What I'm Reading

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

...because how did I never finish this as a teenager?

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

...England's answer to Lena Dunham/Tina Fey/Amy Schumer.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalinithi

...because I adore Cup of Jo.

Sons and Other Flammable Objects by Porochista Khakpour

Appetites: Why Women Want by Caroline Knapp

...a must read for all modern women.

Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola

...because, college. 

Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, 

and South America's Strangest Jail by Thomas McFadden

...because I've been backpacking Central & South America,

not because I have a weird interest in foreign jails.

September is the new January

We're making September the new January. 

Time to reflect and redirect what's not working.

Here are my new season resolutions, big and small:

1. Be better at keeping in touch with old friends. 

And new friends. Especially, Kate and Christy. Those two!

2. Switch up the make up routine. So long, beloved Laguna.

NARS Blush in Seduction

3. Well, I drank the Goop Kool Aid. No going back now.

Within by Dr. Habib Sadeghi, father of "conscious uncoupling"

4. New signature scent. This one's unisex, a la 

"Unbreakable" by Khloe and Lamar. Except, well, :(

Khiel's Aromatic Blends Fig Leaf & Sage

5. Relax more. And not have a guilt complex over it.

Diptyque Precious Oils for Body & Bath

6. A little less Netflix, a little more reading. 

After my summer in South Africa, I'm going to start

 with the fearless Nadine Gordimer.

7. Either go all Jared Leto on you....

...or start taking better care of my $$ blonde hair.

7. Wear yoga pants....to an actual yoga class.

First stop, finally trying anti-gravity yoga. 

Stone Fox Heather Andersen of New York Pilates

8. To redirect paths confidently and unapologetically.

All with this in mind:

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!

Young Hollywood by Claiborne Swanson Frank

I am so excited for the release of Claiborne Swanson Frank's 

Young Hollywood. I just pre-ordered my copy here. Her book

American Beauty is one of all my time faves and these new images

look even better, inspired by iconic old Hollywood style and films.

Watch her discussing the process with Vanity Fair here.

All images via Claiborne Swanson Frank & Assouline

Cooking with Ali Larter

I'm a little late to the party discovering Ali Larter's 

new cookbook Kitchen Revelry, but better late than never

because it is soooo good. The book consists of two 

themed recipes (complete with cocktails!) for each month 

of the year - including Guinness infused chili (game over). 

I love the saturated jewel tones in the book's opening 

editorial (above). Her Reddi Whip days are long gone.

Check out Ali's 10 hosting must-haves here and 

find some sneak peek Revelry recipes on her blog here.

All images via Kitchen Revelry

Jane & Serge

TASCHEN has just released Jane & Serge: A Family Album, 

containing many previously unpublished candid photos shot by

Jane's brother, Andrew Birkin, who was a close presence 

in the couple's lives during their 12 year affair. Combine

my love of coffee table books with my major crush on Jane

and this book just shot straight to the top of my Christmas list.

P.S. See my other favorite coffee table books here and here.

All images via

Million Dollar Decorators: Mary McDonald

It's back. At last.

Season 2 of Million Dollar Decorators 

premieres next Tuesday.

Anyone that knows me well knows that my not-so-secret
passion is interior design. It's my first love.
I get a natural high looking through shelter mags and 
design books. So, really what I'm getting at here is this:
call me between 10 and 11PM on Tuesday nights from 
here on out and consider our friendship severed. 

To celebrate its return, I'll be featuring each of the show's
designers this week starting, of course, with my girl 
Mary McDonald. I'll say this only once: I LOVE HER. 

"Love to! Love the bag, love the shoes, 

love everything. Love to!" 

She is an expert at layering and mixing prints
and patterns. She uses color fearlessly and always
serves up her designs with a side of sass. 
The ultimate design diva. See for yourself:









Here are some of my favorite 
Mary McDonald rooms and vignettes:

Buy Mary McDonald: Interiors here.