New Year, New Me and a Recipe (kind of)

Today was the first workday of the new year and since I'm so tired of the same old stuff that I've been wearing, I pulled a few things out that have been out of the rotation for a little while.

Kate Spade jacket, Hermes belt, Banana Republic pants, Me Too booties

I dug out this little black and white check Kate Spade jacket that's really a spring jacket but with a cashmere sweater layered underneath, it works perfectly this time of year.

Chanel pin, Louis Vuitton ring

I wore another one of my very favorite Chanel pins that was yet another generous gift many years ago from my girlfriends with my new Louis Vuitton inclusion ring which was also a gift.

Chanel black pearl nail polish

I got my nails done yesterday with this fab new Chanel nail polish in black pearl.  If you ask me it's more of a green than a black but either way, I love it.

Now onto another note.  Each new year always begins with so much resolve.  We resolve to spend less, eat less, drink less, give more, workout more. All the resolutions can be overwhelming so I'm not going to overdo it.  This year, my focus is going to be my fitness so at the moment I'm in diet and exercise smackdown.  Yesterday, I weighed and measured myself to get ready.  I'm competing with some people at work to see who can lose the most weight in the next three months.  I don't really have all that much to lose but the spirit of competition motivates me.  I had a very productive trip this weekend to Whole Foods in preparation. 

Yesterday I made some really delicious chicken to eat this week and it's really easy to make.  I marinated three boneless, skinless chicken breasts in olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, garlic, half of a lemon (zest and juice) and dried oregano.  I let them sit in the fridge for about 45 minutes or so and then I baked them in the oven for about half an hour at 375 until they were at that perfect point of being cooked just enough without overcooking and drying them out.  I had some chicken on a salad for lunch today with homemade dressing (good olive oil, dijon mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper) and again for dinner on whole wheat toast with avocado and tomato.  And all of this after a tough workout with my trainer plus half an hour of interval training on the bike.  So day one down, wish me luck in keeping it up!

Blizzard Attire

This is what my street looked like yesterday towards the end of the blizzard.

 

It still looked pretty but trekking around in it isn't easy.  This kind of weather always poses the what to wear dilemma.  I'm not usually one who dresses with practicality in mind but the weather caused me to make an exception to that rule.

Banana Republic sweater, J Brand jeans

I wore a basic black Banana Republic sweater, J Brand jeans that I bought from Rue La La and my sensible, furry, rubber soled boots.  I know, it's kind of boring but it was warm and cozy and the practical boots worked for my walk to work.  And maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to take a decent picture of myself that doesn't have my head cut off.   I guess that's what I get for rushing the pics as I'm racing out to work.

Louis Vuitton ring, Hermes belt, bracelets from SoHo street vendors

At least I spiffed it up with some accessories.

It's All About the Shoes

When you're as shoe obsessed as me, shoes serve so many purposes.  They're memories of things you did when you wore them or souvenirs of places you've visited.  For the better part of my twenties, my family traveled at Christmastime to Europe; most often to Italy but once or twice we went to France or England.  I got these shoes on a trip to Nice one December over ten years ago.  They were a gift from my father.  As a family we long ago stopped the exchange of Christmas gifts but birthdays are still giftworthy and since my birthday is shortly after the holidays, I picked out many a gift for myself on these trips.  

J Crew jacket, Banana Republic pants, Kenzia shoes

These shoes sat ignored and untouched in my closet for I don't know how many years but they recently popped into my consciousness and today I dressed for them. 

Hermes belt, leather and studded bracelets from SoHo street vendors

On another note, on my last jaunt to NYC I popped down to SoHo to check out the street vendor wares and bought a few versions of these fun leather and studded bracelets which I wore today.

Basic Black: It's All About the Accessories

Kooba handbag

I wake up each day with visions of different outfits dancing in my head.  But sometimes the grand visions don't sync up with what actually comes to pass in the never ending rush to drag myself out of bed and chain myself to my desk where I sit for hours on end each day.

Fabric/tulle covered beads from Elisha's shop, Chanel brooch

I ended up throwing on a basic black long sleeve J Crew t-shirt and Banana Republic pants but I spiffed it all up with this flower print jacket that I am now reminded has a matching skirt.  I accessorized with this fun tulle covered bead necklace that I bought in Elisha's shop some time ago, my Chanel pin that I've been wearing to death and a hot pink Kooba bag that I rediscovered in my closet in the recent hangbag reorg.

Me Too booties

And since this was one of those days where I couldn't seem to pull it together, you end up with faceless pictures of me.  I almost forgot to put my makeup on today that's how out of it I was.

H&M Designer Collaborations

I'm delinquent in posting about my experience venturing to H&M to try and scoop up some of the Lanvin for H&M goods.  I arrived at H&M on Newbury Street around 7:45AM and thought to myself that the line didn't look as horrendous as I had anticipated.  It turns out it was worse than I had thought. They were giving out color coded wristbands with each color corresponding to a time you were allowed to shop the collection.  Without belaboring the point, there were apparently people who had arrived around 4AM and my arrival time allowed me to shop at 11AM.  I decided that by the time I got back everything would be picked over so I didn't bother but I did take a moment to peek at the merchandise from afar (it was roped off).  While some things did look lovely, they also looked small; I think I would have had to wear the dresses as tops because they looked way short.

In honor of the H&M collaboration with Lanvin, on Saturday I decided to wear the real thing.

Lanvin top, Rogan jeans, Cole Haan boots

I wore my Lanvin top with some skinny jeans and riding boots for an afternoon of lunching and shopping.

Chanel cross body bag

I'm loving this little Chanel cross body bag and the freedom of not carrying around a ton of stuff all the time!

Chanel earrings, Rachel Zoe for QVC ring

I accessorized with the Chanel earrings my girlfriends gave me for my birthday last year and this Rachel Zoe for QVC statement ring.

For the evening Saturday, I kept with the theme of H&M collaborations and pulled out of the deep, deep, deep archives this tuxedo jacket that I got oh, six or seven years ago at H&M when they collaborated with Stella McCartney.  I bought this jacket which is part of a suit and two tops that I still have to this day.  I'll have to pull them out for you one of these days soon.

Stella McCartney for H&M jacket, Joie lace top, Banana Republic pants, Me Too booties

I paired it with these five pocket leggings from Banana Republic, Joie lace top and Me Too booties.

Banana Republic necklace, Chanel brooch

I topped it all off with some multi-strand pearls from Banana Republic and Chanel brooch.

Shopping My Closet: Day and Night

DVF top, Aris Geldis necklace

In keeping with my shopping my own closet of late, I thought I'd pull out some things to wear today that I've had for some time.  I spent the day doing next to nothing other than hitting the gym, the grocery and getting a mani.  Well obviously no one cares what I wore to the gym.  And given the fact that I went straight to the grocery from the gym, I'll spare you those details.  But at the very least, I spiffed up a bit to venture out for my mani. 

Rogan jeans, Chanel bag

I have this super comfy DVF top that I've had for years and it's one of my very favorites.  I think it works especially well with these Rogan jeans since they're super skinny and I wouldn't be able to pull them off with anything that didn't have a bit of volume. 

Rogan jeans, D&G watch, Chanel bag

I know that lately you've seen this other Aris Geldis necklace I have that I wear to death.  But I bought this one years ago at Looc around the time it first opened and I figured it was high time it made another appearance.  Also I have this chocolate brown lambskin Chanel bag that I can't remember the last time I wore that just deserves better than being cooped up in my closet all the time. 

Morgenthal Frederics sunglasses

For the night out tonight, it was still relatively warm so I thought I could throw on a jacket without having to worry about a proper coat.

Marc Jacobs jacket

This Marc Jacobs jacket is one of my very favorite things ever.  I could wear it over and over again, and in fact, I do.

Chanel pins, Banana Republic necklace, ABS ring

I went with the pile it on mentality for the jewels tonight and I topped the jacket with two sparkly Chanel pins and this Banana Republic necklace that drew me into the store a few years ago at a time when I had stopped even going in there. And I'm glad because I love this necklace.

Polka dots to brighten a dreary day

H&M dot ruffle neck top, black ruffle sleeve cardigan from Kate Spade, Banana Republic 5 pocket legging, Chanel flats

If there is one thing you can count on in Boston, it's that you can never count on the weather.  Even though it is still officially summer, it certainly felt like a fall day today.  It was grey and dreary and in that vain, I dressed accordingly.  But just because the weather brings me down, doesn't mean my outfit has to.  Even an all black and tan outfit can add a bit of whimsy with some polka dots and ruffles!

What I want for fall

A fabulous boucle' jacket

D&G boucle' jacket available at Bergdorf Goodman

A pair of black suede booties

Kate Spade bow detail black suede bootie

A classic camel coat

Gucci camel coat

A rocking pair of grey skinny jeans

BR monogram grey skinny jeans

A woven pearl necklace

Lanvin woven pearl necklace