The Last 48 [in pictures]

Admiring the window display at Bloomingdales after an amazing dinner with my wonderful boyfriend, Mike, at Brio

Checking out the baked goods at Chelsea Market



An impromptu visit to a Holiday Bazaar in Columbus Circle



Adorable Christmas cards seen at Chelsea Market

Another great find at Chelsea Market

I couldn’t resist!  Great summer earings find. 

An interesting take on holiday décor at the Columbus Circle mall

Barbie cake at Chelsea Market

Double chocolate pepermint pancakes

Alyssa

One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure

After hastily signing a lease for my apartment in August 2009, I realized that I did not own any home goods. In an effort to save money, I decided to try shopping at a second hand store. To my surprise, once I got past the junk, there really were a few treasures. Mainly, the china and ceramic pieces stood out to me. I opted to purchase a beautiful set of plates that just happened to share the same colors as my sorority – olive green and white.

Recently, I toyed with the idea of purchasing more of the same plates. However, to my dismay, when I returned to the store there were none left. Then, I took to the internet. Through my searching I learned that I didn’t purchase an ordinary dinnerware, rather I purchased several pieces that were created by a very well known company – J&G Meakin. According to Wikipedia, during the 19th century J&G was known for creating cheap china. In 1970 the frim was taken over by the Wedgwood Group. 30 years later production under the name Meakin ceased, and the name Eagle Pottery was then adopted. However, in 2004 Eagle Pottery closed and all works were demolished in 2005. Locating replacement pieces has now become increasingly difficult. I have however; found a website that advertises a dinner plate for $15. It boggles my mind to think that I paid 25 cents for each plate only 2 years ago.

Lesson learned – one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure!

Alyssa

Dancing on Glitter

My favorite shoe silhouette is the ballet flat. While most girls my age were shopping for their first pair of heels, I was drooling over the latest Tory Burch flats. I believe that these shoes are seasonless.  Yes, my feet are freezing if I wear them in the snow, but the blue shade my feet portray usually matches the patent leather of the shoes. Last weekend I stopped into Target, and as always I checked the inventory in the shoe aisle. I was so excited to find these little flats with an even smaller price tag of $19.99. I love the elastic that rims the outside, but perhaps their best feature is the fact that they are covered, not sprinkled, but covered in glitter. While these shoes also come in gold, I picked the black because a girl can never have enough pairs of black shoes. I plan on wearing these shoes every day, and if I ever get lost, all I have to do is click my heels together and repeat "there's no place like home," it worked for Dorothy didn't it?

Alexa

At Home Hibachi

Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of a detox/cleanse. However, after reading the guidelines, I’ve decided its best that I wait until after the holidays. While I’m not ready to fully commit now, I have decided to incorporate more healthy eating patterns into my everyday routine and eliminate some of the not-so-healthy ones.

Thus, yesterday I decided to grill red peppers and mushrooms. To do so, first place a cast iron grill on top of the stove (such as this one seen here: http://www.emerilstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=40EW708). Then, place clean sliced vegetables on top. Drizzle olive oil and let sit for several minutes. Once the peppers start to turn black, turn over. The mushrooms will cook much faster so be sure to keep an eye on them. Don’t be alarmed when you see peppers turn black. The black burnt pieced can easily be peeled off before consumption. Once grilled to your liking, simply place in a plate and add more olive oil and fresh ground pepper. Nutritious and delicious!

Alyssa

Daily Dose of Inspiration

Last December my mother bought me a countdown calendar with 365 days of fashion. The calendar is full of fashion regrets, timeless items and celebrity choices. I saved a select few of the dates for a rainy day, and as another year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to share some quotes that ooze inspiration. Below are my top three favorite fashion quotes:

Alexa

2011 Jams

Do you listen to Super Bass on repeat at the gym? Change the radio station every time Adele comes on? Tell us here! Vote for your favorite songs of 2011.

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-song-of-2011/andrewpugliese?limit=all&format=GRID

Alexa and Andrew

Meet my new accessory

One accessory in my wardrobe that I neglect to invest in is sunglasses. I understand the need for them, but rarely do I find a pair that makes my heart melt. Recently however, I fell in love.  Ladies and gentlemen please meet my D&G cat eye sunglasses! The plastic frames are bright blue and the inside design is the exact image that a kaleidoscope creates. When I wear them I feel transported back in time, like I could be meeting Holly Golightly for lunch.  These days, I refuse to leave the house without my cat eyes and a spritz of Bond No. 9’s Chinatown perfume.

Alexa