Valentine's Delays

Well, Valentine's Day is nearly here and I thought it was time I started rolling out the red dresses.  Last year we worked in a date night right around Valentine's Day and right before the world turned on its head.  I think we might have had one date night since then, but I was really hoping we could do something special this year. 

Sadly, as I watch this storm system barreling down on us this weekend, I know that we'll likely be spending Valentine's Day and many of the days following it indoors, near the fire.  I'm only praying the electricity doesn't go out for weeks on end like it has in years past.

That doesn't mean we can't celebrate; I might just have to get creative and prepare some kind of fleece blanket with a picnic spread of champagne (I always keep some on hand), chocolates (I've been curating a special box of gourmet chocolates for each of my family members so that each one is unique and special) and some other delicacies I can put together.

One of my favorite memories from Switzerland was gathering in the gorgeous chalet of a friend, eating fondue with Swiss friends on a very chilly winter day.  Well, if there's one thing the Swiss know how to do it is make the most of your time indoors during a snow storm.

Maybe I can bake a loaf of bread and put together something fondue-like for a fireside picnic.  Maybe we'll play a card game or just chat.  Whatever the case, our Valentine's plans, it look like we'll be weathering the weather together. 

Shopping Info: Dress from SheIn

Make Time for the Things You Love

It briefly crossed my mind to just hang onto this post with this cute heart wiggle dress until Valentine's day, but I couldn't.  This dress is just too pretty not to share.  But, just because I'm posting well before Valentine's day doesn't mean we can't talk about love, right?

What kinds of things do you love to do?  Has it been a while since you've been able to get out and do them thanks to the lengthy shut down which is still going on in some places? 

I think we all need hobbies.  We all need something to look forward to, a way to blow off steam.  There were a couple of months when we couldn't get out much to take photos.  I resorted to building my little afternoon spot in the yard, not just for photos, but just so I could have an escape.

You know my mantra about balance and moderation to all things.  So, as much as I think we need to deal with life's problems and demands, I also think it is a healthy mind and soul that have that place of respite.  

Whether it's the mental escape of watching your favorite movie or the physical escape of heading to the golf course, the cafe, or into the woods and the early morning city streets like me to take a few photos.  I love going out and taking the photos just as much as I do sitting down to edit them and the sense of accomplishment as I sit back to admire the finished product.  I need this to keep me sane--sometimes it's the only thing that does.

Did you know there are people in the world who don't really have hobbies?  I hear it all the time.  When asked what's going on with them they respond: "Work, eat, sleep, repeat."  Oh, dear.

If that sentiment rings a little too familiar for you, I really want to encourage you to find something you enjoy and look forward to and them carve out a little time in your schedule each week or even just each month to do this thing you enjoy.

All work and more work is work, work, work.  Leave some time for play.  Make space in your schedule to do something you love.  Better yet, do something you enjoy with someone you love.  If you will, you'll see such great results in your life, your attitudes, and your relationships.

Shopping Info:  Pinup Couture Veronica Dress, Heart Purse from Shein

Holly Jolly

How are you feeling about the holidays this year?  This time of year can be super stressful for many of us, add to that the bizarre year that it's been and I don't know exactly how to feel.  Am I stressed, fearful, depressed, thankful, totally over all of it?  

Sometimes instead of letting our emotions rule us, telling us how to feel and react, we have to resort to a Joe Friday approach, "just the facts, ma'am."  Feelings are untrustworthy at best.  Focus on the facts or better yet, focus on the truth instead.  The truth never changes.

As far as stress goes, ask yourself what's got you stressed and how much of it is within your control?  Chances are you can manage a lot of that stress.  Freaking out over buying gifts for everyone?  Get some gift cards or bake some cookies and send them with a nice note on festive paper explaining that you're taking a bit of the pressure off yourself, but you love each person all the same. 

Money got you worried?  Maybe you just be honest about your finances this year and say, "I just can't" to a lot of the sideline stuff so you won't go deeper into debt.  Depressed?  Get out there and serve others!  There's no better way to cure depression than by helping others instead of obsessing about your problems.  

This next part is really going to offend people with delicate sensibilities, but I really don't care because it needs to be said.  As far as being afraid goes, Tell your fears to sack up or shut up.  Life is risk.  Every moment of everyday we're all taking our chances. There's never been a time in all of history that was without conflict, trials, dangers, and most of them were more difficult and life threatening than anything we face today.  Get out there and live!  

And, if you can, go beyond just living and love your life.  Love the people in your life and make sure they know just how much they mean to you, right now and every chance you get.  Make this the best holiday season ever!

Little Red Dress from StopStaring.com

Femme Luxe Collab Returns!

November is here and what better way to kick off the month than with FemmeLuxe week.  I love these collabs with Femme Luxe and I am so glad to share them with you, because each month for my collaboration with Femme Luxe I try to select pieces of clothing that follow the season either in color or style such as Bodysuits and Jeans for casual fall looks.  So this month as the temperatures are dropping and the colors are changing, I've chosen a great color palette of stylish and cozy seasonal picks which I know you are going to love just as much as I do.

You may recognize this dress. It's the Khaki Belted Bodycon Midi Dress-Angelica dress.  I love their dresses and this dress in particular.  I have worn it in several colors, in fact it was one of my very earliest picks when I first began collaboration with Femme Luxe and this style has remained a favorite in all colors and for all occasions. I thought this autumn it would be nice to wear it in khaki. Usually when I think of khaki it is a neutral beige color, but the khaki for this dress is a nice neutral olive green, which looks great with colors like dark brown, burgundy, forest green or basic black and is very pretty for autumn.

You may have seen this style of dress around the internet, I know I have, but Femme Luxe's is the one I prefer. The Angelica dress comes in five colors and features a bodycon pencil skirt in stretch fabric, a fitted waist with belt that can be tied in the front or back according to your preference, and wrap top with three quarter lantern style sleeves. The neckline can also be adjusted. You can wear it up higher on the shoulders as I am or place it lower for an off the shoulders open look. So, there are quite a few options on ways to style this dress.

Speaking of options with this dress, not only do you have styling and color options, you have some wiggle room on the size since this is a bodycon dress made from stretch fabric. You can order the Angelica dress true to size— and I have one or two that I wear true to size, in particular the Angelica dress in black which I usually wear on special occasions— but when I know I am going to wear this dress for more casual events like a late weekend lunch with friends, I opt to go one size up for a more comfortable fit and wear it with kitten heels or espadrilles.

But, you know me and my preference for vintage style, so I decided to wear my oxford T-strap heels and do a vintage hairstyle. Victory rolls are really hard! You've got to admire those ladies of the 1940s for pioneering such a difficult look during difficult times. My biggest struggle with this hairstyle has been symmetry.  After tons of work, I tend to get one perfect roll and one weird mess. My victory rolls usually come out looking more like lopsided “Defeat Pancakes” but I have kept working on it sporadically over the years and I think I've finally come up with a cheat code as it were for victory rolls so I can finally wear this style on both sides of my head. 

It may not sound like a lot, but it's kind of a big deal to me, and now that I've figured this out, you'll probably be seeing it a lot more.  Plus, this Angelic dress has that great 1940s flare in the sleeves and, bodice, and especially in this color, that make this a great dress to wear with vintage hair and accessories. All that's missing from this outfit is a garrison cap and some posters in the background about loose lips sinking ships. You're picturing it now, aren't you and it looks great, right?!

FemmeLuxe week continues tomorrow with another great style that is both casual and comfortable. It is something that I am trying for the first time from Femme Luxe. So, join me right back here tomorrow for a new product with a full review; I'll see you then.

Shopping Info: Khaki Belted Bodycon Midi Dress - Angelica from FemmeLuxe.co.uk, Chelsea Crew Heels

Double Date Night

It's day two of FemmeLuxe week and in yesterday's post I promised there Will be a pretty dress in this month's collab with FemmeLuxe and I always deliver on my promises just like FemmeLuxe always delivers on the pretty dresses. So, why wait any longer, let's get to the pretty dress! A few days ago I did a post about Creative Date Night Destinations. I know it's a little harder right now to find those sorts of events, but never fret, restrictions are easing and the world will open back up again eventually. In the mean time it does not hurt to dream and start planning. I hope you are already thinking of places to go, even making some reservations. We all need things to look forward to and things to celebrate in life.

For our creative date night this month Mr. Bleu and I decided to go all out and make it a double date night. By this, I don't mean that we went out with another couple for that classic double date, diner bowling experience—although that would have been loads of fun and I'll keep it in mind for some date night down the road. Instead we booked a couple of nights in a gorgeous little Victorian Carriage house. 

Just as it sounds, it is a tiny three storey carriage house that has been converted into an air B&B just big enough for two and it was heavenly to have the privacy and the quiet of this darling little house all to ourselves. I did not miss the sounds of drunken neighbors tromping up stairs and fumbling with room keys at 3 a.m. Also, I should note that we opted to go Sunday through Tuesday when all the weekend party traffic has shuffled home and the town in notably less populated and generally more peaceful.

On Monday we had a lovely breakfast at our favorite local cafe and then spent three hours wandering through parks and along city trails before returning to the carriage house for a long nap. NO photos of this pretty little house unfortunately, we were too busy relaxing. Taking photos can be laborious and is quiet detail oriented—read into this that it makes my OCD go into overdrive—so I decided to just take it all in and make memories instead. But, two nights away from home, children and responsibility free, definitely called for a pretty dress to wear as we went out on the town.

There's nothing like a slinky dress for date night, especially when it's night of walking around, taking in the sights, popping into a pub now and then to chat over drinks and appetizers. I chose this Wine Ruched Midi BodyconDress – Taylor for the occasion. Made of stretchy fabric for a close and comfortable fit, this Wine Ruched Midi Bodycon Dress –Taylor is the perfect color for autumn. It is also fully ruched which is the perfect addition to bodycon dresses to create camouflage for trouble zones. It's a post quarantine world, we've all got some trouble zones now, but that doesn't mean we can't wear a bodycon dress, it just means we need the right bodycon dress. For the Taylordress, I would almost recommend sizing down one size so you really get a form fitted look. I'm wearing the Taylor dress in 6UK and I feel like I could go one size smaller. But, definitely check FemmeLuxe's size chart and compare your measurements with theirs before making your decision.

With a slinky bodycon dress like the Taylor dress, I like to keep it simple on accessories. I don't think you need lots of belt, jackets, and hype—Ok, it's autumn, so maybe you will need a jacket, but that is it. The dress does it all just as a good dress should. Maybe a necklace, definitely some earrings, and a nice pair of pumps and you are all set for a fantastic date night. I've said it before and I'll continue to say it, don't let a few quarantine pounds stop you from looking and feeling beautiful. Know how to dress your shape and you'll love the results no matter how your size changes. Come back tomorrow for a decidedly more causal look as I kick back and relax in one of FemmeLuxe's Loungewear Sets. See you then!

Shopping Info: WineRuched Midi Bodycon Dress – Taylor from FemmeLuxe.co.uk, Heels from ThredUp