11:30 PM: You know it’s a great Thanksgiving when everyone’s heavy-lidded, there’s still some Champagne left over for morning mimosas, and the dishes are (mostly) clean. This has been one long Thanksgiving day, but with relatively little drama, so much amazing food (that I was able to fully enjoy despite my recent oral surgery), and plenty of laughter, I wish it to continue to go on. Hasta X-Mas! xoxo

9:40 PM: Had an exhausting dance party with an almost 4-year-old. Put on my “Dance Party” mix and caused quite
the eruption of laughter when I realized what was happening and franticly scrambled across the room to change the track just as the first line of of Peaches’ “Fuck the Pain Away” started. If you’re not familiar, it goes: “Suckin’ on my titties…”

7:20 PM: Yes, I took a 5 hour break for eating and digesting enough to be able to move my fingers across the keyboard of my iPhone. Dinner was so good. And I was once again the last to leave the table. Stuffing=amazing.

My mom has the interwebs hooked to her TV, so we all spent tons of time giggling at funny cat videos. It all started when we were told about the “tens of thousands” of crows that fly over the new house everyday at sundown. When we questioned the claim, we were told to count the crows which led to “Counting Crows” which led to YouTube since no one could remember what they sang. Then the cat videos.

2:15 PM: My amma (grandmother) just arrived and the Tofurkey’s in the oven… Only problem is that we didn’t quite
time it right with the turkey and I think we’ll either be eating a Tofurkey with a cold center or everything else will have to wait for us. Whoops. I’m snacking on all the delicious hors d’ouvres but trying to save room for everything else… Especially stuffing! Why oh why do we only eat stuffing one day a year? It’s SO good… Maybe it’s best to only have it occasionally… Thoughts?

12:30 PM: Everything is still pretty mellow. No other guests have arrived yet, so we’re enjoying the QT with Mom. Truth be told, I’ve just dipped into my first glass of wine and am about to have a sneak preview of the pumpkin pie…

10:45 AM: We arrived around 9:30 and got a tour of the new house, which is quite beautiful. It’s 105 years old an has the most gorgeous original woodwork and lighting fixtures. They’ve been renovating like mad to get the place ready for today and it shows.

Breakfast at 5:30 means I feel like lunch right about now… Good thing there’s food all over the place.

7 AM: Ah, Connecticut. Such a small state on the map, but you always feel so looong. Lack of sleep is catching up with me, which wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t hurt so much to yawn… I had dental surgery on Monday and it seems to hurt more and more each day. Luckily it’s only one side of my mouth I can’t eat on, so Thanksgiving feast will still be enjoyed.

5 AM: Good morning, turkeys! Yup. It’s 5 AM and I’m awake… Barely. The plan is to hit the road in an hour in order to (hopefully) miss the worst of the day’s traffic. The beau and I are heading from our place in Brooklyn to Greenfield, Massachusetts for the first time this year (we’ve got someone caring for the kitties so they won’t be too lonely).

My mom sold her house in Northampton (where she had lived since 1992—right before I started the 7th grade) this summer and relocated half an hour north. So instead of 3 hours, it’s going to take us 3.5… If we manage to avoid the aforementioned traffic, that is. This will be our first visit to the new place and although I’m excited to see it, of course, it’ll be a little… different. Definitely at the stage of life where the definition of “home” becomes a bit more complicated and the question “Where are you from?” becomes more difficult to answer.

But back to this early Thanksgiving morning. I’m a planner, so we’re all packed, just got to wolf down some breakfast, hit the shower, grab the vegan food contributions (Tofurkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and various snacks), wine, and hit the deserted (wishful thinking!) road.

We have exciting news! We’re shaking things up at OMFGstyle.com: Coming this January, we’ll be releasing the first issue of OMFGstlye Magazine.

In the meantime, we will be slowing down publication in order to produce the best first issue we could imagine: In the spirit of Lonny, Rue, and Gifted, we’re going online magazine page-turning style up in this joint.

We will still have a blog section of the site, and articles will be catalogued and searchable as posts, so there will still be a traditional website feel to the site, but the main event will be the online magazine.

This change will allow us to attract advertisers and will increase our readership, as well as create an even better product.

Our new format offers some great (and affordable) advertising options for businesses and services looking to reach the stylish modern woman. We will be posting information on ad options on the site soon, but if in the meantime, if you’re interested in advertising with us, send our director of advertising operations an email: diana@OMFGstyle.com.

Do you have ideas for how we can make OMFGstyle Magazine the best online magazine in the universe? Please post in the comments!

And don’t worry… More info and updates will be coming your way soon!

Photo by Marchange on Flickr

You might not have the time, desire, or budget to go all out on a costume, but if you’re in the mood for dressing up for Halloween without a lot of effort, or if you’re just coming across this on October 30th, a printable mask could just be the right idea for you.

JHill Designs, one of my favorite print artists (click here to see her amazing flash card-inspired artwork), created these adorable animal masks, downloads are $3 each, or $8 for all three.

Sweet! Star Wars masks!

Want to tap into current events? Head on over the HuffPo for your Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rod Blagojevich, or Kanye West printable mask:

David Bowie or Jason, anyone?

Or maybe just a gross monster?

The Brooklyn Skillshare is this weekend and The Beau and I are super-psyched to attend for a second year in a row. It will be held at the BKLYN Community Arts & Media HS (Francis Scott Key MS (old sign)), 300 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 this Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. For a $10 donation, you can take as many courses as you want. So if you’re in the NYC metropolitan area and want to join us for some knowledge on using your digital SLR camera, screen printing on fabrics, robot building, worm composting, crocheting, or one of the many classes they have available (full course list here).

If you can’t make it, I implore you to let the Skillshare mission (which is also similar to the OMFGstyle credo) inspire you nonetheless:

“Education is a right, not a commodity. We are all students and teachers, and we believe that everyone has something to teach and to learn from each other. The Brooklyn Skillshare is a communal, hands-on, learning experience that aims to serve as a jumping-off point in the construction of an autonomous, nonexclusive, reciprocal learning community.”

LET US SHARE SOME SKILLS WITH YOU:
Choose one of OMFGstyle’s “She’s Crafty” projects and let Vanessa share her amazing crafting skills with you.
Give yourself a soothing, refreshing pedicure. Skill shared courtesy of my mom! Now you know how to do your nails like a professional!
Make your own maraschino cherries—Anna shows you how. Boom! Cocktail time just in time for Mad Men this Sunday!

SHARE YOUR OWN DAMN SKILLS:
Already know how to do a bunch of stuff? How about sharing your skills with your friends? Invite a group of friends over, ask them to bring wine, and teach everyone how to make your grandmother’s amazing cookies from the homeland (print up the ingredients and directions for everyone to take home). Know how to sew or hem? Teach me! Don’t feel like hosting a group? Teach your guy or gal pal how to do something new… Share your how-to ideas in the comments section below.

Whatever you do, make a pact with yourself (or with me) and learn something new this weekend!

Photo by edlabdesigner on Flickr

When I found out September was going to be personal style month here at OMFG, I was very excited to read everyone’s articles on what contributes to their style.

Style is subjective and objective. Our parents had first dibs on selecting our style while we were infants. Then inevitably somewhere in our toddler stage comes the day when we tell Mom: “I can dress myself!”. That day is momentous! Our first personal style statement. Style is influenced. Style evolves (hopefully). Our friends, hobbies, travels, books we read, the movies we watch – all this influences our style.

Winning “Most Fashionable” in my yearbook was as important to me as winning an Oscar was for Julia Roberts – seriously. I just always had a love of style and fashion. My mother was a big influence on me. We would take trips to New York City and spend the entire day at Bergdorf Goodman. The goal – to get some “essentials”. My mother was a big believer in quality over quantity. She taught me the importance of investing in classic pieces (the classic little black dress, a divinely tailored black pant, a crisp white shirt) and then mixing it with the trendy stuff. To this day I still spend the big bucks on the best jeans and dresses and then have fun in H&M blending in the fun trends that will not last a season, i.e. Ikat prints.

Accessories. If I had to do it over again, I would have loved to been an accessories editor as I LIVE for accessories.

Jewelry. From Cartier to Costume, jewelry is very powerful. Firstly, jewelry is emotional….we remember when and where we got each piece. Whether it was a graduation gift from mom and dad or a fab flea market find. Secondly, jewelry becomes sacred and one’s collection can be passed through the generations. Lastly, a statement piece can do just that….. just make sure when accessorizing with jewelry not to overdo it… If you think you have too much on, you probably do, so remove a piece.

Shoes. Ladies, I’m sure I don’t have to go on and on about the importance of good shoes, but it is important to have at least a few really good “go-to” stilettos/flats. I know that some brands are as much as a car payment, so keep a eye on those sales racks. At the end of the season try buying staple pieces for the next year, they wind up lasting much longer. Just as essential – find a great shoe repair spot to keep those big investments going.

Scarves. Probably one of the most versatile pieces one can own. Scarves can quietly grace your neckline. They can be used as a belt. Tied a certain way they work as a sarong or even a top! Folded over a few time as a headband or knotted on the handle of a bag; scarves are a fashionista’s secret weapon.

Handbags. Having lived in many different places from the country to the city… I can say that women in cities are definitely more handbag-conscious. It is the one piece that can really sum up and define your style and at the same time needs to be functional enough to carry all those “essentials”.

Style does not just reside in fashion does it?! The car we drive, the way we decorate our abodes is also a further reflection of our style and sensibilities.

I think the most important thing to remember, as cliché as it sounds, is to feel confident and have fun in whatever your rockin’. Don’t be so quick to judge! That gal with the nose-ring and Manolos or the headband and Babour coat may have more in common that we think!

In the words of Yves Saint Laurent; “Fashions fade, style is eternal”.

The beau and I are celebrating this year (the year of out 10 year anniversary and my, well, substantial up-coming birthday) with an unheard of three week vacation to the coasts and some selected cities of Spain, France, and Italy. I am so excited that some days it’s literally all I can think about… And having done so much thinking, considering, and planning, I figured I’d share some of my favorite items from my packing list.

Since this is a relatively long trip and we’re covering a lot of ground, it’s important that we pack lightly and pack well. The few items we bring will have to take us from posh hotel bars in Barcelona to the countryside of Umbria and from the sandy playgrounds of St-Tropez and Capri to the gritty streets of Marseilles and Rome. Therefore pretty much everything has to pull double-duty. No cocktail dresses too fancy to wear over a bathing suit to the beach or shoes that I’ll only wear once. As habitual over-packers, the two of us are going to have to plan down to the last pair of underwear (which makes me think: just how many pairs should I bring for three weeks, I wonder?), and here’s what I have planned so far:

I think everyone loves cupcakes. Its a no-brainer. Its something that comes in a huge variety of flavor combinations, decorated in all different ways, and you can just pick one up and pop it in your mouth with little fuss.  Cupcake fans throughout time, along with the cupcake craze of recent years, need not be explained. Sweet treat = yum.

Read on, as I share with you my own personal cupcake favorites, and not-so-favorites, from the NYC area:

1.  The Bent Spoon
This tiny little spot in Princeton, NJ has some of the absolutely best cupcakes I’ve ever had. The cake is always soft and moist, the frosting addictively buttery and flavorful, with just the right amount of sweetness. I’m not a fan of the overly sweet, and I love the savory flavors that shine through this butter frosting. They keep it simple with golden cake or chocolate, organic eggs, and really fresh and good quality ingredients. And they come in two sizes: regular and mini. Get the mini’s because its fun to toss a whole cupcake in your mouth like Greedy Smurf.

2. Billy’s Bakery
Billy’s Bakery cupcakes are definitely some of the best, with great texture, moistness, and sweet icing that still retains a real balanced flavor. Their Manhattan locations, painted in pastel colors, are cute as hell and a really fun place to pick out a pretty cupcake and sit at a cozy table with some coffee and a friend. Incidentally, Billy’s also makes other great sweets, including some dope Banana Cream pie… but that’s for another time.

3.  Ciao for Now
This little family-owned cafe and bakery has three locations in Manhattan. I first sampled one of their cupcakes at a work function. There was a pretty little tray full of mini’s in chocolate and vanilla. Needless to say every time I got bored at that party I took a swing back around past the cupcake tray.  They were irresistible. Ciao for Now also makes an array of Vegan treats, equally as awesome.

4.  Magnolia
Sorry to rain on anyone’s parade, but Magnolia Cupcakes are not amongst my favorites. As I mentioned, I’m not a fan of super sweet cupcakes, which I find these to be. I first tried a Magnolia cupcake probably ten years ago and I could only handle a quarter of one cupcake. I recall describing it as eating a pancake with fudge on it. After many years, and lots of hype (after being a location on Sex & the City) the cupcakes are a little different, but still not my personal favorites. I understand why so many people like them however: They look great, are piled super high with sweet frosting, and have sort of become a piece of NYC novelty. Wah wahhhhhhh.

5.  The Treats Truck
The Treats Truck does all its baking in Red Hook, Brooklyn, then packs up a mobile unit they’ve so appropriately named “Sugar” and bring the sweets to the masses in Manhattan, parked in various locations throughout the city. The Truck, which runs on compressed natural gas,  delivers all sorts of treats from cookies to cupcakes to… dessert nachos?!?!?!?! Again, these cupcakes are more to the sugary sweet side, and I can almost feel my teeth hurting just thinking about it. But if that’s your thing, do it up. The cake is pretty moist, and they are always really fresh.

So thats the skinny on some sweet spots in the city.  I’m certain I have missed many cupcake spots that deserve accolades, so please comment with your favorite spots!  (Seriously, if you know where to find a good cupcake you better tell me.)

Top photo from QuintanaRoo on Flickr.

I consider myself to be a good shopper. I do my research. I try things on. I carefully consider each purchase and ask myself if I really need whatever it is that’s caught my eye. If a pair of jeans or shoes is amazingly flattering and comfy, I buy several pairs. In return, I have cute stuff that I really love and people are always asking me for shopping advice. So today I’m sharing my latest finds here with you:

I used to hate the summer. Heat, humidity, sand in my crack.  But the older I get, the more I enjoy the rare amount of sunlight I get compared to the days spent at a desk, the time I get to spend with my friends and loved ones, and getting out and doing things I don’t always make the time for in the cooler seasons.  If I could give you one piece of advice to make your life better, it would be to not let this summer pass without  getting out, enjoying every beautiful day, and shaking it up with some different activities. Here are some suggestions of some fun summertime activities you can do in the NYC area.  In the words of Will Smith, “put your car on cruise, and lay back… cuz this is summertime”.

1.  Vintage Shopping and Killer eating… at the FLEA!

Sometimes you just have the urge to shop, but on a gorgeous summer day have no desire to feel the absolutely horrible choking affect brought on by the mere thought of visiting a mall or shopping district. One of the absolutely best days I had last summer was hanging out at the outdoor Brooklyn Flea market. I perused vintage and handmade wares, soaked up some much-needed sun, and ate amazing artisan foods. I snacked on a wide range of delicious treats including Pupusas (salvadoran corn cakes filled with cheeses, meats, or veggies), lobster rolls, and homemade ginger ice cream. What’s even better: I also came home with an amazing frame from the late 1800s, a shapely dress from the 60’s, and a pair of brand new vintage Bruno Magli shoes that only cost me $15.  Score!

photo by xxooox on Flickr

2.  The Great Outdoors is my Regal Cinemas

Yes! One of the best things about summer is totally watching movies in a park or on a rooftop or whatever. Bring a blanket, snacks, maybe a little flask o’ sumpthin on the DL, and take in a flick in a place where your feet don’t stick to the floor and the seating doesnt make you smell like old man.  Check out some of these suggestions for taking in an outdoor movie in New York:

The Brooklyn Bridge “Movies with a View” Series, Thursdays
Annie Hall 7/8, Big Lebowski 7/22, Rear Window 7/29, Indian Jones & the Last Crusade 8/26

L Magazine Summer Screen, Wednesdays at McCarren Park, Brooklyn
Say Anything 7/7, Labyrinth 7/14, Romeo & Juliet 7/21, Dead Man 7/28, Point Break 8/11

Movies Under the Stars, Wednesdays at Pier 1 Riverside Park South
Neverending Story 7/7, Pans Labyrinth 7/14, Big Fish 8/4

Rooftop Film Noir Series, Thursdays at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
Laura 7/8, Double Indemnity 7/15, Sunset Boulevard 7/22, All About Eve 7/29

Vault of Horror Flicks, Fridays at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
Freaks 8/6, Invasion of the Body Snatchers 8/13, Night of Living Dead 8/20, Rosemary’s Baby 8/27

RiverFlicks for Grown Ups, Wednesdays at Pier 54
The Hangover 7/7, I Love You, Man 7/14, The Proposal 7/21, District 9 7/28, Star Trek 8/18

photo by mjstewart on Flickr

3. Walk the Line… The Highline, That Is

The Highline opened last year, and for those of you who haven’t heard about it, it is a re-designed and landscaped old elevated train structure that runs along a portion of Manhattan’s West Side. You can enter the Highline via various entrances in Chelsea and just, y’know, take a walk.  Killer date night: Walk the highline from Gansevoort St to 20th while the sun sets, then head on over to Blossom for an amazing vegetarian dinner, then across the street to Billy’s Bakery for a sweet treat.

photo by rexroof on Flickr

4.  Moonlight Kayaking & Canoeing

DUDE!  Okay, this is something I really wanted to do last year but I’m lazy and I don’t keep a car anymore. However, it’s definitely on my list of must-do’s this year.  If you’re willing to make the trek to Point Pleasant, PA whenever the next full moon comes around, River Country has a “Full Moon Splash” outing. Choose Canoe or Kayak, and choose your fate, as you navigate the river by nothing but the light in the night sky. Just one thing: I feel it only fair to warn you…the website for this place is fucking crazy.

photo by wendylinx on Flickr

5.  Rock Out in the Summertime: Music Festivals

Siren Festival, Saturday July 17th
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Village Voice’s Siren Music Fest, annually held in Coney Island. This year’s acts include Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and ehhhhh some other bands. It’s free and all-ages.

McCarren Park Pool Parties
The McCarren Park Pool is still where it was, but this year the Rock ‘n Roll that used to hang out there is moving toward the Williamsburg waterfront along the East River between North 8th & North 9th Streets.  Acts this year include Band of Horses, Silversun Pickups, Spoon, Pavement, Faith No More, and many more. So, if you want it all but you can’t have it, you can always get tickets to one of these shows and go get awesome.

Warm Up at PS1
The PS1 art museum’s summer music series kicks off July 3rd and will take place every Saturday from 2-9pm through September 4th.  $15 admission gets you into WarmUp, where you can hang out, listen to music and drink beer all under the cover of whatever crazy structure they have built on the grounds at the time. Admission also includes all exhibitions.  Check here for upcoming performance schedules.

photo by beef_taco_supreme on Flickr

6.  Put me in the ZOO

When selecting some fun summer activities I pretty much cut out anything that had to do with children (sorry parents). Zoo-going, however, is a grand exception, because watching an orangutan wear a bucket on its head is just fun, no matter who you are.

Bronx Zoo
Right now the Bronx Zoo has some new additions to their family, including three 5-month-old lion cubs, a bear cub, and new baby lemurs from Madagascar!

Prospect Park Zoo & Central Park Zoo
Go watch some cute little guys get fed. Harbor Seal, Penguin & Sea Lion Feedings regularly. Visit www.centralparkzoo.com and www.prospectparkzoo.com for info.

Turtle Back Zoo
Check out “Night Moves”, a special guided tour once-a-month on summer evenings. Walk with a flashlight and observe the animals at night.

photo by wallyg on Flickr

7.  Peach Picking

People typically wait for Fall to go picking things like pumpkins and squashes. But don’t forget those farms in summertime.  July to August is prime peach-picking season, to be followed shortly by apple season! Farms like Alstede Farms, Demarest Farms, Melick’s Town Farm, and Terhune Orchards, all in New Jersey, have pick your own peaches available throughout July. Terhune Orchards also has a canning and preserving class on August 7th, so you can save some of those peaches for later on. (Its Free, but call in advance to make sure space is available).

photo by adwriter on Flickr

8.  Rock Climbing

A fun indoor sport to take advantage of year-round, but for those who rarely go, why not make it a fun weekend activity? Check out Brooklyn Boulders, an 18,000 square food join packed with creative climbing structures, including a mock up of the Brooklyn Bridge! Also check out Chelsea Piers, of course, where Open Adult co-ed sessions are held throughout the week.

photo by crazyoctopus on Flickr

9.  Dog Friendly Beach!

I can’t wait to take my little buddy out to chase waves and drool in the sand.  Check out these beach spots that are dog friendly:

Dog Beach, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Enter  at Prospect Park West & 9th Street, follow the path past the Tennis House on your left and through the Long Meadow to the Upper Pool. The beach is paved and fenced so dogs cant swim too deep. Its not for serious swimming or training, but for dogs who want to trudge through some water and have some fun.

Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
Island Beach is a narrow barrier island that reaches for 10 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the non-recreational beaches year-round!  Check the website for details and directions to this hot dog spot!

photo by coral on Flickr

10. The Jersey Shore, DUH!

Okay, I know this is totally obvious perhaps, but I had to include it still because I feel that there are still many people who avoid the Jersey shore (hmm, why could that be?). Also, I have lived in New Jersey my whole life and whenever I have gone to the beach, its usually the same ones all the time! There are dozens and dozens of beaches I have never visited or tried. Since it’s usually a substantial drive and a full-day’s plan, we usually stick with something familiar, much like sticking with your routine meal at your favorite restaurant when you’re really hungy. Why chance it?

There really are so many great beaches to visit, like Belmar, Manasquan, LBI, and one of my favorites, Spring Lake.  Ask your friends or co-workers for a new recommendation and just do it. Go to there!  And if you need an easy reference, complete with parking info, fees, and highlights, download NJ Monthly’s 2010 Ultimate Beach Guide.

photo by laram777 on Flickr

From Matt S. of The Unabashed Queer:
“I didn’t have any dryer sheets the other day so i used a baseball sized ball of aluminum foil and it worked great. And I love this new Febreze thingy. It’s 15-20 bucks but it works.”

From George B.:
“Consider the style option of wearing certain sweaters/dresses backwards to great stunning effect. Diana Vreeland was a great proponent of this styling option.”

From Nina M.:
“My friend just launched her line of jewelry, Chewed by Tuesday.”