hiatusssss

sorry for going MIA.

life got a little crazy in the best way possible, and my sweet little blog fell by the way side.

hope you all have been beyond stellar, because my life is looking really rad.

i'm about to escape the city for the long weekend and am looking forward to some quality time with the people i love the very most. i'm thinking lots of picnics with lots of wine, live music, and maybe if i'm really lucky, some kite flying too.

welcomeee!

remember kelly ann? my best friend extraordinaire?

well, lady is (finally) committing to her blog, chienne riche, and you all should too! don't let the title push you away, yes it translates to "rich bitch" but KAC is hardly one.

she says, "the blog title is somewhat of a misnomer. i'm not a bitch. i'm just rich in life."

well, my life is a bit richer with her around, and i'm so excited to see what she has to say.

twopeasinapod,etc.

how obsessed are you with this weeks cover of the new yorker? it is just all sorts of adorable. i want to find a print of it to hang on my wall to make me smile every single day.

i love the fire cracker with the match and the quill with the ink well, but my very favorite is the dust pan and the broom.

messy spots need a little love too.

inittowinitttt.

how sweet are these charm necklaces? kcon and i discovered them at the in god we trust on the lower east side over the weekend. they say these obscene phrases, but they are so dainty, you'd never guess it.

at only $40 bucks a pop, i'm thinking this is what everyone will be getting for their birthdays from now on -- custom fit by personalities. garvs, my sassiest friend, will get "talk to the hand" where, gabs, my friend with the great ass will get "big butt and a smile."

i'm crossing my fingers i get "in it to win it" for my brithday. hint. hint. it's only november 20, no pressure dudes.

injurrrry.

that is my father in his modeling days. i'm dying. the 'stach, the ultra suede, the plaid.

i sprained my ankle two days ago, and have been really struggling. i don't do pain well, at all, and with an ankle the size of a grape fruit that at one point was actually purple, my demands are becoming excessive. lucky for me, everyone is taking good care of me, and by taking care of me, i mean putting up with me. g.t. even picked out all the m&ms from the trail mix bag.

with that and pictures like this? i'll be all better in no time.

wowwwwiewow.

what a weekend. so much so, its only now sinking in that it's back to the real world. visiting best friends do that to you.

kelly ann arrived friday night and it was off to the west village for yummy pasta and then a long walk with kgarvs. we even went and stalked the novogratz house on the west end highway. debated taking pictures outside, decided against, and then instantly regretted it. if you're going to stalk, might as well go all the way out.

saturday was spent mulling around soho and then that night we went out in the east village. some of the most fun i've had yet in new york. the best part? watching the sunrise while munching on an appetizer sampler at my now go-to diner.

KAC and i had a killer brunch sunday, where, for the first time ever, i tried eggs benedict and am now certifiably obsessed. we spent a lot of time getting lost in the lower east side afterwards, but not before we checked out zarin fabrics hoping to spot jill. for dinner we met up with casey and her co-worker neely, the genius behind fossil's fantastic blog, and had the greatest time swapping stories at this gem of a spot.

whew. it was the happiest of weekends dudes. i wish it never had to end, but dc in two weeks with conlin and co. should make for one hell of a fourth.

ps. kelly and i are actually incapable of taking a decent picture together. this gem is from three years ago. isn't my mardi gras mask TDF? (to die for, duh.)

hey dad, you're rad

my dad is the raddest dude i know.

there are about 14 million reasons why that is true, including, his ability to make an amazing cup of tea, the way he says the word 'tuesday' with a 'ch' at the beginning, how much he loves my mom, and the way he ends all phone calls with, "okie dokie, bye bye for now."

this is one of my very favorite photos of him. on a trip to england in 2008, he became obsessed with the yellow vests worn by construction workers while on the job. he insisted on buying ones for himself and my two brothers to be worn for all future building projects stateside. sure enough, every time there is a job to be done, these vests come out of hiding.

as i've gotten older and moved away, my dad and i have gotten much closer, i love calling him when i'm walking around new york because he always says, "where are you now? new york city? remember when you lived in london? god. what a life."

have the most rad father's day daddy. i'm sorry i can't be there, but i know you'll have a perfect day filled with lots of world cup watching and a few too many biscuits.

needitnow.

some sequin lust to start my friday off right.

inspirationoverrrridee.

some jak and jil inspiration before i head off to bed.

all three of these looks are really sexy, especially the middle one. there is just something about the back that seems so perfectly ordinary, yet so perfectly naughty.

sweet dreams everyone. xoxo

blondiebaby

when i was a little girl i had the blondest hair. the sort that was white at the ends and would turn green every summer. after the horrific sun-in incident of '01, aka dying my hair orange in steph waugh's bathroom, it was just never the same. artificial 'blonde' felt like such a farce after my true days as a toe head.

my sophomore year of college i decided to hell with it all and died it dark brown. i accidentally become a goth for a few weeks, it slowly faded and now all color gone, i'm au natural. no longer blonde, but instead something impossible to describe -- sort of this chestnut with blonde highlights that looks red in certain lights.

i don't hate it, but, i still miss those carefree days of being a total blondie like this cool chick.

i bet she never was an orange-head, thats for sure.

(i stand corrected. the sun-in incident in fact occurred in meg lowry's hippopotamus wall papered bathroom. steph was quick to point out she had nothing to do with my orange hair.)

tweeettweeeet.

since arriving in new york i've seen a few celebrities -- jlo, cameron diaz, beyonce. i see them, i think, "damn, they look ________ (stunning/botoxed/FIERCE)." and then continue on my way.

apparently, last night john mayer played a 3 am set at the village underground that he announced only on his twitter. i live like THREEBLOCKS from the village underground.

when i was little, i was that girl about jmayer. the one that was always front row, always hyperventilating. while, i've become far more normal with age, i'm still so bummed i missed out. battle studies was my go to jam of choice this past winter.

no bother, i'll see him some other time. i guess this is just a lesson in why people twitter.

140characters4lyfe.

weddddingbelles.

my beautiful cousin sarah, who got engaged last october, has finally set a date for her big day! june 11, 2011 in the south of france.

sarah and her sweet fiance, luke, live in london. i loved nothing more than visiting their little house on sunday nights for take out and the strictly come dancing results show last fall.

she just started looking at dresses, and yesterday sent me a link to the amsale bridal collection. i'd never looked at their gowns before, but ashley and i have been beside ourselves since devouring their website. so far these are my two very favorites, the ella and the coco. (don't you just love when clothing has people names?)

their flag ship store is on madison avenue, and i promised i would check them out soon and send a report across the pond. is it weird that i can't wait?

morning inspiration.

just a few beautiful images to give me a little pick me up this morning.

yesterday was so so lovely. the weather was painfully perfect, it was impossible not to spend time outside. i (finally!) crossed the brooklyn bridge, had the yummiest pizza on the other side, walked back all the way across manhattan and ended up watching the sunset in battery park. it's absurd how much i love this city.

happy wednesday, only a few more days until the weekend. we can do it!

simpleee

i bought my simple diary in january. it was a new years gift to myself. i promised to write everyday, and of course finally (sporadically) started at the beginning of june.

hardly a diary, its instead a series of questions, that you must appropriate to the day you wrote.

for example, was today, a) lacking experience, b) bedazzled, or c) a sure thing? it then asks you something like, "and what is somewhere over the rainbow?" and in the end it always gives you a quote.

todays?

a sunrise has no stage freight.

hey tonis, you're rad

meet one of my very best friends, tonis. she is super.

tonis likes to read harry potter books, eat mint chocochip ice cream everyday, and say really witty things. she lives in dc now, working at a nonprofit and saving the world. every friday she sends out these hysterical recap e-mails. they are always so funny they make me cry. last week it was all about her adventures in grocery shopping. only tonis could turn buying string cheese into a saga.

and, not only is she way funny, she is also way smart, way compassionate, and a way good listener. for my brithday last year, she flew to london to celebrate with me. we spent the day just wondering around the tate modern, drinking tea, and planning our livess.

so, tonis, i think you're really rad. i hate not being able to hang out everyday and pretend like we're hippies, but your 'district' emails make you feel not so far. can't wait to see you on the fourth and live like its earth day.

ps. tonis has a fedora. and she looks cooler than cool in it. told you girl was rad.

whitegirlproblem.

so, i bought a fedora.

i look completely ridiculous when i wear it.

let me repeat. completely. ridiculous.

i tried to wear it to brunch last weekend, and i ended up taking it off and putting my hair into a messy bun, per usual, before i even got my coffee.

how do you wear a fedora without looking as dumb as i know i do? do you take it off inside? do you wear your hair down or up? do you have to wear a plain t-shirt, or is a pattern better?

perhaps i should count my blessings that these are the questions that keep me up at night...lord help me though, because i'm getting sleepy.

whirlwinddd

new york is such a whirlwind. i feel like i stumble back to my computer after a day out, and i'm so overwhelmed with happy thoughts.

what a sweet new york weekend this was. lots of exploring, pubs for the world cup on the lower east side, the Hudson River walk way until the wee hours of the morning, a yummy brunch in the west village, and then to the met for the american woman exhibit.

please pinch me. i feel so lucky.

ps. isn't that a neat picture? times square in the 1950s. i can't stand time square now, too many people all looking up, but everything was a bit more glam back then i think. even craning your necks.

hey casey, you're rad

this is my sister-in-law casey. she is way cool. i mean, way, way, cool.

casey started dating my older brother, phil, when i was in 4th grade, so she has been around forever and ever, but i like it that way. she is so creative it hurts all over. she is now super important at fossil and gets to travel all over the world to shop and scope out trends for upcoming seasons. (told you her coolness hurts.)

when she isn't at work, casey and phil love to take their dog boomer on walks, eat yummy vegetarian food, and watch american idol with their cat pee wee in their perfect little house. casey is an amazing interior designer. their house was even featured on d*sponge! (and if that isn't enough, check out the business she runs from home in her "free time.")

so, casey, i think you are really rad. i'm super happy phil was smart enough to catch you when he did, and that you love him as much as you do, because you make thanksgiving and christmas a lot more fun. i absolutely can't wait for you to come to new york this summer.

the rad volumes

do y'all ever just feel pinch me lucky about life because you're completely surrounded by the coolest people? your family is always making you laugh, your friends are probably the greatest ever, you work with total brainiacs, and even the news stand guy is polite? that's how i feel everyday. and i don't think i say it enough to all those super important people.

so, now, every so often, when someone is making me feel super lucky, i'm going to give them a little shout out. a little "hey, i think you are super rad" right here on hadleigh-on-sea. trust me, these people are the greatest.

ps. come onnnn. i know that picture has nothing really to do with this post. but you have to admit, anna flipping the bird with karl stone faced might be one of the raddest things you've ever seen.

newwwfeaturee

tomorrow, hadleigh-on-sea will start something new to go along with it's new look. it's just new, nothing fancy, just new. you'll like it though, promise, promise.

anewfriendd

meet the hadley romper! believe me, i'm just as excited as you. not only is this sweet thing too precious, what with its key hole back and criss cross straps, but it just might have to become my summer staple. growing up, nothing, i mean nothing, ever had my name on it. i was always so jealous of the megans and ashleys of the world. they always got key chains and book marks. but do they get a romper too?

doubtful.

take that dudes.

dreamboatt.

do you think its strange that every single night as i'm falling asleep to the sounds of 5th avenue, i'm instead dreaming i'm in a field of wild flowers, wearing a hippie headband made of blossoms and an over sized antique lace shirt? i hope not because as much as i love the sound of the city at night -- lots of sirens, skateboarders, rap music and laughter -- there is something really nice about about dreaming i'm this cool chic too.

summmmer2k10

simon and i spent our memorial day just walking around. we started at the smile in noho for coffee and yummy sandwiches and then walked down bleecker street until we got to the west village where we peeked into little marc jacobs. i can't even imagine being a kid cool enough to wear this rad fedora. after that we made our way up to chelsea where we walked the high line from start to finish.

it was the perfect start to the season, i thought. bring it on summer.

hotchildinthecittyyy

i've got long hair. the sort that hangs half way down your back and sticks to the back of your neck the second there is any humidity. i refuse to cut it -- ever. i'm going to be the cool mom with long hair, but now that it's officially summer in the city. i'm thinking this bun is the perfect solution.

it might be messy, yet it still looks so perfectly chic. don't you think?

beautyallarounddd.

this image has been circulating around the blogosphere for what feels like ever. i remember the first time i saw it i actually squealed. it is was just too beautiful.

i spent memorial day weekend back home for a very waugh wedding. carly and travis finally tied the knot. the whole day was squeal worthy and it ended with stephie doing her tina t impression on the dance floor. (pictures to come, i promise!)

congratulations carly and travis! i'm so so so happy i got to be a part of your very special day. : )