I’m wearing: topshop blouse, h&m sweater and bag, forever 21 vest, columbia leggings, jeffrey campbell boots channel sunglasses, trevita and hellen lima bracelets

That’s where I rang up the New Year, amongst some of my closest friends and around lots of gambling…machines. It’s no secret I’m less Black Jack winner profile and more  Sex and the City slots type: “If you win Carrie, you win Big”. I said this phrase (totally unintentionally) when I spotted the machine and now I’m attached (hence the repetition on twitter and now here. Anyways, indulging inconveniently great food, ordering raspberry cosmos and crying at Celine Dion live on the other hand, my specialty. But enough about my New Year, how did you spend yours?

I’m wearing: topshop shirt, h&m sweater, jeffrey campbell boots, tom ford sunglasses, urban outfitters bag

Say hello to my new bob. While I was away for Christmas, my aunt Debby who’s a hair dresser took matters into her  scissors hands to save what was left of healthy anything on my head. Counteless rounds of relaxers, color and bleach later my hair was feeling more like my Barbie doll’s synthetic head. Not good. Surprisingly I didn’t think much of what I wanted before sitting in the chair and letting Debby work her magic. I’m very happy with the outcome. Classic, short, sleek, healthy. Very Anna (Wintour)

I’m wearing: trevita dress, h&m skirt, versace for h&m belt, forever 21 tights, jeffrey campbell boots, ray ban sunglasses, accessorize earrings

Mrs. Claus, is that you? If so, you’re awfully late, huh? Just kidding … It’s me, you guys! Ps: Feeling wild today.  These photos were taken on Christmas day right after gift unwrapping (bags are empty indeed). We had a gorgeous sunny day  in Indiana, still chilly, when I thought: what better day to try out a super bright, red-ish, warm outfit? And I literally had to force the tights up my legs. For some reason black and cold feels a little more natural. A little curious fact? I’ve almost tossed the red jacket at least five times in the past but my husband always keeps me from doing so. Should I thank or blame him?

Wearing: vintage blouse, urban outfitters sweater, zara pants, forever 21 belt, boutique 9 shoes

I hope everyone had a holly jolly Christmas, with plenty of eating, noise,  “Home Alone” playing in the background, gift exchanging… you know, the usual. The Robinson’s Holiday Extravaganza began on the 23rd, with the ladies lunch and cookie decorating/baking ritual following. On the 24th, we began a new tradition with a midnight Christmas dinner (a Brazilian thing that I’ve brought on to the table, literally. On the 25th we opened gifts while savoring my mother-in-law’s crazy-good finger foods and later reunited with the whole Jacobi clan (grandma, aunts/uncles and cousins for an even larger celebration). It’s the next day and I still feel the food coma. Santa was extremely generous this year (Tom Ford’s Nikita: awesome), there’s no room for complaining. What about you guys? Any new traditions or old ones you would like to tell me about so I can copy next year?

I’m wearing: forever 21 jacket, h&m men’s shirt and boots, columbia leggings, urban outfitters turban, michael kors watch, trevita and hellen lima bracelets

I’ve always had some kind of preconception when it came to wearing sequin at any given day, which I’ve obviously come to terms with quickly this winter (examples of me getting comfy and bling-ish most recently here, and also here). Let’s be real, it’s a bit Billy Jean for everyday use. That’s why I tried to dress it down in this outfit and see if I could make it more wearable. The turban is new material too. See how it doesn’t quite fit my head right but I wear it anyways? I’m so hardheaded. Wait…

Five Days of Holly Jolly: now playing “Dreaming of a White Christmas”, “Home Alone” classic scene:

It was last night while prepping for gift wrapping that  I went through the list: boxes, check! Paper, check! Ribbon, check! Gift tags cheee…gift tags… any tags… I’ve got nothing! So I did the first thing one does when in hot water: googled. DIYs  popped up all over the map. Idea given, idea accepted, I came up with an easy solution: heart shaped magazine cutouts and thread to summarize my vision. Piece of paper cake

No outdoor photos today, because “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” on my radio station:

•  magazine

•  scissors

•  thread

On to the good stuff

Get a mag that was destined to the trash and re-purpose it by ripping of a page, or two, or more. Choose anything but a black page like I did (apparently one can’t photograph and think at the same time) and remember you’ve gotta actually write on it (from who to whom).

Cut out a heart or whatever you’d like (ability to cut is the limit) from that piece of paper

No, I’m not blind. I realize my heart is asymmetrical,but that’s what I was going for, a very weird shaped heart. Weird is good.

If you choose to free hand a little ticker like me, fold one of the tips and cut a tiny hole in the paper

You’re welcome to replace this with the material of your choise, but my restricted options offered dental floss or cotton thread. I figured cotton was less higienic but yet more appropriate. I got a big piece and folded it many times, making it a “thicker” tread and tying the ends.

Pass it through the heart hole and tie a knot around it.

Next, get your pre-wrapped gifts box, or back and tie the thread around it with another knot. Alternatively, you can also use scotch tape to hold the thread to the wrapping material

Cut off the excess, and heaaay! You’ve made your own gift tags to be puffed up about.

Wearing: bebe dress, forever 21 jacket, topshop yellow and net tights, arezzo shoes, trevita necklace and bracelet, h&m clutch

With yesterday’s gift guide and this I guess it’s extra long-post week, huh? If you don’t mind, I don’t. You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? I was thinking of you when putting this one together: dressed up tiny little black dress. Everyone has one of these in the closet, all you gotta do is be inventive with the accessories. Going all out (bold prints + wild textures) all at once is not exactly required, some may think it is a bit overdone (I wasn’t totally sold myself after the first mirror-check) but keep in mind it’s Christmas and you only get to dress up for this occasion once a year (duh!).

On Five Days of Holly Jolly radio station,  ”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Michael Bubble