The Aesthetician

I think that you might like some of the things that I like. jessica.gardner2[at]gmail.com @jessicalgardner

[jgardner]

Karen O & Ezra Koenig - The Moon Song

So two of my favorite people in the music industry got together and made a song for a movie. Karen O has a killer track record when it comes to soundtracks (I'm Not There, Where the Wild Things Are) and this is no exception. I'm also jealous of the studio time she got to spend with my perfect dream man, Ezra Koenig.

[jgardner]

Some nice things with a generally similar color palette.

[jgardner]

Mike Kelley at MoMA PS1. Long Island City's got sass.

[jgardner]

Box o' bangles & baubles #bling #alliteration #magpie #shineon #orangeisthewarmestcolor #blingisintheOED #thxlilwayne

[jgardner]

Truth.

From "Wall Piece with 200 Letters" by Mikko Kuorinki

[jgardner]

"Working" from home today. Contrary to popular belief, fall does not begin the day after Labor Day. I'll soak up every last day of summer I can thankyouverymuch.

[jgardner]

Organize anything, together. Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, know what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process.

That's what Trello has to say for itself but I'd argue that it's more than that. Trello is the most effective project management tool for both single-user and collaborative ventures.

One of my favorite features is the way it taps into the very human desire to physically acknowledge the conclusion of tasks. Trello unlocks this gratification by allowing you to manually drag tasks from "To Do" to "Doing", "Done" or any other column name you choose, mimicking the feeling of accomplishment created by crossing off items on a list.

Some of the other awesome features include deadlines, notes, checklists and customizable tabs to keep your tasks organized within each board. Next time you have a big project try setting up a Trello board to manage your time and priorities. I promise you won't want to work without it!

[jgardner]

I have a great love affair with neutrals. Aside from the obvious fact that they go with everything, there is just something so clean and classic about combing different shade of white and tan.

What I was really drawn to about this outfit was the textures. The soft wavy line of the shorts (a gift from my lovely friend C) and the nubby surface of the sweater from Zara elevate this monochromatic ensemble from lackluster to lovely.

Never one to deny the importance of ambiance, I couldn’t help but notice the textured neutrals all around me: the woven wicker chairs, the knotty wooden floorboards, the sand sparkling in the afternoon sun and of course the little bubble rising in my glass of rosé.

So next time you’re feeling sartorially stuck, take a peek around you. Inspiration is everywhere, if you have your eyes open to it!

[jgardner]

Is there anything better than starting your day nice and early by gulping black coffee from a mug that says "You're nobody until you've been ignored by a cat"? Maybe just feeling good while doing it. There have been multiple studies done that show conclusively that people who put more effort into their appearance are more productive and feel more accomplished. I know it's so tempting when you're running late or feeling exhausted to throw on the first thing you see and run out the door. But take the few extra minutes to dress for success, let your outside reflect your inside and be proud of yourself for taking pride in your appearance and your work! It doesn't hurt to have a few standby staples like this wrap dress that make the morning process a breeze. Bold, complementary accessories keep things interesting and I cant go anywhere without some kind of jacket. As for the cat mug- that's up to you.

[jgardner]

Weekend Roundup

August 23-25, 2013, in my mind, shall henceforth be known as the weekend of excellent beverages. I kicked of Friday by baking up some lovely bread pudding, and a busy weekend like this one requires a lot of, ahem, hydration. 

Having come to know and love Sonic in North Carolina, their Diet Coke slush in particular, I was super excited to find one in New Jersey. It's unfortunate that I only found it because I was lost, but sometimes that's how you find the best stuff in life.

Knowing Saturday would be a long one, I kicked off my day with a combo Green Light and Tropical juice. A full serving of fruits and veggies in hand, it was off to the Giants game!

It's always wonderful to spend a beautiful summer day outside with an awesome group of friends doing something you love. Our tailgate may not have been the most luxurious, but we had good people, good music and a great time. The Giants may not have won the game but as they say, it's only preseason.

Waking up the next morning, it was time to shake off the disappointment of the loss and seize the day. My friend S is my Sunday partner in crime. I can always count on her to try new brunch spots and spend the afternoon shopping, strolling and exploring. 

This week we started in the Flatiron area at Barbounia. It's a great Mediterranean place with a sophisticated, yet cozy atmosphere and $19.95 all you can drink Mimosas or Bellinis (yum)! Everything was delicious. The focaccia bread was light and fresh and my foie gras sausage shashuka with tomato sauce was just incredible.

Sated and invigorated, S and I took off in search of pretty things to purchase. We traveled in a very roundabout way, and as we passed the Bowery Diner decided milkshakes were a must. Mine was bourbon peanut butter. It was beautiful.

S and I did some damage in Soho, and the great stuff we got has made me so excited for fall. As much as I'm hanging on to the last days of summer, oversized sweaters and corduroys have me looking forward to boots weather. Welcome back, neutrals!

I love running into people you know in New York because it serves as a reminder of how tiny this giant world can be sometimes. So when S and I ran into my friend twice in one afternoon, we figured it as time to sit down and have a drink before he flew off to Burning Man. We had delightfully refreshing Lanskys at Galli, the perfect way to cap off a busy day and wonderful weekend.

And so another week begins...and that means another type of beverage: coffee.

[jgardner]

Academic fights are so vicious because the stakes are so small.

Gore Vidal

[jgardner]

It's game day! Let's Go Giants!

[jgardner]

There are two ways to reach me: by way of kisses or by way of the imagination. But there is a hierarchy: the kisses alone don't work.

Anaïs Nin

Anaïs Nin and Zelda Fitzgerald are my spirit animals.

[jgardner]

One of the most lasting effects of the summer I spent in New Orleans is that it taught me how to eat. I mean really eat. That city took a girl with a timid palate and opened her eyes to a whole new world of frogs legs and gator and raw oysters and etouffee. So when someone asks me what I miss most about New Orleans I never hesitate to answer, "the food".

One of my first meals there was a decadent dinner with my mother at Commander's Palace, one of the city's storied bastions of fine dining. Your leftovers come in foil swans, and the mirrored, second story garden room feels like something out of a fairy tale. But all that pales in comparison to the bread pudding.

I knew I wasn't getting anywhere near the status of Commander's (a dark chocolate, bourbon pecan) so I decided to start with this recipe and see where I wound up. I had leftover mini croissants in the kitchen and I substituted those for the French bread, because we all have an inner fat kid sometimes.

As I pulled my ingredients together I immediately started soaking the raisins in a bowl of Willett and cinnamon sticks to infuse them with that lovely bourbon flavor. I also put some raisins in a bowl of Organic Grade B maple syrup for the same purpose. Grade B syrup isn't as sweet as the stuff you probably put on your pancakes as a kid, it's a bit more tart and has an earthier flavor.

Not to worry though, there's plenty of sugar in this recipe. I had a good feeling about this as soon as I cracked my third egg and got a double yolk (Lucky!) Before I knew it the whole thing was assembled, in the oven and I was peering at it anxiously wondering if the middle would ever cook.

Spoilers: It did and it came out BEAUTIFULLY. It kills me a little that I've spent 25 years of my life not knowing I was a bread pudding goddess, but I will go forth with this knowledge and bring good.

As the tray was cooling I sprinkles chopped walnuts on top, as well as the raisins I'd fished out of both soaking liquids. I added a bit of the bourbon to the the maple syrup and drizzled that over top. For a finishing touch I dusted the entire thing with light brown sugar.

Seeing as New Orleans inspired this whole kitchen adventure, I figured it was only appropriate to celebrate my culinary achievement with a glass of bubbly in a flute from another NOLA classic- the Hermes Bar at Antoine's, where I ate dinner on my 21st birthday.

As they say, I've come a long way, baby. 

[jgardner]

Daughter - Youth (DOTCOM Remix)

I love Daughter. So so much. This London trio's album "If You Leave", released in March, has been on repeat all summer. This song is so lovely, and while the Alle Farben remix is decidedly dreamier, this DOTCOM version combines the beautiful vocals of the original with a heavier percussive, dubstep-y element that works nicely. 

[jgardner]

One of the perks of my job is the friendship I’ve developed with our archivist, Dr. Cooper. I’m always excited when he emerges from his basement lair (don’t worry, that’s a term of endearment) with a grin and some incredible piece of Morristown-Beard history.

This photo is one of my favorites. Doc supposes this may have been some sort of dance or PE class in the 1930s. It looks more romantic than that almost, almost like a Grecian oracle. I wish I’d seen this earlier in the summer, it would have been a wonderful summer maxi inspiration.

I’ll also take this opportunity to present evidence that one of the Weasley brothers is a time traveler.

[jgardner]

When you have two straight weeks of 7 AM website meetings to look forward to, the last thing you want to think about is what you have to wear to them, right? I know the website meeting thing may be my own private problem but from conversations I’ve had with friends there’s no doubt it can be tough to be a modern young woman in the workplace.

There’s a very delicate balance to looking fashionable and being taken seriously, and maintaining that balance begins with understanding the nuances of your workplace. Are you in a corporate environment? Sorry, flip flops are off the menu. (Actually, let’s just consider that an across the board rule) Have you worn that dress on a sexy date with your boyfriend? Better leave it home.

Some of this stuff may seem like common sense, but when we’re constantly bombarded with the concept of “day to night”, it can be easy to forget that it doesn’t necessarily work the other way around.

So if you’re unsure, try what I call “The Catholic School Rule”. Your outfit should be able to pass a nun’s inspection on a dress down day at any Holy Child school. Put your arms at your sides, fingers extended. Your hemline better be below those nails! I don’t want to see any undergarments!

Chances are, as a young woman in the office, you and your ideas will be taken most seriously if you present yourself as poised and polished rather than sexy and trendy. Keep it clean, keep it classy, keep it chic.

Got a favorite work outfit? Lets see it! Email or tweet me pics and I’ll add them to the album!