A toast to the year that was and the year to come

Experiences that provide new perspectives. Challenges that shape your character. Small gestures that bring great happiness.  Family and friends who are always there, even when you're oceans away.

Here's to the what truly matters.  Happy New Year!

A gift from my husband. Our first holiday ornament.

Snow night!

Soft white flakes began to fall from the black evening sky.  It shone, reflecting the Christmas lights on the streets of The Greene.  Around me, people kept doing what they were doing, unfazed by this change.  But I was.  It was the first time I've seen snow.


I smiled a little smile.  It was as beautiful as I'd hoped.





Video take from YouTube.

Another year

During one or many points in our lives, we wax philosophical about the meaning of life and drown ourselves in a sea of existentialism: Why is there life? What is my purpose in this world? Is there really a God? Do I matter?


Normally, this bout of Kierkegaard-ism arises during significant moments that remind one of his /her time in this world, i.e., the birthday.


Memories are odd, aren't they? There are times when I remember things so vividly, it's like I'm reliving them.  And there are instances when I am reminded by other people of their own memories with me, and I wonder why I have no recollection of them.


It's even more odd how some memories seem like they only happened yesterday.  Like when I turned eighteen -- officially an adult, filled with lofty dreams that couldn't be tied down.  


I remember my dreams then, and I am reminded of my reality now.  I realize I have been an adult for a while now.  Where had time gone? What had I done with my life? Why wasn't I where I thought I would be when I was eighteen?  Did I make the right choices? Should I have done anything differently?


Then I wake up from this hazy daze.  I look at myself in the mirror.  Perhaps it's not that I have not achieved the dreams I had dreamed before, but that my aspirations have changed.  I have changed.


I'm sure I have dreams from when I was eighteen that I still wish to fulfill.  But now, I have taken a different path.  And maybe - just maybe - there's a whole new road waiting for me to take.

Home is where you are

Construction sequence.  Amazes me every time.

Song "Home" by Girls Like Shoes. Makes me feel sooo good.

Video from YouTube - Lowe's Channel.

Rise Above

Yes, yes.  It has been a while. The only thing that matters is that I'm back.

Inspiration comes in many forms -- design, words, actions.  But the best kind lifts your spirits and gives you hope.

Here's to the young people who have risen -- and continue to rise -- above the negativity around them, and choose to the do right thing.

Visit AboveTheInfluence.com.

Zero Gravity

Gravity, meet your archenemy!

Video from YouTube - ASICSAmerica.

For the Birds by Pixar

For Steve Jobs, founder of Pixar.



Video from YouTube.

One Man Band by Pixar

A tribute to Steve Jobs.





Video from YouTube.

Apple to Apple. Dust to Dust.

In memory of Steve Jobs.





Video from YouTube - Stanford University Channel.

Greetings, October!

Goodbye, Cupcake Wars.  Hello, Halloween Wars! And hi, Ray Villafane!


The new "war" on Food Network introduced me to Ray Villafane, one of the show's contestants.


Thanks to this Godfather of Pumpkin Carving, pumpkin can be turned into anything (other than Cinderella's carriage, that is).  Bibbity Bobbity Boo!

Photos from villafane studios.

The lady who brought Blair Waldorf to life

In the small screen, she is the Upper East Side Queen "B" on the verge of marrying blue blood into her veins.
In this video with Check in the Dark, she is Leighton Meester.





Video from YouTube - HTC Status Channel.

Gossip Girl's lesson about love

Gossip Girl. Season 5. Episode 2
"Beauty and the Feast"

Blair: What if I lose everything?

Dan: You'll still have me.

Photo from leightonmeesterfan.com.

Things aren't always what they seem

There's no way this is what it appears to be.  Frankly, I really hope not.





Video from CBS.

The new Old Spice guy

There's a new Old Spice guy.





I miss the old Old Spice man.





Video from YouTube - Old Spice Channel.

Story of my life right now

Well, not really.  
But the copy: "It's not where you've been.  It's where you're going."
Not the most original.  Yet absolutely compelling.





"Dream big.  Or go home."
Amen, HBO!





And the videos? BA-NA-NAS.


Videos from YouTube.

Falling for Shoes

It's no secret that I'm in love with shoes.  And Style's foot candy picks for Fall 2011 are suh-weet!

Givenchy

Manolo Blahnik

Nicholas Kirkwood

Roger Vivier

Valentino

Philip Lim

Alexander Wang

Aperlaï

Balenciaga

Celine

Dries Van Noten

Emilio Pucci

Philip Lim

Alejandro Ingelmo

Philip Lim

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alexander Wang

Alexandre Birman

Alexandre Birman

Images from Style.com.

Googling Google

Even Google is taking over TV.  My favorite Google TV ads over the last three years.


2009



2010



2011

Knick knacks and whatnot

Inspiration doesn't have to have a theme.  It can come from the most random things sold at your neighborhood bookshop.

Bird Cage Bookends

Birdseye 10 Hook, Over-the-door by Umbra

Chalkboard Wall Clock by Present Time

Assorted Thank You Cards by Kate Spade for Crane & Co.

News Magazine Rack by Present Time

Hemingway Writer's Quotation Resin Pen Box by TMS, Inc.

Ribbon Steel Clock by Umbra

Sea Kelp Crystal Dome Paperweight by Ben's Garden

Miranda Wedge Bookend

Chrome Tweet Wall Decor by Umbra

Images from Barnes & Noble.

Good love stays. Great love comes back.

Like maybe a few (or many) fans of the show, "How I met your mother," this is something I've been waiting for: the return of what I thought was (and still think is) a great love.

Video from CBS.

Moneyball

Brad Pitt. 'Nuff said.





But seriously, this film looks highly promising.


Video from YouTube - MoviesYahoo.com Channel.

High-fives, fist-bumps, and the 2012 Beetle

There's something about this ad that just makes me smile every time I see it.  Is it the music? The whole concept? Or that off-the-wall scene with the big, scary biker dude doing a fist-bump?


Whatever it is, happy feelings welcome!





Video from YouTube - Volkswagen Channel.

50/50

What are the odds that this movie will be good? Much more than its title, it looks like.





Video from YouTube - SummitScreeningRoom Channel.

J'adore!

J'adore this new ad by Dior.  A salute to three women icons of the century: Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, and Marylin Monroe.  Filmed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.  Music is Heavy cross by Gossip.





Video from YouTube - Dior Channel.

A Night of TV... and fashion!

Idiot box? I think not. 

TV is a great source of inspiration.  And the Emmys is proof that an incredible amount of thought and talent go into producing the shows that move, entertain, and inspire us.

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in itself does all that.  And for me, the entertainment begins even before the actual ceremony starts.  A few of my favorite fashions on tonight's red carpet.

Images from the E! Red Carpet Coverage.

I went to MoMA...

... via YouTube, and found all kinds of inspiration!

Tim Burton + MoMA

So I'm two years too late.  Art is timeless.  Especially when it's Tim Burton!





Video from YouTube - MoMAvideos.

Where's Blair?

I heart Gossip Girl. But where's my favorite girl?





Video from CWTV.com.

Voices are instruments too

A capella.  Awesome.





Video from YouTube - NBC Channel.

The Mighty Pen...

... has to be Sharpie.  A sweet TV ad from the pen brand.

Video from YouTube - SharpieUS's Channel.

Lucky moi!

I was one of the lucky few to have been given the chance to experience the currently invitation-only website of Mr. Fabulous himself, Colin Cowie -- Colin Cowie Weddings.  

LUCKY YOU!
Congratulations! Colin Cowie has just launched a new website called Colin Cowie Weddings. The site is currently invitation-only, and you've been invited to be among a select group to test our new site.
Here's what you'll experience once you register on site: A personalized MyCollection section to store and share ideas for everything related to your wedding — from engagement to honeymoon. An Inspire Me! section filled with party ideas, fashion trends, endless inspiration slideshows, and more... Direct access to Colin Cowie himself in our Confidentially, Colin section. Bring Colin your burning questions in Ask Colin, and read all about his thoughts on wedding etiquette, decor, food and more. As a special invited guest, direct access to personal customer service and support provided by (text removed) To register for the site, click here
Welcome to our exclusive, new wedding community. We're happy to have you here.
	THANKS! The Colin Cowie Weddings

Everything was lovely, lovely, lovely -- the art, the photographs, the words, the details.  Romantic. Elegant. Personal. Just the way any girl dreams her wedding would be.


A taste of Colin Cowie Weddings:

Eagerly awaiting the public launch.