Bordeaux-colored nails

Do you have a go-to holiday nail color? I think that Bordeaux is so stylish and elegant. Plus, it looks polished for work, but perfectly transitions to evening (and party-hopping). 'Tis the season for being cozy and drinking red wine, so really a Bordeaux-inspired hue just makes sense. ;)

After weeks of trial and error at my local nail salon, I've finally found a shade that's not too red, not too brown: Lacy not Racy by Essie. It's just right. 

Do you have a favorite nail color this time of year?

PS: Why short nails are chic. 

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Movie Page: Austenland

Have you seen Austenland? I am a huge Keri Russell fan, and actually intended to see this when it was in theaters last summer, but missed it. It's such a sweet film! In it, Keri plays Jane, a woman who dreams of living in the fictional worlds that author Jane Austen creates. When she finds a vacation package that allows her to literally play the part, she drops everything to go and fulfill her fantasy in real life. 

The film is quirky and romantic—and quite funny, too. I highly recommend, especially if you're looking for something uplifting to beat the winter blues. :)

PS—More Keri Russell here and here.

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A winter pick-me-up

I was so excited to come across this item over at Provisions by Food52. As a kid, hot water bottles were a cure for a stiff neck, but also a type of winter comfort food. I loved when my mom would take the time to boil water and fill it up, then tuck us into bed with it. There is nothing cozier than positioning one of these beneath your feet on a cold winter night. It's like your own at-home spa treatment. The best! 

(Images via Food52)

A winter walk

My devoted readers know: Brooklyn Bridge Park is my favorite spot in my new neighborhood, snow or not. Over the weekend, Matt and I decided to go for a quick hike and test out the new SLR camera(!) I got for my birthday. Nothing beats a winter sunset in New York. My toes were icicles by the time we made it up to Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar (the spot we chose to warm up), but it was completely worth the walk. A bonus: We got to check out the newest section of the park!

We learned something, too—the park's suspension bridge in the winter wind shakes. A lot. :)

Hope you enjoyed the snowy weekend!

More Brooklyn Bridge Park here, here and here.

Cozy (and pretty!) ear muffs

So, I'm sort of crushing on a super fuzzy, warm-looking pair of ear muffs right now, available from J.Crew. I don't really wear winter hats (blame the hat hair), but the temps in New York are dipping—fast. I need something that's semi-stylish to protect my ears from the cold.

What do you think? Would you wear ear muffs?

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Sledding in New York

For those who live in New York and New England, did you survive Nemo okay? With both my cousin and best friend in Massachusetts about to welcome newborns—and a parking ban in effect there—it certainly was eventful tracking the storm! Matt and I did fine in the city. In fact, we got up early Saturday and decided to take advantage of the fresh blanket of snow by heading over to Fort Greene Park to go sledding. As you can see above, we weren't the only ones with that idea. Those kids were fearless—and certainly owned the hill—but we had a blast. Definitely a fun way to weather the storm!

What did you do during Nemo? And how much snow did you get?

More of my snowstorm pics here. 

Baby it's cold outside

What do you do to warm up during the winter? Sadly, my New York-sized apartment doesn't include a fireplace, so I focus on the next best thing: Flannel pajamas. The pair pictured above was a Christmas gift from my sister (she got me this pair in red, too!)—and I love them. They are cozy and stylish, but lightweight enough that you don't overheat while sleeping. The perfect pair! :)

More winter here and here and here.

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The best winter salad (ever)

Trust me: This recipe for Balsamic Roasted Winter Squash and Wild Rice Salad is perfect. Courtesy of the New York Times, I stumbled across it about a month ago, and I'm so thankful I did. Something magical happens when squash and balsamic vinegar mix. Place it on top of arugula with a bit of wild rice, and you'll find one of the most delicious—and satisfying—recipes you've ever tried. The toughest part is chopping up the squash. :)

Do you have any fun, new go-to winter recipes to share?

More cooking here and here.

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Shopping Page: Winter Coat

The chilly weather has arrived in New York, and as a result, I'm on the lookout for a new fall coat. But I can't decide: Should I brighten things up with a blue hue like the J.Crew coat above, or opt for classic black or gray, a neutral color scheme that's a bit more classic and chic?

Would love your fashion advice on this — and if you know of any cute coats worth checking out, do tell!

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Winter daydream

Winter officially arrives next week, and I must admit — I'm dreaming of summer warmth and the sand. It's not that I hate snow, but when it gets dark in New York at 4:45 p.m., I can't stop thinking about those long summer days. What do you do to get through the winter months? Are you a snow bunny or do you love the hot, summer heat?

(Image 1 via B for Bonnie; Image 2 via Bleubird)

Meet Mona

Now that it gets dark out so much earlier in the day, I can't stop thinking about unique ways to add pops of color to my wardrobe to brighten things up. Case in point: the Mona pump. I love the variety of shades it comes in, especially the pink suede. How would you assess your fall/winter wardrobe? Is it filled with neutrals or lots of color?

(Images via NotCot)

Beach day

Today marks the first day of winter in New York, but don't you kinda sorta wish you could still play at the beach? Check out these adorable shots of Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. Such style and beauty, even with the salty ocean breeze in her hair!

(Via dansmonboudoir)

The perks of being a puppy

No, there isn't any snow in New York just yet, but how cute is this puppy living it up in all the white, fluffy goodness that surrounds him? This little guy is too adorable for words. 

(Photos courtesy of Blooming Leopold)