Hi again!

What can I say...it seems you and I need to get reacquainted. After an amazing summer running amok all over NYC, I am fully prepared to settle back down with you this fall and get serious about being just so damn inspired and crafty together. For starters, lets explore some new neighborhoods, try our hand at baking pies and engage in endless frolicking in open fields amongst the fall foliage. 

On deck: stepping out on watercolors to flirt with the bad boy of the art world: oil paints, tablescaping for beginners, antique hunting in NYC, the painful but super serious process of choosing new throw pillows, and, the pièce de résistance, cooking an entire Thanksgiving feast in a kitchen equipped for nothing of the sort.

Let's do this thang. 

More to come! 

xx, Amanda

Inspiration Fix: Ahhhmazing Wood-Burning [or not] Beauties

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In case you haven't heard, the weather is, shall we say, inclement up here in NYC and pretty much everywhere else - did anyone else see snow fly UP yesterday?! I'm still mastering this northern winter thing, often asking my co-workers questions like: "At what temperature should I panic," "Does this look like frostbite," and "Why does everything hurt, am I dying?" 

In my novice opinion,  it's sometimes helpful to think warm, happy thoughts while getting pelted in the face with snow and wondering if the tops of your ears are still there. So, here are some of my favorite fireplaces from across the internet to mentally warm your hands in front of if you also happen to find yourself sitting indoors with your parka still on typing with semi-frozen fingertips.

Weekend Snapshots

Cleaned the apartment and remembered the genius behind this chalkboard quote...

Things You Need Right Now: Couples' Closet Must-Haves

Sharing an apartment with your significant other can be as challenging as it is fun when it comes to incorporating two apartments full of stuff into one (see my tale of woe for girly home goods here). Sharing a closet is a whole other animal.

Tips like "hang hooks on empty walls" and "use empty floor space creatively" are great for people who have all of this sprawling empty space to work with. However, if you are 24 (ahem, or newly 25) and live in NYC, this likely is not your situation. Nick and I have given our closet a few edits since moving in so I wanted to share our lifesavers (and relationship savers) in case you find yourself in a similar scenario any time soon.

Monday's Mantra

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This isn't just any old Monday, it's the first Monday of fall y'all.  Heading out this morning with a fresh attitude, wearing a light trench for my walk to the train and enjoying a pumpkin spice latte. Cheers!

Till next time,
Amanda 

The Art of the Staycation

As a young working couple, it has been pretty impossible to find the time for a legit week-long vacation that works out for both of our schedules. To get to that elusive compromise place, we decided to do a long weekend away at Lake George so that Nick could get back to it on Monday and I could resume my time off with a little staycation (more on amazing Lake George to come). 

With my cheesy tourist tee on and a little coffee in hand, I present to you the art of the staycation:

DIY Pretty Pinecone Object

On our trip to scenic Lake George over the weekend, Nick and I got in some serious quality time with the great outdoors. Throughout our adventures, I found a few free souvenirs and brought them home with me to spruce up our bookshelf. 

One such souvenir was a perfect little pine cone that I envisioned living on the cover of some vintage books wearing a generous coat of gold spray paint.

Our bags are packed...

Nick and I are off! We're headed to a tiny cabin on Lake George for our first real vacation vacation. While we've traveled many times since living up here, we've never taken a trip just us the two of us to do just about nothing. 

Here's to bathing suits and bad reception. And whiskey. And wine and beer. 

xoxo,
Amanda

Monday's Mantra

Now into the month before my biggest event of the year, there are about one million cooks in the proverbial kitchen and even more opinions. It can be tempting to take on the role of the compliant one, giving in to outside pressure and giving up on your own opinions just to move things along. But I'm challenging myself this week to stand behind my gut feelings. 

Care enough to put yourself out there today and take a risk - you could be wrong, or you could come up with something completely original and great. 

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Till next time,
Amanda

Things You Need Right Now: The Prettiest Darned Watercolor Prints Ever

Every time Summer hits in the city, I can't help but think of this quote from Chuck Palahniuk's "Invisible Monsters" where the main character describes how great she feels in the sweltering weather:

"...it was a great feeling, a million spotlights picking you out of the crowd, or into a restaurant when outside it was ninety degrees, and everyone would turn and look, like you'd just been given some major distinguished award for lifetime beauty achievement." 

Umm, what?

I've attempted to channel this outlook to absolutely no avail every time a new sweat bead flees for its life down my body. However, these gorgeous watercolor prints by Virginia Johnson are so full of cool Summery colors, it's almost enough to make this heat worth it. 

Weekend Snapshots

It's been quite the shitstorm around here lately - in the very best way possible - which has kept me on my feet and away from my keyboard. To catch you up on a few things, I lost all self-respect during this heatwave and bathed in a public water fountain, wore more top knots than Nick could handle and less clothing than appropriate for work. Or for ever.

Also on the clothing topic, I'm fairly certain there are no good outfits for falling down stairs, but I had the distinct privilege of finding out what falling down an entire flight in a bathing suit is like. It was at the Empire Hotel rooftop lounge and it was graphic. Thankfully, I had an onlooker verbally rush to my aid with an "oh god!" before sauntering back over to my friends with both my pride and bikini misplaced. 

I did, however, get to see some of my favorite beauties this weekend which reminded me to post this batch of overdue weekend snapshots from our Central Park picnic:

A Couple of Restaurants to Add to Your "Must Eat Here" List

If you're like me and keep a running list of those restaurants people mention in passing that "you HAVE to try," then I have two to add to yours while in NYC. The first is Barbounia, a sunny Mediterranean spot on 20th and Park with an extremely generous brunch deal. I popped in with my little sister when she was in town last weekend and we got unlimited champagne cocktails (bellinis for us, mimosas for Nick) which were filled up by the waiter before we ever finished a glass.

We had the Trio appetizer with the Hummus, Tzatziki and Spicy Feta dip - they are all super tasty but the Spicy Feta is crazy amazing. 

Guest Opinion: Nick's Man Wisdom - "Hey Babe, Those Shorts are Unflattering."

"Hey Babe, you know, I love the way those shorts make your butt look just so saggy. All of that room between the fabric and your skin. Mhmm."

In true Nick fashion, he would never say outright that anything I am wearing is "unflattering," but I know deep down that saggy crotches and butts aren't exactly what pleases our man friends' eyeballs. And still I can't stop wearing my boyfriend shorts this Summer. So I'll continue to share bits of Nick Wisdom here and there which I know to be true but gleefully ignore if you'd like to join in.

xoxo,
Amanda

Friday's Mantra

I've been having a couple of those crazy busy weeks at work where by the time I get home, I'm wondering what the hell I did today beyond pump out emails and complete task after task for ten hours. I am lucky enough to work for a nonprofit, though, that reminds me why we're there all the time. 

But this weekend, I'm reminding myself to take a breath and do things that make me a happy gal. Reminding myself to NOT check my email, to be silly, to do something creative or just do nothing at all. Reminding myself to actually enjoy the day and live it - which is such a weird thing to realize that you can forget. 

Enjoy that deep thought of the day :)

Have a great weekend!
Amanda

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DIY Chalkboard Paint Stripes

A really quick and easy project that I've been wanting to post is the chalkboard paint stripe Nick and I created in our plain little kitchen:

Like many renters in NYC, Nick and I struggle with ways to make our rented space ours without taking drastic measures difficult to reverse one day. This was especially true of our very small, stark white kitchen with one open wall constructed in a very bizarre shape. We thought up a lot of different useful possibilities for the wall including shelves and a pot rack - but were convinced I'd find a way to poke my eye out in either scenario (not unlikely). Since we both wanted to try our hand at chalkboard paint, we decided this weird wall would be a great place for experimenting with it.

Happy Anniversary NYC

After a questionably sober post-bachelorette flight home from Miami Sunday, I shared a ride home with a gal who reminded me of a much younger, adorable and less jaded version of myself from two years ago.

Hey girl, are those bangs? A feather headband? Street hot dog?  Ok, cool.

After pointing out everything we passed (no offense Queens, but we were in Queens) and asking where all the skyscrapers were, I felt obliged as a super experienced New Yorker to ask this person if she was here visiting or here for good - because she needed to learn her some stuff right away. She said she was staying for two months for an internship and asked if I had any suggestions for things to see other than the obvious. 

Weekend Snapshots

Brunched some amazing brunch, tried out a new restaurant, failed my Miami diet and got to nothing on my to-do list. Sounds about right:

First stop: Fruit Pizza Heaven from this brilliant lady.

Hung out with a pretty girl who tasted some pretty flowers.

What This Weekend's Lookin' Like

photo via been there. done that. took a photo.

This weekend, every person in New York City has vacated to go be cool and listen to cool music at Governors Ball. I am not one of these people since you have to buy tickets months ago and I find it difficult to pay large sums of money without some kind of instant gratification. And what if I hated the Lumineers or Best Coast by then??! (Just kidding, that would never happen).

Also, the fast approaching Bachelorette getaway for one of my besties in Miami next weekend has me holding on to my wallet for dear life while I still can and Nick has a mid-term next week so he's nose-down in stuff that literally makes my eyeballs fall out. They. fall out. 

Breaking It Down and Dirty at 305 Fitness

Despite the fact that I danced at a studio for many years as a kid - and even on my high school dance team in front of the entire student body - I would never be able to tell you that I am a good dancer. In fact, I'm pretty sure others feel uncomfortable watching me dance because of my alternative skill set - I have zero grace, a little rhythm and feel most comfortable butchering step routines and crumping. (Insert Nick's horrified face here). 

However, I never pass up the opportunity to entertain with my sweet moves. So, when I was invited by a new friend to go to a Miami nightclub-themed dance cardio class called 305 Fitness, naturally I said yes.  

305 Fitness Party from 305 Fitness: Sweat is Sexy on Vimeo.

Inspiration Fix: Books on Chairs, Chairs on Books

On my amazing surprise trip to Florida this weekend, I brought along my copy of Design Sponge at Home by brilliant writer/blogger Grace Bonney. I've read it cover to cover before but always bust it out when I'm feeling hard up for some inspiration. This book is the home decor bible. It has amazing photos of beautiful and creative interiors (many of which are small spaces) decorating basics, DIY projects and even the makings of a working toolbox. If you hate all of those things, it also makes a gorge coffee table book.