Inauguration Tourist Tips.

The Presidential Inauguration is just around the corner and while experts are not expecting the madness of the 2009 Inauguration there will certainly be an influx of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of Barack and his brood. 

If you're planning to visit DC I've got a few tips for you. Washingtonians are a very particular type of people so listen up!

1. If you are riding the metro please walk left and stand right. This is very important and you will receive dirty looks if you disobey this cardinal rule. You've been warned.

2. Speaking of the metro the Smithsonian, Archives, and Mt. Vernon Square stops will be closed so skip those stops. 

3. The metro does not tolerate food or drink. Just keep that Subway foot long tucked away in your purse until you get off. This is not the NYC subway, folks. It's clean! 

4. If you're lucky enough to be attending an Inauguration ball I beg of you to consider flat (but still cute, duh) shoes. Know ahead of time that there will be long lines and a lot of waiting. If you absolutely must wear your sky high heels consider these, ok? Walking home barefoot is not a cute look. 

5. If you'll be visiting Barack's favorite stops for grub as such Ben's Chili Bowl or Ray's Hell Burger remember that they only accept cash.

6. And most importantly never, ever, ever say anything negative about RGIII. Just don't. 

New Year. New Beginnings.

The new year is here and for many folks that means it is time for resolutions and new beginnings. Whether that means getting fit mentally, physically, progressing in your career, having more fun, getting rid of clutter, traveling more or anything in between here are some tips, tricks and general food for thought.

Karma queen? This soapstone karma counter is used to track good and bad deeds. 

If you're looking for a change of scenery check out this 12 month travel guide (thanks, Kristen). Traveling to Tokyo to enjoy the original cherry blossom festival sounds pretty rad.

How to get ahead at work from former Hearst exec, Cathie Black. Her book is straight forward, useful and sincere. 

100 ways to get more organized. Less clutter, less stress. 

Trying to spend less money but still look chic? New Dress A Day is a blog about a woman who created an entire year's wardrobe from altering outdated thrift store finds. Her craftiness is all sorts of amazing and her 'before' and 'after' outfit transformations are incredible.

101 creative resolutions to get your creative juices flowin'.

Even if you do not believe in resolutions (a la Sandra Bernhard) there's always room for goals at any time during the year. Here's to a fabulous 2013! 

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!