I found love. And it only cost me $35.

Remember when I was all starry-eyed smitten over the "reasonable" $78 price tag of my Abercrombie jeans? 

So. over. it. Zara swooped in and stole my heart, selling these perfect-fitting skinny jeans in a variety of colors for $35. You heard me correctly. $35! That's TWO pairs for the price of the Abercrombie Erin's and FOUR to SIX pairs for the many fancy brands I've foolishly spent too much on in the past. And they are so comfortable. They almost feel like leggings. Almost. I've already snatched up the green and red, and I'm debating going back for the black and blue.

*Note: for those looking to order online, they run true to size!

I don't mean to intimidate all of you with my hyper-technical photography skills (and if you follow me on Twitter, you've already seen these), but here are a few shots of me loving on my bright and beautiful pants. Color-blocking might be the most fun thing ever.

Oh, and what's that about those super sweet leopard loafers I'm sporting in the photo on the right? We're just in the middle of a torrid affair. No big deal. Aren't they loverly?

Long story short... as we all know, I blogged about the leopard loafer style a couple weeks ago. Tried on the Cole Haan version in Bloomingdale's while I was in New York. Left the store empty-handed. Thought about them. Talked about them. Dreamt about them. Low and behold, black Friday rears its beautiful head. Turns out they're 20% off with free shipping at Cole Haan's website. Damn you, sales! You get me every time! They should be arriving this week. Happy dance.

Ok, and the shopping freeze starts... NOW.

The Case of the Missing Headboard

I've been wanting to invest in a headboard for quite some time now. I've found quite a few styles I like, but at the end of the day, I can't seem to commit. Do I go with a splash of color (blush pink! yellow! blue!) or stick with something safe and neutral? Is tufted upholstery on its way out? Is wood going to be super uncomfortable to lean against? What do I do with the photos currently hanging above my bed? All questions that remain unanswered.

Then I saw these two beauuuutiful tiny nuggets of a room and my world was turned upside down. Bedrooms that look perfectly perfect despite not having a proper bed frame and headboard finishing off the space? How is that possible? I've realized it comes down to the petite size of the space and the uber luxe linens (Porthault hearts) and accents (helloooo, blue chandelier) drawing your eye away from the missing headboard.

So now I'm wondering... do I even need one? It's a small room, and the bed is framed nicely by the art and the bedside lamps. Sure the linens are West Elm and Anthropologie, and the lamps are a JCPenny bargain. But they do the trick. And the large Euro shams kind of act like a headboard. Do I invest in a third to really fill the space?

Help!

Nesting

Cozy fireplaces, busy kitchens, flavorful spices, knit stockings, camel-colored cashmere...

it's about that time of year again. Out come the mittens, the scarves, and the warmest coats. Planned are the holiday parties, the family dinners, and the New Year's dates. Wrapped are the presents, and up goes the tree. Hibernation kicks in as the chilling temperatures prevent us from frequent trips outdoors. But there's something magical and warm about this nesting season. Something that brings people together... more game nights, movie nights, and homemade dinners in. We put my mom's tree up Friday morning and I found myself wanting to stay nestled on her couch all weekend, with the fire crackling and the tree glowing. Perfectly content in the simplicity of being at home. Warm and loved.

Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Happy Thanksgiving!

...from my family to yours!

LCY in NYC: Fashion in the Park

coat (similar style) | sweater | pants | shoes (similar style)
sunglasses | necklace | bracelet (similar style) | gloves

pants | shoes | sunglasses | gloves

So this is what happens when there are only two people on a trip together. You get a lot of individual shots and you kind of look like you were traveling by yourself. Oh well, we had a fun day in Central Park, snapping photos in the beautiful fall weather while we made our way to a photo shoot on the Upper West Side. This was my first official attempt at color-blocking thanks to my spankin' new green skinny jeans I picked up at the Zara on 5th Avenue. With the $35 price tag, bright hue, and comfy stretch, I was sold. In fact, I plan on getting them in red, as well! And with Danielle's out-of-this-world orange coat, we looked like a couple of rainbow skittles running around Manhattan. It was wonderous.

Friday will be the last installment of NYC photos, so make sure to come back after you get your fill of Thanksgiving delights!

LCY in NYC: Cafe Cluny & Pastis

Friday night out in the Big Apple. I put my girl Danielle back on the subway (officially her second time on the rickety train) and we ventured downtown, arriving in the West Village around 6pm.

The original plan was to mosey around, pop in and out of shops, and snap some perty photos before our 8pm dinner reservation. But after twenty minutes or so, our toes were frozen in our ballet flats and the soft glow from the French corner bistro, Cafe Cluny, tempted us. So in we went and lattes we sipped. It was delightful.

Cafe Cluny

284 W 12th St 

New York, NY 10014

212.255.6900

Shortly thereafter, we ventured over to the cobble-stoned Meatpacking District where we'd be enjoying dinner at what is officially my favorite spot in New York City. Pastis. Last time I was in town I ate there twice, and it was the first reservation I made when planning this trip. I have an addiction.

Pastis

9 9th Avenue 

New York, NY 10014-1203

212.929.4844

We showed up to the crowded restaurant an hour early, but fortunately snagged two stools at the subway-tiled and mirrored bar. White wine helped us pass the time until the rest of our party arrived, and we sat to dine. I had my favorite steak sandwich with Gruyere cheese, and split an order of the onion soup with Danielle. Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better, I look up and who do I see? Ryan Reynolds. I stared at the handsome face intently to make sure, but yes. Yes, it was Ryan Reynolds tucked into his fitted leather jacket and newsboy cap, placing a to-go order with the hostess while keeping his face downward. I can only assume the order was for him and Blake, who was lazily sitting at home waiting for her meal. After all, look at the size of the to-go bag. I was giddy and speechless and giggling all at the same time. I've only seen a handful of celebrities in my life, and most at a distance. But if I had to choose one to see a few feet in front of me, Ryan Reynolds is that choice.

Long story short: I love French restaurants. Go to Pastis next time you're in New York. I'm now craving that steak sandwich. And Ryan Reynolds is handsome.

View more photos from the night at Danielle's blog, Breakfast at Toast!

LCY in NYC: To ABC Carpet & Home and Back!

Where to begin! I FINALLY made it to ABC Carpet and Home. And it is just as overwhelming and amazing as you'd expect. The six-floor mecca of interior design and home goods kept Danielle and I busy for hours last Wednesday when we arrived in New York. Nothing impressed me as much as the collection of Aquasilk rugs we were presented with when we stepped off the elevator on the sixth floor. I couldn't help but stop and laugh, it was that great. The colors and sizes of these hand-woven beauties were unlike anything I've ever seen. Even the famously beautiful Madeline Weinrib showroom couldn't quite compare to the dramatic Aquasilk pieces. Saturated pinks, yellows, and turquoises layered one on top of the other, with steep price tags ranging from $5,000 up to $30,000 (at least that was the highest one I saw - wouldn't be surprised if it went up from that). Still, it was pretty fantastic seeing Weinrib's black and white Endless rug that is captured on her homepage up close and personal.

A few other items of note:
1. Loved seeing the Tom Dixon copper globe pendants in person! They are large and in charge.
2. Oh, how I wanted those blush pink porcelain plates... especially loved them paired with the charcoal grey version of the same style. Alas, $40 for a salad plate just wasn't in the cards.
3. Until the day when my dining room table is surrounded by a collection of Wegner wishbone chairs, anytime I see one, I will sit in it and have my photo taken. That's love.

While there, we also dined at ABC Kitchen, an entirely organic offering of sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, and entrees. I had the portobello sandwich and Danielle had the margherita pizza. Both were delish. As were the fries. The place settings were simple and charming, a combination of rustic white pottery and vintage-looking gold-rimmed china. The best part was that all of the plates, linens, and furniture in the restaurant are available for sale in the store. I'd definitely recommend enjoying a meal there, but be sure to make a reservation at least a few weeks in advance. We got there right when it opened so we were able to get a walk-in table, but within 20 minutes the entire restaurant was full.

The remainder of the day was spent walking through the city in the rain, popping in and out of some of our favorite shops picking up new goodies. You can read all about that on last Friday's post!And you can view more photos from ABC over on Danielle's blog.

Have any of you been to ABC Carpet and Home? What was your favorite part of the store?

*Note: All of the super pretty photos were taken by Danielle. The others are from my iPhone.