New York Maven

Satin Stella clutch

2007-08-30T18:21:00.000-04:00

I don't own an evening bag. The best I have is a gold Coach hobo bag that's pretty large. But it's gold, so that makes me think evening.

I could use a clutch, and I've always thought Kate Spade would be the answer...but they're so expensive, and I would so rarely use it.

JCrew just came out with this: Satin Stella clutch. Satin, bright, adorable. $88 - Totally acceptable.

Should I do it? Ehh...I'm so frugal.

Vladstudio.com

2007-08-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

Completely adorable (free!) wallpapers available at Vladstudio.com. Register to get High Res images and Dual Monitors - $19.99 for a Lifetime Membership.

http://gethuman.com/

2007-08-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

Gethuman.com, an excellent resource to circumvent automated phone systems for almost any company you'd want to get in touch with. They even have Netfix. For anyone who has ever tried to track down Netflix, and their customer service line, you'll know what a shining discovery this is.

Oscar Bond - My Salon

2007-08-12T18:04:00.001-04:00

Oscar Bond is located in SoHo, at 42 Wooster Street. You walk in on a runway and step down into the modern space, where apple computers hang from the ceiling; you can check your email while you wait.

All of the stylists all have a personality-look that ranges from Hipster to Barney's. Prices range from $85 - $200. Oscar is $200. To me, all of the stylists are incredibly talented and you'll look like you got your hair cut in Italy. The 85$ crew is completely capable of giving you the best haircut of your life.

When you call to make an appointment, tell them about your hair, they'll make a recommendation. Ask how much that person is. Last time they booked me w/ a $120 director and I only found out when I paid. Still, great cut.

Bonus: This salon is wild about giving away things. If you're on their mailing list, you'll get special offers all the time - free pedicures, manicures, massages, products. Also for your birthday. If you refer anyone you get $25 off your next service. I really like this.

SHAYNE KITCHEN TABLE - Pottery Barn

2007-08-10T14:02:00.000-04:00

I'm so in love with this kitchen table from Pottery Barn. In a larger space, the wings fold down and create the perfect buffet or wine bar. In a small space, the table pulls double duty with the two storage shelves beneath.

At $700, this is well out of the Ikea budget. But overall, a lasting piece that's worth the investment.

Flor - Martha Stewart Designs

2007-08-10T11:26:00.001-04:00

I really love the idea of inexpensive customizable rugs. Flor's been doing them for quite some time (at 19.7" x 19.7 per tile), their prices range from $4 a square foot to...maybe $6 a square foot?

Martha Stewart just added a host of designs to their already robust offerings. Obviously I'm in love.

They're offensively easy to install. Much like putting a post-it, anywhere. Even wall-to wall jobs seem like an after-school project.

Choose any six tiles as samples, for $5.

Ed Freeman: Desert Reality

2007-08-09T14:53:00.000-04:00

Ed Freeman's Desert Reality reminds me of the days when photographers had to wander around and wait for the perfect lighting to get the perfect shots. Take that, Photoshopers.

$15 on Half.com. 80 pages of wonder, any of which should be framed.

Apple's New Keyboard

2007-08-08T19:25:00.001-04:00

A side shot of Apple's new aluminum keyboard. Wireless option available, in case you felt like cuddling with it at bed time.

Which I will be.

Numbers

2007-08-08T19:19:00.000-04:00

New addition to Apple's iWork - Numbers. Spreadsheets the Mac way. In true Mac form, Numbers makes Excel beautiful, simple and personal, all while retaining and enhancing functionality. I highly encourage Mac users to look over the Numbers Product Overview.

There's even a host of tutorials for...our parents. At $79 the iWork suite is a steal, and it's compleatly compatible with Word / Excel / Powerpoint Documents.

Download a 30-Day Free Trial of iWork.

The new iMac

2007-08-08T19:08:00.000-04:00

Need I say more? Her slogan, "You can never be too thin, or too powerful," should be on my headstone. A total redesign from the ground up, and a price drop! She starts at $1,199 for a 20-Inch (which is what the 17-Inch used to cost). That's not factoring the Education discount, students and teachers, or the company discount you may be entitled to. Ask your benefits specialist, and expect 10%. No reason to buy this without a student discount - everyone knows a student, or has a student ID card. If you by via the online education store, you may not even need ID.

I actually gave them my report card when buying my last iPod.

She's packing iLife '08, unrealistically incredible software for all of your photo, movie, web making needs.

My boyfriend is a big "Dell Value" proponent. We went through Dell's website packing on the new iMac's features onto their smallest CPU computer (taking up my desk space?) and came out even - He had equated "Microsoft Works" to "iLife + iWork", which is an embarrassing lie. And then, oops, we forgot to add the incredible web cam. Winner: iMac, best computer on the market.

I'm waiting till October when Leapord comes to to buy mine.

Sperry Top-Siders

2007-08-02T18:03:00.000-04:00

I love these shoes (on men). Restoration Hardware has a few pairs left in Size 9 - $19.99.

Thomas O'Brien Towels

2007-07-30T20:20:00.000-04:00

I'm willing to spend money on smaller luxuries: French jelly and towels in particular. In this case, I've found a towel worthy of the luxury category but comfortably nestled in the affordable isle at Target.

Thomas O'Brien Towels are $6.99 - $9.99, and I couldn't for the life of me tell the difference between this and a $100 competitor. I don't know what Thomas does to make these towels so fluffy, but god bless him.

Free shipping at Target.com with a $50 minimum purchase.

Banana Republic - Free Hemming

2007-07-29T10:31:00.001-04:00

Banana Republic - an inescapable staple of New York Fashion. It's actually in my office building. It's the only chain store within a 5 block radius of my west village pad. There was a time in my life when Banana Republic full on dominated my wardrobe - I found comfort and safety in the the ubiquity and low-level trendiness available to me for $78 a sweater.

This year I've made a continual effort not to shop at Banana Republic. In fact since I've started my first full time job, I haven't bought a single item. I've instead replaced them with BCBG Max Azara. Which is decidedly cooler, especially when I'm raiding the 70% off rack (which exists only in SoHo).

But I've come to realize that I do miss one aspect. Free hemming. I'm short, I get pants hemmed - This service is the flame, I am but a moth. So this winter, I'm coming back. I'm buying my pants here. Size 0 fits me perfectly, and don't tell me its vanity sizes - which a store clerk actually did once. Oh my god, fire yourself.

Domino Magazine

2007-07-29T10:21:00.001-04:00

It's hard to imagine how one publication could capture the essence of modern and classic design so perfectly. I would live in any page of any issue. The articles are well written. The pieces features range in price from Ikea to Look But Don't Touch. I've racked my brain with so many amazing ideas for embellishing any place I live. I consider this magazine to be my best educator in interior design - absolutely essential.

The subscription is $17 / Year from Amazon.com. I've ordered subscriptions from Amazon before and they take a while to get started...you may better off ordering from DominoMag.com directly.

The website itself is a great source for ideas, but not so much detailed information. They'll show you a picture of a beautiful bedroom, but won't tell you where to get any of the pieces - in the magazine, they reveal their sources.

Harry Potter Wii Game

2007-07-29T10:12:00.001-04:00

What an amazing concept. Harry Potter (favorite thing ever) + Wii (favorite thing sometimes). I'm ripping off the packaging at work hours before I can play. Mine includes one child movie ticket. What fan cares about HP so much as to buy the game, but has not yet seen the movie? Also what child is going alone. Boo. Whatever, Harry is mine!

The graphics are no less than absolutely amazing. Hogwarts is rendered in full, with lighting effects that stun. There are no load times as you run around the castle, entering different rooms. You're just in another 3D room. Everything in the castle works they way its supposed to - the moving staircases, which are annoying. The paintings that talk to you for far too long before letting you in. You feel Harry's frustration as he interacts with these things.

So that's all well and good, but there are some factors that are irking me. Harry really only has four points of view: straight, back, right, left. This is a major blow to game play. It's really quite difficult to position harry in front of an object that is not in one of those four pre-set locations. Even more difficult to aim your wand at something and move it fluidly. A lot of wandwork seems blind, and the game seems to compensate for your lack of aim by guessing what you want to do and letting you do it.

It doesn't feel nearly as tight as Zelda as far as game play. But I continue to give it a shot, since I love the story.

M.A.C. Cosmetics - Eye Primer

2007-07-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

Last summer when I was rolling in paid internship dough, I skipped my way down to SoHo to visit the M.A.C. store - National Headquarters. $200 later, I was laden with four new eye shadows (of my choosing, but stored in one compact case), eye liner (pot form), brushes, mascara, blush, foundation, and a new specimen to me - eye primer.

It was $17, and the first on the chopping block when I heard my grand total, but my "artist" was standing beside me telling me that if I didn't buy that primer, then I might as well not buy the shadow or liner. Ouch.

Fine, I bagged it. The next day I dedicated at least 20 min to applying my new loot. First on, the eye primer. I got mine in "Bare Nude" -- it comes in a little paint tube (which I couldn't find on the website). It's creamy, like solid foundation, but it goes on so light you can't even feel/see it. Starting to be $17 of the emperors new clothes...

I put my eye make up on on top of it. There. Ok, no difference.

Nine hours later....no difference.

I'm sold, the eye primer is an absolutely essential (and secret?) make up bag element. Your make up will not smudge or come off until you've taken it off. I've accidentally slept with this on, and woken up ready for a wedding. Very impressive.

West Elm - Parsons Desk with Drawers

2007-07-23T13:05:00.001-04:00

I've seen this desk one too many times in one too many design magazines, making it credible enough for me to post a recommendation, though I do not (yet) own it. At $299, the Parson's Desk clocks as one of the most versatile, lasting, affording pieces available in the mass-produced modern furniture market.

I think if you're going modern, or even eclectic, you can't go wrong with this desk. It works in a hallway, in the bedroom, in the office, or even as a small apartment's answer to a dining room table - complete with two drawers for placemats and silverware. Imagine this behind the couch with two square ottomans underneath. Perfect TV dinner space.

My preference is the high-gloss white.

JCrew.com - Sale!

2007-07-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

The Metallic-leather knotted Capri sandals are $30 and the Solid classic pique polo is $20. I've been raiding the JCrew sale (again). We're in between summer and fall, and deals are to be had!

I also picked up a $6 ribbon belt, two more $15 shelf bra tanks (not on sale, but still cheap). And two stripped work shirts. All items under $30.

On the whole, I think JCrew's prices are absolutely outrageous and I would never by anything retail, when the sales are consistently this awesome and happen about half way through the season. Besides, JCrew's seasonality is so early you can always find cheap pieces for fall.

Jonathan Adler: My Prescription For Anti-Depressed Living

2007-07-23T12:16:00.001-04:00

I discovered Jonathan Adler when my College Roommate brought home a signed copy of this book. Immediately, I fell in love. A Jewish Gay Decorator from Miami. Dreams do come true.

Jonathan's designs are so approachable. They're loud and personal. There may be a ceramic statue of boobs by the fireplace, or a portrait of the family dog above the written words "Milo, won't poop in the rain".

I don't think I could go as modern as he does in some spaces, but others are classic and beautiful.

His designs aren't entirely unaffordable either. On a scale from Ikea to Not in My Lifetime, he's hovering above Pottery Barn...probably right in line with Williams Senoma Home.

He also has an inexpensive line of bedding, plates, and bathroom ware sold at Bed Bath and Beyond.

VistaPrint

2007-07-23T11:27:00.001-04:00

I used to run my own little invitation factory. Mothers would come to me with blank invitations they'd picked up at the local stationary store, or my favorite - Katie Paperie, and I would get to work in Microsoft Word, formatting, picking colors, printing ever so carefully.

To be honest, it was a lot of work. And this year when I was tasked with creating the Invite to my Graduation Party, I sought an easier way. I found VistaPint by chance. They seemed to have an extensive array of printing options, adorable templates, and great prices. I could even upload my own graphic...should I want to get that involved.

I chose one of the modern wedding templates, made some fonts bigger, moved some things around, and had 50 shipped to my office for $20. They arrived in three days, no expediated shipping costs. They were great. Not like, wedding quality, but, great for what I wanted. The envelopes were plain white, which I regretted. Splurge for colored envelopes.

All in all, amazingly easy, great quality, cheap cheap cheap. I'm endlessly tempted to design my own personal stationary, note pads, note cards...ah!

Oh and what a good idea for presents.

eBay Express - There is life after death.

2007-07-16T20:59:00.001-04:00

I bought these boots two years ago at a Michael Kors Sample Sale at his corporate office in mid town. I paid $100, and I was/am in love. They lived with me day in and day out through two New York Winters. They were the first pair of shoes I took to my local shoe repair, begging Michael to save them. He scolded me for not brining them in before I had destroyed them - They're 100% leather, they needed protection.

I berated myself for not buying two pairs (like I've ever done that). They're so comfortable, they'll never go out of style. I'm such a fool.

I'm browsing eBay express today. I see my boots, my size, for $42. What? WHAT?

Stunned, I loving reach for my credit card. They're being shipped tomorrow.

Forever 21 - Summer Dresses

2007-07-16T14:19:00.000-04:00

This dress is $27, probably one of the most expensive dresses at Forever 21, and completely 1960's adorable. Forever 21 could be named "21" for the abundance of $21 price tags, and for the most part, everything dress related is fashionable - casual only, though I did find a black Jackie-o cut dress that is serving me well at work.

The physical store drives me crazy. Everything is messy, the girls who shop there are young and ruthless and there is a pervasive lack of "S" and "XS" which makes me feel like I'm attending a bad afterparty.

The secret is the website - $7.00 Shipping, but who cares when you're buying outfits for $15?

All these years I knew a jersey dress shouldn't cost $117 (hello Banana Republic), and I was right.

My Recommendation: Dressy Tops / Dresses - Summer Only, and stick with 100% Cotton.

SIGG Water Bottles

2007-07-16T10:09:00.001-04:00

I got a SIGG water bottle at a coportate event. Mine has a screw top, which deterred me from using it for a few days. Then I found out a could buy a "drink this beverage easily" water bottle top (see above), and I became happier with the brand.

So I washed out my SIGG with warm water and soap and filled it up at our cold filtered water station.

Immediate thoughts:

Freakishly lightweight
Creates no aftertaste (any taste) in the water whatsoever
Bottle gets extremely cold, extremely fast, if you have a cold beverage in it
Warm Al Gore feelings - SIGG bottles are recyclable

Other fun facts:

Supposed to last 20+ years
Lots of awesome designs and choices
More adorable design choices for kids
Can hold sticky beverages like Apple Juice without issues
Dishwasher safe

At $20 a bottle, this makes an awesome gift, to yourself or friends!

Coinstar

2007-07-14T17:25:00.001-04:00

I keep all my lose change in an IKEA jar on my desk. There's been massive overflow, and I relented today and looked up my local Coinstar. Up the block on 6th and W4th street, excellent.

I put all my coins into Ziploc bags, and headed up to Duane Reade. I'm given the choice of getting cash back, and sacrificing 9% of my loot, or choosing between an Amazon.com, iTunes, Old Navy etc. gift card. I opted for Amazon.com. There's something about not knowing how much money is in there that makes you want to spend it as quickly as possible, in full.

Putting the coins in is so fun. You're in a state of glazed wonder as the ching ching ching is translated into a climbing dollar figure on the kiosk.

We're done - $86.12! My Amazon.com gift code prints out on my receipt.

I ordered Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Wii Game (oh my god!!!), 7mm Gold Ball Earrings, and a Business 2.0 subscription. $3 on my credit card. Go Coinstar.

IKEA - MJÖD

2007-07-14T09:26:00.001-04:00

IKEA's MJOD "Beer Glasses" are $6.99 for a six pack. We have a set of these glasses and they're beautiful. Better yet, they double as the perfect trumpet vase. Dishwasher Safe.