i want to give-a-way

As I stated in my last post, I'm doing a giveaway!!! I've been thinking about doing one for awhile now and lately there were so many signs saying there's no time like the present. For starters, I always knew what I was going to giveaway and the company who makes the item, contacted me recently with a special offer for my readers that I will get to later. I'm almost at 200 followers which is something to celebrate, and last but certainly not least, I just won something via a giveaway over at BUDGET CHIC (will show it off when it gets here), so I am true testament that giveaways are totally worth it. On to the goodies...

These brass bangles from eShakti are so well made and so versatile.

Wear them with your favorite watch

Or bracelet

And they are beautiful enough to stand alone.

They can be yours by simply:

1) Following Simply Chic via Google Friend Connect

*If you'd like up to 3 additional entries follow me on TWITTER and BLOGLOVIN and like me on FACEBOOK*

2) Leave me a comment letting me know how you are following and leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

That's it! So simple to get something so fabulous. I'll keep the giveaway open until February 14th, everyone's favorite holiday ;)

Please checkout eShakti. In addition to accessories, they make beautiful clothing that they will customize to fit your body. From now until the end of February, if you enter the code SIMPLYCHIC2011 they will take 20% off your order. Run. Don't walk...

eta...several people have told me they don't have a FB page (I thought I was the only one) so I've tweaked the details a bit :)

65 & sunny

I feel awful bragging about the weather in California when the East Coast is being slammed by snow and sleet and single digit temps, but my goodness, it's beautiful here! The weather is actual better than when I first moved back to the Bay Area in August of last year. It's hard to be unhappy when the sun is shining :)

Next post, I am giving away one of the items in this post, so stay tuned, and please don't forget to LIKE me on FACEBOOK.

wearing: j crew cardigan, h&m button down, urban pants, steve madden luxe heels, eShakti bracelts, michael kors watch

worn to: brown couch cafe for a latte and a meeting

vintage coach

This is one of my favorite dresses because it's sooooo easy to wear.

It's traveled across several states with me and I've never had to iron it.

And every time I wear it I pair it with a different belt.

But this post is really not about the dress. It's about the BAG!!!

My mom's super old school Coach bag to be exact :)

It's so soft and so perfect and so goes with everything. My mom better get a lock on her closet...

wearing: urban outfitters dress, thrifted belt, dolce vita boots, coach bag

worn to: dinner and drinks at Mua

P.S I'm typing and sippin'...please excuse any typos and/or incoherence ;)

Also I finally got a Facebook page for the blog. Please LIKE ME HERE!

i wear my owl on my shirt

The weather this weekend in California was nothing short of amazing.It makes me so ready for spring, and so ready for my trip to Atlanta in a couple of months.

I miss the days of sitting on a patio, eating an omelette and sipping on mimosas for hours at a time.

On to the clothes...this top kind of speaks for itself. It's a bejeweled owl, and I would wear it everyday if I could.

In fact, I've had it less than a month and have worn it twice already, and thinking about wearing it tomorrow ;)

Here's a shot of when I wore it in NYC, where it was far less sunny.

wearing: express blazer, f21 top and jeggings, aldo booties

worn to: the movies in cali & madame tussaud's wax musem in NY

my must have items

Two things I can't live without in the fall/winter are colorful coats and scarves.

When it's cold outside it's not uncommon for people to never see what's underneath your coat, so it needs to be FAB, and switching your scarf is like switching your top...it creates a whole new look.

One of my favorite things about this coat other than its vibrant color is that it's lined with my favorite print....yes, you guessed it leopard!

Anyway, these photos were taken in the subway station in Brooklyn, and let me tell you, if I can help it, that will be the last time I use the subway in NY! Ok, maybe I am being a little dramatic, but have you guys seen the video of the rat that ran up a man's body and on his face in the train???? Traumatizing!

wearing: express coat, gifted scarf, marc by marc jacobs bag, american apparel velvet stirrups, aldo shoes
worn to: apartment hunt with & FOR the b/f in brooklyn, and hanging out in columbus circle

dirty jerz?

Not sure how or why New Jersey, got the nickname Dirty Jerz, but look at all this snowy gorgeousness!

It was so fun to "play" in the CLEAN snow and do a photoshoot with this beautiful backdrop.

Especially now that I have THIS DSLR camera!

I love, love, LOVE it and can't wait to develop my photography skills.

I also love this chunky Old Navy sweater that I bought almost 2 years ago to the date to wear to President Obama's inauguration :) What an experience!

wearing: american eagle button down, old navy fairisle sweater, dolce vita boots
worn to: run the streets of dirty jerz

same dress, different city

My NYE in NYC consisted of great wine, sparkling Shiraz to be exact
Yummy food...skirt steak with a potato parmesan croquette

And lots of festive goodies to ring in 2011!

In an effort to be cheap practical I wore my NYE dress from last year.

But this year I added a belt and a blazer...

And jazzed up my makeup with my definition of a smoky eye ;)

I could have done without the remnants on the streets from the nasty blizzard, but other than that, the evening was absolutely perfect! How did you spend NYE?

wearing: h&m dress, express blazer, thrifted belt, christian louboutin heels
worn to: GOOD restaurant in the West Village

ready

wearing: banana republic blouse, thrifted belt, express silk skirt, steve madden luxe heels, opi polish in big apple red

worn to: midnight mass

~Daily Word December 31, 2010~

As I reflect on the events of the past year, I recognize successes and failures, gains and losses. Each event has taught me something and made me wiser. Knowing this, I acknowledge and release the past year in gratitude.

In contemplation of the coming year, whether I am excited or apprehensive, I know the spirit of God will empower me to meet every situation with confidence and strength. With this in mind, I release any concerns I may have about the future.

Today I am ready to stand tall in this present moment. I appreciate the now, perfectly balanced between the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. This is the moment of power and action. I am ready!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

'tis the season

Since there are technically 12 days of Christmas, I guess it's not too late to wish everyone a merry one. I had such a fabulous time and I am continuing to enjoy the season, even though my trip to NYC has been postponed until Wednesday thanks to our dear friend Mother Nature.
I was just telling my mom I am not a huge fan of red, ESPECIALLY during the holidays because it's such a cliche. However, I decided to be like the other 5 million holiday enthusiasts and wear my red thrifted sweater skirt to a Christmas Eve bash.

wearing: gap white tee, zara scarf,thrifted belt & skirt, aldo booties/dolce vita boots (featured in vlog)
worn to: christmas eve party


If all goes as planned, I will be in NYC for NYE so I will see you guys in 2011. Follow me on TWITTER to hear me ranting and raving as I walk the snow filled streets of New York! But first, check out the second edition of my vlog and subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE.

chic chef: salted caramel pecan bars

I love to give gifts, but as a grad student I had to be creative with my gift giving this year. So what did I do? I made yummy snacks for my family :) It's cost efficient, it serves multiple people, and most importantly, it's been a huge hit so far! I adapted the recipe for my salted caramel pecan bars from eat-drink-smile.



WHAT YOU NEED:
*1 cup of chopped pecans
*12 whole graham crackers (i used honey)
*1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
*3/4 cups of butter (i used 1 stick or 1/2 a cup of margarine)
*2 tablespoons whipping cream
*1 tablespoon vanilla extract
*1/4 teaspoon kosher salt



WHAT YOU DO:
*preheat oven to 350 degrees
*bake pecans in a single layer for 10 minutes
*line a pan with aluminium foil and lightly grease
*place graham crackers on foil and slightly overlap edges
*bring sugar, butter, & cream to a boil over medium heat
*remove from heat and add vanilla & pecans
*pour butter mixture over crackers, spreading to coat
*bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, until lightly brown and bubbling
*once removed from oven sprinkle with kosher salt
*cool completely (about 30 mins) and cut into bars
*ENJOY!

**To present as a gift, don't forget to pick up a holiday tin to put your treats in**

vlogging

I've been wanting to do a vlog post forever, and my friend over at QUEAN gave me the nice little push/inspiration I needed to get it done.

I wasn't quite sure how my video would turn out so I had pictures of a variation of this look (I wear this sweater A LOT) on the back burner, and obviously still decided to post them.

But without further ado, check me out in as real life as most of you will probably get ;)

Thanks for watching. I know it was kind of long, but I hope you enjoyed the music and the next one will be (might be) shorter once I learn the ins and outs of editing.

You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE :) And please let me know if you have one too!

wearing: h&m jacket and sweater, dolce vita boots, target necklace & bag
worn to: you name it, and i've worn this sweater there

all black everything

When I was in college, my friends always told me I only wore black. I guess I thought I was from New York and not Cali back then.

I fully embrace color now, but there is still something so chic about head to toe black. (why are hands on hip posses always so cheesy looking...lol)

I've had this dress for a few years now, and it hasn't seen the outside of my closet much, and I am really not sure what made me whip it out to wear to class of all places, but I did :)

The only bit of "color" I wore that day was this trench I got in Paris a while ago.

I don't wear it much either because I want to get it tailored, but it did the trick for the day.

I realized I never gave you a formal introduction to the world's most comfortable booties! I should have bought two because at that rate I am wearing them, the heel will be worn out before 2011.

wearing: morgan de toi trench, bcbg max azria dress, aldo booties
worn to: class