Always the bridesmaid...

....well, not always the bridesmaid, but most certainly never the bride. And that is totally fine by me...at least for now :-)

As fall begins to creep in the wedding season comes to a close. For me that is. This summer has been a very wedding filled summer for me because two of the people I hold most dear were married. One of my best friends and my brother. It has been a little hectic at times but it has always been well worth it and both weddings where truly gorgeous.

My best friend and beautiful bride, Erika

'What I Wore' for Erika's Wedding:

Dress: David's Bridal

Clutch: Thrifted

Pearls: A bridesmaid gift from a previous wedding

Hair Accessory / Flowers: Flower shop :) 

My brother and his lovely bride

'What I Wore' for my brother's wedding:

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Thrifted

Clutch: Vintage Gucci - Thrifted (also one of my proudest finds) 

Shoes: DSW Shoe Warehouse

I think one of the reasons I loved both these weddings so much was because of the beautiful simplicity reflected in both the ceremonies and the receptions. I feel too often people lose sight of what makes a wedding special when colliding expensive, lavish cakes with gold, gilded event halls and finally throwing together hundreds of people to enjoy this expensive party.

I think there is a way to do a classic, simple wedding that still is special and beautiful...without breaking the bank.

Here are a couple of photos from, Ruffled, a great wedding blog that show some of my favorite wedding ideas:

I think these are the most beautiful vows I've ever heard

"Let the winds of the heavens dance between you"

Congratulations to both my brother and my best friend! I haven't a doubt that both of you will live long, happy marriages!

-xoxo.

The Melting Pot

One of the beautiful miracles of New York City is the uncanny ability to find the most amazing and delicious food at any time of day for any craving you may have.

So you want Ethiopian / Thai fusion at 4am on a Tuesday? Done.

Or maybe a slice of pizza for $1? Done. Anytime. Anywhere. Guaranteed.

But, if I had to narrow down my "best New York eats" to my top three, I would have to go with the following (in no particular order):

1. The Hummus Kitchen

I am fast becoming a sucker for a good brunch. It's a great excuse to catch up with friends and day drink (who could ask for more, right?) And I have recently fallen in love with this restaurant for brunch. The Hummus Kitchen in Hell's Kitchen has the most amazing Mediterranean cuisine and both delicious and unique drinks (I highly recommend the Lemon Arak).

Also -- the restaurant's namesake leaves little more to be desired. They do, indeed, have fantastic hummus!

 2. Fish

When most 9 year old kids ponder the question "What's your favorite food?" they respond with the normal response "chicken nuggets, corn dogs, mashed potatoes, etc" But not this one. My favorite meal of choice growing up? Raw oysters on the half shell.

So, when I found this restaurant with my Dad in the West Village, all of my childhood memories came flooding back. Fish is a great hole in the wall raw bar with some spectacular dishes. They seem to be best known for their "Red, White, and Blue" Oyster special. Basically, you can have 8 oysters and your choice of either a house red wine, white wine, or a Pabst blue ribbon...for 8 bucks! Not too shabby.

Oh! and "All you can eat" Blue Crabs

3. Hudson Clearwater

Unfortunately, for my final pick I am sans photographs, but this restaurant still deserves mentioning. I went to this restaurant a couple of months ago with a friend from work and it still sticks out in my memory as one of the best restaurants I've been to in quite a while. The restaurant itself has a very "hipster speakeasy" vibe and the food is out of this world. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking to catch up with friends over cocktails (specifically the "Lolita") and have a nice meal.

But, at the end of the day I would have to say that regardless of where you go it's the company that you keep that truly matters and sometimes all you need is a kitchen and some of your best friends (and wine) to make a night truly special!

farm grown homemade caprese

 Fresh Atlantic white fish and sauteed veggies

Pasta and Salad (And best friends!)

xoxo.

This is to be my symphony

I'm officially a New Yorker! 

It's a wonderful thing...a city with constant hustle and bustle can bring such calm. I feel like I finally belong. Already this city has taught me so much about what brings happiness. It's not the lights or the glitz and the glam, but the moments in between. The laughs between roommates who become best friends, the breathtaking horizon of the skyline at dusk, the strangers who become teachers, and, most importantly, the person you find inside yourself with each adventure. 


Just a little update :) Stay tuned 

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.” ~William Ellery Channing


xoxo.

L is for the way...

Even though February (the month of love) is almost over I thought that I would post this list I found from fellow blogger, Judy Clement, that reminds us that the most important love one can have is love for yourself. I am a true believer in this and I think these are great tips and, in fact, just the other day someone sent me a message out of the blue (like the text mentioned in #4) that simply said "you're beautiful!" and it turned my whole day around.

I hope everyone today can take time out of their day to spread love to someone or to themselves, even if it is just a hug, a simple text message or in one of these other ways:

1. Hug someone. The excellent thing about hugs is that they are as good for the hugger as they are for the huggee. Research shows that hugs lasting at least six seconds optimize the flow of mood-boosting chemicals.


2. Send a text. My Love Project started with a text I received one day when I was cold and frustrated and bitchy. “Judy, you are beautiful,” it said, and just like that, my mood was transformed. I grinned. I felt loved. I texted back, and my friend felt loved too. It’s a lot like a hug; the love flows both ways.

3. Give yourself a guilt-free pass. For fifteen minutes, give yourself permission to eat something delicious, read something funny, daydream, doodle, wander… guilt free.

4. Write a letter to yourself. Let you know you care.

5. Breathe. Stop. And. Breathe. And in that space between inhale and exhale, love the imperfect, beautiful, messy, magnificent jumble-of-awesome that is you.

Spread the movement of love :)

Crafty-shmafty

Lately I have been seeing these super cute "yarn wreaths" in the local stores around neighborhood but unfortunately they cost an arm and a leg... 

After careful inspection I came to the conclusion that they didn't look too difficult to create and I had a hankering for some serious craft time.

So I went to the nearest craft store and put my thinking cap on and bought the supplies I thought would be necessary.

I thought I would start out with the basics and bought a straw wreath and some cheap yarn in a neutral color and got crackin'

Step 1: First, take your wreath (with the plastic still on, believe me, you'll thank me later) and tie one end of the yarn around the wreath. Once you've done that start wrapping the yarn around the wreath. (It's going to take a while so I suggest you multi-task and maybe watch a movie at the same time)

Step 2: Once you've finished covering your wreath (2 or 3 movies later.) It's time to start decorating!

Instead of making felt flowers like the examples I had seen in the store I thought I would try silk flowers from the craft store (in the scrapbook section.) I think they look just as good and it saves a TON of time!

I also added some peacock feathers and sequins to spice it up a bit!

Step 3: I took decorative trim and wrapped it around the wreath like I had done with the yarn and then took tacky glue and arranged the flowers and feathers until I had the perfect fit and glued them down.

Voila! My very own wreath:

I am pretty pleased with how it turned out and I can't wait to display it proudly on my front door!

Happy Crafting!

-xoxo.

into the middle of things....

....or "in medias res."

 In medias res is a literary narrative concept used by authors to describe an event that has taken place by first explaining the end result and then going back to the beginning and explaining what happened in order for the said event to actually happen. (Think CSI style)

When I researched this concept it immediately made me think about the year that is about to come to a close and how the concept of looking "into the middle of things" is a great way to dissect the journey one's life has taken throughout the course of a year.

If I were to look at the end result from this past year I would sum it up in three words: Character, Strength, and Drive.

I look at myself in the mirror and I see someone who as grown in so many different ways and I love who I see. More than teaching myself what I can be I think that this year has merely revealed to me what I had lying within me all along.


May the next year bring prosperity, knowledge, and beauty
I have a feeling I'm in for something big

Let your heart be light

Finally Christmas break has arrived!! It seemed like it would never arrive but the busiest semester of my life has finally come to a close and I have learned more about myself in this past semester than I ever thought possible. I am so thankful for the strength I have found in every lesson inside and outside of the classroom and I am very happy with the way my life has been going :)

Because I am working most of this break to pay those billzzz and to save up for my move to NYC I am spending most of my Christmas away from home, but I still thought I a little Christmas cheer was in order so I did a little decorating:

My mother found the PERFECT tree for my home away from home, complete with crafty lil' ornaments!

Paired with some Christmas Carols a-la "The Weepies" and Ingrid and I am in the holiday spirit for sure!

This year santa came a little early and I am now a proud Mac user :) 

And even though Santa will not be stopping by my house again this year I decided it would be fun to make a pretend wish list:

I wish I could find a way to pimp out my lovely bike Cecilia for Christmas just like this one

Or perhaps a new record player since my oldschool record player finally kicked the bucket :(

Maybe a big book filled with quotes and words of wisdom? (Ralph Waldo Emerson and e.e. cummings please :) )

But when everything is said and done I have been so lucky this past year and really I don't need anything more that what I already have, but I guess I'll keep the MacBook anyway ; )

-xoxo.