Guess where I was yesterday?

How much fun would it be to cook in a kitchen this colorful?

Ok, I know you know whose kitchen this is. Come on, the orange stove is a dead giveaway.

If not that, the spotlights definitely are

That’s right, I was on the Rachel Ray show yesterday! Well, no, I wasn’t really on the show, I was more at the show – my friend PJ had two VIP tickets to a taping of the Rachel Ray Show and she asked if I wanted to go… like I’d say no!

It took a bit of organizing, of course, but my lovely husband accepted my proposal (something along the lines of “please please please can you work from home on Tuesday the 6th of April? This is the only time I’ll be able to do something like this before we *dramatic sigh* leave New York to go back to Switzerland!!” way to guilt a man into stuff, Elisa) and I was able to leave home around lunch time and wake my way to meet PJ.

Of course three weeks ago we started talking about what we were going to wear… however this didn’t actually get settled until this past weekend. Want to know why? Here’s what the studio guidelines say:

Dress your best! All audience members must follow a business casual dress code.

Please Do Not Wear:
Shorts, capri/gaucho pants, tank tops, t-shirts, ripped jeans, flip flops, sneakers, sleeveless tops, sequins, hats, very busy patterns, white or primarily white/off-white/light pink tops or shirts, jogging suits or velour, pant suits.

That seems fairly straightforward, right? I’d wear my denim trousers and my black turtleneck. But then PJ said “to avoid being turned down at the entrance, better wear no denim whatsoever”. Ok, then, black trousers. Black trousers and a black turtleneck? No. Come on, I can’t go to see a TV show with a set as colorful as a circus tent, dressed like a member of the Addams family.

Upon closer inspection, I had to eliminate all other tops in my wardrobe for one or more of the following reasons:
- unflattering
- boring (when worn with black pants)
- too dark
- too light
- too revealing (if it’s something that might be embarrassing on an aerial shot, leave it)

Which made me decide to wear a dress. But after trying on my 4 dresses, I eliminated them for the following reasons:
- short sleeves (I don’t know why it’s so freaking cold in April, but it is)
- too dressy
- doesn’t zip up (I really need to lay off the Italian food that my family keeps demanding)

After a quick trip to the store, I found something that might work – and here’s what I ended up wearing:

Note: the dress is much cuter than it looks, and sooo soft! And the boots are actually the same exact grey as the dress. Also, that’s not the exact sweater coat I wore, but close enough.

Necklace + charms: Thomas Sabo (price varies depending on charms and type of chain)
Dress: Merona puff sleeve dress, $24.99
Boots: Ash hidden platform boots in grey suede, $60 on sale at Shopbop (originally $220)
Scarf: Azuri silk-cashmere blend feather pashmina in Amethyst, $29 at Nimli
Tights: Hue opaque black tights, $12.50 at BareNecessities

I was so glad to find an outfit that was flattering and comfortable! It was the first time I wore the grey ankle boots for that many hours (8 hours, between when I left home and when I got back!) and I was still standing when I got home, which is a good sign

The show was really fun, RC the warm-up comic was there to keep us entertained in between segments, and we went home with a cookbook, a cupcake, the April issue of the magazine and a tote bag.

Also, this morning I somehow felt like baking – I guess being at a cooking show inspired me – so I whipped up a batch of Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins. Maybe I can try to attend the taping of a fitness/exercise/weight loss show next, and that will inspire me… you know, in that general direction.