zanetastyle

Healthy Monday Recipe!

2012-03-12T19:50:00.004-06:00

Kale is not a very everyday vegetable but should be, it is so good for us.
Here is how you quickly make it for children and grown ups together, I just finished it and will serve it with schnitzels(:

The main tool is my food processor! Chop a bunch of kale leaves into very tiny pieces (almost mince is the word) in the processor and put that in a pot with a lid and some heated (3 tbsp) olive oil. Add salt to taste and cover with the lid, keep on low heat.

Peel and cut one ripe papaya. Mince 5 roma tomatoes while keeping some texture to them also in the food processor and add both to the pot with kale after just a few minutes of simmering (using a Dutch oven pot is best).

Stir around, add 1 tbsp of maple syrup (yes I am Canadian and use only the real deal) and 1 tbsp of old style Dijon mustard, medium hot. Stir once more and serve!

It is kind of like a relish but made with barely cooked vegetables(: which makes it healthier and fast.
Enjoy! Radovan is just 2.5 yrs old and loves it!

Before and after in OUR FAMILY ROOM.

2012-03-10T14:25:00.009-07:00

When we bought the house I knew this room must GO. Well, we did not move walls but because it is quite narrow, the style of built-ins and fireplace made it even narrower and the regular window did not make any sense when the patio was right under it but we couldn't get there from our family room to enjoy the indoor outdoor lifestyle (:

We put a French door in by Pella (best idea ever), and we took out the whole fire place ensemble and placed a stone one in instead to reflect more of the old world country style that the house itself carries through.

OUR LIVING ROOM NOW! We changed the french patio doors, and added mud room door. As you may see above, but below compare with the old look.

Click on photos to see the full width of them.

BEFORE. Here you can see that the old nook was empty (:

AFTER: our nook has the built-in benches and cafe curtain, it is our second living room practicaly, you may even take a nap there! Great space.

NOW: completed, just waiting for a french style round and textured beige carpet.

BEFORE: with the old fireplace and built-ins and short window.

Our family room got the Asian screen shelves today!

2012-03-09T12:22:00.002-07:00

It was quite the assembly(: but well worth it! Finally our giant sofa (4,5 m long) doesn't look so lonely and huge(:
Our ceiling is 10 ft tall so yes it is high!
They balance the room perfectly. When there was nothing defining the corners on each side of the fireplace, your eyes would wonder toward the big sofa and mainly just the fireplace making the room seem even more narrow! Tall posts like these we chose are best to really point out how high the ceiling is and to open up the width of the room. Lot of times people thing smaller space needs small furniture but I disagree. Strongly (: Have a great Friday evening!

As they are assembling The first one.

Click to view all of this one. Took it last Night before we had The towers.

It is coming!

A bit of perspective with me in it! I am 5'8 btw (170cm).

Working hard.

Last prior towers.

Czech actress I admire and think her more beautiful than any other!

2012-03-09T12:15:00.004-07:00

I spent a day (yesterday) thinking about women (it was the international women's day after all) that are my idols and that deserve a word of praise and that I respect. There are many of course(:
Being very subjective and living in the arts & fashion world, I chose a famous Czech actress born in 1940's Jana Brejchova. Talented and most beautiful!
This video is from a very favorite musical of many Czechs about our king Karel IV who also established the very first university in Europe in 1348. And this musical shows how his wife was even stronger and not afraid to change things despite the times and about love and how women make men happy and five them a reason to live for. Happy women's day to you all!

Medieval love song.

Rekl lasko ma ja stunu ( My love, I am sick) from A night at Karlstein musical is my best medieval lovesong. Music Karel Svoboda, Singer: Helena Vonrackova, Actress: Jana Brejchova.

Bed side table is here!

2012-03-08T12:57:00.003-07:00

My husbands French antique side table is finally in our bedroom and looks better than the modern round version we had before. Do you agree? Comparing now... I am certain.

Click on image to actually see it(: wide enough... With the new side table on the right!

Prior old round side table.

Sunday we put up cafe style curtain and got Beta Fish for our son!

2012-03-04T12:07:00.001-07:00

It is a wonderful Sunday even if we have just gotten a pile of snow in Calgary. Still working on our book by adding curtains and giving our son his first pet...fish(:
The nook has proven to be a bit of a family hang out place which I had hoped for. It is comfy and cozy and one can lie down too(:
Have a great Sunday afternoon too! Z

How we changed our Mud Room!

2012-03-02T16:25:00.001-07:00

In a small space, that we use to take our shoes and coats off it is best to work with custom built in furniture to utilize every bit of space. We needed space to sit and put our son some place (: when putting his shoes on and we needed more storage. We have it all now with custom made bench by Denca. The result makes me happy every day.

And from design perspective, it is all white like our doors and windows and closet but it is gently connected to our cherry kitchen cabinets (that you see when you leave the mud room and enter the kitchen) by having made corbels and the seat area in the same cherry wood, that is quite brilliant in this eclectic European way. I was able to design it with Denca to the most meticulous detail and I have what I want as a result. Enjoy the pictures(:

Another important change was designing and having a door made to close off our mud room. The idea was to get French glass door to be able to see through but I did not see any traditional style here and that would possibly be repeated elsewhere inside the house as well as establish design continuity with all other existing interior doors. I love the old style Euro doors (i.e. can see them in high end historical apartments and villas in Prague) or chateau doors (tall, narrow with three or four decorative panels) and decided to make those panels glass. I found inspiration on the web! We love the door!

Last but not least we changed the greenish tile for a limestone look, is it not better?(:

A very small room is a very big room!

2012-03-02T16:14:00.002-07:00

We use our mud room so much, doesn't every one? Our mud room when we moved here was without doors separating our kitchen which I find beyond annoying. Who wants to look at dirty shoes when cooking dinner or eating or relaxing in family room... I like the modernity of not having small closed up rooms but some things are just not to be seen ... unsightly is the word.
So here are the photos of our mud room before we renovated the space, so small but so big in use! It was small and we did not enjoy the tiles either (they were in our main hallway and powder room too and had to go!).
Our mud room had a spacious closet and we kept it.
Here is the OLD MUD ROOM pictures as it was when we bought the house in October 2011.

BEFORE: old tiles and no bench, it was a space that defined the word impractical!

If I had a castle like Tina from The Enchanted Home blog, I would make a dining room like this!

2012-03-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

Hello on a lovely Friday morning and is this not a rich eye candy? The colours may be a bit more Italian than French but I love to mix it up a you will see in our house decor and I know that Tina's house or castle I think is very French but the room is very grand and with a few couloir changes would be perfect. I love the colours but my house is also more French in wall covering shades. But is is a beauty! Love the rose ceiling!

Ok really done with The benches...

2012-02-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

The last little bits and pieces were done and glued. We have yet to change out light fixture here and put up our french cafe style curtains and all will be just lovely...and not to forget our custom low back chairs need to be made too!
Ok NOT done yet(: but here is what we have now...

Our nook bench just got finished and how do you like my kitchen office? ((:

2012-02-24T14:02:00.001-07:00

Ok it is a lovely Friday afternoon, when our nook built-in benches have been finished this morning! Denka did a wonderful job and we look forward to tomorrow morning when we can remove the wooden bars that enforce the glue right now.

I am just enjoying the process and looking at them from my walk-in pantry / kitchen office area. Yes it is coffee...not cognac that I am drinking today(: out of my darling Wedgwood cup...
Enjoy your weekend everyone! Z

Just a bit of cooking inspiration...

2012-02-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

Today for supper I perfected my chicken paprikash recipe! My Hungarian friend says NO to tomatoes for this flavorful dish but I love putting them in and can't make it any other way(:

So that is my secret... Tomatoes and sugar and lemon for this enticing creamy main course, and another secret is to really caramelize the onions and red peppers before I put small pieces of chicken in it!

We are enjoying it right now and I am definitely putting this one in my cookbook!

Just random musing in Calgary store Hinchcliff & Lee ...

2012-02-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

I love this bookshelf that is made from asian screens repurposed into a cabinet... Would be perfect next to our stone fireplace! I have yet to show you our family living room... After we bought the house we did a lot here! Took a window out and replaced it with a French door style window leading onto our terrace (not sure why the builder put only a small window there in the first place!)...and we took out the existing fireplace and built in cabinets that were all wood ... And got a lovely French country stone one instead...

I also liked a rare Tibetan chest ... And antique doors for my new to be under the stairs shoe closet(:

Once upon a time... We had no nook bench...

2012-02-18T11:07:00.001-07:00

We moved in and the paint was pale green and our nook was large and empty with great big window, another small window and a new French table we just got delivered(:

We painted beautiful yellow walls in the kitchen and living room and hallways ...

Then we had a bench made and it was too big and our beautiful table was too tight in there, so they took it down and made a new one!

Now we have a lovely nook ... Just the top piece needs to be added (finished) and bottom kick piece too. How lovely.., but I need to change the chandelier for another style and oval shape to compliment the table being a rectangle. We ordered this beautiful weathered iron chandelier with shades that you can see below in one of the pictures... And we have to redo our cushions to sit on! Then just add a French cafe style curtain And cozy nook is complete! Well I am still looking for the perfect low back chairs for the one side of the table... Any ideas? Tips for me? Please let me know!! Thanks Z

Calgary has a European Antique store "Uniquities"

2012-02-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

I just bought a 19th century French bed side table for my husband! It is perfect... Masculine but with similar marble top like mine.. Different enough and better than what he had so far(:

Uniquities has lots of cool stuff ... I also liked a French bleached oak buffet! Thinking about it now....

And our son loves the retro phones((:

Dressing the men I love!

2012-02-11T11:32:00.001-07:00

Don't you think that father and son looking like one another is cute? Well I did it with Burberry shirts today...

Can you imagine a sweeter husband? I can not! He is mine(:

2012-02-09T19:59:00.001-07:00

I love snowdrops ... My utmost favorite flower and I can cry happy tears any moment since an hour ago when I got them tonight ... I do cry inside ... Because my husband surprised me by ordering 2 boxes of them from BC and I will probably not sleep all night because I will keep admiring them and smelling them!
These amazing flowers don't grow here... Their origin is Eastern Europe and they have been exported all over the world and grown many places now but their true home is where I come from and they only grow in early spring when snow starts to melt... They are so beautiful, strong and I haven't seen them since 11 years ago when I immigrated to Canada. We never travel to Europe in spring and so it is impossible to see them unless you are there when they bloom.
I can not describe how happy I am!
I would have never missed them since I was 1 year old and it just had been too long without such beauty and magic that I have once known before ... I love my husband who changed it and brought them back in my life! Even our little boy is jumping in amazement... Happy upcoming Valentine's day to all of you!
Z

ItzyRitzy.com

2012-02-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

Another great snack bag that I wash in the washing machine once every now and then but wipe the inside or rinse it every time we use it! Cool stuff and easy to maintain(:
Search for SNACK HAPPENED tm and get it on line ... There are few sites that sell it!

Have fun! Z

Lunch skins or reusable snack bags?

2012-02-08T09:20:00.001-07:00

Just yesterday a mother of two boys, Dawn, asked me about this and even though I sent an email to my friends last summer about it too, here it is again! I love the little cute bags (my son does too) that replaced disposable plastic ones for us and they are everything they promise to be. Saving the planet?

www.lunchskins.com

Atlanta French House from WSJ House of The day ... Just georgeous!

2012-02-07T22:33:00.001-07:00

This French country home (quite a fafourite of mine) is done in a modern and more sophisticated way with cleaner and less cluttered approach ... We see a hint of Colour (not just beige) but not too much Colour either (red blue yellow all at once kinda thing). It is a very well done styling where the American way of presenting an elegant and polished look is complimenting the effortless French THING! As much as I love eclectic style... This house is really making me re-think my own intentions for our home and after seeing this one a while ago first time... I decided that I have to tame it down too ... Keep a bit...eclectic yes but more simple cleaner look with the polished American feel (in fashion I compare it to Ralph Lauren) has to be implemented ...
Let me know which room is your favorite and why! Thanks... Ciao Z

Stylish mama and son!

2012-02-07T18:59:00.001-07:00

Have I said that I dislike jeans on me enough times yet? Well I dislike denim pants because it also seems so "everyone is wearing them" type of trouser and especially stay at home moms! I can't stand the idea...dressing like the rest of the crowd(:

Well, cargos on the other hand I will wear...sometimes. I bought my cool cargo skinny trouser at the bay ... Ralph Lauren... And my son found his at the superstore by Joe Fresh...he liked the big pockets on mine and when he saw his size ... It was a match made! I was truly excited as me and him can never find the very same hue and style in a clothing! He dresses often like daddy because Burberry makes kids clothing and some relate to adults ... For two boys it is possible to dress the same but mama and my darling son ... We never did until today! ((: here they are!
Ok, not very glamour photos but in my defense ... it is bath time and I am sitting on my sons bathroom floor!

Peach or Apricot Cake...what ever you like... I made the peach one today!

2012-02-07T16:32:00.001-07:00

Ok this is my Mom's recipe and I did make a few changes to it...just because that is what I do all the time(: but it is delicious with cream or cottage cheese or nothing at all!
And easy to make... It is a winner for my soon coming cook book for stylish women / mothers...

The Wall Street Journal House of the Day is my addiction!

2012-02-06T19:27:00.001-07:00

Have you tried it? Houses in U.S., Europe, Asia or New York specifically that are currently on the market are available at my iPad disposal any time to view... Isn't it just great!?

I took a picture of what it looks like on iPad but surely you can view on internet too.

And the other two interior photos are of some truly great taste of someone selling a house 400 km south of Paris.
I feel like I travel the world every evening when supper is done and my son is falling asleep... I look and look...

Our dining chairs arrived today!

2012-02-06T14:09:00.001-07:00

These distressed leather beauties are so cool for the mirror dining table we have... I chose an aged oak type wood and it also works with kids eating and being messy(:
How wonderful and relaxed I can be now!?

I will present our complete before and after pictures of our dining room soon! Now waiting for my milk chocolate or mocha curtains to complete it. It is very dear to me... Combining the Provence blue walls with brown tones.

Vogue living houses gardens people BOOK is my most recent indulgence!

2012-02-05T20:45:00.001-07:00

My real addiction is Janet de Botton's dazzling manse (pictures below) in the South of France! This book (featuring others like Janet) is a treasure for people like myself... Who are visually driven ... And this lady is not afraid to mix it up.

The beautiful travertine tiles that can be seen through out the manse are of so many different colours and even though I used to fancy the very lightest type and almost no colour... Like the gorgeous tiles that Tina from Enchanted House put in her dream home...surprise to me that Janet had transformed me and my decision to rather use darker with lighter mix in our house! They are so very rich & intense looking without taking over the room... And for a more country house feel it is more appropriate too, whilst the fabulous chateau that Tina built fits great with more pale stone....I believe.

I keep analyzing her (Janet's) eclectic style... Something we don't see much of in America or Canada ... Where the style is more coordinated and polished. I have always been eclectic at heart ... Perhaps my Czech heritage or love for visiting chateaus back home... The same thing really... It just makes me raise eyebrows (only botox could stop me) when i see curtains matching (using the same fabric as) the pillows or bedding or everything... It is just more personal when things flow and connect well but remain different enough ...

That is what I love about all the famous iconic people featured in this Vogue book.... There are some amazing and very different ... strong or recognizable styles... They all make it work and have been very inspiring for me....

A little day light for our bedroom please?

2012-02-05T12:52:00.001-07:00

Well I took the first photos last night, but it is so lovely with the almost daily sun shining into our windows all day long!!!
And the green space across the street ... Just a nice view without having to see buildings ... love that especially when we are just 10 minutes drive from downtown and having a bit of an acreage feeling is

The decision to put silk sheer curtains over top the custom silk roman shades was because we want the view but not be totally seen from the outside ... and the strong sun...in summer or winter will be a bit blocked without covering the view ...as well.

I am showing a bit more of the bedroom and details of the curtain rod idea I had.. Putting brass colour rings with black brass rod is modern and perhaps witty but remains elegant, because it also is a very high end product by a Canadian company Deco... Real solid brass and they make the most innovative art nouveau style rods as well as French country ones! My favourite exactly....

Still waiting for our bedroom ceiling light in the entry to the bedroom... Why does it have to take 6 weeks or more for deliveries?

And who loves gray walls as much as I do? I find it very calming in our bedroom and master suite...

Also, if you want to see the whole photo size, please click on it!(:

Our house renovations are almost done and I would love to share it!

2012-02-04T20:54:00.001-07:00

OK ... Our bedroom was not this before (: it used to have muddy brown walls and simple carpet. I decided to have a walnut hardwood floor done with a wide border around from cherry wood to connect the rest of the house floors that are cherry. Beaver Hardwood company from Calgary did an amazing job! I chose the narrower 2 inch width for walnut planks as they appear more elegant chateau like but the rest our house being cherry floors with 3 inch wide planks, I had them put that size cherry border around. It looks beautiful and unique even if it is not a haring bone pattern (my favourite) it would be too much going on here in a room of this size.

I enjoy having different bedside tables and various frames because it feels right to have a feminine and a masculine look here ... but also what goes well together without being overly "matching" is my general view and a tip on how to dress yourself and style your furniture in your home.

I have found a lovely tapestry from late 1800s in an antique shop and my 1940's lamp is now more beautiful with the custom linen (from the Czech Republic) lamp shade standing on Italian marble top bedside table as they were made for each other... That is a nice bedroom "motto" right?

Our wedding frames are on my husband's side and one is a bit sexy which he likes! I always enjoyed my grandparents having their wedding photo above their bed and this is a way of tying such an old tradition in a modernized way for us.

Let me know what you think... I like to learn from opinions!

Ciao Zaneta

BAY Downtown Calgary - A/W 2010 Fashion Gala Snapshot!

2010-11-06T12:07:00.000-06:00

A/W 2010... just what a woman needs?

2010-08-24T16:04:00.000-06:00

The MAXI SKIRT ...it means to keep it long .. below the knee that is at least. This (left) MaxMara look is my favorite, enhancing the female figure and emphasizing waist too it covers another trend...SOMETHING GOLD (for night or day), so 2 in 1 piece! On the other hand, the leather version with a slit in front by Reed Krakoff is great every day piece to me.
Wearing a long skirt is great with the again so trendy kitten heel or a flat boot. And gold or metalics are a neutral...so goes with everything...

CAMEL COAT ...made a come back now and follows the minimalist trend and manly style (below by Aquascutum).

Speaking of...MENSUIT it is the next up...so finding a great fitting suit is the idea if you want to be current, gray colour is most out there, very easy to wear with other hues, but a classic pinstripe will do (left by Balmain, right by Chloe).

FUR ANYTHING.... real or faux (real if you ask me!) is the warm and cozy style we will all be getting. Take your pick from beautiful classics, to fur patch works or trims or even electric hues! (below: Dsquared, Fendi, Chanel, Versace)

And last but not least I recommend that you wrap up in cozy KNITS! Despite all the hype about being minimalist this fall, when wearing knits, layer it up more (:
(below Missoni, Etro)

Undergarments exposed?? S/S 2010 says YES!

2010-02-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that you will be seeing exposed lingerie this spring and summer, almost every designer is doing it! This photo was taken after our February Global TV fashion segment with fashions from the Bay Downtown Calgary, featuring what to wear on Valentine's day/night. But really, it is a sexy style for any day. You can view this clip on my website: ttp://www.zanetastyle.com/media.html
All models are from modemodels Calgary and Kiki on the left is daring the boyfriend look with pinstripe blazer, cardigan and masculine denim combining it with animal print sheer blouse and floral bra that peeks through (-: Oh and please wear the little socks with any shoes ... it is so "now".
Katherine in the middle is just too sexy in the little black dress that is "stretch and pull" contouring the figure like a perfect corset, only more breathable I think. And for all the other days when we need something really easy, last look is merely sweat pants "dressed up" ...she is wearing a blazer but it feels like a t-shirt! Also, notice the lingerie piece worn on top of her t-shirt, here is an idea how to wear this trend if you don't want to expose much nudity (-: And the harem pant...just feeling so edgy. Socks in your heels? I already said YES!

Be inspired by my friend Shannon: "a mother of 3!"

2010-02-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

I love to see this! She is a busy mom with 3 little kids, house, work ... you know what i mean, but she makes sure that her style ...what she wears is just fabulous (-: any day! Simple white t-shirt is essential for layering anything at the moment and adds simplicity & freshness to rich leather pant and metallic belt, you can think of it as clean canvas! Leather pant? YES... always and anywhere, if you do a belted cardigan like Shan, it will be a noticeably sexy yet polished look.

OK I asked her to take a few pictures of herself when running out the door to capture her style these days (winter ones in Calgary). I am glad I did, what a great velvet skirt and that belt is what makes the look here for me.

And my last pick is this one for the fun she is having with "colour". Perhaps inspired by her silk scarf, but it is a great shoe to exhibit fun socks! Also, I enjoy to see that the proportions of wearing flared coat with skinny pant is right!
Thanks for sharing Shannon! I am sure you inspire women every day (-:

Get dressed for the Canadian Olympics

2010-02-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

(to view the video, go to: www.zanetastyle.com/media.html)

Olympics in Canada! (Check out the Feb 2010 issue of Fashion magazine - the fashion spread with supermodel Liisa Winkler wearing nudity and official Olympic clothing!) I loved styling the Bay/HBC downtown Olympic clothing combined with fashion clothing on Global tv. It is the trend "game theory" from style.com that I kept in mind when dressing the mode models.

(style.com by Elie Tahari)

I am not Canadian but I am proud my son and husband are (my son joined us for the tv performance as I thought he was so cute in his black denim skinny pants and Canada jacket & knit hat. He is 4 months and proud already!). And I get it, so cool to create the contrast by combining the elements of athletic style with strongly elegant & structured pieces or rock'n'roll & beaded or sequined looks from the modern fashion choices.
We presented our models in Olympic gear combined with vintage-like beaded silk blouse, structured blazers, skinny jeans, and printed jersey miniskirt! Have fun with it, Olympics are coming and you don't need to look like an athlete yourself...competing in it, but you can be modern and on with the trends (-:

(P.S. I am wearing the cool Olympic sweater (size XXL) from the Bay with metallic leggings by Paul Hardy and lace up Burberry boots. Accessories: son Radovan and Cartier Pasha watch)

Real women with style! (-:

2010-02-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the stylish modern women's blog who want to talk "fashion" in real world...here on the left is my real world (-: my wonderful husband See Hon and our precious son Radovan. My decision to start this blog is perhaps clear from the title...being a fashion stylist myself, it would be nice to chat and offer a perspective on style to women who are 30 and older instead of "teenagers only" and yes, it is tiresome for women like myself to just watch children talking about style and the fashion world being so taken by them. These teens seem sometimes quite immature and have not enough substance to critique people who actually achieved something, the designers! We should not be forgetting that the real credit goes to all the designers themselves and their talents, as without them there would be nothing or just those kids blogging away who knows what (-: Of course, I think blogging is great and offers a fresh real people perspective ...just when the media is celebrating the blogging kids (who dress into adult designer clothing - quite funny actually) more than the real true artists themselves by suggesting (on Fashion Television) that they are the "future?"...it seems so wrong. Enough said about the kids, and yet speaking of them and family and keeping up with modern & your own style no matter how busy a mom you are is what I want to do here. My wonderful friend Shannon is a first "real woman" I will introduce to you next. She has an incredible style and 3 beautiful daughters... She is hot (-: comming soon!