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!