CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT: DO YOU SEE UGLY OR FESTIVE?

Is this sweater ugly or festive to you?

What do you see?

😄festive: cheerful, joyful, jovially cheerful.

😖ugly: unpleasant, repulsive in appearance.

CHRISTMAS PAST

During Christmas past, holiday sweaters use to be described as festive. I can remember as a child wearing them to school, and pretty much everyone else wore them too. Adults, teachers, children,  we all proudly wore them while wishing merriment to everyone and anyone who would listen.

These sweaters were more than a fashion statement but a process of celebrating and sharing joy with others.  

We would all wish each other a merry christmas and jingle all around the neighborhood. It was these sweaters that signaled our Christmas spirit! There was no shame or idea of "disgust" for being too sparkly, or overly embellished.  

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Not to get all Charles Dickens on you, but have we all become a bunch of Scrooges?!

Why is it that we now make fun of Christmas sweaters? We intentionally make them as ugly as possible, get together, and make fun of each others ugliness.  If that doesn't spell out a dysfunctional society, I'm not really sure what does. 

Have we as a society become so pessimistic,  that we view the active display of joy, as a form of disgust? 

Or are we all a bunch of cowards, who are too scared to show that we have an honest need to be happy?

Christmas is a beautiful time of the year and it is the one month in a year, we can give ourselves a break from our pessimistic ways, and be genuinely optimistic!

Take care and Happy Holidays! :)

xo,

Maya

Blogmas Day 5: My Favorite Holiday Concert Style!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", is a popular holiday song sung by Andy Wlliams, and it has me questioning every year, why the holidays make me smile?

One very good reason, is performing in a series of Christmas concerts! Every year, I take part in the joyous celebration of performing Holiday classics, accompanied by singers. As a violinist, I have played in many different types of shows, but there is something very special about the holiday ones. The stage is lit up, decorated and adorned with fresh poinsettia. The feeling is fresh, cheerful, and heartfelt. There is nothing overly complicated or  manipulated. No need to think, just feel.

When you play in an orchestra, you are almost always required to wear head to toe, black. However, during the holidays I push the rules a bit, and add a tiny bit of color and crystals. The above outfit is my favorite holiday orchestra attire. It is the second year I have worn it, and I still love it.

The dress is by TADASHI and the neck and sleeves are embroidered with lace and hand sewn glass beads.The shoes are by Ferragamo and embellished with crystals. The red belt is from Accessorize, and the hair clips are made of crystals. 

Enjoy! 

xo, 

Maya

Blogmas Day 15: 4 Gifts to Buy For Yourself

We all know "Christmas Times", is the most hectic and tiring time of the year. 

Between all the shopping, parties, get togethers, and the work that amasses at the end of another year, stress is at level 10. 

The chances of actually enjoying the holidays and experiencing a "warm, fuzzy, Christmas moment", is slim to none. Or is it?

For so long, I just watched the holidays rush by, adding stress upon more stress, and forgetting to take a moment for myself. The holiday was actually more work, than pleasure.  If you want to enjoy even a moment, of holiday spirit, gift yourself one of these 4 items and take a moment for yourself to enjoy it. Make yourself a hot cup of tea, snuggle in a warm blanket and watch your favorite Christmas movie. Give yourself at least 2 hrs, of "Me time". Enjoy the true spirit of the Holidays stress free. 

1. Snuggly soft, festive sweater

2. warm, fuzzy slippers

3. festive jewelry 

4. holiday socks

Blogmas!

Dear Readers! The past couple of months have been a crazy ride for me. I would like to thank all of my followers, clients, readers who have been reading any of my articles or viewing my Lookbooks Keaton Row, Lucky Magazine Community, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Google + or wherever else you may be reading this. Joining in on the Christmas celebration and countdown to the most exciting month of the year, I will be attempting my very first Blogmas! I will be blogging everyday till christmas including DIY's, gift ideas, fashion lookbooks, and possibly some holiday OOTD! I hope you guys will join me on a very festive countdown to CHRISTMAS! xx - Maya

Festive Nail Collection

Hi Ladies! I recently received a early holiday gift, and decided to write a mini product review. A collection by KLEANCOLOR, Nail Lacquer, and I have to admit, it is fantastic. I normally cannot stand nail polish and you will normally never see me take any risks when it comes to my nails.Clean, clear, and well groomed but hardly ever colored. However, this collection has given me a change of heart. Nothing makes me more excited for the holidays than this sparkly collection. A perfect gift to give to another fashionista, or as a special treat for yourself to jump into the the holiday spirit. Today I am wearing "Kiss Goodbye". It is a combination of saphire, ruby, and emerald glitter and it has the most amazing consistency on your nails. It shimmers in the light, reminiscent to christmas tree lights. The collection includes 6 mini colors. Grey, is named "Black out", and it contains black and silver glitter with octagonal shaped silver confetti. It reminds me of snowflakes I use to see when I would go to Christmas Markets sipping warm gluwein. Silver named "Grand Finale", is clear, with metalic confetti that is exactly like what you see shooting out on New Years Eve. Gold: named 24 Carat is a clear polish with gold glitter, and gold diamond shaped gold confetti. ( My New years nails will definitley be a mixture of "Grand Finale" and "24 Carat") Green is named "peaceful heart", and it is a clear polish with green glitter, and emerald blue hearts. Red is named "VIP", and is a clear polish with red glitter. Burgundy- Purple is named "Goodbye Kiss" is a clear polish containing a mixture of ruby, emerald, and saphire glitter.