fitforafemme.com

CONFESSION: I had a very full, very festive weekend. The last before Christmas! On Friday night, the tomboy and I bundled up (a bit too much – it was wonderfully pleasant out!) and headed downtown with the petite to follow the longtime tradition of peeking in at the puppies and kittens up for adoption, adorably displayed in Macy’s whimsical holiday window displays. (M threatened to physically remove me if I didn’t stop tearing up! I can’t help it! One little creamsicle kitten was hugging herself to sleep!) It was so much fun! We came home and had Mexican hot chocolate and cookies fresh out of the oven, and watched Valentino: The Last Emperor (which really made me cry).

We celebrated my best friend’s birthday at a lovely French bistro on Saturday night (that’s where these fancy photos are from – this H&M top is so FUN with a built-in petticoat underneath the peplum, but I pinned the flower to the waist for a little extra something) – I had a wonderful pear cocktail and ordered the Coq au Vin, which was fantastic. The BFF was thrilled to bits with everything and we laughed heartily through the entire dinner. All were loathe to end the night so soon!

On Sunday, we celebrated my Grandmother’s 90th birthday. Festivities began promptly at a 10AM mass and didn’t stop until we tore ourselves away from her charming stories and copious amounts of her favorite brandy, in order to make it to a dinner on time at Will Blog For Food’s house. She roasted her very first chicken for us, paired with a gorgeous salad with persimmons and endives, a toasty loaf of bread and roasted vegetables (which became quite caramelized and which M could not get enough of). A happy and lovely evening to complete a very busy weekend!

After catching up with my beauty sleep this morning, I have to tidy up the flat, queue up the baking parade, wrap gifts and take care of those inevitable last-minute errands the holidays bring. I can’t wait until Christmas Eve and I hope y’all are ready for whatever wonderful plans await you! XOXO!

Some fancy photos of the tomboy and I, for fun:

When: Sunday, Dec. 21st, 2008.

What: Skinny pants from Laundry by Shelli Segal, wool turtleneck with suede elbow and shoulder patches by Ralph Lauren Rugby, vintage rabbit fur collar and coat by Blanc Noir. Wool beret from H&M, boots by Charles David. Pretty earrings from Juniper Tree in Berkeley, courtesy of the debonair tomboy.

Scent(s): Burberry London for Men smells divine on me. It’s very woodsy and spicy, like mulled wine and kindling, but it dries with a soft, sweet mist over all of that. Clearly, they only struggle with scents for women, because I love this. I also love port, and that’s one of the key notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Cinnamon Leaves, Black Pepper, Mimosa, Leather, Port Wine, Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss, Tobacco, Opopanax.

Kenzo’s Flower is also pretty nice. It begins almost too strong – I think it’s the rose and violet, though the violet note is definitely true and well-done – and then dries down into something non-offensive and less linear, but it’s neither so dreamy nor sophisticated enough to be very special. Fans of violet (and vanilla, for that matter) should definitely try this, though! The notes are: Wild Hawthorne, Bulgarian Rose, Parma Violet, Cassia, Hedione, Cyclosal, Opoponax, White Musk, Vanilla.

Confession: First, because it’s amusing and might benefit some of you, a graphic instruction on how to walk in heels, courtesy of the SF Chronicle article:

On a truly awful note, there are just 3 towns, about a dozen exits or a 10-15 minute drive (depending on traffic) between this femme and Richmond, CA. Why do we care about Richmond? Well, earlier today I read an incredibly disturbing article about a lesbian, about my age, who was brutally gang-raped there earlier this month. I was so angry, literally shaking as I read the article, and so very sad for her. I hope they find those goddamn sons of bitches FAST, and I hope I get a phone call taking me up on my offer to personally shoot each of them point-blank in the face. Mercy is a terrible waste when it comes to dealing with rapists, in my opinion. The article has more details on the hate crime aspect, as well as the suspects.

It’s fucking awful and I really don’t even know what to say; I hope in time she’s less terrorized by what’s been done to her and that ultimately her happiness, health and will aren’t forever blurred or tainted by it. Those are lofty things to wish for a stranger, but I’m wishing them regardless. That poor woman.