NauticalWheeler

Shabby Chic is a romantic style of design that takes on old and new.  Part of shabby chic is that it emphasizes the feeling of being home.  Here are a few shabby-esque pieces that I fell in love with on Etsy:

Vintage Woven Baskets from CottageFarm

Red and Pink Bud Vase from CynthiaVardhan

Vintage Binoculars from HighStreetMarket

With July 4th weekend coming up, there’s nothing I’ve been thinking about more than getting a few new swimsuits for summer.  For most women this can be a terrifying thought.  I think if you know where and how to shop for a swimsuit, the experience can be no different then picking out a top.  My go-to place for many years has been South Beach Swimsuits.  Shopping online for a swimsuit means trying it on in the privacy of your home and in front of a mirror you can trust!  Take a look at some of my summer favorites:

Michelle by Vix

Bia by Vix (The bia cut is my favorite and a flattering bikini if you’ve got a fuller figure)

Ombre Tote from Mar Y Sol

Peacock Flip Flops from Havaianas

India Tunic from Debbie Katz

Flower Necklaces with Swarovski crystals are sweet and sparkly for summer!

Rox & Sam is a sweet vintage shop on Etsy.  They carry women’s as well as men’s vintage clothing, shoes and accessories.  Also most items are organized by color, which I absolutely love!

1950s Lemon Yellow Dress

Vintage Baby Blue Leather Belt

1980s Vintage Red Leather Boots

New in the Nautical Wheeler Shop, small Leaf Stud Earrings!  These are the first pair of stud earrings in the shop and go perfectly with the Nature Jewelry Collection.

Donna Geissler on Etsy has absolutely beautiful photography.  She makes you feel like you could walk into the picture.  I especially love “Wonderland” shown below.

Twenty One Steps

Beach II

Wonderland

I’ve never been sure if banana bread is a breakfast food or dessert? It’s somewhere in the middle of a muffin and cake but is amazingly delicious!  See below for the tasty recipe:

Ingredients:
Parchment or wax paper
2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. each ground nutmeg and salt
2 medium (1 cup) ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or wax paper extending paper up sides of pan; set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt on a sheet of parchment or wax paper; set aside. In a large bowl combine bananas, eggs, oil, milk and vanilla extract. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture; stir just until moistened. Pour into parchment lined-pan.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan. Use edges of parchment to lift bread from pan onto a wire rack. Pull back edges of parchment. Cool completely.

Makes 12 servings.

*NEW* One of a Kind Necklaces in the Nautical Wheeler Shop.  No two can ever be the same, so you know you are buying something completely original!  Check out the new styles:

One of a Kind Necklace with Amethyst

One of a Kind Necklace with Orange Aventurine

One of a Kind Stone Necklace with Green Gaspeite

HackWith Design House is a boho-chic clothing shop on Etsy.  AND they’re having a sale!  Check out some of the beautiful summer dresses:

Orange Stripe

Open Teal

Native Print

This past weekend was the Pride Parade.  There were some amazing costumes and of course, celebrity sitings.  The streets were packed, everyone was partying and all I could think was, I <3 NY!

New in the Nautical Wheeler Shop, Long Leaf Earrings are simple cut outs inspired by nature.  Check them out!

Long Leaf Earrings in Gold

Long Leaf Earrings in Silver

The Inspiration

Part of what I love about J.Crew is that their clothes are so effortless.  Everything in the shop looks like you could put it on and instantly be chic and comfy!  Take a look and I think you’ll see what I mean:

Summer Sun Hat

IKAT Tunic

Cozumel Tote

Eva Espadrille Sandals

Vintage inspired hair accessories from PeaceLoveVintageShop on Etsy.  Alyssa and Emily create beautiful pieces from lace, feathers and ribbon.  Check it out:

Rhiannon Flower Crown

Two Timer Braided HeadBand

Super Fly Butterfly Bobbies

Check out the quirky artwork of Judy Kaufmann!  I’m especially loving the Frida painting shown below.

Friday Kahlo Print

Cats on Unicycle

I love my city

The popular balance bar bracelets are now available in gold.  I’ll be adding all the colors in gold but currently they are available in Caribbean Blue, Tie Dye and Fuchsia.  Take a look!

I love the dewy skin look but have never been sure how to pull it off without looking greasy.  Does anyone have any tips or tricks?

Have a look at the colorful collection from GustoCut.  Fashion forward silhouettes and beautiful looking fabrics add appeal to the pieces.  Also the prices aren’t anywhere near what I thought they would be!

Asymmetric Draped Dress

Strappy Playsuit

Chiffon Pleated Maxi Dress

I stopped by to take a look at what’s new at American Apparel.  I always love their selection and most items come in a multitude of colors!  Take a look at what I found:

Jersey Scoop Back Dress

Pocket Jumpsuit

Printed Mini Skirt

Amazing vintage home decor from Sara Kate Studios on Etsy.  She has some very unique and hard to find items.  Here are some that I fell in love with:

Vintage Brass Pineapple

Set of Blue Mason Jars

Vintage Art Deco Tin

There’s a lot of new things happening in the shop including four new Bohemian Friendship Bracelets!  Check them out:

If you are into art or just want to take a peek at something unique, you might want to check out the art on display at City Hall Park.  It showcases structures from the late Sol Lewitt.  I really like the multicolored one shown below:

I personally think that apple pie is one of the best desserts!  It works no matter what the time of year and tastes amazing with ice cream.  Click here for an amazing old fashion recipe.

When the weather warms up there is nothing I think about more than being outside.  Living in NYC, outside really means small patches of grass and a tree every 1/2 mile or so.  A great way to get that woodsy feel in the city is to bring the outside into your home.  Here are some favorite items I found on Etsy, that let you do just that:

Forest for your Fridge from iamhome

Birch Bark Votive from BraggingBags

Nike of the Forest, Wood Sculpture from jasontennant

Lately I’ve been wearing my Three Leaf Earrings.  They are nature-inspired and just the right touch with a warm weather outfit!

Three Leaf Earrings

I am loving the artwork from LeslieDeRose.  The style is very different and unique.  I also love that it’s all so colorful!  Check it out:

Exposed Row House

Bike Charlotte

Custom Map Painting with Trees

Being a huge Rachel Zoe fan, I am always checking out her picks on Pepper Lime.  It’s basically free style advice from someone who dresses celebrities.  Check out some of the items she picked!

Juicy Couture Sparrow Ring

Tulle Party Dress

Melie Bianco Charlotte

Calvin Klein Alex

String Bracelet with Henna Design from Nautical Wheeler Jewelry

One of my friends is coming to visit me in NYC this summer.  She wanted to know what she should bring.  Here’s my top 5 picks of what to bring when you come to the city:

1)  Hand Sanitizer! NYC has a lot of people therefore it has a lot of germs.

2)  Sunglasses

3)  Cash.  A lot of cabs take credit cards but not all

4)  Medium to Large Cross body bag.  If you come to NYC you are bound to go shopping. A handbag to put your purchased goods in and keep your hands free is a must!

5)  Flat and comfortable shoes.  I know Carrie went running around Manhattan in her 4” Manolos but HBO’s reality is very different from the hard cement sidewalk reality of NYC.

Check out the cute and clever cards from TamaraGarvey out of Brooklyn, NY.

Let’s Get Some Shoes

Little Necessities

You’re as Sweet as Pie

Black bean veggies burgers are healthy and a yummy alternative to the regular beef burger.

Recipe:

4 cup cooked and drained black beans
½ red onion, small diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup fine breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
1 Tbsp chopped cilantro
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin powder
kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper


Place half the beans in a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Heat a little olive oil in a nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Combine with the bean puree. Then add the remaining beans, spices, herbs, and breadcrumbs to the bowl. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper.

Form mixture into 6-8 patties of equal size (about 1/2” thick). Layer between sheets of wax paper and stack in a air-tight freezer safe container until you want to eat some.

To cook set a non-stick sauté pan over medium high heat, add a little olive oil, and pan fry the burgers for about 3-4 minutes each side.

Festival of India Friendship Bracelets

Check out this sweet home decor shop, HoneyPieDesigns on Etsy.  The pillows come in a variety of colors and I am loving the ones with words like, love, smile and adore.

Smile Pillow

Ocean Chevron Pillow

Black Love Pillow

Earlier in the week I blogged about International Style, Mango is another great store which is originally from Spain.  Take a look at their fashion show, while the idea they used for a runway is pretty cool, I think it might be the longest one I’ve ever seen!

Hamsa Hand Bracelets are back in stock in Red and Blue!

Hamsa Hand Bracelet in Red

Hamsa Hand Bracelet in Blue

What’s your opinion on boat shoes?  Love them or leave them on Martha’s Vineyard?

86Vintage is a vintage shop with a western appeal.  You’ll find lots of branded leather, fringe suede and overall just a cowgirl/cowboy feel.  Check it out:

Tooled Leather Bag

Gauze Cotton Shirt

Vintage Leather Boots

Filigree Earrings with Moroccan Flowers

Part of what I love about NYC is the history behind it.  Every building, every street has a story.  Take a look at Brooklyn back in the 70s.  Photos taken by Danny Lyon.

This is right by where I live.  It’s so odd to see it without all the shops and restaurants that are on the street today.

Check out this artwork from Randall Nyhof.  I fell in love with it when I saw it.  There’s a lot of nature and beach pieces that have a relaxing feel to them.

Pelicans over the sun

Abstract Landscape

White Boat on a Foggy Morning

As long as I can remember I have had a handbag obsession.  When I was younger it started with Dooney & Bourke, from there it went to Coach to Love Cat to LeSportSac.  For the past few years however, it has been Kate Spade.  Here are a few pieces I’m crushing on from Kate:

Hinkley Karen

Burnside Avenue

Mott Street