I LOVE the holidays. And I don’t, not for one second, think that it’s an overstatement to call this the MOST wonderful time of the year. Yes, I believe in magic and I begin to feel it in the air as November draws to a close and December makes its way to the fore. To my thinking, it’s a magic born out of a giant collective sense of benevolence. A spirit of giving that permeates through every fibre of our beings and out into the wide world around us. And of course there are the holiday parties and, therefore, a myriad of good reasons to play dress up. When I’m heading to a soiree, and in the spirit (as I’m wont to be), I reach for a little cocktail number like the one I’m wearing here. The mini-skirted dress is a welcome break from my daily denim ritual and it puts me in the mood to sip a cocktail, jingle a few bells, and sing a song about chestnuts or snow or Santa. So here’s to peace on Earth and goodwill toward men, and women, of all backgrounds, persuasions, religions and cultures.

With love,

Amanda

More to love… Monique Lhuillier Red Peplum Cocktail Dress; H&M One Shoulder Dress; Herve Leger Jacquard Mini Dress

It’s a new day and I’m doing my best to get into the swing of things. We have a new President; not the one I expected or hoped for, and I’ll admit to feelings of fear, uncertainty, dismay even, but also hope. Hope because I’m a mom and that informs everything, and my daughters need my optimism. I woke up this morning feeling on the fringe, marginalized in a way I’ve never felt before. Of course nothing has ostensibly changed in my life and my feelings of otherness are purely of my own conjuring. But still, there they are, born from the seeds planted by months of negative rhetoric aimed squarely at people just like me. So what’s a woman to do? I thought about wearing a pantsuit, but then I also thought about freedom of self expression and honoring my truth, and the truth is I prefer dresses. So I wore one. If only life were always that easy. Until it is, I’ll keep dressing, and acting the part of the idealist and encouraging you to do the same.

With love,

Amanda