Golden Girls

Shall we get this blog going again with a little fashion talk?  Red carpet season is back!  I haven't seen most of the movies/shows that won the Golden Globes this year, but who cares?  It's about the fashion.  And about Tina and Amy, who killed it.  Again.  This year I'm picking my faves in categories.  And the winners are...

Best Metallic:  Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad

Best "Different" Look:  Julia Roberts in Dolce & Gabbana

Best Asymmetry:  Amy Poehler in Stella McCartney
Honorable Mention:  Michelle Dockery in Oscar de la Renta

Best Pop of Color:  Margot Robbie in Gucci

Best Necklace:  Jessica Chastain in Bvlgari

Best Baby Bump:  Olivia Wilde in Gucci

Best Black:  Cate Blanchett in Giorgio Armani
Honorable Mention:  Julianna Margulies in Andrew Gn

Best Red:  Lupita Nyong'O in Ralph Lauren

Saviors for Fat Days

In the past few years, I've found that my preferences for the way my clothes are cut completely changed.  I used to lean towards loose-fitting pants with relatively more fitted tops.  Now, as my curves keep expanding, I can't live without fitted pants (or leggings) paired with flowy or boxy tops.  The challenge is finding those great bottoms that suck everything in and hold it all in place without creating a muffin top or other unfortunate phenomena.

Enter two of my newest faves, both coincidentally purchased because they were on super sale online and allowed me to get free shipping on the other random things I was ordering.

Hue "Skimmer" Leggings.  I refuse to refer to them as jeggings, but they do look exactly like skinny jeans.  They're comfy, have actual back pockets, and will be great with boots since they don't do that weird baggy thing at the knees like some denim does.  A stealth way to wear leggings without looking like you're wearing leggings.

Note:  I'm uber short, so these are actually the perfect ankle-length on me and not pedal-pushers.  

Athleta Quickstep Capri II.  I have the previous version of these, but I assume they're the same.  Ah, the compression.  They feel secure without feeling tight, and they haven't lost their elasticity like some of my Old Navy pants have.  Plus, whoever figured out that adding random seams down the sides will make your legs appear shapely is a genius.  Next time they go on sale, I'm stocking up.

If anyone else has must-haves for fat days, I'm all ears!

N's Favorite Traditions

I liked this idea so I'm listing mine now. :) This year will be about establishing new traditions since some of my old ones aren't possible, but I'm excited about trying to combine them all in the future.

1. Thanksgiving: This is my fave holiday because it revolves completely around relaxing and eating with family and friends. Normally, my family and our extended pseudo-family chooses a city and gets together for an Indian/American/vegetarian/non-vegetarian feast. Sometimes it ends up being 20 people from ages 2-65, and we spend the weekend shopping and playing games.
2. Santa Bash: For the past few years, Ms. M and I have set aside a full day in December to cook a big brunch, drink champagne, play Scrabble, and watch Christmas movies by the fire. I think I can convince R and G$ to join me this year, with some minor modifications. :)
3. Christmas: Throughout high school and college, R and Ree and I would go see a movie every year on Christmas day. We've tried to continue this tradition ever since, with whoever happens to be together that day.

Mildly Obsessed...

...with Pinterest. It's like food for the eyes. This week, it's entertaining me even more than facebook. There's something pathetically gratifying about people repinning things that I've pinned.

Anyone need an invite?

Like A Chanel Suit

Love this: 50 Reasons to Love George Clooney at 50

N's Friday Food Porn

As a follow-up to R's post yesterday, I must say that if I won the lottery I would try to build up my creative side (a big task, mind you) and be a professional food blogger. In the meantime, I'll live vicariously. I love, love looking at great photos of great foods that just make me want to reach into the monitor and gobble them up.

So today, I give you comfort food for the cold weather:

Brazilian Black Bean and Smoked Tofu Stew with Chipotle Cornbread

Have a Jolly Holiday!

I don't really celebrate Christmas in a huge way, but I'm such a sucker for the holiday and everything leading up to it. I mean, I was seriously annoyed when I got a white cup at Starbucks yesterday instead of a red one.

I would love to keep track of Santa's travels here, have a party with a table like this:

and spend weeks wrapping presents like this:

So while I'm off to see this for the first time ever:

and then to enjoy this with R:

I'll be taking a break from this Reverb 10 thing and then catching up on ALL of them. Have a fabulous, food-filled, fun-filled, and booze-filled couple of weeks!

The New 20

I decided to approach my 30th birthday with excitement about seeing all of my girls rather than being bummed about leaving another decade behind. I can't even imagine how much thinking and emailing and organizing and creating went into planning the weekend - and how on earth they all (especially R, since we generally share updates on our lives like a CNN news ticker) were able to keep it a secret!

Friday: Got R from the airport and bummed around drinking chai. Went for a walk, got R to play personal shopper and find me a birthday dress, did lunch and then Tinis and Toes (P.S. check out the names of their waxing services if you visit that site)! L-Woww and J-Ho arrived. Managed to catch up on all the gossip that all 4 of us had with all of us talking simultaneously. Donned our rockstar attire, got Ree from the airport, and toasted with Ms. M and Ms. K. Read the fabulous book presented to me with pictures and messages from everyone I could possibly think of. Dined at Shaba Shabu. Went to a karaoke bar (to knock that off the list) and learned that we were not only the coolest people there but also "unattainable" women. ;) Vogued as a group, Joyrided alone, and cheered R along as she took her Journey. Slumber partied at home with Love Actually.

Saturday: Opened a suitcase chock full of presents from Ree and C. Donned my tiara and brunched in our PJ's with the mimosas and cake that Ms. M and Ms. K brought over. Changed into our matching t-shirts, complete with a poem on the back - yes, they even ordered shirts to commemorate the weekend! Walked to the grocery store for more snackage. Dressed up all girly and went to afternoon tea at The Umstead. Bought matching PJ pants and wore them at home before getting dolled up again. Binged on truffle mac 'n cheese, truffle fries, fondue, risotto, and pina colada and mocha cupcakes at Solas. Made some friends at the rooftop bar who bought us endless bottles of bubbly. Bought a drink for a large car salesman (another one off the list) who ended up being escorted out. Oops. Went home to devour frozen tater tots and pizza because we're classy like that.

Sunday: Said a sad goodbye to J-Ho. Brunched at NOFO. Said a sad goodbye to L-Woww. Took R and Ree to the mall, where we picked up free Sephora birthday gifts and amused ourselves with Desi(red) shirts. Said a sad goodbye to Ree. Searched for food with R (because we can never find what we want). Ate Thai and fell asleep watching the best episode of SATC ever.

Monday: Gossiped over chai and found out R's flight was canceled. Took the afternoon off to shop and get drinks at Mez. Lost track of time and got to the airport a leeetle too late. Oops. Decided that excitement over another few hours of RoNi time outweighed guilt over making R miss her flight. Watched 90210 until time to go to the airport yet again. Said a sad goodbye to R. Went home to sip on leftover champagne while re-reading my book and cards and playing with my presents.

Hair Stuff

Some recently discovered hair products that are now my staples:

Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk: for touchups or easy hair days

Rusk Wired: for use before heat treating or in frizz-inducing weather

Redken Wool Shake: for curly/wavy hair days to get texture without stickiness

Opa!

My trip to Athens and Santorini in photos:

Blog Shout Out

In the spirit of the random "5 Happy Things" we sometimes post, here's a good blog to follow: The Top 1000

Thanks Re!

More Cute Stuff

5 Reasons I Heart Spring

My turn!

5. The pear trees blooming on my drive in to work

4. Dresses!

3. The ability to go outside without bracing yourself for the cold first

2. Dining alfresco, preferably in front of this:

1. The smile that you just can't fight when you're out in the sunshine