the cupping room

The Cupping Room is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC.  Located in Soho, its neighborhood feel, red brick walls, old wooden floors, open and airy skylights, and delicious food make it a homey place to grab a bite to eat . Although we've been to brunch a few times (see below), we had never had dinner here before but I'm so glad we did.  Not only was the food excellent - I had the tahini chicken with roasted beets and the most amazing mashed potatoes I've ever eaten (well, next to my grandma's, of course) - but at around 9pm, a live New Orleans-style jazz band played in a corner of the dining area.  It made the already hip atmosphere even better, and we ended up staying well beyond the last plate cleared.  

ps. I couldn't help but include this photo of a brunch we ate here a few months ago.  Does it get any better than cream cheese & granola stuffed french toast and strawberry champagne in the morning?

weekend notes

tiny new rings from F21

Unfortunately, this weekend was a working weekend, so I didn't have much time for personal pursuits and most of my time was spent indoors. However, I did manage to find a few things that brought me some joy over the past couple of brisk days. The beginning of fall is one of the best times to be in NYC - the air is crisp, the crowds thin out a bit, and a walk through the village with a hot cup of coffee (or a Pumpkin Spice Latte I just discovered) is just as magical as it sounds.

trying to find the perfect glittery polish



mini aveda freebies

hanging tea party at anthropologie

homemade pizza a la J

style inspiration: sienna miller




People magazine recently came out with their "Best Dressed" list, which is fun to flip through, but always seems to center around celebrities' over-the-top gowns and glamourus fashions that are not really suitable for the everyday (or everyday person).  I thought it would be fun to come up with my own 'best dressed' list by running a bit of a series on celebs whose unique sense of fashion is not only inspirational, but who wear things that anyone could pull some ideas from for their own wardrobe. To start this, I could choose no one other than Sienna Miller.  I absolutely adore her bohemian, laid back style that always looks effortlessly put together, and never sloppy.  Whether it's mixing a worn in pair of jeans with an unexpected, more sophisticated shoe, or a pretty floral sundress with a grungy denim vest, she is always spot on with combining pieces that conventionally wouldn't go together, but always look amazing.








waves

I recently stumbled across this rather unusual method for curling hair (it was originally meant to create a really full bun, but the curls became a by-product), and because of my extremely stubborn straight hair, I am always searching for a curling method that will a.) hold and b.) not take 4 hrs to achieve. The pictures above are essentially the "before" pictures (Also, in case you wondering, I too am aware of how ridiculous that bun looks on top of my head;)   The pictures below are the "after" shots - not quite the curls I was hoping for, but at least some beachy waves!*

*Some tips on where I went wrong -

1.) I washed my hair just before I made the bun. Bad idea. For stick straight hair like mine, it's best not to wash your hair for at least a day if you really want some hold.
2.) My hair was pretty damp when I put it into the bun.  When I woke up in the morning, it was still damp on the inside of the bun, so the curls didn't have time to set.

simple seasonal salad(s)

There is no better meal during summer than a really delicious salad.  As summer days are slipping away much more quickly than I would prefer, I decided this light and satisfying dish would be appropriate on one of the final few warm, summer nights.  This recipe, a spin on the legendary caprese salad, is the #42 pick from this great article that provides numerous salad options that each sound better than the next.  It might be a bit late in the year to share this, but at least you can try a few now, and still have plenty of meal ideas for next summer!

beach house

hurricane glass/sand/tea lights

I've had all the major home necessities (ie. couch, bed, etc.) for awhile now, but it's the little elements that can sometimes make the biggest impact. I would describe my home style as a hybrid of sophisticated-beachy (without going too far in the seahorses and anchors direction). I love to incorporate whites and neutral color palettes with natural materials, and keep things as clean and simple as possible. But to stop this from becoming too bland, the accents in my home help to give the look some life.  Here is a peek at some of the items that liven up my space.

shells from the shore

framed vacations

shells and turquoise hung on shelves

calypso candleholder

weekend notes

morning ritual

This weekend was spent catching up on errands and household chores, which are maybe not the most exciting things, but are so satisfying once completed. Even taking the time to fully make the bed (throw pillows included) can make your home feel that little bit more put together than normal. And especially since the weather hasn't been the most cooperative lately, I don't feel as guilty spending most of the day indoors. I always feel after a weekend of being able to putter around at leisure, so much better prepared for the week ahead.

essie "peach daquiri"

ingredients for upcoming culinary attempts



sanctuary

belated birthday brownies

ps. had to include this outtake ...  he was a great model while it lasted :)