Lately...

Hello, imaginary readers!

IT. IS. SO. COLD.

Today has got to be the coldest day so far this winter. Currently 6 degrees out but feels like -10 out. BRAIN CANNOT COMPREHEND!!!

So on official news, I'm OFFICIALLY on a shopping moratorium (why am I always on one?!).

It was supposed to begin on February 1st.

Of course, due to the extreme cold here in NYC, I freaked out on February 6th, went on J. Crew's website and ordered 2 sweaters (love them!) and a pair of wool work pants I had been eyeing (Minnie pant in bi-stretch wool). I already owned the olive and got the black to be practical).

Image source: Lyst

For these pants, I recommend sizing UP one size for looser fit (my usual size was too tight on my butt). Then, I wear a pair of tights/leggings under it for extra warmth.

Speaking of leggings under pants - These have been LIFE CHANGING!

FLEECE-LINED LEGGINGS.

I don't know how I went through 5 winters in NYC previously without them. I just got a regular ol' pair on sale at Lord and Taylor (one size fits all).

(YIKES, this is my 6th winter in NYC?! It can't be... but it is...)

Last weekend, while in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, frolicking with friends on a "warm" (mid-30 degree temps!) weekend - my best friend and I stopped in Beacon's Closet - only the BEST thrift store I've EVER been to. They have the most curated selection with the best pricing. I have NEVER walked out of there empty handed, and on this Saturday evening (7:30 PM, after a day of day-drinking at Brooklyn Bowl), it was no exception.

I walked out with my first Rebecca Taylor piece - a long blue cardigan ("I can wear it to work!") new with tags, an '80s sweater that I'm swearing I can pull off (he he he), a Theory silk blouse good for work, and a J. Crew standard blue striped button down. ... Love it! But broke my moratorium.

As far as other pursuits...

After years of over-cooking my soft boiled eggs and being upset about it, I finally decided to just look it up online - and I'm glad I did! This was immensely helpful. Turn off the heat after boiling, cover with lid for 4 minutes yields the perfect still soft-yolk egg! Hooray!

Image source: The Kitchn

I've also been on a KICK making these - healthy banana chocolate chip muffins!! They are DELISH! The first round, I used too much banana, so they were a bit mushy (which were good) - but second time around, they're perfectly chewy.

Now, if I could only get Nick to eat them...

Image source: The Balanced Blonde/The Blonde Vegan

I just used regular oats (since I had them, and I'm not a gluten free eater) and regular chocolate chips (again, Dairy is my middle name, can't be doing dairy free). I used almond butter like the recipe called for.

For Valentine's Day on Saturday, I made this recipe: CROCKPOT BRAISED BEEF RAGU WITH POLENTA - Huge success, probably one of the best things I've EVER made.

Image source: Me

Today's a DAY OFF so I think I will try to be productive... I'm off!

xoxo

Jane

Happy New Year!

Hope you (imaginary reader) had a nice celebration last night, ringing in 2015. My night certainly took a surprising turn!

My friends' original plan - the fancy Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel in NYC - didn't end up working out so well this year. While we didn't have a table reservation, last year, my friends were able to get in as long as they showed up early. This year, the bar wouldn't allow it, which we didn't discover until we showed up :(.

... Somehow, a couple of hours later, we found ourselves at an exclusive NYC club in Chelsea - No. 8 (formerly Bungalow 8, if you remember from Sex and the City!), seated at a table with bottle service on the 2nd floor, overlooking the main floor.

Like, what!? ... Okay, it wasn't quite "somehow" - I know my friend Louis must have pulled SO many strings to get us in!

Our table overlooked this area. It was so much fun!

I wish I got a photo documenting of my full outfit. I wore a sparkly silver jacket with scallops down the front edges (thrifted), Club Monaco faux leather leggings (best pants ever), and a simple black tee. Plus these sweet black Steven almost-wedge heeled booties (adorable but hurt my feet by the end of the night :( ...).

Image source: Lyst

Most of the photos of the night were... blurry. :) Here I am documenting my love for SHAKE IT OFF (YAY TAYLOR SWIFT!).

Today, as I nursed myself back to health, I tried to reflect a bit on 2014 - and resolutions for 2015.

Each year, I seem to make the SAME resolutions - and this year is no different: Read more, lotion more, stretch and exercise more, take care of my face, save & invest more, buy less / focus on quality. And figure out my job/career...

One thing that I'm proud of/excited about: skiing for the first time in December!! Nick and I finally took a ski trip this year (after years of saying we would do it but never did...), traveling to Killington, VT. Nick wanted to teach me at first, but thank goodness we went with the adult first-timer lessons offered by the mountain. Nick was helpful though -- he kept saying to me, It's all about conquering your fears; part of skiing is physical but part of it is mental.

Image source: Pintrest

Hopefully, I can "conquer more fears" in 2015. I want 2015 to kick ass!

AND... more posts to come!

Absence not excused!

I think I must treat blogging as a winter activity... when it's too cold to be outside, I'm huddled by the fire I mean heater! September through December is pretty insane at work, but I'm hoping to slow down a bit the last few weeks in December. We're aiming to go skiing around Xmas - we need to make some reservations! Anyways, I'll pick this back up soon!

Unsuccessfully resisting fall

Makes me sad! Summer flew by (as it does every year) - and I tried my best to take advantage of the sun and warmth as much as I could.

(But maybe not as much as Nick, who spent almost every weekend in June and July in Central Park, trying to build a tan...)

Now it's the third week of September, and the temperature is cooling off already in New York.

As much as I want to resist it, my mind is wandering into the fall/winter category...

and I came across THIS! as I browsed Zara's website:

Image source: Zara

Look familar?!

... very similar to THIS! that I loved so much from Anthro last year:

Image source: Anthropologie

 

Anyways, let's see if I can drag out my summer wardrobe for a few more weeks...

 

:)

Best dress



Last week, I wore the best dress.

 

Image source: Gap

 



Granted, an elder hispanic man sitting in his walker did look at me and say, "Lovely." when I walked by...

But really, I wore this (with a little shapewear underneath) and got (other) amazing compliments from friends!

And it's a great deal right now. $20?!

Change in life

Image source: Pintrest

I'm a relatively new fan of Humans of New York, and last month, I came across a photo with this quote:

"I have this theory. You ready? So we are on earth for a finite amount of time. And time is a manmade perception. And we perceive time passing through change— seasons, aging, things like that. So to expand our time on earth, we must incite as much change in our lives as possible."
"Interesting. I haven’t heard that before."
"That’s because I made it up!"

It got me thinking.

I've come to realize I'm terrified of big changes. Could be why I'm still in the same job as when I graduated; or I luckily haven't been laid off yet.

I'm not seeking or asking for change for the sake of change...

But how do I know when it's time to take the plunge?

GOT A TRENCH!

Remember how obsessed I was with oversized pink coats?! Well, after trying on a few... I realized: Not the look for me. Way too trendy. I would just look ridiculous walking around in it.

I did, however, take the plunge on a gorgeous new khaki trench!

It's not perfect... like, I would have liked some classic horn buttons vs. a zipper.

However, it's pretty darn close. I love how simple it is, it's a great weight (not waterproof, but will keep me warm), and it has those extra flaps I love on the front right and on the back.

I was in SoHo shopping last week with a friend when I stopped by French Connection, saw the coat, put it on - and then felt instant chicness!!! You know that's a good sign.

Despite the "convenience" of online shopping - browsing the endless options, sizes, colors, brands from the comfort of your couch, sometimes there's something to be said for going in store, trying it on, looking in the mirror and thinking, This. Rocks.

Here it is:

French Connection trench coat