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?

I dodged a bullet!

D and I got married a little more than a year ago, and our wedding was amazing. My memories of the whole weekend are all shimmery, laughing, joy, covered with glitter and faerie dust. Its hard to verbalize how magical the it was from top to bottom, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.


All that being said - I like pretty things - and occasionally I catch myself looking longingly at the wedding gowns in the JCrew catalog, or in shop windows in Soho. Wedding dresses are so glamorous (the ultimate grown up game of dress up - no?) its easy to find my self day dreaming about what I would wear if I did it all over again.


Enter BHLDN - the new wedding shop from the creative minds behind Anthropologie. Wedding porn is an egregious understatement! My oh my its dreamy! I would like one of each please!

Clearly I dodged a major bullet, and kept my wedding budget down by a few grand by having the good sense to get married before the launch of BHLDN! New brides beware! 

lovely. lovely.

Two beautiful prints from Mociun's fall 2011 collection. I can't wait to see the new line. I have two dresses from Mociun, and they are hands down some of my favorite articles of clothing. The cut, fit, and quality are all amazing - but the prints take my breath away. lovely. lovely.

How I Spent My Sunday Afternoon (a day or two late)

Last week was pretty crazy in my office - so I decided a little valentines treat was in order for some of my co-workers. I baked snickerdoodles with a bit of red food coloring added to the sugar topping so they look sweet and festive (sorry I forgot to photograph them before I bundled them up). Who doesn't like a little Monday morning sugar cookie to start the week off on the right foot?! 

Hand Holding and Smooching

Photo by Vivian Maier

Photo by Barbara Crain

Photo by Robert Doisneau

Photo by Martin Carr

Hello lovelies - I hope you are all having a wonderful Valentines Day! I tend to have mixed feelings about the holiday. Don't get me wrong I get all giddy about love and romance but the "Hallmark-ification" of the day can be a bit much. The Mr. and I decided to make dinner at home and just enjoy each others company without having to worry about prix-fixe menus (which can get pretty outrageous in NYC). He is making a risotto for the main course, and I am responsible for dessert. D is not a big chocolate fan - so I'm thinking I might try this. Its that time of year when citrus fruits are so good, and their fresh smell reminds me that spring is coming (eventuially).

I hope however you chose to spend the day is lovely.

All Quiet and New



Photo by Michael Kenna



Hello out there. This is all new to me. Well, not entirely new – but up until this keystroke I have been a more of a “lurker” (which always sounds dirty to me – so lets say “admirer”) then a participant. I guess that ends now.

I’m not entirely sure what form this space will ultimatly take. I have lots of interests and this will be a place for that – but who knows where it will end up. 


It's February, and I am dispatching from NYC which is cold and snowy - in hibernation waiting for spring. It's a nice time to start something. This space is quiet and new and full of potential.

Hello.