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  1. Taking Philadelphia by the heart

    January 26, 2012 by Audrey

    The Heart of PhiladelphiaIt’s no secret that I love Philadelphia. I have spent here the most memorable 8 years of my life. What a ride!

    8 years can feel like a lifetime or like a New York minute. But one thing is sure, I never stopped loving Philly and I will carry that city with me everywhere life takes me. Well, actually, literally.

    See, as I mentioned before, my friends are the best. And they got me the best birthday/anniversary present a girl can ask for: jewelry! But not any kind of jewelry… They got me “The heart of Philadelphia“. A little pendant, designed by Steven Lagos, that carries with it four of the most symbolic Philadelphia monuments. And I’m not referring to the LOVE statue here, I’m talking real deal, old school, beautiful architecture: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Independence Hall, City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art mixed up in a very subtle way in the shape of a heart.

    Add the dog-tag chain to hip it up a little bit and you get yourself the most fashionable, personal and meaningful gift I could have received. Well played A. & D. You’re getting brownie points for this one!

    Category Closet Talks | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

  2. Me Day

    January 23, 2012 by Audrey

    So, as I mentioned in my previous post, yesterday was my birthday. I wanted the celebration to be simple and sophisticated. And it was.

    First, I woke-up to a white Philadelphia. It made me smile. My “Indian name” is Birthday In The Snow… A long story for another post some day.

    Second, I treated myself to a movie: The Artist. And it was a perfect balance of beautiful picture and incredible acting. Just laughed a little bit when I was able to hear Jean Dujardin’s French accent in the only spoken line he has in the entire movie. Cute.

    Third, K. and M. took care of my birthday dinner: some tofu/pineapple/collard greens concoction (M. is vegan) that was a delight for the taste buds. Funny that I actually happen to really like Tofu, and I’m not sure they even knew that.

    Mr. J.J. was in charge of my birthday dessert, Creme Brulee. Second year in a row, I think it’s starting to become a tradition. I’m wondering he’s going to make that happen next year.

    It was a small dinner at home, just 5 of us, and it was wonderful. We cracked open a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, left-over from New Year’s Eve and had conversation about sex, death and nuclear pipes. What’s not to love?

    Next and final pit-stop was at R2L, and its fantastic view of the city. There, a dozen of my friends gathered around a dessert plate (playing second serving with desserts here, don’t tell anyone), gesture of the establishment and their adorable Sales & Marketing Manager.

    I realized several things last night:

    1. I couldn’t have been better surrounded than by the people that were there. They’re the friends that stuck with me through good times and rough patches.

    2. I have a LOT of girl friends… Gentleman, they’re such an amazing group of ladies… It you don’t snag the single ones quick someone else will!

    3. My tolerance to SideCars is highly improved – which I’m grateful for. The day my tolerance for brandy/bourbon/whiskey-based drinks will be directly proportional to my love for them will be a happy day.

    So, here we are, the beginning of another year. It’s going to be a fantastic journey!

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments

  3. The 2012 Wish List

    January 21, 2012 by Audrey

    Today is my birthday!

    On my birthday, I could make “good” wishes: peace, health & happiness for all those around me… And I do. But the thing is, I always do. I don’t wait for Christmas, New Year or my birthday to want everything for my friends and family. So, this year, on my birthday, I decided to be selfish and make a list of what I want for myself… and not the become-a-better-person type of wish. The cost-money, don’t-need-it-just-want-it, type of wish.

    And, you know what, all those things, I don’t expect anyone to get them for me (except maybe the Ouija Board); but if this year or next I can get them for myself… Then that will make me very happy.

    What is on my wish list?

    From the top, clockwise…

    1. A Ouija Board (estimated value: $25)
    Because I can’t find that in France and it would be so much fun to have one for game nights!

    2. A pair of black Christian Louboutin pumps (estimated value: $650)
    It’s a statement.  They’re beautiful. They’re expensive. And I could just rock those shoes!

    3. An iMac desktop (estimated value: $1,500)
    To complete my collection and because it would make a better TV screen than my MacBook Pro. Oh, sure, I could do some serious work on that too…

    4. A trip to Patagonia (estimated value: $4,500)
    If I can only take one more trip in my life, I would like to see Patagonia.

    I’m not a cheap date, I know… But I’m worth it.

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

  4. Post Christmas Candy Canes

    January 16, 2012 by Audrey

    Candy Canes as a Christmas tree ornament is something I discovered when I moved in the U.S. They have not been very popular in France until the past few years. Even now, the “Candy Cane” look & feel might start to rise (see my sister’s Christmas tree on the picture) but the candy itself rarely makes it to the branch.

    I wondered about the idea of using food as an ornament and what happens to those Candy Canes after Christmas is over… Not really something you can nicely box and save for next year. Trash? What a waste! I love the idea of candy canes on my Christmas tree but I want to make sure it recycles in some ways…

    So I did some research. And guess what: it does recycle!

    Among the many ideas offered by Chef Sarah Mentzer on her blog At Home For Dinner, one seem to be a perfect continuation in the everything-red traditions: from Christmas to Valentine’s Day! “For Valentine’s Day, unwrap two mini candy canes and place on a baking sheet in the shape of a hear. Bake at 350 degrees F for a couple of minutes until the stick together. Cool and remove with a spatula. Cute on top of a frosted cupcake if you use the mini candy canes.”

    Many other ideas on her “Cleaning out the Fridge: Leftover Candy Canes” post!

    Do you put real candy canes on your Christmas tree? What do you do with them after Christmas? Please don’t respond “eat them all”…

    Category Eating & Drinking | Tags: , , , | No Comments

  5. Wardrobe on a budget: January 2012

    January 14, 2012 by Audrey

    My style resolution for 2012: build a solid basic wardrobe. All of it, on a budget. January-March, my monthly budget is set at $100. What did I get? Was I able to stay on budget? Answers below…

    Purchase #1: L.L. Bean Rangeley Camp Shirt, Flannel – $39.50
    Bought online – L. L. Bean has a free shipping policy that is very appreciable when trying to stay on a budget.

     

    Purchase #2: Nine West Flax Pumps – $69.00
    Bought at Macy’s, not on sale, but somehow cheaper than the discounted ones on the Nine West website.

    Total for this month: $108.50 – $8.50 over budget… Not too bad…

    Category Closet Talks | Tags: , , , , | No Comments

  6. Ode to Hot Cocoa

    January 10, 2012 by Audrey

    Heaven is for when your soft whipped cream touches my lips
    Opulent is for your rich texture and your spicy flavors
    Tasty are the hints of vanilla and cinnamon

    Crazy is how I feel about you on a cold winter day
    Optimistic is how you make me feel after I drink you
    Captivated by warmth, well being and childhood memories
    Of you deliciousness one more sip I will take
    And close my eyes in happiness.

    Category Eating & Drinking | Tags: , , | No Comments

  7. New Year Greetings

    January 8, 2012 by Audrey

    It is a tradition. All around the world. I can’t blame the culture difference. But somehow, I can’t get on board with sending greeting cards.

    My friend A. sends me one, every year. And every year, I’m happy to find the card in my mailbox. Because, it’s fun to receive mail that is not credit card offers, bills or announcement that yet another friend is getting engaged/married/pregnant. None of those years I sent her one.

    This year, I was prepared, at least on my business level. Thanks to Groupon, I got a set of greeting cards with envelops and cute little labels for return address from Vistaprint for $15. That was a steal. And it allowed me to get everything at once to G. for her to send them while I was in Europe. But on the personal level, that’s another story.

    As a writer, I should be on top of those things. I’m not. I will shamefully admit that I ended-up recycling last year’s generic Holiday cards and replacing “holidays” by “New Year” for a couple people that I felt deserved to receive something back. But most of my greetings I did via social networks, text messages, phone, emails… Not cards.

    As I mentioned in my post The Art of Writing, it is possible that we forgot what pen and paper feel like. But, again, there’s nothing like receiving something hand-written in the mail, so why shouldn’t I give that type of pleasure to the people around me? Plus, I’m a sucker for cool designs and vintage papers. So why not get a little shopping fun out of it!

    It’s only January 8th, I guess it’s still time to add another 2012 objective, a “2.b.”: write more cards!

    Category Lifestyle | Tags: , , , | No Comments

  8. Fitting like a glove

    January 5, 2012 by Audrey

    I don’t care what all the fashion editors are saying. Well, ok, I do… A little… Or else I wouldn’t be reading all those fashion magazines. But I don’t care… too much. Fashion magazines are for inspiration. My goal is to never forget that we do not live in a photo shoot, running around in 5-inch heels all day and having perfect hair flowing in the wind. We do not have $3,000 to spend on a dress or a fantastic necklace – well, I know I don’t. We (unfortunately) live in a strange place called Reality.

    Welcome to my Reality.

    In my Reality, today was (apparently) the coldest day of the year; which sounds promising since we’re only January 4th. If we can put that behind ourselves so early, I’m starting to like this Reality!

    So, my Reality is cold. Frozen fingers cold. And there’s nothing better on a cold, cold, day than a nice pair of gloves. I don’t know you, but if my hands are warm, it feels like my body is picking up degrees by the minute. So, I would like to declare Gloves the accessory of the season!

    I adore those Kenneth Cole gloves that I bought for cheap, a couple years ago, in an outlet. I love their dark burgundy color that complements any of my coats better than a harsh black, and that doesn’t get dirty as quick as a fragile beige. I love their cozy lining. And more than anything, I love that they’re keeping me warm head to fingers – yeah, I still have some work to do on the toes area – even on the coldest day of the year.

    And because Reality cold bites, I thought I deserved to finished the bottle of Prosecco that my friend G. left on New Year’s Eve. Plus it looked very chic on the picture, don’t you think.

    Cheers to more cold days ahead!

    Category Closet Talks | Tags: , , | No Comments

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