Whether you like the natural smell of a good old fashion tree or if you’re going green and going to choose a plastic one, the Christmas tree is the star of December 24th. Well, that and presents.

There are many ways to decorate it, you can practically go from all white/red/blue to a colorful tree, in which you’ve put all the ornaments you’ve gathered through the years. I dislike throwing away ornaments because they remind me of a Christmas past, a time where things were so simple and beautiful and my heart fills with melancholy.

I’ve had broken ornaments, some that couldn’t even be maneuvered well, because of how fragile they were, but those were the ones that had my deepest love. I really do long for the times in which I was searching frantically through the house, everywhere, just to find my presents, and feel the happiness of the discovery, even if it was a simple pair of slippers and candy. I knew there were more. Now, my Christmas gift is purchased online, or from a shopping mall and I get to say what I want and usually receive money so that I can buy said gift myself.

Anyway, teach your children to appreciate the NOW, because who knows how their Christmas would be like.

There has actually been a movie made about the courage to wear red lipstick (yes, it was about a cancer survivor, but wearing red lipstick was a huge metaphor there) and in pop culture everywhere – and from anytime – there’s been a huge emphasis on the effects this little make-up tool has on self esteem and, well, men.

The thing is, I’d go out on a limb and say a pink shade isn’t for anyone, whereas every woman, no matter what race she is, can wear red on her lips. Now I’m just picturing a lovely Asian girl, or an African-American woman with a large smile and full, red lips. Definition of beautiful - that is.

There are some rules when it comes to going out in the world with this shade on. First, if you chose red on your lips, don’t do anything even remotely dramatic on your eyes. Foundation+powder+a touch of blush are just enough, even for a night out.  You don’t want to give the wrong message.

Second, if your skin is white pale and you don’t intentionally go for the vampire look, try a foundation that’s just one tone darker than your natural skin. If you’re into that whole Corpse Bride thing, that’s cool, but if you’re not and you’ll just settle for red lipstick and nothing else, that’s the look you’re gonna get.

So, go out, be bold and wear red.

They’re all feel good, so it’s ok

5. Surviving Christmas is a very cutesy tale of the rich guy who wants to rent a family for the holidays, but finds himself falling for his fake-sister. Great part from James Gandolfini, he’s very funny.

4. Noel.  You know how Hollywood tries to remake European flicks? Well, I might say that this one goes in that category, but, unlike “Valentine’s Day” or the more recent “New Year’s Eve”, this one actually has a plot and the stories are pretty good.

3. Alles is Liefde (aka Love is All). The Dutch version of “Love Actually”. Not very much to say here, truth is if you liked the British movie, you’ll also like this.

2. The Family Man. definitely one of my favourite movies of all time. The plot revolves the idea of ‘what if I would’ve chosen differently?’ which is one of the questions I think everyone has asked himself at one point or another in his life.

1. Love Actually. Surprise, surprise.  I’m trying very hard to choose my favourite stories. I guess it’s the unrequited love one and Colin Firth’s, because they’re both so full of passion. However, bring a Kleenex. The movie itself is pretty impressive and you just find yourself cheering for ‘Billy Mack’ to get naked, even though he’s way past his prime.

La editia din 26 noiembrie am participat cu mai mult entuziasm decat prima data, si asta nu a facut decat sa ma ajute. Noile reguli impuse de fetele de la Schimb de haine (mai putine produse, dar de calitate) au facut sa am de unde alege si chiar sa renunt la unele produse, pentru ca am consideram ca aveam deja prea multe lucrusoare frumoase si era cazul sa mai las si altcuiva. Tocmai de aceea, o prietena care nu a participat s-a ales chiar cu o fusta foarte draguta, pe care, dupa spusele ei, chiar are de gand sa o poarte. Poate cu putin noroc o conving sa participe si ea la urmatoarea editie a schimbului de haine.

Word of advice: bring a friend.

Cel mai rau imi pare ca fetele au fost foarte axate pe schimb si pe ce au putut ele sa primeasca (didn’t we all?) incat nu am stiut exact cui sa ii multumesc. Am o bluza colorata de la C&A cu eticheta, o rochie de matase, o alta bluza colorata, o pereche de cercei si inca un articol pe care acum nu reusesc sa-l vizualizez.

And – the best part, am castigat! A avut loc o tombola, iar eu am castigat. Nu am mai castigat niciodata nimic si oricum venea Sfantul Andrei, asa ca a fost binevenit premiul. Mi-am ales un splendid inel de la Mazza.ro de care nu ma mai despart. L-am primit imediat prin posta, cu un saculet foarte frumos si intreg pachetul ingrijit. Se vede ca sunt customer oriented

Am inteles ca pe la jumatatea lunii decembrie va avea loc un nou schimb de haine. So girls, cu toata seriozitatea, come! We have cookies

It started earlier this year; I usually remember snowing towards the middle of December. It’s something some magical and calming about snow and a cold winter’s day. Usually, the city is very noisy, especially at rush hour, but today it was as if the whole world was silently admiring the scenery. Of course it didn’t last, a few snowflakes here and there, but it was sweet to notice.

However, I hate snow in the city. It makes walking so hard (yeah, who’d walk in winter, you might ask. But for some, walking is a must), it gets my boots really wet and makes me generally very cold. And that’s partly my fault. I have a total of five pairs of boots, none of which happen to be winter proofed. Just because I’m girly like that and go with fashion instead of warmth (speaking of which, remember the white coat I was bragging about? Turns out, it keeps me warmer than my huge winter jacket. Who knew?) so I’m almost always freezing.

I don’t really like Uggs, but I think this winter I’m gonna go against my heart.

It had made me happy before, when I’d found the perfect leather skirt and there were so many amazing dresses there. I’m quite the new New Yorker client, my oldest piece goes just a year back so I have no idea about durability, but so far it has proven at least OK.

So yesterday I’ve found the perfect white coat. I’ve been longing for one for a few years, but always went with something else (I have a greay coat, two black ones and one red).

It was also affordable and given that lately I’ve stayed away from shopping malls, my finances were good.

So, without much ado, I give you – my white coat.

Love.

And since we’re at it, here’s the skirt I mentioned earlier. Nope, not me in the pic. Identical skirt though.

But back at the getting bundled up scenario. That’s something very…warm and cozy in having a big scarf wrapped around your neck, a sweet hat and some puffy gloves.

Kinda like this.

I really am extremely outgoing, social, and energetic and I have the messiest desk there is.

I’ve found this little vid very helpful.

Am mai avut o astfel de tentativa prin august, numai ca am ajuns la finalul evenimentului si nu mai aveam ce sa schimb. Ideea e cam in felul urmator: aduci minim 10 haine curate, calcate si destul de interesante pentru altii, dar pe care nu le mai vrei, platesti 10 lei si pleci cu (aproximativ) atatea haine cate ai adus.

De data asta, schimbul a avut loc in Cool Cat. Fetele mi-au placut foarte mult, aveau un stil cu totul deosebit. A venit cineva cu 110 haine. Nu stiu cu cate a plecat acasa.

Ceea ce nu mi-a placut a fost lupta pe viata si pe moarte pentru haine. Toate au fost aranjate pe patru stendere, plus doua mese pline. La nici un minut dupa ce s-a dat startul, nu mai ramasese aproape nimic. Toata lumea s-a imbulzit, astfel incat am apucat sa imi aleg doua produse si cu astea am ramas. Am mai avut noroc de inca doua ulterior.

Este cam greu sa organizezi un astfel de eveniment, pentru ca nu imi pot da seama ce strategie se poate aplica astfel incat toata lumea sa plece acasa multumita. Sau relativ multumita. Nici nu poti sa vii cu n prieteni care sa prinda haine pentru tine. Although a girl brought her boyfriend.

Ideea este oricum foarte buna si cel putin sunt multumita ca m-am ales cu o bluza minunata. My newest crush. Si oricum ceea ce am dus nu mai purtam asa ca mi-am si eliberat un pic sifonierul si m-am ales cu ceva…purtabil.

Hainele care nu s-au ales vor fi donate. Iar eu astept si urmatorul schimb de haine.