The biggest party of the Year!

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! As promised, I have returned in time to provide you with inspirations for this celebratory evening. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful trip visiting my Dad's side of the family in DC for a couple of days and then escaping for the last half of the week to the Savage River Lounge for an incredibly relaxing few days. With no technology and cabin-style living (class A wood cabins nonetheless) we were able to have bonding time with each other and the beautiful natural surroundings.The slight dusting of snow along the trails was a perfect touch. 

Enough of my travels, here we are off to find inspiration for New Year's Eve! I hope 2011 brought much joy and happiness to all of you, even though life brings difficulties and challenges, the start of a new day...a new year provides much hope for success and promise for good things to happen! As we close this year, let's do so on a happy note. There is no excuse to relish in the past year's sorrows or enter into the winter blues, where will that get you? So whether or not you are staying in with a friend or loved one or partying out on the town...have a glass of champagne (and PLEASE in a champagne flute, be festive people!), make a wish or two, and cherish the night of sparkles, thrill, and celebration for new beginnings!

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My NYE inspiration outfit, check out the other sparkly creations on {long distance loving}

1. Topshop Knitted Gold Sequin Jacket $140

2. Topshop Lace Tee $70

3. Mulberry Full Skirt Black Taffeta $435

4. Kate Spade Sparkle Fishnet Tights $24

5. Dolce Vita Rosetta $121

6. Diane von Furstenberg Tonda Pony Clutch $382

7. Charm & Chain Turquoise Studs $75

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone!!

Also, I am trying to reach 200 Facebook fans by the New Year! I only have a few more left to go. If you haven't done so already, like the Twirling Clare page! 

Toodles!

Happy Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you are having a wonderful and relaxing time with family and friends and all of your loved ones. I have had a fantastic weekend so far and am incredibly grateful for all of the holiday blessings! 

First off, I want to congratulate Courtney B for winning the paisley print SweatyBand and Rachael for winning the Theta print SweatyBand!! Thank you to all for participating and be sure to check out sweatybands.com to pick out some options of your own! Congratulations girls, you will be sporting fabulous active-wear for the New Year! Contact me at twirlingclare@gmail.com with you address so I can mail them off to you!

I will be leaving this afternoon for a little vacation with my family. I will be back in time for New Year's Eve to provide you with all the inspiration you need for the biggest party of the year

Merry Merry and Toodles, 

Twirling Clare 

via: Pinterest

It's a White Christmas Wardrobe!

Do you have plans for the holiday weekend? The next week calls for the most festive outfits of the year, between Christmas and New Years...your closets best be prepared for all of the celebratory affairs!

I am loving this white dress paired with winter tones. Lace and fur and a little velvet shoes, is a perfect mix of patterns and fabrics for the holiday! Try out an atypical color scheme for this weekend and make a fabulous statement in your outfit!!

See the outfit today on {long distance loving}

Shop the look:

Cameron cotton lace mini dress $385

Barry Faux Fur Vest $148

TopShop black flower lace tights $24

Ralph Lauren Collection Suede Loafers $389

Urban Expressions Pleated Satin Clutch $25

Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings, Black Onyx $60

Don't forget about the SweatyBands Giveaway! Winner announced Christmas Day!

Wreaths Galore

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Don't forget about the SweatyBands Giveaway! Enter today!!

Wrapping the Presents!

via: katespadetmblr

via: The Simply Luxurious Life

Gift wrapping ideas from Martha Stewart!

Here are my favorites:

Candy Wrapping Paper

Dress packages in candy stripes for a sweet presentation. Use double-sided tape to secure the end of a length of ribbon to the bottom of a wrapped package. Wind around box, spacing stripes evenly; thread a tag through the free end of the ribbon. Finish by affixing ribbon underneath the box with double-sided tape. Repeat with ribbons in different widths or colors.

Tower of Boxes

Several boxes are stacked and tied up in two giant ribbons. Each box is wrapped first in colored tissue paper, then frosted over with a sheet of glassine, available by the sheet or roll from archival-supply houses.

Flower Pot Gift Wrap

These crepe-paper wraps, inspired by amaryllis petals, can dress up the pots of any plants you give as presents.

Color-Coded Wrapping Paper

Assign each family member a different color paper, and you won't even need gift tags. This is a fun way for everyone to identify his or her presents.

Brightly Striped Gift Wrap

Bright stripes revive even your lamest wrap attempt much better than a sad pile of scissor-curled ribbon. Use fluorescent artist's tape or plastic lacing (that stuff you braided into key chains during recess as a kid). Colors really sizzle when they're contrasted against paper in a rich, muted shade, like brown or mustard, or a more organic texture, such as a marbled pattern (top right). Tiny cards with matching envelopes make nice gift tags, or you can multipurpose some mini sticky notes for a neat postmodern touch.

Have you entered my holiday SweatyBands giveaway?? Winner will be announced Christmas Day!

Festive Tartan

Shop the tartan look:

1. Barbour Scarves $50

2. Merona Tartan Scarf $12

3. Barbour Valerie Tartan Glove

4. Black Fleece Quilted Tartan wool mini skirt $188

5. Opening Ceremony Tartan mini skirt $309

6. Modcloth Remember the Tartans Dress $90

7. Rag & Bone Saami Dress sz: 0,4 sz: 4,8 $315

8. Joseph Perry checkered wool blend dress $595

9. MCQ Alexander  McQueen Tartan wool-twill knit pants $465

10. Anthropologie Tartan Slims (sold out except for this UK store!) $70

11. D&G Casual Pants $125

12. J.Crew perfect shirt in suckered tartan $78

13. Comme des Garcons tartan clutch wallet $100

14. Dooney & Bourke Tartan Plaid Pocket Satchel $188 (or letter carrier size $116) 

Bosley (Green and Navy) Tartan $50

Red, White, and Blue Tartan $65

Freeport (Red and White) Tartan $50

Boys Bowery Pant $60 or dress up: Boys Tuxedo Pant $198

Boys Vest in Tartan $138

Boys Tuxedo Jacket $298

Don't forget about the SweatyBands giveaway! 

Holiday Giveaway featuring SweatyBands!

With the New Year less than 2 weeks away...it's time to celebrate the resolutions we are piecing together to make us better people for 2012. A lot of resolutions tend to revolve around fitness, diet, health, etc. I am even following the health bug and am training for a 1/2 marathon for the upcoming year! 

That being said, I have the perfect giveaway for you fitness bugs (and it's just as fashionable off the workout circuit as well!)

A Cincinnati family started the company, SweatyBands, a few years ago. All fitness buffs, they came up with an accessory to wear in your hair while exercising that won't slide and that you won't have to keep adjusting!

The bands are made of ribbon with a special kind of material located on the backside of the ribbon to prevent the headband from slipping. All of the bands are fun and colorful! I wear them not only when I am running and exercising, but also throughout my day....either with a pony tail or my hair down!

Donna, the creator of SweatyBands, wearing the bands in a variety of ways.

The company has grown substantially in recent years and have a variety of options to buy via web or in various shops throughout the US that carry the line. Check out an article written last month about SweatyBands take-off here! The company makes a variety of styles and sizes of the bands and you can check out more of the styles here. 

One of my favorite parts of the site is the SweatyBand juke box that they feature, great workout tunes!!

I will be giving away 2 SweatyBands to 2 different winners!

One of the newest SweatyBands (this is the wider style 1.5 inches, vauled at $18)

The winner of the second band (1 inch, valued at $16) will be a Theta!! 

So any sorority sisters from around the world share your Twirling Clare love for a chance to be a winner!

Contest:

Become a follower of Twirling Clare (click 'join the site' on the right side of the page) 1 entry

Become a fan of the Twirling Clare facebook page 1 entry

Become a fan of the SweatyBands facebook page 1 entry

Become a follower of Twirling Clare on Twitter 2 entries

Become a follower of SweatyBands on Twitter 2 entries 

If you post a status or tweet about this giveaway 3 entries

Be sure to leave a comment letting me know how many of the steps above you have completed so I can allot the appropriate number of entries! 

Remember: if you have already been a follower for awhile, still let me know so you can be included!

(Please include if you are a Theta as well, so I can be sure to enter you in the additional giveaway)

You have the opportunity to receive 10 entry points!!

The winner will be announced Christmas Day!

Keep spreading the Twirling Clare world to friends and family!

Toodles 

Festive Christmas Porch Decor