Monthly Archives: November 2011

Dream Home: City Edition


Being married into real estate – Mark is a developer – I look at houses all the time.  At first I only looked at homes in the city where we live and work, but then my imagination got the best of me and began “trolling” real estate in other cities and began to identify what I like and where.

I have a really clear sense of what I like in most settings and over the next few Mondays I’ll be sharing them with you, but first up, the most perfect (in my opinion), city loft apartment.

This is the New York City apartment of Devon and Phil Radizwill as featured in Vogue.

Living Room

Shared Office and Library Space

Fun and Games

Time for Rest

What I love: the clean lines, the enormous original panel windows, the exposed brick, the wood and cement floors, the mix of masculine and feminine design, and the pops of color through beautiful art installations and fresh flowers.

I think of liking real estate in the same way as shopping for a wedding dress, when you know, you know.  There is something about it that just fits better than all the rest.  The other good thing, like a wedding dress, it only has to fit for a short while, not the rest of your life as you know your needs and tastes change.

Do you have a city home/apartment style?

 

Weekend Wardrobe: Lady Luck


Today is 11/11/11 and for many it’s feeling very lucky.  Sounds like a good time to bet on success, and take a gamble over some dice, or cards or life.  I am not going to Atlantic City or Las Vegas, and actually I have never been, but if I was how great would it be to have all of this extra luck on my side?

For my fantasy trip and jackpot winnings, this is what I am wearing.

Weekend Wardrobe: Lady Luck

Shop: Nails, Cards, Dress, Hearts, Purse, Pumps

What could be more lucky that a rabbit’s foot (maybe faux for real) at your side, mirrors at your feet, and diamonds on your ears?

Have a very lucky weekend!

Roasted Vegetable Pasta


A few weeks ago I scraped together some vegetables from the refrigerator to make a pasta dish.  A few bites in Mark, my most honest taste tester, proclaimed it the best pasta dish I had ever made.  When I find a good thing or a great recipe, I stick with it  – I have made this dinner for the last three weeks!

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Ingredients
1 large eggplant
1 pint of cherry tomatoes
2 handfuls of green beans
2 links of chicken sausage (optional)
1 onion
Spaghetti for 2 (1/2 box of Quinoa Heritage spaghetti)
1 tbsp Olive oil for the pan
Olive oil spray
Garlic (I use cubes, three)
Basil (I use cubes, three)
Salt and Pepper
Pepperoncino to taste
Parmigiana Cheese to taste
 

 The great thing is that with this recipe there are no rules.  Did you want more pasta than vegetables?  Sure.  Love green beans?  Make it three handfuls!

Cut the eggplant width-wise into coins and then cut across into cubes.  Prepare a cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with extra virgin olive oil spray.  Spread the eggplant evenly on the sheet, spray eggplant with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.  Bake on the top shelf of the oven at 350 for 35 minutes.

While the eggplant is roasting, get to work on the rest of the ingredients.  In a sauce pan melt the onions in olive oil with garlic and basil.  If you’re including the sausage, add slices to pan. Then, add the cleaned green beans and sautee on low/medium heat.  The green beans can hang out on their own for a little while without much attention, just a stir here and there.  I top the pan with a cover to allow the steam to soften the beans, but not too soft.

After the eggplant has been roasting for 15 – 20 minutes add to the oven the halved cherry tomatoes, also treated with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Place the tomatoes on the top shelf to allow them to get blistered.

During this time, set the water to boil for your pasta of choice.  After the vegetables are cooked/roasted and the pasta is perfectly al dente, add the drained pasta to the green beans pan, along with the eggplant and tomatoes.  Give the entire pan a light drizzle of olive oil and gently stir to incorporate all of the ingredients.

Serve with fresh shaved Parmigiano and a sprinkle of pepperoncino – and then you can also weigh in if this is your favorite pasta dish to date.

P.S. Mark, this is dinner tonight!

A Love Bigger than Texas, Wedding Inspiration


One of my cousins recently got engaged and I couldn’t be happier for her and her fiance.  She is a super cool, down to earth girl, teaches yoga (extra cool points) and together they live in Austin.

I have never been to Texas, but in a recent email she really sold me on it, and the BBQ options that I could find there.  Anyway, as I was thinking about my transplanted to Texas cousin, and her new engagement I got “inspired” and made a sweet as tea inspiration board.

Texas Wedding Inspiration

I am really into an earthy color palette of muted golds, yellows and greens that are tied together with a neutral gray.  This inspiration board celebrates the natural environment with a sense of chic simplicity.

A few favorite elements: I love the abundance and homeyness of the outdoor buffet display, the succulents in place of traditional flowers on the bouquet and cake, and the organic and romantic nature of the ceremony space.

Source: Wedding Dress, Bridesmaid Dress, Bouquet, Ceremony, Buffet, Cake, Centerpiece, Succulents, Reception

Would you say “I do” to this Texas inspired wedding?

Faux Real Leather: Looks for Less


Certain items are fashion perennials, in the sense that every year they reappear and never quite go out of style.  In honor of the upcoming holiday season, and the large amount of shopping you’ll likely do, I’ll be identifying some faux/real looks at a variety of price points to keep you in style and hopefully in the black.

There is something about leather pants that I am so into this season, and at the right price and fit, I would definitely go for this trend.  No longer relegated to rock and roll groupies and motorcycle babes, this trend is here to stay.  Even the GAP is deeming leather the new denim

Mandy Moore - Professional Leather

Gwyneth Paltrom - Prim Leather

The first “save” option is from Blank Denim NYC (at Piperlime).  While not really leather, and not even faux leather or pleather, Blank makes a great fitting, low price five pocket jean and is on trend with the sheen and slick look.

Blank Denim - Black Wax Denim

In the “splurge” category is the 901 Coated Legging from J Brand.  I have worn and loved many pairs of J Brand jeans, and I will testify they do make a fabulous fitting jean, and if you’re going for the leather look, it is very exciting to not have to compromise on comfort for style.

J Brand 901 Coated

In the “savings account” category we have the Lambskin Leather Skinny from J Brand.  This is the 8001 series fit, a mid-rise skinny, and for extra biker edge with an ankle zipper.  All leather, J Brand is deeming these luxury redefined.

J Brand - Lambskin

Would you wear leather this season?  And is it something you would be willing to splurge on?

Where to Live?


The other day on Twitter, someone tweeted how excited they were to be traveling to the place where all of her favorite people live… and it got me thinking, well, then why doesn’t she just move there?

Choosing where to live is often an organic decision determined slow and overtime by inertia, or lightning quick and surprising (to everyone, but you).

Where do you live?  Are you a city mouse or a country mouse?  Where did you think you would live when you “grew up”? Or do you think you’ll keep moving as you keep growing up?

We had an interesting discussion last night about living in an area that is popular, aka visited by a lot of people who don’t live there.  And the two sides of the coin showed that this area would always be vibrant and full of activity, but it would also always be transient and visited by people who wouldn’t love it and treat it like home.

I think that’s why so many people like to travel, it introduces us to new places, broadens our horizons, strengthens our capacity and willingness to explore, and then, when we return home we are once again, if at least only for a moment, delighted by the familiar.

Home, Sweet Home.

Tea (or Coffee) for Two


I am not really a tea or coffee drinker.  I grew up in the age of Clueless, and at an impressionable 10 years old, I believed Cher Horowitz when she shunned coffee because it would eventually stunt her growth.  I’m 5’9 – so you tell me…

Anyway, while I don’t get buzzing over a cup filled with coffee, the same cannot be said about coffee cups.  As the weather turns cooler how lovely would it be to plop down on an oversize sofa cushion with a fresh cup of coffee, or cocoa in one of these charming little cups.

Cup of Letters at Anthopologie

A Kissed Cup by Reiko Kaneko

Heartfelt Cup by Yedi Drinkware at Macy's

I think these would make a great cup for your own home, or as a gift.

A few years ago I used the letter cups for small Christmas gifts and housewarming presents.   They were a great hit, and a very affordable way to send a personalized token.

The heart cups are just dreamy for a ladies – only tea party or shower.  So if you buy housewares for a future event, consider them.

The lipstick kissed cup is perhaps my favorite.  I love the touch of sparkle, the dripping gold (or platinum) and the idea of a more glamorous morning cup.  Besides, who really wears lipstick to the breakfast table?

 

How do you take your coffee?  On the run, in a fancy cup, with cream and sugar?