...scrunchies...

...yep, they're back!


Back in the 90's, I was a true believer in the scrunchie, and my mother was so kind to keep photographic evidence.

1994 - with my sister & cousin

Now that scrunchies are on trend and socially acceptable, even for New Yorkers, I had to give them a second chance!  I got my first scrunchie in 12 years, from Club Monaco.


Happy #TBT

...almost there...

...three things to get me over the hump of the week.

the sweetest daisy flats 

my signature perfume 

a sunny view on the west side

...instagram...

...probably my favorite social media platform.

Having a nice amount of close friends and family on my feed is great, but also getting some motivation from celebrities (big and small) and Lifestyle Accounts thrown in the middle makes Instagram my go-to social media platform.

See below some of my favorite celebrity & Lifestyle Instagrams.



  1. Allison Williams
  2. Anna Kendrick
  3. Blair Eadie
  4. Target Style 
  5. Kendall Jenner
  6. Katharine McPhee
  7. SoulCycle
  8. Stuart Weitzman
  9. Karlie Kloss
  10. Emma Roberts
  11. New York Times Fashion
  12. Taylor Swift


...bracelets...

...I love accessories, specifically jewelry (don't tell my bags!)

Bracelets have always been a good outlet for my mood of the day, whether it's a million little bracelets, one tiny bracelet, or a leather wrap bracelet.  But as of late, two bracelets have been my go-to for everyday.

The first one I found on the ground in the middle of Tokyo.  Something caught my eye and when I looked closer it was a gold and diamond star and moon bracelet.  It is delicate and perfect to wear with other bracelets.


The second got me through the planning of our wedding and is my general life mantra.  It's a simple gold plated cuff bracelet from Sarah Chloe with "one day at a time" engraved.


Happy Monday!

…splurge or save…

…believe me I love to splurge, but knowing when to invest in an item verses just buying it because it’s popular or on trend, is a secret skill of mine.

This week I kept seeing the most random of all trends, a basic medium-brown suede block heel sandal.  This shoe was super basic, but I kept seeing it all over blogs and social media.  After looking into the mysterious basic shoe, that I was now convinced went with every summer outfit I could possible wear, I found them at two high-end brands.

StuartWeitzman.com


Fashion Jackson

They are sold out!

Cupcakes and Cashmere 

Both brands being way out of my price range for a trendy summer heel, I thought all hope was lost and I was going to have to resort to last summer’s sandals, but then I wandered over to Target's website (to look for a new lamp, of all things)…and bam! There it was, my basic medium-brown suede block heel sandal, and totally in my price range!



...#TBT...

...a passion for photography runs in the family...

 My sister took this over 20 years ago.  Happy #TBT

one of the blizzards of the 90's



my niece, 2012

…Notebooks…

…Not a new addiction of mine, but certainly a favorite.



I know I am not the only one, I love to write things down, not type, a foreign concept these days.  Trust me my phone is just as packed with notes as my notebooks are, but there is something about putting pen to paper, or sketching something with a pencil, that makes me feel like I got my thoughts out of my head and put them somewhere tangible.  


My favorite company for lightweight, soft, and fun notebooks is May Designs.  They have something for everyone, even guys and kids, though admittedly less so for the men.  They add new designs regularly,  along with new interior pages for all holidays and milestones in life.


I have most recently used them for planning my wedding, fitness tracking, yearly calendar, and basic life notes.


**They have a Mother’s Day sale going on now! 

... Pierogies...

...doughy pockets of love, ok that might just be my definition because my pierogies were always made by my grandma (aka Mom-Mom) or my mother.

We made three standard varieties; blueberry, cheese, potato.

Spencer and I ventured into Eastern European Cooking over the weekend.  My contribution to the meal was my first attempt at making our family recipe for pierogies.


Lis, Dohn, Cody, Hill Family Pierogie Receipt: 
**as told to my mom by my mom-mom
  • 2.5 cups flour
  • 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons boiling water
  • 1 tsp. vegetable oil 

Place flour in a large bowl.  Add water and oil slowly, stirring constantly with fork until mixture is crumbly.  Let stand until cool.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until soft and smooth.

Cover dough with the bowl.  Let stand 15 minutes.

Divide dough in half keeping the other half covered with the bowl.  Then shape into a roll about 12 inches long.  Cut into 12 pieces (may be a little less than 12 depending on how you cut them).

Roll each piece on lightly floured surface to 5 – 6 inch round.   Repeat with remaining dough.

Fill and seal.  When sealing the dumpling wet one side so they stick. 

Drop dumplings 3 – 4 at a time in large saucepan of boiling salted water.   Add a little oil to the water so they don’t stick.  Stir gently so dumplings do not stick to pan.   Cook 3 – 5 minutes.  Remove with slotted spoon.  Place in serving dish 
 Place melted butter over them.


Cheese Filling:
Combine chunk style cottage cheese (large curd) ¾ lb. with ¼ large size cream cheese (softened) and ½ large egg or one medium egg, salt & pepper.

Blueberry Filling:
Fresh blueberries with a small amount of sugar.   Too much sugar and they will be too juicy inside.






*Lis - My Great Grandmother's Married Name
*Dohn - My Grandmother's Married Name
*Cody - My Mother's Married Name
*Hill - My Married Name

...Caviar...

...being such a homebody, but loving to dining out, I enjoy finding ways to bring the "dining-out" experience home.

Caviar always felt elevated and a challenge to do ourselves, but with some planning and a quick trip to Whole Foods, we were able to make our apartment feel like a Michelin starred restaurant.

Type of Caviar: Ossetra

Traditional Accoutrements: 
  • Crème Fraîche
  • Egg Whites
  • Egg Yokes
  • Red Onion
  • Chives
  • Blini


Experimental Accoutrements:
  • Grape Fruit Wedges
  • Sour Dough Toast Points


**and always with Champagne

...Fall...

...is my favorite season.  It's full of warm food, cozy sweaters, and changing colors.



...Thought Catalog...

.. This is one of my new favorite websites!  Thought Catalog

 

I just turned 26 years old, and well let's just say I was less than thrilled.   Heading into my "Mid to Late Twenties" was never something I was looking forward to.  Luckily I pretty much have my life in order, as well as possible that is, but I don’t know what I want to be doing in 5 years, let alone 10-20 years from now.  On a random surf session I stumbled on this article and suddenly felt a sense of comradely.  Other people were feeling the same way that I was and understood the stage in my life I had now entered.  Oh! and the article is Hilarious!!!


Here are some of my other favorite articles! 

26 Struggles That Never Existed Before Instagram

24 Things We Unexpectedly Become Obsessed With In Our Late 20s


...THIS scarf...

... so trying to get all fit and healthy for my upcoming wedding (only 9 months to go), and today I got a Lulu Lemon email for their new fall line, logically I had to check it out! Every girl needs accessories for all life activities, including working out!

While looking through the Lulu Lemon website, I stumbled across this awesome scarf!  It's call the Vinyasa Scarf and it comes in a few colors.




But the thing that really sold me on this scarf was all the ways that you can wear it!!! See below! 


...one day at a time...

...is my new motto!



I find myself worrying that if I accomplish my goals for today, that I MAY fail tomorrow.  Key word in that sentence is MAY. I might not reach my goals tomorrow, resulting in ruining everything I have done today.  

Truth is I probably talk myself out of doing well today, by convincing myself that I will fail tomorrow. 


So, my new goal is to take each day as it comes, one day at a time.  

...May Designs....

...So, I have always loved Journals.  I would get lost in Barnes & Nobles for hours, and always right before I checked out, I would find a new journal or notebook that I HAD TO HAVE (normally with a matching pen or bookmark)!








Right now I am crazy for May Designs.  I asked my Bridesmaids to be in my wedding with a notebook from May Designs and I am getting healthy and in shape with their Calorie + Exercise Journal. 

You can customize the front of the book with your text and color selection, as well as pick from a LONG list of interior page options!

May Designs is definitely one of my go-to gifts, always guaranteed to bright up any desk!


P.S. They have customizable Stationary, Invites, & Note Cards.