Weekend Picture Book

Alan and I stayed in on (the snowy!) Friday night and spent the entire evening with this new wallpaper! Of course home improvement is best done, in my opinion, with a little champagne & gin in vintage glassware of course. I am so excited to show y'all before and afters soon!

Bethenny Frankel's Tribeca Loft in Traditional Home

Things Bethenny and I have in common:

a sputnik chandelier...

A love for the color red...

A tufted headboard and floral wallpaper in the bedroom...

And hopefully one day the same outrageously successful career and this master closet...

Right? ;) TGIF y'all! 

{Traditional Home}

Head to Toe Red

Starting the week in one of my favorite colors (or lack thereof!) always helps me get off to a running start. From now 'til the end of the month is going to be particularly maddening so I'm calling on red to help me rise to the fun challenges ahead! Do you have a go-to color that energizes you to step up your game?

Racy Red Favorites:

need the entire outfit.

not for the faint of heart.

my favorite orangey-red.

really red.

accessorize.

blaze trails.

so. sex.

 Red dresses and more! Last look coming in the Marissa Webb Spring '13 collection-- I can't wait!

Sunday Brunch in the City

The "Belgian Bastard" at Resto: Pilsner, Vodka, Tomato, Celery Bitters, Celery Salt, Beef Jerky. Ordered with Eggs Benedict atop Bacon Liege Waffles. (!)

The "Bacon Bloody Mary" at Cask: Bacon Infused Vodka (!), House-made Bloody Mary, Bacon Garnish (!) Ordered with The Hangover Sandwich. 

This morning I woke up missing Alan, missing NYC, and missing our Sunday brunch dates. I love my work (it doesn't even feel like work!) but the amount of time it takes me away from home isn't my most favorite thing. Maybe one day I'll make it (!) and a more ideal situation will present itself? For now, let's talk about how it's apparently the cool thing to put meat into Bloody Marys. Bottoms up, I say! Do you have a brunch cocktail favorite?

If you like, follow more of my NYC adventures, here! And if you're thirsty, a few of my favorite cocktails, here ;)

For Sale!

My baby Drapers in Python Onyx need a new home! They are originally $530 for the pair plus $45 in shipping. If you are interested, live in the New York area, and can pick up in Manhattan (after January 29th), they are yours for $375/pair (new!) instead of $575. Email contact@shopsocietysocial.com for more info. Thanks y'all!!

Society Social Giveaway on Good Bones, Great Pieces

I'm extremely excited to share that the super talented designers, bloggers, and authors (phew!) of one of my most favorite design books are hosting a Society Social giveaway! They handpicked the Malachite & Marbled pillows, photographed above in their home, for one lucky participant. I'm truly flattered to say that they also share some of their favorite Society Social picks!

Pop over now to join and to say hi to this prolific mother-daughter duo! Good luck!

UPDATE: No winner yet (1/21!), but after going through the comments so far I have to thank you guys, tremendously, for not only entering but for leaving the sweetest notes (!!!) More than a girl could ask for :)   

The Selfie: Yay or Nay?

Alright, people. We've all done it, or most of us anyways. I've posted a few for #ootd or to show off a new lip rouge but deep down I always feel like an all too vain poser. What I think is really silly? People who post selflies titled, "I'm bored" or "Just hanging out" or other paltry concerns that should never be let out into the world for lack of purpose. I mean, do we really need to see a picture of you sitting there bored? And actually even more silly, a selfie for the main purpose of "showing off" your chest, bum, or other protruding body parts, lips included. #notnecessary

This post is the product of this interesting article, "Know Your Selfie: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Self Sabotage." It obviously got me thinking about this social media-crazed, often over-sharing world we live in. Do you "selfie" or no? If you do on occasion, why? And do you feel as silly as I do?!

p.s. An entire blog devoted to "The Art of the Selfie." If you were undecided, I have a feeling this will get you firmly on one side of the fence or the other.
p.s.s. Follow me on instagram, guilty as selfie.

Bedroom Thoughts

Our living room is a little cracked out on color (think ROYGBIV) so we made a strong effort to tone it down in the bedroom. Those pillows have since moved to the living room and the only real pop of color is these drapes. In my mission to add interest without too much rainbow bright, I fell in love with the look of muted floral wallpaper.

Our little Manhattan rental does not permit wallpaper, or paint for that matter, so I was giddy when I found "Gold Leaf Peonies" from Tempaper. Alan's reaction was a very minor, "Oh. My God. Really?" I took that as a yes :) He is a saint. Have you ever applied temporary wallpaper? We would greatly appreciate any tips!

Emily Rickard Pillows

How gorgeous are these abstract art throw pillows by Emily Rickard on Society 6? I think they would be a great way to add color to a room if you're nervous about investing in a huge piece of art, and if you're not, they're also available as paintings too! Here's more by the artist.

p.s. I'm about to pull the trigger on number 4. What do you think?!

{Asking for Directions | Color Study No.1 | Pie for Breakfast | Color Study No.6 | Library | Bits and Pieces}

Pass the Bar Cart

Why order just one cocktail when you can order an entire bar cart stocked with your favorite spirit and all the accoutrements that is then rolled right out to your greedy little fingers. Fine, call it a glorified bottle service, but wouldn't this be a silly and ridiculously boozy way to spend a Saturday night? Only in New York, I tell you. Pass the gin bar cart please!

p.s. The bar cart is back ;)
p.s.s. Alan I hope you are reading this, my birthday is only 11 months away.

{The Gin Cart available at the Nomad via NYMag.com}

Toile Tablescape

A favorite from the freshly published Lonny that solidifies my belief that custom tablecloths are the only way to go. I had such a hard time shopping for one for this (a sea of browns and bo-oooooring beiges. wah.) that I had to make one myself! Stay tuned, it's my new mission to add them to my shop! What do you think? Good idea? I swear there's a gap in the market :)

Get the look: (if you're brave enough to attempt this brilliance!)

Custom tablecloth in Gillian's Zebras (and more)
"Antique Baroque" Gold Flatware
Vintage ashtray

Darling Little Vessels

Ginger Jars
Place Cards

Pups

Blue Edge Coupe

Blue Wine Glass

Milk Glass Goblet

And don't forget the blooms!

{Lonny January/February 2013}

The Daily Stud

While my bauble belief usually falls into the bigger is better camp, on the daily I have a painfully basic jewelry routine- it looks like this paired with pearl or diamond studs and a dainty "cheers" necklace. The statement necklace is a regular in the rotation but ridiculously dangly earrings are reserved for a night out. (I think I have a secret fear of this. ha!)  I think it would be fun to mix up the usual studs with these small but hugely stylish statements. Do you have a favorite in the round-up? I'd love to hear!

p.s. A cute line of dainty jewelry (I have a solid crush on these stacks) and more studs we probably all need.

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Favorite New Shop: Note to Self

My sweet friend Sarah just launched her new print shop on Society 6 and it is not to miss! I'm obsessed with everything she does, but one of my favorite series of hers "Words for the Week" as well as her darling illustrations will now be available as prints, note cards, and iphone cases. I think I know just what I need to help round out that gallery wall I spoke of! Check it out here. Congrats Sarah!

NYC Apartment Update!

Last October Alan and I made a big push to decorate our semi-put together apartment. Here's a recap of  Day 1 and Day 2 in case you missed it! I know it's been almost a year since we've moved in, but I travel a lot so shamefully it's always the last thing on the list. Excuses aside, here's a little snapshot of our little "speed decorate" sesh, the half of it anyways. Our place looked like this for days!

Among the items we did get to check off- finally having our nude colored rug custom over-dyed to navy bah-luuuue (a $200 antique Turkish Kilim Ebay score which was appraised at around 6k! #victory), the obligatory Rast hack (both per Naomi's brills suggestion!), and a few smaller touches like a spunky pillow and custom foot stool which after decades of neglect, I stole from mom's house :) and had recovered in a beautiful pink silk get up by Kravet. You say foot stool + silk = impractical, I say, Why Not?!

We also now have a collection of over 10 antique ginger jars thanks to my thrifting adventures and Etsy!

We didn't quite finish so my next big focus is rounding out our gallery wall. I'm head over heals smitten with the look of these eclectic round-ups.

I'm frequently searching around on 20x200, Art.com, and Etsy and have a few more items in mind to go with these, but would love to hear your suggestions. Have you designed your own gallery wall? What did you do to make it unique? Do you have a favorite artist or shop I need to check out? Share! Share!

Back to Black

Monday feels right for an all black outfit. Somehow it always helps me (aside from gallons of coffee) get back to business after a weekend of painting the town r.e.d. ;) It also serves as the perfect backdrop for some of my favorite red & pink lipsticks. Do you have any get back in gear tips or tricks? Happy week y'all!

{pinterest | wendys lookbook | atlantic-pacific}

Swinging at the Park Avenue Armory

Last weekend Alan and I went to Ann Hamilton's installation at the Park Avenue Armory. We love trying new things together; New York really has it all!

 I didn't expect to spend as much time there as we did, I figured a few rounds on the giant swings and we would have our fill of childlike excitement, but 3 hours later...

...we found ourselves just enjoying the entire experience around us- swinging, chatting, quietly sitting and observing the countless interactions, laying down under the billowing silk, swinging again, listening to the laughter. There was something so peaceful and calming about it all. Today's the last day, if you live in NYC I highly suggest it.

p.s. It was kind of hilarious seeing oblivious patrons try to walk the length of the cavernous hall forgetting there are over 40 moving swings to dodge. Man down...ha! If you attempt it, just remember to stay out of the light ;) Have you tried anything new lately? I would love to hear!

"When the swings are in action, the curtain, made of a lightweight silk twill, rises and dips, and the air is stirred, causing further billowing and fluttering. The swings, which are clearly not built for small children, are wide enough to accommodate two, or sometimes even three, adults or adolescents...people swung singly and in pairs, slow and low or higher and faster, often with helpful pushes from friends. The air filled with sounds of glee punctuated by cellphone rings, which actually sounded great in the general hubbub." - The New York Times

The Party Ain't Over!

Cheers Coasters made Apartment Therapy's Readers Choice Gift Guide!

Entertaining tools from the Social Diary

Tonight Alan and I have been invited to a festive social, the last of the holiday season. The invite reads, "Traditionally, Christmas is a 12-day celebration starting on December 25th that culminates with a massive feast called Epiphany." I love that January 1st didn't mark the end of our revelries! As always, as a guest you should never show up empty ended so I've included a few "for the hostess" round-ups for dinner parties and socials to come in 2013 or if you're still partying like us, for tonight :)

The Best French 75 I've Ever Made

Last month Jessie invited me to come in as the entertaining expert at her fun-filled workshop. Of course first on my agenda was to get everyone toasted :) with my favorite cocktail. I've been serving the French 75 as the tipple of the house for years but this little twist is something that has changed my contrivance of cocktail concocting- forever. Blue Print Juice Yellow 2, fresh juiced, 100% natural, raw: lime, ginger, lemon, and agave. Substitute for pounds of hand-squeezed lemons and homemade simple syrup... comes with a complimentary serving of lime, ginger, and good cheer for the busy, vivacious hostess!

p.s. Blue Print (our awesome sponsor) has made its way into my libations but their line of juices is great for cleansing too!
p.s.s. Make it a double! I won't tell ;)

{Recipe design by Adrienne, Photo by William Klein Vogue Paris 1958}

My Day Candles

"AM 10:52 Jazz Brunch: 24 hours and counting until Monday morning -- pass the mimosas...Smells a Pimm's cup with extra lemon and a fancy cucumber garnish." 

How cute is that product description? I've never bought a candle online unless it's already a favorite go-to, but I can get on board with a cocktail candle. I imagine it would be citrusy-cucumbrous and fresh, just like my favorite cocktails! I think I would also go for "PM 2:36 Windowsill Gardening"...since as you would have it, the backyard is a maybe, "one day" thing for this contented city dweller :) We burn a candle at our house almost every day and most recently thanks to a thoughtful surprise Christmas gift, haven't been able to get enough of the cozy scent of Wood. Do you have a favorite?

What to do with all that Holiday Ham!

Since the family couldn't be all together this year, Mom was the sweetest and surprised us by sending the requisite holiday ham...for two! We have so much leftover that I've been scouring the web for 101 ways to eat ham. These croque monsieurs look like heaven. Detox can start later ;)

{Gina's Italian Kitchen}