HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We had too much fun doing this fashionable Christmas photo shoot.

Teddy is wearing a Canada Pooch Polar Pom Pom hat. Romi is wearing a Red Valentino skirt and Adidas sneakers. Ilan finally got to wear his wooden bowtie. AND, apparently he DID NOT get the shoe memo! Kim (b.a.gorgie) is wearing a Nation LTD sleeveless top, Nation LTD dress and Kendall + Kylie boots.

I've just come from wandering the FRESHFARM Market in Dupont Circle and I LOVED IT! I'm a huge fan of markets and I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed - this market is impressive. The people, beautiful products, vast variety of beverages and food, thoughtful stands and persons attending them, make this market a must-see. 

I'm sure most locals frequent this market, but this should should be on every "what to see in DC" list. Prepare yourself for a crowd, yummy samples and an overall great experience. Grab your shopping tote, cause you're gonna need the space.

Named one of the top farmer's markets in the country (Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London), this market has a lot to offer. During peak season, there are over fifty farmers offering fruit, vegetables, baked goods, district-made beer and spirits, cheese, meat, poultry, eggs, jams and pickles.. It's a Sunday haven for locals to shop fresh and organic foodstuffs and beverages. 

FRESHFARM Market is open from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Sunday and is overflowing with shoppers. I thought if we arrived around 9:30 there wouldn't be too many people (being that it's Sunday morning), but no, this place was super busy. There was a lineup of over 30 people waiting for bagels.   We didn't get to try the bagels, cause I had my dog with me, but I'm convinced they're delicious.

The produce is brilliant in color and super-fresh. As shoppers are purchasing produce, the stand attendees are replenishing stock and ensuring the stands are perfect. The owners and staff were really nice (most of them) and happy to answer any questions. There were also samples (love that).

We didn't buy any produce, cause we were going out of town, but I'm a big vegetable fan and will definitely frequent the FRESHFARM Market for my weekly grocery shopping. 

My favorite stop was the King Mushrooms stand. I'm a huge fan of the fruiting body of fungus and had no idea there were so many different kinds.

The guy tending to the stand was pleasant and explained that mushrooms have many health benefits. I purchased a small bottle of Lion's Mane Double Extraction in an effort to give my failing memory a jolt - it's been a week and nothing yet, but these things take time. 

The Chicken of the Woods mushroom is beautiful - like coral. I've never had this type of mushroom, but plan to visit the market this weekend and buy some. 

The sun was shinning and I was able to capture good photos. I have more mushroom pics, but my blog is limited and there's so much more to talk about.. Oh and most of the people tending to the stands allowed me to take photos. It was a nice photography experience. 

Right Proper sounds like something a Newfie would name their beer - I'm from Newfoundland and had to buy some. The display was huge and there was a nice selection of beer. 

The guy assisting us seemed to be more concerned with waving to people at the other stands and wasn't overly helpful. I kinda feel bad that I'm harping on you, but you can do better. You potentially lost a loyal customer - This beer better be delicious and "Right Proper" to ensure a return to the Right Proper stand. 

I'm not a baked goods fan at all. I love sandwiches, but the bread is just a means of transportation to my mouth. Albeit, the baked goods at the FRESHFARM Market were appealing, especially the sweet and savory pastries. 

My dog would have been jealous if I ate something and didn't share with him and wheat isn't healthy for dogs, so I snapped a few pics and wandered to the next alluring stand. 

The Gordy's Pickle Jar stand was a "must stop and buy something" moment. My husband loves anything pickled, but our hands were full (we already purchased beer and a bottle of whiskey), so we opted for just the Bloody Mary Mix. We will definitely be regulars at this stand.

The flowers at the FRESHFARM Market were unique - even I was impressed and I'm not a big fan of flowers. Albeit, I had to have a bunch. The flowers were displayed individually in buckets, so you can create your own bouquet. These flowers were the only pop of color in my neutral home and lasted a week. I've been converted to a flower fan.

I moved to this neighborhood mid-summer and was anticipating the Dupont Circle market, but was preoccupied with decor. I finally got up on a beautiful Sunday morning, grabbed my pink shopping tote and ventured out.

There's a lot to love about this neighborhood, but the FRESHFARM Market is my favorite attraction so far. I'm declaring myself a regular and looking forward to see what's offered during the festive holidays..

Chloé aviator sunglasses, Spell & The Gypsy Collective Follow The Sun dress, Zorrata gold and silver Serenity stacks, Chloé Nile handbag, Louis Vuitton scarf, Adidas sneakers

Fendi sunglasses, Honorine Peri mini dress, Zorrata gold and silver Serenity stacks, Louis Vuitton backpack, Louis Vuitton scarf (on the backpack), Adidas sneakers

..TOODLES 2018. It was a rough one emotionally, but my beauty exploration and fashion addiction survived the madness and remained strong and exciting! I'm heading into 2019 with a new attitude towards health and beauty. My shoe and handbag addiction will probably continue to be ridiculous (by some standards), but 2018 has taught me to make changes, embrace new brands and get creative with my style and makeup.

My biggest obsession is sunglasses. I purchased too many Chloé sunglasses this year! MIU MIU sunnies recently took over my looks, but Chloé reigns supreme on my sunnies shelf.

I just snagged these MIU MIU star embossed sunglasses and Swarovski crystal embellished sunglasses and glasses chain at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. LOVE! I'll be seeing stars in 2019!

My personal style remains the same - chic joggers and sock-style boots with printed t-shirts and sweatshirts. My favorite clothing brands are 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fenty X Puma, Tularosa, GRLFRND, Mother, Spell & The Gypsy Collective, For Love & Lemons, Monrow sweatpants , Karl Lagerfeld and Fiorucci (t-shirts and sweatshirts) and Nation LTD (to name a few).

My infatuation with designer shoes and handbags remains expensive! Louis Vuitton handbags are still taking over my collection. I finally found myself an LV sales representative in New York and she's fabulous. Some LV bags are impossible to get (unless you have a rep). She snagged me a Summer Trunk tote and Time Trunk Alma handbag as soon as they hit the sales floor. She's my handbag fairy!

After a five year hiatus, Gucci has made a comeback in my collection. My husband tracked down a Gucci bag I had been coveting for months and gave it to me for our 10 year anniversary. Best gift a girl could get! AND, of course, I'm still a Chloé girl and LOVE Chloé handbags.

I LOVE BOOTS! I'm still rocking Fendi Rockoko and Yeezy sock-style boots. I purchased too many Adidas sneakers in 2018, got some Chloé boots and a new pair of Fendi fur slides (possibly the best purchase of 2018). I'm looking forward to summer, so I can strut around in my mew Fendi slides.

Another year gone and while I spent most of my time shopping and exploring new beauty products, my go-to brands remain the same. For anti-aging, Neocutis is my favorite. I got a mini fridge for Christmas and am keeping my Neocutis products in there. Applying cold eye and face creams is new to me and I love it! AND, I still love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Face Cream (great for calming rosacea) and Extra Eye Repair Cream.

My favorite make-up brands list has changed a little. Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Dior and beautyblender reign supreme in my Cosmocube. Oh and there's a few KKW Beauty products in there too - love the brushes. My long-time favorites, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are still taking up some real estate in the cube.

I still get IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Treatment) and Clear + Brilliant laser Treatment. These two combined leave my skin looking fresh, vibrant and reduce the appearance of my rosacea. They are painful and expensive, but worth it. I'm also still doing botox. I've had a few botched jobs and am a little turned off, but I think it's about finding the right dermatologist..

My hair is finally back to normal. I suffered from botched hair for two years and it was a struggle. The silver lining is that I tried too many hair care products and shared my thoughts on b.a.gorgie.com. I hope my product reviews helped a few of you. Surprisingly, I introduced a new shampoo and conditioner to the routine in 2018. My long-time favorite Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil shampoo and conditioner still have a permanent spot in the shower, but now I'm alternating with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance conditioner. This stuff is amazing!

I tried Coolsculpting and got "minimal results". Highly disappointing. After waiting four months for maximum results and feeling like I spent too much money and wasted my time, I decided to start working out (there are no shortcuts). I also changed my eating habits. I'm eating healthier and smaller portions. I'm proud to say, I've lost 14 lbs. YUP! It was a slow process (took an entire year)! I have another 6 lbs to go and am hoping to get a MIRROR Home Gym in the 2019. HINT HINT.. I'm also considering the new fat reducing procedure Vanquish. I'll let ya know how it goes.

My favorite body wash and creams are Sol de Janeiro and Aveeno (for those sensitive days). The caramel-pistachio scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum body cream, Brazilian Crush body mist and Brazilian 4 Play moisturizing shower cream-gel are delicious! This cosmetic brand has made a few appearances on the blog and still reigns supreme.

That's my favorite cosmetics, procedures, fashion brands and style diary for 2018. I'm still a cosmetic junkie and am obsessed with shoes and handbags. I have a few trips in 2019 and am already planning my outfits..