gossip girls

I am so grateful to have amazing friends to get me through rough weeks.  Yesterday required an emergency vent-sesh (translation: ramble on for an exorbitant amount of time about all of life's frustrations and then affirm with one another that we are right, everyone else is wrong, and it will all work out in the end) with my dear friend Vicky.  We managed to get ourselves lost in Soho before stumbling upon Antique Garage, where we vented over mediterranean-inspired salads and chicken kebabs.  The unique decor proved to be a pleasant distraction from our disgruntlement, and we plan on returning soon to sample their intricate cocktails (translation: drink until our frustrations are no longer frustrating).

image via Design*Sponge

Final agreement: when life hands your lemons, find a good bartender to put those lemons to use!

please respond at your earliest convenience

To: NYC
CC: The Cosmos, Destiny, The Universe....
From: Meg

To my beloved New York City,

I have yet to fully understand your sense of humor.  How is it that you can allow me to go for three years without seeing an old friend, but then permit our paths to randomly cross twice in the same day?  In two very different neighborhoods, nonetheless?

Your faithful resident,
Meg

autumn celebrations

J. Crew Dress, Coach boots, Michele Watch, Tiffany&Co Bracelets, borrowed necklace

Remember when I described my adoration for personalized weddings? Well, I had the privilege of attending an intimate engagement ceremony this past weekend. With an Indian bride and Australian groom, I knew I was in for quite a unique celebration...

I was so honored to be part of this couple's special day. The celebration opened with a traditional Indian "Puja Ceremony" and moved immediately to a fabulous cocktail hour. I had the opportunity to chat with close friends and new acquaintances over champagne, Tandoori Chicken, and Samosas (in the moments when I was not in the company of others, I was busy chasing around waiters for second helpings!). Dinner was an extensive buffet, and I sampled a bit of everything before deciding that Indian cuisine may be one of my new favorites.

Did I mention that the couple met while climbing Mount Everest? How romantic! 

 

A special thank you to the wonderful host!

 

the ying to my yang

image via Yoga to the People

 Living in NYC has taught me the importance of balance.  In a city where success is highly valued, it is all too easy to get caught up in school, work, and the subsequent stress that is often unavoidable.  My secret to staying grounded (and sane!) is yoga.  There is something so special about taking a class in a traditional studio, surrounded by strangers who are also trying to find some form of balance in their hectic lives.  My favorite is Yoga to the People - it is donation based, perfect for all levels, and they end each class with an inspirational quote.

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your own life
From its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.

-The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

to infinity and beyond

Even the simplest (or in my case, laziest) of outfits can be jazzed up with a fabulous scarf. I can't tell you how many times I have opted out of putting effort into an outfit by dressing head-to-toe in black (hello, new york stereotype) and then throwing on a colorful textured scarf.  I cannot wait to bundle up with this season's infinity scarves, which add a whole new dimension to the "cold weather accessories" category.

1. Missoni Zig Zag Infinity Scarf

This is high on my birthday list this year...hint hint

2. Anthropologie Verdure Rapids Scarf

The ruffles add a fun girly contrast when paired with black motorcycle boots

3. Coach Ocelet Infinity Scarf

In the words of Rachel Zoe: "I love leopard. To me the print is an accessory unto itself. A true excessory."

4.  MICHAEL Michael Kors Infinity Scarf

Perfect for those miserably cold days!

lemon poppy seed decadence

I spend my time dwelling on decadence, but sometimes I have to practice restraint - especially in baked goods.  I'm constantly on the lookout for baked treats and recipes that are high on decadence, but low on calories.  My mom recently handed over a recipe for lemon poppy seed breakfast bars, but I was extremely leery after finding out that one of the main ingredients was All Bran cereal.  Yesterday, sheer boredom led me to surrender to my suspicions.

 

  

The result was a moist and flavorful breakfast treat that wasn't overly sweet. 

If these don't motivate you to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, then I don't know what will!

parisian memories

As mentioned, I'm instantly attracted to jewelry that evokes personal memories. I stumbled upon Big Bisous' Etsy shop, where the whimsical vintage-inspired pieces immediately brought me back to my 21st birthday celebration in Paris. J'adore!

 

1. Tour de Eiffel Charm Necklace in Antique Silver

2. Butter Cream Bloom Filigree Hair Band

3. Victorian Cameo Cuff

4. Gothic Paris Necklace

happy october!

My excitement for all things fall started brewing back in August, but in my mind, October marks the official start of autumn.  More importantly, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  This cause has always been close to my heart and I'm anxious to see how my favorite designers will be raising awareness and much needed funds for breast cancer research.  Ralph Lauren is leading the pack by celebrating the ten year anniversary of their "Pink Pony" campaign. They have enlisted 100 fashion bloggers to model pieces from the super cute Pink Pony collection to help bring awareness to the cause. Ten percent of all sales go to the Pink Pony Fund, which supports programs for cancer screening, early detection, and treatment in medically underserved communities. Charitable and stylish? Yes please.

image via The Glamourai

image via Refinery 29