Lily Sage of Sage Beauty is back for another Blogging Through the City post! In today's guest post, Lily is taking you along for the ride of one of her latest NYC shopping adventures. Keep reading to find out some of her fav finds!

I’m so excited to take all of you fabulous readers along with me to one of my favorite stores for all things gorgeous. Anthropologie is a store that combines beauty, fashion, home decor, and so much more all in one spot. Lucky for you, you don't have to live in NYC to take advantage of this gem either.

The Beauty

I always discover new luxury brands at Anthropologie, in addition to some of my favorites that are always part of my routine.  For skincare I always pick up a few items from Mario Badescu when I’m there.  The Drying Lotion is one of the most iconic products in the line and is adored by bloggers and beauty editors alike.  Using Salicylic Acid and Calamine it will erase breakouts overnight.  The Glycolic Foaming Cleanser exfoliates and is great to incorporate into your routine twice a week for a brightening boost and to unclog pores.  The Facial Spray is great as a toner and to refresh the skin anytime throughout the day. I always carry this with me when I’m traveling.

The Royal Apothic Hand Cream in Holland Park has a light fresh scent that reminds me of the scent left behind from an impromptu London sunshower.  This is great to keep in your purse or next to your bed to soothe dry hands.

During my most recent visit to Anthropologie I discovered Isabey Eau de Parfum in Fleur Nocturne.  This sensual floral fragrance is a blend of white peach,  jasmine, and vanilla which reminds me of a warm summer night.

The Home

Anthropologie has a magical selection of home decor options that will give a colorful and sophisticated touch to every room in your apartment.  Whether it’s retro-inspired aprons, unique cookbooks, wine glasses, dishes, candles, or personalized mugs there is something for everyone,  and you will have a myriad of choices to inspire you.

As engagement/graduation/wedding season approaches Anthropologie is also a great place to find the perfect gift.

I love giving books as gifts,  and as engagement and wedding season is quickly approaching and a fun cookbook or some creative kitchen essentials are memorable presents.

Tea pots are classic but the floral motif gives a fun retro vibe.

These gorgeous coasters immediately caught my eye and will add an unique and chic element to your table.

These gorgeous tumblers also come in green and blue, but pink is my favorite color.  They are perfect for summer cocktails but I like to get a bit more creative and use them as candle holders or for my bathroom to hold makeup brushes or even cotton rounds!

 As a writer I love collecting planners and blank notebooks, and these were just too irresistible.

The Fashion

As soon as I walked into the store I saw three dresses that I need to add to my wardrobe.  I love the clothes at Anthropologie because they range from casual and cozy sweaters to everyday office staples to statement dresses that work season after season.  I see the brand as feminine and fashion forward.  This is where your boho-glam, inner fashionista can come out in full bloom. 

This dress is an incredibly versatile piece because the neutral colors can work all year round, the length is appropriate for any occasion, and it can be dressed up with a statement platform heels and a belt,  or dress down with leather jacket. 

Neutral blush tones are a big trend for this spring, and the metallic bronze color can easily transition from spring to summer as the evening bag that goes with everything. 

I hope you enjoyed this shopping excursion!

---

Lily Sage is the founder and editor at Sage Beauty. On her blog she shares all things that inspire her including style, beauty, travel and anything that makes life a little more fabulous. You can keep in touch with her on Instagram @sagebeautyblog! 

---

When I go to a street fair or food festival I try not to have a preconceived notion of what I am going to eat. I like to walk around, survey the scene and if something looks tasty I’ll give it a whirl.

I certainly didn’t foresee that I’d be eating a “Kronie” when I ventured down to Little Italy for the San Gennaro Festival a couple years ago. I’ve been going to the traditional Fall Italian celebration since the 1990s and though it has become increasingly overcrowded with slow walking tourists, there is still plenty of delicious street food to be discovered.

My favorite discovery in recent years has been Jolie’s Sweet Creations. In the middle of the expected vendors selling sausage and peppers heroes, Sicilian rice balls, and canolis I spotted a stand with rows of colorfully frosted doughnuts that seemed to have the flakey crust of a croissant.

French pastry chef Dominique Ansel has received a great deal of attention and accord for his “Cronut” desert, but if you don’t want to brave the 7:00 am lines at his Soho bakery, Jolie’s Sweet Creations version, the “Kronie” is an excellent alternative.

Created by Joe Floriano of Enrico’s Pastry shop and named for his sweet four-year-old daughter Jolie, the “Kronie” has great doughy texture similar to a really well made French Cruller with an exterior that is light and flakey like a croissant. 

The “Kronies” are filled with a variety of delicious icings, jellies, and custard fillings.  Every flavor of “Kronie” that I’ve tried has been terrific, but two that really stand out for me are the Raspberry and Salted Caramel.

I’ve been lucky enough to spot a Jolie’s Sweet Creations stand at two different Manhattan street fairs this summer.  If I lived closer to either of the Enrico’s Pastry Shops in the Bronx or Hartsdale I would likely have a serious “Kronie” addiction. 

I will definitely be feasting on Jolie’s “Kronies” soon at this year's Feast of San Gennaro, which kicks off today. You can also try one by visiting one of their storefronts or ordering from their website.

---

Chris Sandstrom - Is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of the debut novel, "Reality TV and Hookers" a satire on the reality TV industry. You can keep up with Chris on Twitter at @ChrisSandstrom8.

Finding Food in NYC Is a series highlighting how Chris discovered some of his favorite food spots in New York City.

---

I have a little treat for you this Friday. Today I'm excited to announce the kick-off of a new guest series I will be featuring by my other half, Chris Sandstrom. In this series Chris will highlight how he discovered some of his favorite food spots in the city (Spoiler: He has pretty good taste in food). So without further ado, welcome to Finding Food in NYC.

Photo Credit: Grubstreet

The combination of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony has yet to lead to many wins, but it did lead me to American Cut.  Last year when the Zen Master was trying to convince the then free agent Anthony to stay in New York I read an article describing their meeting at the Marc Forgione steakhouse. Apparently Carmelo had the Filet Mignon and the Caesar Salad.

I decided that my next fancy dinner would take place at the restaurant where Phil (and $124 million) persuaded Melo to stay with the Knicks.  It was a decision I did not regret. The meal was excellent from start to finish. For my steak I went with The New York City Cut, a 20 oz Bone-In Rib Eye with pastrami spices and smoke. It was as good as it sounds.

Photo Credit: American Cut

I have long been a devotee to the Caesar salad and American Cut’s version, listed on the menu as the OG 1924 Hotel Caesar. It may be the best I’ve ever eaten. It features Parmigiano Reggiano, Soft Egg, and Pullman Crouton. Nothing revolutionary, but remarkably effective when chopped tableside and combined with the perfect amount of an absolutely delicious dressing. If Melo chose to stay with the Knicks only for regular access to this Caesar I couldn’t fault him.

My girlfriend and fellow burger enthusiast recently alerted me to an article on Eater touting American Cut’s off the menu In-House Burger. We knew instantly that we had to try it while at the same time getting another taste of that Caesar.

One can't simply walk into the restaurant and order a burger at anytime. Only a finite number are made each day. At 4:20 each afternoon American Cut tweets how many burgers they will have for the evening.  The number seems to usually be in the 10 to 15 range. They can only be ordered at the bar and once those dozen or so burgers are sold, that’s it for the night.

We arrived a little before the kitchen opened at 5:30 pm and had little trouble securing burgers.  There are only four elements to the burger (meat, cheese, onions, bun) and they compliment each other perfectly.

Photo Credit: American Cut Twitter

The meat is a savory blend of short rib, dry aged rib eye, and brisket. The onions are caramelized in bourbon and topped with right amount of a melted cheddar and fontina beer cheese. All of this tastiness sits in sesame seeded pretzel bun that is baked in house. The pretzel bun was so good that I could have eaten it with nothing more than a little butter and considered the meal a rousing success.

I sincerely hope that Carmelo Anthony’s tenure in New York ultimately brings me more joy than just the discovery of a great restaurant, although that is more than many Knicks free agent acquisitions have done (I’m looking at you Jerome James.)

---

Chris Sandstrom - Is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of the debut novel, "Reality TV and Hookers" a satire on the reality TV industry. You can keep up with Chris on Twitter at @ChrisSandstrom8.

Finding Food in NYC Is a series highlighting how Chris discovered some of his favorite food spots in New York City.