Just How I Like a Home...

With tons of books everywhere!

There's something about books that just enchants me...

Siri <3

Love everything Siri wears and does... she's pretty much perfect.

Flower Mashed Potatoes

Today as a side dish at dinner I prepared Flower Mashed Potatoes which I made for the first time and now it's for sure going to become a regular. It's basically mashed potatoes ...without the potatoes. Instead you steam some cauliflower until soft and then put into a blender with a little bit of organic unsalted butter and add a little bit of soy milk to make it easier to get things going and a touch of pepper. After blended, serve and top with a little bit of thyme. It tasted almost exactly the same but clearly being the much healthier option.

Away We Go!

Off to Varadaro, Cuba for Christmas!!
This is going to be one crazy, fabulous vacation!

In the Bedroom

I've been looking for a focal head piece for my bedroom over the course of these past few weeks, but it's been kind of an impossible task finding the perfect one. I'm leaning towards one of these black decal designs kind of like the one in the picture but not as dramatic. I want it to have a more vintage feel to it and kind of blend into the room but still remain the focal point by keeping the rest simple. I'm wondering what other options are out there as opposed to this and the overused shelving over the bed... and I don't want an actual headboard though!

If any of you have any ideas i'd love to know!

Laughter, Lunch and the Ladies

Today after our three hour long Criminal Law exam, two of my girlfriends and I decided we needed a nice little break before getting on to studying for our next exam tomorrow. We ended up going to this little authentic Italian bistro nearby "Tesoro", with a name like that who could resist! It means treasure in Italian and it seriously is one if this city's hidden little treasures. I got the Vegetarian Panini with Goat Cheese which was amazing, i'm definitely going to try to re-make it and for dessert we ordered a Mint Bailey's Chocolate Cheesecake which was by far the best cheesecake i've ever tried and original homemade Tiramisu... absolutely scrumptious!! Can't wait to go back, maybe this will become a routine?

Sunday's Simple Pleasure

Since it's Sunday, I decided to give myself a little study break and used it up by making some deliciously simple Cinnamon Almond Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. Yummy and healthy just how I like my treats! I enjoyed them with a cup of Organic Soy milk and while reading the last few modules in "From Crime to Punishment."

Oatmeal is definitely near the top of my list when it comes to comfort food, what's your comfort treat?

A Little Bit of Class; A Little bit of Sass

Love, love and love all these items... Perfect combo for a chic pre-planned Wine & Cheese or for a last minute late night coffee run with girlfriends.

Happy Friday!

Well Friday has finally arrived and I wish you all a fantastic weekend! While you're all out and about being your fabulous selves and going on about your interesting fun-filled weekends, I'm going to be at home studying my piles and piles of textbooks in preparation for all my exams in the next two weeks... fun! Oh well at least today was a crazy snowy blizzard so there's nowhere i'd rather be right now other than in my warm home in my comfiest sweatpants. Today is definitely a good day for studying if ever there was one!

Maybe you guys will get in some good reading this weekend too, let me know what's on your must read booklist!

I Love Your Style

I picked up a copy of Amanda Brooks' new book "I Love Your Style" a few weeks ago and its far surpassed any expectations that I had for it beforehand. The way the pictures and articles are layed out is the perfect set up for getting all my creativity flowing and not to mention that Brooks did an amazing job with the writing itself! This is for sure a must have style book for the fashion obsessed but don't be fooled by the simple yet beautiful cover because this book makes for much more than just a coffee read!

Elegance 101

I have always idolized any person be it celebrity eg: Audrey Hepburn or a friend, who exodes elegance in any aspect of their lives. Audrey to me is the definition of elegance itself and everything she did was always done with charm and grace. However, in today's world it seems harder and harder to fit "elegance" into our daily lives, but I have come to realize that there is always a little bit of charm to be found in even the simplest act if you make a deliberate effort. We can be elegant in the way we dress, in the way we take care of ourselves, in the way we act or even in the way we run our homes. It's a way of living that is attained either by possessing natural elegance or by incorporating small gestures that mold the average non-possesser into their most graceful self.

Elegance Essentials

A Classive Wardrobe:

• Jeans
• T-Shirts - in all colors
• Crisp white blouse
• Black turtleneck
• Cashmere sweater
• The perfect blazer
• Tailored black pants
• "Little Black Dress"
• Matching lingerie
• Trenchcoat
• A timeless purse (Hermes)
• Something diamond, Something pearl
• And always, always, always keeping clothing maintained (pressed, drycleaned, hemmed, polished etc.)

Bare Elegance:

• Candlelit bubble baths
• Proper skin care regime
• French manicure, or pale pink short rounded nails
• Hair maintenance
• Signature scent (eg: Chanel No'5)

Home:

• Setting the atmosphere even when there's no company over
• Candles
• Essential oils
• Incense
• Fresh cut flowers regularly
• Organized and clutter-free environment

Extra Elegance:

• Write personalized notes on monogrammed stationary instead of e-mails

I'm curious to know, what habits do you incorporate in your daily life to bring out the ever so charming "Holly Golightly" in you?

Color Combo from Runway to Realway

I can't seem to get over how much I love the color combination of baby blue, white and camel when worn together. It's such a refreshing look and so clean cut. This is definitely going to be an essential in my spring wardrobe!

Ballet and Chanel

I just thought i'd share this video since its so beautiful...

I absolutely love ballet.

Enjoy!

The Perfect Getaway

As usual I have left my Christmas vacation planning until the very last minute! I have been so busy with studying for school that I almost forgot to save some time to book my perfect little getaway! This year I'm thinking of taking two vacations to two very different locations to make up for having stayed put last year instead of venturing off somewhere exotic.

A few girlfriends and I are thinking of going to Banff, Alberta right before Christmas to enjoy the magic of a winter vacation in the mountains. I can just picture it now... the crisp air, endless piles of white snow, big snowflakes, deer roaming around nearby, the hot chocolates and homemade fudge in every flavor imaginable! We'd be staying at the Fairmont Hotel, which looks absolutely beautiful, I couldn't think of a better place to be during christmas other than this hotel which is nothing short of a castle. The location just calls for that perfect fair isle sweater paired with leggings and knee-high boots. Can't wait!

The other vacation I'm in the midst of planning is to somewhere hot! Maybe Dominican Republic or Cuba? What better way is there to starting a brand new year than by celebrating New Year's Eve on a sandy beach somewhere enjoying some fun in the sun and attending all the local festivities? Sipping on a Cosmopolitan in my bikini on some tropical beach with my best girlfriend to salute 2010 is my idea of the perfect start to a brand new year!

Hot or cold? What's you're perfect winter getaway?

Organic Chai for Perfect Chi

This post is just a follow-up to my previous post on my new found love for the art of sipping some tea. Although this is a black tea, which makes it automatically contain some caffeine, it's nothing when compared to a cup of coffee! The best tea i've tried yet is the Organic Chai by Tazo Teas. It can be purchased at most Starbuck's in individual filters or a box of 24. I like to think the Chai works on my Chi but then again what do I know about all that? I guess it's just my new urge for all things zen!

Mixed with half water and half soy milk is my fix and the warm, spicy flavoring is perfectly paired with the cold winter weather!

Yum!

Teacup Straight to My Heart

It's been about three weeks now since cutting coffee out of my diet and while there are some days where I feel like I'm going to topple right over without my daily dose... most days have come surprisingly easy since introducing the art of tea into my life.

I have to admit I was never much of a tea person before. I was more than content with my Venti White Chocolate Mocha from Starbuck's and cutting that out in exchange for a plain herbal tea ...no thanks!

Until...

My head started clearing from being jacked up on sugar and high doses of caffeine all the time and cutting it out allowed me to slow down my life and thoughts. With coffee everything was always go, go, go and desperately searching for the next caffeine high seemed to be my number one priority. But, when it comes to tea-time everything suddenly slows down and it gives you exactly that... more time which you never even knew existed. And we all could definitely use some more of that!

I have also come to find that I was wrong about tea being boring, it's anything but! And there are the sweetest little teacup and saucer sets that are the latest item on my wishlist. Most of them don't come cheap though, if they're good quality, but what harm can something so simply irresistable be?

The teacup and saucer in the picture is called the Morning Meadow Cup and Saucer and comes in a set of four which can be purchased at www.englishstore.com for $57.99. They have the teapot and everything too!

Introducing Champagne & Chanel

Bonjour!

I'd like to make a toast...

Champagne & Chanel is a blog with a passion. Originating from my love of both the bubbly and the designer label I have put "Champagne & Chanel" together as a representation of who I am and what this blog will consist of.

In here you will find posts on fashion and decor, food and cooking, art and photography and above all anything else as worthy and delectable as the title.

Seeing as December is my favorite time of the year (though I say that about every holiday and season!) I thought that it would be the perfect time to begin my blog. With all the inspiration surrounding me everywhere... the white snow outside, the perfectly brewed cups of coffee, cozy oversized knits, nutmeg and gingerbread and not to mention Christmas day coming up I can hardly wait to indulge in all the blogging!

So heres to the beginning of Champagne & Chanel, cheers!