happy friday!

Survived a crazy week at work which required presentations and early arrival times. Heading out a few minutes early to hit up the salon for a little spring spruce-me-up.

Cheers to a happy weekend! Here's a recent favorite song to get you in the mood.

Hope everyone has a great one!

(original image via bippity boppity boo)

twig bobby pins

Pretty, pretty twig bobby pins from Woodland Belle's Etsy shop.

Don't these make a dainty display of keeping your hair out of your eyes?

(image via love + cupcakes)

getting pretty for spring

Spring has sprung and it's time to trade out those winter go-tos from the the old make-up bag.

Here are my current spring faves. Some have already been purchased. Some are still being coveted.

1. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Rollerball

Warmer temps mean lighter fragrances. This bubbly scent has grapefruit, violet, rose, pear and more. The rollerball size is perfect for tossing into your purse or gym bag. It's also a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a full bottle.

I must admit, I originally fell victim to this in line at Sephora. I love when impulse purchases work out.

2. Essie Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish

I'm loving this season's mint nail trend. This color looks good enough to eat!

I'm a huge fan of keeping it neutral on the hands, and getting crazy on the toes. Ready to swap my current neon pink toes out for this cool shade.

3. Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Dry shampoo is amazing. I've gushed over it before here. Still, when Duane Reade started carrying Klorane products, I decided to try a new brand.

This dry shampoo is a lifesaver. For those of us with dry hair, it makes washing less than every day possible (aka preventing your hair from looking like straw).

I'm a big fan of using this miracle worker to refresh the hair after a lighter workout.

4. MAC Bombshell Lipstick

My best friend in Junior High bought me a tube of MAC lipstick for my birthday. I've been hooked on the stuff ever since.

While some of their shades are a bit bold for my taste, this sweet pink offering looks fly. The shade is bold enough to be on trend, but still soft enough to avoid looking too harsh.

5. Benefit's Dandelion Blush

Pretty packaging and pretty content. This blush is the lightest of pink with a hint of shimmer.

A slight floral fragrance makes application a treat. You could also wear it with bright lips and avoid feeling like a clown. Everyone knows that clowns are scary.

So, what are your favorite spring products? Any secret weapons?

(original image via vintage danielle)

currently cooking: turkey stuffed peppers

To say our household likes bell peppers would be an understatement. From salads to pastas, they tend to make their way into almost every meal!

After craving stuffed peppers for the past few weeks, S and I decided to whip up a batch of our own this week.

Following Gina's (aka the Skinnytaste guru) recipe, we loaded our bell peppers up with brown rice, fat free turkey and spices.

They were delicious. The perfect meal to come home to after a long day of work and a run at the gym.

Click here for the full recipe.

(original recipe and top photo via skinnytaste)

P.S. S and I pumped up the flavor a bit by adding a few more spoonfuls of tomato sauce to the rice mixture. We also baked these with a bit more tomato sauce, fresh cilantro and shredded cheddar cheese on top.

shadow "painting"

Artist Rashad Alakbarov uses carefully arranged objects (sometimes suspended, sometimes translucent) to create shadow "paintings."

Aren't these amazing?

It must take FOR-EV-ER to position these shadow casting pieces in the right places! The results are pretty spectacular.

(images courtesy cmybacon)

foldover clutches

Clutches are great. Aren't they oh-so-chic and feminine. The problem? Where do you put all your stuff?

During the day, I haul around a bag big enough for most people would consider it luggage for a weekend getaway. Still, when it's time to get dolled up for drinks with friends or a date night, I love the idea of simplifying your handbag and embracing the festive nature of a big night out.

The solution? The foldover clutch! Beautiful and handheld, but big enough to hold more than a credit card, a key and your lipstick.

Obsessed with Gift Shop Brooklyn's offerings. Their pretty designs in mostly pastel palettes are calling my name. Visit their Etsy shop here.

(original images via gift shop brooklyn)

"zou bisou bisou"

Well, I can't say last night's Mad Men premiere left me disappointed! Today the world is all a flutter over Megan Draper's saucy interpretation of "Zou Bisou Bisou."

iTunes has released a single version of the song. For you hardcore Mad Men fans, a limited edition vinyl version is available here.

Click here to watch Megan's (aka actress Jessica Pare) mad moves.

(images via new york mag and yahoo)

happy (spring) weekend!

It's been a doozy of a week, but it's been gorgeous. Spring officially arrived, and I can't wait to get outside. Counting down the minutes until the weekend officially begins!

To kick things off right, here's a song by Charlotte, NC native Margolnick (aka one man band Michael Drake Margolnick). It's a catchy little ditty that makes me want bust a move much like those daisies up above.

On that note, have a most lovely weekend!

(gif via whiskey soaked cherries)

milk and roses bistro

Milk and Roses Bistro might be the cutest place ever.

Pressed tin ceilings, aged hardwood floors, mismatched antique bar stools and tables and a piano all contribute to the relaxed, shabby-chic aesthetic of this spot. The walls are lined with floor to ceiling shelves stuffed with antique books.

Grab a seat in the beautiful backyard or keep your voice low at a table inside.

Each tabletop features dainty flowers and menus handwritten on Air Mail envelopes. This place was over-the-top precious, and I loved it.

Milk and Roses offers a fair selection of food (paninis, salads, tarts, cheeses, etc.), but most of the patrons we saw came to hang. People were sipping bottles of wine and/or getting their caffeine fix with pretty cups of coffee. Freelancers, typing away on laptops, were abundant.

An unexpected, chilled out soundtrack (read: scratchy Robert Johnson recordings) made our party linger for longer than intended.

My verdict? A great spot and a great place to spend a sunny spring afternoon.

Here are a few snaps.

pretty painted windows

individual servings of milk in tiny bottles

geraniums in bloom

(original images via brix pix, blakestate and yelp)

currently cooking: southern style shrimp boil

In honor the unseasonably awesome spring weather, S and I decided to invite our pals L & D over for last week for a good old fashioned shrimp boil.

We drank lemon and thyme spritzers and pigged out on the spread you see below.

Here's the link to a recipe similar to what we follow. Instead of the creating our own "spice bundle" (oh, Martha), we kicked it old school and used Old Bay seasoning.

P.S. The location on the invite is a knock at the size of our oh-so-spacious Manhattan apartment ;)

words of wisdom

(image via jestiner)

l-l-loafers

EmersonFry's Paulo Loafers are quite fly. Their warm "nudie" color has me rethinking the street cred of a style I haven't coveted since the days of Clueless.

Be mine, you pretties!

(images courtesy emersonfry)

(image courtesy bippity boppity boo)

Rorschach china

British company We Love Kaoru has a most interesting line of Rorschach inspired china. Aren't these pieces captivating?

They'd certainly make for interesting dinner conversation. What do you see?

currently cooking: chicken sausage and spinach pasta

When it comes to cooking on school nights, we usually go for a dish that we can eat for two dinners. Since it's just the two of us (and there are almost always leftovers), we opted for the chicken sausage and spinach pasta you see above. We had a feeling this would taste even better the second night!

I know, I know. The name of our dinner of choice is misleading. Way to pig out, right? Nope! The recipe for this pasta calls for substitutions that keep the calorie count low without sacrificing any flavor.

The secret is using specific ingredients. For the penne, we went for Ronzoni's Smart Taste pasta. Super low cal and low carb. We kept our sausage simple by avoiding any of the cheese filled combos and went with a spicy, organic chicken option.

Check out the original recipe here. For roughly 400 calories per serving, eat and be happy!

P.S. S surprised me with a few tasty treats for dessert from vegan bakery Babycakes on LES. Frosted cupcake tops! Aren't they cute?

P.P.S. Remember Babycakes's adorable videos?

datter industries

Kaye Blegvad's Etsy shop Datter Industries caught my eye.

Her delicate creations are both quirky and wonderfully detailed. They should be mine!

This hand-y (yuck, yuck) bangle is pretty nifty.

I'm also digging this swashbuckling sword necklace.

(images courtesy datter industries)

monday morning

Happy Monday, friends!

It's sunny and temps are expected to hover in the 60's (and 70's!?) for most of the week.

Anyone feeling brave enough to shed those tights and go bare legged?

Va va voom!

(image courtesy storm in a teacup)

weekend plans

Oh my. For a moment I wasn't sure we would get here, but at long last it's...FRIDAY!

Do you guys have any fun plans? S and I are heading out of NYC to see our sweet fam before sneaking away to a Justin Townes Earle concert with some friends at MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to those of us not in know...).

Stoked to wander the galleries before the show starts.

In honor of the show, here is a JTE tune that might break your heart...in a good way?

Happy (almost) weekend!

P.S. Remember this post? I know S does.

(image courtesy mass moca)

seychelles for spring

Seychelles has my vote for cutest spring shoe collection. Each and every pair has me longing for balmy weather and brightly painted toes.

Spotted this pair at a boutique and was pretty bummed to learn they had sold out of my size. Shipping charges might just be worth it for these babies.

These heels (to quote Bridget Jones's Diary, accent required) AREN'T.BAD.EITHER.

(images courtesy seychelles)

currently cooking: mini zucchini pancakes

Thanks to a renewed commitment to eating light and working out, the hubs and I have been enjoying cooking in a lot more recently.

Last night we decided to whip up a delicious batch of mini zucchini pancakes to compliment our dinner and all I can say is WOW, BOB, WOW. We are in love.

Served with tzatziki, these pancakes really hit the spot. In addition to the many scrumptious flavors contained in these little fellas, the freshness of the grated zucchini came through strong.

Serving these with a black vinegar dipping sauce or even just plain soy sauce would also be tasty.

These pancakes were warm and fluffy. They also reminded us that spring is just around the corner.

Click here for Skinnytaste's recipe.

By the by, we added a dash of red pepper flakes to the pancake batter for a little bit of spice.

(original image courtesy alexandra cooks)

a sunny saturday in williamsburg

Saturday was such a beautiful day. Thanks to warmer weather, S and I decided to make the most of our free day.

Breaking our habit of heading to Brooklyn after the sun sets, we decided instead to spend the day wandering and soaking up the sun.

We started things off at famed fried chicken eatery Pies-n-Thighs.

You might have deduced based on the name that this place is a soul food-themed eatery focused on fried chicken and fresh baked pies. While this is true, don't let the name fool you. They were also serving a kale bowl in case you thought you weren't in Brooklyn anymore, Toto.

We'd be wanting to try this place forever and I'm pleased to say it was worth the wait. The fried chicken is the best I've had in NYC. Coming from a Mississippi girl, that's saying a lot.

Also, this happened. Glad we've taken to running again recently!

Next, we wandered over to Bedford Ave. where we promptly fell in love with kitchen store Whisk.
This place has any and everything you could ever want for your cooking needs. A fabulous and stylishly selected collection of culinary goodies ranging from cutlery to cloth napkins, cheese boards to specialty food items.

Bacon marmalade, anyone?

The store's prices are unbelievably reasonable. We scored some adorable striped tea towels, a new whisk, salad tossers and a new wooden salad bowl-- all for around $50.

Next, we wandered to McCarren Park where we found a bench in the sun and dog watched/stalked.

Saturdays are swell.

(images courtesy pies-n-thighs, s and yelp)

february photo challenge

When I heard about FatMumSlim's monthly photo challenges on Nat the Fat Rat, I was immediately intrigued.

The challenge is pretty straightforward. Fatmuslim creates a list of photo subjects to go with each day of the month. While many people instagram and tweet their daily finds, I decided to interpret said challenge a bit differently.

I spent the entire month collecting the images you see below. It turned a normal day's walk into a scavenger hunt. All in all, it was pretty fun!

See below for the results.

1-my view today/2-words (Truman Capote's)/3-S's hands
4-a stranger (a cat we met at the Alamo)/5-10 a.m./6-dinner (tuna pasta)

7-buttons on a favorite chambray shirt/8-sun (shining over Rock Center)/9-a front door in the Village
10-tulips make me happy/11-self portrait/12-inside my closet

13-blue (dress, that is)/14-heart/15-phone
16-something new/17-time (on the bedside table)/18-drink (and a heck of one-thanks to Hector)

19-something you hate to do (especially at board games)/20-handwriting/21-a fave photo from a friend's wedding
22-where you work/23-your shoes/24-inside your bathroom cabinet (product overload!)

25-green/26-night/27-something you ate (lobster empandas)
28-money/29-something you're listening to (Beirut, particularly "Santa Fe" on repeat)

Would you guys do a month long photo challenge? March's list has been posted! Click here to see the list and the "rules" for the daily challenge.

(top image courtesy fatmumslim)