Category Archives: Photography

The Not So Forbidden Fruit

The fall season always gives me visions of apple pie and apple sauce and baked apples and apple everything so this past weekend we piled into the car and headed about 30 minutes away to Alstede Farms, a great pick-your-own farm (and so much more) about 30 minutes away. If you’ve never taken a bite of an apple straight from the tree I highly recommend you run, don’t walk, to your nearest pick-your-own farm and give it a go. Every apple is crisp, juicy and better than anything you could possibly buy in a grocery store.

Besides apples Alstede’s has pears, peaches, flowers, eggplant, blackberries, corn, potatoes and so much more, but it was apples we came for so after petting a few horses, goats and sheep and checking out the fancy chickens, turkeys and peacocks we headed into the orchards to pick. Of course we tasted a few just to make sure they’d be as scrumptious as we knew they would be and then we filled up our carton as high as it would go. When it was all said and done we had over 20 lbs. of apples!

We planned on baking something that very night but were too exhausted to do anything more than watch the Giants get defeated. A few days after putting them in the fridge and snacking on them every chance we got I noticed the pile was dwindling…it was now or never! We decided on The Barefoot Contessa’s Old Fashioned Apple Crisp. After school yesterday the kids and I got to work peeling, coring and slicing apples, zesting and juicing lemons and oranges, adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that and before we knew it we had the most delicious dessert ever. Truly!

Ready to give it a go yourself? You will not be disappointed! Click here for recipe.

 

Look Years Younger With This One Beauty Trick!

Makeup decisions can add to or subtract years from your appearance. Here’s an easy way to turn back the clock, no new products required!

Simply concentrate your eye makeup to upper eyes only. It will downplay crows feet and dark circles and you’ll instantly look more wide-eyed and youthful.

To do:

  • Apply a neutral-toned eyeshadow.
  • Line your upper lids.
  • Curl your lashes.
  • Apply a very black mascara to upper lashes only.

Give it a shot and let me know your thoughts! xoxoNancy

 

 

(photography, Oscar Bejarano, 500px.com)

 

Eat, Play, Love Everything at ABC Home!

I’ll find any excuse to head to ABC Home in NYC. It’s the best place for browsing, shopping and eating and it’s also my go-to place to recharge and get inspired! There are 6 floors to lose yourself in and hunt down that perfect piece or meander to your heart’s content.

Exquisite antiques and modern furniture live side by side. Looking for throw pillows? No matter what your taste, you’ll find them. They have the most gorgeous jewels by numerous designers, two favorites being Gabrielle Sanchez and Pyrrha. Need a children’s gift? Their tot department is overflowing with extra-special items that you won’t find elsewhere. Into celeb sightings? In the past I’ve seen Uma Thurman (with her head on Ethan Hawke’s lap!), Goldie Hawn, Betsy Johnson and  many others.

When it’s time for a bite, the on premise restaurants are phenomenal…my favorite being ABC Kitchen. It’s Jean-Georges  so you know the food is unsurpassed. The changing menu is organic and as local as possible, with the dishes beautifully presented. When dining there, I feel like I’m on one of those food shows except that everything is unique and delicious every time!

My kids (especially my daughter) love the experience almost as much as I do. When they were small I would bring them to ABC and tell them to keep their eyes open and observe, we were in a special place where things morph and change at a moment’s notice. I’d say there were hidden rooms and secret passageways–their imaginations always ran wild! I should probably feel a little guilty, but I don’t. They had a blast and I got my ABC fix. In my book that’s a win/win!!!

ABC Carpet & Home, 19th & Broadway, NYC

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The Things That Matter

Does your home tell your story?

When I spotted Nate Berkus’ book The Things that Matter I never imagined I’d be blown away by his story and his message.  I was literally transported and didn’t put the book down for 2 days straight!

Most design books are all about the images and Berkus’ book doesn’t disappoint there…but, The Things That Matter is so much more than that. It’s filled with intimate stories of his life that really give you a sense of what this man is about. FYI, he’s a good, kind, smart, funny and easy-on-the eyes man! It’s also filled with gorgeous visuals of his homes through the years, as well as beautiful interiors of twelve others and portraits of the inhabitants, some clients and some just people/homes he admires.

Nate Berkus believes that personal possessions matter, you should surround yourself with things you love and things that have meaning to you. I couldn’t agree more…these “things” are what makes a beautiful house a home with meaning!

Here’s a peek at a few beautiful shots from the book…but it’s the words that will stay with you forever.

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Before & After: From Junk Room to Home Office

As I previously posted  in “I’ve Got a Secret…” (read here) I love my home…all except the room I’ve had pegged for my home office. With good southern light and decent wood floors it had the potential to be stylish, but it was greatly hampered by extreme clutter and baby blue walls. I knew if I wanted to use it as a home office I’d need to practice some crowd control and ruthless editing.

My first order of business? Declutter! I made three piles: Donate, Put Away and Yard Sale. Because I started feeling nostalgic while going through it all, it took a lot longer than I anticipated. So many of my things have memories attached–for me, it’s what makes a house a home–but I realized if I was going to make any progress and use this room for its intended purposed I’d need to get moving. I bought large bins and stored the things I wasn’t ready to part with (and maybe never would be). I tucked away beautiful drawings my children made when they were small, sentimental letters and cards I’ve received over the years from loved ones, magazines with stories I’ve written and/or been a part of. I took lamps, mirrors and other accessories and stored them in the attic because periodically I like to switch up my rooms and certain items are keepers. The ones that didn’t tug at my heart will be in my upcoming yard sale.

The only two items from the room that made the cut were my desk from West Elm (for its practicality) and a stained glass window I bought off-season in the Hamptons when my husband and I were dating (because it makes me happy). I pushed them to the center of the room and covered them with some sheets before painting the room in Benjamin Moore’s Calm, a wonderful shade of white that makes me feel at home. To furnish the rest of the room on a budget, I brought in an Ikea bookcase as well as a cozy, charcoal corner chair, creamy white shag rug and green storage baskets, all from Home Goods.

I added a few personal touches like  a family heirloom art deco clock for my desk and some favorite family photos atop the bookshelves…and because I realize the importance of all our senses and I love candles I placed a new favorite, Bath & Body Works Candle in First Bloom. When lit, it fills the whole room with this delicious, “I could be standing in a garden” scent. Amazing!!!

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I couldn’t be happier. My home office is clean, organized and best of all, it’s a room I can be productive in. I’m still looking for a few special items to complete the look:

  • a proper pillow for the chair. I’m thinking a green or bright pink.
  • curtains to frame the window. Most likely smoky grey linen panels that hang just shy of the floor.
  • an over-sized, vintage chalkboard for my to-do lists.
  • a comfortable, lived-in looking chair for the desk.

 

Never Have Another Bad Hair Day!

Thanks to the ease and beauty of a top-knot I’ll never have another bad hair day! I usually like it a little messy and low-key, but it can also be styled to perfection–it all depends on the look you’re going for.

You’ll need: a ponytail holder, 3-4 bobby pins, styling cream. Try: PhyoSpecific Moisturizing Styling Cream, $26 or MoroccanOil Hydrating Styling Cream, $27.

To do:

  1. Start by putting your hair into a high ponytail, but don’t pull the hair all the way through the elastic band. You’ll end up with a small loop on top and the ends sticking out. 
  2. Take the hair that’s sticking out on the bottom and gently twist in one direction. Then, loosely wrap it around the base of the small loop and pin into place with your bobby pins.
  3. To finish, apply a bit of styling cream to tame fly-aways. *If desired, pull out a few strands and tuck behind your ears for a more casual vibe.

Green Believer!

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St. Patty’s Day might have come and gone…but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of seeing lots and lots of green. Pantone’s Color of Year is EMERALD which means we will be seeing an abundance of it throughout the year. Look for it in makeup, fashion and home decor.

 

 

 

 

Here, a few reasons I love green!

1) It’s the color of veggies…and I do love my salads! My favorite salad recipe? Greens with Goat Cheese, Walnuts and Dried Cranberries.

2) I see the world through green eyes. They started out hazel…I swear I willed them to turn green! If your eyes are similar to mine (green or hazel) opt for eyeliners or shadows in shades of apricot or purple to make them pop. Metallic hues like gold, copper or bronze will also complement your eyes. To try: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Violet Plum, $28 or Estee Lauder Pure Color EyeShadow in Sizzling Copper, $21.

3) This year, green is hot and the picks are plentiful! Check out Drop Necklace Set available on Etsy, only $12.40 and Diane von Furstenberg ‘Leanna’ Silk Shirtdress, $375.

4) Who couldn’t use more $green? To save, invest, donate or spend.

5) Living “green” doesn’t have to be all or nothing. The little things you do can add up to big changes for you and the environment. Here, 10 Tips for Living a Green Life.

photography courtesy of J.Crew