my, my, mine! macaroons!

Holy macaroons. 48 to be precise, in chocolate, vanilla, coffee, lemon, raspberry, and pistachio. Gilt Taste, you are killing me here. Sidenote: My friend and L'Oreal coworker Jacquelyn sent this over via email mid-day to a group of us. (I call the pistachio!) The email was titled "I'm doing real work!" Made me laugh :)

$54.99 for 48 macaroons via Gilt Taste.

autumn lists: hometown honeys

Since autumn is finally here, I thought I'd revamp my Summer lists column (featuring some of my friends' amazing to-do's!) and officially introduce the the Autumn lists! Whee! Fall is my favorite season, so I was SO excited to ask my hometown honeys aka my best friends from high school to share their hopes and wishes for this new season. These girls mean a lot to me, and I'm always inspired by the things they want to accomplish. Here's what they shared...

Mary Kate's list:

- Find an amazing art job in NYC or Philly
- Work hard on writing/illustrating my children's book
- Spend more time with friends trying new restaurants

Anna's list:

- Catch up on sleep or refill on Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes!
- Take a tour in my new city (D.C) to see the changing colors of leaves
- Visit my best friends in their respective cities

Jillian's list:

- Be a top Mary Kay Consultant
- Make all the desserts at Thanksgiving dinner (can someone say homemade pies?)
- Start working out again

Caroline's list:

- Start running every morning in Riverside Park (NYC)
- Finish making my personal website, carolinewu.com
- Learn how to make an all-natural perfume

Thank you ladies for your lists, and for your beautiful friendship. Can't wait for more NYC New Year's celebrations, sunny vacations, and everything in between. And here's to checking off these autumn lists -- I will be cheering you on! xoxo

smiley sunday

Sundays are so lovely - my favorite day of the week! I usually meet up with friends and walk around my neighborhood, but I think I'm going to take it easy today, due to a wine headache (So sad!). Here are few cheer-up-and-smile prints and photos.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

A kissing checklist

A star projector! Would love this in my living room.

(via 1, 2, 3)

mad for maps

I am so into maps lately. My living room walls are still very bare, and I have all kinds of ideas on how to fill them. Modern or vintage, a map of New York or Pennsylvania (my two home states) is on my wish-list! Vintage maps are so deliciously cozy and full of history; and modern maps are aesthetically fresh and uplifting. I really love them all!

Maps not only make for tremendous art, they're also visual reminders of all the places we've traveled or lived. They add sentimental value. And for some reason, I always think a room with a map looks classier -- even a bathroom-- and also more interesting like the chalkboard painted map below.

I'll be looking on Etsy for some great deals... let me know if you see anything out there!

(via 1, 2, 3, 4)

personal comforts

Since last weekend was crazy, I vowed to make this weekend super lazy and stress-free. So I went back to my two greatest comforts: Chinese food and nature. Which makes sense if you were raised in woodsy Philadelphia suburbs by first generation Chinese parents. Growing up, bad days always looked a little brighter with some dumplings and a cool backyard to play in. Instant cheer up :)

I don't have a backyard, so I did the next best thing: spend some quality time chilling in a Nolita playground while snacking on Chinatown baozi (prefaced the night before by soup dumplings!). I even later made it to McNally Jackson, my favorite bookstore. (Thanks to Eunsan, my foodie companion, for coming with!) What are your personal comforts?

PS: If you're in need of a nature pick-me-up, you must watch this video. So calming.

The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

it's finally autumn

The weather in NYC suddenly got so chilly yesterday. I'm secretly happy that it's been wet and cold, just because I can't wait to wear my cozy sweaters and lots of layers! Perfect timing, since I just pounced on these fun wedged (yes, wedge!) Hunter rain boots from yesterday's Gilt Groupe sale. (Can't wait to see them in the mail, eeks!) Hope you have a cozy weekend and make sure to stay warm xoxo.

ceviche cravings

Ceviche is my newest favorite food -- I'm a little bit infatuated, in fact. I never thought I'd be so brave to try raw fish that "cooks" via marinating in acidic citrus juices, but I'm an enigma, ha! I had my first taste at the Mermaid Inn Oyster Bar this past weekend, and almost had a Tilda Swinton food seduction moment from I Am Love.

Yesterday, I popped by my neighborhood Whole Foods in Soho and inevitably had to try their freshly cooked salmon ceviche. One response: FOOD. HEAVEN. I've heard of sweet and savory tooths, but who knew you could have such a fishy craving? (That does not sound very sexy at all.) Anyone else have any weird cravings to fess up to?

(photos via whole foods and the healthy foodie)

beauty favorites: tomboy + girly girl

I love men's beauty products. Musky colognes, simple packaging -- I just gravitate towards them! I was a total tomboy growing up in the woods of Ontario, Canada, and have always kept my beauty routine very minimalistic. Some of my favorite products are undeniably masculine (yet female-friendly), like this creamy Kiehl's soap. It's so rich and smells divine!

Nowadays, I'm a little bit more girly and prone to explore beyond my comfort zone. The other day, I went with my friend Eunsan to Sephora on a mission. She ended up with red lipliner which she plans to use as eyeliner (very Cyndi Lauper), and I bought my first highlighter (which I had always associated as a neon marker -- until now!)

I chose the Sephora brand highlighter, and love the well-rested, glowy result. A few dabs around the eye and brow, and I'm awake. Why haven't I tried this before? What's your tomboy or girly girl beauty product?

PS: If you're a tried and true Tomboy, check out fun blog Tomboy Style, written by Lizzie Garrett.

"buy a bar, give a bar"

I'm really smitten with Philly-based social enterprise Hand in Hand soap, which launched this August. These "sustainable suds" are made of fair trade ingredients and are palm-free and 100% eco-friendly. Most importantly, for every bar of soap purchased, a bar is donated to help save a child's life. (Every 20 seconds, a mother loses her child to a water-related illness -- shocking!)

And isn't the package charming? Their orange blossom soap is made up of "gentle blends of grapefruit, orange blossom, and eucalyptus." Sounds heavenly.

To learn more, visit Hand in Hand.

PS: Two other soaps I love.

rainy day, sunny dreams

It's raining outside, and I'm snuggled up in bed (L'Oreal gave us the day after Labor day off!) after spending the long weekend in Philly, which was so nice. I had brunch and went shopping with some of my closest girlfriends from home, and ate lots of seconds (and thirds) of Mom's cooking.

I also had a talk with my friends (Hi Anna, MK, and Jill!) about going on vacation together sometime in next spring/summer, which I really hope comes into fruition. I'm craving somewhere tropical, sandy, and warm... any fun suggestions? (St. Thomas is a contender :)

U.S. friends, hope you all had a lovely Labor Day weekend!
(photos via ten june and balenciaga)