Currently

Book
Joyce Maynard- At Home In The World. The writer's memoir, juicy because of her relationship with J.D. Salinger.

Song
An album, actually. Elton John and Leon Russel- The Union.




Perfume
Today was the first one in a while I wasn't testing/wearing one of the Outlaw Perfumes. Wore Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Vanille.

Makeup
Blush. I'm on a serious pink cheek kick.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Long DVF ruffled cashmere cardigan. Black.

Food/Drink
tea, pasta, grilled cheese... the usual.

Guilty Pleasure
Admiring some of my makeup brushes. Profound, I know.

Joy
A new camera.

Bane Of My Existence
My Droid is having charging issues and I'm not due for an upgrade yet. I've been pursuing the Verizon Wireless site, looking at the new(er) models and telling myself  "These are not the droids you are looking for". Yes, geek humor.




Anticipation
Oddly enough, the holidays.

Wishlist
A pair of ultra-fabulous flat black boots that are knee-high but designed with short women in mind. The Alexander McQueen pair, once I found them in my size turned out to be an inch too tall. They are still the most gorgeous thing.

Random Thought
I have quite a few, actually. Enough for a separate post. For now, I'll just say that the Outlaw Perfume Project has been quite mind-blowing. I don't want to ever forget what a real perfume smells like.

What are your current loves, recommendation and banes? Please share.

Photo by me, November 2010.

Currently

Book
Once I gain some attention span back I should get to B&N for Tim Gunn's book. It's been out for weeks now.

Song
Wilco- I'll Fight




On TV
CNN, what else?

Perfume
Etat Libre d'Orange- Like This. Perfect for this weather.

Makeup
Blush. I've been experimenting.

Frequently worn outfit/item
Gray cashmere hoodie over just about everything.

Food/Drink
I really want some miso soup.

Guilty Pleasure
Sleeping in.

Joy
It's all good.

Bane Of My Existence
See above.

Anticipation
The weekend. Just because.

Random Thought
Some things put even Kim Kardashian's nude cover into perspective.

Wish List
A new camera. Any suggestions on what I should get?


What are your current banes, joys and recommendations? Please share!



Top image: La Esperanza, webshots.com

Currently

Book:
Just started Alison Arngrim's memoir Prairie Bitch. No opinion yet. Tim Gunn's new book is coming out today. For some reason, I'm not optimistic.

Song:
David Gray's latest album

Perfume:
Shalimar Light and Coty Chypre.

Makeup:
Chanel Teint Innocence compact foundation.

Frequently worn outfit/item:
Getting as much use of my summer dresses as I can before the weather turns too cool

Food:
Fresh figs

Drink:
Water. Tea. The usual.

Guilty Pleasure:
Whole Foods marshmallow.

Bane of my existence:
Time

Joy:
Kittens. And grown cats.

Anticipation:
Time with my two nieces.

Random Thought:
Naomi Watts doesn't strike me as an Ann Taylor person. But what do I know?

Wish List:
To be in Paris.

What are your current loves, banes and recommendations? What's on your mind? Please share.

Photo: Paris, 1950 by Robert Capa

Currently

Book
Julie Metz- Perfection, a memoir of betrayal and renewal. Young and widowed Metz discovers that her husband had multiple affairs. Touching and honestly written.

Music
I recently downloaded some Patsy Cline classics. Everyone needs a little country.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
A little dark denim minidress in a classic sheath cut cinched with a red patent belt. Sounds odd, but it works.

Perfume
Vintage Caleche, vintage Joy, Vintage 1000, Vintage Chanel No. 5. I can go on and on.

Makeup
Guerlain fall collection. The eye shadow compacts are the most beautiful thing on the market.

Food
Rustic bread with butter, fresh Gouda and slices of just-picked tomato from my garden.

Drink
Strawberry-banana smoothies.

Guilty Pleasure
eBay

Bane Of My Existence
You know, other than a general grumble about the caloric content of milk chocolate, my life is blissfully bainless at the moment (give it a day or two, though).

Joy
Kittens!

Anticipation
My sister and family are coming to visit in two weeks.

Wish List
Glamorous items such as a stainless steel laundry sink. Oh, and this:

Random Thought
How long before PETA goes after the Duchess of Cornwall for her bee venom face treatments?

What are your current loves, joys, banes, etc.? Please share, recommend and complain.

Art: August by Dmitri Danish
Chanel Matelasse watch chanel.com

Currently

Book
Gone with the Windsors by Iles Brody. An old biography of the Duke and Duchess of Widsor. I found it at a fabulous used bookstore in Kingston, NY.

Song
I was looking for Cake's Wheels (has it already been 5 years since that song came out?!) when I happened upon this one. Such a great cover.


Frequently worn outfit/item
Hats. I need all the sun protection I can get.

Perfume
I'm obsessed with vintage Dior at the moment. The real thing, not the dreck they've been putting in their bottles in the last few years. Just got a bottle of Diorella.

Makeup
Blue mascara. It looks great with summery sand and bronze eye shadows. There are several excellent ones on the market, none of them looks like a residue from the 80s. I'm actually planning a blue mascara face off post in the near future.

Food
If it were up to me, I'd eat nothing but watermelon from now until September.

Drink
I could use one, actually.

Guilty Pleasure
Watching crap TV while working out.

Bane of my existence
Packing peanuts. Whenever the cats get their paws on some, they shred them to tiny pieces that get everywhere and cling to everything.

Joy
Emails and comments from readers, even when I'm behind on replying.

Anticipation
Taking my niece to the Bronx Zoo.

Wish List
A lot more energy and motivation to get things done.

Random Thought
Is J Crew employing blind aliens as their pattern makers lately? I'm not even talking about the quality that has been going downhill at an exponential rate. It's the odd way the garments are cut and (don't) fit.

What are your current loves, banes and thoughts? Please share!

Art: Summertime Blues by Mark Goldstein

Currently

Book
Frederick Reiken, the author of what might be my favorite books of all time, The Lost Legends Of New Jersey, has a new novel out, Day For Night. The husband is currently reading it, so I have a day or two to locate my attention span and start reading.

Song
Just discovered two Canadian singers/songwriters: Justin Ruteledge and Amelia Curran. Saw them last Friday in The Living Room, NYC, and bought just about everything they ever recorded.


Frequently worn outfit/item

Just got these DVF Opal wedge sandals. I'm going to live in them in the coming months. Very comfortable for 4" heels (I need all the help I can get in that department).

Perfume
Vintage Lauren, the original formula. I'm on a green kick.

Makeup
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment Fluid. This tinted moisturizer is pure magic. Review coming soon, after I spend another week or so testing it.

Food
Tabla restaurant in NYC (wonderfully friendly to vegetarians) has this new salad on the menu, made with fresh green chickpeas. I didn't even know such a thing existed. It tastes like a cross between fresh green peas and chickpeas.

Drink
Fresh lime juice in soda water.

Guilty Pleasure
Buying baked goods from Whole Foods instead of making them from scratch. I'd feel more guilty, but those chocolate madeleines were to die for.

Bane of my existence
The cats found the bag of catnip and had a party all over my dressing room.

Anticipation
Having my makeup done again by Pamela from Guerlain. This is going to be good.

Wishlist

These Diego Dolcini and Sergio Rossi sandals.

What are your current thoughts, loves, banes and recommendations this week?

Currently

Book
There's a Grace Kelly biography waiting for me.I'm still not in the mood for fiction.

Song
I'll listen to anything as long as Martha Wainwright is singing it. And I can't wait for the new Rufus Wainwright album this week.



Frequently worn outfit/item
Floaty silk chiffon tops. As always, DVF makes the perfect ones.

Perfume
Histoires de Parfums Tuberose #3 L'Animale. A perfect answer to all those anti-perfume perfumes. Jennifer Aniston should be forced to bathe in it.

Makeup
Concealer is my friend.

Food
I have very little appetite lately.

Drink
Give me my tea and nobody gets hurt.

Guilty Pleasure
Sleeping in.

Bane of my existence
Pollen.

Anticipation
Another nephew this summer.

Wish List
This John Delmatoff necklace:

Thought
My tolerance for hypocrisy, BS and people in general is at an all-time low. It's not necessarily a good thing.


How are you doin'? Please share your current loves, hates and thoughts.

Top image: Tina Modotti, photograph by Edward Weston, 1923
Necklace: johndelmatoff.com

Currently

Book:
Melissa Gilbert- Prairie Tales. Half Pint isn't a great writer (some sentences make me want to reach for a red pen and start correcting), but she makes up for it with truly interesting stories about Hollywood in the 70s and 80s, sex with Rob Lowe (admit it, you want to know) and being introduced to Groucho Marx.

Song:
David Kitt- Song From Hope St. (Brooklyn, NY). I don't know why this guy isn't much more famous here in States.


Frequently worn outfit/item:
A one button black cashmere sweater/jacket. Goes over everything.

Perfume:
L'Artisan Havana Vanille.

Makeup:
Cream blushes. I'm testing several, mixing and matching.

Food:
Whole wheat bagels with Danish butter. Oh, my thighs...

Drink:
Coach Farm cultured goat milk with strawberries or blueberries.

Guilty Pleasure:
eBay.

Bane of my existence:
Lack of inspiration for tonight's Oscar red carpet blogging. I hope someone does a Bjork.

Joy:
The cats.

Anticipation:
Daffodils.

Wish List:
Guerlain Tonka Imperiale. I'm smitten.

Random Thought:
My first cellphone from 1996 and my current one (a Motorola Droid in a bubblegum pink case) don't even look like the same species.

Image: Zig Brunner, 1918 from La Vie Parisienne

What are your current thoughts and recommendations? Please share.

Currently

Book
The books are finally unpacked and sort of arranged in a meaningful order. I was in the mood for some mind-numbing chick-lit, but after buying a Christmas present for a friend, I think I'd go with some vintage sci-fi instead. I also have a beauty post planned that combines my love of makeup and sci-fi. I'm serious.


Song
The entire Strict Joy album by The Swell Season.


Frequently worn outfit/item
Anything cashmere.

Perfume
Vintage chypres. The more oakmoss the better.

Makeup
Just bought several items from Chanel's spring collection. Gorgeous.

Food
Rose-scented Turkish delight from a local Middle Eastern deli. I don't blame Edmund for selling out to the White Witch.

Drink
Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. I had some the other day at Whole Foods and wanted to hug the girl who was making it.

Guilty Pleasure
Those stupid games on Facebook. I need to get rid of the farm.

Bane of my existence
Knowing with absolute certainty that there's another visit to Ikea in my near future.

Joy
Sitting in the cozy house and looking at the snow.

Anticipation
Putting the finishing touches on some rooms.

Wish List
Health for some very loved ones.

Thought
There are those moments that make the house your home for real: putting some old fridge magnets on the new fridge, dropping those blue Vanish tablets in the toilet's tank, cleaning the first hairball from the floor...

What are your recommendations, thoughts, joys and banes? Please share.

Image: Spring Hats by Yale Joel, 1950. From myvintagevogue.com.

Currently

Book
All the books, and I mean each and every last one, are still packed in 50 boxes. I've almost forgiven them for the nearly sleepless night it took to pack them; a night in which The Blond and I cursed Barnes, Noble, Jeff Bezos and every author ever lived for supplying us with these books.


Song
Mess- Ben Folds


Frequently worn outfit/item
Black yoga pants. Glamorous.

Perfume
Purple Patchouli from Tom Ford Private Blend.

Makeup
Le Metier de Beaute black eyeliner pen. A holy grail if there ever was one.

Food
Soup. Homemade, Whole Foods-made or the miso soup from the local vegan Asian place. Just give me soup.

Drink
Nothing compares to the first cup of tea we made in the new house.

Guilty Pleasure
Starbucks eggnog latte.

Bane of my existence
The thought of all the boxes still waiting to be unpacked.

Joy
The new house. Every last bit, even those that still require work.

Anticipation
My brother-in-law is visiting this weekend.

Wishlist
The two paintings above, Earth Song I and II by Ana Tzarev. They are going to look lovely on one of our walls.

Thought
Insert your favorite Tiger Woods joke here.

What are your recommendations, joys and banes? Please share.

Currently

Book
Americans In Space by Mary E. Mitchell. A novel. A thirty-something mother dealing with early widowhood. So far I really like it, despite the tearjerking subject.

Song
Simon & Garfunkel- A Hazy Shade Of Winter.

Frequently worn outfit/item
A vintage-inspired rain coat in green/black/white, bought last year at Juicy Couture, of all places.

Perfume
Parfumerie Generale Cuir d'Iris

Makeup
Red lipsticks and super pale face.

Food
Cakes from Patisserie Didier Dumas in Nyack. Paris on the Hudson.

Drink
I'm chugging water like a horse.

Guilty pleasure
A pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. I'm sure it doesn't qualify as coffee, but I like the weirdness. I just wish it weren't so sweet.

Bane of my existence
The kink in my neck- I can't turn my head to the right. It's been an extremely uncomfortable couple of days.

Joy
The extra hour of sleep.

Anticipation
Still all about the new house.

Wish list
Some vintage furniture I've seen in several stores around here. Apparently, I'm a big fan of mid-century Danish design. By the way, does anyone know where I can find that giraffe print from Pete Campbell's (Mad Men) apartment?



Thought
Could the craftsmanship of Ikea furniture be any worse?

Please share your recommendations, banes and joys.

Art by Craig Stephens

Currently

Book
About to start reading Dreaming In French by Megan McAndrew. Fiction, coming of age between Paris and New York in the 70s.

Song
E313ACA by Isobel Heyworth. It's a weird little thing.

Frequently worn outfit/item
Jeans. Especially loving the skinnies from DL 1961. They have good proportions and don't look ridiculous or over 80fied.

Perfume
Tom Ford Private Blend Japon Noir. Dusty smoke? Smoky dust? With vetiver and patchouli.

Makeup
The new Bobbi Brown Earth Metal lip & eye palette. Review coming up in a few days. No one does Metallic like Bobbi.

Food
Mac & cheese. Yup, healthy.

Drink
Ginger Oolong tea with milk.

Guilty Pleasure
Green & Black milk chocolate with roasted peanuts and sea salt. Kill me now.

Bane of my existence
It won't be warm again for the next six months.

Anticipation
A new house.

Wish List
Where do I start? Furnishing and decorating said house is going to occupy my wish list for the foreseeable future.

Thought
Isn't this the best TV season we've had in ten years?

What are your current favorites, joys and banes? Please share!

Photo: Yellow Sacrf by Saul Leiter, 1956

Currently

Book
September magazines. I think Lucky is heavier than Vogue this year.

Song
A CD, actually. Leonard Cohen Live In London. So good.

Frequently worn outfit/item
Cotton jersey dresses from J.Crew.

Perfume
Serge Lutens Fleurs de Citronnier. Review coming this week.

Makeup
The new Indigo eyeliner gel from Lancome.

Food
My husband's homemade pizza. Crispy crust, thinly sliced veggies, fresh herbs and crumbled feta cheese. No sauce, just olive oil.

Drink
Japanese roasted black tea.

Guilty Pleasure
Giuliana and Bill, the new reality show. Shut up.

Bane of my existence
Lower back pain.

Anticipation
A friend coming to town this week. There will be shopping.

Thought
Seriously? Do we really need another lame Kelsey Grammer show?


What are your current loves, hates and little pleasures? Please share.

Photo: Atlantic City boardwalk, 1920, from http://viewlinerltd.blogspot.com

Currently

Book
Katherine Tanny- Carousel Of Progress. Just started and trying to get into it. Not sure about it yet.

Song
Jane Birkin- Elisa:



Frequently worn outfit/item
Jeans. Slim cut, the darkest wash I can find.

Perfume
Tauer-Une rose chyprée. Review and giveaway coming soon. It's beyond fabulous.

Makeup
Red lipstick. Can't get enough.

Food
Roasted cauliflower and quinoa.

Drink
Tea Vitale- cocoa cardamon black tea

Guilty Pleasure
Blind Gossip

Bane of my existence
Mornings

Anticipation
Meeting a new(ish) friend.

Wishlist
Not something that money can buy.

Thought
Is it just me or are most of the gossip blogs becoming unbearably misogynistic and obnoxious?


What are your current loves, hates and little pleasures? Please share.

Art: Angel No. 287 by Heidi Vaught

Currently

Book
Today I went back to finish a book I've abandoned weeks ago, then moved on to read a couple of chapters from Pride and Prejudice, because I needed the comfort of familiar words. Next might be something by Carol Goodman.

Song
Richard Shindell's version of Springsteen's 4th of July, Asbury Park (aka Sandy). It's my favorite Bruce song and Shindell takes it into a whole new level of awesome.

Frequently worn outfit/item
Trench coats. 'Tis the season.

Perfume
MPG Racine. The softer side of vetiver.

Makeup
Anything by Le Metier de Beaute . Superb quality.

Food
Pineapple chunks.

Drink
Chinese green tea.

Guilty Pleasure
My mom's sugar cookies.

Bane of my existence
Anxiety

Anticipation
My new laptop is finally making its way here.

Thought
Why is Mariah Carey suddenly everywhere?


What are your current loves, hates and little pleasures? Please share.


Art: Tamara de Lempicka-Portrait de Mme Ira Perrot

Currently

Book
The Perfect scent by Chandler Burr. Yes, I'm a year late for the party. Still a fascinating read.

Song
When Love Breaks Down by Prefab Sprout. A favorite for over twenty years.


Frequently worn outfit/item
Black Stiletto boots.

Perfume
If it's a chypre, I'm going to wear it. Jut got a bottle of Bandit in parfum concentration. Love.

Makeup
Any taupe eye shadow. I was considering putting everything else away, but then yesterday I felt like wearing navy blue and dug out a Chanel compact. So maybe I'm not ready just yet.

Food
Fresh pasta. They opened a wonderful new Whole Foods a few blocks away from my house. It has absolutely everything, including fresh pasta they cut for you in any shape you request.

Drink
Water. I'm boring.

Guilty Pleasure
Chocolate. I don't eat any other sugary thing, but chocolate is my current downfall.

Bane of my existence
My laptop is dying a slow, painful death.

Anticipation
Growing my own tomatoes.

Wishlist
Manolo Blahnik studded sandals:

What are your current favorites, banes and wishes?

art: Purple Crocus by Beth Stafford
shoe fetish: Neiman Marcus

Currently

Book
This One Is Mine by Maria Semple. Marriage and relationships in Beverly Hills.

Song
It Wasn't Love But It Was Lovely by Emily Arin.

Frequently worn outfit/item
DVF cashmere wrap dresses. I hope she makes new ones every year in various colors and patterns.

Perfume
Chanel 19 EDP. What's wrong with me?

Makeup
Black eyeliner in any form.

Food
roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella sandwiches.

Drink
tea, tea and more tea.

Guilty Pleasure
afternoon naps

Bane of my existence
achy throat

Anticipation
spring, please!

Wishlist
Red Coral necklace by Alexis Bittar

What are your current loves and banes?

photo of the tree in my front yard: mine

Currently

Book
The Position by Meg Wolitzer. Sex and the Seventies.

Song
Everything I've Got In My Pocket from Minnie Driver's first album. Yes, that Minnie Driver. And she's surprisingly good.

Frequently worn outfit/item
An Elie Tahari black zippered cardigan. I loved it so much I got another one in gray.

Perfume
Organza Indecence. Perfect vanilla and spice.

Makeup
Bobbi Brown Palettes. Both the Mauve and the newest one.

Food
Mac & Cheese.

Drink
Water. Though this is really time for Champagne.

Guilty Pleasure
See above, under Food.

Bane of my existence
Hotel rooms with no wi-fi and too few electric outlets.

Anticipation
L.A.

Thought
Carrying your essential cosmetics in those ziplock baggies for air travel is getting very old, very fast. It's not the lady with the La Mer who is a potential terrorist.

What are your current loves and banes?

Image: Brandi Milne- Let's Eat Cake

Currently

Book
Requiem, Mass. by John Dufrense. The tragi-comic story of a dysfubctional family. I haven't read his previous novels, but now I absolutely have to find them. This book takes you places.

Song
White Winter Hymnal- Fleet Foxes. Their album is the one new release I absolutely loved this summer.

Frequently worn outfit/item
A white denim miniskirt from J. Crew. It's the perfect length without being too age-inappropriate. I pair it with several DVF tops for a pulled-together look.

Perfume
Donna Karan Chaos. Who knew it was perfect for summer?

Makeup
Tinted moisturizer

Food
Fresh tomatoes. That's what summer in NJ is all about.

Drink
Half unsweetened ice tea, half lemonade

Guilty Pleasure
Using perfume to scent bed linens

Bane of my existence
Feline waste management

Anticipation
Serge Noire

Thought
Today is Madonna's 50th birthday. How is that even possible?

Wishlist
This Oovoo bag:


Please share your own current loves (and hates)!

Images:
Grace by Charles Dwyer, Vinings Gallery
Madonna circa 1986, Getty Images
Oovoo bags

Currently

book
Cleopatra's Nose: 39 Varieties of Desire by Judith Thurman. It's acollection of essays that appeared in the New Yorker. So much for my resolution to read more fiction.

song
Invasion by Eisley. "Something's not right, I can feel it inside". Apparently I've gone emo.

frequently worn outfit or item
brown croc embossed Stuart Weitzman wedges.

perfume
Shalimar Light. Got vanilla?

Makeup
Chanel fall collection. By the time October rolls here I might hit pan. Or be horribly bored with it.

food
Fruit, and lots of it.

drink
Water

guilty pleasure
Absolutely nothing. Being good is a bit sad.

bane of my existence
My neighbors.

anticipation
Pretty things that come in the mail.

wishlist
A Valentino Histoire bag in black pebble grain leather. I have one in red, and it's the best bag ever, but sometimes one really needs a simple black purse. The problem? They don't seem to exist. I might have to settle for this one. It's pretty neutral.


What are your current loves? Please share them in the comments.


Art: Bluebird by Sabzi from Vinings Gallery
Coveted item: Bergdorf Goodman