Happy New Year!

I hope all of you have a wonderful--and safe--New Year's Eve.  We are heading away for the weekend and, after the wonderful chaos of Christmas, some fun (and sleep!) are very welcome.

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2010, filled to the brim with love, laughter, and luck!

I am always terrible with resolutions, yet I can't help but want to strive for what William Ellery Channing recommends:

"I will seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion.

I will seek to be worthy more than respectable, wealthy and not rich.

I will study hard, think quietly, talk gently, and act frankly.

I will listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart.

I will bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely, await occasions and hurry never.

In a word I will let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common."

Happy New Year! Buon Anno!

I Like Your Style: Margherita Missoni

I think Margherita Missoni is gorgeous and always looks so great.

 

Photos:  InStyle, Style.Com, FabSugar

Alla Prossima

And The Awards Go To...

I can't thank Dawn at Alternative Bride enough for this amazing blogger award.  If you haven't visited her blog yet I suggest you do ASAP - she's all kinds of awesome!

Now I've been advised to answer the questions below with one word (harder than it might seem!) and pass this award on to six other fab bloggers (also harder than it might seem - there are so many great blogs out there!)  Thanks again Dawn!!

1. Where is your cell phone?  Desk

2. Your hair? Down

3. Your mother? Strong

4. Your father? Amazing

5. Your favorite food? Nutella

6. Your dream last night? None

7. Your favorite drink? Coffee

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in?  Office

10. Your hobby? Reading

11. Your fear? Snakes

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Nexttomyhusband

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something you aren't? Selfish

15. Muffins? Chocolate

16. Wish list item? Designerbag

17. Where did you grow up? Toronto

18. Last thing you did? Worked

19. What are you wearing? Grey

20. Your TV? Flat

21. Your pets? None :(

22. Your friends? Inspirational

23. Your life? Good

24. Your mood? Tired

25. Missing someone? Yes

26. Vehicle? Rav4

27. Something you're not wearing? Earrings

28. Your favorite store? Can'tpickjustone

29. Your favorite color? Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Sunday

32. Your best friend? Husband (M)

33. One place that I go over and over? Parents'

34. One person who emails me regularly? L

35. Favorite place to eat? Mom's


And I'd like to pass on this award to...


A Life More Fabulous


Jaime @ Doxa Home


Journeys of Mangonett


Lauren @ Pure Style Home (who just became a mommy for the second time -- big congrats!!!)


Spanky* @ Spanky Luvs It* 


The Beauty File (she also has a great birthday giveaway going on right now, you should check it out!)

Magical Silver

I figured with New Year's Eve upon us a post featuring glittering, lovely dresses would be appropriate.  Dreamy.

All runway photos from www.style.com
All other photos from www.weheartit.com

Alla Prossima

Gorgeous George

Over my little Christmas break I got the chance to see Jason Reitman's Up In The Air.  I wasn't sure what to expect, it seems that anything overhyped will invariably let you down and the reviews for this movie have been pretty great.  I wasn't disappointed.

Full disclosure:  I've been in love with George Clooney since, oh, about the age of 7, so I might be a tad biased.  Still, George love aside, I thought the movie was entertaining and certainly topical considering the current economy.  The film is funny and has a lot to say about the need for human connection.

I'm not exactly a movie buff, but I know what I like and I was entertained by this movie.  George's character Ryan Bingham spends most of his life on the road in his role as a corporate downsizing expert, doing the occasional speaking engagement where he urges others to unload their metaphorical life backpacks of the connections and responsibilities that they've accumulated.  I think it says something about Clooney that he can make such a character both relatable and pretty likable. I also thought that Anna Kendricks was really great as the uptight young efficiency expert who (lucky her!) gets to head into the open skies with Clooney.  

{I thought some gratuitous Clooney would be just the thing to brighten up a cold winter day}

Have you seen Up In The Air?  What are your thoughts?

Alla Prossima

Beautiful Home

Carlo Mollino's home in Torino, as seen in Elle Decor France.

Esprit murano glass light fixture by Venini

Tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen

Alla Prossima

Book of the Week: A Vintage Affair

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday!  My book this crazy week is A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff.

Phoebe Swift is a woman dealing with a career change (from vintage clothing expert at Sotheby’s to proprietor of her own vintage shop), recently divorced parents, a broken engagement, and guilt and sadness over her best friend’s death. To me this wasn't your usual formulaic chick lit book, because the novel is really about Phoebe moving on from an event in her life that has left her devastated and unable to want any real happiness for herself. And, yes, there is romance but its not the main focus of the story.

When Phoebe is contacted by an old woman looking to clean out her closets she meets Thérèse Bell and an interesting parallel storyline begins to develop. Thérèse is a woman nearing the end of her life who has also not fully dealt with the pain and guilt over losing a friend. Travelling back to World War II France with Thérèse helps Phoebe deal with her own demons and I think the older woman’s story adds a nice element to the tapestry of the novel.

"When you buy a piece of vintage clothing
you're not just buying fabric and thread --

you're buying a piece of someone's past."

- A Vintage Affair

I also loved how the vintage pieces were almost like characters of their own in the story. Like a series of “cupcake dresses” – bright American prom dresses from the 50s that Phoebe hangs on her shop walls like art – and the new women they are meant for.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Vintage Affair and taking the journey with Phoebe from death back to life.

4 out of 5

Alla Prossima

Holiday Wishes

As my first month of blogging comes to a close I would like to thank you all for your help and kind comments.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold,

everything is softer and more beautiful." - Normal Vincent Peale

weheartit.com

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Alla Prossima

Street Chic

I think this outfit is so great -- boots from Top Shop, dress from H&M and jacket from Zara.

And I'm in love with the vintage bag!

via Stockholm Street Style

Alla Prossima

Sex and the City 2 - Trailer

One of the 2010 movies I'm anticipating most - can't wait!




To be honest, I wasn't sure about the first Sex and the City movie.  I thought the TV show ended so perfectly, I didn't want anything to get screwed up.  I kind of feel the same way about part two, but I still can't wait to see what Carrie and the girls get up to--and what they'll be wearing while doing it.


Alla Prossima

Black + White

I am loving a black wall lately, especially offset with stark, sparkling white.  I feel like these looks from the 2010 pre-fall collections have the same cool, stylish vibe.

 

 

Photos 1-3:  House Beautiful
Photo 4:  Metropolitan Home via Apartment Therapy
All other photos style.com


Alla Prossima