coffee talk

there has been a lot of coffee table coverage on the blogosphere, and all of these beautiful images really put the emphasis on the important role that this piece of furniture plays in our homes.

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

there are even styling "how to" posts - the everygirl and good bones, great pieces have great ones.

i have been searching high and low for a new coffee table for ages, but i couldn't find anything i liked that fit our budget. my criteria: large. brass and glass. square or round.

i checked every resource i could think of: west elm. pottery barn. wisteria. home decorators collection. craigslist (of course) but to no avail. 

(sidenote: maybe i should make a resources tab for shopping? i am seriously good at knowing where to look for things!)

and then, one day i took a brief pause from a task to check craigslist just because...
ladies and gentlemen, the craigslist whisperer strikes again: i found this GORGEOUS coffee table a short drive from my office for... $130!

at 15 inches high, i was a little concerned that it was too short, but it was simply too good to pass up.

check out the feet! they're hooves! 

now, time to "style" it - stay tuned!

getting a leg up

this morning there was a slight chill in the air, thanks to a passing storm, but it made me think about fall and, since i was wearing a dress, tights!

[via]

i am notoriously hard on tights - they get worn until the bitter end, when my big toe pokes out of one foot and stubborn fuzzy patches have developed on the ankles from rubbing the inside of my boots. to some, 

it might seem a little early to stock up on fall weather legwear, but i prefer to have everything in my drawer and ready to go, rather than realize on that first cold day that my tights from last year are, well, too shabby to wear in public! i also don't like to spend a lot on tights, so while i am sure that wolford and falke make wonderful stockings, they are a little above my price range! 

after much trial and error, here is a round-up of budget-friendly tights that i love:

opaque: urban outfitters opaque tight, 2 for $24 or $12 each - also available in a variety of colors (which i have never been bold enough to try!)

sheer: hue so silky sheer, $8.50

pattern: ann taylor sheer dot tights, $20 - i have not tried these, but i love the subtle pattern!

not pictured, but awesome nonetheless: the back seam tights from duane reade! they lasted several wearings, looked classic, and were under $7!

tights i have tried and don't love: american apparel and j.crew. i found that both brands don't have much stretch, so the tights get all stretched out after one wearing and they don't bounce back. they also develop holes more easily than others i have tried.

tools of the trade

by now, it's no secret to any of you that i love to cook. the boyfriend and i both do, and we each have our favorite recipes, as well as our preferred utensils.

there is one line of kitchen tools that i absolutely love and continually reach for over other similar items in our kitchen drawer: the swiss brand kuhn rikon.

everything they do is magic (cue the police song!) and they come in an amazing range of colors and patterns that make them easy to find. even better, i have picked up almost every kuhn rikon tool in our arsenal at tj maxx/marshalls/homegoods! of course, you can also find them at other places.

here are a few that i can't live without:

piranha peeler (great name!)
garlic press
zebra knife
santuku knife
serrated knife

the knives are made from japanese carbon steel and they are VERY sharp - i highly recommend keeping them in their sheaths so you don't accidentally stab yourself while rooting through a drawer. the green serrated knife is amazing for tomatoes, and the santuku knife has little holes in it that allow whatever you're chopping to fall off onto the cutting board instead of sticking to the sides of the blade.

do you have any favorite kitchen tools?

popover

it's friday! hooray! although, given that we had the mid-week holiday, i felt like tuesday was friday, too. 

it is hotter than hell up here in new york, and one of my least favorite things is getting dressed for the office when i feel like i'm melting as soon as i step outside.

an actual photo of my car thermometer the other day.
yes, that says 105 degrees!

i also do not like having bare arms in the office, both because i feel too bare and because it gets chilly with the AC. fortunately, j.crew comes to the rescue with the most perfect, pretty, and lightweight blouse - the popover - and they are having a great sale right now!

jacquard dot popover - polly popover (on sale!) - popover in rambling rose (also on sale!)

how i'm handling this heatwave in the office:

old polka dot popover

pencil skirt - my dream flats - owl earrings (a steal at $12!) - sunglasses - bag (similar here)

stay cool, and have a lovely weekend!

just call me the craigslist whisperer

i think i might have a gift for craigslist. seriously.

i know i mentioned my newly acquired dyson a few posts ago, and this leather west elm slipper chair was an $80 find sometime last fall:

i am pleased to share my newest - and very exciting! - craigslist find: a vintage brass and glass bar cart.

apologies for the overexposure - the sun was shining brightly through the window to the right of the frame!

and of course titus had to photobomb, but he certainly seems to approve.

this handsome new addition was being sold after having been used on a movie set (film title: that thing with the cat, due out sometime in the next year or so) and was under $200. it's in pristine condition, and the set designer even gave me all of that beautiful vintage glassware "because i look like i enjoy that kind of thing."

why, yes! yes i do!

i have been lusting after a cart of this kind for quite some time, but they are prohibitively expensive. most are priced over $1000, and here's an almost identical one for $1,150!

i have a couple ideas for incorporating this piece into the new apartment, so stay tuned to see where it lands! in the meantime, if you are looking for a piece of furniture, let me know - perhaps i can use my craigslist-whispering gift to your advantage!

weekend recap

happy monday! i am coming off of a busy weekend: my friend mk's wedding was on saturday! the ceremony was beautiful, the party was fabulous, and both bride and groom looked incandescently happy (and gorgeous/handsome, of course!)

here's a snapshot of the boyfriend and me:

other exciting news: we got a new vacuum!

we were in desperate need of a new one: we had been using a hand-me-down from my parents and the carpet attachment stopped working in the mid-2000s, there is a hole in the hose that we had to duct tape, and overall it took about 3 times longer to get the floors clean than it should have! 

i have long coveted a dyson rollerball (and who hasn't?) but they are so pricey. 

nevertheless, i would get dreamy-eyed watching their ads on tv, and i was forbidden from going down the vacuum aisle at costco because i got too sidetracked!

last week, i found one on craigslist for $75. yes, you read that right. 

3 years old, lightly used, and all i had to do was wash the filters!

i deep-cleaned the apartment yesterday and, well, let's just say that the dyson people are not exaggerating about the suction power! the place is spotless :)

lastly, i made meatballs and sauce for dinner last night but tried a new recipe for the meatballs that my mom raved about:

i can't wait to share the details with you tomorrow - stay tuned! until then, hope your week is off to a great start!

williams-sonoma: more than cookware

when you think of williams-sonoma, your first thoughts are probably along the lines of amazing specialty food products and kitchen equipment.

what you may not know is that they have a line of incredibly scented lotions:

pink grapefruit / tuscan fig / fleur de sel / english cucumber / meyer lemon / french lavender
only $12.95 each! 

each fragrance is also available as dish soap, hand soap, a candle, and an oil diffuser, so your home can smell as lovely as you do! 

i'll take one of each, please :)

back to reality

hi there! i am have returned from the land of sun, sand, and cocktails! fortunately the beautiful weather in new york has made for a relatively painless reentry!

well, almost painless... this was a pretty great way to spend my days!

i will share a few more scenes from my trip later this week, but i wanted to tell you all about the fabulous dinner that we made upon returning to our apartment last night - it was cheap, quick, easy, and so delicious!

we got up around 5am to make the trek back north, which literally involves planes, trains, and automobiles, so understandably we were both exhausted. since we had enjoyed so much amazing seafood in florida, we decided to continue that trend.

sautéed shrimp over israeli couscous with fresh tomato and lemon
this recipe is loosely based on one that i love from the kitchn - i love the silky texture of israeli couscous, and the flavors are very fresh and bright.

ingredients:
1 pound of shrimp (not pre-cooked)
1 cup of fresh tomato, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 cup of israeli couscous
2 cups of water
juice from 2 lemons
lemon zest (optional)
olive oil
white wine
salt and pepper
red pepper flakes
basil (for garnish)

prep steps:
peel and devein the shrimp. rinse in cold water and place on paper towel to dry.
chop tomatoes, mince garlic, squeeze lemons (do you have one of these gadgets? if not, you should look into it - it literally turns the lemon half inside out, getting all of the juice! it also comes in handy for making margaritas!)

for the couscous:
in a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of salted water to boil. add 1 cup of israeli couscous, return to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer for 8 - 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. drain couscous and return to saucepan. over low heat, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the juice from one lemon (and some lemon zest if you like) and a splash of white wine over the couscous and stir. add the chopped tomato (we used multi-colored heirloom cherry tomatoes, but any sort will do.)
season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
remove from heat.

for the shrimp:
heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. add minced garlic and stir until golden.
add shrimp and turn frequently until pink and firm (about 4 minutes.)
pour in a splash of wine and the juice from the other lemon and reduce for another minute.
remove from heat.

serving:
spoon some couscous into a bowl and serve shrimp on top. garnish with the basil chiffonade (instructions on chiffonade here)

bon appétit!

basic black

perhaps this seems boring, but i am constantly in search of a good black shoe. as much as i love color, i default to basic black for work wardrobe purposes and it can be hard to find flats that look polished and heels that aren't too high for the office (platforms really only work on tv... my job requires a lot of walking around, and standing at events in uncomfortable heels is the WORST.)

most of my current black line-up is in very sad shape:

exhibit a: my most comfortable heels. they need some cobbler tlc!

 i happen to LOVE ann taylor's shoes - their perfect pumps really are perfect! unfortunately, they are a bit pricey for my budget, so unless there is a phenomenal sale i have to look for alternatives. ever the bargain hunter, i traditionally source many pairs from marshalls and tj maxx, though the selection can be rather hit or miss. 

all of these office-appropriate picks ring in under $100, and they run the gamut of materials and styles!

flats: aldo / talbots / me too / madewell / bloch
heels: nine west / ralph lauren / bandolino / aldo / urban outfitters

personally, i love the d'orsay patent flats from talbots!
does anyone else have budget-friendly work shoe sources?

in the trenches

after a lovely, sunny weekend, the weather has taken another drastic turn toward an early spring: almost 60 degrees in new york today and tomorrow! time to throw on a lighter jacket, and for me that means a trench! 

j.crew / banana republic (on sale!) / target (comes in many colors!)

i love the fact that this coat is perfect for both work and the weekend, and that there are versions to fit every budget (i purposely did not include burberry... their trenches are gorgeous, but let's be serious!)

i can give a personal recommendation for the banana republic version - i purchased it before my move to london for grad school and it is still in great shape over three years later! 

decorating with a man in mind, part two

welcome back to the adventures of decorating with a man in mind! part one covered the living area, but this time we are moving to the bedroom.

bedrooms, in my opinion, should be safe havens from the hustle and bustle of everyday life where you can fully retreat for much-needed r&r. i would love to do an airy white bedroom with subtle pops of color and metallic accents, perhaps something like this:

sigh. doesn't it look cozy? 

since i share my bedroom with the boyfriend, there were two opinions to account for and we had to compromise (no fluffy bedding; i even showed it to him, on the off-chance that he might go for it. he did not.) 

behold our actual bedroom:

titus photo-bombing

we built those shelves!

paisley pillows add a gender-neutral pattern

my little corner

i think we achieved the cozy retreat feeling here, although you can see it is a bit of a departure from what i might do if left to my own devices! 

there are some keys to decorating a bedroom with a man in mind:


1. bedding: this can be especially challenging; practically everything is flowered, or only comes in girly colors, so striking a gender-neutral balance involves some legwork. the boyfriend really wanted blue sheets, but i prefer the white ones because i can bleach them - it makes them look fresh, even after a year or two! to compromise, we chose this blue duvet cover and i added paisley pillows for a dash of pattern. 

2. furniture style: we chose pieces with modern silhouettes, since the vintagey traditional angle can trend towards too romantic for gentlemen. the dark wood theme is carried over from the living room for some visual continuity, and the dressers fit both our budget and the dimensions of our smaller-sized bedroom.

3. adding flair: we ladies have no trouble finding tzotchkes to enhance our personal spaces, but men tend to lean towards simple, or even bare, decor. if you are sharing a bedroom, i would recommend discussing any large decorative accents, like mirrors or artwork, to make sure the room is a comfortable retreat for both parties. for example, the boyfriend used to have a poster from the movie the boondock saints hanging above his bed. that really didn't work for me, but we both loved the idea of framing some postcards that i had sent him from venice.

resources

marshalls, tj maxx, and homegoods are wonderful for buying bedding on a budget- they stock sheet sets with high thread counts that won't break the bank, including some designer labels like ralph lauren, donna karan, and calvin klein. west elm and the company store also have great options that are affordable and aren't overtly feminine.

ikea furniture is good for small budgets, and they even have some nice wood pieces that hold up over time better than their particleboard counterparts. i love their picture frames: they're inexpensive and come in sizes that fit most pictures and prints, with a few different frame colors to choose from.

lastly, never underestimate the power of a good sale. i have found treasures from some of my favorite stores (ahem, west elm) at incredible discounts, so it never hurts to check back periodically!

decorating with a man in mind, part one

moving into a new apartment is always exciting: you have a great blank canvas that will serve as a backdrop to your life. paint colors, rugs, bedding, a statement sofa... the possibilities are endless.

my dream living room (this week) might look something like this:

<via my pinterest/apartment therapy>

love the accent wall, the pop of yellow, the mixture of classic and modern. the thing is, i don't live by myself. i live with a boy who tolerates my quirky, artsy aesthetic but decidedly does not want to live in an apartment that screams, "A GIRL LIVES HERE!" upon walking through the door. a number of my friends are facing the same challenge, and i thought i would include a series of posts about the conundrum of decorating with a man in mind. 

now that you've seen my dream living room, let's take a glance at my real living room:

apologies for the awkward tight angle! brownstones = long narrow spaces!

my favorite things: the gallery wall, the classic/modern blend of new pieces with antiques passed down from parents and grandparents, and the overall cozy feel of the room. it definitely does not feel girly, but at the same time it doesn't come across as a bachelor pad.

we used these three guidelines when we were making decisions to stay focused:

1. practicality for your lifestyle. we went with all dark woods, since we already owned a few pieces with that aesthetic. i gravitate toward white, but it is VERY hard to keep clean (boys make messes. period.)

2. budget. we both work for non-profits, so we got creative with sourcing. we are huge fans of craigslist, and IKEA has some great pieces that don't look cheap. 

3. space limitations. our apartment is small, so we have limited storage and needed to capitalize on the vertical wall space. we also couldn't have any oversized furniture.

our first major choice was seating. i absolutely fell in love with this sofa from west elm: great neutral color, amazing tufting, perfect size, reasonable price.

west elm elton settee

unfortunately, my selection was vetoed (apparently boys find tufting to be old-ladyish.) after scouring other sources, we came upon another west elm sofa that was on sale! i didn't love it as much, but the boyfriend liked it and it did have a classic modern silhouette, was the right size for the space, and the gray-blue color tied into some of the artwork we had in the room. 

west elm sutton sofette (old color)

we later found this amazing leather slipper chair (also west elm; yes, i am addicted to their stuff.) on craigslist! i love the way the sofa and chair have similar lines, but provide different textures so the room looks more curated and less matchy.

titus on "his" chair

you can also see our dining table in the background: we opted for something high to play on the room's long and narrow dimensions, and i loved the idea of mixing brushed aluminum chairs with the wood table (you get a clearer view of it in this post.)

finishing touches: our bar area. the boyfriend found this marble-topped rolling bar cart on craigslist, as well as the mini-fridge, which we use for mixers, juices and beer. i love having people over, and it's helpful to have all the fixings for a nice cocktail at the ready!

that's our kitchen in the background - one of the huge selling points of our place! we love the open plan, so if you're cooking you are still part of the party! we added counter space with the rolling butcher block cart, also found on craigslist.

so, there you have it: decorating with a man in mind. we created a living space that reflects both of us by balancing one part masculine with one part quirky artistic flourish, and the outcome is a living room that we both love to come home to! 

winter skincare essentials

1. boots no.7 quick thinking 4-in-1 wipes
2. boots no.7 rebalancing day fluid
3. boots no.7 rebalancing night fluid
4. boots no.7 protect & perfect eye cream
5. burt's bees herbal blemish stick

the weather this winter has been all over the place: warm then cold, dry then wet. needless to say, my skin does not know what to make of it, and i have had to institute a new regime to combat the dry, flaky and red area that is was my face.

finding products that work on my face has always been a challenge. i have what they call combination skin, which is a euphemism for skin that does whatever it wants, whenever it wants. when i was in london for grad school, I fell in love with boots pharmacy and all of their skincare products. of course, i then moved back to the united states and quickly ran out of my supply. since then, i have dabbled with the wexler line from bath and body works, as well as regular drugstore essentials like cerave, aveeno, and olay with middling results.

so, you can imagine how thrilled i was when my mom told me about this great new skincare line she found at target called no.7 from boots pharmacy!

i use the cleansing wipes because they are quick and easy and amazing at removing eye makeup. I follow up with either the day fluid or night fluid, and i also use their eye cream (let's face it, i'm not getting any younger!) i also discovered that burt's bees has a wonderful roll-on blemish stick that works wonders for breakouts.

the best part? the price! i am sure that all of the super-expensive creams are miracles in a jar, but they are not (and probably will never be) within my budget. the boots line is all under $20 per product, and i could not be happier about how healthy and un-wintery my skin looks! do you have any skincare products you can't live without?