05 Tuesday May 2015
i crossed another item off my shopping list – the perfect day-to-evening dress. of course it came from billy reid. and of course its a navy printed jacquard.
the a-line shape and length are conservative enough of work, but remove the cardigan and the belt i usually wear and its a great dress for a date.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
20 Monday Apr 2015
when i travel, one of my favorite things to do is visit drugstores and beauty counters for products that are hard to find in the states. australian beauty brands are big on using all-natural products, specially formulated for the unrelenting australian sun.
i had heard of mecca beauty before i left, and i made sure to visit the store while in melbourne. i picked a few products for summer (tinted moisturizer, highlighter, and tinted lip balm) – all very light but containing spf for the unrelenting nyc sun.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under travel
13 Monday Apr 2015
i spent an incredible three weeks traveling through australia in march. i have far too many pictures to post here, so i thought i would limit this post to my favorite three animal snaps.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under travel
06 Monday Apr 2015
the photo is the totality of my makeup collection. although it is true that i am not a makeup person, i still wanted to pare down my makeup to the bare essentials that would take me through every occasion. the laura mercier caviar sticks and the armani eye liner take the place of eyeshadow, and i apply everything except for the powder and blush with my fingers.
{pictured above: laura mercier caviar sticks, chanel loose powder, ysl babydoll mascara, giorgio armani pencil eyeliner in gray, nars orgasm blush, ysl touche eclat highlighting pen, bobbi brown concealer, lorac liquid liner, and giorgio armani foundation}
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under random
31 Tuesday Mar 2015
house made donut filled with lemon curd.
poached eggs over potato pancakes.
poached eggs in a tomato and chickpea broth.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under coffee, food, nyc
24 Tuesday Mar 2015
as with my bathroom makeover, i tried to be smart when deciding what to replace in the kitchen. certain things, like the tile and countertop, would not have been my choice but were perfectly fine. however, the green ceiling (again, high gloss paint…why???) had to go. here is an unceremonious before shot from right after i moved:
the holes are from a shelf that i removed. this kitchen actually has a lot of storage, so it didn’t need any exposed storage in my opinion. i think you can see the glossiness from the reflection of the light fixture on the wall.
oh that green.
this was a pretty standard issue light, but did nothing for me. also, it was brushed chrome, and i ended up switching all the metal to polished chrome.
this faucet looked sad. and leaky. it probably leaked because it also felt sad.
and now, what you really want to see, the after:
fresh coat of paint in benjamin moore’s decorator’s white, pearl finish. i know that kitchens and bathrooms shouldn’t have flat paint, but i refuse to use high gloss paint on walls.
gorgeous gray glass tile mosaic from home depot. since i couldn’t change the counters, i decided to work with them. i think it makes the whole kitchen look much more expensive.
and my new faucet. if it was possible to marry a faucet, this baby would have my heart. it is grohe, and it is worth every penny. 
and the light was switched for something a bit more modern, to go with the new fixtures. thanks to restoration hardware.
all in all, i’m thrilled with the changes. i didn’t end up doing much (paint, faucet, backsplash, new cabinet hardware, and new light fixture) but i think it feel much calmer and sleeker now.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under home, home decor
17 Tuesday Mar 2015
i continue to knock items off my wardrobe planning list for this season. two items – the navy came and jeans – came from the j.crew sale section. the jeans were only $30 (!) and a great way to test out denim. still not sure if i’m a jeans kind of girl.
an update on my list:
1) black ankle boots.
2) black flats.
3) jeans.
4) navy slim pants. still looking.
5) day-to-evening dress. found! post to follow.
6) navy camisole.
7) printed cashmere sweater.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
20 Friday Feb 2015
having just cleaned out my closet (again), i can see a few holes that i would like to fill. as much as i am trying to reduce clutter, i am never going to be one of those shoppers who stick to the mythical five piece french wardrobe (french women are so great! they eat croissants and still stay skinny! they only buy 5 things a year and their wardrobe is better than yours ever will be! i am perhaps paraphrasing. you should google it for unbiased info.) however, i think planning a bit about what i want/need will help me stay focused while shopping. upon a first pass, this is what i would like to add to my wardrobe:
1) black ankle boots.
2) black flats. i have patent tortoise and snakeskin stilettos, yet no black flats. i clearly have priorities.
3) jeans. i don’t own a single pair. a dear friend accused me of being unamerican when she found out. joanna, if you are reading this, i am talking about you. though, to be fair, you had a point.
4) navy slim pants. because i only own one pair of pants, and they are black. i know. i don’t know what is wrong with me.
5) day-to-evening dress. because who has time for a complete outfit change when going out after work? and who is tired of going out to dinner in silk blouses and pencil skirts? (me. that’s who.)
6) navy camisole. to wear with my future navy pants.
7) printed cashmere sweater. because i have one in mind but it is so expensive that i can’t buy it now. and when i do buy it, having it on my list will make the ridiculous purchase seem more legit.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under fashion
14 Saturday Feb 2015
in my efforts to simplify and clear the junk in my apartment, i came across four areas where i have accumulated so much (and for no reason).
1) shoe bags. i remember when i was in high school and i bought my first pair of shoes that came with shoe bags. i felt so fancy and swore i would keep those bags forever. of course i promptly lost them, and now i have a mountain of shoe bags, like the closeted bag lady that i am. it is good to keep a few (especially for traveling, because you don’t want your shoes to dirty everything else in your suitcase), but the rest are being recycled.
2) random containers. repeat after me: owning containers does not make you organized. they are just vessels to store useless crap. a few of the containers pictured below are from trips, so they will stay for sentimental reasons. but the rest are outta here. 
3) kitchen gadgets. this is a lettuce keeper. 2.5 years ago, when i moved to new york city, i decided that i needed this to keep all the lettuce i would surely be buying. 2.5 years later, it still has the plastic on it. i hope someone at my local goodwill keeps (and eats) more lettuce than i do, and will provide this with a loving home.
4) shoe boxes. this one breaks my heart a little, because part of the thrill of purchasing beautiful footwear is the package it comes in. i know a lot of people find other uses for shoe boxes, but i have accepted that i am not one of those people. my shoe boxes sit in my closet, mocking me for all the vital space they are taking up. my 650 square foot slice of manhattan does not have room for shoe boxes (or mockery for that matter). to the recycle bin, shoe boxes. i will not let you defeat me any longer.
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under home
07 Saturday Feb 2015
since i now own my apartment, i don’t foresee moving any time soon. although i absolutely loathe moving, the good thing is that it forces you to reassess what you own. if it is important enough to put in a box and bring it with you, it must be pretty important. (i totally stole this from this ted talk. i am not that insightful.)
this apartment has also forced me to reconsider my shopping habits. as much as i always love new shoes, i would kind of dig a new shower too. i try to only buy things that i will use and love these days, but sadly there are a lot of remnants of shopping mistakes lurking around. and overall, i just get the feeling that i still have so much stuff.
though this blog has been a lot about restaurants, shopping, and home decor, i hope to write a bit more about how i am attempting to simplify my life and the things that are in it. for those of you who only like the restaurants, shopping, and home decor, too bad. i don’t know most of you anyway. and my mother, who i think reads this blog when she’s bored, says i’m awesome at whatever i choose to do.
so, let us go then, you and i. (this is also plagiarized, from t.s. eliot. i have a problem.)
Posted by auberginemoon | Filed under random
aubergine moon 