To the New!

This holiday season has been a whirlwind of good things all around. Engagement, birthday, Christmas with family, outings with friends visiting from out of state. So much to celebrate as I close out 2012 and ring in 2013! And it wouldn't be a proper celebration without a great dress (thank you Kiyonna!) and all the trimmings. And a frosty winter's night background that somehow complements it all perfectly.

Betsey Ruched Dress  - c/o Kiyonna / Shoes - Kelsi Dagger / Coat - Larry Levine

Truth be told, Bob and I have gone back and forth about how we wanted to welcome the new year. In many ways, our engagement only just 2 weeks ago has brought us so much excitement that there doesn't seem to be any way to make the end of the year much better! We have forgone our traditional NYE/anniversary meal at our favorite local restaurant in favor of Potbelly sandwiches and cookies (our bank accounts need the reprieve after so much holiday spending anyway) while Bob clears out the DVR and I whip up this blog post. (Full disclosure: the party gear, complete with Spanx, was donned earlier for the photo shoot and now lies in wait...while I've spent the last few hours relaxing in comfies.) Instead, we'll venture out late to share a bottle of wine and the festivities of downtown just in time for the stroke of midnight. Mother Nature brought plenty of snow, so I just know the sights will be lovely (even if the sidewalks aren't...)

Clutch - ? / Earrings - Anniversary gift / Necklace - LOFT / Ring - Banana Republic
Nails - Essie "Waltz" and OPI "Mauve-ie Star in Making"

But here's the kicker. I'm all dressed up with places to go, looking and feeling fabulous, but that's not even what excites me tonight. What excites me most is the fact that I've been blessed with such a wonderful partner in life - and now for life - to share it all with. We'll start the new year together, with so many more wonderful things (and the not-so wonderful, too) to look forward to.

I hope all of you will start off the new year in ways that make YOU the happiest!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Ringing in the New Year

Oh what a night! Bob and I had possibly the best NYE celebration that we've ever had in our 7 years together. (In fact, this New Year's marks our 7th anniversary!) Our dinner reservations weren't until 9pm, so our evening got a late start, but the amazing food, wine, friends and laughter we enjoyed as the stroke of midnight came closer were a-plenty.

Black back draped top - Banana Republic / Lurex striped pencil skirt - ASOS / Suede heels - BCBG (eBayed)

Naturally, a little (or a lot of) sparkle is something of a prerequisite for NYE dressing, so I wanted to run with it this year. I bought this ASOS skirt on Black Friday and I was excited to finally break it out for the big night. The skirt is quite long on me, even for a girl who prefers skirts long, so I hiked it up, added a wide belt, and wore it as a high waist number. (I may hem it, but we'll see. I can also fold the waist under to adjust as necessary, and I kinda like the flexibility.) It took me a while to find the perfect top, but this draped back stretch satin loveliness was the perfect complement to the skirt, for just the look I was going for. Back seamed sheers seemed obvious, too, no?

I did want a little pop of color somewhere, and I toyed with pinks and reds, but I really liked how turquoise stood out against the blacks and golds, so I chose one of my favorite Banana Republic turquoise rings to play off the gold necklace, earrings and gold shimmer/copper glitter french manicure. I also played with a little gold and turquoise eye make-up, even though it did get a little out of hand. I'm wearing the BareMinerals Color Shift set, which I bought just for this purpose, but the gold "shifted" far too easily into the aqua and gave me an all-over aqua look instead. Yikes! (I was going for 50s glam, not 80s rocker!) All bets are off on NYE, though, so I just worked it. (And I'm probably going to return it...)

Necklace - Banana Republic / Clutch - Macy's / Ring - Banana Republic / Earrings - Anthropologie / Sheers - HUE

Nina Garcia tweeted over the weekend "If you look amazing, you’ll feel amazing; and if you look and feel amazing, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing night." Quite right. I felt absolutely glamorous in this outfit and perfectly festive for the holiday (and anniversary ♥). And an amazing night was indeed had.

Happy New Year!!! Heath, happiness, love and peace to all of you!