happy weekend, indeed.

Just snapped the above photo upon our arrival in California. Palm trees and sunshine? A very happy change from dreary New York.

S and I are taking a much needed breather from an intense few months of work and escaping to California for a four day weekend. We can't wait to spend some quality time with dear family and soak in some sun.

Cheers to a most happy weekend!

dior commercial

I love Miss Dior Cherie. I love the scent and the adorable little bottle.

I also love their fabulous commercials (see here) directed by Sofia Coppola.

Their newest spot features none other than the Black Swan herself, Natalie Portman, and the song "Je T'aime...Mois Non Plus" from Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg. Quite a saucy little number indeed.

(images courtesy ellery and kev chino)

Watch it below, and try to resist the urge to take a bubble bath while wearing your shades.

rawr.

(image courtesy hannah clarke)

Obsessed with these lion's head earrings. Their little eyes are diamonds, by the by!

These swell studs were created by Hannah Clarke who has a shop in the East Village.

I heard about Ms. Clarke's stunning jewelry from our dear pals L & D after they enlisted the jewelry designer's services to create their most lovely wedding bands.

"let them eat cake..."

(image courtesy le femme epicure)

..off of these Marie Antoinette-inspired plates by Parisian artist Florence Balducci.

Better yet? "Let them eat macaroons!"

(images courtesy tete-a-tete)

valentine's day

(image courtesy etsy)

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's 52 degrees and sunny in NYC, and I would absolutely say love is in the air.

Wishing everyone lots of hugs, kisses and chocolates on this most romantic of days.

xoxo

P.S. Doesn't this Rose Martini (spotted on design*sponge) look delicious?

This cocktail would make a wonderfully festive choice for today if you ask me.

Check out the recipe by Jacinta Moore below.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 oz. white crème de cacao
1/4 oz. rosewater
small pieces of Turkish delight or rose petals to garnish
1 drop rose food color



Methodology

1. Fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice!
2. Add your liquids!
3. Shake!
4. Pour!
5. Garnish!
6. Drink!

Mmmmmmmmm.

(images courtesy design*sponge)

it's friday, people!

Feeling happy and romantical (much like the Ban.do model seen above) on this Friday afternoon.The sun is shining, and I'm looking forward to a happy weekend with my honey.

This girl is such a cutie. I wish I was cool enough to pull off her high bun and adorn it with a flower pom pom.

On that note, have a great weekend!

P.S. Anyone celebrating Valentine's Day early?

(images courtesy ban. do, twitter)

daffodils

Yes, it's freezing and still February, but this sunshine-y day has me thinking that daffodil weather can't be that far off.

(image courtesy that kind of woman)

Daffodils are divine.

This neato Joey Peplum Dress by alice + olivia looks just like a daffodil...that you can wear!

Awesomeness.

(image courtesy alice + olivia)

The Imperfectionists

Currently reading The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

(image courtesy the last word)

This book takes place at an international newspaper based in Rome. The newspaper's somewhat motley crue of characters continue to chug along despite the knowledge that their paper (like most newspapers these days) is no longer what it once was.

Each chapter is told from a different character's point-of-view. As you weave your way through their stories (some incredibly sad, some sweet...most somewhere in between), the reader begins to recognize characters they've spent a chapter getting to know as they pop up in their colleagues' portions of the book.

Through the use of this crazy clever writing device, the author invites you into his characters' minds, only to have them show up later, and through those appearances, change everything you thought you knew about them.

This book came highly recommended by my lovely mother-in-law who always has great taste in reads.

Read the New York Times review by Christopher Buckley here.

taupe. totally.

Taupe feels so right for Spring.

Ready to ditch my coral red toes for Butter's shimmery taupe shade (with a really lame name) Yummy Mummy.

(image courtesy amazon)

Also wouldn't be opposed to trading in my rusty red lip shade of late for a tube of Mac's Lustre Lipstick in Fresh Brew.

(images courtesy of makeup with gabriella and allure)

Hubba, hubba!

a colorful entrance

(image courtesy belle vivir)

How beautiful is the façade of Miles Redd's Noho townhouse? The cool color, the shutters, the awnings...breathtaking!


I suppose it's the least we could expect from the famed interior designer and creative director of Oscar de la Renta Home.

(image courtesy miles redd)

Madly in love with the robin egg's blue painted front door.

(image courtesy from my living room)

If we ever leave NYC (or unexpectedly happen upon our own townhouse?), my first order of business will be to paint the front door.

This bright yellow feels sunny.

(image courtesy architectural digest)

Also, digging this green,

(simply the sweet life)

but my favorite is this bold orange door against dark gray painted brick.

It's a bit funny that the mail slot is so low to the ground. Poor, mailman!

(image courtesy fresh home blog)

5 Napkin Burger

S and I have a wonderful weekend tradition. After minding our calories via careful menu choices all week, Friday is our night to eat whatever we want. Hello, cheat meal!

This weekend's selection? A return visit to the scrumptious 5 Napkin Burger.

This upscale NYC burger restaurant serves a tasty selection of juicy burgers and other treats in its bistro style dining room designed with floor to ceiling white subway tiles, sleek leather booths and hanging vintage lightbulbs.

(images courtesy 5 napkin burger, saiko sakura and highlowfooddrink)

The menu boasts a selection of rocking burger options. We kept things naughty with an adorable order of tiny pork taquitos to start

(image courtesy bradley hawkes)

and the classic 5 Napkin Burger (so named because its juiciness is said to require 5 five napkins).

This burger has a lot going on. From the gruyere cheese with rosemary aioli to the caramelized onions, this burger is RICH. It's also evilly delicious.

Not in the mood for the above? 5 Napkins also offers an out-of-this-world Ahi tuna burger, lobster sliders, sushi rolls, salads, fish and chips as well as a Kobe beef hot dog (if you are that guy).

Finish things off right with the Dark and Stormy Float (made with rum raisin ice cream and ginger beer).

(image courtesy ptit chef)

Wake up the following morning and make a beeline for the gym.

fun and laughing

Happy Friday, everyone!

Feeling good at the end of a long (but productive) week. Looking very forward to a few days off.

Cheers to a weekend filled with fun adventures

and hearty good laughs.

(images courtesy flickr)

Have a great one!

clementines!

(image courtesy you are my fave)

Simply put, I couldn't agree more.

P.S. Why not try a clementine-inspired shade on your lips, hot stuff?

"all my thoughts and the heart talks"

Did you guys ever keep a journal? Like most ladies, as a youngster, I kept a diary full of girlish ramblings (side note: now, I really wonder what happened to it...how embarassing).

These days it seems almost foreign to write with pen and paper as opposed to typing on a keyboard. Still, the romance of a handwritten journal still moves me.

Currently enjoying writing in this nifty journal gifted to me by my dear friend L. Ah, she knows me too well!

(image courtesy rare device)

Looking for your own new journal?

Check out this cool rainbow colored option with a pretty braided closure

or this neat journal made out of an old painting on canvas.

Very inspiring indeed!

(images courtesy anthropologie and oh happy day!)

an early spring?

(blog like you mean it)

Well, Punxsutawney Phil has spoken. It will apparently be an early spring.

No offense, Phil, but I don't know if I buy it. This winter can't, won't and don't stop.

Ah... patronizing rodent.

happy birthday, mommy!

January is gone and I'm excited to say hello to February. I'm even more excited to say Happy Birthday to my sweet Mommy!

The above photo was snapped at The Spotted Pig during a recent visit to NYC. Isn't she a dish?

Sending all our love along with a bouquet of pretty flowers

and tasty birthday treats.

How about that Icebox Cake from Magnolia Bakery (recipe here)?

We love you, funny lady!

(images courtesy lorisrandom and babble)