A Year in Review

My Year in 2010


I can't even begin to cram a whole year in one post, but this post contains highlights from this year. It has been a year of extreme highs and lows. I've had days that were harder than anything I've ever experienced in my whole life, ones worthy of the phrase, "don't sweat the small stuff".  But I've also had moments where dreams really do come true, like meeting my long time food idol, Giada de Laurentiis, running into another Food Network Star, Jamie Deen, and starting my own business that combines both my love of travel and photography... PHOTOgraphy Getaways. So here are some of the snapshots...


January - Cuddling in the winter.

February - 14 Days of Love. Ski Lesson in Tahoe.

March -  Work, work, work.
April - Meeting my idol, Giada!

May - Meeting Jamie Deen & Our trip to Beaufort, South Carolina.

June - My 2nd trip to Beaufort, and Savannah & Charleston for soul searching...

July - 4th of July in Ohio.

August - Visiting my family inTennessee.



Launching PHOTOgraphy Getaways.

September -  Weekend Photography...

October - Las Vegas & Truckee.

November - Holiday Planning...

& More Photo Shoots

December - Christmas in Beaufort.

More year-end reviews to come this week!

What are some of your highlights this year?

A Symphony of Fashion and Music

MONDAY MUSE
Recommendation: Bridgett, TREND Staff Writer

Those of you who have not had the pleasure of seeing Natasha Bedingfield's music video (released in November) "Strip Me" should definitely check it out. Natasha wears more than 10 outfits accompanied with marvelous makeup to match throughout the video.
You can view it here.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a very...

From Beaufort, South Carolina.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Possibly My Favorite Day of the Year


My sweetheart and I flew to South Carolina yesterday to spend Christmas with his family. I am having such a nice time, but he unfortunately has the flu. We were that couple yesterday on the plane. I felt so sorry for him. But he still had a sense of humor and caught this photo of an older gentlemen who was kind of enough to get so close and personal in my seat for a couple of minutes!

After a quick flight, his mother greeted us and we drove to Beaufort from Savannah and had crabcakes from Barbara Jean's (written up by Southern Living for their crabcakes.) Delicioso!

I'm so thankful to have Christmas Eve off for the first time in a few years. It truly is one of my favorite days of the year. I finally get to stop this fast-paced month of December and enjoy all the little things Christmas is about...

Here is my Tiffany ornament on the  tree!

Listening to the FAO Schwartz Bear read Twas' the Night Before Christmas!

& reading My Life in France by Julia Child,

my sweetie got it for me for Christmas!

Lots of snacking of course!

Snuggling with puppies in Christmas sweaters...

& wearing Christmas socks!

Anticipating lots of good homecooked food for our gathering tonight...

& awaiting Santa & Rudolph's visit tonight!

Hope you have a joyous & relaxing Christmas Eve

filled with great festivities!

 

Guzaarish - Poetry in motion...

I would reserve my opinion on Guzaarish as a film. I don’t think I am qualified to pass judgment on a movie made with such love and passion. But if one thing that the movie’s worst critic cannot refute is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film is visual poetry at its dreamiest best. Every frame is surreal and memorable, leaving you in awe of the overall styling and art direction. Sabyasachi Mukherjee created the entire wardrobe ensemble for Guzaarish, giving Hrithik Roshan rose-coloured glasses, and created decadent, floor-sweeping garments for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s character.
A solitary rose in Aishwarya’s long locks and a scarf around her head, create an ethereal old world glamour. Aishwarya Rai's character Sophia D'Souza over-dresses to overcome her bad marriage. Aishwarya’s look consisted of thirty-seven long frocks, four dumpy shoes, maxis, aprons with motifs of cutlery, quirky glasses and jewellery, surreal hairdos and red lips. She even makes her water bottle wear a jacket that she has made herself. Sophia uses her red lips as a weapon and not as an accessory, but as an expression of her grief. She's a woman who has dedicated her entire life to a suffering man. And she wears that red lipstick so that when he faces her, he sees life in all its colour."
Sabyasachi also designed jewellery for Guzaarish, keeping in mind a multicultural element with a nomadic vibe. For the collection, Sabyasachi used precious and semi-precious stones, minakari and filigree and had to work with about 60 skilled workers from West Bengal to complete the line. The attention to detail was extended to other characters as well. Omar Siddique played by Aditya Roy Kapoor was styled like a struggling French musician, with layered clothes, a crumpled tuxedo with flappy trousers and flip-flops. Suhel Seth, who plays Ethan's doctor, is presented in stiff suits and Shernaz Patel, Ethan's lawyer is given cotton saris and three-quarter blouses. The maids are in dumpy dresses. In line with the theatrical mood of the film, the clothes have an inherent spirit of drama, and are an extension of the characters. According to Sabyasachi, “If you remove the characters and hang the clothes, they will tell a story. It’s like Neverland or the reality version of The Magic Faraway Tree!”

I know I would watch Guzaarish again and again... for the performances and for the styling. Try and watch it. It's worth every luscious, sensuous frame.

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN STYLISH MODERATION XOXO.

As we prepare to embrace the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities, I would like to wish all my Madam Alexandra E. readers a very Merry Christmas for 2010, and may you all celebrate in moderation... that is.... moderately sip on your egg nog and champers and anything with a potent alcohol level, cocktails or mocktails, moderately drape yourself in something that won't fall off you from the joyous silly season that I'm sure you will be displaying of yourself, moderately choose a pair of comfy foot forms, but don't jeopardise or upset the balance of the style too much..... xo and stand under the mistle toe in moderation.. xoxo.

Resting on my fashion throne, I too will merrily embrace the Christmas season... so to my fashion lovers..... I shall return in the New Year! xo




Loving you all ( mwahh)


Madam Alexandra E. (k)

Rei Kawakubo

THURSDAY: DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
Recommendation: Bridgett, TREND Staff Writer





Learn more about the Japanese Designer here.