From This

To This

You might remember my H&M maxi dress from this post last year. Well it has now been transformed into a fringed creation. I told you guys I am going to be rocking fringing next season I am going to team this with a floppy hat denim cut offs and my kimono. I am also thinking it will look fab thrown over a bikini.

Book Worm

Jacket Next, Jeans Topshop (slashed by me), Shirt H&M, Boots Pied a Tere, Ring

My mum brought me the book Stylist The Interpreters of Fashion a couple of years ago it shows the work of sixteen of todays top stylists selected by the editors of Style.com. Anna Wintour also writes a foreword. It is really worth buying for the photography alone the book is a few years old now but will never date.

I think I have been suffering with a touch of the winter blues anyway to cheer me up my mum brought me a ring and this stunning snake print kimono style jacket from Topshop I am sure you will see it soon xoxo

The French Paradox, Buddhism, and getting back to my roots

Where to begin?

Let's start with a breath. Then another. And another.

This is one of the first things I learned (or rather relearned) as I started reading Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. My friend, Kristin, recommended the book after I sent her a quick message telling her I was interested in finding a new way to find balance and peace and release stress. This has been one of my new goals for 2011, and while slow going, it IS going.

I am very, very American. In every sense of the word. Everything is rush, rush, rush. No time. Running out of steam. A million thoughts zooming through my head. Multi-tasking. Be better. Be more. Go, go, go.

I hate it about myself, but I can't seem to stop or even control it. I am utter chaos (that would make a great band name, by the way).

The book has been difficult for me. I can't even give it the proper time it needs to be read because I can't seem to tell myself to slow the fuck down and really take in the words. Take in their meaning, the meaning behind their meaning, the beauty those words hold.

I suck.

It was like when I was reading Eat, Pray, Love. The most difficult section of the book for me was the prayer section. It was tedious. But that was the point. I firmly believe the author wrote it that way because it was so tedious for her. The thought of just sitting there, breathing, chanting, being with one's self... it scares the shit out of me. I wouldn't be able to sit still for more than 2 minutes. There's just way too much to be done.

I think the woman in that book was a lot like me. In the end though, she did learn to slow down. And I'm damn jealous of her.

This weekend, Harry, Ellie, and I made a trip up to my ex-father-in-law's house. About a year and a half ago, his daughter, my friend (and ex-sister-in-law) Kim, talked him into rebuilding his house. It went way over schedule, and truth be told, it's still not completed, but we decided it was about time we went to see the new place. Ellie and Kim's son, Niko (my Godson), are only about 5 months apart, and it had been a couple of months since they'd seen each other. I hadn't seen my ex-FIL in a while, but we had always gotten along. I thought it would be a nice little visit. I planned on maybe staying an hour, then heading back home.

I spied the house as I turned the corner onto the street (you didn't used to be able to see the house from that angle - it's THAT much bigger). It is gorgeous. Like "HOLY CRAP" gorgeous. We stepped in, and I fell in love with it. It has high ceilings, big beautiful windows, lovely dark, walnut floors, luscious paint colors on all the walls, glass mosaic tiles in the kitchen... I could go on and on. Kim really outdid herself.

I gave my ex-FIL, Jose, a hug, and Kim gave us the grand tour. After that was done, the kids went and played in the playroom downstairs while we chatted in the kitchen. A little while later, the kids wandered up hungry. Ellie wanted fruit, so Jose started breaking up grape bunches and cutting up apples for the kids. Soon, he had a full spread set out for kids and adults alike full of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and drink. He and I shared the last of his opened bottle of red while Kim and Harry cracked open a few beers. The kids had some cocoa.

I love cheese. Like seriously love cheese. But it's one of my "forbidden" foods. I don't eat it all that much anymore because it has a serious amount of saturated fat. But that day I decided to tell that skank that lives on my shoulder, reminding me of all the things I can't do, to shut her piehole. And I ate. And ate. And ate.

Jose opened a bottle of Spanish red (sooo good), and we had another glass each. We all sat around, talking, slicing off small pieces of cheese and eating it with crackers lightly covered in a sweet fig spread. Bliss. Absolute bliss. We did this for THREE HOURS. We didn't have to be anywhere. We didn't have to do anything. We were just enjoying the moment, the food, the company.

I cannot believe I sat anywhere for three hours and ate and drank that whole time.

And I loved every single minute of it.

Jose and I have never talked as much as we did last Sunday. I'm talking in total, the entire 15 years we've known each other. We talked more in one afternoon than all those years combined.

And we were both pleasantly surprised about how much we enjoyed the afternoon together. It's a strange crowd for sure, but it felt competely natural. And we both said we'd have to do it again very soon. We hugged again, and we took the 40 minute drive home slowly. It was a perfect day.

The next morning, I realized that I neglected to eat dinner that night. Me? Not eat dinner? Really? I also realized that while I thought I must have eaten 10 lbs of cheese, I had really only eaten maybe a couple of ounces. It was because I ate it so slowly that it felt like more. And my body didn't feel like crap the next day.

I joke a lot about how Ellie "eats like the French" with her cheese and crackers and fruit plates, but really, my kid is pretty damn healthy because of it. She gets a very good balance of protein, carbs, and fat this way. She is also the slowest eater on the face of the earth.

Me? I scarf my food down. I eat in like 10 minutes flat. And I do other things while I'm eating like work or make up lists or recite the Gettysburg Address. I never just sit and enjoy my food.

And that is wrong.

My kid, the French, Jose (who is from the Dominican Republic), my dad (who's from Italy)... they've got it right. When it's time to eat, they stop what they're doing. They eat slowly and with relish. They taste the food, and if it doesn't taste good, they don't eat it. Period. They eat lots of fruit, good quality cheeses, delicious homemade breads, etc.

And life is good because of it.

I found a few articles about The French Paradox, and it was like a lightbulb went off.

This is part of my journey.

I need to take time. I need to stop. I need to breathe. I need to stop eating all this American crap and get back to my roots (both Italian and French). I'll go easy on the Italian side because, well, there's no such thing as portion control in Italy. Your status in society actually seems to go up the more food you can consume.

One of the best quotes I read while studying the French Paradox was as follows: "French women refuse to accept being overweight," says Benchetrit, director of the Clinique du Poids weight loss clinic in Paris. "It is no secret that they want to be beautiful, in love, and take care of themselves so they look good." (taken from How Do the French Stay Slim?)

Also from that same article: "We sit down and eat for pleasure, using all of our senses," Mireille Guiliano, author of the best-selling book French Women Don't Get Fat, has said.

I love how French women actually "refuse to be fat". I love that idea.

I'm about to delve into yet another adventure inside my current adventure. This weekend, Harry and I are going to a wonderful little Italian restaurant alone. I will order a tomato and mozzarella salad-type dish for an appetizer, a lovely salad filled with dried cherries, walnuts, and warm goat cheese for an entree, and a decadent chocolate thing for dessert. I will wash it down with a glass or two of red. And I will savor every moment.

Thank you Margie :)

I have been looking for a raw crystal ring for ages and I was reading through my daily blogs and noticed that the lovely Margie from Margie Heart Clothes had a beautiful amethyst ring on check the post out here I left a comment as you do telling her how gorgeous it was etc and then ping a message in my inbox from her saying she had a spare one and would I like to buy it, of course and here it is and I love it. She has just opened up her Esty store check it out here she has the most amazing headpieces.

Thank you Margie and super service too xoxo

That's a 4-foot fence in the background

We're stuck. Like really stuck. Since we live on a cul-de-sac off of a secondary road off of a main road, we're like the last place to get plowed. Eh. We live in New England. You'd think we'd be used to it by now.

The cat seems especially annoyed that we're all here today. Apparently we're cutting into her lay-around-the-house-and-be-lazy time. Sorry, feline. Do me a favor and go get a job. We need the extra cash.

I went to the kindergarten meeting here in town Tuesday night. Bad news is kindergarten here in our town is placement, not district. Say what? Since some schools only have 1/2 day kindergarten or 2 classrooms, if there are more children in the district than spots, they get shipped somewhere else for kindergarten only. Talk about difficulty transitioning. The good news is that we live in the district with the most spots since our school has 5 kindergarten classrooms, so we're guaranteed a spot at our neighborhood school (the same one I went to by the way).

I really feel for some of the families in town. They're worried about the transitions, about their kids making friends in kindergarten only to be whisked away from them the next year, about putting their tiny 4- or 5-year-olds on the scary school buses day after day, etc. The one district with the most kids (111 kids last year to be exact) has ZERO full day kindergarten openings. Seems it became a magnet school a few years ago and decided full day kindergarten wasn't necessary. So none of these kids have a homebase school. Unless families can somehow figure out how to find childcare for the remainder of the day since kindergarten is only 3 hrs long there, they HAVE to ship their kids off to a school that's possibly 8 miles away. That's kind of insane. And they're thinking of closing the closest elementary with full day kindergarten to that district in the coming school year as well. That means there will be absolutely NO schools besides the magnet school for the south section of town.

I don't get it.

While buying our house in a specific district was the whole reason we paid more for the house than it's probably worth, most people don't have that "luxury". It's expensive to live in this town regardless of what zip code you reside (though the north section has much higher mortgage payments). Both parents in the household need to work. Childcare is crazy expensive. I don't know how some families do it.

Sitting there, I realized once again how very lucky I am.

Yup

(note: I stole this off of facebook, so credit to somebody somewhere)

Bargains Galore

Waistcoat Label Lab, Shorts Motel, Shirt H&M, Boots Buffalo, Hand Harness ASOS, Dream Catcher ebay

I am not a great lover of sales but when the Department store where I work decided to take an extra 50% off sale prices I could not help but have a look around I ended up buying these leopard print shorts reduced to £6.25 and the fringe waistcoat reduced to £10.00. Check out the website here as there are some real bargains including designer labels.

Crowning Glory

I have had a few emails and comments about my hair which is really nice as I have never really liked my hair but here is my rountine.

I use one row of American Dream hair extensions pretty much everyday to add volume as my hair is quite fine. I am lucky as my mum is a hairdresser and I have my roots done every four weeks she uses a high lifting tint if you are interested it is Topchic 11N Special Natural Blonde. I use Schwarzkopf Bonacure Silver Shampoo once or twice a week as this gets rid of the yellow tones that blonde hair can sometimes suffer with. I use Jose Eber curling irons as my hair is dead straight and I like the texture and volume a slight wave gives it. To protect my hair from the heat I use Aveda's Light Element Smoothing Fluid it also adds much needed shine.

I love Avedas hair products I have been using them for about eight years now. I tend to switch between Shampure, Damage Remedy and Dry Remedy depending on the time of year. I use a dry shampoo sometimes but I use it on clean hair to make it fluffy I do not use it everyday as it can take the shine away.

Sugar & Spice & All Things Nice

Kimono ebay, Pleather Trousers Topshop, Blouse H&M, Boots Topshop, Headband ASOS

I love kimonos it is a shame they are so hard to find as they go with everything and add an interesting twist to an outfit. I have noticed Topshop have a few in at the mo but I want fringing and lots of it so I am holding out and hoping they might get some with fringing in they have used them in their campaign so fingers crossed.

Super Spy!

My newest purchase... the super spy dress! Now I just need a little berret and to take up smoking again.

Homemade

I have been doing a little bit of DIY. As I have mentioned before I want fringing and feathers to feature in my wardrobe for next season so I made this fringe belt to go over denim cut offs from a pair of broken pleather trousers and I missed out on the F21 dream catcher necklace so I brought one from ebay and put it on a chain. Hopefully these cost effect diy's will update my wardrobe and give my outfits a twist.

At the end of the day is night

Cape Zara, Vintage Leather Shorts ebay, Blouse Topshop, Boots Pied A Terre, Cuffs French Connection

This is my all time fav looks well at the moment anyway and one that I have been rinsing for a while. I love the cuffed shorts and this cape has served me well for nearly a year now. I also decided to sport a side plait I rarely do anything with my hair but curl it so I thought I would give this a try I love the messy look of it which is good as it ended up looking well messy.

What is your all time favourite look at the moment???

Life is Good and Other Things

Jess at Ramblings of an Emotional Idiot (catchy title, no?) has bestowed upon me yet another blogger award. Come to find out my blog is the absolute first blog Jess started following (collective Awwwww!). I think that's pretty neat-o. Yes, I still say neat-o. I also still say stoked, which is what I am in regards to receiving said award. I'm also a dork.

So without further ado, what the award entails: I have to 1) thank Jess (Holla!), 2) answer some questions about moi (twist my arm, if I must talk about myself, I must), and 3) pass it on!

Q1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you aren't anonymous, do you wish you started out anonymously so that you could be anonymous now? I started out un-anonymous (is that a word?) and still am. I've actually tried writing a blog incognito, and it just doesn't work for me. It feels fake, like I'm making the story up. And I suck at writing fiction. Making up names for real people just isn't my bag.

Q2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side. My entire life shows my inner stubborn side. To pick one incident though... hmmm... I give up. Nothing is coming to mind.

Q3. What do you really see when you look at yourself in the mirror? Most days I still can't believe it's me. The mirror no longer disgusts me. I'm pretty content with my body and my look. The only reason I maintain that I still need to lose 15 lbs is for the sake of my health, not the way I look.

Q4. What is your favorite summer cold drink? If we're talking non-alcoholic, iced coffee hands-down. I drink it by the bucketfuls. Otherwise, Jack and Diet Cola with a twist of lime is my favorite year-round cold drink. Vodka and Diet Root Beer is a very close second.

Q5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do? Usually read or sit quietly at a coffee shop. I occasionally like to go clothes shopping too. It's become something fun for me now that I can fit into things.

Q6. Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? You know, honestly, I like where my life is. I don't really need anything more. I don't need to write a book or get a degree. I like to constantly learn, but I don't necessarily need more school for that.

Q7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching? Yeah, I was the overachiever. Annoyingly so.

Q8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see? The first time I held Ellie. There was no turning back. She utterly and amazingly changed my world in that one little, quiet moment just past midnight. And I will be forever in her debt for it.

Q9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog, or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events? I write about myself more than anything else. I know myself pretty well, and I'm not ashamed of who I am.

Q10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why? Anyone that knows me knows the answer to this. I DETEST talking on the phone. Like loathe it with the intensity of a thousand suns. And I lurve books.

And now to pass the torch:

1. My girl, Christina, at Chrissi's World
2. Uh-cuh-cuh (she hates me right now) at Leave Your Conscience at the Tone
3. Helpin' out Jess at Mommy Musings with some blog fodder to keep hers going
4. Jenni at My So Cal Life (awesome blog name!)
5. Anne Marie at Stay At Home Mommy Daze

and

6. Tip at Ghostspace Echoes, my newest blogger friend who shares my affinity for Ani Difranco, Neil Gaiman, and Clerks.

***

And speaking of Tip, he wrote a really interesting blog post the other day regarding eno. I said I'd give his little challenge to come up with 5 of our own cards a swing. So here are my 5:

1. What would you have done at the age of 22? Do the opposite.
2. Stop. Collaborate. Listen.
3. When you feel the need to yell, just breathe.
4. Visualize the outcome. Make it happen.
5. Accept your fuck-up because you still accomplished something while doing it.

Rock on.

Edelweiss

Shorts ASOS, Cardigan (old), Blouse Topshop, Boots Dune

I have noticed a micro trend in the fashion blogging world of knitted shorts so I thought I would drag mine out. I just wish these ASOS ones were just a little bit more chunky. I love how they work so well with sheer blouses

I love

I get so much inspiration from these two images they have been sitting on my laptop for a while now I dont even know where I got them from. They are such great transitional looks and so well styled and I love the lighting.

Fashion No No!!!!

Trousers ebay, Top Whistles, Cardigan Topshop, Boots Topshop, Pouch H&M, Rings Topshop, H&M & YSL

Trousers should not swing above your ankles one of my mums pet hates but I like it and fashion rules were made to be broken and teamed with a pair of ankle boots it really works. I need to invest in a pair of kick flared jeans too I have got a pair of full on 70's flares that really only look good in the summer with a wedge but I love the silhouette of kick flares and how they make the legs look super long too.

Orange Explosion

I am wearing my new sale bargain waistcoat reduced to £10.24 after all the discounts check it out here and totally perfect for next season especially as I know what look I want to rock so I am now investing in fringing and feathers.

Summer Inspiration

Images via Style.com

This is the time of year when I start thinking about what looks I want to rock come spring especially as it is time to pick new pieces of uniform. I am really into the floaty, boho, 70's look that is around for next season and Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli's S/S11 collection is totally inspiring I had to use all my self control not to upload the full collections so I have picked a few pieces from each collection check Emilio Pucci's full collection here and Roberto Cavalli's full collection here.

Going Native

Poncho ASOS, Dress Topshop (old), Boots Topshop, Pouch H&M, Bag Label Lab

Why is that you reach a certain point in a season and your wardrobe seems to get smaller. I have reached that stage yet again it is like because I know Spring is coming I am not interested in my winter wardrobe any more. Whatever it is it is slightly annoying as I feel totally uninspired by what is in my wardrobe. I know I have written this before so it is a bit like change the record Giselle I think I need to go shopping and add some interesting pieces to update my winter wardrobe I have a few things in mind like kick flared jeans, snake print sheer blouse, a fringed waistcoat the list is actually endless so I will finish now.

Hippie Hippie Shake

Jeans See by Chole, Shirt Topshop, Jacket Next, Boots Topshop, Necklace Topshop, Hat Stefenal

I am not a big fan of jeans but I remembered I had these I got them years ago and thought I would have a go styling them. So taking boho style as my inspiration I came up with this outfit. I find boho is harder to do in the winter it is defo more of a summer look but with a fur coat thrown over my shoulders I managed winter boho oh and a floppy hat always helps.

Gillian Zinser Style

I have been watching 90210 on and off since it started and the other night while channel surfing I noticed that the new series had started and there was something that caught my eye how Ivy played by Gillian Zinser had upped her game in the style stakes she looked amazing in her floaty kimono, drawstring bikini top and cut offs I was screaming at the TV she did not look like this in the last series. So I googled her and it looks like she might possibly be putting some of her own personal style into the character whatever is going on I am hooked.

Photo Blog

I'm starting up a photo blog again, but this time instead of a 365-day deal, I'm doing 30 in 30. A few friends are also joining in the fun, and I encourage you to try it out too! This month's theme is simply "Day in the Life", which means you can take a picture of just about anything. If someone like me, who takes crappy pictures, can do it, so can you!

Follow us!

Alicia
Kristin
Kate
Jenni
Cathy

If you decide to play along, post your blog address in the comments section, and I'll add you to the list here.

The sleeve is complete!

And it's beautiful. Better than I had hoped. Rock on.

Patience is a virtue

Pleather Trousers Topshop, Jacket Gerard Darel, Boots Topshop, Hat New Look

My old faithfuls pleather trousers and some leopard print I dont think I will ever tire of these. I added the hat for some interest but it was a job keeping it on as it was sooo windy. I am still trying to get used to my new camera I think I need to do a course and learn more about ISO, apetures and shutter speeds as I feel I am not getting the best out off it at the moment bad lighting is also not helping.

I am a little skint at the moment roll on pay day but I did pick up these from H&M yesterday the ring was only £3.99 and the pouch was also £3.99 and is handy for my till card and looks great worn around the neck.