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: