Thursday, June 30, 2011

Jewelry by Noble Town Vintage





I just discovered the amazing jewelry line Noble Town Vintage and I'm a smitten kitten. 

Creator Sarah Pace creates new pieces from vintage and modern finds. They are the perfect necklaces for t-shirts, slouchy sweaters and loose sundresses. I also love the packaging ... hoping to make a purchase soon!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Today I Like ... Once a Year Day



The Pajama Game is not my favorite movie musical, but the "Once a Year Day" scene and the infamous "Steam Heat" dance number make it worth a watch. If you were feeling at all down in the dumps today, take a moment to watch the clip I posted...it's six minutes of pure exuberance and celebration of all things summer.

To get in the spirit of things, I'm daydreaming about summer dresses at a lakeside festival, and nights in old-fashioned pajamas.


Pajama Game


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Today I Like ... Paint Chip Crafts

I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to arts and crafts. I could never execute a Seurat-inspired pointillist wall of paint chips, but more power to the folks who can! Paint chips are fabulously versatile and most importantly, free!

If you want to create your own art, but don't have much skill with pencil or paint, try paint chips! If you don't have a printer, but you need stylish escort cards, try paint chips! Need a colorful bunting? Paint chips! But don't take my word for it (bahahah, Lavar Burton reference), check the pictures:


Graphic paint chip art, by Angelina Le Dawn.


More paint chip art, by Reduce, Reuse, Redecorate.


Another great idea for renters craving color: paint chip walls! From Design Sponge.


Or you can frame the paint chips, as seen here.


Sewn together (or glued), they make great utensil holders, perhaps for an art opening or a kid's party? From Sew Many Ways.


Brilliant and easy escort cards, from Once Wed.

Gosh, just thinking about all the possibilities makes me want to plan a party! How about you? Any other creative uses for paint chips?

Sunday in the City

I had a great weekend visiting family in New Jersey, and had a fun-filled Sunday in the city. It was truly wonderful to be in New York on the day of the Pride March, only a couple days after gay marriage was approved in the state, so the day had a celebratory tone. I celebrated by eating my way through town, shopping for home stuff (and buying jewelry instead) and seeing far-flung friends! I thought I'd share some snapshots, friends:


We started the day with delicious burgers and fries from 5 Napkin Burgerin Hell's Kitchen, recommended by our friends Paul and Valerie. I had the original 5 Napkin Burger (they are not kidding about the name!) with gruyere, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli. It was dripping down my chin and so great. 



Next, we wandered through the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, browsing stalls of vintage costume jewelry, old objets like vintage dice and lead type and captain's trunks. I ended up taking hold a fake gold necklace with little buddhas and fake jade beads, but I secretly wished I took this home:



We took the subway down to the Flatiron District and after catching a few minutes of the Pride March, went to ABC Home. They happened to be having a 30 percent off spring sale, and I about died of indecision about what to bring home with me. I didn't take a picture of it, but I ended up with a very simple glass box (sorta like these) that I hope to stash my old gem collection inside.


My dear pal Bret and I also revived an old in-joke when we spotted this Andy Warhol memorial in Union Square. His real last name was Warhola, or as we like to say, "War-HOLLA!!!"

We met up with our childhood friend Rula and my college friend Lauren for dinner at Almond Restaurant, which was unpretentious but just fancy enough to make us feel like big grown-ups. I didn't take pictures (I know! I must have been on my best behavior!) but I had the Orangerie cocktail, Pea and Lemon Ravioli and a foodie take on strawberry shortcake with panna cotta on the side. 

Other notable side story: We were killing time resting in Madison Square Park and I was making big hand motions, as I normally do, and I accidentally punched a bird! No joke! It flew into my fist just as I was raising it, bounced off of Bret and tumbled into the bushes. We think it survived, but I was totally shocked. I literally yelled, "That just happened!!!"

Anyway, it was a wonderful day in the city, but I can't wait until I have time to spend more than a day at a time!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday Best v. 63



Design*Sponge featured amazing quartz and herkimer jewelry by Better Late Than Never and I am head-over-heels in love. I was a complete dork over gems when I was in middle school and I am not exaggerating to say the gem room at the New York Museum of Natural History is one of my all-time favorite places in the world. This jewelry totally captures that spirit of discovery!
  • People revisit the locales of previous snapshots in Dear Photograph.
  • For journalists like me who will someday pine for the smell of our youth, I present the NY Times candle.
  • This awesome website helps you find new books similar to your favorites.
  • The new blogging It Girls.
  • The conversations you have when you've got gray hair in your twenties. (I can't lie, I've plucked out a few!)
  • For $50,000, you can rent Bruce Wayne's clocktower apartment.
  • The secrets to creating and maintaining a terrarium.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Road Trippin'



Sean and I are heading north of the Mason-Dixon line to visit my grandpa in New Jersey for his birthday and pop in to Manhattan to meet up with friends we haven't seen in a while! I'm super excited, even if it is a brief trip. I'm getting the iPod synced and getting ready to paint the nails. (The screengrabs are from Manhattan, one of my favoritest movies.)

Keep an eye out for the Sunday Best, and have a lovely weekend, friends!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Katharine Hepburn, I Like Your Style


For about five summers in a row, I had a traditional beach/vacation read: "Me" by Katharine Hepburn. It's one of the best autobiographies I've ever read, completely in her voice, and made me a bonafide super fan. My NaNa gave it to me when I was 12, and I set out to devour the movies of hers I hadn't seen. She's still one of my greatest idols, not to mention one of the great beauties. She could wear dresses,


She could golf with the boys ...


She could rock the best hairsdo ever...


She could go from sequins ...


to trousers ...


And settle in for some knitting. She could also romance the greatest stars and millionaires, took cold showers on purpose, won 4 out of her 12 Oscar nominations and was such a generally great character that Cate Blanchett won an Oscar just for playing her (I'd consider that a 13th nomination, don't you?). Now that's a woman.

Get Her Style
Katharine Hepburn Style



I Spy: Circa Inc. in Charlottesville

We all have our secrets that we don't necessarily want to share. If I tell you guys about my very favorite secret source for amazing home treats, will I be able to trust there will still be magic to find when I go? Well, since Circa Inc is consistently rated one of the "Best of Charlottesville," I guess it's not my secret to keep!

I started shopping at Circa in 2006, and it has only gotten better since. It's reliably one of the best spots for 20th century furniture and decor, with plenty of fabulous midcentury modern and UVA student/professor castoffs. Almost EVERYTHING is cheaper than $500, and the day I buy a house, I'm renting a truck and going there to clean the place out. Here's some favorites I spotted this weekend:


The chrome chairs were marked four for $85. FOUR FOR $85!!!! I was dying that I hadn't brought a huge truck with me. Just pop cushions in them like the classic Bertoia chairs.


This was a perfect blonde Heywood Wakefield side table for, I think, around $145. Why on earth did this not come home with me?


They also have a bargain room of potential makeover pieces like an entire faux bamboo set, with chests, side tables and bookshelves. Imagine in black, or white, or coral, or red, or, or, or. Really any can of spray paint would make them magic.


For a more classic, refined home, you can't do better than this chinoiserie coffee table for $85.


I was digging this sculptural credenza for $225. Can hold dishes, dvds or even work in an office for storage.


I secretly want to collect team and Armed Forces pictures like this to create a wall like this gallery wall. How amazing in a man cave?!


I've been on the hunt for an affordable, man-friendly replacement for Sean's ancient armchair and I nearly died of sadness that we had to leave this one behind. $165 for one, but it had a twin, too!


A sectional fit for Don Draper, at a cool $295. The fabric might need to be replaced; it was a little itchy, but the shape was so ideal for a rec room or movie room! I was in love.


This might have been the perfect man chair, except I seriously couldn't get back up out of it.


And, the holy grail, a card catalog! For $395, which is a steal, if you've ever looked for one. 

Whew. So now that I've given my secret up, I trust you'll leave me something for when I make my next trip?