Today's Obsession: Flying Pigs

As much as I love it, New York still admittedly has a way of wearing me down. Maybe it's the fact that it's snowing. Still. In April. Or maybe it's the fact that I don't eat. Or that I'm poor. Or that there's no levity to my day. Maybe it's the fact that my person is here, while my life is still in Boston. Or the catcalls at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning (really? Does that ever work out for you?). Maybe it's the fact that every time I leave someplace people ask me if I'll be safe getting home. Or the fact that even if I'm in the biggest city, I still interact with few, if any, people and curl up alone with the silence to lull me to sleep.

But then I remember this is New York, home of glittering lights and eccentric freakshows. People write songs about this place and drop everything to move from their podunk little towns to come here. Lives and love and jobs are centered around this tiny island. Here, in this slummed down city of grit and grime are some of the shiniest celebrities and skyscrapers. There's history written everywhere. And everywhere, there's history being written.

Here, on this Sepia-tinted island of the schizophrenics, it's easy to forget the positives. But the truth is that I do love New York. And I also love New York art. I'm not talking about the Met or MoMA. I mean real New York art that captures this place.

And while I give a big shout-out to this cuff bracelet, which has a taste of New York, I've been long-obsessed with this art piece. According to the artist description... "Made with actual vintage New York Times front pages, found paper, paint, tissue, cutout letters and even a few dollar bills, this piece is an original take on the MTA Subway Map, incorporating not only the subway lines but the noisy, jumbled scrapbook of neighborhoods and districts."

I have no clue what the original piece went for and it's not available, but there are relatively cheap print copies which, when matted and framed, would be pretty darn snazzy. The best part of all, I have to say, is the flying pig. As Post columnist Cindy Adams would say, "Only in New York, kids. Only in New York." Obsessed.

New York City Subway 8 x 10 paper print on etsy, $20

Today's Obsession: David Yurman (kind of)

So I know that some of my daily obsessions are a little, how do you say... indulgent? expensive? all of the above? Well I flipped through a copy of ELLE today and came across a David Yurman ad. His stuff is so simplistically classic, but even in a theoretical blog world, I can't bring myself to stomach his price tags.

So instead I did a little snooping and found a couple of websites that sell knock-off and replica jewelry at prices that are as pleasant to look at as the actual items. The trick is to search for "designer inspired" pieces. Please note that I have no clue how legally sound it is to sell (or buy) knock-off things on the Internet, but most sites have a disclaimer and clearly point out that while the jewelry is inspired by certain designers, they are not replicas. Similar, but not the same. Also, I don't really recommend buying from some of the sites that popped up. Many are just downright sketch.

But I found a site called It's A Lot Alike that sells some pretty stuff for a pretty penny. So today's obsession is David Yurman-"inspired" jewelry. Some favorites include this bracelet and this super awesome ring. With the mix of silver and gold, don't you think they'd pair well with that Michael Kors watch? Obsessed.

Aqua & Blue Multi Stone Cable Designer Inspired Bracelet, $38 

 

 Designer Like Lemon Yellow Ring, $25