Christmas Gift Guide: Domestic Goddess

She knows the importance of the haven where she can kick her stilettos off and just relax. She raises the challenges in decorating sans hesitation. Her home is beautiful and stylish, bult also comfortable and inviting at the same time. She definitely knows how to entertain and her parties are even more famous than her impeccable style. And she will be so happy to find one of these fabulous gifts under her perfectly decorated Christmas tree :) 

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Bavarian Apple Pie

Trying out new and interesting recipes is definitely one of my favorite activities. However, there´s something really comforting about the tried and tested treats, especially in winter, when the comfort food is all I need to be happy. And what´s more classic than an apple pie?

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Christmas Gift Guide: Glitter Girl

Glitter and glamour are two of her favorite words. She love everything sequined, glittery and sparkly. She´s not the one to be afraid to shine like a star. Her motto? Live it up, live glamorously, live with style. Life would be so dull without that little bit of glitz, don´t you think? 

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DIY Advent Calendar

Since I almost missed the first Advent Sunday (you can see my hand made Advent wrearh here), I made sure to have my Advent Calendar ready on time. I love the idea of home made Advent calendar, it´s much more personal and enjoyable than those you can buy in the mall! That´s why I made another trip to the crafts shop, stocked up on the sweets and candies and spent the whole Monday afternoon cutting, gluing and tying (and eating candies, of course :) And this is what I got in the end:

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Christmas Gifts Guide: Style Maven

She is always on top of every trend, she knows all the dos and don´ts of every season by heart, and all that without compromising her own, unique personal style. She always knows where to find the best deals but she is also capable to spend all her savings on a gorgeous and timeless handbag (like Premier Flirt by Lancel  or Speedy by Louis Vuitton). Her iPad is always full of fashion magazines and the Rachel Zoe Project episodes. Rachel Zoe is her ultimate style icon, she´d love to marry her prince charmant in a pair of Louboutins and her most cherished dream is to attend the Chanel haute couture show in Paris one day...

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Green with envy

Dorothy Perkins dress, Asos clutch, Zara pumps, Tally Weijl belt, Forever 21 necklace and bracelet, Six hoops, hairclip and rings,  Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense n.34, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Flirt Nail Polish, Sephora by OPI Traffic-Stopper Copper Nail Polish

Ever since I posted this Mix & Match Friday´s Fancies ensemble, I´ve been wanting to create a "real" mix & match outfit. Mixing and matching prints and textures is an entirely new thing to me, so I decided to play safe and stick to various shades of one color. And I wasn´t disappointed: green lace and green snakeskin print look amazing together! To add a little bit of drama, I threw on a studded belt and a few pounds worth of costume jewelry. A swipe of magenta lipstick was the perfect finishing touch and for a moment I felt like a movie star :) Now that I know that it works, I´ll be sure to experiment in the mix & match department really soon!

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Last Minute Advent Wreath

I can hardly believe that today is the first Advent Sunday! How come the 2011 has fled so fast? The Christmas market in Graz has been kicked off last weekend and all Christmas songs are being played on the radio. For me, the Christmas time doesn´t really start until I hear Wham´s Last Christmas...how appropriate that the first time I heard this song this year was just yesterday, while I was putting together my Advent wreath!

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Friday´s Fancies #23: Black Friday

"Your order has been despatched". That´s definitely one of the best mails I can get in my Inbox (definitely better than "Your invoice has been sent to you")! I have some serious issues with compulsive online shopping (Dorothy Perkins and Asos could tell you a word or two about that), and I always get overly giddy when I learn that some new fabulous addition is on its way to my closet. What´s that got to do with this week´s Friday´s Fancies, you ask? Black Friday, obvi. What does Black Friday mean? Shopping, my friends. Loads of shopping. And then some more shopping...

In honor of this great shopping day, I´ve put together a perfect shopping outfit: simple dress, classy black coat and a few essential accessories. Are you ready for the sales? I know I am :)

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Dress like a star: Black & White

If you´ve been following me for a while, you know that I have a huge girl / style crush on Emma Watson. I find her beautiful, adorable and incredibly down to earth (as seen here). Plus I´m pretty much obsessed with all her red carpet looks. She has a knack for beautiful and quirky outfits that work nicely with her pixie cut and enhace her personality. I´m always really impressed with her fashion choices, especially when I know that she doesn´t hire a stylist and chooses her outfits on her own.

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Apricot Cupcakes

Baking has always been one of my favorite activities and cupcakes are definitely one of my favorite sweet treats. Now that I have unpacked almost all the boxes and my kitchen is properly equipped, I´m really looking forward to playing around with different recipes, flavors and frostings. The very first thing I made in my new oven were these cute little apricot cupcakes.

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A Thousand Years

Are you as obsessed with the Twilight Saga as I am? Aside from all those vampires-werewolves battles, it´s such a beautiful and timeless love story. Aren´t we all dreaming about love that conquers all? Call me a hopeless romantic, but I assume...and by the way, I´m Team Edward all the way!
I haven´t got a chance to watch the last movie yet, but this video makes me run to the movie theater pretty badly! This song has been played over and over again in my iTunes for the pas few days, and I love it more and more every time I hear it. Would make a beautiful first dance song at a wedding, don´t you think?

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Kimono dress + My first week in Graz

Dorothy Perkins dress and ring, H&M clutch, flower pin and earrings, Claire´s bracelets, Deichmann pumps

I have successfully accomplished my first complete week in Graz, and I can already tell that I´m absolutely smitten with this beautiful city. The thing I appreciate the most is probably its "human" size: compared to Paris it may seem small, but I simply love the fact that I can walk everywhere (no subway required!). We have a daily Farmers´ market 5 minutes from our apartment, and the biggest shopping rue is only 10 minutes away. Say hello to one happy girl :)

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Friday´s Fancies #22: Mix & Match

When I first read about this week´s Friday´s Fancies Mix & Match theme, I was a little bit sceptic. I´ve never really tried to mix various prints, because I´ve always thought that it was the most trickiest thing to pull off. But then I gave it a second thought, and I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to create my first mix & match outfit, without the risk of it being a complete fiasco :) I could try out different combinations, switch the items that didn´t work together, play with various colors and textures....and I had so much fun!

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How to: Stay creative

Image via Sterling Style

With half the boxes still unpacked, some furniture still missing and discovering the joys of living in a city where people speak language I don´t understand at all, it´s been quite difficult for me to concentrate on all those little things that can spark my inspiration and imagination. That´s why this amazing list will have its own privileged place on my (future) inspiration board. I can already tell that I´m really good at numbers 1, 7 and 9, but I have to work on numbers 6 and 23. It´s still work in progress. What about you? What do you do to keep your imagination alive? 

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How to: Decorate your home in fall colors

I´ve always loved the idea of seasonal home decorating. It can make season shifting much more enjoyable, and it makes you seek out the best in each and every time of the year. The nature represents an unlimited source of inspiration, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of everything it has to offer. This being said, there´s so much more to fall decorating than pumpkins and spooky Halloween accessories! Fall´s color palette composed of spicy oranges, rich yellows, rustic reds, forest greens and chocolate browns presents countless opportunities when it comes to home decor. All these colors will make your home look and feel much more cozy and inviting. 

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Trend report: Red coat

Seasonal trends can be really tricky. There are trends that you surely do admire on the runway but you can´t even imagine how you could incorporate them into your own wardrobe. And then, there are those you can pull off almost instantly. For me, the red coat falls definitely into the "love at first sight" category. 

Red coats are really huge this season, as seen on a few of the most stylish women in the celebrity world. Red is one of the biggest trends for this autumn and winter: it´s so chic and elegant, plus it adds a beautiful pop of color to any simple outfit you put together in the morning. And the best thing? The red coat is so versatile and timeless that I´m pretty sure it will quickly become a classic wardrobe staple, next to his black brother. 

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Moving in

(Boxes, boxes, boxes....everywhere!)

I´m so sorry for being MIA and unable to respond to all your sweet and lovely comments for the past few days! I´m so grateful that you, my readers, are so supportive, and you make me want to work even harder!

Then again, moving in is never an easy thing to do, and this is what my last weekend was all about: piling up the boxes, moving the boxes, emptying the boxes, and still, more boxes were coming in....eww! Followed the very enjoyable activity of frantic searching for indispensable stuff (like plates, glasses and winter clothes), building the furniture and moving it around, which has pretty much ruined my manicure and my nerves. I have to confess, I really hate moving, especially the packing and unpacking part. And it´s quite a funny thing coming from me, because in the past 5 years I lived in 4 different countries and I moved at least a dozen times...Hopefully, I´m done with hopping around Europe for a few years!

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Friday´s Fancies #21: Gold Fever

This is a very special edition of our weekly fashion session: lovely and talented {av}, the author of Long Distance Loving celebrates her 50th Friday´s Fancies. Incredible number, don´t you think? I really admire
{av}´s weekly inspiration, enthusiasm and her love of everything beautiful! And that´s whe we´re all celebrating in big style today: gold fever is the motto! 

A gold sequined dress has been on my shopping wish list for ages, but it proved to be quite challenging to find the right one. Yet, I think, that if money were no object, I would buy this Pencey number immediately! I´d love to pair it with beige knee-high boots and a buch of show-stopping cocktail rings. One word: fabulous! 

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Moving Day & Ikea wish list

Our moving day is finally here! It took us almost 2 months to find our new apartment in Graz, but I think it was well worth waiting! The moving company will be here soon, so my writing must be short today, but I´ve decided to share my Ikea wish list with you. Here are only a few things I need to make our new home beautiful, inviting and functional. I can´t wait to share some pics of our new chez nous, so stay tuned :)

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Exciting news!

Becoming a fashion editor and magazine writer has been one of my dearest wishes for almost all my life. I´ve been chanelling my fashion inner self through this blog and I love each and every second of it! And now, even the second part of my dream is coming to life. This week I´ve become a writer for Chic Galleria, one of my favorite online fashion and lifestyle magazines. I´ll be covering Home Decor, bringing you tips and advices on how to decorate your home, rounding up the most beautiful home accessories and interviewing designers and design bloggers. I couldn´t be happier and more proud to become part of this inspiring and dynamic project, and I´m more than thankful to Beth Anderson, Chic Galleria´s Editor for giving me this chance.

And I´d love to thank one of my dearest blog friends, Vanessa from Decadence for Divas, for believing in me. You know why, sweetie :)  

My first article is all about glamour, and how to bring it to your own home. Here´s a little sneak peak:

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Lemon meringue pie

I must confess, I had a hard time getting used to the idea of a lemon pie. I couldn´t quite imagine its taste and I thought it would be too acid. Nevertheless, I´ve decided to accept the challenge last Saturday. I followed this recipe, but true to myself, I simplified things a little bit, and I switched the classic flour crust for a biscuit one (as seen here). And the results? Wonderful! This pie has striked the perfect balance between sweet and acid and I can´t wait to make it again, next time in a little, cupcake-sized version.
Have you ever tried this sweet treat? Yay or nay for you?

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Dress like a star: Blue coat

When it comes to Rachel Zoe, her work and her style, I´m definitely biased. I´m simply obsessed with everything she does, whether it´s styling, designing her own line or publishing The Zoe Report.

I spent every evening of the past few weeks watching the entire Rachel Zoe Project and I´ll probably watch it all over again very soon. I find it so inspiring and empowering! Seeing her build her fashion and lifestyle empire, one step at a time (and while having a baby), makes me feel like everything is possible if you do it with love and passion. 

Rachel´s impeccable fashion sense and vintage and glamorous style are always a great source of inspiration: whether it´s 70´s flared jeans, cocktail rings, sexy wedges and faux fur vests, there´s always something I can relate to. And it´s definitely the case with this stunning Burberry trench. Trench coat is such a classic and timeless piece, but this unexpected soft blue color has transformed it into a highly fashionable and covetable piece. Paired with simple suede boots and only a few well-chosen accessories, this would be my favorite winter look of all times!

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Polka dots and high heeled loafers

(Dorothy Perkins dress, shoes and clutch, C&A leggings, Forever 21 sweater, gifted Swarovski earrings, Six ring)

To say that I´m enamored with pretty much all the fashion trends of this fall would be definitely an understatement. Whether it´s bright red, jewel tones or polka dots, it´s impossible to say which one is my favorite. I really enjoy the possibility to mix and match them to my heart´s content. 

I´ve had this polka dot shift dress since last summer, and I simply can´t believe that the past Saturday was actually the first time I wore it. Incredible! I guess I was missing the right pair of shoes... Those of you who follow me on Twitter already know that I´m pretty much obsessed with everything Dorothy Perkins. If I could, I would shop their entire store, and that still wouldn´t be enough :) So when I saw these fabulous teal shoes, I knew I HAD to have them (plus, I got them on sale, for £29, which, even after several weeks, still makes me giddy). This was just the perfect outfit for a little shopping spree, even if I confess that after a few hours of strutting on those 5 inches, I was really happy to kick them off and enjoy some time with my legs on the table :) 

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Wonderful little things

{Recently I´ve rediscovered the calming effects of knitting, and my collection of hand-made snoods has been growing steadily. At least I feel like not waisting time while watching TV :) }

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Liebster Blog Award

I was seriously delighted to learn that Jamie, lovely author of the lovely blog I look good today, gave me this cute little blog award. I´m always so humbled and happy to discover that people enjoy my ramblings, and it means the world to me to have such faithful readers! Thank you all for reading! 

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. And it´s kind of funny to receive a "German" award when I´m currently struggling with German language. A sign, maybe? 

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Friday´s Fancies #20: Lilly Pulitzer Galore

This week´s Friday´s Fancies are special in more than one way to me. First of all, it´s my 20th participation in this amazing weekly fashion party. I´m always having so much fun pulling together the outfit of my dreams. The best thing is, that I can discover styles and themes I would never even think of in the first place! It´s a great way to widen my fashion scope and discover new options. 

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November wish list

November has arrived, temperatures are dropping and it is a fantastic opportunity to do some shopping (I´m always able to find a good excuse to go to a mall :). I think I´ve already mentioned that fall is my favorite season, and this year is no exception: there are tons and tons of incredibly stylish trends on my radar right now, sometimes it´s even hard to keep track of them. That´s why I´ve rounded up all the items that keep my mind buzzing, whether it´s a fabulous boyfriend blazer, sexy leopard ankle boots or some sparkling accessories. The best part? I already have several outfits in mind, where I could combine what´s already in my closet with these beautiful pieces. Hopefully I´ll be able to start crossing out the items of this list very soon!

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Dress like a star: Anthracite & Black

As much as I love bright colors and color blocking, sometimes I find myself gravitating towards black and various shades of gray. I love to reach out for my black staples especially on those uninspired mornings, when I feel like I have nothing to wear. My black skinny jeans and grey cashmere sweater are always there to save me. Plus, they can be easily accessorized with a fun bag and tons of costume jewelry: it prevents me from looking like I´m headed for a funeral :)

When it comes to styling blacks and grays, I have several personal rules that I try to follow on any occasion: I never wear a black total look, it´s too sad and uninspiring. I always try to add a little pop of color (a bright patterned clutch is all I´m asking for) and a little bit of sparkle (a statement necklace can liven up any neutral top). I also stay away from slouchy items: they only look good on Kate Moss. When it comes to black, I prefer the clothes with some sort of structure: they look more elegant and chic (and the slimming effect is not to waste :) 

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Dare to succeed

Image via

Do you have a thing (or maybe things) in your life that you´ve always wanted to do, yet you never even tried it? I have quite a few. Actually, my personal list of dreams and wishes is quite extensive, and yet there were times when a simple idea of fulfilling my dreams scared me. Why? I often ask myself what´s standing between me and my success. Is it fear? Lack of confidence? Procrastination? The most probably it´s a combination of the three of them. 

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