And the Actor goes to...

Viola Davis in Marchesa!

The Best Actress winner rocked the red carpet in a gorgeous ivory gown.  THIS is how you do neutrals ladies.  A HUGE fan of The Help, I am thrilled for her big win.  If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, do it now.  You will be blown away by this powerful story.

Always one of my red carpet favorites, Sofia Vergara looked AH-mazing in a fuchsia Marchesa mermaid gown.  She is absolutely hilarious and never fails to ooze charm and sex appeal.

Julie Bowen, another Modern Family lady, worked the carpet in a  gorgeous purple Temperley London gown.  She is not normally one of my favorites at awards shows, but she knocked it out of the park this time.

E! host Giuliana Rancic had one of my favorite looks of the evening.

Her red Basil Soda dress complete with a stunning gold necklace was FIERCE.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners!

Inspiration for you!

I love everything about this photo.  STUNNING.

Talk about making an entrance...

This couple is just gorgeous-both of them!

Can I please have this rug?  Pretty please?

Peonies...one of my favorite flowers.

I apologize for the lack of posts this week.  It's been a long one.

I hope these photos leave you excited for the weekend ahead.

I know that I'm in need of a good adventure!

XOXO

No help needed

Congratulations to the always stylish Jessica Chastain on her Oscar nomination for her role in The Help.  Chastain plays Celia perfectly.  I love her classic, colorful, and ladylike style on the red carpet.  In a sea of blondes, Chastain shines in cheerful, bright hues.  I wish her and all of the Oscar nominees my very best.

Killing it!

(photo courtesy of www.instyle.com)

Elizabeth Banks kills it with a black, asymmetrical Versace dress at a screening of Man on a Ledge.  I love her entire look: her sleek hair, smoky eyes, and stunning dress.  It's rock-n-roll glamour at its finest.  She normally goes for a more traditional look, so I appreciate her effort to spice things up.  Happy Friday!

Deadline to register to vote!

February 6th is the deadline to register for the Georgia Presidential Primary on March 6th.  If you aren't registered to vote, please, go do so.  Countess people have sacrificed their time, energy, and even their lives in order to have the right to vote.  Exercise your constitutional right by voting.  If you aren't registered to vote (or if you are and don't vote), please keep your mouth shut when it comes to political issues for which you don't like.  Voting is something I am incredibly passionate about...as an American, as a woman, and as an educated constituent.  If you don't know who to vote for, take some time to learn about each candidate, so you can make an informed decision.  If you think your vote doesn't count, IT DOES.  Recent elections (ahem Miami-Dade county) prove that every single vote matters.  Let's make the upcoming election one for the books with the highest voter turnout rating in history!


Click here to register to vote in the state of Georgia.

A Somewhat Golden Night

Did you watch last night's Golden Globes Awards?  I was entertained but left feeling somewhat underwhelmed.  Ricky Gervais was quite tame, and the dresses were just okay.  Some ladies hit it out of the park, while others played it safe.  Here are some of my favorite looks of the evening.

Charlize Theron stunned in Dior Haute Couture 

complete with Cartier jewels.

Her hair and sparkly headband sealed the deal for me.  

20s glamour at its finest!

Nicole Kidman rocked the red carpet in a studded Versace gown with Fred Leighton jewelry.  Her dress fit her extremely well and flattered her gorgeous physique.

In my opinion, the Golden Globe for Best Dressed goes to...

Sofia Vergara for her peacock colored Vera Wang gown and Harry Winston baubles.

The color was absolutely stunning, 

and her gown fit her immaculately.  

She has the ultimate hourglass figure 

with a crazy personality to boot.  

I would have preferred her hair pulled back, 

but she looked amazing nonetheless.

Honorable mention goes to Michelle Williams in Jason Wu and Fred Leighton jewels.

Her jeweled headband was the highlight of her look.

In a sea of sculpted blush/nude colored gowns, I appreciate Ms. Williams' daring choice.  I have always loved her style and think she is one of our generation's most talented actresses.  Her win for My Week with Marilyn was very much deserved, and I wish her the best of luck at future award shows this year.  I hope she wins the Oscar for her performance!

Staying fashionable in freezing weather

I saw a few snow flurries on my way to work this morning.  

I'm actually excited that January is finally starting to feel like winter.  

My experience is that if we have a warmer December and January, 

February and March will be brutally cold.  

How do you stay fashionable when it's freezing outside?  

I find the best way to stay warm and stylish during the cold winter months is to add bright pops of color with my accessories.

Check out these images for some inspiration.  

Brunch at Pastis in January is always a good idea.

Her hat and coat are to die for!

LOVE her red boots-I actually have this exact pair.

Wish I could pull off liquid leather leggings.  Major!

Not sure what these peeps are doing, but I like it.

Breathtakingly beautiful.

These dogs have built in fur coats just like my Georgia :)

You are not forgotten

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  Having seen the destruction firsthand, I can attest to how much work still needs to be done to repair Port-au-Prince and return people to their homes.  I will never forget my time in Haiti, and I hope that we never forget how much our Haitian friends continue to suffer.

They lack basic necessities such as clean water, food, and shelter.  The recovery and rebuilding process is extremely slow, but our donations will make a difference.  

I know there's been a lot of controversy in the recent past surrounding misuse of donated funds.  Organizations (I believe) we can trust are the American Red Cross, Oxfam, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.  

If you aren't in the position to donate financially, you can simply pray for the Haitian people.  They are incredibly warm, loving, and friendly.  Just like us, they long to be healthy, happy, and successful.  This is all most people want it seems.  Unfortunately, not all of us live in a country where this is possible.  Haiti's long-term economic, political, and social problems have plagued its' people for many years.  While I certainly don't have a solution to fix all of Haiti's issues, I know we can start by donating our money, time, and love to them.  Let's honor the 316,000 people who died on January 12, 2010 with our gifts.

Where is your ship?

"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!"

(Jonathan Winters)

Still waiting for an opportunity to pursue one of your goals or dreams?  You might wait forever.  Opportunities rarely just fall in your lap.  Sometimes you have to make it happen for yourself.  Don't sit idly while others make things happen in their lives.  You don't want to wake up one day and ask yourself why you didn't go for it.  All you can do is try, so do it already.  Give it all you've got and see what happens.  Go big, or go home.

Royal birthday

Happy 30th Birthday to the Duchess of Cambridge!

May this year be your best.  Cheers!

Resolutions

As the new year kicks off, people across the world commit to all sorts of resolutions.  Varying from losing weight to kicking a bad habit, we all start January with these goals fresh in our minds.  Come February (or even the end of January), many people fall off the bandwagon.  They realize they won't lose 15 pounds in one month or workout 5 days per week, so they give up all together.  

Instead of making such unrealistic expectations, why not commit to a lifetime of healthy living?  Aim to workout 3-5 times/week, eat healthy as much as possible, and spend more time outside.  When you think of your resolutions as lifetime commitments, they take on a whole new meaning.  Your month of eating well and daily workouts will turn into a lifetime of healthy living.  If you mess up, don't give up.  Keep on trying-don't beat yourself up and give up all together.  It's not the end of the world.  Trust me, I know from experience.  


While I'm no size two and certainly no fitness expert, I eat relatively well and workout on a consistent basis.  For the most part, I know that I'm doing what I can to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Sure, I could stand to "tighten" up and make better food choices.  But, you'll never see me do some crazy, fad diet because I know it won't last.  Fad diets are just that-fads.  I do what I can when I can, and that's good enough for me.

Bring One for the Chipper

As you take down your holiday decorations and prepare for the new year, make sure to go green by recycling your Christmas tree.  Georgia has the Bring One for the Chipper program-check it out here.  For information on recycling your tree in other areas, go to www.earth911.com.  

2012

Happy New Year friends!  

I hope 2012 brings you happiness, light, & love.