weekend recap

We did our have ourselves one festive little NYC weekend.  Here's what we were up to...

First of all, thanks for all the birthday wishes from everyone! I'm thinking that 29 will be good to me. Birthdays are always good for Miss Mayo, though. She gets a Sprinkles doggie cupcake for her birthday, Al's birthday, and my birthday.

Al was away Wednesday and Thursday so we celebrated my birthday Friday night. Usually I opt for a fancy dinner somewhere, but this year I wanted something low key and "cool". We settled on the duck dinner at Decoy - the small space tucked underneath Red Farm in the West Village. The place only seats 25 or so and serves mostly one thing - a peking duck dinner served with pancakes and fixings + fried rice and your choice of two small plates. We were STUFFED. And had a great time chatting with the bartender and eating lots and lots of duck. 

^^ Made us stop in front of this festive little street corner for a photo on the way to dinner.

Saturday I was up early running errands and wrapping gifts in anticipation of my holiday gift exchange with my girlfriends (aka "The Rubies"). It's not a party without my homemade cinnamon rolls. 

After what might have been the worst attempt at getting across town ever - I ran into the million man march AND drunk Santas for Stantacon while walking six avenues because all the streets were shut down, I made it to the party! Our secret santa gift exchange theme this year was "odd, but useful" which proved to be a challenging yet very very good theme! I got a tangle teaser and a cute journal. I gifted a strawberry corer and this fun mug. I think the best though was these grilled cheese toaster bags (!!!!).

The girls were so sweet and got me Momofuku Milk Bar cake truffles for my birthday! I forgot how fun it is to blow out candles!

A painful cab ride home (more protestors, even drunker Santas) and a quick outfit change and Al and I were off to Lincoln Center for The Nutcracker. We've gone the past five years with the same group of friends - it's such a fun tradition and even the guys don't seem to mind spending two hours at the ballet (we promise them copious amounts of food and drink post-show). There really is nothing like witnessing George Balanchine's beautiful version in the gorgeous setting that is Lincoln Center. Goosebumps.

Sunday was full of holiday fun at home.  I baked a TON of pfeffernusse cookies (little German anise flavored cookies) to give out to our neighbors and my team at work. I joked on instagram that no one knows what pfeffernusse are except for my family. Turns out there are a few others out there who know of them. I have such fond memories of my mom making them every holiday season and I took such delight in having that familiar smell fill our apartment. Although, I'm pretty sure my mom is the master, mine never turn out as well as hers. 

^^ All wrapped up and ready for gifting. Cellophane bags and butchers twine are a MUST for holiday baking.

Meanwhile (and because I made quite a mess while baking), we decided to open my Christmas gift from Al a few days early. Yes, that's correct - Al got me a vacuum for Christmas. So romantic! In his defense, I really really really wanted this and it does make me love him more - no more dog hair on my floors! Lily had to scope out her new frenemy, the Roomba. We had to let it charge overnight so they haven't had their first encounter yet, but I'm sure it will be momentous. She hates our stand-up vacuum, I can't imagine this one won't freak her out any less.

And to end things on a truly random note, I lost my new Armani lip stain on Friday night (the one I mentioned here). In a jam, I grabbed something from Duane Reade on Saturday and I'm in love! And it was $10 and not $30! Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain in color "Seduce". Stayed on my lips all day long and didn't dry them out. I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!

And that's it! Ending this post with a lip gloss rant. My high school English teacher would dock me points for having no conclusion. Hope your weekend was filled with holiday fun and ruby red lips! ;) 

T-minus five days until we're back home in Kansas with a week off of work! Woop!

friday finds

Happy Friday! I thought for awhile we'd never make it. One of those weeks, you know? Looking forward to a casual weekend at home before we head off on our vacation next Thursday (more on that next week). And want to get out and enjoy this beautiful (cool) weather we're having. 

Wishing you a weekend that makes you feel good. Finds from this week below ↓. 

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Made me laugh. Did you watch the trailer? Are you going to see the movie?

I agree with 75% of these. Especially the turkey meatloaf! (People are getting pretty defensive in the comments though. Funny.)

A great trick for picky eaters (and loved the podcast that inspired it).

Finally one of those Buzz Feed slide-y things about something important.

Gasp! A shortage of Kale!? At least we have our good friend, the quesarito to stand in while they sort this out. :) 

YES. Travel is good for the soul.

A helpful tip for making these.

What beautiful paintings.

Hoping to make this for Sunday supper with some shrimp on top. I'm crushing hard on coconut milk right now.

Did you see my new favorite beauty buys?

Loving this home's decor.

Squeal! Makes me so happy.

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Enjoy the weekend, friends. You deserve it.

{image source}

new beauty buys

I found myself at Sephora the other evening gobbling up a ton of new products I had read about (and pinned).  I immediately went home and tried them all out and later, when Face Timing with my mom, she remarked at how nice my eye makeup looked. I started raving rambling about why the new products I got work so well and that's when I knew I had to tell y'all too. 

Here are five new buys I'm so glad I bought (which cannot be said for all late-night, hangry Sephora purchases). 

1 // Anastasia Brow Genius Kit - I've been growing my eyebrows out for the past month and it's been brutal, let me tell you. But now that I'm starting to get the fuller shape I want, I have some patches that need filling in. This kit has everything all in one little box. A pigmented waterproof gel and complimentary brush, plus a waterproof sealer to keep those pesky hairs in their place. Can't say enough great things about it. The brush especially makes applying the gel easy and gives a natural look. $24

2 // Benefit "They're Real!" Push-Up Liner - I've had my eye on this liner ever since it came out about a month ago. Testing it out in the store was the final selling point after reading such great things about it. I literally played with it for a good five minutes! The applicator tip is firm, but flexible, allowing it to slide nicely along your lash line. It's not a magic marker/pen like some liquid liners. It's a gel. It's like combining those tubs of gel eyeliner with the ease of a pen. I'm hooked. Oh, and did I mention it doesn't budge? $24

3 // BeautyBlender - I feel like I see this little egg-shaped sponge in every beauty blog and magazine. Before it, I applied my liquid foundation with a stippling brush, and while I still like the coverage the brush gives me, I was seeing brush marks around my nose and eyes. BeautyBlender to the rescue! It's pointed tip is perfect for smoothing out those hard to reach areas. I find I like using it best with my under eye concealer as keeps the make up on top of, and not in between, those little wrinkles. Okay, I see why this is written about everywhere. I'm a believer now. $20

4 // Benefit "They're Real!" Mascara - I'll be honest, I thought I wasn't going to like this mascara. But I was sold by what the packaging claims it would do - volumize, lengthen, curl, lift, and separate. And, always a sucker for a display, it was right next to the They're Real Push-Up Liner, so I thought I'd give it a try too. I'm usually not a fan of these spiky kind of brushes, but this one really does a good job of separating my lashes while still giving volume. My lashes do look better! See, this is why you should fall for in-store advertising people! $23

5 // OPI Nail Lacquer in "Privacy Please" - My new go-to neutral pink. It's pinker than most natural colors and less sheer. It's enough color to feel like it's worth getting a manicure (how annoying is when you pay $15 for a manicure that looks like you didn't get your nails painted?). I get a ton of compliments on it and it will definitely be on my digits all year round. Future brides - this color is perfect for your big day. $10

I always try to make these beauty posts short and then find myself writing long paragraphs about each product. But it is stuff you NEED to know! If I'm going to spend $23 dollars one a one beauty product, it better work. Right? I do it all for you guys. Rose Record tested and approved. Go forth and purchase!

friday finds

via

↑ Ha! But really though, how in the WORLD is it July 18? I feel like it should be oh, April something. But that means it'd still be rainy and cold here. So I guess I'll take July 18 even though I have no idea how we got here so quickly. But enough rambling! It's Friday! Woop! We have NO plans! None. After 4th of July and then visitors last weekend, we need a few days to catch up on life stuff. I already have a 25 point to do list for the weekend that includes everything from editing photos to cleaning out Al's closet to washing my makeup brushes. The sad part? I'm excited for it.  You know things have been hectic when you look forward to a to do list on a Saturday.

Wishing you a productive weekend. My favorite finds from the web this week are below. ↓

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Interesting read:  the rise of Instagram.

Amazing.

Cute swim suit alert (and finally, a reasonable price!) - fun fact. I ordered this. And accidentally shipped it to my mother's house...in Kansas.

My first reaction when I saw this -"ohhhhh yeah!". Yes, I ogle could soup.

Because I'm still not over Frozen (and probably never will be).

We're familiar with this.

I cried at this commercial. For real. Well done, Nike. 

Oh la la, Birch Box has a shop and it's real pretty.

Got my first fall jitters from seeing this.

Well this sucks.

I want to get this (seriously) after reading this. Awful! "People who engage in an hour of moderate-intensity exercise –running is considered vigorous exercise–fare much worse. They lose 16 percent of their workout gain from each hour of sitting."

Leighton Meester's spot-on op ed. You go Blair Leighton!

So true. Especially #9 and #10 for us.

Al sent this to me. I can't imagine why ;)  (but really, do you wanna get a flatbread?). 

YES!

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Have a good one loves!

P.S.  I spent the morning helping out my friends at PureWow shoot a segment about white jeans for Good Day New York. Check it out here. So much fun! And go check out PureWow's 30 ways to wear white jeans for more styling tips. 

weekend recap

And we're back! I needed an extra day yesterday to finish editing the photos I took and coming down from what was one of the best weddings of all time. It was one of those weddings where you were overcome with happiness and love watching two really good people marry each other. So much fun at the #duvows.  Here are a few photos...

Early morning flight to Omaha on Friday. Little different scenery, no?

Got to Omaha with a few hours to spare before meeting the gals for a bridal luncheon. Al was pumped because our hotel was right across from The College World Series that was going on. So he watched baseball and I lunched (and took no photos - gasp!).

A few hours later, it was time for the rehearsal!

And the rehearsal dinner. See that faint rainbow? I think it was good luck. Aside from the torrential downpour and thunderstorm late that night, the rest of the weekend was beautiful and everything went off without a hitch.

Wedding day!  The beautiful bride getting all dolled up. She looked STUNNING.

Meanwhile, this is what I looked out of the hair and makeup chair. Frightening! Thankfully, the woman later combed out the curls. It was touch and go there for awhile. ;) 

But back to the bride. What a knock out. And she still looked like herself, which is always nice for a bride to look like herself. And that dress? Oh I loved her dress. It had a hand-made lace bolero that she wore for the ceremony. For the rehearsal, it came off and a jeweled Kate Middleton-esque belt was added. Beyond amazing.

And they're married! So happy!

Some of the details. They used their "logo" on everything from coozies to the welcome bags to the programs. Loved the consistency. And the flowers were beautiful! My bouquet even had some rosemary in it. Thumbs up.

At the reception venue - an old train station in Omaha. It is pretty impressive. Old school architecture, art deco painted ceilings, and beautiful windows. Look at all that beautiful light! Also, yay America! (C&M live in Singapore, btw.)

The sparkle continued on the table. Gold chargers and candelabras twinkled in the space. And even more windows in the dinner location for some more of that incredible light. Speaking of light, they got married on the summer solstice - the longest day of the year. So the light stayed immaculate long into the night. 

First dance.

And time to party! So Michael, the groom plays guitar (very well, I might add). You may recall some of our sing-a-longs from when they lived in New York. Michael and his brother sang a few songs and the band would NOT let them get off stage. Like nothing I've seen before at a wedding. So. Much. Fun.

And then, all of the sudden, it was over. But first, we took a selfie (and in my summer solstice headband that they gave out - loved that touch). 

A flight home, a Taco Bell dinner (you knew I would right?), and some #duvows withdrawals later and things were back to normal.

What an incredible wedding. Two insanely fun, loving, caring, and talented people (from two amazing families, I'll add) coming together forever. Now if we could just get them back to New York, I'll be happy... :) So much love C&M. So much.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! How is June almost over?!

how to: pack for the park

New Yorkers have a little secret when it comes to spending the day in one of the many parks the city has to offer. The secret is that we're master packers. We don't lug huge wagons full of coolers or wrangle giant wicker picnic baskets (although if we did, I'd get this pretty one.). The emphasis is on packing the park essentials into one bag so that you can easily go from subway to park to errands to rooftop drinks. No bulky blankets here; the ultimate New Yorker knows that a bed sheet is the best picnic blanket - light to carry, easy to wash, and you can buy a single flat sheet for cheap! Here are some of the other essentials we pack when we spend a day at the park.

Tote → It's got to be large enough to hold your supplies, but pretty enough to travel around the city with you. Rainbow chevron seems to do the trick nicely (rats, it's now sold out at J.Crew. This striped one is a nice alternative.)

Blanket → A flat bed sheet (preference for polka dots) is your best friend here. Large enough to seat several adults and dogs. And thin enough to fold up into a tight little square and toss in your tote.

Reading Material → On my list for this summer: endless back issues of Cooking Light that my mom brought me, the new Porter magazine, and Molly Wizenberg's new book.

Tunes → This iphone speaker is made of silicone so you don't have to worry about breaking it. No batteries required.

Water Supply → For humans (with an insert you can freeze to keep your water cool!). And for pooches (folds up flat!).

Dog Tether → We just ordered this easy screw in tether for Lily. Now we don't have to hold on to her leash while we picnic, but she's still safe and secure near our spot.

Sun Protection → Ain't no wrinkles on this face! This is the only sunscreen I like. It doesn't feel greasy and goes on evenly. And it's quick, which means less embarrassment for Al when I spray it all over his face. ☺

Eye Protection → These are the latest pair of shades that I'm coveting. Everyone looks cooler in aviators, right? Especially polarized lenses with beautiful gold rims.

Snacks → There are few places I go without snacks. The park is not one of them. You can quickly lose cash on dirty water hot dogs and pretzels if you're not prepared. We're still loving our Nature Box goodies. We toss a few in our bag on our way out the door.

And THAT's how you picnic like a pro!

weekend recap

Annnnnnd we're back. Oh hello, Monday. I didn't miss you one bit. Too make up for it, we packed in as much fun into our weekend as possible. Enough to get us through this five day work week.  Here's a recap via photos...

Friday night we went on a long walk and grabbed some take out. We were about ten minutes too early to witness Manhattanhenge. I wasn't about to wait for it though, I was hangry.

Saturday morning we switched things up and walked north, rather than south along the Hudson. Beautiful views and walking paths. 

Stopped at Pier i Cafe for lunch. Great location right on the water. French fries for the frenchie.

Al stopped to relive his glory days.

And we walked all the way home through a few sun showers and Times Square. Remind me to never go there again. So many people shuffling around with no clue where they're going. It's fine to go see Times Square, I guess. But to attempt to walk through it? Not so much.

We ended up walking over four and a half miles! Lily was out for the night after that, so Al and I cleaned up and went out for an early dinner to one of our favorite spots, Osteria Morini. They had a white negroni - a negroni bianco - on the menu. Delish and a nice lighter take on the classic. Perfect for summer. (Side note: I'm all about the silk pants this summer. It's like wearing jammies in public! Mine are this pair). 

After dinner, we met up with my girlfriends for a few drinks. Love these gals so much. (Should we be alarmed that my arms can stretch the length of two people? #stretcharmstrong)

^^ this is what happens when you don't use a flash and try to lighten it after the fact.

Sunday started with some serious snugs...

...followed by a trip to the spa. I try to get in for a triple oxygen facial at Bliss twice a year. It makes my skin glow. I feel like I look fresher and less tired. Highly recommend.

The rest of Sunday was comprised of chores, errands, a trip to the park, and cooking up a yummy supper of turkey burgers with smoky aioli, caprese orzo salad, and roasted sweet potatoes. We had enough food for at least six people. I guess Al knows what he'll be taking for lunch this week!

Who says turkey burgers can't be delicious?

Made a Lily-sized patty for our child. To me, this is normal. Al seemed to think it a bit insane.

And to round out the feasting, some Tate's + Talenti sandwiches (just like these, but used Talenti Gelato instead). Two of my favorites merged into one perfect creation.

Amazing weekend with my little family. Oh and just for kicks - this is how we sleep. Al took this in the middle of the night when he couldn't sleep. Lily thinks she's human.

Hope you had a great weekend, too! Here's to surviving this week!