What I loved this..

..week weekend:

After a long week full of fiascos and catastrophes (buying wrong acid for the lab and had to dilute it three times to get the right Molarity, the strap of my brand new handbag snapping and breaking, a student being a jerk, a main computer getting virus, a few argument and acts of revenge in the research lab, an upset advisor, a whole load of homeworks to grade, have to attend a late night 4 full hours training until 10 pm one night, running a class from 7-8pm the next night, a career opportunity going belly up due to careless bureaucracy, and a few other bad things happening), I took this weekend to enjoy life and forget about real life (school, work, research, etcetera). No cell phone, no internet, no TV, no email at least for the first day!

So I loved my weekend which is full of:

- sunshine,

-Cats,

-naps, cat naps,

-gorging on chocolate,

-donuts,

-white daisies,

-going through fashion and art magazines,

-lots of virtual - catalogue and online- window-shopping (yeah, no shopping!)

Bag of the week:

Today’s bag is a tote from Coach and my one and only Coach bag. It is a “Coach Ergo Leather Large Tote” and measures 13 1/2"L x 5"W x 12"H; 9" drop handle. The color is a gorgeous chocolate brown in person and the bag fits everything and the kitchen sink! I purchase it 6 years ago and it still looks like new despite a couple of plane rides! For me, aside from the great leather and its delicious color, the major selling point of this bag was its being logo free! I don’t like logos in general and Coach logo (being everywhere, on the arm of everyone, so gauche!) in particular.

This tote is pretty much the only Coach bag I ever bought or am going to buy. Well, maybe one of their vintage Saddle or messenger bags, beautifully aged, beautifully crafted! But definitely none of these huge C stamped canvas you see everywhere!

So close to losing it!

Sometimes you are stressed, over worked and heartbroken. Sometimes, not only your efforts are not appreciated or praised but also whatever little achievement you have earned is taken away from you. Sometimes even your little happiness is stolen from you. Sometimes you are ready to have a nervous breakdown and forget about life, work and all your responsibilities.

You know what? Right now, I am one tiny step away from checking myself into a psychiatric ward, somewhere with a nice padded cell where I can stare at the window for the rest of my life in peace.

Discovered: Stila cosmetics

When I first started to wear makeup, mom said two things. First: You don’t need make up! Second: OK, if you must, always buy the best!

So I’ve been keeping an eye on the new products in hopes of finding better quality. For years I’ve been devoted to Estee Lauder and Clinique for both cosmetics and skin care. My top drugstore brands and products are Neutrogena for skin care, mostly foundation and lip gloss, L’Oreal for lipsticks and eyeliner, Cover Girl for their new Lipperfection Lip colors and Maybelline for their Great Lash mascara.

I tried Tarte cosmetics since they are mineral base and organic but didn’t like their lip stain, mascara or foundation and bronzer. Their blush is great though!

Then I found Stila due to a very lucky shopping mistake. I tried their Michaela lipstick and loved it. It is soft, creamy and moisturizing. You can wear it by itself or apply it over another color for a bit of shine. Then bought an eye-shadow pallet and loved all the colors as well as their staying power (something I had zero success with from other brands). And finally I tried their eyeliner which goes on smoothly, stays long and doesn’t smudge.Well, it is the first brand that i loved anything I tried from their collection.

I think I have fallen in love with this cosmetic line. Not that I am giving up my beloved Clinique, but it’s nice to have other options!

I wish!

Art of the week:

Peonies - William Merritt Chase , 1897, pastel on paper

What I loved this week:

- Gray skinny jeans: not as much as “love”, “need” might be a better word for it. Strangely one thing my wardrobe lacks and it should be remedied ASAP!

-polka dotted rain coats. So cute!

-polka dotted handbags. Yeah, apparently I am developing an obsession!

Bag of the week:

Navy/Lapis Fulton large tote by MICHAEL Michael Kors. This beauty measures: 15 1/2 wide x 5 1/2 deep x 11 high. Shoulder drop: 8”.

I have been on the lookout for this tote for 3 years, so when I found it this last September, I just had to have it. It goes great with half my wardrobe, from jeans to navy coats, or my navy cape, and all the whites and creams and camels, jade, and light grays. The only problem: since it is so large, I tend to overfill it and it becomes quite heavy!

Art of the week:

"Almond Blossoms" by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

What I loved this week:

... this week month:

-Pink peonies… no, make that, peonies period; all colors… there is something about this large bloom and all those petals that goes straight to my heart. Not that I’m liking my beloved roses and orchids less, just adding variety, I guess!

-Rings with an unusually shaped stone. My best friend used to have a few rings with gemstones shaped like a pyramid, a full sphere and so on… It has taken me years (literally, 15 years) to start and really appreciate their uniqueness!

-Paintings… more specifically a review of my beloved impressionists’ works. As I concentrate more on science the creative part of my brain starts to crave color and nice compositions and… well, all things as far away from science as possible!

Sometimes,..

…You just have to go with the flow!

Bag the Day!

This beauty is my special-occasion/official/interview handbag. It is an “Alto medium Tassel Bag” by Dooney and Bourke. It measures as < L 12”, W 4.5", H 10" >.
An 8×11 folder easily fits in it, also my little laptop. What I like best about it is the simple lines, the structured shape and the short handles. It has a very professional look, the perfect accessory to go with a suit!
Finding it at one third of the retail price was a very lucky and happy accident. I bought mine 4 or 5 years ego and every time I take it out of its dust bag, I feel that special joy, the one that usually goes with big accomplishments!

Double Life!

You know those cute suede vests with faux fur lining? Yeah, those!

If the fur side doesn’t show any seams, you can turn the vest inside out and remove the brand label from collar and Care label from the side, and El Pronto; you get a new faux fur vest!

Resolutions!

I’ve not made New Year Resolutions for the past three years, the reason being they were building up and nothing was ever done! This year however, I’m thinking of setting some goals -and yes they are goals not resolutions- since I am usually very good at achieving my goals.

1-Treat myself better. My aunt always says: “treat yourself well and others will treat you well!” Regardless of what others are going to do, literally I will start to treat myself better this year.

2-Start using my “Good Stuff”. Why am I saving my quality stuff and for when? What’s the point of having nice things if you are not using them?

3-Invest in quality stuff. I have enough fillers.

4-Relax before I go crazy, have a nervous breakdown or a stroke.

5-Learn something new.

Yeah, that’s it! Just five, a good manageable number, keeping my fingers crossed!

Best wishes for you and your resolutions in this New Year!

Ho Ho HO!

What I loved this week:

This week lovelies have nothing to do with fashion unless you call them Home Fashion.

-Crystal figurines, either from Lalique, Baccarat or dear old Swarovski. I was looking for something else and happen to see these pretties and fell so in love that I spent the next two hours looking at them on different websites. Enjoy them with me!

-Jonathan Adler’s pottery, (check the link!) in every shape and form. I am so in love!

-Bark vases and candle holders specially Michael Aram designs. Very organic and natural feeling which provide enough texture for a modern and minimal interior.

Favorite Perfumes

Since my post on awful perfume bottles, it’s only fair that I talk about my favorite perfumes and their bottles.

I’m not a signature scent type of person and believe different times and moods deserve different scents, so I have a little collection. A light perfume for summer and a warm one for winter. My day time perfume (light and cool) is different than my night time (heavier and more complex). Also what I wear going to parties (complex) is different than what I wear going out shopping (light) or to a coffee shop (warm and sweet) or to dinner (light and cool so it won’t compete with the scents from the food). So here are what I’ve been enjoying for the last…mmm… five years (maybe?) although some are much older.

As you can see, almost all have very simple but shapely bottles with uncomplicated streamlined caps. Simple, structured, and chic!

Yuletide!

Happy Yalda, Yuletide or Winter solstice!

Tonight is the longest night of the year and we celebrate it by food, drink, staying up way past midnight and taking an omen from our favorite book of poetry.

It is a night to wish for light and happiness in coming days and to forget the chill of the winter in the warmth of the family’s togetherness.

Whatever you do tonight, if you celebrate Yuletide or not, I wish you warmth in your hearts and light in your path! Happy Yalda!

(Last minute) Gift Shopping

Are you still looking for presents? Or maybe you have been one of those incredible organized ladies and finished your gift shopping sometime before Thanksgiving. But if you’ve been extremely busy like me, there is still time, no need to panic! Right? Right!

Since it is usually our nearest and dearest whom are hard to shop for, I’m giving you a few ideas:

…and since some of those gifts look absolutely gorgeous, why not buy a few gifts for yourself? You know you deserve it!

Flower Horror!

What is it? The invasion of ugly flowers or all the perfume (bottle) designers have taken a leave from the good taste?

I keep seeing all these monstrous flower caps on perfume bottles and they repel me so effectively, I’ve not taken a whiff of any of them!

It all started with Marc Jacob "Daisy" in all its reincarnations which in retrospect wasn’t so bad. Then “Oh, Lola!” came into being with the sole purpose of horrifying the consumer with that cap and sending them back to “Daisy”! Then Justin Bieber's imitation, “Someday”, hit the stores and now the latest and the scariest floral monstrosity “Lovestruck” by Vera Wang is available.

Seriously people, show some taste! (and all in time for the Holidays!)

Revised ( @ 12/22/11): To that list add the new BCBG Max Azria perfume too, although the floral cap is not as big or as hideous as those previously mentioned!

How to wear a gold metallic tunic?

Since it is holidays and the time to shine, let’s count the ways you can wear metallics (in this case an antiqued dark gold):

1-For day time:

-under a black dress, with a charm pendant on a thin long chain and black leather or suede pumps or booties.

-over black Ponte knit skinny pants or black legging or black skinny jeans. Shoes could be black pumps, booties or ballet flats. Add a black vest or long textured cardigan.

-over skinny white jeans or corduroys, plus booties and either a black or cream thick cardigan.

2-For night time and parties:

-over black maxi skirt with a thin textured old gold belt and black booties.

-with a flowy black mini skirt, leopard pumps or booties and a short fur topper.

-with a shiny cream and gold mini skirt and nude pumps.

Well that’s it for the holiday season! Come spring, I have to think of a few new ways to wear this shirt/tunic!

What I loved this week:

Being confined to laboratory from morning to night has put a damper on my enjoyment of finding cute and unique items but in my limited freedom I loved:

-Cell phone charms. Charms are so personal. Their meaning and significance is only clear to you. Someone I know has a panda and a little bell charm on her cell phone. My collection started last year with a cute white cat my sister sent me. Since then I’ve added a red high heeled pump and a cute ladybug. What I’m specially looking for is a nice handbag charm.

-Chain jewelry specially chain bracelets. If you are thinking of buying me one for Christmas make it gold with the thick chain, please!

-Tear drop earrings, just polished stone or crystal and not much metal. Simple and elegant!

Incidentally all these make great gifts for this holiday and are fun to own. You may start dropping hints to your nearest and dearest!

What I loved this week:

-Non-paper coffee or tea cups. These are not as heavy as mugs, are the same size as Starbucks’s Grande (16oz), and keep the heat better than Styrofoam cups. They also have that little handle-thingy in the middle to protect your hands from heat.

-The color Navy, especially in silk scarves. I keep reaching for my navy stuff these days. Either it is my stressed mood which needs the reassurance of a strong and dependable color to feel better or I have too much navy in my closet and not enough time!

-Silk (or chiffon) bow tie blouses. I’m slowly assembling a collection. So far I haven’t met a bow tie blouse that I haven’t liked!

Have a good weekend!

What I loved this week:

…or in the past couple of weeks! Amid stress and worry over my work, I took refuge in finding and loving things as far away from my project as possible. It’s good to forget chemicals and rates and reactions for a few minutes and look at pretty things.

-Rough stone rings. These have a very organic feel and are not for the faint of heart. Wearing them with a bohemian outfit is boring. I like to match them with a very polished and sophisticated outfit for some edge.

-Thick wool-y and knitted slippers. Yeah, it’s getting chilly and my toes are freezing!

-My all time favorites: cranberry and white chocolate cookies! These are heaven, I tell ya!