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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year I am thankful for:

-restaurants that serve turkey dishes even two days before Thanksgiving. A god-send answer to my turkey cravings when I’ve been reading thanksgiving recipes for a couple of hours!

-the vet and nurses in our animal clinic for their caring and kindness.

- the health of my kitties after going through a difficult couple of months. Both are now healthy if a bit overweight!

-my husband! He is wonderful and patient…well, most of the times!

-my family! I love you and miss you dearly!

- Shopping Gods for some amazing and unique finds and very sweet deals. Truly appreciate it guys, keep up the good work!

-salted and roasted sunflower seeds! They are wonderful stress relievers although my husband has started calling me “Cockatiel”!

-my favorite authors for writing mesmerizing novels and providing much needed refuge at times!

-Paradise Island in Bahamas for being the perfect background to my most relaxing memories this year!

-a glass of red wine for providing an instant mood lift, reducing stress and acting as sleeping pill. May California wineries always prosper!

-my health!

-all those little things that make me happy, like: cute and colorful tank tops, lace and crotchet, soft and cozy sweaters and knits, delicious pastries, green and herbal tea, hot chocolate, chocolate truffles, rum cakes, flowers including but not limited to roses and orchids, vibrant colors, creamy tomato soups, cranberries in all shapes and formation including pies and sauce, pomegranates, hats, gloves, coats, cute bags,…. Yes, well, too many to name; thank you all!

Early mornings

It’s hard to convince people that I can only sleep walk before 10:00 am. So hate it when the work starts early and my brain hasn’t woken up yet! Now, there you go, the reason my outfit is so uninspired today!

Rushing out

For days when I’m too busy think deep thoughts (about my outfits!), I go monochrome, simple and convenient! Blue and navy look good together and on me, add touches of black, tights and a sleeved tee underneath and a tote bag big enough to carry your life in, voila! You are done!

What I loved this week:

In a word: Cranberry!

-Dark red or cranberry colored sweaters and cardigans. This color looks so good on me!

-Cranberry colored mums. Generally I don’t like these flowers (mums), but in dark red they are just phenomenon.

-Cranberry tarts! I know, I know, it’s close to Thanksgiving and I can’t take my mind off of cranberry!

Raining

It’s cold, it’s raining and I don’t want to leave the house. Alas, no choice! Well, wrapping myself in layers would help, no?

Sometimes…

Sometimes you want to crawl into a cave and forget an outside world ever exists. Sometimes you want to disconnect your phone, your internet, your TV. Sometimes you want to move to a time and place where no one can find you.

So little time

Right around 1:00 am and while chatting with my sister, I remembered that I have an out of campus seminar to attend at 9:00 am. Also still have not finished a report for my advisor due at the end of the day. Which ensured a day of rushing around trying to get things done!

Dreams come true!

I bought this little cardigan as soon as I saw it without trying it on in the store. I got home and put it on and … ooh, so soft, so cozy, so perfect! I didn’t take it off until bed time!

Just too much

Some people expect you to do their work for them! Who would ask you to provide the Word version of your references? Someone who wants to be able to copy and paste others’ work in the most convenient way without doing any actual work himself, that’s whom!

Do I sound upset? That’s because I am!

Timed out

“I can’t concentrate. I have too much on my mind. I am stressing too much. I can’t work! Not good! Bad Aradia, bad!”

After repeating all of the above ten times in less than ten minutes, I gave myself three hours of “Time out” in the library and forced my brain to work!

What I loved this week:

Fur and Shearling vest. Most are faux so no worries about slaughtering cute bunnies, minks or foxes. I like the multicolored ones better than pure black or brown or gray… a little boho, but hey; I can’t help it, I was born in seventies.

Camel colored tote bags. First, I am a bag addict. Second, there is something about that lush caramel color which appeals to my senses.

Cute tiny little charm necklaces. Not only they are tiny works of art but also no one can see them clearly when you have them on unless they get really close to you. Wearing them is like a secret between you and the people you’re intimately close to. Very mysterious and romantic!

Rainy day

A relaxed outfit for getting a haircut and running errands before the rain starts.

One of those days…

One of those days that you curse the moment you got out of bed… and you know there is nothing you can do except grimace and endure and the day’s end is still too far away… yeah, one of those days… but at least I looked good!

Meeting wear

I had an important meeting today and took the way of safe and conservative for my outfit.

Happy Halloween!

For this Halloween, I had a hard time deciding between becoming a pirate or a medieval lady. I was tweaking the pirate costume and liked the male pirate clothes better but then all on its own accord, the costume started to change and metamorphoses into a Musketeer or more specifically something D'Artagnan would wear. I blame the effect of Sunday night “Three Musketeers” movie on my subconscious!

So, here it is minus the ostrich feather and the shiny sword: "One for all, all for one!"

What I loved this week:

I’ve been thinking of fingerless gloves. Although they look a little homeless-y, I think with the right outfit they would be cool.

Crazy color nail polishes. I am not brave enough to wear a trendy weird color as manicure but I can still enjoy them, from a purely artistical point of view!

Hot teas. So good for when a chill is settling in your bones, so good for an irritated throat, so good for sitting at small table looking at all the hurrying people going about their business … oh, just about perfect!

Conversion

I remover the elastic from the waist of a silk tunic and convert it into a dress. Yes, it is still short but with navy tights and a coat it looked respectable enough for a Friday.

Oh, I so love these navy booties. I kept looking at my feet the whole day!

Lab work

One of the reasons I try to avoid our lab is because it’s freezing in there. When I have to stay there for more than a couple of hours, I go prepared: an extra sweater, tights, scarf and a large cup of hot tea.

Your (very) personal style!

Have you ever wondered what your undergarment choices reveal about you? And I don’t mean bra straps, extra pounds, visible panty lines or cellulite!

Well, if you ever wondered why you always buy a certain type of underclothes, here is your chance to find out the reasons. Just a couple of minutes and two clicks:

- What your bras say about you.

- What your underwear says about you.

Have fun reading!

The weirdness of a numb face

Have you ever tried to apply your lipstick right after coming out of dentist office, when half of your face feels… well, actually when you can’t feel half of your face? Try it some time; it is a new and disturbing experience!

This outfit doesn’t feel pulled together either. I was in such a hurry in the morning to give my cat her medicine, clean her, make my dentist appointment and the meeting with my advisor that I didn’t even take the time to brush the cat hair from my coat. So very sloppy!

Mondays!

My hero, Garfield has very colorful and damning statements for Mondays. His observations are amazingly accurate!

I had a very busy start to my week. I’d bought this skirt in the beginning of summer but due to its lack of length (it is scandalously short!) I haven’t been able to wear it. Considering our rather chilly morning, I gladly matched it with tights and my cognac boots which had the benefit of making the short skirt sufficiently modest! Regarding my top, as rust is one of the dominant colors this Fall (honestly, which Fall it is not dominant?!); I was lucky. I just had to dig into my packed away clothes from years before (12-13 years ago) and pronto, there it was! Oh, the joys of being a pack rat!

Navy and Green

I was very disappointed when I missed the navy and green striped dress from Thakoon’s collaboration with Target. The disappointment doubled when I missed it the second time around last year! Then last month I saw the striped dress from Francesca’s. “Should I get it, should I not?”, it has been driving me crazy. So hard to decide since this dress is very short and the fabric a polyester and rayon mix. Then I saw that third beauty from Anthropologie and I was a goner! How could I resist, a cotton and silk mix, the gorgeous colors, that cute little bow and polka dots! Yeah, yeah, I’m in love!

...and it goes really well with my green coat!

What I loved this week:

To be honest with you, I liked not that many things this week. My kitty cat is still sick and feeding, cleaning and caring for her is a full time job. You have no idea how hard it is to give 2cc of antibiotic to your cat twice a day!

Anyhow, here is the list of my little pleasures for this week:

- My birthday present, so gorgeous!

- Black forest cake, the yummiest cake in the world! What I specially love about this cake is the chunks of chocolate on top!

- My amazing new booties which after a week of waiting were delivered on my birthday (count them as my birthday present to myself)!

Yeah, OK, everything was about my birthday, wasn’t it?!