As 2011 draws to a close...

“For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.” 
- T.S. Eliot

I'm sitting here in my office, comfy in my big sweater, pair of jeans and warm fuzzy slippers, a piping hot cup of fresh coffee on my desktop just reflecting on all the positive and wonderful things that have happened to me and my family this year.
Just an hour before this, I was agitated and dismayed by a chain of circumstances that I allowed to take control over my emotions.
My skills and passion as a writer were challenged and criticized, my job as a work-from-home mother was critiqued and my hopes of conceiving another baby was thrown out the window yet again this month.


I'm weak. I'm human.


The one thing about me is that I'm an eternal optimist. I always like to find the good in the bad, the positive in the negative, the light at the end of winding dark tunnel.
I usually don't like to let things get to me, but as of late, a lot of things have been getting to me. Badly.

Another thing about me is as tough as rock as I can show myself to be to the outer world, I do wear my heart on my sleeve.
I over-analyze things sometimes and I can be quite the perfectionist.

My sweet little girl is now 3 and a big ball of energy. She brings me light & so much happiness. She teaches me something everyday -- to see things in a child-like & humble manner.

I was blessed to be offered so many amazing opportunities this year that brought me unexpected surprises, one after the other, including my new job offer from home as an Online Community Manager. This was a pleasant and much-needed curve ball that struck me this year.
After having been retired from the 9-5 hustle & the demands of being an Entrepreneur & small business owner and making the strategic choice to stay home and raise my daughter in 2008, even the thought of returning to work part-time bothered me. I was loving my job as a stay-at-home mom. But, at the same time, we were in need of financial support.
My husband is a hard-worker and I couldn't be more proud of where he's at at this stage in his life, career-wise, but I was growing weary of seeing him do it all alone.
There were some really tough months for us as a young, growing family in our first home.
He was doing it all on his own. Supporting not just himself, but 2 others.

On top of this, we were trying for another child this year and I was in and out of the fertility clinic, thousands of dollars already out of our account in hopes of fulfilling our dreams to give our daughter a sibling.
She asks us every single day.
Typing this is very hard for me and I'm really fighting back tears. God, it's been so tough.

But in the midst of all the trials & tribulations, this year has also brought us a tremendous amount of happiness. Things that have overshadowed all the problems. God has listened to our prayers and has been blessing us abundantly with many little surprises that I couldn't be more grateful for.

Usually every year around this time, I reflect and write a list of resolutions for the New Year. Some I stick to and achieve, some I don't.
This year, I think I will only have one resolution: To be more grateful and to really appreciate all the little things.
As cliché of a resolution it may be, for me, it's so much more.

I challenge you to take 5 minutes or more in your schedule to write down all the things you are grateful for this year before you write down what goals you would like to attain for 2012.

I hope this year has been good to you...
All the best to you in the New Year!

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Fall 2012 Trend Cheat Sheet

Made a Trend Cheat Sheet for Fall 2012.

I have been walking around doing some window shopping…*cough *cough, and saw some trends that I had seen in almost all the stores, So I have a strong feeling that I am right on the dot. This is my first Trend Map, so bare with me, please! :)

Looking forward to hearing from what you guys think will happen this fall!

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Chloé Fall-Winter 2010/2011 Children's Fashion

Cute, classic and oh so chic! Chloé’s Fall-Winter 2010/2011 Children’s Wear Collection is rich in warm fall hues. Creams, nut browns, moss greens and warm corals gently welcome you to the autumn season.

Wool, leather, cotton and rich stretch knits keep your child warm and stylish. The cuts and designs are great for back to school and chic enough for a day out.

Babies aren’t to be left out! Just look at that gorgeous beaded brooch on the side of her wool sweater. Parfait!

As the collection is so very new, I was unable to find a store location other than of Chloé of course. If I come across any local shops that carry it, I will be sure to let you know!

I just la-la-love this season's line! Super cute!

credits: chloe.com, childmode.com

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An evening at TIFF

Every year, Toronto holds one of it's finest and famous film festivals, The Toronto International Film Festival (aka TIFF). The secret of the Festival’s success is its unique combination of two parallel festivals: one for a large audience passionate about film and one for the world's press and industry. The Festival also manages to be the launch pad for both big Hollywood films and art house cinema from around the world.

This year my hubby was given a Red Carpet VIP invite to attend the opening night and unfortunately I was not able to attend with him. He deserved to unwind and enjoy (seeing he's such a film buff), so he went ahead with a few of his buddies.

It was a a "Guy's Night out at TIFF".

I liked the swag he brought back so I'm not complaining and he always updated me with BBM messages including photo's he took just so I would feel like I was there.

It's funny how the first picture he sent me was of none other than Megan Fox. :p Riiiight, honey.

Overall, it looked like an amazing night and Toronto is definitely illuminating with stars (literally!).  Check out some of Toronto's best restaurants all TIFF week long and make sure you have your camera ready! You may just bump into George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt or Matthew Mcconaughey. ;)

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Fall 2011 Fashion Trends

Did I ever mention that I am obsessed with Fall! Fall brings crisp air and beautiful foliage to the season, but its best bounty may be its fashion offerings. There’s no better time of year for designers to showcase their talent than during fall fashion week. And this year is no exception.Sure the hotter months are always nice & you can sport those cute & light blouses and summer dresses but Fall is when you can really play out your inner fashionista. 


The Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collections are exhibiting some trends that you won't be able to wait to incorporate into your wardrobe. While there isn’t one solid takeaway trend to come out of the collections, there are many enviable looks and styles you’ll want to wear. Not to mention, color is key this season. Highly pigmented, bold hues such as jade green, cobalt blue, crimson red and mustard yellow are of the moment. A great thing about this season in particular is that they use a lot of the spring/summer fashion and transition them into the Fall. So don't let go of your flower prints and lace yet! 
To give you a head start on your fall shopping, here is a sampling of our favorite wearable trends to look for.
I'm super ecstatic for this year's trends!

Plaids

Designers such as Tory Burch, Adam and DKNY featured looks with allover tartans, including pant suits, skirts and tops and dresses. While these styles made a bold statement, you can still capture the trend by paring down the look and wearing just one element of plaid in your ensemble. 

Capes and Ponchos

As a chic alternative to the traditional overcoat, designers included a cape or poncho in their coat collection. Everything from sporty and preppy to sleek and sexy styles made their debut.

Long Skirts and Sweaters

Effortless gauzy skirts paired with cozy sweaters just might be the new weekend chic attire for fall. Pair chunky sweaters over summery maxi skirts to make an easy transition from summer to fall. 

Secretary Chic

Mid calf-length skirts in cool metallics, graphic mixed prints and even leathers were worn with feminine blouses featuring billowy sleeves. More structured blazers and tailored vests with whittled waistlines and peplum details made a sophisticated statement all over the catwalk.  

Polka Dots

Fashion icons Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, and Stella McCartney sent a variety of playful dot prints down the runway, from head to toe dots to touches of the whimsical pattern on scarves and other accent pieces.  

Grownup Grunge

This is the 2011 version of 90’s grunge, but so much more sophisticated. No stringy hair or thrift store frocks in these styles. Designers such as Chanel, Altuzarra, Haider Ackermann, Balenciaga and Alexander Wang featured long, loose silhouettes and layers of luxe fabrics.

Prairie 

Home on the range was a central theme with prairie-based styles. Proenza Schouler featured jacquard prints and American Indian-inspired macramé skirts. Rodarte cast images of wheat fields on their prairie dresses.

Menswear 

Trendy for the past few seasons, menswear-driven looks are still reigning supreme. Jason Wu and Céline showcased stiff coats while other designers featured dusters, boyfriend sweaters paired with flowy skirts and pin-straight pants.  DKNY had a standout camel pants suit, while Ralph Lauren showcased a striped cocktail suit. 

Fur

Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch and Jill Stuart fashioned knee-length fur vests, Oscar de le Renta showed a lavish mink coat, while Alexander Wang, Rag and Bone and Pamela Rowland featured puffy fur sleeves. Fur accents are also big for fall. For example, Wang featured mink wrapped sunglasses, 3.1 Phillip Lim had a fur belt, while Michael Kors showcased a fur cross-body bag.

Retro Shapes

Silhouettes of the ’50s and ’60s, including padded dresses and coats, hooded ski sweaters and cigarette pants made a bold statement in several designers' collections. Ralph Lauren in particular took a cue from the 1920s with beaded gowns and a jade green charmuese sheath.

Camouflage

Vicroia Beckham and Daryl K were among the designers taking fashion editors and insiders on a safari by way of camouflage-printed dresses, tops and pants. The army-chic look seems to be a new way to do neutrals in a way that’s more interesting.

Lace

This season, lacy designs made their way down several runways, including Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung. But what made these looks unique was the designers’ use of lace as an accent rather than an allover pattern.

Mix & Match

Clashing patterns seemed to go together at many shows this season, like Proenza Schouler, Libertine and Thakoon. The key to making this look work is keeping the patterns in the same color palette or style.

Flowers

When you think of floral prints, spring comes to mind rather than fall, but designers took the traditional designs and gave them a more wintry flare. Miu Miu showcased dandelions; Jil Sander featured daisies, while Mary Katrantzou incorporated Ming vase-like prints.

Maxi Dresses

This year's long dress doesn't just graze the floor, it sweeps it. Prabal Gurung, Peter Som and Carolina Herera perfectly executed this trend in the way of skirts and dresses that took maxi to the extreme.

One great designer that I'm excited for this year is Gucci. Check out their 2011 Fall-Winter Line. Beautiful!

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