this is a page for

Category: General

Saturday Real Estate Stalking

The house where F. Scott Fitzgerald started writing  the Great Gatsby is on the market.  The estate is located in Great Neck, NY,  the area that inspired the tale of Gatsby and the lavish mansion and lifestyle in which he lived.  The Fitzgerald themselves threw wild parties, in this home (which has since been renovated) during the 2 years that they rented from 1922-1924.  A story goes that a maid found Mr & Mrs. Ftizgerald passed out, fully clothed, on the lawn, the next morning after driving their Rolls Royce back from a night of partying in New York City.  Oh, the good life!!!!!


Fashionable Friend Friday

Today’s fashionable friend friday is a pair of sisters Laetitia Stanfield and Selina McPherson, who create beautiful “vibrant and colorful” scarf necklaces adorned with beading and sparkles.  Their designs are inspired from their travels all over the world, with much New York and Paris influence.  These necklaces look amazing with a white t-shirt and jeans, for running around during the day, as well as a little black dress, for a sophisticated evening look.  To see the full assortment of necklaces click HERE



I was able to catch up with Laetitia and ask her a little bit about her beautiful designs:


Give us a little background, how did you get into the scarf necklace Jewelry design?
I was a buyer at Bergdorf Goodman for 5 years and I met a slew of young designers.  I loved how creative they all were and wanted to get on the other side of the business.

Who do you envision wearing your designs?  Do you take this into account when you are design the jewelry?
Our pieces are designed for the creative customer who is looking to spruce up her wardrobe.


What are some new pieces you are working on?
Chokers and evening pouches, not only ‘scarf necklaces’
What is your favorite piece in your own personal jewelry collection (photo please)?
Besides my ROARKEs, my wedding band 
What are 5 pieces every woman should have in their jewelry collection?
A few scarf necklaces, a great pair of simple gold stud earrings and something from your grandmother’s jewelry box 
What are your splurge/steal items for a jewelry wardrobe?
Splurge – diamonds. Steal – a ROARKE scarf necklace that can be worn anywhere day to night


What’s your favorite travel destination?
Most recent is Marrakech
What’s your favorite restaurant in NYC?
Il Buco 

What’s your favorite store in NYC?
Kirna Zabete 
If you could see any woman wearing your beautiful designs, who would it be?
Michelle Obama and Kate Moss 
Who are your favorite designers?
Stella, pheobe and Karl

Name a style icon you admire.
Talitha Getty

If I wasn’t making jewelry I would be a travel photographer

images Roarkeny.com

Katherine Hepburn’s Brownies

A reader recently posted this recipe on her Facebook page.  I knew that it would be perfect for my blog.  Katherine Hepburn was known for her independence and spirited personality.  She spent the summers living across from a very good family friend’s house in a waterfront community.  I could just imagine her baking these brownies in her kitchen looking out over the beautiful Long Island Sound.

image Wikimedia

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cocoa
1 stick butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup broken up walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in sauce pan with cocoa until smooth.  Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.  Whisk in eggs, one at a time.  Add Vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts, and salt.  Add to the cocoa butter mixture.  Stir until just combined.
Pour into a greased 8X8 square pan.  Bake 40 minutes.  Don’t over bake; they should be gooey.  Let cool and cut into squares.

image wikipedia

Wish List Wednesday

I recently sampled the complete line of Beautycounter.  I found it to be so luxurious. There were so many products that I loved and have added to my wish list.  

Countertime Cleansing Balm – you can use this as a cleanser or as a mask at night, while you sleep, to hydrate your skin.  I noticed a huge difference in my skin once I started using this.  I used it both ways, as a cleanser and as a mask.  This was one of the best products I have tried in a long time!!

Citrus Mimosa Clean Everyday Shampoo – this smells heavenly!  It left my hair so clean and the shine was amazing.

Gentle Exfoliator Polishing Cream – My daughter and I both loved this product.  It is perfect for use 2-3 times per week, to keep your skin glowing.

The Lip Gloss in Peony – this lip gloss goes on smooth and is not sticky at all.  It is great to keep in your bag to give you just a hint of color.

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 – This is a very light moisturizer with the perfect amount of tint for a natural glow, with the added bonus of SPF.

For more information or to try the beauty counter line for yourself, please contact our local representative Wendy Nagle at wnages@aol.com.  You can also visit her website HERE.

Beach House Chic For Less


Our love for Target keeps growing…here are some beach house style picks to help add a pop of color to your summer decor and a few things for your wardrobe, as well!

More Target Love

Book Club Monday

On July 14th a much anticipated book will be released, Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.  This is the second book for the To Kill A Mockingbird author.  Supposedly this title was written first but was lost many years ago.  Harper Lee was adamant that she never wanted to publish another book after To Kill a Mockingbird, which has sold over 30 million copies since its release in 1960.  The story of this publication goes, that her sister, Alice, who recently died was in charge of all of Harper’s affairs.    Mysteriously now, while, Harper Lee is in an assisted living home, her sister, her gatekeeper, no longer around, her manuscript was found and she wants to publish it after all these years.  Fishy, right?  Well the state of Alabama thought so too, and investigated.  They concluded that indeed Harper Lee did want Go Set A Watchman published after all and there was no foul play!!   Watchman takes place when Scout, the narrator of To Kill and Mockingbird is all grown up.  The story this time is told in the third person and she is “forced to grabble with issues both personal and political as she tries to understand her father’s attitude towards society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood”.  Go Set a Watchman is surely going to be the most discussed topic among book lovers everywhere.  Now YOU have the inside scoop!!!!  To purchase your copy click HERE.

image the wrap.com