Moodboard- A little bit of Recently

Hello loves. Happily we are mid-weeK!

I hope your week has been sunny in every way possible. I am sharing a moodboard. It is a little of everything, most of it recent. I have really been enjoying your comments, lately, it makes blogging a very rich experience. Thank YOU!

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I HAVE BEEN BUSY LATELY ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL WEATHER. NEW YORK IS PERFECT THIS TIME OF YEAR. I ALSO GOT TO GO OUT EAST FOR A LONG WEEKEND TO ENJOY SOME COUNTRY PLEASURES ( LIKE FINDING A SICK FOX ON MY OUTSIDE, ENCLOSED DECK 0;p( .. IT GOT SO WARM A WEEK AGO, I FELT LIKE WE GOT AN EXTRA SUMMER WEEKEND.

A COUPLE OF NOTES ABOUT THE LITLE SNAPS ABOVE. MY FLORAL DRESS ON THE RIGHT WAS 2 DOLLARS USD, FROM ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO; A FEW OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THE POST. MY PHOTO RESOLUTION IS, FORTUNATELY, MUCH BETTER THESE DAYS! THE CUFF IS FROM KCSIGNATURES.com, AND MY RUBY RING IS ONE THAT I DESIGNED 10 YEARS AGO, AND IT IS MODELED BY MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND YULIA. MY HANDS DO NOT LOOK LIKE THAT! ALSO IF YOU MAKE A RING FROM SCRATCH, IT COSTS ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF WHAT IT WOULD FETCH IN A RETAIL SHOP ( AND IS A GOOD INVESTMENT).

IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN SUMMER WEEKENDS? WORLD, PLEACE, YES... BUT THIS WAS SPLENDID. I HOPE YOU LIKE MY MOODBOARD. BE WELL! SENDING KISSES FROM NYC -AND FOR THOSE OUT THERE STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES LARGE AND SMALL -I WISH YOU STRENGTH, HEALTH AND GOOD FORTUNE!

Pestana Palace: Old World Luxe in Lisboa

BEAUTY: I AM CAPTIVATED AND MOVED BY IT. WHETHER IT IS A BARELY DISCERNIBLE BRUSH STOKE ON A CANVAS, A PEWTER SLICE OF MOON- PUNCTUATING AN OTHERWISE MATTE, EBONY SKY, OR THE REFLECTION OF GOLDENRODS AGAINST A FRESH, SHIMMERING POND. I LOVE EACH DETAIL.

SUCH IT WAS AT PESTANA PALACE, A REAL-LIFE, REAL-TIME BIT OF MAJESTY THAT ONE CAN OCCUPY FOR A BIT. ONE IS SURELY NEVER QUITE THE SAME AFTER THIS.

The first steps.

Every gracious detail.

The view.

Interior shots. Are you sitting down?

More interior shots from Pestana Palace Lisboa: a 5 star Hotel and National Monument.

In the Pestana Palace it is hard to pick a favorite interior shot. But I have. It is below.

I hate to sully these photos with shots of me. I was not dressed as well as I could have been. Nor was my outfit up to par. But I was traveling. I should have been wearing this gown , but this is not too travel friendly... Oh well..

A hotel bed never stays this pristine for long!

My embellished blush bag came from Lisboa. You will get a better look at it soon. It was made in Portugal and was not too pricey. My loafers, which look like Gucci, are Hushpuppies, made in Portugal and are so comfy that I braved the cobblestone walkways! MY dress was 15 USD, purchased 3 years ago.

PORTUGAL IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND INVITING. THE PEOPLE ARE SO WARM, AND WE HAD NINE STRAIGHT DAYS OF CLOUDLESS BLUE SKIES. THE PRICES HERE ARE VERY REASONABLE AND EVEN THIS PALACE ROOM IS LESS THAN, OR ABOUT, THE PRICE OFA 4 STAR ROOM IN MANHATTAN. SO IF YOU WANT TO BE QUEEN FOR A DAY...

I AM BACK DOWN TO EARTH AND AM BACK IN MANHATTAN. THE TAXIS' HORNS ARE BLARING, AND THE LITTER ON THE STREET IS BLOWING IN THE WIND. THERE IS USUALLY A A HOMELESS PERSON ON MY CORNER, DURING THE DAY. THERE IS ALSO A FRUIT STAND, WHICH IS HANDY, AS I ALWAYS BUY GRAPES FOR WHOMEVER IS HERE. I ALWAYS WANT TO DO MORE. I HUG PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND THEY ARE DIRTY AND I DO NOT MIND. THEY NEED A HUG, AND IT IS ALL I CAN GIVE THEM.

THIS IS MY REAL WORLD. IT WAS SPLENDID BEING QUEEN FOR A DAY, BUT I AM VERY GLAD TO BE HOME. ALL OF THE GRADATIONS OF EMOTION AND REALITY ARE HERE. EVERY SHADE OF GRIT. EVERY SHADE OF GLITTER.

NEW YORK IS TRAGIC, AND BEAUTIFUL TOO, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

I GO INSIDE, UNPACK MY BAGS, AND OPEN MY LAPTOP TO DONATE... I KNOW ALL TOO WELL HOW FORTUNATE I AM, EVEN IF I AM NOT NEARLY AS WELL OFF, AS SO MANY.

I SUPPOSE THIS LAST PART COULD BE ITS OWN POST, BUT I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD GET THE EYEBALLS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO READ THIS, I THANK YOU. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR TRAVELS? DO YOU COME HOME SLIGHTLY CHANGED?

- photos were shot by a nice hotel employee, and by me on my Samsung Galaxy Note5.

Adventures in Porto

I AM BACK IN MANHATTAN, BUT I STILL HAVE TWO POSTS TO SHARE ON MY VACAY. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT TIRED OF THESE. I DO LOVE THIS CITY, AND HOPE YOU DO TOO! A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF A CASTLE RUIN!

MY DAUGHTER TOOK ALL OF THE PHOTOS OF THE RUINS, AND I WAS BUSY MAKING SURE I WOULD NOT TRIP ON THE ROCKY PATHS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING PHONE TAG, SO I WILL HAVE TO SHARE THESE LATER. BUT HERE IS A SHOT FROM COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG. THAT WILL GIVE YOU A FEEL.

BELOW, I AM MIDWAY UP THE CASTLE, PAUSING A WHILE. THE GRAFFITI WALL SEEMED LIKE A GOOD PLACE, AND MY HUBBY GRACIOUSLY TOOK THIS SHOT. ( I THINK HE ALSO WANTED A BREAK :)

ANOTHER VIEW AT THE TOP!

LATER THAT AFTERNOON , I SHOWERED, CHANGED AND SET ABOUT WALKING AROUND PORTO WITH NO AGENDA, OTHER THAN A LATE DAY SNACK. I WALKED INTO A LOVELY TAVERN TYPE RESTAURANT. I WAS GREETED BY AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF FRESH FISH, THE LOCAL SPECIALITY, GIVEN ITS LOCATION ON THE WATER.

I CAME ACROSS A QUAINT HOTEL AND LOOKED AROUND, ( WHO KNOWS WHERE I WILL STAY NEXT TIME? ) I SAW THIS TELEPHONE BOOTH. I FEEL AS THOUGH I STEPPED BACK IN TIME!

NEXT, I PASSED A PAINT SHOP. I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE CREATIVE DISPLAY IN THE WINDOW.

LATER, I WALK BY AN ICE CREAM SHOP AND WAS ENCHANTED AT YET ANOTHER CREATIVE DISPLAY. THIS ONE MADE ME HUNGRY!

I SHOWED THIS PHOTO TO ARTIST FRIEND AND HE SAID HE COULD DO MUCH BETTER WITH THE BACKROUND, AND HE DID! I lOVE WHAT HE DID!

AN ORHCID, IN A STORE ALONG THE WAY:

THE NEXT DAY I WALKED BY THIS GRAFFITI COVERED GARAGE AND ASKED A STRANGER TO TAKE A SHOT, EVERYONE HERE IS SO FRIENDLY! DAY FOUR, I HAVE SOME COLOR, WORE LIPSTICK, EYE MAKE UP, AND HAVE A TINTED SUNSCREEN THAT DOES WONDERS FOR EVENING SKIN TONE., AND GIVING MY FACE A GLOW. I WISH I HAD WORN THIS EVERYDAY.

THE NEXT MORNING WE HEAD TO THE TRAIN STATION BOUND FOR LISBOA. I AM DRESSED COMFORTABLY, IN FLATS, AND YES, MY TULLE SKIRT!

WE BOARD THE TRAIN WHICH IS COMFORTABLE AND FEELS LIKE ANOTHER ERA. THE SEATS ARE TURNED SO WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER, AND WE CAN EAT SANDWICHES AND DRINK WINE ON THE 4 HOUR TRIP. YAY! HERE IS OUR VIEW FROM THE WINDOW!

GOOD BYE PORTO!

What is your favorite place to travel to? Do you prefer to take a train, car, motorcycle, bike, or plane? Do you prefer bread and breakfasts or hotels. LMK in the comments section!

Porto, Portugal : Still Abroad

Porto continues to be compelling. The architecture, vistas, gardens and cobblestone streets are enchanting.

Donning my new favorite sneakers, I am ready to brave the rocky streets and hilly terrain.

My new circle bag, and little messenger, bought here in Porto for 30 USD for both. I also got my new blue shirt, with the varied seams, and soft combed cotton.

The view from our room is charming. The Intercontinental is perfect, and so comfortable, the perfect juxtaposition of old world flavor and modern, luxurious furnishings. What a pleasure to have this hotel as a home base.

We enjoyed a tour of the Sandeman Port facility . We also got to taste their most popular vintages. YUM!

When you walk up the steps of ancient ruins you have amazing vistas.

Remember: you are touring a great city, do not gorget to look up!

At sunset we walk to dinner.

Back to our hotel I see the orchids in the lobby and smile.

How is your week? Please tell me in the comments!

Elle, Abroad

I am a cranky, crappy traveler, but once I get to a destination, muscle down the fog of circadian rhythm mutiny, I fall in love with my chosen place.

So it was in Porto, Portugal.

We arrived in Porto, in the morning, well before the hotel was ready to take us in. They did take our bags and we wandered off to get our bearings and see some sites. Below is the train station,, full of charm and the artistic tile that Portugal is famous for.

I WILL WARN YOU NOW THAT I AM COMPLETELY UNVARNISHED, BUT FOR A SWIPE OT TWO OF CHANEL LIP GLOSS, IN THESE CANDID SHOTS. NO MAKE UP, AND THE LAZIEST OF PONYTAILS. YOU WILL NOT BE IMPRESSED WITH MY APPEARANCE AND MY SWOLLEN EYES, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL BEAR WITH ME.

WE LOVED OUR STAY IN INTERCONTINENTAL PORTO. THE ROOMS WERE GENEROUSLY SIZED, COMFORTABLY FURNISHED, AND LUXURIOUSLY APPOINTED, BUT NOT OVER THE TOP. THE STAFF COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL OR KIND.

IN THE ABOVE SHOT I AM WEARING A TULLE SKIRT IN BLACK, ( I BROUGHT 3 WITH ME, IN DIFFERENT COLORS, THEY TRAVEL REALLY WELL!), OPENED TOE SHOOTIES, AN EYELET BLOUSE, AND MY D&G CORSET BELT, SO I DO NOT LOOK LIKE A DOUGH BALL. ( TIP- 6 LAYERS OF TULLE ADDS ALOT OF BULK, A WIDE BELT IS A GOOD IDEA.)

I AM WEARING TWO SMALL BAGS, AS IS MY RECENT HABIT. ( DO YOU HATE SEARCHING THROUGH A LARGE BAG, TIME AND TIME AGAIN?) MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE TOP ONE IN YELLOW POLKA DOTS, AND MY LEATHER AND EMBOSSED REPTILE BAG WAS A SCORE FOR 10$ USD ! I LOVE THE WHIP-STITCHING AROUND THE EDGES.

MORE SHOTS FROM THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF VISITING PORTO:

A NEARBY GARDEN

I love the way the architecture resembles these delish macaroons!

How cool is this little sitting spot, laden with tile so typical of this region!

Shots from the food market and nearby:

The next day we took a water taxi :

and we saw

Back to the hotel for naps!

Dinner, sleep, and we start again. Another tulle skirt! Similar here .

I am trying to keep up on my favorite blogs while away. Wishing everyone well! Stay tuned for more photos , NOT in NYC !

Allie & Elle

Pardon my lamentably late post. These photos were taken during fashion week and a few weeks later. I am both happy and proud to be with my beautiful blogging friend Allie, of ALLIE NYC.com.

Allie and I met during NYFW and had dinner together after the wonderfully inspired Verdad show. It is such fun to discover the real person behind the blog persona. Allie is a sensitive intellectual, very beautiful, with full-on porcelain skin, and is tall and angular like a runway model. Her style is impeccable and on-point wearing the very best pieces from Zara.

At the Verdad Show.

Dinner after a Nolce Show.

Snaps from the Nolcha Shows.

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Allie took this shot of me inside ( light challenged but great restaurant- Bistano at the Kimberly Hotel In Midtown east. The blue light from the fish tank was perfect to illuminate the fish. For me, not so much, but still... We had great fun!

Please check out Allie's work if you do not know off her blog already. Her format is gorgeous, and her coverage of NYFW and many designers is fascinating, and presented flawlessly.

Her most recent blog about the future of blogging is a Must Read!

Have you had the opportunity to meet your favorite bloggers in person? I know many of you have. Let me know how your experiences were! I hope to meet more bloggers as time goes on!

I hope you are having a fabulous Spring week!

On The Avenue: Big, Little Luxuries

The warm temperatures today boosted me outside, and I look a stroll on Madison Avenue . A short walk, but a lot to see!

~THANK YOU TO THE LOVELY TOURIST WHO TOOK MY PHOTO~

DOT DRESS-similar / Daisy Jacket - similar , handbag Hermés, similar,. Dolce and Gabbana Corset belt, similar, ruffle top shooties : Laurence Decade via Workshop, similar. Pendants, similar- here and here. The belt and dress were second hand !

This is my favorite place to window shop. This alluring stretch of flagship luxury stores; a hop, skip and a jump away. I keep my wallet at home sometimes to quell the temptation! On this particular day I only went inside once, and most of the photos are taken from the shop windows. These photos are for inspiration!

Cornflower blue sapphires strung in polished roundels, flanked by diamond adorning findings, at Cartier. Not feeling blue, anymore!

A coral theme for Cartier's window and an industrial, modern edge to a super luxe window.

Even the sidewalks are fancy with the Versace Mosaic motif in a round medallion. Medusa!!

Versace shows us a delicate fringed lace skirt in white, with a panel of pleats. patent sandals & a ruched bomber jacket.

More Cartier, you say? How about an organically shaped ring in 18k yellow gold in a bold dome?

More organically inspired gold from Cartier's dazzling window display. The red signature box too.

The consummate luxe slip on mule: Pearl encrusted slides from MIU MIU. Don't forget your toes!

Pearls and rhinestone headband from MUI MUI, this feels a bit like a simple tiara. Princess time !

My favorite image, a dress crafted in fresh flowers! Complete with headdress, too!

While the world is full of upset, I feel a bit trivial by showing these images, but beautiful things always inspire me, even if I can not have them. A distraction of the lavish kind~

Doesn't this floral dress make you feel as though you have stepped into a Wonderland of Flowers? Which image is your favorite?

I hope you liked this little glimpse of the city! Can I call this cardio?

;o) xoxo xoxo xoxo Elle xoxo xoxo xoxo

The Thaw

At last, the hills of brown snow are starting to melt.

The skies are brighter, and the wind is not blowing such frigid air. I look out the window, and I recall the recent snow; wave after wave of it.

The transition to Spring begins. It starts outside, and starts, too in our minds; our ability to imagine the verdant greens and vivid cerulean blue of pure Springtime. I feel the slow, warm thaw. Part of me is cold, most of me.

I do not yet, believe in in the warmth of the bluing skies.

Then I feel it. A warming. I can see it, and I can smell it, Fresh air. But part of me is still frozen. Part of me is still locked in step, cold and slow.

And then it happens. My senses all wake up to the subtle energy of warm. My blood flows more surely, my limbs move with more vigor.

The cold is truly behind me now. I could run outside now, and only wear a light jacket, or this kimono in whispery peach chiffon, embroidered with nature's motifs; the color my of my face when it blushes with the first hint of sun on the horizon.

I am joyful. I could skip down the sidewalk. Embarrassingly, I do just that.

The dirty snow is still there. But it is almost like a shadow. All that is left is for it to melt. Spring, is here, surely.

Do you feel it, too?

Butterflies

Happy Spring! It is warm on this spring day, but there is still dirty walls of snow. I am grateful for them though. I tripped over a bit of an uneven city street. and started to fall, propelling forward. I caught myself on a wall of snow, and no harm done. There is always a silver lining!

Here, I am outside, being a bit goofy; so glad am I to feel the sun!

Mixed stripes, Solid Happy!

I AM WEARING TWO BAGS HERE. OFTEN, IT IS EASIER TO WEAR TWO LIGHT BAGS, THAN ONE HEAVIER ONE. IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ORGANIZATION; WALLET IN THE CHANEL BAG, GLASSES, BRUSH, LIPSTICKS, AND CELL PHONE, IN THE ORANGE LEDERER, CROCODILE BAG. BOTH WORN MESSENGER STYLE FOR EASY REACH, AND PROTECTION FROM PICKPOCKETS,

This outfit looks best, and is most comfortable, with my hands in my pockets. This is the only shot this way, unfortunately. I was having way too much fun, practicing my balance; hopping on one foot- hold- and then another - hold. Namaste. My daisy jacket is from Monalisa on Madison, a fabulous, up-scale children's store.

The shadows are strong today, casting unflattering spots on my face, but making cool patterns on the sidewalk. Below are pictures taken indoors, by my friend, ( who you have seen here as a model, gorgeous Yulia. ) We are inside Elite Home, no strong shadows, here, just muted ones from the most elegant site for lighting and furniture in NYC!

Showing off my Maryjanes, bought last Year on eBay, in my small size! I feel a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

Stripes, and daisies, and Chanel, OH MY!

I love butterflies and stripes together, so I was happy to find my J.Crew sweater at Encore. last week, alone with my striped skirt. The skirt made for Saks, and with labels still attached and unworn, also came from Encore .

I do not really need my sunnies inside, but they are so cool from Theo Pilar, made in Belgium, and purchased, yes, again at Encore. (Yes, the same sunglass creator that Elton John adores.) Ah, this heavily chair. I may

NEVER

ever get up!

Happy Spring.! Even with the dirty snow, I can feel it is here! Hurrah!

Can you feel it?

Thank you for Elite Home NYC for a gorgeous setting!