The Thrilla of the Mochila
{Mochila available here, Nanette Lepore eyelet coverup available here}
{Freya kaftan available here}
For a handbag sure to whisk you away to an exotic locale by its mere sight — one need only purchase a Crayola-colored mochila. Perfect for summer, these bold and bright carryalls add a tribal feel to any look. We bought ours while on vacation in idyllic Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic and love that each bag is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. The bonus? Buying your bag from here supports female entrepreneurs — the Wayuu, a group of indigenous people living in Colombia. Girl power!
Deliver Lean Deal..Don’t Miss Out!
Just in time for bikini season, I wrapped up my Deliver Lean meal delivery plan and lost three pounds. Winning!
The 411 on Deliver Lean? Think portion-controlled gourmet meals delivered directly to your door. There are several plans to choose from — Traditional, Paleo, Gluten-Free and HGC Diet — and I picked out the 5-day Traditional Meal Plan. Each meal contains 4 ounces of lean protein sources (such as fish, chicken, pork, beef and turkey), 2 to 4 ounces of high quality, complex carbohydrates (such as power grains like quinoa, beans or lentils) and 3 ounces of fresh fruits or vegetables. From ahi tuna, to banana pancakes to black bean burgers — the food is yum! And after a week on this plan, I’m down 4 pounds. Winning!
And I’ve got a special deal for you, loyal readers. You can score 2 days free with the purchase of a one-month plan ($7.95 per meal/3 meal minimum per day) which can be redeemed here.
That Dove Ad Happened to Moi
Remember the Dove “Real Beauty Sketches” ad that recently went wildly viral? You know, the campaign where a forensic artist is asked to draw a series of women based only on their descriptions and the results are Ugly Betty-ish? Yep, that one. Well, said ad teaches a vital lesson about how we view ourselves compared to how others see us. And in a strange way, I got Dove Ad-ed this a.m.
In a warm gesture of epic proportions, reader Milda Bublys sent me this stellar sketch of yours truly. Milda is a Miami-based fashion designer and I’m pretty certain she doesn’t know this, but: Her image of me made me cry. But the good kind.
While I’m a confident woman (I mean, who starts a fashion diary blog at age 35?), I don’t always feel like the leggy, stylish gal with come-hither looks as portrayed in Milda’s portrait. In fact, if a forensic artist were to ask me what I look like, I’d probably ramble, “Big Greek nose, muffin top, gangly limbs, kinky hair, too-thin eyebrows…” You get it — I’d bastardize every trait about me.
But then Milda sent me this beauty — a lithe, long-legged brunette with sparkly blue eyes and a magnificent mane — with a penchant for couture, of course. And my eyes welled up with tears.
I guess where I’m going with this is: While I feel as though I love the way I see myself, I still have some work to do.
So thank you, Milda, for seeing me in such a marvelous manner. I apparently needs this reassurance.
You know, that I-Just-Stumbled-Off-the-Beach Look
{Indah dress available at Blush, Tory Burch Drea wedges, Balenciaga bag available here, Lola James Jewelry necklace available here, H&M knuckle ring, Lorraine Schwartz evil eye bracelet}
Every once in a while, I love wearing what I call the I-just-stumbled-off-the-beach look at night. And this Indah dress is a perfect example that some beach-y items have place on the party circuit, too. I wore it recently to a divorce party (yes, a divorce party!) for an out-of-town friend, and paired this Ikat-print, fringe-y number with closed-toe wedges to give a more dressed-up, not-too-schleppy look.
What do you think: Beachwear worn at night…Yay or nay?
Fancy Fridays
{This is me YOLOing in a Vix bikini}
Two years ago, I started a self-indulgent phenomenon on my own accord and called it Fancy Friday. The gist of said idea was to plop my ass in the sand every Friday (usually at Soho Beach House) and just be while the two kiddos were in school. You know, to disconnect from my BlackBerry and simply enjoy the present moment (which continues to be a challenge for the ADD demon lurking inside of me). At first, I would find myself twitching like a heroin addict in my chaise lounge — grappling for my phone for another fix — paranoid I was missing out on work, scoring potential new clients, yadda, yadda, yadda… but then something magical happened. I stopped caring.
Poof, just like that.
When I got the whole “keep calm and disconnect” thing under control, I realized my gregarious nature was craving female companionship. And so I decided to let my friends in on what felt like my dirty little secret. And their responses were something along the lines of, “Maria, you are a MENSA genius!” (um, that’s a lie) or “Hello, why didn’t we think about this ages ago. Duh.”
Now in its second year, Fancy Friday has spiraled into a really important time for my soul. And I’d like to think my fellow Fancy Fridayers, Ginger, Marcella, Mary Jo and Sofi would agree, too. Like a visit to a therapist’s office, we discuss our kids, try to work out our problems, complain about pain-in-the-ass clients, vent about our family — you know, the kind of headaches that invariably come with being a mature adult. And somehow, these worries placate by a simple dip in the ocean and just talking. Oh, and the spiked lemonade helps, too.
So the takeaway here? Life is short. Make time for the relationship that matters the most in your life — the one with yourself. Dedicate some time to living mindfully and engaging in slower activities. And despite living in an era increasingly dominated by technology, we as human beings crave tangible, intimate connections — so nurture this need.
And if you ever want to join me on Friday, just say the word.
