One of those days....

{tasty brunch spot in my hood}

Saturday was one of those days I did nothing I should have done {drop off my dry cleaning, pick up dog food, hit the gym} + instead did exactly what I wanted to do.  I awoke to a perfect autumn day that forces you to ignore your nagging to do list, get out of your apartment + soak up every second of it.  It was the first time since March the weather called for me to pull out my newest pair of boots + slip on my favorite Marc Jacobs jacket to go pick up a coffee + the New York Times on my way to the dog park.

After the park I met up with my bestie for an extended brunch, to make up for all the face time we missed out on while she was in Sweden for the week.  From there we meandered around to some of our favorite stores + stumbled upon the most precious handmade street fair, where we oohed + ahhed over all the cute things.  After shopping we decided a few cocktails were in order so we met up with our other bestie to toast to the good life + indulge in some of our favorite comfort food.  Since we polished off a cheese burger with truffle fries, mac + cheese + a slice of "birthday cake" {with ice cream of course!} , going dancing later that night was the perfect solution to balance out our caloric intake. 

We parted ways to head home to our respective apartments + get ready, then reconvened downtown to meet up with more of our friends to dance the night away.  As if we didn't already pack enough into one day, our friend Amos insisted we go to the best karaoke place in New York to finish off the night. When I got home for the evening I looked down at my watch + realized it was almost time to get up + quite possibly have one of those days all over again.

{frothy coffees}

{french toast}

{stamp shopping for Katie's Etsy shop}

{sweet sign we saw in front of a west village brownstone}

{cheers!}

{truffle fries=nirvana}

{birthday cake is appropriate whenever you have a taste for it}

{late night karaoke in chinatown}

xo

jules

TV Dinner

{butternut squash soup with spicy pumpkin seeds}

New York is undoubtedly a fast paced city with the exception of the summer when locals insist on leaving the office early to flee the city + actually take a little extra time to relax. Post Labor Day the city ramps right back up again, as does my social calendar.   With parties, dinners out, fundraising galas, brunches, happy hours, birthday celebrations, concerts + work, my schedule has literally been a whirlwind since the first week of September! 

Tonight was the first night in weeks I didn't have anything on my iCal after work, so I welcomed the opportunity to stop by Chelsea Market on my way home + pickup  some ingredients to make a seasonally inspired dinner. When I got home I put on my favorite sweats, made myself some butternut squash soup with spicy pumpkin seeds + curled up on the couch to catch up on my magazine reading + DVR.  It was exactly what I needed!

____________________________________________________________

Butternut Squash Soup with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds {adapted from here}

Grocery List

Dairy- 2 tablespoons butter

              sour cream for dolloping {I had some leftover from here}

Produce- 1 small onion chopped

                    1 {2inch} piece of fresh ginger, peeled + chopped

                    2 garlic cloves chopped

                    2 3/4 lbs butternut squash, prepared + cut into 3/4 inch cubes

                    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

                    1/4 cup fresh orange juice

Dry Goods- 1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds

Spice Cabinet- kosher salt

                              fresh ground pepper

                              1 teaspoon chili powder

                              1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Game Plan

Soup

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until squash is tender, 20 minutes.

2. Purée soup in two batches. When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent splattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender’s lid, and cover with a dish towel. Stir in juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper, and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin seeds, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and lime juice; toss to coat.

2. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until puffed and browned, about 10 minutes.

                          

{spicy pumpkin seeds}

{my magazine pile up}

{seasonally fresh butternut squash}

{my favorite spot on the couch}

{crusty bread for dipping!}

 xo
 jules

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

                                                                {Bergdorf Goodman}


I work just off 5th Avenue in midtown + live just off 5th Avenue downtown so access to the best shopping in the city is literally at my door step.  The good news for my pocket book {designer of course!} is that by the time I get off work most of the stores have already closed for the night. However, I happen to have two roommates who could not be more excited to go for a walk when I get home + do a little window shopping, as well as take care of some other business while we are out.  Here are some of our favorite spots to browse past.....

                                                                        {Moschino}

 {ABC Home}

{Banchet Flowers}

{Mulberry}

{Little Marc Jacobs}

{Christian Louboutin}

{My Roomies}

                       

xo

jules

City Love

Dear New York City, 

I think any New Yorker will agree "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere". As a young girl growing up in the Windy City, I always dreamed of moving to the Big Apple.  Here I am 6 years later, still standing + just as smitten with you as ever. I've changed jobs, boyfriends, moved apartments an inordinate amount of times, had my heart broken, broken some hearts, consistently paid obscene rent + STILL there is no place I'd rather be.

Ok, ok, I'll cut to the chase. Yes, it's true. I did abandon you for a multilevel structure surrounded by copious amounts of land, complete with white picked fence in a far off land called New Jersey.  I admit it was a gargantuan lapse of judgement, but love makes you do crazy things sometimes {and just plain crazy others!}.  Please accept this sincere apology from the bottom of my city-loving heart + know I will never relocate west of the Hudson  again.

I've returned to my senses + could not be more ebullient to meander through your villages, listen to music in all your quaint little venues, taste the fruits of your culinary masters, people watch in your luscious parks, be inspired by your museums + most of all rediscover what it means to be a New Yorker.

Forever Yours,

Jules

Ps. Check out my new digs! 

xo

jules