and lasts for months.

 

If you like your food spicy cut up a few peppers and add them to the pot.
If you like your food more mild then simply omit this step. Your call!

 

Add a can of diced tomatoes with a cup of chicken stock and 

add the marinated chicken, covering the chicken with the liquid. 

Let it simmer for about thirty minutes. I added a touch of cream 

for a little somethin' somethin' but this is optional.  

The finished product is tender, saucy, and absolutely full of flavor. 

Serve with your favorite rice, naan, or side (shown with cous cous). 

The recipe was taken and modified from this fantastic recipe.

Sneak Peek: Mosaic District.

My neighborhood, Merrifield, has been undergoing some ma-jah changes 

over the last year. While the constant construction noise has been mind-numbing 

I am excited to see this drab, industrial area revamped. A new shopping plaza 

called the Mosaic District opened recently with a plethora of cute shops and 

restaurants; some of which have not opened yet. I decided to scope it out.

The most striking addition to this plaza is Angelika Film Center

which shows both mainstream and independent films.

 The inside of this theatre feels much more like an art gallery than a 

movie theatre. The scale of the building is beautiful and the opulent 

chandelier is certainly a reminder that this is no average movie spot. 

Their menu offers beer, wine, espresso, gourmet popcorn and other noms. 

The best part is that the tickets cost the same as Regal or AMC.

 Here is a photograph of the outside of the film center.

 Did I mention there is a Super Target? I have a bad problem 

of going to Target for toothpaste and leaving with an entire cart 

full of goodies. Oh, you too? Tar-jay, you sassy devil.

 I was pleasantly pleased with the addition of South Moon Under

which specializes in super trendy clothing and accessories.

Currently lusting over this from the store.

 Possibly the best addition is Lou Lou; the mecca for all accessories. 

 Word on the street (literally, the street) is that Urban Outfitters' classy, 

older sister Anthropologie will be opening on Black Friday.

 Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus is any fashion girls' dream. 

The racks are chock full of designers-galore. From Michael Kors to  

Tory Burch to Vivienne Tam and more. The best part is that these (pricey) 

designers are majorly discounted making them more reasonable.

  These leopard booties were $66.50 after a 30% discount.

The plaza will also be home to Matchbox Vintage Pizza, Cava Mezze 

Grill, Sweetgreen, Taylor Gourmet, Cyclone Anaya's, Empire Oyster 

House, and many other fun shops. Come visit, dolls!

San Francisco Recap.

Have I told you how much I love, love, love San Francisco? 

Well, I do. I visited recently for a business trip for the first time 

and absolutely fell in love with the city. It has so much personality!

 The hills of San Francisco do exist and they are steep.

 Riding the iconic cable cars all around town was touristy and fun.

 Huddled together while riding the cable car at night 

with my colleague, Ryan. It was insanely cold outside! We 

had to resort to buying hoodies/coats from a vendor nearby 

because we were not prepared for the cold weather. Whoopsies.

 Port of San Francisco and the picturesque palm trees.

 A beautiful sculpture exhibit that you can walk through.

 Lanterns in Chinatown. 

 Posing in front of the bay. Alcatraz was just to the right.

I met up with some friends for dinner who were coincidentally in town.  

I loved every bit of San Francisco; from the street art to the food 

scene to the diversity of the people. Hell, even the homeless 

people had funny signs. I would love to live there one day. We shall see!

Miami Recap.

A bachelorette party sent me packing to Miami a few weeks ago. 

It was my second trip to Miami and it will surely not be my last. 

 

About 3/4th of the ladies enjoying free cocktails.

Smiles at The Delano. The decor was amazing.

 

The bachelorette and her big sis.

 

One of the most memorable parts of the trip; dinner at Mandolin.

 My Miami partners in crime; Ger and Hayley. 

Colorful Miami.

Thrift Store Finds & Tips for Success.

If you know me you know I love thrift stores. Although intimidating to some, I love the thrill of the hunt and the awesome finds I stumble upon. I know that you have to weed through a lot of (ahem) crap to find these gems so here are my tips for success. 

1. Look for quality. This seems obvious, but don't waste your time or money on anything with rips, stains, etc. Move on from these items.

2. The dress section is one of my favorites. Fashions from decades past are back with a vengeance. Often times simply adding a waist-cinching belt, shortening the length or removing the shoulder pads can make an outdated dress modern and trendy.

3. The accessories section is my second favorite section. This is the section to look for clutch purses, brooches, necklaces and scarves for next to nothing. 

4. Look for fun t-shirts and pair under a boyfriend blazer for an instantly chic and cheap look.

5. Ask the thrift store if they have deal days. Many have one day a week where items are up to 50% off. Cha ching. 

6. Wash all clothing before wearing. Duh.

Here are some of my most recent thrift store finds: 

 Black suede pumps with lace up front. 

They are perfect for fall and were $9.99.

 Adorable yellow beaded necklace for $1.00.

 Colorful silky scarf for $1.50.

 And the crème de la crème - Stuart Weitzman sandals for 

(ahh!) $5.99. I quite literally squealed out loud when I saw them.

Happy thrifting, dolls!

Neon Overload.

 Well, it's official that I am bonkers over neon. Seriously, 

how cute are these necklaces that I have collected?

From left to right: 

1) Pink statement necklace from ideeli 

2) Orange and pink necklace from JCPenney

3) Yellow necklace from ideeli

 If you're a bit shy about the neon trend a pop of color on 

your nails is a great way to add the trend to your rotation.

 Check out my new scarf à la Target clearance section.

Here is my complete look recently in Miami. 

1) Blouse from Francesca's 

2) Purse from Zara.

One of my New Year's resolutions was to add more 

color into my wardrobe. I can check that one off the list!