FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

New York:
Sant Ambroeus, Felidia, Bemelmans Bar (cocktails at the Carlyle), The King Cole (Bar at the St. Regis - home of the original Bloody Mary), The Modern, Balthazar, The Press Lounge (Rooftop Bar), The Standard (Rooftop Bar), BG at Bergdorf Goodman, Bedford Post Inn (Bedford, NY), The Inn at Pound Ridge (Pound Ridge, NY)
 

Connecticut (Fairfield County):
Match (South Norwalk), Barcelona (South Norwalk and Fairfield), Rive Bistro (Westport), The Whelk (Westport), Southend (New Canaan), Le Penguin (Westport), Pearl at Longshore (Westport),  Artisan at The Delamar, especially outside in Summer (Southport), The Schoolhouse (Cannondale), Southend (New Canaan) 

Rhode Island:
The Verandah Raw Bar at Ocean House (Westerly), The Inn at Castle Hill (Newport), Fluke Wine Bar (Newport), Belle's Cafe (Newport), The Midtown Oyster Bar (Newport), FiSH (Jamestown), Dewolf Tavern (Bristol) The Black Pearl (Newport), Clark Cooke House (Newport)

FAVORITE LOCALish DESTINATIONS

Westerly, Watch Hill, Narragansett, Jamestown, Newport (RI)
Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Ocean Park (ME)
Amaganset, Stony Brook, Shelter Island (Long Island) 
Boston
 

(ON MY TRAVEL MUST SEE LIST)

Cuba, Barcelona, Greece, Sonoma County, Seattle, Venice, The Amalfi Coast, Croatia, the Maldives, Africa (Safari), Reykjavik (Hot springs), Bali.... for now! 

FAVORITE FOODS

Caccio e Pepe (which I don't eat often but I adore), Oysters, Grilled Octopus, Lobster Roll in the summertime (hot or cold), Sushi, freshly picked tomatoes - especially heirloom, ice cream (unfortunately!), fresh fruit in the summertime, stovetop popcorn made with white truffle oil and either maldon or himalayan salt and a glass of rosé.

FAVORITE MOVIES

Sabrina (the original), Before Sunset, Before Sunrise, Metropolitan, Love Actually, When Harry Met Sally, Dead Poets Society, 

FAVORITE BOOKS

The Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger), any book written by Ruth Reichl, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith), Bonfire of the Vanities (Tom Wolfe), The World According to Garp, Cider House Rules (both John Irving), Gift from the Sea (Anne Morrow Lindbergh), Still Alice (Lisa Genova), My Life in France (Julia Child), Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert), Tender is the Night (F.Scott Fitzgerald), and of the ee cummings poetry books

FAVORITE SMELLS

Freshly mowed grass, the ocean, freshly brewed coffee, the rain on the pavement on a hot day, apple pie baking in the oven, Votivo White Ocean Sands and Nest Bamboo candles, lilacs, lilies, gardenia...

FAVORITE SONGS

Clocks (Coldplay), Speed of Sound (Coldplay), Fix You (Coldplay) Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Glitter in the Air (Pink), All the Right Moves (One Republic), Sign of the Times (Harry Styles), El Cerrito Place (Kenny Chesney), Landslide (Fleetwood Mac), Heroes (David Bowie)

MY (FAVORITE) CAMERA

My phone... because I have it with me I never miss a "Kodak moment," but I have an older model Canon EOS Rebel that I use both for work and to capture my favorite images. I'll upgrade the body at some point, but rely on the lenses, the kit 18-55 mm as well as a 75 - 300 mm for city and landscape images and the kit lens and a 50 mm lens that I use for a lot of my food photography. I truly believe that if you have an eye for images you really don't need a super high end camera. Practice makes perfect!

FAVORITE SHOPPING

MY STYLE

My style is unapologetically,  unmistakably my own. It starts from the classics. The classics, after all never fade from style. From there I add on to accessorize or emphasize - to create a bit of an edge. I add on to express my mood - Am I feeling particularly wild? Or am I feeling more demure? Do I want to sit back and assess a situation, or do I want to make a statement? I don't really spend much on myself these days, a busy single mom with three kids and a budding business, and I don't have the desire (or the inclination) to scour shelves and racks. I firmly believe that style can be achieved within a minimal budget. I have pieces that I've had for 10, even 20 years. They always look current, alway fresh - and very much me. These are the foundations, the building blocks of my wardrobe and I can create around them. Truth of the matter is that I am complimented often, stopped in grocery stores and on the streets where someone asks about a pair of shoes, pants or sunglasses. Instead of a mere thank you I always give away my trade secrets and people are usually generally shocked to learn where the item may have originated from. With everyday brands borrowing ideas from luxury brands, style is always achievable and luckily for us these days, always affordable. 

My go to places for affordable style:
Banana Republic has the most amazing sales racks!
The Gap has only jeans I will wear. And because they're super affordable I can buy more!
Anthropologie and Free People better reflect my Bohemian side which I love to mix with the classics.
I never discount consignment shops. (Pun intended!)
I'm a true (and devoted) Marshall's and TJMaxx addict.
I also love the boutique shops that dot the streets of my town and the surrounding ones where I can find unique pieces that I won't see on the streets. I like to be individual! 

Elements of My Style - The Classic components

A Little black dress
A great fitting pair of jeans (in numerous styles and colors)
A tailored jacket (blazer) - black, off white, navy, tan - in classic colors
Kitten heel mules or slingbacks in assorted colors that work well with jeans and said little black dress
A little white dress
A few good cashmere sweaters, cardigans and crew necks
Pearl earrings
Diamond Studs
Pearl choker
A well fitted white Tshirt (to wear w jeans and sweaters or jackets)
A well fitted white blouse

Elements of My Style - The Bohemian components

Espadrille wedges, both mules and lace-up
Simple A-line dresses, linen and cotton, both above and below the knee
A little (white) blouse, loose fitting
Beaded anything, especially necklaces and bracelets
Tunics, both dresses and tops
A carefree attitude!