Temperley for Less

One of my favorite things this year is the increasing popularity of designers partnering with affordable retailers offering great fashion at a low cost. I went crazy for the Gap Vogue white shirt line (I bought two of them), the Simply Vera Wang collection at Kohl's is beautiful, & I have followed the Target Go International since they debuted, and have loved almost every line so far. ( I have my favorites of course).
When Target announced the Alice Temperley collection would be hitting stores on September 16th,I knew I would be counting down the days. I have been pining over the different pieces for a month now and finally they are available. These are some of my favorites.

I want this entire outfit.

This jacket I actually saw in a magazine and quickly wrote it off as something I couldn't afford and would have to make. When I looked at the credits and saw it was Target, I squealed in delight!

How cute is this sweatery vest and blouse?

And the ruffles on this one? so cute.

I love gold buttons on pants, especially blue ones.

I really wish the Target by me wasn't a dump and these beautiful clothes wouldn't be all over the floor being run over by careless shopping carts. If only I lived in the suburbs.....and if I could somehow get Marc Jacobs and Phillip Lim to design a collection for Target how happy I would be.

Fall Bags

I love bags. It seems you can never have enough of them, or at least I can't. I have at least 3 hanging on every coat rack and a whole cabinet shoved full of them. And with fall approaching quickly, what a great excuse to make a new one. I also decided Luke needed one as well, of course matching with mine. I have had an obsession with horses lately, so it was crucial they were incorporated into the bags.

I do have to take advantage before he decides matching with mom isn't so cool. (I am working on matching shirts for us now too).

I bought this book a few months back as an excuse to use it for my church's crafting activities. It has great patterns for aprons, oven mitts, napkins, really all things domestic. So far I have only used it for the bags, I think for December we will make some gifty items out of it.

I had my own ideas about how I wanted the bags to look, inside and out, so I only really used these patterns for inspiration. Because they are so simple, there is a lot of room for creativity with them. They were easy and fun to do. Great gift ideas as well. What toddler doesn't want his or her own backpack?

I do apologize for the poor quality of my photos. Unfortunately the camera of my dreams will just have to wait, along with my lighting options.

Banana pudding and an awkward 5 minutes

Those of you that know me well know I am a big fan of these two things.

1. Any dessert that includes pudding or custard. I like it in almost all forms. Cream puffs, creme brulee, flan, custard filled wedge donuts (remember Sarah?), Boston Creme Pie, and my favorite, Banana Pudding.

I haven't made Banana Pudding since Christmas, mainly because I can't control myself when I am around it. As my friend Nick put it (he also gave me the recipe), you just don't get sick of the flavor. I couldn't agree more, nor can my stomach. Sunday night we invited the Riches and the Romneys for some. Even though they ate a good 1/2 of the pudding, I am pretty sure I ate the other half. I would have and could have eaten all of it, providing my stomach could handle it. I have been known to have a bottomless pit.

I have used the recipe off of the Vanilla Wafers box, but last year Nick gave me the recipe that I am pretty sure is the same one they use at a very famous bakery in the West Village. I am pretty sure you can find this recipe floating around, so I only hesitate a little in posting it. But really, everyone should enjoy it!

1
1/2 cups cold water

1
(14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2/3
cup instant vanilla pudding powder

3
cups heavy cream

One
box Nilla wafers

3
to 4 medium bananas, sliced

On
the low speed of an electric mixer, blend the water, milk, and
pudding powder until thoroughly mixed, about 1 minute. Refrigerate
for at least 4 hours (or overnight) until firm.

In
a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently
fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well
incorporated.

In
a large bowl, starting with the wafers, make five to six layers with
Nilla wafers, sliced bananas, and then the pudding mixture, until all
of the pudding mixture is gone. End with pudding and decorate with
crushed wafers on top if desired. Refrigerate about 30 minutes before
serving, and refrigerate any leftovers.

2. And this actress.

Here is the condensed version of my obsession. Hopefully she never reads this.

I have seen her I think 4xs since I have lived here. A few times I forgot I didn't actually know her and smiled and said "hi". Of course my dreams came true when Nick called me and told me he had been invited to a dinner party at her house. This was my chance, my in. And yes, it just kept getting better. She then had a baby, I have a baby, she bought a brownstone just down the street from me, playdates, perfect! Nick also found clever ways of bringing me up over the last couple of years, so in my mind, she totally knows me. She has been anticipating our meeting, our future playdates at the playground, her loaning me or giving me her designer clothes, movie premiers, tabloid pics, etc.

So last week, Nick and I visited the Moma. He told me more stories of hanging in out in Martha's Vineyard with her and her family so naturally, I felt closer than once removed, I was in too. After he helped me down the subway stairs with Luke and caught his train, but who came bounding down the stairs in the exact skirt I was working on sewing? yep. I was so distracted by the skirt, I didn't even notice it was her. My heart started pounding, my palms started sweating, this was it, I could either take it, or perhaps regret it. Turns out, I still kinda regret it. Oh why couldn't Nick have still been there to introduce us? it would have been so natural. Instead I casually called out her name, she turned, my face turned bright red, and all of the words I had been rehearsing in my head over the last few seconds turned to gibberish. After she finally made the connection, I could have been a lot clearer, but I wasn't thinking clearly myself, we talked over the next few minutes about our kids, the neighborhood, and her skirt. As I am writing this I realize I am making it sound as though the conversation was filled with more talking and less awkward silences, but actually just the opposite. I finally had to end the 5 minutes of torture.

Of course, I still haven't lost all hope. She now knows who this crazy girl is Nick always brings up in random conversations, and she is moving down the street from me. So in my pathetic dreams, I will still be dreaming of playground dates and free designer clothes.

***A big thank you goes out to Nick, who made this entire post possible. Hope you don't mind!

Farms are fun

If only I lived on one.  Luckily I can visit at just the perfect times of the year and gather all of the fresh fruit and veggies my stomach desires. A couple of weeks ago we hit a farm just about an hour and a half outside of the city for apples, corn, grapes, peppers, and nectarines.  The farm was delightful. Big wagons to tow the kids and food up and down the fields, animals, a little miniature town for kids, and a great snack bar that cooked me up the most delicious sweet corn I have had all summer.

One of my favorite things about the farm is being able to let Luke run and run without the need to keep my eye on him constantly.

Luke's favorite was all of the unlimited apples he could sink his teeth into.

And of course the wagon rides.

I think I have found my most favorite food in the world. Red grapes off the vine. Just one little grape has the most intense sweet flavor, I really can't describe it. I almost cried when I ate my last one. Just the grapes are worth going back for.

I can't wait for October when the apples are ripe for picking. I am dreaming of biting into a crisp sweet apple and the smell of warm pie. Oh fall, please come soon!

Coney Island (3 weeks ago)

I have a bit of back logging to do. I am behind on documenting some of our summer activities. I believe this event took place on August 16th.

Sadly, word is this might be one of the last summers the original Coney Island will be around. Someone is (maybe Disney) coming in to give it "new life". Part of what gives this place its charm is the old run down rides, signs, and freaks that line the boardwalk.  We had to get in at least one visit  before the summer ended for both enjoyment and documentation.

The kids (Eve, Ruth, and Luke), of course loved the endless boardwalk.

After our several attempts to put the kids on rides by themselves, we all ended up on this train.

I would agree that no trip to Coney Island would be complete without a hotdog from Nathan's.  But what I didn't mind missing out on was the Cyclone. (It looks fun, but I assure you, you really do fear for your life).

And the aquariam. Luke took every opportunity he could to show off his sign language. Every animal got the fishy sign.