Manolo for the Big Girl

Francesca has returned from the little hotel in Bavaria where Francesca, and before her Francesca’s parents, and before them Francesca’s grandparents, have spent every Christmas since 1963. This year, Francesca’s siblings were all celebrating the Yuletide at the homes of their in-laws, so in the snowy mountains were just Francesca, Francesca’s dear Mama and Papa, and her still-spry Grand-mere and Pepere.

With the neices and nephews elsewhere, Francesca was planning to spend the holidays quietly, attending the Christmas mass, re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, sipping rum eggnogg and hot chocolate with teeny tiny marshmallows in it, and pecking at the ever-ubiquitious Spreadsheets of the Office, which is not as bad as it sounds because Francesca has stylish new glasses and knew she would look quite smart in every way, poking studiously at her laptop next to the fireplace and looking superfantastic doing so.

But, just in case, she brought her pair of Flashers by Stuart Weitzman, and her Best boots, and she was very glad because who was at the hotel this year but the very handsome, very single best friend, from the Princeton days, of the owner-manager’s son-in-law?

Though Francesca has much experience with the Italian and French male models, she must admit there is something refreshing and tres charmant about the Princeton boy who grew up in the small town in Nebraska and now works on the Wall Street. Especially when one is in Bavaria for the 35th time, and he is there for the first time, and you are both looking for something to do . . . And he looks simply so adorable in jeans and the turtleneck and the warm, cuddly sweater . . . A Merry Christmas indeed . . .

Francesca will be returning to New York for a little while after the New Year. Will she see the very cute man from Nebraska again? Francesca hopes so. If not, she will find many fish in the sea. The New Year brings so many wonderful possibilities!

xoxo,

Francesca

Let me tell you how lucky y’all are that I’m severely weakened from a bout of “dehydration” (no seriously) because if I wasn’t as “weak as a kitten” (medical diagnosis) I would smack each and every one of you to get these yummy darlings at 60% off.

I dig these because they take some of the best parts of some incredible shoes of the past few seasons without being derivative. They’re a little Versace, a little Miu Miu, even a little Cavalli but even though they feel really fresh I love that they’ve got an almost 1930’s sensibility –I think it’s the peeptoe– that makes it work as more than a one season shoe.

They’re only available in a 10.5, but Saks says they run large, so go ahead you size 11 girls, order up and thank you’re lucky stars I’m too weak to pull hair!

…to not make any resolutions about my weight.

Too many New Year’s resolutions look like this picture. Obsess about your waistline! Limit your dietary intake to water and lima beans! If you weigh more than a ten year old child, your life is a tragic waste!

(more…)

You guys are amazing. Did you know that? You should. I hit you with this bit of holiday cheer:

and you gave me eight different excellent captions to choose from. There can, however, only be one winner. This time, that winner is Jennie for this superfantastic entry:

Daddy NOOOOOO! I cannot let you give this…. It is BAAADDD! Cheap Shoes!!! GRRRRRRR! Mommy wants Manolosssss!

Congratulations, Jennie! Clearly you understand how dogs should be trained.

As you might have noticed, things have been a bit slow over here at Manolo for the Big Girl. Never you fear! Francesca, Twistie and I are just taking it down a few notches as we enjoy time with friends and family at the end of the year. While in my case “enjoy time with friends” means “watch movies in bed with my dog” and I have no idea what Francesca is doing (although I suspect the appropriate answer is something like “shots of schnapps off the waxed chest of a 28 year old ski instructor in Gstaad. “) we will be back with a vengeance in the new year.

That being said, don’t think you’re completely rid of us. It’s still the most mercenary time of the year so

Francesca and Plumcake want to know

What present to you best illustrates the old saying “it’s better to give than to receive.”

Share your holiday warmth here!

Manolo for the Big Girl would like to wish all our Christian readers a very merry Christmas!

You know how it works. I post a photo. You send me your best captions. Next Saturday I declare a winner. In the meantime, I’m going to hit the egg nog and gingerbread. Ready, set…GO!

IGIGI is running a great deal right now: make a purchase of $300.00 or more by January 3, and receive a $75.00 coupon good on any purchase made between January 15 and February 15, 2008.

Hmmm…now might just be the time to treat yourself to something superfantstic. And then treat yourself to another superfantastic piece after the New Year.

I may just consider this pretty velvet and silk dress. Of course, since it’s only $175.00, I’d have to think of something else to get. How sad.

As Francesca signs off for the weekend, she leaves you with the lasting vision of this beautiful scarlet suede boot by Stuart Weitzman, appropriately named “Best”:

Happy shopping and happy weekend!

xoxo,

Francesca

Francesca has recently read the first two of a series of books about the crazy, unbelievable, completely surreal adventures of the fabulous character Ms. Thursday Next. All the books, by Jasper Fforde, have been New York Times bestsellers, but Francesca has only gotten to them now. They are delicious!

The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel

Thursday is a police officer in a parallel universe almost like ours. In theirs, the Crimean War is still going on; airplane travel sounds impossible but travel through the center of the earth is common; and it is possible to jump into works of fiction and hang out with Jane Eyre, Miss Havisham, and the Red Queen.

Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next Novels)

The books are fantastic, both in the sense of “imaginative” and of “excellent.” They are entertaining, witty, and imaginative romps for the bibliophile. Francesca cannot wait to read the third installment, The Well of Lost Plots, and the fourth, Thursday Next: First Among Sequels.

Happy reading!