Rumour has it

Despite all the delightful and innovative a cappella content on TV these days, I haven't posted much about one of my favorite subjects as of late. After seeing last week's episode of Glee and this impressive mash-up of Adele's Rumour Has It with Someone Like You, I knew that all had to change. Even though the show has gotten a bit preachy for my taste, they still know how to bring it with ballads like these! What did you think of this performance? Are you still keeping up with the show now that it's in it's third season?

Note: Expect more a cappella interviews in the new year! 

(Video via YouTube)

My Christmas wish list

It's may feel balmy in New York, but it took an MTA bus ride past the Holiday Market at Columbus Circle to remind me — the Christmas season has arrived! It got me thinking about my wish list for this year (and early next!). Right now, there are three things I want:

1) A red dress. Who knew it would be so hard to find the perfect one? 

2) More Mad Men. This past weekend, AMC started re-playing episodes from Seasons 1 through 4, just the reminder I needed that the premiere of Season 5 is coming soon!

3) A vacation in Paris. This trip is tentatively scheduled for early in the new year. Oh la la! 

What's on your holiday wish list this year? 

(Image 1, 2, and 3)

Don't rain on my parade

I love this photo taken years ago at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Did you have a nice holiday? What did you do to celebrate? :)

(Image via Torypedia)

How to Make Apple Pie

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Matt and I decided to take a class and learn how to make a delicious apple pie at One Girl Cookies in Cobble Hill. What a fun night! Francina — our teacher — was incredible (and patient). She really took the time to answer all of our questions, from how to slice the apples to how to apply an egg wash. We made our pies (including the crust) from scratch and even had time to take a wine and cupcake break! The pies pictured above are the end result. Trust me — they taste even better than they look. For an old-fashioned apple pie, try this recipe or this one.

Wishing each of you a happy Thanksgiving. I'll be back next week!

Filming 'Gatsby'

Are you a fan of The Great Gatsby? It has to be one of my favorite books. The fact that Baz Luhrmann is currently shooting a remake of the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire? It's a dream come true! I love the 'sneak peek' photos above. Leo looks incredible — Carey too! I can't believe we have to wait until 2012 for the film to come out. What do you think — will you see the new version of this classic film?

More Gatsby here and here. 

(Image 1, 3, and 4 via PopSugar and Image 2 via The Daily Mail)

An English wedding

There's something about this English wedding — it looks absolutely magical! The enthusiasm of the groom is fantastic, and ever since seeing Tangled last year, there's nothing I find more romantic than sending candle-lit lanterns off into the night sky. It seems very similar to wishing on a star, don't you think? Such stunning pics! 

(Photos via Once Wed)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday! Another weekend ahead — yay! This one is a busy one for me. I'm co-chairing the 2011 Student Communications Career Conference for New York Women in Communications. We are so lucky to have a fantastic line-up of panelists, not to mention keynote speaker Ann Shoket from Seventeen. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Coco draws. 

My next read.

Time to twirl.

The kitchen soundtrack. (Song selection by Kate!) 

Ralphie-approved holiday cards.

A (different kind of) chandelier. 

Red. Red. More red. 

City of light. 

New York jazz.

A thousand words. 

Dandelion dreams. 

(Image via A House in the Hills) 

Glitter nail polish

Love it or hate it? Would you consider wearing glitter polish on your nails? I have to admit — initially, I wasn't a fan of the idea, but after seeing the pics above, I think it can look tasteful. Even fancy. During the holiday season, it seems like a great way to add sparkle to your look.

Deborah Lippman shared her glitter nail polish application tips with Refinery 29. Check out her amazing collection here. Do ya think I'm sexy is my new favorite shade!

(Images via Dream & Dress)

I want candy!

Blame my addiction to Sugar Heaven in Boston — when I recently discovered Dewey's Candy Store in Brooklyn Heights, I was over the moon! This adorable shop, located right next to the Brooklyn Bridge, is stocked with more sugary goodness than you could possible imagine. Choose from chocolate-covered gummy bears (my fave), swedish fish, and more. And if you don't believe me, take your cue from the Gap. Dewey's is the backdrop for Gap Kids' Holiday 2011 "I Want Candy" commercial. So cute!

(Via The City Sage)

Holiday sparkles

Do you send out holiday cards in the mail? If so, how do you choose which card to send? I love spending hours finding exactly the right one. I usually pick a variety — there are so many unique designs to choose from! This year, I'm leaning towards the cards pictured above from Dear Lola. "Have a sparkly holiday season" is exactly what I want to say. It's a message that's sweet, simple and stylish all at the same time.

To my friends and family, if this card shows up in your mailbox, pretend to be surprised! :) 

(Via Camille Styles and Etsy)

The 'Seal' of approval

This made me laugh out loud when I saw it. What a clever take on the "Seal" of approval! Wishing everyone a happy start to their week. :)

P.S. Check out a recent story I did about celebrities aging backwards!

(Via Wit + Delight)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday! I can't believe how quickly this week went by. I always feel this way when Thanksgiving starts to approach — lots to do and so little time to do it in! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? As you know, I'm a huge fan of live jazz, and this weekend, some friends and I are doing a fancy night out at Blue Smoke. I can't wait! Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Taking it to the next level.

A special invitation.

Look Ma! No hands! 

El Capitan. 

Don't forget to play.

DIY wine rack.

Have a sparkly holiday. 

Red and pink (and SJP).

A pirate party! 

(Images via Sho and Tell)

DIY movie night

Is there anything better than a movie night in? Next time you plan one, take your cue from the big screen party above. The host (Camille Styles) didn't let a single detail go by. From the authentic popcorn containers to the vintage movie poster decor, this rooftop party was a success from the start. I especially love the idea to select which movie will be shown democratically by secret ballot. In this case, it was a themed selection in honor of Halloween. If you were hosting a movie night, what films would make your top five list to show? 

(Images via The Glitter Guide)

A planner perspective

Two things you should know about me: 1) I love to plan. 2) I'm old-school about my planning. Even though I have an iPhone — and for the previous five years, a Blackberry — I still prefer to carry a large planner, where I can write everything in (using pencil, not pen!). Maybe that's why I love the planner above from Laurel Denise. It seems to offer the perfect set-up with ample room to write and jot down notes of all kinds. What is your preference? If you keep a date book, do you prefer a hard copy or electronic version of your plans?

(Images via Not Your Average Ordinary)

A starry starry night

How clever is this design idea from Color Me Katie? She was looking for a way to let natural light into her bathroom without creating a peep show for her neighbors and voila! A brilliant solution to the problem. I especially love how the stars look at night — what a peaceful room to unwind in at the end of a long day.

(Images via Color Me Katie)

Macarons in New York

Are you a fan of this delicate and airy French dessert? If so, you should definitely check out this New York Times article from last week. It has me plotting my very own "macaron crawl" around New York — a chance to scope out and taste the best places in the city to enjoy these colorful treats. What do you think? It seems like an adventure to make it to all eight! 

(Image via Seratonin Junkie)

The weekend is here!

Happy weekend dear readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? I'm hoping there is no snow this weekend. My parents got 10 inches of snow, while my little sister on the West coast just laughed and laughed. I'm going on a mini-road trip this weekend to see Princess Diana's dresses on display at Foxwoods. I saw a handful of them before when I was a kid, and was mesmerized by the stories behind each one. I have followed the Royal Family ever since! More details about the exhibit next week, but here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web: 

The cutest lumberjack.

Let your freak flag fly! 

Arf Arf! (This app was made for my friend). 

Celebrities aging backwards.

Dodge the sprinklers!

What color are your rain boots?

For the love of books. 

DIY confetti. 

Jump! 

(Image via Wit + Delight)

Manhattan Murder Mystery

What did you do to survive the snowy, wintery mix from last weekend? I cuddled up indoors and watched Manhattan Murder Mystery, one of the few Woody Allen films that I had never before seen. What a fantastic movie! It was such a treat to watch Diane Keaton and Woody pair up again to give a New York twist to a murder mystery plot. One of the best scenes is when the foursome (pictured above, including Anjelica Huston and Alan Alda) meet up late night at Woody's suggestion to discuss their number one suspect. "It's 1:30 a.m.? This is why we live in New York!" Have you seen the film? What are your favorite ways to get through a snowstorm (or hurricane)?

(Images via IMDB)

The great cookie catastrophe

You know what they say — if it was easy, everyone would do it! I wish that thought entered my mind this weekend before I attempted to make a recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar, a cookbook from New York's very own dessert legend, Christina Tosi. 

The Confetti Cookie recipe looked delicious and relatively easy to make. After a trip to (count them) six different grocery stores, I was ready to bake. All I can say is thank goodness I live in New York, where grocery stores are plentiful and accessible. After botching the first part of the recipe a couple of times, I needed to replenish my previously purchased ingredients. Finally — five hours after the project first began — the dough was mixed, and the Birthday Cake Crumb was prepared. But clearly reading the fine print was essential — "refrigerate [the dough] for up to a week" the recipe says. "Do not bake your cookies from room temperature — they will not bake properly." 

The last photo pictured above is the end result of my labor-intensive efforts: one massive cookie. Sure, there's more dough to work with, but I've made a decision. I'm leaving this one to the experts!

A way with words

Don't you just love the  stationery above from The Black Apple? The designs are so clever, and the expressions — so old-fashioned and sweet! I immediately thought of my friend Jason, who works these words into regular conversation all the time. Both cards are right up his alley! What do you think? Would you send out these designs? 

P.S. Here's another great one!

(Via You Are My Fave)