Dilemma dilemma

Wait in line for the Target pop-up shop featuring the new
Alexander McQueen Go International collection, or spend
Valentine's day with my honey? That studded denim
jacket is pretty cool... ;)

Holiday update

Sorry to have been gone so long! I hope everyone had a happy holiday! We've had a constant stream of visitors here in NYC (5 sets so far in January alone). Must be the extra bedroom luring
everyone to this cold and windy city. Brrr... but we sure have been living it up with lots of good food (Blue Ribbon sushi, Otto Pizzeria, Magnolia cupcakes, Mondel's chocolates among others... Guess I might have to get started on a New Years work-out resolution soon!), and lots of fun (Burlesque lobsters at the Slipper Room, Narwhal's at the Natural History Museum -- seriously is that a real animal?!?, Comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre with Amy Poehler, Horatio Sands, and Kenneth from 30 Rock!).

It has been super cold here, so I haven't been able to wear many of my lovely dresses, but here are some outfits and recent random snaps. Lots more to come including some amazing Christmas presents and bargain shopping!


We were home for the holidays in this winter wonderland, the snowy midwest. It was quite beautiful but also very cold. So, we had a nice time relaxing (mostly indoors) and hanging out with old friends.


We got back to NYC in time for New Years Eve which we spent at a very "New York" kind of party with an extremely wide range of characters, including one guest who was a magician. The party was held in a beautiful apartment with high ceilings, a spiral staircase, and walls covered in paintings. I felt a bit like we had stepped into a Woody Allen film the moment we walked into the door. It was windy and freezing, but I couldn't resist a touch of sequins (INC sequin dress, Comme des Garcons sweater, Assets tights). At midnight we stepped out the door for an amazing view of the fireworks in Central Park.


Brunch at the always cutesy Kitchenette with my fellow blogger (and elementary school friend) visiting from Toronto.


The muppet workshop at FAO Schwartz which was unfortunately on break, but where I purchased a plethora of candy! I want those glasses with the eyes!


Drinking on New Years day. I am wearing J Crew chinos, lace and gray tank top from DKNY Jeans, Cashmere cardigan, and fringe necklace from H&M which actually seems to be a metal chain covered in some sort of rubber. It has a very strange feel to it, but I love it! My friend is sporting a very pretty dress from Target's Thakoon Go International collection.


Origami tree at the Natural Historty Museum. Must go back again for their evening "One Step Beyond" events!


Just a cool looking building on the upper west side.


Snowy day on the Columbia campus. Love my friend's Christmas boots! Stylish and waterproof. :) I (right) am wearing my Banana Republic toggle coat, cashmere scarf that was a present from mom, glittens from J Crew, and Marc by Marc Jacobs bag.


Lobster burlesque at the Slipper Room!

Halloween Outfits

Sorry it took so long. Here are some pics from Halloween, me as Holly
Golightly from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I tried my best to get Audrey's
upswept hair-do (upper right photo), but it didn't turn out all that well.
I guess I need more practice with the bobby pins and hair spray... The
fake eyelashes were a riot though. I might have to break those out more
often. My cousin and her fiance joined us for the evening. They had put
together some amazing costumes and went as Martian Manhunter and
Zattana from the Justice League.

I can haz costume?

My other cheap and easy costume idea was to be a LOLCat. Just dress up
as a cat (black clothing + ears and tail). Then add a cardboard sign around
your neck with some cutesy saying like "I can haz CandyCorn?" or "I can
haz trick?" and you're good to go. I think my good friend A is going to
use this idea since I'm going with Holly Golightly. I'll try to post pictures
of our costume results. Happy Halloween everyone!

Totoro!

This is the most awesome Halloween costume ever! I love you Totoro!
If I had more time this is totally what I would be, warm, comfortable
and cute, and most importantly not a sexy nurse, sexy schoolgirl, sexy
cop or any other form of short skirt + skimpy top Halloween costume.


Instead, due to lack of an ounce of spare time and practically no
sewing skills, I am going with the ever elegant, always stylish, Holly
Golightly. Since I already have an Audrey-esque dress and since you
can find fake pearls, black gloves, sunglasses, and a long cigarette
holder at nearly any costume store, this is a bit of a cop-out, but I
can't resist. Audrey Hepburn is my all time idol. Now how do I pull
off that hairdo?

Easter Brunch

Remains of the brunch:

We had a few friends over for brunch on Easter Sunday. I made this Swiss Easter Rice Tart, scrambled eggs, bacon, blanched asparagus, a wide variety of fresh fruit, and bagels with cream cheese, lox and dill. A good friend made us some fabulous mimosas. Champagne and orange juice, yum! It was quite a spread. The tart didn't taste as good as I hoped from the glowing praise of the New York Times article. It was a bit overly almond and citrusy and I would have prefered if the taste of the rice could have been a little stronger. I think I almost liked the intermediate products better (sort of a rice pudding with warm milk, rice and sugar) that I taste tested as I was cooking.



I didn't manage to get an outfit picture in, but this is what I wore:

Brown linen dress from Banana Republic with striped ribbon sash
Sandals from Kenneth Cole
Orange cashmere hoodie (not pictured) from Banana Republic

Curiously 3 out of 4 girls at the brunch showed up in brown. :) We all matched by
accident, funny coicidence.

Holiday

I am off for a holiday in Europe tomorrow through a week from Monday. So,
posts might be few and far between. I'll try to check in every few days and
will definitely have lots of stuff to write about when i return! Have a good week!
(photo)

New Years Pictures

My festive New Years eve outfit:
Sweater: J. Crew cashmere cardigan
Dress: I.N.C. sequin dress
Tights: DKNY
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs mary janes


The ingredients! My husband had a bit of a time finding
all of these strange vegetables at Berkeley bowl. Included
are parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, celery root, a plethora of
zuccini, and sage for the roasted root vegetables. Arugula,
onion, prosciutto, and arborio rice for the risotto. And,
gruyere pomegranate, and prosecco just for fun.


Everything turned out really well! Yum!

New Years Eve

Happy New Year everyone!

We decided to skip the crowds this year and are
planning a quiet evening in with some good food and
a bit of bubbly.

Our New Years Eve Menu:

Risotto with arugula and prosciutto (recipe from the
Williams Sonoma Risotto cookbook).
Roasted winter root vegetables with clarified butter
(recipe from the Chez Panisse vegetables cookbook).

Happy Holidays!

I hope you all have a beautiful holiday! Here are two of my
favorite Christmas movies, guaranteed to get you in the
holiday mood.



Miracle on 34th Street, the 1947 version with a very
cute and precocious Natalie Wood.


White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney
and Bing Crosby's unforgettable singing
voice. I suppose our California Christmas
won't be very white, but a girl can dream. :)


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Holiday Gift List (3)

For that quirky someone on your list

A bunch of fun ideas from FredFlare.


Cupcakes, earrings... what more is there to say. These
are fabulous!!!



Who doesn't love brownie edges? Well my husband
sems to prefer the middles, while I think the more edge
the better ... ah we must be the perfect couple. :)





I have been in love with Audrey Hepburn for practically
my whole life. She's just so unbelievably beautiful and
elegant. Holly Golightly sleep mask and necklace.



Cute stud earrings in a variety of colors.


This might be a bit much for most people, but
the right person could definitely pull it off... panda
hat.

Holiday Gift List (2)

For the exercise bunny

A list for the person who always puts "get in shape" on their
New Years resolutions list -- I've been guilty of this quite a
few times. :)



Fitness magazine has a great list of the best workout
dvds out there, with a wide variety of styles from
pilates and yoga, to dance or extreme calorie burning.
Get a different one for each day of the week to keep
your workouts fun and interesting.


Equipment is a must. Get yoga matts or exercise balls cheap from Amazon.
I tried one of these exercise balls out the other day and it was a lot of fun
bouncing around, but not as much fun as the Trampoline gym. I would
highly recommend checking out Sky High sports in Santa Clara for a
fabulous evening and a surprisingly amazing workout. Bouncing on a
trampoline really makes you feel like a kid again. :)



Workout clothing is a must. I like these striped shorts by Adidas (Triple stripe
dual short, and Baggy short).


For something with a slightly longer inseam try these shorts by Asics.
They'll keep you cool and looking cute while you sweat it out.


For cute workout t's I head to Threadless. I just bought these two shirts for $10
each in their Holiday Sale (hurry sale ends Dec 16)! Octopus and ParaPoppins shirts.

Holiday Gift List (1)

I know it's a little last minute, but here's part 1 of my holiday gift list.

For Your Favorite Chef



Everyday cooking: These are the books I reach for most often when
planning a simple weekday meal (America's test kitchen family cookbook,
and Quick from scratch Italian). Both include easy to make fantastic dishes.
America's test kitchen tests hundreds of recipes to find the best way to
make each dish and provides helpful hints on various questions you might
have, like what's the best bread for making your own bread crumbs?



Special Occasions: These are cookbooks from two of my favorite
restaurants in San Francisco, The Zuni Cafe and Tartine. The recipes
are definitely a bit more labor intensive, but worth it! Tartine's
desserts are to die for!



Stories about food and cooking: Heat describes one man's adventures
with famed chef Mario Batali, Tender at the Bone is by Ruth Reichl,
former New York Times food critic and life long foody. It describes
her childhood, growing up experiencing the worst and the best food
has to offer.


Aprons because if you don't look cute while cooking, why do it?
Two of the great aprons they have at Anthropologie, Sparkle
Apron and Stokholm Floral Apron.