Sunday, December 30, 2012

Believe

A few years ago when my nephews were younger they would watch The Polar Express on repeat the whole time they were at my Mom's for Christmas.  Although my brother & sister in law were as happy as clams that the boys were entertained for hours, I honestly found the movie a bit creepy.  The animation is strange & the characters aren't the cutest, in fact they look like zombies.  As my sister & I were browsing through Netflix this year she saw it & turned to me & said "Oh no, not The Polar Express!" We were kind of traumatized by it.  But......I do have to admit, after probably the twentieth viewing & getting over the creepiness I realized that it has a wonderful message....BELIEVE.  

The universal law is to ask, believe & receive. I think most of us have no problem with asking, it's the believing & receiving that we have trouble with.  I was watching Oprah one night & she said "You don't get the life you WANT, you get the life you BELIEVE."  Shazam.  Yowzer.  That stopped me dead in my tracks.  Well, I was laying on the couch with a glass of wine but you get the idea.  I realized that children have a much easier time believing than adults.  They have open hearts and minds which unfortunately can easily close as they become adults & life takes its toll.  Perhaps it's the adults that need to watch The Polar Express on repeat....

"Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe"

Josh Groban, "Believe", The Polar Express

Update: My nephews have now moved on to iPods & such.  I got my first text from my nephew Jake which read "DOODY."  I'm glad to see my family's love of potty humor is being passed on from generation to generation.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A Tale of Two Christmases: City & Country

I was delighted when my cousin called to say that she & a family friend were going to drive from Pennsylvania to spend a day in the city taking in the Christmas sights. I love playing tour guide & getting some quality time with my cousin, who is like another sister to me, and a family friend was one of the best Christmas gifts I could have hoped for. Our first stop, of course, was Rockefeller Center where I introduced them to Teuscher champagne truffles, one of the best finds of my adult life. Eating one is a full body experience & looking at the magnificent Christmas tree while doing so is other-worldly!
We crossed the street to visit the majestic & peaceful St. Patrick's Cathedral, then admired this glamorous lady in the window of Saks.....
After we fulfilled our duties as tourists it was time to head downtown for eating, drinking & merriment!  Keste Pizza & Vino on Bleecker Street is my new favorite pizza place, I can't believe I've been missing out this whole time, better late than never though!  We started with the homemade mozzarella ball stuffed with cream & black truffles & shared a Margherita pizza.....honestly the best cheese & pizza I've ever had in my life! (you'll have to excuse the mess of this picture but it got devoured very quickly!) Cannot recommend enough...
Next was a walk through Washington Square Park just as the sun was shining brightly on the arch.....
finding our way to the oldest bar in NYC, McSorley's....
and finally winding down the day by meeting friends for more delicious food & libations at Grata Restaurant & Wine Bar in midtown.
The next day, after a little sleep & lots of caffeine, we continued our Christmas extravaganza by hopping in the car & heading to Mifflinburg, PA, a quintessential 19th century Pennsylvania farm town that hosts the Kris Kindle Markt, a traditional German Christmas market, every year.  My Pennsylvania family was there to meet us for our Christmas tradition of enjoying the day there together....
Whether taking in the excitement & grandness of the big city or the charm & quaintness of a small town, sharing the magic of the season with family & friends always warms my heart.

photos: me, gratanyc.com

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Have you seen this?

Star Wars meets club girl meets nun with a touch of goth...yet it all works together in a lovely, intriguing way....bravo Dior!
Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior

In other news, I love it when my NYC real estate stalking pays off.  Remember this gem of a patio?
Well it turns out she belongs to 42 Jane Street, a stunning Greek Revival townhouse in the West Village that is currently on the market for $12.5 million.  If I were going to sell my soul for anything it might be this.  It's neat to finally see what's on the other side of those glass doors, I hope there's a fireplace inside too! I can already imagine sitting inside all warm & toasty on a chilly winter day watching the snow fall peacefully outside...
I, of course, would put my own stamp on it but this place is definitely West Village perfection!

photos: vogue.com, houzz.com, bhusa.com

Sunday, December 2, 2012

John & Ellie

If he were still alive, my grandfather would have turned 100 today.  He passed away when I was eleven & I wish I had more time with him.  He was handsome, mild-mannered & as a "city boy," loved going to his cabin in the Catskills to fish & spend time with his family.  Very sadly we lost my grandmother, "Gram", just last week, two days shy of her 93rd birthday.  She was one of the most determined & adventurous people I've ever known & we had countless laughs together.  I loved her dearly & I'm proud that she was my Gram.  She missed my grandfather terribly after his death but forged ahead for over two decades, enjoying her life, family & friends to the fullest.  We shared a love of Europe & traveled there together twice, one trip making a visit that was very meaningful to her, seeing the D-Day beaches in Normandy where my grandfather fought in World War II.  Right before our trip, she broke her foot but that didn't stop her from walking all over Europe for two weeks.  She was determined to see the inside of a bunker at Normandy too so down she went, broken foot & all, that was my Gram!  Though not without their share of ups & downs, my grandparents truly adored each other & were unwavering in their support of each other.  This is my favorite picture of them & it brings a big smile to my face, especially knowing they are together again.
"Death is not an end to anything.  It's a transition and an adventure." - Dr. Eben Alexander, "Proof of Heaven"

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Guess Who's Ba(ra)ck


I nearly choked on my morning coffee when I looked at this picture quickly & thought Michelle Obama was wearing cut off leather gloves!!  Her hand entwined with Malia's makes for a pretty funny effect...whoooaaa, first lady means business in the second term, all in black, smokey eyed & ready to kick ass...I promise I'll eat more vegetables Michelle, I promise I'll eat more vegetables!  Just don't hurt me!  Barack on the other hand looks like he hasn't slept in days (which he probably hasn't) & that little ray of sunshine Malia has the freshness of a daisy that only 14 year olds can carry off so effortlessly.  Oh it's going to be an interesting four more years.....

Monday, November 5, 2012

Every Man, Woman & Child

One of my sister's dated a guy who loved the Carney women so much (I have an amazing mom & two amazing sisters) that he said if he were running for office his platform would be "a Carney woman for every man!"  We of course got a kick out of this & just adored him, I mean he has exquisite taste after all ;)  With the election season reaching a head, it has me feeling a bit icky as usual...the candidates...meh...the mudslinging..."candidate evil will let your mom die of cancer!"..to which I shout to no one in particular "YOUR mom!"  Some are even convinced, with just cause, that we are on our way to becoming China's bitch.  Now I'm not one to get overly involved in politics but if I were running for design office, without a doubt my platform would be "a chandelier & fireplace for every man, woman & child!"  It's true...I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic & my first design proposal to every one of my clients almost always involves a chandelier, fireplace or ideally both.  What can I say?  They instantly add glamour & coziness to any space & I truly think the world would be a better place if we all came home to crystal chandeliers glittering in the firelight.  Oh & let's all get out there tomorrow, pull those levers & hope for the best!

The definition of chic & cozy, swooning over this...
City swank...
Country comfort & coziness, love those beat up beams...
photos: elledecor.com

P.S. In case you missed this Saturday night...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween

Spreading a little Halloween cheer to all, especially those dealing with the aftermath of Sandy on the East Coast.....
Such a clever way to carve...
My sister's corn-y nails ;)

Monday, October 29, 2012

Sunnier Days

Ok, so maybe finding a dead bird on my balcony was not the fantastic omen I had hoped for but rather a sign of a ginormous hurricane by the name of Sandy heading our way. As I sit watching the dark clouds & wind & rain whipping outside my window, praying nothing crashes through & impales me, it's hard to believe that just over a week ago I had a sunny, glorious fall run in the Hudson Valley.  I look forward to this all year.  Please come along & see why.....
Heaven on earth, no?

Monday, October 1, 2012

October & Making Dreams Come True

For the first day of October I awoke to find a dead bird on my balcony....I've convinced myself that somewhere in the world this is a fantastic omen.  On a lighter note, over the weekend I saw my favorite Brooklyn boy (well, besides my grandfather :) at the new Barclays Center.  Jay Z ended his concert with "Encore" and these parting words: "This is a beautiful day and a dream realized.  I'm from Marcy Projects, it's like five minutes that way...so, anybody out there have a dream, don't let anybody hold you back.  Whatever anybody says you follow your dream because I'm standing here, I'm living proof, I'm no different from anybody in this audience tonight.  I'm living proof that dreams do come true."  So....What the hell are you waiting for....?!

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Pink & Black (& a little badass)

After checking out the fall fashion offerings there is no doubt that leather is in in a big way.  This Marni pink leather dress fills me with joy- ladylike & edgy, what I imagine a modern day Audrey Hepburn would wear gallivanting around NYC....
 
Leather biker jackets are everywhere & I love the juxtaposition with a feminine, colorful dress at Armani...
 
I had to get in on the action & scored this very fitted version at Zara...
  
Finally, the new ChloƩ Alice bag is a stunner & destined to be a classic.
Photos: me/1/2

Saturday, September 15, 2012

September

September is a mixed bag of emotions for me.....the sadness of a glorious summer coming to an end, the excitement & anticipation of a "new school year" with my work & personal life, the beginning of my favorite season, fall, & of course remembering the tragedy that struck our country eleven years ago.  Having worked on Wall Street right out of college, downtown NY became my home away from home for eleven years.  It will always hold a special place in my heart as I grew up there- some wonderful memories, some horrible memories & a lot of everyday experiences in between.  It gives me such hope to see the gleaming, beautiful towers that are going up now.  They say New York is the city that never sleeps but I say it's the city that never gives up hope.....& it knows how to throw a damn good party.  The universe always provides & after feeling glum in anticipation of 9/11 I happened to stumble upon Fashion's Night Out.  It was just what I needed- a reason to celebrate being young & alive in NYC.  I stopped by Revlon's 80th anniversary party in the meatpacking district & it was everything a girl could wish for & more- a bona fide grown up princess party....
Smokey eye makeovers!
Glitter manicures!
Open bar!
After getting my fill of makeup, glitter & booze I strolled down Washington Street hoping to check out Solange Knowles spinning her stuff at DVF but the line was a doozy, and my glittery nails didn't hold a candle to the bootylicious sequined dresses the girls were rockin' 
Heading home I ran into these ghouls on the street- keepin' it real folks...
Happy September!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Drive Slow Homey

Too often we rush through life like it’s a big emergency.  I’m certainly guilty of this- creating false deadlines, long to do lists & placing unnecessary & harmful pressure on myself to achieve & “get things done”.  Isn’t the biggest goal in life to be happy?  What is the point of achieving & getting things done if you’re frantic & miserable in the name of “chasing happiness”?  I only truly understood this recently but happiness is the way & it’s an inside job.  Happiness is a state of mind, a way of being, not some elusive point in the future when we have the perfect home, career, partner, body or whatever else is on one’s checklist for a perfect life.  Not that we shouldn’t strive for these things & make them a reality but when you're happy inside it’s like having an internal flame that never goes out, no matter what may be happening on the outside.  Do you want to live a defensive life where your happiness is at the mercy of external things that are almost all out of your control?  How much more peaceful & secure would you feel if you knew that no matter what happens externally your internal flame is always burning strong? And the ironic part is that when you are happy inside your external reality mirrors this.

I try to get outside everyday, usually by going for a run or walk.  Breathing in the fresh air, feeling the sunshine on my face & physically moving my body all give me some much needed perspective of how I fit into the planet & how my tasks & worries of the day are really pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things.  When we get sick we are forced to slow down & the world doesn’t end when we miss a day or even a week or longer of work (sorry ego!).  Why not slow down when you’re healthy & enjoy all of life’s blessings?  Makes a lot more sense, right?!

Do you realize that Eckhart Tolle spent two years of his life sitting on a park bench in London?  This was a necessary step for him to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time.  My life certainly would not have been the same without him & his teachings.

Luxuriate in life my friends.  Before you know it children will be adults, our beloved pets will be gone & our own time on this earth will be gone in the blink of an eye.  Savor life.  Each moment is infinitely precious & is all we ever have. 

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” - Chinese Proverb

P.S. I took this picture on Thursday on a beautiful stroll through the West Village.  I was delighted to see butterflies covering this plant & had a pleasant chat with some seniors who were enjoying the sight as well; we talked about our mutual love for NYC & our favorite spot to walk along the Hudson River, kindred spirits indeed :)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

This is Luxury I

They say time is the ultimate luxury....either that or a terrace in NYC.  It's a tough call but this time of the year I'd have to go with the latter.... 

I can't stop drooling over this East Village piece of paradise in the sky.... 

an outdoor fireplace & cozy seating?  Sold!

This $15m penthouse at 2 Horatio went on the market last fall & I'm seriously obsessed with it.  The neighborhood!  The views!  Apparently Jennifer Aniston turned it down & sadly I wasn't in the position to scoop it up.... 

in the meantime I'll be parking it at Eataly's Birreria rooftop beer garden.  For 8 bucks I can celebrate my German heritage with a pint & sit in the shadow of the Empire State Building.  Life is good :)

photos: architecturaldigest.com, houzz.com, curbed.com, nypost.com