As I am sure you are tired of hearing by now – I am constantly designing, planning and reworking my future home library nearly every single day. Do I want built-ins? Or maybe vintage shelving? Lots of natural light, or is a brooding but cozy space more my game. Well, let’s add this to the box of ideas…
[Image via Atlanta Homes Magazine]
Posted in Interiors.
– December 2, 2011
[Image courtesy of NY Daily News]
It is officially the most magical time of the year. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit – so it must be official! Of course in the midst of such a busy time of year, I can’t help but feel myself sucked into the natural excitement that is created by this city. The lights, the decorations, the music. It is always and forever one of my favorites.
And as if that wasn’t exciting enough… I officially have the best Secret Santa at work considering this was delivered to my office late this afternoon. The perfect cap to the week. And yes, I shared. Do I look like the kind of girl who would sit in a room alone and just devour an entire box of cupcakes? Ok, I probably would. But it is the season of giving. So I gave.
And then I stumbled across this post on another website and it made me laugh. And laugh, and laugh. Because didn’t we all believe that dogs were male and cats were female at some point in our lives? Naturally.
11 Things You Believed As a Kid
Miss Bianca shot! I realize it has been way too long since the queen has made an appearance, and I just know that you have missed her terribly. Well, here she is in all of her glory. Still sitting like a gremlin.
Have a lovely weekend, friends! And get ready for Christmas because IT’S COMING! xoxo
– December 2, 2011
The best part about fashion is the ability to play with your look and take risks. Because really – if today is a flop, shake it off and try again tomorrow.
Lately I have noticed a resurgence of the purposefully sheer blouse. And I have to admit that it’s a killer look. The sneak attack sex appeal really takes you by surprise, and requires a quiet confidence to pull it off. Do I have what it takes? I am not entirely sure.
[Image via The Sartorialist]
Posted in Style.
– November 28, 2011
For the third year in a row, my boy and I continued with our NYC tradition of eating out for Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I love cooking. In fact for all of our years living in Southern California, more often than not we hosted the meal ourselves. Sometimes two friends would join, sometimes twelve. But the reality of our city size easy-bake oven is that creating a pilgrim worthy feast is simply not happening. So instead, we tried a new restaurant venue again this year: The Cornelia Street Cafe. And what can I say? It was delicious and cozy and festive and more than slightly entertaining as we invited ourselves to be silent observers of our table neighbors… It was a Meet The New Girlfriend’s Parents Meal of epic proportions. The poor boyfriend was nervous and awkward and amazingly comical. But more in a it’s-so-funny-because-I’m-glad-it’s-not-me scenario.
Overall, it was the perfect Thanksgiving filled with relaxing, napping, watching movies and eating. And I have to admit that I could eat all starches and not feel an ounce of guilt. Because Thanksgiving is really all about the sides. In my opinion.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
– November 28, 2011
Eight years ago last Sunday was the day before I got married. And that was the first (and only) time in my life that I had hives. As in angry, red raised HIVES covering my entire neck and shoulders. But here is the catch, I didn’t feel nervous. I didn’t feel scared. I didn’t feel apprehensive. I didn’t even feel stressed. I remember not even being aware of my plight while I waltzed into the church to check on the progress of flowers and tables and runners only to have my aunt and my mother yelp in surprise at the colony of irritation that had planted itself on my neck.
How can someone get hives who isn’t at all nervous or stressed? It’s called internalizing. Apparently I am REALLY GOOD at it. So several rounds of Benadryl later coupled with lots of frantic “are you OKs?” and it started to fade. And I was more relaxed than I had ever been in my entire life. As in, I couldn’t feel my arms or legs. But at least I would look good in my dress the next day sans hives.
And the next morning, I awoke to what would be a perfect day. The church. The weather. My husband. The dress. THE DRESS. I still remember it fondly, and am thrilled that eight years later I would choose it again. Because it was me in the form of a wedding gown. But more importantly, I am more in love with my husband than I was eight years ago.
Yes, I am a cliche. And I fully embrace that fact. Because at the end of the day, I am happy with the man that I married so many years ago. And he loves me so much that even though he wanted to take me to one of our favorite Spanish tapas bars and show me the good life to celebrate our special day… I chose Red Lobster.
Oh yes, I did. Keeping it classy. What can I say? And while all of you sit there and judge me for my choice, it was amazing. So suck it.
Oh! And you notice the luminous quality of our skin that late at night? That would be TIMES SQUARE. Because that is the only place that holds host to Red Lobster in the entirety of New York City.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!
Posted in Happy, Life, Relationships, Uncategorized.
– November 23, 2011
On my walk home from the gym tonight there was a surprisingly comfortable breeze blowing down the street that caused handfuls of loose yellow leaves to come tumbling down. It was a lovely fall moment.
The same man stands at my subway stop in Soho each morning, handing out free newspapers to anyone willing to take one. Every day on my way to the office he catcalls winks whistles says hello. Until last week when he told me I look like Lindsay Lohan. So now he calls me “Linds.” I am not sure if I am offended or not. And I can tell you right now I am most definitely NOT her doppelganger. Nor is she mine.
I am working at 4 o’clock in the morning on Black Friday. But I don’t mind in the least because it means it is just one more day I get to wear my Christmas sweater. Complete with vintage stripes and ornaments knitted across the chest. Rock on.
I have a co-worker who has such a slight accent that I nearly always forget that her native land is not the United States, but Germany. Until in the midst of a light-hearted conversation she becomes deadly serious and demands to know the meaning of “playing hookey.” And I realize for the first time in my life just how hard it is to explain that particular turn of phrase since her confusion was only compounded when I used the equally befuddling slang of “cutting class.”
Do you ever stop and think about the interesting vignettes that make up your day? It is one of my favorite things to do.
– November 15, 2011
A colleague at work sent me this photograph today:
That’s right. The holidays are fast upon us as that is THE TREE of NYC. The tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and it just makes me tingly all over to think about it. So you can imagine that all afternoon my mind has been swirling with all things Christmas. Glitter, glitz and glam. Here are some favorites.
The dress…
The shoes… Oh! The shoes…
The polish…
Enough glitter and glitz? Never. Until I am fully dressed like the brightest ornament on the tree, it is never enough. Happy Merry Early Christmas!
And have a lovely weekend.
Posted in Beauty, Happy, Life.
– November 11, 2011
Sometimes living in the midst of a big, bustling city I forget what quiet sounds like. The way small towns seem to hum instead of yell, and politely wave instead of compulsively honk their car horns. After spending half of our weekend lives wandering through Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we decided to explore the town itself. And between the perfect fall air and the slanting rays of the sun, I was ready to just stay.
And then I found the perfect letterpress shop and my heart stopped beating as I fell in love. Cards and prints and books and candles and everything lovely and wonderful in one quaint little shop. The best part? It is called Gus and Ruby Letterpress after the owners’ dogs. In fact, we had the honor of meeting Sir Gus, the cutest little Ewok of a dog who liked nothing more than to welcome us to his domain while shameless demanding we scratch his tummy. Love.
And what would our trip be without another trip to the beach to say farewell, for now…
I hope you enjoyed hearing about our trip, because I sure had fun remembering it… Do you have any fun travel plans on the calendar?
Posted in Happy, Life, Uncategorized.
– November 10, 2011
So is it less awkward if I just jump right back in and conveniently ignore the fact that I have been remiss in my writing for an abnormal number of weeks? More awkward? Thoughts? Well… here I am. Vacation is over, I have taken some time to swim my way back to the surface of work and am fully entrenched in the wonders of FALL!, ready to go.
I thought I’d ease back into our conversation by sharing a few photographs from our time in Portsmouth and the surrounding area. Keep in mind these are just a few of hundreds that I snap, snap, snapped. It’s compulsive, really. What have you been up to while I’ve been away?
{The ocean is my favorite place to be in the world. Any ocean. Any coastline. Maybe it is the tragic ridges and rocks lining the water along the northeast shore, or maybe it is the aggressively energetic way the waves crash and ebb; but my favorite of favorite ocean to stand and watch for hours is the Atlantic.}
{While meandering through the Chamber of Commerce for the city of Portsmouth – which I shamelessly teased my boy for dragging us to for a visit before eating my words – we learned about Strawberry Banke. The country’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood. Now, for my lovely friends from across the pond you might scoff at the juvenile age of this community. A piddly 300-ish years. But trust me when I say it was incredible. Over two dozen homes that have been restored (or are in the process of being restored/excavated) for our viewing pleasure. We had the opportunity to snoop through the lives and artifacts of perfect strangers. And it was amazing. Even when I was continually tricked into believing the tour guides who played their in-character time-period parts a little too well. But I would always catch on by the end and realize that the kindly elderly lady really wasn’t best friends with George Washington.}
Well, this was the first portion of our trip… but so as not to entirely overwhelm you I thought I’d break it up into a few posts. So if you are already bored and wondering when I will stop blathering on… give it a few days and I’ll be on to a new topic. Promise.
But if you are ready for more, stay tuned. Because everyone needs to visit Portsmouth. Everyone.
Posted in Happy, Life, Uncategorized.
– November 7, 2011
This evening we landed at home for just about 12 hours – which leaves us barely enough time to repack, give Miss B some love and grab a cab to the airport for the 2nd portion of our busy travel week. And all I can say is that if the next leg of our trip is even half as incredible as the first, we are in for a nice couple of days.
My new opinion is that everyone should visit Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Everyone. Besides the fact that there is a neighborhood museum called Strawberry Banke that is made up of over TWO DOZEN PERIOD COLONIAL HOMES YOU CAN TOUR (yes, my head about exploded with excitement) but the entire town is bordered by the sea…
[Image courtesy of Annie]
And have no fear, there is plenty more to share once I fully return next week. I merely wanted to give you a taste so that you can start planning your own trip. Have a wonderful week, lovelies!
– October 17, 2011
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