In times of need, we reach out and support those we love

My best friend in the entire world, Brooke Murray, tragically lost all of her things in a fire this very morning. Yes, her apartment in New York burned to the ground, and with it, everything of value to her.


Please donate whatever you can to Brooke so that she can have enough money for clothes, shoes, socks, food—whatever she may need in this difficult time:


CLICK HERE: http://giveforbrooke.blogspot.com/

When it rains, it pours

The weather here in Atlanta has been awful the past couple of days. I was actually woken up early Sunday morning by a thunderous boom! Even though it's less than ideal, it's not a fashion disaster (although, hair is another story). Rain gives us the opportunity to pull out a pair of galoshes—like the ones I'm styling at this very moment—or reach for a vibrant umbrella. To add some cheer to a dreary day, these 'brellas are fun, flirty and feminine. Plus, you never know who's going to huddle under your awning when you're sporting such a cute accessory. 

Women are from Nars

What first attracted me to Nars Cosmetics? The product names. What girl doesn't want to own a blush named Orgasm, or better yet Super Orgasm? But what keeps me a fan of the company are the pigments and workability. I have amassed quite a collection of Nars products over the years, and I have never been disappointed. The full-coverage concealers could make a tattoo disappear and the lightweight foundations look like natural skin. When it comes to eyeshadows, they have some of most vibrant colors in the spectrum. Here are a a collection products I have used and loved over the years, and a few new ones I have on my want list. 

When ego gets in the way

We all know that letting your ego run the show is a bad thing. We all know this—but how many of us still do it? I would love to think that I can rise above my prideful ego. That I can put aside the voice that's sometimes shouting to be heard, but even I let it get the better of me sometimes.

Some sense of self-esteem is a great thing. Ego is your personal identity, and that should be strong. Strong, however, doesn't mean that you go around punching everyone else now does it?

As I have come to understand it, there are two types of people who deal with their ego: ego-mongers and ego-fighters. If you're a fighter, like me, you are really trying to keep it in check. It you are a monger—and we all know a few of these guys—then you probably have let it get the better of you for years now.


Now, being an ego-fighter is the better way to go. It ensures quality friendships and relationships that could potentially last a lifetime. It puts love, respect and honor before the prideful fall. And most of all, people would just rather be around you if you check your ego at the door.


Ego-mongers are people like Kanye West. They're really funny and great to enjoy from afar, but who really wants to spend day-in and day-out with Kanye West?

But in order to transition from monger to fighter, you have to admit that you are wrong. Not necessarily now. And not all the time. But sometimes, yes, you are wrong.

You must also understand that when your ego takes the reigns in your life, you be actin' all crazy like. Your sense of self-importance outshines your ability to be kind, generous and rational.

Lastly, you need to reflect on the way that your big ol' ego can be messy, pompous and overbearing. Chances are it's the thing driving you to act the way you have been. Perhaps it's time to change that, ay?

Now, unlike with vanity, you probably don't think this song is about you. Don't get me wrong, you egoists are probably vain too, but you're so darn great that why would anyone say anything bad about you? See: Narcissism.

And since your big ego probably prevents you from identifying with this, you will continue being yourself. And so, I realize with some apprehension, I probably haven't made a dent in the ego-monger population at all.

But I'm not giving up. Nope, not I. After all, I am a fighter.

On Hand and In The Nude

I have more than an interest in nail polish. One might call it an obsession (that one might be my husband). But fashionistas know that a great polish can add that finishing touch you're looking for—dare I say, it polishes off your look (obvious double entendre alert). 

 In my opinion, you can never have enough nude nail polish. These shades are fresh, clean and soft—perfect for spring! Here are few I love for obvious reasons.  

All Dressed Up: Red carpet dresses for less!

With summer right around the corner, there are dresses to be purchased and loved. I just adore finding red carpet fashions right around the corner, so you can imagine my excitement when I found a whole mess of celeb-worthy styles at a local boutique, Festivity. Most of these dresses are around $70 or $80! Can we say steal? Yes we can!

Giving Up

Several conversations over the past two weeks have wandered over to the topic of Lent, and what people are giving up. I am Jewish and obviously don't have to give up something for Lent, but I have still enjoyed the discussions that ensued.

Is it just me, or are people always giving up chocolate, meat and cheese? If that's not a testament to just how beloved our food-crack has become, I don't know what its!

I love this fatty trinity so I tried to imagine what it must be like for my devout friends who are giving up their choice items for a portion of their spring. Since I have to live a gluten-free lifestyle, I really get it—it's not easy doing without the things you enjoy. But in the presence of Lent-followers and educated discussion, I decided to make a short list on a few things I should probably give up.

The top of the list is coffee. Good, rich, dark, piping-hot coffee. Ah, my dark elixir (Dear Coffee, how do I love thee...). This is the strongest drug running through my veins, and it's always a challenge to quit. But why would I quit? My mental health needs this more than any physical reason could deter me at this time. I sound like an addict don't I? OK, maybe I should just cut back a bit.

Next up is cheese. Salty, funky, creamy, hard, melty, pungent, earthy, mild, fatty cheese—yum. In my mind, I am sitting in a cafe in Paris with a cheese plate and espresso right now. Once upon a time, an ounce or two of cheddar would satisfy the urge. But now my tastes are more refined and my appetite more hearty—so a block of melted gruyere (on top of anything really) is just a typical Saturday night.

Chocolate—What, you think I would give that up? Give me a break! Never! 

As I continued down my list of guilty pleasures and I began defending their honor (there's nothing wrong with bowl of ice cream!), I realize that there truly is nothing wrong with anything I eat. I am the one who is eating it out of control—the food doesn't challenge me to do so. What's wrong, is the way I idealize these silly things and give them power.

What I really need to give up is imbalance and dependancy. Which has nothing to do with a salty or sweet morsel—but has a thing or two to do with "everything in moderation."

I have found it a much simpler task to swear off something altogether than to accept it into your life with gratitude. And this is not just the case for food, mind you. It's much easier to convince yourself you hate a frienemy (or anyone with whom you are fighting) than it is to temper your emotions and embrace any small aspect of that person. Ah, ha! The greater picture!

So the real hit-list of items I should try to refrain from are not tangible. They are the trite mental attachments I have made directors. And I wouldn't just go and swear off attachments either, because there's no moderation in that. The things that stick with you are those achieved over time.

But sure, I'll still cut down on the coffee.



 

Geek Chic: Rockin' the retro librarian look

Who loves glasses? This girl does. With all the Warby Parker talk recently, and different editors styling new frames in the office, I'm starting to get the feeling I missed out on the 2-for-1 special at LensCrafters memo that must have circulated. No harm done—I just went and purchased my own fun lenses at Urban Outfitters (yes, just for fun!).  In the spirit of all things nerdy—and I seem to conjure that spirit without trying—I am rocking a geek-chic style in this week's fashion blog. Think: trendy librarian finds an Anthropologie catalog, goes shopping and gets home in time for an extra dry martini—three olives.

This dress is a new favorite—of course, from Anthropologie—because of the vintage silhouette and bright pattern. Some dresses just feel great to wear, and this is one of them. Because I just love to play with loud colors, I decided to wear it with a pair of bold red booties I purchased from a boutique on St. Simons Island this fall. I really can't get enough of these shoes (until, they start killing my feet). The woven leather belt adds structure, and the cardigan is really there for warmth. And snaps for me—I am wearing a purple cardigan. All of these pieces together make for a totally quirky day, and that's why I love it so much. This look has a lot of girlie, a touch of silly, and a sense of humor. The outfit and me have that in common. 

Photography by the talented Austin Holt, picastick.com.

Purple Reign

Ever since the Academy Awards, I have been troubled by one very obvious fashion trend: purple. Love it or hate it, Scarlett Johansson's burgundy lace dress with the open back was sexy. And Mila Kunis grabbing the spotlight in that light lavender gown—wow. When Natalie Portman waddled in her flowing purple number, I just couldn't take it anymore. All this purple, blast!

I tried the purple thing for a few years in college and it didn't really pan out well for me. Since I have olive skin, dark hair and brown eyes, people always want to dress me up in some purple-inspired tone but I just can't. Something stops me and I grab the blue. Or the pink. Anything else.

I think back on my childhood and realize that purple was one of my favorite colors. I even named my dog "Purple Angel." No, really, that happened (laugh at will). Perhaps I just got burnt out on the color—all those Barbies and American Girls Collection dolls, it's easy to understand why. I don't know what happened during puberty, but purple got the boot.

In the spirit of loving fashion and being an equal-opportunity dresser, I have decided to end my five-year purple hiatus. I haven't purchased a full-bred purple number yet but I am dabbling in that side of the spectrum. As a symbol of my acceptance I am sharing some purple items that I actually can tolerate. Enjoy.

Healthy Turkey Chili!

The weather, which teased us with a week of sunny days, turned out to be no more than a prude gal—and we're back to chilly weather. Instead of being cranky about it (well, I'm a little cranky), I decided to bid farewell to some of my favorite winter foods with one last taste. At the top of the list is, of course, chili. 

    There are as many chili recipes in cyberspace as there are one hit wonders on the pop charts, so there's no telling which one you'll like the best until you try it out for yourself. This recipe is one that I love for two big reasons: it's quick to prepare and healthy to eat! I like my chili to have a lot of chunky vegetables, and since this recipe also calls for turkey meat instead of beef it's a low-carb, lower-fat and gluten-free dieter's dream.  

 

 

You'll need:

1 lb. of ground turkey meat (94 percent fat free)

1 red onion, chopped

1 package of mushrooms, sliced

1 red pepper, chopped

1 yellow pepper, chopped (you can use green if you prefer)

1 can of small kidney beans (black beans if you prefer)

1 package of chili spice mix (read the label if you're keeping gluten-free, not all spice mixes are!)
Red chili flake (optional)


Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a frying pan (turkey is really lean, so it needs a bit of fat) and add the turkey. Once the meat has started to brown, add the chili spice mix with a few tablespoons of water, and mix it all in there. Either add the red onions, red pepper and yellow pepper to the same pan, or take out another pan for the vegetables (I like a second pan, but it's more cleaning at the end—your choice!). Sauté the vegetables together until the onions and peppers begin to caramelize. Add the mushrooms and sauté one more minute. Then transfer all of the contents from the frying pan(s) into a large pot. Add the can of kidney beans. At this point, taste your chili and add salt and pepper to your liking. I like to add some red chili flake and garlic powder because it gives it an undeniable kick. And chili loves kick. Put the top on the pot and cook on low heat for at least 1 hour. Ding! You're done!

Casual Suits You

I love a great casual suit because I wear a lot of them. If you're going to meet the girls for drinks, a casual T-shirt under a blazer says you're stylish without being "all done up." Trade out the T-shirt for a silk tunic and you're ready to meet clients or have dinner with family. Basically, if you've got a slim blazer and a pair of sleek pants (or dark skinny jeans) you're set for any occasion.

These streets will make you feel brand new!

Let's hear it for New York! This past weekend I spent some much-needed time with great friends in New York. I planned the trip a mere 36 hours prior to boarding the plane (spontaneous, who me?). Fashion and style are important in NYC, but what's even more important is packing light—and I did my very best. This outfit became my go-to look. A dress with a fun print seems effortless under an oversized blazer (both from Urban Outfitters), and a casual leather belt brings it down to Earth. I rocked the outfit with a comfy pair of suede, flat, over-the-knee boots. I felt appropriately dressed for both day and night activities—and there were plenty of both. 

I was fortunate enough to see this magnificent view of the city, 15 floors up at the luxurious St. Giles Hotel. The condo-style hotel room was posh, spacious and opulent. I instantly feel in love, and decided I could move to the St. Giles in a heartbeat, should they be in the market for a permanent guest. The best part about the suites are the patios, which have unbelievable views of the Chrysler Building on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. It was the perfect spot to capture some New York moments. 

Photography by the beautiful and talented Brooke Murray.

 

The St. Giles Hotel New York

120-130 East 39th St., NY, NY 10016   

St Giles New York - (The Tuscany) 212-686-1600, 

(The Court) 212-685-1100 | Fax 212-519-8583

www.stgilesnewyork.com

Stationery at Last!

 

I just received my much-anticipated Minted stationery, and I already want to order more! This is a big moment for me—this is first stationery set I now posses with my married name: Tova Rosenberg. The design by Kelli Hall reflects my obsession with poppies and my constant desire for anything in the color pink. The most notable element of Minted stationery is the weight of the card stock. Each letter feels thick and well-made. I am sure those who I correspond with will not even notice how high-end they are, but I most certainly will. After all, the letters I write might be addressed to them, but this stationery is, without a doubt, for me. 

Trend Watch: Crazy About IKAT!

Ikat patterns are everywhere right now in every color. While I used to be an ikat hater (it's true I tell you!) I have recently grown to love the fuzzy lines and bright colors. I am working on incorporating some fresh ikat into my home. Take a look at some clever uses for a good pattern!

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