Holiday Party Weekend

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday 2 Comments

This year I focused on all of my red ornaments for this tree which is in my entry way. I try and do something different every year to keep it interesting.

Close up

I’m always looking for ornaments with African-Americans to add to my collection. I found this ballet dancer last year on clearance at Macy’s.

I’m doing closet shopping for a weekend of festive celebrations. While it is nice to shop for a special outfit, I find it more rewarding to shop my closet and reinvent something from the past. Also since I am the consummate bargain shopper, most of the things I buy are out of season, I may have a party dress that I picked up last year for little of nothing hanging in the closet ready for “its” debut.

Tonight is my Jack and Jill holiday party, Saturday morning my workout group “fifty days to fitness” hike, Saturday evening Reggie’s fraternity Black tie holiday celebration, Sunday afternoon “girls” brunch, and Sunday evening, a tree trimming party. Needless to say, I’m excited about the weekend and I’m looking forward to reconnecting and celebrating with friends. What are your holiday plans? I hope your holidays are going smooth and you are making time for yourself.

Xoxo,

Gigi

South Africa and Stars

I like to mix my holiday with my existing decor–I got this tall “lady” on my South Africa trip. This picture does not do her justice.

Blue Tree

This tree is in the family tree, for this one I did a “blue” theme. I’m so glad that my local Home Depot had really nice trees for a good price. Over the years I have accumulated so many ornaments so it is never a problem decorating a few trees.

blue close up

Every ornament has a story, this Obama ornament was picked up on my son’s 8th grade east coast trip, I remember it was the last one-so happy it has a home on my tree.

piano angel

I love this “Angel” she is so delicate…I’m surprised I still have her, every year somebody knocks her down and a little piece of her is chipped–no matter where I put her.

South Africa Angels

These angels are hand made in South Africa, we visited a craft center where all these beaded items are made–amazing.

Table Dressing

Once again the juxtaposition of Kuba cloth and crystal.

Happy Weekend

Gigi

TIS THE SEASON

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday Comments Off

Quote

Yes I missed my posting yesterday, worked most of the day on decorating and still not finished! It is the season! Around this time I always get that “rushed” feeling, like there is not enough hours in the day to complete all the holiday tasks. I am still decorating, my house looks a mess, partly do to the way I took down my decorations last year. My husband’s birthday is January 7, and last year we traveled to St. Lucia and I packed everything away haphazardly and I am paying for it now.

Growing up we always got our tree on Christmas Eve, many years later when I was an adult I found out the reason-trees were “free” at that point. We would rush and decorate the tree together with our same ornaments and tinsel. Now I like to get our tree early, not day after Thanksgiving early, but first week of December. Whenever I travel I like to collect ornaments, to remind me of time spent at that place, so my ornament collection is always growing. I like to get one main tree and a few smaller trees so my decorating takes me a few days. Now that our kids are older, I’m thinking about perhaps scaling back on some of the holiday cheer, but my 16 year-old to my surprise still wants the big tree and all the decor. So with that I am still placing things around the house and trimming the trees hoping to finish by tonight.

Work in progress…

What are your holiday decorating traditions? Share…

Xoxo,

Gigi

Holiday Decor

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday Comments Off

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it, the music, decorations, lights, parties, dishes, trees, poinsettias, eggnog, mistletoe, wreaths, ornaments, garland, snow, nutcrackers, and all the various traditions celebrated. Here are a few holiday decorating ideas I found searching on the web, perhaps you too will be inspired to tweak your holiday decor. Hopefully I will be done with my holiday decorating this weekend and will share the outcome.

Holiday Table Setting House Beautiful

Holiday mantel House Beautiful

wreath on a mirror Domino magazine

Pretty Domino magazine

silver Martha Stewart

cute napkins

Nice and Light HGTV

HGTV

Happy Weekend!

Xoxo,

Gigi

Happy Thanksgiving, Give Gratitude in Abundance

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday 4 Comments

We are going to Reggie’s family for the first part of Thanksgiving, and then we are driving another couple of hours to my Mom’s to finish our celebration. I will make a long playlist for our ride. have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving with your family and friends. A few meanderings from around the web…

Love this Thanksgiving Quote

Do you really want to do this?

Stay at home instead and spend some time doing something for your body, take a walk and reflect on the things you are thankful for that have no price.

Love this song, perfect for your Thanksgiving playlist.

Being a vegan does not necessarily assure that everything is healthy, you still have to watch what you put in your body, and stay away from foods in a box with lots of stuff you can’t pronounce. Read more here.

My daughter Amani lives in New York City, and attended college in Connecticut so she was always traveling during this busy weekend. So of course when I came upon this piece, it made me a little nervous.

Pretty table settings from HGTV

Pretty

Love this

Nice

We could do this in Cali

Funny piece about Thanksgiving conversation, What to talk about with weird, grown up cousins…

Enjoy your weekend,

Xoxo,

Gigi

Gratitude: Gigi’s tips for having a good Thanksgiving

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday 4 Comments

Thanksgiving

This is one of my favorite holidays. There are no real expectations other than getting together with family and friends. We divide our time between my family and Reggie’s family, bringing some sort of vegan dish to both events. Here are some tips for making your day memorable.

1. Start you day with a workout. This is a day when the best of us have a tendency to go overboard. We like to start our day with a “Turkey Trot”, most cities have them, just do a google search. A 5K is doable for the whole family, or do a run/walk around your neighborhood.

Turkey Trot

2. Be Gracious. This is not a time to complain about anything. Reggie and I are vegan and my family eats EVERYTHING ie. turkey, ham etc., a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings, we just survey the selections and pick out the veggies we can eat, a sort of “don’t ask don’t tell” meal. We can have our vegan fare anytime.

Thanksgiving Dinner

3. Engage with your family and friends, turn the phone to airplane mode, and leave the other devices at home. Be present in the moment, catch up with those family members that you may not see as often.

No Cell Phone or Devices

4. Help The host, offer to wash dishes, serve etc. if you are hosting let your guest help especially if they offer.

5. Mingle with everybody.

6. Pack the camera but just take candids, this is not a time for arranged photos. Now that I consider myself a photographer this one really applies to me, I will take a nice formal pic of Reggie’s parents who are 85 years young, and my mom who just turned 81 the rest will be candids.

Photographer Gigi

7. Remember Thanksgiving is only once a year.

8. If you are driving somewhere, allow for traffic, everyone is going to somebody’s home, be safe.

9. Dress comfortable. Where a pretty flat, some leggings and a comfy sweater, something you can wear and curl up on the floor and relax in. If you are hosting have a pretty apron to wear, Anthropologie has beautiful vintage aprons.

aprons

Cute Look from Anthropologie

Thanksgiving outfit from Anthropologie

10. Indulge, Laugh and have Fun.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Xoxo,

Gigi

Happy Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Gigi in entertainment, Holiday 2 Comments

Muse Costume Ball

Happy Halloween!

This evening Reggie and I are going to the Muse Costume Ball at LACMA, thanks to my friend Denise. I am scrabbling today to put a costume together for the party. I don’t think I will know anybody there so perhaps I will go all out fantasy mode. I promise to post pics. Halloween in the past consisted of giving out candy and trick or treating with the kids. This will be our first “adult” Halloween party. While meandering around the web looking for inspiration for a costume, I came across these interesting items.

Pumpkin

This hallowed out pumpkin can be used for icing drinks, fall floral arrangement or for serving a nice colorful fall salad, which is what I am going to do for an event this Friday.

Mini Pies

Love these little pumpkin pies, I am going to make mini sweet potato pies with my mom’s recipe.

Fall Flowers

Have a happy safe Halloween!

Xoxo,

Gigi

Daedelus At LACMA Muse Costume Ball 2012

May the Fourth be with you

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday Comments Off

Fourth of July inspiration.

red, white & blue domaine chandon

Red, White & Blue perfect for Fourth of July toasts, available June 1- September 1 www.chandon.com

YSL navy poppy sandal with red, white & blue heel

Perfect Fourth of July sandal

YSL Navy suede sandal with red, white & blue heel finished with a red poppy, lovely.

Barbie, I can be collection

Yes. I was addicted to Barbie dolls.

4th of July bag

Love this Valentino Red clutch, this would be my go to Fourth of July bag

Love This

Perfect way to serve berries.

Love this

I’m loving all the colorful jeans this season.

4th of July ball gown

Perfect for a 4th of July ball, Valentino gown.

I used to wear this “do”

I wore similar styles to this.

Essie aruba blue

Why do red when you could do blue!

Fourth of July Rose

love this red, white & blue rose.

Have a happy Fourth of July Celebration!

xoxo,

Gigi

Happy Juneteenth!

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Gigi in Holiday Comments Off

Juneteenth

Happy Juneteenth! Today June 19th, celebrates the abolition of slavery in Texas, one of the last states to give in to the Emancipation Proclamation. The significance of this day lies in the enforcement of the law in Texas itself. The news hit Texas two years after it was passed. Ever since the 1980’s it has been known as a national holiday around the country. It is a day to remember the thousands of women, men and children who were offcially freed that day in Texas. So just remember, follow my Mom’s blog so you won’t end up two years late.

Reggie

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