Charlotte Ronson RTW Fall 2014

I have always been a huge fan of Charlotte Ronson, and I love this new collection. I am kind of addicted to black on black clothes, I think it's the New Yorker in me. This dark yet romantic collection its just so chic and classic, not to mention slimming. She pairs  classic silhouettes with lace, sheers, and leather. I would love to have any of these in my closet for the fall season. 

{image source- style.com}

2013 ... 2014

To say this year has flown bye would be an understatement, I feel like I blinked and it was over. Along with millions of other people, I did a horrible job sticking to my new years resolution for more than a few weeks. I do plan to try a lot harder to keep my resolutions this upcoming year. 2014 is one to look forward to, I will be turning 30 (ugh did I just say that out loud), my best friend Nicole and fiancé Rick will also be turning 30 this year, one of my best friends Gina will be getting married, and  I have kick started my own photography & events business (Nico Assatly Events & Photography) which has always been a dream of mine. I am very excited for all that 2014 has to bring to me, my family & friends. Cheers to the New Year! 

Here are just a few of my favorite shots of the year 

Making Strides 2013

October is Breast Caner Awareness month. You may notice a ton of pink popping up all over the place, even the NFL players wear pink. Every year, the  3rd Sunday of October Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is held here in the Hudson Valley. I take part every year in memory of my grandmother & great grandmother and in honor of my mom. My grandmother was  had breast cancer several times in her life and when I was old enough to know what was going on I would walk and raise money for breast cancer research. 9 years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, thank god she caught it early. She went through treatment and is 8 years in remission. She is the strongest person I know, and I would be thankful to become half the woman she is. It is so important to get checked every year, if you have a strong family history like I do, it is a good ideas to do self exams often. This year my best friend Nicole and her mom joined us, along with my moms best friend Patti. Next year we will try and build a big team!  

If you would like to donate to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research click the link below and give what ever you can. We need a cure ! 

{ Donate Here}

Bear Mountain Oktoberfest

I absolutely love living in the Hudson Valley, it is just so beautiful in any season. Fall is my favorite time of the year, the smells, the colors, the cool crisp air, and lets not forget apple cider and pumpkin spice latte! I am lucky enough to live in an area where there is seasonal events every weekend, this past weekend we took advantage of Bear Mountain Oktoberfest which runs every weekend until October 27th. I have to be honest I thought this event would have been on the larger side based off of the location but it was very small. Being that I am gluten free the food and drink options for me were non existent but it did not take away from the experience. The grounds are beautiful and the leaves are starting to change colors. They served authentic german food, german beers in a collectors stein, and some of the larges pretzels I have ever seen. All in all it was a great time with friends. 

Christmas 2012

{beautiful salad} 

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday with their families. This year was extremely hard for my family, Christmas day marked 3 weeks since my grandfather has passed away. We decided we all needed something different this year in order to start fresh again next year with new family traditions. On Christmas eve, my mother, sister, fiancé and I took a trip to New York City to visit my uncle. We had a wonderful dinner party with great food and amazing company. The next morning, brunch on the roof top of The Kimberly Hotel, such a beautiful place to stay. Here are a few of my favorite snap shots of my holiday. 

{amazing food from ready-to-eat nyc}

{wrapping paper} 

{ my fiancé & I} 

{my family} 

 { st. patricks, nyc}

{ at the famous tree}

{the door at saks}

{grand central- nyc}

I will always remember M. George Habeeb...

{ My Grandfather George & Grandmother Virgenie on their wedding day May 25th}

The lack of updating is due to the fact that I was traveling back and forth from New York to New Jersey to visit my sick grandfather. Unfortunately his health took a turn for the worst on Thanksgiving, he was admitted to Hackensack Medical. After 12 days of fighting, he peacefully passed on December 4th. He had the most amazing life anyone could ask for, he was an amazing son, a loving and adoring husband to my grandmother, a wonderful father to my mother and uncle, and the absolute best grandfather that anyone could ask for. He was truly my best friend and to say that I heart broken and devastated is a complete understatement. He was the core of my world and my family. I was lucky enough to have him in my life for 28 years, I just wish I had 28 more. My grandmother passed away 6 years ago and ever since then I would go down to visit him at least once a week to have our famous lunch dates. He lived in a senior community which is like a college campus its amazing and they knew him as the mayor. If you needed something done you went to George. Hackensack Medical and their Critical Care Unit were fantastic, they took amazing care of him. He had a team of doctors and nurses that would watch over him and they were the best of the best. when we would leave at night I didn't have to go home and worry that they were not going to take care of him. They treated and cared for  him like he was their own.  You can't find a better staff in the area, their hearts are in the right place. I cant thank them enough.

We have asked that friends donate to Hackensack Medical University Hospital CCU Heart department, where he had spent his final days. They were so amazing we wanted to make sure we gave back to them so that they are able to do the same for other families. To make a donation in M.George Habeeb's name please send it to  Critical Care fund- Dr. Berkowitz's Heart Failure Program.

Hackensack UMC Foundation

c/o Heart Failure Program

360 Essex Street Suite 301

Hackensack, NJ 07601

      * Please write on your donation: In Memory of M. George Habeeb.

** They will send you a receipt of your donation for tax purposes 

{ St. Patricks Day 2012 - Lunch Date}

{M. George Habeeb}

{ One of our many trips to Atlantic City}

{ The day after my grandfather passed, my uncle saw these 2 white doves on a very small ledge on the 23rd fl of his high rise apartment in NYC. There is never a thing let alone a bird there. My grandfather and grandmother are together again.}

Lawrence Farms Orchards, Newburgh NY

If you live in New York you are lucky enough to get all four seasons. Fall happens to be my favorite, the crisp air, the fall foliage and the smell of hot apple cider. When October comes around you know it's time to go apple & pumpkin picking. We recently visited Lawrence Farm Orchards in Newburgh, NY.  As soon as you pull in you can smell the hot apple cider and warm apple cider donuts. Since it was an early spring, the apple trees bloomed early which caused and early crop so we could not pick the apples off the trees this year. Over all we all had a great time.

Lake George, NY

After weeks of thinking about a small mini vacation to go on on without using all of my vacation time at work, my fiancé and I decided on Lake George, NY. I remember growing up, my grandparents would take me every summer, and at that age the 3 hour drive seemed like 6. I loved being in such a small town, staying in a hotel with an indoor pool, and morning visits to the pancake house for the best breakfast.  When you think Lake George you think the Minne Ha Ha. Lake George Steamboat Company has been a staple there for as long as I can remember, you cannot visit and not take a ride on one of the 3 famous steamboats. One of my best breakfast places ever is The Silo Restaurant and Country Store. Anything you can think of they have, I chose the Belgium waffles with maple syrup. We had the most amazing waitress that made us feel like family. She asked us if we knew where we were eating dinner tonight, being that she was a local we asked for her recommendation, she said Georges the best steak house in the area.  We took her up on her offer and went to the early bird special of prime rib and it was out of this world, it is a must visit. After dinner we wanted ice cream and I remember seeing a neon sign for ice cream with a rooster on top, you really could not miss it. Martha's Dandee Creme, had an amazing list of flavors, it has also been a Lake George landmark for more then 5o years! It was an amazing trip that I can not wait to do again!

{Minne Ha Ha}

{The Silo Restaurant & Country Store}

{ Yummy breakfast @ The Silo}

{ Martha's Dandee Creme- the best ice cream}

Cheers & love