So you're the host for the New Years Eve soiree? You're attending a big bash to bring in 2011? Here are the essentials to a 'Rocking New Years Eve', Summer Wind style!
A little tacky, I will admit, but what fun is it without noise makers and party hats!
Party Poppers!
Cigars for the Gentlemen!
Lilly cocktails for the girls, Champagne for everyone!
The only night where you can never have too much sparkle, glitter, and shine. This holiday almost beats Christmas for me-- Go all out and wear a sparkly, mini, cocktail dress!
A playlist that makes you never want to sit down! Some tunes to include:
Give Me Just a Little More Time- Chairmen of the Board
Keep It Coming Love- KC and the Sunshine Band
Give It Up- KC and the Sunshine Band
Firework- Katy Perry
Forget You- Cee-Lo
Please Don't Go- Mike Posner
Jessica- Allman Brothers
Your Love- The Outfield
Fat Bottomed Girls- Queen
Like a G6- Far East Movement
Let's Groove- Earth, Wind, and Fire
Celebration- Kool and the Gang
Atlantic City- The Band
Friends In Low Places- Garth Brooks
You Make My Dreams Come True- Hall and Oates
Rich Girl- Hall and Oates
Higher Love- Steve Winwood
Walking on a Dream- Empire of the Sun
Wagon Wheel- Old Crow Medicine Show
Daylight-Mat and Kim
But It's Alright- Huey Lewis and the News
Auld Lang Syne- Guy Lombardo
1999- Prince
Tumbthumping- Chubawumba
Last but most certainly not least--Lip gloss so you are all set for your new years kiss(es)! XOXO
Add good friends, good food, and your dancing shoes, and you are all set to ring in the new year! What are your new years eve essentials? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
Christmas has come and gone (you're either cheering for joy about this or almost in tears, for me it's tears!). Now that Christmas music is slowly coming to a halt, and you're fully stocked with iTunes cards, the question is, what to listen to? This is what sCe is purchasing with all of her iTunes loot:
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes- Paul Simon
She Makes Me Feel- Mansions on the Moon
Pretty Things- Tony Lucca, Matt Duke, Jay Nash
Basket Case- Sara Bareilles
Breathe Again- Sara Bareilles
Blood Bank Skinny Love Remix- Bon Iver
Honey, I've Been Thinking About You- Jackie Greene
Girl In the Blue Dress- Mike Doughtry (the first line in the song is "frat boys", makes me giggle every time)
Back In Love- LTD
These Are My People- Rodney Atkins
Best of My Love- The Emotions (total classic)
The Weight- The Band
Do you like any of these? I'd say I have a pretty good variety going, but I would love recommendations! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
Along with the Christmas season comes a whole other season for sorority and fraternity members: The Christmas Cocktail. Seeing at my school, they are semi-formal and most every sorority and fraternity has their own. The short three weeks of school between Thanksgiving and Christmas have your social calendar booked with different things to attend. The best part? Getting all dressed up of course! Who doesn't like throwing on a good little cocktail dress and heels? I know I definitely do! Here are the dresses of the 2010 Christmas cocktails:
I felt as though the color and the bow was very holiday appropriate.I got the "you look like a present" comment quite frequently.
Short and tight was the motto of the night. Hey, you're only young once...
Last but most definitely not least, the blue asymmetrical frock. Loved the color and loved the cut, unfortunately, there are no pictures that show the dress off... My camera was sadly not in attendance at this little soiree.
Christmas is only 4 days away! I can hardly believe it! If you are running around like a crazy person trying to get everything done for the big day, take some time to relax and truly enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. I love the Christmas season the most, probably even more than Christmas day itself. So, let yourself enjoy the next few days leading up to Christmas. Turn up the Christmas music, eat more candy canes, drink as much egg nog as possible, and turn your fire on and enjoy time admiring your beautifully decorated tree! Here are my top Christmas songs--every year, I make family members a mix of my Christmas favorites, hand it out on Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season and it's a huge hit. Here are some of the songs that made the 2010 playlist:
The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis
Silent Night- Frank Sinatra
Christmastime Is Here (instrumental)- Vince Guaraldi Trio(one of my all time favorites)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams
This Christmas- Donny Hathaway
Recap:
The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis
Silent Night- Frank Sinatra
Christmastime Is Here (instrumental)- Vince Guaraldi Trio(one of my all time favorites)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams
This Christmas- Donny Hathaway
What are some of you favorite Christmas songs? Have a great day enjoying the Christmas season!
Yours,
sCe
Wore this on a cold rainy day! Perfectly casual for a day of classes and trying to stay warm and dry!
This is a close up of the cute little embroidered ducks! I got these pants last year for Christmas and love them!
Tunic: Ralph Lauren, Skinny Jeans: Hudson, Flats: Tory Burch
Wore this to a day of classes and library time!
Dark and blurry! Plaid gold button down: Ralph Lauren, Denim: Sevens, Cowboy boots
Wore this in the car on the way from school to Pittsburgh over Thanksgiving! I like that the gold buttons add a girl-y feel to the shirt.
Plaid satin shirt: Gap Kids, Black Skinny Cords: F21, Black suede pumps: Steve Madden
I wore this to a cocktail party over Thanksgiving break! LOVE this top! cCm and I both have had it for about 2 or 3 years now. I think 2 years ago we both wore this outfit for our Christmas card picture!
White Oxford: Ralph Lauren, Martini and olives satin belt: Talbots, Blackwatch Plaid skirt: Tommy Hilfiger, Flats: Tory Burch
I wore this on Thanksgiving! The skirt looks black but it's actually a wool blackwatch plaid. I LOVE this skirt and got it at Nordstrom several years ago. I also love the belt, you can't tell in the picture but the belt has martini glasses and olives all over it!
Crest Oxford: Ralph Lauren, Denim: BCBG, Cowboy boots
I wore this the day after Thanksgiving for a casual family dinner at our house. Adding jewelry and curling my hair dressed it up a little more! If you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of the oxford/skinny jean/boot look. It's comfortable and easy but still looks put together.
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Wont let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mama's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out
Someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
No one's ever burned
Nothing's ever left you scarred
Even though you want to, just try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what is sounded like what your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on
Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up
Oh I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up
It could still be simple
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heat
And even through to you want to, please try to never grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just never grow up
As you are reading this, I am finishing up finals week! I feel as though this song goes perfectly with the end of finals week because I only have 3 semesters left of college; only a year and a half! This is crazy to me-- I feel like I just graduated from high school! Sometimes I take college for granted, but I most definitely am in no rush to graduate! As Eloise would say, "I love it too too much!" As I head home to Pittsburgh, I wish everyone safe holiday travels!
Yours,
sCe
With Christmas just days away, the dress to impress crunch time has begun. I have received many e-mails asking what are some fun outfits for the holidays so I've put together a few looks that I think are great holiday options!
Don't always think that you must wear heels for a dressier function. For the gold dress, these Tory Burch flats work just fine. If you aren't a heel wearing person, or know you won't be able to handle standing for hours in heels, then opt for a dress that works with flats.
For the holidays, or any occassion for that matter, you don't necessarily need to get a new dress. Of course, I always try to get a new one but if you are in a pinch, or pinching pennies, then owning a little black dress in a classic cut that is very well tailored is the way to go. There are so many different ways you can change the look of the dress. These three are tame. If you wanted to go all out, you could try different colored shoes, different colored tights, different wraps, clutches, jewelry, etc. Options are endless in the world of the LBD.When all else fails and you need to repeat a dress, change your hair. Changing your hair gives not only evening wear a different look but can give any outfit for any occasion a different look. If you always wear your hair straight, try curling it or vice versa. For a fun look, try curling your hair and pinning it back and adding an embellished hairpiece.
What are your go to holiday looks?! I must get back to studying-- it's finals weak here! Wish me luck and have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
The holiday season is a time when many pictures are taken. Usually, this is when you get your photo taken professionally. This especially applies if you are in high school and thinking about your senior pictures and what you want to wear for them! This is also a time when Christmas cards with family pictures on them get sent out and of course, you want to look your absolute best! Here are my tips for looking great in any photo!
Me-- Wearing very little makeup, classic jewelry, and neutral colors/style of clothing
Just because you are getting photographed, that does not mean add extra make-up. Too much bronzer will actually make your fact look larger than in reality.
Keep your clothing simple-- too much will make the photo look too fussy
Just as your clothing, keep your jewelry to a minimum or wear classic pieces only. Too much jewelry will end up looking tacky. However, if you want to wear jewelry, keep it to simple, classic pieces so the picture will be timeless and appeal to all audiences tastes.
Stick to neutral colors. No neon. Think black, navy, deep brown. For the summer go with whites, khakis, or pastels.
Dark top, pearl studs, a little makeup.
Don't go wild with hair styles either. If you wear your hair down and straight, then wear it like that. If you wear it half up and curly usually, then do that. Trying different hair styles is great, but not when you are getting your picture professionally taken!
Do you have any tips for getting your picture taken?! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
This is the time of year when there are lots of parties to be held, dinner parties to entertain, and balls to attend. If you are a guest, it is always a rule (at least for me) to always come to the party with something in tow for the host or hostess. This doesn't have to be anything extravagant; a nice bottle of wine will do. However, if you want to be the guest to remember, then get creative!
Pottery Barn has a lot of great options and they even have a section entirely dedicated to hostess gifts. In my opinion, a hostess gift should be something that a host or hostess would find useful but wouldn't be something they would purchase for themselves. Anything monogrammed gets an A+ in my book.
I love this decanter from Pottery Barn. Perfect for any spirit enthusiast.
I love the idea of giving the host or hostess a baked good that is breakfast friendly. Chances are, the host(ess) will be up late cleaning and will love to have a delicious breakfast already prepared for them in the morning! The above sticky buns are from Williams Sonoma but something baked yourself will be just as appreciated!
This is a great gift option! Monogrammed cutting board is good for a man or a woman and is perfect for a newlywed couple!
Moose Munch- Harry and David. For the most part, Harry and David is a bit overpriced but I LOVE their Moose Munch. Hopefully this doesn't come around the C household ever because I promise you, I will eat it all.
A Tervis Tumbler is always an appropriate choice. I love the personalized ice bucket option!
Other options include:
Fun cheese knives
caspari napkins
wine, champagne or any other drink of choice
wine markers
baked goods
What are your go to host(ess) gifts? I'm always looking for great new ideas! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
With Christmas just a short ways away, those of you looking for something perfect for the men in your life have either had your gift planned for months now, or are now scrambling for the perfect gift. For those of you without a significant other, you can give a sigh of relief. I've always thought that shopping for a guy is a hard thing to accomplish. Of course you can always play it safe and get him a slew of Brooks Brothers button downs, khakis, and ties, but what about if you want to do something different, standout, or special? I have received an overload of e-mails asking what they should get their boyfriends/husbands for Christmas, so here is what I've put together!
For the ski buff:
I am a huge skier; I wish I could go more often than I do, but a little thing called school can sometimes be a hindrance. If he loves skiing:
A nice ski jacket. I have had Spyder jackets for years and I love them. They can be pretty pricey (somewhere upwards of $200) but they are so perfect for skiing and come in really fun colors.
If the jacket isn't in your budget, go with more friendly options such as gloves, hats, and goggles. Patagonia makes great skiing accessories but L.L. Bean is just as great!
As for goggles, they are pricey, but again, he will be thanking you when he hits the slopes. My favorites are Oakley, Scott, Bolle, Smith, Anon, and Giro. You can get a pair for as inexpensive as $50, but if you are taking the goggle route, I would go for the ones that range from $100-$150 because they have the best fit and lens options.
A boot bag, ski duffel, or backpack is another great idea, and you can get one starting at around $50. To add a little more personalization and to make it special, you can have it monogrammed, that way he can always tell his bag apart!
For the Sportsman or Outdoorsman:
This is for the guy who can't get enough of the outdoors or sports.
If he loves to fish go with Costa Del Mar sunglasses or a Columbia PFG shirt
A backpack and LL Bean boots are great for any type of outdoor activity
Vineyard Vines swimsuit for a guy that loves to travel, surf, wake-board, water-ski, etc.
Croakies and a good waterbottle are always a safe bet
Keep him warm and dry with a Patagonia TSnap fleece or rain jacket
Get him a bag to hold his sports equipment. If he loves lacrosse, get him a bag that holds his stick, if he loves hockey, get him one that will hold his skates.
A pocket knife. He probably already has a dozen, but if he doesn't, this is a great idea.
Bar ware can be a great gift. Especially for a post-grad living on his own and doesn't spend much on his drink ware.
An outfit of the day from several few weeks ago (you can tell because it was still warm enough to wear no tights!). Dress: Ann Taylor, Turtleneck: Gap, Cowboy boots, sunglasses with croakies, and silver jewelry!
Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
The Holiday is one of my absolute favorite movies and it only seems appropriate that I do this post around the Christmas season! I have so many reasons as to why I think The Holiday is a great movie but to start off, the story line is adorable. I am really not one to be a sucker for the overly romantic films, but this one just gets to me. The second reason I love this movie so much is Cameron Diaz's incredibly cozy-chic wardrobe. It is filled with cozy sweaters, elegant coats, and lavish boots. Not to mention the interior design of both homes featured in the film. I did a little research and Rosewood Cottage doesn't actually exist. They built the exterior of the cottage and then the interior of the cottage was all a set.
Talk about an adorably cozy cottage. I'm not sure I would love this for my home everyday, but for a weekend getaway, it would be an absolute perfect destination.
This is one of the only shots I could find of the interior, but just look how cozy!
This is one of the many amazing coats that she wears in the film. I did a little bit of
"googling" to find out that a lot of her clothes and shoes are Dior.
This sweater is just perfect! She pulls off the winter white so well!
I will leave you with one of the songs from the movie called "Let Go" by Frou Frou. I think it has been in Grey's Anatomy as well--I just love it!
What are your favorite holiday movies or movies you love just because of the set designs or wardrobing?! Have a fabulous day!
'Tis the season of holiday themed cocktails and cocktail parties! So put on your party dress, add heels, and belly up to the bar! Here are some fun Christmas cocktail recipes:
Drunken Elf
1 oz Bacardi Golden Rum
Pink Lemonade
Serve with a candy cane hanging off the rim of a tall slender glass.
Champagne-tini
2 oz. Champagne
1/4 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. gin
Garnish with orange zest
The Grinch
2 ounces of Midori liqueur
1/2 ounce of fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. of simply syrup
What is your favorite holiday beverage of choice? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe
I've gotten so many e-mail requests and even questions on Tumblr about my Christmas list. Every year I make an extensive list for my parents and family. I put tons of options on the list so I'm somewhat surprised when Christmas rolls around! So here is sCe's Christmas wish list:
L.L. Bean Norwegian Sweater I have been envious of my daddy's for a long time. Unfortunately, they only make this sweater for men so I'll have to wear it as a casual over-sized sweater. This will be perfect for skiing and cold days at school!
New camera since mine is broken!
Brooks Brothers button down shirts. Unfortunately, the women's section doesn't have a lot of winter friendly options so I'm going for the boy's shirts which I've tried on and they actually fit great. I'm going for plaids, gingham, and patterns. These are great for under sweaters, by themselves, or under down or fleece vests. Brooks Brothers also has a great monogramming option for these shirts as well!
Nike Tempo Shorts-- I already have so many pairs and swear by them. One can never have too many pairs!
A grosgrain watch, specifically Brooks Brothers or Orvis
Brown, leather riding boots. I already have black riding boots and brown leather cowboy boots, so all I need to complete my boot collection is a a brown leather pair!
Monogrammed croakies-- I have so many pairs of croakies but none monogrammed!
LL Bean Trail Model Fleece Pullover -- A very inexpensive fleece option plus it's monogrammable. This is most definitely comparable to the Patagonia T-Snap for a third of the price. I want this in the green color with either a hot pink or navy monogram.
Patagonia Retro X Fleece Vest in Natural w/ Atlantic Blue-- They don't make this color for women so I'll have to go with the men's XS.
Going out/"trendy" clothes from Forever 21, I've said before that I don't like to spend a lot of money on trendy clothes so Forever 21 is my one stop shop. I always seem to go for the Love21 label because from what I have seen, that is the most conservative and well made. Another trend I've noticed is the "bling" factor-- I can't get enough of sparkles or shiny embellishments.
For the first time in years, I don't have any one "big ticket item" like a laptop or diamonds or something along those lines. I'm keeping it pretty simple this year with clothes and accessories. What's on your Christmas list?! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe