Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year's Eve

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

I have no idea what to wear tonight! We are hosting a New Year's Eve party and I need to look fab! Every year for the last 6 years we have spent celebrating the New Year at a club somewhere but this year since most of our friend's in the DC area have kids and three of us are pregnant we decided to host a party instead.  We have a yummy menu lined up and great drinks and of course tons of mocktails (I'll be posting recipes later) .  So, what to wear? These are the looks I am considering . . . they are all very flattering on my pregnant belly, even the jumpsuit which is one of my favorites! Last year I wore a sequined jumpsuit though so I am trying to avoid a similar look . . . stay tuned tomorrow and find out what I wore.

Everyone be safe tonight and Happy New Year!


New Year's eye


Saturday, December 28, 2013

Changes

Saturday, December 28, 2013

We completed our first year in Houston after moving back last December.  What a year it's been.  We've had some good luck and some bad luck.  The bad? My mom was diagnosed with cancer in April so that's been really hard on the family. We lost a family member over the summer and that's been hard on the family as well but we know he's in a good place.  So much tragedy.  The best we can do is be strong for one another and keep our faith and just know that God has a plan for us all.  Sometimes it's really hard to understand but we can't dwell on our pain.  We have to move forward.

Good things? I started a practice.  Which is slow but continues to grow.  I am very excited about that since that's been one of my life's dreams.  It's a lot of hard work but I love it.  I work part time at another office, 2 days a week, and on my slow days I fill in at other offices in the city.  I'm willing to make the sacrifice and I am willing to work hard.  I like working actually.  I love what I do.  Other good news? V and I are expecting our first baby which we are very excited about! That's been the biggest blessing and it's made my family and my mom so happy.  It's good to know that amidst all the darkness there's always a ray of light.

When I left Houston in 2004 I was a naive 22 year old.  I was very sheltered and moving away gave me life experience and I was introduced to many different things.  I met my husband who is wonderful.  I could not have imagined anyone ever loving me so much.  I always wanted to move back to Houston, it's home.  The reality is sometimes I question if I made the right decision moving back.  I'm not the same person I was 9 years ago.  I gave up a life in DC . . . my life . . . and now that we are here it's like starting over.  I take that back, we literally started over.  I gave up a cushy lifestyle in exchange for the opportunity to start something of my own.  I used to give up a significant portion of my check to Neiman's and Bloomingdale's,  now I give a significant portion of my revenue to an employee, taxes, office supplies etc. etc.  It takes a lot to run a business but I am very happy and though it's been hard giving up trips to the Ritz Carlton for brunch I am satisfied.  We grow and we evolve.  The things that made me happy a year ago don't so much anymore.  I guess you start to appreciate the things that matter most when faced with adversity.  Sometimes, it's really hard to not buy a bag or a sweater or a pair of shoes but I have to think about it.  Of course I still shop but there's no sense of necessity or urgency when I buy those things.

I don't think I've changed, I think I've just learned to prioritize.  I guess that's really what's happening. I'll never really change per say . . . after all I have an extensive list of acceptable push gifts.

Some of my looks throughout the year . . .
Vince top, French Connection sequined pant similar here, Christian Louboutin Decollete 

Naven Bombshell dress worn as a top, Piperlime skirt, similar here, Zara heels

DVF red cape, similar here. Rag and Bone jeans similar here, Christian Louboutin Decollete

Outfit details here
 
Outfit details here
 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!!!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Hope everyone has a very, merry holiday season! May you enjoy this time surrounded by loved ones. 
Here are some of our Christmas card outtakes. We took 37 pictures and only used 3-5 for the Christmas card.

OOTD:Mark and James Beaded back dress. Christian Louboutin Neofilo pump.  On V Hugo Boss Miles Bengal dress shirt, Z Zegna pants, Ferragamo reversible belt, Cole Haan socks, Ferragamo Loafer

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Pregnant life: to party or not to party

Sunday, December 22, 2013

You smoked crack . . . I'm watching one of my favorite season 1 Girls episode, the one where Shosh smokes crack. It's 1:53 AM and I just got home from the bar a little while ago. I'm drinking chamomile tea, eating cookies and watching Girls. I left my friend's birthday party at Gaslamp. It was fun but I am just overwhelmingly tired by midnight these days. My lower back, butt and legs hurt. Also, let's not forget I'm in my 30s and my energy levels are not those of my 25 yo counterparts.  Actually, while watching this Girls episode I realized that Hannah, Marnie and Jessa don't really want to be at this warehouse party.  So maybe being 25 and 31 isn't that much different . . . .but then I realized that at 25 I was still going buck wild.

When I look back at the ridiculousness that was my 20s I literally cringe. I had a great time obviously but nothing that needs to continue on in my thirties.

So now I'm not only faced with assuming an appropriate social life in my 30s (I have traded in nights at the club for nights at the movies, dinner dates and nights at the theater) but also assuming an appropriate social life while being pregnant.  Will people criticize me for being out without my husband at a bar with my 6 month pregnant belly?! Will people assume I'm drinking because I'm at a bar? After a while I realized I didn't care. I think I still deserve to have fun.  So, the biggest decision I faced last night was: should I wear a black bra or a nude bra with a black sheer blouse? I decided to wear the nude bra since my body is nude colored.  The sheerness of the blouse is magnified with the flash, it's like those red carpet moments when you notice a nip slip after the photo's been taken.  In normal lighting it's not that bad.

If my skin looks extra radiant it's probably a combination of my "maternity glow" aka bronzer and drinking like 100 oz of water a day. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!! Tootles.

 Hue lacquer leggings, BCBG sheer blouse no longer available but similar here and here. Sam Edelman Mila boots, also here.  Accesories: Aqua statement necklace, similar hereMovado watch.  Roberto Coin bracelet.  Chanel Purse.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Barcelona

Friday, December 20, 2013

Flash back Friday edition!!

V and I were married in 2009 in the Catholic church.  We had a fabulous honeymoon! We traveled to Athens to visit his family, then departed on a Mediterranean cruise.  We went to the Greek Isles, Izmir, Istanbul, Alexandria and Cairo.  It was amazing!

V's parents insisted we have a second wedding in the Greek church so we decided to do it on our anniversary.  Now, how can someone have two weddings?! That's because the Greek church does not acknowledge a Catholic marriage so the priest was able to marry us again.  If we would have gotten married in the Greek church first then we would not have been able to get married in the Catholic church because they would have acknowledged the first marriage. 

Both were lovely ceremonies.  In our Greek wedding we did the traditional walking around the table, which I first learned about during episode 1 season 4 of Full House when DJ walked around a dining room table with the Greek kid.  We didn't walk around a dining room table.  We walked around the ceremonial table at the church.  We wore crowns, it was a lovely wedding.  Due to our second wedding we went on a second honeymoon/anniversary trip.  We unanimously picked Barcelona

Barcelona is so vibrant.  Full of art and beautiful architecture.  It was easy to get around because of the subway system.  Not everyone speaks Spanish, a lot of people speak Catalan. Those are the two official languages of Barcelona.  We were there for about a week and we had a friend come meet us from Jordan and later friends that were vacationing in Portugal joined us.  It was a lot of fun.  The night life in Barcelona is crazy, one night we did not get to the club until 2 AM we left by 4 and people were still coming in.  It was an amazing time and I cannot wait to make my way back to visit!

Here are some of our pics at Casa Mila (La Pedrera), Park Guell and Sagrada Familia all designed by Antoni Gaudi, you can definitely feel his presence in the city.  As you know the Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family) was never completed.  Gaudi passed away before the work was finished.  It is still a work in progress but it is completely breathtaking.  Pictures do not do it justice. 

We also visited the zoo, the aquarium. the Olympic stadium, the port and the beach.    Barcelona faces the Mediterranean sea and the beach is beautiful.  Even the port of Barcelona is gorgeous! I've been to the port of Houston and it's not nice at all . . . like at all.  Out of a score of 1 to 10 the port of Barcelona gets a 10 the port of Houton gets a -1. 

The entire city offers so much to do, you will never have a dull moment if you visit Barcelona.  Don't forget to visit the soccer stadium and las Ramblas!!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Love and marriage

Thursday, December 19, 2013

. . . go together like a horse and carriage. My parents never let me watch that show. They thought it was too risqué for my young eyes.

V left for the DMV last night. We won't reunite until December 31. I miss him so much already. I cried . . . a lot. I think it's the pregnancy hormones. I cry a lot in general but lately I've been a lot better. I only cry when I'm really sad or scared which only happens like every other week as opposed to every other day but today I felt an immense sadness. He's left before and I don't miss him as much but today I do.  He makes me very happy. So much so it used to upset me. I hated that my happiness was dependent on someone else, but then I realized he makes a better person and I like who I am when I'm with him and he's taught me so much so I'm happy because I like who I've become because of him. We work well together. Being married is a lot of work. We have learned to compromise and we always take each other's thoughts and opinions into consideration before making a decision. Loving him however is effortless. We are equals. Partners in crime! I think being pregnant has made me realize what a better wife and person I want to be.  I feel much more at peace now and a lot more calm if that makes sense.  I can't wait to see him. I'll be 30 weeks then and we'll start our new year together. 2014 will be a much better year. I feel it!

Some of my favorite couple pics . . . taken here, Tangier, Barcelona, Athens and Cairo


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