Tuxedo Napkin For New Years Dinner

We just dressed our table for tonight's New Years dinner.  I remembered a great napkin folding technique I saw at a hotel in Abu Dhabi recently, and it is just perfect for tonight's new year theme. 

Here's a step-by-step photo tutorial. 

Happy New Years!

Wrap it up!

Homey Christmas

Homemade Christmas Wreaths

There is nothing better than crafting with friends over coffee and gossip.  We had such a great time making these Christmas wreaths together, we want to turn it into a regular happening. 

All you need is some fresh branches of pine, a straw ring, and floral staples.  We found everything at our local florist.  The trick is to use only the tip of the pine branches, where the needles are the finest, and you work from the inside of the ring toward the outside.  You can decorate it with whatever you like. Below are some ideas.

 THE AROMATIC WREATH

Decorate with cinnamon sticks and a sachet filled with Christmas spices, such as allspice, clove, anise, and rosemary.  It will smell good enough to eat! But really, please don't.

THE CLASSIC ADVENT CROWN

Same deal as above, just add four red or gold candles for a beautiful table centerpiece.

THE RUGGED CHRISTMAS SCENE WREATH

Mix in different types of pine for a more rugged look.  Add some snowmen-shaped candles, or whatever other Christmas figures you like.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. A Halloween Love Story.

Pumpkin Patchin'

ME:
SWEATER COAT: Sandro
BLOUSE: Zara
PANTS: Zara
BOOTS: Massimo Dutti

TODDLER GIRL:JACKET:  Zara Kids
SCARF AND HAT: Zara Kids
JEANS: Joe's Jeans
SNEAKERS: Ash Kids

Sweet Halloween Treats

Murdered Strawberries

•Fresh Strawberries

•Melted white chocolate 

•Waffle and Gingerbread cookies (tombstones)

•Red food coloring (blood)

•Shish kabob sticks (daggers)

Mandarins a la Pumpkin

Once Upon a Time in Summer

Look at me, I look so happy.  

This series of photos were taken in July by my photographer friend Laurie Sermos.  It was my first ever fashion photoshoot, I had just launched my blog, and I was about to spend 1 month in France with my family, where I'd be fulfilling one of the top items on my bucket list: to practice french and learn french cooking in Paris.  I was feeling ecstatic and on top of the world. And did I mention, the sun was shining?  

I generally do not "stage" the photos for my blog.  If I happen to like my outfit, then I ask my husband to photograph it wherever we are.  But on this day, I thought I'd make an extra effort as a real talented and professional photographer would be taking the photos.  (Sorry husband, no ofense). 

This what you see below, was not the outfit I had planned on wearing.  The outfit was going to be a glamorous bright canary-yellow cape dress, with satin grass-green platforms and bold jewelry.  In my head, it was to be an epic editorial fashion moment.  But as luck would have it, due to street repairs, the water and electricity was shut-off on my building and every building down the block for the whole day - in other words, no iron, no shower.  The aforementioned dress was a crumple of wrinkles, and my hair a greasy hot-mess.  It was disastrous.  I thought, if only I can have my morning coffee I'll be able to think straight and come up with a solution.  Next thing I read at the downstairs coffee-shop: "Kein Wasser, Kein Kaffee" ("No water, No Coffee").  Wonderful.

Laurie Sermos arrived, and she politely took the first set of photos in my wrinkly yellow dress and head-turban (to solve the dirty-hair problem, I had my hair covered with a scarf, turban-style).  I kind of looked like a NYC taxi driver.  It was quite an embarrassing first photo shoot.

Afterwards, we decided to just go out for a walk in one of my normal outfits, and do some spontaneous shots on the street.  I was feeling more in my element, and I love the way the photos turned out.  Lesson  learned: I am not Grace Coddington, I am not Olivia Palermo, stick to what you know, and wash your hair a bit more often.

I leave you with a quote from Rachel Zoe:

"Style is a way to say who we are without having to speak."

TOP: Adolfo Dominguez
JEANS: ACNE
SHOES: TJ Maxx
HAT: Preston & York
BAG: Gucci
BRACELETS: TJ Maxx
JINGLE RING: Ina Beissner
PLAIN RING: Ralph Lauren
SUNGLASSES: Tom Ford

Laurie Sermos in her element.  Check out her awesome work on her website: www.lauriesermos.com