Comfy Cozy Chic

Recently I saw The Cider House Rules and really really loved it. First & foremost because any movie about orphans really tugs on my heartstrings! I’m not a movie crier...but those damned orphans get me every time. Also, it totally made me want to roll up my sleeves and do some apple pickin’ on a farm. Ok that’s an exaggeration...at the very least it made me want apple cider real bad. With some ginger snaps on the side. But mostly I just adored the chunky-knit sweaters Charlize Theron’s character Candy wore throughout the film. She made a seemingly boring oversized sweater into an ultra feminine look, simply by adding a cute headband and fiery red nail polish. A neutral colored chunky sweater is a great addition to any cold weather wardrobe. Layering sweaters such as these over girlie dresses and skirts is a great way to stay comfy, cozy & chic. Just add some tights and ankle booties and you’ll be toasty yet trendy well into the winter.


Apple picking sweater $118, Anthropologie


















Donegal shawl cardigan $148, J Crew















Long button-front sweater coat $45, Old Navy

Wolfman's Got Nards!

Ah, Halloween. It was never my favorite holiday but I’ve grown appreciate it. I can eat mass quantities of Reese's Cups without remorse, dress like a trollop without being judged and indulge in deliciously bad 80’s horror flicks. What's there not to love? And who doesn't love some scary tunes? You can't fully enjoy Halloween without a petrifying playlist. So without further adieu, here’s my 13 Creepy-Kooky-Mysterious-Spooky & Sweet Playlist...mooohahahaaa! That’s my evil laugh in case you couldn’t tell.

Jenny Lewis - Run Devil Run
Spacehog – Horror Show
The Pierces – Secret
Nouvelle Vague – Killing Moon
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Ghost Of Stephen Foster
Janet Jackson – Black Cat
The Cranberries – Zombie
Santo & Johnny – Sleepwalker
White Stripes – Little Ghost
The Heavy – Sixteen
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Rilo Kiley – Jack Killed Mom
Nina Simone – I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl

Back To Basics

Is it just me or have we become completely over saturated with choices? The vastness & variety we are exposed to on a daily basis is mind numbing. Have you viewed the soup isle at the grocery store lately? Christ almighty, it gives me a headache. And don’t get me started on the hundreds of TV channels available yet there’s nothing to watch half the time. And what about the multitude of fashion trends that pop up every season? Jeez! I love and anticipate the newest trendy items...but their lifespan can be so quick, there's barely enough time to enjoy them. I know...such problems I have. Poor me!

So what to do when drowning in an ocean of options?? Easy...go back to the basics! It’s no secret that chic basic items are the glue that holds a great wardrobe together. I can always turn to eternally effortless pieces such as these when I have too many choices to choose from:










Corduroy pant $78, White House Black Market


















Stainless steel watch $195, Michael Kors















Trench Coat $49.50, Old Navy


















Striped Tee, $32.50, J Crew




















Nine West Croc Pump $78, Zappos

















Cole Haan Leather Hobo $348, Nordstrom

The Sun'll Come Out...Eventually?

Blah...rain. So necessary, yet so depressing. What a lovely Nor'easter we're experiencing, eh? The dreary weather makes me totally covet these rain boots in black or if I was a rich girl these bad boys. Notice how it all comes back to shopping? Must. Fight. Urge. TO SHOP!

I suppose a more economical way to weather the storm is to create a rainy day play list. That way while I’m at work I can listen, drink some hot chocolate & await the return of sunny days!

Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Back Water Blues - Bessie Smith
Cloudy Sky – The Cardigans
Fool in the Rain – Led Zeppelin
I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles
Purple Rain – Prince
Singin' in the Rain – Gene Kelly
Stormy Weather – Billie Holiday
The Rain – Melody Gardot
Umbrella – Rihanna
Tomorrow - Aileen Quinn

Calendar Boys

Ladies, I ask you. What's better than a hunky, manly man? Better yet how about a plethora of hunky, manly men? And what if you could legally have all these men for a mere twenty dollars? Well, it’s your lucky day. The 2010 "Cops for the Cure" Calendar is now available! So many dreamy beefcakes were in the running to be featured that two extra months were added to the calendar. Including the hottest of the dreamy beefcakes, my boyfriend Franny aka Mr. August. Yeah that's right. Jealous? :)

The proceeds of the calendar benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Police Family Survivor Fund. It sure beats the hell out of a lame kitty or puppy calendar! Twenty bucks may seem a little steep but remember it's for two great causes. Your place in heaven will totally be cemented.

Please contact me via email at GinaCicalese@gmail.com if you’d like to purchase one, or shoot me a Facebook message. Any additional info can be found here.

Thank you in advance!

The Freaks Come Out At Night

Every girl has a dark side. Even the prissiest of prissies secretly want to fly their freak flag every now & then. With Halloween vastly approaching it's a great excuse to embrace your inner weirdo. And if dressing up in costume isn't your bag, rocking something with a bizarre-o flair is a fun alternative! It’s little rock & roll with a twist of teen angst...minus the crazy hormones. But proceed with caution..you may just give yourself the heebie jeebies!

Skull T-Shirt $44, Top Shop

Bat Cuff $170, Alkemie

Spike Ring $180, Noir Jewelry

"Underworld" Lipstick $15, Mac Cosmetics

True Blood Energy Drink 4 pack for $16, HBO online

Sunday Worst

This past weekend I attended church with my parents. This is not a normal weekend ritual. In fact, I have not attended Mass besides funerals, weddings or holidays since my teenage years. So I decided a visit to The Big Guy was long overdue. As Mass began, I felt strange feelings come over me. I was in a state of disarray. I felt confusion. I felt fear. And most of all, I felt an overwhelming urge to pray. Not for myself, but for a vast number of the parishioners. Their sins were overtly obvious. They were dressed like slobs.

As I scanned the crowd I was horrified. I saw tank tops with exposed bra straps. Ratty, ripped jeans. Concert t-shirts. Dirty sneakers. Disheveled heads of hair. Bless them Father, for they have sinned! If God were to strike them down right there at St. James, I wouldn’t have blamed him. Not one little bit.

How did our society become so darn casual? Scratch that, how did our society become so down right sloppy!? What happened to a time when dressing up wasn’t a novelty, but an everyday expectation? What happened to men who wore hats & cuff links? Ladies who wore gloves and kept their undergarments...well...under? What happened to wearing sneakers only while playing sports? Clearly I was born in the incorrect time period. I understand we live in a go-go–go world and ultimately old styles change and new styles become acceptable. But when going to the Lord’s house, make yourself presentable! After all, some things are sacred.

She Looks Like One Of Those Botticelli Chicks.

We as women constantly covet the unattainable. The tall want to be petite, the curvaceous want to be pin-thin, the raven haired want to be platinum blond. And perhaps the most popular: the super straight haired ladies want big, curly locks. For most of my life I’ve preferred straight hair to curly. But for the past year or so I’ve totally embraced being a curly haired girl. Curly styling takes me about 5 minutes...it takes 45 minutes to straighten. And eliminating all that blow dryer/flat iron heat exposure has made my hair so much healthier. And as corny as it sounds, I feel more myself when my hair is curly. If you ask me big hair and a big personality should go hand in hand!

So the key to creating the perfect Botticelli-esque curls? No rollers or curling irons are necessary...for me it’s all about curling spray. Which may seem kind of passe but I swear by it! I noticed nowadays magazines typically recommend using a gel to create curls. I’m SO not a gel fan, it makes my hair way too frizzy. The spray is vastly superior. Here are some of my fav’s.




Abba Pure Curl Prep, $17













FX Special Effects Curl Booster Scrunching & Curling Spray, $5













Sunsilk Waves of Envy Sea Mist, $4















TRESemme Curl Activating Spray, $5













I’m frequently asked how I get my curls. It’s almost too easy. The end result will possibly vary due to different hair textures...but if you typically wear your hair straight, give it a go! This prep works best on long hair, the longer the better!

- Wash hair the night before you want the desired curls
- Start styling while hair is wet or very damp, no rubbing your hair with the towel!
- Spray curling spray all over hair and scrunch your hair with your fingers
- Follow with hairspray, also scrunching with fingers
- Let hair air dry until slightly damp
- Pull hair into a sloppy bun on top of your head & sleep on it.
- Take out the bun the next day and hair should be curly and big!
- Spray once more all over with hairspray to avoid frizzies