Happy Halloween, homies!

P.S. "Beetjuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!"

P.P.S Remember this awesome song from 30 Rock?

(image courtesy slightly pretentious)

love letter...

How sweet is this love letter from Johnny Cash to June?

(image courtesy letters of note)

happiness is...

Mom

wine and

dodging a rainstorm while nibbling a cheese plate from Eataly.

abstract print

Love this abstract print by twoems. At $26, it makes adding a little pop of color to your walls a fun (and frugal) possibility.

pumpkin candle

Thought about making this recipe for Pumpkin Bread Pudding, but decided to indulge instead in this pumpkin scented candle from Anthro.


It makes our whole place smell like Pumpkin Souffle! Baking fragrance with no calories or clean-up? That's what I call winning.

Every candle in Illume's Boulangerie line apparently smells like a French dessert. They also all come in these adorable little jars.

Wouldn't these make great hostess gifts?

(image courtesy anthro)

Wow-Mondays are never easy. This Monday, however, is off to an exceptionally ridiculous start.

Saw the hubs off on a business trip at 5 a.m. this morning only to discover that our building had shut off the hot water due to busted pipe. Cold showers all around!

Combine that lovely feeling with the car alarm that went off for the next half hour and you might begin to grasp how wonderful of a mood I was in as I spilled a bowl of oatmeal down the front of my black pants. Think that sounds bad?

While walking to the subway, a pigeon flew into my shoulder. This is not a joke!?

Still, the weekend was wonderful, the sun is out and my mom is coming to visit. The day has to be on the up and up, right?

At least one thing is for sure, it's almost a mathematical certainty that body to body contact with another pigeon today is unlikely.

hello, italy!

Love, love, love the unconventional use of framed maps here. Talk about making a statement!

I've always liked the look of incorporating a framed map into a gallery wall, but this takes it to a whole new level. What a cool way to make an impact and take advantage of super high ceilings.

(spotted on cup of jo)

hump day

It's a grey, chilly, rainy Wednesday here in the Big Apple. Would give anything to be cozy at home instead of in my office working my way through a manuscript about a boy superhero...even if he is a cool little dude...

Somewhere between the weather and last night's impromptu fiesta with friends (literally made a menu of Mexican dishes and margaritas), I'm struggling a bit today. In retrospect, said fiesta may have been an ambitious undertaking for a Tuesday evening...What's that they say about "hair of the dog?"

Happy (hungover) hump day, friends.

(cinemagraph courtesy jamie beck/from me to you)

apple pie cookies

Is there anything the fabulous Deb of Smitten Kitchen can't do? Her recipes have had me and most of my girlfriends drooling for years. Her latest autumnal-themed creation might take the...cookie?

She's combined the satisfaction of a piece of apple pie into a round bite size cookie. Genius, I tell you!

An absolutely original and delicious way to make use of those apples left over from a recent apple picking adventure.


Click here for the recipe.

(images courtesy smitten kitchen)

american apparel pullover

Currently obsessed with American Apparel's Light Weight Raglan Pullover ($38).

Worn with a pair of black leggings, it's become my most favorite lounge outfit. Soft and cozy, it gives you the perfect snuggly fall feeling without sacrificing style.

Snagged the indigo option below over the weekend. Planning to pick up another in grey.

(images courtesy american apparel)

new feist

I've been swaying to Feist's new album Metals all day. I recently read a Picthfork review of her latest that praised the "low croon of her honeyed, creaky-door voice." Well played!

For those of you who haven't heard it, I'm happy to report that Metals is charming. Current fav tracks are "The Circle Married the Line"

and "How Come You Never Go There."

Head here to hear a portion of the album for free.

Also, who could forget this or this? Leslie Feist the cutest. Would kill to see her live.

(images courtesy pitchfork and stereogum)

pig speaker

I'm sorry. Can this be real?

This pig speaker for iPhone, iPad, etc. might be the best thing ever.

On its own, this little fella makes a charming decorative object for your nightstand or shelf. Plugged in, it is both functional and really freaking funny.

(image courtesy west elm)

cafe apron

Small Batch Productions is a groovy little Etsy shop that creates and sells aprons, tea towels and other sweet kitchen linens.

Obsessed with ordering one of these too cute cafe aprons.

The aubergine windowpane option above must be mine.

Don't they make you want to mosey into the kitchen and whip up something tasty?

My beloved leopard print ballet flats finally blew out on me this weekend while we were in Nashville. Bummed out and lost without my go to shoe of choice.

Contemplating a leopard print replacement. Here are a few styles currently catching the eye.

cheers

Running out of the office to catch a flight for a little weekend getaway. Part business, part pleasure-all adventure.

Cheers to the weekend!

(image courtesy solsetur)

minetta tavern

After hearing about Keith McNally's Minetta Tavern nonstop for the past two years, S and I were thrilled to see what all the hype was about when we dined there last Saturday evening.

Since reservations are nearly impossible to secure, you can imagine my surprise (and excitement!) when the hubs scored a Saturday dinner spot. Charming devil...

Located in a cozy space on Macdougal Street, this cozy yet thumping spot embodies what New York Mag refers to as "speakeasy chic." There are low ceilings, warm lighting, red leather booths and black and white tiled floors.


Minetta's old fashioned vibe comes honest as the original restuarant came on in the scene in the 1930s as an Italian joint. According to the restaurant's website the likes of Ernest Hemingway and e.e. cummings (among others) used to drink there.

It was a rainy, chilly autumnal sort of evening so we started things off with a glass of champagne, the chicory salad special and the famed bone marrow.

We went on to order the Trout Meuniere (with crab meat and brioche crutons)

and THE burger...that's right the famed Black Label burger.

Made with prime aged beef and served with caramelized onions, it's considered sinful (at least according to our adorable French waitress who could have been Clemence Posey's twin) to add any condiments to this monster.

Consensus? Worth. every. penny.

(original images courtesy here, here, here and here)

video games

I really love this romantic tune by Lana del Rey. If you listen closely you can hear hints of Tori Amos-inspired vocals and even a harp!

I love the odd collection of images that compose the video. Each and every frame was supposedly chosen by the singer.

This indie internet sensation has been criticized for the suspected role that managers and producers played establishing her retro style (read the NY Mag article here).

So far, I'm not a huge fan of her other songs I've heard...Having said that, "Video Games" sounds and looks lovely.

Enjoy!

sweet sunday

S and I set aside Sunday for sweet little day date. Somewhere between jam packed calendars and a gnarly round of fall colds, we were ready for a little rest and relaxation... just the two of us.

We slept in, grabbed a cup of coffee at the newly opened Starbucks on our corner (dangerous) and leisurely made our way to Brooklyn for a tasty brunch at Five Leaves. This place is a total scene, but worth the wait.

It was a gorgeous day so we sat outside, sipped Bloody Marys (pic above) and nibbled on a truffle fries. Quite decadent!

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the weather.

We picked up a few treats at my most favorite antique store of all time

before hopping the East River Ferry home.

(images courtesy ye trusty iphone and mcmillan furlow)

(image courtesy whiskey soaked cherries)