Many Christmases ago when I was growing up as a child in Indonesia, when Santa actually came on December 5th following the Dutch tradition, I always wanted more glittery glitzy decorations on our not-so-tall Christmas tree. Presents were always nice but I know I just wanted more festivities on our Christmas tree, more beautiful ornaments on top of the annual new Christmas dress. Everytime my parents took me to a nice shopping center, I remember vividly how I just stood there in front of an expensive-looking, fully-adorned stunning Christmas tree with dreamy eyes. How I wished we could at least have been able to afford a few of those glimmering, gorgeous Christmas ornaments. I knew my parents couldn’t afford to get many of them back then. Many of those glass ornaments had to be imported so the prices were not very friendly to our modest wallet. Our Christmas tree was always decorated prettily with nice ornaments but I knew the tree needed more. Deep in my heart, all I wanted for Christmas every year was for Santa to bring me an enchanting fancy Christmas tree.
Santa heard me finally. Either that or I am finally not naughty and have been nice. Or it’s because I got married, have a family of my own and we knew we got to have our own Christmas tree to make our own little family’s Christmas tradition. And we live in America full of Target, Hallmark and Disney stores that have many affordable beautiful Christmas ornaments in front of your eyes right after Halloween is over. Not to mention the annual Nutcracker ballet performances, that we see twice every year, that sell delicate ballerina and Christmas ornaments at the door. So my dream has come true. We got our own Christmas tree that seems to be more embellished than ever every year, if not every week in December.
Christmas lights! Christmas lights! I love how Keira gets excited seeing every home’s or building’s Christmas lights when we drive or when we sit at home.
I love Christmas lights and beautiful wreaths, especially when the greenery is combined with this vintage blue painted door!
A real tree always makes a heavenly shape!
Keira helped me decorate our Christmas tree. Her little hands are the sweetest ornaments in my heart!
I know someone will always have a fancier Christmas tree than our little one but I am gleeful with what we got because now I get to decorate our own with every single ornament that tells a story about our little family.
This is an “Irish Home” ornament I got three years ago from a Hallmark store.
This is a “Snow White” ornament that I got for Keira for her first Christmas. At that time, she had just watched Snow White the movie for the very first time.
December IS my month. I love Christmas and decorations so much and the love is so abundant that I feel so giddy whenever I hear the Christmas songs. My bestfriend told me that, actually, reminded me that this year, when she saw a picture of me posing in a Santa-looking dress full of adornments with my big growing belly and all, on the beach. I didn’t care if I looked ridiculous. I was too delirious because it was Christmas time and the holiday season is the best time of the year for me to decorate anything in sight and belongs to me. That includes Keira, her gingerbread house, my outfits and our little home. I love the ornamental month too much!
Next year, we will go more creative on our gingerbread house like these holiday houses from Capadia Designs
With that said, my favorite month of the year is now about to end and I have to do something about it! I hate to leave the Christmas spirit! I cannot leave it behind without a celebration, however big or simple it needs be. I know I always do Christmas as big as I can, at decorating and at singing the Jingle Bells at least. So with New Year’s Eve, I do big with singing Auld Lang Syne and maybe one day when Santa gives us a bigger place, I want to have a bigger New Year’s Eve party with more than just glitzy hats and noisemakers.
I am still dreaming of white Christmas and a white house that can hold all of my friends and family partying with us tomorrow!
In gold, silver and white! And faint grayish blue! In Old Hollywood glamor, of course. I cannot have holiday festivities without a touch of vintage and glam because it just reminds me of the glitz of the bygone era…or year.
Smores! Dressy smores! I cannot wait to make these tomorrow! Dress up your smores with sparkly sprinkles! And have a glamorous cocktail as your plus one!
As featured in Elizabeth Anne Designs
Get your glam party hats on and make a lot of noise! From Etsy.
Don’t forget sparklers!
Now I gotta have my glistening vintage-looking sequin dress on! The kind that stretches for my growing-than-ever belly. Or a Burberry sequin dress for you?
Then of course I need to put a bow in my hair!
It’s been such a fabulous blessed year and I wish you a darling new year ahead! The kind that is full of love, pride, good health and glam glitzy moments that melt your heart.
With love from my heart to yours,
Mrs. McM!
And family!
It’s that time of the year again where we, as the grown ups, have secretly wished and mentally wrote letters to Santa. Christmas is literally a few days away so here I am sharing with you my ultimate “wish list” for the 2011 Holiday Season.
5. The Jumping Boot
Hermes ladies’ boot in taupe and kelly strap in ruthenium hardware availabe at www.hermes.com. With this style and color, you won’t need any other boots anymore. From day to night, jeans or dresses, you will wear it always and forever. The price indeed will knock your socks off but who needs socks with these boots. While the price is high it should be calculated as the cost per use, well that is my justification. Just note it to your significant other that it’s an “investment” and promise you will never ever buy any other boots for the rest of your life. And when they tell you they have heard that before yell them this time you mean it.
4. Reed Krakoff Python T Bar Cuff
It is so luxurious yet understated. Neutral python with gunmetal closure. View the other colors at www.reedkrakoff.com. This cuff is timeless, chic and your wrist will thank you for it.
3. L’Occitane
The very best hand cream at www.loccitane.com. The only kind that allows my super dry hands survive the dryness of winter. Plus they smell exquisitely delicious!
2. Laduree
I know I’ve had way too many of these lovely treats since they opened in September of this year. For every event at my work, we serve these goodies. People still wait in line, especially these days, for at least half hour. Best flavors would be the salted caramel, vanilla and rose. It is probably #1 gift given by every “chic New Yorker” this year. They are sweet and pretty, who doesn’t love that? They are not available for purchase online, but you can look at other flavors at www.laduree.fr. Next time someone is travelling to Paris or New York, make sure she/he brings you a box of this fashionable macaroons.
1. Family
My number one wish is for my family to continue to be happy, healthy and live our lives forever filled with joy and love.
I wish you all a very Happy Holiday season and all the best in the new year! Love, Dhania
“You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments.” – William Shakespeare
The holidays is here!
This morning I woke up and thought of what christmas days were like growing up in Indonesia. Some christmas days were warm and humid, some were rainy christmas at uncles and aunts. It was always lovely though. This picture I found from the Indonesian Embassy site completely brought a smile to my face, I hope yours as well… a group of Indonesian ‘santa klaus‘ on bikes, in the rain.
Christmas here is definitely not the same as christmas back home. The rain back home is the kind of warm rain that actually feels amazing on your skin. Tropical rain. Here in LA, my Asian immune and defense system can’t stand the cold LA rains, so no way I’ll be walking around enjoying the rain. If it rains I run inside, grab a glass of red wine, put on music and dream of a vintage christmas…
Or Vogue christmas both vintage or current edition… fancy, elegant, fashionably pleasing to the eyes…
And of course I need my black and white photo next to the colorful images. I am still, to today, moved by black and white images. Less is more love…
What are you girls up to on Christmas eve? My little Cait will be spending quality time with her Dad and friends in New York City. This year, I am having my girl friends over for yummy Indonesian food and drinks. Wine. Of course. And lots of laughter and great conversation. Enjoy yours with your family or friends, or by yourself if a christmas eve for one is what you have in mind… whatever it is, whoever you are with, have a fabulous christmas… enjoy your fabulous-gorgeous self and be merry. I surely will!
PS: Don’t bother calling me on christmas morning. I most likely will be in deep beauty sleep, still in my giant peachy tutu and sparkly party shoes on, with a big christmas smile on my face. Content.
With giant love and hug from this girl,
Lolo K. Sosronegoro
Pon & Zi are my absolute favorite characters created by Jeff Thomas in 2004. I have loved them both since I first laid eyes on them. They are not male and female. They are blue and yellow characters. Mr. Thomas explained in his site that Pon (yellow) is usually the optimistic instigator, and Zi (blue) retains some of the disconnect and apathy.
Depending on the dynamic of your relationship with your spouse, you could be a Pon or a Zi. If you’re not sure, hey, you can always take a quiz here! I relate to Pon in most cases. Pon ate a cookie it baked for Zi. The only explanation Pon has? ”I baked you a cookie but I accidentally eated it.” But they love each other no matter what. They’re both crazy sometimes, and slightly insane. And some days seem pretty obsessed of each other. The love is real though.
Pon & Zi is an odd story. Yet so heart warming. I remember a friend of mine baked clay to form a Pon to ask his lover to marry him. It took him several odd looking Pons to get to a perfect shape, but when it was done, it was beautiful. I almost cried looking at the clay version Pon, holding a promise ring.
Just for the fun of it, I took a Pon & Zi quiz. The result? As expected, I was Pon! What did it say about Pon? Well, here you go:
“Congrats! You are Pon! You are madly in love with Zi and would do just about anything for Zi. If your heart had a face it would be smiling. You don’t like snails, care a lot about others and you tend to cry a lot. You cry mostly for someone you love. Although when you’re not crying, you are extremely happy!”
Don’t know what it says about Zi… you just gotta try take the quiz yourself!
I dig you both Pon & Zi!!
Love,
Lolo K. Sosronegoro
West Hollywood. The years that I live here in Los Angeles, West Hollywood represents good times with friends and strong drinks at the Abbey. Oh, and also parties at the chic furniture boutiques. I’m sorry, also sometimes meditation meeting with my girls. West Hollywood is filled with good things.
This small city also takes their love of animal companions seriously. They replaced the word ‘pets’ to… well… I just mentioned it… ‘animal companion’. There is not a store allowed to sell cats or dogs either. So it seems to make perfect sense that early last year they started working on the ban of selling fur in West Hollywood.
Started last week, West Hollywood, Calif., became the first city in the U.S. to ban the sale of fur products, which will go into effect on September 21, 2013. Sales of used and vintage items containing fur by retailers and individuals will still be allowed.
There you have it… next time you’re in West Hollywood, remember to refer to your four legged friend as ‘animal companion’, enjoy the drinks, the friendly people… and remember faux fur only while you party hard in the winter!
love,
Lolo K. Sosronegoro
