Inspiration Station: Friends with Benefits

One of my New Years Resolutions was to revive this monthly feature...so here we go!

The Dish: A take on street meat.  There is a string of scenes where Mila Kunis' character is trying to convince JT's character to move to NYC by showing him all the amazing things about the city, ranging from a great view to a flash mob.  It is during this time that Mila Kunis cements herself into every man's fantasy as the ultimate cool girl.  She doesn't mind rolling on the ground in her business casual attire and she has no qualms about eating a greasy, messy gyro from a Halal cart.  The character disappears and everyone watching the movie seemed to believe that Mila herself is an easy going gal who can curse like a sailor and doesn't care about calories.  In real life, no one could maintain that figure on a regular diet of street meat and the scene is merely acting.  But I don't want to completely shatter the image so here's a recipe for a healthy street meat inspired meal at home so you can eat a dirty and delicious sandwich, just like those easy going girls.

I started with this recipe, but omitted the allspice because I didn't have it.  I piled the chicken into some flatbread and topped it with chopped tomato, cucumber, and Greek yogurt with feta mixed in.  If you eat it in the flatbread, I recommend wrapping the whole thing in tin foil.  That will help you avoid the mess, plus you'll really get the street meat feel.  Or ditch the flatbread altogether and get after it like a burrito bowl.

The Doodads:

1. As Mila Kunis' character gets dressed after her romp in the sheets with JT (so jelly), she pulls her tshirt down over a lacy bra.  I remembered thinking this type of undergarment, while sexy in a prudish way, would probably be impractical.  It doesn't seem to offer much support but dang does it look cute.  This camilla lace bralette from Urban Outfitters is lined so you don't feel like you're walking around naked while still giving off that girlishly seductive vibe.
2. Just before she's unceremoniously dumped by Bryan Greenberg's character, Mila runs out to get coffee for the two of them on the street corner.  I've always thought that some of the best coffee in NYC is from the street vendors and I love when they still use the iconic Greek-style cups.  You can get your own ceramic version at Uncommon Goods to last forever.
3. Throughout the movie the Jamie character (Mila) wears a lightning bolt necklace and Dylan (Justin Timberlake) has a lightning bolt tattoo.  Follow the trend yourself by donning some lightning of your own; this time, as a double finger ring.
4. In an effort to cheer Jamie up, Dylan performs all of Kris Kross' "Jump."  I couldn't think of anything but the backwards overalls those boys wore in the 1992 music video.  Not sure that I could pull them off in 2014 but overalls are attempting a comeback.  Somehow they don't look terrible when they're styled like this.  

3 on Thursday

I was supposed to go out of town this weekend but my mini trip was cancelled.  Does this change of plans upset me?  Not in the slightest.  After a trip to DC last weekend and visitors the weekend before, I am looking forward to a more relaxing three nights in my apartment.

I am NOT an animal print person.  It's just not my thing.  It feels gaudy to me and just doesn't fit into my typical style.  Every once in a while, however, it's nice to try something new, especially when there is no risk involved.  Since I didn't have to pay, a work event seemed the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone.  Also, I love anything C Wonder blesses with their preppy touch so if I was ever going to introduce animal print into my closet, it would be through them.  Pattern choice aside, I desperately needed to replace my work bag since my old one was literally falling apart and this trendy guy at $78 is huge and cheaper than most bags I found whilst searching the web.  Plus, C Wonder monograms everything (as do I) so I got to give my new bag a personal touch.  I'm not saying I'm going to start walking around like a native of the jungle, but I'm pretty happy with my new tote.  

Even though Murray's Cheese is my favorite place ever, I had not yet tried their Cheese Bar - a restaurant next to their newly expanded West Village shop devoted to foods made with cheese.  While plotting our next move one weekend, we slipped inside for a quick glass of wine.  I should have known a visit to a cheese palace like this wouldn't end with a glass of wine and it took all of two minutes before an order had been placed for a meat and cheese board.  We went with the 5-piece Cheesemonger's Choice.  You can request all meats, all cheeses, or a mixture.  We decided on four cheeses and one meat (prosciutto).  The best part was that the waiter actually talked to us about what we wanted to see on our plate.  Usually a cheese plate is a more generic, pre-selected package with simpler cheeses like a basic brie.  I recalled a specific cheese I had seen in one of my Murray's emails (yes, I receive the emails) and he said there would be no problem putting that on there.  We then requested the spread have a mix of textures ranging from double cream to semi firm and include a stinky blue.  Our waiter was a great listener and produced just that.  Instead of having the accoutrements like jams haphazzardly sprinkled around the plate, each cheese was specifically paired with something.  A double cream from my home state of Georgia went with pickled raisins while a sheeps milk gouda was meant to be eaten with caramel.

It's always great to participate in a happy hour with my alumni group, the NYC Dawgs, but even better when it's tied to a good cause.  Last week we met up at the beautiful Beekman Beer Garden and all attendees brought along items for Operation Backpack, which provides school supplies to New York's homeless children.

3 on Thursday

8 days at home was just not enough.  I may be back to my NYC habits, but I still miss lounging on the boat and having all the time I want to read.

Matt and Karina recently hosted us for supper at their new place and although apps are usually my fave, I have to call their dessert course the winner.  We had port with biscotti and stilton and I learned stilton and biscotti go really well together - a new trick that won't soon be forgotten.  We ate dessert while playing Cards Against Humanity, a parlor game that gets even better after a few drinks.  I highly recommend keeping it around the house for impromptu dinner parties.

The best part of being home is home cooking.  When I reviewed the grocery list my mom emailed me I knew immediately that she was asking me to pick up the ingredients for my favorite meal, chicken and wild rice casserole.  I can't get enough of it.  Fun fact: when my Daddy was trying to impress my La La and Grandpa because he wanted to ask for my Mom's hand, he cooked them this meal.  If you eat this meal, you'll understand why they couldn't tell my Daddy no.

The costumes and sets were just about the best parts of the Great Gatsby movie.  The acting was great, too, but the other stuff was what really shined.  And I am being quite literal.  There were sparkly diamonds and glistening marble all over the place.  I love the Roaring 20s and their unmistakable glitzy art deco vibe.  I sometimes think I belong in a different generation and long to have lived in that era.  Apparently I am a step closer thanks to Tiffany's, who created many of the jewels we see throughout the film.  Almost all of them are well out of my reach, but this onyx and pearl ring was actually my favorite item in the collection and at $475 is actually affordable.  My birthday is tomorrow and if anyone is still looking for my gift, this is IT.

Inspiration Station: "Father of the Bride"

Wow oh wow am I sorry.  I promised you an Inspiration Station post each month and I didn't hold up to my end of the bargain.  Two posts.  That's all I ended up doing.  I could blame it on moving and the lack of kitchen space to make the more intricate recipes I like to include in these posts, but where would that get us?  Instead, I'll shove the excuses to the side and just get back on track starting...NOW.

Father of the Bride (parts one and two) is one of those movies that I will watch whenever it's on tv.

1. The Dish: Apricot Chicken.  Notoriously thrifty George Banks (Steve Martin's character) finally puts his foot down when wedding expenses start getting out of hand.  Instead of serving something fancy, he insists on the "chipper chicken," which I'm sure is the same bland roast chicken served at every banquet hall across America (alongside rice pilaf and a vegetable medley, natch).  My take on simple, cheap chicken is my Mom's recipe.  It's just apricot jelly/jam, Lipton Onion Soup mix (1 envelope), and 1000 Island salad dressing mixed to taste and then poured over chicken and baked in a 350 oven.  Bake it covered for most of time (45 min to 1 hour) and then uncovered for about 20-30 minutes to finish cooking.  George Banks' chicken sounds boring, but this sort of sweet and sour chicken is a great weeknight update.
2. The Doodads: 

• Annie's engagement ring came from a flea market in Italy.  Perhaps look at the internet's own flea market, Etsy, for a unique and inexpensive wedding band like this hammered gold one with inset diamond.
• Brian's gift of a blender to Annie almost brought the wedding to a halt.  My can't-live-without-it appliance is not just any blender but a stick blender.  It's perfect for making soups, sauces, smoothies...just about anything.
• George thinks he got a steal on a genuine Armani only to be told later that Armani doesn't make a "nah-vy blue tux-ahh-do."  Turns out the navy blue tux is kind of in vogue.  Here's a great one in midnight blue from J. Crew that really makes a statement.
• Since George runs a tennis shoe company, good running shoes are a must.  And what could be better than shoes that are customized and all your own?  I'm a big fan of NikeIDs - the possibilities are endless and the shoes themselves are great.

3 on Thursday

I went into this week thinking it would be a return to normal, but it's turning out to be just as busy as last week!  I don't mind at all though because this week I may be busy but it's all related to seeing friends I haven't seen in a while.

I've enjoyed the short-form, multi-media format of tumblr since joining not long ago (refer to previous "3 on Thursday" post here), but my own tumblr is just a compilation of random things that make me happy.  I'll keep it up because we all need a happy place, but one thing I missed was the idea of a theme.  I like structure and felt that was lacking in my tumblr universe.  Basically, I wanted to take the more systematic approach I use for this blog and apply it to the short form framework of tumblr.  Thus, a new tumblr was born.  I'm calling this one "First and Last".  When I was in high school, someone mentioned a theory that the first and last sentences of a book will tell the entire story.  Basically, they were trying to figure out if they could get away with doing even less work than reading the SparkNotes.  I'll be testing the theory by rating how well you can understand the story by reading just the first and last lines.  Check it out! 

Move over Carrie Bradshaw!  I just got my very first pair of Manolo Blahniks and it's a pretty good feeling.  There was a sale at What Comes Around Goes Around (one of the city's great vintage/thrift shops) and there they were on a shelf, looking all dainty.  I couldn't believe no one had snagged these perfect condition pumps, especially when I saw the $69 (with tax) price tag.  But for some reason, these shoes were covered by Harry Potter's invisibility cloak until I walked by.  They are the perfect heel height for a taller gal like me and the cutouts make them fun when ivory pumps can easily turn dowdy otherwise.  I feel like such a grown up now that I own fancy shoes, even if they aren't exactly new.

It finally happened.  At age 27 I have just been summoned for jury duty.  I know everyone complains about jury duty and tries to get out of it, but I'm intrigued by it.  You get to see the justice system at work and hopefully some Law and Order type crazy case.  That said, I am now realizing how inconvenient it can be.  I mean, I do have a job that needs to get done.  We'll see how it all pans out soon!

3 on Thursday

It is very weird to come back from a beach vacation spent entirely in bikinis to freezing cold New York.  At least my trip away gave me the reminder I needed that it won't always be cold and dreary.  Spring will soon arrive and I can spend all my time outdoors.

New favorite nail color: Essie's "School of Hard Rocks".  It's a green that falls somewhere between army and avocado skin that's dark enough for winter without being a downer.

Before leaving for vacation I attempted to ice skate.  It's definitely a fun winter activity but my Southern blood was not prepared for it.  I basically wobbled around the rink.

My favorite picture from my Curacao vacation.  I tore through three books while I was there and my favorite place to read was on our room's private patio.

3 on Thursday

I've really been enjoying this week of warm weather.  It had been too cold to do anything but sit inside my apartment underneath my favorite blanket with a plate of pad see ew from my favorite Thai takeout spot.  Now that it's become bearable outside, I've found a renewed fervor to get out and enjoy the city.

On Sunday, my black boots officially crapped out.  After three years,  the heels were hurtin and I had worn a hole that went all the way to the sole.  I figured they wouldn't completely fall apart with one more wear so I put them on and took myself directly to the shoe store.  I found these guys on sale for $98 at Aldo and wore them out of the store to test them out on an errand run.  The brown is light enough to wear with both black and brown outfits and the black stripes in back only confirm this.  Since I never got a new pair of brown flat boots after my last pair wore out two years ago, these boots fill two holes in my wardrobe at once.  I still want a pair of black riding boots, but I'll get those at the end of the season (which hopefully isn't that far away) when everything is on super sale.

Matt and Karina went to Morocco for their honeymoon - one of the destinations on my Top 5 wishlist.  I couldn't believe that in between basking in their newly married love, they found time to think of me on the trip and picked out an incredibly thoughtful souvenir.  They brought this gorgeous lantern all the way back to the US for me and even picked it out in the exact blue that decorates my living room.

Apparently it snowed once before in NYC this season, but I was out of town so it doesn't count.  Last Friday, I walked home in the season's first snow.  It really can be magical.

3 on Thursday

Gotta love short weeks (thank you MLK day)!  Sometimes you just need one less day at the office to keep yourself from going crazy.

I've been looking for a simple gold necklace that I could wear every day.  I wanted something with character, but it needed to be delicate enough that I (someone who feels awkward layering tons of jewelry) could wear it with other pieces.  This was a recent buried bauble at Bauble Bar so I scored it for only $10.

Every year, Karina and her Mom take a trip to Amish Country for a weekend away.  This year, she was kind enough to bring back a sampler of Kitchen Kettle Village jams for me.  I love jams with cheese plates and on the occasional breakfast bread, but I never eat enough to go through a full jar so these minis are perfect.

When I moved I realized I didn't really have any framed pictures in my apartment.  I have a truly amazing set of family and friends who I should be showing off.  The problem has become that no one prints rolls of film anymore.  Everything is just uploaded to facebook, but since most of us don't keep printers around after college, they remain in cyberspace.  The photo feature within the Wallgreens app is going to change that for me.  It pulls pics directly from your phone, whether they're saved in your iPhone's photo album or even on facebook.  This way, you can even print pics that you love but didn't take yourself.  You can pick them up right at Wallgreens about an hour later, timed perfectly with your laundry detergent run.

3 on Thursday

It's a miracle I'm getting this "3 on Thursday" out considering I am sick as a dog with bronchitis.  I have become thoroughly acquainted with my bed considering I haven't left it for about three days.  It seems everyone is sick and I am just the latest to fall victim.  I almost never get sick and I gotta say...not really enjoying it.

I got a beret and I'm really diggin it.  It keeps my head warm and in fashion at the same time.

Before the SEC championship game, Matt surprised me with this amazing jacket.  It was actually his as a child but fits me fine as an adult.  Obsessed.

I haven't had a coffee pot since living in my own apartment and decided to get myself one as an Xmas present.  Though I always thought French presses were really fancy, it happened to be cheaper than most coffee pots, takes up less counter space, and makes really great coffee.

3 on Thursday

Between now and Christmas break, I think I have one weeknight to myself.  Maybe two.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

My Mom has always been good with brooches and bangles.  I, on the other hand, tend to stick to one or two jewelry pieces and wear them every day.  I am too afraid I'll get it wrong when mixing and stacking jewelry so I don't even try.  That sort of meek attitude won't get me anywhere in life!  It's time I amped up my jewelry collection and Bauble Bar is the perfect place for me to stock up on fun, trendy pieces.  Not only is everything very "now," the prices are great.  They get even better when they offer their deeply discounted buried baubles each week.  When I decided to put together a pleated skirt/turtlneck combo I knew It needed a chunky statement necklace to complete the look and this is the best place to get it.

I'M TUMBLING!  I always thought tumblr was basically another blog platform (like blogspot vs. wordpress) so I assumed I was good to go with the blog I've got.  After reading an article about the year's best tumblrs I realized a blog and a tumblr are two different beasts.  While blogs are all about writing, tumblrs use more mixed media and typically feature snack sized content.  tumblr is also a more social environment.  While blogs are destinations, they're not usually viewed in a stream.  tumblr is all about streaming so you can see what your friends or favorite writers post constantly.  Because posts are usually small, they lend themselves to sharing more than a typical blog.  I am in NO way abandoning this blog.  If anything, I am more committed to posting regularly.  However, as a media professional, I see the benefit using different social media avenues.  Plus, I think it's cool.  When it comes to social media, don't just be there to be there.  I can't tell you how many companies use Facebook or Twitter without thinking how to best leverage those platforms for their brand.  In some cases, doing social media poorly is worse than not doing it at all.  While I could talk about best business practices for a while, I won't bore you.  I will, however, mention one of my rules of thumb.  (::Free advice!::)  Don't repurpose content.  Instead, play up the assets of each space.  For me, that means using this blog for [by internet standards] longform content.  As I'm sure you've noticed, this is basically a food blog, with the exception of book reviews and "3 on Thursday" (which still features lots of food).  It will remain so.  My tumblr, She's Mad, She'll Get Glad  is based on one of my Mom's best pieces of advice.  When someone is acting pissy for no good reason, her motto is "If she's mad, she'll get glad."  Basically, it means the brat's gotta buck up and put a smile on her face and we need to not let her get us down.  An example: "Mom, I put so much effort into this huge dinner but Jane is upset because I'm serving pasta instead of rice.....Well, Tess, if she's mad she'll get glad.  You've put too much time into this to worry about one person."  I try not to walk around like a Negative Nancy and don't like having any of those around me so my tumblr is going to have regular posts meant only to put a smile on your face.  It's a lot easier to go from mad to glad after seeing this stuff.  I don't plan on repeating what I've already posted on Instagram or Twitter so this will be something totally new - follow me!

When scaffolding went up right in front of the new, upscale florist by my apartment, he used it to his advantage.  I didn't even notice the pile of trash on the sidewalk after through this Winter Wonderland.

3 on Thursday

As happy as I am to see my Dawgs secure the SEC East title this weekend, I was even happier to have a few more days of nice weather before the harsh New York winter makes its presence known.

I can't believe I forgot to share pics of my Halloween costume!  Though I usually throw a party, I took a year off since the holiday fell too close to my housewarming party.  Just because I wasn't hosting the festivities doesn't mean I took a year off from the holiday as a whole.  When it comes to Halloween costumes, I always make my own.  They are typically more cerebral (lots of wordplay) and always done on the cheap.  This year I went as 50 Shades of Grey.  The only thing I paid for was my manicure (a french tip with two different grey polish).  I used a skirt I had at home and then made a top out of paint samples pilfered from Home Depot.  Loved the result!

Before the power went out during Hurricane Sandy, Danielle and I started a Homeland marathon.  I am now obsessed!  Sadly, I got rid of my Showtime so I'll be finishing Season 1 via Netflix.  Lots of intrigue in this one!

Turns out, if you ignore the cold seasons, they still come anyway.  Not buying appropriate clothing in protest will not stave off the chill.  This weekend, I gave myself a budget of $250 and went out in search of Fall clothing.  I found two dresses at Coup de Coeur, a boutique by my apartment that carries trendy clothes at a reasonable price, a great pair of peeptoe snakeskin booties at Second Time Around, and the above pictured shirt at Pookie and Sebastian.  Pookie is usually a little too pricey for me, but I splurged after coming in under budget on the other items.  I'm so glad I did because this shirt is absolute heaven.  It is the closest you can get to wearing a sweatshirt and still looking cute.  It doesn't look super special in the pic, but when paired with bangles and cute ballet flats it made the perfect brunch outfit.     

3 on Thursday

I still can't stop thinking about how wonderful Steph and Gav's wedding weekend was so today's 3 on Thursday is the Ricciardi/Kaufmann Wedding Edition.  Enjoy!

With 13 bridesmaids, Steph had to pick something that everyone could enjoy as her bridesmaid gift.  She picked out three patterns of a LeSportsac tote and each girl got the color that best suited her.  I think the blue stripe/green polka dot one I got is just perfect for me.  As if a really nice tote bag isn't enough (and it is), she also gave us each a bottle of prosecco and a navy bracelet (to match our dresses) with an infinity charm (because we'll be friends for infinity, get it?).  I don't need any sort of thank you for being in Steph's wedding.  For a friend like that, bridesmaid duties are an honor, not a chore...but that won't stop me from wearing my new tote proudly!

On our way to the wedding, Courtny and I stopped in Boston for lunch and a quick stop at the MAC store.  Courtny needed to pick up some eyeliner and I took the opportunity to get some eyeshadow and a tutorial on how to do a smoky eye.  Karina requested a smoky eye look for her wedding and I am completely lost when it comes to makeup.  I absolutely loved the final result and since my hair was in a bun at the time, I was pretty sure I looked like Black Swan.  Unfortunately, the makeup artist put some liner and makeup on the inside of my bottom eyelid which resulted in a film over my contacts and complete loss of vision.  Before I realized what was causing it, I was freaking out a bit and pulling out the phone book to call the doctor.  Of course, I paused the healthcare to take a picture of my gorgeous eyes so I could document how good I once looked because that's way more important than being able to see.  Now that I have photo evidence, I can re-create it for Matt and Karina's wedding...minus the impaired vision.  

Not the best picture, but I got falsies for the wedding (the eyelash kind, not the boob kind).  I am not obsessed.  My eyes were all...POW.  I felt just like a Kardashian.  Sooo worth the $20 to look that glam.  I might just have to do it again for Matt and Karina's wedding.  Anybody know of any good places to get this done in NYC...preferably in Murray Hill?

3 on Thursday

It's finally arrived: my three weeks of crazy begins tomorrow with Steph's wedding weekend.  Did I get everything done with my apartment before leaving town?  Of course not.  Does that stress me out?  Yes, yes it does.  Instead of freaking, I just keep telling myself it will all get done on the week nights between now and October 11th (my ultimate deadline).  In the meantime, I'm keeping my sanity by focusing on the little things that brought me joy this week:

I have decided to grow some of my layers out and my hair is finally getting to a point where I can do fun things with it, like piling it all on the top of my head in a messy bun.  Life is way easier without all the stray pieces falling out.  The next goal is to master the curling iron.

After dinner the other night I couldn't decide if I wanted oreos or fleur de sel caramels so, like any normal person, I decided to have both.  While sitting in front of the TV it dawned on me that I should combine both desserts instead of eating them in sequence.  I sandwiched the soft caramel between the oreos and enjoyed a slam dunk of a dessert.  Try it for yourself and be amazed.

I got my first shellac manicure on Sunday.  I never really understood what was so great about the shellac/gel manicures.  True, they're guaranteed to last at least 14 days, but they're expensive ($30-$50), so I would rather just paint my own nails for about 1/8 the cost.  I only went because a couple friends wanted some girl time and Rebekah had found a coupon for $19.  At that price, I figured it was worth a shot, especially because I had a wedding and trip to DC lined up for the two week time period following the mani.  I don't want to say I'm hooked because at full price, I just can't afford it.  I will, however, say that I'm no longer opposed to it.  These things are indestructible!  I've been banging them all over the place and they haven't come close to getting chipped.  I don't see the need to get one of these fancy manicures on a regular basis, but before a big event it's my new must.  It's worth the cost just so you don't even have to think about messing up your nails right before all those close up pics of you holding your bridesmaid bouquet.  Though I can't compare it to any other place, I recommend Karen's Nails on Lex between 61st and 62nd.  The prices are good, they have a large selection, and Michael, the adorable gay Asian (gaysian?) man who rushes to help you with your selection is an absolute genius with the colors.  I told him I needed something conservative because I was going to a wedding and he mixed up three colors (including a very slight sparkle) to create the perfect shade.    

3 on Thursday

I spent all last weekend running errands for the apartment and it still didn't all get done.  That means every day after work is devoted to apartment prep, as is this upcoming weekend.  It's my last chance to get everything perfect before a string of three weekends that includes two weddings, a trip to DC, and very little time to breathe.  No pressure!

Just a bunch of birds chillin on a traffic light pole.

What's great about these boots is not that they were only $35 at Forever 21 (but what a steal!).  The best part of this purchase was how I had no idea what to do with them.  I knew it was a trendy piece that could make an ensemble, but I am not whom one would usually refer to as trendy so I did a little crowd sourcing.  Right after I walked out of the store I tweeted "Just bought a pair of ankle motorcycle boots...now I just need someone to teach me how to them #fashionchallenged"  Within 30 minutes I had three responses that gave me tons of outfit ideas.  Social media is not just about stalking ex boyfriends and the sluts they start dating after you.  Now it can help you get dressed in the morning!

Part of my decorating process includes a little DIY action.  I picked up these fun knobs (and the bowl they're sitting in) from Anthropologie.  It seems small, but something as simple as new hardware can change the way a room looks (or so I'm hoping).  I've been very concerned about having an apartment that looks sophisticated but still unique.  Here's hoping I have some "oo where'd you get that?!" moments when the apartment is unveiled. 

3 on Thursday

I was so productive last weekend!  I ran all sorts of errands and even made it into the office to finish some work.  This week is pretty crazy, too.  I'm running my presentation by my boss as our client meeting nears, and on top of that I've had book club and birthdays after work.  Quite the mix of work and play going on.

I love how beautiful churches and temples can be.   It seems easier to worship when the house of worship itself is worthy of awe.  I passed Central Synagogue the other day and was floored by it's beauty.  I have never seen such design in the US so I looked it up and learned that those stunning blue-green towers are part of the Moorish Revival architecture style.  I don't belong to any temple, but I imagine it would be nice to pray in a place like this.

I am not at all a fashionista.  I favor the preppy classics, but while I was walking through Bloomingdales, picking up a shower gift, I was inspired by some of the hottest trends.  One look at the $198 price tag on the funky, patterned jeans was enough to push me out the door.  I still had the shopping bug so I popped into H&M across the street and wound up re-creating an entire Bloomies outfit for a fraction of the price.  I found a great pair of blue tie dye jeans and a silky pale blue mullet top (the front is normal length, the back is long) that looked very similar to what I saw on the department store mannequins.  I topped off the outfit with a pair of studded, beige, faux suede pumps.  I must admit, I surprised myself with how trendy this outfit was.  So not me, but I kinda loved it.  I never could have paid full price for a pair of jeans that I know won't be in style in a year, but I had no problem buying all three pieces for $95.  Yup, that's less than half of what the designer jeans alone cost.  Maybe I'm a frugal fashionista after all.

I've always had to head to Chinatown for good bubble tea, but on a recent walk home from work I found a misfit bubble tea shop that wandered up to midtown.  CoCo doesn't necessarily have the extensive menu as the places in Chinatown, but it has the basics.  I wasn't sure if that would be enough, but when I saw mostly Asians walking in and out, I figured it was probably legit.  The bubble gaga was on sale, but it happens to be what I would have ordered regardless.  It was passion fruit green tea with tapioca and coconut jellies.  The jellies tasted sweet but not overly coconut-y, which is fine because I wasn't looking for a pina colada.  After working up a sweat on a long walk in the humidity, it was the perfect refreshment.  I'm usually happy to head to Chinatown when I want a full dose of Chinese culture, but when all I want is a cooling bubble tea, it's nice to have a place close to home.

3 on Thursday

The summer is chugging along and I've had no complaints thus far...

Second Time Around, a designer consignment store just opened a few blocks from my apartment.  Until they set up shop in my neighborhood, I was safe.  The other two boutiques near me were too pricy for me to even walk in the door, thereby saving me from myself.  Having STA around will not be good for my wallet, but if I continue to walk out with cheap designer duds (like the $50 Theory shirt I picked up on Friday), it will be great for my wardrobe.  If I'm getting a really good deal it's ok to buy lots of clothes, right?

Saturday was Bastille Day, but since I had pre-scheduled plans I knew I wouldn't be able to make it to the annual street fair on 60th Street.  As my own personal celebration, I stopped by my favorite macaron shop, Macaron Cafe, which just opened a location 10 blocks from my apartment last week.  10 blocks is far enough that I won't be tempted daily but close enough to easily satisfy the intense cravings.  I built a pack of six for $14 and chose cassis, passion fruit, apricot, pistachio, salted caramel, and white chocolate.  Not a bad one in the bunch, though the apricot was particularly good. 

I just learned about a great blog this week: Underground New York Public Library.  I can be seen with my nose stuck in a book while riding the subway, standing on the platform, and sometimes even getting in a few more pages on the walk between the subway and the office.  In fact, thanks to the precious reading time I can grasp on my subway travels, I no longer go anywhere in NYC without a book.  Clearly, I'm not the only one.  I love how intensely everyone reads their books and how nonplussed everyone around them looks. 

3 on Thursday

This was my first full week at work in a while and I was dreading it.  Thankfully, it hasn't been too terrible and I have been trying to make it go by quickly by getting to the gym and adding some post-work events to the schedule.

After hearing all about this show for months, I finally decided to Netflix it.  The show - from PBS of all places - reveals day-to-day life at British estate Downtown, with a focus on the staff.  It is so interesting - and I don't mean that in an "it's fine enough" way.  I mean I was so interested in learning about the staff's hierarchy and the process by which they keep the estate running that my eyes were glued to the screen.  Now if I could just get myself to stop calling it Downtown Abbey we'd be good.

My friends are so much cooler than me.  The three ladies pictured above are the type who kick butt and take names.  Unsatisfied with their lives, they decided to actually do something about it (novel idea) and just launched Quarterlette about two weeks ago.  Quarterlette is a website designed to help girls navigate the quarter-life crisis.  Think crises are only for midlife and men?  Wrong.  I, myself, have been trying to figure out what the heck I want out of life.  Is this the career I want?  Am I happy with the status of my love life?  Do I want to live in this city?  These are the questions that plague many a 20-something, and now we have a place to help us sort through them.  I am so proud of Emily and Rachel for identifying an underserved niche and conquering it at full speed.  I encourage you to peruse the beautifully designed website - there's a little something for everyone.  Also, try to find their video "A Quarterlette Story" on the homepage where you may spot a certain someone (me!).  If you can't find it on the site, check it out on YouTube here.

Blow dry salons are actually not new to the city.  In fact, I wrote about Blow a while ago.  Then how is it that drybar made such waves?  I'll tell you how: great prices and great branding.  All blowouts are $40, no exception.  The atmosphere is fun and girly like a cocktail party where movies like "Mean Girls" and "The Holiday" play on flat screens around the salon.  It's infectious.  For me, it means the opportunity to flaunt the big Southern hair I love but can't do myself.  On a run last weekend, I noticed they are planning to open another location this Summer, right by my apartment.  I don't plan on going weekly, but it'll be nice having it around for special events, especially as Matt and Karina's wedding rolls around (the wedding hotel is right around the corner making this uber convenient for us bridesmaids).

3 on Thursday

This week's 3 on Thursday is going to look a little different because I'm posting from my phone on the plane. (Format will be different and I'm not even sure if the pictures will show up in the right order.) That's just the kind of considerate girl I am. I'm posting while dealing with the hassle of traveling just so you don't have to go a day without my fabulous guidance. Now that I'm done tootingy own horn, I'll fill you in on this week's faves.

1) I've been doing some home decorating recon at CB2 and love how they organize their store. In addition to room layouts, they sneak in fun little moments like these wine game instructions. Next time you have a dinner/cocktail party, have each guest bring two identical bottles of wine. One is stashed away in a bin while the other is placed in a numbered brown paper bag. Then it's onto the fun part: the tasting! The guests try each wine and vote on their favorite (thanks to the brown paper bag, votes are based on taste and not swayed by labels). Whoever brought the winning bottle gets to take home the duplicate stash. It seems to me like this would be a great activity and unlike most party games wouldn't take a lot of convincing to accrue participants.

2) I've touched on this a little on previous posts, but after five years in New York, I finally made it to the Hamptons. Matt and Jen's cousin has a place there that would blow your mind. Tennis court, pool, the works. We spent all day lounging and then grilled out with a caprese salad, sausage, steak, and asparagus. I never saw the huge appeal of the Hamptond. When everyone migrates there in the Summer, I find the city to be a wonderful, more relaxed version of its typical playground. Now I get it. I need to figure out how to make the Hamptons a regular Summer escape.

3) I love my new Chanel lipstick but when I got the urge to test out another new color, I figured it was time to do so on a budget. I headed to Duane Reade in search of a pow pow red and found success even without the help of a department store makeup artist. I'm loving the instant wow factor of Revlon's Ravish Me Red and the fact that I achieved the exact look I was going for in under $9.