Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Key

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Sometimes I feel life throws us curve balls just to remind us of how lucky we are and to remind us to be thankful. Recent events have made me realize that maybe I'm not as thankful as I should be and that I shouldn't take certain things in life for granted. In an attempt to purge my soul I've decided to rid my life of some of the things that I've "idolized" in the past.  Yes, sounds dramatic but I am dramatic. In an attempt to organize my life and hopefully get rid of some of my anxiety I began decluttering my closet. Initially the idea was to get rid of all my material possessions as I know that there's more to life than "things" but I couldn't part with my Chanel bag. At least not yet. So, I'm taking baby steps. Over the last three weeks I've been listing items on eBay. Not a lot of things just some things. A black halo top, a Leifsdottir blouse, a marc by marc jacobs bag . . . little things, but on Monday I sold one of my Louis Vuitton hand bags. A break through! It's ok, I'll buy another bag at some other time when I really deserve it.  I actually feel good about it. I am not saying that I am denouncing materialism, after all we live in the epicenter of capitalism (don't we?), that would be hypocritical.  I love fashion, designers and trends and I appreciate the time and labor that it takes to create a hand bag or a couture dress.  It's fashion.  It's art.  That's a part of who I am but if once in a while I can get rid of something that represents a part of myself that I'm not too happy with then I'm ok with that.  The key is balance, not being consumed with things of no spiritual value. 


Some of my "possessions" up for sale.  I plan on donating some of my proceeds to charity.  

 


SOLD!

SOLD!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Come to my bar!

Friday, June 22, 2012
Anyone who knows me knows that I love watermelon and cucumber. Yummy! I've been known to ask bartenders for any drink involving a cucumber. Especially during the summer. It's so refreshing. The Alisar at co co sala in DC, the Katsuya fresh at Katsuya (Houston, LA, SoBe) and The Sake Garden at Zentan DC are all delicious and all involve cucumber. Last summer sweetgreen had a ginger/cucumber limeade and it was delish! We are going out in DC tomorrow for a friend's birthday.  Our nights in DC usually end the next  morning so today we decided to stay in.  I decided to make my own watermelon and cucumber drink so I googled: watermelon cucumber based cocktails. BAM! Martha Stewart. I found the perfect recipe. Here's the gist. Blend the cucumber. Blend the watermelon. Strain them and mix with 2 squeezed limes, honey and vodka. Here's a link to the actual recipe. Enjoy!

 http://www.marthastewart.com/319455/watermelon-cucumber-cooler?czone=holiday/sixty-days-of-summer/recipes-ideas&center=276964&gallery=274797&slide=184569






My MESS!!! 





Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Office

Thursday, June 21, 2012
It really upsets me that Jim, Pam, Stanley, Phyllis, Ryan, Kelly, Andy, Angela, Kevin, Oscar, Meredith, Creed, Darryl and Dwight don't miss Michael Scott. Is the old saying out of sight out of mind true? I think about people all the time and miss them! Then I realized, most relationships are circumstantial. If they weren't we'd all have at least "a ton" of friends. How many people do we meet in a lifetime? I don't know the answer to that but it's probably a lot. I read that on average we have 7 jobs in our life. Let's say you meet 10 people at each job. That's 70 people. Can you honestly say you're friends with all the people you've worked with? No. I don't trust people with too many friends anyway. Their loyalty is usually questionable. On a side note when I was in Grad school I had a huge crush on this guy. Looking back I shiver at the thought but, what do you expect my class had 150 people!! See, that crush was circumstantial because there was a shortage of men!

My office look . . . BCBGeneration skirt, Zara sleeveless top, Chanel flats





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Monday Blues

Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Don't you just dread Mondays?  Well, I don't. I love them. It's a new work week, a new school week etc. etc. Everything starts fresh. Some of my favorite holidays fall on Monday: Memorial day and Labor day. Last night V and I decided to go out in DC. Dinner with my man what more can a girl ask for? How about the freedom to wear whatever I want?! Don't get me wrong V doesn't care all that much but once in a while I get a "look". His reason is always the same: you're in DC not New York or you're in DC not South Beach! I can't blame the guy. He's partially right. I remember Tim Gunn referring to DC as "the city of uniforms". Uniforms and prepsters. Everyone looks so pretty and put together but you can't blame them. Many work for the government or in the government or have an internship hoping to eventually end up in government. I have always tried to look "put together" that is until I gave up. I won't ever be that girl whose hair and makeup look perfect. It's not me so now that I've given up that notion I'm more confident and comfortable in my own skin. DC is not that bad though. The fashionistas come out on the weekend when L2 is flooded with young 20 somethings parading in 5 inch Louboutins and the latest trends or when the hipsters hit the U street corridor. Fashion in DC is so segregated. Needless to say I changed but I wasn't too thrilled about it and guess what happened? After all that we ended up in Arlington but of course a woman on one side of me was wearing a black pencil skirt and Ferragamo heels and the other a green t shirt dress and flats? And what am I wearing?! Torn jeans and spiked heels. Story of my life: I stand out wherever I go. I am a bit narcissistic. Blame it on Napoleon.  Which look do you like better?

"Monday Blues" Outfit #1: Burberry top, Jcrew Shorts, Christian Louboutin wedges



"Monday Blues" Outfit #2: Alice and Olivia Peplum top, Current Elliot Boyfriend jeans, Sam Edelman heels



Saturday, June 16, 2012

Top Chef . . . Kind of

Saturday, June 16, 2012
Did you know that even though shrimp is high in cholesterol due to it's low fat content it actually improves your LDL to HDL ratio?  Unless you deep fry it or cook it with pasta then obviously you're consuming fat from something other than the shrimp.  Ok, that's all I got on shrimp.  Our friends came to visit us over Memorial Day weekend and we decided to have a little competition.  Who makes the best shrimp cocktail? Me or JB? When I say shrimp cocktail I mean mexican shrimp cocktail which is not just cocktail sauce and cold shrimp.  The judges, our respective significant others were blindfolded and had 3 blind tastings.  We each received a score of 2 out of 3 so in the end it was a tie.  Maybe you should be the tie breaker.  Here are both of the recipes.  Try them out and you be the judge!

This recipe serves 4.  Ideally served cold.

Ingredients
1 Tomato
1 Onion
1 Avocado
2 Jalapeno or Serrano pepper
1.5 lbs Giant Shrimp (Fresh not frozen)
Cilantro

Sauce #1 (My sauce)                        Sauce #2 (JBs)
8 oz of ketchup                                 8 oz cocktail sauce
4 oz Goya hot sauce                                   1 oz Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup of water                                1 clove garlic
oregano to taste

Directions
Clean and boil shrimp for 10 minutes
While shrimp is boiling dice the tomato, onion, avocado, cilantro and the jalapeno.
Make the sauce (I mostly do it to taste adding more if I need to)
Add all ingredients together.  Chill for at least 30 minutes.  Voila! Done.  Serve with Saltines.
To be honest everything is done to taste.  These are rough estimates but you can start with a 2:1 ratio for the sauce ingredients (ketchup and hot sauce).  

OOTD: Leifsdottir yellow top.  Audrey High waisted coral shorts.  BCBG  belt




Thursday, June 14, 2012

Work in Progress . . .

Thursday, June 14, 2012
Is it sad that the highlight of my day was learning about the newest H&M collaboration? Maison Martin Margiela Autumn/Winter 2012.  I know, I'm like two days late. I read it in Forbes.  Isn't that something? I read real news!  Anyway, back to my conundrum.  Yes, it's a conundrum because I never make it to the store to get these amazing fashion pieces.  I was really excited about the Lanvin colab, but didn't make it.  I was ok excited about Versace but yup  . . . didn't make it and I was SUPER excited about Marni and guess what? I didn't make it.  I attribute this to my lack of commitment.  I have aqueous deficient dry eye and I cannot for the life of me commit to Restasis.  I know, pathetic.  I was able to commit to dinner last night with some friends so that was fun! Summer nights in DC are my favorite because it can be 90 degrees outside and by the evening it will be a breezy 75 degrees.  I had one of my favorite bags: Balenciaga Classic City.  How this went from Maison Martin Margiela/H&M to Balenciaga is beyond me.  See, I can't even commit to one subject.  I literally have hundreds of thoughts running through my mind at any given time.  I'm excited to see how H&M's latest collaboration turns out.  Perhaps, I can find a way to camp out or be at the mall at 8 AM.  Hmmm, I guess that means I need a "camping out at the mall" outfit.  


"Work in Progress"
New York and Co. Top, J. Brand Jeans, Balenciaga sandals, Balenciaga City Bag, Kendra Scott necklace
AlmaKnack © 2014