what'll it be?

I'm always envious when in a movie, there is a perfectly stocked bar in an apartment. Would you like a nightcap? Done. Would you prefer a gin or vodka martini? Tada. So this post is a simple list of how to easily stock your own personal bar with the essentials. The list was taken from a few blogs, additional websites and my own minimal bartending knowledge. There were a lot of hardware items I've left off, I hardly use a cocktail shaker but I figured this may be useful for others. I also didn't include any juices because none of my friends or I use them as mixers. Tonic and club soda fly fine with us but make your own amends and of course comments and tips are always welcome and encouraged! Cheers!

Hardware:
If you want to measure out your cocktails a really great set of hardware can be purchased here. I'm more accustom to free pouring which breaks down to a count per 1/4 oz.

Standard Shaker - Metal is best. The shakers with rubber for 'better grip' just stick and become more of a mess than anything.
Corkscrew - Go with an original design and nothing fancy. Odds are you're going to break up the cork with anything special and who wants cork with their wine, not me!

Spirits:
A bottle or so of each. If you drink more of one than another, double up on that and do a small bottle of the others. No need to overstock, no one (in Manhattan anyway) has extra room.

Vodka, Gin, Bourbon, Tequila, Whiskey, Scotch or Rye and Rum - light or dark, your choice of poison

Liqueurs:
Cointreau/Triple Sec - Depending on what you want to pay
Dry Vermouth/Sweet Vermouth - Depending on how you drink your martinis

Wine:
Again this depends on your personal taste. We drink more red than white but it's good to have both for company.

Other:
Simple Syrup, Grenadine - Rose's is my personal favorite, Lemon Juice, Lime Juice - Again, Rose's it's the best!, Tonic, Club Soda, Martini Olives, Maraschino cherries and Coarse Salt

self resolving

resolving: to reduce by analysis {resolve the problem into simple elements}
I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions. Usually if I do they are simple and attainable. Last year it was to drink less soda and to take care of my skin and body. Well having that I don't drink much soda as it is, that was easy. I began a new skin regime and worked on cooking more at home and eating out less, as well as running more and then joining a gym once the weather dropped. This year, I'm simplifying even more: be polite. Open doors, hold doors, say thank you, say you're welcome, say bless you, offer more help, hold your tongue, smile more, become more aware of those around me (don't zone out on an ipod, interact instead), etc. I think that by simply saying, be polite, covers a lot of areas in my life that I'd like to work on. There will always be small resolutions like swear less (obviously that doesn't reflect in this post) and dance more but I think that being polite is one of the most important traits a person can work on. Here's to a healthy and happy 2011!

hello, I live here

As previous posted, I loath moving. However sometimes you do find a gem and it's worth the hassle. In respect to my roommate and best friend, I tried to be open about finding a new place to live. The catch was that I would go see a place after she had already pre-screened it with hopes that no one would be wasting their time. Leave it to Valerie to find a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment in one of my favorite parts of the city, the Upper West Side. An avenue from the park and steps away from my favorite thai, book store and coffee shop, we were home. Within the next few weeks we will be relocating to our new place. Luckily there is a overlap with leases in which we can get over to the new apartment and paint and decorate before all the boxes and furniture arrive. I've been busy drawing up inspiration boards for each room (to be posted soon), pulling pantone swatches (to match paint to of course) and obsessing over chandeliers. Side note: Valerie's first words about the apartment were, "The ceilings are high enough for chandeliers, you are going to love it!" She knows exactly how to hook me! So as much as I tantrumed and moaned, I think this will be a good thing. Thank you Valerie, I'm very excited to still have you as a roommate and be able to move into a blissful Upper West Side apartment.

the weather outside

Finally snow! I'm bundled up here in Pennsylvania waiting for the storm that's going to blowing though. With no responsibilities other than to make coffee, read and hang out with the family, I am more than thrilled to watch the snow fall. I hope everyone is enjoying their own holiday break. I think I'll set up camp in front of our own fireplace today, seems like a completely appropriate way to spend the day :o)

a dress with an agenda

So it begins, the search for the perfect dress. It needs to say so many things but only those which are appropriate for the occasion. Is it black, cream or blue? Does it have lace, embellishments or beading? Short or long? I'm a full believer in less is more but I doubt that's a good mantra for this occasion. I'm excited for the snow but hoping it wraps up sooner than later. Ice, slush and road salt does not mix well with heels, a dress and a few cocktails. Wouldn't it be fun if it were appropriate and full-on expected to wear full gowns and tuxedos out all the time? I would toss something like the gown above on and zip out for a night on the town. I D-I-E (Rachel Zoe voice) for guys in tuxedos and live for reasons to go all out with hair, makeup and clothing. Maybe there's a trend in this somewhere or maybe I'm just ridiculous. Either way the hunt is on and it's an important one - it's the first date outfit.

concrete jungle

This article is so spot on about how I feel about NYC. It's a love/hate relationship and we all are aware of my commitment issues. I'm 'locked' in for at least one more year but hey, you never know what could happen. Here's my favorite quote of the article because I am always so ready to get out but as soon as I do, I want back in. "Go home and feel relieved to be away from the energy of the city, that punishing 4:00 a.m. last call. Spend the first two days eating and sleeping, getting back to normal. Spend the last two days feeling anxious and ready to get back to your real home. Realize this city has you by the balls and isn’t going to let you go."

back to my roots

Isn't it ironic? I colored my hair back to its natural color and then everywhere I look, bold, beautiful blondes. Sigh, I have such hair envy but it had to happen. To add fuel to the fire this blog came along. I look forward to the return of my blonde locks but for now I'll be rocking au naturel.

table for one

So that chair from yesterday? This is its match made in heaven. I first set my eyes on the mirrored vanity in Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in sex and the city. I would like to add one to my bedroom as a vanity/desk. I think my mac and the shabby chic chair are perfect accessories to this beauty. It's going to be hell to keep clean but I'm up for the challenge. I think it'd really open up the space and to defend my purchase, it doubles as a mirror to check out my outfit about shoes to high thigh. So useful, ha!

have a seat

The search for the perfect skeleton of a Louis XV chair is on. This is the first of many design goals I'm setting for the year. The top 4 photos are fabric pulls which I'd love to use as inspiration for what I will recover my chair with. The problem is, which each inspiration piece I find, the more excited I get and the less I am able to focus in on what I want the final result to be. Do I want it very bright? Do I want velvet? Do I want a pattern vs. a solid and do I illustrate my own fabric? So many decisions but I'm so excited to get started. The first step is to find the perfect skeleton. I'm open to the shape and whether or not the chair has arms or not. I'm obsessed with making my own custom design. Whether it be artwork, pillows or painting a desk, I just want it to be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I'll be hitting some flea markets while I'm in PA this holiday season, and thank goodness, able to use a car to haul myself and my finds around rather than the subway. If you know of anyone getting rid of a similar chair, PLEASE let me know!

on the hunt

They say you're always searching for a boyfriend, a job or an apartment in Manhattan. I'm newly single but fine with that and all set on the job front but the third… I'm not sure. Apartment shopping in the big apple is absolute hell if I may say so. Full of sketchy landlords, pushy brokers, weirdo neighbors and the fear of bedbugs make the whole experience stressful and annoying. Not to mention, I have extremely high standards when it comes to where I live. I want a place which I won't mind investing my own time and money into to make it beautiful. But I don't want to do this crammed in a 'two bedroom' (which most of the time means one bedroom which an office or mudroom) on the upper 'whatever' side. I currently reside in Hoboken, NJ which, while I know there are some judgements because it's Jersey, I really do love. The people are young professionals all hailing from college not ready to grow up yet. Sunday means 'Sunday Funday' full of football, boozy brunch and the green beach. And every ma and pop shop is full of crazy Italian men who call you 'bella' and wave hello when you walk past because they never forget your face. So do I take the plunge and move or do I stay? I dream of the day where I can just have my own little house where I am free to decorate and redecorate to my own liking without the neighbors child upstairs running rampant at 6 am or with the smoke from next door seeping into my vents. What to do, what to do.

snow queen

Seems it's been snowing everywhere but NYC/NJ area so far this year. While I'm not a huge fan of winter in general, snow is one of the only seasonal changes I do enjoy. I used to sit in the snow for hours when I was younger. My dad was a pro at making snow people and I thought of myself as his right hand helper. I'm hoping for more snow once I get back to PA for the holiday. White Christmas Wishes! xo

heart of the matter

I'm most definitely the pink symbolic heart on the right. More so now than ever that I recently became a single rather than part of a pair. It's been a while since I've been single and it seemed scary at first but after diving in and getting out there to meet some new people and reconnecting with old friends, I'm leaning to enjoy it. I forgot how far a smile goes, how fun getting ready is when you aren't sure who you might run into and the giddiness of someone new holding your hand to lead you to the dance floor. I've realized I have much more 'me' time which came at a really good point in my life. Hopefully a good amount of that time will be contributed to this blog. So I propose a toast, to all of you who are single and fabulous out there (and not single and fabulous? via sex and the city 1999).

A disclaimer: My relationship ended due to a mutual agreement and while I can't control who reads this blog I can control my opinion publicly on this post. The break was private and personal and this is by no means a call out to the wild and single me but rather a note to a newer, brighter, single gal that I am becoming. I was in love but it happens, people change, atmospheres change, and things happen; sometimes for the better.

picture perfect

Shopping with a purpose? Say it isn't so. Here's the real reason I'm posting this photo, I obsessively keep shopping bags with exquisite printing, fabulous design and unique paper. The problem is, they sit in my closet and collect dust. But when I came across this little ditty, my heart bloomed. I wish I had a great walk in closet to where I could frame all my goodies and set them on display. Sigh, one day!

no_vember

I wish I had a better excuse but I don't. I haven't been here for a long time and the truth is, I shut down in November. I hate everything about this month. It's childish and immature but I want to stomp my feet and stay in bed for a 30 days until it's over. With the change of weather and daylight savings I struggle everyday getting out of bed, with finding motivation all day and then at night I'm overwhelmed with anxiety because I don't feel like I accomplished anything that day. There's a good chance this will be one of my only posts for November. I even hate this post. See you in December.

blonde ambition

I've been a busy bee the past few days and haven't gotten to post anything. I'm just checking in, saying hi, passing along a photo of two blondes (inspired by Mallory and I of course). I'm so pumped about her coming to visit tomorrow. Everyday since then has been filled with getting ahead at work, cleaning, shopping, freelance design and working my ass off at the gym. I'll have plenty to chat about after the weekend. Catch ya'll later! ;-)

let me tell you bout my best friend

I have a ratio of 2:1 with guy friends versus girl friends. This weekend though my best friend Mallory flies in from Chicago just in time for cider, halloween and fall frolicking in the city. While summer holds strong at my first favorite season in Manhattan, fall is a close second. I've been scouting out vintage shops for the past few weeks and writing down all my favorite coffee shops to make sure we gas up at all of them. I love my down time with the guys but am looking forward to some serious gal time with Mal. I plan on trying to seduce her with the beauty of Manhattan so that she'll move here with her amazing boyfriend Lorenzo. Fingers crossed! Photo credit to wildfox couture.

a precious pout

Some say that lipstick was first worn by Greek women who crushed semi-precious jewels and adorned their lips with them. When I was younger lipstick meant dance recitals, halloween and playing dress up at my mom-moms. Today it's an essential part of my daily routine. It's the last thing I do before I leave my apartment and the first thing I think about when putting an outfit together. Like I previously posted about my love of solid black with a pop of color, this is another way I achieve that look. I have little lips but color boosts them up and makes me feel confident and much like a classic movie star. Above are some of my favorite colors from NARS. Their matte lipstick is the best. It stays on forever and doesn't smudge or bleed to your skin. Left to Right: Funny Face, Jungle Red, Love Devotion, Manhunt, Roman Holiday

hellbent

I caught Hellcats last night on the CW and openly confess that I loved it. I can't help it! It's cheerleading, dancing, gymnastics and everything else that made up the past 24 years of my life. I had no idea who the lead blonde was but intended to google her the first chance I got. Name: Aly Michalka. Obsessed: Very. Here's Aly at the premiere of 'Easy A' in LA. I LOVE this entire look. The cat eye, the nude lips, the hair (oh my god that hair) and the dress to boot. Sadly I can't located the designer of the dress but will update when I do. She's just to die for. Total gym inspiration and having that I took the day off yesterday due to extreme lack of sleep, tonight I'll be going back with a mental photo of this chicks bad bod. Girl Crush!

anything you can do, i can do better

I see it in magazines and on the street. I do it in my apartment but always chicken out last minute. I'm talking about shorts with tights! I love the look on everyone else but never thought I could pull it off myself. Today is a new day and I was feeling quite adventurous while getting dressed this morning. After a quick phone google of 'shorts with tights' I found my inspiration, threw together an ensemble and out the door I went. Olivia Palermo twist back hair to polish off the look! Happy Thursday. I'll try to follow up with a photo of my own outfit! :)

i wish i may, i wish i might

I wish that I could sleep soundly. For as long as I can remember, I've been affected by night terrors. Night terrors are one of those odd phenomenons like migraines; no one exactly knows how or why they happen or why some are more susceptible to them. They are more common in children but have followed me through my entire life. Unlike a nightmare, the person is unaware that when they awake that the dreamlike state was unreal. They continue to be in this dream state for several seconds, sometimes minutes before they are able to slow their heart rate and come to full consciousness. Everyone has their own diagnoses or treatment. Mine tend to be triggered by exceptional high amounts of stress or extreme lack of sleep. They cause me to stay awake for endless hours because I am too worried to sleep which in turn makes me more tired, triggering longer terrors and a higher risk of having them. I wake up completely drenched, usually crying uncontrollably but having zero recollection of what happened. It takes me a few minutes to come around. I can usually predict how long I have until they set again. I know how long I can go without sleep and a terrible diet due to many late nights in the design studio in college. My roommate laughs at my sleep marathons that sometimes last 15+ hours but the truth is, they are completely necessary. I shock my body with vitamin C and sleep. Even if I'm not tired, I go to bed and lay there. I don't let myself get up until can sleep for a few hours without waking up in a cold sweat. Due to my lack of sleep the past few days I can feel them creeping up on me. So tonight, 8pm bedtime for this girl. I wish the terrors were as beautiful as the photos above.

something blue

Awoke to the sound of rain this morning which means I didn't get up until the last possible minute. I've been having the worst time sleeping for a few days. I tried to pull my blinds, making everything pitch black, window open, window close, tea before bed, extra blankets, more clothes, less clothes, but nothing has changed. I wake up with nightmares lingering, you know that feeling? Sometimes a change of atmosphere helps, maybe tonight I'll crash in the living room. Anyway, not to bore you all with my sleepless nights. Mood board for the rain today. The sky was the most perfect gray-blue this morning when I finally did get out of bed. These pictures capture the color, softness, reflection and overall attitude of my morning. Have a good Tuesday.

shot to the heart

Here's my issue with the flu shot, I'm convinced that by getting it that I will jinx myself into catching it. I caught a bug last year that was so terrible it almost ruined my trip to Colorado to ski with three of my best guy friends. Was it the flu? I'll never know but I do know it was awful. So what do you think? Can anyone recommend where they go their own flu shot? Dress credit to The Blondes.

meet vivian

It's been a crazy week/weekend! Sorry about the lull of posts but good news, I have a new addition and her name is Vivian. I've always wanted a sewing machine but never took the plunge. After spending Saturday in the Garment District I decided that it was time. So I took myself to Target and picked up my Singer Quick Fix. Now all I can think about is all the wonderful things I can make!

they're young, they're in love, they rob banks

Halloween this year will be inspired by Bonnie and Clyde. The attitude, the fashion, the beauty and the hardness of the 30s. I can't wait to go vintage shopping for this one. I'll be hitting up Edith Machinist (on Rivington) and Family Jewels (on West 23rd) both in Manhattan. If you have any other vintage stores to recommend, drop me a comment, I'd love to hear! :)

she sells sea scallop soup

Soups seem so much harder to make than anything else to me. But with the help of my dad, I might try this one out this weekend while I'm home. It seems pretty basic. I'm allergic to nuts though so out go those hazelnuts. What a shame, probably delish! Thought I'd share :o)

Seared Scallops with Pumpkin Soup
Women's Health Magazine, October 2010, Page 96

12 oz fresh sea scallops
1 can (15 oz) unflavored pumpkin puree
2 tbsp roughly chopped hazelnuts
8 to 10 chives, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive olive

Put it together:
1. Toast chopped hazelnuts, either in the oven (10 minutes at 400 degrees F) or on the stove in a stainless-steel saute pan (5 to 7 minutes over medium heat, shaking often so they don't burn). Set aside.

2. Combine pumpkin, honey, butter and broth in a medium saucepan, and heat the mixture on low until it's warmed through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep the mixture warm.

3. Preheat a cast-iron skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Pat scallops dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper to taste. Add oil to the pan, and then add scallops. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they're firm, browned and caramelized.

4. Pour soup into wide-rimmed serving bowls. Add scallops and hazelnuts, and garnish with chopped chives.

Makes 2 servings. Per serving: 430 Calories, 17 g fat (5 g sat), 35 g carbs, 460 mg sodium, 7 g fiber, 35 g protein

hydration vessel

I know everyone is on the green kick, but do those aluminum bottles have to be so awful looking? I've needed a water bottle for a while but like anything I purchase, it has to be designed well. For a while I was reusing a VOSS water bottle because of how sleek the design was but somewhere, somehow I lost it. So I began my search and found the KOR ONE bottle. Finally, a bottle that is well designed.

http://www.korwater.com/shop

you spin me right round

I want to go to the gym and leave completely wiped out, but in a good way. That sense of accomplishment and letting everything go from the day. While running around in +6" heels may have seemed like a workout to me at first, I came to the conclusion that I needed to do more to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. So I joined a gym, Club H Fitness to be exact and started taking spin. What I got in return is a new favorite way to work out full of dance music, crazy pumped up instructors and 45-55 minutes of complete and utter muscle hell. If you haven't tried spin yet, let me tell you that it can change your body faster than you can imagine. It's not just about your legs, but rather your entire core, arms and mind. I've learned to breathe more evenly to due to the flux in resistance that is put on your bike throughout the class. If you are looking to spice up your workout, give it a try. I highly suggest Robert's class on Tuesday at 7 pm or Jen La's class on Saturday at 9:45 am. These are both at the Hoboken Location.

http://tiny.cc/spin_schedule

moody gray

Waking up to the rain always puts in me in a odd mood. Kind of slinky-slow like I just drank a bottle of wine. I'm starting to wake up now but the board above visually describes my mood. Happy Thursday, one more day until weekend bliss.

breaking the rules

There are so many rules in fashion. Thankfully NYC throws most of them out of the window. For example, no black and brown mixing, no tights before fall officially begins or do/do not match your purse, shoes and belt. The worst rule, no white after Labor Day. I've decided this year, I'm putting my foot down on this one. I just picked up an ivory mini dress while visiting Chicago and I'll be damned if I have to wait until May to wear it. I'm writing own rules for this fashion faux pas;

1. Rules are meant to be broken
2. Bright white heels, pumps, bags and dresses will stay put in my closet until May but...
3. Pearl, cream, winter, khaki, ivory and off white will be completely acceptable

I invite everyone else to follow their own set of rules. Who even makes these rules! Tory Burch hit the runway with the outfit above from her S/S 11 line but I think it would be perfect for a crisp fall day. What do you think?

notable paper

I'm a paper geek in every sense of the word. I touch every label, notebook, box, book, etc. to feel the paper. Most of the time, I can tell you the type and weight just by feeling it, this is not something I'm exactly proud of. But when I came across this notebook from Kate Spade, I had to share. The paper's great, the illustrations are too cute and it's spiral bound meaning your pages won't fall out from bending it back and forth. You can purchase it here, only $12!
http://tiny.cc/get_organized

the mask

Shout out to a favorite model of mine, Abby Lee Kershaw. That hair, those lips, that body! If anything gets me up and moving to the gym today, this is it. More below from Vogue's 90th Anniversary Party.

http://tiny.cc/masquerade_party

gob versus whoopie

Gob: Western Pennsylvania slang for Whoopie Pie
Whoopie Pie: Eastern Pennsylvania slang for Gob

I can't deny my fall obsession with everything pumpkin. The lattes, the pies, carvings, beers, and the list goes on. You haven't fully taken the pumpkin plunge though until you've tasted Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese filling. Like the lemon bars that were previously posted, these have been taste tested and approved by my family and office. I first sunk my teeth into these at work when my coworker and friend Erin brought them in. The recipe does take some time to complete but you get a hefty serving and it makes your whole place smell amazing. The link is below, let me know how they turn out!

http://tiny.cc/pumpkin_woopie

poppy perfect

I'm a fan of wearing all black with a pop of color. Usually I highlight my lips with a deep red or wine colored lip stick. This poppy flower pin could be my new trick though. I"m pretty sure I could make one of these myself but in the case that I need it right away, they are available for purchase at the site listed below. Think if you did one in a great patterned fabric. A trip to the garment district may be in my near future!

http://www.emersonmade.com/collections/flower-pins

watercolor dreams

One more post until I am off for the weekend. I thought this beautiful dress was appropriate given all the rain we've had in the past few days. Have a great weekend, stay dry :)

http://bit.ly/atXJwd

good friday

I usually try to be ahead of the curve. Especially with hip hop music. For those of you who know me, you know how much I enjoy dancing around and attempting to rap with my favorite artists. I was behind with this little gem though. Let me introduce you to Mr. West's Good Fridays. Each Friday until his album drops, a new track is released on the site. To get these free downloads, simply click on one of the type boxes at the bottom of the screen, enter your email (don't worry, you won't get any mail) and hit download. It goes right to your itunes. My favorite is 'Monster.' Enjoy.

http://kanyewest.com/GOODFridays/

watch your tone

I trust Clinique but when this product came out, I was very skeptical. Mostly because it sounded too good to be true. While I never suffered from acne or other skin problems, I was always wishing the overall tone of my skin was more even. It's not severe enough to call in a doctor and can easily be covered up with minimal makeup. For those reasons alone, I sing the praises of Clinique's Even Better line. It works for severe cases and cases like mine that are minimal. After 40 days I saw a noticeable reduction of redness in my lower cheeks and my chin from using the serum (shown on the right). Now I use the moisturizer (shown on the left) every 3 days and the serum as a spot treatment. The best part, I'm still on the same bottle of serum from 3 months ago and I never skipped on application. There's more than enough in the bottle. So whether you can severe skin tone problems or minimal you can use this product. I highly recommend it.

espressing my love

I pour my heart out for espresso machines. I love coffee, lattes, teas, espresso, the works. But the expensive of an espresso machine and the wariness of not knowing how to use one was keeping me from indulging in my favorite bad habit. That was until, I met Bialetti. Staying in Chicago last weekend was full of coffee shop stops and many, many pots of coffee shared between me and my best friend. I was eying the strange little contraption on the stove until the news broke, it was an espresso maker. That was the same moment I feel in love. Her kind boyfriend showed me how it worked and voilà! perfect espresso. My sole goal is to pick one up this weekend and to scout some espresso cups, can't wait!

sweet treat

I've always wondered how to make these and when I came across them on Steph Modo's blog, I couldn't resist. Taste tested and approved by my entire family and office, these are easy, fun and mindless to make. Go! Do it! I promise you'll love them!
Original recipe re-posted from here: http://tiny.cc/izm9z

Double Lemon Bars
Bon Appetit, 1991, Lana Sills

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, cut into pieces, room temperature

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon all purpose flour

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in large bowl. Add butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press mixture into bottom of 9x13x2-inch baking dish. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Maintain oven temperature.

Beat eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon flour and lemon peel in medium bowl to blend. Pour into crust. Bake until mixture is set, about 20 minutes. Cool.

Cut into 24 bars. Sift powdered sugar over top before serving. If you are going to stack them, be sure to sift powdered sugar on top before using wax paper to divide the top and bottom row. This way they won't stick together. :)

olfactory bulb

I love how smells trigger memories. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Certain perfumes remind me of people or moments in time. Chanel Chance will always remind me of my first summer in Manhattan. The smell of coffee always triggers a smile, reminding me of my mom and mom-mom. (I was always allowed to sip along even as a child.) There are even smells that while they trigger bad memories, I am grateful for the conditioned response regardless.

I read up some and learned that your olfactory bulb, part of the brain's limbic system is responsible for this experience. Whenever you smell a new scent, your brain automatically links it to a place, person, event, or experience, forever forging the two together. The article is below. Above are my 6 fall picks. I hope to slowly gather them all for my collection and to forge new great memories this fall.

Clockwise, starting at the top left: Chloe, Flowerbomb Viktor & Rolf, Bvlgari Omnia Green Jade, Vera Wang, Chanel Mademoiselle and Balenciaga Paris.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nose-throat/smell3.htm

nyfw

Katie Gallagher's SS11 Arena Preview

http://vimeo.com/14904229

made-well-type

I have a sister who bleeds bobby pins. Seriously wherever she goes you know because she leaves them behind like a paper trail. This type treatment goes out to her. Love you Dani :)

clipping coupons

Good Morning! I'm thinking with my discount card I might get a new perfume. I've had my eye on a few :)

how to treat a snake bite

I have been gone for a long while. The truth is, the truth hurts. The internet is a very public place and when I started writing and posting, I didn't fully grasp who exactly would read this. Sometimes the feedback was really sweet and sometimes, not so much. I hadn't realized how much it actually hurt my feelings until I had finished deleting everything from the page. That was when I decided I needed to suck all the poison out of my life. It went something like this;

1. Get the victim away from the snake: I tried to ignore it. One of those mind games that go like, "If I don't look at it, it won't hurt me or I won't feel the effects." But it still stung and it wasn't going away quick enough.

2. Remove clothing or constricting items: I deleted the posts, realizing that if it was still up, comments could still be made. I had to protect myself. My opinions and thoughts are mine and while I openly accept criticism daily, this hurt because it was personal and I really took it to heart.

3. Minimize activity: I found new activities that were more private and much more rewarding than surfing the web. I found myself becoming a great runner and an alright cook when I really put my mind to it!

4. Do not cut the bite site or use your mouth to suck out the poison: There was no use in saying anything about the comments. Carrying on was the best thing I could do. I feel the need to speak now after I feel different about the situation and have forgiven completely.

5. Clean the bite site with soap and water: Surrounding myself when bright, shiny new people. Making more friends, thinking double, even triple before I speak, working on being a better person and friend to everyone I come in contact with. Even if that's complimenting a stranger or holding a door.

6. Splint the bitten limb to prevent motion: There has been so much time between when I've last posted, I needed that time to situate myself and make sure that if it happens again, I'll be ready and okay with it.

7. Keep the victim calm and protected from the environment: I'm back but my guard is up and it will forever be with those who felt the need to impose their negativity on me.

I'm not upset anymore. It was probably not even as big of a deal as it was when it happened. But I did what I had to do to protect myself from getting hurt. I'll be happily posting when I can. In the meantime you should read this post about a similar subject.

http://www.stephmodo.com/2010/09/combating-negativity.html

all in good time

up, up & away. back soon & posts to come