New Year Eve

I like everything glittery and shiny. I joke sometimes that in my past life I was a magpie. The opportunity was too good to pass on going all shiny and sparkly for the evening! Although I am more of a gold lover, this time I went for silver. The lace top has a subtle pattern of white and pearly silver sequins all over it and the jeans were taking the center stage by their pewter metallic sheen. My flat shoes were comfortable for standing and walking for hours.

 Happy New Year to all!

Ready for festivity

While doing chores and preparing for tomorrow night’s party, I wanted to feel a bit dressed up and festive and to get in the mood for the New Year. I let the shirt’s neon yellow collar, cuffs and hem to peek from under the sweater which added a bit of visual interest to the otherwise neutral outfit.

Rest and Relaxation

Instead of thinking about 2013 and making resolutions for the New Year, I preferred to spend the evening with a nice book and a cup of hot chocolate. Much more restful!

This cozy sweater has become one of my comfort pieces.

Indolence

After a couple of days full of activities, I took a day off to enjoy being relaxed and lazy and recharge for next week and the preparation for our New Year’s Eve party. Life is tough this year since I am the one playing hostess during the holiday season! I guess I was due some hard work after enjoying the hospitality of friends for so many years!

I will tell you the source of inspiration for this outfit if you promise not to laugh. Promise?  Ok, it was white chocolate cranberry cookies, my all time favorite!

Boxing Day

Starting by brunch, the whole day was spent on sight-seeing, taking our friends to the oldtown and art galleries, a trip to the mall to check on the local shopping scene and in the evening for dinner and a walk in an open mall. I wore something that could withstand temperature changes and long walks!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We had friends visiting from California. So starting the day with along leisurely brunch seemed like a great idea.

For the first time in my life I made roasted turkey and a full range of trimmings. I can call myself a full fledged hostess now! After popping the turkey in the oven to roast for 4 hours, we took our friends sight-seeing.

Then back to enjoy a beautifully golden turkey dinner, chocolate and fruit tart and my special hot chocolate! 

Christmas Eve

We went out to run some last minutes errands, did some shopping and then took a break and relaxed in a nice coffee shop with a triple chocolate chunk cookie afterward.

This dress has some gold thread running through it, which gives it a bit of shimmer. I call it understated-festive.

Happy Holidays!

 

Joyeux Noel! 

Merry Christmas! 

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all joy!

Countdown

An exhausting day full of chores and To-Do lists, all in preparation of holidays. I wanted to be comfy, so at first I tried this outfit with my navy suede oxford flats. It looked a bit unfinished, so I chose to suffer for the sake of fashion and switched to high heel boots! Trekking around in these boots for nine hours was an exercise in endurance.

Sunday

I love lazy Sundays, waking up late, eating leisurely meals, spending time doing all those little unnecessary but enjoyable chores you can’t get to during the week. And of course lighting a pumpkin cookie candle and kicking back at night in front of the fireplace, sipping “Night Calm” tea and watching the lights glitter on your tree.

Winter Solstice

We spent the morning and afternoon exploring and had lunch in a tiny diner. Oh the delicious food!

Our friends were wonderful and invited us over for solstice celebration. So much talking and eating and fun. The pomegranates were juicy, the watermelon sweet, and the omens were all good: life will be a picnic in the coming year. Wishing you all a joyous year and a sunny attitude!

Holiday shopping

The only place you can feel the holidays approaching is in the mall. After a big lunch at my favorite seafood restaurant I decided to get in the holiday spirit (and burn some calories) by a trip to the mall. I summarize: Three hours later I headed home, still feeling stuffed this time with shopping bags. The true spirit of holiday is in mindless shopping!

Denim minidress

When I want to get things done, I give myself some timeout in the library and finish all my reading and writing assignments! And yeah, it seems contrary, to do real academic work in a library full of tempting and fun books. Let me tell you a little secret, facing all those rows after rows of fun and engaging books, I become so overwhelmed that I prefer to keep things simple and do scientific work instead!

The only time I wear real minidresses is in winter with knit tights and boots. Another crazy quirk of mine!

Black and white

I’ve become so predictable in my outfits, just a longish top and leggings and boots. It is starting to look a bit scary. Am I bored or AZ is turning me sloppy?

Weekend roundup:

We spent the whole weekend exploring new neighborhoods in Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale. The weather warmed up nicely to upper 60s which made a lot of people to dress in shorts and tees! Me? I went for my winter light stuff.

Saturday: White jeans and ridding boots have that cool English air of “I rode earlier and now I’m going for a bite with my mates” feel. 

Sunday: The recent lack of color in my outfits was killing me. I had to go for orange, had to!

What I liked this week:

-Metallic pumps, especially these from J.Crew. The heel is pretty high but the shine… ah, the shine!

-Red scarves. I own a few red patterned ones, but a bright solid red is missing from my wardrobe. Something in a fluffy texture or a soft cashmere.

-These “hot chocolate mix in a jar” sets. Great for DIY gifts or just to have a few in the pantry in case of chocolate emergency. 

Neutral overload

Here is another neutral outfit, gray and black. I’m guessing I was in a pretty boring mood this entire week, judging by colors I chose. As most of my winter wardrobe is in neutrals, somethings can’t be helped!

Cold Comfort

This outfit is becoming my comfort outfit (kinda like comfort food!). When it’s cold and I’m unhappy I go for this plush and fluffy vest. The chocolate color also helps! Soft textures of fur, suede and cashmere and comfortable worn out boots, a good book and a cup of hot chocolate, what more can you want on a cold evening?!

Party Essentials

It’s that wonderful time of the year… the party season. The time for all things shiny and sparkly and eye-catching. So either if you are digging into your existing wardrobe for party-wear or going out to shop for new bubbles or waiting for Sales after the holidays to renew your stack of glitter and glam, keep these essentials in mind. They can be used year after year to create new outfits.

       1- Shiny, metallic or embellished shoes in both silver and gold. Better to have each color in flats and heels. I like metallic pumps.

2-    2-Metallic clutches: silver/gunmetal and gold are classic. Pearl and champagne are unexpected and black with embellishment is always handy. Also bronze, copper and jewel tones.

3-       3-Embellished cardigan: basic black with some sparkly beading would do. Better to have gray and cream/beige/brown and one in navy too. They are the au courant versions of wraps and shawls.

4-    4- A long formal coat: a black below the knee version in the highest quality you can afford. Cream and gray are also useful!

5-    5-Statement necklaces: the bigger and shinier the better. These would dress up a simple neckline either on a sweater, a button down, a plain dark dress or simple tee. They are the wonder-makers!

Everything: Anthropologie

Gray on gray

I thought it’s time to shake things up a bit and put an end to my uniform of: boots + leggings + sweater. So I made the big earth-shattering change to … (drum roll, please)…. shorts! Yeah, that’s all. I’m very set in my ways!

Lime and olive

Letting a little bit of lime (actually it is more a light neon green) to peek from under the sweater (just the collar and the hem) in this outfit gave it the right amount of zest. It also contrasted beautifully with the somberness of olive.

Sunday Brunch

When are you going to feel settled in your new city?

When you finally find the perfect brunch spot with delicious French toast, crispy bacon and great… Mmmm… yum yum…

I have to go back soon!

Double the trouble

Shopping for last minutes gifts is not easy, especially if you don’t want to end up with some cliché purchases. Unfortunately it is a lesson we don’t learn!

 Holiday dinner party and loads of fun:

Company party

Let’s be honest, they are never fun. I attend because I know how to play the part of dedicated and supportive wife even if the party bores me tears. Problem was this party bored all the employees to tears too!

Purple and gray

A soft dove gray needs a bit of pick me up in the form of a majestic purple. Since it’s me, the super matchy-matchy, I kept piling up on purple!

Leather leggings

Yes, I finally gave up and bought a pair. Now, help me figure out how to wear them!

Sage and Bordeaux

Two colors I like and can’t usually decide between. So why not wear them together?

Break them up!

A light blue silk button down to break apart the jeans and stop the outfit from resembling a Canadian tuxedo.