Tuesday, December 25, 2012

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. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

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.

 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

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 
cropped leather jacket for an edgier vibe.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

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?

Monday, November 19, 2012

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?

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

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.  

Friday, November 9, 2012

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.

Monday, November 5, 2012

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!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

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.


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

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!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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!