Topshop is Coming!

It was Boots at Target, then SpaceNK in the City- later in Scarsdale- now it's Topshop! Can we say we're loving the British?

It's brilliant! With over 300 stores in the UK, and a third of that across the world, Topshop is finally coming to the US in October with a flagship store on Broadway & Broome in SoHo. And, it was about time!!!

The fashion trampoline- helped launched the careers of Alexander McQueen, Preen, Jonathan Saunders, Matthew Williamson, Giles Deacon, Christopher Kane and Marios Schwab- carries collections from Kate Moss, Celia Birtwell and Parisian lingerie designer Fifi Chachnil. Most recently, the London Fashion Week was an opportunity for Topshop to show its high-style pieces.

I casually visit their website to see what's up and coming in Europe, and I am happy to report that they have customized their website for the US. Now you can order online (they have the cutest oversized beaded clutch!), check out their McCarren Pool Parties series, download their Daily Fix widget and get style advice.

So, this City girl at heart will be catching the 6 train from GCT this Fall to head over to the new flagship. Then again, I have a feeling that Topshop will make its way to the 'burbs, and what's a better place to have a store than Westchester county? Mark my words...

Boogie Down in the 'Burbs

When the Westchester Magazine came out with its Nightlife issue in March '08, I couldn't help but be cynical and think that nightlife in Westchester was an oxymoron.

It's not that hubby and I don't go out a couple days a week, or that we don't appreciate the nearby venues where we have a good time, it's just that the suburbs have always been synonymous with quaint neighborhood eateries, quiet streets and a 10 PM curfew. Or, so I had thought...

On Saturday night, we ended up at Lucy's Lounge in Pleasantville- not by coincidence. When hubby and I were sitting by the waterfront in Yonkers a few weekends ago, we had browsed through a copy of the "More Sugar" paper and noticed that one of the U2 tribute bands, 2U, we had previously seen (the other one is the Unforgettable Fire) would be playing on Aug. 16th, same day as the Jets pre-season game where we would watch Favre for the first time. We decided that we'd go to the game and then head over to Lucy's afterward.

I was happy that Lucy's was easy to find, right off Bedford Road, conveniently accessible from the Saw Mill & the Taconic. Parking was accessible as well- not in the bar's designated parking lot but at the municipal parking spot across the street. From the outside, it looked like a cool cousin of one of the bars in White Plains- girls and guys catching a few smokes, the door-boy making small talk, and music pouring outside the door.

Walking inside, I was pleasantly surprised to find the bar packed with not only 20-somethings, but also with some slightly more mature (at least in their looks!) crowd. There were women decked out in tent dresses and big jewelry, men in casual slacks and button-downs, adding to the polished atmosphere. (I thanked my wisdom in taking off my Jets jersey and putting on something more appropriate prior to going in!) There were also more individualistic styles- I attributed it to the wide range of crowd that the band must've drawn in to the bar that evening- I actually love that!

The band played on, Michael Phelps won his 8th gold medal, we sipped our beers, and enjoyed the cool breeze coming in through the doors and windows. Our evening at Lucy's in Pleasantville, overall, was quite pleasant (cannot help myself!!!); I'd love to go back and sample one (or two?) of their martinis.

Maybe, after all, there's a nightlife in Westchester for those of us in their 30s & 40s aside from our neighborhood comfort zones- we just need to stretch our thinking...

It's All About Taming the Hair: The Marilyn Brush

So you get the best coffee from your favorite shop of joe, you get the best school for your kid, you live in the best town for the recreation, you go to the best bar for killer mojitos, seek the best boots for the fall, and the list goes on... So, what do you do, when you have the best haircut ever (see my post on Lindsay hair), to highlight its features in the best way possible? I am talking about the gorgeous layers, the volume, and the shine.

Well, very simple: You get the best hairbrush possible!

Enter: The Marilyn Brush. Bristles made from 100% boar, these brushes come in many shapes and sizes, and you pick them depending on your need. The company offers ceramic brushes, made of a combination of plastic and ceramic, which allows the brush to heat for up to 10 minutes, thereby reducing time on-task with your blow-dryer and keeping your ends just spiffy without any heat damage! Now, that's not only a smart way to reduce your morning routine time but also a great way to go green at home. Now, here's a company that takes your hair seriously!

Recommended by my glamorous-haired friend (you're the best!), I purchased the one with the hour-glass barrel, size 3.5, to get more oomph and nip-tuck for my hair. (Ummm... Confession: I cannot wait until Nip Tuck's new season starts! Such a guilty pleasure, it's even on my mobile...)

I ordered mine online through the company's website- total instant gratification- you can also get it at Zitomer's Pharmacy; the closest one to GCT is at 40 W 57th St, between 5th & 6th Ave's.

Brush away those potential bad hair days!

SPACE.NK is here!

There are a few things I get excited about, and one of them is finding a beloved store in the City in my own backyard. To add to my excitement, this time it is a global favorite, and I am simply thrilled! I think the last time I felt this way was when Target partnered with Boots- a total "must-visit-when-in-the-UK" destination for me...

Space NK opened up its NYC flagship store on 99 Greene Street in Soho. I've made my pilgrimage, and opened up my wallet without a blink- I absolutely love the brands they carry as well as their own brand.

And now, they're in Scarsdale, right on Harwood Court- an ideal location for a boutique apothecary. Oh, I am getting goosebumps!!! It has a gorgeous layout- all white- and although some may not find the space large, I found it's pretty spacious for its location.

You know I love sharing my finds, so here are some faves from Space NK:

• Space NK Seaweed Body Polish- perfect way to exfoliate before that waxing appointment and pre-beach sunning session
• Philip B Travel Kit- a set of shampoo and conditioners small enough to put in your carry-on and large enough to have it last for that week in the summer cottage
• Space NK Foot File- very handy for in-between summer pedicures
• Go Smile Touch Up Mini Mint- a good excuse to run to the ladies room to get the red wine stain off your teeth

If you are not familiar with SpaceNK, then go online to their website (or, click here) and order their catalogue. It arrives at your mailbox in a handwritten envelope a couple of days after you click send.

Now, that's British sensibility!

Instant Gratification

What happened to "waiting"?

Before I add to my Fall/Winter wardrobe, I wait until the September issues of my fave magazines. Similarly, I do the same in March when planning what to purchase for the following Spring/Summer. I love these magazines' thickness, their juiciness- I devour them over a weekend or two, indulging post-its on potential candidates, chewing over my selections, taking a bite out of offerings,... I find beauty in my anticipation.

See, I learned all this from the best: My mother. With a cup of joe at her side, she would perform this ritual every March and September. When I replicate it today, without her physically by my side, I try to adhere to every little step. And then, I cannot wait to get on the phone with her and exchange our findings. Beyond the comparisons of what's hot/not in the US vs. Europe and our takes on the upcoming season, our conversations take many intimate turns. Sheer delight.

Am I so "yesterday"?

The New York Times Thursday Styles may claim so. (Ironic enough, I used to wait for Sunday Styles but now I've been indulged with a mid-week snack of Thursday Styles...) In today's article, "Where the Fashionistas Go for a Quick Fix", there's a review of online fashion magazines to quench a fashion lover's thirst for the newest available. As the article claims, these online magazine may not be able to replace the print counterparts, however, they're a growing clan and attracting viewers and advertisers. I smell money.

Here's a sampling of online magazines from the article:
hintmag.com
luxuryculture.com
unvogue.com
net-a-porter notes.com
gloss.com
fashion156.com
iconique.com

So, the City girl in me loves the speed of information- feed me, feed me! At the same time, I cannot help but feel threatened about losing the sense of anticipation and what that means to me.

Now, what does that make me?

About Lindsay and My Hair

Early July, HBO On-Demand was running Georgia Rule- a movie about a generation of women, clashing, congealing, and then clashing again and coming together for good. What interested me more than the plot was- ready for this one?- Lindsay Lohan's hair. Yes. She had gorgeous, long-layered hair. And I know, she has probably more extensions than anyone, more hair-coloring jobs than my years of hair dying combined, a stylist at hand, and all those countless luxuries that those in the eye of the public can afford. With all that said, I wanted her hair.

So afraid that I was reverting to my teeny-boppy years, defined by the 'original' 90210 days, I emailed my girlfriend who is always up and about these things. After a few confessional email exchanges, she reassured me that my obsessions was ok, it wasn't Lindsay that I was yearning after but her haircut. Whew. Then she made me promise that I pass on the research after I am through. No problem.

So, I went online. First things first, I needed to get a photograph of her from the movie. The photograph had to reflect the best part of her hair that I loved: the distinct long-layers, the length, and the tousled effect. Definitely NOT the color- so totally not! Not that it's not to die-for, but, see, I am a brunette who has finally found her own natural hair color and proud & protective of it. And here is why:

My dalliance with my hair color goes back to elementary years where I used to use a lemon-water mixture to lighten my hair in my grandmother's backyard. In the middle school, I continued using the lemon-water solution but added small doses of peroxide to speed up the process. Then, I moved on to experimenting with henna, trying every brand that Ricky's carried. Not only it added subtle color, but also gave shine to die for. After a few years of increasingly reddish hair color, I moved onto semi-permanent hair dyes. Now, in this territory, I started off with natural ones like Natural Instincts and Herbal Essences. After a disastrous "Bozo-the-Clown" experience where my then-boyfriend hubby had to run to the nearest CVS to get 'corrective' dark brown hair color so that I'd look semi-decent to his friends who were meeting me the first time EVER (still a story we share & laugh about), I went professional.

During my professionally-done hair coloring days, I first started with honey-ish highlights around my face. Noticing that my hair was increasingly getting lighter, I thought I would extend the highlighting from sectional to all-over my hair. During these years, I went highlight- obsessed: I would randomly ask women (on subways, business meetings,...) who I thought had amazing highlights about where they went. After a few different hair-colorists and four to five sessions of all-around highlights, I was on my to becoming a very light brown brunette. Now, with my olive complexion, that was not a pretty scene. In addition, I was spending a fortune that should've really been going into a 401k account per Suzie Orman. So, I decided to go bare, and forget all about highlights.

Well, that lasted, ummm, about two months, until I realized I needed some serious help: Coming down the escalators at Saks Fifth Avenue, I saw a woman- me- with multitude of hair colors that ranged from brassy orange blond to very dark brown. Literally tears running down my cheeks, I ran to Dean & Deluca and treated myself to a full-fat cappuccino and a walnut brownie. Now that explains my relationship with food, doesn't it?

I called my Mom. Now, my Mom who lives in Istanbul, visits her hairdresser on a weekly basis- which is a norm in major cities in Turkey- to get her weekly treatments, blow-outs, styling, and coloring. She said she would talk to Mehmet, her hair stylist of decades, and then get back to me. So, it was upon their urging, I waited until I went to Istanbul to get my now-multinational "hair issue" fixed.

Mehmet, true to his word, did a fantastic job! My hair was finally one color yet subtly multi-toned, and from what I remember, the closest to its natural shade. Now, I needed someone in the City who I can trust would maintain my hair in between my visits to Istanbul. This is how I started making the pilgrimage from Westchester to Astoria to see Baris, the owner of Friends hair salon.

Equipped with the empty box of hair coloring that fixed all my problems, I was treated like a queen at Friends- they are so friendly and so amazingly knowledgeable about hair, from the latest styles to the latest techniques. Yet, the travel was taking a toll, and I, very reluctantly, started going locally. By the way, from what I hear, those guys also work in Toka in the City, NYC home of the very famous DC salon. With the end of my visits to Friends came the end of my hair coloring adventure.

Going back, a picture of Linsday's haircut from Georgia Rule. Got it. Check. The next step: Find who does her hair. Thanks to the Internet, that was easy: Neil George. Bad news: There's no New York City outpost and I am not traveling to LA anytime soon. More research led me to Rare Salon in the Tribeca. I was conflicted at this point: Do I take the picture and go to my local salon (who has gone very price-y now), or do I give Rare a try?

I picked the latter and went to see Alana. I think this has been one of the best decisions I made about my hair without borrowing from my retirement account. Alana not only gave the most luscious layers to my hair but she also gave me so many usable tips to play around with my new hairstyle. It's been so much fun!

Now, who says a girl cannot have a movie star hair without paying a hefty price?

Back to the Local Library...

I admit: I had not borrowed from a public library for my own personal reading in a long time. So long that- not counting my college library experience- I can trace my public library borrowing back to my high school years.

See, I am a book consumer- I indulge in buying my books, getting that "fresh" smell when you crack it open, the softness of the pages, the richness of the graphics. Often with a pencil in hand, I write all over my books- in the margins to document my dialogue, in between words that are intriguing, under sentences that I plan to use at one point,... Usually, I do go back to my favorites, not to reread the entire book but to locate my markings. Oh, and I love buying them in 'bulk', usually 4-5 at a time, after a careful research.

At the end of June this year, I did a quick calculation, and realized that the money I spent on books rivaled our grocery budget. And this is when I became frugal.

I went through my filing cabinet to locate that membership card that I had signed up for about a year ago. I knew it'd come in handy one day. I went to the Westchester Public Library website, registered, and started searching around. Some books I found my local libraries had available, others I put on hold.

With a plan on hand and a list in purse, I drove to my first local library. Disappointed that it's undergoing a major renovation, I quickly made my way to the "New Releases" and located my book, and coyly approached the library lady (I used to be one in college!) and showed my card. All went well. Then, I drove to another nearby library, and that's where I lost myself in shelves, shelves full of books. Though no longer fresh smelling, the books were still appealing, preserving their allure of newness. Equipped with four books by the end of the day, I drove home happily. When hubby came home that night, I boasted about how much I 'saved' that day by borrowing my books, instead of purchasing them. He was impressed.

Now into my second month of using the public library, I am feeling content about saving the money I would've spent otherwise. So, you can imagine, I was not the least bit surprised to hear about Queens Library's release:

"Public library usage is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months. Traditionally, people turn to public libraries during hard economic times for free entertainment, free after-school child care, to help with employment, for free access to the public use computers and to help them save money by doing things themselves, such as home and auto repairs. Queens Library saw a 16 percent jump in circulation and attendance immediately following Sept. 11, for instance."

About the pencil in hand? Well, it's still in my hand, but now I jot down my notes on any paper that I can find. That is, until I find the 'perfect' notebook companion to my books...

Watching the Sun Go Down...

"The light gradually forsook the deep water, as well as the deeper air, and the gloaming came to the fishes as well as to us, ..."

- Thoreau

Some things stay with us forever- and with me, the love of watching the sun set over the horizon has remained as one of the purest joys of summer. The simplicity of the experience is the same across the board whether it is sitting in my grandmother's white-washed porch, sinking into a chaise-lounge, cold marble under the feet, with the constant clicking of G&T's and the sweet sound of olive trees whispering against the glorious view of the sun dipping into the cold, salty Aegean sea, or it is bouncing gently on the Pacific waters, skimming the surface in a lean catamaran, with MaiTai's in hands, Jimmy Buffett in the background...

More choices have been added to enjoy the sunset against the lush Hudson River. This weekend, hubby and I explored the new Yonkers waterfront, and ended up at Whiskey Rio. There is plenty of seating outside- from small tables to cushioned sofas. The bar is set right by the entrance- and a small section of it remains on the sidewalk (too bad all four stools were occupied while we were there). The bartender and the prices are very nice and friendly- during ballgames, beer is $3, instead of the usual $5. Not too shabby... In terms of food, if you get the munchies, there's an outdoor grill where a young guy makes burgers and hotdogs. Plenty of people were helping themselves to the grill.

Personally, I loved the feeling of sitting outdoors, enjoying the combination of the sun and water, and good conversation with hubby- reminded me a little of bit of how Battery Park used to be before it got crowded with high-rises.

Will we go back? Yes! Next time, I might even think about heading to Pierview Restaurant right next door to the bar...

Rethinking Eileen Fisher

An older gentleman- oh, about 80 or so- stepped off the pedicure chair as I squished my body in the empty chair, in between two older ladies who were in a deep conversation. Feet soaked into the warm bubbly water, I pulled out my book and tried to concentrate on the lines that I found myself reading over and over. Their conversation jumped from Bat Mitzvahs to Weddings to Whole Foods as did their talking arms jumped from the sides of their seats into mine. I was about to pull out my iPod when the lady on my left started talking about shopping from Eileen Fisher since she's put on the post-menopause pounds. Hmm... I had never associated Eileen Fisher's clothing with plus-size, then again, lately I've noticed that brands have started stretching their range of sizes from 00- to 20+...

I got acquainted with Eileen Fisher about a year or two ago from an article in Westchester Magazine, I think it was about her home. Ms. Fisher lives in Irvington, over commanding views of the Hudson River. I remember looking at the pictures and noticing the simplicity, elegance and harmony of colors in her home- and later, I found out that she started off as an interior designer. When you read her bio on her website, it really does not do justice to many contributions she has made to women in business, including her support for Powerful Voices.

In terms of price/value relationship, Eileen Fisher delivers- especially when they're on sale. Her clothing has clean lines- reminiscent of 1980s Calvin Klein-, contemporary feel without being overly-trendy (which is a big no-no for me), and incorporates very luxurious textures. You want to keep rubbing your hand on her cotton tanks, cashmere shawls, and silk wraps. Well, at least until a sales associates meets you eye-to-eye!!

Recently, I came across a couple of fall pieces that I plan to add to my wardrobe:

Fair Trade Short Cardigan in Organic Cotton Crimp Ladder, amazingly soft with modern lines.

I also love the Short-Sleeve Dolman Cardigan in Natural Cashmere. You can definitely stretch wearing this cardigan way into winter. To me, it's a timeless piece.

Overall, I think Eileen Fisher offers a life style to women- simple, modern and luxurious. I don't think I'm going to wait until my post-menopausal stage to start investing in Eileen Fisher; a piece here and a piece there, I can build my wardrobe staples.

Oh, back to the pedicure scene- deciding not to put on the iPod was sage. Sometimes I think we don't listen to the older generations enough, even if they're completely unrelated to us- their stories and wisdom just pass us by. Well, I learned that you can use olive oil to get rid of the paint stuck to your hair... Who knew?

And the gentleman whose spot I replaced on the chair, was actually 92 years old...

Those Pecan-Honey Buns...

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd has a special place in my life: its publishing loosely coincided with our move to the 'burbs. I'd sit on our patio and get lost in the old South, and think of the tastes of honey buns, peach cobblers, banana cream pies,.. I was so inspired by the book that I dragged one of my friends with me on a quest to locate "honey buns" in my neighborhood. Well, we found them at a bakery at the Golden Horseshoe Mall nearby, and I have to be honest, they were very small and disappointing...

Recently, in honor of all the Honeybees out there, several publications included honey recipes in the past months. Recharged by my interest in honey buns, I've been tempted to bake them all- but I have to admit baking requires accuracy in measurement, preciseness in following directions, and most of all, abundance of time. I came very close to baking Martha Stewart's Honey-Glazed Beehive Cake, but couldn't justify buying the $39 (plus s+h) Beehive Pan from Nordicware. Where else would I use it???

Then I stumbled upon the Pecan-Honey Buns recipe in Food & Wine's August '08 issue. It screamed oozy-gooey deliciousness with crunchy pecans, and I could not resist. So, I set to gather the necessary ingredients from my local sources.

For the dough, you need:
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (I substituted Rapadura Whole Organic sugar)
1 cup milk, warmed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering
3 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons honey, preferably orange blossom or clover (use local honey here)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I added an extra teaspoon or two)
3 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (I used a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose)
1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the topping, you need:
1/2 cup honey, preferably orange blossom or clover
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for brushing
1 1/2 cups pecans (6 ounces), coarsely chopped (Buy them whole- you may want to store them in the freezer, place in a sandwich bag, beat with a meat tenderized or anything that delivers some punch!)

For the filling, you need:
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon (I added another 2 tablespoons)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Here are the steps:
1. Make the dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the yeast with a pinch of granulated sugar and the milk and let stand until foamy, 5 minutes. Add the remaining sugar, the 4 tablespoons of melted butter and the egg yolks, honey and vanilla; mix until blended. Mix in the flour and salt. Switch to the dough hook and knead at medium speed until the dough forms a smooth ball, 4 minutes.

2. Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough and brush the top with butter. Cover and let stand in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

3. Meanwhile, make the topping: Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. In a medium saucepan, melt the honey with the brown sugar and 4 tablespoons of butter over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Pour the hot honey mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the pecans.

4. Make the filling: In a bowl, mix the sugar with the cinnamon. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a 12-by-18-inch rectangle. Spread the butter over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon sugar. Starting at a long side, roll the dough into a log and turn it seam side down. Cut the dough into 12 slices. Arrange the slices, cut side up, in the baking dish. Cover and let stand in a warm place until the buns double in volume, about 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the honey buns for about 35 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Invert the buns onto a baking sheet and let cool slightly. Serve warm.

The pecan-honey buns, with my changes, came out pretty much how I hoped they would. There were altogether twelve of them- I ate one immediately and froze the remaining eleven (Ok, ok- I ate two!!) and then froze the remaining ten buns in an air-tight heavy freezer bag.

To reheat, I've been pre-heating my oven to 325° and keeping the buns in for about 25 minutes, you can adjust this time depending on the size and/or the number of buns. After the re-heating, the pecans come out a little crunchier, and have a more pronounced caramelized taste, which I love. If you don't like caramelized pecans, then you may consider covering the tops losely with an aluminum foil. Just make sure that there's enough room between the foil and the bun so nothing gets stuck.

For a little twist, you may want to add some raisins, blond or dark, or currants, which would provide a similar taste. Instead of pecans, you can also substitute walnuts. You might also want to add some nuts (pecans in this case) to the filling for that extra crunch.

As a 'nice' side, you may want to make some homemade lemonade (sun-brewed ones are the BEST), and for a naughtier side, you may think of some Bourbon on the rocks, or a little mint julep, made with reduced sugar so you are not bouncing off the walls!!

A little Janis Joplin on the side does not hurt...