personal prohibition (for lent)

I gave up all alcohol for Lent and have been craving a glass of wine like mad. But I'm proud to say that I've been successful so far, even in the face of temptation, enjoying time at a wine bar, an Oscars party, and multiple dinners without taking a single sip! (Although I came close to cheating this Friday when I was feeling crummy -- there are 2 bottles of wine in my apartment and it is hard!!) These sweet concoctions are looking really yum... but for now, let's just enjoy the pretty pictures ;)

Kiwi mojito

A tasty combination of red wine, diced strawberries, peaches, sprite, and ice... so refreshing!

Cocktail popsicle with strawberry and peach vodka

Peaches, lemonade, and vodka

(Photos & recipes via 1, 2, 3, 4)

escaping our own negative thoughts

Phew, this weekend was a tough one. Friday and Saturday found me worn down and anxious. I hadn't felt so gloomy and defeated since junior year of college.... sometimes the uncertainties of the future (and my need to control) are so overwhelming, they're all I think about! I'm so glad I've cleared my head since yesterday. Here are a few gentle reminders from the web that helped me pull away from the negativity....

(photos via pinterest)

genius book iphone charging docks!

I can't wait to recharge and sleep this weekend. 4-day weeks have never felt so long (same amount of work, right?). Speaking of recharging, I am smitten with these crafty book iphone charging docks by Rich Neeley Designs. They're a little pricey, but oh so gorgeous. Just pick your favorite cloth-bound title from the pack and you'll be racing home to charge your iphone (I know I would). Here are my favorites in both design & book title...

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

Homer's Odyssey

Shakespeare's Sonnets

Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

Wishlisted!

pretty pouches

Sometimes a girl just needs a pretty little pouch. I'm always losing lipsticks and my work ID whenever I switch bags... life would be so much easier with a pouch to carry it all in. That way, I could transfer the pouch in whatever bag I chose, simple as that. Where's the that was easy button when I need it?

Clockwise from left: 1, 2, 3, 4

marrying design with technology, one blog/site/app at a time

One of the most inspiring things to me is the marriage of art and technology... using digital and design innovation to move people and convey messages. For example, the Dermablend & Zombie Boy video went viral almost immediately and was thought-provoking as well as inexpensive to make -- amazing! One of my daily rituals is scanning the best blogs/websites for inspiration and instruction. Let me walk you through my routine...

1) Check my Pinterest and immediately 'pin' anything that is interesting like new-to-me, clever products and cool photos. No wonder Pinterest is the fastest growing website in history --it's the best place to stalk digital & design influencers! It's totally "ALT" of Control!!


2) Quickly scan through the headlines of Mashable and TechCrunch to read about today's tech landscape (like this illustration by GE at the TechCrunch 2011 Disrupt Conference). Mentally note how the best tech apps & startups that are featured also have aesthetically pleasing interfaces and strong brand values. (Are we even surprised?)


3) If I have 20 minutes, read online lifestyle & design magazines, Matchbook, Lonny, and Rue. The online shelter magazine industry is only a few years old, but it is thriving!

4) Lastly, mobile content really goes a long way. Checking the NYTimes and Twitter on my iphone while waiting for friends at coffee shops or going through their archives on the subway commute from work is just too easy!

I work in brand management, so a part of my job is to hone my aesthetic and taste level and think outside the box on ways to make my product better. But as a consumer, doing my research helps me to become the smartest shopper I can be. Empowering, no?

a small world: paris vs. new york!

Sometimes the world can feel so teeny... and I love it! I just got back from Amy's book launch party for "Paris, My Sweet" at Bosie's Tea Parlor in the West Village. (It was so intimate with just about 30 people and lots of champagne and macarons. I feel so lucky to have been invited!) At the party, I spoke to this super nice gentleman, Amy's friend Vahram Muratyan, whose reputation precedes himself as he just published his new book, Paris vs. New York, which started out as a blog.

Vahram's illustrations have been all over the internet, and it was so serendipitous and awesome to meet the guy behind all the quirky designs. Here are a few of my favorite Paris vs. New York comparisons....

I can't wait to flip through the book and see all 100 of the illustrations!

PS: If you would like to buy a print, you can find them here :)

(photos via paris vs. new york blog)

book club: paris, my sweet!

My dears, whatcha reading? I just finished Amy Thomas's new book "Paris, My Sweet" and it was divine! Amy and I have been blog friends for 2 years, and I have always loved following her foodie experiences on her blogs Sweet Freak and God, I Love Paris... so of course I fell hard for her book -- a memoir on moving from NYC to Paris for a whole new set of adventures, with an emphasis on trying all of the desserts! (The way she describes them is just magic.) Amy was kind enough to answer a few questions for me below. Take a look!

Amy, if you could only use 3 words to describe Paris, what would they be?

Beautiful, inspiring, delicious.

I know this will be hard for you to answer.... but what are your absolute favorite desserts (from NYC or Paris), and from which places? (i.e. macarons at La Duree)

This is always such a difficult (and unfair, Helen!) question. It often depends on the mood and occasion, but some of my favorite sweets in New York are peanut butter cookies at City Bakery and chocolate chip walnut cookies at Levain. The chocolate bread pudding from Dessert Truck is to die for, and dessert at Gramercy Tavern is always otherworldly.

I can’t visit Paris without at least one Nutella crepe. While living there, I also became enamored with the viennoiserie—pain aux raisins, escargots, pain au chocolat—from Du Pain et des Idées, Stohrer and Boulangerie Julien. Speaking of viennoiserie, Pierre Hermé’s Ispahan croissant? Right up there as one of the best things in the world. Jean Paul Hévin’s chocolates and cakes… hot chocolate at Angelina… I could go on forever…

Paris, My Sweet was a delicious read.... will we be seeing more books from you in the future?

I sure hope so! I’m thinking through some ideas now and would love to continue focusing on both sweets and Paris. We’ll see what the next chapter is!

Thanks Amy!

a pop of pink

Happy weekend, lovelies. I'm back in the 'burbs of Philadelphia, visiting friends and family. Today, I took a delicious nap and indulged in a piece of cheesecake and half of a chocolate mousse from Minella's. So happy. I'm also especially drawn to bright pinks today... can't wait to paint my nails in essie's miami nice and watch Pretty in Pink asap! Now here's some pink-spiration coming your way ;)

Live in...

Accessorize with...

Dress up in...

Decorate your walls with...

Pucker up in....

Write your love on...

Cook with...

I think we're ready for Valentine's Day! xoxo

(Photos via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

hair ideas

Ladies, what do you do to your hair? I am half clueless and half extremely lazy. My routine consists of washing my fine hair with volumizing shampoo every morning and blowing it dry - et voila! My roommate swears by Moroccan oil, which makes her thick locks super glossy. Lately, I've been trying to make more of an effort to change things up. Would love to try making waves and experimenting with braids...

This weekend, I'm going to my parents' home in Philadelphia and stealing my mom's curling iron!

(photos via 1, 2, 3)

tangerine tango!

A couple weeks ago, Pantone, the color authority, announced Tangerine Tango as its color of the year, which I LOVE. I'm excited because this gorgeous orangey red is one of my happy colors! (In addition to bright yellow and sky blue.) I was thinking so much about this shade, I just made an inspiration collage to celebrate....

Wear: Kate Spade's Grand Street Kaley bag ($318)

Read: Design Crush at Home by Grace Bonney ($16.99, Amazon)

Accessorize with: essie's clambake nail polish ($8)

Dine with: this soup and sandwich ceramic tray duo ($30)

PS: Some other fun, colorful collages.