love this stuff

The brew and the polish. The drink is Reed's Original Ginger Brew. The polish is Essie's Turquoise & Caicos. Obsessed with both.

cheating...in bed

I'm a bit of a lovestruck, flighty teenager when it comes to bedding. My taste runs the gamut and I fall in love quickly...stalking and hankering until it's finally mine...only to get bored and set my sights on something new. That is all to say, I'm a total duvet whore! There couldn't be an easier way to change the entire look of a bedroom! And compared to purchasing new furniture, refurbishing old furniture, or even painting...it's quick, easy, and can be relatively cheap. I know duvets aren't generally cheap, but I'm always on the lookout for a great sale, or fab designs from cheap standbys like Target. Here are a few in my main rotation:

*Quick tip - always keep the plastic zip bag that the duvet/shams originally came in. They are usually pretty durable and make it a lot easier to store bedding.

Hotel Collection at Macys 'Frame' Bedding

This was the set we received off our wedding registry. Understated and classic. It's been relegated to winter-only use since the duvet is heavy and doesn't breathe very well. The great thing about receiving the whole set is that we can mix and match pieces with other sets, since the color is so neutral. The bedskirt is a perfect neutral backdrop (and also impossible to switch out...who really changes bedskirts on a regular basis anyway)!

West Elm Organic Cotton Pintuck Bedding

I had seen more expensive versions of this look, but found the price much sweeter at West Elm. I think we even got them at a discount. I would have loved the white, but with a new puppy (at the time of purchase), that was out of the question. The super-subtle Sea Spray color has proven just perfect...it never looks dirty! One annoying thing is that the tucks do come undone if pulled (so basically anytime you sit on the bed)...despite this, ours has mostly retained the original look.

Anthropologie Roaming Wild Bedding

Ok, this one is a walk on the wild side (har-dee-har-har), but works if I am craving color in the bedroom. The tiger print is actually fairly subtle, and the print is so fun! I snagged this on super sale!

Anthropologie Ring of Asters Bedding

I'm still on the fence about this. I had a white/black phase, and decided that this print was perfect...I love the pops of yellow and the grey would tie in nicely with our bedskirt. I think Husband is still undecided about this one.

Others (not currently owned) that I just love!

DwellStudio for Target Celery Baroque Set
(So perfectly simple and chic against dark wood.)

DwellStudio for Target Birds Damask Set
(Love that pop of black/white.)

Style&Co at Macys 'Blossom' Set
(Have you been able to tell that I love all things green?)

Calvin Klein Bamboo Flower Set at Macys
(Is there a modern woman alive who still isn't in love with Carrie's bedding?)

Pottery Barn Woodland Organic Set
(So fun and springy...very girly!)

Pottery Barn Serafina Floral Set
(Bright colors in a bold print - would please men and women! I've had to force myself not to bid on this several times on ebay. It WILL be mine!)

welcome summer!

Wow has it really been a month since my last post? We went on a much-needed vaca to LA and Vegas at the end of May, my 30th birthday came and went, and now we're starting to get those sticky hot NYC days and nights. That is all to say, I've been slacking! I'm also trying to come up with a new blog title and am desperately stuck...not being able to change the title has really been a mental block for any sort of blogging. I know...excuse, excuses! I have a couple of new purchases that I need to blog as well as some reviews from our vaca. For now, this will have to do:

I spotted these in LA, and have unexpectedly fallen in love. I was never digging the oxford look, but there is something about the Joie Louie Louie loafers that is so adorable. Maybe it's the subtle, menswear-inspired detailing, or the slightly deconstructed laceless look. In any case, I think these are a great year-round shoe that I'll strongly consider if they go on sale!

Joie Louie Louie loafer ($198)
(Come in 2 colors: Caviar and a Light Brown.)

street fare

I love many things about NYC in the summer - street fairs being one of them. Any given weekend during spring/summer, several city blocks shut down to vendors selling everything from handmade jewelry, hand-dyed scarves, screenprinted tees, and all kinds of food. Now, I remember when the food at street fairs was dirt cheap...you could get hand-squeezed lemonade, chicken kabobs, fries, and ritas for under $15. Times have changed, but the food is just as good (and just as fattening, so we only indulge once in a while now).

I can't ever resist the funnel cake vendor, and this past Sunday, we tried the fried Oreos too. OMG. Sinful. We classed it up by eating them on an actual dinner plate, instead of a half-ripped paper plate. Pretty sure we'll be hunting for these every single weekend.

recipe: Creamy 2-minute salad dressing

I love me a good full-fat ranch or buttermilk dressing! Heck, when I was younger, I used to eat salads with straight-up mayo. Those days are gone with my childhood metabolism and chicken legs, but I still find myself craving a simple, creamy salad dressing from time to time...even as I choke down a basic balsamic vinaigrette.

Enter this super simple, creamy dressing recipe. It is so basic, but so good. I usually make the recipe below, but happen to think it's fab with a little curry powder sprinkled in. I also think it would make a great base for tuna salad!

Original recipe from thekitchn.com

Ingredients:
* 1 t. dijon mustard
* 1 1/2 T. mayo [I substitute full-fat Greek yogurt since we rarely keep mayo around, and it turns out wonderfully tangy. Whatever you do, don't use a non-fat mayo or yogurt. You need some fat to properly emulsify the dressing.]
* pinch of salt
* pinch of sugar
* dash of fresh ground pepper [I'm pretty generous with my grinds.]
* 1 T. champagne vinegar

Directions:
Whisk together all ingredients except for the vinegar until combined. Slowly whisk in the vinegar. [This supposedly makes enough for 2 small salads, but if you're like me and drown your salads in dressing, then double the recipe for 2 people. Also, I have no idea how this keeps, but it's honestly so simple to just throw together in a pinch.]

a little bit rock and roll

When it comes to wrist accessories, I tend to favor either super simple bracelets or cuffs that can stand on their own with little other jewelry. When I spotted this cuff on the J Crew website, I automatically started thinking of scenarios and outfits in which it could work. To toughen up a LBD, add edge to a white button-down and black pencil skirt work combo, or serve as the perfect accessory to that blazer and tee combo you've been wearing every weekend. It kind of gives you that I-just-threw-some-stuff-on layered vibe that you see on the super chic girls running around the city, but from a mass retailer that's accessible to everyone. Yay!

Double-Chained Mesh Bracelet ($75)

spring in the city

We've been fairly busy around here...work, life, running here and there in the city. We've been trying to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather (although today is a chilly 50 degrees), and each other's company. [Note: These are all somewhat crappy Blackberry pics, so apologies in advance!]

Waiting in line @ Shake Shack in Madison Square Park

Visiting High Line Park (where we spotted Zach Braff!)

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge after exploring neighborhoods for a possible fall move