I Got an Award!!!

Stylish Lotus from Red Phoenix Emporium nominated me for an award!!
Thank you so much, Lotus.

I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about me. Let's see...

1. I'm a shopaholic and I'm constantly trying to kick the habit. It doesn't help that my office happens to be located at the shopping mall. It takes me ages to get to the car after work. Right now hubby's been out of work for a long time and money's tight. So I close my eyes and run for it... Remember that movie "Confessions of a shopaholic"? It made me want to shop like crazy.



2. I used to smoke but I quit. Apparently it was much easier to quit smoking than buying stuff.



3. I love animal prints! I have 3 pairs of shoes and 2 pairs of boots - leopard, snake you name it. And a bag. When I heard that leopard print was "the new black" I was happy. Look, that's what I'm wearing today!

4. I love winter and really dislike summer. It used to be the other way around, but living in Israel killed the summers for me. Give me boots, jackets, trench coats any day. Summer here lasts pretty much 9 months. Funny, in Russia I dreamt of moving to the warmer climate, live by the sea, enjoy the weather. Now I live 20 min away from the sea (by car) and I go maybe twice a year.

Here is a photo of a boot. I wore them yesterday with fishnets. It's been ages since I wore fishnets!

5. I traveled quite a bit and lived all over the globe (I call it living even if it's for a couple of months. You have your routine, your habits, your hangouts - local way of life). Which city would I pick?

Paris is my favourite. I grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia and Paris reminded me of my hometown. Only much better. Runner up - Berlin. And Vancouver BC just because it's so beautiful.

This is moi in Paris in 2008. Photographed by my lovely cousin. Love all that hustle and bustle (and the pic is taken on a Sunday!)

6. I'm very easily influenced by other people fashionwise. Bloggers' world has been a huge inspiration for me. I look at your photos and suddenly it hits me - I have this! I can wear it like that! Or the worst case scenario - I see something in a shop that reminds me of a blogger's outfit and... See number 1.

Best example - these shoes by Carlos Santana.


I saw them on BudgetChic blog and just had to have them!!! It was probably 2 years ago or more. I wore them once to a wedding. OK, they were 25 bucks plus shipping (ebay). Cost per wear? Astronomical. Still love them though. Mmmmm, purple!
Another photo from that wedding outfit, just to see the color.

7. I love my TV. What are my faves at the moment? The Mentalist, Castle, White Collar (waiting for 2nd season here), True Blood, Supernatural. I used to watch CSI a lot but then we changed the cable company and I lost it. I also watch Covert Affairs, Lie to Me, Closer. I loved Dexter.

My second job is directly connected to the TV shows. I translate films and series from English to Russian, working mostly with subtitles now. I watched and translated so many of the crime shows. The other day we watched "Law Abiding Citizen" and I could predict almost everything that happened in the movie.

I would do translations only if they paid better. This job is the best for me. You work from home, no phones, no clients, just deadlines that I can almost always handle. I think this job gives me a lot and teaches me lots of things. You can't have it all I guess.

Well, these are my "secrets". Thanks for listening.

I didn't touch the computer for several days (after my Friday's post). My "virus" is back, and I'm going through a bunch of tests to figure out what it is. The doctor said it could be flu or -wait for it - mono!!! WTF!!!

But I have some good news as well. I turned the computer on and what did I see? What a nice surprise. I got an award from Fashion After Forty! If you don't know Sher, go and read her blog. She inspires me to get off my butt and go do something! (OK, I can't really go skiing in Israel but it can translate into so many other things!!!)

Here is my award, in all her glory, sparkling and beautiful:

Now I have to share 7 random facts about me. A bit of self-digging is in order...

1. As a child, I wanted to become an ornitologist. I read books on birds, I learned their names, I watched documentaries on bird-watchers and researchers. Of course, now my job(s) are as far from birds as possible. But I still remember those days with a smile.

2. I've lived in 4 different countries. Russia till the age of 24, then went to Israel. And "run away" from Israel twice - to Canada for 4 years and to Greece for 2 years. We came back to Israel because Jack had to start school. It's been almost 6 years now and I'm getting restless...

3. I don't have any brothers and sisters, only cousins. You know one of them, she lives in Paris and posts here from time to time.

4. I've never been a sports person. A bit of aerobics here and there. But now, at the tender age of 40+ I discovered horseback riding and I love it. Horses are much better than "retail therapy".

5. When I came to Israel in 1990, I spent half a year on a kibbutz. Worked mostly in the laundry. Very interesting experience.

6. I am awfully lazy. There, I said it. I can sit and watch TV for hours. I'm the master of time-waisting. Which is not so good.

7. I had laser eye-surgery 3 years ago. Still happy as a bug :)

And now I'd like to pass this award on to 3 other bloggers.

-To Blogfashion - she has a truly inspiring wardrobe and amazing shoe collection.

-To Ephemera - who just finished a very tough challenge. I applaud!!!

-To I'll Be The One In Heels - I love her writing. And her style.

And now I'm going to collapse and wait for the test results. I do have some outfit shots from Sunday and Monday (I did go to work) but will post them a bit later.