Today is the first working day after the holiday madness! Honestly, I am excited to get back to work and see what the new year is going to bring. I hope you all had a great holiday season!

This is the look I wore for New Year's eve. It's one of the hardest looks I have ever put together. I couldn't find anything I like until late at night of December 30th. But then luckily I found this skirt from French Connection at my local Bloomingdales. The top from BCBGeneration was grabbed at the very last moment when they were announcing that the store is closed. Accessorizing was easy. I used every opportunity to wear my new boots from Isabel Marant that I got for my birthday in the past few weeks and New Year's was not an exception :) As for the clutch, I went with this sick Saint Laurent clutch with studs - it goes with every single look!

And what did you wear for New Year's?

Wow! It's 2015! How did that happen??? I remember when it was 2000, I was thinking "...in 2015 I will be so grown up and the world is going to be completely different". And it is... Time flies and we all wish we could stop it, but we can't. Days pass, months pass and eventually years pass just like moments, so we better get on track and enjoy every moment life has to offer. I was thinking about the new year, new goals, new dreams, new directions and of course.. resolutions.

I don't believe in setting definite or restictive goals as new year's resolutions. We all know that we work hard the first couple of weeks of the new year and then simply forget about them. Instead, I try to introduce little changes in every day life and stick by them. My current list is:

- eating a little healthier (avoid sugar and alcohol when possible);

- working out more (instead of watching two movies in one day like I sometimes do, I can actually watch one and work out for one hour instead of the other one);

- reading more (I mean actual books, versus magazines, online news and all that... I am a strong believer in books as a main source of knowledge, motivation and self development);

- and overall be happier...

But how can you be happier? My belief (and it's also a well known fact) is that happiness comes from within. I have been preparing for this resolution for quite some time last year and, after reading several books and articles, I couldn't find a better formula than Mr. Shawn Achor. Here are the main 5 things he suggest to do to become a little happier.

While in Vancouver, I stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel, a 4-diamond hotel which is perfectly situated in downtown Vancouver overlooking the city's magnificent waterfront and surrounded by Coal harbor, Stanley Park and Coastal Mountains.  With the iconic five sails rising above it, the Pan Pacific is an unparalleled downtown luxury hotel destination which is very popular with celebrities, athletes and famous artists. It feels like you are on board of the giant cruise ship with the latest amenities - quite surreal!

Honestly, after exploring the city I couldn't imagine a better location for my Vancouver stay. And the views that you get to see every single day just by looking out the window are so magnificent that you don't want to leave the room! As for my favorite amenities, the hotel offers several waterfront restaurants with breathtaking views (one of them even hosts weekly Opera nights!), outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub overlooking the city's harbor (I wasn't brave enough, but there were quite a few guests that enjoyed the outdoor hot tub even in wintertime).

And most importantly, I love the hotels that like to give back. For the last 22 years, Pan Pacific hosts an annual Christmas Wish breakfast where thousand of toys and cash are donated to needy children. All of those who donate are invited to a complementary breakfast buffet. It's truly an extraordinary experience and I wish I could witness it myself, because even the thought of it warms my heart.

I  had a truly festive Christmas experience there with tons of Christmas decorations around and truly amazing personnel to make all my christmas wishes come true.

Happy Holidays, my friends! Hope you had a beautiful Christmas! If you follow me on social networks you already know that I spent my Christmas in Vancouver. I fell in love with the city's beautiful landscape, perfect winter weather (it's cold enough to wear hats and scarves, but still sunny and dry) and what seemed to be the most festive Christmas atmosphere. Seriously, I met a few Santa Clauses who approached me first (!) and were more than happy to chat and take photos with me. And I am still obsessed with a perfectly decorated Christmas tree in every single building. 

As for fashion, I tried not to pack too much, so I ended up wearing the same accessories (boots, a bag and a hat) in 2 completely different looks over the past 2 days. Check out both outfits below and let me know which one you like more ;)