'Baby, It's Cold Outside'

Temperature : 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds between 10 to 15 mph.

This was what the online weather channel reported back to me as I braced myself for the walk to my friend’s apartment after catching the subway from the office.

“Brrr, baby it’s cold outside,” I thought, as a gust of wind plowed into me like a tractor in a corn field. It could have easily been -10 degrees as I crossed 7th Avenue towards 34th Street.

It was much better once as I got to the apartment. But as I sit here now, on a couch with a panel of windows behind me, I’m starting to feel like that nagging cold has followed me inside.

Quick search on the Internet and I’ve already found more than 10 ways to insulate your windows – the key to keeping your heating bill low. (Did you know February is the coldest month out of the year?)

1. Can’t stress it enough, but blackout curtains are the no. 1 option to reduce heat by 25 percent and reduce noise pollution by 50 percent in your home. It is the most inexpensive way to insulate windows and with so many options in colors (from camel to mauve), fabrics (from linen to jacquard) and styles (grommet, back tab or tie-up shade) – the most visually pleasing.

2. A DIY project, draft snakes will insulate your windows at the seam. However, they will not insulate the glass or frame of the window. Buy draft snakes at a local hardware store or create your own by sewing some fabric around a tube of rubber (I prefer rubber over filling a tube with rice).

3. Weatherstripping. I have never tried this method, but low-end weatherstripping (see below) reportedly runs under 20 dollars with the cost of supplies. Could save up to 20 percent on your annual heating bill, but it’s recommended that you go for a professional weatherstripping if you want to really effect change. And that could be pricey.

4. Install energy panels. This requires some installation, weatherstripping to seal the panels, and a the more expensive option out of the four. The panel has two layers with space in between, creating a protective layer between the exterior window and the outside. I suggest taking the energy panel route as an option to replacing drafty windows.

Because baby, it’s cold outside. And honestly, I'd like to keep it that way.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of www.planetgreen.discovery.com; www.decorinnovation.com; www.apartmenttherapy.com

'I've Got Spring Fever'

With thoughts of gingerbread houses and mistletoe banished from our minds, there is one thing to look forward to this time of your: the Spring-Summer 210 Collections.

From tribal and military green to boudoir and body-con, this Spring has exciting styles to suit your every mood. Here are my top first two. Look for later installments to find out more!

Boudoir Faire

Clouds of chiffon. Tufts of lace. Designers like Christian Dior and Dolce & Gabbana venture to the bedroom, proving that innerwear can be even sexier as outwear.

High-waisted culottes and lace-infused satin slips might resurface in stores as the runways of Tuleh, Nina Ricci, Victor & Rolf and Etro played with sleepwear and lingerie elements. At Prada, silk short bottoms in a tropical blue island print matched a cropped jacket and jewel encrusted satchel. Tuleh topped the tiny bottoms with a bow and floral-applique corset. The combinations - and unexpected colors and prints now (think red leopard or mosaic prints) make boudoir dressing a daytime option.

Tribal Society

Be it the Orient or the Sahara, spring fashion celebrates its ‘tribal rite’ to animal prints, earth tones, intricate geometric patterns, and feathers.

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac used raffia to create what looked more like a large African tribal mask fit for dance around a bonfire than a black and acid green halter dress.

Chances are you will find a linen jacket embellished with small stones browns and blacks – similar to the one at Carolina Herrera. Or for the more bald-faced, Malandrino has a flouncy one-sleeve dress that three different patterns in bright pink and purple.

My suggestion: Don’t overwhelm your look with too many patterns and scale back on the accessories if the print can hold its own.

Below is a look at the Spring-Summer 2010 tribal trend in the November ’09 issue of Vogue. I’m already inspired, thinking about a possible concept for my next fashion editorial shoot…

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of style.com and www.fashionising.com

'Still Some Wrapping Left'

Say 'goodbye' to all your holiday decor

Sleeping in, shopping, munching on brownies, boycotting the gym, visiting family, partying one last time at the Tavern… this past holiday I managed to do all of my favorite things.

But the holiday is over, and with it comes the last of holiday wrapping.

All the initial excitement from unpacking ornaments and decorating the tree is gone. Putting the decorations away is not nearly as fun as taking them out.

Yet with a few tips on how to best tackle the storage of your holiday décor, the process will seem less painful.

All Together Now

Ever lose 30 minutes of your life rifling through boxes of wires and adapters and not finding the cable you need? For the perpetual nomads (myself included) that change addresses every few months, this happens all too often.

The solution: Keep your holiday décor all in the same place. Be it Christmas lights, inflatable snowmen, a menorah, or plastic reindeer, it will be easier to find come next year if you store these pieces in one central location.

*Certain items like dishes and heirloom items are better stored in the home where temperature can be controlled, away from the garage or basement.

Put a Label on It

Or else you will be opening a lot of unmarked boxes before getting to the one you need.

Make sure to write on each box a list of its contents. Place an itemized list inside the box for further specification.

Another suggestion – and one that 99 percent of the population do not practice – is to attach tags ($4.49) to cables and cords that explain their purpose. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that the green cord connects to the singing Santa Claus and not the light-up archangel?

The Right Stuff

Everyone loves bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts. But if you want to protect and better organize your holiday decorations, you’ll have to do better than that.

Find a quality container that will protect against accidents, pests and the occasional water damage. For ornaments, a container with cubbies (example below) and loaded with tissue paper will best separate and shield your ornaments from bumps and spills.

Until next year…

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of countryliving.com; www.rodandjess.com; amazon.com; 2.bp.blogspot.com