Elle, Abroad
I am a cranky, crappy traveler, but once I get to a destination, muscle down the fog of circadian rhythm mutiny, I fall in love with my chosen place.
So it was in Porto, Portugal.
We arrived in Porto, in the morning, well before the hotel was ready to take us in. They did take our bags and we wandered off to get our bearings and see some sites. Below is the train station,, full of charm and the artistic tile that Portugal is famous for.
I WILL WARN YOU NOW THAT I AM COMPLETELY UNVARNISHED, BUT FOR A SWIPE OT TWO OF CHANEL LIP GLOSS, IN THESE CANDID SHOTS. NO MAKE UP, AND THE LAZIEST OF PONYTAILS. YOU WILL NOT BE IMPRESSED WITH MY APPEARANCE AND MY SWOLLEN EYES, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL BEAR WITH ME.
WE LOVED OUR STAY IN INTERCONTINENTAL PORTO. THE ROOMS WERE GENEROUSLY SIZED, COMFORTABLY FURNISHED, AND LUXURIOUSLY APPOINTED, BUT NOT OVER THE TOP. THE STAFF COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL OR KIND.
IN THE ABOVE SHOT I AM WEARING A TULLE SKIRT IN BLACK, ( I BROUGHT 3 WITH ME, IN DIFFERENT COLORS, THEY TRAVEL REALLY WELL!), OPENED TOE SHOOTIES, AN EYELET BLOUSE, AND MY D&G CORSET BELT, SO I DO NOT LOOK LIKE A DOUGH BALL. ( TIP- 6 LAYERS OF TULLE ADDS ALOT OF BULK, A WIDE BELT IS A GOOD IDEA.)
I AM WEARING TWO SMALL BAGS, AS IS MY RECENT HABIT. ( DO YOU HATE SEARCHING THROUGH A LARGE BAG, TIME AND TIME AGAIN?) MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE TOP ONE IN YELLOW POLKA DOTS, AND MY LEATHER AND EMBOSSED REPTILE BAG WAS A SCORE FOR 10$ USD ! I LOVE THE WHIP-STITCHING AROUND THE EDGES.
MORE SHOTS FROM THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF VISITING PORTO:
A NEARBY GARDEN
I love the way the architecture resembles these delish macaroons!
How cool is this little sitting spot, laden with tile so typical of this region!
Shots from the food market and nearby:
The next day we took a water taxi :
and we saw
Back to the hotel for naps!
Dinner, sleep, and we start again. Another tulle skirt! Similar here .
I am trying to keep up on my favorite blogs while away. Wishing everyone well! Stay tuned for more photos , NOT in NYC !
Allie & Elle
Pardon my lamentably late post. These photos were taken during fashion week and a few weeks later. I am both happy and proud to be with my beautiful blogging friend Allie, of ALLIE NYC.com.
Allie and I met during NYFW and had dinner together after the wonderfully inspired Verdad show. It is such fun to discover the real person behind the blog persona. Allie is a sensitive intellectual, very beautiful, with full-on porcelain skin, and is tall and angular like a runway model. Her style is impeccable and on-point wearing the very best pieces from Zara.
At the Verdad Show.
Dinner after a Nolce Show.
Snaps from the Nolcha Shows.
Allie took this shot of me inside ( light challenged but great restaurant- Bistano at the Kimberly Hotel In Midtown east. The blue light from the fish tank was perfect to illuminate the fish. For me, not so much, but still... We had great fun!
Please check out Allie's work if you do not know off her blog already. Her format is gorgeous, and her coverage of NYFW and many designers is fascinating, and presented flawlessly.
Her most recent blog about the future of blogging is a Must Read!
Have you had the opportunity to meet your favorite bloggers in person? I know many of you have. Let me know how your experiences were! I hope to meet more bloggers as time goes on!
I hope you are having a fabulous Spring week!
The Thaw
At last, the hills of brown snow are starting to melt.
The skies are brighter, and the wind is not blowing such frigid air. I look out the window, and I recall the recent snow; wave after wave of it.
The transition to Spring begins. It starts outside, and starts, too in our minds; our ability to imagine the verdant greens and vivid cerulean blue of pure Springtime. I feel the slow, warm thaw. Part of me is cold, most of me.
I do not yet, believe in in the warmth of the bluing skies.
Then I feel it. A warming. I can see it, and I can smell it, Fresh air. But part of me is still frozen. Part of me is still locked in step, cold and slow.
And then it happens. My senses all wake up to the subtle energy of warm. My blood flows more surely, my limbs move with more vigor.
The cold is truly behind me now. I could run outside now, and only wear a light jacket, or this kimono in whispery peach chiffon, embroidered with nature's motifs; the color my of my face when it blushes with the first hint of sun on the horizon.
I am joyful. I could skip down the sidewalk. Embarrassingly, I do just that.
The dirty snow is still there. But it is almost like a shadow. All that is left is for it to melt. Spring, is here, surely.
Do you feel it, too?
Butterflies
Happy Spring! It is warm on this spring day, but there is still dirty walls of snow. I am grateful for them though. I tripped over a bit of an uneven city street. and started to fall, propelling forward. I caught myself on a wall of snow, and no harm done. There is always a silver lining!
Here, I am outside, being a bit goofy; so glad am I to feel the sun!
Mixed stripes, Solid Happy!
I AM WEARING TWO BAGS HERE. OFTEN, IT IS EASIER TO WEAR TWO LIGHT BAGS, THAN ONE HEAVIER ONE. IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ORGANIZATION; WALLET IN THE CHANEL BAG, GLASSES, BRUSH, LIPSTICKS, AND CELL PHONE, IN THE ORANGE LEDERER, CROCODILE BAG. BOTH WORN MESSENGER STYLE FOR EASY REACH, AND PROTECTION FROM PICKPOCKETS,
This outfit looks best, and is most comfortable, with my hands in my pockets. This is the only shot this way, unfortunately. I was having way too much fun, practicing my balance; hopping on one foot- hold- and then another - hold. Namaste. My daisy jacket is from Monalisa on Madison, a fabulous, up-scale children's store.
The shadows are strong today, casting unflattering spots on my face, but making cool patterns on the sidewalk. Below are pictures taken indoors, by my friend, ( who you have seen here as a model, gorgeous Yulia. ) We are inside Elite Home, no strong shadows, here, just muted ones from the most elegant site for lighting and furniture in NYC!
Showing off my Maryjanes, bought last Year on eBay, in my small size! I feel a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.
Stripes, and daisies, and Chanel, OH MY!
I love butterflies and stripes together, so I was happy to find my J.Crew sweater at Encore. last week, alone with my striped skirt. The skirt made for Saks, and with labels still attached and unworn, also came from Encore .
I do not really need my sunnies inside, but they are so cool from Theo Pilar, made in Belgium, and purchased, yes, again at Encore. (Yes, the same sunglass creator that Elton John adores.) Ah, this heavily chair. I may
NEVER
ever get up!
Happy Spring.! Even with the dirty snow, I can feel it is here! Hurrah!
Can you feel it?
Thank you for Elite Home NYC for a gorgeous setting!
Warm Days in Denim
A FEW WEEKS AGO, RIGHT AFTER THE BLISTERING COLD WEEK OF FASHION WEEK, HUBBY AND I WENT TO MARYLAND TO SEE HIS FOLKS. WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE AFTERNOON AT THEIR COUNTRY CLUB, HAVING LUNCH, AND WALKING OUTSIDE. I TOOK SOME NICE FAMILY PHOTOS.
IT WAS BRILLIANT OUT AND WARM. WE TOOK SOME PHOTOS ON THEE GOLF COURSE, AND THOUGH ONLY MID-FEBRUARY, THERE WERE GOLFERS ENJOYING THEMSELVES.
THE TEMPS THERE THAT DAY!
AND JUST DAYS EARLIER, BRRR!
Bright blue skies in Maryland!
Those little dots, middle right, are golfers!
I am wearing cropped flare jeans with a raw hem. These feel spring like. I am still wearing my booties, out of pure habit, it is warm enough for pumps or sandals. My floral blouse is great for travel as it does not wrinkle, and my pleather, blue jacket is from the children's department at Bloomingdales.
My fleur de lis scarf was a Christmas gift from my son's girlfriend. I love it ( and her!) It adds a great warm layer, and another pattern to mix with floral.
The sun was strong, and cast bold shadows, which you can see best in black and white.
I LOVE THE TULIPS THAT GREETED US AS WE SAT DOWN FOR LUNCH. I HAVE NOT SEEN MANY FLOWERS, AND HOW I CRAVE SPRING!
I LOVE WHITE TULIPS, AND YELLOW TULIPS ARE MAY FAVORITE, BUT I CRAVED COLOR AND EDITED AGAIN. SO I CAN LEAVE YOU WITH LOTS OF COLOR. THERE WAS BLIZZARD, HERE AND ELSEWHERE, WITH STREETS ONLY WHITE AND GREY, NOTHING GREEN TODAY, AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. IT IS THE LEAST I CAN DO.
I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS YOYO LIKE WEATHER, AND MAY BE DEALING WITH FLOODS AND RAIN, BUT I HOPE YOU ARE ALL BASKING IN SUNSHINE, OR WILL BE SOON! LET ME KNOW!
XOXOXOXOXOXO ELLE XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
1/2 Birthday, Full Celebration- #Empowered Aging
LATELY, I FIND THAT I CELEBRATE MORE. I LET NO GOOD MOMENT GO BUY UNNOTICED, AND UNAPPRECIATED. AS THE WORLD FEELS LESS STABLE TO ME, I FEEL INCLINED TO BE AS POSITIVE AS I CAN, EVEN TAKING THE TIME TO CELEBRATE MY HALF BIRTHDAY, A QUIET ONE AT HOME. I ATE HALF A CUPCAKE!
HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT AGING? LETS INFER SOME THINGS FROM THIS PHOTO AND THE NEXT: I AM STANDING ON MY CAKES ( SEE REFERENCE AT END) AND AM SURROUNDED BY BALLOONS IN THEIR MOST FESTIVE SHADES. PRETTY GREAT, I WOULD SAY!
58.5 IS A FAB AGE!
AS ONE AGES, THERE IS MORE PERSPECTIVE. THE TRIVIAL BECOMES LESS A FOCUS THAN THE LIFE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. I ALWAYS MAKE THE BEST OF THINGS, A TRAIT I ACQUIRED FROM MY MOM. NOW ANOTHER HINT.
SOMETIMES I AM DOWN TO EARTH, AND SOMETIMES MY HEAD IS IN THE CLOUDS!
BECAUSE OF MY AGE, I FEEL LIGHTER. OF ALL OF MY TRAITS, I VALUE MY CREATIVITY THE MOST. I CAN EASILY ENVISION MYSELF IN A BRIGHTER PLACE, WHEN THINGS GET DARK . THEREFORE, IMAGINING THE ABOVE SHOT, WAS EASY, AND SO MUCH FUN FOR ME.
BUT SOMETIMES I DO GET JOY FROM THE TRIVIAL. A FUNNY JOKE, A GREAT BOOK, EVEN A HANDBAG PURCHASE ( SO LONG AS IT IS BARGAIN, TOO). SOMETIMES MY THINGS, GIVE ME A BOOST, AND YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE MY BAG COLLECTION.
OF COURSE, THE THINGS THAT GIVE ME JOY AND BEING WITH LOVED ONES. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN THAT. NO POSSESSION CAN COME CLOSE TO THE SENSE OF CONTENTMENT THAT FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND PETS PROVIDE.
NOW THAT I AM CLOSER TO 59 THAN 58, AND THEREFORE THINKING ABOUT MY SIXTIES, I FEEL AMBIVALENT BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.
I NEVER TAKE WHAT MY BODY CAN, AND CAN NOT DO, FOR GRANTED. THIS IS A GIFT MORE THAN A DETERRENT, BECAUSE I HAVE ADOPTED GOOD HABITS AND LIFE SKILLS THAT WILL HELP ME AS LIFE GOES ON.
LIVING IN MANHATTAN ALSO EMPOWERS ME. I HAVE MET SO MANY INTERSTING FRIENDS HERE. I CAN SEE SO MUCH BEAUTY IN THIS CITY; IT IS EVERYWHERE, EVEN IN THE SUBWAYS. YES,
THERE IS LOTS OF UGLY, TOO, BUT THAT IS EASY TO TUNE OUT, OR PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE; IN THE WAY THAT YELLOW FEELS SO MUCH BRIGHTER AGAINST A DEEP DARK COLOR OF BLEAK NIGHTFALL.
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST 4 DECADES NOW, WITH A SPRINT IN THE BURBS TO REAR MY CHILDREN, NOW ADULTS. MY DAUGHTER, TOO, LIVE HERE, AND MY SON WILL TOO, I HOPE AFTER GET COMPLETES HIS SCHOOLING.
I CAME HERE FROM THE MIDWEST WITH MANY HOPES. ALL OF THEM FULFILLED, ( AFTER A LOT OF HARD WORK AND BEING SCRAPPY) NO SILVER SPOON IN MY LITTLE MOUTH. I LEARNED TO NEGOTIATE THE METAPHORICAL, AND LITERAL TWISTY TURNS OF THIS CITY. AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE MASTERED IT.
SOMETIMES I THINK ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IS THIS BUSTLING GOTHAM WORLD.
THEN I COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH, AS I ALWAYS DO, BUT HOPE STAYS WITH ME, DRIFTING DOWNWARD WITH A STEADY GENTLENESS.
POST DETAILS:
I MADE THESE IMAGES MYSELF!! :) I USED AN IPAD APP AND LEARNED IT VERY QUICKLY, ON MY OWN . MANY OF YOU KNOW HOW I STRUGGLED WITH PHOTOSHOP, WITHOUT CONSISTENT LESSONS.
WHAT I AM WEARING: ( AN OUTFIT I HOPE TO WEAR AS SOON AS SPRING COMES, MAYBE TOMORROW?)
CHECKED DRESS, BY P. LUCA VIA WORKSHOP .
- STRIPED LONG SLEEVE TEE BY JAMES PERSE , ON SALE LAST SUMMER.
- TROPICAL PRINT BAG, BY CELINE, VIA BERGDORF GOODMAN, A GIFT FROM A FRIEND LAST YEAR. THIS IS NOW SOLD OUT, BUT I FOUND THIS CUTE INEXPENSIVE BAG FROM EBAY HERE AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
- THE BOW TIE IS A SASH FROM A DRESS..
- THE APP I USED IS CALLED JUXTAPOSER, HAVE FUN WITH IT.
- THE SUPER COOL LOLLIPOP CAKE I FOUND ON A GREAT WEBSITE , IT IS AN INSPIRING SITE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT AGING? WHAT ARE YOUR COPING MECHANISMS WHEN DEALING WITH STRESSFUL TIMES AND SITUATIONS? LET ME KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW!
#Valentines Gifts Tips- Don't forget the Romance !
IT IS ALMOST HERE, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CELEBRATE BY BUYING GIFTS, AND MAYBE ENJOY A ROMANTIC DINNER, I HAVE PUT TOGETHER SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR VALENTINE'S GIFTS THAT ARE SURE TO PLEASE, AND ARE FROM SMALL RETAILERS..
Make the HOLIDAY sweeter by supporting small SMALL BUSINESSES. Choose something thoughtful, it does not have to be a physical gift, but can also include arrangements for a day trip , a couples massage, A fragrant bubble bath with rose petals, or even a special staycay.
SHOP KCSIGNATURES.COM ON THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT HERE . FIND THE LINKS FOR THE POLYVORE SETS HERE .
MARRIED, SINGLE, OR ENGAGED, ENJOY THE DAY, EVEN IF YOU SKIP THE HOLIDAY, OR DO NOT CELEBRATE IT AT ALL!
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS BEEN OK WITH SUCH CRAZY WEATHER!