A charming walk in the park.

J Crew

I have been looking for a fun necklace to spice up my all black uniform. I like the J Crew selection but looking for something a little more original. Stella & Dot has a fun one too.

Stella & Dot

And then I found myself on etsy.com. It's the site for all things crafty.
Searched for "vintage enamel necklaces" and voila.

Talulabelles

Mine is called "A Walk in the Park." I'm very excited. It's made by a company called Talulabelles, a mother daughter design team from Yorkshire, England.

Here were the contenders:

J Crew
Stella & Dot

And my purchase: ESTY for $55.00.

Brother, can you spare a dime?

When a friend of mine pulled out this coin purse the other day, I was reminded of how much I love this logo. Graphic genius.

It's the paper cup most New Yorkers get who still buy their coffee from street vendors. It's also widely used by homeless people asking for change, and so it follows that part of the proceeds from the sale of each purse goes to HELP USA, an organization working with the homeless since 1986.

These days I feel more mindful of spare change.

Naughty or Nice?

It's beautiful, and yes, the coffee is really that delicious.

Nespresso CitiZ C120 Automatic and programmable Espresso and Lungo Machine w/Frother, Fire-engine red

When I visit my friend Jane in New York, I have to limit myself. Their Nespresso machine beckons an addiction.

The good news is that I stay around the corner from the Nespresso cafe and store where there is a gallery of coffee pod varieties and strengths to choose from.

And yes, you can recycle the capsules. These days what's better than a latte with a good conscience?

At $349 it's totally worth the investment. Next is a class in latte art, offered at Intelligentsia Coffee, 594 Broadway on January 7th or February 4th.

In 2011, I resolve to be a coffee achiever. So far, so good.