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!