Doable Home Projects (for the most part)

OK, I'm dreaming here . . . 

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Note to Self:  Remember this windowpane wall when I have 

enough dough to build my own dream house from the ground up.

And since that probably won't happen for me (I dunno about you) 

for another 30 years, I must rely on doable projects (like the ones below)

to spice up my pad.

Here are some Interior Motives to consider:

Antique french doors as wall decor.

You can find these items outside, SEE! Look what I found!

 

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Spruce up your couch with comfy, cozy textiles.

Loving all the varying fabrics and designs here.

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Decorating at its finest with vintage plates.

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I mean, I don't have kids, but holy smokes this is awesome.

Random, I know, but . . . 

I kind of want it for myself . . . kind of.

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A year in New York City

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

My Friend Rachel Wells shared this today, and I just had to show you.

Yes, it is a love letter to New York City, but it's much more than that (for those of you who don't live here). This video makes me think of all the amazing and difficult things that happened in this last year, many that I easily forgot about. I try to remind myself to live in the moment and appreciate each day for what it is--another second/minute/hour of my short life. It doesn't always have to be packed with activities or filled with the fanciest events. It just has to be mine.

If only we could all have our own 5-minute montage of this past year, we could remind ourselves that even the most mundane activities are beautiful.

What is one of your favorite memories of 2011?

Wakesurfing with Heels!

Happy Friday lovelies!

My good friend, Kelly, is pretty bad ass. I've seen her wakesurf before (wakesurfing is surfing the wake of a boat), but never in HEELS!  Can you believe this? Looking fearless AND gorgeous.

DIY Hair Mask

 I recently purchased a groupon that included a deep condition treatment, a hair cut, a half head of highlights, a blowdry and style -  all for a whopping $125. Before purchasing the groupon, I did extensive research via yelp to see what I'd be getting into. All great reviews and returning customers, so I booked it, and off to the salon I went. Result: I received the worst highlights & cut ever. I wore my hair up for 8 days straight (Venessa can vouch for me). I played around with braids, hats, headbands, ponies... you name it!  After sulking (and not to mention I feel like long haired women are throwing their locks in my face - see right - swoon) I decided to do a little research on DIY home remedies for hair repair. I love creating at home beauty products. I found this DIY hair mask via brunchatsaks.blogspot.com. Easy enough! Hopefully a little TLC on my hair will help...

DIY Hair Mask:

What to wear when it's below 50 degrees?

Remember this skirt? This is my Fall serious work uniform.

Don't I look serious? Thought so.

Shoes: Aldo

Blazer with elbow pads: Urban Outfitters

Lace skirt: Target

Watch: Michael Kors Rose Gold

for your listening pleasure

You're Welcome.

185 days till the Big Day

No, I'm not a freakin psycho counting down the days on my fingers. I signed up for this site, Project Wedding, which sends me an email countdown and other random ideas for my wedding. The ideas are eh, but the countdown is pretty exciting. But I did use them to create my wedding website because it was FUHREEE and the templates are pretty rad. But more about that later. That's on lockdown right now.

YES, I recall making a promise that Everything-Pretty wouldn't turn into The Knot (you probably get enough of this nonsense on FB) but I really rarely do this . . .  reeeaaally.

Just a few ideas to stick in your back pocket . . . 

Enough with Ring Pillows, Bring on the Book:

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A Marie Antoinette Dessert Table, anyone?

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Goal Hair (and this is serious guys, please send me all the hair tips you have to get my mop to look like this):

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Flowerspiration:

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We're writing our own vows, but I'm not above stealing some good quotes. I could go with this:

 

Or this:

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Is that inappropriate?

Plaid Overload

One of my favorite Fall staples is a classic plaid shirt. I like 'em because they are versatile... You can wear one with a pair of jeans and boots on a Saturday coffee run, with some heels and a fab bag, layered with a jean jacket or blazer, etc. The possibilities are endless! (I get way too excited about this kind of stuff.)  Here are some classics and my faves:

1. Buy here

2. Buy here

3. Buy here

4. Buy here

5. Buy here

And some ideas for styling! (Like you need any?!) 

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How are you at arrangments?

Not good, eh? Well then check out this adorable tutorial 

(it's quite the music video):

Gilt Floral from Gilt Home on Vimeo.

And how amazing is that dude's (editorial director Tom Delavan) apartment?? He oversees the editorial content at Gilt Home, a newly revamped sales site you must check out pronto!

Love it:

So cozy.

Closet Confessions: The Man Repeller

This is HYSTERICAL. One of my favorite bloggers, The Man Repeller, did this video for Bluefly.com. It's a sneak peek inside her closet (amazing), but her commentary is insanely funny: "Are these Chihuahuas on my feet, or am I walking?"

a weekend of firsts

On Friday I was told there was a chance it might snow 6 inches on Saturday. (Wtf!?) so this caused me to panic a bit. I mean, shit, Fall is over already? I didn't do like anything I said I would do on my
Fall Bucket List!

And it was because of this panic that I spent all weekend practically bathing in spiked cider and pumpkin-eating-my-face-off.
It was amazing. I spent all weekend documenting this,
so don't you worry.

Friday
I ptfo'd at like 9 p.m. That was great and all, just not really
blog worthy.

Saturday
Looked like this :

photo courtesy of my lovely friend, Rachel Wells 

And marked the first day of snow this year in New York. Also, I was told it was the first time it snowed in October since 1952.
(That's not confirmed, but let's go with it). And it was really legitimate snow too! Large fluffy flakes came down like someone was sweeping it off the roof. The kind of snow that gives you permission to cuddle in bed all day with a good book, Rachel texted me that morning. This is when I tell myself I need to live in the northeast for life and not move back south to make babies.

First brilliant idea of the day: journey to the upper east side to meet Julia, another Julia, and Amanda for brunch and a day of baking (for the Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on Sunday, of course).

Amanda and Julia meeting me at Parlour (90th and 3rd)

Sorry for this tangent, but I must tell you that I had three run-ins with homeless people throughout my travels. In the subway station, I watched one man (let's call him Mike) sing bits from the Phantom of the Opera for a group of giggling 15-year-old boys while homeless person #2 (we'll call her Bertha) leans down, picks up one of my gloves (which I now notice has fallen to my side) and freakin chucks it into the subway tracks!  "HEY!?" i yell, because what else do you say to that? But she was already on her marry way, sorting trash by then. What can you do? Thanks to one of those 15 year-old boys, who actually jumped down and retrieved my glove in the end, my hands were saved. My hero.

And then my ride was interrupted by a fifty-year-old French (drunk?) giving a monologue of some sort. It went something like this
( please read in broken English):

"Hiiiiii guysss . . . aren't you so happy to live in Amerrrica? Say hellooo to each other!" He preaches with one hand on the subway bar, slightly swaying from side to side. "Hellllllooo?? Do you not looovee each other? Remember God gives you apples and oranges. How lucky are you! Do you like ice cream? . . . Hey guysss! Do you want to go to heeeaven? . . . Helloooooo? Remember Halloween is a stupid holiday. You are welcome."

But I made it to brunch (a classy boozy brunch for $25. Def. recommend) and onto Julia's apartment (another Julia) to make spiked cider, bourbon pecan bread pudding, pumpkin white chocolate truffles, and ginger snap cookies. Dear God.

Sunday
Well, the snow put a huge freakin damper on Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest (since that is an outdoor event and wasn't happening in my apartment). This is being postponed. Total crap but we made the best of it anyway. Since I spent so long yapping about homeless people, I will keep this simple: girlfriends, spiked cider (again), cranberry cheese, bloody marys (again), and The Craft. It doesn't get better than this . . .

 Rachel might have been the scariest thing of them all (this is not my veil).

Paul came home and said our apartment smelled like Santa's $!&*#@l (thought I needed to share that with you). So all in all, I might not have completed the Fall Bucket List per say, but we got pretty damn close.