Month: December 2013
MY CHRISTMAS 2013
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and may God bless you all! My flu bug is fading away this Christmas morning, so I’m happy.
I’d managed to prepare a prime rib roast, and it slow cooked itself in the over as we slept. I was happy to see that the $70 cut of meat hadn’t dried out and burned itself, and instead was so juicy and moist, that a knife wasn’t needed to eat it. Instead, it would just fall apart with a little probing by a fork!
The rosemary/thyme recipe was one from a friend, Evangeleena, who is the most amazing cook.
My snowman collection grew by one member this year, which is the tradition! He’s the guy on the left with the red scarf! They are so funny, happy and cute! I love them!
After getting home from work, (yes, with the flu) I then took a two hour nap, took a lot of medicine, made our Christmas Eve dinner highlighted by the prime rib, and then rushed to the candlelight service at our church.
We have a very small family, so pretty much it’s just us! It’s nice and peaceful this way. There will be a movie date, later today, as well an an evening drive with hot chocolate and the babies, through a close neighborhood that is 100% lit up with Christmas lights!
I just wanted to drop a quick salutation to all of you on this special holiday! Although mine is low key, that’s how we roll!
-SDS
LEVI STRAUSS and TOMMY HILFILGER for HIM
It is a very rare event when I get my husband to appear in a post here, but I bought him this Tommy Hilfiger sweater, Van Huesen button down shirt and a new pair of Levi’s 501 Button fly jeans for Christmas, so agreeing to a mini shoot was only right!
The last time I was able to get him to do a shoot for me was a year ago, in the Classic Levi’s Day blog post.
Sometimes, when we go somewhere, I have on heels and I am dressed up, but he is dressed for tennis. I don’t shop for him enough, mainly because he is rather finicky, but I see now it benefits me to get him dressed on occasion!
We took the photos at one of the tennis facilities he works out of, and the landscape is beautiful for photos. It’s my secret place for when I do photography here and there.
As for actually styling a man-shoot, it’s entirely different than shooting a female. Their skin is different, the photos need to be more rugged…not delicate, or else ick! I don’t think men sit up at night pouring over fashion sets, so I think in terms more of a woman trying to maintain her guy and what she might like to do for him. I say this, however, my Pure Speculation blog post called It’s a Fact, Bald Men Are HOT is quickly climbing the chart of popularity among my blog posts. I tend to think I am getting a lot more male readers than previously suspected!
The sweater is so cool and also looks great with a simple turtle neck or t shirt underneath.
He desperately needed a jean update. The fit on these Levi’s is fabulous and kinda hot and I love the new faded wash they just came out with.
While the pictures may appear peaceful and romantic, the shoot was anything but! you know how you try to take your dog’s picture, and it’s restless? It may be standing there still and stiff, but it’s stressed and not wanting a photo taken, occasionally looking away, and not posing how you would like? This was that! The good news is that at least he’s not vain at all, and I would be worried if he actually enjoyed getting his pictures done!
Ken enjoys vacation type, fun photos, but that’s about it! He doesn’t think it’s funny when I state that we are preserving and documenting his last ounces of youth.
I shouldn’t have given him this Christmas present early, but it would have tortured my soul to no end, waiting until Christmas to see if he liked it or not! He loved the set. I wonder what improvements I can make next?
Also, do we want more man style blog posts? No? Let me know what you think!
-SDS
-December 17, 2013
COLD PLAY
When my hands and my chest/neck area get cold, it freaks me out. It’s uncomfortable. I don’t like it. Thin skin, perhaps?
One of the very few things I’ve purchased this winter, is my new black wrap. At first I thought…well, it makes me look fatter. However, the bottom line, is that I don’t need to care what random people may think in my daily outings. Although I’m sure it’s nice to be thought of as perfect…at this point, I just want to be warm.
Michael Kors bag, belt and watch, black wrap by Croft & Barrow
I think my husband hates it, because it’s not very sexy or flattering in his mind…and lately, he’s seen way to much of it! It still remains my fun, cold weather friend and I love throwing it on with anything!
This was a Christmas time outing in Old Town Spring, and we were attempting to enjoy the Christmas season, but it was hard since one of us was in tennis attire in 40 degree weather…and it wasn’t me.
-SDS
COLOR by STUDIO GEAR COSMETICS
I was extremely excited to receive my very own Studio Gear Holiday color palette in the mail for review.
It comes with directions on where they feel the colors should be placed, and although I am typically not a direction reading type of person…I decided to follow instruction this once. For fun.
There were quite a few combinations you could do with the eyes, although the instructed suggestions are probably best. The blush is a fabulous winter color, but I also decided to use the white as a highlighter here and there!
The link to the Studio Gear siteshows a lot of neat products including brushes, lip color, concealers and skin care! My discount code for Studio Gear is SGHOLIDAY and is good for 10% off to readers!
I can’t wait to try more from Studio Gear, but now is the time for great bargains and gift buying! Check them out!
-SDS
-December 1, 2013