yes I'm late, but happy new year anyway! I hope that everyone has made at least 5 new year's resolutions and plans on sticking to at least 1 of them. I've made several resolutions this year I think the more resolutions you make, the more liely you are to keep at least one of them. I dont expect that they'll all happen right away, but with some planning and determination, i hope to have accomplished them all by the end of the year.

I have an idea that if you set a resolution or goal for different aspects of your life, you'll have a greater chance of achieving them. For example, 4 major things that I want to work on involve  1. my kitchen, 2. personal style  3. my apartment decor, and 4. my wardrobe. Heres what I mean:

1. I want to not only be more active in the kitchen, trying new recipes and getting more creative, but also I want expand my kitchen stock - pots, pans, utensils, glass wear, and seasonings. This is something i can work on each time im in the grocery store, by grabbing a new spice every time, or getting a good roasting pan when i see it on sale at target.

2. In women's magazine there is always a story on developing your personal style. Style changes as people change. At this time, i am really beginning to love very girly and feminine things. I really like floral prints, hearts, anything with the word "Love",  flowers and, of course, Paris themes. So i look out for things that will help me to develop my personal style more. Even the smallest things, like when i came across this key chain at Old Navy. Just like the one from the Sex and the City movie!

3. Which bring us to my next resolution. So far i think i've done a great job of decorating my apartment and creating the Parisian theme that I wanted. Now i want to add a little more of my  personal style.  When I first moved, I kept a lot of fresh flowers, but it's been a while since ive been to the farmers market, and thats really something I want to start doing again. I also want to add a tall floor lamp for reading, a side table, and a few more accent pillows. I have such tall blank walls so I really want to add a lot of art. I came across some beautiful floral and Parisian themed prints by ISPhotographyon Etsy like these:

4. Last is something i always say im going to work on but never do - I really want to wear heels more often. I always run across women in heels at the grocery store or mall, and while im not saying I'm going to wear theme very day, I do want to wear them more often on a weekly basis, not just when im going to the club. Someplace, somewhere there is always a shoe sale, so I''ll definitely be on the lookout for cute shoes for less in 2010.

Sure, these resolutions are pretty broad, but by applying resoltuions to various aspects of my life, I hope to have a greater chance of keeping them. Please feel free to share some of your goals and resolutions with me!

I've always heard my Mom complain about how much she likes scarves but didnt know how to wear them . So,  when i came across two really nice pashminas, I thought they would make a great Christmas gift for her. My only concern was would she wear them? Later someone mentioned to me that you can find  tutorial videos of all sorts on YouTube (from how to apply eyeshadow to how to jailbreak an Iphone) so I came up with the genius idea of doing a search for "How to Wear Pashminas" - Voila! I found some really great videos with lots of tips on various ways to accesorize with a pashmina scarf.

On Christmas morning, after Mom unwrapped her gift I played a few of the videos for her, which were very helpful and informative. I even learned a few things myself, which inspired me to pull my own pashmina out of hiding and I've been wearing it (on the right occasion) ever since.

Enjoy!

Don't you just love Fashion Week??? I do! I love trying to keep up with all the runway trends, celeb sightings and special events. Notice i said "try" because there is just too much going on and not enough time in the day! From sun-up to sun-down (and well into the night) Fashion Week is HAPPENING!

Today is not only  the first offcical day of Fashion Week but tonight another special event will take place and that is Fashion's Night Out hosted by Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Various retailers in New York and L.A will host in-store events featuring food & drink, demonstrations and style advice. Maybe you've seen your favorite fashionista sporting one of the awesome t-shirts? The events were designed to increase retail sails which, as you know, are slumping due to the poor economy. Maybe Fashion's Night Out will get shoppers shopping again!

In other fashion news, last night was the premiere of America's Next Top Model the Petite Edition, featuring wannbe models all under 5'7. It's already looking like it's going to be an interesting season. I havent watched ANTM in about 3 seasons, and I know this was meant to increase ratings, but nevertheless, I'm watching.

Last but not least, tomorrow the much anticpiated documentary The Spetember Issue is coming to a theater near you, unless you are one of the few who got to catch and early screening. So far the reviews have been raving. Cant wait! They've also just announced a special midnight premiere at the Arclight Cinemas.... ooooh.

Okie Dokie. I'm going to share the secret to my attempts to keeping up with the slightly overwhelming Fashion Week goings-on - the internet!

Fashion Week Daily

LA Times Image

Glam

FabSugar

DailyCandy Dossier

My Fashion Life

My friend and designer DaShone is the fashionable artist behind DaShAppeal clothing and she very recently had an exciting photo shoot featuring her newest designs and two very beautiful upcoming models, Chanan and Alexia. I've featured DaShAppel on LuxeDelux before and have been waiting for another opportunity to do so. The photos, shot by Martha Mejia, look fantastic and will be featured on FashionBerry.com. We are all very excited for DaSh! Follwer her on Twitter! See the rest of the pics from the shoot here.

Some great articles on taking advantage of the economy, a few rich gals who are in denial about the recession and other fabulous articles from around the web.  Plus, if your not up on Dujour Magazine, the online based magazine that prints issues as you order them, be sure to go to the site and order the latest issue.

How to Bake a Business - Girl with a Satchel

Spending in Luxurie in Tight Times - LA Times, Image

Freida Pinto is the New Face of L'oreal - MY Fashion Life

The Vintage Issue is Here!- Dujour Magazine

(New Blog Alert) Every Little Counts

No Stress for Distressed Denim - La Times, Image

Look Book Love: Forever 21, Prom 2009 - FAB Sugar

Are Ciara, Lala Vasquez and Kim K New BFFs? - The YBF

Have fun reading! And i dont know about you but, the Forever 21 stores are getting bigger and BIGGER and im lovin it! What used to be a Mervyns has now been converted into the ultimate F21 department store near my house and I cant get enough. And I hear they are doing this with all the old mervyns stores (i dont know how true that is). Faith 21, Heritage, Love 21, Twelve by Twelve, 8tee4.... they're all here! Plus many more. And see the pic's from the Japan opening here.

It's time that I share with you all, a hidden secret of the vintage world........ Salvage Life, an online shop that sells carefully selected vintage clothing and accessories for the frugal and eco-friendly fashionista.

I am very happy to share this find with you, as Salvage Life is the handiwork of a dear acquaintance of mine, Beth Giles. I had the pleasure of working with Beth a few years ago, during my PR internship at a Long Beach based vintage home furnishing boutique. At that time, Salvage Life was still in the planning and development phase. She has since committed to developing the shop/site full-time and it has blossomed beautifully.

What I like best about Salvage Life, is it's indie and bohemian spirit. Just a quick browse through the websites gallery, with grassy fields, sunsets, and other natural backdrops for the modeled clothing, the spirit of the earth is captured and you really get a feel for Beth's personal style and her philosophy "to reduce the use of new resources by creating an easy and fun shopping environment that helps the earth and its people without sacrificing style."

Visit the Salvage Life website to shop, subscribe for email updates and read Beth's blog.

So we are back here again. I've already discussed the fact that everyone in LA wears high heeled shoes everywhere, but I'm starting to notice that it's not just that. Women, especially in my new west LA neighborhood, actually roam the street looking like models. Yesterday, i ran to the grocery store to grab breakfast- Ugg boots, sweats and all - and as I crusing down the ailes looking for yogart the model creature just stalks by. Very tall, amazon, willowy hair and dressed to the nine's. I'm thnking to myself it's 9 am, how can you possibly be dressed like that?

I started thinking that when you are a model, it is your job to look your best at all times. You never know who you may run into. But what if youre not a model? Even if your not on the clock you should still always strive to look your best. I may not be signed to Ford or IMG but why should that stopme? I can be a show stopper too. Now i can promise that I will wear heels to the grocery store, but i've decided to intergrate the following looks into my life by the time summer hits.

1. More heels! I know ive made this promis before, but really, I'm going to make it work.

2. Red lips. I'm starting to see them more and more on young women (see pics below) so im on a quest to find the perfect red matte or stain color for me.

3. Patterns. Patterns have always scared me. I stay away from them because i have no idea what to do with them. I feel safe in solid colors that I can pair together, but not anymore!

4. Dresses. I had a peak in dresses last year. I went from no dresses at all to owning quite a few but I am back in a no-dress-slump. So i vow to catch up on dresses again.

Watch out world here i come!

I am proud to bring you another edition of FAB Fashion Links! This week TopShop opened it's very first American store in New York (Napoleon Dynamite voice "LUCKY") and the fashion blogs have gone wild documenting every second up until it's grand opening. Thus, you may have missed some other things that happened in fashion this week:

Top 10 Fashion Trends for Spring - A pretty good summary of what to add to your wardrobe for the spring and summer

Rob B Salon by OPI opens in LA - I've been on the lookout for things to do for my upcoming birthday so I was pretty excited when I read about this salon in the LA Times..... manicures and martinis!

TopShop Opens in NY- One bloggers account of the TopShop opening and some really awesome pics

Girl with a Satchel- A cute blog I came across today

Dujour Magazine- An eco-friendly online and print magazine that doesnt print your issue until you order it

As fashionistas we find inspiration all around us - in music, art, movies and televison, people we pass on the street, friends..... So much inspiration that sometimes it hard to keep track of it all!

Artists use inspiration boards to keep track of their inspirations and organize their thoughts so that they dont get off track. Polyvore is a cool website that lets you create web-based inspiration boards that can be used for anything. From fashion to party planning, you can create a board with vivid images to keep you inspired and your mind focused. Its a great planning tool if your planning a wedding, dinner party, decorating your apartment, or designing a fashion show.

Its all web-based and its totally free! Visit the Polyvore website to learn more and create your own boards. Check out my boards featuring the  glam rock women whos style I admire most, and a rosegold ballerina inspired wedding theme!

Glam Rock Inspiration - by tiara_mh on Polyvore.com

Ballerina Wedding - by tiara_mh on Polyvore.com