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/