The Great Frost of 2019 and The Book Awards Finalist 2018

We are in the midst of a big snowstorm here in the Pacific Northwest which is so very unusual for this part of the world. We got the first snow a few days ago, then a large new portion last Friday, more on Sunday, and even much more on Monday! Snow here pretty much always causes delaying and cancelling activities: schools and offices get closed or open for fewer hours, and those who can opt for working from home on snow days to watch their kids who are out of school, as well as simply to avoid unpredictable driving situations. Needless to say, snow is the biggest topic of conversation these days, and even I (being from Siberia and knowing possibly everything there is to know about snow) find snow irresistible and take photos and videos of snow which amuses my friends and family back home. While I can't really surprise my folks with the snow, it is surprising around here, especially in such amounts - last time, I believe, we got so much snow during The Great Snow of 2012, and before that The Great Drifts of 2008. (Do you love The Vicar of Dibley as much as I love it?) With the snow, arrived wind and colder temperatures, and all together it of course brings back some memories.

Modish Matrons #32: Knits

As always, my friends Tina, Beate and I welcome a new month with a new style theme, and February we dedicated to KNITS as it was Tina's turn and her inspiration. We've done knits last year as well, and back then I chose my favorite knitted items: long cardigans and a knit skirt (click HERE to see). This time, I knew I wanted to do something different, and at first, I turned to my favorite knit dresses, or sweater dresses as they are often called. But at the end decided to do something else instead...

That's the Thing to Do

Hello my sweet friends,
It's been a while since I posted last time, even though I had a couple of photo shoots and pictures ready to go. January got busier than I expected with continuous celebrations (Russian holidays and our daughter's birthday), personal stuff,  getting ready for work and getting out of my comfort zone in that sense, then finally some computer problems and trying to figure out how to work on Justin's laptop and still get access to all my programs, pictures, videos, etc. (still a work in progress). I guess it all boils down to balancing life which isn't easy to do at times, but we do our best.

Modish Matrons #31: Black and White

 

Just as billions of others, I wanted to start the new year with a bang! In real life, I usually celebrate at home with my family or, as it is this year, one-on-one with Justin, my one true love (our daughter spends New Year's Eve with her closest friends, for the first time). And I usually wear something nice and comfortable. But here on the blog, I celebrate New Year partying with my dear blogging friends TINA und BEATE, wearing something extra fancy - because really, when else to wear this outfit if not for the New Year's party?

Best of 2018 and Intentions

JANUARY 2018

To end this year on the blog, I've decided to pick my 10 favorite outfits of the year. I feel that each year, from the very beginning of my blog, I learn something new about style. It all started with colors for me, then I moved to patterns, layering, and proportions. 2018 became a year of textures and details. I wonder what the next year will bring? I would like it to be a year of refining my style: sorting things out, donating what I don't wear, finding new combinations with existing things, and adding only things that are of higher quality and which really resonate with me. It's been my intention ever since I started getting an interest in clothes as a child or teenager, but there were also periods of lost and returned interest, periods of different abilities, skills and focus, and periods of experimentation. I have a feeling that it's time for refinement of whatever I've learned in the past few years, but I'm not the one who thinks that our goals are set in stone. I'm not saying that there is no place for goals and plans in our lives - sure there is. But I also love watching the natural flow of life, seeing how things develop organically, without us forcing them, but rather staying open-minded. So, I send my intentions out there and see what happens - it'll be fun seeing how they transform and manifest themselves in the new year.

Happy Holidays!

I will not be myself if I don't wish you happy holidays and don't share with you some of our latest outings and other slices life generously offered at the end of the year. So without further ado, let's dive in!

Red with Teal or Blue

Ta-daaa! To those of you who put bets on the color of my second beret and guessed red:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I bought three berets this Fall: gray, blue and red. I thought that either I would share them all with my daughter, or that she would choose the one(s) she likes and make it (them) her own. And since she has just discovered her love of the color red, I was almost sure that she'd choose the red one, but to my surprise she chose the blue one instead, perhaps to match her new wool coat. The blue one was also the smallest of the three and just wouldn't fit all that extra fluff I have in my big head, so it seemed like a perfect choice anyway.