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: , food, winter | No Comments
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: , Holiday, shopping, writing | No Comments
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: , accessories, fashion | No Comments
January 1, 2012 by Audrey
A few years ago, I decided not to no longer make new year resolutions, but instead to look at the new year with goals & objectives in mind. If you start to know me a little, you’ll know that it means I was writing lists: wish lists, to-do lists, set lists, check lists, grocery lists… I can’t help it. I love lists. So to kick off 2012 with something I really like, here’s my “things-I-want-to-do-this-year” list!
1. Read more
In 2011 I read 3 books. For someone who graduated in Languages & Literature, it’s a very shameful thing to admit. The funny thing is, I took me about eight months to read the first one, and I read two in the last quarter. I even found the time to write something up about that second one, Anatomy of a disappearance. The fact is: I love words. After reading those last two books and starting a third one, I think I realized how much I missed reading. So yes, 2012 will be the year of the book reading… and who knows, maybe 2013 will be the year of the book writing.
2. Write more
Dear readers – I have a plan. I have made many many lists about that blog. You’re stuck with me for a while. Love, Audrey.
3. Let go
“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” – Raymond Lindquist. I have a feeling I’m going to do plenty of that in 2012.
4. Keep on moving
When I traveled to Europe last month I didn’t do anything. My neck started hurting. My hip started hurting again. I, miserably, tried to workout in my grandmother’s basement a couple times; it was not enough. I still felt like a huge slug. Not a good feeling. It might take more lists, but I’m telling you, I’m not making that mistake again.
5. Keep on going
Guess who’s going to start packing on frequent flyers miles again… Of course, I have a list. Several lists of countries/cities/places I want to visit. And this time, I’m not letting anyone or anything be in my way. I’m free at last and I plan on making the most out of it.
6. Call a place home
It might be last on my list, but it’s first in my heart. It is very unsettling to realize you are a SDF – Sans Domicile Fixe – a homeless. I have a roof over my head, but it’s not my roof. It’s K’s roof. I want a place of my own. I want a place to call home. It will be warm and cosy in the winter, and open and airy in the summer; and there will always be an open couch for my friends to surf on. It will be my landing zone, my headquarter, my retreat.
2012, you and I have some work to do. How about we get started?
Category Lifestyle | Tags: , books, fitness, home, lists, travels, writing | No Comments
December 31, 2011 by Audrey
It was very hard to find one picture to summarize an entire year. So I decided to pick the one that represents the highest values that I encountered in 2011: friendship, support, hunger for life, positive thinking.
The bright smile in the pink dress, in the center, is my friend V. Before going to Vegas in September I only knew one of the other women. They came from California, Georgia, Texas, Arizona… All we had in common was love (so much love) for our friend V.
Since those happy few days in Sin City, V.’s healing mission has encountered a few bumps in the road. But what she created by bringing those 17 women together is one of the strongest, most genuine, and generous bunch I ever encountered. We nicknamed ourselves the Ocean 17, and over the past month or so, we have been communicating daily, sharing information, supporting each other, gathering forces to support V. as things became scary and difficult.
Of course, 2011 came with its share of ups and downs; new friends and lost friends, new ventures and monotonous days, love and tears… For me, it ends with an open heart and the promise of new beginnings; but most importantly it will remain the year that I witnessed what love and friendship can do, and I’m immensely grateful to be able to be part of that.
With that being said, tonight I will raise my glass of champagne to V. and I will wish that everyone, one day, meet someone as fantastic as her.
Aloha Power to all and Happy New Year!
Category Lifestyle | Tags: , friendship | 3 Comments
December 23, 2011 by Audrey
France. Sweet France. Christmas with the family and my young nephews; 2 and 4 1/2 years old. Of course, as soon as I arrived I was the dedicated baby-sitter… Except that, well, I’m not much of a baby-sitter and I don’t know what to do with 2 little boys. So, going against my mother’s advice, I decided to start a cookies making workshop for M. Bought cookie cutters in all different shapes and food coloring… For the rest, I left it to the Internet and its fabulous collection of recipes.
I decided on the following: Sugar Cookies from Delish.com and the Ornamental Frosting from TLC. It was not as easy as I thought it would be to find something easy that didn’t involve crazy ingredients (like meringue powder) or that meant another trip to the store and I was not in the mood.
Day 1: Baking
I guess it’s when you’re making them yourself that you realize that cookies are pretty much simply and obnoxious amount of butter and sugar… Playing with the dough was fun and M. enjoyed all the shapes of cookie cutters. We decided to go with a star, a shooting star, a Christmas tree and what we think is an angel. According to my sister one of the shape we didn’t use was actually a Santa… Oh well, guess our imagination was limited on this one…
It took me a couple of batches to find the right thickness, the right over temperature and mode. At the end of Day 1, we had 3 dozen cookies that were acceptable enough to be decorated. And I was exhausted!
Day 2: Decorating
It’s a actually a good thing that M. was not here today to play with the food coloring. I discovered something: food coloring COLORS… everything… starting with my fingers. Ok, well, I’m not the best artist when it comes to playing with colors. So I called for help… MOM!!! Thank god, my mother is the painter of the family and she ended-up having fun with it, which was not a guaranteed win when you know how much she dislikes baking. It took us about an hour. I applied the large first layer, and armed with a syringe, she did the extra stuff. It still doesn’t looking anywhere professional but for a first time (for both of us) I think we did ok. My grandmother was really happy (with all the sugar – because yes, frosting is nothing more than more butter and more sugar) that we were going to have homemade cookies and that made my day.
Now, I’ll have to try some but believe me when I tell you that I’m SERIOUSLY looking forward to get back on the treadmill after the Holidays! If you know any good recipes, whether it’s for the cookies or for a lighter version of frosting (and maybe less grainy too, smoother), please shoot them my way, I might give them a shot for Easter!
Category Eating & Drinking | Tags: , Christmas, family, food, Holiday | No Comments
December 7, 2011 by Audrey
We are all wondering how certain girls do it. Do what? Look pretty and put together in every occasion, every day, every minute. Well, I know I do. So I asked my friend, Dana Persia, the owner of Beautiful Brides Philly. Dana is not only a professional stylist, skincare expert and makeup artist, she is a seasoned businesswoman. And she does it all!
When did you know a career in beauty was for you?
When after spending over 20 years in the corporate arena, I realized that I wasn’t living my “authentic self” and doing what I was passionate about. In 2006, I decided to launch my business and never looked back.
Today’s woman is busier than ever. What is the easiest/quickest way to turn a day/work look into something that works for night out?
I call it “adding and subtracting.” While it may require a little planning ahead, packing a few things into your tote bag before heading to the office can keep you going on through the night. Try a glittery clutch bag, red platform heels or a pair of great dangling earrings. Try replacing the tailored blazer with a black sequined cardigan. As for makeup, try a smokey eye with a nude, shimmery lipgloss or if all else fails, break out the red lipstick!
What are your favorite Fall/Winter 2011 beauty trends?
I absolutely LOVE all the leggings and tunics. The trick is to stick with black or dark gray for the bottom half for the most flattering silouette. Tunics can be belted or not–just find the cut and style that works best for your body type. Top the look off with your favorite pair of knee-high boots or booties.
Some trends can feel a bit out-there for the average woman. What are some comfort-zone-friendly ways to rock the latest trends?
So back to our tunics and leggings. What looks great on a woman who is 5″9, 120 pounds may not look the same on someone like myself who is 5’4″ and has, well, let’s say a more curvy figure. For those of us not built like a fashion model or who are over the age of 30, the trick is to find tunics that cover the bottom and come to almost mid-thigh. Stay away from loud bold prints choosing solids like plum, peacock blue and deep red. Pair with high-heeled boots for optimum lengthening and height.
What three makeup item should no woman leave home without?
1) A great concealer. Find one that works with your skin type as some may be too dry, showing fine lines and wrinkles or too oily causing creasing and making eye makeup run; 2) a lipstick or lipgloss in a color that you can wear on any average day (pump it up a few shades for evening wear); and 3) a decent set of makeup brushes (eyes, face, foundation, etc.), as it makes a huge difference in the application.
If those words of advice triggered any more questions, feel free to put them in the comment section and I’ll make sure to ask Dana. And for all the brides to be, make sure to Like Beautiful Brides Philly’s Facebook Page or to follow Dana on Twitter @BridesPhilly.
Category Looking pretty | Tags: , fashion, makeup | No Comments
December 3, 2011 by Audrey
Weeks before Christmas: 3
Gifts purchased & wrapped: 2
Idea ready to be purchased: 1
Excuse for not doing a better job so far: 1
(since I’m going to be in France in December, it would be ridiculous to purchase things here and transport them overseas. Better off purchasing gifts once I get there, right?)
The brilliant ideas that I can share with you are the following:
iPhoto offers a really fun tool that allows you to order prints, or put your favorite shots on books, cards & calendars. I went for a more subdued version and simply got a print of one of my favorite shot with the person who the gift is for. I put it in a shabby-chic frame (inspired by Anthropologie, purchased much cheaper on Amazon) et voila! A very personal gift that comes from the heart and will bring back fun memories. Thank you G. for the inspiration.
My second gift was totally stolen from one of my favorite blogger: Here Comes Gina. She was singing the praises of a series of cute bowls found at WestElm and when I saw the picture, I knew they would be perfect for my friend A.
Brilliant idea number 3: how to conveniently avoid having to think about gifts for at least a couple years (Christmas and birthday included)? The answer: the TV series on DVD. I got my mom the 1st season of Mad Men for her birthday in May. She liked it a lot. Guess who’s getting Season 2 for Christmas?
Disclaimer: I have several friends whose name start with the letter A (don’t try to snoop around ladies); and my mom doesn’t read my blog.
Category Lifestyle, Shopping | Tags: , family, Holiday, shopping | No Comments