In a bit of a funk today

Oh NYC sometimes i love/hate you.

pretty. pretty.

A brief round up of pretty pretty things from around the web that I am loving today...

I am drooling over the new Odette line Minerva Divinus.

I am should probably start saving my pennies now for one of these beauties from the fall 2011 Mociun line - and FYI everything from fall 2010 is on sale now online here. 

This pattern from the brilliant knitters over at Purl has my fingers itching to start knitting baby sweaters. To bad the pattern is only for little ones and not grown ups too!

Strictly speaking this last one isn't some much pretty pretty as it is tasty tasty but I don't know if I can make it through the week without some of this (YES this is homemade peanutella) in my life. Is it a bad prediction for the rest of the week if I feel this way on Tuesday?

Grey and Rainy

It is a dreary day here in NYC. Perfect weather for staying inside, under warm blankets, drinking coffee, reading a good book and baking something tasty. Unfortunately, I am at work where instead of snoozing with cuddly blankets I am working with my trusty space heater humming away trying to warm my office. It certainly leaves something to be desired and I think more coffee is required if I am going to be productive.

Happy Monday to you - and I hope wherever you are is sunny and warm and bright! 

Drafty Windows and Smelly Dogs

This weekend we had gusting winds up to 40mph - which doesn't exactly motivate me to leave the apt. The one problem with staying in is that our windows face north west (i.e. the direction of Canada-the-brutal-wind-factory). It is so drafty that sometimes I can feel a breeze while I sit in our living room. Not just a little cool air but an honest to goodness - I feel like Bob Cratchit huddling up to his single lump of coal - breeze. D made some valiant attempts to insulate but its a pre-war building and with high speed winds only so much can be done. 


Enter my solution: baking. It warms up the house while simultaneously combating the musty slightly dog-ish smell our apt has taken on lately - and its about a million times more tasty then giving Oscar a bath. Problems solved.


So this weekend I made these - banana bread muffins:

There were 9 but one did not make it out of the pan intact for its photo-op. I promise it was perfectly tasty in spite of being completely un-photogenic.

I followed this recipe with a few adjustments. First, I cut it in half - because as much as I love muffins I don't exactly need to eat 2 dozen of them. I only had one banana in the apt - and since the winds outside prohibited leaving I substituted about 3 tablespoons of apple sauce for that extra half banana. I'm sure more banana would have given it a richer banana flavor, but I didn't miss it. Maybe I didn't miss the extra flavor kick because I mixed up an ad-hoc crumble (approximately 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, and a handful of dried oats) and sprinkled it on top before popping them into the oven and it baked up to sweat chewy-crispy perfection.


Temperature and dog stink crisis averted.

More Snow

I painted my toenails for this?!


What a let down after last weeks warm temps. I know spring is on the way - but these last few weeks of winter are the hardest. I'm so so so ready to put away the coats, hats, gloves, and boots. Please hurry up spring - the anticipation is killing me!

Happy Long Weekend!

I can hardly sit at my desk long enough to type because I feel sort of like this:

It is 68 degrees outside in NYC right now!

That's right - no type-o - I said 68! It is February in NYC people! Today I am wearing a light jacket (no scarf) and cropped jeans that expose my ankles to the luxurious air. Its some crazy Al Gore weather MADNESS! Sweet, warm, delicious, madness.

Sadly it wont last. Tonight we are supposed to drop back down to normal. Sigh.

Its a bit of a ghost town in our office due to the pleasant weather and long weekend intersecting. I'm sneaking out momentarily so that I can enjoy the few precious warm hours before reality sets back in.

I hope wherever you are it is sunny and warm! Happy Friday lovies.

Do I Dare?

The nubuck seaside sandal from Madewell

It's February in NYC. Today the high temperature is supposed to be a balmy 54 degrees (which actually does feel quiet warm compared to the weather we have had lately) - so of course I am doing the only logical thing - looking at sandals.


I know it sounds ridiculous but every year I make some sort of optimistic spring purchase. It is always premature, but some superstitious part of me feels like shopping for sun dresses and sandals will hasten the spring. Like groundhogs day - but more expensive. This habit insures I will have a perfect outfit in the closet ready and waiting for that first 60 degree day. It's one of my favorite days of the year. Everyone flocks to the park or to outdoor cafes hunting for a vitamin d fix. Overnight spring jackets replace wool coats and all the women in the city slip on skirts and sandals in a brazen show of optimism - generally in direct opposition to reality (because lets face it 60 degrees is still brisk).  I'm. so. ready.


In order to do my part to bring on the spring I have been coveting these beauties from Madewell. They are a bit pricey, but my main dilemma is the 3 1/2 inch heel. They might cripple me - and leave me hobbling. NYC is a walking city and more then once I have limped home with beautiful new shoes and feet that look like they were gnawed on by a wild beast. I would like to avoid that. The highest heels I wear regularly are 2 inches and I'm not sure if I can handle another inch. The web site says these have "walkable wooden soles" - but if you have to advertise that it is in fact possible to walk in these shoes it seems like that might be a bit of a red flag. No?


But...they are so cute. 


Do I dare? Do I dare?