Monday, January 20, 2014

Beautiful Weekend and Monday Entry Doors:

Hello and Happy Monday!


Truly, we had an amazing weather that came to Alberta, Canada and we headed out to the Rockies for the weekend taking advantage of our mountains at their best...

At around 10C plus we had a day of skiing and I can't believe how well our 4 year old did. All day without complaints and any tiredness showing...he kept going. There is something to be said for a 12 hour night sleep at this age!


Then we got to enjoy the Banff Springs Hotel and their lovely facilities all Sunday Morning ... like swimming in the hot pool outside. 



On the kid's bunny hill (but he did go on big chair with daddy too).



From our room...



I did work out! With a view....



Really love the old world "roman" feel of this pool and the castle like hotel in Banff. 

Yes they also have a great spa, worth visiting!



The Banff Springs Indoor Pool.




Outdoor Pool Fun...






Leaving back home...only an hour's drive ... 



NOW HOW TO ENTER MONDAY WELL!!??


I chose a lovely front entry or entries for you to perhaps try... some of them even lead inside the lovely homes... enjoy your start of the week! 


XO, Z



The French Blue....hmmmm



Gorgeous house and the entry hall is perfection.



Wood or Iron doors, love them the same. 


Just classic, right?



I still want the double wooden front doors...gosh have to catch up on my projects.




What a romantic setting, well, I fance the gravel path way above all other...just so country.




Pretty blue, and lantern inside.



Weathered beauty.





Outside and in - what a perfection...






Yes this is a strong Euro villa style at its' best no doubt, timeless.



Have a lovely Monday!! 







Friday, January 17, 2014

Jewels for the weekend and every day:

How do you feel about earrings? Or getting them from your man? Nothing wrong if you don't like those kind of romantic gestures but if you do, you  are like me and may enjoy this little visit!


EARRINGS have been a bit more my favorites lately, maybe because you can always wear them and they are not in the way when you are a busy mom and active all day in some way or another.


My husband is very romantic that way and lucky me he not only is great at flirting with me but he knows where to go ... To make my eyes sparkle!



http://www.firenzejewels.com/diamond-jewelry/earrings/


Firenze jewelry store in NYC had these amazing emerald earrings I once pointed out to him (that my eye colour is like these emeralds!) and he got me the only other pair they had. Mine are slightly different, rounder....certainly similar and beautiful. Firenze never dissapoints and neither does my sweet husband. 



 




I adore him and them...smiles.


Another favorites of mine are my saphire and diamond earrings by Christoper Designs , CrissCut being the designer's uniqueness! 





What to wear with them? What is better than GUCCI!



Like I said, I just love earrings these days so much, and perhaps it all the red carpet festivities are helping that trend... a girl does what she must do!


Nothing can outdo PINK in my mind...And as it seem even Leslie has a pink moment ...check it out!


Hope you are having a lovely dreamy weekend!

XO, Z









Monday, January 13, 2014

Healthy Foods - my old time favorite, pregancy miracle fruit and more!

The excellet choice that is available all year round and should be a part of your healthiest way of eating ARE "lentils" and let me tell you, I think they taste great!


Full of goodies for the body, lentils have rich concentration of dietary fiber, folate and phytonutrients...making them great for the heart and they provide a powerful antioxidant protection. 


If you choose them in the tin can form, they are ready in 5 minutes.

But I like the dry LENTILS and simple slow simmer in water with bit of salt in your cast iron pot will do the trick.


Add water as you need and when soft to taste, you may like to add (making them even healthier):

1 minced garlic

1 tsp mild curry

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp turmeric


And to thicken the lentils into a sauce like texture with some tasty bechamele basis, the ROUX (butter and flour slowly over the heat until golden). If it ends up to be too thick, add water bit by bit to get the desired thickness...


If you are into deep greens, chop up (add in) a few leaves of kale and only in the end cook them less then a minute on lower medium heat as kale should not be cooked much, just tiny bit to keep all the great nutrients. 

(For more information on click here on KALE raw or cooked?)





Certainly great tasting on its own, this dish can be perfect with some protein like slowly roasted pork shoulder with onions and garlic, or even simple boild egg. Think of it as a great side dish or main dish, what ever you like, but my little 4 year old loves it!


 


As you may have noticed, I am pregnant, 27 weeks to be specific and lucky I crave only good foods, similar to the not pregnant normal me!

Yet, I do have a bit of an issue with sometimes digesting my food and acids problems as the baby may be pressing on things or it is just me...

What I recently discovered helped a lot. It is the fascinating miraculous ANANAS as we say in Czech or PINEAPPLE which I only learnt on our recent trip to Kauai has to grow for 2 years before harvest!!! If you knew that, good for you.


Asssuming it is known to lots of people, this magic fruit functions as a digestive aid and anti-inflamatory compound...the least to say. 


BUT mainly, helping me in pregnancy with enzymes so I can digest is quite a nice plus and for me quite the miracle right now.


Speaking of pregnancy, Sharon from FashionIsha Blog wrote a lovely post on pregancy clothing and as a fashion stylist and pregant second time, I have to say the looks LOOKED fabulous, check it out

Myself never shoping in pregancy retail, stretchy fabrics, body hugging silhouets, leather (with elastic waistband) and other skinny pants are my answer to it all. 

TIP: accentuate the slimmer areas of your body with the right shape of clothes!


Here is me yesterday, 27 weeks along: stretchy American Apparel pencil skirt and Merino wool top I wore before I was pregnant too. 




Who says that horizontal stripes on a prego belly are not working?? I think they are quite fun! But keep the  blouse body hugging, no joke.



My son took this unsharp photo...seriously, this look is very comfortable, almost too comfy and I don't need to look like any less fashionable than my "not" pregnant stylish girlfriends! 

Loving cute pregnant belly's!

Thanks for visiting and let me know if you have any pregnancy fashion (getting dressed) concerns and I would be happy to answer your questions and style you along!

XO, Z






Sunday, January 5, 2014

Favorite Architectural and Design Things in 2014!

Hello everyone! Let's begin the year with some "good" ideas... Smiles...


If I built our house now from ground up, it would likely have these amazing interior & exterior elements...

Also, as you may notice in our own house and my personal style... I prefer to be eclectic and more random with a plan rather than keeping the visual flow of the house too much the same ... It can be nice too of course but lacks the European contrasts and gives less space for creative personal touch. Things still have to work together of course but not too matched up or else it looks like a show home....Right?


Here is what you may like too....

Winter Garden or Conservatory




French Doors inside and out!







Gray Walls and Colour!



Stone Fireplace...

And French Floors...


Stone Fireplace and Stone wall...


Stone Fireplace and Tapestry...


Stone Fireplace and High Wood ceilings


Stunning Wood ceiling....



Built in Nook Benches


Click ttp://zanetastyle.blogspot.ca/2012/06/kitchen-nook-frenzy.html to view more from our own nook below:



Unique Bathroom Doors



Iron Gate and Fence




Stone Walls ...



Eclectic Kitchen with French looking stove, walnut cabinets are a must...







Noticeable Staircase and Lantern...









Incredible Walnut Front Doors



Cheers to 2014 and Great Style! 

Canadian Ice wine in case you want to join me....XO, Z