Happy Holidays

We're signing off til 2012. Like last year, the sisters and I will stay in town for Christmas and spend it with our parents in Queens. Then next week, Alex and I are thrilled (beyond words) to be heading to our favorite place, Miami. Here are some photos of last year's Miami Escapade. :)

What are you all up to? Any special plans for New Years? If we muster the courage, we might go to a club on South Beach. Or stay home eating good luck grapes and watching the countdown on TV.

Hope you all have a fantastic holiday! And as always, THANK YOU for all of your wonderful comments, and for allowing us to share stuff with you. See you next year! xoxo

Oh yeah! And a few fun links for your vacay...

Have you been on the recipe-website, punchfork yet? Go. There. Now.

A lovely excerpt from Miranda July's new book.

Best celeb hair of 2011.

Why doesn't my holiday wrapping ever look as gorg as this?

French onion soup? - yes, please!

Love. Stylish gals in black & white.


(Photo via Foreign Exposures)

Tres hermanitas

Because if anyone appreciates the sisterhood of 3, it's us. Theodora and Lou, the two youngest in a family of three girls, are putting together a book of sisters and currently casting 3 sisters to be featured in their book.

If we lived in Paris, we'd be there in a heartbeat. (Thanks for the info, Llorente sisters!)

Do any of you have sisters? How many? Are you all similar or really different?

Last-minute holiday gifts for the budget-conscious...

Okay, guys. If you're anything like me, a few gifts have not made it to the "checked" list. So, to help with those last minute toughies, here are a few ideas that will make your gift feel personal and thoughtful...almost like you bought it months in advance:)

For your mom...

A personalized photo album of the two of you. What mother doesn't like to reminise about the days when you actually let her choose the clothes you wear. ;)
Kodak photo maker: prices + styles vary

For your dad...

Our Dad loves Woody Allen. He thinks Woody was in his prime in the 70s (which I partially agree with), which makes Woody Allen's stand up CD a perfect gift. Plus, you can play it in the background on Christmas morning while making breakfast. A couple chuckles for all.
Avail. on Amazon ($15) with expedited shipping for Friday delivery.

For your sister...

A gift basket with her fave beauty goodies she's always running out of, including: Esse nail polish, Keratin Complex shampoo + conditioner, Wolford tights (no night out on the town will get thru these!), L'Oreal eye makeup remover, M.A.C. liquid eyeliner, and a copy of Mindy Kaling's giggle-inducing book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me.

For your brother (even though we don't have one!)...

OK, this is my outsider suggestion! But if we had a brother, I would hope he'd be an at home beer-making kit appreciator, avail at William-Sonoma (only $40!)

For your BFF...

A fake voucher for a night out on the town with all your girlfriends. Everyone gets so darn busy in this city, instead of doing the usual catch-up tea or coffee and brunch, you can get your fancy on and head out for a night of dancing and laughing...just like when you first arrived to this crazy city (the thoughtful part would be to make a fake voucher of sorts involving lots of bubble letters and glitter, just like your slumber party invites when you were a kid.)

For the man in your life...

A gift certificate for an old fashioned shave. Because what man doesn't want to feel a little fancy and manly at the same time? And a good shave usually costs no more than $30. For my fellow NY'ers: The Blind Barber

Enjoy the recommendations! 

♥

Tips to Make Your Weekdays a Lil' Easier

Image via Pinterest.

Ever have those weeks where somehow your life creeps up on you and you're not able to manage all the chaos around you? Specifically at home? My typical routine is to clean my room in one major sweep on Sunday so that I feel good about starting the week off right. But somehow, Monday comes around, I get home late and exhausted and I begin to get a little lazy. I may not always hang my clothes or put my shoes away. By Tuesday, there is a small pile of mail cluttering my night table. On Wednesday, the piles of clothes and mail grow. The various outfits I have tried on earlier in the week are strewn across my dresser, sometimes on my shelf, and there's a good chance I've misplaced some jewelry items. (I, for one, can't sleep with my earrings and I always forget to place them in a safe place! Do you do that too?!)

Needless to say, by Friday, you can imagine how much of a nightmare my room is. And that's just one tiny part of my house! Let's not even get started on communal space (although I do have two lovely roommates who are way better at cleaning up than I am. Roommate shoutout!)

So today, I am really loving this little writeup over on Apartment Therapy. They have five simple suggestions to do ten minutes before you go to bed and they are right on. I don't always have the energy to do a major clean up mid-week, so these little steps are easy and can make a big difference. Inspired by their post, here are my five suggestions that I'm going to start doing. A little bit of a New Year's resolution, if you will.

Green Gift Idea

Still have some holiday shopping to do? Here's a good gift idea for urban dwellers looking for a little green in their life. Terrariums! Tassy from Sprout Home has a fun video over on Design Sponge, which explains exactly how to make one on your own. They look beautiful and fun to do!

Have a dreamy weekend!

Happy fin de semana, everyone! I am sure you are as happy as I am that the weekend is finally here. I thought I'd start today's post off with this amazing footage of starlings. Have you seen it? Blows my mind every time. So magical!

What are your plans for the weekend? I may go to this awesome hidden treasure tomorrow, which I'm pretty excited about. And there seems to be a lot of holiday parties, which will be a good opportunity to see all my friends before they go home for the holidays next weekend. The funny thing about living in New York and having our parents here also, is that we're usually the only ones not to leave the city during this time. New York is definitely a transplant city.

Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a wonderful time. (This line feels very Mr. Rogers to me. I'm into it.)

And now some fun links for your weekend.

Podcasts for your holiday travels. 

Yummy shiitake soup recipe on my friend Piera's blog. 

Perfect makeup for weekend holiday parties. This style is pretty too. 

Beautiful gift wrap. 

DIY embroidery is way cool. 

One of our fave things to do is check out cinematographer reels. This one is one of our faves. 

Christmas sweaters. They don't get old. (Thanks for the link, Kati!) 

Awesome new website. Obviously, it's great - guess who is behind it?! 

And in case you missed it, Karina's video for Kntrlr. 

Cheers, y'all! ♥

Shit Girls Say: Episode 1

This is one of the most spot-on hilarious videos about common things girls say. I think we can all relate in one way or another. And it has a nice cameo by Juliette Lewis. Enjoy!

Film: Rachel Getting Married (2008)

A few years ago I saw Rachel Getting Married and for some reason, I wasn't a fan. I forget what I didn't like about it, but since then, I've watched it again and I've realized I was so incredibly wrong. This movie is awesome. Read more about what I think by clicking below.

Fun Photos

I just stumbled upon these photos by Andrew B. Myers over on Design Milk and am totally digging this guy's style. Retro with a good sense of humor. I think my fave is the last one with the two fans. Very cute!

STDs and Unpaid Internships are hilarious...

When you're Lena Dunham. Check out the first teaser for her new HBO series "Girls". Can't wait!

Monday Night Dance Night

This song makes us wish it was Friday night, not Monday night. How can you not move to this sweet tune? I, for one, am so ready for the weekend!

Homemade Holiday Treat Idea

We absolutely love Claire Thomas' website, The Kitchy Kitchen, and today, she's giving us a good idea. Homemade treats for the holidays! We are so doing this.

Holiday Party Dresses

(Asos; $50.90)

(Asos; $105.44)

(Nasty Gal; $88.00)

(Zara; $79.90)

(DKNYC; $139.00)

And since the holiday party season is now in full swing, I thought I'd share five of my fave party dresses... sexy enough to get the cute new guy at the office to notice you, and demure enough to keep you from being the water cooler topic the next day. :) (Although, that red one is a bit over the top!)

P.S. 10 tips to surviving your holiday office party.

The Olsen twins want to dress you

How cool is this? The Olsen twins have a t-shirt of the month club. Fill out a quick, fun survey and receive a cool new tee every month for $29.99 each. Membership makes a unique holiday gift.

Get Styled: StyleMint

36 Years... of Marriage!

Holy cow. Our parents are celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary today. Isn't that crazy sweet?

I finished reading Mindy Kaling's book this weekend and what I loved about it (and identified with) is her love for her parents. She talks about what a role model their relationship is because they are "pals".

Our parents are definitely "pals". They love staying in and watching movies, going to Central Park on the weekends to walk around and eat ice cream, and enjoying life's simple pleasures together.

They truly are an inspiration. Congrats, Mom and Dad!

My Video x Charlie's Band...

Hey DOPT'ers! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. :) I'm really excited to share my newest video for Charlie's band, KNTRLR, which I directed + shot.

I do love sharing our projects with you + hearing your feedback, so enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Woody!

Today's Woody Allen's birthday. He's hands down one of my all-time favorite film directors.

Did you know he almost didn't cast Diane Keaton as Annie Hall because of her height?

Check out this great clip from Woody Allen: A Documentary, by PBS American Masters, which I am going to buy as soon as it becomes available. :)

Watch When Woody Met Diane on PBS. See more from AMERICAN MASTERS.

We're renting our NYC apt for the holidays!

Planning a trip to New York City for New Years Eve? Then consider staying in our apartment! My husband, Alex, and I are renting our spacious (by NYC standards :) 1-bedroom apartment from Dec 27th - Jan 03.

Located in the heart of the meat-packing district, one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods, it's a stone's throw away from the charming West Village, the meat-packing nightlife, and Chelsea's art galleries and shopping destinations.

The apartment sleeps up to 4 adults - perfect for a couple looking for a little more space than the average NYC hotel or for a girls' weekend.

Email me on AirBNB for more info! xo

Film: My Week with Marilyn

Oh! It's finally here. After so much anticipation, My Week with Marilyn, is finally in New York theaters. The film stars Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe. At first I was iffy about her playing the role (really, who could?) but after seeing the trailer, I'm convinced that the film is definitely worth seeing.

Adding a Little Fancy to Your Life

Ever have those days where you just wanna make everything a little bit fancier, a bit more indulgent? Maybe like Sunday breakfast in bed, or a homemade gourmet meal on a weeknight? Well, when you do, you know it's really all about the little things that matter, the fine details. So the next time you're feeling up for it, go ahead and pull those daisies from your (neighbor's) yard for a fun table centerpiece! Use butter instead of olive oil for tastier and creamier eggs! Spruce up your standard toast with a dollop of honey and cinnamon. And the most awesome thing you can do? Take your coffee up a notch and make... latte art!

Now, if you have gone to any independent coffee shop in the last few years or so, you know that latte art isn't new, but it certainly always brings a smile to my face. So imagine making your own latte art at home. I think with the holidays right around the corner, this is the perfect time to get practicing, so that when you go home and see family, you can impress them with your artistically designed post-dinner caffeine jolt. It's so fancy!

Check out Krups' guide to latte art below. And trust me, practice makes perfect!

The Pedro Almódovar Archives

My first Pedro Almódovar film was Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which is I saw in my tenth grade Spanish class. I remember being blown away by the story, the characters, and the dialogue, which was nothing like I had ever seen before. Since then, I have continued to be mesmerized by everything else Almodovar does and now, I'm excited to see that Taschen is releasing probably the coolest book ever in their collection: The Pedro Almódovar Archives. Now you know this is gonna be good! 

With over 600 images, many of which were previously unpublished and some that Almódovar took himself while filming, plus introductions to the films by prominent Spanish authors, this book is a must have for cinephiles. And with that gorgeous binding and cover, can't you just imagine it finding a new home right on your coffee table? Adding it to my Christmas wish list. 

PS: have any of you seen The Skin I Live In yet? I am seeing it this weekend at my new favorite theater, Nitehawk. They serve food and drinks while you watch the movies and their menu is created based on the films they screen. So for example, when I go to this new Almódovar film on Saturday, I plan on having sangria and paella con chicharrone. How cool is that?! 

Are You A Phone Person?

When I was a teenager, I was constantly on the phone with my girlfriends (much to my mom's chagrin). But now that I'm older, and with the easiness (and truthfully, laziness) of texting, I very rarely have phone conversations with anyone. But I do think there is a craft to having a good phone conversation. I think it also provides a closeness that texting and different forms of social media can't offer. 

How about you guys? Do you keep it old school and make phone calls over texting? 

Seasonal Fruits + Veggies

2012 Seasonal Fruits Calendar

Limited Edition Seasonal Vegetable Series - Autumn Cabbage

Limited Edition Seasonal Fuit Series - Autumn Fig

Watermelon table placemats and napkins

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working with a very lovely and talented graphic designer, Sofia Whiddon. She has since launched her own line on Etsy and her work is so beautiful that I wanted to share it with you today. Her line, Sia Designs, is inspired by Batik textiles but instead of the dark brown, indigo and white color schemes, Sofia uses non-traditional bright and vibrant colors.  

I, for one, am dying to get my hands on that calendar! Each month features a different seasonal fruit and I think it would look fab hanging over my stovetop. And with the holidays right around the corner, I think it would also make a great gift. For my friends and family reading this, this is a hint. Take it!

Shop Sofia's store on Etsy here.

Have a dreamy weekend!

Happy Friday, lovelies! Any fun plans this weekend? I'm going to finally see Martha Marcy May Marlene tonight. So many good reviews, I can't wait. Also excited to see an old friend who is in town from LA. Going to the brunch spot, Peels, which looks so incredibly delish. I am so happy it's the weekend!

In lieu of our Friday round-up of links, check out some of my pics from my weekend getaway last weekend for a friend's birthday. It was blissfully relaxing.

Drinkify: Good Tunes + Good Drinks

My awesome friend Diana just introduced me to this super rad website called Drinkify. You put in the tune you're listening to and wham! Drinkify will tell you exactly what drink to pair it with...genius.

"One order of Jack Penate, please."

Tweed Run New York

via NY Mag.
How cute is this Tweed Run? Wish I had seen it in person! Lots of handsome gents and purdy ladies.

Party Dress (New Years Maybe?)

                                                                    (Photo via Ermie)

Even though we have no official New Years plans as of yet, I'm already on the hunt for a fun NYE party dress. Isn't this one adorable?