mary green, ooh la la

everyone knows they secretly (or not so secretly) have some really heinous pajamas. maybe flannel with cupcakes on them ala liz lemon. maybe a free oversized t-shirt from the beer promoters during spring break '99. maybe old sweatpants tucked into socks.

mix up your heinous bedtime duds with this gorgeous nouveau retro stretch silk satin teddy by lingerie designer mary green for $60.50. so retro and so sexy. sorry guys, i searched high and low for a coupon code and couldn't find one. if anyone knows of one, please post it in the comments section.

20% off kate spade

kate spade's shoes, papergoods and home decor items are always at the top of my want list (especially her larabee dot china...we registered for it, obviously). i recently had to run to the store for calendar refills for my planner (yes, i'm old school) and found this 20% off coupon while looking up the store address. score! i die for these shoes...*sigh*

above: sheldon shoes, $395 ($317 with coupon)

above: larabee dot frame, $90 ($72 with coupon)

impressed by ann taylor

ann taylor recently got a new head designer and i must say that i'm pleasantly surprised. i went in this past weekend for a new interview suit and i found myself trying on a whole bunch of items from pants to dresses to jackets. these are just a few of my faves.

above: silk crepe confection top, $95

above: large ruffle bag, $295

above: ribbon neck sweater, on sale for $49 (i saw it in store for less)

above: grosgrain strapless dress, $240

full priced items are a little high but not to worry...ann taylor ALWAYS has sales (in store and online) and their couponing is outrageous. sign up for emails to receive them first-hand. dying for something but they don't have your size? call 1.800.DIAL.ANN and they'll find it/ship it from a store.

ps. LOFT is having a huge sale right now with an additional 25% off sale items. some good stuff!

i love you, new york...

...but i gotta leave you. i cannot believe this is my very last day in new york. i'm going to miss randomly seeing fireworks over the river on any given night, the he/she in the village who wears head-to-toe white, walking everywhere, bagels, sample sales, being surrounded by water, my view of downtown...and on and on and on.

the movers are packing our apartment today and once the last box is in the truck, nick and i are jumping in our car to start our journey down to teeeeexas (i'm saying that with a texas accent). we're stopping in nashville and memphis on the way and i'm hoping to be able to share pictures asap.

i'll try to keep blogging while on the road but forgive me if i'm late one day. it means i'm probably in the middle of america with no wi-fi.

onward!

above: "leaving new york" oil painting by patrick madden

custom return address stamp

having moved apartments 800 times in the last 10 years, i've never purchased one of these personalized return address stamps for myself. but i think they're the perfect "congratulations on buying your first home" gift. use coupon code MSL99 for 40% off from expressionary.com, turning the $53 price tag into $31.80. there are tons of beautiful designs to choose from but here are a few i like.

above: frances stamp

above: gabby stamp

above: three designing women kappa kappa gamma stamp (don't worry, it doesn't come with the sorority on it...unless you want it)

winter white

i love wearing white, so when labor day rolls around every year i immediately think of ways to incorporate white into my winter wardrobe.

one of my favorite ways to do so is a white dress paired with opaque black tights, boots and my boyfriend blazer. these are just a few examples of dresses i'd wear in that exact scenario. i just purchased the peeeerfect white dress with rosette detailing from forever 21 and unfortunately can't find it on their website. hate it when that happens.

below: lulus.com natural cocktail dress in cream, $34

below: prairie ny charlie stone-yoke dress, $232

below: lulus.com fanfare two tone dress, $39

below: lulus.com regal regina dress, $37

i also never miss out on a chance to wear a white top layered under cardigans and topped with a high-waisted belt. these are two tops in my own closet that are regulars in the rotation with dark jeans and a cardi.

below: forever 21 pintucked and crocheted top, $17.80

below: forever 21 sleeveless ruffle top, $17.80

p.s. if there's ever something on lulus.com that you like but they don't have your size, check back often. they get new sizes in daily.

john derian decoupage

i've never been one to seek out decoupage. but when my friend risa gave me a gorgeous john derian plate as a housewarming gift, i was sold. somewhat of a celebrity in the art of decoupage, john derian's home accessories are charming and different. he handmakes all sorts of items including plates, platters, trays, paperweights, coasters, lamps, bowls and vases. i've gotten lost on his website, there's so much good stuff to choose from.

risa gave me a 5 3/4" round plate with a D on it (for my last name) and i think of her when i set my jewelry on it every night. a really great gift idea from a well-known new york artist...even though some of the price points are a little higher than i'd typically like...but...i mean...he was featured in elle decor...

below: a-z red capital letters 5 3/4 plate $44

below: painted lily tray $165

below: trademark (skull and bones) paperweight $60

below: tree of life 5 3/4 plate $48

below: fern spray paperweight $60

long and lean exercise tops (genius name)

we all want to be long and lean...and i am a huge fan of this long and lean exercise top by champion for target. it's stretchy and made with really thin fabric very similar to underarmor. plus, the cut of it is almost miraculous - it makes me look long and lean and i'm certainly not. it's not too tight yet not too loose and skims over the waist like a dream. i've tried many a brand-name yoga and wicking tops and these beat all of them - and the price is a lovely $14.99 and it comes in all sorts of colors and patterns (including pink for breast cancer awareness month). i heart you, target.

the easiest and best chili ever

yes, another excuse to use my le creuset french oven. this chili recipe is not only the easiest ever but it is also the most delicious. nick and i made a batch over the weekend and it disappeared really fast. i *miiiiight* use it as an excuse to eat lots of cheddar and sour cream...

ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey
  
• 1 onion, chopped
  
• 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
  
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 4 (14 1/2 ounces each) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 (16 ounces each) cans kidney beans

directions:
cook ground turkey in the french oven over medium heat until browned and cooked through; drain any liquid. mix in remaining ingredients. cover and cook on medium-low heat for two hours or until onion and pepper are soft (keep at a simmer). stir occassionally while simmering. taste for spice and add additional chili powder or cumin as desired. serve in bowls topped with shredded cheddar and sour cream to taste.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

if there's one staple in my winter wardrobe that i couldn't live without, it'd be my black a-line wool coat with big @ss gold buttons. this will be the third year in a row wearing it (probably a record for someone as fickle as i am with clothing) and i've had to reattach almost all of the buttons at one time or another. i have a few other coats that i work into the rotation but this one is definitely my go-to. it's from victoria's secret and is on sale for $149.

below are some others that i like, too. the ruffle one on top is on sale for $129 and so is the military one on the bottom. they both come in a few other colors as well.


don't forget about the VS shopping tips i provided last time! i wonder if i'll ever wear it again once i move to austin?

running errands: the look for less

i think kristin cavallari has effortless and relaxed socal style. i saw this photo and i enjoy the look for running weekend errands - so i set out to put together her look for less. i'd love to be able replicate it exactly but her a.l.c. military leather jacket goes for $1,195...ouch.


clockwise from top left:

• aerosoles ride line boots, $89
• american apparel cotton spandex jersey leggings, $26
• old navy v-neck cotton tee, $10
• vintage vera blue yellow and white long scarf, $7.99
• express (minus the) leather studded jacket, $118

outfit grand total = $250.99. i think i love that vera scarf.

outfit inspired by interior design

i came across this room photo and decided to create an outfit inspired by it. love the purple ceiling and the design on the floor.


clockwise from left:

• lipsy london studded corset tulip dress, 65 pounds
• anique michelle A+D clutch, $19
• bottega vaneta white onyx square ring, $540
• michael antonio lea shoes, $50
  

now all i need is somewhere to go.

slightly obsessed with this magnet

how funny is this magnet?! i was chuckling out loud when i first found it. i like the idea of strategically placing this magnet on the fridge over a photo of my two year old nephew or cousin on her wedding day. just as the website says, "what a way to gussy up those picture perfect smiles."

get your own from the small object for $6 each.

victoria's secret...sweaters?

yes, victoria's secret sells sweaters. sounds counterintuitive, no? i've purchased plenty of clothing from VS in my time but in all honesty have never purchased a sweater. these are just a few that strike my fancy now that the weather has turned ice cold.

above: hooded toggle-button bomber sweater (pictured here in vanilla bean, also available in bark heather), on sale for $59

above: cableknit oversized wrap sweater coat (pictured here in charcoal heather, also available in winter white and black), on sale for $49

above: trapeze turtleneck sweater (pictured here in sugar cookie heather, also available in fuchsia and black), $78. that weird brooch thing is removable, phew.

above: italiam merino wool ruffle-trim long cardigan (pictured here in burgundy heather, also available in bark heather, medium heather grey and black), on sale for $79

tips:

• if you shop online don't forget to go through MyLuckyRewards for 2% cash back.
  
• VS always has multiple coupon codes at once and these are some i found: "FA918649" for $15 off $100/$30 off $150/$150 off $500; "SAVE20" for 20% off one item; "FREE100" for free shipping on orders over $100.
  
• rather than attempt to hunt down and mix and match coupons online i like to call 1.800.888.8200 and order with a real human instead. their staff is super nice and always helps you find the best promo code combinations so you get the best deal.
  

30% off f&f coupon for nine west

print and use the nine west coupon above to receive 30% off regular price merch and an additional 20% off sale merch! valid today (thursday 10/15) through sunday 10/18. if you can't see the coupon code for online purchases, it's "NWFRND6X".

what would i buy? three of my picks are below.

above: ijssel, regular price $89


above: zoey, regular price $79

above: elkie, regular price $89