Color Crush: Powdery Blue

Ever since I shared this mint green selection last week, my obsession with anything pastel has been steadily growing. I've been constantly dreaming of spring and summer days (which is quite funny seeing that the snow finally arrived to Graz this past weekend). And I must say, that this color of summer sky has simply stolen my heart! I've been virtually shopping for dozens of beautiful items (and I hope that some of them will actually land in my closet for real) and I want to share my favorite picks with you. Do you have your personal winner in powdery blue? And which price range is closer to your heart? Personally, I fell head over heels for the perfect Victor & Rolf trousers (even if they are absolutely out of my price range). Maybe I'll try to sew a similar pair in the weeks to come. Thoughts?

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Sequins and Stripes

H&M top (similar here), Asos sequin skirt, Lancel Premier Flirt Bag, Deichmann shoes, Forever 21 necklace, H&M bracelets, Dorothy Perkins ring, Essie Cute as a Button nail polish

For the past few weeks, I´ve gone a little bit crazy while shopping for striped t-shirts. The last time I checked, there were at least ten in my closet, in all the cuts and colors possible (from classic Breton stripe, through red and hot pink to yellow). To me, stripes are the most versatile pattern (as well as the easiest one to pull off). There are countless ways you can incorporate them in your daily outfits, whether you´re going for comfy or for chic.
As for me, I´m pretty much obsessed with sequins & stripes combo. It looks equal parts fabulous and classic, and it´s easier to pull off than it seems. The secret is to keep the proportions and silhouette simple: a pencil skirt and a classic long sleeved tee leave the spotlight to the fabrics and patterns without being overwhelming. Throw on a pair of classic pumps, a statement bag and a bunch of bracelets and you´re good to go! (of course, if you live in Austria, and there´s snow everywhere, you better take your coat with you!).

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Things that make me happy

A set of beautiful and colorful notebooks designed by Agata Ruiz de la Prada, perfect for jotting down inspiring ideas.

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Nail polish diaries #4

Saturday, January 21: Chanel Le Vernis in Lilac Sky

My "Perfect Nail Polish" Facebook event is almost over, so be sure to submit your last photos before Sunday evening. Next week I´ll choose and I´ll notify those of you, who´ll be featured on my blog. Can´t wait to see what fabulous nail polishes you have in store! 

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Friday´s Fancies #32: Blog Swap

Once again, Alison from Long Distance Loving had a great Friday´s Fancies idea. We´re doing a blog swap today, and I couldn´t be happier, being paired with Roxy, author of the lovely blog A Spot of Tea, and a talented jewelry designer (be sure to check out her beautiful creations at Stella Jewelry). I think we have quite a similar taste and I´m really happy to share her favorite shopping outfit with you! Here it goes:

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DIY: Hand painted earrings

I´ve been smitten with Tom Binns´ colorful creations for quite some time, but obviously, at 900 dollars a piece they are way out of my price range. Inspired by several beautiful bloggers´ DIY projects, I´ve decided to try and make some colorful jewelry all by myself. 

I´ve been collecting costume jewelry for several years, and I have tons and tons of pieces in every shape and color possible. Hovewer, when I go through my collections from time to time, I see items that I´ve grown tired of or that I don´t love anymore (hello, impulsive purchases!). This time, instead of giving them away, I´ve decided to give a few pieces a second chance and revamp them. Here´s how I proceeded:

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Color Crush: Mint Green

As a true fashionista, every season I get really excited about the fashion weeks and new fashion trends. They always feel so fresh and promising, and even if the fashion has a tendency to repeat itself, there is always a new and unexpected twist to the tried and true staples. 

For spring and summer 2012, I´ve gone completement gaga for pastels. Of course, I love myself some bright color (last seen here), and I´m no stranger to colorblocking (as seen here), but there´s something so special and refreshing about these soft, muted colors. I´ve pulled together a bunch of pretty mint-colored items, and I´m already musing over which I´ll add to my closet and incorporate into my outfits. 

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Cinnamon Rolls

One thing I really miss in Graz is having a Starbucks on every other corner of the street (like in Paris). Of course, now that I can make my own vanilla latte at home, my life is considerably tastier :) but I was still mourning their delicious cinnamon rolls. And then, over the weekend, it struck me: why couldn´t I make them on my own as well? This recipe (minus the glaze) is quite easy and fail-proof, even if I had the hardest time converting the US cups and tablespoons into european grams. But with a considerable help from Google, I got the knack of it at last! And it was well worth the trouble: my place smelled heavenly hours and hours after I made them, and the homemade cinnamon rolls are even better than my beloved Starbucks version. 

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Pops of mustard yellow

H&M blouse (similar here), Brigitte skirt (similar here), Dorothy Perkins bag and shoes, hand-painted earrings (tutorial coming soon!), F21 bangles, Tiffany & Co. bracelet

You know those days, when you wake up and you feel like you need to do something immediately? That´s exactly what happened to me over the weekend and it concerned cleaning up my inbox. I was somewhere around 7000 emails, 3000 unread and I knew that it couldn´t go on like that. I was unable to keep up with important correspondence and it took me too long to respond. I won´t lie, this isn´t your ideal weekend program. But now that my inbox is pristine clear again, it feels like a fresh start and I love it!

What was your weekend program?

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Things that make me happy

A little bit of summer brought to the chilly winter time: fresh Caprese salad and a glass of rosé.

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Nail polish diaries #3

Saturday, January 14: Essie´s Fiesta

Here´s a round-up of my last week´s manicures. I´ve finally rediscovered some old favorites (like Chanel´s Gondola), and tried on new, glamorous colors (like Essence´s It´s a snow-woman´s world). Do you have a personal favorite this week?

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Friday´s Fancies #31: Inspired

Photo via Sterling Style

One of the best thing about blogging is the insane amount of inspiration I get everyday, while browsing through dozens and dozens of fabulous blogs. There are so many stylish and inspiring ladies out there! Aside from Emily, who is definitely my biggest blogger icon EVER (and who was the inspiration behind starting my own blog), I recently read through the entire Sterling Style, and I was enchanted. Taylor is such a sweet and adorable girl, with a unique, feminine style that I can totally relate to. Plus, she´s always one to share a great tip for a shop, a hairstyle how-to or a set of her own life rules. And I´m not even talking about the fact that she is the founder and the brain behind the wildly popular Glitter Guide. I have a huge style crush on her, and she is to blame for my recent shopping sprees :)

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Bright and Sunny

Forever 21 beret (similar here), earrings and striped shirt, Dorothy Perkins coat (similar here), Galeries Lafayette scarf (similar here), H&M skirt (similar here), Tally Veijl faux fur vest (similar here), C&A tights, Deichmann boots, Fiorelli bag

If there´s one thing I really love about living in Graz, it´s the impeccable weather. I´ve been here for three months already, and it only rained twice. I´m still giddy about the fact that I can soak up the sun everyday and I pretty much forgot what the winter blues was all about. Half of the country is covered in snow (or so they say), and we only saw a few snowflakes that melted almost immediately. However, I cannot deny that we are surrounded by the mountains, so the temperatures are still around or below zero (that means 32 to my American friends).That´s why I simply can´t step out of the house other than bundled up from head to toe. We took these pictures over the weekend, while wandering around the city. It still amazes me how many beautiful and unknown places are yet to discover in our new hometown! That´s why I can´t wait for the spring to arrive, so I can shoot outfit posts other than on our terrace! 

For more pictures, head over to my Facebook fan page. And while you´re at it, you can also participate in my "Perfect nail polish" FB event (check out the Event section on the left sidebar). You may get the chance to be featured on my blog in February!

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Chocolate cubes

I have a ridiculous sweet tooth, and I´ve always had a weak spot for chocolate (as seen here, for example). When I stumbled upon these cute looking chocolate & coconut cubes, I knew I needed to give them a try. 

The recipe is extremely easy. In fact, the hardest part is waiting a few hours for the preparation to harden in the fridge! The well-balanced combination of a sharp dark chocolate and a sweet coconut makes this a perfect TV snack, or a great hostess gift (which is less dangerous for your waistline, for sure!) I´m pretty sure I´m going to make these very soon again, and swapping dark and milk chocolate for my favorite white one! What do you think?

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Say hello to Lonnys, my new sponsor

I was really pleased when Lonnys, a New York based retailer, approached me with a collaboration opportunity. They´ve only recently launched a webstore, so I don´t need to fly to NYC to shop their amazing collections. And let´s be honest, I could do a looot of damage in their store :) They feature all the brands that make my heart skip a beat: Alice + Olivia´s quirky and glamorous dresses, Rebecca Minkoff´s fabulous bags and so so much more! Be sure to check out their new Resort lookbook, it´s full of stylish pieces, some of which I´ve "borrowed" to create this look. I love the 70s´/hippie vibe of this blouse. Paired with skinny jeans, bright bag and a sparkling necklace, it would by my favorite spring go-to outfit! 

And that´s not all. All my fabulous readers now have the opportunity to shop the Lonnys store with 20% discount! Now, isn´t that glamorous? Be sure to use the code MAP20 at checkout! And of course, don´t foget to tell me, what you bought! Happy shopping :)  

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Stellar afternoon

Topshop blazer (similar here) and boots, Orsay top, H&M skirt (similar here), Forever 21 necklace, Bijou Brigitte ring, Essie nail polish in "Fiesta" 

To say that I´m in love with stars this season would be a major understatement. I´m pretty much obsessed with everything star print (blame it on Dolce & Gabbana!), and I could wear it everyday (as seen here and here). I´ve been obsessing over this Topshop blazer ever since I saw it a few months ago. When it finally arrived to my door last week (together with those hot pink suede booties), I was jumping around like crazy. And of course I had to wear it immediately! Check it out, coz´ I think you´ll be seeing it around a lot  :) 

What is your fashion obsession du jour right now?

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Things that make me happy

I´ve been swooning over these fabulous hot pink booties from Topshop for months. When they finally arrived on Monday, I was litterally jumping up and down of happiness!

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Nail polish diaries #2

Saturday: Sally Hansen´s Hard as Nails in Red Carpet

I think it´s convenient to say that I´m in love with the entire Essie´s winter collection. I can´t seem to decide whether I prefer the gorgeous red (Size matters), the opaque silver (Cocktail Ring) or the perfect nude (Brooch the Subject). Do you have your own favorite this week? 

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Friday´s Fancies #30: Color Crush -- Magenta

Friday´s Fancies is definitely one of my favorite blog rendez-vous. I love how, week after week, it challenges my creativity, makes me think outside the box and experiment with different themes and styles. It´s unbelievable that this is my 30th week of participating! What´s more, this week´s theme really struck a chord with me. I love colors. A few years ago, I had quite a black style period. It changed the day when I looked into my closet, and realized that it was so dark in there! I´ve been experimenting with different colors ever since, and I love to surround myself with vibrant hues in my home. When I have to pick one favorite, I always go for magenta (the layout of my blog speaks for itself). I´m completely smitten with this vibrant shade of pink -- it is such a beautiful and happy color! I´ve built this ensemble around a fabulous hot pink cashmere sweater, and I can see myself wearing this outfit in the early spring, during the whole summer, and, toughened up with a leather jacket, even in fall. It´s just perfection to me!

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Dining Table Makeover

I can´t believe that it took me this long to share the first photos of our new apartment in Graz with you. I´ve been quite busy these past weeks, and I couldn´t spend as much time decorating as I would have wanted. Plus, decorating on a budget can really take a lot of time. But ever since the new year began, I´ve been scouring décor and antique shops, in search for the perfect furniture and accessories. Since we couldn´t really afford to spend thousands on a whole new furniture, I´ve been working a lot with what we already have. I love the idea of giving a new life to something old. And our awful Ikea dining table definitely topped my makeover list.

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White Chocolate Cupcakes

White chocolate and cupcakes have always been part of my weak spots. So when I stumbled upon this recipe for White chocolate cupcakes, I was in heaven. The recipe is beyond easy and very much scrumptious. I just replaced the cream cheese frosting by a fluffier, lighter coat of white chocolate. They were so delicious, that I had to send a whole box to my fiancé´s colleagues to prevent myself from devouring them all! 

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Dress like a star: Skinny jeans and leather jacket

When it comes to my style icons and inspiration, Blake Lively most certainly tops my list. I love her chic and effortless style, whether she wears a pair of jeans and a leather jacket, or a sophisticated Chanel gown. She can make any outfit her own. The thing I admire the most is that she never uses help of a stylist: she isn´t afraid to make mistakes. She´d rather land on a Worst dressed list than let someone else tell her who to be and what to wear. That´s so inspiring and empowering!

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Winter florals

Uniqlo dress (similar here), Dorothy Perkins blazer and ring, Jennifer jumper and necklace, Tamaris boots, C&A tights, Gate bag, Essie  Meet me at sunset

This past long weekend was more than perfect: I could finally enjoy some quality time with my fiancé, catch up on a bunch of my favorite blogs (Taylor has been an incredible source of inspiration!), move on with some lingering decorating projects (when you´re decorating on a budget, it takes a loooot of time), discover new book series and enjoy a long bubble bath while thinking about all the amazing upcoming projects concerning my blog. If only all the weekends could have three days!

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Wonderful little things

As a true chocolate addict, I could only become obsessed with these two delicious Lindt variations. Cointreau may be just the best chocolate I´ve ever tasted!

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Nail polish diaries #1

January 1st: Essie Size Matters, Sephora Traffic Stopper Copper Top Coat

So, are you still keeping up with your New Year´s resolutions, my friends? Mine, so far so good :) I´m doing my best to stop procrastinating, hence tackling the issues as they appear. I made a new attempt to make the perfect macarons (so far not so good, but it´s getting better) and I´ve been painting my nails a different color every single day. Many of you told me that it would be too difficult for them,  but I can say I love it! I paint my nails first thing in the morning, while I check out all your amazing blogs and answer your wonderful comments (talk about multitasking!) I really enjoy it and of course I´ve been nail polish-shopping like crazy! I love trying out different styles, whether it´s classic and feminine, soft and girly or dark and edgy. Which one is your favorite this week?

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Friday´s Fancies #29: Best Foot Forward

The first Friday´s Fancies of 2012 are all about the shoes and that´s more than fine with me. Over the years I´ve developed quite a Carrie Bradshaw worthy shoe obsession, and shoe shopping is definitely one of my favorite free time activity. I always find the most beautiful and stylish pumps on Asos (like these and these) and I´m the happiest person in the world when I can snatch a gorgeous pair on sale. Until I can afford my very first pair of Louboutins, I´m perfectly happy like this! 

What´s your favorite shoe shopping spot? Do you buy sky high stilettos that you never wear, just because they are so beautiful?

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Stars & pink

Orsay sweater, Asos skirt and platforms, Dorothy Perkins clutch, Marks & Spencer necklace, Forever 21 earrings, Claire´s cuff and bracelets, Bijou Brigitte rings, Essie Size Matters nail polish, Sephora Traffic Stopper Copper top coat

I kicked off my New Year outfit series with two of my favorite fashion things right now: star print and pink. I scored this beautiful skirt from Asos just before Christmas and it´s been a rotating favorite ever since. It´s surprisingly versatile, and I can imagine wearing it with almost anything in my closet. Paired with a simple soft pink knit and sky high heels, it has this fabulous 50s vibe that I´m completely obsessed with.

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Raspberry Macarons

One of my most challenging New Year´s resolutions is to learn how to bake the best and the most beautiful macarons. Well, to be honest, I´m still really far from the perfection, but I´m a fast learner and I don´t like to surrender, so I guess, there are still many macaron-related posts to come! Over the years I´ve developed quite an obsession with raspberries, that´s why these raspberry macarons were the number one on my "to bake" list. When it comes to taste, there´s nothing to say, they´re beyond delicious. But I still have some issues with the shape and the presentation, so I´m planning to do a lot of research to get them right. Please, keep your fingers crossed for me!

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A fresh start

(Picture via)

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Happy New Year!

Dorothy Perkins dress worn as top (last seen here), Asos sequin skirt (last seen here), Asos glitter platforms (last seen here), H&M clutch and flower pin, Forever 21 bracelets and earrings, Six rings

I used to be really big on New Year´s resolutions, but they usually sizzled out even before the end of January. That´s why last year, I completely changed the perspective. No more resolutions, only a bucket list of things that I´m sure will make me a better and happier person. This is what I hope 2012 will be about:

* Pursuing my dreams. One of my favorite quotes ever says "Live what you love", and that´s what I´m trying to do everyday. I want to live my passions to the fullest, and share them with you on my blog. 

* Being nicer to myself. This is a must. I can be so tough on myself sometimes and it does terrible things to my self-esteem. And let´s be honest, if I´m not kind to myself, who will be? I just need to stop beating myself up and focus on things I can change.

* Baking the best macarons in the city. After all, I didn´t name my blog "Macarons and Pearls" randomly!

* Saying yes to the amazing life opportunies that present themselves. And stop procrastinating.

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