Boulder Break: and of course, the shopping!

In case you can't tell from the photos I've already posted, this week in Colorado was absolutely freezing! I'm talking bitter cold where walking a block to my favorite shops was almost painful. But, no cold weather will stop me from a little shopping!

Unfortunately, one of my favorite shops, Elena Ciccone, closed last year. And my other favorite store, Chelsea, moved to a smaller space which isn't filled with quite as many goodies as their previous location. Still, I managed to find an adorable Shoshanna dress (which I'll be wearing to my upcoming job interview!).

We also managed a group outing (parents included) to Weekends- a great shop with something for everyone. I love Weekends because it somehow manages to maintain that local to Boulder shop vibe, but also gives off the atmosphere of a department store. It's very big and carries everything from cute nighties to luggage to local jeweler products and fabulous men's coats. They even have an amazing selection of both men's and women's Frye boots- so fun watching my dad buy a pair!

I finally found a great army green jacket. I've been hunting for one all season and even returned one recently to H&M. The (soon to be seen) new one has fabulous lace detailing. I wish it wasn't so cold already so I could get a few days in with it.

Me bundled up doing a quick window preview of Chelsea's new location

Weekends on Pearl St., looking gorgeous with the recent Christmas lights

Overall, I'd prefer to spend money on the amazing restaurants as opposed to the shops. But it's nice to find things that aren't available all over the internet. Here in Boston, I prefer to scope out the stores and then hunt down deals online. But both pieces I bought in Boulder seem much harder to find.

Boulder Break: Other local restaurant highlights

The past week was basically spent eating out at all our favorite Boulder restaurants. For those not familiar with this town, the local restaurant scene is incredible. We had amazing meals at the fairly recently opened Cafe Aion, Sushi Zanmai, and of course The Kitchen.

Scott used to work at The Kitchen so this is a favorite of ours. We were regulars at this place while living in Boulder, and I still would like to remain at that status. Every meal is amazing and the service and overall atmosphere never disappoints. Plus they have my favorite martini in town- the Lychee Martini. Deliciously strong...don't have too many.

A major highlight of the trip- Frasca Food and Wine. The company and food was so mesmerizing that I unfortunately had no time to snap photos. But the memories remain strong in my mind. This restaurant is more than a meal- it's a truly amazing experience. It's worth a trip to Boulder for this alone.

We also enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the Greenbriar Inn- a beautiful set Boulder restaurant. I was a little sad that we didn't have a home cooked Thanksgiving, but it was still quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, we don't have a fridge filled with leftovers (which I could go for right about now).

Right next to our hotel and my favorite spicy tuna rolls in town. Also a great place for karaoke and birthday dinners.

Me with the crew at our favorite place, The Kitchen. I bought a new Droid phone and was a bit glued to it all week.

Enjoying delicious mimosas at Thanksgiving brunch

The Red Couch

And back to reality from the wonderful world of fine dining...we're moving on Wednesday! Yes, that happened so fast that I don't even have to unpack from our trip because I'm going to unpack in the new apartment. Pretty exciting huh?

After two trips to IKEA, Scott and I had a bold thought- we picked out a great sleep sofa which we love and that comes in many colors. Having just sold our classic brown leather sofa and a few other pieces of neutral decor, we decided to go bold. We're getting the sleep sofa in RED. This is big for us...



So now we've been debating on the rest of the room. We're buying all new furniture which has pretty much been picked out, but we keep debating on coloring. We've picked out shelves but should we go with lighter wood or darker wood? Or combo of both? I'm kind of picturing a black, white and red thing going on, but white furniture seems kind of cold. And let's not forget that we have a cat and a dog, so white is an all around recipe for disaster.

We're leaning towards light birch wood shelving/TV station, but dark black wood for the coffee table and end tables. The rug is still undecided.

Any suggestions?

Boulder Break Continues: Orgasmic Hapa

Yes, the word "orgasmic" is featured in my title. But, if you've ever been to Hapa in Boulder, you would understand.

I am very picky about my raw fish and would never deem Hapa as the best sushi place (especially now that I live near the coast and have access to much fresher fish). That being said, the Multiple Orgasm Roll (the official name) at Hapa is unlike any other. It consists of cream cheese, crab meat, and smoked salmon and is fried and then baked in a "luscious cream sauce." I know...super fattening, but sooooo good. It's extremely rich and can almost be looked at as a savory dessert.

I couldn't visit Boulder without having this roll, so we went for a quick late night snack and shared the Multiple Orgasm Roll and an order of the Pork Gyoza. Perfect snack for two.

Also try the Foreplay Roll, Climax Roll, and Orgasm Roll for a less rich but still delicious variation on this masterpiece. If you can't tell from the names of the rolls, this place is definitely fun.

Boulder Break

Just got back from a much needed relaxing week in Boulder, Colorado...our home, sort of. I used the opportunity to get a new do at my favorite salon- Twig Salon which has been open for about a year and a half. It was great to go back and see them already renovating for more salon space. Glad to see the salon getting well deserved popularity!

Also rushed in for a visit to Ten20 for a mani and pedi. While I have found places here in the Boston area which I love (Nails & Co. in Medford and Miniluxe in Boston), I'm definitely wishing there was a place nearby like Ten20. It's the only salon I've been to where you sit on actual comfortable chairs and couches and watch shows like Ellen, Sex and the City, Friends and Project Runway on a big flat screen TV while getting your feet pampered. And they also provide you with soda and m&m's. Doesn't seem like such a hard concept, but Ten20 is the only place I know of like this. The prices are a bit high, but it's a must if you're in Boulder.

Perhaps there's a similar place in the Boston area? Please let me know if I'm missing out on something!

Studio Five Showroom Opening

I've been extremely sick all week but peeled myself out of bed for this event which I'd been really looking forward to. A friend of mine just added this amazing showroom as an extra element to her fashion and lifestyle PR firm. She threw a very classy opening, filled with champagne and delicious bite sized hors d'oeurves.

The recently renovated space is a new showcase to up and coming, independent designers. It is by appointment/event only, mainly for buyers, stylists, and media.

The space had a great contemporary loft/warehouse feel to it. And there were some amazing pieces. Congrats to Jessica deGuardiola...The place looks amazing...

One of my faves was the accessories line- ICU IN PARIS. Some amazingly unique pieces of jewelry. And I especially loved the python clutches.

Also fell deep in love with this jacket by Emily Muller (last photo). I may need to follow-up and try this one on...

New Neighborhood

We went by the new apartment one last time before the move-in to take final measurements. It was a typical Fall day, cloudy and gray. But in the new neighborhood, it was still beautiful. It's funny how a gray day can actually be pretty in the right setting. I love this area and can not wait another second to live here...

City Birthday

Friday was Scott's 25th birthday. We went to a restaurant we'd been wanting to try since our first visit to Boston, City Table. We'd walked by it many times and the ambiance and menu had reminded us both of the local fresh restaurants which we had loved so much in Boulder.

The restaurant is located in the Lenox Hotel (which also has a very fun looking bar inside- City Bar. Next on our list to try). We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table even with a reservation, which was a little disappointing, but we stayed entertained snapping photos in the beautiful Lenox lobby, and people watching the trendy, Saturday night City Bar-goers (lots of Chanel bags to oogle at).

Elizabeth and James dress, Kara Ross bracelet, Brooke Gregson necklace, YSL shoes, Balenciaga clutch

It was tough deciding what to order. The menu at City table is a perfect balance of light and heavy, cheese and meats, salads and soups. There's classic steak and potatoes, but also fish with an Asian flair. Whatever you're in the mood for, they've got it.

After ordering a bottle of wine, we shared two starters- the Prosciutto and Burrata salad, and the Whipped Feta:



The Whipped Feta had a little too much pita for such a small amount of dip (and we'd already munched on bread and butter as well). I'd hoped it would be more of a cheese than a dip, but the roasted red pepper was the dominant flavor where I was hoping for a stronger feta taste. But it was still a delicious starter.

The Prosciutto and Burrata dish was exceptional. The mixture of tender salty prosciutto, with the sweet bitterness of the grapefruit was delicious. The fig reduction was a bit strong, but it was balanced nicely by the creamy burrata. I will definitely order this again.

For dinner I ordered the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast and Scott had the Sirloin.





The chicken was light and just what I was in the mood for. I didn't love the potato cakes it came with, which were a bit dry and dense, but the flavor, spices and tenderness to the chicken were excellent. I did find myself wishing that my chicken had come with the gratin potatoes that Scott's steak came with. I'm a potato lover in general, but throw cheese and cream in with potatoes and you've got my idea of perfection. And the cabernet sauce with the marrow butter on the sirloin was an amazing combination. The steak was cooked to a perfect pinkish red, just the way we like it.

It was a great meal and I have no doubt that we will be regulars here...especially once we live about 4 blocks away. Can't wait!

Ode to IKEA

We took our first preliminary run to IKEA this week just to get started on some initial ideas. No buying...just looking.

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but before moving to Massachusetts, I was an IKEA virgin. I'll never forget our first trip there. We had spent the entire day running around to places like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Costco....looking for furniture, rugs, and all other household items. Running around to these stores was stressful, unpleasant, and all around unsuccessful.

At about 7:30 PM, we decided to drive the extra 20 minutes to a store we had heard such great things about, IKEA. We did not know what to expect but it wasn't long before we realized that we could have easily spent the entire day there and it may have actually been an efficient and enjoyable day (and getting there about an hour before closing time was just not going to cut it).

Seriously, this store is like another planet- a planet where furniture is well-priced, looks nice, and feels like high quality. The store is designed as more than just a store- it's an experience.

I vowed then and there to never step into Bed Bath and Beyond again.

We're looking for sleeker furniture that's not too bulky but still provides storage space. The idea is to buy things that we can take with us easily when we end up moving again, and that we will actually want to take with us. (selling everything on Craigslist all week has NOT been fun)

Some initial ideas:

I love these Billy bookcases. I currently use these for my shoes (seen here) but I'm thinking one more set like this would be perfect for my bags...and I love the glass doors:


Scott's on a mission to find small, bucket-like chairs like these. They're a good space saver and have a fun retro look, but these in particular weren't the most comfortable:



Obsessed with this idea! This L-shaped couch pulls out into a bed (seen here in full bed form), and the right side of it (forming the "L") actually lifts up for storage space! Soooo great, right? Unfortunately we don't think an L-shaped sofa is best for our space, and the color of this is hideous in my opinion:


Again, a different type of Billy bookcase. They are made so well and are not too deep or wide. This would be a great storage solution for near the TV in the living room:


Bedroom drawer sets galore! We will probably get some combination of 2-3 of these pieces for the bedroom (I especially love the skinny one on the left where the top opens into a mirror):


And, my favorite part of IKEA- amazing closet solutions. These are not the practical pieces we need to buy because they will be a PAIN to assemble and an even bigger pain to move when the time comes to move again. Still, I love admiring the different types of closet storage assemblies they have. On some level, I prefer these to a walk-in closet. This first one below is so large with so many different cabinets, it's almost like each door creates it's own little room! (and yes, with a hefty price tag)


I love this hanging solution for pants. I'm always struggling to find the proper way to store jeans:


Wishing I could take this home...but knowing that it's not practical or economical for our current situation...

Theory pants, Stuart Weitzman boots, American Colors by Alex Lehr plaid shirt, Balenciaga bag and jacket 

Weekend Stripes

I'm sure I've mentioned my current love for sailor stripes. It's definitely one of my new favorite trends. I bought this tee last weekend at Zara and wore it into the city this weekend to meet the owner of our new apartment. Since we had friends in from out of town, plans were a bit up in the air and I wanted to add an extra pop to the outfit so that it could take me into Saturday night as well.

I added this Chanel men's neck tie in to add a mixture of colors and stripes. I fell in love with this tie on Ebay a few months ago for it's men's style with a feminine touch. It's made of a gorgeous woven silk. Personally, I think this tie was made for a woman and it's one of my favorite accessories. I've worn it multiple times actually tied as a men's tie; and it was perfect in my hair for this past 4th of July. Since it was so chilly out this weekend, I threw it on as a skinny scarf. I love it with this tee.

Zara tee, True Religion jeans, Fiorentini and Baker boots, Balenciaga jacket, Allsaints sweater, Chanel tie, Chanel bag

Was also so excited to wear my Fiorentini and Baker bi-boots for the first time this season. I bought these last year and they are the perfect casual boots...not too flat, but a small and comfortable heel. The shaft snaps off of these so they can be worn as booties too. What more can you ask for?

We're Moving!

It's official. We signed a lease today and come December 1st, we will be moving into the city. We found an amazing apartment in the perfect area for us. However, it is MUCH smaller than anything we are used to. We lived in a 2 bedroom in Colorado, and we currently live in a single family house. Our new apartment is a one bedroom- 610 sq. feet.

So, it's time to sell all our furniture and majorly consolidate. We will need practical, space saving furniture. As a very organized friend once told me, a table with 4 legs is useless. Every piece must double as storage space.

Here are some space saving tips and some pieces I've got my eye on:


A platform bed frame is such a sleek look, and a great way to avoid that clutter under the bed. I especially love the contemporary look of this one, and the extra drawer space is an incredibly useful touch.



A relatively small coffee table with extra shelving is a great space saver. And I love the look of this one.


If you haven't seen one of these in person, I got the chance today and was completely obsessed! This kitchen table can go from a full size table with 4 chairs, to a completely neatly folded shelf that is less than a foot deep. The chairs fold up and fit inside the table. Since our new kitchen has a breakfast bar, we don't need a kitchen table out all the time. But this is perfect for entertaining, and just to keep our options open.


These little lamps that attach to the wall are perfect for just above the bed. They look so cute and reduce the clutter of a lamp on the night stand. And if I have a number one goal in this project, it is to reduce all clutter. Everything must have a place.

So, there will be no clothing and accessories purchases for me for a while. All my focus will be on home decor. Stay tuned...

Colors and Patterns part 2: For the Feet

Last month I posted here about my love for open toe shoes paired with socks or tights. And just yesterday, I posted some inspiring Tommy Ton photos for style.com.

How can I resist some more photos highlighting this fabulous trend?











All photos by Tommy Ton for Style.com. See full slide show here


I especially love the last two photos, and those embellished socks are amazing. These are all some happy feet...don't you think?

Colorful Eye Candy from Tommy Ton

Bright colors and patterns (and especially the mixing of the two) are not my wardrobe specialty. I tend to stick to neutrals, but throw in a bright bag, shoes, or funky jewelry to add character and put the "me" spin on it.

The photo special that Style.com is running on Tommy Ton's street style photos is totally inspiring me to branch out. Runway's are showing bright colors mixed with even brighter colors, and patterns over patterns. And the trend is spreading...fast.

These are today's photos which particularly caught my eye (note to self: buy something red immediately) :
























All photos by Tommy Ton for Style.com. See full slide show here