Professional vs Passion kinda of day

There are those days when you are just not feeling inspired…I think that might be me today; but more so in my “professional” job than in my “passion” (not quite a job just yet - someday!!). I’m sitting here, trying to figure out how to best attack my list of clients – which I think right now is so daunting that I can’t even get my head around it; so I’m abstaining from moving forward.


However, some how, I am full of ideas/thoughts in my “passion” world…I don’t for some reach get overwhelmed …I feel like there is so much to learn, to see and to try, but yet I never feel like ‘oh man I’ll never do X or Y’ – and trust me as I read the magazines and I watch the online fashion shows and visit websites there is A LOT to take in, but it all makes sense it all works.

The Fashion World is getting ready for SPRING…which is by far my favorite, but I think I say that about every seasonal change…simply i like the change, I like the new choices of fabrics, layering, colors, accessories - you name it I love it. Guess that’s why I was a ‘change agent’ – (professional) for a time.

So today, I felt inspired to be a little bold… and I’m always inspired by what I see, I hope that I can also inspire someone else to be you – be fresh – be beautiful.

…Perhaps I need to turn my client list into some pretty visual pictures!

Next week is Spring (March 20th) and I cannot wait, I hope you’re looking forward to it as well!

Happy Spring Shopping!

Spring is around the Corner....Are you getting ready??

I think I'm like many of you; you don't have enough closet space to contain all the wonderful clothes, shoes, purses etc.  What do we do? We use the garage, basement or storage unit to contain the overflow.  Not the best solution but it's an option until we get that perfect Sex in the City walk-in closet.  Recently (actually just this past weekend) I decided to go through the mass of "stuff" in the basement that I hadn't thought about in many many months.  It was a great experience.  I literally felt like I was shopping in my own little resale shop.

What did I find you might ask?

1. There were lots of things that needed to go to Goodwill and I was pleased to be able to do that!
2. There were some items that I can take to consignment and actually make a few dollars!
3. There were items that I found that I can still wear in the Winter - I actually found my ski pants that had gone missing!!
4. And there were items that I found for the Spring/Summer that I had packed away and didn't realize I had plus they are actually in style...like these awesome JCrew white shorts - didn't know I had them but I think I'll be rockin' them with summer wedge sandals.

So I urge you to go through your items, determine what to donate, what you keep for current season and what you can leverage for the upcoming season.  I had some good surprises and at the end of the day I was able to donate 3 large bags of clothes, shoes etc. - allowing me to pass the style on to someone else.

And I cannot tell a lie...this now frees me up to possible get a few more things!

Good luck with your own closet, basement, storage clean out.

Its a Family Affair...

Some of you may know that over the Christmas break, I had my parents in town spending the holidays, as well as becoming my support for an upcoming Full Hip Replacement surgery just before the new year.  In anticipation of their arrival, I created a wonderful Family-Do list.  This list was to ensure that the little things and big things I could get my dad to fix/do around the house were itemized; as well as the fun things we should do to keep us busy and having fun were well documented.  Over the course of 2 1/2 weeks we worked against our list of items and we were able to re-purpose and create new craft projects for ourselves.

The craft project below is by far my favorite (and it wasn't on the list).  I already had a little stand that held a few pairs of shoes, but it was fun to take my old wall art project and "amp" it up to another level.  It really was as family project...taking all 3 of us to work through the conception, execution and evaluation. 

Thanks Mom and Dad.

Party Planning 101

Happy to report that I might have a new calling in life - Party Planner!!  Last weekend, Rainbow and I hosted a baby shower for our friend Kristen.  The theme (cause you have to have a theme) was High Tea.  We didn't know the baby's gender so we went with a baby green color on the invites and the decor and things turned out beautiful.  We had baby 'onesys' as decoration, we had a baby shower banner that looked liked it came from etsy.com.  Everyone received a tea cup in which to enjoy their tea, as it also served as their party favor - genius right!?

Rainbow made great finger sandwiches and I did the desserts.  The baby diaper cake after a little negotiation turned out beautiful...we garnished with fresh flowers and it was the the star of the show.

Shall I say that its in the details my friends when planning a party and being a great hostess - well it is.  And its hard work, but its more gratifying than I thought possible.  I cannot wait to host again! - Anyone having a party??!! 

Happy event planning, even if its a weekday dinner 2 at home.

I've missed you!

Happy New Year, albeit its February already...but I'm going to re-engage with my blog! {even if it goes into a black hole!}.  I've already started thinking of topics and ideas to share -  from a personal style & fashion to interior design. 

I shall start with my current shoe obsession of Jeffery Campbell.  Don't get me wrong this would not be my first pair either - found another pair to love last summer at Chicago- Laura's Shoe store.  In my effort to overshare, I posted this same photo on Facebook for all to see.  This is a reward myself for my good "hip" behavior i.e. I haven't done anything too crazy since my new hip replacement, therefore these will be my naughty new pleasure.  These have come with ohhs and ahhs and some Oh-Nos, but I don't care...I love them therfore I shall have them.

Jeffery Campbell - Lift

Its nice to be back.

Why I love Fall...

So I have to tell you how excited I am, not that I returned from a wonderful trip to Portugal (and it was completely wonderful – that will be another post in and of itself) but because when I got back, it had officially turned to Fall (Autumn as some you like to call it…). My friends know that this is by far my favorite time of the year – why, you might ask?


1. Food. This is when you can create culinary warmth; loving food that is meant to fill the stomach and warm the heart. Comfort Foods surpass the salads from summer – instead we get Mac’n Cheese, Roasts (or anything in a croc-pot), Mashed Potatoes, pies – Hot Ciders and great big/bold Red Wines all Fall long…these are just a small listing of my favorite things.

2. Magazines. I took w/me on vacation my Vogue and ELLE magazines, approximately 2lbs of extra weight, it was worth it. Looking over the fabulous Fall Fashions that I couldn’t wait to purchase and wear! In addition, I kept getting new thick versions of Fall’s fashion update, for clothes and home – I have a stack still to go through, I’m loving it…inspiration on every page.

3. Clothing. The Fall weather brings about the perfect time to layer…to experiment, to do all those things well – I guess you could do in other seasons, but for some reason are more fun in Fall. I’ve already managed to work in my vintage faux fur cape from an estate sale (love it!) and my grey shawl w/faux fur trim…(yes, I’m on a fur kick) and my grey suede lace up boots. Ladies, there are so many great things this Fall, I know I need to get the list out to you shortly, but it’s just a plethora of colors, styles for everyone and it’s just overwhelming…all I think about is what am I going to wear, what can I buy and how can I put it together to make a marvelous statement when I go to work, the store or out w/friends.…I think I’m officially obsessed!!

4. Friendships. Lastly, the warmth that we offer up in Fall is great, getting together is still important but it takes on a new meaning (for me anyway) – hanging out with friends in front of a toasty fire to chat, meeting up in a pub for a cold beer or hot cider, or having a casual Sunday dinner w/friends…its warmer – its cosier, its special…as it should be.



Happy Fall everyone!

Passion + Fashion = Happiness

The weather is changing and so am I. As some of you know, I have longed to play in Fashion, but I found myself in another career altogether. It’s been very, very good to me, but during this time of my life (newly single, almost 40 and with a non-stop creative mind) I have decided to follow my true passion and pursue a career in fashion. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no idea what that will be and I’m exploring all my options, but what I do know is that I’m damn good at it. Not only that I LOVE DOING IT…I see colors, patterns, textures and I can put them together. I can’t stop thinking of things to buy and trends and for clothing and home décor…and then sharing that with my friends!!


I could go on and on, but what is most important for me is that I’m taking the right steps; I’m turning down opportunities that aren’t leading me in the Fashion direction. So I’ll take you on my journey and we’ll see where this takes me. In the meantime – let’s talk about tonight!

FASHION NIGHT OUT!!
Said to be the biggest night in Fashion followed by the start of NYC Fashion week, it’s going to be a great week ahead. I have the schedule printed for both the fashion week runway shows and tonight’s events held here locally in Chicago. I’m going to FNO with some gal-pals tonight and I’m so excited…so much so that I had the hardest time trying to figure out what to wear…I still had to go to work, so I couldn’t be too edgy, but I wanted to look super cute too! So I settle on my current outfit, I think it accomplishes both…Vera Wang brown heels, Target navy wool short skirt, green-white striped sweater and my Fourth ‘n Town blue striped jacket…accessories and I’m ready to go. I’ll post pictures from the event.


This is my entry into a whole new phase…
Let’s toast to passion, fashion, and making it happen!


‘elle