Mumford and Sons

So hooked on Mumford and Sons lately. Unbelievable vocals mixed with a banjo/folk vibe and heartfelt lyrics... definitely my cup of tea. Listen to some of my favs below...

We're Engaged!

Doug and I got engaged last night! Here's the story...

2 years and 3 months ago we went on our first date to El Rey Del Sol on 14th st. We sat outside at picnic tables and over one too many margaritas, I knew he was definitely a keeper. Sadly, the spot shut down shortly after and we were never able to return. Last night we were supposedly headed to dinner with Doug's cousins. He convinced me to make a pit stop at a bar called Crooked Knife for a drink first (still clueless at this point).

As we walked in, Doug said "oh by the way, this used to be the Mexican place we went to on our first date." Hmmm... We walked to the back and outside where I finally realized what was going on. I was so caught up in the moment and crying that I forgot to take many photos, but it was the most romantic thing I've ever walked into. There were tiny candles lining the entire patio and around 1 small table surrounded with rose petals. There was a bottle of champagne, two candles (D and A), orchids and of course margaritas:)





The rest was filled with sweet words and lots of happy tears. We listened to our favorite songs and laughed about all the amazing memories that brought us to that moment. (and of course a few Bachelorette jokes from me).


Gotta credit my dress to Laila Azhar on Rent the Runway!

A bit later, we were told there was "a car out front waiting for us." A little confused, we walked to the front of the restaurant and were surprised by many of our closest family members. The drinks started to flow and that's really all I remember... JK! It was such a great night and so special to celebrate with so many people we love. Thank you to our families and all the friends who were able to make it last minute! It was a night I will never forget and the start of many more good times to come. I have to credit everyone who knew for keeping this a secret and being part of such a magical night. And thank you to the guys at Crooked Knife for helping set this up. I hear you were incredible!

And Doug... you are one of a kind. Everyone sees it and I've always known it. It's hard to find the words to express how much last night meant to me. I love you and cannot wait to spend forever together ;)

-ps I LOVEEEE my ring. Every time I look at it, it's a reminder of how happy I feel.





Here's to hoping wedding planning will actually make me find time to blog again! Many more photos to come!

West Village/Tribeca Eats

You're stranded on Spring and Hudson, desperately searching for a dinner spot. Try one of these suggestions from my RTR friends...

Forge
134 Reade St.
212-941-9401

Flor de Sol
361 Greenwich St.
212-366-1640

The Harrison
355 Greenwich St.
212-274-9310

Jane
100 W. Houston St.
212-254-7000

Cafe Cluny
284 W. 12th St
212-255-6900

Megu
62 Thomas St.
212-964-7777

Blue Ribbon
119 Sullivan St.
212-343-0404

Tartine
253 W. 11th St.
212-229-2611

Morandi
211 Waverly Pl.
212-627-7575

Mekong
18 King St.
212-343-8169

Stay tuned for 2 new posts... My Best Friend's Wedding and Dinner at Daniel

Day 2 of The Fresh Diet

Day 2 is underway and off to a sweet start. According to the scale, I'm 2 lbs lighter. I'm thinking the diet + 7am runs are worth the extra effort. Yesterday's menu was pretty delicious–dinner/dessert definitely being the highlight. I cut 2 strawberries into about 15 pieces if that's even possible and savored every last bite of chocolate and ricotta. Here's what's on the menu today:

Breakfast: Cinnamon Swirl Multi-Grain French Toast with Fresh Apples and Blackberry Ricotta Cheese

Lunch: Tuna Burger on Whole Wheat Bun with Cucumber and Avocado Salsa

Snack: Artichoke Bottoms Filled with Creamy Cauliflower

Dinner: Stuffed Chicken Asiago & Tarragon with Whole Wheat Linguine Pasta and Roasted Fennel

Dessert: Apple Pistachio Muffin

The Fresh Diet

6 days until Marisa's wedding = Day 1 of The Fresh Diet



The Fresh Diet delivers 3 fresh gourmet meals and 2 snacks to your doorstep daily (for as many days as you purchase). Each day consists of about 1200-1400 calories. They tailor the menu to your likes/dislikes which you store in your virtual pantry prior to choosing your menus (Notice my dislike basket full of meat). With the program I chose, I get 4 choices for each meal and I can choose 2 snacks from about 5 choices. The prices vary depending on which program you select. I luckily snagged a good deal using Groupon last week.



I awoke today to an adorable little green cooler bag outside my front door with my Day 1 food. It's packaged with ice packs so your food stays fresh until you unpack it. While the portions are slightly smaller than I expected, they are pretty tasty and provide a good variety of flavors. On the menu for today is:

Breakfast: Southwestern Style Scrambled Eggs with with Fire Roasted Corn, Fresh Salsa, Bell Peppers, Pepper-Jack Cheese & Nine Grain Toast

Lunch: Asian Style Chicken Salad with Baby Bok Choy, Watercress, Alfalfa Sprouts, Water Chestnuts & Sesame Soy Dressing

Snack: Black Bean & Avocado Wheat Crostini

Dinner: Spicy Chickpea Patty with Cilantro Lime and Green Chillies. with Black Barley Pilaf and Exotic Mushroom Ragout

Dessert: Chocolate Dipped Strawberries with Creamy Vanilla Ricotta Cheese



Almost as good as having a personal chef! Stay posted for details about Day 2 and Day 3. I'm skipping Wednesday to celebrate my anniversary but back on track for Thursday!

On the List: Summer Update

Places I still need to try plus a few additions...

Locanda Verde
Co.
Minetta Tavern
Aldea
The Breslin Bar and Dining Room
Sorella
Spina
Marea
Mayahuel (for drinks)

6 in 1

How cute and clever is this 6 in 1 convertible tee from Free People. My first choice is grey which is conveniently sold out in my size. Maybe coral? It's on sale for $39.95 which means it really costs about $6.50 (39.95/6).

Sweet Dreams

Check out this bedroom featured recently on Design*Sponge. The bedding reminds me of mine from Anthro and the bed frame is awesome! It has so much personality and looks great with the pops of color. I could use a little leather in my life ;)

Hey blog, I'm back!

So I've been neglecting my blog a little... okay a lot. I attribute it to all the crazy and wonderful things I have going on right now. Blogging unfortunately went to the bottom of my list. My new job at Rent the Runway is off to a great, however exhausting start. I didn't realize how much work I'd be doing in the shoes of graphic designer, art director and creative director. It's been a personal test to see how hard I can push myself, and for that I'm really proud. I'm working more hours than I can count, but finally enjoying the work I do and the responsibility to create branding for such an incredible idea. If you haven't signed up, please do... we have thousands of new dresses and the most amazing accessories. Insider info: cocktail rings are headed our way and a few other sweet surprises :)

This past week I made a promise to myself, to find time again for the things I love... like blogging. So I'm back and more inspired than ever. For my first post back from my mini-blogcation, a list! What's better than a list, seriously. So here's to filling you in on all the random things I'm doing or thinking about.

1. My precious little Lola was spayed yesterday. As cute as she is, I'm not sure we can handle 3 more of her running around this apartment. We had to leave her overnight at the vet. I can only imagine this is what its like leaving your child at a hospital for a night. I couldn't stop thinking about all the other dogs (babies) crying all night and keeping her up. What if she was in pain? Sad. Anyways, I just spoke to the vet and she's doing great and ready to come home! So just as soon as I finish this blog post and get Doug out of bed, we get to go pick up the pup!



2. Stopped in Barnes and Noble yesterday and finally picked up Something Blue, the follow up to my last post about Something Borrowed. I've been so eager to read it, and as part of my "get back to life and what I love" promise, I made sure to go buy it yesterday.



3. Marisa's wedding is only 1 month from today! It's so hard to believe my closest cousin, more like a sister, is getting married. This weekend I'll be attempting to write my MOH speech. For anyone who knows me, this is like the culmination of years of avoiding public speaking. Thank you to "nervous speech com D." I'm going to channel all of your focusing/breathing/relaxation techniques and give a killer speech. I'm all grown up... it's time. I plan to even be funny ;) My friend Jaclyn offered some great advice in her recent post about MOH speeches, after all she is a pro.

4. Speaking of funny, I recently finished Chelsea Handler's Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea and she's hilarious. From tales of her first jail experience to her affinity for midgets and affair with a "big red" red-head, I was laughing out loud and finding it almost hard to believe. If you're in the "I'm working so hard I can't concentrate on a serious book" stage like I was, pick it up and read a chapter each morning on the subway. It's the perfect sip of funny for your long day.



5. Doug and I decided we need a break from the city - one long and one short. So for the near future, we're looking at a weekend trip. Any ideas? We received many recommendations from Hamptons and Shelter Island to Mohank and the Cape. I want low maintenance and highly pretty. I can picture it... cute little bed & breakfast type place... short walk to adorable town... pretty beach where Lola can run on the sand and we can chase after her wondering why we brought her along again... If you have any ideas, please send them my way. Longterm, we're thinking Greece, or maybe South America, or South Africa. Thoughts?

6. On Mother's Day, we drove to and from brunch singing great songs from the Carol King/James Taylor compilation cd/dvd. Highly recommend it. I'm thinking of buying tickets to the tour coming up. They are playing 2 nights at Madison Sq Garden in 2 weeks. That's not "so far away."



7. While on my blogcation, I was also on a semi-exercation. (That sounds a little too much like I was hanging out with Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn.)



What I mean is that I haven't been fully devoted to my pre-wedding (Marisa's) health regimen. By now, I should be 5 lbs skinnier and a whole lotta toned. Oops. As always, this will become a crash diet/workout plan starting sometime next week. I'm thinking another round of BluePrintCleanse may do the trick. After day 1, it was actually pretty enjoyable and I'm kinda obsessed with the Pineapple/Apple/Mint... yum! I'm also really liking my morning runs along the east river. Too bad it happens once, maybe twice a week. Speaking of, does anyone recommend any playlists? I could use some new music... and a personal trainer, thanks.



8. "Rent the Runway" was #5 on google search this week, higher than Al and Tipper's divorce. Just saying...

9. To watch or not to watch. I hear Flash Forward was canceled recently. I gave up on the show somewhere between the creepy masks and the dead crows. Go figure. I'm feeling kind of unsettled about it though. I know the show is over, but I have about 6 episodes unwatched on my dvr. Is Flash Forward worth a rewind? I finished the season of Desperate Housewives this week and it too was pretty creepy. I question how ridiculous the storyline can get, and each season it exceeds my expectations. I think this summer will be devoted to catching up on Modern Family and Parenthood, both of which I LOVE.

10. Finally, I just want to wish everyone a happy summer. When else do you have solid plans booked for almost every weekend the next 3 months. Hamptons, Fire Island, Atlantic City, the Kuros backyard...The Standard Beer Garden, The Frying Pan... it doesn't get much better than this. The summer is heating up, and I kinda like it.

Something Borrowed

On a recent trip home from Vegas, my friends and I were browsing the airport book selections. They gasped when I told them I had not read the Emily Giffin series. So I finally did it. Just finished Something Borrowed and I'm kind of obsessed. In fact, I couldn't put the book down. Rachel's character was so relate-able, and I'm pretty sure I have an imaginary crush on Dex. I may have let out a cheer on the subway when I finished the last few chapters this morning... onto Something Blue :)

Gilt World

Is it just me or are Alexis and Alexandra taking over the world? They are the new Paris and Nicky, the new Barack and Michelle, the new Mickey and Minnie.

GG recently announced the launch of Gilt City (yes of course I am signing up). The site will be similar to Groupon, offering local deals up to 70% off. For those of you familiar with Groupon, it's a great concept. I recently purchased groupons with a few friends to attend byo night at MAKE, a cute pottery shop on the upper east side. I'm also a fan of the "berrywild" groupons, yes I bought 6. Gilt City plans to offer exclusive deals to NYC to start, eventually expanding to other cities. Can't wait to see what they offer...

Garance Doré

I recently came across the blog of Garance Doré, chock full of incredible illustrations and street style photography. I am in awe of her talent and her knack for catching that glimpse or moment when you see the true beauty of each woman. I want to share some of her illustrations. I hope you enjoy as much as I do!










http://www.garancedore.fr/en

Wonderland

The new Anthropologie catalog is many things: flirty, whimsical, exotic and refreshing. Notice the architecture, how amazing. A few of my favorite shots...

Fall 2010 Runway Show

We've done it again. Watch the show, see the trends, go behind the scenes and experience the entire world of the Fall 2010 Ralph Lauren Fashion Show. EXPLORE NOW

Model-morph

I love these Model-morphs featured on NY Times Style Magazine during Fashion Week. Great way to experience the models before and after their runway makeup at the various shows.







SEE MORE MODEL MORPHS...

Breakfast of Champions

I recently read an article on RealAge.com about breakfast foods that burn more fat like eggs (protein), yogurt (calcium and healthy bacteria) and whole grains (fiber). We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I'm a firm believer. While most mornings only allow time for cheerios or greek yogurt, on the occasional Sunday morning I like to cook a nice hearty breakfast. See below for my "breakfast of champions" and recipe for my cereal muffins.



Breakfast of Champions:
*Omelette (1/2 yolks) with mushrooms, spinach and leeks
*Small scoop of farmer's cheese and salsa
*2 cereal muffins warm with a drizzle of honey

Cereal Muffins recipe:
1 apple
10 small carrots
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup honey
1 cup whole wheat flour
small handful of brown sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup kashi honey cereal
1 cup multigrain cheerios
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

Blend apple and carrots in food processor. Combine them in a large bowl with oil, milk, honey, baking soda, vanilla extract and egg. Mix well. Add flour, sugar, salt, cereal, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix again. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake for 20 min on 375, until golden brown. Yields 12 delicious muffins.

Anemones

Lately I am loving Anemones. I wanted to share some of my favorite Anemone appearances ;)


Cake by April Reed

Happy Vday to me!

Doug did such a good job with my Vday gifts that I had to share a little preview. How cute and yummy! I love you!

Fit for Foodies: Chicago

My trip to Chicago in December proved to be more than just a weekend of site seeing. Prior to the trip, I did my research on the restaurant scene and after much deliberation chose Blackbird for Doug's bday dinner. It was the perfect choice. The restaurant was very minimalistic in decor and the food was excellent, credited to their amazing chefs who have been nominated for multiple awards. Beautifully prepared (small-medium) portions of soups, salads, pastas, seafood and meat graced our table and we left totally smitten with the place. We sat next to 2 chefs who were ecstatic about each course they tried and it made the experience that much more special knowing we were sharing in the fun. Also try their other restaurants The Publican and Avec.

Blackbird
619 W Randolph, Chicago
312.715.0708

BITES:

Amuse Bouche


Scallops with brandy, grapefruit, pine nut caramel and radish


Burrata cheese salad


Mussel soup


Short rib with sesame gnocchi


Poached lobster with turnips, flageolets, sea beans and fig broth


Manjari chocolate with pomegranates, crispy chocolate, lime salt and beat ice cream


Baked brioche with pear consomme and chai sorbet