The Bright Side

As much as we've taken a beating this year, there is a quiet beauty to winter like no other...

photo: me

I'm Blushing....

I've had pink on the brain lately.  Now not just any old pedestrian pink but a sophisticated, soft, romantic, whimsical, blush pink to be exact.  It must be from all that pink champagne I've been drinking & my overwhelming desire to shed all of my black winter survival clothes & wear something soft & pretty & feminine...It's time for this polar vortex pupa to transform into a vision of loveliness...

It all started with the soft pink in this Van Cleef & Arpels ad...two snowy white love birds presenting you with a diamond ring?  Can we say smitten?...

I literally gasped & my jaw dropped in disbelief when I saw this magnifect Marchesa dress at Saks, I entered some other realm & vaguely remember babbling crazy things to myself as the people around me gave me sideways glances but can you blame me?!  I mean, look! at! this!....

Yes, those are two love birds on the bodice...

Love birds, diamond rings & quite possibly one of the most magnificent dresses I've ever seen?  Well, I think I might have just planned the world's most perfect wedding ;)

And for more everyday wear....

This bag is not quite a blush pink but I make exceptions for Chanel ;).....

I would skip down the street if I had this one on my arm this spring, the blush pink leather & brushed gold combo is soft yet incredibly chic....

loving the fit & shape of this Stella McCartney dress/jacket.  Pair it with the above Chanel bag & you have one perfect spring outfit....

 if this isn't the most ladylike (& fabulous) biker jacket I've ever seen I don't know what is, it can be worn with dresses or jeans and anything in between....

Hang in there my friends, I know it's hard to believe but spring (& flowers! & singing birds!) will be here soooon!!

photos: 1/me/me/2/3/4/5

Happy Pink Champagne & Cupcakes Day!

I know, I know, you're probably thinking what the hell is Pink Champagne & Cupcakes Day & where do I sign up? Well I invented it my friends & you are all welcome & encouraged to join in on my party.  In fact, this is how I decorate my clients' homes....

The truth is I have never liked Valentine's Day- shoot me now (with a cupid's arrow please ;).  Don't get me wrong, I'm a total romantic- I believe in love that transcends space & time & am all for celebration of any kind but I feel like a day devoted to romantic love is a no-win situation.  If you're lucky enough to be in a happy relationship, well it just feels forced & kind of silly- your man getting price gouged on flowers & both of you confused as to whether you should be celebrating the day or not.  & if you're single & looking for love it's just another painful reminder of that (as if you needed one).

Now I love grand gestures- bring on the flowers, jewelry & fancy dinners- but it's pretty easy to do these things. Really being there for the everyday things- career successes & setbacks, family & other relationship issues, the joy & drudgery of child rearing- is not always pretty or easy but it's what true love & intimacy is all about.  Always being supportive & having each other's backs no matter what.

So Valentine's Day be damned- I'm officially declaring today Pink Champagne & Cupcakes Day to celebrate my love of, you guessed it, pink champagne & cupcakes!  No pressure, no awkwardness, no pain - just bubbly sugary deliciousness :)

Whether you want to join my party or celebrate traditional Valentine's Day let's all just Feel the Love my peeps (& ride horses & be free & shit ;)....I love this song, it's like a church song you can rock out to.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABEGc8Dus0&feature=kp

photo: Colleen Carney Interior Design (Carrie Leonard Photography)

Honestly

How much more of this can we take?!!  As NY & most of the east coast gets clobbered with yet another snowstorm today I'm officially throwing in the towel- beach towel that is. I may not be on the beach in Fiji like this sexy & sassy lady but I'm just going to stare at this picture & pretend I'm her all day- it's all I can do to keep sane.  Isn't her getup amazing?  Sexy yet interesting & elegant & the accessories are simple but perfection.

Funny story about this picture...I was flipping through Town & Country before the holidays & saw an ad for the St. Regis hotel in Miami.  It's close to where my sister Regina lives so I texted her & said "I want to go to the St. Regi(na)s with you." & she responds back "Are you reading Town & Country??" Ha! #firstworldfunny  It must have been that sisterly intuition.  We were both cracking up & I proclaimed that I was going to wear the above outfit while we sipped champagne poolside.  Then we commented on all the amazing jewelry & other fabulous things that Town & Country so unabashedly taunts you with every month...bitches ;)  Well my friends, do whatever you have to do to get yourself through this day, I won't judge, I promise :)    

photo: me (Town & Country magazine)