Rosemary olive bread

One thing you should know about me is that I'm a huge bread-eater. I love bread and it's right after sushi and chocolate on my "I could live off this for the rest of my life" list. Actually, put these three at the same spot, in no particular order. I wish I could easily replace them with kale, broccoli and spinach, but alas...
A while ago, I decided to get into the whole artisan-bread making thing. I already mastered the art of making puff pastry dough, so I thought bread wouldn't be a big deal. I read books and websites about the delicate process involved in making the basic staple man has been living on for thousands of years, when they had no electric ovens with precise temperature, food thermometers, and all the fancy equipment that today is deemed  by some necessary to make bread. Humpf.

Keep reading after the jump for the recipe and tips!

Flowers, cherries and crochet, oh my!

Summer seems to have walked in as early as in March on the East Coast. Despite this being possibly a sign of global warming, the nearing-80 degrees weather we've had the past few days is simply putting me in a wonderful mood. 

Here are a few trends I am loving this season: Florals (isn't this purse to die for?!), cherries (I'm lusting over this retro swimsuit for my beach excursion, which could be as early as next week-end), and crochet: as a self-proclaimed proud serial crocheter, I am planning to make a similar cardigan, a necklace, and definitely the tote bag (I'm thinking either granny squares or multi-layer large flowers attached together). 

What items are on your summer shopping list?

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Product Review: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 110

Summary: Best drugstore foundation, very satisfied.
Pros: Oil free, dermatologist tested, matches skin tone, blends perfectly, light yet hides blemishes and imperfections, great price (7$) for excellent quality.
Cons: None that I can think about, except perhaps that you can't apply it with a sponge because the texture is so light, fluid (and oil free) that the sponge absorbs it entirely and nothing ends on your skin. You end up wasting product.
Comparable to: Make Up For Ever HD foundation.

Keep reading after the jump for the long, detailed review!

Inspired by.... Maria Callas

For my very first “Inspired by…” article, I have chosen a woman who is my idol, my inspiration. The best soprano of all times, the one and only Maria Callas. Not only is my Itunes library full with her albums, but I’ve watched every documentary and interview of her, and many of her biographies (next on my reading list: Greek Fire by Nicolas Gage).

She wasn’t only known for her heavenly voice, but for her beauty and iconic fashion style. The reason why I enjoy the most to write about it is because it spans over my favourite fashion decades, the 1950s and the 1960s.

The interesting thing about Maria was that she started as an ugly duckling that turned into the most beautiful of women. In many of her biographies, it is told how, at her beginnings, she had almost no fashion style and wasn’t in the best shape. But what’s amazing about this woman is her dedication for her career: for that, she lost weight even though she was a food lover, and did everything she could to become extremely elegant.

Keep reading after the jump for her fashion style and beauty!

Bichromic

Shirt: Target

Dress (worn as skirt underneath): ?

Shoes: Target

English phone booth pendant: Forever 21 (close-up here)

Earrings: Claire's 

Nail polish: OPI Vodka and Caviar

Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Coco in Venise

I have worn this dress in the previous post - gasp!!! - but what I like about it is its versatility. Last time, I wore it with a red blazer and a vintage scarf for a Bree-Van-de-Kamp-Turned-Fashionista look. (as to the shoes, well, call it favouritism for being red stilettos). Here, I am wearing it with a simple white shirt that says either schoolgirl or choir member (although now that I think about it, it could use a belt at the waist to flatter my figure better). It's one of the things I do very often - wear a very classic black  and white or even all black outfit, and add small red touches, like the shoes, the pendant, the lipstick and the nail polish. 

But what I like the most about this outfit is, believe it or not, my hairstyle. I had curled my hair the day before, and having woken up with loose waves, I applied some anti-frizz serum before I pinned it back into this improvised low bun. Let me know if you'd like a tutorial! (Although taking the photos might be tricky, you know me!)

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Ice latte

As those living in the DC area have certainly noticed, the weather has been extremely warm these past few days. Feeling too lazy to go to Starbucks for my caffeine fix (that's a consequence of warmth... and lack of caffeine), I decided to make my own easy version of their ice latte.
For this, I combined 1/2 cup of milk (you can use whole, fat free, soy or almond), 2 tablespoons of instant coffee (I used Nescafé, a staple in any Mediterranean household), 4 1-gram sachets of Splenda (more or less depending on how sweet/bitter you want your latte to be) and four ice cubes. I mixed the instant coffee and Splenda with a little milk until it melted, then added all the milk and stirred vigorously with a spoon (if you're feeling extremely zealous, you can put it in a shaker, but there's no essential need to go through the trouble).
Of course, if you intend to watch this during tonight's episode of Desperate Housewives, which will be particularly sad, you can add a shot of whiskey, vodka, or coffee liqueur* which would make a Black-and-White Russian, I think. Or just forget about the coffee and milk. Caffeine at night isn't particularly recommended.

(*Disclaimer: Suggestions and mentions of alcohol for informational purposes only. Mademoiselle Sonushka does not encourage or condone underage drinking. Drink responsibly.)

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This week

I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday, with family and friends. A very dear cousin from Atlanta joined us and we all had a blast. I've discovered that Eva Longoria's birthday is the day after mine (just like one of my best friends! Yay!) I also share a birth date with the first king of united Italy, a genius, and a handsome (but married) prince, among others.

The weather went in a flash from mild winter (no snow this year, thank God) to July warmth. In our garden, yellow jonquils (?), lavender, and aromatic herbs are growing and making the air deliciously fragrant (and they transform a simple dish of whole-grain tortellini into a true delight). I also spotted these violets which instantly reminded me of the south of France.

On Thursday, Aurélie and I walked to Wildwood shopping center for coffee and pastries. I was delighted to see that a cupcake store, Fraiche Cupcakery, had finally opened. Auré had a red velvet cupcake, and I had the lemon-almond. They were perfect, even better than Georgetown Cupcake, and the staff was definitely friendlier and more courteous.

I began my Spring/Summer shopping (as an obvious aftermath of my birthday ;)) by purchasing a pair of black open-toes wedges. I've been buying the same model for years: they're so comfortable for long walks (last year, I walked in them from Dupont Circle to Georgetown to Arlington) that they become worn out by September. Of course, they take a week to break in, during which feet suffer excruciating pain and blisters and must endure Hello Kitty Band-Aids mummification.

Last but not least, here are a few links I loved this week that I'd like to share with you:
- Teri Hatcher's definition of beauty. This Q. and A. with Oprah shows what an inspirational woman Teri is. Not only is she a great actress, but she's someone you can look up to. I subscribed to her official Facebook page (as well as the other DH ladies) and just love her posts, especially the photos taken on the set of DH. That is, when I'm not watching cheesy Youtube Mike and Susan fan videos. (Yes, I'm that hopeless).
- Danielle Pascente's Top 5 tips for getting into summer shape on this blog that I discovered while clicking through comment signatures (yes, I do that to find more blogs worth reading). I was looking for a simple, clear weight-loss getting-back-in-shape plan, and that was perfect for me!

That's all for now! I wish you all an excellent week-end!

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Lady be good

Scarf: vintage, from my aunt's

Red jacket: vintage

Black dress (worn underneath): Forever21 (?)

Purse: ? 

Red stilettos: Target

Nail polish: OPI Vodka and Caviar

Lipstick: New York Color Ultra Moist Lipwear in Retro Red

There are days where I dress in a way that can be seen as "classic", as opposed to jeans or sweats and a tee-shirt and Converse. I don't own a pair of Converse, actually. I used to, but I was reluctant to wear them. Stilettos, however, that's a different thing.

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Twenty years, twenty facts!

So today I turned twenty, and so far, my day is going great! I had these "Twenty random facts" sitting in my Blogger drafts for a little while, and even though I wanted my readers to know me better, I didn't know when would be the right moment to publish them. I guess that's when turning twenty comes in handy!


1 - I could live off sushi and dark chocolate.

2 - I have been voted "first to die in a horror movie".

3 - I genuinely believe I am the only person under 30 to love opera. (manifest if objection, and preferably leave your email address, I'd like to invite you over to my "Sushi and Madame Butterfly" night. But wait, who am I kidding! I get along very well with people over 30, I relate to them more than people my age.)

4 - I made some wonderful friends over the Internet; seconds before I met them in person, I prayed they wouldn't be serial killers.They weren't.

Keep reading after the jump!

People will talk - Part II

In the spring of my freshman year of college, as people who know me will remember, I had the worst acne break-out of my entire life. My confidence was hit, and so was my social life and every other aspect of my life. I was used to think of myself as a beautiful woman, and it felt like I was in the wrong body. I spent days at home because I couldn't stand people looking at me weirdly. 

I still recall an incident at a parking lot on Rockville Pike last summer where a random man followed me to my car and tried to convince me to sleep with him. I was so disgusted at his lack of tact that the only way I could react was to laugh with all the contempt I had in me. His attitude changed, and he yelled at me “Get your motherf*cking face fixed, ugly!”

At this point, no one would have expected me to start a fashion blog and expose myself to thousands of people online. But I did. For the sake of my confidence and of my well-being, I couldn't just accept to be the “ugly” girl to whom a random creep would offer sex in pity. I’ve never been the type of girl to accept defeat. I’d spend an hour doing my make-up every morning. I’d spend even more time editing any picture taken of me until it would look like the woman I truly am. And I’d drive the attention away from the acne and to my best assets: my eyes, my hair, my body, my clothing and my personality, which I thrive to cultivate and to make as witty as possible. I'd wear 11 centimeter stilettos and practice my walk for hours in my bedroom so when I would go out, people would say "how can this woman walk with such high heels and not break her ankle... wow!" rather than fixating on my skin. 

I've been taking Accutane a few months ago, and I am regaining my beauty and my confidence again. I do much less editing on my pictures, if any, and soon I will be able to wear much lighter make-up, just like before. But the best of it all is, well, what people say when they see me now: “You look amazing”. “So much better”. “You radiate beauty”. Was it worth to go to near-disfigurement (and all the disastrous consequences it had on my life) to hear that now? This is a question that I yet have to answer. What I learned (at the risk of sounding like I borrowed one of Mary-Alice Young's lines from the end of a Desperate Housewives episode) is how fragile things are, even when take them for granted and lean on them. In no time, anything can crumble. 

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Spring shopping list

I have to say, I am not at all happy with the Spring-Summer fashion trends this year. It's maybe due to living in Paris, but I have a bit of a pet peeve against the overdose of ultra bright colours that seems to be the must this season. Maybe it's because I am a redhead, but there are only certain colours and combinations that I am comfortable with (and it's not due to a lack of confidence, thank you very much). I am not one to follow fashion trends blindly (even less hair and make-up, so don't you expect to see me with a bejeweled eyebrow anytime soon!), but rather dress in what I believe is chic, ladylike and timeless. This winter, I was in the mood for rich jewel tones paired with blacks and grey. Last summer, my wardrobe consisted mainly of blacks and whites with golden jewelry and colourful accessories. For this spring, I want florals, sweet tones of rose and beige, crochet lace (I've got a few DIY projects in mind), and the likes. Here are some of the essentials I've got my eye on for this season:

Birthday wishlist

What I like about compiling a birthday wishlist is that I can think like a spoiled brat for once (okay, I tend to do it rather often, but well); this right becomes even more implanted as one girl gets older and thus needs a night of fun, partying, celebration and Veuve Clicquot to forget that the clock is ticking (Trixie, by the way, if you want to hire a male stripper to surprise me, you know I like look-alikes of Marlon Brando, James Dean and Paul Newman... OH, and let's not forget James Denton, who plays Mike Delfino on Desperate Housewives. RAWR).

So, back to compiling the wishlist (more or less by priority):

- Places to see Anna Netrebko in Manon (by Massenet) at the Metropolitan Opera this April.

- A Macbook Air, to make my writing sessions at small coffee shops or carrying a laptop for class easier for my poor back (and my stiletto-clad feet).

- The Sims 3 Pets. Although I'd love to have every other add-on released, it isn't healthy either for my dangerous procrastination habit or my hard-drive. If I have to choose one, I'd rather make my redheaded Sims alter-ego (single, lives in a cute cottage off the beach) adopt six or seven Persian cats. That is, before I move in my own place (more likely an apartment in the middle of DC or New York, although I'm flirting with the idea of a small cozy house right off the beach in a small town on the Atlantic Ocean...).

- The full Desperate Housewives DVD series. That is, because I am tired of having to fast-forward through commercials, accidentally delete the DVR episodes, or deal with a crappy internet connection on Netflix or Hulu.

- A Chanel 2.55 bag. It's been off my lust list for a while because too many women seemed to have it (or knock-offs of it), and not the fashionable kind. But hell, it's a classic timeless bag and it's a certain investment. Unless an authentic crocodile Kelly from the 1960s is waiting for me somewhere....

- A luxurious eye cream. I am not yet twenty that I am already seeing bags and dark circles under my eyes, and I am replacing my acne-fighting routine with Retinol and such (still a novice in the wrinkle-fighting department, so bear with me). Now that is due perhaps to lack of sleep, excessive caffeine consumption, stress, but I can take the easy way and just blame it on aging, and get it fixed by all means.

- A [insert astronomic amount] Starbucks gift card. Although I am trying to cut caffeine in order not to get too accustomed to it (to the point where it stops working), I still consume a lot of Pomegranate Oolong and "Venti Ice Passion tea with two Splenda".

- A spa treatment at Elizabeth Arden Red Door. That is, by far, one of my favourite treats (as in, reserved for the day this redhead got her admission letter to her first-choice university...).

- Modcloth dresses inspired by Downton Abbey and the 1950s, and that shell purse I've been lusting over for a while. I'm in love with everything this website has, and I only wish they'd open a few stores so I could actually try on the clothes, since I am not a fan of online shopping. I can see them having a cute boutique in Downtown Bethesda...

- Shoes, shoes, and more shoes. Call me Imelda Marcos, but as my relatives and friends know, shoes are one thing I can't live without. If I were to be stranded on a desert island, I'd rather be with my... [won't say the number] pairs (and photos and letters of loved ones) than with anything else.*
*Of course, this is due to the fact that even with smart essentials (sunscreen, Altoids, water purifier thing, matches, alligator repellent), I won't survive the desert island scenario (nor the horror movie). Autant mourir, better die in style, non?


- More shoes. Stilettos only. The more likely wearer is to trip/break her neck, the better. Blue preferred, although my trademark red would be welcome, as well as bright coral, to adhere with the spring trends.

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This week

Julie has a cold and can't go to school. I have a cold and don't feel like going out. Logical consequence: We're cuddling in my bed, eating candy, and watching cute kitten Youtube videos on the Ipad (and Potter Puppet Pals too1). 

I am six days away from entering the next decade of my life (the one where you start obsessively using anti-wrinkle products for prevention, of course). For this very last week before what looks to me like quite a stepping stone, here are some of the things on my current love list:

- This cat joke, which cracked me up, and with which I definitely agree.

- Receiving the Ulta catalog in the mail today, full of new exciting products and very interesting savings. I'm thinking, birthday shopping spree next week!

- This comic strip drawn by a former classmate and good friend.

- Good girly romantic comedies for rainy nights, with a home-made grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, and a glass of wine. Like The Holiday, Legally Blonde, Something Borrowed, 27 Dresses and, best of the best, Bride Wars! Epic Kate Hudson moment: "It's blue! My hair is blue! I'm getting married in a week! A WEEK!' 

- This scene. Marlon Brando, in a ripped, wet shirt. Rawwwr. Suddenly, I'm feeling much more Leo than Pisces.

- The bright red nail polish I'm currently wearing on my fingers and toes. Such a great way to walk into Spring!

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