Happy Halloween!

yeah, I did it.

Happy Halloween from the little lady in the big apple!

until next time,

g

Gifts: Kate Spade

As we approach the holidays, I will try and feature some posts on gift ideas.

Check out these delightful items from Kate Spade!

Polka-Dot Coasters $20

Twirl Rollerball Perfume $18

Set of 4 Cocktail Plates $50

2011 Spiral Desktop Calendar $20

"This Year I Will" Idiom Bangle $48

Get Organized Spiral Journal $12

iPhone 3G Hard Cover $40

(I nearly had a fit when I saw how cute this is. I don't have an iPhone so I made my friend buy it for hers. True story.) 

La Dee Da Notepad $12

Hors D'oeuvres Tray $75

Get Organized Sticky Pad Set $12

Gin Rummy Glasses $100

Jingle Bell Studs $45

Resolution Pencils $8

Polka-Dot Thermos $30

2011 Wall Calendar $18

Camelia Avenue Posey Vase $25



To shop Kate Spade, click here.

until next time,

g

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I love pumpkin-flavored treats. Love, I say.

Here's a great little recipe to try!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 can (16 ounces) of pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2cups vegetable oil OR applesauce
• 3 cups flour (white or whole wheat)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Mix together the first 4 ingredients.
2. When mixed well, add the rest of the ingredients.

3. Mix 1/2 the bag of chocolate chips into the batter. Fill well-greased muffin tins 2/3 full of batter. Sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top of the batter.

4. Bake in 400 degree oven 16-18 minutes.

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Happy Baking!

until next time,

g

Holidaze

From today, there is/are --

6 days until Halloween.

1 month until Thanksgiving.

2 months until Christmas.

Yes.

Now that I've set you into a sweaty panic, here's a little something to brighten your Monday.

Babies in costumes! Enjoy!      

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until next time,

g

270

I said farewell to my first big apple apartment last night.

...such a sad little moment.

We have been passing this apartment down over the past few years, but my friends that live there now are moving out and the time has come to say goodbye.

A lot has certainly happened and changed since May 27th, 2007 when my first roommate and I rolled up to our little abode in the West Village. At the time, we had only seen pictures of what we planned on being a one-month sublet.

I'll never forget how she woke me up on the very first night, convincing me I needed to throw something over my pjs because we *needed* to go to a club.

I'll never forget crawling through my neighbor's window and shimmying across the fire escape in a dress and heels after locking myself out.

I'll never forget taking our trash down for the very first time and seeing a mouse and getting so frightened/flustered that I peed my pants.  Yes.  And I'll never forget how my roommate almost choked from laughing so hard.

I'll never forget seeing Sarah Jessica Parker on the sidewalk right outside and nearly passing out when she told me I smelled freshly showered.

I'll never forget sprinting home to tackle my roommate when she called to tell me she was engaged. And I'll never forget crying for a good hour after watching her drive away when she moved out a few months later.

I'll never forget meeting my second roommate for the first time. And how much I needed to meet her in that very moment. ...and how I'm forever indebted to Craigslist.

I'll never forget welcoming my third roommate and her dress-form, "Gladys", from Portland. I'll never forget decorating & crafting, watching her make icing from scratch, or finding the perfect costumes to dress up as Dr. Seuss characters, Thing 1 & Thing 2. And I'll never forget how thankful I am right now that she's still here.

I'll never forget all of the laughter, the tears, the "guess what? I got a job!" squeals, the visitors, the you'll-never-believe-what-happened-today's, the early mornings, the late nights, the inexplicable neighbors, the many different seasons, and the first time it felt like home...

...the first time it snowed.

People and places come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

May you always be a good home, 270.

until next time,

g

Mane Message

For those of us who have to work today, here's a little Etsy pick-me-up.

I love these handmade tie-dye hair ties from Mane Message!

Click here to see this Etsy shop.

until next time,

g

Indego Africa

My friend recently started working for Indego Africa, a non-profit organization worth knowing.

In attempt to fight poverty and empower independent businesswomen, Indego provides training programs in Rwanda for women artisans. They sell their accessories and other products at high-end retailers and on Indego's online store. Indego pays the women a fair wage, including 50% in advance for production costs; the profits are returned to the training programs that instruct more than 200 women in financial management, entrepreneurship, literacy & computer skills.

Here are some of the products sold on Indego's online store:

Banana Steel Bracelets $20

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Woven Coaster Set $25

Laptop Sleeve $30

Wine Coasters $15

Yoga Bag $45

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Also, I know from my little inside connection that they are in the process of designing an iPad cover using banana leaves. How neat! What do you all think?

In addition to the online store, they sell the co-op's products at over 40 retailers including Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, Anthropologie and Bikram Yoga.

Click here to read the NY Times article about their scarves now sold at Anthropologie.

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Shop away!

Want another way to be a part of this great cause? Nicole Miller is hosting an upcoming event for Indego Africa on October 28th at her Soho boutique, located at 77 Greene Street.

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She co-designed textile bangles and woven bracelets - all crafted by the Indego artisans. 

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In addition, 15% of the evening's proceeds will go to Indego's training programs in Rwanda.

(And yes, she will be there.) Click here for more information.

Finally, click here to read the uplifting account of Emelienne Nyiramana, now the Treasurer and Master Seamstress at Indego Africa's partner, Cocoki, in Rwanda. She was admitted to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiave program at the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali earlier this year.

What's not to love?

until next time,

g