Monday, January 31, 2011

Spring Inspiration #3

I’ve been under the weather for the last few days, but these cheerful images seem to have a healing touch!

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1. Nautical Anthro dress 2. Smokey Quartz Pradman ring 3. Image Source Unknown 4 J.Crew dress 5. Jonathan Adler pillow 6. Image Source Unknown

Friday, January 28, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Go Read:: Matchbox Magazine

Have you seen the new online publication, Matchbox Magazine?  It’s adorable and has great articles and eye candy!  Between this, Lonny, Rue and High Gloss making it’s debut next week, online reading material should never be in shortage!  I love  Matchbox Magazine’s description of the Matchbox Girl  below:

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Spring Inspiration #1

  1. Bright colors – Check!
  2. Stripes – Yes please
  3. Fun patterns – Def.
  4. Emily Blunt – she just looks so pretty I had to include her.

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1. J.Crew 2. Emily Blunt 3. Miles Redd 4. Anthropologie 5. J.Crew 6. Kate Spade 7. Michael Kors

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Playa Mujeres :: Recap

Playa Mujeres is amazing, and if you have the chance to go – I’d highly recommend it!   The La Amada resort was great – delicious food (and drinks), very clean and relaxing. Overall our trip was quick, but super restorative. Here’s the trip in a nutshell.

On the way – we are excited!

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Hotel balcony view – loving those sunny skies…

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Thrilled to be in warm weather.

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View from the beach

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Lee practicing “Safe Sun”

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Golfing in the wind – it got competitive.

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Last Day – we are happy to have had the opportunity to visit and sad to leave…

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But of course, love coming home to see this guy.

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I finished The Nineteenth Wife on the trip and will post a review soon.

Hope you’re having a great week!

Monday, January 24, 2011

For a cool $12.9 MM…

You can own Katie Lee’s beautiful West Village, NY townhome.  Decorated by the famed Nate Berkus, this is a gorgeous home.  I love the use of soft neutral colors and all the gold incorporated into each room.  Some of the rooms don’t appear to have changed much since it was featured in Domino a couple of years ago, whereas others appear to be more sophisticated and uncluttered (I’m sure for the staging.)  Here are some of the amazing rooms and views.

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The 100+ square foot dressing room decked out in gold leaf feels a little over the top, but to each their own

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And based on what she wore at the Golden Globes, and her dining room below, I have a feeling Katie likes yellow.

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Peace Out.

We’re headed out early tomorrow for Playa Mujeres.  I’m praying for sunshine, no drug cartels, safe travels and all the books I  purchased on a recent book binge don’t disappoint.image

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Have a wonderful rest of your week and weekend! 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Best and Worst Dressed::Golden Globes 2011

Did you watch the Golden Globes this year? Aside from a few really touching and funny speeches, the overall vibe seemed kind of dour. Regardless, the fashion is always fun, and I love to see who is wearing what. Here are some of my Best and Worst's…Who did you think had the best and worst dresses?

BEST

Mila – You look hot. My husband agrees.

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Oliva – Now this is a dress. Maybe not a presenter dress but a dress nonetheless.

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Katie Lee – I don’t know why you’re there, but I like your cheery yellow choice.

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Anne – I love you and your shoulder pads.

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WORST

Sorry Xtina – I hate this. You are better than that dress.

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Michelle – I love your hair and makeup, but your dress reminds of 5-7-9 when I was in fifth grade.

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Heidi – there is just too much going on here. Yikes.

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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Hanging Tuft…

Like many bloggers out there, I’m loving the Tuft Look. Here are some of my recent faves…

My dream bed

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Spotted here

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Are you tuft?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Packing Inspiration:: Playa Mujeres

To celebrate the end of the long process applying to Bschool, Lee and I are taking a trip next week!  Awhile back, I asked where should we go, and it turns out Jetsetter had something perfect for us!  Our requirements were simple – there had to be a golf course (for Lee) and good food and pretty surroundings (for me.)  We’re going to Playa Mujeres – and staying at the La Amada hotel.

I’m so excited about the quality time together…The place looks amazing – I love the minimal, modern look of the rooms and spa.  And now, I’m thinking about what to pack…I wish the Target/Calyspo St. Barth collaboration collection was out- looks like they’ll have some great beach-wearing stuff!

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Here are some other things, I’ll put on the packing list!

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Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Perfection…

So, I recently announced my 2011 reading list, and I’m happy to say the first book of 2011 exceeded all expectations.  Perfection written by Julie Metz, is a painfully honest memoir of her husband’s shocking death, her discovery of his infidelities and the realization of her unhappy marriage and life.  It was so good and enthralling, I couldn’t put it down and finished it over the weekend.

According to the customer reviews on Amazon, people either love or hate this book.  The author does not gloss over anything, and while you root for her, sometimes her behavior and decisions feel irresponsible – especially for a parent.  That is one of the reasons I loved the book.  She discusses  her own transgressions and mistakes in detail, when she could have conveniently left this out.   Some people found these parts to be too intimate and inappropriate for her daughter and husband’s living relatives, but I appreciated her willingness to put it all out there…  

If you’ve read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Otherwise, here is  a great article, if you’d like a summary and more detail on the book.

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Catalog Review:: Wisteria

Last week a new catalog, Wisteria, appeared in my mailbox.  I’d never heard of the family-run online retailer, so I was excited to see their collection.  They had a  nice collection of furniture, accessories and textiles ranging from very modern to vintage.  Overall I think they are a little pricey but it serves as good inspiration. Check out the online version if you’re interested…

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Here are some pics of my favorite room and pieces.

Living Room

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Paisley Pillow                                        Bone Frame

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Nickel Silver Ribbed Mirror               Black Chair

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Upholstered Sofa                                   Flower Tray

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

2010 Fave Books and 2011 Reading List

Before I get to my  2011 Reading List , I wanted to reflect quickly on my faves from 2010 including:

  • The Help – This is so good and by far the book that stuck with me the post.  Told from multiple perspectives, this book will touch, shock and make you laugh out loud.
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  (Stieg Larrson series) – a little dark and sometimes twisted, this series (especially the first book IMHO) keeps you engaged and caught up in the adventures.
  • I was Told There’d be Cake – recommended by my awesome sister-in-law, the collection of essays reminded me of the girl version of David Sedaris, whom I love. Check out Lindsay’s original  post to see the pretty cover.
  • My Horizontal Life – perfect for a  light summer read and great to share with girlfriends - the always hilarious Chelsea Handler is shocking and doesn’t disappoint.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the abovementioned books, with the exception of The Help there wasn’t anything that really stuck with me.   In prior years,  The Glass Castle and Water for Elephants both captured my attention and stayed with me for months…

 

So here is what I’m reading in 2011 and some editorial review comments…

  Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

“Jonathan Franzen’s new novel, Freedom, like his previous one, The Corrections, is a masterpiece of American fiction . . . Freedom is a still richer and deeper work—less glittering on its surface but more confident in its method . . . Like all great novels, Freedom does not just tell an engrossing story. It illuminates, through the steady radiance of its author’s profound moral intelligence, the world we thought we knew.”—Sam Tanenhaus, The New York Times Book Review (cover review)

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Perfection by Julie Metz 

"Metz's Perfection chronicles with lapidary precision one woman's climb back to happiness after not just a spouse's death, but also the shocking recognition that her life before that death was not what she had thought it was. The journey is a painful one, but Ms. Metz is much the stronger for having survived to recount it."
--Julie Powell, author of Julie & Julia

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 Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand

“….inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. In evocative, immediate descriptions, Hillenbrand unfurls the story of Louie Zamperini--a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic runner-turned-Army hero. During a routine search mission over the Pacific, Louie’s plane crashed into the ocean, and what happened to him over the next three years of his life is a story that will keep you glued to the pages, eagerly awaiting the next turn in the story and fearing it at the same time.” -- Juliet Disparte

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What are you reading this year?  I’d love to hear additional suggestions or comments. 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Less than Refreshed.

After a holiday or vacation, you are supposed to feel refreshed and invigorated – especially with a New Year upon us.  We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends over the Christmas break, but after catching a cold, a wacky sleep schedule, indulgent diet and heading back to work has NOT left me with new energy.  It’s quite the opposite. 

All I want do when I get home is curl up with one of these or these or this guy and watch mindless TV. Speaking of mindless…Who watched the Bachelor last night – SO awkward, and what’s up with Fangs?  I digress…

What do you typically do to boost your energy levels ?   And please don’t tell me it’s exercise (J/K – all comments welcome!)

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