PARIS PRESENTS GIVEAWAY!

Mesdames et Monsieurs!

I want to share the joy of my 100th post on Murphy's (New) Law--the writing of which has brought me so much joy over the last several months--with a Giveaway! Having you as readers, commenters, and friends only makes the blogging experience that much more enjoyable.

This giveaway consists of some of the loveliest petits cadeaux Paris has to offer:

• Mariage Freres tea

(Their best flavor--and my favorite--is Marco Polo. I've bought a tin for the winner!)

• Fauchon chocolate biscuits

(Perfect accompaniment for the tea! Comes in an adorable commemorative Paris tin!)

• Longchamp key fob

(A teensy pink version of the pliage bag hangs from the ring; a little la vie en rose pret-a-porter!)


The chocolate biscuits and tea lounging in front of the Eiffel Tower, waiting to go home with you!


The Fauchon is wrapped, so I'm keeping it that way. Here's the Longchamp key fob and a better look at the tea tin.

HOW TO ENTER:
Leave a comment on this post with your email address by 5pmEST this FRIDAY, AUGUST 7.

I'll announce the winner on Monday, August 10!
NOTE: If you mention this giveaway on YOUR blog, and tell me that you've done so, I'll enter your name into the giveaway 10 more times!

Bonne chance!
Cxx.

Bisous de Paris!

Bonjour, mes amis!

I have had a marvelous time in Paris--so lovely, in fact, that I haven't taken a moment to blog; I regret it and I miss you all!

It's 3.30am here and a taxi is coming in an hour to take me to the airport. Since I told you that the next time I would blog it would be from Paris this is my last chance to say a quick hello and make good on my promise.

This is also officially my 100th blog post on Murphy's (New) Law.

To celebrate the spirit of the blog and the vacation I will be giving away some Parisian treats from Fauchon and Mariage Frères...and if you spread the giveaway news on YOUR blog (and then let me know) you'll be entered ten more times to win! More details to come once I return aux Etats-Unis...

I have a quick layover in Heathrow (where I fully intend to pass the time by doing a bit of shopping), then I'll be on my way to JFK and will soon have recap posts, complete with photos, for your reading pleasure.

Je vois la vie en rose,
Cxx.

Bon Voyage!

Departure day has arrived!
I'm not yet packed and that makes me VERY proud of myself.
Pour quoi?
Well, two years ago almost to the day, I was offered a full-time job in France.
My plan was to work there for two years, apply to grad school for Art History, earn my PhD and teach at a university for the rest of my days.
What a perfectly tidy plan, non?

But that was exactly the problem. I had always been someone who lived by-the-book. Three days before I was meant to move to France, I turned down the job. It was time to cut the strings, allow myself to freefall for a bit, and take some time to catch up with the person I'd become in college.

And I don't regret a single minute of the last two years I've spent in NYC. This City brought me The Bunny, some amazing job opportunities, countless memories with friends new and old, and the assurance that is undoubtedly my true home.

And here I am. Traveling to France to see if, perhaps this time, I'll soon be ready to move there on different terms.
My plane departs in a few hours and I haven't packed a jot. I think that shows some progress, don't you?

Tipping this (adorable Coach) beret to you....

Bisous,
Cxx.

P.S. This is my 99th post. Number 100 will arrive from Paris! In honor of the occasion, I'm planning to give away something delightful that I find in the City of Lights. More details to come...

Keep On Keepin' On.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the importance (and history) of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" adage.

And I mentioned this phrase alone could induce me to buy a Jessica Kagan Cushman bracelet.

As luck would have it, Gilt Groupe had a JKC sale shortly thereafter....

(I always love Gilt Groupe's packaging; it takes the "sample sale" aspect out of, well, the sample sale!)

Look at that lovely hand: So calm. Carrying on with elan.

In honor of the Tour de France, which I will be catching the tail end of this very Sunday in Paris(!!), here's a little treat I found on Etsy:

Only Wednesday? Already Wednesday? Either way only a single day now stands between you and Friday, and between me and Paris!
Cxx.

PERMANENT BRUNCH Has Arrived, or I Have Died and Gone to Heaven.

Do dreams come true?

Do they come true in the East Village?

Yes and Yes a million times over.

After months (years?) of teasing me with its facade and its BLUNT (but delectably so) name, Permanent Brunch is finally opening on Thursday.

I bet you can guess at the menu.

And I bet you can guess where I'll be on Thursday evening....

Cxx.

Things that Make Me Smile

1) BOOKS!
My first true love. Here are the books I'm currently reading, to varying degrees of success:

Here's a snippet from The Bunny's extensive bookshelves; when I saw this collection early on in our courtship I knew he was a keeper:

(Apologies for the low quality of my photos. I'm relying on my Blackberry until I buy a new camera cord, which is on today's to-do list)

2) Princeton's new Bridge Program
I heard this was in the works and received an official email today with the following description:

"Twenty Princeton students will defer the start of their freshman year at Princeton this fall to spend a tuition-free enrichment period abroad focused on public service as the first participants in the University's Bridge Year Program."
I wish this had been in place when I was there, so I'm glad that 20 students are going to partake in this wonderful opportunity. I hope someday every university will offer a similar program.

3) Cynthia Rowley's tulle skirt:

(It looks better in person, and I would buy it in black.)

4) Ivanka and Jared's love.
Seriously, read this article (props to CHW for bringing it to my attention). She's my shiksa hero, and their love story is one for the ages!

5) TAG's care package.
It arrived yesterday with a note telling me that I did, in fact, deserve to veg out a bit. Thanks for being so thoughtful, for understanding me, and for bringing a huge smile to my face.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cxx.

Cut It Out!

As you may recall, I have really been taken with the cut-out silhouette that's become increasingly popular in the last several months.

At my birthday party in April, I wore a cut-out Cynthia Rowley dress:


This spring, I've been enamored of my cut-out Ash shoes:

I have never had so many compliments on a pair of shoes in my life--old and young, straight and gay, fashionable and not; all kinds of people tell me they love these shoes! (And they're so comfortable I know I'll be an Ash customer for life!)
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I'm seeing more and more cut-out pieces on the streets of Manhattan and in stores, and thought I should write a post about some exciting pieces in this style.


This YSL reminds me of my Cynthia Rowley...just, you know, many hundreds of dollars more expensive....
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Givenchy cut-out booties.
(Brittany Snow wore these in pink on the Gossip Girl spin-off, below)

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Speaking of pink....

These Margielas are my most-wanted shoe of the Spring, but even at the sale price I cannot justify them. Time for the Recession (and salary freezes) to be over!
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Gorgeous Ralph Laurens are a great alternative to the obnoxious bootie that dominated shoe fashion last Autumn.
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Rupert Sanderson's slightly more more conventional take.
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Fendi Tuxedo Jumpsuit, with really elegant cutout details at the shoulder. '70s perfection.
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AMAZING Prada cut-out boot-sandals!
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Just Cavalli dress. Reminds me a bit of detailing on certain Herve Legers.
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Alexis Bledel in a cut-out dress.
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A great collage of cut-out LBDs and friends from WhoWhatWear.
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And a few looks from the Fall '09 runways: HERE
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Some cut-out styles verge on seeming too-'90s, so if you think you'd look good wearing it to the Peach Pit/to prom with Zach Morris, it's best to avoid, e.g. THIS.

Which are your favorite pieces?
Cxx.

UPDATE: My friend CPC informs me that Donna Karan first designed the cut-out shoulder long ago and coined the silhouette "The Cold Shoulder." BRILLIANT, no? I dare you to not be madly in love with DK.