A Gorgeous Dress

Did any of you check out the red carpet fashions from the CMAs tonight? When I went to People.com for my daily dose of celebrity gossip, my eye was immediately drawn to this photo of Carrie Underwood. She is donning one of my absolute favorite colors! However, I'm a little unsure how I feel about the appliques on her hips. Do you think they add or detract from her overall look?

Carrie Underwood is unquestionably one of my style icons because she consistently dresses in an age appropriate, sophisticated manner. She pulls it all together effortlessly. I'd love to borrow her stylist for a day sometime! Maybe I can add that to my list of things to do if I ever win Mega Millions :-) In case you're wondering, I'm not a fan of country music at all, but I'll take beautiful dresses anytime.

Frugal Fashionista Tips

Hi bloggies! Sorry I haven't been posting much of substance lately. The bar exam grades are due in less than two weeks and I'm a tad behind due to my sickness last week. All work and no play for me lately, but I have lots of blog ideas drafted in the queue awaiting my attention. 

This made me laugh

In the meantime, here's a cute piece I saw about which points out five ways to dress like you have money even if you don't. We all like to save some hard earned cash and look fabulous at the same time, right? Check it out!

Shopapalooza!

We had absolutely gorgeous weather for early March in the northeast on Friday (sunny/mid-50s) and it gave me the urge to shop. I had all I could do to keep myself from staring out the office window all afternoon! Since Jim was already sick with a nasty cold, I decided I would head to the Premium Outlets in Lee, Massachusetts for the evening.  While I prefer Woodbury Common downstate and the Manchester Designer Outlets in Vermont, Lee is only a 30 minute drive from my house and, thus, an
easy trip on a week night.

I'm sure glad I had the shopping bug because the Banana Republic Factory Store was having a major sale (40% off, plus an additional 20% on top of that). I scored some amazing stuff for less than $200: navy dress pants, tan yoga pants, gray sweater, purple sweater, berry blouse, pink sundress, brown belt, silver belt, three necklaces (2 silver and 1 gold), silver bracelet, sunglasses and a gift for Julie (not shown here):

Do you like shopping at the outlets? What is your favorite store?

I Heart This Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  St. Valentine's Day was first celebrated in 496 A.D. and remained on the Roman calendar of saints until 1969 when Pope Paul VI removed it.  What was he thinking? 

Nevertheless, Valentine's Day still remains quite popular and is the second largest card-selling holiday behind Christmas.  Every year I think back to the milk carton mailboxes in elementary school and the sheer joy I experienced ripping open all of the envelopes and reading the cards from my friends.  Of course, the manner in which I celebrate the holiday has changed over the years.

On Sunday the 13th, I made Jim a batch of white chocolate cherry shortbread cookies that I read about on another blog.  Even though they were preparation and time intense, Jim absolutely loved them and it made all of my hard work worth it.  They were so good, in fact, that they made it into my favorite recipes binder!  I plan to make them again during the holiday season because I love the festive coloring. 

White chocolate cherry shortbread cookies

Initially, I had the most difficult time figuring out what to buy him until I stumbled across a gift basket filled with "man foods."  However, I decided that there was no need to pay some internet company to assemble and ship a basket.  So, over the past few weekends, I began collecting the "fillers" at Putnam Market, Saratoga Salsa & Spice and Target.  I also owe Julie my gratitude for scouring the Broadway strip in Saratoga with me on a cold January afternoon.

When we got home for work, I presented Jim his presents.  The finished product contained beef jerky, pepperoni, peanuts, salsa, summer sausage, wing dip, chili con queso dip, dipping pretzels, Peeps, sour gummy Sweet Tarts, sour gummy lips, Peeps chocolate hearts and a Whitman's sampler.  I also added tickets to the Second Annual Mac and Cheese Bowl, which is sponsored by the Times Union/Regional Food Bank and being held this Saturday. There are 30 restaurants participating this year, so I can't even imagine how full we'll be afterward. It will definitely be fodder for a future blog post.

Jim's Valentine's presents

My presents

As for me, Jim had these lovely roses waiting along with some chocolate, pink candy corn and my favorite perfume in the world, Hypnotic Poison by Dior. It reminds me of the tropics - the most subtle, perfect combination of vanilla and almond. According to Sephora, it's an intoxicating blend of bitter almond, caraway spice, sambac jasmin, cinnamon, tuberose, vanilla, musk, mosses and jucarunda wood. In short, I adore it and have received many compliments on my
scent when wearing it.

How did you celebrate Valentine's Day?  Do you have a favorite fragrance or cologne?

What a difference a year makes!

    As many of you know, today is our first wedding anniversary! The year has absolutely flown by, but I guess when you sign a contract to build a house within weeks of returning from your honeymoon that will happen. We've finally finished our honeymoon album, but have yet to finish writing notes next to the pictures. My goal was to have the entire process completed by our first anniversary...oops! Here's one of my favorite images from just after the ceremony:

     Jim and I had hoped to celebrate our first anniversary in Maui with dinner at Plantation House in Kapalua, but were too nervous to book a major trip around the time we closed on the house. Luckily, our January 2011 property taxes only considered the value of the land! Even better, we found out that our bill was paid by our attorney because a certain amount of money was escrowed at the closing for that purpose! Double BONUS!!! Within days, Jim and I booked a second honeymoon to
Maui and a first trip to Kauai. We are VERY
excited and I've already begun counting down
the days until April 6th!

    Since I have to fast for a physical and bloodwork tomorrow, Jim and I decided to postpone our anniversary dinner until tomorrow night. I didn't want my wine and dessert intake to throw off the results. We're going to McGuire's, which is certainly in the running for the best restaurant in Albany. Nevetheless, I haven't been there since my third year of law school and Jim has never been there. We must be crazy! 

     Just because we didn't go out to dinner doesn't mean that we didn't exchange gifts. Oh no, I would never let that happen :-) In keeping with the paper tradition for the first anniversary, Jim got me a gift certificate to Complexions for a massage, which I desperately need, and the most perfect satchel from Coach. I had given him examples of ones I liked around Christmas time and this is even better than I imagined. I could smell the leather as I was opening the gift bag and couldn't contain my happiness.  And, it's purple (my favorite color), which means it can go with anything...woohoo. There's just something about purses and shoes that I adore...can never have enough! Now I've got a walk-in closet that can hold them all. 

My precious new bag

    As for Jim, I bought him a gift certificate to the indoor golf simulator, so he can prepare for the  courses in Hawaii during this cold, snowy weather, and a cherry cabinet/display case that holds 30 golf balls. He's been collecting them from the nice courses he's played at over the years and I thought this would be a perfect way to show them off, not to mention that it gives us some incentive to purchase new study furniture and get that room organized.

    What is the best restaurant in your hometown? Do you go there often?

Do Women Really Start Going Downhill at 35?

    I stumbled upon a disturbing article earlier this week regarding a Japanese study, which indicates that at age 35.09 women start "rapidly maturing." This is particularly scary to me as I'm on the brink of my 31st birthday. Do I really only have 4 more years left before I start going downhill? I sure hope not. 

   It's worth mentioning that the study was conducted by a skincare company in conjunction with a research university, so the results could certainly be skewed to achieve their goal of selling anti-aging products to a larger population. Cha-ching! 

   Over the past couple of years, I have noticed a few lines here and there, but otherwise I think I pretty much look the same as I did at 25. If anything, I've been more careful about my skin since my late 20s than I ever was before by wearing a tinted moisturizer each day with SPF 15 and protecting my face with a hat when I'm on the beach. 

     I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the idea of aging gracefully and I realize that diet/exercise can only take you so far. This article made nervous that I'll have to consider the merits of botox, restylane and/or other products earlier than I'd hoped. 

   How do you feel about aging? Would you go the injection or plastic surgery route to keep that youthful glow?

A New Trend?

Asscher-cut stone

      Once I discovered decided our engagement was imminent, I began a quest for a unique, yet elegant engagement ring.  After an extensive search, I finally found the Asscher-cut and absolutely fell in love with it. This origination of Asscher-cut diamonds can be traced back to the 19th century, but they didn't become popular until the 1920s -- one of my favorite eras! Many people think of it as an art-deco piece of jewelry, but I don't think it has to be because there are so many options with side stones and pave diamonds these days.

     As you can see from the picture, an Asscher-cut diamond is a uniquely shaped square, which resembles an octagon, but has cut edges. The second (and, I  think most beautiful) quality is the "hall of mirrors" effect when you peer deeply into the stone.  Some jewelers also call it a "square emerald."  Production of Asscher-cut diamonds was severely cut during the Great Depression and they are only now starting to regain prominence. 

The ring we used to design mine

    I eventually stumbled upon "my" ring (Asscher-cut center stone, two trapezoid side stones and two baguette side stones) on the internet, printed a picture and decided we had to replicate it with a local jeweler. It had exactly the timeless, vintage, sophisticated feel I was hoping for. After working with a jeweler for MANY months, Jim completely surprised me one night after work in August 2009 with a bouquet of roses in the backyard. Of course, once I picked up the roses, the ring was hidden underneath. It was a really special moment and  Jim even thought ahead to make sure Buster was there to 

witness the whole event. I'll never forget it!

    Fast forward about a year to when Chelsea Clinton became engaged and began sporting an Asscher-cut diamond. Then, last month, I was catching up on celebrity gossip when I saw that Nick Lachey proposed to Vanessa Minnillo with an Asscher-cut diamond flanked with trapezoids!!! I later found out that Jessica Alba and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz rock Asscher-cut engagement rings too! I just hope that they don't become too popular :-)

Christmas Time in New York

     Last Saturday, Julie and I woke up at 4AM and headed to the city for a 9AM show at Radio City Music Hall, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (or as I used to call it "the Rockettes").  We arrived at the bus departure point about 15 minutes early, yet we were the second to last group to board. This meant that Julie and I had to sit separately and several rows apart...definitely a bummer! We managed to keep in touch via text most of the trip :)

     We arrived at Bryant Park at about 8:30 and headed a few short blocks up to Radio City Music Hall to wait in line and pass through security for our show. I'd never been inside the building and it was absolutely gorgeous. I love old time theaters like these, including the Palace in Albany. There was such glitz and glamour during that era.

Gorgeous interior!

     We quickly found our seats and were in store for an amazing show. My favorite scenes were the Sleigh Ride, Nutcracker, and Living Nativity. The costumes during the Living Nativity were so bright and vibrant. I also kept wondering where the camel and donkey are kept off stage! 

Sleigh Ride scene

Living Nativity scene

Nutcracker scene

Julie and I at the Plaza Hotel

    At the end of the show, doors on all sides of the music hall rushed open and we were hurried out because people were already trickling in for the 11AM performance. Julie and I still had about six more hours to see the sights and shop before we had to head to the bus. After a brief stop at a street vendor to buy me a scarf (it was freezing),  we headed toward the southern end of Central Park in hopes of avoiding a line at FAO Schwartz...no such luck. Even at 10AM, the line wrapped all the way around the building. We quickly regrouped and decided it was time for a capuccino and the Plaza Hotel was beckoning. We found a cute cafe adjacent to a koi pond and warmed up a bit.

Koi pond at the Plaza Hotel

    After leaving the Plaza Hotel, we decided that Fifth Ave was already too busy with tourists, so we went one street over to Madison Ave and instantly felt like we were in the city on a typical day. We spent a lot of time Christmas shopping in Crate and Barrel...if the corporate execs would only build one in Albany? I like it SO much more than Pottery Barn or Pier 1. We also spent a bunch of time trying on silly $400 hats at Barney's. Somehow Julie managed to rock the look, whereas the pics of me are too pitiful to post on the blog:

Doesn't she look like a Russian diva?

Cartier

Bergdorf Goodman

      

     We kept walking and enjoying the sights as we headed to lunch at Southern Hospitality (Justin Timberlake's restaurant and bar) between 76th and 77th Streets. Julie works with the restaurant manager's father and suggested we go there.  On the way we found this art gallery on Madison Ave:

     After a fantastic lunch, we headed down Park Avenue for a bit before going back to Central Park. After a couple more hours of shopping, we rushed to Macy's and wrapped the day up there. It was a really fun day and we're already planning another trip in March when it won't be as hectic!

View of Macy's from Herald Square

Fall Favorites

1. Watching the leaves change into a beautiful array of color - red is my favorite!

2. Crisp cool air and relief from the humidity

3. Apple picking with Jim at Indian Ladder Farms and then baking apple pie

4. Warm sweaters and layering

5. Breaking out the Uggs and my cozy North Face vest

6. Decorating for Halloween

7. Holidays off from work (Columbus Day, Election Day, Veteran's Day)

8. Shopping at the Manchester Designer Outlets - Banana Republic always does serious damage to my credit card


9. Watching the Great Pumpkin Peanuts episode

10. Football



What are your fall favorites?

Less than a month to go!

As I type this post, there are numerous "to do" lists scattered around the house and I cannot believe that we leave for Hawaii less than a month! It seems surreal and I don't think it will fully hit me until we are driving to the airport at 3AM on February 4th that Jim and I really are getting married in a few days.

My exact dress: Pronovias Reyes

In addition to tying up all the loose ends for our honeymoon (getting a rental car for the Big Island, purchasing our snorkel excursions, booking golf teetimes), not to mention updating all of our legal documents to reflect our new status as husband and wife (eek!), I am trying my dress on at Something Bleu for the first time today!!! I cannot wait and am keeping my fingers crossed that my measurements from July stayed the same. I must admit I'm a little nervous after indulging during the holidays. I'm also super excited to try on some accessories.

Last time I was at the boutique, I picked out these gorgeous earrings by a London designer and there are also corresponding hair pins. (I want my hair to look something like the pic on the left.) I don't think I'm going to wear a necklace because I want the neckline of the dress to stand out, but a bracelet and earrings are a must. I also have to figure out what type of lingerie to wear on the wedding day, plus I haven't decided if I am going to buy a garter or not.

I've been wracking my brain trying to think of something old, something borrowed and something blue...the new could be the dress or the shoes. I think I could incorporate blue on my lingerie, but otherwise I have no ideas...I'll have to talk to some friends to get some ideas.