The Fashion Firecracker

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Chic Costumes . . . There is such a Thing But Why Now?

Purim - the Jewish version of Halloween is just around the corner! Purim (prounounced Pur-im - pur rhymes with fur) has always been one of my favorite holidays (tying with Chanukah.) Sorry to get all heavy on you but it's all about celebrating G-d's hidden hand in once again saving the Jewish people from the villain du jour - in this case Haman. The theme of Purim is all about things that are hidden and more importantly how G-d hid Himself. And we get to dress up! (again to symbolize the hiding business) And instead of going house to house to get candy from people we deliver fun food baskets to our friends and family! For more details on the holiday click here.

This year I am going to New York City for Purim to be with the other half of my family so I kinda get out of the whole giving to other people but friends and family you know where I live so don't forget to deliver 'cause I wanna see some fun packages when I get home ;) jk.

So dressing up . . . . women usually go the slutty route or not at all. I say lets shake things up and make this Purim chic! Here are 5 ideas from around the intertubes on how to find a sophisticated costume. You can interpret these costume ideas any way you want dialing the sexy down or up!

Fun song in honor of celebration of fun stuff and loving life!

5 Sophisticated Chic Costumes

1. Super Sleuth

photo cred: theGlaMourai

Paint on a mask, grab a trench from your closet, stick on your heels, and Wallah! you are the new sophisticated kit in tow!

2. Mod Gal

Dig up that boat neck stashed in the back of your closet or that shift dress that you've been saving for some unknown occasion and make up your face like this icon Twiggy.

3. Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde (boy toy optional.)

Pretty easy to accomplish from existing items in your closet right!

4. Ballerina

Photo Cred: KTR Style

Starting from Carrie from Sex and the City tutu skirts have always been current and on point in fashion! Pair a big pink tulle skirt or short chiffon skirt with a plain black T or crop top, T-strap heels or ballet flats, and a high bun. I love this style because it is so feminine and flattering! American Apparel Always has a tutu skirts in stock and are now even on sale!
Purchase here.

5. Cat, Mouse, or Bunny - Adult Style

If you thought dressing up as an animal was just for kids think again! Dressing in all black al-a-Mary Kate and Ashley, set your favorite pair of ears on your head and you my dear will be the chicest cat in town!
Purchase here.

Are you dressing up for Purim? What are you dressing up as? Did this post help? Sound off in the comments section below!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Luscious Moist Chocolate Double Layer Cake

I found the most delicious chocolate cake recipe on the Foodess blog. I baked it we ate it we loved it. I didn't love the after taste it had though, just like other chocolate cakes it left a dry kinda of taste in my mouth. Then at Thanksgiving dinner Shifra, one of the other guests, made a chocolate cake that was not only just as delicious but no weird dry after taste! Shifra's was moist and tasty and fluffy and yummy and juuuuust right. So of course I HAD to get the recipe from her and recreate it! Thanks Shifra!

Classic Lush Chocolate Cake

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

¾ cup cocoa

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

½ cup oil

1 cup milk or milk substitute

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup boiling water

Combine all dry ingredients. Add everything else except the boiling water. Mix well and then add boiling water. Pour in a greased pan and bake on 350 for about 40-45 minutes. I baked it into (2) 9 inch cake pans.

Chocolate Frosting from the Barefoot Contessa

6 oz. the best quality of semisweet chocolate possible

2 sticks of butter (or margrine) at room temperature

1 extra large egg yolk at room temperature (or use egg white powder)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder - I used Starbucks ground to Turkish

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating. Turn the mixture on low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar then on medium until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the Turkish ground coffee or instant coffee in teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On a low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake(s.) If you refrigerate the frosting it will get hard, just microwave it in 5-10 second increments until its a spreadable texture.

It tasted as good as it looks!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Follow Me On Instagram

I joined Instagram! Hit me up fashionistas! Follow me @moussiak nice and simple :)

Monday, February 4, 2013

Travel Diary: Virgin Cruiser

All of my travel diary posts will now have this header! What do you think?

Hey ya'll! It has been forever or more like 7 months. How embarrassing!

I first started blogging about a 1 1/2 ago and I have to admit I kind of got lost in it. I took a couple steps back and got more involved in work and I forgot to take those steps back toward it - Whoops!

I also want to say thank you to everyone who has ever mentioned or walked up to me to ask where are posts already! So here it is . . . . .

Carnival Pride Cruise!

Now Gary and I have made our rounds, Cancun, Vegas, Japan, Dominican but we never tried cruising before (as the cruising veterans call it.) I'm telling you now it was AWESOME!! It was seriously a floating hotel and I loved every minute of my stay. We left from Baltimore heading to the Bahamas for a 7 day cruise and I was worried we would be bored until we reached warmer weather. But we were always busy! They had an loads of activities and every night they would deliver a schedule of everything that was happening on the ship. They had a lot of great things that adults would appreciate as well like really funny comedians, formal dining nights (my favorite!!), and a night club. So suffice it to say we were never bored (and very often drunk :)

A couple things to keep in mind when cruising:

1. Purchase bottles of liquor and have it delivered to your room through a service the cruise offers or pre-purchase a drink plan. Average drink price is $8-$9.
2. They have many dining options available for those of you who have dietary needs - like vegatarian, low sugar, and kosher food.
3. Pack both summer and winter clothes when traveling during the winter - especially since the cruise ship was kept at a very cool temperature.
4. A lot of people dressed formally every night for dinner so I will definitely be bringing more dresses on my next cruise (aw man ;-)
5. Internet is hella expensive even preordered plans will run you $90 for 2 hours and make sure to download all your books on your kindle before you board the ship.
6. Turn your phone on airplane mode to avoid roaming charges to still use your phone for other things.
7. The cruise offers excursions like jeeping or snorkeling that you can book through them if you want. It's expensive ($60-$150) and I would suggest booking on whether or not you just want to chill or run around and see stuff. It's nice to book through the cruise cause if for example a bus breaks down or something happens they will contact the ship and they will wait for you at the port.
8. If you want to just go to the beach at Port Canaveral I would suggest taking a taxi. A lot of people a lot of people will solicit you to take their shuttle once you get off the ship. We took a shuttle and it stopped by a small market that had nothing of interest there and we had to wait for another shuttle to take us to the beach.
9. Book a cruise! They are amazing!

The Carnival Pride in all its glory. Floating Paradise

Beautiful at sea views

Sunset view of the pool deck area

Formal Dining Night. Yay!
And those drinks are vodka redbulls in case anyone was wonderingShirt: JcPenny, Slacks: (will get back to you on that one)
Dress: Gifted from Ruthie ;) necklace: Marco Biecego

Getting silly

Selfie!
And conveniently a view our room in the background

Last Selfie I swear!
All ready for a night "in!"
Shirt: Wetseal, Skirt: Thrifted, Shoes: Target

At our first port of call - Port Canaveral
Gary: Shirt: Tommy Hilfiger, Shorts: Izod, Shoes: Naot, Bag: Ben Sherman
Me: Shirt: "Borrowed" from my sister, Skirt: H&M, Flip flops: DVF, Shades: Amazon, Necklace: F21, Bag: Shoedazzle

Second stop Nassau!
Gary: Shirt: Hurley, Shorts: Izod, Shoes: Naot
Me: Dress: L.A.M.B., Shoes: DVF, Necklace: Bought on the Island :), Shades: F21

Yummers!!
There were a lot of stalls along the beach but only a few used fresh fruit for their drinks.
Definitely stop in and double check that they do!

Made with fresh coconut milk, pineapples,
and rum and apparently sugar from the picture?! lol

In case you're wondering why I am always lookin so squinty - my eyes
are super sensitive and sun+eye make up = killer eyes

Best part of vacationing . . . . beach hair!
The whole trip I didn't use any products!
My hair hates expensive products but loves the sea go figure! (or maybe it's my inner Ariel?)

Freeport our final port :(
Gary: Shirt: Expres, Shorts: Izod, Shoes: Naot
Me: Dress: (Can I call it that?) Anthropology, Skirt: H&M, Shoes: DVF, Bikini: local shop, Shades: Amazon

Quick pic in a local square
Everyone open their little shop and stall when the ship comes in and closes as we pull out lol

Last day at sea :(
So last time to pose in front of a beautiful backdrop
Gary: Shirt: Saks 5th Ave, Shorts: Izod, Shoes: Naot
Me: Shirt: Old Navy, Shorts: J Crew, Shoes: Famous Footwear, Necklace: Thrifted, Earrings: David Yurman

So handsmum

Beautiful view while dining ;)

Can you guess what this chocolate is filled with?

We finished these two bottles (and a bottle of wine)
just between the two of us in less than 7 days

Stocked up at the duty free store. Who is coming over for Friday night dinner? ;) lol

Now go book a cruise!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Confessions from a Firecrackers Dressing Room

Seeing how often I go shopping I might as well share the awkward and fun experience with you - and why a piece of clothing should go home with me at the end of the night . . . . so may I introduce to you dear readers Confessions from a Dressing Room.

Given all the drama between Tavi Gevinson, the original fashion blogger so jelly of her work, and Seventeen (not that my work is anyway near theirs), I am going to put it out there that this new series was inspired by one of my favorite petite bloggers - Extra Petite.

Also I've been obsessing over this song

BCBG . . . .

I love that store. Everything is fun, classic and timeless and most importantly modest. Most of the time I walk out with a purchase because everything is so beautiful.

This is a gorgeous hi-lo skirt I drooled over when I saw it online. The perfect neutral tank day dress! BCBG was having a super sale of an extra 20% off all their sale merchandise so I thought I would give it a try! OOOoo I was not expecting this when I tried it on ^

Fit: I like clingy because who likes to get lost in a garment? But seeing the indentation of my belly button? Too much! I picked up an XXS and an XS and they differed very little in circled ares - even the length?!

Price: One of the methods I use when shopping - I pick things up I like, I try them on and if doesn't fit or werk I don't even bother with the price tag. Buuut if something werks with my figure/shape and I LOVE it, a and I can't stop thinking about - yes I get that way with clothes - I check out the price and then debate on getting it lol.

Basically I don't know how much this dress cost lol.

Speaking of love, I loooove love this skirt.

Fit: I think I picked up a small. I could've gone bigger or smaller because its like wearing a bright green (chartreuse) spanx - it hugs and snugs you in :-). I have a weakness for pencil skirts. Whoever invented them was a genius - figuring how to make a woman's waist look small and curves look, well curvier ;-) just amazing! Thank you!

Price: This was originally $148. It was 60% off and was an additional 20% off - making it $77 and some change. A worthwhile splurge in my opinion. Extra bonus - I lugged myself to Ross Park Mall so technically I saved on shipping too lol!

Other factors: I love the length of this skirt! Being a pencil skirt it sits high my waistline I can tug it down to be more modest (as pictured) or hike it up a little for nights out ;-)

I went to Florida (post coming soon) packed this and one other skirt and wore it a million different ways - another post I should do lol.

Mini Closet Score

I am sure you remember a little contest I entered a while back. I won two gift cards - one to Free People and one to Anthropologie. After July 1st w/ my birthday coupon (July 23 cause I know you are wondering ;-) and my gift card in hand I hurried to make the current summer sale they were running. I got two pieces. The printed sheer cardigan which is so much prettier in real life and the bright blue cerulean netted dress/top. I think I'll settle on calling it a chic beach cover up. I haven't figured it out yet but as soon as I do I will sharing it with you. I also picked up this really cute polka dot top and my beloved chartreuse BCBG skirt - which can be paired with all three tops pictured!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Travel Diary: Red Hot N' Blue in BMore

And the traveling continues!

I would love to stick in a post of a yummy recipe or fun nails or a mind blowing creative DIY but between traveling, work, working out, crashing on the couch, and the awful suffocating heat I am pooped!

I was so tired last Friday we almost didn't make it to Baltimore. I decided last minute I would gird my loins and just make the trip because who doesn't love a quick weekend getaway!

Why Baltimore? Really no good reason than it's really close to Pittsburgh and I have never visited the Inner Harbor. We also got a chance to visit Gary's sister Lisa - it's always so nice to catch up with family!

There was a lot to see during the day! They had ships from the 1800's, an aquarium, and the biggest Barnes & Noble I have seen yet! We stayed in a charming hotel called Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore - funny name right! Lovely hotel yucky neighborhood! Let's just say when we took a stroll at night I clung to Gary regardless of the fact that there was a police officer on every corner - a simultaneously reassuring and troubling thought.