New Year's Eve Stroll (& Mother Nature at Her Finest)

Earlier today as I watched snow flurries falling I decided the most important thing I had to do today was get out for a reflective & peaceful New Year's Eve stroll.  After a few condensed weeks of socializing, being "on" & eating more (& less healthy) than I'm used to, I absolutely needed quiet time in nature by myself to get back to my center. I came upon my favorite area on the walking trail, stairs that lead down to a creek, & saw that the creek was flooded & frozen- what a cool sight...

My ipod was playing & as I walked down the steps to check out the scene I heard strange loud crackles...I took out my headphones to listen & all around me I heard crackly pop explosions, some quiet & some loud that sounded like trees were cracking & falling into the ice...but as I looked around I didn't see any trees falling or any ice breaking.  I'm not sure what was going on in the ice to make such sounds but honestly it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in nature.  As I continued to walk along the trail, which is flanked by the water, the sounds continued in a little symphony.  The best & most beautiful things in life really are free (& often unexpected :).  Check out my video so you can get a little peep of my experience- be sure to turn up the volume to hear all the crazy ice crackle pop sounds & a cute little bird chirping!...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAZFPBVNyP0

  

Whether you are stepping out on the town tonight....

Or keeping it cozy at home....

I wish you a 2014 full of joy, abundance & all the things that make your heart sing!!!

photos: me/me/1

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas my beautiful friends!  As I write this snow flurries are softly falling outside (wow! thanks mother nature :), a warm fire is burning & I'm surrounded by my family, friends & two feline sons...this is the best gift I could ever hope for & I'm enormously grateful.  It's so easy to forget how fortunate we are....my little brother was taking a cab to the bus in NYC to head to my mom's & his driver, from central Africa, was telling him that people in the U.S. have no idea how lucky they are to even just live here.  In his village they constantly feared for their lives & had to walk four miles each way just to get water to drink.  He was in disbelief that in NYC they use hundreds of gallons of water to wash buildings.  This holiday season & every day of the year let's always remember to be grateful for our many blessings & never, ever forget to BELIEVE... 

this West Village townhouse fills my heart with joy :)

photo: me

Holiday Happynings

Uptown....

Tiffany's windows are magical- I'd like to live in this 'hood...

Diamond presents on the rooftops? Yes please!...

A white & silver snow princess outfit (white feather headdress & all) would be the only appropriate attire to strut those streets in...

(Bergdorf's)

A sassy holiday serpent across the street....

Downtown....

Chocolate holiday martini's at The Place, one of the homiest & coziest restaurants in NYC...

as if the ambiance isn't enough they also specialize in fresh, organic ingredients & donate 10% of all profits to local children’s and global green charities...

Beautiful rustic/NYC holiday artwork at Gottino, another cozy downtown gem...

photos: me

The Good Life

Happy Thursday friends!  Since it's the most glamorous time of the year, can't we just sit around all day wearing emerald green satin, drinking martinis, & petting poodles?  Does this fantasy world really exist somewhere?!  Let me in, LET ME IN!!

When I was completely burnt out at my corporate job I used to fantasize about having enough money to just be a lady of leisure...shopping & looking at beautiful things all day, having amazing lunches & dinners with friends & family I never had time to see when I was working, basically just a glamorous & safe life with not a care in the world.  So when I actually quit my corporate job & felt like I had been released from jail I used to have little "fantasy" days.  I'd walk around NYC, check out all the beautiful clothes, walk slowly through Central Park with the sun beaming down on me (one day I even sat on the grass in Washington Square Park, looked around, & thought to myself, Who the hell are all these people that do this?!  Don't they have to work?), have a leisurely lunch & fantasize about life being this good & stress free everyday. 

Well you know what?  After doing it a few times I realized it was not for me.  There's no depth or meaning to a life like that & it would very quickly become boring & stagnant.  I mean, I could be decked out in the most beautiful clothes & jewelry ever but where would I be going?  Who would I be seeing?  What the heck would I have to even talk about?  This was a good lesson for me because even though I definitely dream of these fantasy days on occasion, I know I was put on this earth to share my talents & gifts with others & guess what- that means working & it's one of the best feelings in the world to be able to make a living for yourself by helping others with your God given talents.   Things also have a lot more meaning when you've worked hard for them.  Yes, it can be stressful, scary & unknown but it's also exciting, joyful & 100% ME.

If you had complete financial security but had to work what would you do?  This is your dharma, or life's purpose.  Is it what you're doing now?  If not, start exploring ways to make this "work" more a part of your life & if you can get paid for it even better!  Perfect New Year's resolution, no?

photo: 1

Keep Their Heads Ringin'

The party's goin' on...thank God it's Friday...

& have you seen these new fresh to death Beats headphones??

They're a match made in hip hop/fashion heaven- the hip hop/street badassness of Dr. Dre & the luxe fashion edginess of Alexander Wang....I kind of can't take it, seriously.  I want to just wear them, like as the coolest headband ever.  I don't know that I could get away with it though.  Whenever I see people wearing Beats on the subway I think they look so cool & must be listening to way cooler music than me.  Like if I had on Beats & Josh Groban's "Believe" came on my iPod the headphones would shoot electrical shocks through my head and Dr. Dre would come on & call me a pansy ass punk or something.  Shuffle shame to the 10th degree.  If you have an extra $449 & think you're cool enough to rock these bad boys you can sign up for the presale this coming Sunday here.... Ring Ding Dong.... ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE891IHxyV8

photos: 1/2

It's the Most Glamorous Time of the Year...

By now I'm sure you realize what a glamour girl I am & I couldn't be any happier than when the whole world not only gets a license to be glamorous but the more sparkly, shiny & festive the better!  The decorations, bows, sparkling lights, joy & merriment- the world is having one big celebration & we all get to shine & be giddy & excited kids again.  Here are some high-low, grown-up glamour items I'm pining for this year...

This J. Mendel Bugatti bag is to die for!...

 J. Crew's Hughes satchel is pretty sweet too...  

Remember this Carolina Herrera getup from my little Madison Ave. jaunt?  Well yes, I can't get it out of my head...

Club Monaco has an adorable version & I love the leather trim on the neck & sleeves....even the model can't help but dance in it (or whatever it is she's doing...)

This Addison Weeks chalcedony encrusted brass box is an absolute stunner & a splurge....

I'm totally gaga over these uber glamorous & affordable brass & soapstone jewelry boxes from West Elm too...

 Vintage 1934 Van Cleef & Arpels platinum & diamond bracelet from Camilla Dietz Bergeron....let's just say if this was ever under the Christmas tree my scream would be heard 'round the world....

& I imagine my mornings would go something like this....

In the meantime I'm gonna rock my Banana Republic bracelet & Forever 21 earrings....

& my mornings look a little more like this....

not so much the tutu but the utter fun of playing with all my clothes, bags & jewels, fancy or not...

Now go on out & get your Christmas sparkle on, it's time to *SHINE*!!

photos:  1/2/3/me/5/6/7/8/9/me/11