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Wearing A Cross-body Bag: A Tip For All You Shorties Out There

funkidivagirl — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:09:33 +0000

When I travel, I like to wear a cross-body bag to keep my hands free. However, I swear these bags are made for giants because the strap is just too long–even when I buckle it in the last hole. Instead of hitting me at the hip, the bag is swinging down around my kneecaps somewhere. It is most uncomfortable to walk like that.

The solution?–Make a new hole in the strap. This can easily be done by your local cobbler. Since I am a regular customer, my cobbler doesn’t charge me for this service, but most shops will only charge a dollar or two. The task is accomplished in about a minute. It’s a small thing, but it makes such a big difference.

This tiny adjustment allowed me to comfortably carry a cross-body bag around Paris.

Voilá!

purse – Liebeskind, Bloomingdale’s

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

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Cooking Groovy: Autumn Sausage Casserole Crockpot Meal

funkidivagirl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:18:06 +0000

Thursdays are crazy around here. I’m picking up one kid, dropping off another and I’m not home in time to cook dinner. Instead of a drive-thru meal, I make dinner on Thursday morning in my crockpot. It’s so nice to come home to a delicious-smelling house after such a hectic day. This is what I made last week. It was rainy and cold outside and this meal was like a warm hug.

AUTUMN SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

Adapted from the book: Make It Fast, Cook It Slow

Ingredients

3 cups cooked rice (I used brown basmati that I made the night before)

1 pound sausage, sliced (Use cooked sausage; I used nitrate-free, no-pork casing, chicken apple)

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 large apple, chopped

1 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup raisins

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice (the recipe calls for 1/2, but I use more)

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (the recipe calls for 1/2, but I use more)

3/4 teaspoon black pepper (the recipe calls for 1/2, but I like my food more seasoned)

1/2 cup chicken broth (you can use water instead)

assembled and ready to cook

Directions

I use a 6 quart slow cooker and it’s 3/4 full, but the recipe calls for a 4 quart slow cooker. Put the rice in the pot and add the sliced sausage (assuming that you are using cooked sausage; if not then cook it first). Add the onion, apple, carrots, raisins, brown sugar, parsley, allspice, cinnamon and pepper. Pour in the broth and stir. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

I have found that this recipe burns easily because except for softening the vegetables, you are really just heating the other ingredients. The first time you make it, cook for the shortest amount of time and ideally stick around to check on it. I wouldn’t keep it on warm for too long either. I cooked mine on low for 5 hours and if I was at home, I might have just done 4.5 hours.

It’s really good! It’s sweet, from the apples and raisins, and the pumpkin pie-like spices make it taste like autumn. You can create different flavors by using different sausages.

let’s eat!

What I Wore: Pantyhose {Gasp!}

funkidivagirl — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:44:08 +0000

Last weekend I had to go to a function where I was required to wear–gasp!–pantyhose. Can you believe it? It’s been so long since I wore a pair of pantyhose, that I didn’t know they made them anymore. In case you think I mean tights or black stockings, no, I am talking about flesh-colored pantyhose. I didn’t even know where to buy them, so I had to ask around; a friend told me where to go and what brand to buy. It took me a full 30 minutes in the hosiery department at Macy’s, sticking my hand in and out of those hose swatches, to find a color suitable for my flesh. It was hard to find an exact match because my flesh is sort of tan/orange/green and wouldn’t you know, they don’t make flesh-colored hose in that color. I finally found a pair that looked decent enough:

My daughter was fascinated; she had never seen pantyhose before. She said that my legs didn’t look real, but like legs in a magazine. They looked too perfect. She compared them to Luke Skywalker’s prosthetic hand (she had just seen Star Wars the previous night and that scene left a big impression on her). I couldn’t disagree. Have you worn pantyhose lately? Those things are really uncomfortable. The crotch was hanging low all day. (Is this how sagging pants-wearing young men feel? If so, why would anyone want to walk around like that all day? Try doing that in heels!) Because I could only find a pair with control top, using the bathroom–pulling them up and down–was a nightmare. I tried not to drink too much liquid that day.

I was also required to wear a black dress with pearl accessories. If you know anything about me, that is not really my stylo. This costume–black dress, pearls, pantyhose–was seriously messing with my Funkidivagirl style! The challenge before me: how can I look conservative enough–ladylike, if you will–but still maintain my funkiness?

First: the dress. AllSaints, my favorite brand, makes black clothes, so I looked there while on vacation in NYC. I had fun shopping at the gorgeous store in the Meat Packing district and found a dress that could work for the event, but that I could also wear in my real life.

Next: the pearls. I have a pair of real pearls (a gift), but they are very “proper” and I was trying to interject my style as much as possible into this outfit. I needed something else…appropriate, but chic. I thought a long strand of pearls would look fabulous and I found the perfect pair at Henri Bendel. A skinny patent leather belt pulled the whole look together. I already had a pair of platform pumps. I look like quite the lady, yes?

meeting & lunch

dress – AllSaints

pearls – Henri Bendel

belt – Nordstrom

shoes – Miss Sixty, Bloomingdale’s

This is how I will normally wear the dress: with patterned black tights, a funki belt and ankle boots. This is the real me!

tights – Nordstrom

belt – Antrhopologie

necklace – Nordstrom

boots – Boutique 9, Bloomingdale’s

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

What I Wore: Styled by Bloomingdale’s

funkidivagirl — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:10:33 +0000

I got to spend a long leisurely brunch on Saturday with a group of ladies; it was my girlfriend’s birthday and she invited 12 friends to lunch. Since we had a private room, you can imagine the topics of conversation! I don’t get to spend time like that on a Saturday afternoon, so it was a real treat. Since my family was gone for the morning, I had an empty house while I got dressed. I was able to play around a bit with styling and this what I settled on:

brunch with friends

tank – Ella Moss, Bloomingdale’s

sweater – AllSaints, store within Bloomingdale’s

jeans – Hudson, Bloomingdale’s

boots – Boutique 9, Bloomingdale’s

Head to toe, I was styled by Bloomingdale’s! (Can I get an endorsement deal?)

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

Easy Reader: Paris To The Moon, How To Eat A Small Country, What Alice Forgot

funkidivagirl — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:03:38 +0000

As in “Easy Reader, that’s my name–uh-uh-uh” from The (original) Electric Company.

These days it seems that I only get to read on vacation. It’s a good thing that I have been able to vacation often! Within the last couple of months I have read 2 memoirs and 1 fiction book.

Paris To The Moon by Adam Gopnik

A woman that I met in Paris this summer recommended this book to me. Since I am fascinated with all things Parisian, I read it. While I found the author’s account of moving to Paris with his family interesting, I have to say that this was a tough read for me. I enjoyed the parts about his family life in Paris, but I felt my eyes glazing over during the (very detailed) parts about Parisian politics. Admittedly, this is my own quirk because I do not enjoy reading about politics in my own country, let alone a foreign one. I finished the book, but only because I was on a plane to Paris and wanted to immerse myself in the culture. The writing is solid and it’s a very detailed account of Parisian life from an American lens, but it just didn’t hold my interest.

How To Eat A Small Country by Amy Finley

I saw Justice Fergie discuss this book on her Facebook page. She was reading it because she loves to read about food. I wanted to read it because it takes place in France. While the book was indeed about the author’s move to France, it was more about the break up and restoration of her marriage. And food–all about French food. The author recounts her family’s French meals in great detail. A fascinating read for sure, but now I know that I could not exist on an authentic French diet; there is so much meat and game! Equally fascinating was reading about the author’s marriage, what happened to cause the break-up and the extraordinary measures they took to restore their marriage. I really enjoyed this book for both the journey to France and the author’s personal story of love lost and found.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

I was intrigued by the premise of this fictional book: what if you hit your head and forgot 10 years of your life? I put this book on my iPad for a light-hearted read over the Christmas break and found that I couldn’t put it down, reading late into the night. It was so much more than I thought it would be. At first it’s sort of comical when Alice thinks that she is 29 years old and reverts to her 29 year-old personality. But then it’s not so funny when she learns that she is in the middle of a divorce and leads a life that can’t possibly be hers. Ten years doesn’t seem like a long time, but as we learn, it can be an entire lifetime. Although it’s a fictional book, there are interesting themes about marriage, family life and identity that I could relate to in my real world. Throughout What Alice Forgot, as Alice forgets and then remembers her life, I reminisced over the last 10 years of my own life. Several life-changing events occurred; would I erase them if I could? If so, would I still be the person that I am today?

If you have read these books, I am interested to know your thoughts as well; please comment.

10 Reasons Why 2011 Was A Good Year

funkidivagirl — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:36:55 +0000

My friend Darcie of Such The Spot challenged me to do this, so here it goes:

1. I found an exercise that I loved, causing me to exercise several times a week. Finding kettlebells and working out consistently allowed me to get into the best shape of my life. I’m finally getting my husband on board too!

2. I had fun blogging. Towards the end of the year, I started participating in several link-ups, Wore I Wore Wednesday and Monday Mingle, that I really enjoyed. I love writing about fashion and beauty so this was fun and natural for me.

3. I took my daughter to Disneyland, just the two of us. Since my son was the first born, we have had many outings together, but I think this was the first time my daughter and I did an activity so grand together. My family goes to Disney often, but as a group the activities skew towards big kid/adult and my daughter keeps up. At Disneyland I let her set the pace and did whatever she wanted to do. That meant no roller coasters, but standing in line to meet the fairies in Pixie Hollow. I loved seeing Disney through her 9 year girly eyes. We had a fantastic day together and her “thank you Mommy” and big hug at the end of the day was priceless.

4. We took my son to a broadway show. We went to NYC in October to celebrate my daughter’s 10th birthday and my son’s 16 1/2th (his birthday was back in April). Our gift to him in April was a broadway show in NYC, since he loves musical theatre. We go to musicals and plays all the time in Atlanta, but there’s something about seeing a production in NYC on broadway–it’s magical. We used to take him to broadway all the time when he was younger, when we used to live in New Jersey, but they were family musicals like The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. This was his first big production, adult broadway musical. We saw Follies and the look on his face during the musical was pure joy. That experience was better than any tangible gift we could have given him.

5. I recorded less and stayed in the moment more. While I do enjoy sharing my experiences on my blog, sometimes it best to enjoy the moment and be fully present–not thinking about how this would make a good blog post or even how a photo of this moment would look great in the family scrapbook. During our holiday trip to NYC a few weeks ago, I was trying to take photos of the beautiful holiday window displays on 5th Avenue, but it was difficult because of the reflection. My daughter said, “Mommy, you can’t get a good photo, so just enjoy the window now.” She was so right. I put down my camera and fully enjoyed the windows while I was looking at them. I may not remember them exactly years from now, but I will never forget that “Christmas in NYC” day with my children.

6. I traveled often with my family. We went to Disney World, Club Med Sandpiper, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, London, Paris (twice!), and New York City (twice). It was the first time that we have traveled to Europe as a family and I was thrilled to show my kids the adventure of traveling internationally. I think they are hooked and are already talking about our next international trip.

7. I fell in love with Paris. I’ve always wanted to go to Paris, but somehow during my European travels as a college student I made it to (southern) France, but missed Paris. We spent a week in Paris as a family in July and I went again with my husband in December. Both times I was in heaven. Isn’t it great when you finally get to experience a place that you’ve been longing to visit and it exceeds your expectations? I know that some people don’t care for Paris, but for me it was love at first sight (and frankly I just don’t get those people).

8. I surrendered to motherhood. This seems silly right? I’ve been a mother now for over 16 years, so I should have done this long ago. Well, I did the moment my son was born….and I must continue to surrender all the time. It’s an on-going process. Somehow I thought this motherhood thing would get easy with time, when it fact it doesn’t; it just changes. But as challenging as it is (and it really is right now), I wouldn’t change a thing. Raising my kids is absolutely without doubt the greatest thing that I have ever had the privilege of doing.

9. I started taking French lessons. See, Paris had a huge effect on me! I plan to go back often, so I figure I should know how to speak the language.

10. My husband and I celebrated 18 years of marriage. It’s not a milestone number like 25 years, but 18 seemed like a big deal to us. It’s a long time! We woke up that morning and felt the bigness of the number and took the family to an impromptu big, fancy celebration brunch. It was a really good day. My husband was even inspired to write a blog post about marriage.

Why was 2011 a good year for you?

What I Wore: Byron Lars Dress at Santa Tea, St. Regis Hotel

funkidivagirl — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:44:18 +0000

I stalk MyHabit.com every day at noon, but I never I buy anything for myself. I do buy clothes for my daughter quite often–very cute clothes at great prices–but I rarely see something for myself or if I do, it’s sold out immediately. I saw this dress on MyHabit and thought it was so pretty, but alas, it was sold out. However, I clicked “add to wait list” and would you believe that I got an email several weeks later saying that the dress was available? I bought it right away and it’s even prettier in real life than it was on the website.

I wanted to wear the dress during my trip to Paris. My husband and I had planned a romantic dinner for our last night in Paris, but I got violently ill that day and spent the evening in my pajamas instead. While a Santa Tea isn’t the same as a romantic dinner in Paris, at least I got to wear the dress. It was very warm today, so I didn’t wear anything on my legs. I should have–my legs are so pale!

Santa Tea at St. Regis hotel

dress – Byron Lars, MyHabit.com

shoes – Miss Sixty, Bloomingdale’s

I have a holiday party tomorrow night and I’ll funk it up with tights, ankle boots, a clutch and bangles. I don’t get a chance to look like this often, so I am taking full advantage of this festive season!

boots – Boutique 9, Bloomingdale’s

tights – Nordstrom

clutch – Hobo, Nordstrom

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

My Annual Poll About Santa Claus: Do You or Don’t You?

funkidivagirl — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:00:58 +0000

I’ve reposted this blog post since 2008 and every year I get some interesting responses. I would love to hear yours. The question of the day is:

SANTA CLAUS: DO YOU OR DON’T YOU?

Look at this man; does he give you a warm feeling inside or make you want to spit on the ground in disgust? The question of the hour is: Santa Claus-do you or don’t you?

I had a magical memory of Santa Claus that stayed with me until just a few years ago. Long ago when I was a little girl and sleeping on Christmas Eve, I heard a noise in my living room. I jumped out of bed and peeked in my parents’ room; they were asleep. Then I looked in the living room and sure enough, there was a figure of a man putting something under the tree. Well, since I didn’t want Santa to sprinkle pepper in my eyes, I ran back to my bed and stayed in there the rest of the night. In the morning there were presents under the tree as usual, but I had a secret–I had actually seen Santa Claus! Even when I grew up and stopped believing in Santa, there was always a part of me that remembered that night and said “but still….there was someone in the living room.” I never discussed that night with my parents until recently and I wished that I hadn’t; my mother told me that it was my Uncle Robert putting my gift under the tree. Of course, that makes sense as there had to be some logical explanation. But it was nice to have that magical memory all these years; to just simply believe.

I don’t remember when I stopped believing or how. I don’t think it was anything dramatic; I just sort of gradually grew out of it. There was no drama involved–unlike my son’s revelation. He was 8 years old when he asked me point blank if there was a Santa Claus. I looked at him to gauge if he really wanted to know and he asked again straight-up, “Mommy, tell the truth; is there a Santa Claus?” What else could I say when he asked like that? I was less nervous telling him where babies come from! I took a deep breath and told him the truth. And then he burst into tears.

Months later when Christmas had come and gone and we had a rare moment alone with our son, my husband and I asked him about his reaction to my “confession.” He then proceeded to rage about how we had lied to him, betrayed him and how he could never trust us again. Wow; my husband and I were shocked! Neither one of us had ever felt “betrayed” by our parents about Santa, but now that I have talked to others, I have learned that his reaction is not uncommon. I have several friends who felt betrayed like our son and consequently do not introduce Santa Claus to their children. Other friends feel that Santa Claus dilutes the true meaning of Christmas and therefore do not make Santa a part of their Christmas celebration.

While I can appreciate the logic of my friends and honor my son’s feelings, Santa still visits our house every year. To me, believing in Santa Claus is like going to Disney World; yeah, the rides are fun, but I go to see The Mouse. Without him and the Disney “magic”, it’s just another amusement park. My son has since calmed down; he is old enough now to appreciate the magic of Santa Claus through his baby sister’s eyes and he has fun with it. But even so, we are careful to put Santa Claus in the proper perspective; he is just a fun part of Christmas–not the reason. We do not go to elaborate extremes to make his presence more real, just some cookies and milk left out on Christmas Eve. I do take my daughter to see Santa at the mall, but I don’t think she really cares one way or the other; I do it because I am competitive. See, there is a very popular Santa at the high-end mall here in Atlanta; he has a real white beard and longish white hair and is great with the kids. The wait to see him used to be hours long, but a few years ago they implemented an online appointment system. Great idea, but the appointments were booked immediately and I could never get a slot. It became an (obsessive) goal of mine to secure a space to see this Santa! Now, for the second year in a row I have been one of the lucky (or crazy) people online the day the appointments open and scored a time to see Santa. Next I emailed the neighbors to gloat.

I’m certain that I only have a couple more years left for my daughter to sit on Santa’s lap. An inquisitive child, she is already asking too many questions. Maybe I can tell her that Santa is like the CIA and only operates on a “need to know” basis. Do you think that will buy me a few more years? This is my last child and I want to keep the magic alive! I want her to believe!

What about you? Santa Claus: do you or don’t you? Discuss.

Christmas Baking: Cookie Recipes

funkidivagirl — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:10:22 +0000

I love to bake during Christmastime! I don’t bake sweets any other time of the year because my sweet-toothed daughter and husband don’t need any encouragement, but I indulge them during the holiday season. Usually my daughter helps, so we get to spend time together and the results are delicious.

We like to leave cookies for Santa Claus that we have decorated ourselves. Sometimes we make gingerbread men and sometimes we make butter cookies. I know your temptation is to buy the roll of cookie dough at the grocery store, because you’re thinking, “The fun is in decorating, who cares about the taste. Besides, those refrigerator cookies taste pretty good!” Those refrigerator cookies don’t taste too bad, but quality matters. Do you really know what’s in that cookie dough? This recipe is not hard at all and the cookies are delicious. Make the dough a day ahead and then when it’s time to bake and decorate, it’s just as easy as store-bought dough. I’m sure Santa will appreciate the extra effort.

The Best Christmas Cookie Cutter Recipe

These Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies are fancier than the butter cookies and they make perfect gifts. I made these cookies last year for my daughter’s teachers. I think these are the best cookies that I have ever made; they are divine! I’m making them again this year for sure.

Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies

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Are Your Organized For Christmas? Ma-Gyver To The Rescue!

funkidivagirl — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:35:15 +0000

Funki and oh-so-helpful organizing & life-hacking tips by yours truly. Like McGyver, who could dismantle a bomb with a roll of duct tape, a toothpick and a nail file, I am Ma-Gyver, organizer of everything and life-hacker extraordinaire. From time to time I will be bringing you my tips and tricks for keeping an orderly house and mind.

Christmastime is here, my favorite time of the year! My tree is decorated, the Christmas cards have been sent off and pretty much all the gifts have been bought.

Ugh, you say, she’s “one of those organized types.” Hey, don’t hate me, learn from me! I want to help you get organized for Christmas; it’s not too late!

This is my secret.

Check out these blog posts about how I get organized for Christmas and I promise you can do it too.

A Ma-Gyver Christmas, Part 1

A Ma-Gyver Christmas, Part 2

Christmastime in Paris

funkidivagirl — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:16:33 +0000

Paris in December? Isn’t Paris a spring and summer destination? Well yes it is, but I can now tell you that it is a great winter vacation as well. And even though we were in Paris for Le Web, a tech conference, many tourists visit Paris in December. While it wasn’t as crowded as it was during our summer visit, I was not alone during my visits to museums, churches and other Paris sites. Many Germans, Italians, Japanese and French people were on holiday in Paris (I didn’t see many Americans). Despite the cold, rainy weather that Paris has this time of year, it’s a beautiful place to visit in December because the entire city is decorated for Christmas.

Big department store, tiny boutiques, restaurants, cafés, churches, squares and entire streets–they are all decorated for Christmas! I was giddy with joy every time I stepped outside our apartment door because I love Christmas decorations. Best of all were the Christmas huts selling gifts, sweets, food and my husband’s favorite of all, vin chaud (hot wine). The Champs-Elysées had the most huts to stroll–blocks and blocks. Christmas music was playing over the loud speakers, traditional songs we know, but in French. We strolled down the Champs during the day and came back at night to see the lights. There were also Christmas huts elsewhere in the city; the metro stop near our apartment was very festive as was the area surrounding Sacre Coeur.

Galeries Lafayette has a “rock and roll Christmas” theme this year. The holiday windows are best seen in this video that I shot with my iPhone. It’s quite an event to come view the windows; it was packed with both adults and children.

Photos:

On a street in Montmartre

A Christmas hut outside of Sacre Coeur selling vin chaud.

Vin chaud (hot wine)

St.-Germain-des-Prés, the oldest church in Paris.

Square Léopold-Archille

Printemps, window display of Karl Lagerfeld

Printemps, lights outside

Pierre Hermé

Notre Dame

Meringues sold in Christmas huts on Champs-Elysées

Inside the store Merci

Outside the store Merci

Ladurée

Galeries Lafayette, window display

Galeries Lafayette, Christmas tree inside the store

Galeries Lafayette, lights outside

Ferris Wheel in Jardin des Tuileries

Fabric store in Montmartre

Champs-Elysées at night

Champs-Elysées Christmas hut nativity scene

Champs-Elysées Christmas huts at night

Champs-Elysées Christmas huts

Café de Flore

Dancing Santa bear in Montmartre

Abessess Metro station in Montmartre

Joyeux Noël!

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What I Wore: In Paris (without a coat)

funkidivagirl — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:27:34 +0000

I spent most of my time in Paris outside and bundled up against the cold weather, so hardly anyone saw what I wore, but here are the few times that I took off my coat:

I enjoyed a coat-free afternoon in the museum, Centre Pompidou. This shirt is so soft and comfortable, but has a bit of glam because of the glittery thread. Splendid is one of my favorite brands.

an afternoon at Centre Pompidou, Paris

shirt – Splendid, Bloomingdale’s

jeans – Joe’s, Bloomingdale’s

boots – Ugg, Zappos

bag – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Bloomingdale’s

In the next two photos, I am dressed for the evening; I accompanied my husband to his business parties. I joked with him that he brought me along to be his trophy wife. I’m wearing my “rock star pants”–as my husband calls them. They are very shiny and very tight; I can’t overeat wearing these pants! I love this shirt–it made me break my “no skulls” rule.

private party at Bound Bar, Paris

shirt – Vintage Havana, Bloomingdale’s

pants – AllSaints

boots – Boutique 9, Bloomingdale’s

I have on the same rocker pants and boots in the next photo. You can’t tell in the photo, but the shirt is sheer and has a ruffle on one side. It’s really pretty as a shirt with a black bra underneath, but here I’m wearing it like a jacket because I thought I would be too cold in the tank alone. The boots are pretty comfortable for such a high heel, allowing me to stand and talk for a long time during the party.

drinks and dinner at Café Etienne Marcel, Paris

tank – Ella Moss, Nordstrom

shirt – AllSaints

necklace – Swarovski, Nordstrom

I bought this bracelet from Galeries Lafayette that very day in Paris. The designer was there and had a special display set up of her work. She had really unique pieces and her work is just my style. I will definitely check out her website for more jewelry to buy!

bracelet – Pascale Monvoisin

(Sorry for the crummy lighting in these photographs; our apartment in Paris was so dim!)

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I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

Exploring Paris Alone (and loving it!)

funkidivagirl — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:34:33 +0000

Our summer family vacation to London and Paris was a dream come true. I enjoyed Paris so much during that visit, that I jumped at the chance to accompany my husband on a business trip. While I enjoyed 2 days and every evenings with my husband, he was in Paris for a conference, Le Web. Most days I entertained myself by exploring and touring alone. I took the metro to museums and sites, meandered along small streets, looked in tiny boutiques and tried to speak French. It was indeed a luxury to wander museums and churches at my leisure and see Paris at my own pace.

Here are some highlights of the days I spent alone:

Musée de l’Orangerie. It’s most famous for Claude Monet’s Les Nymphéas, but the entire museum is lovely. It’s a manageable size and offers a nice selection of modern art masters. I really enjoyed this museum and highly recommend a visit. (Photographs were prohibited.)

Jardin des Tuileries. Although the flowers and trees were not in bloom, it’s still wonderful and a quiet respite from the city. Even walking through the garden in the rain was enchanting.

Galeries Lafayette. This department store is gorgeous–and overwhelming. I had never seen a shoe selection this big; I was dizzy. I drank hot chocolate at the in-store Angelina and had macarons from one of the two Pierre Hermé boutiques. The art gallery has a great exhibit on display and there are several champagne bars. Santa Claus welcomes visitors in the enormous toy department and the whole store is gaily decorated for Christmas.

Palais Royal. Paris has so many grand buildings and this is one of them. There is a garden, contemporary art columns by Daniel Bruen and high-end boutiques.

Café de Flore. This famous café on the Left Bank is very expensive, but a great spot to grab a cup of tea and people watch. I had a nice conversation with an older French gentlemen sitting next to me.

Shakespeare and Company. Near Notre Dame, this English bookstore is fantastic. It sells both new and used books; I could have stayed there for hours browsing and reading in one of cozy corners.

Centre Pompidou. I really liked this museum of contemporary art. I didn’t see all of it–it’s enormous–but I saw the permanent collections and the Edvard Munch exhibit. That was a treat because I love his work. There’s also a viewing platform with fantastic panoramic views of the city.

Sainte-Chapelle. We missed seeing this church during our last visit to Paris, so I made a point of visiting this chapel built by King Louis IX to house his collection of Passion Relics. The stained glass literally took my breath away.

Pierre Hermé. This chocolatier is all the rage in Paris and not just for chocolate; the macarons are supposed to rival Ladurée. Well, I just had to taste for myself! It is good, incredible even, but for my money, the best macarons are still at Ladurée.

Église Saint-Sulpice. Walking out of Pierre Hermé I saw a huge fountain and a beautiful impressive building. Curious, I had to go see what it was. It was Église Saint-Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris (it’s slightly smaller than Notre Dame). It was the 4th church I had entered that day; I also saw Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame and St-Germain-desPrés, the oldest church in Paris).

There was so much to see and do and I barley made a dent, but that’s just a great reason to return!

Photos:

Jardin des Tuileries

Sainte-Chapelle

Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette, art gallery

Galeries Lafayette, ceiling

Café de Flore

Shakespeare and Company

Palais-Royal

Jardin du Palais-Royal

Centre Pompidou

Centre Pompidou, Henri Matisee, Figure décorative sur fond ornemental

Centre Pompidou, Andy Warhol, Ten Lizes

Centre Pompidou, panoramic view

Église Saint-Sulpice

Église Saint-Sulpice, nativity scene

Pierre Hermé macaron

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What I Wore: To Keep Warm in Paris

funkidivagirl — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:05:51 +0000

Bonjour from Paris!

I am in Paris with my husband for the week. I was so excited to return to Paris, but I was nervous about visiting in the winter; I had heard that Paris can be bitterly cold in December. I do not like cold weather, so I wanted to dress warmly, but I also wanted to be fashionable. I think I did a pretty good job! I have been nice and warm walking around cold and rainy Paris, but I feel chic as well.

coat – Soia & Kyo

boots – Gentle Souls, Nordstrom

purse – Liebeskind, Bloomingdale’s

hat – local boutique

sunglasses – Tom Ford, Overstock.com

On the street, on the metro, I study how Parisians tie their scarves. It’s an art. Here’s one way: I call it the “double-wrap tie.”

scarf- AllSaints

Yesterday I was outside most of the day with my coat zipped up, but I was glad that I had nice clothes underneath because we decided to go to an impromptu dinner at Buddha Bar.

shirt – Red Haute, Bloomingdale’s

jeans – Hudson, Bloomingdale’s

I had to show a close-up of these jeans because you can’t see the silver in the photo above. I love these jeans; they are both casual and dressy and actually very comfortable.

Today it wasn’t very cold outside, so I wore a wool coat instead of my down coat. I bought this coat at the last minute, literally the day I left for Paris, and I’m so glad I did; it’s perfect for 45-50 degree weather.

coat – Andrew Marc, Bloomingdale’s

scarf – local boutique

purse – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Bloomingdale’s

jeans – Joe’s, Nordstrom

boots – Ugg, Zappos.com

What you don’t see: silk long-johns and wool socks from REI. I am warm and able to enjoy Paris; it’s beautiful any time of the year!

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday and Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

From The Husband: 7 Tips To Staying Married

funkidivagirl — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:27 +0000

My husband, James Andrews, wrote this on his blog, JamesAndrews.tv, on our wedding anniversary. I hope it blesses you and those in your life.

Our Wedding Day

November 27, 2011

Today my wife Sherrelle and I are celebrating 18 years of marriage. Whoa! Where did the time go!! I know without a shadow of a doubt that marrying her was the single most important decision I have made in my life. Have we had problems you ask? Absolutely, our marriage has endured its share of ups and downs. Has it made us stronger? YES. I can say that at 18 years today we are a solid unit and work in total unison. Didn’t say total agreement, I said “unison.” I know that my approach and look at things is totally different at times than my wife’s. It is operating in this difference and respecting each other’s unique perspective that help us make wise family decisions. One thing that we are completely on the same page about is the fact that without a spiritual relationship our marriage means nothing. We give Jesus Christ the glory, honor and praise for guiding us daily. This “relationship” is more than just attending church but it’s about a filter in which we view life’s challenges on a daily basis–and there are SO MANY daily challenges to filter.

As an entrepreneur my wife is an “investor” in my company by providing the backbone support for the family. There is ABSOLUTELY no way that I would be able to run a successful business, manage employees and maintain two offices if Sherrelle wasn’t operating as COO of the Andrews Family. That trust I have in her managing the details which include but are in no way limited to: Paying the bills, planning vacations, managing the school calendar, researching things for us to do on weekends, and so on, and so on, and on. My wife’s ability to organize all the other functions of my life allow me to focus on running the company and simply having the room to create visions and for that she is a huge investor in my company. I cherish the role she plays and really travel when I have to and when in town do my best to support her role. Lastly, my wife is my emotional cheerleader and confidant. It is here where I need and depend on her so much. The way I look at life, business, friends, family can be so out of wack that without my wife giving me a proper grounding and sometimes additional viewpoint I would completely make several “bonehead decisions.” I confer with Sherrelle on so many decisions and trust her intution. I know and respect a “woman’s intuition” and my wife has the best “Spidey Sense” in the business.

Some of you reading this may not be married yet and considering marriage one day. Maybe you have been married in the past, it ended badly and you are tainted by the whole experience. Perhaps you are in a marriage and are trying to figure out how to get out. Whatever your situation I have this to say to you: Marriage is A MARATHON, NOT A RACE. In plain speak it means that you have to CHOOSE to be married not expect some “oooeey goooey” feeling to take over your body on a daily basis. Our media obsessed culture has many of us totally confused on what real love looks like and most importantly what it takes to survive. So many men I know have a “jacked up” view of sex because of a lust filled culture and pornography. Lastly couples in general lack the commitment to sustainable marriages because of the popular “He/She is not making ME HAPPY” mentality that permeates the way we view marriage. By true confession I’m not a marriage counselor or trained therapist. However (and unfortunately) at 18 years of marriage I’m a member of this rare fraternity of people who make it past 7-10 years of marriage.Here are a few tips that might help you on your journey of marriage:

Fellas Take The Sword: This means at times (like 90%) you need to “fall on the sword” in an arugment for the sake of your marriage. I promise you this will save you a lot of heartache, time and pain. BE the peacemaker by being the bigger adult. Yes EVEN when she’s dead wrong.
Eat Dinner At Home As A Family: I noticed that our marriage and relationship as a family changed for the better when we actually committed to a consistent family dinner time at the table. It may last 30 minutes but it is the best time to connect with your wife and family
Shut It Down: Try and turn off electronics and just soak up your wife. I am still working on this in true confession which tells you how long it actually takes. The fact that I work in Social Media and my wife is a blogger doesn’t help. Try it I promise it works
Find A Shared Passion: My wife and I have recently realized we share a passion for health/fitness. Sherrelle has done a Clean Program Cleanse with me for 21 days and I most recently took up Kettlebells at her suggestion and we work out in the morning together
Snuggle Up: Every time you come to bed you don’t have to hit a “home run.” Practice the art of some good ol’ Spoonin which in the end leads to even bigger fireworks.
Care About Things She Cares About: Guess what, life is not just about YOU. Get into her life and be bummed or be happy about the things that move her emotionally. Women are driven by the details of the day. Be authentically involved in her daily details
Wise Counsel: You need to keep a few men around you that have some wisdom and have been married several years. If your mentor’s advice to you is “Go get you a chick on the side” RUN IMMEDIATELY and find a new mentor, he’s not your guy homie!

There are so many tips that I could share but I just wanted to get this blog post off my chest. I hope that you find some of what I’m sharing helpful. As we celebrated our marriage today I felt so blessed and humbled that we have made it this far. DIVORCE IS NOT AN OPTION for us and we truly practice that. I would be nothing if I couldn’t at least help a few marriages make it. It’s really tough out there and I want nothing else but to see marriages survive. Again without God I would not even be able to write this post and celebrate this marriage. My best to you. Let me know what tips you have.

What She Wore: My Girly

funkidivagirl — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:00:08 +0000

My daughter, she has her own style. I have learned that it’s not a good idea to shop without her because we don’t necessarily like the same things, but this time I got it right. I saw this dress on sale at Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Women & Children Sale and took a chance. She loves it. It so cute, but appropriate for school and play also. At age 10 she enjoys fashion, but loves playing even more. Clothes still have to be comfortable and moveable. The wouldn’t wear these Cole Hann boots to school, but her more rugged boots or even Converse would look just as cute.

school event & running errands with mom

dress – Nordstrom

leggings – Mini Boden

jean jacket – GapKids

purse – Nordstrom

boots – Cole Hann, local children’s shoe boutique

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday and Real Momma, Real Style.

What We Wore: Anniversary Brunch

funkidivagirl — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:20 +0000

Over Thanksgiving weekend my husband and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Since we are taking a trip together next week (the real celebration), we celebrated with our children by going to the Ritz-Carlton Sunday Brunch.

I really can’t say enough how much I enjoyed the brunch! The food was incredible and the dining room was so beautiful; there were several Christmas trees and plenty of bows and holly throughout the hotel lobby and restaurant. Santa visited our table and live carolers strolled about. We got married during the holiday season because I love Christmas and being surrounded by such a lavish display of Christmas, with my wonderful family, was truly a blessing.

anniversary brunch at Ritz-Carlton

My dress – Anthropologie

My boots – Bloomingdale’s

Girly’s dress – My Habit.com

Girly’s tights -Target

Girly’s shoes – Nordstrom

The Boy’s jacket – Gap

The Boy’s shirt- Nordstrom

Husband’s jacket – Banana Republic (Black Friday score!)

Husband’s black jeans – G-Star

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday and Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

For A Fresh New Look: MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolour

funkidivagirl — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:17:23 +0000

Sometimes you need a fresh new face. I needed something to shake me out of my lip gloss rut and red lipstick was the perfect POW. When I think red lipstick, I think MAC, so that’s what I bought: MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolour in Lasting Lust.

The salesperson warned me that the lipstick is really long-lasting and requires make-up remover to completely take off the stain. She was right; once I put on the lipstick, it was there to stay. It is drying and does cake after awhile, but the included clear lip gloss solves that problem. In fact, the salesperson warned me not to reapply the lipstick, just use the gloss. As you can guess, you will end up using more gloss than lipstick, but MAC solves that problem too; they sell refills of the gloss by itself.

My red lips were a definite departure from my normally neutrally-colored lips. The day I wore the red lips, my daughter couldn’t stop staring at me. I like the red lips, but I think I will wear this when I won’t be eating much or only for a few hours. All day wear was too long; my lips were dry and the color is not forgiving at all. You have to be very precise when applying this intense color because any mistakes outside the line are quite noticeable, and once it’s on, its on.

I will definitely wear this color in Paris next month; I think it looks very chic, very Parisian. Ooo-lala!

I’m linking up on

Sweet Potatoes With Caramelized Apples

funkidivagirl — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:16:59 +0000

In my family, every holiday meal has to have sweet potatoes. I like sweet potatoes as much as anybody else, but they have to made right. Some people make them too sweet (adding too much sugar) and some people don’t give them any flavor (so they taste like baby food). When I started making holiday dinners for my family, I didn’t want to be either of those people. I found this recipe in Martha Stewart Living many years ago and it’s been my signature holiday sweet potato dish ever since. It’s different and delicious. While it is similar to a traditional sweet potato casserole, the caramelized apples, orange juice and brandy adds depth and complexity. It’s my favorite holiday dish and it tastes even better the next day.

This recipe serves 8-10 people. The recipe looks complicated, but really it’s not. The only tricky part is caramelizing the apples–just be patient and stay at the stove; they burn easily. You can make this dish and refrigerate a day in advance, but let it come to room temperature before baking.

photo credit: Marthastewart.com

Recipe from Marthastewart.com

Sweet Potatoes With Caramelized Apples

INGREDIENTS

6 (about 4 pounds) sweet potatoes

1 teaspoon salt

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

9 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan

6 tablespoons heavy cream

1/4 cup Calvados, or brandy

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bake potatoes until soft, 40 to 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel and place flesh in a medium bowl; add salt, and mash with a fork.

Meanwhile, slice apples into 1/8-inch-thick wedges and place in a medium bowl. Add lemon juice and toss to combine.

In a medium skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Cook apple slices in the butter and sugar in 3 or 4 batches, until golden and caramelized, about 1 minute on each side. As they finish cooking, transfer to a plate and set aside.

In a medium skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cook until sugar dissolves. Stir in 4 tablespoons cream and the Calvados and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add to sweet potatoes, mixing well to combine. Transfer potato mixture to a buttered 3-quart ovenproof casserole. Arrange apple slices over potatoes; set aside.

In a medium skillet, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cook until dissolved. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of cream and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in orange juice and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until thickened and dark brown. Pour over the apples and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately, or let stand at room temperature for up to 30 minutes before serving.

I’m linking up with Mama Kat by answering the prompt: Share a Thanksgiving Recipe.

What I Wore: Vintage Havana, Uniqlo & Undefeated Converse

funkidivagirl — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:20:03 +0000

I’m having fun with What I Wore Wednesdays! While most people probably post their special occasion/going to an event outfits, I think it’s just as valuable to post casual everyday outfits. Remember: no schlubs!–even if you work at home or stay at home. At some point you’re going to see people, if just your kids, husband or mailman.

In my last What I Wore post I had a photo of myself dressed for a shopping fundraising event. I bought this pink shirt during the event because I can always use more casual, but cute shirts. It was a steal on sale and it’s so comfortable. I have on very dark washed Uniqlo jeans. There is not a Uniqlo store in Georgia, but my husband is a huge fan from his travels. We were in NYC during the opening of the global flagship store and he just had to go. I have never seen anything like that! There were hundreds of shoppers, but I believe there were also something like a hundred cashiers and dressing rooms, so it wasn’t as chaotic as it could have been. It was the first time I have shopped there and it’s okay–like a hipper Gap. The clothes are very basic, but at incredible price points–at least they were for opening weekend. I think I paid $15 for these jeans and they are super soft and stretchy. With pants on like this, there is no need for sweatpants.

french class & grocery shopping

shirt – Vintage Havana, Bloomingdale’s

jeans – Uniqlo

shoes – Converse, by Undefeated

The shirt was on sale and the jeans were cheap; the most expensive thing I’m wearing are the sneakers. Ah, but they are truly the star of my outfit. Undefeated is one of my favorite sneaker stores in Los Angeles and I bought these during our stay there this summer. They are a collaboration between Converse and Undefeated. The material is leather and nylon and they come with two extra pair of laces, orange and white. So sweet. I love the lace tips; they make me smile.

I think this is one of the reasons that my husband loves me: I’m a sneaker-head like him.

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday and Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.

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