Belated Thanksgiving

{A tongue-in-cheek post-it labeled with my last name (and often nick-name) that a colleague used to label my paperwork.}

This sticky note, fittingly attached to a daunting stack of November paperwork in my mailbox at school, succinctly sums up the constant feeling of running a lap behind and scrambling to stay on top of daily / long-term tasks and goals.  I've been feeling the pre-winter overwhelmed frenzy over the past couple of months, and this reminded me to take a deep breath and chill.  One way or another, everything does manage to get done or else isn't quite as pressing as, in the clutches of neurosis, I tend to think.

Love-Stoned:  This outfit, in neutral, stone, and taupe hues, got me through several fall weekends and holidays this year.  Brass hoop earrings: Forever21; statement necklace: Target; cable-knit sweater: Old Navy; cords: brand unknown, T.J. Maxx; booties: Dolce Vita found at Marshalls.  This year's Thanksgiving was spent with family and best friends (the Slotkins) over a super-relaxing meal and wine.  As the year draws to a close, I'm definitely counting my blessings.

{Elementary graffiti near one of our favorite restaurants; a great, simple message.}

{Delicious brick-oven pizza - I am thankful for you.}

{Candy-pink nails to keep my Color Project going; one of the best fall InStyle issues.}

It can be difficult to keep centered and positive when life gets hectic.  I'm about to start a week of winter break, a luxury in itself, and am ready to keep my eyes peeled for the beautiful moments every day, for the "freshest and the best" (Fitzgerald has been in my head lately), and the slowed-down, in-between joys that punctuate the whirling merry-go-round.

-xo

28th Birthday

{Birthday card and leopard-papered gifts from my wonderful parents; white wine that tasted oh so delicious after a manic Monday.}

To celebrate my 28th, my husband took me to Union League in New Haven, one of our favorite French restaurants, where the travails of work and daily stress felt light years away.  I took advantage of the occasion and donned some super-sparkles. The shimmering gold sequined shoulders of this cream blouse make it a special item.  All year, I wait with bated breath for the shameless, incandescent glitter of the holidays, which so perfectly excuse some of my favorite words: shimmer, shine, glimmer, and gleam.  Even in elementary school, one of the primary reasons why I sucked at recess dodgeball (besides poor hand-eye coordination) was that I was often scouring the ground for shiny items in the hopes that the playground might turn up unexpected treasure.  (Pehaps a discarded dentist's office ring?)  This year, I managed to curb excessive sparkly purchases by reminding myself of this wise adage: Sequin season will come again. 

What I Wore: Fleur-de-lis tights and sequined blouse: Imaginary Journey, Marshall's; black camisole, gold "pyramid" stud earrings, black A-line "brocade" metallic mini-skirt and gold/rhinestone charm: Forever21; vintage bracelet and ring, watch: Burberry; pumps: "Lomack" by Aldo.

{Shrimp ramen made by the hubby for a late-night weekend snack.}

{Crackle manicure - Sally Hansen Ink Splatter over Milani Neon Fresh Teal.}

{More hot home cookin': David Chang (Momofuku) rices cakes with spicy pork and Chinese broccoli with Szechuan seasoning and crispy shallots.  In Chang's own words - oily, spicy, and bangin'.}

This $32.00 Forever21 camel-colored jacket, my gift to myself, is much warmer than it looks but soft as a sweatshirt, making it the ideal topper for a chilly Sunday brunch.  It's also been perfect for the fairly cold mornings lately, but doesn't add extraneous bulk, which I hate when rushing around in the morning before school.  Jeggings: Tyte @ Macy's; scarf: J.Crew outlet, glasses and earrings: Forever21; motorcycle boots: DSW; Coach bag.
All in all, it was a food-filled, incredibly relaxing birthday, giving my plenty of reasons to be joyful and grateful.
-xo

Farewell to Fall

{A random, haunting moment of loveliness on my commute home, demanding that I literally stop and "look at the light" pouring through a golden frenzy of foliage.}

After the rager of a Nor'Easter we had last month, I was slightly bummed that autumn activities were cut so abruptly, particularly apple-picking and trick-or-treaters.  However, the season certainly didn't fly by uncelebrated.  As Thanksgiving Eve is upon us, crisp and brisk, I'm bidding a bittersweet farewell to fall - with some favorite moments over the past few months.

{A favorite candle - which helped light our dark home during the storm - and a recent holiday-themed manicure.  Essie Nail Lacquer in Geranium and ancient Revlon in Firecracker.}

So, with a soundscape of tree removal crew trucks and the blink of an eye, peak foliage is over and the flurry of the Connecticut winter holidays has begun.  Happy Thanksgiving, and here's to an inspiring winter.

-xoxo

I Spy (Inspiration): H20 Redux

{A quirky bobble-head at a local store.}
The October Nor'Easter that recently hit Connecticut actually made national news, causing many of us to lose power for over 8 days and nights and wreaking havoc all across the state. I won't rehash it here, since I'm finally starting to feel more or less "back to normal" or at least not that we're on the precipice of death by freezing ... or depression .... or both. One bummer, however, was that Halloween, one of my preferred holidays (even though I never do much to celebrate), was put on indefinite hold. This October felt less like a glorious transitional month filled with scarlet and rust leaves against blue skies, and more like a brisk speed-rap punctuated by wet, heavy snow, a question mark and a rude slash.
Here are some little moments throughout the month that felt like sparks of light in the dark:
{Someone's amazing baby costume from Facebook -- sorry, don't know the source! She is too adorable, although she looks skeptical about the pragmatism of her outfit ....}

{Tchotchke decorative bottles for a spooky holiday display.}

{A self-manicure that was only minorly successful - tried to create an ombre effect with Milani nail lacquers, going from bronze to silver to gold, but the shades were a little too close. Still, a fun, shiny bit of nail-jewelry.}

{Dream chaise for my dream office - hot (but not garish) pink flocked velvet, lots of room, quilted reclined back. Can't you see some icy, Hitchcock blonde draped gracefully over this seat, gimlet in hand, makeup pristine? I would probably take it more down the path of mouth-breathing naps, but it would look so pretty, especially with dark, Gothic pillows and punky flourishes around the room. In the window's reflection, you can see my breakfast take-out box. So glamorous.}

{This manicure was another experiment in my color project. Revlon Nail Lacquer in Minted; Coach "Audrey" satchel in cornflower. In the past, pastel or light colors did nothing for me. These days, I love to play with them almost as unexpected neutrals. Still ecstatically in love with that handbag.}

{Lilu's tough-girl, rock-and-roll Halloween outfit, a striped sweater with a vinyl Jolly Roger on the back. I believe she felt more powerful in this get-up. Or mortified. Also, we've since vaccuumed.}

While my original autumn plans were certainly snowed out, and "peak New England foliage" is an aesthetically altered tableaux what with the fallen boughs that line every street, the storm made me stop to think about how much I appreciate - and take for granted - the not-so-little comforts, luxuries, and moments in my life. Luckily, color, design, and joyfulness pick right back up and prevail in adversity, making every-day life that much more beautiful. All we have to do is look around.

-xoxo

Cornflower Craze

{Coach Madison Audrey convertible shoulder/handbag in cornflower with silver accents, 2010. Photo credit: www.coachhandbagspurses.org }
This past summer, my friend Amy B. and I went to the outlets in Clinton, CT, for shopping and a seafood lunch. We made off with some killer bargain purchases, including a vibrant teal patent bag from Coach for her. While we were in the over-heated and over-crowded Coach store, we happened across an amazing handbag in the softest, prettiest light-periwinkle blue color. I was instantly attracted, and Amy B. encouraged me to buy it, but I resisted based on the fact that I'm not a pastel/light-color girl. However, it haunted me; this was the strongest handbag-lust I had experienced since the infamous green-bag obsession. (The only other purse I'd ever craved so strongly was a tan satchel with lots of brass hardware.) While I'm usually not much of a Coach coveter, I know they often put out incredibly beautiful, unique colored leather in amazing quality, and this cornflower blue was exemplary. The bag I saw in Clinton was a little small, though, so I scoured the Internet for months for the true object of my desire, and was lucky enough to find the Madison Audrey satchel, above, on eBay for half of the original price. Just the right size, just enough detail and hardware, and the shoulder strap can be conveniently clipped underneath. Generally speaking, eBay terrifies me, but I knew this was a one-shot deal, so I went for it. My bag came in 3 days, and is delighting me with its supple, broken-in leather and feminine, seasonless shade.

{The cornflower bag was the perfect unexpected accent to a dark-colored outfit for a steakhouse dinner with our friends Liz and Steve. I finally worked up the cajones to wear this tunic top as a dress, a la Gossip Girl's Serena Van der Woodsen, but I doubt I'd venture it without the stockings. Dress and earrings: Forever21; Fleur-de-lis tights: Marshalls; Bracelets: Target, vintage; Wedges: Aldo.}

{The light blue of the bag reminds me of the slate shade we chose for our house; I've been thrilled with the cold, crisp weather lately. A gamine sweater + skinny jeans +leather boots = my preferred uniform. My bangs were jacked up from a fitful night of sleep and I had no time to wash my hair, so I put on this braided metallic gold headband in the "Greek goddess" style. Kind of ironic.}

{Sweater: Target; Jeggings, headband, and brass hoop earrings: Forever21; "Paige Clovertab" riding boots: Frye.}

Earlier in the day, we had breakfast at one of our favorite spots, which is next door to a cute garden-supplies store (in full fall glory). We had a little comedy on the side; my husband tried to order three (3) of the eggs Benedict instead of the two (2) that were on the menu, but the waitress misunderstood and thought he meant three breakfasts, aka orders. She brought out my sandwich and two orders of what he asked for, reassuring him that the "third is on its way." He was also given an entire pitcher of club soda to "wash down all the food he ordered." I fell apart laughing, and he was more startled than anything else. Turns out the wait staff had been rather taken aback by the miscommunication, too, but assumed he was either a competitive eater (?!?) or just really hungry. He later confessed that he probably could have handled all three orders.

-xoxo

Something to Blush About

Pastels and light colors don't usually float my boat, but lately I've been feeling soft pinks, corals, and peaches, and especially a blush hue so translucent it seems to glow. I was recently a bridesmaid in a lovely October wedding, my favorite part of which was the bride's amazing Calvin Klein gown, above - deep sweetheart neckline with corseted bodice, sheer chiffon sash and overlay scattered with blossoms, full princess skirt, in the most whisper-delicate blush shade - a unique departure from classic white that perfectly fit an idyllic autumn day in Central Connecticut.

{A side view of the incredible gown.}

{Liz, the beautiful bride, makes last-minute preparations to walk down the aisle.}

{The frothy skirt of this dress is the stuff of little girls' Disney dreams ... with a sophisticated flair.}

{My inspiringly energetic new colleague Tatiana rocking powder-pink with a camel belt and an Anthropologie lace pencil skirt that has a vintage feel (against a backdrop of vaguely creepy 8th-grade human gene science projects).}

{Another awesome new colleague, Lauren, blends preppy chic with feminine flourishes in a mix of slim cropped pants, a pretty floral top in sherbet shades, and unabashedly fun candy-pink Sperrys that I might have to steal.} {I originally bought this blush dress in May of 2010 for engagement photos and haven't worn it since, so I paired it with cool-weather gear like tights, stacked loafers, and a cardigan. I feel like it has a lady-like Chanel-esque vibe, which is always a plus. Please forgive the doggie door.}

{Lotus, a fabulous friend of my BFF Marina, in a color palette that makes me drool - blush and black with a quilted cream-and-gold bag. I'm also digging the matching umbrella, but I don't know anything about her shining companion ...}

{Liz chose these sunset-inspired bridesmaid bouquets. I've been obsessed with quirky manicures like this. The light pink is Milani Nail Lacquer (aka my favorite CVS guilty pleasure) in Paradise Pink and reminds me of strawberry ice cream; a similar color is Essie's Fiji. The super-sparkly glitter-pink is Milani Nail Lacquer in Disco Nights.}

Although I normally gravitate toward black, neutrals, and bold jewel tones, the romance of barely-there, cotton-candy colors makes me smile, and that's my favorite color effect, when all is said and done.

-xoxo

Wedge You Be Mine?

{These awesomely vertiginous suede-and-patent ombre wedges by Thesykens Theory have been sparkling on my radar, but at $465.00 are way out of my price range, hence my ecstasy when I found their close ringers at the mall. Photo credit: www.cooltowear.com }

{My new very-favorite, endlessly versatile, legitimately comfortable two-tone 4.5" platform wedges with ankle strap, Aldo, against a backdrop of delightful fall-scented candles.}

Despite my love for playing dress-up, I consider myself something of a late bloomer when it comes to shoe-fluency. For a long time, I simply didn't care too much what was on my feet, often donning my mom's hand-me-down kitten-heels for work; while perfectly nice, they weren't really "me." Today, I treasure my collection of booties, loafers, and a singular set of camel patent "Yolanda" Christian Louboutins that I purchased for (and justified with) my wedding, but I've been known to make some offensively wrong footwear choices. Back in college, when I first got into Sex and the City, I went through a super-cheap (Carrie Bradshaw's Manolos being out of the question) pointy-stiletto phase that worked out only minimally well, as I never really mastered walking in them with any kind of grace. (A friend refers to me as the Chinese female Kramer; I can trip, fall, and stumble on a totally flat floor in a totally clear hallway stone-cold sober in flats, so spike-heeled stilettos are not my friend.) The one relic of that era is a pair of 2004 faux-crocodile metallic-purple Chinese Laundry pumps, which are admittedly pretty great. But for the most part, the feet of my youth were often shod in shoes originally marketed for tweens.
The one shoe style I have always loved without wavering, and which is having a shining moment in the sun these days,
is the towering platform wedge.

In 8th grade, my mother took me back-to-school shopping and tried in vain to get me to purchase pragmatic items such as thick sweaters and plain black slacks. (What 8th graders wants to wear a "slack?") Instead, I begged, beguiled, and cajoled until she relented and bought me a pair of black-foam-covered 4" wedge platform sandals (Express) with a single piece of wide brown leather over the foot. I wish I had a picture; they were so freakin' ugly, but I loved them passionately, and on sight. They worked (I thought) with flare jeans, dresses, corduroys, miniskirts, and the atrocious, ubiquitous overalls we loved in 1997; the thick platform made them exceedingly comfortable in spite of their height. Also, two-tone pieces in colors that aren't "supposed to" go together have always pleased my inner rebel. I proceeded to wear the shit out of those bad boys all the way through 2006, aka my first full year out of college - by that time, the heels were worn to nubs and they looked conspicuously dated, but I couldn't bear to toss 'em. Then one fateful night at the club, I fell, I mean really went down, a staggering 5 times while trying to cut a cute move on the dance floor, and they had to meet the dumpster. However, I never really got over them. Now that massive platform wedges are hotter than ever, with design extras that allow for comfort such as an ankle strap and a slight lift at the toe, I'm happy to indulge my addiction with these affordable beauties from Aldo, a trickle-down melding of some of the hottest current shoe designers. The combination of rich but neutral cognac and never-fails black will go with everything in my wardrobe, grounding frilly dresses but still lending a tough edge. Wedges distribute weight evenly, unlike stilettos, so you can walk steady and stand tall while still looking fierce. Here are some other beauties in this style: {These ruby-red suede Charlotte Olympias are both fun and unexpected, especially the blink-and-you'll-miss-them cat faces on the toes, a Wonderland-esque touch. Photo credit: www.stilettomeup.com }

{The rich jewel color of these velvet stunners is eye-catching; the gold trim makes them special. Also from Charlotte Olympia. Photo credit: www.shopstyle.com }

{Charlotte Olympia makes me swoon again with this quartet, including the leopard shootie. Ultra-wearable, outfit-enhancing wedges in blush and chartreuse embossed leather and ostrich-effect teal velvet. Photo credit: www.shoerazzi.com }

{More brown-and-black: Dolce Vita "Camryns" at Free People. Photo credit: www.thisnext.com }

{Pierre Hardy recently showed a number of color-blocked illusion platforms, mimicking the look of a chunky stiletto heel. Photo credit: www.aqioffer.com }

I will be rocking my new faves with every color of the rainbow and most of my holiday outfits. On a damp, rainy fall Friday closing a harrowing few days, I broke them out for school with slim navy harem pants and a rust tie-neck blouse, determined to end the week with intrepid spirit. While driving to work, my car radiator exploded, leaving me stranded mid-traffic in my smoking Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chobani yogurt in hand, fellow commuters flipping me off in exasperation. Luckily, Al, the kind gentleman from AAA, was benevolent enough to go against protocol and drive me to work before dropping my car at the shop. As I dismounted from the tow truck in my sky-high wedges, he called, "Be careful in those shoes ... and have a better day!"

I was ... and eventually, I did. And I was glad I wore the shoes. --xoxo

More October Obsessions

{Literally the BEST candles I have ever purchased: a delicious fall assortment from Our Own Candle Company. I'm picky about candles; these are never too artificial or sweet and smell exactly like they should. Our home is currently scented with hot cinnamon buns and pumpkin spice, and at $5.99 a pop (I cleaned out our local T.J. Maxx), they are far more reasonable than overly-perfumed Yankee candles. I'll be scouring stores for more, as I think they make a perfect host gift for holiday dinners.}
A decidedly stressful week has left me seriously craving home comforts and general coziness. Lately I've had a resurgence of appreciation for master animator Miyazaki's Ponyo, a tale of a little goldfish princess with a strong will who loves a kind little boy named Souske. BFF of 21 years Lisa first put me onto this wonderful movie, and while the shrill English-dub children's voices can be a tad much, it's a lovely film that leaves me feeling happy and peaceful. In the movie, a wild storm rages through an ocean town, leaving the sea high and swollen; giant navy waves crest mightily, and (spoiler alert!)the intrepid goldfish gets her wish and becomes a little girl. I watched it during Hurricane Irene while nursing a Scotch followed by a hot tea with honey, which the characters drink in a candle-lit kitchen after their storm. Ever since I was child, I have loved books and movies that make me crave the food the characters are eating, particularly hot, savory meals when it's dark and gloomy outside.

{A frame from the opening credits of Ponyo, with beautifully undulating waves and the friendly little house that serves as a beacon to ships at sea. Photo credit: www.colourlovers.com }

{Ponyo and Souske expressing justifiably utter delight over their scrumptious-looking ramen noodles with ham, scallion, and egg, to be eaten in a warm, snug living room while the rain and wind rage outside. Photo credit: www.365boegel.blogspot.com }

{Our favorite instant ramen noodles, which have sadly been discontinued. My husband is an aficionado of ramen, both instant and legit, and these are truly delicious. Much about this image amuses me, particularly the rambunctiously joyous Asian men enjoying noodles together on the side of the package. You can add all kinds of treats, but I particularly like to drop in an egg for the last minute of boiling; it coats the noodles, and pieces of yolk float appealingly in the broth.}

{After a particularly grueling session of coaching cross-country last week (my co-coach is a Spartan monster who makes me, I mean the children, run in the rain), all I wanted was a giant bowl of Ponyo-inspired noodles, plus this fragrant red pear.}

{While they aren't necessarily the most flattering choice, striped tops in soft, thin materials and all different color combinations make me feel totally comfortable; a sequin/button or two dresses them up. Here are a few of my favorites, from Old Navy and Target.}

{A random vintage-inspired card and letter holder looks right on the mantelpiece. I'm currently pretending I never saw the "Made In China" sticker on the back and that I found it at some funky flea-market for the super-creative and ultra-hip.}

{It looks even cuter filled with some of our favorite cards, both from friends and one another, in an array of colors. I can never bear to throw away meaningful greeting cards and am a sucker for a well-turned phrase, so I'm happy these notes have a special home.}

{One of the best OOCC candles; it smells like something sweet and well-spiced baking in the oven with a hint of cream, cocoa, cinnamon, and cardamom. Pocky biscuits.)

Pocky was my favorite treat as a kid. My mom had this racket going where she would buy me a box to entice me to be patient as she shopped at the 'Asian store' for groceries, and the classic red box still gives me a sense of excitement. In an unfortunate series of events, my husband went for the second packet when the box was open at the wrong end (I wonder who would do something so foolish) and chocolate-covered biscuit sticks spilled out all over the floor. I stood by the 5-second rule.

-xoxo