chic work satchels

Just spotted these oh-so-chic work satchels by Seventy Eight Percent on Honestly WTF. Aren't they to die for?

The brown and white option above is my favorite. Can you imagine how much more exciting lugging your work home with you would be if you had one of these nifty bags to keep it all organized?

(images courtesy honestly wtf)

fall makeup trends

After the lovely light and dewy makeup of summer, I'm excited for a little more drama this fall.

Love this model's look from Carolina Herrerra's Fall '11 runway.

Here are few of the key ingredients necessary for creating her pretty at home.

1. Plum Lips

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

At last, Clinique is offering their bestselling shade Black Honey as a super shiny gloss. It goes on a bit lighter than it looks, but still gives the lips plenty of attention without leaving them stained.

For deeper color, layer the gloss over the original lipstick shade.

2. Rosy Pink Cheeks
Chanel Jouse Contraste Powder Blush 99 in Rose Petale

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Rose Petal

Lightly sweep a rosy petal inspired shade over your cheeks for subtle, sweet flush that doesn't directly compete with your lip color.

Chanel's option is apparently a favorite of Emma Watson. Hermoine forever!

3. Simple Eyes
NARS Cream Eye Shadow Duo in Pink Panther

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Black/Brown

Diorshow Mascara in Black Out

Cream eyeshadows are the best. I've been a longtime fan of Nars's Pink Panther duo. The complimentary pearl and gold-pink shadows give the eyes just enough pop.

Line those peepers with Clinique's Quickliner in Black Brown and finish with a sweep of Diorshow Mascara. Love.

4. Dark Nails

MAC Me Over! Nail Laquer in Shirley & Nicole

OPI Matte Nail Laquer in You Don't Know Jacques

I'm a huge fan of keeping nail color neutral on the hands (again, OPI's Ballet Slippers anyone?), but I like sneaking in a little more drama via a pedi.

Happy painting gals!

casual rain jacket

The humid, rainy weather of the past few days has me craving a rain jacket that's versatile but effective. Having said that, I would also like this jacket to be attractive. Is this too much to ask?

I was beginning to think I should just accept defeat and pull out my old North Face from the college years when I spotted this gem on Etsy.

Affordably priced with a trendy, feminine shape, this jacket seems a worthy investment while temps are still warm. Important note? "FM 908" only appears on the photo and not the jacket.

I love that this jacket also comes with a removable hood. Ideally, the hood would save your hair from those windy rainstorm gusts that make an umbrella feel useless.

(images courtesy FM 908's Etsy shop)

weekend snaps

Here are a few snaps from a most happy, relaxing weekend in the city.

fresh sunflowers from the corner store

homemade grilled terriyaki chicken sandwiches with spinach, tomato and red onion

cute boy shoes

gorgeous sunset as seen from the Williamsburg Waterfront while...

swaying to the Fleet Foxes (look over and listen to the set list here).

weekend!

Happy Friday! It's gray and rainy today and I'm looking forward to cozying up at home this evening. S and I plan to watch Bridesmaids and pig out on something naughty!

Crossing our fingers that the rain stops before tomorrow evening. We have plans to see The Walkmen and Fleet Foxes at the Williamsburg Waterfront. Hoping to avoid waterproofing ourselves...

Here's to a fun few days off!

P.S. Hooray for side ponies!

(image courtesy absolutely beautiful things)

cool centerpiece

I love this unconventional grouping of fruits and flowers. It makes such a fun, unexpected centerpiece for a dinner party table. That cabbage flower is awesome.

I wonder if this idea would look as lovely with a different collection of items?

Definitely filing this idea away for a day when I need to prep for company on short notice....

(images courtesy a merry mishap)

keeping fit

How do you guys keep fit?

For years, I struggled to find an exercise regimen that I would stick to. I discovered I was not a "runner." Other realizations? I'm also not a kickboxer, bootcamp cadet or much of a cyclist. Still, skipping exercise all together was not an option my health or vanity would allow.

Luckily, I found Physique 57 and to say I'm addicted is a bit of an understatement.

Focused on giving your entire bod a long, lean dancer look, this class uses tiny movements to create amazing results. A combination of pilates and light aerobics (with a few yoga stretches thrown in for good measure), this class is one of the hardest things I've ever physically done.

A fast pace, upbeat music and immediate results keep me coming back for more. I also like the class's focus on working the whole body in an hour. No more Tuesdays-are-for-arms sort of schedule. The New Yorker in me LOVES the time efficiency!

Physique has three studios here in NYC, one in the Hamptons and one in LA. They also have two sets of DVDs that work wonderfully well. Order them here.

Get buff!

(images courtesy physique 57)

pretty cooking videos

I'm over the moon about these beautiful cooking videos from elephantine (click here to check out all of her scrumptious looking recipes).

These charming video tutorials feature simple, straight forward instructions that are beautifully shot. Using sophisticated fonts and interesting, non-traditional "cooking show" music, these videos explain recipes the same way your mom or friend might simplify their means of preparing a favorite dish.

Super cute. Check out the vid for a seasonally suited apple galette.

I also wouldn't mind whipping up a batch of mojitos with homemade chips and salsa

or even a warm and salty mall pretzel.

P.S. The amazingly talented creator of these videos has a gorgeous jewelry shop on Etsy. I purchased two of her dainty creations for my sister's last birthday. She loved them!

fall has arrived, people.

It's a rainy, chilly sort of Tuesday here in NYC. Despite what the calendar may say, I'm here to tell you: fall has absolutely arrived. This morning I even broke out tights and brown leather ankle boots to prove it.

Despite the cruel realization that winter will indeed come next, fall is still my absolute favorite season.

To celebrate, I'm posting this lovely little collection of what makes autumn awesome.

Soups, fireplaces and scarves...doesn't it make you excited for the leaves to change?

(image courtesy tip her)

hootenanny!

I love my job as a children's book editor. I also love writing for children. So, you can imagine my excitement over the recent release of my first ever picture book Hootennany!

Adorably illustrated by the fabulous Jo Brown, this bouncing story features a hilarious cast of jazzy owls. One by one, they get ready to "holler and hoot" at the party on Saturday night. At last, they are all ready to get down at the hootenanny!

Jo's owls are out-of-this-world amazing. They are bright and hilarious. They also dance, wear hats, boogie and more! Your eyes do not deceive you...one even sports a bow tie.

There's even an awesome song to accompany the book (hear it here).

As if working on this book wasn't fun enough, Jo and I received the news yesterday that Hootenanny! was selected as a 2011 National Parenting Publications Award Winner! How rad is that?

I'll be reading this book at the Apple Store in NYC on 10/22. Feel free to stop by if you're in town!

Party time, indeed.

(images courtesy simon & schuster)

weekend project:eucalyptus wall

Since spotting this nifty decorating idea on Cupcakes and Cashmere, it's been on my mind.

What a simple yet striking way to add a little love to a big, blank wall! It would be perfect for one of those insanely long entrance hall that so many of our friends' NYC apartments have.

Since we rent our tiny nook, we've been careful about investing in any serious sort of decorating as we don't plan to stay in the same apartment for much longer. Having said that, the giant blank wall in our bedroom has been driving me nuts!

I decided to use a bit of my down time this week to tackle this project. I wonder what the hubs will think when he gets back in town?

Surprise!

(image courtesy cupcakes and cashmere)

blythe blouse

Hooray for J. Crew's silk Blythe blouse in bright, bold teal.

This shirt's slim cut is uber flattering. Its strong yet feminine lines remind me of Katharine Hepburn's iconic style. It feels so right with trousers!



Pair this shirt with wide leg black pants and leopard print pumps for a fun office look. Anyone want to buy me these Tory Burch pumps? Anyone?



This shirt also works for more casual endeavors.

Pair with dark wash jeans, fun flats and a statement necklace for a less structured weekend get up. Top the look with a casual up do.



This top makes a great option for that first hint of fall when a sleeve is necessary but not yet a jacket.

Chic!

(images courtesy j. crew, saturday persimmon, shop style and a cup of jo)

orangina ashtray

S LOVES Orangina. I'm always opening our fridge to find random half finished bottled of the oh-so-French beverage.

Personally, I could take or leave the bubbly citrus drink, but this vintage ashtray (spotted on Matchbook Mag's The Daily Spark) should be mine.

Less for smoking and more for holding random trinkets, this ashtray would look killer on a desk in a home office don't you think?

(image courtesy matchbook magazine)

apothia candle

Our tiny apartment doesn't have a fireplace. When the weather turns chilly, a candle can really make the place feel warm and cozy. For this very reason, I'm planning to pick up Apothia Soul candle ASAP.

While it's almost impossible to describe the depth of the spicy, woodsy fragrance it emits, it's official description sites the notes as follows: African ginger, rich mahogany, deep Taboti wood and Grains of Paradise? None of those scents immediately ringing a bell to you either?

Here's the deal. It smells wonderfully autumnal. Pair it with a glass of red wine and a fuzzy sweater for an ultimate relaxing evening in.

(image courtesy barney's and mex chic design)

the dutch

After hearing about this Soho restaurant from in-the-know friends and trusted restaurant reviewers all summer (love for The Dutch from the New York Times here), S and I used one of our first weekends home in months to sample the much hyped restaurant with our friends R and R.

The restaurant comes from the same trio behind Locanda Verde (yummy, yummy brunch) in Tribeca lead by chef Andrew Carmellini.

The restaurant serves each table a charming little loaf of spiced cornbread. I also noticed that the cocktail menu heavily favored Tito's vodka (my favorite). We were off to a nice start.

Our table kicked off with the Little Oyster Sandwiches and the Asian White Boy Ribs from the "Snacks" portion of the menu. Both were rich and delicious.

Next, we sampled the Local Beets, Smoked Egg and Dill appetizer. With these beets, I fell in love.

The orange and red beets, the chopped, smoked egg, the yogurt sauce, the pumpkin seeds=perfection! I would eat this every day if I could.

For the main course, we ordered the black cod with smoked mushrooms (sadly, not much flavor), the scallops with sweet corn, bacon and chipolte (a classic, tasty dish) and the grilled quail (tender with a little zing).

The winner of the main course was the duck with figs and rice pilaf with pecans.

The Dutch's pies come heavily recommended. My favorite was the Peach Cobbler Pie whose quiet sweetness was surprisingly complimented by the subtle flavor of tarragon.

All in all, I think this place is slightly overhyped, but it was a super tasty meal. The beets alone are worth a return visit!

Next time around, I plan on hitting up The Oyster Room. Lobster Cocktail? I'm looking at you.

P.S. I'm usually not into celebrity spotting, but Mike Myers was sitting at a booth in the corner. It took every ounce of composure S and I could muster NOT to shout a la Wayne and Garth:"We're not worthy" ...or at least pull a quick, but serious Dr. Evil backwards-pinkie-to-the lip move... They don't call us mature for nothing, folks.

(images courtesy the dutch, time out new york, jyjelly eats and om noz hero)

happy friday, hot stuff!

It's nearly time for a warm and sunny rooftop happy hour.

Happy weekend, friends and fam. Keep it classy.

confetti tape

This sticky confetti tape is too adorable for words! I love how it pops against my favorite wrapping paper ever: plain brown paper.

I have a few happy birthday gifts to wrap over the next few weeks... I wonder if I'm crafty enough to pull this off?

Apparently, all you need to create this pretty confetti garnish is double sided tape, a mix of colored tissue paper, a hole punch and (I'm assuming) a pretty powerful vacuum cleaner.

Festive!

(image courtesy you are my fav)

cableknit tights

It's been rainy and chilly in NYC for the past few days. It feels like someone switched the flip straight from summer to fall.

Some of my friends at work have even gone as far as to break out their tights! I'm still holding off, but when the time comes I plan to stay nice and cozy in a great pair of cableknit tights like those seen above.

Score your own pair here. They do look great with poppy and leopard print.

(images courtesy wit & delight and steven alan)

“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” -Miriam Adeney (via EmilyPosts)

I've spotted the above quote on a few blogs lately and it conveys such a nice sentiment. Isn't it heartbreakingly true?

It also makes me think of this Apache Relay song....which I really like.

get ready...

for a swinging holiday weekend!

It's a special, long, last bit-of-summer sort of weekend so please, whatever you do, get down.

Before things get going, take a gander at this awesome collection of photos of the terribly romantic Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

While I was down-and-out a few weeks ago following my wisdom tooth extraction we watched "The Long Hot Summer" starring the famous couple.

As the plot unfolds, the couple's chemistry was really fun to watch. Random factoid? The film is based on stories by William Faulkner.

(images courtesy marshall matlock, soundtrck collector and gdenny)