29 July 2016

NY Spot: Le Coucou

Earlier this week I treated myself to breakfast at the newest french restaurant to hit the city, Le Coucou. Connected to the new hotel 11 Howard, it's not surprising it's one of the chicest restaurants to open this year (in my humble opinion). It's also not shocking that I loved the inside of the restaurant because it was designed by Roman and Williams the design firm behind a lot of my favorite places around the city. While the dinner menu is not for me (I don't love traditional French food), the breakfast was absolutely perfect and I can't wait to go back to grab a drink with a friend or two.







Who wants to meet me here for a cocktail?!

ARS xx

S U B S C R I B E

27 July 2016

Pretty Pins

Happy Wednesday! I don't know what it is about this summer, but I can't stop dreaming about country life and buying house. I definitely have a long way to go before making that jump, but a girl can still make a vision board, right? You can follow me along on pinterest here.







Now, about that outfit.....

ARS xx 

25 July 2016

Naturopathica

I first learned about Naturopathica while reading a Martha Stewart magazine dating back to 1997. The article featured a woman who had an all natural beauty + health company based out in East Hampton. I was curious as to whether or not the business was still around and lo and behold, when I looked the company up, I learned about an outpost just a few blocks from my apartment in the city. To blow my mind even more, it was a store my friend Grant and I walked past just a few days ago that I made a mental note to return to. Fast forward to last week, when I attended a mini facial event with Naturopathica and I finally got to try out a few products and let me tell you - I'm in love!

I can't get enough of face masks an we tried two! The first was was an enzyme face mask, which was supposed to help my skin become brighter and help with my red skin.



The second one used was this aloe mask and it was beyond soothing and a great match to the aloe face wash I ended up purchasing. I loved how cooling the mask felt!



In between each mask a lovely mist was used in addition to the face wash. I was so refreshed by the end of it that I almost walked out with that too!

All of these combined is a fab way to have an at home facial, but standalone these are all amazing too.

ARS xx

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22 July 2016

Wedding Love

Not that I'm getting married anytime soon, but I can't help but admire Giovanna Battaglia's wedding. It looks like it was beyond fun, stunning, and filled with love which is basically all you can ask for. Also, all of the dresses she wore over the course of the weekend are unreal. While I wouldn't want to steal all of her ideas, there are some details that are beyond perfect.







Anyone else wishing they could have this kind of lavish wedding?

ARS xx

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20 July 2016

Happy 1000th Blog Post + Towerhouse Favorites

When I first started writing this blog, I was coming out of a rough year, maybe one of the most difficult ones of my life. I needed an outlet and blogging became one of the most unlikeliest of sources (shout out to Amy Hauber at SLU for introducing me to blogging). While other blogs that started up around the same the time as mine have grown into a lot more (congrats, Mackenzie of Design Darling and Carly of The College Prepster on both of your successes and I love the new look on TCP blog - longtime fan over here!) mine never really took off. I still kept writing and here I am, many years later, even with an almost 2 year hiatus, still plugging away and pursuing other dreams and a bigger project with an updated look. In honor of my 1000th post, I decided to give myself a pat on the back and do a roundup of a few of my personal favorites on towerhouse (née Sparles of Life, Princess Notes). Note: These are not the most popular posts, but I can always share those too. 


One of my favorite series I wrote was my party planning series...and one of my favorite themes was the Marie Antoinette Birthday Party. I still want to be the girl with the most cake!


Honestly, I've been plotting my future home since I was maybe 4 or 5 whenever we built a pillow fort, but I've narrowed down my favorite looks and the Blue + White decor post sums it up fairly well. But don't worry, I'm still putting together inspiration for my leopard room!


I can't help but smile when I look back at these old pictures of my family when we were younger. We may look cute, but we were really monsters running around! I'm so lucky to have the family I do.


As a magazine addict it's rare for an editorial to stand out to me, especially after all of these years later. This post features maybe one of my favorite shoots of all time.


My roundup wouldn't be complete if I didn't get a teeny tiny bit personal on my blog. While I have never shied away from sharing my opinion and thoughts, I rarely did a post with solely personal facts or Q&As. Here was one of my only attempts and it still makes me smile. Full disclosure, this is an newer picture of me, I am not reposting a picture of my in college. #foreverawkward

Thank you for sticking around through all of my spelling errors, growing pains (personal + virtual), valley girl speak, blogging breaks, and openly snobby and occasionally bratty posts. Much love!

ARS xx

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18 July 2016

Little Indulgences to Make Your Week Better

Phew! Did the weekend fly by for anyone else? I wish I felt this way during my workweek, but alas it just isn't meant to be. Needless to say, every once in awhile I'll need a pick me up for those weeks that tend to be extra extra long (and the weekend is extra extra short). A few of my favorite ways to treat myself, outside of the standard mani/pedi or shopping expedition, are with little snacks and goodies for the home.



I love love love my Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrian diffuser. This is one of the more perfect for the home treats just because it takes up little space but leaves a lasting impact. I can't get enough of this citrus diffuser that seems to calm me at night but also help wake me up in the morning.


These Japanese cookies are a serious addiction, but just one is enough for me....for the night at least. If I'm being honest I could eat all of the cookies in one sitting, but I always hold myself back and make the cookies that much more special (the higher than normal price point also helps me hold back). Dean and Deluca in SoHo carries them and you can order them online!


I also believe making time for yourself is a luxury not everyone allows time for. One of my favorite ways to take some time for myself is to take an hour or so to read. It's a small thing, but for an hour a day I have my quiet time, where I can recharge and not worry about anything except finishing the next chapter. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I have a whole list of books I'm hoping to get to, but currently I'm reading Wait for Me! a memoir by Duchess Deborah Mitford.

Happy Monday!

ARS xx

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15 July 2016

Cool Recipes for a Hot Weekend

Despite the 90+ degree weather forecast this weekend I'm staying in the city. As tempting as it is to head home, I don't know if I want to be around when my parents are loading up the boat for my brother's regatta and as much as I love snuggling with my dog Thor he does disturb my sleep. To keep cool, I'll be frequenting museums, maybe treat myself to a facial, and probably take a stab at no oven needed recipes.

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I looooove the popsicles in Gwenth Paltrow's cookbook, but there are some more options online here in case you don't have the book.I find the recipes in all of her cookbooks to be relatively simple and delicious so if you don't have one it's definitely something to consider.


I also can't stop thinking about how refreshing this arugula, apricot, and walnut salad sounds. I've loved salads ever since I can remember, to the point where my grandfather used to call me a rabbit. I was never the kid that had to be forced to eat veggies (although I wasn't a massive fan of brussel sprouts until I had them with bacon).

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To end my hardly cooking weekend I think I'll take a stab at this matcha smoothie bowl. Cait has been trying to get me on the smoothie bowl train for quite some time now and I'm thinking this is the weekend to hop on.

What will you be "cooking" this weekend?

ARS xx

S U B S C R I B E

13 July 2016

My Moda Operandi Wishlist

Is it just me or are there a million adorable wardrobe updates to be made this month? In particular, I can't stop looking at Moda Operandi's site. I don't know what it is about this season, but I feel like all of the designers are reading my mind and making all of my style signatures and closet staples. Now that I've made it my mission to shop smarter, I'm buying only what I love love love and is unique to my wardrobe. Needless to say, it's hard to just narrow it down to a few things when everything you love is currently available (which rarely happens for me). Here are a few things I have my eye on:

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I'm envisioning wearing these Aquazzura flats this fall with a black mini skirt, sheer-ish knee socks, and a white button down (with a black sweater over it) for a Cher Horowitz back-to-cool look. I'll need to hold off until September though, as my roommate and I have a bet that I won't buy a pair of shoes through August. Fingers crossed they don't sell out (or I cave and buy the shoes).

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I need want everything in the MDS Stripes trunkshow, but in particular I'm loving the chambray top (and this pink skirt....and maybe the everything scarf too). I've had a countdown for the sale ever since it was announced on instagram that the trunkshow would be coming soon! Seriously, everything Mark D. Sikes does is just simply an instant classic in my book. Did anyone else preorder his new book that I wrote about in my July book list yet?

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I want all of the Rebecca de Ravenel bonbon earrings, but will probably settle for one pair (specifically, the gold ones). As a girl with extremely sensitive ears, I rarely find earrings with a lower price point that I both love and can wear. These hit the mark as it looks like they have a clip on back, but should I be wrong, I've picked up a few tricks to make it work out for me.

Eek! I need to narrow down my choices and pick one splurge!

ARS xx

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11 July 2016

Mid-Summer Work Outfit Inspiration

Is summer going by too quickly for anyone else? I know it's only halfway over, but I feel like it's basically done - OK that might be a dramatic statement, but now that everything on my summer wishlist is going on sale it just feels like my summer days are dwindling. That being said, I want to live it up the next couple of weeks and celebrate summer both in and out of the office. Because my office is always subarctic (during all seasons) I always find myself dressing in layers. Here are a few more summery looks I'd love to pull off:

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Hello light blue + white + grey with pops of color and black.

ARS xx

S U B S C R I B E

08 July 2016

Designer Crush: Rita Konig

Ever since my good friend Cait introduced me to the interior design world, I've been avidly reading different shelter magazines and blogs. One of the many reoccurring designers always featured in so many of my favorite magazines is Rita Konig. I admire her style and the way she seamlessly mixes in old with new and the way she styles all of the different colors and textures. It's my dream (fingers crossed I can check this off my list this year or Spring 2017!) to be able to attend one of her workshops held at her house in London. I always see them on instagram and swoon over them. Here are some images I found on House and Garden of her home, just to save as inspiration - until I can make it over the pond, of course!

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If only there was a NY outpost for those workshops!

ARS xx

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06 July 2016

Papier Stationary

I love writing letters, but I love receiving them more! Nothing makes my day brighter than opening my mailbox and seeing a note addressed to me from someone, usually my Grandma. That being said, I will send letters out frequently, with the hope someone responds (shout out to one of  my best friends in CA for always writing back!). I just got some nice, new formal stationary from Dempsey & Carroll, but am always on the lookout for the perfect fun note card to add to my collection. So far, my favorite find has been Papier, located in London. With a list of my favorite artist's work on hand, how can I not want something from here?

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I also can't get enough of these notebooks - I'm thinking they would be perfect for my diaries.

ARS xx

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01 July 2016

10 Books to Order, Pre-Order, and Re-Read in July

As a voracious reader, my book list is a mile long, actually, make that one and a half miles long (or two miles long...).  From coffee table books to self help to light fiction, I figured I'd share with you a list of books I love and hope to love - 'tis the beach read season after all! I can promise you this isn't you're average teacher's summer reading list.


1. Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style by Mark D. Sikes: As a huge fan of his work and blog, I can only imagine all of the gems and eye candy this fellow blue and white stripe lover's book has to share. Once I figure out if I'm moving or not, I'll be pre-ordering it - STAT!




2. A House by the Sea by Bunny Williams: Another book to pre-order by a favorite designer, introduced to my by my good friend Cait. I can't wait to see what inspiration she has to share in her latest book for my future Palm Beach house!

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3. Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors: Things We Made: by Stephen Alesch, Robin Standefer, and Jamie Brisick: The designers behind some of my favorite places to eat and visit in the city cae out with a book awhile back. This seems like a perfect treat for me and my coffee table! 



4. The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower -- and Inspire you to Live Life  in Forward Motion by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels: After having read multiple articles on goop by these authors, I finally picked it up on a book run earlier this year. I'm so glad I did because I've enjoyed coming back to this book every so often. As someone who is always looking to improve or do better, I definitely found this book to be inspiring. 


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5. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant: I have yet to order this book, but it's sitting in my "save for later" basket.


6. Shoo Jimmy Choo by Catey Hill: I have yet to read this book (sorry, Dad!) but I promise you I'll be reading it this summer. Mainly because I'm looking to aggressively save and this book certainly seems to have a tip or two. 



7. Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfield: I have yet to read this book, but I can't wait to start it (hopefully this weekend!). A retelling of any Jane Austen book grabs my attention and makes it an instant beach read classic.


8. Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: I love all of these books, especially for the beach and vacations. They are witty, silly, and full of romance -

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9. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: I love anything she writes, but this book is maybe my favorite book of all time. It's actually one of the first books that kept me up all night reading (and I've had many of those).

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10. Lee by Lee Radziwill: Another book on my "to order" list (and the final one I'm sharing with you all), I can't wait to delve further into her world. After reading Happy Times, I almost felt like I was left on a cliffhanger and this book seems like it will solve my woes!

Happy reading!

ARS xx

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