Irish Cereal Milk

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My always chic homeslice AK suggested we stop by Abe & Arthur's in Meatpacking last week for a very interesting cocktail.

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What was this mysterious concoction? The Irish Cereal Milk!

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I know, I know. It looks very suspicious...but it's amazingly delicious.

Here's the skinny (NOT!) on making your own version at home. The only thing missing? Your favorite Saturday morning cartoons.

Irish Cereal Milk (recipe via People)

(From Abe and Arthur's, N.Y.C.)

• ½ cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 2 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey
• 1 tbsp. simple syrup

Soak cereal in milk for 30 minutes. Strain and discard cereal. Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add whiskey, simple syrup and strained milk. Add fresh Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces.

Barrettes are back!

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The word on the street is that big barrettes are going to be all the rage this spring.

Although I'd locked barrettes in my "Scary Hair Accessories from the Early Nineties" file (rights along with scrunchies), I'm sort of loving this look.

Used to pin back one side of a down hairstyle, these barrettes look lovely. They sure beat the boring couple of bobby pins I usually wear!

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So, what's the verdict? Is this a trend to try?

"Good evening"

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S and I having been watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents on Netflix instant stream for the past few months. For those of you who didn't catch its original run (1955-1965!?), I highly recommend.

Each half hour episode presents a teleplay focused on mystery, suspense and the general macabre Hithcock was known for creating in his sucessful films (though he only actually directed a handful of the series' episodes).

Each new story begins with an introduction from the man himself following his famous opening line: "Good evening."

Check out the title sequence and introduction for "A Bullet for Baldwin" below.

bow scarf

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I love bows (see also All Tied Up). I love scarves. Together? Even better.

This knitted scarf from Emmadime is the cat's meow.

You've Got Mail

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"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."- You've Got Mail

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I think I watched You've Got Mail about a hundred times in high school. I'm completely aware of how uncool this is, but after catching a recent replay on cable, I'm still completely in love with this movie.

Is the dial-up modem connecting to AOL almost too passé to stand? You betcha. Screenames? The worst! How adorable was Meg Ryan before that weird plastic surgery? Also, how annoying is Meg's best apartment ever (naturally obtained through owning an independent children's bookstore)? Let's get serious, people.

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Despite all the reasons NOT to love this movie, what makes it iressistible is its romantic view of NYC. My sixteen-year-old self would be proud to know that New York, in that way and so many others, is just what I thought it would be all those years ago...

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twinkle toes

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Sparkly sequins seem to be everywhere these days. After much resistance, this most impractical look is starting to win me over.

While these sparkling J. Crew shorts are totally silly (and apparently sold out?)

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this Alice & Olivia dress is smoking!

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Since there is not an event in my near future fancy enough to warrant wearing a sequined cocktail dress, I'm turning my sights to sequined styles for the soles.

How about these flats?

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cuff bracelets

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Why, oh, why is Christmas still 3 months away? These hilarious BCBG leather cuffs are perfect for my darling sister, The Beast.

Duh.

The Breslin

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One of my favorite new places to grab a cocktail is The Breslin located in NoMad's (read an article about this up-and-coming neighborhood here) Ace Hotel. This cozy restaurant and pub is the brainchild of "the Spotted Pig crew" (April Bloomfield, Ken Friedman, etc.).

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The ambience of the bar is ideal for the fall season. It's cozy and candlelit and boasts an interesting cocktail selection.

Not only are they delicious, but The Breslin's original cocktails are all adorably named after songs by everyone from Miles Davis to the Clash to the Pixies. I tried out the London Calling (vodka with Ribena-Blackcurrant syrup, fresh lemon juice, topped with proseco). Yummy.



If you're in more of a party down mood, try out the new shot that's all the rage among the "too chic" crowd: the Irish Pickle Back (a shot of Jameson chased by a shot of pickle juice).

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I'm actually dying to check The Breslin's dinner menu (shock, shock) featuring starters like homemade caramel popcorn, sea salt and vinegar crisps and, most importantly, boiled peanuts.


Their meat-focused entrees include a chargrilled lamb burger with feta and cumin mayo and veal sausage with pan fried new potatoes.

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They serve guinea hens, roasted pork, and even rabbit. Probably not the best place to take any vegetarian friends or fam...

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Go, meat!

Follow-up: Check out this New York Mag article on The Breslin that came out two days after this original post. Told ya it was cool!

Welcome back, Liz Lemon

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Oh, how I've missed Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin's clever one liners this summer. Hooray for last night's 30 Rock season premiere.

While it may not have been the best episode EVER, I'm still giggling over the Liz Lemon and Pilot Carol (Matt Damon) Barefoot Contessa crying scene.

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While the couple watches Ina Garten create one of her oh-too-cutesy meals for Jeffrey, Carol comments that he could never be "a Jeffrey (cue creepy slow mo close-up of Ida feeding Jeffrey a cupcake on Lemon's TV screen)." Hilarious.

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Mr. and Mrs.

Wouldn't these silly salt and pepper shakers from Anthropologie (sweetly called the Mr. and Mrs.) make a charmingly playful wedding gift?

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Super cute!

new nails

I've always been a bit boring when it comes to nail polish. Maybe it was my mother's refusal to let my junior high self experiment with the wild nail colors from Hard Candy circa 1997, but I've pretty much stuck to OPI's Bubble Bath on hands and toes for as long as I can remember.

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Now, Chanel's khaki-inspired neutral nail shades for fall have got me thinking it might be time for a change.

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Khaki Brown and Khaki Rose? Yes, please! While I like the idea of the Khaki Green, I think I'll keep that color off my nails and on my clothes. How about these cute pants? I'm loving this whole look. Work it, Posh Spice.

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Oscar de la Renta's ruffled dress looks nifty with a belt in this somewhat masculine color. Not so nifty? That fur hat. Yak.

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Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

After finishing the first two of the three books in Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy, I'm ready for something a little more lighthearted. Luckily, David Sedaris's new book Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk goes on sale next week.

The characters in this book may be animals, but according to early reviews, their adventures are apparently quite human.

With illustrations by Ian Falconer, the man behind the classic children's series Olivia, (cough, cough), I'm expecting great things.

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In honor of the new book and football season, here's Sedaris reading one of my favorite essays, "Stadium Pal."

Monday, monday

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Back to work, people! Wherever did the weekend go?

Here are a few fun things helping me shake off those Monday blues.

*One of my guiltiest pleasures, Gossip Girl, is back...and in Paris. Yay for pretty clothes and that scoundrel Chuck Bass.

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*These wacky nesting dolls by Ginger Williams are hilarious. Don't worry. Ginger's got you covered with both a Golden Girls set (seen below) and a set painted like the cast of The Karate Kid.

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* Project Runway's Tim Gunn is in the building for a book signing. L and I rode the elevator up and chatted with him. Nicest. guy. ever. Also, what happened to Andre?

*Willa Skye Home's Etsy shop has the prettiest pillows. We just ordered this navy lattice pair.

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Here's to a wonderful week!

suede sandal search

The suede sandal is perfect for this transitional time of year. The mornings are getting cooler, but the afternoons are still warm enough that the thought of wearing boots sounds terribly uncomfortable.

My extensive search for this fall staple lead to some really fun discoveries.... like this cutout Miu Miu sandal. The unexpected color is fantastic. The problem? They cost $650. Ouch.

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This J. Crew version is adorable. How great are the green details? Still, at $298 they were out of my price range.

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The solution? Surprisingly, Banana Republic. Their Lady suede peep toe heels are just the ticket, and with a much more reasonable price tag, they are a splurge I can enjoy.

Va Va Voom!

Finally...

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After a doozy of a week, it's finally time to say happy weekend. Hope it's the best one yet!

P.S. I'm crushing on this song.

Studly

A chic coworker of mine has recently been sporting a gold, studded bracelet to meetings. Her fashion forward style has me considering the addition of a studded piece or two to my own closet.

To successfully pull off this trend one must incorporate studded pieces carefully and always limit studs to one area at a time. No one wants to step out looking like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl (before hot, young Harrison Ford/makeover).

This Linea Pelle messenger bag gets it right with its lovely, subtle studded edges.

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This feminine wrap shirt keeps its sneaky shoulder studs simple.

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Check out the collection below of well done studs. In the meantime, I'll keep hoping that the sweet navy dress and flirty pink skirt (both from Alice by Temperley) will magically appear in my closet.