Candy Stripes

Image from Living Etc.

The thing I like about this bedroom is the contrast between the colorful vertical stripes on the bed, and the black and white diagonal stripes on the curtain panels (plus the blue stripes of the men's tie draped on the bed). Very brave, to say the least!

Happy Birthday Kane Simmons

Happy birthday Kane!! As we enter the second half of our twenties, I have to say that I am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to you! If it wasn't for you and your happy-go-lucky personality, I would have already had a heart attack by the age of 25. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.

You deserve Baked By Melissa cupcakes, which is exactly what you got!! I love you.

Mmmmm

Tonight's dinner was Papaya King at 86th and Third Ave. We ran in and had a couple of hotdogs with cheese and spicy mustard before catching a movie. This place has the absolute best hotdogs, hands down. They're doing something right, since they opened this place in 1923 and never looked back.

But the funny thing is that I've never tried the papaya juice. It just doesn't sound good to me for some reason! What do you think? Has anybody had it?

Elizabeth Bauer

Image from Lonny.

Elizabeth Bauer Design was not even on my radar until I checked out the June issue of Lonny today. But, I don't know how that's possible! Her studio apartment and her store are featured in the article and they are so much fun!! She is not afraid of color and pattern. The clear glass "half-screen" that's separating her living area from her bedroom area is genius. It delineates the spaces without closing off the bedroom visually. Plus, I've never met a lucite coffee table that I didn't like.

Sensory Overload

Image from Wikimedia.

Well, I'm sorry to have to vent to you all today, but I have this fabulous Macy's gift card that someone (that I love and appreciate) gave to me. I went to Macy's today to try to spend it. The NYC Macy's is just too big for it's own good! I can never seem to focus on finding anything because it is so incredibly huge and there are so many tourists milling around. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind tourists in NYC. It's a cool place to visit. But, I don't want to be surrounded by siteseers while I'm shopping for work clothes!!

That being said, I am officially throwing in the towel when it comes to the NYC Macy's. I'll be saving my gift card for some smaller, more managable store!! :)

Selina Lake, Stylist

All images from Selina Lake.

While perusing Design Sponge today, I came across a great introductory article about Selina Lake, an interior photo stylist from London. Her styled shots are clean, fresh and almost all of them seem to incorporate pink! She mixes great vintage props with interesting finishes and fresh color. No wonder so many magazines are hiring her for her styling work!!

Candace Bushnell's Humble Abode

Images from Elle Decor.

Candace Bushnell's apartment speaks for itself. It is Glamorous to the max! White walls, dark wood floors, and a great mixture of antiques and art. It was designed by model turned designer Susan Foristal.

South Street Public Art

When leaving South Street Seaport yesterday, we came across this "fence embroidery" by Katherine Daniels. The 600 foot long display of "flowers" made of reclaimed objects disguises the ugly contruction site beyond the fence.

It's a wonderful idea to use recycled objects to beautify an area that would otherwise be an eye sore.

Downtown!

One last day of our tour, and we spent it seeing downtown Manhattan. Wall Street, Trinity Church, St. Paul's, Ground Zero, South Street Sea Port and the Statue of Liberty via the Staten Island Ferry.

We have logged some serious miles on our feet this weekend, and Mema got to see just about everything she wanted to see, plus a few extras. Oh, and don't mind how gorgeous I don't look in my tennis shoes and skirt. :)

Mema and I at the Trinity Root Sculpture.

New York Stock Exchange.

Beam sculpture near Ground Zero.

St. Pauls.

South Street Sea Port.

Brooklyn Bridge.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Kane, me and Mema Gail on the Ferry.

Whirlwind Tour

We embarked on a whirlwind tour today! We started out at the Savoy Bakery, then moved on to the Upper West Side Flea Market, Kane's softball game in north Central Park, the Central Park carousel, (phew) Fifth Avenue shopping, Rockefellar Center, Madison Square Park and the Flatiron building and we ended the day at Pinkberry! It's all I could do to keep up with Mema and Mom. They are troopers.

And now that we've finished a really long game of cards, we're all nearing exhaustion and are going to call it a night.

Family!!

Mom and Mema Gail arrived in NYC today! We are so glad that they're here! Our first stop was dinner at Ricardo's, as usual. We have tons of good stuff planned, since this is Mema's first trip to NY! Check back in tomorrow to see what we've done.

Royal School of Needlework

Images from House and Garden.

This article from the June issue of House & Garden (the British version, since the American version went under a couple of years back) really made an impression on me. It's about the Royal School of Needlework which is housed in Hampton Court Palace outside of London. They offer several different embroidery classes, from one-day beginner classes to a two-year degree in hand embroidery. The classes seem to be reasonably priced, and they are so right up my alley! Can you imagine working in the beautiful spaces pictured in this article? Wow!

Visitors!

My beautiful mother and mema Gail are coming in town this Saturday! I cannot wait to see them. Except that my apartment is a wreck and in need of a deep cleansing :)
Everyone who lives near their families should give them a big hug and kiss tonight, because when you're far apart from them it's just not the same! XOXO

Jewelry Stands

Jewelry stands found here.

These jewelry stands from Urban Outfitters are such great accessories because not only are they beautiful in their own rite, but they also show off all of your jewelry at the same time! I know I'm much more likely to wear mine if I can actually see it, as opposed to having to dig for it at the bottom of my jewelry box. The first one is my favorite!

Thank you, whoever you are

Wallet from Zenok Leather.

Tonight, I would like to thank the good samaritan who turned in Kane's lost wallet. This is the second time in the last couple of months that Kane has left his wallet on the bus (at least that's where we think he left it). But, kind good souls keep managing to find it and give it back! What are the chances of that happening twice? I guess I haven't had enough faith in our fellow New Yorkers :) So, thanks again, whoever you are! 

But, you know, he could lose his wallet two more times and I would still love him just as much :)