happy saturday

What a beautiful day in NYC. I think I'll walk through Central Park, grab lunch at a cute cafe, shop at Top Shop (I need to find a fabulous outfit for Blogger Blitz tomorrow!) and finish the day with wine and appetizers on the Lower East side.

Oh! Tomorrow I'll be brunching with one of my bestest friends. Note: Picture is from college...years ago...slightly intoxicated. So silly.

What are you all up to?

xoxo

11.11.11

Today is 11.11.11.

Woa.

This date will never happen again, and to me, there is something so magical about it. Each day at 11:11AM/PM I make a wish (if I realize it is that time -- which happens almost daily). This is one of the little things that I remember from being a child, and it has stayed with me to this day.

I thought since it is the ultimate "Holiday" for this tradition, that I would share my ultimate wish -- assuming that anything is possible.

...I wish to...


Pack up my life...

Move here...

Learn to cook french food like this...

Like her.

Blog/write/work full-time from this desk...

Or this desk...

And feel as happy as this little girl and this penguin (random I know -- but it's just so darn cute!)

I know this is multiple wishes...but it all starts with my one wish, which is to pack up and move to Paris.

A girl can dream, right?

What is your 11.11.11 wish?

from my kitchen to yours

I love to bake, and to cook. It is a cathartic experience for me, and nothing feels more satisfying then nailing a recipe.

For my first post under my new series, "From My Kitchen to Yours", I'm featuring these to.die.for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cupcakes. I cannot even begin to take credit for this recipe, as it hails from the extremely talented, and fellow SMU alum, Merritt over at Manolos and Martinis.

You must follow her blog for your daily dose of all things fashion, lifestyle and fabulous.

The recipe is super simple to follow, and it yields TONS of yummy muffins. I recommend freezing half so you can enjoy them over a long period of time. Below are the most delicious, moist (I hate this word- but it seriously describes it), and outrageous Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins.

(pictures courtesy of Merritt as well. Thank you Merritt!)

Mix together 3 1/3 cups of flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp nutmeg, 3 tsp cinnamon and a dash of salt together in a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups of sugar and 1 cup of Crisco oil, then add to the bowl of dry ingredients.

Next add 2/3 cup of water, 1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin and 4 eggs to the large mixing bowl.

Mix well, add chocolate chips, and then pour into three 8 or 9-inch loaf pans (or do it my way and pour into 5-6 cupcake pans). If you choose to do the loaves, bake at 350 for 1 hour or until done - for the muffins, bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until done.

Et voila! C'est facile. I made these last weekend, and the hardest part is having self control when they're ready.

Enjoy!

new blog revealed!

the Urban Slant 2.0

As you have probably noticed, the Urban Slant got a much deserved facelift! After being so warmly welcomed into the blogging world, I decided that I wanted to take the opportunity to give my blog a makeover.

I see my blog as digital extension of myself, and I wanted it to represent who I am -- down to every last detail. While I'm somewhat saavy on Photoshop, I had no idea where to begin on backend developing, design, installation etc. Enter the extremely talented Danielle Moss.

I heard of Danielle through my good friend, blogging inspiration and also the brains behind my apartment makeover, Alex. One look at Danielle's portfolio, and I knew she was sheer perfection.

Major. Genius.

After a few email exchanges,  I was BLOWN away by her attention to detail, and understanding of how I wanted my blog to look and feel. She was so helpful, and had so many great ideas. Et voila! 

Welcome to the new Urban Slant.

Some of you may be asking how I got the name. Back in college I was brainstorming blog ideas for advertising (my major). Enter the word "Slant". Slant means an opinion, or idea.

Now, why Urban? Urban defines who I am right now - a twenty-something living in New York City. This blog is a collection of all things that inspire me in this crazy jungle, and a place where I can keep track of my latest must-haves, trends, goals etc.

I hope you all like the new design, and that you'll continue to follow and support me. Each and every one of your comments make my day, and I am feeling so very blessed to have so many followers, in so little time.

No new post today, just a big huge THANK YOU to Danielle, Alex and all my new blog friends.

obsession: glitter

First, thank you all for your well wishes yesterday. I feel much better today, and all your sweet comments made my day.

Second, it must be the impending Holiday season, or my recent desire to shine, but I'm totally obsessed with anything that has sparkles. On a recent shopping excursion I found myself picking up anything and everything with glitter.

I have the most fabulous vintage sparkle clutch that I add to most every outfit in the winter time. It instantly adds that "je ne sais quoi" when going out on the town.

Given the influx of this trend in the stores, I can already see myself purchasing many a glitter infused pieces this season. First purchase: this glimmer top from J.Crew. Do you die for it?! I do. I really do.

How will you sparkle this season??

under the weather

hi friends. I thought I had a post prepared for today, but it was having some technical difficulties. I'm home not feeling so well today, so I'll be eating a lot of this:



drinking a lot of this:



and doing a lot of this:



hope you are all having a better Monday than me.

it moustache be the weekend!

Thank. God. It's. Friday. Seriously.

What a week. Any of you have just an insane week as me? I was ready at 9am on Monday for it to be over.

In honor of the weekend, I found this hilarious guide to the crazy Moustache trend. It's one of the trends that still gets me laughing with every new invention. While it's not my aesthetic, I do appreciate the humor. I think my favorite (not pictured) was two pillows that came together in the form of a stache. SO hilarious.

I've got some exciting things happening next week that I cannot wait to blog about. First and foremost, and hands down the most exciting, is that Danielle from Breakfast at Toast (hopefully you follow her b/c she is a sheer genius) is designing my blog. The options look incredible so far, and I cannot wait to share it with you all.

I'll be spending the weekend catching up on my to-do list, and hopefully hanging some pictures up around my apartment. They're starting to collect dust...eek!

Happy Friday!

best. time. of. the. year.

There are few things in life that get me as happy as the red holiday cups at Starbucks. In the midst of craziness at work, traveling and galavanting around NYC, I just NOW realized that the Red cups are back in action for the Holidays! Oh. Em. Gee!

The red cups not only symbolize cooler temperatures, but also the start of the best season of the year. In the next month and a half, it will be my Mom's birthday, mine (on Thanksgiving!), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. WOA. That is a lot.

I don't have much else today besides urging everyone to go to their nearest overpriced (but delicious) Starbucks and indulge in a Grande, Non-Fat (but keep the whip, it is the best part, right?) Gingerbread latte.


What symbolizes the start of the Holiday season for you?

apartment help: wall art

If you live in NYC, there is a large chance that your walls are all white, and you have some super complicated lease that bans you from changing them.

Blah blah blah.

Okay, I'm over it. Sort of. I just moved here in May, and I'm still decorating my place. It's an on-going process, and thanks to Alex over at Things That Sparkle, my place is almost finished (she's a genius, seriously).

The one thing that I haven't finalized is a piece of art to go over my stark white TV wall. Below are some of my most recent pins, and I'm obsessed with them all - if not for my TV wall, then for somewhere else. I mean, can you look at these and not drool?! *Swoon*.

Which are your favorite?

Option 1.

Source: styleswoon.com via Julia on Pinterest

Option 2.

Source: plentyofcolour.com via Julia on Pinterest

Option 3.

Source: etsy.com via Julia on Pinterest

Option 4.

Source: arthound.net via Julia on Pinterest

Option 5. (unknown -- help me find it?!)

Source: Uploaded by user via Julia on Pinterest

Option 6.

Source: showandtellgallery.com via Julia on Pinterest

excuse me, do you have the time?

Ever since I started working, I've found that my watches have become more than just wrist candy -- they're crucial. I'm totally OCD, and I have to match my watch to my jewelry -- gold or silver. I recently saw a Timex watch, and did a SERIOUS double take.

When did they completely re-brand themselves!? I remember Timex being a hokey brand that you would wear as a child, and they had velcro straps. Anyone? Well, they've outdone themselves and are competing with the likes of Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs.

I die.

I need to get several of these stat. And guess what? They are extremely well priced. About $70 for each. I think I may be adding a few of these to my collection in the coming weeks.

Which one do you fancy? I'm setting my eyes on the large gold face and black leather band.