|| stripes are my favorite ||

|| the striped shirt ||

2011-07-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

thanks MATCHBOOK for highlighting one of my all time faves

I could never ever get sick of wearing striped shirts....

it's been my signature uniform ever since I can remember.

A good friend told me the other day that her love of stripes came from me

and I couldn't have been more excited....

Here's to a lifetime of those perfect horizontal lines.

|| conversation heart trail mix ||

2011-02-18T22:08:00.001-05:00

we threw a little valentines day party this year...

complete with conversation heart trail mix, heart shaped pb&j's,

fancy love potion, party favors and cupid himself,

delivering love notes of course...mwah!

|| valentines oh eleven ||

2011-02-10T22:24:00.000-05:00

busy life = no time to make the valentines day cards of my dreams...

but there was time for felt hearts, a little stitching and lots of love.

|| quick wrap ||

2011-01-04T22:02:00.003-05:00

i don't usually buy wrapping paper...

mostly because it's fun to create something with what I have.

I didn't give myself enough time to create a masterpiece but

some anthropologie tissue paper, scissors, a leftover snowflake

and a trip to my ribbon box worked quite nicely for a last minute quick wrap.

|| merry christmas oh ten ||

2010-12-24T21:53:00.002-05:00

i love cards

making them, receiving them, buying them, sending them & keeping them

I fell a bit behind this year but couldn't let a year go by without making

another ode to another incredible year

as usual, my card was filled with pictures of perfect moments

and friends I'm lucky to have.

merry christmas oh ten...

cheers!

|| wall decor ||

2010-12-23T23:16:00.004-05:00

my favorite way to hang christmas cards from friends near & far

|| snowflakes & ornaments ||

2010-12-20T23:13:00.001-05:00

We needed a little color above our table during the holidays...

|| photo wall love ||

2010-10-29T17:10:00.011-04:00

We have a blank hall in our entryway that's screaming to be decorated. My roommates and I all have different loves and ideas but with photos, it's hard to disagree so a photo wall is in the works.

THESE cute clips are on their way, then the fun begins!

{ photos courtesy of fashionista at play, ingle nook decor, apartment therapy, made by girl }

|| pink, white & tan ||

2010-10-20T17:19:00.004-04:00

I've always been drawn to blues & greens

but times are changing...

I can't get enough of my new favorite color palette

pinks, whites & tans

I think it's time for a room re-design

do you like?

{ photos courtesy of lonny and the www }

|| happy birthday hilary ||

2010-10-19T14:42:00.002-04:00

birthday parties are my absolute favorite things to plan

there's nothing better than getting a group of friends together

to celebrate over a delicious meal and if you're in New York,

the Sweetiepig at Sweetiepie!

sponge cake, whipped cream, bananas, strawberries & 18 scoops of ice cream!

delicious! it was the perfect venue for hilary's birthday.

{ Sweetiepie pics courtesy of Sweetiepie }

|| twenty two ||

2010-10-14T00:31:00.002-04:00

i loved planning a perfect summer evening birthday dinner for

one of new yorks finest stylists...happy birthday aubrey! loveyou!

the back garden at HOME was the perfect venue...

oops! I forgot to take one of their homemade chocolate chip cookies

on the way out...the perfect goodbye treat...next time!

|| great things to come ||

2010-09-11T18:36:00.003-04:00

Last night, on a rooftop on 108th

on the perfect fall night a decision was made.

We're excited about it and we hope you are too,

so expect great things...

we've got some great ideas and we're excited to share them with you.

so stay tuned....and as always, stripes are our favorite.

|| the letter f ||

2010-08-05T00:05:00.002-04:00

growing up, we had a wooden letter f on our kitchen wall

for fernholz or fern or fernie in my case

i've always loved it and have always wanted one of my own...

while shopping in my always favorite, kates paperie the other night

I came across a giant cardboard f and couldn't resist

a day later with spray adhesive, aluminum foil and a free hour

my letter f was complete and hung on the wall above my bed

fern would be proud.

|| blooms ||

2010-08-02T00:42:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite things about planning events is the flowers I get to order...

these are simple but they were the perfect touch to a great dinner at the new trump soho.

|| bookbinding 101 ||

2010-05-12T12:38:00.001-04:00

I love creative friends. There is always talk of getting together and working on fun projects...

but it's mostly been just talk...until now! Thanks to Kristin & Co. we made it happen.

I've been dying to learn bookbinding so a few of us got together, and made these lovely pamphlets...

it's amazing what you can do with some thread, a needle and leftover paper.

They are PERFECT for love notes, poems, or any other desire your mini pamphlet loving heart desires.

Next month we're working on a coptic binding...stay tuned.

|| celebrations! ||

2010-03-23T14:39:00.006-04:00

I love celebrations...planned celebrations...

last minute celebrations and celebrations just because.
Tonight is a last minute celebration for my
beautiful & talented friend...CONGRATULATIONS Aubs!

|| big friendship ||

2010-03-02T16:04:00.003-05:00

i love my friends.

so much...that I'm bringing back friendship bracelets

but bigger and better ones

than I used to make on the playground in the fifth grade.

introducing { the friendship cuff }

|| heart day ||

2010-02-16T17:38:00.002-05:00

valentines day is one of my favorites

it's a day to celebrate those you love

and make them cards.

putting cards in the big blue mailbox to

be sent to loves close and far away

is one of my absolute favorite things

and always will be.

|| franklet ||

2010-02-12T20:48:00.001-05:00

friendship bracelets are a thing of the past...

I'd like to introduce the "franklet"

I'll custom make them in any color your friend loving ankle desires.

|| birthday flowers ||

2010-02-08T23:38:00.004-05:00

i love flowers.

especially birthday flowers from favorite friends

thanks { h }

|| leftovers ||

2010-01-05T14:40:00.001-05:00

what do you do with all your leftover freebie t-shirts

after trimming down your wardrobe?

THIS! how fabulous.

I want to make one in 3 colors.

I wish I knew where I found this picture because I would

give you credit. sorry and THANKS for a brilliant idea!

|| holiday 09 ||

2010-01-04T20:43:00.001-05:00

I've sent CHRISTMAS cards in the mail I think since I was twelve.

It's one of my favorite crafty things to do each winter.

I had visions of putting together something elaborate,

but I need my beauty sleep so I went simple instead...

the card inspired by a recent trip to Tiffany's with my cousin

and my year in review,

a collection of favorite photographs & moments from 2009.

It was a very good year.

CHEERS to 2010...

|| headbands & sheets ||

2009-12-08T00:19:00.007-05:00

I've never liked to sleep.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing like snuggling up in my favorite sheets but the actual act of sleeping I wish I didn't have to do. I sleep because I need it, not because I want to. I've been sick and I should have slept the other night but instead, I was up until three sewing feathers & beads on a headband for THIS fun party. give me a good project & the perfect song & I'll stay up as long as I want to.

|| kids table 2 ||

2009-11-30T01:30:00.005-05:00

As promised, here is the final product. I put in a good movie, spent one night on the couch putting them together, and I was done. Twenty feather headbands for Thanksgiving dinner.

I LOVED them on everyone.

It's always more fun at the kids table.

I didn't buy flowers until the day of so there wasn't much

to pick from but I found some lovely orange hued flowers,

added a few feathers and I had a centerpiece.

I hope you had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! I did.

|| kids table 1 ||

2009-11-24T13:06:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited for THANKSGIVING this year! It's been 2 years since I've had a traditional THANKSGIVING and I'm ready to sit and eat, and eat...and enjoy the company of the 20+ friends who will be celebrating with me this year. FUN! Instead of slaving away in the kitchen, I get to spend my time at craft hour, as I'm on decorations. My favorite. I looked at Martha Stewart for a little inspiration and found these. I know we're all over 21 but that doesn't mean we can't all sit at the kids table, right? I love fun and I love classy so I'm doing a little combo deal this year. Feather and ribbon napkin rings that double as headbands. genius. I can't wait for the photo shoots.
Stay tuned for the final product...

|| rain boots ||

2009-11-18T13:55:00.003-05:00

I had a little assignment for my photography class and as usual, I decided to wait until the last minute...and there was nothing but RAIN! I made the best of it though...I love the reflection in the puddles...sometimes it pays to look down instead of up.

|| oh how lovely ||

2009-11-11T01:05:00.003-05:00

I couldn't get enough of the leaves upstate, NY on Friday...

and wanted to try and capture at least a bit of the fall splendor at the smith family farm.

Oh how lovely was the morning!

|| tennis anyone? ||

2009-11-03T11:31:00.003-05:00

I love tennis. I think it's my sport. I've never really taken lessons but I can swing okay and I used to spend hours hitting tennis balls against our garage when I was little. So much that our neighbor started calling me Chris Evert. I guess we have the blonde thing in common.

I'm in L-O-V-E with these vintage Roland Garros tennis posters from the 80's. Now all I need is more wall space.

gilles aillaud

eduardo arroyo

I'm having Royal Tenenbaums flashbacks right now.

|| greek holiday ||

2009-11-03T11:16:00.001-05:00

I've never finished a tube of lipgloss, until now.

GREEK HOLIDAY coupled with BETTINA is the greatest lipgloss combination...ever!

well, at least in my world.

Gisele likes it too...she used this combo on her wedding day.

|| baked apples ||

2009-10-28T18:04:00.004-04:00

thanks W for hosting the perfect fall party!

great friends & great food...not much makes me happier.

I wanted to make something new and had a zillion apples

leftover from our applepicking adventure upstate so

thanks to marthastewart.com I arrived at the party

with a whole plate of delicious baked apples.

I changed a few things...it's so me...I can't help it...but here's the recipe....

it's easy to make and it will make your house smell like Christmas...enjoy!

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 medium apples, skin peeled in a spiral

makes 4

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together butter, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Scoop out the core of each apple with a melon baller, being careful not to go through the bottom; discard cores. Fill each apple with oat mixture, dividing evenly. Transfer apples to a 9-inch square non-reactive baking dish. Add 1 cup water to the dish to cover bottoms of apples by about 1/2 inch. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake until apples are soft but not mushy. 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

|| rebecca thuss ||

2009-10-14T21:12:00.003-04:00

if I could do anything right now, THIS is what I'd be doing. ALL of it.

arts & crafts are my thing.

always have been...always will be.

|| confession ||

2009-10-02T12:38:00.002-04:00

confesssion: I look at the USPS website every so often to see if any new stamps are coming out.

I just saw this today and I couldn't be happier.

I haven't been this excited about a stamp since the Duke came out.

NERD! I know. But I can't help it.

I love stamps & I love sending mail & I always will...

|| stamp tree ||

2009-10-02T12:26:00.001-04:00

I've always loved stamps...it's the one nerdy thing I collect. Used ones are my preference.

I LOVED this window we walked by strolling through Rome a few weeks ago.

In another lifetime, I'll be a window display designer. I got a taste when designing the displays at the store I worked at in high school. Loved it. I like making things pretty.

|| rollip ||

2009-09-29T14:40:00.001-04:00

I don't need to tell you again how much I love Polaroids. Sadly (tear shed) as you know, they stopped making the film and the cameras but I do have a few boxes saved in my fridge for special occasion.

Until then, there is Poladroid and this new site my friend George told me about.

thanks george!

ROLLIP

It's cool. You can even write little notes on the bottom.

enjoy!

|| top hats & tiaras ||

2009-08-21T22:36:00.003-04:00

we're throwing a party tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited...

pray for no rain!!!

|| baggu ||

2009-08-18T14:38:00.002-04:00

Living in NYC has definitely brought out my CO hippie roots and I'm trying to be more green. I turn off lights, shut off A/C and buy BAGGU My new favorite. I've been searching for a good bag to carry home stuff for my next dinner party...and this is it folks. Not only am I saving a few bags, I'm saving my back. I don't have a car like you suburbanites so unless I get a cute guy to carry my groceries home for me, I have to make things easier on myself. I don't need to tell you which one I bought...

(use JOY for free shipping!)

{ photo courtesy of baggu }

|| floor mirrors ||

2009-08-13T14:44:00.002-04:00

I've been looking at floor mirrors for awhile now. I LOVE them. Not because I'm vain and want to see more of myself...mirrors really do open up a room and add so much presence. Seriously.

A few great options that won't kill my budget...

cb2

ikea

west elm

|| coat tails ||

2009-07-31T15:42:00.001-04:00

After a long day out wouldn't it be nice to have a cute coat rack to throw your stuff on instead of just piling it on the couch?

There is not quite enough space in my life for a coat rack right now but someday, yes.

A few years ago, I fell in love with this white beauty:

Beautiful, yes, but pricey.

I just came across this:

The price is right and everyone could use a pop of color in their lives...and something to hang your coat on.

|| tower ||

2009-07-21T20:46:00.003-04:00

5 friends had birthdays this past week,

so instead of slaving in the kitchen baking, we made a rice krispie treat tower.

so easy & the crowds loved it.

|| burst ||

2009-07-21T00:49:00.001-04:00

...a little late but happy 4th! i LOVE fireworks. love them.

|| day seven ||

2009-06-29T00:20:00.002-04:00

day: seven

location: chicago & nyc

|| day six ||

2009-06-28T01:19:00.001-04:00

day: six

location: chicago!

|| day five ||

2009-06-27T02:02:00.001-04:00

day: five

location: to chicago

|| day four ||

2009-06-26T00:05:00.001-04:00

day: four

subject: food!

|| day three ||

2009-06-24T21:43:00.001-04:00

day: three

location: uws

|| day two ||

2009-06-24T01:27:00.001-04:00

day: two

setting: leisure time bowl

|| day one ||

2009-06-22T22:09:00.001-04:00

I've been slacking on my picture taking lately...but thanks to kb3 I have a little challenge.

5 pictures a day for a week starting today.

If I'm successful, I get whatever I want, if I slack,

he gets whatever he wants.

I think I'll be winning.

day: one

setting: times square

|| grandmas jewels ||

2009-01-07T22:16:00.001-05:00

When my grandmother passed away, I inherited my most prized possession.

My grandmas jewels. To some it might look like cheap costume jewelry but my collection

is one of my absolute favorite things. The snow was so perfect outside the other day

I did a little impromptu shoot with some of my favorite pins of hers. Thanks grandma!

|| acrylic christmas ||

2008-12-09T17:24:00.007-05:00

Sadly, my roommates & I decided not to get a Christmas tree this year.

All of us are leaving for the holidays and we're throwing our joint party at our neighbors place...

so our decorating efforts are being focused elsewhere.
I had to decorate though

I got home tonight from work and couldn't let the living room go untouched by a little Christmas spirit.
So, I strung a few ornaments on a ribbon and painted, yes PAINTED a tree for our wall.

Kinda silly, but it does the job and there's no messy pine needle clean-up.

Next on my list, a pine scented candle.

|| embroidery notes ||

2008-12-07T23:20:00.001-05:00

I've been needlepointing a lot lately.

I don't really know what I'm doing but it's fun to try something new.

I was making Thanksgiving cards to send to my family and this is what happened...

Then, my mom sent me a tiny hole punch and I thought I would use it to thread ribbon on the cards.

It needs a little work but it's a start...

|| get in here ||

2008-12-05T16:56:00.001-05:00

I love this.

enough said.

|| troop manhattan heels ||

2008-11-04T13:10:00.002-05:00

a few of my girlfriends out here in NYC had never been girl scouts before so this year for Halloween,

Troop Manhattan Heels hit the streets.

I love going out but I had more fun making badges and decorating my sash...go figure.

Can you guess which badge is which???

|| menu votive ||

2008-09-16T00:41:00.001-04:00

...the wind was blowing my votives out on our roof deck the other night so a quick tear

of the menu and some tape and we were in business. Not bad. The possibilities are endless....

|| paper & staples ||

2008-07-31T19:08:00.001-04:00

It's amazing what you can do with some paper & a stapler.

My colleague finished the Ironman in Lake Placid (with a broken toe! -- congrats courtney!)

and I thought she deserved a little office celebration. I didn't have time to run to the store,

so here's what a cool font, ribbon and a stapler will get you. Not bad...I think it did the job.

|| stripes are my favorite ||

2008-03-12T17:49:00.037-04:00

Those who know me well know I love stripes.
In fact at my last surprise birthday dinner, everyone came wearing their stripes.
I have good friends + I love stripes
these things are true...
Stripes will always be my favorite but I have many more loves in addition to
perfect parallel blocks of color:
florals and animals prints, pastels and sequins and earthy and shiny
vintage and modern, and old and new and everything in between
I've lived on the west and the east coast and a few places in between
I've travelled to far off places and am also happy being right at home
I love a lot
I see a lot
and I'm inspired a lot...
this is me.

|| photo from max wanger photography ||