this week's favorites...

you can never go wrong with woody allen. 

probably the best rom com, in my opinion that is.

 could always use a little maria.

can easily watch this every night, no joke.

you can never go wrong with audrey's beautiful smile.

For the past few weeks now I've been really  missing living in the city especially since I recently found out I will be visiting Manhattan in just a couple months. So in anticipation, last night I put on my favorite romcoms based in Manhattan - Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. What are you favorite New York romcoms? I hope everyone has a fun-filled weekend, I'm headed to L.A. since I didn't make it last weekend! 

Leather Jackets

On the hunt for a leather jacket.

Paint Something

For the past month now I have been in a crafty mood. I've wanting to learn to knit scarves, leg-warmers, mittens, and now I'm on this painting kick. I think it all started during my freshman year of college. When I was looking for electives to fill my schedule I decided I'd try out an art history class. Let me tell you people, thinking it would be somewhat of an easy classs, Art History was honestly one of the hardest classes I took while in school. And silly me decided why not take more, turns out I was two credits short of receving a minor in Art History. So the other day I bought an extra large canvas at Michaels and for just a few hours channeled my inner Lee Krasner/Helen Frankenthaler, as I flung paint on to the canvas. I've got to say, it felt great!

Just Dance

From the time I was three years old and enrolled in dance classes, you couldn't stop me from dancing. I have taken everything from ballet to tap classes, every jazz class imaginable, lyrical, modern dance, acrobatics, even a little ballroom dance, I've done it all. Since the dance program at the college I attended was a popular and pretty good program, I took just about everything they had to offer to keep me moving through college. Now that I've been out of school and in the working world I definitley miss it. So I'm excited to say after seven months of not moving my derriere, I'm ready to get back into it and am thrilled to be taking a jazz class. Enroll in a local dance class this month and try it out!

Weekend Wrap Up

A weekend of grad school research, grocery shopping, picking up my favorite magazines form the local bookstore, babysitting animals, bedroom updates, book club meet ups, joining a few local organizations, swimming laps and running around the neighborhood. How was your weekend?

Read More

Become better acquainted with your public library. 

I believe I may be the last person who still checks out books from the library! Plus there's always really great local events, mixers and tons more going on through the libraries.  

Are You A Hat Person?

Are you a hat person? I'll admit every so often when I try wear one out I feel kind of ridiculous, I get the feeling I don't look so good in hats. A few of my absolute favorites include a fedora I found in a shop in Soho for ten bucks, my panama hat from J.Crew and this all black hat from Zara.

(Image via Making Magique)

Get Organized

When it comes to work, schooling and arranging clothes I am an organization freak; but when it comse to basic things like keys and cell-phones its like a game of hide and seek, in which it takes me fifteen minutes to find. I am constantly misplacing important things like my keys, phone and my ID (due to changing wallets between my big purses and clutches), major problem when youre headed out the door for anything! I finally went out and bought an adorable tray and organizer from Home Goods and placed it near the front door and somehow I've managed to routinely put them on the tray. Yay to no more tantrams when I can't find my keys.   I don't know about you but I hate putting away my big coats in my closest in my bedroom, they take up a lot of space. So I found the cutest coat rack/umbrella holder at TJ Maxx and a rustic picket fence wall hanger that I also keep by the front door, so I can just grab it on my way out.

Today-organize a small space in your home that definitely needs tending too!

(Image via Refinery 29)

this week's favorites...

 rustic gold tea set ring, i can't stop wearing.

 rabbit lamps, perfume and candles.

kate spade tote i cart everywhere. 

 an obsession with vintage pillows.

twig hearts and old chalk boards turned pin-board.

Happy Friday, I hope you all had a great first week into the new year.

(images via instagram)

Write A Note

I am all about hand written letters!

31 Day Challenge

I am very excited to share a new and different approach to the new year (that my friend and I shared one evening over dinner a few months ago) and I hope you take part in this 31 day challenge along with me to maybe rediscover yourself or find something you're passionate about.

Towards the end of the year I was trying to figure out what my resolution was going to be for the new year and even though I could have come up with a million things, my friend and I decided let's scrap the resolution idea (except for those who you can actually stick to their plan kudos to you!!!) and focus on what makes YOU happy. So we compiled a list of things we had never done and wanted to try, things we're too scared to do but would not necessarily try, etc etc. So instead of coming up with a list of exercise routines, better foods to eat, or telling you to buy that dress you can't actually fit into and tell yourself this will be your motivation to lose the weight (I'm so guilty of doing this), we have some really fun, simple ideas for each day.  

Fresh Start, Take Two or Three...

Six way to a healthier and better you.

1. Become aware of your breath. Meditation is really a great thing, even if you only have a few minutes. During the work day, I allow myself five to seven minutes to close my eyes and focus on my breath. I usually do this the last ten minutes of my break and by then I'm ready to get back to work.

2. Pay closer attention to what you eat. When you give a plant water or feed your animal, you're providing them with the best nutrition so they live a long healthy life. So why don't we have this same mentality when it comes to feeding ourselves? Eat on a regular basis and be a litte picky, choose slower to digest whole grains and lighter meats.

3. Just move it. When talking with friends, significant others and family about dieting and exercising, I often find that the immediate reaction is "what exercise, I don't want to exercise".  We fixate on this word and turn it into this negative thing. Any physical movement is better than nothing, so if that means walking around the colsdsac for ten minutes, walking your dogs, or cleaning the house, it all helps!

4. Sleep is key. There's nothing more healthy than getting the right amount of sleep, even if your one of those people who can survive on very little sleep. You should be sleeping seven hours at night, seven and half to eight is really choice. I'll be the first to say I look forward to getting in my covers at night and when my alarm goes off at six the next morning, I'm awake and ready for the day to start.

5. Think about it. Often times what we think we're craving doesn't always produce the feeling we're hoping for. So the next time you think you're craving a candy bar, are you really satisfied after eating it, usually or not. So think twice!

6.Self-forgiveness. Instead of avoiding feelings of anger, stress or disappointment because of mistakes we've made or from falling into bad habits, let yourself listen and achkowledge those feelings, even journal them if it helps. If you continue to put them aside, you'll end up having a melt down (this is happens to me on somewhat of a regular basis) or taking it out on someone else. Remember the ultimate goal and figure out how to get back on track. You're your own best friend.