All Things Fashionating by tracy mausser

To me, holiday shopping is like being a kid in the candy store.   Normally, I am a very calculated shopper and head out with a very specific game plan.   It never fails that – when I have carte blanche – I can’t find anything.   The complete opposite is true when I am shopping for friends and family during the Christmas season.   For every one gift that I find for a giftee, I always want one for myself or seem to find a plethora of other items that I want under my own tree.     Here are a few of my favorite things this holiday season:   Wild Fig & Cassis Cologne by Jo Malone. Inspired by breakfast in Tuscany - the moment of breaking open juicy figs, fresh from the tree - Wild Fig & Cassis is a delicious fragrance. The scent of sun-warmed figs and delicate cassis is entwined with notes of hyacinth and cedarwood, enveloping the wearer in the warmth of the Mediterranean.     Daily Yoga Jacket by Lululemon is a versatile layer we can pull on pre- and post-exerc

 Jason and I with Gaudi Architecture in Barcelona, Spain Right now, my friend Lynn is in Spain with her sweetie and I couldn’t be more envious.   Back in 2002, my hubby and I had our last solo European sojourn before our son was born.   We spent two glorious weeks in Barcelona. A few days before Lynn departed; I gave her some recommendations while staying in the second largest city in Spain, besides Madrid, and found myself longing for the cobblestone courtyards of Catalonia. My menagerie of European countries is not as vast as my husband’s but, out of all the countries which I have visited to date; there was something absolutely magical about our vacation in Barcelona. Right off the bat, it looks like every other European city and, by viewing photos, I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a café in France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark or even London.   However, I think it was our state-of-mind at that period of our lives which made this trip such anadv

With all my thanks behind me; and Black Friday and Cyber Monday a distant memory, I am face-to-face with my biggest challenge of the holiday season -- the Mausser Family Christmas Card. Ah, I remember the good old days when I could actually pick up several boxes of holiday cards at Big Lots (formerly known as Pic N' Save)...are y'all feeling me yet?  For my gal pals, I would proudly choose a cute kitty cat motif; for my peeps back in Jersey, I would always secure a religious nativity scene; and -- for my co-workers -- a "holiday" card would always suffice. But then, my baby boy was born and so was the pressure.  The first year, we just sort of stumbled across our idea which was printed at CVS  (formerly Sav-on in the 11th hour) and it had a typo.  Arghhhh, as an English major typos are the bane of my existence.  However, the cute picture of 3 month-old Shane laying (face down) naked on a rug made of Mongolian lamb fur with the moniker, "Have you been naughty

Softlips ® Lip Balm Thanksgiving is really just the pre-cursor to the holiday that we are all REALLY looking forward to... Christmas. I was hoping to find a holiday item to post about but, with hours of research under my belt, I couldn't find anything truly blog-worthy.  However, now that the colder weather is upon and the heat is on, I want to let you know about my best-kept, kissable secret: Softlips ®  Lip Balm.  It is perfect for under the mistletoe. I love, love, love this lip balm and have been using it for the better part of the decade.  For real!  I keep one in my desk at work, one in my car, one on my night stand and one in my make-up bag.  I am not joking. According to its website, Softlips ® goes beyond moisturizing and protection with a collection of flavors and tints that areperfect for your every mood and moment. So irresistible. So versatile. So you. TM   In honor of the season, Softlips ®   is offering several holiday flavors: Sugar and Spice; Sugar

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all my readers who have been following All Things Fashionating for the past year and a half.  I truly never thought that my little blog would or could sustain as long as it has; and I could not have done it without the inspiration my audience.  I am motivated by just knowing that someone or two or three out there has been reading my posts on a regular basis. However, I know that they have certainly been sporadic of late but only because I have been living my life in the moment and finding it hard to write as much as I had been.  Yet, after the holiday, I have high aspirations to start blogging more frequently again. In the meantime, I am hoping you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. xo Tracy  

Conair Minipro Deep Wave Ceramic Styler, $23 I was born with pin-straight, thin, fine hair.  Some may say it is a blessing; however, I think it is a curse. I have been battling my lack-luster locks for most of my adult life.  Nary a curl or wave will stay in my hair  -- unless you happened to know me in 8th grade -- when I made the poor choice of getting a permanent poodle wave at the mall.  Yes, you just read right. So, when I saw an ad for the Conair Minipro Deep Wave Ceramic Styler, I was intrigued and could not resist in giving it a try. The miniature iron has triple barrels which creates tousled waves, while the ceramic coating leaves a smooth and frizz-free finish. My mini iron arrived on Thursday and it is perfect for my baby fine locks.  For the first time in my life, my hair is making waves. Ooh, La, La! http://www.conair.com/minipro-deep-wave-ceramic-styler-p-1077.html

Kate Landry Social Peacock Minaudiere, $325 With the holidays fast approaching, I am loving all the cute minaudieres out there.  If you are like me, I had to google the meaning of minaudiere which is really an ornately decorated small purse.  Mini clutch would probably suffice, but I just love the way the word minaudiere rolls off the tongue. So my love of minaduiere and love of peacocks has fused into one bag that, to me, looks like a piece of art. Kate Landry Social's Peacock Minaudiere retails at Dillard's for $325. Now that is one proud bird. http://www.dillards.com/product/Kate-Landry-Social-Peacock-Minaudiere-Clutch-Evening-Bag_301_-1_301_503500771?df=03862053_zi_silver

  To me, Wednesday is my day of spirituality.  Well, as much spirit as one can muster mid-way through the work week.  It seems that the trauma of Monday and Tuesday are behind and, with the promise of another weekend in front of me, I always feel a sense of calm and control right about now. So today -- in honor of my inner spirit -- I started off the day with a half hour of yoga.  As anyone who follows this blog knows, I completed a half marathon on the last Sunday of October.  I  promptly took the week off from any exercise and luxuriated in sleeping in -- during the week until 6am.  Not necessarily anything to be excited about but, after waking up at 4am a few mornings a week for the past several months, six seemed like noon.  However, despite the early buzz of my alarm clock, I was excited to greet the world with my Sun Salutations. Well, since it has been more than a year since I have even attempted a series of asanas, yoga beat this downward dog into submission this

Relief Aid for Hurricane Sandy Victims in NJ       Ok, enough whining on my end.  Despite all the devastation on the East Coast, it is now time to pick myself up by bootstraps and move on.  Since all my friends and family back on the Jersey Shore are already doing so, I think need to do it as well.  But, being able to lend a helping hand has made this possible for me and made me feel so good in the process.   My friend Lisa Pedersen shared a post from another Jersey girl on Facebook.  Laurie Banach Wisniewski, who lives in Redondo Beach but originally hails from Toms River, NJ, spearheaded a Hurricane Sandy relief effort for New Jersey.  Laurie's husband owns a trucking company and the goal was to fill the tractor trailer with provisions for one of the areas hardest hit -- Laurie's own Toms River.   I did not even see the post until I was at my son's soccer game on Saturday afternoon; I even missed my little guys goal since I was completely obsessed wit

Ariel View of my hometown Ocean Grove. Photo:Andrew Mills These past several days have been very tense and emotional for me. Hurricane Sandy hit my original home -- the Jersey Shore -- with a vengeance.  My loved ones faced a natural disaster at epic proportions and the aftermath has been paralyzing. It wasn't until this past Thursday that I was able to account for all of my family and friends back home  -- most of whom still don't have electricity, water or gas.  I was so happy to hear that all are safe and sound, but I am devastated by how many have lost so much. I have been receiving online alerts from my local hometown newspaper, The Asbury Park Press, and I know that my people are banding together to get through this tragedy. But, I have been wanting to help out in some way and feeling so helpless that I couldn't...until about two hours ago. I saw a post on Facebook, which had been shared by a friend, about another Jersey Girl who lives in Redondo.  Laurie is