Weekend Casual

I love the new longer denim jackets, and my new jacket combines the longer look with rips. I wore it yesterday for the first time, and paired with joggers, my astronaut sneakers, and Issey Miyake bag. A little junior look perhaps, but I dare anyone to come tell me that I can't wear something due to my ripe middle age. Ha!

And talking about age...I'm actually quite pleased with myself. Yesterday I tried a pilates reformer class for the first time, and I was scared that it would be very tough. The reformer machine looks scary, very fifty shades of gray. However, it was not nearly as tough as I expected, and I feel like I actually did better than the guy next to me who was half my age (not that it was a competition or anything, but you know).  I do feel the work in my body today, especially my legs, but I'm really looking forward to the next class on Wednesday. It's so refreshing to try something new. I am trying to make more of a commitment to myself again, to eat healthier, to think healthier, to exercise and sleep more.

Mother and Daughter Outfits

We were in the City on the Memorial Day weekend Saturday for Finnish School. 

My daughter wore the typical teenager outfit, miniskirt with sneakers. 

And I wore Topshop top, NYDJ jeans, Tory Burch slides, and my Catherine Malandrino tote. I told you I'm getting a lot of use out of it. 

What I Wore on One October Saturday

I love buying new clothes in the fall, but this year I've been so busy I haven't really been able to shop much.. I'm dying to find something in velvet, and maybe a nice new woolly coat, either in dark blue or a lighter gray. I should go through the kids' stuff too - a never-ending story as they grow faster than weeds! But in the meanwhile, I have to make do with old stuff. Which, come to think, I have aplenty. Here's what I wore on a Saturday a few weeks ago. (I promise I'll try to catch up to current time fast - so expect posts to come fast and furious until I do!)

I love these boots. But they didn't have my size :-(

Agreed. 

Sinivalkoista / Blue and White

I took the kids to the Finnish School yesterday in this (not planned) thematically correct blue and white outfit.

I'm so happy the weather is finally getting slightly cooler. It's soooo nice to be outdoors in the crisp mornings, and not deal with the humidity. 

LIIVIRAKKAUS

Kokeillaanpa nyt suomeksi kirjoittamista, tosin kello on jo paljon ja tämä teksti saattaa jäädä lyhyeksi. Anyway, mulla on siis ollut aikamoinen rakkaussuhde liiveihin parin viime vuoden aikana. Eikä liivirakkauden loppua ole näkyvissä. Vai pitäisikö niitä kutsua hihattomiksi jakuiksi? Ei, kyllä mä taida pitäytyä sanassa liivi, vaikka se ei kuulostakaan kovin elegantilta. Tässä on viimeisin liivirakkauteni, Anthropologielta puolitoista viikkoa sitten hankittu erittäin rento pitkänmallinen pehmisliivi. Se sopi mainiosti New Yorkin ihanan lämpimään kevätpäivään lauantaina.

The New Barneys

I went to check out the new Barney's department store today for some spring fashion inspiration. The new store is actually in the same Chelsea 17th Street and 7th Avenue location where the first Barney's was located some decades ago. The new store is smaller than the Madison Ave flag ship location, but  I like that it's not overwhelmingly big. Obviously Barney's is not my usual shopping destination, because everything there costs a gazillion dollars. The first thing I looked at was a navy blue croc Altuzarra bull rope saddle bag, which was absolutely amazingly gorgeous. But at $20,000 bucks, it was too much cheddar for me. What was fun though, was that the bag was just hanging there close to the entrance. Not tucked away in a glass case, but available for all the world to finger it and try it on, and admire it from up-close. And I did get a bit personal with it, trying it on this way and that.. It was slightly painful to put it back on the rack. But I don't think I could have made it out the door with it, given the amount of salespeople circling me at that point. Not sure if they were afraid that I was really going to make a run for it, or if I was really considering to buy it and they were angling for the commission. Anyway, back on the rack it went. I decided not to take a photo of it because why amplify the regret. But I took other photos and here they are for your pure enjoyment. 

The windows were supposed to be showing short films and pictures of New York City by Bruce Weber, but the display didn't seem to be working properly...

Oui, ces't moi 

Hi again

The store's staircase is beautiful

So many beautiful things..so little money... 

But I nabbed this one! 

Yes I did! And apparently it was the last of its kind available in the Western Hemisphere! And I GOT IT! 

And now I have block heel sandals on my shopping list. 

And lace up flat sandals. Will have to take a look at DSW for Manolo rip-offs. 

Loved this stone. But where was the tassel jewelry? 

See what I mean about the block heel sandals. 

One more just to prove the point. 

There was no "bargain basement" in Barney's, unfortunately..but lots of perfumes that cost more than most people make in a week. 

This was in the window. A funny story: overheard a couple walking behind me. The woman said to the man: "Look at those necklaces." The man said to the woman: "They're for the average woman. And trust me, there's nothing average about you." So sweet :-)

Brought some opening party goodies for the kiddos. These chocolate covered marshmallows were actually super yummy. 

Back on the East Coast

I was definitely feeling the Monday blues today...after last week's California trip, and the Super Bowl Sunday, I was pretty beat when the alarm woke me up at 6:30 a.m. this morning. I trudged through this unremarkable day, and am now looking forward to the best part of it, which is coming up soon
---> going to bed!

Before that, here are a few shots of Saturday and spending quality time with my teenager, strolling on Bleecker Street in the West Village.

The frog and toad

Yesterday, on our way to Astoria, Queens, we had to stop in Flushing, which is known as the Chinatown of Queens, and since we were there, I took the opportunity to pop into a Chinese market. I burst out laughing when I saw the frogs in the bucket. They were for sale, and I'm sure very delicious if prepared correctly. My daughter made sure to inform me that these were toads, not frogs...oh well...I don't know the difference, so I'll just keep calling them frogs. I did not purchase frogs, just some seafood and Chinese vegetables and fruit. I love going into those markets for the adventure!

Our final destination Astoria is a neighborhood that's changing a lot now that Brooklyn is getting too expensive. In Astoria we dined at a restaurant called Meet the Meat. Another chuckle moment there... But despite the tacky name, this is an awesome steak restaurant. Everything we ate was superb. There's nothing too complicated on the menu, it's very straight forward, but with the quality of the food it does not need to be anything but just exactly that. We had grilled calamari, filet mignon, porterhouse for two, a cheeseburger, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and sautéed mushrooms, and everything was just amazing. 

I wore my winter white Michael Kors poncho, self-knit scarf, NYDJ jeans, Steve Madden boots and  shearling bucket bag. 

Rainy Saturday in the City

Ever tried hailing a cab in a rain? 

A rainy day requires a pop of color. This one from Stella McCartney.

My daughters are little hams. I was not allowed to take an outfit photo alone... Wearing everything old: Burberry coat, H&M jeans, Missoni scarf, Stella McCartney bag, old no name sneakers.

Mother-daughter poses on Bleecker Street

It was Comic Con and the City was full of weirdly dressed folks