Ready Or Not Here Comes Winter...

Old man Winter and I have a love hate relationship.  I really like him on Christmas day, Christmas eve and new years day but honestly not so much the rest of the time.  Why? It's too blasted cold!  At least too cold for a Caribbean girl like me.  This year though I am determined to enjoy it without complaining.  I have a plan.  It's real simple, soft and comes in many colors.

WOOL TIGHTS.  

Take that old man winter, it's on.  Stylish and toasty warm....yeah baby!

What's your favorite tip/item of clothing for braving the cold?  

Cherio!

Chenille or No Chenille...That Is The Question

thebellabode.

I have to admit that last week kicked my butt!  Really good. In the process I sadly had to neglect my blog for a little while.  Well, am back now and feelin good, bye bye week from hell.......honestly it felt like it.

Over the weekend I met a lady at a craft show who had the most amazing vintage chenille spreads.  It really brought back memories of my childhood.  My grandmother had lots of these beautiful spreads and ever since I could fully appreciate them I had been searching for the right one for myself.  I admit that some are over the top and somewhat unrestrained but I adore these spreads.  I like the texture, pattern and vintage fabulousness it adds to a room.  Plus, it really reminds me of my earlier years with my grand mother and those memories are very precious to me.  Check these out, would you rock one of these in your bedroom?

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vintagegoodness

mail.heat.net

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barkingsandsvintage

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handmadespark

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vintagelinentreasures

Cherio!

Beauty Mark? or Holy Mole-ey!!!

Angelina Jolie - Actress & Human Rights Activist

Are people with moles hotter than non mole-ey people?  Hmmmmm.  Well I did a little digging and here is what I found.  Dr Veronique Bataille, from the Twin Research Unit at King's College London, who led a study on this said: "The results are very exciting as they show, for the first time, that moley people who have a slightly increased risk of melanoma [skin cancer] may, on the other hand, have the benefit of a reduced rate of aging."  As a person with a few moles myself, I was a little concerned about the "risk of cancer" mentioned so the hypochondriac in me kicked in and I dug deeper. Thankfully, the news got much better after the mention of Melonoma.   It was actually discovered that people with moles live longer, look younger and are healthier than the average person. Well, according to the studies anyway. 

Marilyn Munroe - Actress 

Now usually I would say this is just hype but I actually know for a fact that there is some truth to this.  My grandmother who passed on the mole-ey genetics to me is 95 years old and has always been in optimum health......the woman also has more moles than I can count.  She looks a lot younger than her age though and hardly any wrinkles!  I sure do hope I inherited that gene, pretty p-l-e-a-s-e. 


When I was younger I asked about the mole on my face and my grandmother calmly informed me that my mole was a beauty mark.  And so, from that moment on I saw it as just that.  I never thought about it until very recently when I stumbled across the research done on this subject.  Seems like grandma knew this stuff already...but then, she is smart like that.

I remember when Cindy Crawford was in the height of her modeling career, she rocked the heck out of her mole.  Then guess what, women everywhere starting making moles on their faces with eye pencils and such.  So funny.  Sometimes the mole would be on the left side on the woman's face, but the next day it would be on the right side. oooopsie! 


Now I know there are people with a gazillion moles and they totally hate them.  I come from a mole-ey family so trust me, I know.   Don't let it get you down though, if you love yourself the way you are, people will pay attention to you and not your mole.  Morgan Freeman is a prime example of this.  This man has mad swag and the moles just makes him more interesting.

Morgan Freeman - Actor

Here are some celebrities who fully embrace their moles.  And if truth be told, they are not only aging slower, they are muy caliente.  Long live the mole!


Cherio!

Tamera Mowry - Actress

Eva Mendes - Actress & Model

  Enrique Iglesias

Kelly Rowland - singer



 Robert DeNiro - Actor

Janet Jackson - Singer & actress

 
 Goldie Hawn - Actress

Natalie Portman - Actress

The Magic Of Mirrors In Decor

Venetian mirrors inside Coco Chanel's home

Mirrors by far are my favorite design element in home decor.  Why is that? You might ask.   Well, for starters, you can find a mirror in just about any style, shape, size or color under the sun.  And if that isn't good enough reason, here are some other reasons why mirrors are so amazing.

Original Louis Philippe mirror

Use A Mirror To:

• reflect light from a window or chandelier throughout a room
• reflect an outdoor view
• visually expand a space (the reflection doubles the expanse/space)
•  basic function – to check hair/makeup before leaving the house
• to introduce a different shape or texture
• to reinforce a style with the frame shape
• to create a focal point in an otherwise featureless room

Of all the features and benefits the mirror provides, I must say that the light, space and airiness it brings to a room is what I enjoy most.  Interior decorators say that a mirror should reflect a wonderful view.  I agree.  Mirrors look best in places where they can reflect light from a window, or where they are adjacent to a window so that you see "outside" in them...trees, the sky...you get the point.  So, if you have a small space or would like to kick it up a notch in your home consider adding a mirror.  You'll be surprised at how this simple addition can transform and liven up a room.

Here are some great mirror photos for inspiration, enjoy!

www.trendir.com

www.apartmenttherapy.com

Picture from decor magazine

christmasoutdoorhomedecoration

christmasoutdoorhomedecoration

Antique french mirror - origin unknown

Gorgeous mirror with column detail - origin unknown

Drift wood mirror

 darrelldeanantiques

Gingham......This check will never bounce

Christian Louboutin shoes

There is something about Gingham that is so sweet and nostalgic that you just fall in love with it.  And trust me, once you buy a piece of this fabric, you'll want it in every color.

 Now, I know that this look is not easy to pull of but if done right, gingham can be very chic and even trendy.  Its all a matter of how you accessorize and style it.

Here's some beautiful gingham fashion and decor pieces that I really like, enjoy!

Gingham is a great way to introduce pattern to your wardrobe or decor.  It is a true classic and because of its neutral two color palette, it is easy to integrate into both your closet and decor.  Gingham is very reasonable and versatile.  It has been around since the 17th century and I would venture to say, its "here for the long haul."

threadart

One of my favorite things about this fabric is that it is so light and airy, which makes it perfect for Spring and Summer.  

The first lady in a beautiful gingham skirt.

ablondeandabrunette

I love this whole look, the shorts are uber stylish!

gingham headboard

How ingenious is this.  Use gingham fabric to cover your head board and sew some tiebacks at the side (could be ribbon if you choose) and viola!, you have a new look! What's really great about this is, you can swap out the fabric whenever you like.  (please note: works best on rectangular and square head boards)

Anthropologie

Just imagine this blouse with skinny jeans and heels.......

www.jcrew.com

I absolutely adore this jacket.

forever21

This dress is all kinds of fabulous!

J.Crew

This blouse is on my list of things to purchase.

 nicolknappen

Even if you are not a gingham fan, its hard to resist this head board.  Its simply divine.

Lol, I think Dorothy was on to something.........dont you think?

To see more gorgeous gingham products check out these links:

www.bananarepublic.com

www.jcrew.com

www.urbanoutfitters.com