In celebration of our wedding last Sunday, we were featured in The New York Times. My takeaway from our very chance meeting…and the twelve years prior that I spent dating online? Never give up. And, always wear a cute workout outfit. :)

Here’s our story.

Photo by Sarah Merians.

Always a fan of communication, just like Mr. Mayer (yes, I was one of those chatty teenage girls who obsessed with my friends about, like, everything via phone for hours), I chuckled while rifling through her snarky-meets-sophisticated collection of canvas bags.

And, when it comes to New York, these are a handful of my favorites.
Because in this town, let’s face it, you can never have too much style…or too much love.

Don’t you love how friends of friends can instantly become your friends too?  I do. And, that’s how I felt when I met Nur-E Rahman, the designer of Knotty Gal, a collection of colorful necklaces, bracelets & earrings made from very simple, straightforward materials (cords and metals, knotted together) with a very deep, meaningful mission.

Nur-E and I were introduced by a mutual friend, who felt that we’d connect. We met up in Tribeca, cracked open her trunk of jewelry and spent most of our time gabbing away like we were old friends. And, then, when it came time to talk about the collection, I learned that Nur-E and her mom started Knotty Gal just last year to raise money for a girls’ school in Bangladesh founded 50 years ago by her great grandfather. Most of the students there, more than 1,000 today, come from very poor families.

The Knotty Gal necklaces and earrings are bold, so they’re strong enough to be worn alone.  The bracelets, ranging from oversized cuffs to chain link cords, are ideal for layering.  A few of my favorite pieces, shown here, are the Lazy Sunday and Good as Gold necklaces and Carpe Diem earrings. Like a lot of good things in life, Knotty Gal grabs your attention based on what you see, but, it’s what’s behind the collection that really counts. Who says that you can’t make the world better through your accessories?!

Necklaces: Lazy Sunday & Good as Gold; Earrings: Carpe Diem, all by Knotty Gal.  Sunglasses: David Yurman.  Top: Forever 21.

Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

Ready, set, go. Warming up in ALALA, my new fitness fashion obsession. With its see-through panels and ladylike details, this collection just may be all you need to work up a sweat.

Sneakers: ZQuick by Reebok; Sunglasses: David Yurman.

Product provided by ALALA; all thoughts/assessments are my own.
Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

My latest obsession in fitness fashion is ALALA, a newly-launched brand with a decidedly downtown look. From the collection’s primarily black and white color palette (with a pop of tangerine and teal) to its sophisticated prints and mesh and tulle details, these are pieces that I actually want to stay in all day. I particularly love the Toughie Tank, with its high neckline yet semi-sexy cut, since I find most too low on top, especially for high-impact workouts where I’m really moving, like CrossFit or cycling. For those of you SOULCycle riders, you’ll recognize the face of ALALA, Julie “Jaws” Nelson. She’s one of the those girls who seemingly has it all: she’s beautiful, strong and beloved by those around her. With ALALA, maybe we can have it all, too.

Sneakers: ZQuick by Reebok; Bracelets: Skinny and Rich by Knotty Gal.

Product provided by ALALA; all thoughts/assessments are my own.
Photos by Jennifer Liu Photography.

I’ve passed by a million times on my way toward Union Square – for the Saturday greenmarket, Lululemon, Refine Method, Soul Cycle – and, I’ve always thought that it looked chic, but, not cold.

An hour later, we had chopped off 4 inches.

Too many layers, too many highlights over the years…it just seemed like the right thing to do.

In my 30s, I’m trying to embrace the fact that we go around only once, so, I may as well have a little (or a lot of) fun. And, really: don’t we all want to feel a little lighter?

Meet my Brush dream team!
Genyii & Yuli

This past Hanukkah, he gave me a Yankees cap in which I plan to train for my next *big* race, the 100 on 100.  It’s a 100-mile team relay along Vermont’s Route 100, ending near the Canadian border.  Six teammates (gathered together by my life-long friend/long-distance running partner, Audrey) will slug it out for 12+ hours, with total distance per runner coming in at 15-19 miles.  My training begins, in earnest, early next month.

In the meantime, a sports-meets-fashion homage to my favorite team.  Go, Yanks.

Images by Mariana Zenteno Photography.