Spotting Nature's Patterns Upstate

The weekend before last, I went upstate with my husband and a few very good friends. We spent most of Saturday in the woods, hiking…inspecting…breathing in all of the clean air. It was an incredible escape from the city and the first time I’ve opted out of Halloween mayhem and intricate costume design. It was a welcome move…one that felt appropriate for my second trimester days of pregnancy.

Here are a few photos from our hike…and while there weren’t any birds left, the binoculars came in handy for the changing hues. We also found bark moonlighting as gold and leaves that looked like lace – all in the natural process of decomposition. In catching this special transition, it felt like we were witnessing a loss of symmetry throughout – and all that accompanies the random beauty of autumn.

November 9, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Biking in New York

Ever since citibike set up shop in New York, I’ve been total convert. The one-way trips make life a lot easier and it’s a relief not to worry about the maintenance, upkeep and theft. I’ll admit there are times when it’s a real drag- like when you have five minutes to make a meeting and all the docks are full, or when you want to accelerate and the heaviness of the bike slows your enthusiasm to a slow cruise, but overall, it’s one of the best things to happen to the city in the past year. Bloomberg and Paul Steely White get kudos for that.I was at the Transportation Alternative’s holiday party earlier this week and the stats were incredible. On cold rainy days, there are about 20K rides a day, and when the sun’s warm and shining, the numbers are over 40K. Incredible. Here’s the daily tracker chart, if you’re interested.

Though I’m a huge fan of the blue bike, I’d be lying if I didn’t share the fabulousness that is this chevron beauty. It belongs to my neighbor, and if I ever end up purchasing a bike again, this might be it. Style, function and health, a combo I applaud.

December 5, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Color: Pale Palettes for Summer

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I’ve been living in a new apartment since September and the street’s a rather commercial one. It’s filled with banks, steakhouses, furniture showrooms and the Fed Ex and UPS headquarters. When you’re rushing to the train, it’s easy to miss the charm, but when you’re lingering, noticing the details, the gems start to pop. Here’s a beautiful find along Greenwich, just north of Canal St.

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The color blocking and pale palette represents the summer months ahead and it inspired me to make a stripe, then a plaid, then experiment some more.

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Here are a few darker compliments filled with contrast. They’re reminiscent of men’s outerwear – specifically the snow gear that’s about to get packed away and stored til the Fall.

April 8, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Seasonal Snowflake Display

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In anticipation of the blustery snow I’ll be shoveling on my visit to Rhode Island this weekend, I have snowflakes on the mind. This origami display shines sharp in it’s perfect precision. Paper always has the ability to convey multiple moods when well lit and properly prepared. The Miwa Alex Salon of New York hit it on the nail, wouldn’t you say?

March 6, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracing Love Round the World

I always tell people American Two Shot‘s one of my favorite brands to follow on Instagram. Artistic, funny and relevant, this Valentines day gram‘s right on the money, particularly for New Yorkers.

In line with their logo, The Darkroom of London‘s window decal is right on brand. Creating a multilingual ‘i love you’ pillow, card and iphone case, Schauleh Sahba of San Francisco experiments with type for her latest textiles. Dressing mannequins in Helsinki, these heart charms are part of an elaborate, busy display for a children’s accessory store.

Tapping The Darkroom once again, their pattern-blocked African heart cards have a simplistic, edgy beauty. Meanwhile, these overlapping Japanese grids emit a precise, zen-like mood. Expressing love for food in Paris, the heart replaces the cupcake, which replaces the macaron in the Marais.

Happy Valentines Day!

February 14, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Hurricane Sandy

It’s hard to believe it’s already Wednesday. While my husband and I have been without power and heat in lower Manhattan, sensing the shortened days and prolonged nights, in a weird way, the week seems to have already evaporated. For the uber-connected and internet obsessed, there’s been a sense of calm merged with anxiety as a result of disconnection. One in three texts go through (if at all) and reserve power is a valuable asset. You have to make a decision, which platform’s most valuable- Twitter, Instagram or Facebook? For me, Twitter’s been the most informative, eating the least amount of data.

Bikes and vespas rule the streets and the days have been organized around power-charging runs and visits with friends. In a way, it’s kind of an interesting curve ball in the monotony of life’s routine, that said, I can’t even begin to imagine what would be, had the storm been any worse. Here are a few photos from my neighborhood: The Hudson river at 3pm before the storm hit, a bit of the aftermath of the Westside Highway, The lobby of Truffles, an apartment building two blocks away, and firefighters combing zone A during the storm surge.

We just relocated to my inlaws uptown. Hopefully everyone in the New York/New Jersey area’s safe and sound and hanging tight. My thoughts are with all of you.

-Shayna

October 31, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik