I love fall.

Once I come to terms with the fact that it's no longer warm enough to go to the beach, dine outdoors, or slip on a pair of flip flops or a sundress, I fall in love with fall all over again (pun intended).  

It's not quite cool enough in the city for changing leaves, but there are a few hints of fall...

And I would even argue that fall makes adults do things that remind them of their childhood days...

Fall Staples

Maybe it's because I was forced to wear a brown and white plaid jumper for much of my childhood, but I do get excited when I get to plan a "First Day of ___" outfit. I'm starting a new job within less than a week, and I've been scrambling to find ways to make business casual not so...bizz-nizz-y.  I'm leaving behind years of being able to wear nice tailored jeans such as these, and searching for clothes that say:

1.  Take me seriously...my age and my new graduate degree make me an certified adult (sort of).

2.  I don't take myself that seriously.  

Admittedly, the message is a bit of an oxy moron. I've just purchased two items that will fall into the business casual dress code but still manage to be stylish, updated, and young.

These pants are phenomenal.  They are so phenomenal that I just purchased another pair.  I'm going to hem one pair to be ankle-length so I can wear them with flats.  My new pair will be kept longer so I can wear them with heels (meow).  They have an amazing fit, and for being skinny pants, they're surprisingly flattering!

and if you use the code "savebig", you can get 30% off your purchase!

This shrunken blazer will undoubtedly make its way into at least one outfit per week.  Pair it with jeans, skirts, or the skinny pants shown above, this updated spin on a classic piece will instantly pull together any outfit. Underneath I can wear a thin turtleneck or a silk cami depending on NY's unpredictable fall weather.

Rainy Day Baking

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to try a new baking recipe.  Attempting to stay away from processed ingredients, but refusing to give up on taste, I tried a recipe out of Bethenny Frankel's book, The Skinnygirl Dish.  I have to say I'm pleasantly pleased and I hope my young guests coming over to watch Sunday football will be too.  

He looks like he wants one too.

Vegas, Baby, Vegas!

We just took a trip to Vegas last week to celebrate...our anniversary, graduation, CPR's birthday, having two incomes, etc., etc.  I had always heard that Las Vegas is over the top.  That is an understatement.  Vegas is so gaudy, tacky, and artificial, that I couldn't help but find it absolutely charming and fun!  The main purpose of the trip was to relax and spend time together, so we booked a room at the Vdara, a beautiful boutique-type hotel and spa right on the strip, adjacent to the Bellagio.   What made this hotel incredible is that it didn't have a casino which made relaxing oh-so-easy to do.  Our days included a  morning workout at the gym, a delicious brunch, afternoons reading by the pool, and fun dinners out.  I had no idea that someone like me (one who doesn't gamble or go to clubs...really, I am fun!) would end up loving Vegas as much as I did.  

 The living area in our room at the Vdara.  Look at that view from the 43rd floor!

 Nothing beats a breakfast that includes OJ, bacon, and fried hashbrowns.

 Enjoying fruit smoothies by the pool kept the 90 degree heat at bay.

Our favorite meal at Spago was to die for.  Unfortunately, this is the only photo that was taken at the restaurant.


There are two things that make up a perfect vacation:    relaxing and experiencing new sights and places.  I'd consider this trip a winner.

Anniversary!

It's been four years since we've tied the knot, two of which were spent living apart in different cities.  Excited that we could spend the *actual* anniversary together, we made plans to "do it up right" by having a nice dinner at a swanky NYC restaurant.  Fast forward to a monsoon, a heavy lunch at the Olive Garden with a dear friend, and a strong urge to trade in my high heels and jeans for a pair of elastic-waisted sweatpants, we decided to ditch the fancy dinner and to stay in.  What do you expect from two people who managed to go to bed at midnight every single night when they were in Vegas?  The first night we crawled into bed at midnight and proceeded to watch a documentary about dogs.  True story.

So, the night's agenda included watching the third season of Breaking Bad and clogging our arteries (but warming our hearts) with burgers and shakes from the Shake Shack.  We may not have spotted any celebrities at a fancy restaurant, but  at least we were able to celebrate a wonderful four years with our entire family which includes this guy.

Ben loving life in Central Park

Yum!

I'm Baaack!

I have two days left at my current job and I can already feel the stress leaving my bones.  Summer went by in a flash and I have to admit, I didn't stop and smell the roses.  

In celebration of my favorite time of year (school supply shopping!), I went to one of my favorite stores with one of my college besties.  In a world where everyone is going paperless and digital (I'm an offender to a certain extent), Kate's Paperie is a haven of all things beautiful, all of which happen to be made with paper.  As much as I utilize email to keep in touch with friends and family, nothing makes me happier than getting a hand written card or than buying a beautiful piece of stationery.

Here are a few of the things I picked up.

I've pretty much moved over to having all of my contacts and calendars on my blackberry, but I've missed jotting down notes, to-do lists, etc. in a pretty little notebook that fits inside of my purse.  Undoubtedly, this will inspire me to write down the names and addresses of fun restaurants and shops that I see while strolling around in NYC.  

I saw this card and literally cracked up laughing out loud.  Not only is it witty and humorous, but it's letterpressed and printed on heavy card stock.  I'm stayin' classy, San Diego.  I hope my friends getting married get the joke.  If not, I should probably question the friendship. :)

Nothing like a skull and crossbones birthday card for my hubbie who is 6 years my senior.  That makes him 27.  Hee hee.

Unemployment volume 2

Part of unemployment is embarking on a three-week guided cleanse.  It's not as scary as it sounds, and it's more about committing to three weeks of healthful and wholesome eating.  And if done correctly, one gains a deeper understanding about their relationship to food as well as determining which foods they must have to be happy and nourished and which foods are better left by the wayside on a more permanent basis (I said buh-bye to cheese, bread, and pasta).  

The first week is all about easing in and cutting out all processed foods, dairy, gluten, sugar, and caffeine.  What's left to eat you ask?  Everything!  We've had healthy and nourishing meals with grilled chicken and/or fish with a ton of vegetables.  And in lieu of grabbing the granola bar for a snack, we've grabbed a piece of fruit instead.  

Week 2 is a little more challenging.  It's continuing the behaviors from week 1, but phasing out animal proteins and sticking with juice and veggie based soups and smoothies. This gives the digestive system a well-deserved break.  The first time I did this cleanse, I came up with a butternut squash puree which ended up being super tasty.  Maybe I was euphoric from being so healthy, but I'll let you decide for yourself by perusing some photos.

{roasted butternut and acorn squash, red onion, and jewel yams with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt}

{pureed the mixture from above.  Trust me, it's tastier than it looks...}

(...but my witty husband thought it reminded him of a witch's gruel.  Apparently it was made in the year 1642. Hardy har har}

My husband has been struggling with the cleanse so I "treated" him to homemade croutons made from day-old whole wheat everything bagels.  Cheater!!

{bagels cut up and drizzled with olive oil and a bit of garlic powder}

{Gruel + homemade whole wheat croutons = more appetizing?}

Lastly, week 3 is very similar to week 1 and is all about transitioning back to normalcy.  But normalcy doesn't have to include bad foods.  Right? Right. 

Unemployment volume 1

I'm back in NYC, currently a freelance stay-at-home wife/dogwalker (my dog is my only customer)/annoying errand runner.  There are a few things that I've done that make me appreciate the downtime I have before I enter the rat race again.

Buying Fresh Flowers

Peonies are my favorite flowers and lilacs have such a dreamy scent.  I'd like to note that buying these flowers must have been such a dreamy experience because I dropped a $20 bill somewhere on the sidewalks of the Upper East Side.

Making Corn Salsa from Scratch

Thanks to my pal, I was able to make this great new salsa.  It's super easy with dicing pesky cherry tomatoes as the most challenging part of the process. 

1.5 cups grape tomatoes

1 cup corn

1/2 cup red onion

1/2 cup black beans

1/4 cup cilantro (or parsley)

1/2 of jalapeno

1/2 tsp cumin

salt

pepper

2 T red wine vinegar 

Super easy, right?  20 minutes later, and voila!

Stay tuned for more adventures from my days as an unemployed gal!  Be prepared to see pictures of dogs, food, and NYC sites.

Bucket List (To Do) volume 1

I am one 300 word essay question away from completing my MBA.  It's a bit anti-climactic as I imagined my last assignment being much more glorious.  Anyway, the end of my academic career and the gorgeous weather has me daydreaming about trips I want to take.  

South of France

I'm all about mixing downtime with lots of activity.  Maybe it's the threat of wrinkles, but I no longer long for 7 days on a beach.  My trip to the south of France will entail a bike tour through fields of sunflowers and lavender.  

{photo found here on flickr}

{photo found here on flickr}

And I want to experience this on a bike like this {though I'm used to riding a much uglier bike with more speeds making cycling much easier}

{dream bike found here.  It took me a while to find a bike without a wicker basket}

The second part of the trip will entail some beach time in the French Riviera.  How cute is this?

{shot of paradise found here}

{postcard shot found here}

Bucket List (To Buy) volume 1

I have two types of bucket lists:  A to-do list and a to-buy list. Pretty self-explanatory, right?  I was perusing HauteLook, one of those daily omg-it's-already-gone sale websites, and I saw they were selling Cartier watches!  My heart stopped when I saw this perfect watch.

Things I love:

• The oblong face
• The red croco band
• The Roman numerals
• The 18K gold case
• Slightly oversized but still feminine
• Timeless and versatile. It will surely make me beam every time I look at it.

I wouldn't mind one of these either...

 

Forever Searching...

for the perfect pump.  I'm not really much of a shoe girl, not because I don't like shoes, but mainly because most of the shoes that I love and admire are half a month's paycheck {oh wait, I don't have a paycheck}.  I spent much of my exciting Friday night  scouring the Internet for the perfect neutral pump with the caveat that it needed to be reasonably priced.  My criteria:  

• Neutral colored - grey, bone, or beige
• Minimum 3 inch heel - any shorter and it's unflattering on my 5'2" frame
• Not too pointy, not too round, it had to be juuuuuust right {a la Goldilocks}

I was surprised that I found these at DSW's website!  I know it looks kind of old lady by itself, but picture it with a printed spring dress or with a great pair of black trousers.  Are you with me now?  

Then, I found this adorable pair of flat sandals.  I really love the turquoise color.  It will add a bit of color to my normally neutral colored outfits.  Pair them with these jeans or this skirt, and voila! 

Both pairs are well under $100...mission accomplished!

Dog and Man Proofing

I'm on a quest to give our apartment a little facelift upon my return back to the Big Apple in 1 month and 1 day.  It's nothing major, but just a few changes to make it look not so ho-hum.  I was perusing countless design websites, making note of amazing rugs and pillows for my said project, but then realized...I have a dog and a man that live with me.  What does that mean?  The colors and patterns I choose have to hide dirt REALLY well.  Because I probably won't end up buying any of these due to the abundance of white, I figured I'd post them.  A girl can dream...

Love this ikat-ish print pillow found on Etsy.

And how smart are these pillows?

And I've always loved these rugs, but these would look a dismal shade of brown/grey/nyc grime in about 12 hours in my apartment.  

Spring Time

After a long blistery winter in Boston, nothing makes me happier than signs of Spring...Does this mean I can dry clean my wool sweaters?  please say yes, please say yes.

(photo of cherry blossom trees in the Boston Common found here)

A Trend I'll Never Get

I understand fashion is up for personal interpretation, so it's rare that I ever come out and say, "Whoa. Whoa. That should never be worn."  Even with the crazy haute couture stuff...in my opinion, those pieces are considered artwork and should be admired for their beauty and handiwork.  

I will never get the menswear trend that is hitting WOMEN's fashion.  I am a WO-MAN, with an emphasis on the WO.  There are a few things I take issue with:

1.  No man in my life has items like this in his closet.  Granted, if I wanted to execute the menswear trend based on the "male muses" in my life, I'd be wearing hooded sweatshirts, vintage t's, a lot of fleece, and running shoes.

Example 1 Wing-tipped Oxfords

Example 2 Boat Shoes

These should only be worn by a woman if she is manning a ship or some other type of aquatic vessel.  I get the preppy trend, but I can't get on board with these (pun intended).

Example 3 Pleated High-Waisted Khakis

This item is wrong for so many reasons.  Not until a few years ago was I successful in banishing all pleated pants from my husband's closet.  #1. They're not flattering.  #2.  1984 called and they want their pants back.  

2.  Women should dress in a way that is body-conscious and flattering.  I'm all for gender equality, but it should stop when it comes to clothing and accessories.  I've never been one to dress for male attention, but men don't want to look at a woman wearing baggy, pleated pants and boat shoes!  Unless they are of the ilk who keeps the September issue of Vogue on their coffee table, they won't get that you're trying to be on trend.  They'll just think you raided your father's closet c. 1982.  Not cute.  

3.  I get that not all women love pleats and ruffles, but there's a way to dress that is chic and minimalist without looking like you are a dude.  Here are some of my picks from my favorite line Theory.  Theory does a great job of making amazingly flattering clothes that are appropriate for even the most conservative office setting.  Their pants are pricey ($250+), but I assure you, they're worth the investment.  I've had mine for 5+ years and I will cry on the day I retire them.  

Her shirt is fitted in all the right places and the pants are loose enough to be comfy but cut in such a way that makes her legs look like they go on for miles (okay, that might have something to do with her being a model).

This blazer is double-breasted (a nod to the menswear trend), but made feminine with a wide belt and a girly blouse underneath.  

Lastly, if you are compelled to take part of the menswear trend, I suggest offsetting the dude factor with sweet ballet flats like these:

Chills!!

I don't think it's any coincidence that Sex and the City 2 is coming out on my birthday this year!  SATC is one of those shows that I can watch at any time of the day and be enthralled in each and every episode regardless of how many times I've watched it.

The newest SATC2 trailer is here and I got chills.  It looks like Aidan's back, who for the record, was one of my top fave boyfriends next to Big.  I mean, look at him!  Does she finally give Big a taste of his own cheating medicine?  I will honestly not be able to handle it if they break up in this movie.  I've been on that emotional roller coaster through several seasons (and one movie) and my poor heart will not be able to endure any more pain.  If they Big and Carrie go kaput, look for me checked into the mental ward at the hospital down the street from the 86th Street movie theater.

Without further ado...

Art is in the eye of the beholder?

After a week of trying to do everything BUT find a job, write papers, plan my life, etc., I had this urge to make the apartment over.  I won't go into details of all the things I would want to change in our apartment, but let's just say that my other half thinks this poster constitutes as artwork.  I'll also add that this is attached to our bedroom wall with athletic tape underneath a New York Yankee sign made by a child 20 years ago.  (Don't judge, I have to choose my battles wisely, okay?)

(image found on this educational site, not an ARTWORK site)

The hubs loves maps and we both love traveling, so we have not one, but TWO world maps in our 900 square foot apartment.  One map is nicely framed, the other is shoddily taped to a Crate and Barrel mirror with more athletic tape.  Hubs had a great idea to mark each of the spots we've been to on this second map, but I'd like to take this idea and make it a more legitimate piece of art in our space.

I stumbled upon this map on Etsy, and I think it's genius and chic all at the same time.  The challenge will be for two of the un-handiest people to get this on the wall properly.  

(image found here)

Sunday Funday

I packed my bags for NYC in a bit of a rush, and I just realized that I forgot my dress for Easter Sunday.  It wasn't a new dress, but I wanted to wear a dress to church and to a family gathering.  I'm sure I'll see people dressed in jeans at church and at my in-laws, but my mom drilled it into my head to be dressed up for holidays. I can't say that I disagree.  I distinctly remember getting a new dress for every holiday.  I liked the tradition more when someone else was paying for it!

I discovered this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G website a few months ago, and I had to stop visiting it because it was such a time sucker!  Daydreaming for an Easter outfit for this Sunday, I put together this outfit on Polyvore.

It's going to be 60 degrees on Sunday which means it will be warm enough to rock a frock sans tights.  And since this dress is sleeveless, I decided to pair it with this military-inspired cropped sweater.  

The dress and cardigan are from Forever 21, where I'll surely wear 4 sizes bigger than normal since their clothes are cut sooo tiny.  I own the patent black flats (in at least 4 different styles because one can't have too many black flats).  Sadly, I don't own the Chanel quilted bag...one can dream, right?

Backed Up Pipes are No Fun

Don't worry, I'm not about to write about clogged drains and toilets. I'm going to talk about something that my friends and I tend to be a wee bit obsessed with:  Dropping the kids off at the pool, #2, etc.  Get my drift?  If not, you're not smart enough to be reading this blog which is always chockfull of thought-provoking anecdotes.  

My everyday bar:

(can be purchased here for a great price)

This will get the pipes going...in one tasty bar, it has 12 grams of fiber, which is almost HALF of what you need in one day. It's completely natural with no corn syrup (the evil of food) and enough sugar to taste good and fuel a workout.   I've been known to eat three in one day! (Note to self: Two weeks traveling in Asia will eff your digestive system up!) I wasn't alone, however, as one of my friends had such issues that it became a topic of interest of the professor with whom we were traveling.  Every chance he got he was inquiring about her "progress".  Can you say awkward?  

These bars also come in other great flavors that sound pretty yummy:

Peanut Butter

Chocolate Brownie (kind of funny considering the subject of this post!)

Banana Walnut

As a reward for reading this post, go here for some "sheets and geegles".