The City Sage

Seduced by Halloween!

No, this isn't my audition for the new Courtney Cox series, it's my Halloween costume! This predatory pencil skirt doesn't see nearly enough action, and my cougar crush on Finn from Glee shows no signs of abating, so what better get-up than the original cougar MILF, Mrs. Robinson? I learned several important lessons while assembling this costume: 1) Very fine, very straight hair does not a bouffant make 2) Press-on nail glue is no joke 3) It is way too easy to find a sheer leopard print blouse at Goodwill.

And, it's been ages since I posted a recipe--but it wouldn't be Halloween without some sweet indulgence! These monster cookies are not only aptly named, they're also way more satisfying than those fun-sized Snickers you've been sneaking from the candy dish at work. Think chocolate chips and M&M's studding a moist, craggy bedrock of oats, peanut butter, and brown sugar goodness. Honestly, I wouldn't bother turning on the oven, 'cause the dough is Just. That. Good.

Do you have any grand or ghoulish plans for the Halloween? Tomorrow the Huz and I are doing Habitat for Humanity--it's my first time and I'm super excited, though I think I'll leave the leopard skirt and highball at home...Have a smashing weekend everyone!

Monster Cookies (recipe courtesy of 'Baked: New Frontiers in Baking' by Matt Lewis)

5 3/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
3/4 cup cold butter, cut into cubes
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups creamy peanut butter (NOT the natural kind!)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's (bonus points if you used the Halloween theme colored ones!)

In a large bowl, combine flour, soda, salt and oats. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream butter until smooth and pale. Beat in sugars until just incorporated. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla, corn syrup and peanut butter and mix until smooth. Stir in oat mixture in three additions, then fold in chocolate chips and candies. Refrigerate at least 5 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop generously sized balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool. Enjoy!

Stationery to Room: Letters Lubell!

Have you entered this week's giveaway yet? It's not to late to win a set of letterpress notecards from Letters Lubell! Before you scurry off to put your name in the hat, feast your eyes on these lovely room sets inspired by Letter's Lubell designs. A feather print in robin's egg blue is translated into a shabby chic meets Palm Beech prep living room. Snuggle in on the cozy couch or spin around on a mod chair. Pop art pillows, a turned spool table and a caged pendant lamp provide graphic interest, and a finely wrought cabinet is the perfect place to store gilt turquoise tableware and a cheeky collection of ceramic birds.

A traditional leaf pattern gets a modern update in hot pink--and an eclectic bedroom echoes the old-meets-new vibe. An antique-y iron bed and etched mirror scream 'flea market find!' and a peacock rug feels both fussy and fresh. The ornate lines of this console contrast with its vibrant yellow hue. Accessorize with airy curtains, flowered pillows, and a mohair throw, all in bold, fruit punch hues, then store your odds 'n' ends in a bright box and enamel bowls. A scented candle cements the playful mood!

Remember: you have 'til Sunday night to enter this week's giveaway for a set of letterpress cards from Letters Lubell!

Interiors Images: Living Etc.

How to Wear It: Lauren Moffatt Fall '09

The Look: Scottish-inspired silk tartan. The Occasion: High fashion haggis cook-off.
The Look: Stretchy magenta waistband. The Occasion: Morning after haggis hangover.

The Look: Ethereal zippers. The Occasion: Speedy outfit change in a phone booth.
The Look: Va-va-voom! The Occasion: Traffic-stopping exit from aforementioned phone booth.

The Look: Safety orange trim. The Occasion: FNJG training (Fashionistas Night Jogging Group).
The Look: Nubby, baggy overcoat. The Occasion: FNJG post-run Frappuccino sesh.

The Look: Aubergine puff sleeves. The Occasion: Husband-hunting nursery school teacher.
The Look: Smokey grey blouse. The Occasion: Hands-off-my-man nursery school mommy.

The Look: Studded nailhead mini. The Occasion: Hot new uniform for lady Home Depot employees.
The Look: Strong enough for him, made for you. The Occasion: Off-Broadway revival of Annie Hall.

BONUS! Until the 29th, become a Lauren Moffatt insider and SAVE 20% with the code LM-INSIDER! (Enter at checkout) OR...SAVE 30% by telling a friend! Have her sign up to become a Lauren Moffatt Insider, and you'll receive a 30% discount code to YOU AND YOUR FRIEND! (Make sure they mention you and your email address!)
All images courtesy of Lauren Moffatt.

Giveaway: Letterpress Notecards from Letters Lubell!

I am super excited about today's giveaway. Introducing Letters Lubell, a new line of eco-friendly letterpress stationery from designer Kacy Lubell. One lucky reader will win a boxed set of notecards in the pattern of her choice!

I adore everything about Letters Lubell--from the stylish, sophisticated designs to the fact that each piece is made from soy-based inks and tree-free paper. But what really speaks to me? The company's mantra that inspiration is everywhere!

Stationery that pays homage to traditional Mexican embroidery? Be still my heart. Notecards that satisfy my current obsession with all things feathered? Come to mama. And a laurel leaf imprint inspired by a bathroom sink? I DIE!

How to win a gorgeous set of eco-friendly letterpress notecards in the pattern of your choice? It's easy! Just head over to Letters Lubell and tell me what you'd choose if you won! And be sure to check out Kacy's gorgeous gift tags, too--after all, the holidays are just around the corner! Happy Tuesday everyone :)

All image pairings courtesy of Letters Lubell. Interiors Image Credits: 1. Design*Sponge 2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being Happy 3. Apartment Therapy

Zing! Pow! High Energy Interiors!

Phew--getting out of bed this morning felt impossible! The sunrise seems so late, and since I renounced caffeine a couple months ago I miss that boost from a hot cup of coffee. So here are some energetic images for your Monday--a double shot of visual espresso, if you will!

Though this vivid fuchsia curtain is slightly sheer, it still has terrific impact. Look at the way it causes the sun puddle behind the settee to take on a pinkish hue--such a unique way to play with the effect of light on a space!

While we're speaking of pink, how about this room? It's a no holds barred homage to that perennial favorite color! I like how the space doesn't take itself too seriously; the madcap collection of crookedly hung paintings and the zany mix of textures keeps the whimsy level on high.

Chartreuse and aubergine is one of my latest palette fancies. I really admire the courage required to paper your walls in such a shocking pattern! Yet it works so well, partly because petite stature of the poster bed contrasts nicely with the bold statement of the wallpaper.

I'd never go this wild in my own house but sometimes I daydream about doing an office this way. Can't you see the wacky furniture and dizzying patterns in a bustling graphic design firm? It's also fun to imagine which of these pieces you would bring home and incorporate into your current decor. (Dibs on those funky pillows!)

Crazy swirls and pops of bubble gum provide a serious jolt in this bathroom. Teamed with a basic ceramic pedestal sink and a romantic mirror, the eclectic combination makes brushing your teeth an adventure. And, um, is that a panda painting in the shower?

Color, texture, blah blah blah. Flowers, embroidery, blah blah blah. Let's talk about what's really important in this vignette: that giant squirrel figurine and the massive knitted clock hanging on the wall. If those nutty accessories can't shake things up, than I don't know what will!

Finally, no gimmicks, no tomfoolery, no ballyhoo. Just four perfect ranunculi in the sunniest shade imaginable. How's that for curing a case of the Mondays?

P.S. Another guaranteed pick-me-up? A glowing review!

Image Credits: 1. Martha Stewart Living September 2007 2. Atlanta Bartlett 3. A Passion for Collecting 4. Martha Stewart Living September 2009 5. Flea Market Style 6. Elle Decoration October 2008 7. Living Etc. 8. Sarah Kaye

Take a Deep Breath...It's the Weekend!

Yay! We're only one day away from lazy mornings, pancake brunches, and aimless strolls through the neighbourhood. Do you have anything on your weekend agenda? We're going to a 1st birthday party, a 108th homecoming, and we might try to sneak in a nap or two along the way. Before you log off, be sure to catch:

• A chocolate cake worth giving up my skinny jeans.
• An indispensable fall fashion guide.
• A testament to the power of black and white.
• Decorating tips for the mad scientist in all of us.
• More chevron than you can shake a stick at.
• Want. This. Outfit. But with these shoes.
• "Idi Amin is alive and well and designing for Z Gallerie."
• My lovely friend Cyd recently redesigned her blog The Sweetest Occasion. Officially it's about weddings. Unofficially, it's about awesomeness.

Rest up, relax, and I'll see you all on the flip side!

Image Credits: 1. CameraLink 2. Vogue Living Australia 3. Domino 4. Amy Neunsinger

Magazine Lust: Vogue Living Australia

From the country that brought us Hugh Jackman, Summer Heights High, and my husband, is it any wonder that Vogue Living Australia is one of the best shelter mags on the market? Contained in its pages the most scrumptious styled and brilliantly edited images you'll ever set eyes on. It's a veritable smorgasbord of interiors indulgence!

The image that started my love affair: soft, magnolia pink meets leafy greens and a rustic bench. It should be a crime for a patio to look this good. And speaking of criminal, anyone up for staging a home invasion with me?

This scene makes me long for the gleaming parquet floors of my old Brooklyn apartment--though of course my cramped and crowded space had nothing on the vast, polished surfaces of this eclectic vignette. I'd even take those weird shaggy tables if it meant living here!

You know in old-timey cartoons when the wolf sees a hot pin-up babe? His jaw drops, his tongue hangs down, and his eyes pop out of his head. Let's just say that this rug is my equivalent of a hot pin-up babe...

A perfect example of monochromatic decorating done right. Richly layered textures abound; plush velvet, sleek marble, and even silver sequins combine to make a grey space that couldn't be boring if it tried. And, um, hello mirror?!

Okay, so this isn't someone's house--it's a styled product shot. But doesn't it make you want to run out and but everything on the page, and then convert your house to a modern Moroccan palace complete with columns and white concrete floors?

I could wax poetic all day about the elements I love in this photo--starting with those sexy red curtains. But my absolute favourite detail is the floor--look at how beautifully the dark wood inlay contrasts with the surrounding stone. They just don't make 'em like that anymore, kids!

All images courtesy of Vogue Living Australia.

Chairs of the World: Swan Chair

Welcome, intrepid explorers, to yet another edition of Chairs of the World. Our subject today? The Swan chair. Perhaps the most graceful of all creatures in the furniture kingdom, the Swan chair resides effortlessly in almost any habitat, from contemporary to vintage and beyond. So fasten your safari hats and join me as we stalk our prey.

Observe as this common black Swan chair holds court amongst a hodgepodge of antiques. Not one to retreat in the face of competition from a fussy console and delicate milk glass vase, this Swan chair is confident in its modernity.

Behold, this Swan chair is right at home in a space with a global sensibility. It's smooth curves and feather-light construction contrast handsomely with weathered floors and a chunky wooden dresser.

Of course the Swan chair has evolved since its first appearance in our ecosystems. Retaining its versatile shape, it has developed several unique genetic mutations that result in unusually colored hides. Here the magenta Swan chair poses artfully near a tall window--eye-catching indeed!

Look! In the distance! A shy steel blue Swan chair! See how well it has camouflaged itself in these country-inspired environs. Blended seamlessly with a slate fireplace and delicate lace bedclothes, it carries the mark of a truly well-adapted beast.

The Arctic swan chair: what a prized specimen! With a fleecy coat that's as stylish as it is hardy, it flourishes amongst an icy glass table and snowy white neutrals--the picture of glacial glamour.

Like a Manx cat or a naked mole rat, this hairless pink Swan chair may look innocent and unassuming. But don't be fooled; it lacks none of the panache of its more boldly-coated breathren. Perhaps you'd like to take one home today from the Swan Chair Rescue Association?

Image Credits: 1. Flea Market Style 2. Homebug 3. Elle Decoration UK, November 2009 4, 5. Elle Decoration France 6. Elle Decor October 2007 7. IJM

Getaway Get-the-Look: Staycation!

About this time of year, when summer is miles behind us and the winter holidays remain a distant promise, I start to long for a break. Nothing extravagant, nothing overblown: just a good solid week of lounging about the house in my jammies, having sleeps on the couch, and ordering take-out every night. Is that so much for a girl to ask?

Of course even a staycation requires proper attire! A lacey romper is a big step up from my ragged sweats, and a soft cardigan is de rigeur. Accessories like legwarmers, a striped scarf, and sheepskin slippers keep the mood cozy, while a beaded necklace and flower hair pin inject a little boudoir glamour. Pamper yourself with some seriously indulgent bath goodies, then paint your nails in my new favorite shade. How awesome does that sound?

Image credits: 1. Unknown 2, 3. Corrie Bond 4. Christina Tarantola

Outfit to Room: Anthropologie October Catalogue

Confession: Every month I 'borrow' my neighbour's copy of the Anthropologie catalogue (don't worry, I put it back, crease free!) And honestly, who wouldn't be driven to petty larceny by the scrumptious images contained in these pages? A romantic wrap has me longing to snuggle in bed on this rainy Monday morning--especially in a space this cozy!

A pointelle knit sweater is at once sweet and sophisticated--of course you could hand me a burlap sack and I'd wear it if it was such a heavenly shade of mushroom grey. So would I turn up my nose at a rustic organic bedroom in the same earthy palette? Not likely!

This ladylike dress is the epitome of modern sex appeal: a sultry shape in bold black on white. This subtle glamor translates into the iconic curves of a tulip chair, a spare metallic palette, and a seriously striking painting on the wall. Yow!

Candy apple red plus goldenrod yellow? I'm loving this crisp combination, especially in concert with a white backdrop. Toss in a retro print tablecloth and I have visions of fall carnivals--complete with cake walks and hot cider--dancing through my head.

The unexpected pairing of a crocheted cowlneck with a graphic tunic works surprisingly well. Get the look at home by teaming up a sweet country floral with a classic stripe (sleepy puppy is optional but highly recommended!)

A simple A-line dress gets an autumnal update with a fair isle motif and wooden buttons. It's the perfect inspiration for a seating vignette; elegant antiques are soothing, not showy, and they pair perfectly with a fuzzy blanket. The scene practically begs for a long afternoon with a good book!

All fashion images courtesy of Anthropologie. Interiors images: 1, 3, 4. Flea Market Style 2. Urban Eco Chic 5, 6. Country Home