merry christmas

[easyrotator]erc_43_1356452581[/easyrotator]

Every day dress wishes everyone a day filled with the love of others, the magic of the season, and the wonder of this beautiful world. Believe and it will be.

red and black sweater coat Worth New York

modern greetings

[easyrotator]erc_5_1356295551[/easyrotator]

Much like an outfit you wear to an important event, the card that is sent during the month of December, or January if that is your thing, will probably make a statement to those that pay attention. Every day dress pays attention to clothes and cards, and has for years.

Handmade coordinating embroidered outfits for two boys two girls, matching dog, professional photographer, grosgrain ribbon on the side, check. Repeat until fifth child comes along always make sure the stamp and pen color match the theme, check. Add the fifth, and then the sixth child to the composition, which always will now call for a horizontal image, keep the professional photographer on site, check. Every odd year or so add the youngish and good-looking parents in the mix, check. Travel to Durango CO, book the local photographer for the family photo, set prop includes a real Durango, and in the end resort to photoshopping sixth child that would not trade  Reese’s Cups for a smile. Build a big new house and pose family in front, again, in matching outfits and cashmere sweaters, oh boy, while oldest is starting high school, with paid photographer again, check. Hope you can all see I am totally making fun of myself. Travel to Hilton Head SC, party on the beach with kids, set the camera up and hand to a brother-in-law, best christmas photo ever, check.

Kids go off to college, back in town for Thanksgiving holiday, go to local ski town on black friday, take the picture not knowing how to use the camera, image is blurry, send out hundreds anyways, very picky neighbor says he thought that was the best one ever. Kids home again last year, decide enough is enough and not to do the photo card, they beg after years of complaining, hire a professional photographer again for a 9 am shoot, pass Visine around to all older kids as they have just rolled in, check. Ribbons, engraved messages, thermography, gold pens, silver pens, red pens, calligraphy, lined envelopes, matching handmade outfits and matching stamps, check all that.

This year, can’t get my arms around the thing, think about it for months, take the photo of all six on Thanksgiving Day, even look for a card last-minute while in NYC last weekend at all the best shops. Nothing. Get distracted by work which is a very good thing, host a very successful pop-up sample sale. Get distracted by very real current events, not a good thing at all, and decide a Christmas card would be nice. Kids are asking for photo card again, but decide to do something different as the chosen image has already been shared all over Instagram by three youngest daughters. Happy they are proud of the family photo. Go to local whole and organic food co op and purchase assorted hand silkscreened in Buffalo NY cards, practically empty their entire shelves, check. Travel to post office with intent on purchasing some good looking holiday stamps, line is way too long. Use the self-service kiosk and stamps are printed pronto, check. They look fine on the outside of the envelope. Fine too that some of the greetings will have to wait now until December 26th or so.

On the morning of cross-country flight to CA wake up at 5 am and write off as many as possible before 10 am departure. Pack the rest in the carry on, write the entire flight, with air travel delay and traffic get into San Francisco for the party on time but for same day postage, not. This was Friday. Hand the cards to hotel staff Saturday, say thank you and think, oh, well, these are modern times and this year I’m all for change and modern greetings.

Like the card the holiday wardrobe is different, too. A lover of dresses and not one is packed for this trip. Wore a pair of black jeans with black biker boots on the plane.  Packed two more pair of jeans and a pair of new black stretch satin tuxedo pants, not the matching jacket as that is way too fancy for Sonoma, two more pair of boots, one pair black Louboutin heels, silk camisoles, silk blouses, sweaters, and casual jackets. Left all the east coast dress up clothes home, back east.

Every day dress is now in Sonomo CA for Christmas. Wishing everyone a modern holiday. xoxo

the basics

[easyrotator]erc_33_1355804213[/easyrotator]

Every day dress has had every good intention of posting fashion and lifestyle pieces since last week thursday. Plenty of opportunity- sharing of holiday party and fashion photos, in and out fancy travel to NYC, more party photos, upcoming travel and packing tips for CA, holiday shopping ideas- not so high on the list right now.

Here’s my suggestion on how to get through times like this: always move back to basics. Repetitive but helpful. Make the bed, get out of the exercise clothes, have protein at breakfast, put on some makeup, walk the dog(s) or walk for miles, make dinner for those you love, light some candles, enjoy a glass of wine, celebrate the good, keep the faith.

Photos shown are from cooking class in september in italy. Learned how to make fresh pasta with truffles that were harvested that morning.

Sandy, all the way around, rest in peace.

Every day dress focuses on the basics.

 

 

applesauce

[easyrotator]erc_93_1355282403[/easyrotator]

Okay, so everyone is all dressed up and running around doing a zillion things? It’s that time of year. Every day dress is pleased to report on some very satisfying last weekend activity: wore the exact, and I mean exact, same outfit two days in a row, both saturday and sunday, blue jeans, grey sweater. Spent time making eggs and pancakes, both days, hanging with husband and two youngest daughters, and weeding the garden. Yes, weeding, in december, in buffalo, ny. It was a great weekend.

Felt a little overwhelmed by all that will happen in the next few weeks. You know, all that crazy stuff that we all do year after year. Crazy great like blogged about before but all the same crazy great stuff. To beat the heat decided to stay in and make applesauce to go with sunday night’s dinner. Couldn’t even think about going out to the grocery so took a drawer full of apples, cored and quartered them, dumped them in a pot with 1/2 cup water, boiled, stirred, mashed, processed through the good old food mill and put leftover cinnamon sugar in them and it was love for dinner. Simple food, light some candles, and nobody wanted to leave the table. Buttered noodles, haricots verts, the other white meat, and we sat there for some blissful hours.

Have a lot to do the next two weeks? Maybe try wearing the same thing for a few days in a row and make something like good old-fashioned applesauce. Puts everything in a bit of perspective.

Tomorrow, like today and yesterday, back to the endless check list. Naughty or nice? I’ll take a little of each.

Every day dress makes applesauce and wears the same outfit two, or even three days in a row on the weekend, in december.

 

fast glamour

[easyrotator]erc_6_1354920482[/easyrotator]

Everyone is super busy right about now and fast glamour can help you pull things off. Picked up this great silver fox collar while on business travel this past week. Wore it over a dress for meetings and here it is over a luxurious zip-up hoodie, fabricated from super soft suede.

Are you anti-fur? If you like the look simply go for a faux version. Agreed, this look is not for all but if you are juggling work, family, office parties, home parties, shopping, in-laws, out-laws, travel, card writing, baking, decorating, dog walking and more– a fabulous collar could be just your thing to add some glamour to your every day wear.

This dressed up version of a sweatshirt is so great. Black suede front and back, ponte sleeves, double zip, double entry pockets, and jersey knit lined- it could not be better looking or more comfortable. Picked that up in secaucus nj as well. Work trips are fun.

Red lipstick can certainly add fast glamour. You probably have that in your makeup drawer already. Why not put it on when you are out to walk the dog(s)?

Every day dress tries fast glamour on the first friday in december.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for reading. We are getting close to 20,000 site views. You can join this party by subscribing to my blog by email- fill out the column on the right and you will be notified with a quick email when there is a new post up. Thank you.

Hematite and Zinc Fox Donut | Worth New York Fall 2012

thirty days

[easyrotator]erc_56_1354599249[/easyrotator]

Every day dress is in secaucus nj for some fashion preview and enrichment training. Totally looking forward to the next twenty-four hours. Brain craves new things.

Couldn’t sleep after driving all day so decided to share some lifestyle news- have always been intrigued by dermatologist and nutritionist Nicholas Perricone MD.  Several of his best-selling books occupy significant space in and by the nightstand. Always seem to revisit them, must be the forty  getting closer to fifty thing. Love the food he recommends on his three-day face lift diet, what’s not to love about eggs, berries, greens, and salmon, so decided to give his skin care and supplements a whirl too.

Decided to do this because it’s adding things to the day, not restricting. Adding skin and body supplements and concentrating on eating delicious and healthy anti-imflammatory foods with moderate red wine, yes. Following some super strict plan that basically sets you up for failure, no way. Have never been good at that.

Three days down, twenty-seven to go. Not a bad way to move through the very busy month of december. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, yogurt, turkey, and salmon, enjoy a glass of red wine, add some skin and body supplements, a new face cream or two and life is good.

Thank you for reading. Every day dress wishes everyone health and wellness.

For more information on Perricone MD, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

walk the line

[easyrotator]erc_52_1354312953[/easyrotator]

Husband was in the johnny cash kind of mood this morning so when getting dressed for the day of course followed suit. Black again. Did get some color in there with a red lipstick.

For at-home computer work and running around town, outfit was great. Felt a bit rebellious and even wore the jeans out to the buffalo yacht club for a holiday party menu meeting. Not supposed to wear jeans to clubs, but hey, it’s friday and it’s snowing out there.

Grab a warm coat, a bright lipstick, and have a great weekend everyone.

Cheer up baby, I walk the line.

 

on the road

[easyrotator]erc_56_1354240782[/easyrotator]

Spent the day driving ninety minutes to and fro on the 90 and meeting with some pretty incredible women in rochester, ny. For the ride decided on wearing a black and white marled jersey ponte coat, super comfortable and easy to wear but not sure it was ‘it’. Could be just one of those days, full moon maybe.

You know those times when your clothes look good but somehow feel like they miss the mark? This was one of those days. If you’re a woman, reading this blog, and have the slightest bit of interest in what you wear, I think you know what I’m talking about. Clothes were great, combination, and my doing, not so much. The good news is that with an outfit you get to do it all over again, different day, different way. Here’s to a different way.

Some things are certain. Love that the work I do is flexible. Love that I stop for coffee when the mood hits. Love that I work with amazing women and beautiful clothes- tons of opportunity to get it right.

Next six months are team building focused with lots of road work ahead. If you, or someone you know, is anywhere near the 90 or upstate New York, and interested in hearing more about this work I love, email me, rebecca, at rebecca@everydaydress.com.

Think about commenting on the outfits, too. Would love to hear your thoughts about getting it right. Feeling some color? Black and white are always easy, maybe time to take some risk?

Diana and Carol, it was an absolute pleasure today, thank you.

Every day dress on the road.

ps. bought a remote, lost a remote cord, bought another remote. photos are by remote.

 

quick and festive

[easyrotator]erc_19_1354151345[/easyrotator]

This liquid gold quilted metallic organza coat has been a pretty constant fashion go-to the past couple of weeks. Design intent probably evening-wear but absolutely love tossing it on over jeans and tees. Combined with chanel’s illusion d’ombre long wear luminous eyeshadow apparence 817, a quick and festive look.

Jeans are oldest daughter’s, left here from the holiday with explicit directions to ship out with her winter coats, and a bit tight from misbehaving for four days straight. Kind of catches up with you. It’s okay. I tell  my daughter’s and my clients that our bodies are like the ocean, there is a definite ebb and flow and to enjoy it all. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Back to these jeans, love the color and the zippers, really fun. When any jean is paired with this great little swing coat, blue, black, or dark red, the coat is instantly dressed down. Zippered pockets are spot on for the car keys.

Eye makeup color? Normally an absolute devotee of the dark smokey look, with this outfit chose an allover kind of natural gold shimmer. Gold quilted coat and dark smokey eyes during the day would feel so much like trying too hard. As putting on some makeup is an every day dress signature, this eye shadow can make that happen fast. Super quick- just use your finger and smudge allover. Finish with mascara and some lip gloss, toss on your fancy puffer coat, and done. Every day dress does quick and festive.

Liquid Gold Metallic Quilted Metallic Organza Coat | Winter 2012 Worth New York Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow | Chanel Holiday 2012              Jeans | rag & bone

lobster mac & cheese

[easyrotator]erc_93_1353882528[/easyrotator]

Impromptu early birthday celebration for boston college girl called for a family favorite, dressed up a bit. Ina Garten’s mac & cheese recipe has been a get together mainstay recipe for years- now, in her new book Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Foolproof, she’s added lobster. Love her recipes and methods, so easy to merge into every day life.

For this saturday night party, we simply, believe it or not, flipped over the thanksgiving linen tablecloth to hide a few spots of blueberry pie, removed five chairs, four of them rentals, and sat the birthday girl at the head surrounded down the sides with family and friends. Birthday girl, Booie, did the place cards. Place cards always make the come to the table moment so much easier. Nobody needs to wonder where to sit. She decorated both sides of some old business cards that were quickly folded in half-length wise, and presto, place cards done.

Followed Ina’s recipe twice, in two different pots. Have learned that when doubling batches there are certain times you can do it with ease and certain times not. Boiling two pounds of cavatappi in huge pot of salted water, yes. Creating a roux, stirring in 1 quart of hot milk and six cups of grated cheese times two, no. Take the time to do that separately. Helps when you have handsome georgetown law school student son home to help stir things up. 🙂

Added some easy caesar salad and tuscan garlic bread. When deciding between carrot versus chocolate for the cake, went chocolate. Cooked so many vegetables for thursday felt we definitely needed to switch things up. Champagne and chardonnay accompanied, and not shown, everyone’s favorite, peppermint ice cream.

Happy birthday, Booie. Safe travels back to school. We all missed you, Linnie. Tomorrow, I too, go back to real work. xoxo