Anybody need a witness?

I just recently got hitched (yay!) and have since been going through the rigamarole of changing my name on the usual suspects. Driver's license - check! Social security card - check! One more to go - Passport. So off I went to the City Clerk's office in Manhattan to request an additional copy of my marriage certificate.

It was a chilly, damp NYC day, totally not the kind of day you want to be outside if you can help it, but I was determined to get this taken care of. I marched up the stairs and into the building mentally prepared to have a lengthy wait, and to my surprise it was an absolute breeze! I was checked-in in less than 5, up to the window in 2, and out in 3. Amazing! I barely had time to glance around at all of the wonderful ladies and gents who were there to make it official.

I was cruising toward the exit, smiling, reminiscing, brimming with joy from the memory of the last time I made that very same walk when all of a sudden, "Excuse me, Miss?" said an adorable blonde woman standing against the wall with a tall, dark and handsome gentlemen standing beside her. "Me?", I asked incredulously. "Yeah. Hi! I'm sorry to bother you, but we didn't realize we needed a witness... Would you mind? This gentlemen here..." she said, pointing to the man at the desk who checks you in, "... he said it shouldn't take very long."
Oh. My. Gosh.
"OF COURSE!", I said. "No problem at all!"
They were elated! It's was so totally random, but it was amazing. I know I didn't know them and I'll probably never see them again, but I was the only other person, aside from the JOP, privy to this monumentally special moment. How cool?!?! Congratulations again, to the both of you, where ever you are!

image via

Wrangle Bangle

I've mentioned once before that my wrists have, in the past, hindered my bracelet wearing capabilities. It was endlessly frustrating to find bangles that I loved only to realize that once I tried them on that they would slide right off of my wrist. 


Sure, I could go ahead and take the leap of faith, buy the gorgeous bangle and hope that it wouldn't slide off into oblivion while I wasn't paying attention, but would it be worth it? I think not. I felt limited. I was totally envious of girls who could artfully layer their bangles with their cuffs and other such assorted bracelets in complete comfort.


Then, one sunny afternoon, I came upon a set of bangles I couldn't refuse. I dubiously tried them on. No harm in trying, I thought. On they went, and hey... wait a minute... they fit? THEY FIT! I'm telling you, I feel like sometimes it's destiny. 

These beautiful Mija bangles are 18k gold vermeil set with garnet, swiss blue topaz, citrine, iolite, peridot, rhodolite, amethyst, and white sapphires. Doesn't that sound delicious? Like a bowl candy... Or maybe I'm just weird! Either way, this wonderful variety of gemstones are what make these bangles, I think, incredibly versatile.


Ahhh... Sweet satisfaction! At long last I can join my fellow accessory loving comrades with their bracelet adorned wrists and not fear for the whereabouts of my bangles at the end of the day.

See's

I was in Los Angeles for a couple of days this past weekend, and aside from loving the sunshine, warm weather, and family that's out there, there is one truly spectacular goodie that exists in abundance on the West Coast. See's lollipops! 

These suckers are everywhere out there, but here, in Manhattan at least, you have to find your way to a Macy's or a Lord & Taylor if you want to relish the taste of one of these delectable treats. 

Smooth and creamy, they come in classic 'oldie but goodie' flavors like vanilla, butterscotch, café latte, and chocolate. 

I can't tell you which my favorite is, not because it's a secret, but because I love them all equally! They're not your average lollipop, I tell you. They are far superior to any other 'pop that I've had, and I dare you to challenge me with another that trumps the likes of See's. 

bisous!

Crystal Proof

I've always had an affinity for crystals; These completely mesmerizing, beautiful and mysterious rocks have, for ages, been believed to possess healing powers. Whether that's true or not, they're pretty rad in my opinion. For me, it's knowing that they come from the earth and are naturally occurring that continues to blows my mind - So when I found a necklace that combined the raw, natural beauty of a crystal and also had an edgier flare to it I was in love.

Crystal, meet bullet casing. You two are a match made in "opposites attract" heaven!

Handmade by Unearthen, who also makes a plethora of other super cool pieces featuring crystals and other earth elements, these necklaces support my favorite trend - Femininity with Edge.

Warmest Regards

Remember that pre-Valentine's Day post when I paid a visit to Albertine General? I went there expressly to treat myself to a little something special that I had been pining over for quite some time.
This is that something! 

I saw this ring in one of the cases at Albertine the very first time I visited the store. It's a Regard ring. Comprised of a ruby, an emerald, a garnet, an amethyst, another ruby, & a diamond. It's simple and totally beautiful in my opinion.



Regard rings were popular as engagement rings during the Romantic period.

{side note: It's kind of amazing that there's actually a period of time in history referred to as the Romantic period. I digress}

A ring that spells out how you feel? Completely romantic! You rarely hear the word regard used in that regard anymore. It is, in itself, a reflection of the era's rhetoric - The sophisticated stuff you read in books like Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice; Love stories that transcend time.   My point is, I just know that if Mr. Rochester had whipped out a ring when he proposed to Jane Eyre that it had to have looked something like this.

Needless to say, for me, it was love at first sight in Albertine, but damnit man, every time I would try the ring on it was far too large for any of my fingers. I chalked it up to fate telling me to stay away. However, about a half a dozen visits later, I realized that every time I stopped into the store I would inevitably find myself lingering in front of the regard rings. I'd stare at them longingly until finally asking to see one, secretly hoping that it would no longer be the object of my desire and that our love affair would finally be over, but no.








I'm not sure what it was about February 13th, 2012, but I woke up that morning and said to myself, "I'm doing it. I've coveted this long enough - I must have it." Naturally it didn't fit - but that day I didn't care - "I'll take it!", I said!

And here it is, on my hand, accompanying some Sarah McGuire stackables (also found at Albertine General).
I know I made a big fuss about this ring, but there's something about it - Maybe it's the simplicity of it, maybe it's the romantic history of its existence, or perhaps it's because it makes me think of a love like Mr. Rochester and Jane's. Either way I'll love you forever, regard ring.

Backward or forward?

I recently hunkered down on a rainy evening and watched Midnight in Paris. I had heard mixed reviews but decided I had to give the Woody Allen film a chance, not only because it's Woody, but because it's Paris!

So I whipped up some popcorn, grabbed my softest blanket and fiercely snuggled up to my husband.

While I was, of course, enchanted by the unparalleled beauties and charms of Paris, I was really quite taken with the concept.

How amazing would it be to go back, or even forward, to a time period of your choice?! And although we've seen this before a la Doc Brown, Marty and the Delorean in Back to the Future, Woody made the idea of time travel much less technical, utterly seamless and infinitely more romantic. It got me thinking...

If I could choose one time period to go back to, what would it be? Or would I choose to see what the future will look like?

Sorry future, I'd opt to go back in time for sure. To when, I'm not sure, but I know that I'd love to experience at least several different eras, all of which, not so coincidentally, happen to involve women wearing exquisite dresses and donning dainty accessories.

What about you - What would you do? Where would you go and what would you want to see?

A fabousse mousse

I was at dinner with friends on Sunday night when one of them declared, "I just had the most incredible chocolate mousse cake today."
Whoa whoa whoa, incredible chocolate anything? "Where?!", we all demanded."At Sant Ambroeus", she replied.

Sant Ambroeus? I had never been. I decided  that I needed to pay a visit to this establishment, pronto. So I called up a friend, made a date and set out this afternoon to meet her at the cozy and cute Sant Ambroeus on W. 4th and Perry St. in the West Village.

We ordered a couple of glasses of wine, the Insalata Di Quinoa - a quinoa salad with diced vegetables and pine nuts -  as well as the Toast Farcito - parma cotto and swiss cheese, with marinated artichokes and roasted peppers - to split between the two of us. Utterly delicious. We ate, we drank, we gabbed, we laughed. Then it was time for the pièce de résistance - the Sant Ambroeus, a chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate custard center. 

Ohhhhhh yeaaaah - It was everything my friend had described and much, much more. I assure you that this dessert deserves an OMG...or several! Decadent, delicious, light, chocolatey perfection and the ideal portion to boot. Chocolate mousse can be rich and heavy sometimes and this was far, far from it. 

If you are in the neighborhood I highly suggest stopping by - The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff incredibly friendly and the food - délicieux!