If there’s one thing I’m routinely guilty of, it’s overusing the word “obsessed.” In the past week alone, I’ve become “obsessed” with the coffee at Ralph’s. “Obsessed” with Cate Blanchett’s wardrobe in Tár. “Obsessed” with the nail color Limited Addiction for a manicure that screams FALL.  In the spirit of fall obsessions I’ve recently fallen for, here are some of my recent “can’t-live-without” items that have been in constant rotation this past month: The Cozy PJ. I never thought I would become a button-down PJ kinda gal until I met these linen PJs from Parachute. While you might not rea ..read more

When it’s apparent that all this cool weather is here to stay, it’s time to get reacquainted with the entryway coat closet. For many, this is a place where coats go to disappear into one large MONO-coat. We cling to coats we just might wear again (THIS is the year I’ll wear that brown leather bomber jacket!), but in reality, we end up rotating between a couple of reliable standbys. When your closet has become a no-man’s land of fleeces and parkas and baseball gloves, it might be time for a little refresh. Read on for my simple step-by-step process: Take *everything* out. Ugh, yes I hear you gr ..read more

My favorite kind of stuff is stuff that looks beautiful and serves a purpose. A blanket that’s equally cozy as it is elegant. A candle that looks as good as it smells. A home gadget that improves your life without looking so “gadgety.”  For the sake of refreshing your space for fall, I’m sharing home items that I’m currently obsessed with. The kinds of things that not only make your space look better, but operate better as well: The Electric Kettle. I’m a full-blown tea freak, mostly of the Earl Grey variety. Until relatively recently, I relied heavily on my Alessi kettle, which always lo ..read more

When I was younger, I thought Harriet the Spy was the epitome of cool. Essential to Harriet’s spying is her “spy kit,” a tool belt which contains a composition notebook, pencil, magnifying glass, binoculars and flashlight.  Inspired by Harriet’s spy kit, I spent most of 2nd grade toting around my own, notating in my black and white notebook such riveting things as: “dad eats snack at 5 pm. Or: sister leaves apartment for ballet class, 3:30 pm.” While my career as a young spy was short-lived, today I’ve simply traded in my spy kit for a purse full of on-the-go essentials. Here are some ite ..read more

At any given time, there might be a handful of nagging problems around the house that demand attention. Perhaps it’s the lone house fly named Buzz that won’t leave your side. Or maybe it’s the front door that’s squeakier than a haunted house. In the interest of keeping your home running smoothly (and fly-free), here are some quick fixes featuring products you might already have at home. The problem: you’ve got a squeaky door (bad Feng Shui!). The solution: spritz the hinge with WD-40. Might be no secret, but WD-40 is an excellent lubricant that cures the squeak, and also lasts a long time afte ..read more

If you’ve been eager for a home refresh, there are many ways to chic-ify your space without giving your furniture the boot. Not that your furniture needed a booting! Perhaps you’re just looking to achieve peak chic with your space. Here’s how it’s done: 1. Add mini lights to your dining table. The dining room accessory you never knew you needed, these rechargeable LED lamps add a real smartness to your dining table. While “rechargeable LED lamps” sound like the opposite of chic, the slim stand and micro lampshade immediately elevate dinner—even yesterday’s pizza! 2. Throw down a throw. The old ..read more

While fall doesn’t officially cramp summer’s style until September 22nd, there are hints of its pending arrival. The perceptible dip in the nighttime air and the diminishing days are telltale signs. And though I’m all in favor of soaking in the last bits of summer, I start to get antsy around this time, eager to retire the caftans for the raglans (really wanted this one to rhyme, not sure who owns raglans). But before I tuck everything away for the season, I like to take stock of what’s working and what’s not, so I can start completely fresh for next summer (classic Home Organizer move!).  ..read more

“I don’t even know where to begin!” is a common refrain I hear when it comes to decluttering an overstuffed closet. And so, the decluttering never begins, the clothes pile up, and despite owning more stuff than ever, we feel like we have absolutely nothing to wear. If you feel helpless, overwhelmed and can only bring yourself to fling a rogue tank top in the hamper, you’re not alone. Here are some tips to jumpstart that closet decluttering session, when you’ve been putting it off for too long: 1. Just START. Many closet decluttering procrastinators are perfectionists. Since they can never find ..read more

Being busy is a good thing. Being overwhelmed is not. At any given point in our lives, we add a lot to our plates hoping to accelerate our goals/life plans, etc. Oftentimes, we bite off more than we can chew (all the food metaphors!) and end up staring blankly at the laptop screen, full of dread. If you, like me are an impatient perfectionist and need everything done *yesterday,* here are some ways to organize your mind if you’re feeling overwhelmed:  1. Eat a live frog first thing in the morning. Mark Twain once said, “eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will hap ..read more

When it comes to bathroom products, I’m an essentialist. For better or worse, my brain simply cannot tolerate the extra hand soap, lotion, or fifty-year-old basket of potpourri holding court on the countertop. Just like my kitchen essentials, I stick to exactly what I need: nothing more, nothing less. And given my “less is more” approach to bathroom organization, I like to keep style front and center. Here are some (chic) bathroom essentials in no particular order: 1. The Toilet Plunger. Let’s say goodbye to the garishly sad toilet plungers that scream, ‘I’m a toilet plunger!!’ I love mine fro ..read more