The Bucket List

A year ago today, I could have never anticipated what 2010 would bring.  This has been a life-changing year and one that I will never forget!  The response to the blog has been incredible so far and I can't thank everyone enough for all the kind words and support!

In my first post, I mentioned I'd be adding my "bucket list" soon, and covering it here on the blog. However, I've been so consumed with building the site that I haven't really thought about the list at all since then. While looking it over today, I realized there are some almost embarrassingly achievable things on there that I just haven't gotten around to doing.  Thus, I've decided now is the perfect time to share the list with everyone (click here or on "The Bucket List" on the menu bar to view).

I showed this list to my boyfriend a while ago when we first starting dating, and after noticing #26 (eat at Tavern on the Green), he informed me that the restaurant was actually closing in a month.  It ended up being an extremely over-rated tourist trap, but that's beside the point.  Had it not been on my list, I would have never made it there and would have always wondered about it and regretted the missed opportunity.  Not to mention, it happened to be snowing the day we went, so I was able to cross #27 off on the way home as well!

My point is, we usually make time for the big stuff, but sometimes the smaller, minute things get pushed to the side as our busy lives take over.  No matter how insignificant those things might seem though, chances are you'll regret never doing them.  I debated changing or removing some of the items on my list before posting it, for fear of judgement, but decided to leave it as is, because it's my list.  Everyone's list is different, so don't be afraid to put whatever it is you want on there, no matter how ridiculous or improbable it might sound!

This is an unusually long post for me, but I wanted to take the time to explain the list and hopefully inspire you to write your own!  It's a new year, filled with possibilities and opportunities, and I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring!  Hopefully I'll be crossing many more items off my list, and cheers to you all doing the same!

Happy New Year everyone!

xoxo

Caitlin

Kiss me at midnight...

The energy and excitement of the looming new year and celebrations to follow is palpable in the city right now.  It's such a romantic and nostalgic time with all the reminiscing of the passing year and curiosity about the one to come.  Here's some photo inspiration to help put you in the spirit as well!

Solve Sundsbo for Harper's Bazaar

Paul Barbera

Tiffany & Co.

Vera Wang

Hedi Slimane for French Vogue

Elle

Emma Summerton for Vogue Italia

National Park Reservations

Outfit inspiration: New Year's Eve

With New Year's just a few days away, I, like most girls (and some boys), have been fantasizing about what I'll wear to ring in 2011... despite the fact that I have no actual plans yet.  I discussed my love for longer skirts last month, but the obsession is still lingering.

These skirts are perfect for this time of year because they're a breath of fresh air amidst the swarms of black tights and mini-dresses, but they're still long enough to keep your legs warm with bare legs.  I love how these layered tulle versions look so elegant and fancy, yet feel young and whimsical at the same time.  Here are three of my potential outfit contenders at the moment...

1. j.crew half wing earrings, $50.  2. Vince sequined t-shirt, $295.  3. YSL mail clutch, $395.  4. Tom Ford lipstick, $45.  5. Kate Spade peep-toe pumps, $220.  6. Hue It Girl tulle skirt, $35.  7. Show Off costume ring, $54.  8. Show Off black costume ring, $54.

1. Proenza Schouler cropped pullover, $612.50.  2. Oversized vintage crystal brooch, $26.  3. Victorian flower brooch, $24.  4. Vintage bow brooch, $26.  5. Bourne Annie jeweled box clutch, $175.  6. Alexander Wang peep-toe boots, $685.  7. Free People netted layers skirt, $90.  8. MAC nail lacquer, $13. 

1. Armitron watch, $41.25.  2. Wool and the Gang stripy mariniere, $87.50.  3. Elie Tahari bib necklace, $348.  4. Nordstrom pleated silk frame clutch, $88.  5. Lanvin bow pumps, $418.  6. Hue It Girl tulle skirt, $35.  7. Chanel nail colour, $23.

I just love how lady-like but contemporary all of these looks are!  For the first, I'm obsessed with the YSL envelope clutch!  It adds just the right amount of sass and irreverence to the look.  The second outfit is a little more casual, so I would pair a cluster of brooches on the chest or waistband, again, just to give it a little quirkiness and up the festiveness factor.  Also, if you look at that skirt on Free People's website you can really see how it moves, it's much pretty in their look book shots!

The final outfit is my favorite.  The breton stripe sweater is such an unexpected and fresh pairing for the more formal skirt, and the statement necklace ties it all together.  I like the way the gold in the jewelry and nail polish plays against the silver in the skirt, giving it a vintagey charm.  Now the only decision is which one to wear?

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Outfit inspiration: chic snow day

Weather conditions are still pretty bad here in the city, but it's the perfect excuse to shop for some chic snow gear!  Below is my dream blizzard ensemble (for those of you with some extra holiday cash to burn) along with some more affordable alternatives (in case Santa wasn't so generous)...

1. Alexander Wang leather and canvas hooded coat, SALE $363 (orig. $1,210).  2. Yves Saint Laurent leopard scarf, $995.  3. Karen Walker Number One sunglasses, $180.  4. Acne cepe slouch pants, $300.  5. Proenza Schouler PS1 medium bag, $1,485.  6. Burberry platform ankle boots, $995. 

1. Hazel coat, $141.  2. Leopard print scarf, $35.  3. Forever21 sunglasses, $5.80.  4. Gap skinny zip pants, $21.99.  5. Zara messenger bag, $70.  6. Lauren by Ralph Lauren ankle boots, $179.

Don't Forget...

...to get your Minx on!  The 25% off deal ends Saturday, January 1st!  Click here to print your coupon.

image via Monica Rose

Baby it's cold outside...

Hope everyone's enjoying the snow storm! This kind of weather makes me want to just curl up inside all day, but if you're daring enough to brave the cold, here's some snowy weather outfit inspiration. xoxo

The Sartorialist

Michael Kors

Tommy Ton

Michael Kors

i like

La Feem

Vogue Russia November 2010

Vogue Russia November 2010

Burberry Holiday

Tiffany & Co. Holiday 2010

Sex and the City

Maple-gingerbread moon pies

Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend so far!  Wanted to share a recipe for some delicious treats I baked yesterday.  They're a softer, more cake-like version of traditional gingerbread cookies, topped with the same maple frosting I used in this post, but with a few minor adjustments.

I was planning to use Martha Stewart's recipe for gingerbread cupcakes, but to my dismay, all 3 grocery stores in my neighborhood were out of molasses, and I was short on time, so I settled for the Betty Crocker boxed mixed.  I was nervous about it at first, since I've been priding myself lately on my graduation from boxed baking, but it was my only option, so I went for it.

I decided to still purchase the ground ginger and ground cloves that Martha's recipe called for, since I noticed Betty's box didn't even list ginger as an ingredient and I figured it would help to make them taste more homemade. I also substituted some buttermilk I had in the fridge (from black and white cookies I baked earlier in the week that I'll be posting about soon!) for the water called for in the recipe, hoping it would make the cookies softer.

The result was surprisingly delicious!  The buttermilk made the consistency much lighter and chewier than traditional gingerbread and the spices really punched up the flavor!  Below are the adapted recipes...

Cookie cakes:
Betty Crocker gingerbread cake & cookie mix (plus ingredients called for on the package directions)
Buttermilk (substituted for water called for in recipe)
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Directions:
Mix ingredients together until blended then roll dough into quarter-sized balls and place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet.  Bake for about 6-8 minutes (I did about 6, for max chewiness) and remove from oven.  Let cool before frosting.

Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp gingerbread crumbs (made using Pepperidge Farm Ginger Man cookies)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Mix butter and powdered sugar together until smooth.  Add brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir until blended.  Place 2-3 Ginger Man cookies in a Zip-Lock bag and pound into crumbs.  Add crumbs to the mix, leaving some left over to use as garnish.  Frost cooled cookies and top with remaining crumbs.

Dress your gifts

Sorry for the lack of posting this week, I've been running around like crazy trying to get everything ready for the holidays, as I'm sure all of you are as well!  The good news is, I've been working on some fun projects to share that hopefully you'll enjoy!

To start, here's a chic and easy way to make your present stand out from its peers beneath the tree this year.  At our office holiday party, a uniquely wrapped gift in burlap with dainty finishings had me inspired to create a similar effect for my own wrap creations.

I decided to use plain brown packaging paper (sold in the mailing supply section of Duane Reade or your local convenience store, you could also just use brown grocery bags like we used to cover our text books with in school) to give a rough, organic texture to the background, and combined it with the lighter, dainty feel of the doilies (sold at Hallmark and dollar stores) and lace ribbons.  I then added these sparkly ornaments that I found for six dollars at the holiday market, for a little extra bling to top everything off.

I think the finished result looks pretty, eclectic, thoughtful and charming.  Totally makes up for any lame gift that might be inside!

Enjoy!  Hope you're all having a great holiday so far!

xoxo

Make new friends but keep the old...

I'm a big fan of breaking the traditional fashion "rules", because when done correctly, black and brown can look banging, horizontal stripes can flatter and, well, you already know how I feel about wearing white after Labor Day.  The same goes for mixing gold and silver. 

My love for paired metals began when I first moved to New York and started amassing my collection of vintage jewels.  Most of them are costume pieces and as they started to age and tarnish, it was hard to distinguish which were originally gold and which were silver.  I found that mixing the pieces together, however, looked purposeful and eclectic.

Last year, I received my ultimate gold and silver dream piece in the form of a large men's two-tone chronograph watch by Burberry, that I wear religiously.  But because of its size, it felt too big to mix with my other bracelets, and though I love my watch, I've been missing them ever since.  That is, until now.

I've decided to thrown all caution to the wind and follow my own advice by ditching the "rules" and declaring that less is just less and really, more is more!  I love how the ladies in these photos have mastered the art of jewel layering.  Go ahead and pile it on!  After all, the holidays are all about excess, right? 

Tommy Ton for Style.com

lola and emily

Stockholm Street Style

Tommy Ton for Style.com

Tommy Ton for Style.com

fashion toast

easy fashion

jak & jil

oracle fox

oracle fox

Photo Genius: Tim Walker

Yesterday while waiting for a table at Penelope (a great nyc brunch spot), we killed the time by browsing the beautiful book selection at The Old Print Shop across the street.  I came across photographer Tim Walker's book, Tim Walker Pictures, and was reminded of just how much I love him as a photographer!

I use his photos constantly for inspiration boards at work, and have used them on the blog as well, but seeing them all together in one place, I was overwhelmed by the amount of inspiration they provided.  The book is especially fascinating because it includes Walker's hand-drawn story boards that give you a small peak into the mind of a true creative genius.

Anyone who doesn't already know him, will probably at least recognize his work, as it's so uniquely imaginative and iconic.  I love the way each of his photos tell a story and have such a magical, dream-like quality to them.  I wanted to share some of my favorite photos of his, hopefully you'll be as inspired as I am!  Who are your favorite photographers to look to for inspiration?

I love this last one because it reminds me so much of Dream and Dress!  Hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

All images by Tim Walker