Shoe Doctor To The Rescue!

Yesterday was a sad day.

A very, very. very sad day.

This happened...

After five year, the heel of my Mary Janes broke.

The "urban shoe myth" was no more.

Or so I thought.

After work, I stopped by my local shoe guy on 7th Avenue to pick up some shoes I dropped off last week. I showed the "shoe doctor" my Mary Janes...

"We can fix this," he assured me. "It will take a few weeks. But we can do it. I can have them for you on April 12th."

It is a sign. As that is my birthday.

So it actually turned out to be a great day.

Fan Fair: My CLOTHES Stuff.

Another peak into what I love and use every day...  Here is the Fan Fair around my clothing and style.

JEANS
I prefer Ravens... But haven't bought a new pair in a while. I also love Paige.


WATCH
Gosh. I don't really wear a watch, other than my Marc Jacobs one. But I totally dream of some day buying (or receiving as a gift) a Chanel J12 Chromatic watch.

SNEAKERS
I don't wear sneakers - except to the gym. But the ones I wear are New Balance. And they cost $93. That's all I really know about them.

T-SHIRT
J. Crew.

DAY DRESS
I don't own it... But am thinking about buying it. It's the Diane vonFurstenburg Silk Color Block dress.

DAY BAG
For work days, it's Balenciaga Work or Weekender... Depending on whether or not I am hitting Bikram afterwards.

For the weekend, it's usually Balenciaga Day Bag or a Marc Jacobs hobo bag I bought 7 years ago.

EVENING BAG
Jessica Hunt black clutch, which I procured at a sample sale in Toronto almost three years ago.

ACCESSORY
As I've mentioned before, I am a sucker for Anthropologie jewelry.  Also a sucker for Marc by Marc Jacobs jewelry. But my favorite piece lately is the Anthropologie piece I bought last weekend.

I wore it the past week a few times.

Fingers crossed it doesn't break on me anytime soon.

FAVORITE DESIGNER
When it comes to stuff I actually wear, it's Vince and Joie. I own bit of both, and it's obscene. They're so comfortable.

SHOES
About two years ago, I discovered the Morse flat by Jimmy Choo. I fell in love and ended up buying 4 pairs, in different colors, over the next year. They're great for work.  I've had a few of them re-cobbled. because I wear them so much.

Short List Of Reasons To Live: March 25, 2012.

This week has been a blur. I was so incredibly busy. I also had two business parties this week that I went to. The first - for my work - was cool. It was just too crowded. The "Mad Men" one I went to only got a 20-minute appearance from me. I was just exhausted.

This week will be busy too. But more manageable. Hopefully fewer meetings...  So I can spend my work hours getting stuff done.  For this week, though, here is my Short List of Reasons to Live...

• Game of Thrones.  Next Sunday night. 9pm. In Toronto. I will be watching.
• Birthday & Vacation. Less than three weeks till I turn 35 and go on vacation to the Turks & Caicos. I can't wait.  I find the idea of hitting my mid-30s to be exciting. And spending a week on the beach, hopefully not wired in much, sounds ideal.  I doubt that it will happen though - the "not being wired in" bit. Those who know me find that idea laughable.  The last time I went on vacation to the beach, I started a yoga website. (Which I fully intend to get back to.)
• Human's Birthday. The Husband's birthday is this week. It falls exactly two weeks before mine.  (Just like my maternal grandparents, whose birthdays fall exactly two weeks apart. Also, coincidentally, The Husband shares the same name as my maternal grandfather. And my grandmother and I have flower names.)
• Two Nieces Are Coming. Sometime in the next three to four weeks, I will likely have two nieces born. One in Arizona. The other in Australia. As an aunt who prioritizes style, I have already procured fashionable dresses from the DVF Baby Gap line for them. I just have to get around to shipping them. They're not the typical baby clothes crap. They're awesome.
• Toronto. This week will be my last trip to Toronto for a few months, as when I come back from the Turks and Caicos, I have to renew my passport. I'm looking forward to not having to travel up there for a few months, and being able to stay in NYC consistently. I may even try to do a 30-day yoga challenge with the consistent location base I will have.

Prada & Louis - Eww My!

Dear Trendy People,

I kindly request that you quit trying to make the following Spring shoes work.

I loathe both of these. Not sure what exactly I have against the Prada flames...  As the quirkier the shoe, the more I appreciate it. These, though, they just bug me.

But the Louis Vuitton mules? Ugh. I hate mules. Both the animal and the shoe.

I am over seeing these in magazines this Spring.  Every time I see them, God turns another man sterile.

Let's keep these off the street.  And out of the editorials.

Merci.

XOXO,
The Missus

Spring In NYC.

Walking home this early evening from an afternoon of wandering about...  Captured this sight on my street.

It's Spring in NYC. Really. Truly.

Seems like Mother Nature's early birthday present to me this year is the chance to have more Spring than usual.

Consider me grateful.  And blessed.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Best Kale Smoothie Recipe.

I was recently inspired by the TED video to start eating more kale.

But while I love the taste of kale (no lie - I do), it is high maintenance to eat as much as really should. So the best way to get it in is through a morning smoothie.

"Green Smoothies" are a total "thing" lately. That's because people have finally caught on (me included) that they don't taste like they look. I prefer kale in mine over spinach simply because I think kale has more nutritional value.

Here is mine from this morning...

Looks total "sketch," right?

But it's total "yum." Oh! And VEGAN!

Ingredients:
2 handfuls of chopped kale
1 banana
5 little cubes of frozen pineapple
4 frozen strawberries
8 ounces coconut water (I prefer Zico)

You just blend till smooth and chug!

Short List Of Reasons To Live: March 18, 2012.

I did not do everything I said I would yesterday.  I did not go to yoga or take myself out for Mexican food on St. Patrick's Day.

Why?

Well, first, it was far too gorgeous outside to be inside doing yoga. Once Summer hits, I won't feel that way on most sunny days. But it has provided me with some perspective. I need to practice first thing in the morning on the weekends, rather than wait till the afternoon. Because I am going to want to take advantage of Summer in the city. Just like I did yesterday.

And I didn't do Mexican food because I woud up craving Italian. Maybe next weekend?

Anyway... Here is this week's list of Short Reasons to Live:

• HUNGER GAMES! Finally!  I am ready for the arena! I have promised a friend I would go see it with her the Wednesday after it is released. But I fully intend to see it before then too.  I have a feeling I will see this at least three times in theaters.
• Turks & Caicos. I have less than a month till I leave for vacation. The beach! And not the loud, noisy, people-polluted beaches from here in the States... It's a nice, quiet, private beach. One where I will easily be able to get a chair with an umbrella, and can just sleep and read all day.
• Spring Is Here! Or rather, will be on Tuesday. But let's be real... We've been super spoiled here in NYC with all the Spring-like weather we have been having lately... So it already is Spring.
• Mad Men. Swoon! Time to get out our martini shakers and candy cigarettes (as smoking is a dirty habit no one should be doing), and get ready for the season premiere of Mad Men on Sunday night! It's been 17 months... Since I was away at Bikram Yoga Teacher Training... That we last had a new episode of Mad Men. That is far too long to go for some Draper.
• Martini Party. Speaking of "Mad Men"... I have an invite to a Mad Men-inspired party on Thursday night. Haven't decided yet if I will dress in era-appropriate costume... Though I would LOVE to "Don" (hee-hee) a three-piece suit, and dress like a fella of the era. Maybe just a fedora, though?

Till next week!

Fan Fair: My BEAUTY Stuff.

Continuing on my Vanity Fair-inspired series, "Fan Fair," below the details around my Beauty preferences.

LIPSTICK
Tom Ford True Coral

MASCARA
Dior Show Iconic in Black.

MOISTURIZER
Fresh Soy Cream

HAIR PRODUCT
The Ouidad hair comb. It is AMAZING for wavy-haired girls like me. Gets the knots out! I use it in the shower while I have the conditioner working.

PERFUME
Jo Malone Wild Bluebell, Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia, Jo Malone Vanilla Anise, Marc Jacob Daisy

TOOTHPASTE
Usually Crest. But I am not loyal to any toothpaste brand. My only requirement is that it be ADA-approved.

SOAP
Jo Malone Wild  Bluebell Shower Gel

NAIL POLISH COLOR
I lean towards steely grey colors lately. I was obsessed with Chanel's Black Pearl from last Spring.

BEST FORM OF EXERCISE
Bikram Yoga

WHERE I GET MY HAIR CUT
Still exploring. But I have revisited a place I used to get it cut at in the city 11 years ago, Soon Beauty Lab. There's a new location of it just around the corner from my apartment.

URBAN INDULGENCE
Blowouts at DryBar.

A Fox & Captain America.

The Husband was telling me this evening about something he sees every day on his way to work.

At approximately 8:45am every day, he stands at a bust stop on Davenport in Toronto.  While he waits for the bus to come by, he sees a child walk by on his way to school wearing a fox hood.  The fox ears droop a little, and the kid is about six years old. So The Husband deems this okay.

"That's awesome," I told him. "This is why you need an iPhone... So you can snap a picture and send it to me."

"Well," he said to me, "It doesn't top the 'Captain America' outfit with the iPad... But it comes close."

That's when I realized... I never shared this with y'all (just posted it on Facebook)...

This was from my trip to Asia last Summer. I was flying from Hong Kong to Phuket. This kid was in the First Class line boarding the plane. (Lucky bastard.) They let him on the plane wearing it.

Super awesome. And it made me wonder, "Would I let my kid wear this while traveling?"

My answer to that: Hell no.

Because my father was in the military, I did my fair share of traveling as a child.  There were a few trips between the States and West Germany back then. And we were properly dressed on those flights. And we didn't mess around either. We behaved. my parents wouldn't have tolerated less.

So this "Captain America" shit? Yeah... That wouldn't have flown with my parents. (Pun intended.)

But I agree with The Husband. This was an awesome "real life" capture.

Advice Request: Removing Labels From Silk.

I occasionally get a request for advice from a reader.  While I was out enjoying the bitch-tastic-ness that is Chelsea (without my mobile, as documenting would be too much fun and scandalous) a passerby on this blog wrote in needing some assistance.

I received three scarves as gifts at Christmas.  All are silk.  The labels are sewn in tightly, and I'm afraid to try to remove them.  Any advice you could give me?  I would like to wear one next Friday, March 23.

I totally feel you, choupette (French for "Sweetie").  I, too, want to get dolled up for opening night of The Hunger Games. (And no, I shit you not. I kick it up to "11" when I am psyched about movies.)

Silk scarves are luxurious and chic. Whoever gave them to you as presents probably thinks highly of your fashion taste.  Or, maybe they don't, and wanted you to step things up. But I am willing to bet it is the former in this instance. In which case, I completely understand your seeking advice on how to remove the labels.

With even my chicest scarves (like this one The Husband bought me for my birthday last year), I remove the labels. And how do I do it?

With one of these.

A seam ripper.

My barely cultured ass learned back in Beginner's Home Economics (Yes, I took this course in 7th grade. If you grew up where I did too, you would know this equated to enormous excitement... We didn't really have a lot going on there...) that the safest way to remove labels (and seams you gone and done up wrong) was with one of these.

You can find it at Walgreens. Or Duane Reade. Or Walmart.

Very easy to use. You just take the pointy end and GENTLY ease it under a section of the stitch holding the label in place.  You GENTLY loosen the stitch.  You GENTLY pull it till it undoes itself and breaks, or that you can cut it.  You then move onto the next stitch, being GENTLE! (Think of it as "losing your virginity," honey. Okay?)  Eventually, you should be able to GENTLY remove the stitches by just tugging.

It's actually quite easy.  Just don't be too quick.

Hope this helps!

The "Best" Time Of Your Life.

I was at dinner the other night, chatting about youth. Not the millennials out there today, but rather the youthful days gone by of the people at the table.

I wasn't the oldest at the table. And certainly not the youngest. But some from each group chatted about how the best days of their lives were high school and college. And how they would totally go and do it all over again if they could.  They weren't saying that their lives now are awful or anything like that... Just that they had so much fun in their youth, and would absolutely do it all over again if they could.

My reaction was, "WTF? Really?"

I had a good childhood. I am very happy when I look back on high school. And by the time I got to university, I was anxious to start my independent life and "feel" like an adult. So I look back on all that and feel happy and blessed.

But to call them the "best times of my life?" Hell no. And here's why.

If I carried that attitude of, "Man! That was such an awesome time! I wish I could go back and do it again!" it would suggest that what I am doing now "ain't the shiz." 

And no matter what, people, whatever you are doing now should be in effort to make this moment the time in your life you want to be living. Other wise, what's the point of living?

It's always the journey that matters the most, not so much the landing we call "the destination." 

We have a habit of not realizing that when we make happiness about "the destination," we tend to land on it and look back and think... "Wow. That was awesome. Wish I could be there again, in that moment."

Thus, you are living in the past.. And not realizing that the happiness you felt was actually in the journey. And that you can have that feeling again. It's called, "Live in this moment and appreciate what you have done. Now take one step forward and continue on your journey."

My husband, Human, would tell you I am always on a journey. In fact, I think he would probably tell you it annoys him a wee bit how vocal I am about my journey.

"Just do it. Live. You don't have to try to make a battle with everyone around you about how you feel like you aren't living. No one is stopping you. Duh."

Okay, I added the last word. His polished Canadian Queen's English (meaning he speaks properly and never uses the word "eh") would never utter the word. "Duh." But his sentiment is what's important. No one sets your limits but you. And if what you want to be happy, go do something that makes you happy.

Enjoy your journey. Bid each passing day with a blessing of gratefulness. Start each new day's journey with the intention of happiness and not living in the past.

And recognize that this is still an awesome song...

Do You Like "White Girl Problems"?

I think you should.

"White Girl Problems" is a blog by Babe Walker. I only discovered her this past weekend. And I am in awe.

Girlfriend is the snarkiest betch that ever traveled through the birth canal to grace this planet and humankind with her presence.

And I have nothing but mad love and respect for a woman who opens her mouth (or Macbook) and what is channeled out is succinct, bitchy, sarcastic and divine.

In fact, I found her words to be vastly superior than most blogs out there (in your face Dooce - you SUCK!) 

Babe Walker (pseudonym) is a mid-20s girl about LA who was birthed from money and a BelAir lifestyle. She runs with a Hollywood crowd. She is style. She is an artist. She is shallow. She is awesome.  

She even has a book, which I only downloaded yesterday morning and am almost through.

Read the blog. Follow her on Twitter. Download the book. 

Even if she isn't a real person... This is very enjoyable writing.

Only Lame People Succumb To "Bad Hair Days."

People... Please.

You will never ever hear me say, "Ack! I'm having a bad hair day."

Trust me, many days have gone by wear my hair looks like complete and utter shit to other people.  But I would rather wear it with pride than result to wearing this...

Just say "No" to turbans.

They will never be chic.

If you find yourself having a "Bad Hair Day," simply pull into a high bun on the top of your head... And throw some sunnies over your hair like a head band.

Oh... And get some giant and awesome earrings on your lobes, STAT!  Distract from the disaster that is your hair.

But never, ever, ever result in wearing a turban.

Early Birthday Gift.

My birthday isn't until next month, but The Husband's birthday gift for me has arrived early.

Only milestone birthdays (like number 35!) warrant significant gifts...

And the surprise doesn't stop with the pretty box...

They're HOT PINK!

Thank God Spring is more or less here.  I want to wear these NOW!

"High Maintenance Betch."

That is totally what I am becoming. No joke! For the third week in a row, I have gone back to the Drybar for a morning blowout.

This is becoming worse than my Starbucks habit. Before you know it, the Drybar will evolve their phone app to go beyond booking appointments to being able to actually pay for your appointments with it!

Technology is making it far, far too easy to live a "high main" lifestyle in this city.  I have evolved in the six months I have lived here.  Maybe not for the better, in terms of personality... But I could argue for the "chicer."

Even my shoes are "high main" today!

Short List Of Reasons To Live: March 12, 2012.

I just wrapped up five days with The Husband here in NYC. He was sick with a cough. So it made him slightly less fun than usual.  But he was a trooper and got out with me a little.  I was so preoccupied with his pending visit (code: I needed to spend all last Sunday cleaning the apartment) that I failed to write my Short List last weekend.

Shameful.

But when you fail at something, all you can do is pick up again and keep trying.  So here's this week's Short List of Reasons to Live...

• I turn 35 exactly a month from today. THIS SHIZ JUST GOT REAL!  I have really enjoyed my 30s so far.  And I'm certainly not one of those people who gets all, "Oh god! I'm getting so old! I am in my 30s!" Bitch, please. My 30s have been way more awesome than my 20s ever could have been. And it's mostly because I could really care less about what others think. Make no mistake, I am not a mean person or randomly rude to people. No. No. I respect the opinions of others around me, because they're human beings and deserve to be heard. But I don't let their opinions sway me if my mind is set. And it took me quite a long time to get to that level of comfort with my life. So 35 is going to be awesome.
• It's Pi Day on Wednesday.  It also happens to be my Mum's b-day. I should have thought ahead and sent her a pie.
• St. Patrick's Day is on Saturday. Being half Irish, you may find it surprising that I could really give a shiz about this day. I don't believe in standing in long lines to get into a pub to drink beer. So instead, I will go to a Bikram class (taught by a chap named "Patrick")... Then shower and take myself out to dinner.  In homage of the other 50% of my ethnicity (Mexican), I will go to Rosa Mexicano for dinner.  By myself. Unless someone wants to go with me. I leave the invite open.
• Massage next Sunday.  Knowing that waits at the end of my week will get me through the next seven days.
• Two weeks till Hunger Games. Gosh! Before I see The Husband next, I will have seen the Hunger Games! Probably twice, because I do things like that!

Till next week!

Genius Travel Style.

Browsing through the "Small Leather Goods" section on the Balenciaga site in the hopes of finding a wallet I would like to buy myself for my birthday next month failed me.

I can't choose between all the styles and colors available.


So I started browsing though the other sections, till I found myself in the "Travel" section... And saw this...

The Balenciaga Carry On Top.

Perfect for traveling. It measures close to my Balenciaga Work bag, which I travel with sometimes. I am not crazy about the color, as I prefer bright colors. But it's a great idea. And I am sure they will make it other colors at some point.

One of the best parts of the bag...

The wide horizontal strap on the back!

It's there so that you can loop it around the retractable handle on your carry on suitcase.

GENIUS!

Too expensive for me to buy myself. But they'll sucker me in if they make it other colors.

Fan Fair: My HOME Stuff.

One of my absolute favorite parts of Vanity Fair magazine is the "My Stuff" section in the "Fan Fair" feature of the magazine.

It's the part of the magazine where they interview some public figure about their style. There are no elaborate responses.  Just straight-forward and simple answers. (This past month's featured person was Sophia Coppola.  LOVE!)

The feature takes up an entire page of editorial. It's kinda long. But it gives you a sense of what they dig. And I am using it for myself.  But I am breaking it apart.  This post will be about my HOME taste.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
New York City (Chelsea) and Toronto (Yorkville)

FAVORITE ARTIST?
No idea. I've never had a chance to really cultivate my artistic preferences. But I LOVE John Derian's decoupage pieces... And own about nine pieces.

SHEETS?
West Elm and Martha Stewart Every Day from Kmart in 2001. Not glamourous... I know. I have yet to also cultivate a taste for high thread counts. Sheets seem to last a long time for me. I take care of them.

LUGGAGE?
My favorite all-time piece was the McQueen Rib Cage luggage I bough three years ago. But I wore that out after only two years. It wasn't really meant to travel as much as it did.  So now I use a Tumi carry-on and a Balenciaga Weekender bag. I ONLY carry-on. If it doesn't fit in the carry-on and the bag, it doesn't come with me.

CHINA?
In Toronto, it's Bernadaud Louvre.  I haven't bought proper china for the NYC place.  So it's a mix of West Elm pieces. I do have an Hermes teacup that I drink espresso out of every morning though. I would love an entire set of that. But it would require shelling out a lot of money.

COFFEE MAKER?
I transported my Nespresso Citiz machine from Toronto down here to NYC when I relocated full time, as The Husband doesn't drink coffee. I keep a french press in the house in Toronto.  But there's a great espresso shop across the street from my house. So I often just pop over there since it's only 20 feet away.

I do have to confess, though, that I go to Starbucks a lot and have really enjoyed using the Starbucks App on my iPhone. So I consider any Starbucks shop my "coffee maker" as well.

STATIONARY?
Umm... Gmail?  I tried using pretty stationary a few years back. But the art of regular hand-written notes fails me.

FLOWERS?
Peonies. Followed by carnations.  Followed by tulips.  Always in only one color. Never any fillers. Just the flowers.

FAVORITE GADGET?
iPhone/iPad. Probably iPhone just over iPad... As it really changed my life. Hard to believe the iPhone has only been around for almost 5 years... And I've only been using one for almost 3 years. That device CHANGED MY LIFE. I am completely an impatient person now.

One of my employers tried giving me a Blackberry.  I never used it though. I just used my personal iPhone. I can't work with inferior technology that doesn't do anything but email and serve as a phone. I NEVER EVEN TALK ON THE PHONE. Tweet me. Facebook me. Text me. Email me.  Heck! Even send me a message through Words with Friends!

FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT?
In Toronto, Sotto Sotto on Avenue Road. Here in NYC? I have no idea. There are too many good ones. I guess if I had to choose, it would be Lasagna's in Chelsea.  It's a block away from my apartment... And it is a second version of the first one in the 50s on 2nd Avenue.  That one was where The Husband and I used to eat dinner every other weekend back when we met here and were first dating. Plus, it's SUPER CHEAP.  Even 11 years later!

FAVORITVE DRINK?
Eek! Um... Not much of a drinker. But it would have to be a Pinot  Noir. Preferably from Oregon.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Not much of a "dessert" person. But probably some kind of chocolate cake or brownie WITH NUTS. And it has to be warm. Warm and with nuts. (That's what she said!)

FAVORITE SNACK?
It used to be Cheez-Its. But that was only because I was living in Canada and couldn't get them. Now, I guess it would be Saltines with Franks Hot Sauce. Random, I know.

I'm Married. But I Live Alone. And I Like It.

Ouch!

That title reads a little "disrespectful" (probably) to my husband.  But I think he and I would disagree with anyone who thought so.  Maybe not him a few months ago... But today? I think he would tell you...

"I love The Missus. And she definitely feels the same. Our life is a little eclectic right now. But she's happy and well cared for. And every day she makes sure I am well cared for too. Even if we are hundreds of miles and a whole country apart most of the time."

Or perhaps I am delusional and think that is what he would tell you.  But anyway...  This isn't what I was going to write about in this post. I was going to write about all the stories I keep reading about the "awesomeness" of living alone.

And it is awesome. In my point of view.

I would say 80% of the time, The Husband and I live alone. He up in our townhouse in downtown Toronto.  Me in an apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC. This started almost exactly six months ago (SIX MONTHS, ALREADY???), and has been going very well.

Why does it work for us?  Well, I think it is because of the following:

• We both enjoy working. (And unfortunately, I haven't been able to have the kind of career I wanted in Canada. I tried for 2.5 years. Wasn't working for me.) And we work a lot. A LOT.
• We don't have children. (And have no interest in them.)
• We don't have pets. (Though we would LOVE a dog.)
• We have been together 11 years, and married almost 8.
• We have always put priority on having lives that intersected, but also had independent lives. (I travel with my friends. He has his weekends away with his friends.) This has allowed us to feel like the time we actually set aside for each other (like Date Nights) feel more significant, and not "forced."
• He just gets me.  And though we were young when we met, he was the only guy to ever really understand me.

I'm not a "girlie-girl." (Well, maybe with shoes and some stuff.) But I have always been adamant about having my own life and not being dependent on him. (Side note: I have NO PROBLEM with women/men who are dependent on their spouses. I've just always known that kind of dependency was a challenge for me... And wasn't ever gonna happen. At least so far. Who knows what the future will bring.) And me wanting to push myself in my own life is something he has always supported.  Even when it meant challenging himself to be "okay" with it.

Which brings me back to the whole "living alone" bit. It is awesome.

I wake up each morning... I shoot him an email wishing him well for the day. We email once or twice during the work day. After work, I go to yoga. He goes to the gym.  I come home, I eat dinner. At about 9:30pm each night, we Skype for about an hour.  And that hour we spend chatting is far more attentive and rich than the hour and a half (maybe) we would see each other at night when we both lived in Toronto.

I don't feel rushed in the morning. I sleep well at night.  The place stays as clean as I want it to stay. It's nice to have just my energy in the space... Not being overwhelmed by the energy of someone else all the time. The Husband is just thrilled to see how much happier I am day-to-day. And when we are in the same city, it's the happiest he's seen me in longer than he can remember.

Do I think this will work for us long-term? I think it could. But I really don't see us living apart for years on end, most of the time. I see us both living in the States together full time. That is years off, as The Husband loves his job... Which is based in Toronto. And he understood it was important for me to have that as well.

I don't do well in shadows.  And I'm lucky he gets that.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Jewelry.

I never wore jewelry much in my younger days. And lately I have developed a taste for the beautiful - but often poorly-crafted - stuff from Anthropologie.  But I also have a guilty pleasure that you might think is way more extravagant than it actually is...

Marc by Marc Jacobs costume jewelry.

There aren't many Marc by Marc stores in the country. I had one in Boston. I missed it while living in Toronto.  But being back in NYC, I am in heaven again. And once a season I head down to Bleeker Street to take a peek.

Today was one of those days.

I found a few things I fell in love with immediately, and was surprised that The Husband (who was with me) actually liked the pieces too.

Now I have a nice little collection...

New Today:

• Leopard-silk gold fabric bangles
• Plastic pink leopard large bangle
• Silver faux-snake bangles
• Star necklace
• Wish bone necklace

Already in Collection:

• Red leather skull cuff
• Silver bone bangles

All in, this collection is worth less than $70.  Most pieces cost around $7-$8. The red leather skull cuff I picked up for $1 in Boston five years ago.

If you live near a Marc by Marc boutique, check it out. LOTS of things in the shop are out of my price range... But some of the jewelry (and tees, and tanks, and flipflops) are totally good steals!

What Does "Culture" Even Smell Like?

What? Huh?

Sometimes, as I am laying in bed early on Friday mornings, I peruse the "What's New" section on Net-A-Porter.

The light isn't even peeking into my bedroom window. But the alarm has gone off, and I am simply too comfortable to get out of bed.  So I roll over and grab my iPad, and read through emails... One of which on Friday morning's is the "What's New For You" email I get from Net-A-Porter.  And one of the things they recommended for me?

A "Book Scented" candle.

It confused me at first. But I have spent a good portion of my life in bookstores. So have a fairly good idea of what new books smell like... Though my familiarity may have waned a bit since I now buy a lot of books digitally.

I guess Assouline (who makes the candle - and some of my favorite books, funny enough) figured they would tap into this dying marketplace of owning actual books and provide some nostalgia. So perhaps I should pick one up to burn in the evenings while I read on my iPad?

Well done, Assouline.  Not only are you luring me with your beautiful fashion and style photo books, you're now tugging at my curiosity.

The one candle they have listed, though, that confuses me is the "Culture Lounge Scented" candle. I can't begin to imagine what "spicy" notes with which the candle perfumes the air.

Again... Well done, Assouline. Thinking of adding this to my cart too.

It's Awesome To Be A Woman. Not Hard.

Today being Women's International Day and all, I decided to show my support by throwing on my bright lipstick...

(Side note: Love, LOVE Tom Ford lipsticks!)

As I was reading through Google+ this morning, in search of other supporters of the day uploading their "Pout Pictures", I saw this posted...

Now, I get the sentiment behind it.  This quote was drafted probably decades ago (I couldn't find an attribution source for it), and meant to help further women's empowerment.  But today, I think it sends the wrong message.

Hear me out. Or rather, "read" me out.

I do not think it is "hard to be a woman." And I refuse to perpetuate that idea to the women I come in contact with in my life.  Additionally, I refuse to perpetuate that idea to the men I come in contact with in my life.

Make no mistake, I recognize that women are NOT considered independent and free citizens in every country in the world. And I that is one of the purposes of today: to advocate and reminds us that not all women are celebrated and respected the same way. But I find it to be dated and a bit offensive to subscribe to the above quote.

So I am just going to change it... And please feel free to share it.

IT IS AWESOME TO BE A WOMAN

You are encouraged and celebrated to think like you (Because you are intelligent and creative)

Act like a compassionate and respectful human being

Look like you by reflecting your personality

And work like a horse (because work ethic and ambition are good things)

If anyone leads you to believe differently, then they simply don't matter.

I want to make sure we are instilling in women (and men) that we raise today that it is just "awesome to be alive and living in a place where you can be and do what you dream of."  Not everyone is lucky like that. And if anyone uses any of the following to discourage them from being free and going after their dreams, they should rethink that person's role in their life and/or show them they are wrong:

• You're too old.
• You're too young.
• You're not strong enough.
• You're not smart enough.
• You're too smart.
• You're too new.
• You don't have enough experience.
• I was here first, it's mine.
• You have no money.
• You had it too easy. 
• It's the way it's always been done. It's tradition.

Sometimes it's ourselves that put these limits in our heads... Making us feel guilty about whatever it is we have a pull to pursue. I am very much guilty of this myself.

But my one request is that for today, we women make an effort (intending for here on out) not to allow others or ourselves bully or guilt us into not being the awesome beings we are, and truly believing it.

Chanel Autumn-Winter 2012.

The Autumn/Winter 2012 Fashion season is winding down, and today brought us Chanel.

Cold and nuclear Chanel.

And I write that with fondness.  I actually loved what walked the runway.  It was soft geometry and adornment.  And I loved the ombre ice heels.

But as I flipped through the images... It reminded me of something.  Something old... but familiar.  Something that scared me as a child...

Chanel Autumn-Winter 2012 inspiration: Superman 2

Who knew Karl Lagerfeld was a Superman 2 fan?

Rosebud Salve: Must-Have Staple For 7 Years.

I am sure most people have discovered the "impulse" section at Sephora.  You know, it's that the row of small items that stare at you as you are waiting to pay for your goodies.

My favorite item out of the stack is the Rosebud Salve.  I love the little tins... And the juicy emollient that they contain.

So soothing!

Only problem with the temptation I encounter in the "impulse section?" I can never indulge.

Why?

Well this little tin lasts SO LONG!

I have had it for SEVEN years. This stuff never runs out for me!  And I've never lost the tin.  At this rate, I will have it for another 10 years.

Dry Bar NYC: Urban Lady Indulgence.

Today I got to experience what I consider to be the ultimate indulgence for me... A blow out before work.

Since getting married, I pretty much stopped spending more than 20 minutes on my hair each day. That accounts for the time it takes to wash my hair, blow out my bangs and pull half of it back.

Sad... But I just don't have time to spend more than that on my hair. So I wear it wavy every day.

But today was different.  I headed to the Dry Bar in my neighborhood for a 7:15am appointment to have my hair washed and blown out.

I arrived at the joint and there were already a few other gals getting their hair prepped for the day.  Unlike me though, they all showed up wearing what they were probably going to wear to work. I just showed up in my Lulu gear.

After washing my hair and applying some Moroccan Oil, I was taken to a lovely bar with comfy chairs in front of it.  I sat back, drank some coffee and had my hair blown out while watching Breakfast At Tiffany's on the TV above the bar.  Thirty minutes later I walked out with pin-straight, shiny hair.

Love it.  And I could see myself going there and having it done maybe every other week. Definitely worth the $40.