After a particularly rough week, I’m delighted that things are beginning to turn around. The weather, too, seems to be taking a turn for the springiest, making me a happier camper. All around me, flowers are beginning to break though the ground, people are generally much more pleasant, the sun is shining, and it’s even providing some much-needed warmth to my winterized skin. My refreshed happiness has me thinking of all the simple things in life that bring a smile to my face, some of which I’ve spelled out for you below.

1. Reading a book so good, you become part of the plot and forget about your own world.
2. Rainy days, but only when you don’t have to be anywhere but home, watching movies and relaxing.
3. This product line’s fragrance.
4. Laughing so hard my cheeks and sides ache.
5. The arrival of Easter candy.
6. Proper road trips.
7. The kindness of strangers.
8. A grande Americano from Starbucks. I consume them daily, so even when times are really tough, I’m guaranteed a little sunshine each morning.
9. Playing Scrabble with my main competition and boyfriend.
10. The anticipation of a vacation.

I’m curious about your own simple pleasures. Chime in!

And to wrap up our little series on getting to know the ladies behind Chic-Thrills, our darling contributer Erika has listed out 20 fun facts about herself. Here goes…

1. I’m also a strict vegetarian and also a vegan on most days. My dietary change happened as a result of my love and admiration for animals, but has been sustained because it’s so healthy! And it’s a pure coincidence that all three of us Chic-Thrills writers are vegetarians. It makes dining out together really easy.
2. I’m obsessed with any type of fitness or workout activity, except maybe kickboxing. I just can’t get into it.
3. I danced for a majority of my life and I really, really miss structured classes every day. Sometimes you can find me dancing around my apartment.
4. I am painfully indecisive, but also have a big imagination. I have wanted to open up numerous businesses and start random projects because of my wandering mind.
5. I LOVE to bake and give away my goods as gifts. I especially loving making cakes into shapes. Some I’ve made in the past include an XBOX controller, a penis, and a monkey.
6. If money weren’t an obstacle I would own a house on both coasts. I am an east coaster at heart, but love the warm weather and beach culture of California.
7. Most people who just meet me would never guess that I have three tattoos.
8. I have a weird addiction to pretzels. I can’t stop eating them. Ruth can vouch!
9. The next place I am dying to go is Costa Rica.
10. When I was younger, I told my parents I was going to live in Australia. Instead, I studied abroad there. I also told my parents I wanted to join Greenpeace and save the whales.
11. If I had to pick, right now I would say my three favorite movies are Definitely, Maybe, Pirates of the Carribbean (the first one), and The Little Mermaid. Although, I recently saw Up in the Air and thought it was great.
12. Although I beg to differ, a lot of people in my life have told me I look like Lindsay Lohan. I’m pretty convinced it’s just the freckles.
13. The best gift I ever gave was a surprise trip to Aruba to my parents for their wedding anniversary.
14. I’ve known a good amount of my friends since elementary and middle school. They are true, genuine and amazing people.
15. I am pleased to say that I am very, very close with my family, especially my sister and I call my Mom at least once a day.
16. I am a firm believer that you don’t have to pay a fortune to look like a million bucks. Right now, I am really into the boho, laid back style emulated by Nicole Richie and clothes from Free People. I also tend to devour the J.Crew catalog every time it arrives.
17. I really, really like magazines. I like them so much, I have kept most of my issues from my high school days up until now. That might be weird, but I can’t let them go.
18. My favorite meal of the day is brunch. I love breakfast foods and could eat them at any hour. Plus, who doesn’t love mimosas?
19. My grandmother gave me her old Polaroid camera a few months ago, and ever since I’ve been obsessed! I just wish film wasn’t so expensive.
20. Everyday I check my horoscope on NY Post.com. I was never a huge believer in them, but Sally Brompton is a magician. Even if I check at the end of the day, her predictions are usually right.

I can’t decide what I love more about the Oscars – watching starlets navigate the red carpet in dresses I can only dream of ever wearing, or the awards ceremony itself. Being a movie junkie myself, I really adore the whole awards process, and tend to route for the underdog. There’s nothing nicer than a young, unknown actor or actress getting the kudos for their hard work.

This year, I’ve made my picks for top honors, which I’ve listed below. Are any of you readers out there hooked on the ceremony, too?

1. Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
2. Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
3. Actor in a Supporting Role: Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
4. Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique, Precious
5. Directing: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
6. Best Picture: Avatar

And there you have it. Anyone care to start a pool?

{Image courtesy of Oscar Ramblings)

It’s been 9 months since we first launched our little site, and it’s been a tremendously fun experience for Ruth and me. We’ve both got clear senses of style (polar opposite of one another), and strong tastes for what we like in all things home, fashion, and beauty-related. With so much to say about these subjects, we thought it would help to get to know us (and our dedicated contributer, Erika) a little better. Here goes!

20 things to know about Catherine:

1. I don’t believe in ghosts, but still get scared when people talk of their personal “encounters”.
2. I was born two weeks past my due date. To this day, I’m still stubborn about change and prefer to stick with places and people that make me feel comfortable. Exiting my comfort zone is not a favorite pastime.
3. I’ve been a vegetarian for 17  years, not because of animal ethics, but because I just don’t like the taste of meat.
4. A lack of manners is my biggest pet peeve. Spelling mistakes are a close runner up.
5. I’ve lived on the east coast all my life, but have been curiously drawn to California for as long as I can remember.
6. I can’t live a day without chocolate.
7. My boyfriend and I met on St. Patrick’s Day of 2006 in the parking lot of an auto body & repair shop. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
8. The first movie that ever made me cry was Beaches. I still sob hysterically every time I watch it, and even tear up when I hear the first few notes of Wind Beneath My Wings.
9. Once I eat a food too often, I’ll quickly grow tired of it and never eat it again. This does not apply to chocolate. (See Number 6.)
10. I adore all types of exercise and one day want to open my own spinning studio.
11. When I was in preschool, I declared that I wanted to be a nurse. Ten years later, while accompanying a friend to have bloodwork, I passed out cold on the floor, and reconsidered my career choice when I came to.
12. As much as I love chocolate, my absolute favorite candy is super stale, rock hard Haribo gummies. The staler, the better.
13. I’m addicted to The Real Housewives series, no matter the city. I secretly want to hang out with Jeana from Orange County.
14. As a child, I developed a fascination with the Titanic, and would spend hours watching a National Geographic tape about the ship’s discovery.
15. I once rode in an elevator and spoke with Gerard Butler, and my stomach still does a quick flip when I think about it.
16. I ran my very first marathon in November 2009. I plan on running many more in years to come.
17. Un-pedicured feet make me gag.
18. When I was 12, I performed the Spice Girls’ Wannabe with my dear childhood friend, Laura. Knowing there’s video tape of this haunts me at night.
19. Ironically, karaoke is one my biggest fears.
20. My favorite time of day is early morning. I never sleep past 8:00.

It was one of those days yesterday. Everything overwhelmed me, gloomy clouds loomed low (not just over my head, but the whole tri-state area), and with a new job on the horizon, I’m both excited and nervous about the challenges that lie ahead. In short, I was emotionally unstable, and in dire need of a mental hug. When that wasn’t enough (thanks anyway, Mom and Dad!), I turned to my tried-and-true recipe for a mood boost. Here goes:

1. The Money Pit. Watching Tom Hanks’ and Shelley Long’s comedic battle with a home that just won’t quit falling apart makes my sides ache from laughing so hard.
2. Hot chocolate. Nothing fancy here. Any brand will do, so long as there’s whipped cream on hand to make the drink deliciously sinful.
3. This YouTube video. If a laughing baby doesn’t cheer you up, I’m out of ideas for you.
4. This comforting blanket. My boyfriend bought it for me three years ago, and despite never being a blanket-hooked kid, I now understand the appeal and comfort of having one nearby.
5. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Because sometimes all it takes is a cartoon character’s fall from grace to put life into a different perspective.
6. And in most cases, a glass of Cava instantly does the trick. I credit the bubbles for their mood improvement properties, but the alcohol might have something to do with it, too.

And there you have it. If all else fails the first try, repeat steps 1-5 until you’re smiling again.

After seeing this image of Nicole Richie in front of France’s Eiffel Tower, it’s my new mission in life to recreate this portrait one day. There’s just something so lovely about the contrast in the subjects – a simple kiss in front of a major monument – that makes for a darling snapshot.

{Image courtesy of NicoleRichie.celebuzz.com}