So the Holidays are over and usually this is when my winter blues set in. One of two resolutions for the New Year was to not make resolutions and promises to myself  that I can not keep, the other was to not wish my life away looking forward to nicer weather, vacations, etc, and really just be present in the moment and really enjoy what is currently going on in my life. The past few days although wet, were very mild, and perfect for meandering around NYC.  I have found spring colors and winter whites help fight the depressing grey winter months.

XX,
EE  


 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! So, amongst the laundry list of things I was secretly wishing I would get (myself) for Christmas, was a new camera. I was making myself cross eyed reading reviews.  I am clearly not a photographer so I know I did not need to spend a bundle.  What I do need, is something that is clear, with great resolution, tons of megapixels and can upload or email right from the device.  I was very interested in one particular samsung camera that came wifi ready. The day after Christmas, with gift card in hand, I braved the crowds to get my new camera.  I looked at the one I had originally wanted. It seemed practical, and looked professional and I would surely astound my readers with the clear upgrade of photographs on my blog!  It was then that the very educated and informative sales person brought me to the Samsung Galaxy 2  . It was cheaper, the camera was very comparable to the first, but this not only has a wifi card, it is a smart camera, with a fully functional touch screen on the back, and is white leather! You can download any app you would want and game, photo app, social media, movies, CHATon (samsung messaging similar to Imessage that I didn't know existed!), etc.

I am trying to figure out all of the settings, but I have been having a hell of a time playing around with it.
As you can tell I have not quite turned into Herb Ritz, but I am working on it. Hopefully I will be a pro by New Years Eve and this weekend as I am going away and will have many photo ops.

XX,
EE

Hello!  I am sure everyone has had a crazy last few weeks as I have.  This past week/weekend has been crazy!  I took in the new Annie with my son, celebrated my youngest nephew's 3rd Birthday (which thank God his father was out of the hospital to celebrate with us), had my annual Christmas shopping extravaganza and lunch with my best girlfriend, and had the pleasure of attending my friends Todd and Brian's Holiday Party, Sparkle after Dark-le. Eight years ago Todd and Brian purchased an old Mason Temple that after months of renovations they turned into their home.  As you can imagine the space is huge, and perfect for hosting parties. They hosted their wedding, a slew of Oscar parties and themed holiday parties almost every year!  Two of the most talented men I know with a flare for making things beautiful!

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

XX,
EE


 

the dressing room

One of the bedrooms decorated for the holiday

Yes, those are Louboutins in the garland!

Trees in almost every room

I certainly was not the prettiest girl there!

Selfie with my mom

a partridge in a pear tree

Having fun in Todd/Lili's closet!

I don't have a significant other or anyone to exchange Christmas gifts with (waaaaaah), so usually I buy myself a nice gift every year. Either one nice something, or a few little things.  I rationalize it by telling myself I get up and go to work everyday and work hard... I deserve it (insert Destiny's Child Independent Women here).  Every year as the Christmas Season approaches I am amazed that I can't find one thing that I want, but slowly and surely as I get out to Christmas shop for others, I find so many things.  I have compiled a list of things I am currently coveting...and for anyone out there who loves me, I accept gifts with open arms! ;)

This over sized shredded sweater is something I have been day dreaming about it since I saw it at a friend's boutique.  The brand is Shampoo and it comes in Charcoal and Winter White.  Available at Recess Boutique in Winchester, MA. A-MAZE!

Yes, they are Pajama bottoms, and yes I will wear them as pants!
available at J. Crew  ON SALE NOW!

I have been researching a good, fairly inexpensive camera for a while now.  I need to take better pictures for this blog ;), and I have a few vacations planned, and do not want iphone pictures. This has a WiFi chip so you can email or upload pictures immediately.  Samsung

I LOVE hats!!  I buy them all the time, but often times I opt not to wear them because I have very temperamental hair that has a mind of it's own.  I feel this is a good alternative for keeping your ears warm, and not creating a bad case of hat head.  Eugenia Kim turban

Dear early 20s Elise,

   I know you may not recognize me as I am a little older, I no longer have Ginger Spice highlights, recently have acquired many more wrinkles, and may not be exactly where you would think you would be in your late thirties, but here I am.  This isn't a letter to tell you how to rewrite history and do things differently, but rather give you advice or tools and any other young people that might read this.  I am fairly happy where I am, I have lived, loved greatly and deeply, and most certainly learned many lessons...

Here are a few things you should remember:

1. You do not know everything! I get it, you have been to college, lived on your own for years, moved across the country and seen and done things that a lot of people may have not, but there is still so much you don't know. Be open, never stop learning, examining and questioning. You can learn from almost anyone and anything. Listen and absorb. Knowledge is power.  I have done most of my learning in just the past few years, and I am astounded at how much I still don't know.


2. Do not live to make others happy, and be true to yourself. This is something I still struggle with. You can not live how you think people want you to, and you aren't living your life incorrectly just because you live differently then others. Love who you want, live where you want, read what you want.  It is your life, take control. You are the only person that can make you happy and trying to please others will cause stress and regret. 

 
3. Be kind to others, and try not to judge.  I stress 'try'. We have all judged and have been judged, we are human.  But I have found that more often than not people judge out of their own insecurities. Unconsciously we try to beat others to the punch and judge before we are judged.  We are all guilty of this.  The points in our life I was overly critical, opinionated and judgy of others were times we were going through some hard times.  Be kind to people, you never know what they are going through or what has brought them to where they are now, and through the choices they have made. Just because someone doesn't handle, react or do things the way you do, does not make it wrong.  We are nobody's judge and jury.  Walk a mile in someone's shoes...

 
4. Take chances, and don't be so afraid of failing!  You will fail, everyone does, but if first you don't succeed try, try, again.  Don't always choose the safe route, or what you think is the safe route.  Great success usually comes from great risk.

 
5. Let your guard down and be more vulnerable. Somewhere along the years of our life we became exceptionally guarded and emotionally unavailable.  We will always struggle with this.  What I have found is, regardless of our defense mechanisms and attempts at self preservation, trying our hardest not to get hurt, we will.  There is no way around it.  Shutting your switch off and 'trying' not to feel loss, sorrow,  and heartache doesn't rid you of it, you just manifest it in strange ways.  In our case it has been weight loss/gain, migraines,  insomnia, and some failed relationships.  We only have one life, experience and feel all of it.

6. You cannot change people and you shouldn't want to.  We should accept people, and be accepted for who we are. Let go of trying to control situations and people.  Again, we only have control over ourselves.

7. You are not fat, and have great boobs!  Oh for the love of God I wish I appreciated this!  I know standing in a leotard in front of a mirror most of our life has made us hypercritical of our appearance, but appreciate your body!  I look back at pictures and can not believe I was so insecure. I will take this advice and apply it now as well, for I know in twenty years I will look back and want to tell the current me the same thing.


8. Be your best self.  Be honest, don't lie, cheat, scam or use people.  It is pretty self explanatory. Don't do immoral things simply because you can.  Be bigger than that..  What goes around comes around. Put out good, and you will get it back. Be honest with yourself and everyone else. Do the right thing. Integrity is the essence of everything successful.


9. Express yourself.
Don't miss an opportunity to tell someone how you feel.  You may never get that opportunity back. Don't play games.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.


10. Learn to let go. There are so many things we try to hold onto in life, some out of love, some out of convenience, some out of sheer comfort.