The City Sage

New Year's Non-Goals

That Erin Loechner. Her cleverness amazes me. She's made a list of non-goals for 2011: "moments, habits and choices" she wants to uphold. So Bri and I decided to set some non-goals as well. And because I'm awfully partial to Erin's decision to make her list as though speaking to herself--it's like a verbal pat on the back--I'm gonna straight-up copy her. I invite you to do the same!

"Hey, Anne. You sure are good at smiling. Even when the weather is lousy and your mood is gloomy, you've got a cheery grin for the checker at the grocery store, for the nosy neighbor down the hall, for the operator who calls at 6 am to remind you to pay your student loan (and yes, smiles translate over the phone.) Keep flipping that frown upside down all the way through 2011."

"Wow, Anne. You certainly stepped outside your comfort zone--and stayed there--this year. You quit your job, you made a ton of new friends, you pulled not one but THREE all-nighters. Don't feel pressure to make 2011 as tumultuous as 2010, but do feel free to keep pushing those personal boundaries. There's no doubt that you're more flexible and open-minded as a result!"

"Anne, you know that Starbucks habit you keep trying to quit? Don't worry about it! You can find other ways to economize. You love that morning trip to get your coffee, you love saying 'hi' to the 5 am barista crew, you love being out on the city streets before everyone else. $3.65 seems a small price to pay for all the pleasure that routine brings you!"

"Guess what, Anne. You really can write. Nice work finding opportunities to tell your stories this year. Whether you're blogging, composing articles for Rue, or finessing a simple email to a colleague, you never stop searching for the right word for the right occasion. Don't stop lingering over those lovely turns of phrase you draw from deep within!"

What are your non-goals this year? The things you did really well? Tell me! I'll be back with some non-non-goals (ie. resolutions!) on Monday January 3. Until then, Happy New Year and thank you for journeying through 2010 with me! xo

Image Credits: Martha Stewart Living

Shopbop Meets Sephora: Faces of Fashion

Hold the phone. A collaboration between Shopbop and Sephora, my two greatest weaknesses? Yup, you heard me right! Five fashion looks, one giant makeup palette to create them all. Naturally I just had to add some interiors for the ultimate triumvirate of awesome. First up, Classic Prep: Slim lines inspired by the boys with a dash of red for good measure.

London Mod: Colorblock, bright saturated hues and a pop art vibe. Twiggy couldn't have done it better herself with miniskirts and ankle boots, a thick fringe (bangs to us Yanks!) and unexpected flashes of purple and blue on lids. Don't forget thick faux eyelashes to complete the effect!

Jet Set Bohemian: Eclectic free spirit--or just want to dress like one? Look for animal prints, flowing shapes, miles-long scarves and bags so slouchy you could easily smuggle a baby tiger through airport security. Smokey grays and washes of mauve add a sultry, exotic touch.

The Lady: She's the picture of grace and charm, but she don't take no nonsense from noone. Beneath that satin and lace is a spine of steel--and she swathes it in chilly aqua and lavender. She might be lounging on her brocade settee and eating bonbons, but offend her feminine sensibilities and she'll spring to action like an avenging ice queen.

Femme Fatale: Those endless gams! Those flowing locks! Those bedroom eyes! This dame doesn't need bright plumage to attract a mate; a single glance will do the trick. Bodyconcious dresses and sky-high heels help too. A swipe of lipstick in bordeaux is the icing on a rich and alluring cake!

Tell Me: Which one are you? I'm Classic Prep myself, with occasional dashes of Jet Set Boho...Shop the clothes at the Faces of Fashion Lookbook and get the makeup palette at Sephora! Plus enter to win the Faces of Fashion Sweepstakes: a year's supply of Sephora Collection cosmetics and a $2500 shopping spree at Shopbop!

Fashion Images: Shopbop. Interiors Images: Living Etc.

2011 Interior Design Trends

One of my favorite interiors magazines--Canadian House and Home--is so good at playing the trends game. Their January issue sums up everything I've been seeing myself and puts it in a tidy, digestible and utterly inspiring format. Their take on the 'new' modern, country and global has me especially chomping at the bit for the coming year's design happenings.

Naturally I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I summoned up a few 'get the look' shopping guides using American sources. From blonde wood to ebony, and from mohair to marble, the vibe in all of these spaces is warm and approachable, refined yet livable. These are sofas you can sink into, countertops you can knead bread on, artwork you can get lost in for hours. 

Now it's your turn: what interiors trends are you sensing on the horizon for 2011? Which 2010 trends did you love? Which ones did you abhor? And for that matter, how do you participate in trends to prevent your home from feeling dated--without overhauling your space every year? I'm so curious! Tell me!

Interiors Images: Canadian House and Home, January 2011. Shopping Guide, Board One: Chair, Ottoman, Lamp, Reindeer Pelt. Board Two: Stool, Bowls, Teapot, Sink. Board Three: Chair, Photo, Pendant Lamp, Rug.

Festive Modern: New Year's Eve Decor!

Christmas may be officially over, but winter has barely begun! Which is why I'm so excited to share with you these photos from an event I attended earlier this month. Hosted by Leila of Be Inspired PR, with styling by JL Designs and Canvas and Canopy, this 'California Christmas' dinner was one of the highlights of my holiday season! 

The best part--other than the delectable food, the complementary spray tans, and the chance to mingle with some of my favorite ladies?--was the enchanting decor. Driftwood and succulents met with vibrant blossoms for an effect that felt festive but versatile as well; you'd only have to switch the red for a different color and you could create this look any time of year! Ahem, New Year's Eve?!

See more images of the evening from the other bloggers in attendance, including 100 Layer Cake, Grey Likes Weddings, Hostess with the Mostess, and Green Wedding Shoes. Love those girls!

Photography: Leo Patrone

Stop Motion Christmas Card from Trent Bailey Photography

.

Pop Quiz: What does an uber-talented photographer send to the folks on his holiday mailing list? When it's Trent Bailey Photography, the answer is this stop motion video! Produced in collaboration with the crazy-clever girls at You + Me Lifestylists, it's a charming tribute to the urbane Trent, his chic Missus, and their life in the Big Apple. If we ask nicely, do you think they'll adopt us all?

Holiday Shopping Guide: Pamper and Pretty

By now you've got all your holiday shopping done, right? RIGHT?! Yeah, me neither. But there's still time to pick up last-minute bibs and bobs for stuffing stockings and making the girly girls in your life squeal with unadulterated joy. Glitter and gold, fragrance and fun: you can't go wrong with little lovelies that are purely pretty, frivolous and fabulous!

Shopping Guide: Makeup Palette, Fragrance Diffuser, Lipstick, Creed Perfume, Gold Jewelry, Quartz Watch, Metallic Pillow, Silk Necklace, Scented Candle.

Gorgeous, Easy and Affordable Holiday Tabletop

Kelly Oshiro is the queen of the easy yet exquisite tabletop; remember the fab Valentine's day table she shared with us in February? Now Kelly's back with an incredible winter holiday set-up that has me jumping for joy. Red and white, sparkles and stripes? What could possibly be more cheer-i-fying?

As Kelly explains on her blog, the impetus for this tabletop was a collaboration with Fifty Flowers using their Christmas Carnation Flower Pack. I love the idea of ordering bulk flowers and seeing where the wind takes you. Kelly's addition of seersucker runner--made holiday appropriate with votives and glass balls--takes a simple, inexpensive bloom and elevates it to high class!

Spiral straws and soda pop bottles in this festive palette complete a patio that begs for a racous group of revelers, while peanut brittle in Mason jars makes a perfect take-home favor. Thanks so much to Kelly Oshiro Design for this lovely decor inspiration!

Tell me: What's on your holiday tabletop agenda this year?

Image Credits: Tim Halberg of Halberg Photographers

Smilebooth Pics from the Rue Party!

Just in case I haven't expressed how incredibly fun my recent trip to Atlanta was, these pictures will do the job. Taken with a Smilebooth at the party Rue hosted at the lavish! conference, they capture the frolicsome and frivolous mood of the night. Do they convey the extent to which I ran around like a mad hen making sure everything was going smoothly? No, but that's probably for the best!

As with any endeavor worth carrying out, the event ended up being way more work than I expected. Thankfully I had some secret weapons up my sleeve: Elly B Events secured our location at the Bradford Gallery, and Anora Grey created some incredible decor. Throw in some generous sponsorship by HGTV, Studio M Inc., and Room and Board, and we had ourselves a party!

The best part, however? At last meeting blog buddies in person! Friends like Lesley, Jenny, Nicole, Caroline, Annette, Ashley, Grace and Amy, Emily, Ginny and Arlene and Brandon. Once we got a few Rue-smopolitans into everyone (that's a Rue Cosmopolitan, in case you were wondering), folks were more than happy to mug for the Smilebooth!

P.S. More on the party: Bonus Smilebooth pics, a DIY and close-up of our amazing Anora Grey decorations, plus Crystal and Bri's recaps!

In the Bag: Coach Madison Collection

As always, my lust for handbags is insatiable, and the brand new Madison collection from Coach has whet my appetite even more. These babies are just what I look for in a bag: slouchy, roomy, eyecatching, unforgettable. Walk into the room with one of these on your arm and heads will turn.

A little leopard satchel offsets slim dark jeans and rustic boots with its wildchild vibe. Oversized shades and a jingle-jangle bib necklace complete a look that says, 'Yeah, I threw this fabulous together without any effort. Now scratch my ears and hear me purr.'

The lovely thing about these bags is how versatile they are. While I tend to go for an edgier sensibility, there's no reason why you can't channel ladylike elegance. The green hue of this crossbody hobo prevents the outfit from feeling too prim and proper, and a snakeskin print has me rethinking the allure of kitten heels!

Shopping Guide, Board One: Bag, Shoes, Necklace, Nail Polish, Eyeshadow. Board Two: Bag, Shoes, Sunglasses, Necklace. Board Three: Bag, Shoes, Watch, Perfume, Necklace.

Holiday Shopping Guide: Crunchy Granola Mama

The holiday gift guide goodness continues! If yesterday's punchy citrus brights weren't your bag, perhaps you can get behind these woodsy, folksy hippy-chic finds. Think raw linen, rough-grained wood, and toasty hues like saffron, leaf and berry. Perfect for your inner forest sprite, or for that best girlfriend who would go barefoot every day if you'd let her!

Shopping Guide: Anchor Pillow, Wooden Ducks, Birch Notebook, Napkins, Elephant Luggage Tags, Zipper Wallet, Maggie's Harvest Embroidered Cookbook, Oh Joy! Candle, Bath Brush.