3 years ago...

I posted this photo when I was waaayyyy pregnant and overdue with Luca. 3 years ago, I didn't know he was Luca. I thought he was a she some days and other days I was convinced if it indeed was a boy, he'd be dark - hair, skin, eyes. I literally got the opposite, as you all know.

Three years ago I wrote this post: here. And clearly someone listened. Luca came out and literally looks like that.

Isn't it insane? Life, you just never know what you're gonna get.

dress me

image from in the city with crystal in

A little note to the ladies of the world.
You don't have to wear sweats to be comfortable. There's zero need for complicated and tight pieces either. Don't be afraid to buy up a size. Seriously. Want to look like a small? Wear a medium. Want to show off your love handles? Wear a small.
Try it. Trust me.

Here is an example of how easy it is to dress simply and look amazing. Again, try it.

stylespiration

I realize stylespiration isn't a word. But I needed something to express my style inspiration, without using inspiration, again.

Boy meets girl. I've always been into it. Especially after seeing these photos from les petites choses.

beauty day

So my summer tan is officially gone. I clearly don't handle this type of thing well. But tanning salons and spray tans aren't my thing, here's a guide to getting the best all over bronze possible.

How to: Prep skin with a tinted moisturizer (Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint SPF 20 in Bronzedadds just enough color and spreads evenly) before dusting a cream blush (Sobol loves Josie Maran Cream Blush in Sunset) over the apples of the cheeks. Dab a highlighter like Nars The Multiple in Orgasm on top of the cheekbones for a pretty glow. Line the upper and lower lash lines with a bronze-brown pencil, smudging the top toward the outer corners. Slick lips with a peach gloss, and voilà—you've got a serious glow going.

need: blazer

Oh how I want to take you home, sweet little blazer. You should be in my closet, not hanging at Barneys.

Get it here.

7 day challenge - day 1 & 2

image from here

So saturday started my 7 day challenge of reducing my garbage to nothing. On a pass/fail scale, I supposed I passed. Definitely not an A, but learning.

I had no idea how difficult it would be to not have anything to throw away at all. I started my day with tea, which I served in a to-go metal cup. Great, other than the fact that my tea/bag had no where to go after I was finished. Can you recycle it? I was being rushed by a toddler, so I left it to the side, hoping it would recycle itself. All went well until dinner time when Luca finished a bag of clementines. The plastic containing them is pure trash. Sad.

Sunday was much better. I'd give myself a pass+. This even includes hosting a chili dinner party to celebrate the arrival of Sandy. The only item I was concerned with was the cork from my wine bottle. So I decided to keep it, stash it for a day when another cork goes missing.

I think everyone should attempt this challenge. It's such a lesson on consumption. Think about it.

5 things...

While hurricane Sandy continues to greet NYC with her fast winds, I'm inside redoing everything from floral arrangements to wall decor. It's heaven.


Also getting some attention today? My closet. Out with the old. No new necessary. Time to purge.



As I go through my closets, I'm coming up with some Halloween ideas, being that I believe the weather gods will be good to us for trick or treating.



Every time I peek outside, I'm stumped by the fact that the water around us is rising so rapidly and that somewhere, probably not too far away, people are in the waves, loving Sandy for what she's offering them.


FOOD. A real staple on days like this. The oven is on, the stove is full of goods slowly cooking away. It's like a holiday over here.

How is your Sandy day coming along?
xx

dress me

image from here

Olivia Palermo. Once again, her style slays me.

Get the look:
Elizabeth & James colorblocked blazer
Denim shirt from J. Crew
Vegan leather pants
Blue heels by Manolo
Warby Parker sunglasses

word

images from here

home

images from style-files

Suddenly you'd think I'm moving to the country with all the tears I've been pulling of rustic and modern country houses.
But they're hard not to fall in love with. Space, land, trees, chickens!

I'm starving...

I'm speechless. I saw this on Minimally Invasive and lost control.

Here's what Amy wrote about this delish dish:

The idea here was to make a spaghetti-like dish using julienned zucchini and yellow squash in place of the pasta, because I don’t like to be weighed down by all those carbs when it’s blazing outside. For the sauce, I smoked some roma tomatoes in my Cameron’s Stovetop Smoker, then blended them with a little olive oil, some lemon, garlic, onion, thyme and goat’s milk ricotta. Salted & peppered to taste and topped off with a sprinkling of Parmesan. This dish was awfully good with a crisp rosé…

Local produce from Bialas Farms. Grass-fed steak from Snoep Winkel Farm. Ricotta from Edgwick Farm.

For more from amy at Minimally Invasive, go here.

babes

I wanted to write so many things this week but my head is so clouded by the brutal killings of two angel babies by their nanny.

Little Leo, 2 years old and his sister Lucia, 6. Just writing their names causes tears to roll down my cheeks.

It's all I can think about, all any of my friends can talk about, all I wish in the world I could fix.

I know nothing is "fair" in life. But this, this defines unfairness. 

My heart is weeping. 

I wish I could do something, I wish I could help this family, that mother, my god, that mother...I don't know how one moves on, I simply don't. I am certain I would completely give up on life because these children are our everything. They are the reason we stand up in the morning, the reason we work hard, play fair, have fun, laugh, love with all our power. 

I can literally see parents holding their children a little bit closer these past few days. Holding them and loving them even more. But if these parents are anything like me, I'm sure they are all more paranoid than ever before. This story is a reminder of how precious our lives are. How careful we all must be as we walk down the street, take the subway, talk to strangers, deal with uncertainty. And, the scariest part, how we live each day knowing that even the safest situations can be dangerous.

Praying for some peace, some closure, something...I don't even know what the word is. Just praying for the Krim family.

wedding bliss

A little beach wedding inspiration I put together. I always thought I'd get married on the beach, white bikini, coral pieces on the tables, fireworks, wish lanterns and every guest in white. Bare feet dancing on the shore under a full moon....

Not sure if that's the route I will now go, but it's really just as nice to create the vision for someone else.

…and that’s what scared me. I didn’t believe in love, did not think it existed, and if it did, that it was just an illusion, and I didn’t want an illusion to be the center of my life. 
- Mr. L, France’s Prophet Provocateur Vanity Fair, 2003

ink

image from here

A love script tattoo, the loveliest. Truly.

singing...

The Lumineers singing Hey Ho aka sweetheart. It's Luca's new favorite because he sings it directly to his "sweetheart" - his little doggie animal. It's the sweetest. Truly.

weekend inspiration

Some weekend inspiration.

I have a celebratory dinner for my parents this weekend outside of the city. Which means me and Luca bear get to take walks in the fallen leaves and collect treasures. It also means the nearly full moon will be more beautiful than any view we get here in the city. Really cannot wait.

And some DIY projects which will show up here soon.

What do you have planned?

Have a very happy one.xx

Farm to table

The last days on the rooftop of grange farm in Brooklyn. Closing for the season is so sad.

Such beautiful things growing, cannot wait to get back there after the winter.

Take note, lovers

stylespiration

images from here

Big and baggy. This started for me in high school when I became addicted to my brother's sweaters. From there it moved to his overalls, which I wore until someone in college disposed of them in order to keep me away from them. And now, well now I'm a small living in a large. To me there are few things sexier than a top which naturally drapes, a dress that leaves a lot to the imagination while showing a little extra on the sides or a boyfriend jean that actually came from your boyfriend.

a dose of sea

image from here

I'm liking the fall weather today, but as always, I want my feet in the sand.

7 day challenge: reduce

I'm going to start incorporating 7 day challenges into my life every month or so.
Last time I did one, cooking a new dish every day, it completely altered the way I live my life. I've been taking to the kitchen endlessly since.

So this next adventure, which I will start on Saturday, is on a whole different scale. I will attempt to go an entire week, 7 full days, with absolutely no waste. In other words: minimize the amount of trash I have down to nothing. Obviously items that can be recycled can be used, but nothing non-reusable whatsoever. Including food.

I'm slightly nervous already.

But the idea is to start teaching Luca how to be more cautious when shopping, using and living day to day. Having a kid includes a lot of trash. We've managed to lessen it severely since the diaper days are over, but little things add up and the worst is when objects that can be recycled get thrown in the trash. I want Luca to be aware already, starting now. It's going to take a lot of planning, being aware of what restaurants use what and how we spend our days out with snacks and drinks...

We shall see!

ink

Love tattoo. Niiiiiccce reminder.

to do: Coney Island

Last Sunday we took a mini road trip with Luca to Coney Island. It was epic.

Without even going on a ride or heading into the aquarium, he was already in awe and happy with the view and people on the boardwalk overlooking the beach. By the time we brought him in to see the sea life at the massive aquarium, he was a bundle of extreme excitement, sucking in all the views.

From penguins to seahorses to seals and sharks, starfish and horseshoe crabs you can touch, it's got everything under the sea.
From there we took him to play at the kiddie park, which was mind-blowing for Luca. I mean he couldn't get enough of the rides and sights.

it's such an easy ride from NYC and the subway stops right there. Even if you don't have a kid, you must take the journey for a few hours.