New Year.  New Look.  New Address.

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Archives for 2009

To say I am having computer issues is the understatement of the new year. I’ve managed to lose most of my fabulous images as well as most of my patience in a crash at MSLTD followed by a bug on my laptop.  The irony?  I am the proud owner of a shiny, happy Mac courtesy of Santa that I haven’t quite figured out how to navigate .  Trust me, once I do, we’ll have pretty posts a plenty.

Now for some good news…

Holding Court is moving to a happier, prettier, friendlier space.  While I’ve loved my initial foray into blogging here at WordPress, I’ve found that by learning a little HTML, I could create a more functional site that feels more, well, “Marija”, and host it elsewhere.  Look for it to debut very very soon.

And as a bonus, you’ll see a link to Olivija’s “blog”.  For those of you interested in seeing just how far a third grade book report has come from the days of dioramas…

I’ll be back to blogging soon but I wanted to check in to wish you all a healthy, happy, beautiful new year.

paul davies modern home, red aspens, and snow, 2008

I am continually amazed at the warmth that eminates from a winter landscape.  The simple, vulnerable structure standing alone amidst the complicated, hovering landscape. Who hasn’t felt that way. This beautiful piece from Paul Davies portrays the beauty of that vulnerability and the importance of complex interaction.

I chose to start the year off with this image for a variety of reasons. I love its simplicity. I am drawn to the juxtaposition of subdued winter hues and hopeful pops of vibrant color, and inspired by the restrained elegance.

Refined sophistication and classic modernity in lieu of over the top glamour. Design and lifestyle inspiration for 2010!

Hoping your upcoming year is filled with simple beauty and complicated pleasures.

For more of Paul Davies work check out the cool blog “if it’s hip it’s here” .

The highlight?

Coffee in front of the fireplace made by my favorite barista (Cory, you’re the best) while the kids cleaned up the giftwrap on the floor beneath the tree. Without being told. And they only complained a little that Santa apparently never read their letters. Perhaps next year they should make sure they give them to the Stephens family Santa laison, i.e., me.

Image via Veranda

As for my Christmas gift?  It was warm and cozy.  Two kids, snuggled in our bed, letting us sleep in, despite their overwhelming desire to run downstairs to check on Santa and company.  Though something tells me they did it more for themselves than for us.  A thinly veiled attempt to squeeze in any little bit of good behavior before the moment of reckoning…

Hope your holiday was just as warm and cozy.

I adore clutches and I’ve saved my favorite for last.  It is the perfect combination of delicate and functional; glamorous and elegant; modern and classic.  If you know me, you know I adore gold, mesh and small structured clutches.   Combine the three and you have the perfect holiday clutch.  My perfect Christmas Eve?  Probably more traditional than you’d expect.  A beautiful table, simple meal, a fireplace and a bit of snow.  No need for presents – just give me my family.  They are truly the greatest of gifts.

My dream Christmas Eve outfit?  I’d wear these sculptural little Louboutin heels with long tailored brown wool pants and a matching chocolate cashmere crew-neck sweater.  Little pearls and this gold lacquer bangle from Tiffany would complete the look.  What more could a girl want for Christmas?

How about health, happiness & family.

All the louboutin’s and clutches in the world couldn’t compete…

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

Until then, check back for Christmas Eve prep at our house…

The end of the year is almost as distracting as it is busy.  As though it’s not hard enough to stay focused on work, the snow accumulating outside my window has me daydreaming about a sandy beach somewhere.  The end of winter and holiday shopping signals the start of “Resort”.  The time when wealthy people shop for their vacations and everyone else wonders why on earth there are bathing suits next to the snowsuits at Target.  And both are full price.

Clutches 9, 10 & 11

dedicated to something other than snow, cold weather and holiday glitz…

Resort Clutches

I am determined to pack in one bag when I travel. What with the way airlines charge for baggage, I don’t really have a choice, do I?  Either of these bags will serve a variety of purposes on any warm weather vacation.  Durable and light, neutral yet interesting and roomy enough for a digital camera.  The blue can go with just about anything (though I wouldn’t do it with denim) and the brown can go easily from daytime to evening.  Wear with white or khaki. Effortless.

This crisp white clutch screams VACATION.  Carry this with just about any outfit.  Not too big, not too small, not too trendy.  With the hard case it could last a lifetime full of vacations – which at $200 on sale, it had better…

12 Clutches of Christmas

JEWELRY

Obviously.

But it doesn’t have to be obvious.

Seriously gentlemen, don’t think that you have to spend hundreds of dollars on jewelry to give her something she will wear over and over again and LOVE.  This year, I gotta give it to Kate Spade.  Packaged beautifully, a decent price range and a variety of styles and colors, these are suitable for your daughter, mother, sister, wife and/or BFF.  I’m into the bracelets which can be worn individually, grouped together or mixed with other bracelets.  Instant chic.  The pearls are 36” long and trust me, a girl can wear them with almost anything.

SHOES

Women love shoes.  And while buying her shoes may be challenging (and anything but romantic) picking up an adorable pair of cozy slippers is totally sweet.  Throw in a personal coupon like “good for one week of doing the dishes” and this gift is a winner.  (As a side note, we like anything you actually sat down and hand wrote.)  Follow through without any nagging and we’ll be seriously impressed.

Try the ivory knit ballet slippers by UGG pictured above.  The Kate Spade satin ballet slipper shown in multiple colors is too sweet.  Perfect for the girl who likes to entertain.  And very cute to buy the assistant who saves you at work or the BFF you couldn’t live without.

Along the same lines,  the Prada flip-flops below are totally fun.  Available in solid black, silver or fun bright colors.  They are perfect to pack for a trip, take along for pedicures, or dress down a long tank dress without cheapening the look.  Granted, you can get flip flops for considerably less (see Old Navy), but these are fun, something she wouldn’t likely buy herself, and PRADA.  Add a gift certificate for a pedicure and she may even forget about the snow outside.

LUXURIOUS BODY CARE

Walk into a place like Blue Mercury and you’ll probably hit a gift home run.  Unless you leave in a panic first.  A store full of make-up, perfume and scented candles can be overwhelming.  Go for this Laura Mercier gift set.  The crème brulee scent is winter goodness without peppermint or pinecones.  **WARNING**  this is for the woman you know less intimately than your serious girlfriend or wife.  Think sister, assistant, teenage daughter (though I suggest you think hard about that one – she’d rather have a purse).  Do not get your wife, fiancé or girlfriend anything that resembles soap unless it is a specific request.

HIP ACCESSORY

Scarves & Gloves are your best bet.  Aside from one of the 12 Clutches of Christmas, of course.  One word of caution, do not buy gloves that seem strictly “practical”.  That feels like a “grandma” gift.  Same goes with a scarf.  The flipside is that these trendy “hip accessories” are not for your grandmother. (Maybe some can pull it off but for the most part, age appropriateness matters.)

Your BFF, girlfriend, babysitter, or assistant will love one of these hot new infinity scarves.  Totally stylish and still practical.  For $29, the one pictured above is my fave but The Limited at your local mall carries a chunky knit version that is just as terrific (no shipping required).

Feel like spending more?  Is she totally a fashionista?  Grab these motorcross gloves pictured in ivory from Barneys.  Gorge (as in gorgeous).

COOL WATCH

I never really give watches (though there is also a watch on the guy’s gift list) but I swear, if I won the lottery, I’d buy everyone I love a very fancy new watch.  And if I was one of those people who entered the lottery with 3 dozen other people and won thereby reducing my prize money substantially, I’d buy everyone this watch.  Chic, sporty and affordable.  Haven’t seen that since Juicy Couture sweatsuits had their hey day.  Trust me, this has more longevity. And in black or white with gold or silver detailing, there is sure to be a combination to suit almost every girl on your list.

So what are you waiting for?  Get shopping!

Need more ideas?

Holiday Gift Guide

Posted in Gifts, Holiday Gift Guide ]]> http://holdingcourtblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/a-gift-guide-for-girls/feed/ 0 holdingcourt Girls Gift Guide Holiday Gift Guide, Prada, Adidas, Infinity Scarf http://holdingcourtblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/a-gift-guide-for-everyone-else/ http://holdingcourtblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/a-gift-guide-for-everyone-else/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:03:32 +0000 Marija http://holdingcourtblog.wordpress.com/?p=725 ]]> READ THIS POST HERE

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Here is the thing.  There are those people – we’ll call them “the gift recipient” – that really just want cash.  We could also call them “everybody”.  But you, as the gift giver, cannot just give the gift recipient (or everybody) a personal check.  This is where the phenomenon of plastic gift cards in decorative little envelopes will save you every time. Be advised, however, this gift is not the hero that retailers would have us believe.  There is a built in challenge to gift giving with gift cards.  How does one make this plastic, mass produced, gift card feel as good as cash but way more personal?

It’s all about the presentation.

Then again, isn’t it always?  Gift tags by the very talented bklyn stitch.

Maybe you know your babysitter loves Starbucks.  Easy way out?  Hand her some extra cash to go to Starbucks. BETTER answer?  A Starbucks gift card pre-loaded with some cash.  The BEST answer?  A Starbucks gift card presented in a thoughtful, personal manner.  Let me elaborate:

You don’t want anyone on your list to think you went out and bought a bunch of Starbucks gift cards at Costco (incidentally at Costco you can get $120 worth for $100) and thoughtlessly distributed them in leftover Christmas cards.  You want the people you buy for to know that some heart went into the gifts you gave.  So try this:  Spend a little less on the gift card and pair it with something thoughtful, interesting and unique.  A gift within a gift.

Depending on your price range and the gift recipient’s personality, wrap the gift card along with one of these:

Pantone Mug

Drop a gift card in this cool mug in her favorite color.  $12.  Also a very cool idea if you are buying for multiple people in the same home or office.  Everyone gets their own mug.  And if they are at all artsy, they will love that it’s in pantone colors.  Paricularly good with a Starbucks card or a gift card to an art store.

Eddie Bauer Down Ice Scraper Mitt

At $10, if it snows where you live, you should buy these by the dozen.  Good with any gift card.

Silver Apple Bookends

Perfect for the avid reader on your list.  $35.  Such a great gift for your son or daughter’s teacher, too (with or without a gift card).  Unless of course, all of the teacher’s parents read this blog.  Love it with a Barnes & Noble gift card.

Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Perfect for your, friend, sibling, babysitter, or neighbor who loves to cook, or even just dabbles in cooking a bit.  $40. Very appropriate for a work colleague, or your child’s teacher.  Books are beautiful and the subject matter is universally appealing.  Or at least it’s re-giftable.  And even though this particular book is instructional, it won’t come across as though you’re saying – “hey, you should really learn to cook…”.  Definitely good enough for most on its own but if your budget is higher, throw in a gift card to Williams – Sonoma, Sur la Table or Trader Joe’s.  By the way, if you have someone who really loves to cook, Sur La Table sells this book with the DVD Julie & Julia.  Creative.

LUXE European Tour Box

Are you stuck shopping for the person who has (or could afford) everything?  This gift is the daydreamer’s or traveler’s delight.  $55.  Still want to spend more?  Throw in a gift card to Magellan’s travel site or Starbucks (the go to when you draw a blank).  Cory and I received an airline gift card once.  Hands down one of the most fun (and generous) gifts we’ve received to date.  Just think if they had thought to wrap it with these travel guides.  (Did I seriously just say that?!  Wasn’t it an insanely generous gift as is?!).

I’ll say it again, the holidays don’t have to be just red and green.  Or sparkly silver and glittery gold for that matter.  How about dark pewter and matte gold?  Or even yellow?  It’s possible…

images via living etc., and shock the bourgeois

A splash of matte gold or deep yellow will brighten even the darkest winter day. It will do wonders for the simplest outfit without screaming “wrong season”. While I love the idea of a minimalist black ensemble pumped up with a tiny glitzy bag, that look is strictly evening.  For daytime, I love a subdued, conservative look with a larger, bold, bright bag to keep you from looking…subdued and conservative.

Here are 4 golden clutches I would pair with black and grey this winter.  The 5th can be found here – it’s a substitute for clutch #1 below which has an insane price tag.  Perhaps not as decadent but it will save you a whopping $3735.  You read that right.  (Who buys this stuff?!)

In my perfect dream world, I would wear this outfit to dinner on Christmas day and walk in carrying this bag.  Or any one of the below for that matter.  Or maybe I’ll just wear my fancy yoga pants…

Judith Leiber Marguerite $3995, French Connection Satin Cairo Clutch $53 /£24 , Barney’s Gold Gathered Clutch $350, Oversized Multi Stud Clutch £35

By the way, with the price tag and the year-round look, don’t you think bag 4 would make a great gift for your BFF, sister or sister-in-law.   Hint, hint…

Want to see more?  Check out The 12 Clutches of Christmas

Posted in 12 Clutches of Christmas, Fashion, Gifts Tagged: Cool Clutches, Gifts, Holiday ]]> http://holdingcourtblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/5-golden-clutches/feed/ 0 holdingcourt Gold Drop Baubles Available at DZD Golden Christmas Chair 5 Golden Clutches Inspiration