As mentioned Friday, I have a newfound love for Zara Home. When in Paris a couple of weeks ago, I bought a simple candle that made me happy. Most candles these days seem to cost 40 dollars plus, so when I found this pretty (and beautiful smelling) candle for 17 euros, I knew I had to buy it.
Pink and green box. Tuberose smell — sweet and perfect. (Minorly crushed in my carry-on… apologies)
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Natori designed an amazing ready-to-wear collection exclusively at Bloomingdale’s and on Bloomingdales.com. The collection is on display in a pop-up in New York (third floor), Short Hills, Aventura, and Century City. Amazing island-inspired prints, fun handbags, and accessories, and all at a more accessible price point than the high-end Josie Natori collection. LOVE, LOVE LOVE!!!! (And read through the post for info on the launch party this Thursday).
In between the escalators at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street. Prime location!
We are officially five months into our home renovation project, and slowly, it is taking more form and becoming more like a real home! The lights are now in (not the light fixtures, but the electrical outlets and lights on the ceiling), the walls are in place, and the stairs connect the floors!!! Mind you, it is far from done, but I now have a better sense of what it is really going to look like, and I can’t contain my excitement. Take a look at the newest pictures:
The new entry way!
FIIIINNNNALLLLLLY, after ten years of putting it on my to-do-list for Fall, we made a trip to Storm King! And it was absolutely picturesque, glorious, beautiful, and enjoyable. Yes yes yes, our kids whined a little too much, and there are things we could have done differently, but overall, it was the perfect weekend activity….and we can’t wait to go back again!
Like person, like sculpture.
After our big celebration this past Saturday night, we went out to cure our hangover / adrenaline / socialization with a big brunch. My brother, Giora, who lives in Seattle and is always up to speed with pop culture and what is cool (way more than any other New Yorker I know) told me about a restaurant that he wanted to go to — Llama Inn, a new Peruvian restaurant in Williamsburg that has a lot of buzz about it.
Believe it or not, Summer is around the corner! 6 more weeks! So better get going on the Spring Activities in New York City. My list is long and I hope to accomplish most of them this season!
1. Stroll the grounds at Storm King
A way of being outside in nature and enjoying art at the same time. Looks so beautiful and interesting and fun in the Spring or Fall!
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, so in addition to purchasing lingerie from Natori, you need to buy flowers! And what is easier than purchasing flowers online / via iphone app with Urban Stems. The lucky ducks that live in the NYC and DC area have access to this brilliant company. Simple, beautiful, and straightforward. The bouquets cost $35 and are a beautiful arrangement of carefully selected flowers imported straight from farms in South America. A bonus: According to the company, the farms used are environmentally-friendly and operate with labor friendly policies for their employees and their families. 90% of the farmers are women. Curious to see the product before I sent it to a secret admirer (my child’s preschool teacher – she is my true love), I bought a bouquet for myself.
Red
Last Friday, I had the opportunity (and privilege) of visiting and touring the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. To say I was blown away is a true understatement. It took my breath away and has preoccupied my mind since. Mind you, I did not live in NYC during the 9/11 attacks, nor did I know anyone who was directly affected. As a result, I had never been overly emotional about it. But visiting the museum changed everything.
The power of the tallest building in the United States, The Freedom Tower. An eerie view from the memorial looking up to the sky.
After a feud with Fresh Direct last week (where I promised that I would never use their site again! And I am holding to that promise!), I suddenly found myself in a bind. Seriously — without Fresh Direct, how was I going to do a million things and be efficient / organized / get my food if I didn’t use them? I love grocery shopping – love – but most weeks I unfortunately don’t have the extra time to go myself or with the family. Below is my email to Fresh Direct…
… sharing
Call me lazy, but sometimes I would rather pay $10 for a smoothie than find all the ingredients and make it myself. It sounds lazy, but finding the various ingredients, then washing, chopping, measuring them all = too much effort. So what do you know, there is a service (currently only offered in New York City) which delivers packs of frozen fruit / vegetable combinations so you can MAKE your own smoothies without the hassle. And it’s way cheaper than buying smoothies at a store. Ah-mazing, right? Daily Harvest, thank you.
Good Eggs is the local and homegrown version of Fresh Direct. Founded in San Francisco by two tech entrepreneurs, this company’s mission is to grow and sustain local food. Currently in just a few cities (San Francisco, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and New Orleans), Good Eggs connects people to food by giving you information and history on the producers. It is a modern day farmer’s market that delivers (or you can opt to pick it up).
What a gorgeous weekend in the city! Yesterday was the perfect day for a visit up to the Top of the Rock. Clear views, blue skies, and moderate temperatures. Highly recommend going to visit Top of the Rock for the beautiful views and scenery of New York City.
Empire State Building in all its glory
Happy belated Mother’s Day! I am loving SO much right now. My family, my mothers, my kids, my husband, and….the following 5 things.
I jumped on the overall trend bandwagon back in November. Well, actually, last Spring I had my eye on a pair of Roseanna overalls, but didn’t bite the bullet….so it was on my mind well before November. At first I was nervous about sticking out more on the Upper East Side (my affinity of birkenstocks, patagonia, and backpacks aren’t shared by the average UES woman), but what do you know? ALL OF THOSE items are now trending as cool. Oregon style = hipper than you know and > UES stuffiness.
This past weekend, the family went on an adventure to Red Hook (Brooklyn) to satisfy my craving for a lobster roll (not pregnant, just hungry). AND HOT DAMN, this lobster roll did not disappoint. Unbelievably delicious. KNOCK OUT GOOD.
Here’s Ken with a guest post. Take it away, hubby!
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The Josie Girl and I have had some really fun and adventurous culinary experiences. Roberta’s Blanca tasting menu in Bushwick (coolest eating experience ever), Blue Hill Stone Barns in Pocantino Hills (educational and delicious), and even Pok Pok in Portland, Oregon (chicken wings + Oregon love). We also try our own recipes as well, such as Beer Can Chicken (fun and easy, if not a little invasive for the chicken). This one, however, takes the cake. We haven’t eaten at Fishtail by David Burke on the Upper East Side since 2009. However, we have been able to see what kind of food they serve due to the exposed garbage on the street we have seen over the last 5 years.
From Saturday morning
Greetings (again) from sunny Florida! Ken left early yesterday for NYC for work but I am here through the weekend. He went on an early cross-country ski this morning in Central Park before work and took these great pics. Enjoy (and stay warm and safe!)
Most of the walkways were already plowed at 6:30! Still skiiable.
I have an obsession with grocery stores. I love maneuvering through big crowds, window shopping, watching them prepare foods, you name it. Call me a wacko, but I love it. And so does, Ali Berlin, Contributing Editor of the blog (obviously one reason we are friends is because we share interests in grocery stores.) Thanks, Ali, for spiriting this post. AMAZING!
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Dec 17, 2013 was a monumental day in Brooklyn because the first ever Whole Foods market opened in Gowanus, on the corner of 3rd and 3rd. It’s been ten years in the making and people are overjoyed that it finally happened.
Need a present for the upcoming holiday? Want to support small stores with beautiful products? Then stroll by, Strolby, an online shopping site focused on items sold in Brooklyn (New York) but sold on one platform to people across the country! The site, which is aesthetically appealing and unique, helps local small shops with truly beautiful and original items reach big audiences (so the neighborhood can still feel small).
Even with Thanksgiving behind us, there is no such thing as TOO much pie! Especially pie from Four & Twenty Blackbirds. Located in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn (439 3rd Avenue), this pie shop was founded in 2010 by sisters and pie makers Melissa and Emily Elsen. And my oh my, do they know how to bake! So scrumptious and delicious. So many choices to choose form.
Outside the pie shop with old school gothic lettering.
As a sucker for all granola, I am also obsessed with muesli. Although very similar, they are not the same thing. Both granola and muesli contain oats, fruits and nuts, but muesli is raw, whereas granola is baked. People enjoy muesli like they do granola (served with milk, sprinkled over yogurt, drowned in kefir) or they soak it overnight (in milk or yogurt) to create a cool, porridge-like consistency. Both of my parents (foreign born) eat muesli almost every morning (except for Saturdays when Papa Proskurowski makes his famous omelet) so I have been around different forms of muesli all my life. And Mu Mu Muesli, my friends, is one of the best. The best.
Back in March, I highlighted kidswear brand Goat-Milk. As a loyal fan, I was ecstatic to hear that they had recently opened a retail store in the East Village in NYC. The store is beautiful, earthy, and charming, a great compliment to the beautiful, organic kids’ clothing.
Outside brick and mortar.
I always learn about the coolest and newest products from friend and contributing editor, Ali Berlin. So, no surprise, that Ali has found my newest obsession. Thanks, Ali, take it away!
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OMilk is by far my favorite milk ever. It is made from NUTS, is thick and creamy, sweet and fresh and is made with care, love and mastery right here in Brooklyn. I don’t drink dairy milk but even when I did, it always left me wanting something different. OMilk hits the spot.
I am a health freak as I love my gym, nature, fresh air, chia seeds, coconut, and vegan concoctions. And yet, I am a sucker for candy, too. I KNOW, right? Hard to believe, but I love it. I hoard Halloween candy all year because I love the shiny wrappers and the delicious, chocolatey, oh-so-sweet treats inside. Drooling now. And it is so cliche, but a candy store to me, is well, like one big candy store. I can’t just look, and I want to taste everything — it all looks delicious and I NEED. EVERYTHING. THEN. AND. NOW. SHAKE. SHAKE. CONVULSIONS.
Picturesque Sockerbit in the West Village of NYC.
There are a handful of items that I miss from NYC when I am out west for the summer. Obviously, I miss my husband, my friends, and my gym classes. But the only other thing I really, deeply, truly miss is my raw oatmeal from Juice Press.
