brooklyn Archives - Page 9 of 10

Lunch Date

Had a nice little day with the hubby over the weekend. Woke up and did some yoga together, relaxed, ate breakfast, and read my book. Then headed out on a little neighborhood stroll on Cortelyou. Had a wonderful lunch at Mimi’s, and then browsed around at a few new shops that have opened up. It seems our little Ditmas Park is growing and growing.

Where’s Waldo? Tee from Urban Outfitters

photo-6 — Semolina pancakes with honey, mint, and strawberries.

My favorite house in Ditmas Park. I like to call it the “Gingerbread House.”

photo-8 — Lots of new shops on Cortelyou. Check out the Brooklyn Artery and support your locals!

photo-7 — New hat from the Brooklyn Artery.

In addition, today, I would like to send some love and prayers down to Maryland in memory of my dear Aunt Sylvia. She passed away last week, and unfortunately, I was unable to make it down for the services. She was a wonderful lady with admirable strength and courage. She had a fantastic sense of humor and could always make you laugh. In addition, I will always remember the quilt she made me for my room growing up. She was very talented. My thoughts and prayers go out to all my family and cousins who are remembering her today. Love you all.

XO,

Gina

2012: A Year in Review

Ringing in the New Year in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica!

Hiking in the Cloud Forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Valentine’s Day Surprise at the Mary Poppins Show! I dressed just like her without even knowing.

Celebrating Zack’s 31st at crazy Mehenata Bulgarian Bar

14 inch hair chop! Bye Bye. Thanks Nikki!

Sweetlife Festival at Merriweather in MD featuring Avicii…AMAZING.

Seeing Emily Blunt and Jason Segal at the premiere of 5 Year Engagement at the Tribeca Film Festival

SKYDIVING!!! Thanks to my amazing husband – he surprised me on our one year anniversary with this bucket list item.

Dad FINALLY visits us in NY. With Zack, Mom, and cousins at their pasta shop in Brooklyn

Virginia Beach trip with friends for Shirin and Shahrum’s wedding

Testudo came to Zach and Jessica’s wedding! Go Terps!

Happy Birthday to ME! Love my new camera!

Girl’s Weekend in OC for Katie’s Bachelorette – Seacrets is crazy!

Dewey Summer Send off on Labor Day Weekend

A Naval Academy Wedding for Megan and JoJo

Visionary Art Museum Wedding for MaryBeth and James

Trip to Montauk for Mike and Abby’s Big Day

Katie & Adam tie the knot at Sagamore Farms

racejohn — Running with Patrick and Melissa for my late dear friend John Petrovick. “Inside all of us is HOPE.”

racejohn2 — Thanks to Gabbi for helping to raise money for John’s cause.

Camping trip with Erin and Rai to French Creek

End of the season pic with my JV High School Girls Soccer Team

ASHS 10 Year High School Reunion – man time flies

All my girls at the 5th Annual Pollard Potluck

poodiewedding — Alex and Seamus get married to end the year!

It may seem like a lot of photos, but this is just a small snippet of what took place in 2012. There were so many more fun memories of this past year. There were also some sad moments as well. I have learned a lot this past year, and I know that I am truly thankful for the family and friends that I have. I am incredibly lucky for the support and love that I have received this past year, and I hope I was able to return the favor to all of you as well.

I wish you all a Happy New Year’s Eve. Please stay safe tonight.

Bring on 2013!

XO,

Gina

Feeling the Holiday Spirit

Red Cable Knit Sweater: Gap – similar here / Oxford Blouse: Express / Bow Tie: ASOS – similar with studs / Black Skinnies: ZARA / Black Suede Pumps: Cynthia Rowley / Watch: Coach / Bracelet: Bridesmaid Gift / Ring: Forever 21 / Pearl Earrings: Birthday Gift / Lip: MAC Venomous Villains Cruella de Vil Heartless

Photos by: Zack Notes

With the celebration of Chanukah last week, and Christmas only 8 days away, I am really starting to feel the holiday spirit! (if you couldn’t already tell by the red sweater and the bow) My holiday shopping is almost complete, and this week will be dedicated to wrapping and packing. I am currently trying to decide which Christmas movie favorite I am going to watch while doing so. Some contenders on the list are Love Actually and Elf, but I am open to suggestions, so fire away! Christmas tunes are blasting at the office, and we have our office luncheon scheduled for this Thursday. What are you doing to celebrate the season?

Happy Monday all!

XO,

Gina

Hi

HI!!! While browsing for sparkly sequined outfits to wear for my AC trip a couple weeks back, I also came across this adorable sweater. I love the color palette, the comfiness, and the “Hi” lettering that speaks volumes to my personality. I am the type of person who will pretty much talk to anybody, even strangers on the street. While of course every now and then I like to have my “me” time, I usually love being around others, the overall energy of people, meeting new friends, and hearing their stories. My family and friends know that if we go somewhere, I will most likely run into somebody, and they will have to drag me along to keep me from talking to them all day.

Speaking of meeting new people, I went on my first “blogger date” this past Saturday. I would like to introduce you all to Alex of She Is Red. We have been “blogger friends” for a couple months now, and it was fantastic to finally meet her in person. She is an Oregon native who recently moved to New York City from just outside Copenhagen. She has a wonderful blog featuring fashion, food, and sparkly things. You definitely need to check it out!

We met at The Farm on Adderley (one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood) for a delicious brunch, and then did a little photo op in Ditmas Park. Five minutes into our photo op, we were just getting warmed up to photographing in front of someone other than our close relatives when we were screamed at by a psycho lady! This woman came storming out of her house yelling at us to stop taking photos of her house, because there was no sex offender living there and this story and these lies had ruined her life for the past 10 years. Umm…WHAT?!?! First of all, we are fashion bloggers taking photos of our outfits. Second of all, your house was not even in our shot. Third of all, we had no idea about this “sex offender” story and had no plans to broadcast it (until now of course). And lastly…you are PSYCHO! It was a little bit of a shake up for our first photo op together, but we nervously shuttled off to another street with normal, sane neighbors to finish our shoot. I suppose as weird as this incident was, it does make for a great crazy story!

Alex and I had a wonderful day, and I didn’t even notice how quickly the time had passed. I am happy to now call her a real friend instead of just a blogger friend. We realized we have a mutual love of karaoke, so I’m thinking that will be our next adventure!

Photos of me taken by Alex. Photos of Alex taken by me. Photos of us taken by a nice neighbor 🙂

Please excuse our messy manes…it was rainy and humid!

On me: HI Sweater: Forever 21 / Floral Print Dress: H&M (old) / Boots: ALDO -similar on sale here / Tights: Urban Outfitters / Bag: TJMaxx / Butterfly Ring: nOir / Bracelets: Wanderlust + Co. and BaubleBar / Watch: Betsey Johnson / Earrings: ALDO / Lip: MAC Snob

On Alex: Pendleton Coat: Vintage / Faux-fur Scarf: Vintage / Skirt: Forever 21 (sold out, but other pleated skirts I love here and here and also here) / Watch: Caravelle by Bulova / Necklace: Forever 21 / Bag: Forever 21 / Shirt: H&M / Boots: Acne

And how cute is the back of the sweater too!?!? I just love it. BYE! (for now!)

Enjoy the phenomenon of 12/12/12 today!

XO,

Gina

{2} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading Just finished the November issue of Marie Claire. Started Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn this morning on the Subway. I have heard so many amazing things about this book, and I cannot wait to get intoxicated by it!

writing I wrote my to-do list at the beginning of the week with tons of chores and errands to be completed since returning from the Thanksgiving holiday. So far, I have been very good at checking things off the list. Hope to check a few more things off tonight before my trip this weekend.

listening Anything and everything on XM’s Channel 51 BPM station. I can’t seem to want to turn the station…ever. Makes me want to dance. Yes, even in the car.

thinking About some different collaborations and blog posts that I may want to do in the future.

smelling My morning coffee…although it is now afternoon.

wishing That I wasn’t going to miss seeing my mother-in-law this weekend when she comes to town. Yes, I actually like my mother-in-law, and we get along wonderfully. Had a blast with her and the rest of the Notes clan over Thanksgiving, and wish I wasn’t going to miss out on her visit to town.

hoping That the Mayans were incorrect and that the world is not actually going to end in three weeks. I still have a lot of bucket list adventures to complete!

wearing Today I’m wearing black skinny jeans, long sleeved black tee with purple/fuchsia sweater dress, combat boots, and a pink skinny headband. On nights out I can’t seem to get enough of my navy peplum top from ASOS that you saw here.

loving The fact that my Christmas tree is finally up! To my utter delight, the deli on Courtelyou got trees this week. We quickly snatched one up and drove it home (wow feels nice to say we didn’t need to cab it home). We then proceeded to trim the tree and decorate the house all while blasting holiday tunes. Keep your eyes peeled for a post complete with photos soon. ‘Tis the season!

wanting A Hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do. Okay, so maybe not really. But while most may find this Christmas song obnoxious, I sure do love it! It makes me think of my cousins on Christmas Eve, and obviously I cannot get it out of my head at the moment. Probably because I keep playing it on repeat.

needing Lunch. My tummy is a grumbling. Hmm…I’m getting tired of the same old Murray Hill lunch options. Any one have any favorites in town?

feeling Excited for tomorrow! After work, I will be driving down to Atlantic City to celebrate my cousin, Alex’s, bachelorette! Looking forward to a much need girl’s weekend including my other cousin, Marisa, and my sister, Angela. The Fab Four reunite. Woot woot!

clicking Through a few different animation studios’ websites. Doing some research for potential new clients and new talent.

What have you been up to lately?

Happy Thursday!

Love,

Gina

***I was inspired by Tina of Like Ordinary Life to create this post, and she was inspired by Lauren of siddathornton, who started The Sunday Currently.

Meet Finley

Meet Finley…my new nephew pup! My sister and her boyfriend went to Deep Creek Lake for the weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family, so Mom, Dad, Zack, and I got to meet and spend lots of quality time with this little guy over the weekend. Isn’t he precious? Besides, being ridiculously handsome, I found that Finley was actually quite smart! At only 9 weeks, he was sitting, shaking paw and other paw. By the end of the weekend, Zack had taught him to play fetch, and I had taught him to go up and down the stairs. I was very impressed. I am missing this little snuggle bug already.

Long Sleeved Tee: J. Crew / Knit Sweater: ZARA / Jeans: Seven for All Mankind / Boots: Kohls / Necklace: H&M / Watch: Coach / Skull Chain Bracelet: Oia Jules / Ring & Earrings: Passed down from Grandmother / Lip: Lancome All Done Up

Photos by: Zack Notes

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend with our friends and family in Maryland complete with a potluck dinner with friends, two family Thanksgivings, a lunch date with a friend, a trip to DC to celebrate my cousin’s 21st birthday, a jam session with the Notes fam, and of course playing endlessly with little Finley.

We returned to Brooklyn last night and ate the famous DiFara Pizza for dinner which definitely hit the spot. Not that we really needed pizza after all the feasting, but we didn’t have any food in the fridge, so it is what it is. We also tried to honor our tradition of picking up the Christmas tree when we got back to NY, but unfortunately, our local spots did not have any trees yet. I’m hoping the trees will arrive by at least mid week so I can get started on my decorating!

Hope you all have a fantastic week!

XO,

Gina

Cheetah is My Favorite Color

This is probably one of my favorite posts, because of this amazing cheetah jacket I found on sale last winter for only $30! Can you believe that? This faux baby is insanely soft, comfortable and perfect for a night out on the town. I had a big group of friends up visiting last weekend from Maryland, and I wore this out to our group dinner at Supper in the East Village. The family style Italian was to die for, and we had our own private room where it was completely appropriate to start our own dance party. We ended the night at Sing Sing with a little karaoke; always a crowd favorite with my group of friends. Oh what a night!

Cheetah Coat: Ann Taylor LOFT (on sale last winter) / Peplum Top: StyleMint / Skinny Jeans: Zara / Sunglasses: Ann Taylor LOFT / Turquoise Bubble Necklace: Cheerfully Charmed / Butterfly Ring: nOir / Watch: Betsey Johnson / Bow Bracelet: BaubleBar / Polka Dot Bracelet: BaubleBar – sold out but yellow for sale / Buckle Bracelet: Wanderlust + Co. / Shoes: Aldo (old) / Earrings: Aldo / Bag: TJMaxx / Lip: MAC Venomous Villians Cruella de Vil Heartless w/ Wicked Ways Gloss

Photos by: Zack Notes

Color Pops & Polka Dots

I found this bright red-orange trench coat down at the outlets this summer when I was on vacation in the OBX. I love how it pairs with the mint green pants and the navy and white polka dot button down. For me, this was a great transition into fall, because you can cover up to keep from getting chilly, but you still get those bright color pops! I chose these sparkly ballerina flats because of all the walking I have to do in the city, and they are so comfy!

Jacket: Gap Outlet / Shirt: J. Crew Outlet / Pants: Zara / Shoes: Nordstrom Rack / Bag: Longchamp Le Pliage in Graphite / Elephant Ring: Noir – similar also here / Watch: NYC Street Vendor / Bracelet: NYC Street Vendor

Photos by: Zack Notes

This week is going by super fast! I can’t believe it’s already Thursday. The hubs and I are looking forward to a camping trip to PA this weekend with one of our fav couples, Erin & Rai (who made an appearance on the blog yesterday).

This week, I cannot seem to stop listening to this new song I was introduced to by Ben Kweller called “Full Circle.” It’s definitely a feel good jam, and I’ve been bouncing around to it on repeat all through the city and the subway. Check it out!

End of Summer

Ok, so I know I promised I would move on to the fall season, but I wanted to share some of the last moments of summer that we spent in the Big Apple. These photos are from a visit from one of my best friends and her husband (who also happens to be a great friend as well!) They drove up from Maryland, my original home state. We explored our neighborhood (Ditmas Park) in Brooklyn, Prospect Park and the beaches of Queens. It was such a fun weekend, that I couldn’t pass up on sharing these photos. Hope you enjoy!

Yes, these are WILD parrots in Brooklyn! Insane!

My new favorite local beach–Ft. Tilden in Queens

Lovebirds Erin and Rai having fun in the sun

Apparently, this is how you sell ice cream in Rockaway

One of the many dream houses in my neighborhood

What were some of your favorite adventures this summer? Any fun plans for the fall?

XO,

Gina

Weekend Wear

This outfit was perfect for a local Brooklyn weekend. The weather had just started to cool down, so this new jacket was a perfect cover up for an overcast day. These combat boots are also my most favorite and so comfortable for walking long distances in the city. Spent some time in Williamsburg visiting a long lost 2nd cousin for brunch. She and her boyfriend recently moved to the city, so it was great to meet and catch up with them.

Jacket: American Eagle / Top: Urban Outfitters / Pants: Zara / Boots: Aldo (old) similar here / Bag: TJ Maxx / Earrings: Aldo / Ring: Forever 21 / Bracelets: J. Crew, Oia Jules, gifts from family / Necklace: NY & Company / Watch: Betsey Johnson / Sunglasses: NY Street Vendor