Lola Hats

Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

Wednesday June 19, 2013

Lola Hats

School is out for summer! Here Comes the Sun! Protect your skin, and wear a hat. And not just any hat, a Lola hat.

Lola

Lola Hats is a Brooklyn company, created by Lola Ehrlich. Now sold in boutiques and department stores, these hats are simple and chic, with a slight twist and flair. All of the hats are all hand-made in Brooklyn and have a sense of individuality and creativity, while being practical, protective, and classic.

My current obsession: straw hat.

Purple feathers.

Birds’ eye view (sideways).

Side view.

Other side view.

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Monday June 17, 2013

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Two Dollar Bills

We recently discovered that the husband of one of Ken’s old friends is obsessed with two dollar bills. Amazingly awesome, right? I had no idea that two dollar bills still existed (use the two!) and so I swapped some cash for some of his two dollar bills. Turns out, Matt loves using two dollar bills as doing so has helped make the simple process of exchanging money lead to amazing stories, connections, and interactions. Odd, quirky, and inspiring! Talking to him made ME want to start collecting two dollar bills and handing them out to people; taxi drivers, manicurists, coffee shops, you name it!

2 dollar bill

Matt goes to the bank each week to get his stack of bills for the next week or two. His story about his interest in 2 dollar bills was so touching and elegantly odd (ironic?), that I knew I had to interview him and inspire us all to BRING BACK THE TWO! As Matt likes to say, he does not like to collect twos. He just likes using them.

Elias, Matt’s 10 month old son, is also highly interested in two dollar bills.

One of Laura’s birthday gifts to Matt this year, was a 2 dollar bill stamp (because apparently, Matt also really likes stamps.)

According to Matt, “Everyday is Mardi Gras for me. Another ‘Fat Twos’ Day.” Love it.

pocket full of dough.

Random and fascinating, here is the interview with Matt! Enjoy! (I want to start a collection that is so unique and obscure that people find my hobby and collection inspiring and touching!)

When did you become interested in $2 bills?

I started on this path in the summer of 1992 when I was living in San Francisco, working in the financial district (I was at Lehman Brothers at the time) and I discovered that my local bank could supply me with $2s. I was hooked. Subsequently, I cashed all my paychecks in $2s. My mantra is to spread the joy of $2 bills and to make transactions and merchant interactions fun and to spread the happiness of $2 bills throughout our system.

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Friday June 14, 2013

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Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery

Through wonderful friends, Ali and I were introduced to Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery and the woman behind it, Umber. Both the baked goods and Umber are such inspirations that I think about them all the time. Not only is her food incredibly delicious, scrumptious, and heavenly, but Umber is also such an elegant, eloquent, composed, intelligent, and beautiful person. Umber ‘s success, happiness, and talent shine through, immediately wanting us to become friends with her. Both Ali and I fell head over heels for Mah-Ze-Dahr AND Umber!

mah-ze-dahr

Mah-Ze-Dahr is a bakery created by Umber and is a Tom Colicchio Discovery brand. Umber, taught at a young age that food is a language on its own, studied genetics and business. She spent much of her career in finance on Wall Street, and then moved to help luxury brands, chefs, and restaurateurs expand their concepts globally. She also started the bakery (the perfect combination of her talents — business, science, and culture!) with Colicchio, the chef/owner of Craft restaurants (as well as a Top Chef judge).

Umber. Isn’t she supermodel worthy? HOLY COW! (Photo taken by Vanessa Rees)

Umber and Tom. Again, another beautiful photo taken by Vanessa Rees.

In Urdu, the word mazedar describes the taste essence of food, its flavor and magic that make it delicious. As Umber describes, it is the “Je-ne-sais-quoi” that describes something wonderful. It is something that one cannot describe but wants to experience over and over again. And the items from Mah-Ze-Dahr are exactly that.

The simple brown box, logo and ribbon is classic and tasteful.

MY FAVORITE! I am still dreaming of this cheesecake. Made from sour cream and cream cheese, it is light fluffy and refreshing — who knew that cheesecake could be so light and airy?

A favorite, Mah-ze-dahr bars that were featured in Food & Wine Magazine an Editor’s Top Ten Pick (February 2013). This bar has an oatmeal cookie base topped with toasted pecans and chocolate bits and covered in a brown butter caramel sauce.

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Wednesday June 12, 2013

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White Summer Dress

Hi ladies! Thanks so much for all the positive feedback from the feature in Lonny. We were really nervous about it, but we’re very happy with the article. The Lonny team was so great to work with! SOOOO….one of the most frequently asked questions was what dress I wore for the Pound Ridge shoot. Good question, as I *LOVE* this dress and it is oh-so-perfect for hot-sunny-firefly types of summer days and nights.

Sorry for yet ANOTHER show of this picture, but instead of focusing on the whole image, look specifically at the dress! (It turned out nice on camera, right?)

Sorry for yet ANOTHER post of this picture, but instead of focusing on the whole image, look specifically at the dress! (It turned out nice on camera, right?)

This white dress is by Mes Demoiselles — an oh so chic and fashionable Parisian line. The dress is a crinkled gauze and eyelet, with a gathered elastic waist, and tiers added to the skirt base. It comes with a cotton slip lining so you don’t have to worry about panty lines. It is a perfection combination of casual and put-together, day and night, easy and effort-less, vintage and new.

You can wear it with or without a belt, too. The belt adds a little more flavor and style, but I also love the simplicity and solid color without the belt.

My modeling career — awkward!

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Monday June 10, 2013

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Lonny Magazine Feature!

Thank you, Lonny Magazine! Ken and I are so excited (and can’t believe) that we were featured in their June magazine. The piece was on young families that try to make their homes hip and chic, while also family-friendly and functional.

My favorite picture of the photo shoot!

The article featured both our New York apartment, and our home in Pound Ridge, NY, which the Natoris have owned for more than 25 years (Ken’s parents just completed building another home on the property). We have spent the past few months redoing and redecorating the house, and are so excited with how it turned out.

Cruz’s bedroom in NYC; my favorite room in our whole apartment. The colors and patterns bring such happiness and joy to the room, and to us!

We worked with 2 amazing interior decorators. Nicki Hill Rose helped us with the first renovation in New York (pre-Cruz), and Allison Tick did the second renovation (pre-Zoe), and the full project in Pound Ridge. We would not have been able to do it without their help!

Our bedroom in NYC, not shy of vibrant colors.

We are so thrilled with how everything turned out. The article has a lot more pictures (32 pages!) so please check it out and support Lonny!

Pound Ridge, NY. Master bedroom. Love the LOVE.

Pound Ridge living room, outside. And yes, hello plastic red and yellow airplane. (Cruzzie loves this plane so much he sleeps with it every night. No joke. He cuddles it like a teddy bear. Safe to say he is a dedicated airplane lover).

Cruz’s teepee, Pound Ridge guest room. I found the teepee on etsy and love it more than Cruzzie does. If I go missing, that is where I will be…huddled up in the teepee with a jar of peanut butter and some babka.

Thanks to the amazing Lonny team! To read the whole feature, go here.

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl
Follow @JosieGirlBlog

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Friday June 07, 2013

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Mango Tapioca

I love mushy food. Like love. It’s like I am a 90 year old woman with no teeth. So what is one of my dream desserts? TAPIOCA!. I experimented and created my own LACTOSE-FREE (aka vegan with an egg) mango tapioca recipe. Refreshing, soothing, delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Ingredients.

* 2 and 3/4 cups almond/soy milk
* 1/3 cup of sugar
* 3 tablespoons of minute tapioca
* 1 beaten egg
* 1 mango
* 1/2 cup of coconut milk
Directions:

* Mix milk, sugar, tapioca and (beaten egg) in a saucepan and let mixture sit for 5 minutes.

I didn’t listen to my own directions and simply placed the egg into the mixture before beating the egg. WRONG, beat the egg before you place it in the milk mixture.

Blend.

* On medium heat, cook the mixture until it comes to a full boil while constantly stirring.

Boiling tapioca.

Getting thicker. OH MY GOD, watching tapioca form is like finding a split end! And then examining it under the microscope. #highschooldays #itsthesmallthings #obsessive

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Monday June 03, 2013

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36 Hours

Every Sunday, The New York Times Travel section has a column titled “36 Hours” where they highlight all that you can do in a specific city for 36 hours. The popular column helps you create a a dream weekend with realistic and approachable itineraries — ideal for us OCD planners. The Times and book publisher Taschen came together to create a series of books with updated and new versions of the columns– a perfect gift for Father’s Day, an anniversary, a housewarming, or just a token to say I-love-you.

The colorful trio of books.

Not only are these books incredibly informative and practical, but they are also beautiful and special. Put them on your coffee table to stir up a conversation or place them on your nightstand to read before bed!

On shelf.

I bought three books from the series, USA Northeast, USA Westcoast, and 150 weekends in USA and Canada (which is the whole American/ Canadian series in one book. Ken would point out that buying all three of these is unnecessary. OOPS!).

West Coast Love.

Northeast Like.

USA weekend trips!

Below is a sample of 36 Hours from the Times online. Auckland, New Zealand!

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Wednesday May 22, 2013

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Summer ’13 Wish List

Summer is right around the corner. Literally. And boy, do I have some wants and wishes! Here they are:

Ace and Jig Dress

Yep — totally obsessed. But how can I NOT be? I love the fabric, the stripes, the colors, the lightness, and the overall look!

Upstate Shawl

Silk tye dye scarf? IN LOVE!

Josie Natori camisole

A necessary luxury. Soft, perfect, lace, and the just-right base lining.

Tocca Jumpsuit

Printed stretch silk jumpsuit in our black/grey totem print. Deep v-neck. Slanted front pockets. Diamond inset in scaled down print at waist.

Printed stretch silk jumpsuit in black/grey totem print. Deep v-neck. Slanted front pockets. Oh. My. God. Perfection.

Dalla Nonna calendar bracelet

A perfect way to remember a special occasion. Choose a color of metal and leather wrap. How fun and touching is it??

An original way to remember a special occasion. Choose a type of metal and leather color wrap. How fun and personable is it?? Hellooooooo (late) Mother’s day present!

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Wednesday May 15, 2013

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Bra Fitting Tips

I get it — I am lucky. If I want a bra, I can easily order it. Towels? PJs? Those too (thanks to my mother-in-law!). But one of the reasons why I am extremely lucky is having access to getting measured and fit FOR the right bra by one of the most amazing ladies ever! Now that is what I call lucky! Last week, I had the privilege of meeting with Lynne Reynolds to help me find the best bras and fit for my back-to-normal-post-pregnancy-just-weaned-boobs. I can’t even explain how amazing it was — her knowledge, expertise and experience was exactly what I needed to find the right bras for my now flat-chested body! Thank you, Lynne!

Not Lynne. Nor me. Models wearing Natori bras.

Lynne Reynolds is the National Fit Specialist and Manager of Retail Services for Dana-co, the licensee of Natori Intimate Apparel. Lynne is a certified bra fitter and has been in the lingerie industry for 17 years (absolutely incredible!). She helps manage a team of dozens of regional fit specialists that travel around the country helping educate store salespeople and customers on all of the amazing features of Natori, Josie, and N Natori bras Not only did she help find my bra size and three incredible Natori bras, but she answered all my questions, too!

Lynne!

So many bras to choose from!

What do you measure to get a proper bra size?

measuring tape

A measurement for a bra is a guideline or a starting point. I always tell my fitters that bra fitting is an art and not a science. I start by measuring around the rib cage, pulling the tape measure snug against the body. The guidelines for band size measurements are as follows: 27”-29”- 32 band, 29”-32”- 34 band, 33”-34”- 36 band, 35”-38”- 38 band, and 39”-41”- 40 band) The best way to find a properly fitting bra is to determine how the bra fits on the body.

The bra band should be low and snug and parallel to the floor, the same level all around the body. You should only be able to slide 1-2 fingers underneath the band.

For cup size, the cup should encompass all breast tissue. If the cup wrinkles or puckers, the cup is too big. If breast tissue bulges out of the cup, the cup is too small. The center gore should “tack” or lay flat against the body. If the center piece pulls out in front, you need to go up a cup size. The wire should surround the entire “footprint” of the breast. The wire should hit under the ribcage on bone, not on breast tissue.

How do you know what notch to put the bra on?

back

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Monday May 06, 2013

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Eau de Yosh

Contributing editor day at the JGB. Take it away, Ali!

Did you know that perfume was originally used by ancient civilizations for communicating with the gods? Yosh Han knows that and countless other elements about the therapeutic properties of essential oils and aromatherapy, or trans-aromation as she calls it. I believe she was born to be a perfumer– even the Chinese character for Yosh means “fragrant”. How cool is that!?

Yosh is my dear friend and is truly an enlivened artist. Always traveling the globe offering scented aura readings and sharing her full wardrobe of perfumes with those she encounters, she is a rare blend of wildly successful entrepreneur and feminine, passionate soul centered visionary. Every time we are together the conversation takes us on a ride that stirs my soul and creativity.

Screen shot 2013-05-07 at 9.38.18 PM

Yosh Han began her career as an apprentice to a perfumer in Aspen, Colorado where she learned to identify and combine essential oils and perfume essences. Today, inspired by all things that evoke emotion and memories, she combines the art of perfumery with the science of aromachology.

She founded her company Eau De Yosh in 2002 by developing a strong clientele who wanted their own signature perfumes. Yosh calls upon her deep and abiding connection to flowers and herbs instilled by her mother, a trained master of Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging and a disciple of herbal medicine to fragrances that stir the senses, fascinate the mind and enchant the soul. Yosh integrates her spiritual connection with her aromatic artistry and teaches others about vibrational perfumery, edible essences and aromatic attunements—fragrant meditations.

yosh

Based on moods, personalities and intuition, each fragrance is crafted using the finest ingredients from all over the world, then assigned a numerical value that corresponds to the fragrance family and resonates with principles of Chakra energy and numerology. Tell me how many perfumers you know who offer scented aura readings at Barneys? I know of only 1!

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