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wishlist fig + yarrowi have a confession to make: i have ugly heels. like, gross, cracked, totally fugly please get those away from me heels. if i had a dime for every time a nail salon attendee has said, “WHY IS YOUR SKIN SO DRY?!” i’d be a millionaire at age 28.

it’s no surprise, then, that i’ve tried nearly ever foot scrub and foot cream under the sun – because all a girl wants is some smooth feet, you know? unfortunately, nothing works like a good pedicure, and despite my very best efforts, my heels still don’t look their best.

enter fig+yarrow’s alpine foot butter: the newest item on my wishlist. the brand bills it as “a velvety smooth alpine fresh whipped butter blend to treat and nourish feet.” i can get on board with that. see, i have a thing for alpine/christmas scented things. specifically, i have a thing for holiday-scented candles, but pretty much anything that smells like a tree makes me happy.

hence, i’m pretty sure that fig+yarrow’s foot butter will be a home run in my book. and since i can’t resist anything with pretty packaging, nor can i get enough of at home spa treatments, i’m also thinking of splurging on the winter herbal steam (at home facial here i COME), coffee + cardamom body scrub, and of course, the alpine foot scrub. HELLLOOO, at home pedicure.

ps: friends, fam, there’s still time to order before hanukkah ends! just kidding. sort of.

fallhomedecor

WREATH | MARBLE CUTTING BOARDS | SUNBURST MIRROR | BRASS PEACE SIGN | MIRRORED PILLOW | DIPTYQUE CANDLE | PLAID THROW | APOTHECARY CANDLES | IKAT PILLOW | GOLD WALLPAPER | MERCURY GLASS LAMP | KILIM RUG | LEATHER BUTTERFLY CHAIR |

it’s officially october, and i can’t get enough of warm, cozy neutrals and candles that smell like bonfires. if i had a million dollars, i’d buy each and every one of the items above. kilim rugs, leather butterfly chairs, mercury glass and wool throws are what it’s all about come autumn. i just want to snuggle on my couch, light nine million candles, and marathon each and every season of chicago fire.

speaking of chicago fire, all of my fall shows are back, and i’ve been binge-watching tv like nobody’s business. like, i’m entering anti-social territory. but honestly, a girl can’t help it when the voice is on twice a week and dick wolf keeps creating amazing shows with hot guys that have ginormous hearts (swoon!).

this time of year is my absolute favorite, and i just want it to last forever. i’d roll around in a giant pile of leaves if any piles made themselves available to me. good thing i’m headed up to vermont this weekend! i’ll leave you with that lovely image, and for now, go admire the pretty things above, and drink some apple cider while you’re at it.

HAPPY FALL!

Best Fall Candlesfeu de bois | pumpkin chai | oatmeal cookie

i have a bit of a thing for things that smell good. this is my worst nightmare. as a ginormous neat freak and a person with what i’m pretty sure is a pretty hardcore nose (both in the large jewish sense and in the strong sense of smell sense), i’m constantly thinking of ways to make both myself and my home smell pretty. and by pretty, i mean, i want to smell fucking AMAZING (thank you, tocca cleopatra, for your help in that regard), and i want my apartment to do the same. when you’re a crazy cat lady to the max, this can be a little bit difficult. i try to keep smells to a minimum by disposing of penny’s lady bizness on the regular, and cleaning my apartment from top to bottom once a week (or more, depending on how anal i’m feeling on any given day).

but my real savior in the scent department is candles.

hi, my name is sarah, and i am a CANDLE WHORE. i cannot get enough. the security guard at the west broadway anthropologie store and i are pretty much on a first name basis (at the very least, he sees me and thinks, this bitch, buying her candles again). thank goodness my mother never remembers to read this blog, because she’d absolutely keel over if she realized how much i spend on candles on a monthly basis. my expensive candle habit takes a bit of a hit in the summer months, when fresh flowers take priority over a faux wax version, but come fall and winter, i am ALL ABOUT THAT WAX, ‘BOUT THAT WAX

specifically, i’m all about that pumpkin/fireplace/cookie/fir-scented wax. there is nothing i love more than sitting on my couch enveloped in the smell of nest’s pumpkin chai. it is, hands down, one of the best fall candles out there. RESPECT, nest. you kill it. (come christmas time, nest’s ‘holiday’ pretty much never stops burning in casa de sarah and kaitlyn). i may be a jew, but i LOVE me the scent of christmas trees, and since i can’t really get away with owning one, i can own the next best thing: a candle that smells like the real thing.

anyway, back to my faves. i’ve been known to go a little crazy buying anything and everything from illume (they do a separate line from anthropologie – don’t miss out on their oatmeal cookie and pumpkin souffle boulangerie jars), but when i’ve got extra cash money burning a hole in my pocket, i head straight for the diptyque. in the spring, i’m all about rosa mimosa, in the summer, it’s baies for the win (it’s baies for the win any season, really), but come autumn, i can’t get enough of feu de bois. there is, i tell you, no other candle that mimics the smell of a real, wood-burning fireplace better than this one. 

when you’re a city-dweller, and especially, a new yorker, a real, wood-burning fireplace is a pipe dream. it’s about as realistic as going an entire year without seeing a crazy person on the subway (love you, nyc). fireplaces and garages, i tell you. they’re what suburban dreams are made of. but since we concrete jungle folk can’t get the real thing ’til we head upstate to hudson or across the water to jersey, we’re destined to burn candles instead.

diptyque’s candles may be expensive, but they burn forever, they burn cleanly, and they smell beyond incredible. trust me when i say: if you can afford to splurge, feu de bois is THE fall candle. there’s nothing else like it.

can’t stomach spending more than $20 on a freaking candle? i feel you, girl. make a beeline for your local anthropologie store, and stock up on their oatmeal cookie boulangerie jar. at just $16, this candle burns beautifully, lasts for 35 hours, and best of all, doubles as an easy way to make people think you’re a baking goddess who whips up soft, molasses-laden oatmeal cookies on the regular. talk about killing two birds with one stone.

so, what are you waiting for? you have shopping to do!

 

bedroommakeover

 

why hello print | mirror | pouf | task lamp | storage baskets | rug | campaign dresser | nightstand

 

i don’t know what it is about the month of september, but every time fall rolls around, i get this undeniable itch to redecorate. i want my home to change with the seasons, i want to start fresh, i want to throw out everything i own and start from scratch. now, i can’t afford to throw everything out and start from scratch (and honestly, even if i could, that would be incredibly wasteful and i’d never recommend it to anyone), i can put together a little mood board and start saving for a few pieces to redecorate.

i’ve been living in my little corner of new york city for five years now, and every so often, i splurge on a piece to make my space feel like home – but my bedroom has remained pretty much unchanged since i moved in. i’ve never regretted my moody gray walls, they make the space feel at once light and cozy, and i love my white bedding more than life itself. my bed is like a giant cloud, and i wouldn’t have it any other way. but my storage has seen better days. i’ve got two dresser in my room (oops, #clotheshorse): an antique chinoiserie style one that belonged to my grandma and that i’ll never get rid of (but it could use a good refinishing), and a cheap ikea piece i bought off craigslist and painted a pale pink. my nightstand is an antique i found in the basement of my building next to the trash cans (you wouldn’t believe the stuff people throw away in new york city!), and while it’s cute, it’s seen better days. i’ve also got a large leather armchair i found on the corner of 61st and 1st (bedbugs be damned) and hustled home that very afternoon a few years ago. my rug isn’t the right size for the space, and my TV is placed just a bit too high for late night movie watching.

all small things, sure – but the moral of the story is, my bedroom could use a little love. i’m a big believer in investing in your home (it’s a luxury to be able to do so, of course), because it’s the cornerstone of your life, and the place you come home to each night. give me the choice between an expensive handbag and an expensive piece of furniture and i’d pick the furniture any day. i’ve been super inspired by this room lately, and it’s got me craving a few splurges. i’d like to get a rug that actually fits my space, get some blinds that are a little bit nicer than my ikea curtains and shitty curtain rods, and maybe even get a mirror that isn’t the target version i found in the attic of our rented house senior year of college.

i mean, i’m 28 years old. i think i can get a real mirror, right? above are the items i’m thinking of. i’ll probably go for the rug first (a dash and albert striped beauty), then the mirror, some chic lighting from target, and some cheeky new art from etsy. those nightstands from serena and lily are to die for, but they’re pricey, and when i was home in massachusetts this past weekend, i snagged some old school mahogany side tables for an incredible $80 at an estate sale down the street. god bless suburbia, i tell you.

5 trends to try for fall

 

you guys, fall is here. well, almost. let me rephrase: fall clothes are here. i may or may not have already splurged on a vince sweater coat at nordstrom rack (cozy central). like all basic white girls, fall is my favorite season, hands down. i just love dressing for autumn. give me a pair of leggings and sweater with a big floral scarf over a sundress any day. i am the happiest of campers when i can layer up the wazoo, and then throw a leather jacket over my shoulders. sunglasses, oxblood nails, berry-tinted lips. done and DONE, my friends. i love fall dressing so much that i’m pretty sure i’m way cuter in the fall. yes, you can quote me on that. or judge me on it (the latter would be more appropriate).

since it’s almost autumn, i’ve been pinning fall outfit inspiration like crazy, as any single girl with a cat is wont to do. the above looks offer 5 trends i’m thinking we (you and me) have to try for fall. some of them are already in, some are ALWAYS IN (hi, faux fur, love you), and some are new, to me, at least. most likely none are new to the more fashionable denizens of this fine city, but let’s be real: not all of us can look like we stepped out of a sartorialist shot.

so, let’s do this, shall we? here are 5 trends you’ve got to try for fall.

1) faux fur. repeat after me: faux fur is your friend. not real fur, because that’s creepy and not fair to the animals who need it way more than you do. faux fur, however, is the shit. it’s cozy. it keeps you warm. it comes in gorgeous colors. it’s CHIC, you guys. i swear, add some faux fur and you automatically look more sophisticated. at least, that’s what i tell myself every time i wear my faux fur snood. if you need inspiration for how to wear it, see images 3 and 4, where olivia palermo and some pretty blonde girl are layering faux fur (or, maybe real fur, those assholes) over their respective shirts/jackets. i love the look of a fur vest over a leather jacket, and there’s something about the juxtaposition of faux fur and a sheer silk shirt that looks effortlessly cool.

2) skirts with sweaters. when done right, a maxi with a sweater can be flattering, warm, and (dare i use the word again?) effortless. it’s the easy way out. but check out the ladies above. laurel pantin (that adorable blonde in the bottom right in the shot above) rocks it out with double the texture, double the fun. she’s got a funky knee-length skirt (hard to pull off no matter what your body type) with a chunky knit, and she’s ROCKING it. the all white color scheme ain’t too shabby either. then there’s the lady to the left, who is a dead ringer for kate hudson (in real life, she’s a style blogger). that sheer black tea-length skirt with the light v-neck sweater? i die for this look. if i were tall blonde and thin, i would wear this every single day.

3) big floral scarves. i’ll admit it: i’m kind of a scarf addict. i love them. i own way too many of them. and now i want to own more, particularly, one with big bright florals all over it. joanna hillman is a serious style icon (the hair. the red lips. the impossibly long legs.), and that shot, with the camel jacket, is no exception. i’d also pair that scarf with a striped long-sleeve tee (alexander wang makes my faves), a light sweater, a leather jacket…the list goes on and on. a floral scarf is basically a neutral, in my book.

4) tons of texture. let’s go back to laurel, shall we? there is so much texture going on in that outfit. the skirt. the knitted sweater. the leather belt. this is a tough look to pull off, but the style lesson is still there: don’t be afraid to mix and match. wear your lace with a fisherman’s sweater. pair sequins with faux fur (within reason, of course, there’s a reason that less is more). my general strategy is to put it all on, then take at least one thing off. this generally means i don’t leave the house looking like i got dressed in the dark (note, i said generally).

5) pattern play. the first image in the bunch above is a shot of j.crew’s fall/winter ’14 presentation. that means it was shot last february, when we were still wading through slush and thinking winter would never, ever end. i pinned in ages ago, but i can’t wait to glean some style inspiration from it now. floral pants with a plaid scarf? don’t mind if i do. pattern mixing has been “in” for a few seasons now, but i’ve been doing it since i was a kid. i mean, i was the girl that showed up to a sleepaway camp wearing floral printed jorts and a tie dyed tee when everyone else was in juicy sweatsuits. case in point: don’t be afraid to mix it up. in my book, weirder is better.

and there you have it. style notes from a basic bitch who loves black leggings more than life itself.

6 jumpsuits to wear into fall

TOP ROW: ONE | TWO | THREE      BOTTOM ROW: ONE | TWO | THREE

hi my name is sarah and i think i need to check into jumpsuit rehab. i can’t stop buying them. i can’t stop wearing them. my coworkers probably think i only own three outfits (if a jumpsuit can even be considered an outfit). i can’t wait to transition my jumpsuits into fall outfits, complete with slouchy sweaters and oversized scarves. i just CAN’T GET ENOUGH. i mean, they’re essentially pajamas that can pass as real outfits. what more could you want?

thankfully, it seems like i’m not the only one who’s obsessed. topshop and nordstom, as well as my beloved anthropologie, have jumped on the jumpsuit train, and jumped on hard. this printed version is soo chic for september (insert rachel zoe voice), and this one is straight up sex pot. hellooo, strapless sweetheart neckline. i like you, yes i do. above are six options i’d happily add to my closet (i think i might just splurge on this joie option after seeing it on emily schuman). what about you? are you on the jumpsuit train?

what i want this week shopping list

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN | FOURTEEN

end of the season shopping, also known as SALE TIME, is my favorite kind of shopping. maybe this is my inner cheapskate coming out, but there’s really nothing like scoring a piece you’ve had your eye on for months at 60% off. the thrill of the hunt, i guess. men have hunting and gathering, we have shopping.

that might be the most superficial statement i’ve ever written. please forgive me.

this week’s shopping list is brought to you by three things: pieces i can bring to mexico, pieces i want in my apartment, and pieces to carry all the little pieces of my life (helllooo, tote bags). seriously, though, santa baby, can you shimmy that bar cart down the chimney to me? i’m sure hanukkah harry would be happy to help. i’ll leave you both some cookies, and some gelt for harry.

happy shopping, and happy august! holy moly, this summer is FLYING by.

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ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN 

is it just me, or has this been the LONGEST week ever? i don’t know what it is about coming back to work after a vacation (apparently, even 2 days out of the city sours me on it), but on tuesday, i already wanted it to be friday. and now that it’s thursday, well, let’s just say i realllly want it to be friday. thankfully, my new job offers summer fridays, otherwise known as the world’s greatest summer invention. i’m pretty summer fridays are unique to new yorkers, offering a chance for the rich folk to get a head start on the trek out to their hamptons home each weekend. i don’t have a hamptons home and likely never will, but you can bet i still love getting out at 1pm every friday. though actually, i’ve had so much work to do that i’ve been leaving closer to 4pm. but STILL, there is a difference between leaving at 4 and leaving at 7 or 8, and that difference smells like sunshine and feels like heaven.

since this week has been a rather stressful one, i’ve been doing a whole lot of imaginary online shopping (and i may or may not have actually ordered that bobbi brown beach body oil, because, well, sometimes a girl needs body oil). you  might notice i switched up the font a bit for this week’s shopping list. how do we like the script? it’s kind of pretty, right? feels a bit more summery, i think.

i’ve got a biiig crush on these smokin’ hot kate spade studs – how cute are they?! – and also on these ear cuffs from baublebar. and let’s talk about that mara hoffman jumpsuit, which is only as good as the somewhat-matching mara hoffman beach towel (from madewell, oddly). mara always does the coolest prints, and these two pieces are no exception.

happy shopping, folks! ps: just 2 days ’til it’s officially summer.

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wallpaper has experienced a serious renaissance in the design world over the past few years, and honestly, thank goodness, because there is a WHOLE lot of unfortunate (read: fugly) wallpaper in the world (70s and 80s homes, i’m looking at you), and that shit needs to be replaced.

in the past, wallpaper was reserved for 70s era kitchens, bad bathrooms, and even worse bedrooms with wall to wall carpet. but it seems those days are behind us, and we’re all moving in the right direction, towards wallpaper that is beautiful, intricately designed, and best of all, uber chic. who has two thumbs and loves uber chic wallpaper?

THIS GIRL.

as a renter, wallpaper is in my dreams, not my reality, but that doesn’t mean i can’t do some imaginary shopping, or real shopping for the folks that DO own their homes. so, where does one look for cool wallpaper? there are a lot of options, but one of my favorite places to shop is hygge & west. you may recall that a few years ago, h&w did an awesome collab with joy cho of oh joy! it was this collaboration that put hygge & west on my radar (the collection is still on sale today, and trust me when i say, it is to DIE for. cho’s “petal pusher” print kills it. i’ve seen it used in dozens of rooms, and never has it looked too busy or out of place. GLAM to the max).

i didn’t think anyone could match cho’s designs. that is, until i heard that anna bond of rifle paper co. would be doing a line for the brand. i am a HUGE rifle paper fan, and, thanks to anna bond, have become a bit of a stationary snob over the years. bond, who is rifle paper’s creative director, hand sketches/paints* all of her whimsical, beautiful pieces, so it’s no surprise that her wallpaper line (which is screenprinted in chicago) is TO DIE FOR.

*if you’re not following her on instagram, you’re missing out.

i picked out a few of my favorites above, and, just for fun, i had a little think sesh about where i’d use each of them in my dream home. laundry room, powder room, kid’s room, library. check, check, check and check. miss bond, you’ve done it again.

shop the entire rifle paper co. for hygge & west collection here.

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ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN 

i have a confession to make: i started this WIWTW board while i was on vacation in california two weeks ago. and just finished it last night. whoopsies. i’ve been feeling a tiny bit uninspired. thankfully, only like 5 of you actually read this thing, so it’s not like anyone missed me. inspiration, if you’re reading this, please come back now okay? i miss you.

this week’s wishlist includes a chic striped tote perfect for long summer beach days, an adorable blanket that could also be used as a beach blanket (and rolled up into that striped tote), the perfect lilac nail color, coffee grind body scrub that promises to rid you of cellulite (SAY WHAT?!), and THE sweatshirt for cat ladies. there are a few other fun items thrown in as well. happy shopping!