Cinco de Mayo is one of our absolute favorite Holidays.  Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican heritage and pride and is a great reason to get together with your family and friends.  From the décor, to the music, to the food, there’s nothing we don’t love about this day!  So, today we’re here to help you host a magnifico celebration!

The Little Things:

• Buy batches of colorful flowers and place in short vases
• Stream colorful paper banners and flowers along your yard
• Buy fresh peppers and place in large glass bowls as food table décor
• Place mini-cactus’ along long tables
• Use maracas for your place settings
• Give every female guest a paper flower for their hair and every male guest a sombrero
• Have a piñata for the kids!
• Serve sopapillas and fried ice cream for dessert

The Ultimate Playlist:

Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena Quintanilla Perez

La Bamba by Ritchie Valens

Macarena by Los Del Rio

La Cucaracha by The Hit Crew

Hot Hot Hot by Buster Poindexter

Your Attire:

French Connection Gwendoline Flower Dress, Ray Ban Large Metal Aviators, Rebecca Minkoff Neon Park Avenue Clutch, Sam Edelman Josie Wedges

Ultra Healthy Guacamole:

The best guacamole is made with the freshest ingredients… this recipe has been a classic in our families for years.  It’s diet friendly and also includes healthy, detoxifying spices!

2 avocados

½ cup of pico

½ lemon

garlic salt

lemon pepper

cayenne pepper

Mix avocadoes with pico (the chunkier the avocadoes, the better!), add garlic salt, lemon pepper and 2 pinches of cayenne pepper.  Squeeze lemon over guac (this adds a tang and also keeps your guac from turning brown!).  Serve with pita chips.  Serves 3-4

Our Favorite Skinny Rita:

3 ounces Patron

2 ounces fresh lime juice*

1 ounce agave nectar

Mix in shaker with ice, pour into two salt-rimmed glasses, garnish with limes.  *Use grapefruit juice for a delicious grapefruit rendition!

We are so excited for Saturday & hope that everyone enjoys their celebration!  Adios!

Kelli & Lisa

As days become longer and the weather slowly turns a little warmer (for some of us!) our eyes and hearts are set on spring!  And what is more ‘spring’ than florals?!?  We know, we know, “Florals?  For spring? Ground breaking.” as spoken from Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada.  But this year designers really have taken florals to a whole new level—specifically in the floral pant.  We remember when these floral pants (with stirrups!) were a hit ages ago and they are back this spring/summer in a major way!

H&M Floral Pant

1) Floral Pant – H&M 2) Floral Jacquard Swirls High Waist Skinny Jean – Reiss

Not yet ready to dive deep into floral skinnies??  That’s okay, you can tread lightly with these gorgeous floral patterned dresses, tops, skirts and accessories!

LOFT Floral Dress

Macy’s Rachel Roy Top & Skirt – available at select stores and Macys.com

Rebecca Minkoff Floral Print Dress

1) Blue Floral Tube Romper – Delias 2) Glitter Floral Card – Papyrus 3) Floral Stretchy Bracelet – Forever 21 4) Vivienne by Vivianne Tam Floral Print Dress – Dillard’s 5) Bucket Floral Shirt (for him!) – French Connection 6) Field of Flowers Wildflower Blossom Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath – Philosophy

Create your own florals: Spring planting tips!

• Check your planting zone (you can Google an easy to read map) to see which flowers will grow best in your area’s weather.
• You’ll need great tools to get started (pruners, digging shovel, garden rake, garden hose and/or watering can).
• Spring is the best time to plant perennials so that they can get acclimated to their surroundings before the summer heat.
• Plant according to instructions provided by your local nursery.
• Plant when the soil and air are warm.
• Don’t over-rake your garden (this causes the soil to become too thin).
• Lightly water your soil one hour before planting.
• Add mulch to your garden to help avoid weeds, and to keep your soil and roots cool.
• Make sure there is enough drainage for your garden.

 Here’s to a colorful spring; both in your closet & your yard!

Kelli and Lisa

There’s something about “a girl’s best friend” that makes us feel so legitimized… taken… sparkled… expensive… whole… sigh… {we’ve made it}! We spend our whole lives searching… testing the waters… trial and error… this one’s good for now… this one’s good forever… {heartbreak} {withdrawl} {empowerment}… and then we find The One, inevitably leading to “a girl’s best friend”…

THE PERFECT PAIR OF SHOES!

Valentino "Rock Stud" heels

{Women’s love affairs with shoes date back, yes, before Carrie Bradshaw’s grandmother was born! Six inch stunners took the form of pointy toe lace up booties in the 1890′s… I imagine walking to my sushi dinner reservation way back then would be tres elegante– a little dirt, pebble, grass path ain’t stoppin’ nobody.}

When I buy a new girl’s best friend, I make so many plans with her. We go out to dinner every night of the week; we hit the bar scene; we join the ladies who lunch; we stroll our favorite shopping streets. Girl’s gotta strut it…

But, too often it’s hard to draw the fine line between lust and must… I lusted for this Valentino pair only after {doing hard time} behind the computer, researching the perfect fit for my not-so-petite-feet. Forever 21 and H&M usually hit the spot for me– I’m talking leopard flats, bejeweled sandals, color-blocked wedges, and of course, the staple black heel– I’ve got ’em all. But this time, I had to turn a blind eye to savings… Must!

And I don’t look back– no regrets! If you put the work into researching what’s right…be it shoes, groceries, schooling, exercise, you’ll inevitably be confident and satisfied with your choices. A random splurge should be celebrated!

And, sometimes, on that fairytale of a morning when everything is as right as that first perfect sip of iced coffee to start your day, a splurge is not really a splurge at all…

Did I mention I bought these at Nordstrom Rack for 65% off?

xoxo,

elshane

(BCBGeneration jumper, necklace (worn as headpiece), belt; DVF bracelets; Nicky Hilton rings; Kelsi Dagger boots)

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My favorite part of New Year’s? Run{way}ing into the party in the same dress as everyone else! Sparkle-o-fun in a wine spritzer!

Who are we kidding here? That is the biggest {party foul} {buzzkill} {Debbie downer} {fashion suicide} in the elshane handbook.

So…the approach to the No-Fail, No-New Year’s-Beige-me, No-Way? A punch!

1. LBD: If your NYE lewk involves an LBD {little black dress}, hurrah, hurrah! How très chic! A punch and a splash is all you need to keep your… photos on Facebook a frequented subject of conversation…

     *A punch? A bauble-y bib necklace in a rich jewel tone will light up your face like a Christmas tree! Try searching for costume jewelry from brands like Dannijo, Kate Spade, Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, and J.Crew. *A splash? The weather outside is… flippin’ frightful! Doesn’t mean your overcoat and scarf have to follow suit. Add a faux leopard coat (try Club Monaco, ASOS, DKNY) or a shimmering swirly lollipop of dreams colorful scarf, from Theodora & Callum, Pucci, or Diane von Furstenberg.

2. PASTEL: You heard it straight from elshane! Pastel! No, not shimmery golds and silvers… unless you want to be oh-so-Beige this NYE. Calling all warm, soft, sorbet-inspired Pastels! Take notes from the Spring 2012 runway collections like Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rachel Roy: stretch your bad ankle and leap into 2012 fashion-foot-forward! Orange-Creamsicle-Punch- you glad you heard it here first?

3. X-FACTOR: {Reference my photos above} Are you surprised I chose this look for New Year’s? Probably not, because it’s just so punchy-kewl from head to toe! Spelled Easy E: effortless, extravagant, elegant, e-sexy, this look guarantees all eyes on the prize, all in the most shimmering light! No haters can hate, all lovers can love: a sexy jumpsuit that shows just the right amount of winter white skin, and leaves just enough room for three remaining slices of 2011 cake. (Take an Easy-E jumper home from designers like Robert Rodriguez, BCBG, Tibi, Vince).

So there you have it. New Year, New You, in a punch!

(DVF shirt, scarf vest, pants, luggage; vintage hat; Lia Sophia bracelets and necklace; Christian Louboutin heels)

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{“When you figure out your suitcase, you figure out your life”} – Diane von Furstenberg.

Holiday spirits, people! Everyone’s goin-a-packin! Trains, planes, and automobiles…guaranteed you will be part of the mass exodus {“movement of ‘Jah people, oh-oh-oh yea-eah!”} – Bob Marley) this holiday season. For the sun-chasers, Cabo San Lucas? Miami? For the snow-seekers, Aspen? Vail? For the rest of us in this world who don’t follow the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills travel itinerary, Uncle Joe’s house? Down the river?

{“No matter where you’re going, you will surely be a-tow-in”} – elshane. There’s nothing chicer than a shimmery soul in a scrawny suitcase, La Petite Valise.

How to pack your La Petite Valise? {cue unlined paper, colorful pens, and an imagination…} **I’ve substituted clothing for names; see how I pack my weekend La Petite Valise from LA to NY…

FRIDAY  (69°LAà 42° NYC)

Airplane: Jimmy leggings; Kimmy sweater; Shimmy scarf; Winnie flats; Minnie

leather jacket

Dinner with parents: Binny jeans; Spiny chiffon button down; Shimmy scarf;

Winnie flats; Gwinnie fur coat

Out with friends: Binny jeans; Gimmee sequin top; Shimmy scarf; Lynnie killer stilettos; Minnie leather jacket

SATURDAY (38° NYC)      

Business meeting: Timmy harem pants; Spiny chiffon button down; Shimmy

scarf; Lynnie killer stilettos; Gwinnie fur coat

Lunch with old co-workers: same look as above

Dinner with college friends: Flynnie leather pants; Kimmy sweater; Lynnie

killer stilettos; Minnie leather jacket

SUNDAY (43° NYCà 74° LA)

Shopping Soho: Flynnie leather pants; Spiny chiffon button down; Shimmy

scarf; Winnie flats; Gwinnie fur coat

Museum tour: same look as above

Airplane: Timmy harem pants; Kimmy sweater; Winnie flats; new scarf I

purchased while shopping earlier that day; Minnie leather jacket.

Friends, we call this “hanging with Kimmy, Shimmy, Winnie, Minnie; Binny, Spiny, Gwinnie; Gimmee, Lynnie, Timmy and Flynnie.”

Therefore, when you pack a La Petite Valise, you…

ALWAYS HAVE ROOM TO “MAKE NEW FRIENDS”

xo, elshane

(Diane von Furstenberg dress and clutch; hat from market in Paris; Chanel scarf; Dolce & Gabbana sunnies; Lia Sophia bracelet and ring; Pucci boots; Givenchy red lip)

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Turkey, yams, and pumpkin pie…I ate too much, I’m gonna die!

Thanksgiving Dinner. Where food and family meet… and fashion is too often left on the {floor of the closet}? Sigh.

Not I, no way! A family get-together, no matter the holiday, calls for a time to break out the real goods: the coveted leather handbag… the heels so uncomfortable you have to crawl in them {after all, if you’re Giving Thanks on a yacht, you’ll need to take them off…} Dreams!

In short: {Bling-It-On!} There may be family at this dinner that you haven’t seen in months. No matter the reach, there will be a scenario closely related to a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills plotline: dad’s bringing the “new” wife, boyfriend is introducing you to the fam, bro invited his entire alumni class on Facebook…. And there you will be…standing, smiling…in a head to toe {lewk} (aka: a jaw droppin’, champagne poppin’, show stoppin’ outfit)!

And you should. {Bling-It-On} from head to toe. From the kitchen, to the runway (cue: long hallway that leads to the dining room table).

Alas, the {seamless} guide to Thanksgiving Dressing… a guide to impress and {decompress}…

* An A-line dress that hits at the small of the waist and then flows out freely will create an illusion of a small waistline, but will also give your lower belly ample breathing room. Pair this style dress with a classic ankle bootie with a front platform. A shoe that closes in at your ankle provides stability in this…utterly caloric evening ahead.

* A wrap dress, a la a Diane von Furstenberg classic, allows you to cinch your waist as freely or loosely as the night progresses. (This is also a great option for weight/portion control: Tie the belt firmly from the start, so you avoid temptation to over-eat and loosen the dress). Pair the wrap dress with a below or above-the-knee stacked heel boot for a chic and polished look that is comfortable and forever classic. Dare to add an exposed knit sock?

* For a more casual dinner party, opt for a pair of jeans that hits above the belly button to breathe freely and keep your caged sausage …well… caged.  Add a button down blouse in a light breezy chiffon, with sleeves rolled to just below the elbow for a feminine, airy touch. A wedge heel would complete the fashion-forward, casual look.

* {Bling-It-On} by punching up the accessories for dinner—a necklace, bracelet, and earrings will give your overall look a “holiday” vibe. Plus, interesting accessories are always conversation-starters.

* A don’t? Laziness in the form of …I-can’t-believe-I-have-to-spell-it-out… cotton leggings and an oversized sweater {help!}. The only way to chic-ify this look is to swap your legging for a {jegging} (jean-legging} in a dark color, and pair them with a jewel-tone soft (angora, cashmere, wool) sweater.  If you dare be this casual, pha-lease {Bling-It-On} with {mah-ja} extra baubles and sparkle! And a wedge. And a sexy lip color.

And what will I be wearing? Leather pants {turkeys shouldn’t be the only animals honored at dinner}, a cropped satin tee, layered over a tailored collared shirt. I’m opting for: wild animal-gone-prep school. Throw in a glass of chardonnay, shot of tequila, game of scrabble and belly dancing competition to round out a night of elshane Thanksgiving fun!

xo, elshane