new york trip 2

These pictures were taken at some of my most cherished places in New York. We went to Murray's Bagels and the Chelsea Market/Hi-Line and Norma's at Le Parker Meridien and Malatesta and Gray's Papaya. Newer to me were the Standard Biergarten and Blue Ribbon, which were both delicious and delightful.

JB has always spoken about dining at Blue Ribbon, so we finally made his dreams come true. And I had never been to the Standard Biergarten in winter, and it was a cozy (and rosy, check out the lighting!) place to grab a few beers post-spinach gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce-feast from Malatesta. 

My mother requested (demanded) several pictures in locales around New York that once upon a time belonged to our ancestors, thus the pictures in front of random signs and in random spots of Central Park. The Osbornes, obviously, are the rightful heirs of the majority of New York City property in Tribeca and Central Park. Obviously. 

fiesta party

dress: Issa for Banana Republic, shoes: Sigerson Morison

We had the most wonderful time at our couples fiesta party! It was such a great celebration and really set the tone for those last few weeks leading up to the wedding, of which I am thankful for. We are so grateful for our friends and family, and I love having pictures to remember everything by. Such a splendid night!

winter florals

turtleneck: banana republic, sweater: cynthia steffe; skirt: anthropologie, loafers: ferragamo

I love this sweater and the bulky structure it creates. It instantly makes any outfit a little weird/more interesting, and I feel like a big newfoundland when I wear it. Not that feeling like a newfoundland is something I generally long for, but it is nice to feel shaggy and cozy, I guess. I added my beloved Ferragamo loafers to the mix to take away from the sweetness of the skirt. I swear they go with anything! (in my opinion)

new york trip

Brad and I celebrated Christmas with my family this year, and I was so happy we did because we had a New York Christmas--complete with the biting winter cold, a trip to Rockefeller Plaza, unbearable crowds…and then...all the good stuff! It was Brad and I's second time to visit the city together, and it's so fun to share my old home with that guy I now call my husband. We ate at my favorite restaurants, walked through my favorite parts of town, and visited with some of my favorite friends. I loved every nanosecond of it, beside the ones where we had to fight our way through the ripping winds and stumbling crowds. I've had some pretty interesting and non-average Christmas Days' in my past, but this one rivals all the others for title of "The Best". 

After a Christmas Day service and Magnolia cupcakes, we celebrated Christmas dinner at Gemma of The Bowery Hotel with family, close friends, good wine, great food…and a ditzy waiter who graciously overcorrected for his poor service by giving us a few items on the house. After dinner, the "kids" went next door to the bar at The Bowery Hotel--a contender for one of my most-loved hotel bars--for some after dinner digestifs. Needless to say, our Christmas Day was not as conventional or traditional as others, but it was a memory I will cherish for quite some time.

gold jeans

gold jeans: kate spade, blouse: vintage from Paris, wedges: gucci, necklace: anthropologie

a best friend's engagement

One of my best friends got engaged the week after we returned from our honeymoon, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN! Her now fiancé proposed to her during the big Dallas ice storm, and we met them afterwards at a low-key pub on Henderson. I am enormously overjoyed to celebrate these two lovebirds  over the next several months---and at the rehearsal dinner and wedding. I adore my friends' engagements because I am able to get a big glimpse of how well-loved they are by their boyfriends/fiancés. Tyler, Holly and I were brainstorming for several days before the proposal, and it was adorably cute how important it was for Tyler to make this engagement special for Jordan. To me, that is the sign of a man ready to care for and serve his woman! Congratulations and best wishes to two of my favorites and life-long best friends!

all black

legging: rag & bone (here), blouse: DVF (similar here), boots: tory burch (similar here)

sunglasses: dior (here)