Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had a fun time visiting with family and engaging in culinary overindulgence. The girls were so happy to find presents under the tree on Christmas morning… no black coal! 
Their favorite gifts were this and this.
This dress is one of my favorites to wear to work when the weather is cold and rainy… the fabric is substantial and doesn’t wrinkle, and the abstract print is interesting but not too flashy.
Dress: Banana Republic
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Shoes: Cole Haan
Watch: Burberry (similar here)
Necklace: Banana Republic
And to finish on a random note, I recently discovered how to make soft cooked eggs and love them! The cooking technique (from Cook’s Illustrated) is so easy:
Bring half an inch of water in a saucepan to a boil over medium high heat. Grab an egg from the refrigerator, carefully place the egg into the pan, cover, and boil for 6 minutes and 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat and run cold water over the egg for 30 seconds. Peel, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and eat immediately. The white will be perfectly cooked and the yolk will still be runny. Serve with a piece of toasted bread for a quick and satisfying breakfast!
Linking up with Random Wednesday and The Pleated Poppy!
Gotta love dresses that don’t wrinkle! You look lovely and elegant!
Thanks, Rachel! I am a bit lazy when it comes to ironing. Hope you have a great day!
I love that dress!! very surprised its from banana, usually I don’t find their dresses very inspiring. It’s also perfect for NYE! silvery snake skin like to ring in the year of the snake
Thank you! This is actually the first dress I’ve ever purchased from BR… and you’re right, it is kind of snake skin like!
Love that dress, and the soft cooked eggs look delicious!
Thanks, Niki! Hope you get a chance to try some soft cooked eggs… they are SO good!
This is adorable, and perfect for the holidays. How do you like your heels? I need some standard black close toed heels, and have heard great things about Cole Haan.
Hi Franziska! I’ve had these Cole Haan ankle boots for a couple of years and love them! The Nike Air cushioning is really comfortable… definitely worth the investment!
beautiful! i haven’t been in banana republic in so long. i do usually find something every time i go but i think i just forget about them. must go visit!
im a new follower to you through bloglovin. come visit me when ya have time http://www.kendrakaypahukoa.blogspot.com and have a great week!
Hi Kendra Kay! I don’t actually go to BR that often either since they (surprisingly) don’t have one at the mall I usually shop at, but they do have some great items. Thank you so much for following! Looking forward to visiting your blog!
Love this dress! The print is gorgeous!
xo,
Angela
Thanks, Angela! Have a fabulous day!
Love Banana Republic – great quality! The dress has great texture!
Hi Kate! Yes, definitely great quality, and they seem to have frequent online sales which is nice too.
That look is so classy!
xo, Courtney
girlavantgarde.com
Thanks, Courtney! Hope you’re having a great week!
You look so beautiful in that dress!! I love anything that doesn’t wrinkle.
XO,
Zhanna
http://www.lifeandbows.com
Hi Zhanna! Yes, wrinkle resistance is a plus. I have a green dress that I love, but it wrinkles so easily/severely I actually don’t wear it much!
What a pretty dress! And thank you for the tips on a soft egg, I’ve always wanted to make it for a variety in how I eat my eggs.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Thanks, Alice! Hope you get a change to make some soft cooked eggs… it’s so easy and tasty!
Ooh you look so professional and put together in this outfit. I love it! Such a ladylike look.
And thanks for the tip on the soft cooked egg! I love eating eggs in all different ways and I’ll definitely be trying this method out to eat over rice, mixed with shoyu.
Thanks, Joy! The soft cooked eggs are seriously addictive. I love your rice/shoyu idea… I’ll have to try it!
Love the dress! This is such a classic look, I don’t think you will ever tire of wearing this one.
Hope you’re enjoying the holidays!
Thanks, Anum! We are enjoying the holidays even though I am actually working a little bit more than usual.
Fortunately we live near both of our families, so it’s really easy to see everyone. Hope the holidays are treating you well!
Elegant dress! Gotta try the soft egg recipe
Hi Steph! I’ve always loved hard boiled eggs, but the soft cooked eggs are even better. Thanks for stopping by!
High five to dresses that don’t wrinkle!!!! Thanks so much for linking up!!! Hope you had a happy holiday so far!!
Hi Shanna! The holidays are treating us well.
Thanks for hosting the link up!
That dress is beautiful! You look fabulous
Found you via the Pleated Poppy linkup
xoxo,
Nikki at http://www.bedazzlesafterdark.com
Thanks, Nikki! So glad you stopped by. Have a great weekend!
Hope you got to wear that lovely dress out somewhere!!! And yay for runny eggs, my husband LOVES them that way!
Hi Lisa! I wore this dress to work.
Soft cooked eggs are now my favorite egg cooking method, followed by scrambled. Happy weekend to you!
Such a pretty dress! And mm love soft cooked eggs!
Thanks! The fabric is really thick… almost like a blanket.
Have a nice day!
Gorgeous dress! The print is so cool – you have such great taste, always very classic and elegant. Glad you had a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks, you’re so kind! Enjoy the weekend!
Steph, I am so glad you and your family had a wonderful christmas time, its always so much fun for kidos. You look absolutely stunning in that “snake print” dress. Good that it doesnt wrinke, I HATE to iron stuff hehehe.
Have yourself a wonderful happy new Year and I cant wait to see more of your inspirational posts next year. thank you for beeing such a great blogger friend.
Ani
http://www.fleurani.blogspot.de
Thank you, Ani! That is so sweet.
Hope you have a wonderful new year as well… cheers to 2013!
Very pretty and classy! And now I want some eggs…
Thanks, Megan! Hope you have a happy new year!
You look beautiful, as always and so crazy, I have been trying to perfect the soft-boiled egg lately! Any tips on how to peel them? I like to eat them peeled all the way and have such a hard time. Happy New Year, Steph!
Thanks, Ashley! I tap the bottom part of the egg against the bottom of the pan until the shell cracks, and then I gently peel the shell off while holding the egg under cool running water. Hope you have a happy new year too!
What a pretty dress, Stephanie – you look great! Cheers – and Happy New Year!
Thanks, Mary Ann! Happy New Year to you as well!
Love your dress!!You look so good in it!!
Prerna
Ok, you had me at buttery, salty, sweetness!! Can’t wait to try these!!
Ahhh, that comment was supposed to go on the cookie post, lol, guess I was really excited!!
Hi Myrna! The salty oat cookies are really tasty… I think you’ll really enjoy them. Happy baking!