Winter Yellow

H&M Dress | American Apparel Scarf | Nine West Booties | Zara Jacket & Bag | Forever 21 Bracelets & Earrings 

Sometimes when the skies are gray (ie from October - June in NYC) and it gets dark at 3:30 pm, you need to brighten up the wardrobe to thwart seasonal depression. Or I do at least. Wore this the other weekend in New York for dinner at a friends house followed by an engagement party. Yeah sure I stood out among the sea of black at the party but wasn't really worried about it.

Weekend Update - 11/26/2012

{Miss Kennedee growing up way too fast for my liking}

Back from an amazingly relaxing long weekend at home in Illinois for Thanksgiving. Spent as much time as possible with my cuddly little niece and every other minute eating & drinking with family & friends. And now it's Cyber Monday. Hoping to find some down time at work to get a start on some holiday shopping. What online sales do you plan on hitting up?

{my (no longer so) little cousin and her naturally ombred hair compliments of the California sun (wearing OPI's 'Do you lilac it?' on nails and this iphone case)}

{my sister-in-law Megan's birthday dessert}

{the stockings are now hung}

{first stop upon arriving back in New York: Amy's caprese sandwich on fresh baked olive bread}

Black Friday from your Couch

phone case | necklace | blouse | toothpick cord

pencil skirt | polka dot snood | button-up | striped peplum

button-up | sweater | socks | sweater

polka dot pant | earrings | phone case | jacket

clutch | striped peplum | toothpick cord | earrings 

button-up | belt | leopard button-up | lipstick

With the holiday season officially underway, I will be enjoying the Black Friday sales from the comfort of my couch. Some good deals online today in advance of Cyber Monday so I see absolutely no reason to fight the crowds. Here's a round up of my J. Crew picks (25% off with the code COLOR25) with a list of some of the others below. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Anthropolgie: 25% off sale (no code needed) through 11/25 (no code needed)

ASOS: 20% off today only (code: BLACKFRIDAYBONUS)

Club Monaco: 30% off sale through 11/26 (no code needed)

Gap: up to 60% off store-wide through 11/24 (no code needed)

J. Crew: 25% off & free shipping on $150+ orders (code: COLOR25)

Madewell: 25% off & free shipping through 11/25 (code: TREAT)

Modcloth: 50% through 11/25 (no code needed)

Revolve Clothing: 20% off everything through 11/28 (no code needed)

Steve Madden: 30% off & free shipping (code: HOLIDAYS30)

Ski Lodge Chic

H&M Vest | Forever 21 Sweater & Leggings | Zara Wedges 

I wore this outfit in Germany with jeans...that have since mysteriously shrunk so they have been replaced with leggings. Pretty representative of the kind of clothes I'll be wearing the next, oh, 5 days or more if the first day at home in Illinois is any indicator (for example, dinner last night consisted of apple bbq meatballs, roasted ham, chicken pot pie, texas potatoes, strawberry shortcake parfait & ice cream, white chocolate macadamia mini-muffins. I think my Mom's trying to kill me).

5 Healthy Mash Makeovers

{Butternut Squash}

Thanksgiving is no longer around the corner...it's here. I came across this article in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living and thought it seemed like a good idea / nice change up or compliment, rather, to the traditional creamy, buttery sides. Plus, they just look pretty when they're all together, don't ya think? Simply sauté the vegetables in olive oil, steam with a bit of water, mash and voila (link for each recipe in the captions)! What are some of your favorite out-of-the-box holiday sides?

{Beet - Apple} 

{Cauliflower - Broccoli}

{Rutabaga - Pear}

{Pea - Spinach}

source: Martha Stewart Living November 2012 

Weekend Update - 11/19/2012

Had a nice fall weekend in the city. Friday met up for post-work cocktails with my college friend Jess and her co-worker at Brinkley's Station followed by a smattering of other bars all around Manhattan. Saturday was Friendsgiving in Brooklyn followed by an engagement celebration. Sunday crossed off two West Village restaurants that had long been on my list with brunch on the cute back patio of August and dinner that night with my friend Jenn at RedFarm. It's a shortened work week as I head back to Illinois later tonight for the real Thanksgiving feast...a suitcase full of stretchy pants in tow. Happy Monday!

{finishing the last of the German beers I smuggled home that were free from the mini-fridge at our hotel}

{my contribution to Friendsgiving: mini snickerdoodles w/ pumpkin dip}

{Friendsgiving feast in Brooklyn}

{an excellent Sunday brunch on the back patio of August}

{after watching the documentary on the Europe flight, I have a newfound Woody Allen obsession so picked this up at the corner bookstore for a quick Thanksgiving read}

Frankfurt in Photos

Now that I've somewhat recovered and the week's about over, reckon I'll do an Update from my 72-hour trip to Germany last weekend for the MTV EMAs. It just goes to show that the last 5+ years of being a boring old banker does have its perks...this being the greatest of them by a long, long shot. From the minute we stepped off the plane in Frankfurt, each and every minute was planned out and paid for by my client: wine tastings, tours, Michelin star rated restaurants and of course the show, which was incredible and definitely the coolest thing I've ever done. Here's a collection of low-quality iphone photos to summarize the highlights...although I only got a few from the actual show before my phone died. Not sure if it's because it's part of my heritage, the warm comfort food, cleanliness of each city, intelligent people (that all speak English and therefore make my life easier) or what but absolutely love Germany.

{Schloss Johannisburg Winery}

{known for their Riesling...which did not disappoint} 

{lunch at the winery: duck, red cabbage and those potato dumpling/ball things that I wish they made in America}

{2003 1er Cru Chablis}

{dinner night 1: Restaurant Francais at Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof}

{a Michelin star meal: butternut pumpkin/curry/scallop soup, oxcheeks w/ périgord truffle, creme brulee w/ spiced apple & nougat ice cream and a variety of chocolate truffles all paired with a 2006 Bordeaux}

{the cute historic town of Heidelberg}

{Heidelberg Castle tour}

{the river Rhine}

{a Heidelberg bakery: what are those puffs of goodness up top?!}

{dinner night 2: Kofler & Kompanie's Villa Merton}

{of course another Michelin star meal: beet juice w/ goat cheese & elderflower on fried spaghetti, salmon first course, veal main course and a double chocolate ice cream / mousse w/ pear and granola for dessert}

{Alicia Keys 'Girl on Fire'}

{No Doubt}

{Taylor Swift}

Auf Wiedersehen

Sorry for the absence the last couple days. In an extremely last minute (fortunate) turn of events, I'm heading off to Germany today to attend MTV's European Music Awards Sunday. Heidi Klum hosting and performances by Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepson, Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Killers, Fun, No Doubt and Muse among others...Sign me up. Talk about a hog (me) in celebrity stalking heaven. Auf Wiedersehen!

An Arkansasian Home

{the Srygley household} 

As mentioned yesterday, I spent the weekend visiting my friend Elyse and her husband in their newly constructed house in Arkansas. Not surprised she has it decorated super cute so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots for a sneak peak as they still get settled in. Enjoy!

{living room 1}

{living room 2}

{living room 3}

{living room 4}

{dining room}

{bar in the husband's man cave}

{breakfast nook}

{tiffany blue guest bedroom #1}

{light gray guest bedroom #2}

{cotton candy pink office for her}

{the humble abode}