Sun and Smiles

The smell of the ocean, the cool breeze off the water, the sun, the sand, make-up and clothes optional- you'd be smiling too.

Cheers to a long weekend loves!

Sex and the City...Better with Age?

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Hi loves! I'm draggin' a bit today due to the fact I stayed up way past my bedtime to catch the midnight viewing of Sex and the City 2 last night. The girls (Big too!) looked fabulous as always and in my opinion more fabulous than ever! Are you getting better with age? I have to say myself today is my favorite... so far ;)

p.s. About the movie...I love, love, loved the exotic costumes (Patricia Field really shut it down.)- think flowy caftans, harem pants, printed head scarves, and bold statement jewelry! I also loved the fact that they combined fantastical fashion with real life issues to which everyone woman can relate!

Rustic, Modern, and a perfect pop of Pink!

There's something so impeccably perfect when natural and rustic elements are combined with modern panache! Take the next two spaces for example...

Exposed wooden beams from floor to ceiling paired up with a beyond glam Swarovski crystal chandelier and pink (!!) futuristic chairs! Bananas.

Concrete walls, a steel utility staircase, and an exposed ceiling never looked so posh when accented with a sophisticated (blindingly sparkly!) chandelier, an unexpected fuchsia velvet couch, and sleek pink coffee table!

I don't know about you darlings, but all this on top of incredibly high ceilings and warehouse size rooms- My Cup of Te is filled to the brim!!
Happy Wednesday!
xo

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So Necessary: Calvin Klein Remini Cutaway Platform

For my birthday last year, I received a sick pair of CK booties that added about 4.5 inches to my vertically challenged frame. I get mad compliments every time I wear them, and I'm pretty sure it's not only because they are smokin' hot, but also because they make me feel smokin' hot! Despite the towering height, I swear on all the pennies in my piggy bank that they are the most comfortable pair of platforms I own! They've withstood ALL night dance floor escapades, 8 hour days prancing from showroom to showroom, and I can even run and jump in them- trust me I've tried, I get very excited over silly things. Overall, a fantastic gift from the H, whether I sent him the link or not! ;)

Because of all of the above, I'm dying to purchase a pair of the CK Remini Cutaway Platform. I could use another pair of smokin' hot pumps (what girl wouldn't?) especially when I know they will be worth every pinched penny!!

What's on your wish list as of late? As for me, I think it's time to stop with the wishing and start with the buying!

Mixed Media Madness

You may remember a post on my girl, Catherine in Chains, who fuses baubles, sparkly eye-catchers, raw cut stones, and chains, chains, chains in her fabulous jewelry line!

WELL, I still canNOT get enough of mixed media accessories!

Especially after adding this "lush twist of textures" to my collection over the weekend!!!
Crystals, pearls, gold, ox, and hematite plated chains à la J.Crew!

I feel like a kid in a candy store who has had a taste of one delicious goodie and is eager for much more! I've had my eye on a few pieces, and it's a good thing the price tags on these lovelies are going to force me to keep it under control! *sigh

Sachin + Babi's Solera Bracelet
A handcrafted, woven silk wrap bracelet featuring faceted rhinestones, beads, and chain appliqués at straps.

Alex and Ani Multi-chain Earrings
Fuses faceted beads, glass pearls, textured cone details, and what's even better- recycled metal!


La Mer Collections Chain and leather strap watches
A fabulous collection of mixed media watches! Right: Slate gray Italian leather strap topped with gunmetal rivets, chains, double turquoise Swarovski crystal, and a rose gold square! Left: You can even custom design a watch yourself! White patent leather featuring gold rivets, a gold case, and a single gold chain.

Isn't it fun to mix it up?!
Have you had your eye on something lately? Do tell, loves!

An O.K. Oxford

I must confess my hesitation to buy a pair of oxfords is grounded in my height. Flats do nothing for my petite, vertically challenged frame, and I always find that little bit of extra umph in a little bit of heel! I may have found the answer to my reservations. The Chelsea Crew Oxford Boot by Urban! What do you think darlings?

Weekend musings and What I WOULD wear to work...

Dear Weekend Past,

Thank you for the following...

1. A Friday afternoon CLT special arrival!
2. Sunset "cruises," surprise fireworks, and mich. ultra
3. Champagne flavored (REUNION) pajama parties
4. 1 sink, 3 girls hell bent on getting ready for bed first, and rollin' on the floor belly laughs
5. A little J.Crew panache à la Pastiche
6. Cupcakes, strawberry lemonade, and a happy bride-to-be!
7. Breezy Sunday evening walkabouts and soulful street performers

Dear Monday,

Although I have nowhere to go, save errands galore and the gym, welcome!! If I had it my way, I would greet you all dressed up just like this...

From J.Crew's Summer 2010 Collection Lookbook

Either way, I'm glad you're here. Here's to starting off the week right, loves!
Cheers,
Roxy

My Friday Night: SISTER FRIENDS

RSK

Editor's note, "Friends Indeed," from Marie Claire's March 2010 issue: "When I finished school, I thought I'd made all the friends I'd need for life. Who else could know me better than the people I'd grown up with? And how could I befriend the people I was kind of in competition with at work? How little I knew. Working on intense projects together is a great bonding experience (just ask J.Garner and J.Biel, who grew close on the set of Valentine's Day), and the people I laughed and moaned with over impossibly demanding bosses or lunatic deadlines are now some of my closest friends- Here's looking at you, Jane and Dominique."

While I was reading this Editor's note, I couldn't help but to immediately think of my co-workers turned BFF's, S and K. It wasn't too long after I started in their buying office that people would see the 2 out of 3 of us and ask, "Where's the other?"

At work there were style outs, advertising turn-ins, "competitive shopping" outings, endless open-to-buy-meetings, and lunch when we were lucky.

Away from work there were beach trips, happy hours, road trips, boat days, dinner dates, and too many good times to count! Last summer we had all just gotten to the beach after working a long work week, and jokingly pondered (cocktails in hand, of course) just how much time we really spent together. As we tallied and realized the actual number, we burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of it all- 100 hours by the end of the weekend!

We all agreed it was pretty crazy especially for not being roomies and time split between significant others, but even crazier that we all got along so well. After all, how many people do you meet in your life with which you can spend that much time? By choice? And not want to murder?!

ANYWAYS, before this gets too long, the point of this post is to express my excitement over seeing these two tonight. Life has changed, we have all since moved on from our side by side desks, and seeing each other means more than waking up and driving to work- planes are ness!

For the first time in months we are all in the same town so I'm beginning my weekend with a girls night in, RSK style!! PJ attire, cocktails, belly laughs, and all the things we've missed in each others lives the past 4 months!

I hope your Friday plans are just as wonderful as mine!
Cheers loves to a happy weekend!

Chanel? Is that you?

Nope! It's Sally!


I don't know about you loves, but at the moment, I cannot justify turning over 30 dolla bills for a bottle of nail polish...even if it is Chanel! The old me probably would have shelled it out with a quickness, but the new me is much smarter otherwise known as... on a budget!

In light of the situation, I was absolutely delighted when I found Sally Hansen's Commander in Chic, (so it's not Chanel, but it's close enough for me!) for only $7 at my local drugstore!

I also bought Yellow Kitty and Lavender Cloud. I'm not sure how I feel about the former, but I kind of felt like I had white out on my nails when I tested out the latter, and I wasn't really going for the bored at the office look.

Do you have fun beauty finds to share? Please do tell...the budget would appreciate it ;)
xoxo!

Pass the bubbly...

Greek keys on napkins and cups? I'll take it!
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Stocked bar cart- check.

Stocked wine cellar- check.

Bar accessories: trays, ice buckets, decanters, shakers- check, check, and check.

Yes, I love to party. I love to plan a party.

In fact, my besties and I will make up a fake holiday if we need to. Cinco de Mayo too far away?

How about Siete de Marzo?

If you couldn't tell, it doesn't take much for me to reach for the bubbly...

...and I think I just found my next excuse!

Partyware by Jonathan Adler!!!


Fabulous party tumblers! Which one will you have? Spiked or Virgin?

Sweet or Sour?

JA's fantastically fun line of partyware offers tumblers, napkins, paper plates, and even paper lanterns for decor!

So the only question is loves...my house or yours?
I promise I'll share the champagne ;)
Cheers!
Roxy

Up in the air...

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So tonight I curled up on our new outdoor furniture (thanks mom and dad)
peered over the balcony and patiently awaited the planes.

It was a cool, perfect 70 degrees and the construction from the high rise going up beside our building was silent. Although few, the "city lights" twinkled, and in the distance I saw the first set of blinking lights.

If I'm honest, I do this often. I sit an imagine, rather adamantly decide, as to where each plane came. It always goes like this...
Plane 1. NYC
Plane 2. NYC
Plane 3. NYC
Plane 4. NYC

Yes, I know it for sure! They have all come from the city, the place where I have left a piece of myself, unfinished business, and perhaps a piece of my heart.

I'm ready! I'm ready to be on the inside looking out...flying past that very balcony where I sat...waiting.

Suburbs or Small spaces?

So I come from a small town where being traditional often means settling down in your early twenties,

buying a house (I will spare you the panic that ensued when I first heard the uttering of the word "mortgage") that idealistically sits on a huge manicured lawn,

for which of course the kids can play...

...the kids that you should have as soon as possible if you want to avoid "Are you eating for two?"

Umm, 1) No thanks (I'm having heart palpi's) and 2) What's wrong with being hungry?

Now, I'm not ruling out the above completely, well at least for about 15 more years, but let's just say I've never been the white picket fence type of girl. I much prefer being in the center of a city bursting with diversity and life, and I will quickly trade my car, a lawn, a 3 bedroom house, and anyone's idea of what I should want at this age for a miniature piece of paradise in the city!

Besides, who needs space when it's possible to pack all your essentials into a crazy, cute, and mini (urban!) kitchen like this?

The mirrored backsplash gives the illusion of more space and the custom made family crest built into the hardwoods has huge personality despite the square footage!

The designer, Stephanie Stokes, made sure there was a perfect place for everything from silver to spices!

What do you think loves? Is it the burbs or small spaces for you?

Food Adventures: Peach and Strawberry Crumble

The fresh filling!

Ready to go into the oven for 45 minutes!

and voila, bon appetit!

Imagine a long work day...

...full of only salads and coffee.

Wouldn't you crave some comfort food too?

My sis and I did!! SO with a quickness we hopped in the car and dashed to the grocery store for all the makings of Giada's Peach and Strawberry Crumble!

Think peaches, strawberries, oats, almonds, brown sugar, and cinnamon...

It was quick (quicker than a traditional cobbler and just as yummy), easy, and oh so scrumptious...especially with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream ;)

What did your last craving yield? Was it as yummy as my crumble?

Weekend Recap: The Debut!

My beautiful baby sister and the 18 Roses Dance and blowing out her 18 candles with a little helper!

Hi loves! I'm finally back after a busy weekend full of family, friends, and a milestone party to remember! My little sister turned 18 so we celebrated by throwing her a traditional Filipino Debut- a coming of age fete that is often compared to the Spanish "Quinceanera!"

My little sis chose a black and white "star-studded" theme complete with flashing lights and red carpets. Just like an awards show, guests struck a pose and smiled for the cameras as they entered!

The Debut is marked by a Cotillion Court, a Father/Daughter Dance, the 18 Roses Dance, and the Debutante's Speech.

The Cotillion Court
The Debutante handpicks her "Cotillion court" who in turn performs "The Grand Cotillion Dance," which is usually a classic waltz, in her honor! Traditionally 18 are chosen- 9 males and 9 females, and we had the most fun getting together over 2 months to practice the choreographed dance!

The court wears formal gowns and suiting chosen by the celebrant. Kase was gracious enough to allow us to wear prom gowns instead of buying new dresses. Seeing as I have not attended prom in almost a decade, and I'm pinching pennies until I find that dream job, I busted out my dress from 2002- please forgive me for the ridiculous amount of pink and sparkly beading...

I was so happy to still be able to squeeze into it! Don't ask me about breathing...

The Father/Daughter Dance and the 18 Roses Dance
After (in my opinion) rocking it out to the waltz, my (proud) dad took my sister for a few spins around the dance floor! So presh!

He was followed by 18 men who presented her with a single rose before dancing with her as well! I weasled my way into handing out the 18 roses, and was big sis sneaky when I gave the "last rose" (So Bachelor/Bachelorette haha!) to a new crush of the best kind, a mutual one! The look on her face was PRICELESS ;)

The Debutante's Speech
Before the after party dancing commenced, my sister gave the Debutante Speech in which the celebrant thanks her guests for being an important part of her life and for helping her get to where she is today!

Phew...that was a long one loves, but I promised I'd share! My little sister had the time of her life, and I couldn't be more proud of her! What did you do this weekend? Do you have family/cultural traditions that you love to celebrate? I'm looking forward to several nights of much needed recovery ;)

Dear Weekend and others...

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Dear Mother-in-law,
Thanks so much for the illegal amount of peonies. The condo is happily peppered with mini vases of hot pink blooms.

Dear Gym "Baller,"
I came to work up a good sweat and get my tush in shape not to flirt with boys. Either way "Lord have mercy" and "Girl, what's yo name" are not welcome.

Dear Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, and Giada De Laurentis,
Thank you for your brilliant recipes! I'm hoping they make me look like a rockstar in the kitchen this weekend.

Dear overweight jackass in a kid's size polo and too short of shorts at Jeff's Bucket Shop,
When I'm graciously introducing you and your song, "I'm proud to be an American," it is not kind to reprimand me with "Do you even know what it's like to be American?" Well Hello to you too, and I was not aware Americans were only white?

Dear best friends,
Thanks for sticking up for me when said jackass was being a jackass.

Dear Grooveshark,
You rock. I'm loving the 90's playlist you helped me make- Gin Blossoms. Lisa Loeb. Meredith Brooks. Nirvana. Counting Crows. Smashing Pumpkins. Better than Ezra. Sinead O' Connor. The Cranberries, etc., etc. etc. Loving it!

Dear Farmer's Market,
The asparagus and strawberries were fresh and delicious and went perfectly with our mimosa brunch of Steak and Eggs Benedict!

And lastly and most importantly...

Dear Weekend,
Thanks for finally arriving and bringing the sunshine and family!! I have been awaiting your arrival since Monday morning :)

Dear darling loves,
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Cheers,
Roxy

To my baby sister...

Kase and I goofing off on Halloween last year

"There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you. "

Happy Birthday to my baby sis who turns the big 18 today!! I've loved every minute of watching you grow from my baby sis into my best friend :)

p.s. Stay tuned loves!! We are celebrating this weekend with a ton of friends and family with the traditional Filipino Debut and Grand Cotillion Dance- such fun traditions in my culture. Will report the festivities next week! So excited!!

We can go to the tropics...

In exactly ONE month from today,

I will be boarding a jumbo jet

and flying clear across the glObe...

...to my homeland in the TROPICS!!!

I almost forgot how close the big trip was UNTIL,

I stumbled across Isabela Capeto's ethnic and tropical collections here!

She names her collections after places ALL over the world,

and I can't help but to imagine myself in each place in every outfit.

What do you think loves? Don't all her frocks just take you away too?
p.s. Did you notice the gold threads braided into some of the models' hair? Love!

Flowers bloom and bikes hit the streets...

Remember when I paid the Apple a much needed visit about two weeks ago? Well, by the looks of it I should have somehow packed my bike.

All photos via

Ahh, bikes. The surest sign, other than flowers, that Spring has sprung in the city.
Yes indeed, my bike sat at home, as I ventured through the streets of Manhattan, but I must say I welcomed Spring in my own little fabulous (at least I thought it was!) way...

by sipping on a few glasses of delicious red on rooftops...
(Re-enacting my reaction when I stepped out of the elevator...Have you ever been in a 1500 sq. ft loft in NYC? Big Apple Apt. Heaven.)

and with dinner and cocktails al fresco with family who so happens to also be a best friend!
How have you welcomed Spring darlings?

If Kelly does it...

Isn't she just so stinkin' cute!

If you didn't already know, Kelly Ripa is an idol of mine! In my opinion she has it all- the (dark, handsome Italian) man of her dreams, a successful career AND a family (whoa, 3 kids!), and a fabulous apartment in SoHo! On top of that, she's funny, gorgeous, fit (check out those guns!), and stylish!

There is a certain pair of shoes that she wore 2 or 3 times last week and already once this week that are just sick! I did a little research this morning after seeing them and simultaneously dying over them all over again. If only they were in my budge! For $855, I just cannot make the Fendi Desir Suede Chiffon platforms mine *sigh*

Aren't they utterly fabulous?!

p.s. I have uncharacteristically been wanting to get a tattoo on my inner wrist for months now, but have refrained for obvious reasons. I obviously love all things Kelly and discovered this today. What do you think loves? Is it only cute when Kelly does it?

Itching to get dressed...

SO...I'm just dying to don some baubles, stack on some bangles, slip on fresh spring wedges, twirl around in a flirty skirt, drape a soft spring scarf around my neck, and layer, layer, layer (which is always a must in printemp's unpredictable hi's and low's!) cami's, blouses, cardi's, and blazers!

Unfortunately, "soul searching" does not always require getting out of my pj's, and although I always do, it's usually to change into a sports bra, workout tights, and asics- low maintenance for sure, but where's the fabulous fun in that? Enter Olivia Palermo who has shared her outfits everyday for the month of April on Vogue.com.

I know we love to hate her and hate to admit when we do love her (even if it's not for her shining personality), but I do really love her style! And if I'm not per se "getting dressed" in the way that I want too every morning, at least I can check out Olivia's stylish outfits!

Here are some of my faves!
Slouchy chic, shorts and stripes, and belted effortless style!

Sweet skirts, beaded embellishments, ruffles, and pops of color!

If you can get over your pride or love for sweet Whitney, go here for more of her fabulous outfits! What are you wearing this morning loves? Happy Monday!
xo
p.s. She names every piece in her outfits, and it's interesting to see how she mixes high and low (like Spring weather!) from Zara to Hermes!