{Inspiration Versailles}

Adding Château de Versailles to my bucketlist as we speak. The luxe gardens, intricate moldings, & floor to ceiling windows are elements of Versailles we can all incorporate into our (future) homes.

images via The Cherry Blossom Girl

These photos reallllyyyy make me wish there was a little more sunshine in the northeast region. I want to bask in the heat of the sun & enjoy a picnic in the park.

Keri Russell + Brooklyn

I was never a huge fan of Brooklyn (other than the Park Slope area) until I saw this.  Look what can be done in Brooklyn!  Her carpenter/hawt contractor/real-man-of-a-hubby used natural refurbished wood throughout the house giving it a serene earthy feel.  Russell chose lightweight fabrics to compliment the various types of woods without drowning them out. How much does this make you drool over the residence (slash him?!)

"Easy to say for a guy whom Russell calls her MacGyver. Deary gutted the place to brick and studs himself, then moved walls to open it up, most notably in the master bath, where now no walls exist at all. The pumpkin-pine floor stayed, though he painstakingly pulled up, numbered, restored, and nailed back every plank. Four 40-foot Dumpsters later, he had turned a warren of suffocating rooms into a stunning, light-filled shell."

Brooklyn is quickly becoming the new West Village - & from these photos I can see why.

images via Elle Decor

Prabal Gurung for J.Crew

More collabs!  Prabal Gurung collaborated with J.Crew & the collection is finally available for purchase...though probably will not last long.  I'll admit, I was not overly impressed.  The collection is comprised of oversized (exploding) bows - & while I think bows are an iconic detail that comes in & out of fashion (similiar to horsebit hardware) I wanted more from Prabal. I do however admire his tailoring...the proportions are perfect.  Preoder while still available!

Exploding Bow Dress $395

Exploding Bow Dress $395

Exploding Bow Blouse $225

Bow-dacious Denim Jacket $400

Stylist Ilaria Urbinati's genius guide to packing maximum style into a quick three day jaunt to a warm location.  Just in time for the warm weather to arrive in the Northeast (ahem, NYC & Boston please take note).

image via Steamline Luggage

Everything You Need for a Warm-Weather Three-Day Getaway via DailyCandy
The Basics
3 pairs of socks
4 pairs of undies
2 bras (“I always stash one of my aunt Laura Urbinati’s bikinis — you can wear the top under tees.”)

The Pieces1 white button-up (“You can wear it long over jean shorts, as a bathing suit cover, or tied over your shorts or chinos.”)
2 tank tops
2 tees (“The Proenza Schouler ones are the best. They’re even cute to sleep in.”)
1 pair of chinos (“There are a million good pairs at J.Crew right now.”)
1 pair of skinny jeans
1 pair of denim cutoffs (“I love Double RL Vintage or Current/Elliott.”)
1 pair of shorts (cotton or linen)
1 long dress (“I wear my Daughters of the Revolution Butterfly dress in the city, the country, daytime, or dinner. It’s good for everything.”)
1 skirt
1 short dress
1 jacket (“Boy by Band of Outsiders blazer or a leather jacket from ASOS — pick your battles.”)
1 long cardigan
1 pair of sandals or espadrilles
1 pair of ballet flats (“Gap makes great ones you can toss in your carry-on.”)
1 pair of nude heels (“They go with everything and make your legs look crazy long.”)

The Extras 1 straw hat (“I wore a BCBGeneration boater — minus the bead embellishment — during my wedding weekend.”)
1 pair of sunglasses
1 scarf
Bracelets (“Made Her Think cuffs always make the right statement.”)
1 pair of stud earrings
1 pair of gold hoops (“Necklaces aren’t practical; they just get tangled up.”)

The Beauty
1 toiletry bag (“A neutral Bare bag doubles as a clutch.”)
Facial cleansing pads
Tinted moisturizer with sunscreen
Mascara
Lip balm (“Dr Pepper Lip Smacker is heaven.”)
Blush
Blemish treatment (“Mario Badescu drying lotion never fails.”)
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Deodorant
Body lotion
Hair bands
1 scrunchie
1 headband
Shampoo and conditioner (“Nothing will ruin your weekend like a bad hair day.”)

The Baggage
1 day bag (“I don’t go anywhere without a Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. Clutch.”)
1 nighttime clutch
1 large carryall
1 carry-on trolley (“I like to check my wheely bag and carry on the carryall — it’s faster to get through security this way, and the tote can double as a beach or grocery bag when you finally get where you’re going.”)

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Lilly Pulitzer Furniture

I am eagerly anticipating the long-awaited release of Lilly Pulitzer's newest venture: furniture & fabrics.  While I tend to stray away from lime greens & hot pinks, I cannot help but wish to incorporate a piece or two into my new NYC pad to add some color & vibrancy.  The 200+ piece collection will offer traditional shapes, but adding colorful twists to mid century classics.  I can already feel the juicy lacquered furniture with the iconic upholstery!




Images via HFI Brands

  You can bet I'm going to be alllll over this one.

Very Exciting..

...NEWS!

My favorite site for great local & nationwide boutiques, Rue La La has finally announced their entrance into the NYC scene with RueNYC! Starting off as a local Boston company, I have watched them sprout from a small seed into a giant player in the ecommerce scene!  (For those of you who are aware that my daytime job is working in Finance, I'm also extremely impressed with their earnings & growth over the course of the past two years).  Follow RueNYC on twitter, & join today to get in on the member-only deals!

Also worth noting, Rue is local in Philadelphia, Seattle, & Boston :)

Let It Be Known

Good volume:

Bad volume:

Ohhh SJP...you've got to get this right!

Grace + Kate

Breathtaking.

I apologize for the lack of attention on my behalf to my beloved blog.  I have fully embraced the inevitable quarter life crisis as I picked up my neat little life in Boston & moved to the vibrant crazy New York City.  I chose to wing the whole thing, not a single solitary plan was made. The past three weeks of my life have been utterly crazy - & thankfully I have learned quite a bit about myself in that time. For one, I never realized how addicted to reality tv I was until I went without a tv for five days. I do not ever recommend trying it.  Secondly, I miss the littlest things I never took the time to appreciate.  Wine / tv dates with my girlfriends, strolling to my favorite coffee place in South Boston & then continuing my walk along the beach.  From here on out I hope to appreciate more, stop to smell the roses a little more often - & let my friends & girlfriends know how much they mean to me.

Elements of Style (you guys know she's my girl!) posted some "Lovely Advice" that upon reading - I instantly forwarded to my leading ladies. Worth taking notes!

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2010.
7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
8. Sleep for 7 hours.
9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. & while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
4. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
5. The best is yet to come.
6. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.