Saturday, August 14, 2010

Girls Day Out



Trying to soak up the last rays of summer, I spent the afternoon at the beach with my bestie and my black bikini. The wind and surf were so soothing today...Feeling drowsy and sunkissed after a perfect girls day out.

Photos from Vanity Fair via fashionising.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Post Secret


This isn't my post secret. And it's definitely not every day. But yes, the thought crosses my mind, sometimes.

Photo from post secret via the gloss.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sleepy Sunday




Today I slept in uncharacteristically late, with the early afternoon sunshine streaming in... Consequently feeling all about soft warm light and clean white sheets. Here are some favorite bedrooms for a dreamy afternoon.

Photos via ddd.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Stormy Monday...

My favorite season is approaching, and I am seriously starting to crave some autumn. Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel a little out of sorts and wish the weather would cooperate? I could seriously use some 65 degrees and drizzly right now.

Photo from Elle Sweeden via Fashionising.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Weekend Romance




I'm spending a lovely weekend with my beau, enjoying sunny skies and the long hours of summer. And you...?

Photos via dja, apt 34.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Wear to Work




Work is going well. It's been keeping me from blogging this past week and other artistic pursuits, but I love what I do and my career is starting to blossom. Ultimately, this can only mean one thing....

New suits! I am loving this season's return of fall classics with soft grey hues and urban chic detailing. It's time to go shopping.

Photos via j crew.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Men on bikes

I love a man on a bike. And I have a special place in my heart for older Italian gentlemen in suits on bikes. I have never traveled to Italy without seeing one or two of them and for me it always adds a little extra romance to the experience.

Happy Tour de France, Week 3 - a whole different kind of men on bikes!

Photo via the sartorialist.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Poolside Glamour





It's rare to come across an editorial in which I love so many of the clothes! I guess Grazia just has my number, and apparently that number is poolside summer glamour...

Photos via dja.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Quoteable

"I would like to be remembered as someone who
accomplished useful deeds and who was a kind and loving person."
--Grace Kelly

Friday, July 9, 2010

I'm in love


With this glassed in library. And black lacquered floors. And big map tables. And the lovely china cabinet on the left that I'm going to pretend is a bar because liquor is about the only thing that could make this room better.

Discovered via dja.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Red, White, Blue


Nothing is so quintessentially summer as the Fourth of July weekend...Happy holiday, everyone!

Photos via bits of beauty, fgr.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Girls in Glasses





A great pair of glasses is dead sexy. It took me a long time and the help of the good people at Moscot to learn to love my glasses. But the right pair can make you feel so feminine and powerful. I'm a bit partial to girls in glasses.

Photos via fashion copious, fgr, fashionising, moscot.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Black-with-black is totally back.

Vogue US July 2010 says:

I AM WOMAN. Hear me roar. Hear me issue stock-purchase orders from the Wall Street trading floor. I am woman; I am not girl. I do not emulate the pop-burlesque fashion stylings of Ke$ha or Katy Perry. I do not aspire to PASSÉ MORNING-AFTER CHIC, with bird’s-nest hair and shredded leather leggings. No. Of Lana Turner and Barbara Stanwyck — and Lena Horne — I sing.

(Have you felt the smooth, snug tug of fine leather gloves being pulled on? Have you considered the REBELLION, the nonconformity, inherent today in a Marnie Eisenhower knit suit? Have you worn a crinoline lately?)

Reader, if you’re older than fourteen, fashion for fall 2010 offers more WEARABLE OPTIONS than it has in eons. Skirts fall below mid-thigh. Designers are giving us dead-cool-but-still-practical STREETWEAR UNIFORMS for work or school. Black-with-black is totally back.


Thank goodness. I've always been a black-with-black kind of girl.

Image via dja. Text via fashion copious.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Summer of Pies

I've always been more of a cook than a baker. Though I'll fess up to a wicked sweet tooth, I usually satisfy it with pints and pints of haagen dazs, trips to my favorite bakeries, or the occasional batch of cookies. I have one or two go-to cake and tart recipes for dinner parties, but 90% of my time in the kitchen has always been spent on the savory, not the sweet.

Until this summer, when inexplicable, and persistently, I've been making pies. Lemon, chocolate, banana, pecan, plum, and almond pies. One or two a week for over a month now. I'm super-busy with work, and finding time for everything else, yet I have plenty of time to make pies. I have no idea why I've been seized by a sudden pie furor, but I do know that my new habit is satisfying, summery, and very popular with my husband.

So here is my favorite of the pies to date: it is a black-bottomed, banana cream that I 'invented' by borrowing from three different recipes. The hidden layer of chocolate is dark and fairly bitter to balance the sweetness of bananas and a rich vanilla custard. After a few hours in the fridge, it makes for a cooling but very decadent slice that is the best cream pie I've ever tasted. It tastes of sunshine and happiness and the summer of pies.

Banana Cream Pie

1 1/2 C flour
1 T sugar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t baking powder
1/3 C unsalted butter, cold
1/4 C cold water
2 t apple cider vinegar

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in the food processor. Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time until it is all cut into the dry ingredients. Slowly pour in water and cider vinegar until the dough just comes together. Remove from processor and flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Place a large piece of parchment paper on a clean work surface, and preheat the oven to 375°. Unwrap the dough and place it on the parchment paper. Roll it out to a 12-inch circle. Lift the parchment paper to flip the crust into a 9 inch pie plate. Tuck in and trim the edges. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the edges are crisp and golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes before using.

1/2 C whipping cream
1 T unsalted butter
4 oz bittersweet chocolate
1/2 t vanilla

4 bananas

1/2 C sugar
1/3 C cornstarch
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 C whipping cream
1 1/2 C whole milk
3 large egg yolks
2 t vanilla
2 T (1/4 stick) unsalted butter


Combine whipping cream, butter, chocolate and vanilla in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and well-mixed. While chocolate is melting, slice bananas into 1-inch discs. Pour melted chocolate into bottom of the prepared pie crust. Press the slices of banana into the chocolate, spreading evenly over the bottom of the pie. If you have too many banana slices, spread the extra evenly in a second layer. Place the half-full pie in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the custard. Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in whipping cream and whole milk, then egg yolks and vanilla. Whisk over medium-high heat until the custard thickens and boils, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in unsalted butter. Allow the custard to cool for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate has loosely set. Stir the custard to loosen, and pour it over the bananas, spreading evenly.

Chill banana cream pie until filling is set, about 4-6 hours. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream (optional) before serving.

Photos via flickr.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Country Escape




It's Saturday in the city, but my heart is somewhere upstate...As it heats up in NYC, I am longing for a quiet country escape. Someplace with sunlight, fresh farmstands, a well stocked kitchen and a cool breeze that husband, puppy and I could bundle off to on the weekends. What more could a girl wish for than a quiet cottage escape with great food and the perfect companions?

Photos via ddd, canelle et vanille, apt 34.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Coveting: Ginette New York


Walking past the Ginette NY boutique has become a daily exercise in self-control. I absolutely adore her delicate designs in 14k gold and have fallen in love with necklaces, rings and earrings in each of the last three collections - not to mention the gorgeous signature monogram pendants. Currently I'm coveting the long, layered chains and tiny faceted rings, which can be monogrammed as well. There's a simple modern elegance to the pieces that I love. If you find yourself visiting the west village, wander over to w 4th st. and be tempted.....

Photos via Ginette NY.

Friday, June 4, 2010

At Long Last


Beach day is here. My first of the season! Basking until further notice....

Photo from vogue italia via fgr.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Good Morning, Summertime


I just love this balcony breakfast--the picture of pure summer elegance. Silken flowing blouse + flowerboxes + strawberries....it all adds up to early June bliss.

Photos via fashionising.

Monday, May 31, 2010

All American

How about a little sunshine and flowers to go with your red white and blue? Wishing everyone a breezy, dreamy holiday Monday...Happy Memorial Day!




Photos from costume via fgr.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Pretty in Purple




I'm feeling inspired today by the sweet scent and soft tone of late spring lilacs....

Photos: unknown, chantal thomass via petite coquette, dress design decor, vogue us 2004 via dust jacket attic.