GUCCI GUCCI GUUUU...

It is no secret that I love wedges. Wedge sandals, wedge Mary Janes, and ESPECIALLY wedge boots. Wedge shoes are great if you love comfort but do not want to sacrifice the height of skyscraper heels. These Gucci boots are my ultimate wedge boots of the season. When they first came out, I tried them on at Nordstrom. They fit like a GLOVE and the knit body gives it a bit more comfort & stretch and added slouch if you dare. If you don't dare, you tighten up the side buckle and they stay up nice and tight for you Sleek Sallys. Seriously, I love everything about this boot. Originally $895.00, they just marked them down at Saks for $625.99, in case you were stumped on what to get me for Christmas (note size 7.5 or 37.5 in Euro-speak). I'm just sayin'. :D

wreath of envy.

Martha Stewart and holidays go hand in hand. The other day, I blogged about her INSANE cookie recipe that made me feel like a culinary P-R-O-fessional. She's pretty insane when it comes to crafts too. I believe in minimalism when it comes to lifestyle (unless you look in my closet- 'cuz that theory will go out the window NO JOKE). At home, we're pretty minimal. I'm practically allergic to "chotchkies" as they make me feel uncomfortable- like there's too much going on for my eyes. I don't believe in having a lot of furniture. You could say that a cluttered home is my worst nightmare. That's why I believe in white walls, open space, and hardwood floors. It keeps everything fresh, non-busy, and visually un-offensive.

That is also why I'm not a big fan of holiday decorations. Every now and then, we like to drive through the suburbs to see homes lined with different colored lights and large plastic Santa figurines planted on their roofs. It's cute, it's kitschy, it's fun to look at, but it is soooooo not me. I prefer our medium-sized vintage silver bugle-aluminum Christmas tree with only 1 style of ornament (in shades of green, red, and silver) to large real pine trees decorated with every ornament collected throughout the years (ahem, a nod to my Mom and Dad). I also prefer the style of a modern wreath hanging on the front door as opposed to shaggy green ones with an assortment of ribbons going through it at every angle. This Poinsettia Wreath from Martha Stewart Crafts is an amazing example of simplicity yet still maintains Holiday Chic. The different colors of the Pointsettias make a great contrast to jazz up the already overdone holiday flower. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Scarfin' It Down...

When I woke up this morning, the temperature outside was 8 degrees. This scarf from Anthropologie saved me. Kept my neck warm all day, as I never took it off during work. But it's so pretty, it looks like it should be worn inside throughout the day- not just outside for utility. So instead of throwing on a necklace, I just kept this on as part of my outfit. It's made of a wool blend in a beautiful Buttercup color and the little knitted rosettes make it so feminine and frilly, it's the perfect accessory for all winter-long.

Scalloping Away...

Do you ever feel regretful of not buying something that you totally should have when you first saw it? Well this skirt is my regretted item of the season. I discovered this adorable scalloped skirt on a really cute website called Modcloth late last summer. As I got carried away with surfing the web that day, the skirt was never purchased. When I recalled how perfect it would be as part of my new Fall wardrobe with a pair of stiletto boots, I rolled back onto that website the following week only to find out that it was, to my horror, already SOLD OUT! After a frantic phone call to the website, I was very politely told that not only was it sold out but it would not be re-stocked again. Now as we begin the holiday season, that regret is still apparent, as it would have been the perfect little skirt to wear to all the festive holiday parties going on around me in the upcoming weeks. Not to mention, it would have been such a STEAL as it was just under $65.00. Oh well, such is life. The memory of this gorgeous skirt will live on inside me. The cute and magnified scallops layered all around and the perfect black and cream color combination keeping it totally cool & modern and able to wear day or night. Last year, I was all about the ruffles. Now that ruffles are the rage, I am more partial to the scallops, which in my opinion are the new ruffles. It's always important to be 1 step ahead of the trend game, NO?

...and that's the way the cookie crumbles.

I love the holiday season. It's festive, colorful, and all about being around our loved ones. It's also all about baking COOKIES. This can be a dangerous thing but fun, nonetheless. Every year I promise myself to experiment with different cookie recipes. Last year I introduced myself to the art of checkerboard cookies. This year, I told myself I was going to perfect the jam-filled thumbprint cookie, something I didn't have a lot of luck with in the past. Mine always turned out MEH and were not the prettiest to adorn the holiday dessert table with. This year, I have found the answer to both taste AND visual beauty: the Martha Stewart thumbprint cookie recipe! Buttery, light, and sweet but not tooth-achingly sweet. The key is grinding the hazelnuts or almonds to a fine powder in a food processor. So amazing... they won't last long...

more dior. please...

I am way more into a SICK sense of style than I am to fashion-y fashion. THERE! I said it. Truthfully, a lot of the so-called 'couture' stuff annoys me. Much of it is not realistically wearable and certainly not affordable even to the higher-than-average income bracket. The bottom line is, come on, let's get real about what to wear. But for some reason. Dior just nails FASHION every time. John Galliano is a BLESSING to the industry. His fresh and innovative ideas should be worshipped by every fashionista or aspiring designer. His 2010 Resort Collection is a perfect combination of classic style plus a rush of soft femininity with a little animal print to keep it dramatically modern. Plus, he's incorporating a lot of chunky accessories to accent his collection, which of course, I love love LOVE...