Here Is to You Old Friend

I can not thank you enough for what you have given me.

You brought me back to life, then encouraged me to live it to its fullest.

You gave me friends, family and loved ones to share the greatest stories and experiences with. You were good to me, and I am so sorry to see you go.

But 2010, I have faith in you.

This past month has provided such hope and excitement for your coming. Not to get ahead of myself, but I have it in good faith that you may better than many years past.

In fact, I sincerely hope you are.

pondering questions, answers and love

While more photos and story tellings of my trip will follow, I want to address the question that has been on everyone's lips.

Did I fall in love?

To these people I have but one thing to say, I did fall in love; I fell in love with Israel. I went to Israel to experience the country and the history that makes me the person I am today. I went there to breathe the air, eat copious amounts of falafel and just experience the jewish state. Had I allowed myself to be side tracked by a short lived romance, then the country would not have been given a fair chance to leave its everlasting imprint it did on me.

Maybe this will find me though...

Elderly couple Fran and Marlo walked into the lobby of the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and spotted a piano. They've been married for a whopping 62 years, and Marlo turned 90 this year.

home, or something like it

I do not know where to begin this post.

I returned back from Israel three days ago and have since been rummaging along in what I can only describe as a state of complete and utter confusion.

For 10 days I spent my life surrounded by 50 of the greatest people I have ever met. Even more incredible, not having met a single one of these people before in my life; I don't think I can honestly say I have ever felt so accepted and loved by anyone.

To these 50 people, my new found family, I thank you for experiencing all of this with me, and so look forward to our lives together.

And yes I just said that we would be spending our lives together. Do not think for one second that I am loosing a single one of you to the demons of distance and work. You are my family, and I love you each accordingly.

ode to hannukkah

via Around the Bend

Ode to a perfect Hannukah.

My mom and I are slaving away in the kitchen on our continuing quest for the perfect latke recipe.

(I will let you know if we come to anything close)

The continuous finger cuts from the potatoe peeler do not faze us as we are too distracted by our dancing, and singing along to the Glee soundtrack; which I gave to her for Hannukah tonight.

Oh it is a perfect hannukah.

my new little blog

Sorry all for the delay in blogging lately. I have once again opened a new blog., only this time with my dear friend Jocelyn. The Lovebug Letters is sort of the equivalent of two friends passing letters in class. So here are our notes on our day to day lives and tips for one another be it fashion, music, or movies. Come be apart of our lives and if you enjoy our little blog, I ask you to become a follower and watch our little blog grow with us.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year I am thankful for everyone in my life. My family who is always there for me, my friends (both old and new) who have turned the hardest year of my life into the most incredible, and for all of you in between who have had an impact on my every move. I am thankful for you all.

Happy Thanksgiving my loves.

via Around the Bend

This photo makes me believe in love all over again. 

via ashley thalman photo

I heart Ban.do

Loving Ban.do's new super affordable line

Heart by Ban.do 

Head-over-heels for this rainbow bow.

 

the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe

Who can ignore some telling you about the BEST chocolate chip cookies EVER. I had to try the recipe out for myself. These are, without a doubt, the best chocolate chip cookies I may have ever had. Enjoy my loves. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

8 oz butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
1 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 lb good-quality chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch chunks
sea salt

Preheat the oven to 360°.

Cream the butter and the sugars. Add eggs, one at time, then vanilla. Mix well, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl. With a whisk, stir to combine. With mixer on low, slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the chocolate.

Before baking, sprinkle with a very fine dusting of good quality sea salt. Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are lightly golden on the outside and a bit gooey on the inside (they will continue to cook as they cool).

Via Mustard and Sage & Not Without Salt

missed connections

These days I have become all too familiar with missed connections, A simple decision can change a life forever. This video about Sophie Blackall's project Miss Connections, shows just how romantical it all is. 

If a genie granted me three wishes, id wish for...
1) My very own pinkberry machine (serving both original & coconut)
2) Olive Garden salad & bread sticks
3) To be five years old again and sleeping with the beluga whales.

It finals time for me so a good friend sent this as a de-stressor. I dare you not to sing along.

via le love

I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? .....

But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle! - Alice in Wonderland

of course red lipstick was involved

Goodness gracious I love TCM. I got to fall asleep to Mogambo last night (starring Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and my one and only Clark Gable), and woke up this morning with an urge to channel the beauty that was Ava Gardner. 

Of course red lipstick was involved. 

If you are looking for a good laugh, or a worthwhile distraction, look no further. Blake Wright's blog is full of hilarious and brilliant sketches.

5 reasons i love this city

Yesterday was one of those classic movie days where something amazing hides behind every corner that makes this beautiful city what it is on the big screen. 

1.  Favorite side street cafe with an old friend and a chocolate croissant. 
2. Bought a red hat. (maybe not something ideal of the city, but it made the day all the better)
3. Running into people of the past. 
   
4.  Q&A for Joseph Gordon Levitt's new movie Uncertainty. And yes girls, he is even more charming and beautiful in person. The movie was really great as well.
5. A late night gelato from GROM. enough said

Ooh La La!

One of my personal favorite bloggers Joanna Goddard of A Cup of JO is currently on the assignment every girl dreams of. YSL has sent her, along with other bloggers, scouting the states to find the answer to living our lives here like a true parisienne.

Posts include how to pack like a parisienne.

And how to get that perfectly tousled messy bun.

too cute to handle

In love with this series of baby animal prints from photographer Sharon Montrose.

For all you animal lovers out there, I highly recommend you visit her lovely little blog. 

trick-or-treat

Have a fun and spooky Halloween!

I will be spending tonight with a pre-halloween marathon. 

Movies to be watched while consuming large amounts of pumpkin pie and candy corn, include:

Hocus Pocus, 

Double Double Toil and Trouble, 

Halloweentown, 

The Witches, 

and The Nightmare Before Christmas. 

Happy Halloween!!!

via Around the Bend

fall inspirations

Getting me all sorts of giddy for (what is hopefully) a long fall season. 

Thank you Camp Comfort for your daily fashion inspirations!

there's no place like home, there's no place like home

I have been talking with my friend Jewlie about possibly moving to Brooklyn when the school year ends. We have both found ourselves looking for something new, and a place to truly call home. Even more exciting? I finally get to decorate a place of my own.

Brace yourselves, I have a feeling there is a plethora of interior design posts coming your way...

But better yet, don't you love the word plethora?

via emmas designblogg

fun fall friday

Thank you New York for an amazing fall day.

Spent the morning in Shoho at the greatest place on earth, a NY style pumpkin patch complete with pedi-cab hay rides and a fake dog petting zoo. As a true New Hampshirite at heart, I have been missing the usual fall rituals such as apple picking and hayrides. This was the perfect cure-all.

The day started off beautifully when my best friend Jewlie and I ran into my roommate and decided to drag her along on our little excursion. Then, while picking our perfect little pumpkins, we ran into none other than Emmy Rossum. Funny thing is, Jewlie and I ran into her maybe but 3 weeks ago. I can honestly say she seems to be a truly beautiful person inside and out.

Oh how I love this city of mine.

Jewlie made a hipster pumpkin

My pumpkin apparently was channeling Miss Jolie with those lips..

mmm mmm goood

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 lb butter, soft

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 1/2 cups rolled whole oats

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

sift  (sifting is important!) flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg (its not in the recipe, but I add about 1/8 -1/4 tsp of ground cloves, too) into  a mixing bowl.

Beat butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with a hand mixer at medium speed.

Sift (yes, again!) flour mixture into butter mixture and mix well.

Fold in chocolate chips (or chocolate covered raisins if youd wish) and oats.

Spoon 1.5 inch balls onto non-stick cookie sheet.

Bake at 350°F for 6-9 minutes, rotating half way through baking. (Should be lightly firm in the center when done) Be careful -- oatmeal cookies don't look done when they are, so they are very easy to over cook (unless you want them to be crispy)

Via Cupcakes and Cashmere

the perfect fall boots

Ohhh Dolce Vita, why must you make your boots so beautiful? I may not be able to resist. 

LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!!!

it comes out today... and I cant wait.

Sadly I am running out of town for the weekend. 

Until I see this movie though, every fiber of my body is going to aching in anticipation! 

Have a beautiful weekend. 

let the wild rumpus begin!

Thank you Opening Ceremony, you just made me the happiest girl on the planet. Half a grand cheaper may just be worth it to get my hands on these amazing Max onesies. I mean, just think of the street-cred! There are plenty of other options including fur vests, dresses, and beautifully inspired jewelry to boot!

dream, dream, drreeaammm

I am an intense dreamer. 

Good or bad, I always remember my dreams quiet vividly the next morning. However, I am often still tired after a long night of emotional unrest. My mom is the exact same way. She tells me i need to listen to them, because clearly our bodies are trying to speak to us (screaming, more appropriately), but I never do. I just take it as another story. 

Last nights dream though ... was incredible.

Without going into too much detail, I was floating (not flying). I could do somersaults in the air, and sway back in forth. It was just simply incredible. I have never felt so deeply giddy throughout my body. I had to know the source of this incredible happiness, because I have felt it all day, and I'm addicted. 

Dreams About Floating:

Psychological Meaning: In order to float we have to relax and accept the support of the water. In psychological terms, this means that you have accepted the feminine side of your psyche and are carried forward by it. Floating implies acceptance, you have let go of your problems, worries and restrictions and can now enjoy just being yourself. Go with the flow.

I like this. Fingers crossed for tonight :)

image via To Get Lost

the moment i saw you, my heart skipped a beat

via *daan*

via The White Balloon

i burn i pine i perish

Its fall... finally :) 

There is something incredibly happy and romantic about fall. 

And the best part?? These cloaks by Lindsey Thornburg. 

They are beautiful, cozy, completely amazing, and completely out of my price range.

 Ahhhh a girl can dream.

love, the second time around

I road on the subway today for three extra stops simply to continue reading. I am in love for the second time. 

Eat, Pray, Love saved me this summer. I was an overturned turtle; flailing my arms, trying to grasp at life with every fiber of my being and loosing hope with every failing swing. I had been knocked over, then my dearest friend Katie lent me this book. Together, Katie and Elizabeth Gilbert pulled me out of my pain. 

There is something perfect about learning how to love and know thy self on a crowded subway, that makes it all the more loving and peaceful. With every page I turn, my smile grows and with it my spirits. The love in this book is infectious, and its my favorite disease. 

image via Kappachan

I need to add some 'pep' to my wardrobe, and all this red is making me giddy. 

Thank you Built By Wendy. 

could not have said it better myself

Via Around the Bend

a new addition to the family

I have been on the hunt for the perfect two dresses for nearly two months now. I have my cousin's Bat-Mitzvah to attend in October, and according to my mom, I need to get a nicer dress for both the service and party. I have been on a huge vintage kick though and along my travels, stumbled into this little gem, Shabby Apple. These adorable designs have that perfect vintage, girly feel. They just might be necessary.

Taken from the Shabby Apple website,

"Shabby Apple was founded by two lovely ladies who, after years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable, decided to do something about it. Shabby Apple's mission is to design and provide affordable, fashionable, hip dresses for women, little girls & mothers-to-be... without having to compromise anything else."

signs

Via Le Love

yet another perfectly perfect day

Today was yet another perfectly perfect day. I don't know what it was, but something was in the air this weekend. Another beautiful day was spent on the pier at 72nd St. for a good ol' labor day kayaking party. The air was filled with children's giggles and Beatles tunes. "Get your butt wet and eat" was the theme of the day. Sadly by the time my friends and I were through racing ( a double kayak against lonely little me, you can guess who won), there was nothing but crumbs left. We set aside our grumbling stomachs and dashed off to Brooklyn for the West Indian Carnival where Caribbean/Mardi Gras style costumes colored the streets rainbow. Screams of enjoyment filled the air as people danced and laughed along the streets. The most delicious aromas haunted us with every step. For a bunch of New Yorkers, we failed miserably and didn't have any cash. After a few hours of dancing and laughing, our stomachs finally got the best of us and we had to make our way back for dinner. Minus our growling bellies, it was all just quiet perfect.