Cheap Thrills IV

My recent retail therapy jaunt....some fun finds for summer that won't break the bank so you have plenty left over for cocktails & sunscreen ;) ...

  

Forever 21 is such a great standby for cute & super budget friendly dresses.  I like the blue in this striped dress because it's more of an electric blue rather than the typical navy...a young & fresh spin on a classic for a mere $23.

 

 

 I've been looking for the perfect denim shirt for a while...unfortunately I wind up looking like a factory worker or too western in a lot of them, not exactly the look I'm going for.  I was excited to find this lightweight, fitted & feminine version at H&M for $25 (I actually bought the darker version). 

H&M seemed to be the answer to my denim prayers...this denim jacket is really fitted but has stretch so it's really comfortable & you can pop the collar & it actually stays up.  The rose gold buttons are such a great detail too.  This will be perfect over all of my summer dresses & at $30?  Yes please! 

 

   

Metallic sandals are my summer staple.  I mean you can't go wrong, they match pretty much everything, are the perfect compliment to colorful toenails & most importantly they're *SPARKLY*....really loving this pair from Unisa.

 

 

 And seriously, on the sunscreen front I am totally addicted to Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Liquid.  I wear it on my face 365 days a year (yes I'm a little obsessive about sunscreen!)  It sinks right into your skin with no oiliness & is perfect under makeup.

 

 photos: 1/2/3/4/5

WORD

photo: me

This Summer...

 I want to sit on this rock in the Bahamas & ponder life....

 

stroll on an endless beach in this shell pink tunic (with a pit stop for a margarita)...

have tan legs this long....

& be the perfect mix of Brigitte Bardot meets Palm Beach...

but alas I will most likely be schlepping fabric, throw pillows & what not through the hot, humid streets of NYC....not that I would have it any other way ;)

 

photos: 1/?/?/me

Definitely In My Zone (Day 2)

Day 2 of Blogfest 2013 wrapped up with a breakfast & tour of Kravet's studio in the Flatiron District.  This is truly where all of the fabric designing magic goes down people!  Aerin Lauder was there to introduce us to & discuss her inspirations for her much anticipated new fabric & rug line with Lee Jofa.  I can't wait to see & touch all of the samples again when they arrive in the showroom!  

It was a gloriously sunny day & afterward I headed uptown to meet a friend & spotted this beautiful koi fish swimming away in one of Central Park's ponds.  Can you see him?  The orange spot!   

 My sweet friend treated me to a fancy lunch of lobster mac & cheese, scallops, champagne, iced tea & strawberry shortcake at the Kelly Wearstler designed restaurant at Bergdorf's.  I couldn't have invented a more perfect lunch & setting if I tried! 

 Afterward we walked around & did some fantasy shopping....I was bedazzled by this table (vintage 1950's mirrored) & setting...

 

  then Jason Wu'd me with this dress...

check out the back!

 And finally the grand prize...something I've been wanting to do for years.  My friend encouraged me & was there for moral support so I did it...I tried on this Verdura cuff I've been pining for forever.  It was everything I could have hoped for & more & seriously fit my wrist like it was made for me but unfortunately the price tag was not!  Maybe next time ;) 

 

I left feeling full on fantastic food, company & fantasy shopping.  It was one of those NYC days that is pure magic & my heart was definitely full too :)

 

photos: 3/8/all others me

Definitely In My Zone

I hope you all had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!  As someone who immerses myself in fashion & interior design, the word luxury usually brings to mind designer clothing & accessories & sumptuous fabrics & home furnishings, i.e. expensive & beautiful material things.  This Memorial Day weekend reminded me that freedom & time with our loved ones is the ULTIMATE luxury & I was happy to spend it doing just that.  In our often times materialistic & fame obsessed culture let us never forget the sacrifices made by so many others so we could be free to prosper, express our opinions & creativity & enjoy our time with family, friends & pets.  I am truly proud & grateful to live in the diverse, entrepreneurial & yes, sometimes crazy, America the beautiful. 

Continuing on the note of gratitude, this past week I was so thankful & fortunate to attend Blogfest 2013, a conference in NYC for interior design bloggers graciously sponsored by Kravet.  I realized that it was the first time in my interior design career that I was surrounded by so many of my amazing peers & the positive energy was palpable.  There was a time in my life where this was all a pipe dream & I truly felt grateful to spend time with so many kindred spirits that are passionate about what they do, i.e. bringing more beauty & comfort to the world through their unique visions as designers :).  I was delighted to see some old friends & make some new ones.  Here are some highlights....

A "Bubbly & Bites" cocktail party at Jonathan Adler's "Happy Chic" shop on Madison Ave....

Fellow design bloggers Sarah Sarna, Lisa Ehrlich, Laurie Gorelick & me

 

My favorite room in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House - a sassy & sophisticated lounge by garcia maldonado inc. ......

HGTV Magazine hosted a beautiful lunch with presentations by HGTV Magazine Editor in Chief Sara Peterson & renowned interior designers Alexa Hampton & Thom Filicia at the Norman Foster designed Hearst Tower (one of my favorite architects & buildings in NYC)...

 

Me & the super talented (& rip roaringly funny) Thom Filicia (you might remember my dress from here).  One of my all time favorite things in life is hearing a person's success story & I loved Thom's advice....Put yourself out there & JUST SHOW UP!  It's all about being in the right place at the right time.  And also be fair, be open to listening to others' opinions & then assess them for yourself.

And as the perfect ending to an unbelievably inspiring day I had a glass of Sancerre & the oyster pan roast (aka heaven in a bowl) with tarragon butter crostini at The John Dory.

Stay tuned, more to follow tomorrow! 

Periwinkle & Kelly Green

I was writing with my favorite kelly green pencil (ya, I'm pretty dorky that way) the other day & thought what a fun combination it was with my periwinkle nails (American Apparel's L'Esprit, totally addicted to it lately)....

then realized of course I like it, I used it in this project....

and spotted at J. Crew later in the day, just in time for the beach....

I'm on the lookout for more of this fresh & fun color combo!

photos: me/me/1/2

Street Swagger- Karl

Spring & Wooster

photo: me