IN THE LURAY CAVERNS

The underground world is a complex and surprising place. I am fascinated by it. I remember studying about cave formations, stalactites and stalagmites in high school and watching a few documentaries on Planet Earth on caves and the spectacular beauty beneath us. I had once peaked a few pics of the Luray caverns probably a few years ago, so deep down I always wanted to go check them out.  I don't want to come off as a serious geo nerd but boy oh boy was I thrilled for this trip. Luray Caverns were first discovered in 1878. They are located in the great state of Virginia, situated in the Shenandoah valley, on the west of a non descript town called Luray. I went there with my darling sister Flo and Miss Val, aka my fairy god mother  who took turns taking these amazing pictures. Love you guys.

Water is the creator of almost all the caves in the world. Caves are formed due to erosion. In the caves, water doesn't erode as it also builds. When water mixed with the limestone slowly drips from the roof of the caves, a calcite is formed when the water evaporates. That gradually forms into what we call a stalactite. There is a picture of Flo hugging a really huge one. On the other hand when water drips rapidly from the cave and hit the ground in rapid splashes, a calcite is formed on the floor of the cave that later creates a stalagmite. I told you this was super fascinating!!! I was mind blown to discover that it takes close to 120 years to form a cubic centimeter of a stalactite. Insane!!! Those massive pillar like structures are probably old as Methuselah!! When you walk in to the caverns, you are wowed by how ginormous they are. A turbo jet air plane can be housed in there.  The trip is an hour long and it will take you about a mile and half  to go deep in the heart of the caverns. 64 feet deep to be exact. So for the next sixty minutes, you will bond with rocks and your friends and be amazed at the beautiful world we live in. The rocks look like castles, adorned with rippling folds and curved contours. They are majestic. The colors!! Oh I can talk for eons about the colors. Golds and dazzling yellows, burnt oranges and rusty reds. The hues gave us this glowy golden look that youtube make up gurus seem to go for. Please let them know we found it, 64 feet below earth.

An all black get up was all I required for my Caverns trip. Accessorize with my favorite blanket scarf and a fedora hat for that Indian Jones look. Hats have a certain air of elegance, a certain je ne sais quoi. I am thinking of adding a few more colors to perch on my bald head this winter.

Leather Jacket: Hm

Pants: Express

Top: F21

Boots: Shoedazzle.com

Fedora: F21 

Blanket scarf: Necessary clothing

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

I love walking in the city at night. It's beautiful. The huge throngs of people milling about on the crosswalk earlier in the day has gone down. Folks walking holding their Starbucks others talking on their cell phones glancing furtively side to side. Some rushing home to be with their loved ones while others rushing to catch the subway. The christmas lights are hanging from buildings, other lights strung on trees by the side walk. People are in a festive mood, and so am I. Their is an inherent energy in New York city that its famous for. It makes you want to get up and do a million  things all day and stay up all night.

It's officially winter season and blanket scarfs have become my go to accessory. They are warm and cozy plus they add color to your outfit. It's been unseasonably warm this December so I get to rock a pretty pair of heels before the ankle boots take over. You guys will be seeing a lot of sweaters and scarves this season. Tons of layers too. Standing outside for winter shots once the temperatures go below 20 will be a trial yikes!! I am thinking of doing something super creative with these outfit posts. Keep your eyes peeled. 

Coat: Zara

Pants: Zara

Sweater: HM

Scarf: HM

Shoes: Zara

Bag: Zara

Beenie: HM

It seems like I am endorsing Zara and HM on this post, but what can I say. I love them both! Also check out my latest post on The Happiness Project.

Please subscribe to get the latest posts straight to your inbox. 

Thanks for stopping by 

MIDTOWN CASUAL

As I was dressing up a few days ago, I noticed that my color scheme recently had been on the black and navy side. Those are go to colors once the cold weather is upon us. (Like it is now! Ugh!)  
I rarely ever wore navy or black! Rarely. 
It is without a doubt that I needed to incorporate some color. I told myself to play up with the colors and also textures. Textures are your best-friend this fall/winter season. The easiest way to add textures is through accessories. Faux furs, crinkly sweaters, knitted chunky scars, faux coats, animal print bags, hat or shoes, the list is endless. 

For my look today, I went with white jeans and a pastel powder blue sweater. Pastels are a great way to add color. Think an all black outfit with a pastel purple/pink/blue coat! Hello there gorgeous. Oozing megawatts of Chic!!! Pastels introduce some subtle sweetness to serious colors like black and navy. 

I layered up with my warm camel coat with a faux collar and croc print black bag. To complete the whole casual ensemble,  my go to trainers.

Have a great week and happy first of the month!! It's Decemberrr! Yay! 

Coat: Zara

Sweater: F21

Jeans: Express

Trainers: Shoedazzle.com

Bag: Zara

Beanie: Gifted

ALMOST GOODBYE

      It’s almost that time. You can feel it in the air. You hug your coat a little closer as if trying to reassure yourself it’s still there despite all the layers you have worn underneath. You cover your neck up with scarves and dust of your boots because the weather has mandated so. Fall is saying goodbye. Well almost,  and I, like a wailing child who does not want to the parent to leave the house, I'm clinging to it. Sigh!

I heard New York winters are brutal. Gabe, the wonderful guy who took my pictures told me to be prepared. New blogposts will be full of Eskimo like get-ups! Another sigh*

Before I see Fall off, I am rocking my pretty strippy pair which have been gazing at me this fall season since I put them away right after the wedding. This wedding!

     I rarely wear sweater dresses but this burgundy number tickled my fancy. I have a tank and a tee underneath that oversize sweater. Layers I tell you! There’s oversize everything this season. The trick is to break it down to somehow even out the proportions. You dont want to look like you shopped at the big and tall section. For example if you wear an oversize shirt, pair it with skinny jeans, or if it’s baggy boyfriend jeans, a nice fitted turtle neck will work. Some other looks would require you to cinch the waist with a belt that way the clothes dont look like they are about to engulf you. Instead of a belt, I went for my leather jacket which levels out slightly below my waist. Threw a few accessories to complete the look and bam!

Thanks for stopping by.

Leather Jacket: HM

Oversize sweater: Necessary clothing (similar)

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Shoedazzle.com

Scarf: HM (similar)

Hat: Forever 21

Bag: Aldo