I go out of my way to find things that are beautiful. Generally, I turn to fashion for those types of things — a stunning dress in a perfect fabric, a lovely pair of patent leather peep toe pumps, maybe a jeweled handbag that’s designed to catch the light just right.
I want to go beyond that. Things in life lately that have been beautiful:
1 — watching my editor and close friend release her first novel. She spent five years working on it (in between raising kids) and it’s such an amazing thing to share that moment with her.
2 — a story I heard on Twitter today just made my heart clench. @skydiver was in Vegas, watching the fountains at the Bellagio (one of my most favorite things in the world to do — fun, but incredibly romantic), and he was asked to take a picture by a young couple. As he did, the man turned to his girlfriend and proposed. If that isn’t the epitome of beauty, I don’t know what is.
3 — a few friends of mine have really invested the time into finding out what their passions are. I know I’ve spent hours upon hours asking myself the tough questions, and it’s really beautiful to see these strong, independent women ask themselves these questions, and decide to commit to following them in the form of either starting businesses, expanding their networks, researching things they otherwise wouldn’t have … to see women accepting themselves for who they are, not apologizing for who they are, and my personal favorite, working their asses off to be better than they were yesterday.
As Ghandi says (and yes, I realize it’s douchy to quote Ghandi in a blog post) “Be the change you want to see in the world.“
I know I will. Will you?
January 17, 2010
1. Mood: Loving life!
2. Are there any life lessons you wish you could have learned sooner? YES! Stop being a stubborn, pigheaded kid and grow up! School is important. People are important. CARE about everyone. THINK things out.
3. How do you feel about science fiction? I love it! Some of it is brilliant. Some of it is horrible, but I’m into it.
4. Sequins — yay or nay? ONE THOUSAND PERCENT, YES YES YES!!
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks: MAC’s duo: Play on Plums, Lips: Posietint, Cheeks: Benetint/High Beam
6. Tell me five things about yourself: I love working really hard, I’m a ball of energy, I’m going grey in a very unattractive way, I’m addicted to Benetint, and I have a major shoe fetish, but I think you all already knew that.
7. Favorite bar soap? Bar soap?! NO.
8. How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? Fabulously! I’m meeting ALLLL of my goals!
9. Outfit: Here you go:

01–13-10 outfit
10. Weekly goals: BLOG more! Launch my YouTube channel (which I can’t wait to share), and use the heck out of my TUMBLR.
And I really want to share the amazing deal I got on these Kenneth Cole shoes:

Kenneth Cole, Stirry Night
With the Piperlime Tuesday 10% off and a gift certificate, I got these babies for $35. And they are gorgeous! I’ve had an amazing yellow Anthro dress for a while, and these Mary Janes are the perfect amount of pretty-tough for me, because of the studs going down the back heel.

Yellow Anthro Dress, Kenneth Cole Studded Mary Janes
January 13, 2010
I always love the surveys I find at one of my favorite beauty blogs: MakeupAndBeautyBlog.com ; Karen’s got killer reviews and a spunky attitude a chick like me can appreciate!
1. Mood: Crazy happy — this is SUCH an amazing day. The official LSP launch was today, as well as a great article on LitSisters (in which I actually appear to be quite intelligent and not like the dorkus we all know I am!) and I’m back on my diet. After indulging on an hourly basis over the holidays, I’m back to my normal eating healthy regime, and planning a hardcore diet for a couple of weeks out.
2. Video games — love ‘em or hate ‘em? I’m big fan of old school video games. I don’t play anything made later than the SNES. I don’t play often, but sometimes when the boy and I need to de-compress, we’ll crack out the old systems and play Mario Kart.
3. Last thing that made you smile? The awesome article that came out earlier.
4. A favorite sound? Harley’s howling. He doesn’t do it often, but when he does, it totally cracks me up.
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks: I’m on a Benefit kick — Charm school on my lids, Benetint on my lips & cheeks, and High Beam as a highlighter.
6. How do you feel about leggings? I don’t think they’re for me. I have a pair, and they are reserved for travel days when I’m in the car for 5+ hours.
7. Do you follow sports? Not anymore. Growing up in Montreal, Lord Stanley was a big part of life, but not anymore. I do love playing a bit, and going to baseball games in the summer.
8. When I was a kid I wanted to be _____. A writer, of course. But in addition, a singer, marine biologist & geologist/volcanologist.
9. Outfit: I’ve been so busy since the minute I woke up, I haven’t stopped to get dressed yet! So, plaid jammie pants and a Jedi sweater. But I’ll be changing for my meeting tonight, and I’m planning on my sunshine yellow Anthro dress, moto jacket and black flats.
10. Weekly goals: With the launch of LSP comes a myriad of new work to do, but I want to get a few more chapters written, and wrap up the lose ends on the next LSP release, Poles Apart. [!!!exciting!!!] My only must-do is to make sure I take care of my foot injury. I have Achilles tendonitis and I need to remember to ice my ankle and try and stay off of it as much as possible. Tough to do!
I’ll do a year-in-review pic post soon. I was fortunate enough to have spent the Christmas holidays with the Army side of the family, and then New Years hiding out in California with the husband. It was a much needed break, but I’m thrilled to be back, and back to work! I have some great things planned for this site, and I can’t wait to put them into motion!
January 4, 2010
I have put off blogging in 2010 until it was safe to make this announcement — the first big one in 2010, with so many more to come!
I am pleased to announce my partnership in LitSisters Publishing, a boutique publisher specializing in high quality fiction by women authors. Each partner is an acclaimed author in her own right and, together, the partners bring over sixty years of business, marketing, PR, R & D, and entrepreneurial acumen to this new era of publishing. We have taken our destiny into our own hands and are excited to empower other women authors on their journey to publication and beyond. LitSisters is currently producing our 2010 list . Please check in with us later this year for information on submission opportunities for our 2011 list. For more information, please find us at www.litsisterspublishing.com. Further, we invite you to join our LitSisters writing community – open to all writers – at www.litsisters.com. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates, tips and news.
January 4, 2010
Happy Monday, kids! I’m doing a blog survey this morning, which is considerably less exciting than, say, Leah’s survey, or even Hayden’s. And Mark’s is coming this afternoon.
1. Mood:
Totally in holiday-mode. I’m all kinds of bright and cheery and singing very loudly and off key, and it’s a good thing I work from home, because I feel so sugary-sweet lovey that I’m positive I’d make my co-workers puke pink dazzle just from being in my very presence.
2. Left or right handed?
Right!
3. Where do you consider home?
Despite being Canadian (and this is the time of year when I really really miss being in Montreal), I can’t help but feel most at home here in the Valley. I love Arizona.
4. Three things you’re grateful for?
My amazing sisters, family, and H&M.
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
Gold metallic lids, deep bronze lips, bronzer/NARS Orgasm cheeks.
6. Have you ever studied abroad?
No! I would have loved to, tho!
7. What do you collect?
Does shoes count? Also, teacups from Anthro!
8. Last text you sent?
To my Twitter feed Friday night, announcing that I was partying at Axis/Radius with some amazing friends. Pic from that night:

Me, and my dear friend Kim
9. Outfit:
I’m still in jammies, but here’s what I wore last night to a Christmas party:

Casual Xmas party outfit
{outfit: black pencil skirt w/paperbag waist, black tank, white cardi with satin trim, black pointed toe flats, charcoal chain bag, Marc Jacobs necklace & mint green nails by Essie.}
10. Weekly goals:
Launch the new LSP website, Audrey’s new site, Chapter–freaking–Five, a bunch of other business stuff, and enjoy Thursday&Friday with the family!
December 21, 2009
[read 20 questions with Leah Bowen here]
I’m watching Leah and Hayden hug, as she’s about to leave and give him privacy for his sit down with me. He kisses her cheek and tousles her hair and she smiles up at him – God, he’s so much taller than she is — and she reaches for the door handle.
“Wait,” he says. She stops and turns around. From the ground next to the chair she just sat in for her interview, he picks up her Burberry purse. “Don’t forget your bag.”
Leah takes it from him and gives me a bashful smile. “Thanks, Den. Talk to you later,” she says. Another quick hug, and she’s gone.
CL: Nice to see you, Hayden.
HT: Call me Den. What’s doing, CL?
CL: Shall we get started?
HT: Let’s rock it.
Favorite color:
“Purple,” he says. Final. No question. Why, I ask. “It’s a good color,” he says.
All right. Moving on.
Favorite season:
“I like winter. It doesn’t get all that cold in Phoenix, or in Southern California, where I’m from, but it’s chilly enough to need to wear layers. It’s a nice change from the million degree heat we have most of the year.”
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
Hayden rakes his hair out of his eyes, tucking it behind his ear. “I like where I live,” he shrugs. “I’m a simple guy. I moved here to go to ASU for my degree in design, and love it here. It’s a good place to put down some roots.”
What’s been the greatest moment of your life so far?
He half-smiles, and I can tell from the mischief that’s dancing in his eyes, he’s not going to give me the answer I want. “I’m really proud of being a business owner. I’ve always wanted to be self-employed. My design company is something I’m really proud of.”
Way to avoid the question, Den.
“Fine,” he says, with a hint of amusement in his voice. “When the Red Sox won the World Series.”
I sigh.
Do you have a cell phone, if so… what kind is it?
Hayden’s half smile turns into a full one, and I know he’s in his element. He’s a guy’s guy, all gadgets and electronics and cars and sports. From his pocket, he extracts an iPhone. “I love this thing. My iPhone is my world.” He’s flipping through things, and throwing out words like “apps” and “e-readers” and shows me his calendar, how he can buy movie tickets on it and a picture he took of Leah. “Pretty cool, huh?”
If you won $1,000,000 in the lottery, how would you spend it?
“I don’t know that I would. I don’t need much. I have my car, my place … I think I’d leave most of it in the bank. Maybe take Bowen shopping, she’d like that. And buy my parents a new car. They need one so bad.”
What’s one place you feel the most peaceful?
He raises an eyebrow at me like he’s trying not to ask me where I’m getting these frilly questions. “I don’t know! I guess I like Bowen’s kitchen. The chairs at her table are comfy, and she always has killer snacks. That’s pretty peaceful.”
Favorite movie?
“Indiana Jones. Lucas makes classics. Indy, Star Wars … that’s pure gold, CL. Pure. Gold. Indy on DVD is what got me through college. Honest.”
Favorite lyric from a song?
Hayden looks at me like I’ve asked him to spell a thirty-letter word. “How can I possibly answer that? There are far too many amazing lines.” Pick from your top-ten, I tell him. He bites his bottom lip in thought and I can’t help but notice he and Leah have that habit in common. “I’m going with old-school Bon Jovi here, CL. Wanted Dead or Alive. ‘I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back / I play for keeps, ’cause I might not make it back / I been everywhere, and I’m standing tall / I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all.’ God,” Hayden says, shaking his head. “The man is a genius.”
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
“Dog!” he says, as quickly as Leah did. “I can’t do cats.”
You’re stranded on a desert island. You can take three things with you. One has to be a book, one has to be an album (we’ll pretend you can listen to it) and one person:
“As for a book, I’d take Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. I read it when I was a kid, for school, and it stuck with me. Maybe it would give me some survival ideas,” he chuckles. His laugh sends goosebumps flying down my arms, and I’m caught up in the melody of it. He’s divine. “For an album? That’s a tough one. I’d have a hard time narrowing it down between Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Journey and Sinatra. I know, I have music ADD. Okay, and I can bring a person? I’d bring Bowen. Leah’s someone you want to be stuck with on a desert island.”
Why, I ask.
That mischief is back in his eyes again. “She’s good fun,” he says, and leaves it at that.
If you put your iPod on random right now, what’s the first song that plays?
“I don’t have mine with me,” he says, with a frown. “But I’ll randomly pick, and I have a feeling Bowen put some girlie crap on there. I bet Spice Girls or Britney Spears would play first, to embarrass me.”
What soothes you?
The smile in his voice fades a bit as he speaks, and it’s replaced by a softness. He crosses his legs at his ankles and brushes a strand of hair from his ocean green eyes that seem to be a bit darker now. “When I’m stressed,” he says, looking down at his knees. “I go to Bowen’s and we watch a movie. We sit together on the couch, and I always put my arm around her. I dunno. There’s something soothing about sitting with her and watching a movie. Calms me right down. Go figure.”
And I decide at that moment to be a crappy journalist and not push him for more info, and let his words hang in the air between us.
What do you want your life to be like in five years?
Hayden looks back up at me. “Like it is right now. I want to have my company still doing well, maybe get a bigger place, have the Pontiac paid off … I still want to have breakfast with Leah at IHOP every Saturday morning. I want to go shoot pool and have a beer with Gary and the guys.” What about marriage and children, I ask. He stops for a minute, and then nods. “A wife and kids would be the best. I want kids, for sure. And I want to be married. If that happens in the next five years, great. If not, I can wait. I’m only going to do this once, and I want it to be right.”
What are you most afraid of?
“This is going to make me sound like a wuss, but losing Bowen. She’s my anchor. For the past eight years, she’s been my best friend. I can’t imagine my life without her. Can we lay off these serious questions for a bit, CL? Shit!”
Fine. What’s your favorite dessert?
“Cheesecake. Oh, man, I love cheesecake! Not as much as I love pancakes, but cheesecake is up there.”
If you could go on a vacation for a week to one place, where would you go?
“I’ve always wanted to go to Italy, or France. The food would be amazing. And before you ask, yes, I would absolutely just go to eat.”
What’s your favorite ice cream?
Hayden grins. I see how he works. Ask him life questions and he shifts in his seat. Talk to him about food, and he comes alive. “Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough,” he says, and his stomach growls. “Man, I’m hungry!”
What’s your favorite article of clothing?
“My Chucks,” he says, glancing down at his feet with adoration. His classic black and white Converse Chuck Taylors have seen better days, but they are definitely well-loved. “Jeans and t-shirt and Chucks. They’re the best.”
Last one, Den. What’s your favorite memory?
And just like Leah did, he gets quiet again. He looks down at his Chucks and takes a deep breath. “What did Bowen say?” he asks. I tell him he needs to wait and read it for himself. No freebies from me. He chuckles at me and nods. “Fair enough,” he says. “The first thing that comes to mind is the first Dbacks game I took Bowen to. She wasn’t a big ball fan before then, but I got her going. That was fun. But I think my absolute favorite was the year we all went out to the beach for New Year’s Eve. We had a fun night.”
I bite my tongue, I don’t want to give anything away, but I have a feeling that Hayden and Leah have no idea just how much they’re on the same wavelength. I just smile at him.
“This is great, Den,” I say, scribbling notes.
He stands and pulls out his phone, and I can see he’s checking his text messages. Leah’s sent him a couple during our interview. He laughs to himself and types back at a speed that must be world-record level. When I’m done scribbling notes and he’s done texting or buying a Volvo or whatever it is he can do on that phone, he smiles at me.
“This was fun, CL. Thanks for the interview,” he says, his manners impeccable.
“That’s my line,” I joke as he gives me a hug.
I can hear his phone beep in his pocket, and he laughs again. It’s from deep within his chest, and it vibrates through me. It’s impossibly simple to get caught up in him.
“I better run, that’s Bowen. She’s dying to know what we talked about and she said something about post-interview pancakes, so …”
His laugh is contagious as I let out a giggle. “Have fun,” I say and give him a wave as he walks out the door.
When he’s gone, I decide to take a break. Mark isn’t due for a few hours, so I’ll go grab some lunch and meet up with him for Twenty Questions later.
December 17, 2009
Taking a break from the usual blog posts here at MTL2PHX (and at GoodReads) I thought I’d do some interviews with the stars of Collide! We’re gonna start with Miss Uber Jewelry Designer, Leah Bowen.
CL: Hey, Leah!
Leah sits down, smooths out jeans and crosses her legs. She flashes me a huge, bright white smile.
LB: Hi CL! How are ya?
CL: Great! Thanks for sitting with me and answering these questions. I know a lot of people are curious about Collide and you, and–
Leah cuts me off with a nod and a laugh. LB: –And me and Hayden.
I smile and reach for my pen and paper. CL: Yep, but we’ll get to the guys later. For now, we’re going to play twenty questions. Good?
LB: Great, let’s go!
Favorite color:
“Easy. Green. I’m definitely a green girl,” she says, with a blush. I want to point out that both Mark and Hayden have green eyes, but I move on.
Favorite season:
“I love the spring. Spring in Phoenix is beautiful. The summer is crazy hot, and we don’t get much of a winter … but the spring is all about new life, and I love that.”
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
“You know, I adore living in Phoenix. But there’s something about the Chicago metropolis that is so appealing. I think if I had my way, though, somewhere in Italy would be great. Maybe a Tuscan villa,” she laughs.
What’s been the greatest moment of your life so far?
Leah doesn’t even hesitate with this one, “Without a doubt, watching Firefly grow. When I first started, I was threaded necklaces in between classes, and shopping for gems when I wasn’t studying. It’s just so much bigger than I ever dreamed.”
Do you have a cell phone, if so… what kind is it?
Leah reaches into her purse and pulls out a beat up flip phone. “I have this. I have no idea what brand it is. Den picked it out for me a few years ago when I needed a new one,” she says, and flips it open, giving me a shrug. “Nothing fancy here. I can text and make and receive calls.”
If you won $1,000,000 in the lottery, how would you spend it?
Throwing her phone back into her purse, she sits back with a sparkle in her eye. “I’d buy a house. Nothing too big, but with a pool. And a car, so I could own it outright,” she crinkles her nose. “I hate monthly payments. Outside of buying a ridiculously expensive purse or something, I think I’d bank it and use the interest to build up Firefly even more.”
What’s one place you feel the most peaceful?
At this question, Leah blushes, and I somehow feel like I’ve asked her something really intimate. She gets quiet and looks down at her hands. “I think a lot of people would answer that with a location … like the beach or something. But for me …” she trails off and I have to clear my throat to get her attention. When she looks up again, there’s something serene in her face, as if she’s just mentally gone to that peaceful place. “Hayden’s living room. It’s always been so … peaceful. His furniture is so cushy and soft. He has these leather couches you can just sink into. And dark wood tables. The simplicity of the brown leather and un-fancy tables is just so … it puts me at complete ease.”
Favorite movie?
As if glad to be off the subject, she perks up. “My favorite movie is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. When I was in college Den got me turned on to them, he’d have them on in the background while we were studying for finals.”
Favorite lyric from a song?
Leah twirls a curl around her finger as she thinks. “I really love Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, you know? It’s so …” she stops, and I swear she swoons before she continues. “You can get lost in that song. I love the line – fill my heart with joy, and let me sing forever more,” she says, in a sing-songy voice, like she’s trying not to belt out the tune. “It’s so simple, but so full of emotion.”
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
“Dog!” she exclaims. “Marie has a cat. We don’t get along.”
You’re stranded on a desert island. You can take three things with you. One has to be a book, one has to be an album (we’ll pretend you can listen to it) and one person:
“Ahh, the ‘stranded on an island’ question. You’re one heck of a journalist, CL,” she says, rolling her eyes. I shake my head and we exchange smiles. “Oh-kay,” Leah says and is silent as she thinks about it. “I think I’d bring Wuthering Heights. And the for album … I’m going with this one compilation CD I found a while ago. It’s called Classics of the Heart, and it’s all of these amazing classical piano pieces – oh, you’d love it, CL – I’d bring it to remind myself of the optimism and beauty that I left behind. And as for a person? Well, I’d like to say Mark. We just started dating. That’s a little weird, isn’t it?” I shrug in the way that says hey-its-all-you-no-judgment, and she sighs. “I guess Den, then. He’s my best friend and the only person I can stand to be around for hours on end and not want to kill,” she laughs.
If you put your iPod on random right now, what’s the first song that plays?
“I actually have mine with me! Another thing Den made me buy. He gave me the whole ‘Bowen, you’re eight years behind technology!’ speech,” she says, in a perfect imitation of Hayden as she pulls out the little lime green iPod Shuffle. She pushes a few buttons, sticks white earbuds in her ears and waits for a few seconds. Then, she’s laughing hysterically. “Of course! It has to be the most embarrassing song in the world!”
Leah won’t even tell me, she simply hands over the earbuds for me to sample. Ugh, yeah, Embarrassing is right. She’s listening to “If You Wanna Be My Lover” by the Spice Girls. I just shake my head and hand them back to her.
“Can we pretend that didn’t happen?” she asks.
I just shake my head again.
What soothes you?
“When it rains in the desert. It’s so rare here. When it rains, the sound the droplets make when they hit the dirt, or the tin roofs, the way the palms rustle in the wind. It’s so soothing.”
What do you want your life to be like in five years?
This, she answers with certainty. “I want Firefly to be huge. I want everyone to know what it is, and I want to be able to work it full time. I’d love to be married. Find the one, maybe have a dog. Maybe a baby, too. But my career has to come first. I’ve wanted Firefly to be a household name my whole life.”
What are you most afraid of?
“Failing,” she says, without missing a beat. “Firefly is my life. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
What’s your favorite dessert?
“I love cupcakes!”
If could go on a vacation for a week to one place, where would you go?
Leah nods, and smiles. There’s something distant in her eyes, as if a vacation sounds amazing, but could never happen. “I would love to spend a week in Paris. But, for me, I want to be in love when I go, you know? I know it’s cliché to say that it’s the most romantic city in the world, but I believe that. And I want to experience that with the person I love most in the world.”
What’s your favorite ice cream?
“Mint chocolate chip!”
What’s your favorite article of clothing?
“Not to be all shameless-self-promotion and all, but my Firefly medallion,” she fingers the silver chain and circular medallion that hangs around her neck. “It’s from my core collection, and it’s my favorite thing. I wear it almost every day.”
Last one, Leah, and we’ll wrap up. What’s your favorite memory?
That familiar blush rises in her cheeks again and she shakes her head just a touch. I’m sure she didn’t expect me to notice, but she bites her bottom lip and answers in a tiny voice. “New Years Eve. Five years ago,” she says. Care to elaborate?, I ask her. “It was just,” she pauses, then her gaze meets mine. “It was a great night.”
I make some final notes on my paper and when I look up at her, I see her watching the door. She knows Hayden’s next, and I suspect she’s hoping to catch him as he walks in.
“Thanks, Leah,” I say, reaching my hand out to her.
She turns back to look at me, her long brown curls whipping around her face. “Oh! Thank you, CL! This was fun!” She pulls me up and gives me a warm hug, just as the door opens and Hayden walks in.
He stops, looking at us and grins.
“Hey Bowen, Hey CL,” he says.
Leah gives me a peck on the cheek and thanks me again before running over to him.
I smile and watch them as I turn the page and get ready for Hayden’s interview.
December 16, 2009
When I think of where I get my ideas, I think back to the opening lines to one of my favorite movies: Love, Actually.
“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is all around.”
I believe this to be true about ideas. They’re everywhere. And where Collide is concerned, I can remember the song that sparked the main idea. I was listening to Dashboard Confessional’s “Stolen” (which I’ve posted about HERE in a blog about finding inspiration) and signing along. As I did, over and over again, I saw this beautiful man … tall and lanky, with dark hair and green eyes that made you melt until you were a puddle on the floor. And he was just realizing that he was in love with this girl. That’s when I knew he was my Hayden, and she was my Leah. And that maybe, he’s been in love with her all his life. And then it grew from there. She loved him, too, but she couldn’t tell him. But I needed the WHY of it.
Hayden and Leah had to be best friends. They mean so much to each other, and they respect each other, and wouldn’t ever do anything to ruin that relationship … even if it means keeping their feelings a secret and suffering in silence. That’s essentially where it began. From there, I did some plot development. I needed a way to keep them apart, and one night it just dawned on me, someone had to keep them apart. That’s where Mark Stevens came from. Handsome, wealthy, intelligent and gorgeous beyond belief.
And voila, a love triangle was born.
So, going back to the subject matter of ideas, you can see where a song can springboard an entire story. I’ve also seen a dress that spawned into a vision of Leah wearing it at a party. From there I played the“what-if” game … what if she wore it to a gala? what if Hayden and Mark were there? what if this was the dress she wore the night her life changed? And go from there … what was the gala about? if Hayden and Mark were both there … who was she there with? and how did this night change her life? Pretty soon, these questions were answering themselves and I had characters running around in my mind, having these conversations, and I just typed everything out as fast as I could.
Ideas are everywhere! Open your eyes and let your mind wander, and you’ll be surprised at what you come up with.
December 14, 2009
I was in Vegas last week, and spent some time shopping at Ceasar’s Forum Shops & the Bellagio. The window displays were awesome, but CHANEL caught my eye and resonated with me. While I aspire to be able to walk into Chanel and say “I’ll have everything that mannequin is wearing!”, I simply can’t at the time being. So, I decided to take a picture of the look and do my best to re-create it.

The Inspiration : Chanel Holiday 2009 Window @ Vegas
And tonight, I’m going to a holiday party hosted by the lovely Dottsy, and I have to glam it up for my girl’s celebration! Here’s my cheapie version:

Holiday party look — the pieces

Holiday party — Final Look
Shoes — F21 ($20)
Red tights — HUE (dillards, $9)
Gold sequin skirt — H&M ($25)
Black Tank
Cadet jacket — H&M ($40)
December 12, 2009
December 10, 2009















