In an effort to support local vendors, each week I will feature a different Etsy seller from the New York City area.  If you have any favorite sellers, let me know!

I have always loved charm bracelets because they are so personal. I love those made by Etsy seller A Likely Story, especially because their themes all revolve around literature and for their vintage feel. These are even fun for the non-book lover, because they are just very playful. Any piece would be a great conversation starter.

It’s cold, so stay in once place without feeling cooped up. For more information on spending the day at the American Museum of Natural History and some great restaurants nearby, check out my article on newyork.cbslocal.com.

Our lives our busy, but with the click of a button, you can make someone else’s life a little easier. Food Bank for New York City is one of the country’s largest food banks and it offers hunger-relief right here in NYC. They have teamed up with FedEx to raise money to tackle hunger issues. Just by “liking” them on Facebook, FedEx will donate 5 meals to this great organization. A very simple act, can make a huge difference.

Welcome to February. We all know it can’t get much drearier than it has been and even thought Puxatony Phil claims Spring will come early, I am doubtful. But there are two things that can make even a day like today brighter – pancakes and hot chocolate. Luckily two of my favorites local eating establishments have devoted the entire month to them.

Clinton Street Baking Company, home of seriously the best pancakes ever, will have special flavors every day, so make sure to check out the calendar.

City Bakery, home of the best hot chocolate ever, will also have daily specials, to make sure to check out their calendar. And don’t skip their homemade marshmallows.

What are you doing to stay happy in this weather?

Looking for something to spice up your dreary winter wardrobe? Would a beautiful leather bag work, especially one that not everyone else has? Luxury Accessories International has a store on the Upper East Side filled with tons of drool worthy purses and accessories. My favorite are their leather bangles. All the pieces are made in the US and all bags have the option of being made to order. A huge advantage if you want the handle a little shorter or longer.

In an effort to support local vendors, each week I will feature a different Etsy seller from the New York City area.  If you have any favorite sellers, let me know!

if you found your love in NYC, this card is perfect

The aisles of Valentines Day cards are usually pretty boring. And once you find one that you think might be halfway good, the statement often leaves a lot to be desired. As long as you don’t leave your card shopping to the last minute, chickPrint has fulfilled this void. Cute, without being overly cheesy, her Valentines Card are perfect for any occasion, whether it is for your husband or your third date. Her vintage inspired cards have a very modern feel, which will make you want to send cards on a random Tuesday rather than just on a special occasion.

It was a very busy week, which left little time for blogging. But I promise I will be back in full force this week. Hope it was a good one for you!

What did you do?

If you are anything like me, the inside of your purse is not something you would want to share with most people. There are lots of floating receipts from Duane Reade and despite my best intentions, lots of other scraps of paper. But there are also somethings that I won’t leave home without. Namely my Softlips cherry lip balm, Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache hand cream and a pen. No matter how small my purse, I always try to have all three. I always wonder what other women have in their bags, especially the ones that are so big they look like small suitcases. Well apparently other people are fascinated by this also. The English Muse certainly is and according to her, so are 20,000 members of the Flickr group “What’s in your bag?” And Anthroplogie just used that as the story behind their most recent catalog.

So, what’s in your bag?

This pin up wall calendar would make even your most dreaded appointments worth looking forward to! Not a surprise considering how beautiful everything is from OrangeBeautiful. If you are in Chicago, make sure to visit their store.

What are you looking forward to this year?

A meal at Tipsy Parson is just as cozy as your home, but the food is better!

I know it is hard to get out of bed when it is freezing outside, but if you are going to do something fun, it should be a little easier, right? Why not check out Chelsea and the High Line (and have some great food also). Here is a great itinerary for today. Come on, get out a little bit, and then go back home and be a lazy bum.