Another great ad from a non-profit

Pretty powerful stuff.

The Goddess Known as Nan

WWD has done a fun little piece today on the illustrious Nan Kempner.

If you don't know her, she is the ultimate lady who lunches.  (She was painted by Warhol for goodness sake.) And was an impeccable party gal until her death. Here she is with Yves St. Laurent. 

When asked by NY Mag in 2004, how she fills out customs forms she said, “I’m not rich enough to be a real philanthropist. And I loathe being called a socialite. So I write ‘housewife.’” Get it gurl!

 

Originally from San Francisco, Nan was a dedicated patron of the arts, loved fashion and was generally considered to be perfection, by me. 

Check out the article of great quotes by Nan. And in her own immortal words don't forget, “... when you accept an invitation, you’re taking on a commitment. You've got to be just as attractive as you know how to be — because you’re not just another face or pair of legs. You’re there to help the gang get cracking.”— The Observer, 2001

Walker Evans is on my mind

Hey Ladies

I like your style!

Fallspirations

 This fall I'm seeing a lot of material mixes.  I love the juxtaposition of fur (faux or otherwise) and the army jacket.  Plus rocking boot and a demure handbag, make this outfit not only fun to look at but fun to wear too.

 While this look might at first glance seem a little bland the beauty is in the details and the understated elegance.  Love the ballet pink pumps and the cobalt blue purse.  They give this otherwise simple business casual look a bit of flare.  (That pink is going to be everywhere)

The shapes created here are really doing it for me. That long coat is to die for.  And the looser cut is very reminiscent of the 40's. Love the nod to men's wear happening in the soft and feminine palette.  

 Crop tops are everywhere right now.  And I like the playfulness of this sweater version.  Tartan pants and chunky shoes give this an updated 90's vibe.  Perfect, for before the weather turns.  And that sweater will transition to winter if worn over a fitted dress or a long sheath.

Here's another casually chic look this season, featuring the same silhouette of relaxed, but form fitted elegance.  The slouchy sweater jacket paired with the fitted jeans and narrow boots takes this look above and beyond.  And so comfy too! Plus love the hair.  

 I'm very into the Kardashians these days! Look out for a new art series coming to the blog this fall called Kardashians with takeout salads.  But I digress, here's Kim and Khloe rocking the seasons most beautiful neutral - PINK!  Khloe's hair is perfection, while Kim's is taking me a while to get used to.  But that skirt and the coat and dress below are Gorg!

Chelsea's New Digs

The first pictures of Chelsea Clinton and her husband's new 10.8 million dollar pad are here.  Check it out!

The building exterior.

Beautiful natural light and soft wood elements.

High end finishes?  What else would you expect from a 10 million dollar home.

The master bedroom.  It might not be the Lincoln, but it's not too shabby.  

The super sleek kitchen.  Overall I think the house has a sterile feel.  But it is a gorgeous house and I am sure Ms. Clinton and her man will be more than happy here.  

Property Porn

SJP and Matthew Broderick bought this Greenwich Village townhouse last year as a flip project.  They paid $18.9 for it and it is now listed, after extensive renovations, for $25 million.  If they get it they will net a cool 6 mil. profit.  Check it out.  

The couple never moved into the house, according to the Daily Mail report.  

 Indicating they always saw the property as a flipper.

 Wouldn't you love to not cook in this beautiful kitchen.

Stunning.

Rare Manhattan outdoor space.

If I could I so would.  Anyone want to lend me a a few million dollars?

This is labour

From one metropolis to another

the blues

On the water

Full moon 

Turkeys in the yard

Harbour nights 

Harbour days

"Surviving NYC"

Thanks to Andy I have been getting really into Judd Apatow's shows.  First we watched "Freaks and Geeks."  And now we are watching "Undeclared. " So I was super excited when this new show trailer for Apatow's latest, "Girls" showed up in my Facebook feed.  Check it out...

Girls premieres on HBO April 15th!  

La Perla Spa Review

Fall is a great time for reflection and preparation for the long winter to come. And that's why I was so excited when my friends at La Perla Salon and Spa insisted I come in for a facial. Its been a while since I've had the time and motivation, (read cash) to do any pampering. But as the air gets colder it is increasingly important to take the time to look after myself. My skin tends to show the effects of winter a lot, and can definitely contribute to symptoms of S.A.D.

Typically I have a decent complexion. I'm very fair, (pasty perhaps) but for the most part I take good care of my skin, and it looks pretty good. Bianca, my esthetician gave me a great evaluation and some pro tips for preserving my skin through the season ahead. Wear sun-block everyday, exfoliate, wash my face thoroughly with good quality cleansers, and moisturize regularly. But as the days grow shorter, even the most cared for skin can start to look dull. And, I find I'm more prone to breakouts, even though my skin feels tight and dry.

Bianca was especially emphatic that moisturising is the key. I always assumed that because I tend to breakout I needed a light moisturiser. But in fact, Bianca explained, my skin is prone to breakouts because it is dry, and the skin is reacting to dryness by producing more oils. A heavier moisturiser can actually alleviate breakouts.

She also recommended an at home routine to combat winter skin. Weekly at home steam treatments, Dermalogica Hydrating Masques, and Dynamic Skin Recovery Moisturiser with spf 30 for day, and Barrier Repair every night .

I am so grateful to the La Perla team, and Bianca in particular, for the great facial and awesome skin care advice. I appreciate that she had a glass of water ready at the end of the treatment, and gave gentle assistance as i sat up. It was a great way to kick start the fall.

Happy Birthday to me: A Wishlist

Big shout out to Shel Silverstein for the above poem!

Last year I did a birthday wish list, which was so successful in annoying everyone that I thought I should do it again.

First on the list has to be: Shel's newest book. Now I know what you are thinking since Shel passed a few years back, but these are all previously unpublished poems by the man himself. The other items are pretty straightforward. Their might be some repeats from last year, but those are because I am still waiting for someone to give them to me! Here goes:

Every Thing On It (by Shel Siverstein)

tights or stockings

fireworks (ehem Max)

sailboat

fall puzzle

a tent

dinner at the cottage

cross country skis and boots

new bike :( - preferably from the jerk who stole my old one

subscription to Vanity Fair magazine

ticket to War Horse (ask Justin if you are confused)

fun stationary

flowers

a hug or kiss!

Origins Ginger Bath Scrub

Inspiration/Aspiration

Lauren and me in 30 years.

This show better come to Canada

Reality nails yes!

It's Britney Bitch

She is still not dancing enough, but this throw back to the glory days of Slave ... is really doin' it for me.

Orange October

Giants Orange October

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12644515&topic_id=8007782&c_id=sf&tcid=tw_video_12644515

check it out!

A sunset worth a thousand words

A humble wish list

In no particular order:

Body Lotion from Origins
or
Ginger Body Scrub also from Origins

hugs

a gift certificate to lululemon
or
Victoria's Secret

nail polish

gift certificate to Mountain Equipment Co-op

cute socks - preferably fall themed

puzzle - also preferably fall themed

fiction - classic or contemporary (lenders would be lovely)

Help buying blouses - I am really bad with tops. And I have none. None that are sexy, not that are casual, none that go with anything.

A glass of nice wine at sunset

A cottage- preferably in the Kawartha's so The Connor Cottage will be nearby.

a card

kisses

Star Mile - Joshua Radin

... And how you left her alone

Where all my Kiwis at?

Like all good bloggers I use Google Analytics to track my viewership. Don't worry I can't see you. But I almost can. Google Analytics has totally altered the way I think about my audience online. By far my favourite features are the maps. It is always fun to go through the maps and see where people around the world, who check out the property spot, are from. Oddly, where ever I happen to be tends to have the highest rate of viewership, interesting eh? Maybe it is just me. Actually, that is not true. The US and Canada tend to dominate in the overall countries race, no matter where I am. But I did notice a larger viewership in Asia when I was there. Another interesting feature, which provides me with minutes of entertainment daily, is the google keyword searches. With keyword searches I can tell what, people, who have visited the blog from search engines, were searching for. I am always amazed at how many people search "Beth Chapman's nails," that is consistently among the highest keyword searches. I mean they are good but they aren't THAT good. Anyway, I love using Google Analytics even if I don't always know what everything means. Hello bounce rate, whatever you are. In fact I am sure that I probably only use a third of the analytics features. So if there is anyone out there who has there own personal analytics faves and wants to share how they snoop on their blog viewers please feel free to share them in the comments below. Trust me you information will not go to waste.

O yea and hi to all my readers in New Zealand. It makes me sad when you guys don't read the blog, so I figured I would dedicate this post to you in a cheap ploy to up my viewership among Kiwis. Love you!

Em and T's fierce nails

I have been meaning to do this post for a while, because my girl Emily has been on a real fierce nails streak since I have been gone. And T is always rockin' 'em...

Winter chic

Weekend warrior

Lady Fierce

All designs are by local Toronto nailist and fierce diva extraordinaire Mahban. Another reason i am excited to go home.