{things i learned} botkier showroom visit
Last week I had an opportunity to check out Botkier's Manhattan showroom and view the brand's Summer and Fall 2013 collections. I was promised a dazzling array of colors, materials, and shapes and designer Monica Botkier did not disappoint. For someone like me who's loved handbags for as long as I can remember, the experience was incredible. What stood out most was the attention to detail paid to each purse–every strap, zipper, and handle has been put in place to serve a variety of carefully thought-out purposes. While the summer brights were stunning, I'm most excited about Botkier's fall creations: the brand releasing a handbag (the 'Legacy') in homage to their best-selling purse, the now-discontinued 'Trigger,' in honor of their tenth anniversary. Be sure to check back tomorrow for all the details on what I wore for the visit. Many thanks again to Monica for this super special invitation and to Tiffany Wong for the incredible tour!
Enter my latest GIVEAWAY to win a leather and brass bracelet here!
{things i learned} showers of happiness
This weekend I was lucky enough to attend a beautiful outdoor baby shower. Despite a rainy couple of days leading up to the party, the weather was bright, sunny, and blissfully dry when things officially got underway. The food was incredible (think upscale barbeque)–just look at those bruschetta and that white wine sangria. I loved all the homemade touches, like kid-designed wrapping paper and hand-picked flower arrangements. With a relatively small family and group of friends I haven't been lucky enough to have a lot of these sort of events in my life, but when I do get the chance to celebrate something so amazingly joyful, I can't help but spend the whole day smiling.
{things i learned} right here all along
[a very colorful street]
[my sister's silver-tipped manicure: essie's 'ballet slippers' + 'there's no place like chrome']
[a too-cute cannoli cupcake]
[warmer weather = more time spent in city parks]
[a touch of hidden sparkle on a pair of new pumps c/o corso como]
There's something about rainy weekends that always get me down–even if I don't have something planned, I hate the idea of a Saturday and Sunday spent under the gloom of an overcast sky. Thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea, these past few days have been something of a wash-out. Luckily the forecast has cleared up and the weekend's looking largely sunny (for the most part)–fingers crossed. Plus, I'm excited for Monday–not only will I be announcing the winner of my Nineteen Pieces giveaway but I'll be lauching a brand-new one that I'm hosting with Henri Lou Jewelry.
{things i learned} can’t stop because i love it
[incredibly luxurious imported italian shower & bath cream kit from perlier c/o iFabbo]
[fresh grapefruit, a perfect midday snack]
[gorgeous trees that now sun-dapple my walks]
[very impressive five-pound 'giant' gummy bears]
[new hair help c/o of influenster: osis+ 'dust it' matifying powder for added volume at my roots]
Holiday weeks tend to fly by–just missing one day from a normal schedule really helps shake things up (especially if the day in question is a Monday). Despite this week's shortened Memorial Day work week, I'm still desperately craving the weekend. Here's to enjoying high temps like we've had for the past few days, the start of June, and the first unofficial Saturday and Sunday of summer.
{things i learned} ‘punk: chaos to couture’ at the metropolitan museum of art
I can't think of a better way to spend part of a Memorial Day weekend than seeing the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Fashion Institute exhibition.This spring's show, PUNK: Chaos to Couture, is another stunner. Seven galleries with over one-hundred ensembles trace the movement's evolution from its 1970s New York City/London birth to its eventual (and still current) place in high fashion. Though many have criticized the show for attempting to crystallize a trend that in theory has no place in a conventional establishment like a museum, I really enjoyed being able to get up close to pieces that displayed the visually intricate punk concepts of 'do-it-yourself,' 'graffiti,' 'bricolage,' and 'destroy.' If you're in NYC before August 14, be sure to check this one out.
(Today's the last day you can CLICK HERE to enter to WIN this:)
{things i learned} my week through instagram
1. adore the vintage look of this @louisvuitton poster #shopping #louisvuitton #fashion #love
2. rainy day at the met #museum #newyorkcity
3. impressionism, fashion, & modernity #art #museum #exhibition #met
4. #inlove #gallery #art #museum #met
5. it practically has my name on it #museum #love
7. punk: chaos to couture #lovedit #museum #fashion #lust #met
8. ham & swiss au gratin #yum #food #dinnertonight
9. #dessert #cupcake #chocolate #coconut #frosting #love #treat
10. happy puppy #dog #cutie #petportrait #bowwow
{things i learned} test kitchen
[pepper + parmesan frittata]
[pull-apart corn rolls]
[tomato sauce with meatballs]
[the start of fresh basil pesto]
[double chocolate sea-salt cookies]
It's no secret that I love to cook and bake. Other than fashion and all that goes with it (I'm looking at you shopping), making food is my absolute favorite hobby. Though a lot of people ask me how they can kick-start their culinary life, I don't have a magic formula (I've never taken a cooking class or read a cook book). My best piece of advice? The only way to start to start cooking is to start cooking. Get your recipes wherever you can, try them out, taste and share the finished product, collect opinions (your own included), and repeat with edits. There's no need to be afraid of 'making a mistake' because anything that goes wrong can always be tweaked for the next time. You'll be surprised by how much and how quickly you can learn: before you know it you'll have a collection of dishes–like these photos of ones whose full recipes I have not yet posted here–that you can proudly call your own.
(PSST…FEELING LUCKY? CLICK HERE TO WIN THIS:)
{things i learned} my week through instagram
1. great finds @thelimited #shopping #retailtherapy #whatsinside #spring
2. gorgeous day in the city #nyc #newyorkcity #love #spring #instadaily
3. salted chocolate chip cookie pot #yum #dessert #latenight
4. kinda obsessed with these neon accessories at @jcrew #blogger #love #jewelry #fashion #shopping
5. april showers bring may flowers #spring #nofliter #love
6. shrimp bisque #yum #latelunch #food
7. pepita crusted salmon #yum #food
8. lemon fresco + french twist #hisandhers #drinks #cheers #saturdaynight
9. short rib tortellini with shaved parmesan #appetizers #datenight
10. sea bass with a lobster and spring pea risotto #dinnertonight #yum #food
11. warm chocolate pecan tart #dessert
12. cuban food #dinnertonight #food #yum
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