Oct 10th 2012 09:21:49 am

getting pumped for… The Nike Women’s Half Marathon on Sunday! Travis and I are traveling to San Francisco on Friday with Team in Training where we will meet up with Chelsea. Chelsea is running her first full marathon. Travis is cheering. And I am planning to just enjoy the half marathon course and receive my Tiffany necklace at the finish line! Yes!

eating… wood fired brick oven pizza from Toby’s Public House. (I actually just visited this South Slope restaurant for the first time last night, but it was delicious and casual and cool. Must go back soon.)

watching… an obscene amount of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I am working my way through the series and am already on Season 3. I sort of hate it. Too many Cardassians and Ferengi. But I press on.

wishing for… new fall shoes! So many great styles, so few affordable prices!

still processing… The Grey. So much less wolf punching and so much more traumatic death and sadness than I was expecting.

thinking about… the next steps… in running, Swap-bot, life…

::

What are you up to as fall descends?

3 Comments » Categories: Brooklyn, Currently, Movies, running, Shoes, Television

Jan 26th 2012 02:22:12 pm

So, Pantone (the authority on color standards) announced that the color of 2012 is tangerine tango. Tangerine tango is a reddish orange and it is basically my least favorite color. BUT, in an effort to be more adventurous and open-minded, I thought I’d entertain the possibility of maybe growing to like the vibrant hue.

I searched around for a few acceptable uses of tangerine tango in fashion:

Kate Spade wedges | Tory Burch clutch | J. Crew necklace

I don’t know… I’m still not sure I can pull off a deep, bright orange… even in accessories. How about you?

Will you incorporate tangerine tango into your wardrobe?

No Comments » Categories: Accessories, design, Fashion, Shoes

Jan 25th 2012 06:02:18 pm

I’ve already written a lot about my trip to Alt Summit last week (you can read even more about it here), but I still had to share this photo of me and author, Margaret Atwood, that was taken in Park City on Saturday.

By the end of the day on Friday I was exhausted. After being totally “on” for two and half days of conference going, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to follow through with my plans to head up to Park City on early Saturday morning… but man, am I glad I did! The road trip up the mountain to the home of the Sundance Film Festival was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.

I stumbled on Margaret Atwood signing books at Dolly’s Bookstore on Park City’s main street. I was sort of blown away. The Handmaid’s Tale is one of my very favorite books — a futuristic story with a strong, central, female character long before the days of The Hunger Games — and I plan to read ALL of her fiction. So, I purchased The Blind Assassin and got in line to have it signed. Atwood was lovely and kind and didn’t even seem too annoyed when I asked for a photo. I am impressed by her seemingly grueling speaking and promotional schedule. She was in Park City because her non-fiction book, Payback, had been adapted into a film being premiered at Sundance.

Sundance proved to be an art adventure in more ways than one. I did indeed see a film (which I hope to write about in its own devoted post) and I also ran into this Banksy mural on the side of an ice cream shop…

Very cool. I was told that Bansky made the art while he was in Park City for Sundance when his film Exit Through the Gift Shop premiered in 2010. The store owner put the protective glass and metal bars around the piece after poachers tried to steal it. I think Banksy is trying to say something about how documentary filmakers make an adverse impact even when they are trying to be helpful… what do you think?

Oh, and did I mention that the whole time we were wandering up and down Park City’s main street, it was pouring snow? It was basically a blizzard and apparently the highways had to be closed later in the evening! I was stomping through mounds of snow and trying not to fall on my face in front of movie stars and paparazzi. (BTW: the only stars, besides Atwood, that I saw were Will.I.Am and Robin Weigert, from Deadwood.) Thankfully, I was wearing two items that made the snowy trek totally possible: my No.6 store clog boots and my Brooklyn Industries puffy coat. Both performed wonderfully! I recommend them.

Also, I posed with a moose:

3 Comments » Categories: Art, Books, Shoes, Trips

Oct 2nd 2011 07:08:07 pm

Running is difficult. SO difficult. I am training for a marathon, but no, I will NOT qualify for Boston. Not even close. People like to ask that…

I know that I sound like I am just being self-deprecating or silly when I say this, but I am terrible at running. Truly. I am slow. It is painful. I am often feeling discouraged.

BUT… I am not terrible at facing a challenge. I will always be grateful to running for showing me that — allowing me to know that I am strong, without a doubt.

I ran my longest run of the training season yesterday. 18 miles. It is the longest run I will complete before the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th. It was 3.5 hours of moving my legs across pavement. It was difficult, and tiring, and painful… and exhilarating, and encouraging, and a little fun.

Endurance running isn’t complicated. Just get some good shoes, eat enough fuel, and drink enough water. The rest is just staying mentally strong and enduring pain. I don’t like the pain, but I like the challenge. I like knowing that I can be fatigued and in pain and keep going. (I should add, even though it isn’t complicated, endurance running shouldn’t be jumped into… I have been working my way up to these long distances for over a year.)

Here I am yesterday at an earlier stage of the run, feeling quite enthusiastic:

Travis and I are training for our marathon with Team In Training. It is a wonderful organization and we are all raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. If you’d liek to donate, check out our fundraising page.

3 Comments » Categories: Health, running, Shoes, Team In Training

Aug 25th 2011 12:02:10 pm

I work from home. I have been doing it full time for over two years. I know that many home workers recommend setting a strict schedule, waking up early, showering, and getting dressed and prepared the same as you would for an office job. I choose to do the opposite.

One of the luxuries of working for yourself is setting your own schedule, so I do. I wake up a little after Travis, do some house chores, then get right to the computer and start working. I don’t get dressed up in business clothes in order to sit at my computer all day alone. I am usually wearing workout clothes or jeans. Due to this very lenient dress code and my year-long marathon training adventure, the majority of my recent clothing budget has been spent at Lululemon.

I am fine with my casual wardrobe. It means I don’t have to do a lot of ironing or spend a bunch on dry cleaning. But this fall things may need to change a bit. I have a number of professional events coming up that will require some nicer outfits. Because I dress professionally so infrequently, it wouldn’t be smart to invest in trends. I need just a few quality, basic pieces that I can pack for conferences or wear to networking events.

One of my goals is to look like Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) from Covert Affairs. I’ve only seen two episode of the show, but she always looks professional, yet hip and pretty. Plus, as far as celebrities go, I think Perabo is a reasonable equivalent to my coloring and (goal) body shape.

These photos of her aren’t very impressive (they are all I could find online), but her outfits are always basic, but with just a tiny bit of style (like a colored blouse or belt, or cool jacket) and great shoes. Annie Walker was my inspiration for this set of J.Crew basics I wrote about for Ace recently:

Very plain, but slightly updated with the cropped trousers and silk blouse. I think I could pull off any of these pieces and mix and match them with what I already have in endless ways. Practical!

A huge trend for fall is leopard print. I am usually not an animal print girl, but I am trying to be open minded. I put together this collection of possible leopard accent items for a post on Ace:

So, as you can see, I have been doing my research, and last weekend, I put it to the test. Travis kindly accompanied me on a shopping trip with the goal of getting a few nice outfits that I could wear to the upcoming BlogHer Handmade conference. I focused most of my shopping energy on J.Crew and I found a few key pieces that I absolutely love!

The NY Times style section listed their five things you need for fall. Here are my suggestions:

• High-waisted skinny jean – These jeans sound like the most unflatterning thing ever — skinny & high wasted? sounds terrible — and I never would have bought them if I hadn’t tried them on and been blown away. My legs look nothing like the girl in this photo, but these jeans are amazingly flattering and comfortable! They look great with a tucked in shirt and heels. I am pretty sure I am going to be wearing them every day, plus they can be dressed up for casual business attire.
• Café capri in wool – These were the pants that I set out originally to get. I was not sure if they would be flattering on me, but I was thrilled when they looked great and I didn’t even have to go up a size! These pants end at the ankle, so they are great for showing off cute shoes.
• Blythe blouse in silk – Everywhere you look this season you’ll find silk blouses, and there is no way anyone could go wrong with a classic white one. I love this shirt. So pretty and it goes with everything. I love it tucked into the jeans, with a jacket, or under a sweater. I think I should have bought multiple, but I’m just not that smart.
• Pia calf hair pumps – I went a little out of my mind and bought these leopard pumps. They are way outside my comfort zone, style-wise, but they just look so fantastic! Great with jeans and skirts and trousers. Since my entire wardrobe is so basic, these pumps are my one item of flair!
• Skinny leather belt – Belting at the waist is still right on trend. Lady-like silhouettes are in for fall and a nipped in waist helps achieve the look. More adventurous dressers will go with a flashier style, but I am sticking to a basic brown belt with everything.

Such basic pieces, but I am a basic girl. I’ll add some flair with some jewelry or a jacket and pair the pants with tops I already own. Lady-like and refined is the goal.

What are your suggestions or top picks for your fall wardrobe?

—–

FYI: I know that I am a bore for sticking with J.Crew, but it is just so easy! If you visit the Soho store, ask for Caitlin. She is one of the personal shoppers there and she is amazing. She helped me with sizes and was the one who suggested the high wasted jeans. I never considered myself as someone who would utilize a personal shopper, but she was very helpful (and her services are free).

6 Comments » Categories: Clothes, Fashion, Misc, Shoes

Apr 12th 2011 10:27:35 am

• Writing… about my dislike of spammy SEO for the Ace Gazette. (Also, we are hosting a live chat about living a life of entrepreneurism tomorrow, Wednesday, April 13th, from 7-8 pm EST. You must be an Ace member to join in and we’d love to have you, so come on over and sign up!)
• Reading… this Vanity Fair piece about economic inequality in America: “The top 1 percent have the best houses, the best educations, the best doctors, and the best lifestyles, but there is one thing that money doesn’t seem to have bought: an understanding that their fate is bound up with how the other 99 percent live.”
• Searching… for shoes to wear to a certain wedding in a few weeks.
• Hosting… the second annual April Stash Bust swap on Swap-bot. Come join us and reduce your craft clutter by swapping some of your stash!

What have you been up to?

2 Comments » Categories: Ace Department, Currently, Shoes, Swap-bot, Thinking

Feb 27th 2011 10:19:51 am

It has been a busy week (what’s new) and I am feeling under the weather, so I decided to have some fun today compiling some of my ideas and fantasies for my spring wardrobe…

• sailor stripe tank
• versatile maxi dress
• easy-going cardigan
• rolled-up jeans
• Chloe “Erine” sunglasses
• sweet & simple earrings
• long gold necklace
• Fabric & Handle tote bag
• gold bangle bracelets
• Matta fringe scarf
• gold sandal/shoes – these particular beauties from BHLDN must be mine!
• sparkly gold & topaz ring
• denim jacket – mine is from middle school and it is worn in to perfection. hint: never wash it!
• Converse Jack Purcells – I think I must disclose that as an attendee of the FABB conference, I was given a pair of these classic sneakers for free! score!

Why is it that even in my fashion fantasies, all my clothing is casual? I guess this would be the REAL fantasy… my Oscar gown by Jason Wu!

3 Comments » Categories: Accessories, Clothes, Fashion, Just for Fun, Lovely Things, Shoes

Feb 3rd 2011 07:47:41 pm

I just ordered these shoes on a super sale and I am absolutely convinced they are THE perfect shoes for the winter-to-spring transition. (J.Crew has a similar pair here, and so does Madewell, but I got mine for a lot less…) They seem really casual, but they are actually quite flattering with just enough heel to give some lift, but not more than is comfortable. They look good with skinny jeans, rolled up or tucked in. But that is where my spring plan suddenly stops…. Shoes – check. Jeans – check. Any other clothing – no idea.

I feel like I have lost all fashion sense. Not that I had a ton to begin with, but I walked through some stores yesterday and couldn’t find anything that I liked beyond jeans and white t-shirts. I need some ideas. What pieces should I try for spring? What are you wearing once we can take off our winter coats for a minute? Keep in mind, I can’t spend a ton and everything I buy has to be pretty flexible and practical. I work from home, so I don’t need anything fancy, but I want to at least attempt to look pulled together. I just don’t know where to start this season….

2 Comments » Categories: Clothes, Fashion, Shoes

Jan 13th 2011 05:52:54 pm

My father tried to install the value of minimalism in me, so I usually feel guilty when I get caught up in the commercial frenzy that is the holidays. Between my guilt over owning too much unnecessary junk and my fear of feeling of buyer’s remorse — not to mention the need to save money — I try to avoid going overboard in the shopping department. This holiday season was an exception. In addition to finding lots of gifts, I also managed to find a couple of items for myself. Thankfully, many of them exceeded my expectations.

Four holiday splurges that were totally worth it:

• Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara - Mascara is something you need to replace fairly regularly, but I always have such a hard time finding (and then remembering) a kind that I like. I decided to give this Givenchy mascara a try because of the strange brush and a recommendation from the sales woman. It was slightly more pricey than other brands, but it turns out that I love the brush! The actual mascara formula is great too, not too thick and it doesn’t smudge. (FYI: I do usually follow with a second coat of another mascara with a normal brush.)
• Benefit Poisetint – My friend, Lauren, recommended this cheek tint. I’ve used the darker Benetint before, but it can be hard to blend. This lighter pink color is perfect. Subtle and easy to use. I kind of hate blush because it is so hard to make it look natural, but this tint never looks over-done.
• No6 Store Lace Up Shearling Leather Boot – Have I told you about my boots? My goodness, I love these shoes. I’d seen these boots on some fashionable ladies and knew I loved them, but it took some searching to find them. They are made by Swedish clog maker called, Sven, but this specific boot style is only sold at one store in Soho. I tracked them down just before we went on our holiday trip and I have been wearing them every since. They are lined in shearling, so they are totally warm. Plus, they are treated to withstand the elements. The price of these boots is definitely higher than I normally spend, but I have been more than happy with them and would recommend them to anyone looking for comfortable and cute winter boots.
• Mischa Lampert hat – This hat was something I had seen and couldn’t stop thinking about, but in the end, it was an impulse buy. I was out shopping and just went a little crazy and bought it at Kisan. It is a super-simple knit hat, but I just love how funky and chunky it is. The wool is hand-dyed, hand-spun, and knit by the artist here in NY. I get compliments on it every time I where it and it is wonderfully warm.

I love when I don’t waste my money!! I also love getting good recommendations from friends. Are there any splurges you recently made that have totally been worth it?

1 Comment » Categories: Accessories, Fashion, Favorites, Feeling Happy, Make-up & Beauty, Shoes

Oct 6th 2010 05:21:47 pm

I am in a mood. And not a good one. Negativity has been getting under my skin today and I needed a distraction, or seven. So, I am watching the Wendy Williams show and compiling all the fun & frivolous things in my life… Enjoy

1. As soon as I work up the courage, I am going to the DVF store and buying myself a classic, black, wrap dress. I need adult clothes!
2. And, I think these shoes would look cool with the new LBD.
3. Yep, we are going to the rally! I can’t wait.
4. Candy Corn shower gel is admittedly a little weird, but so Halloween-y! I do love candy.
5. The majority of my earrings were stolen from my suitcase during my flight home from Florida over the summer – boo! – and I am trying to re-build my collection. I just bought these gorgeous hoops from the BabetteWorld Etsy shop.
6. My new favorite blog: Bake It in a Cake. It is all about cupcakes with crazy fillings, like marzipan rainbows (seen above) and mini pumpkin pies!
7. This isn’t really frivolous, but it should be fun: I’m running the Staten Island Half Marathon on Sunday. (That is the course map you see above.) It will be my first time on the Island!

Please help me out. Leave more happy distractions in the comments. Anything fun, silly, cute, funny, or pretty will do!

10 Comments » Categories: Accessories, Clothes, Just for Fun, Lovely Things, Shoes