A whale of a day

Last Wednesday I blogged about my new Vineyard Vines finds; today I'm going to blog about visiting Vineyard Vines Headquarters!

The fine folks over at VV invited myself and a few other lucky bloggers to come out to their offices in Connecticut for a 'Blogger Day'. We toured HQ - it looks like the most fun place to work. We were shown the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 collections. (I already have a long wish list.) We ate lunch at a delightful outdoor cafe right on the water called the Crab Shell. Ian and Shep joined us which was such a treat. My father (who is in the fashion business as well) heard them speak at a seminar several years ago and was very impressed. I feel lucky to have been in the presence of that shared integrity and commitment as well. After lunch, we went out on their boats and road around the Long Island Sound. I have to say that there was a instance that the boat sped up, I kicked my legs out and turned my face up to the sun. We rode the choppy waves and felt the air rushing at us. It was absolutely exhilarating and one of my favorite moments of the summer thus far.

Here are some of my favorite photos from today.


The car that picked us up!




My favorite dress from the Fall 2009 collection.




What we rode around in...




I'M ON A BOAT!!!


I truly cannot say enough nice things about the Vineyard Vines team. They are kind, they are generous, and they welcomed us with open arms. Every aspect of the day was just incredible and I am so honored to have been invited. Next time you make a Vineyard Vines purchase, be confident that you are supporting an absolutely amazing group of people. Today, they truly showed me the Good Life.

And because I know you're dying to know, here's what I took home.



What did I tell you... the most generous group of people, truly. Hands down the best gift bag I've ever received!

Thank you to every at Vineyard Vines for a day I will not soon forget.

Scamlando

First and foremost, I must apologize for recent posts that have been published much later in the day than I would like. In the past month or so I've picked up some freelance work and that has kept me quite busy. JGIWC is my first love, but it is a labor of love, and someone's got to pay for this ridiculous wardrobe. And someday soon, that someone's gonna be me.

Today, I found myself writing a piece about Orlando travel tips and I found myself growing nostalgic. Did I ever mention that this was my last place of residence before moving to the Big Apple? Yep, good ole House of Mouse. (That's actually the name that used to read as the destination city for Jet Blue flights out of JFK.) Does anyone remember when Power 95.3 was PARTY 95.3 and they called it "Scamlando"? Today, I found myself actually missing the Scam.

Ehmagod.

I led a charmed life in Central Florida, no doubt about it. Luxury apartments, weekly trips to Neiman Marcus, and many a dinner at Kobe Steakhouse. But at the end of my time there, things took a turn for the worse and I was really miserable. I left the city with a sour taste in myself and two years later I have yet to return.

I miss the Lilly store and downtown and my Jeep. I miss the ability to hop on I-4 and see my Nana a mere two hours later. I miss the freedom.

Sure, it's the city where the White Trash of America drown their life savings to see the Mouse himself. Sure, in Spanish it means The City Beautiful and we all know it ain't. But it's not all bad. See, there I am showcasing our downtown...



A restaurant named Panchero's that had creepy midnight commercials on the CW and a homeless guy whose sign reads "Why lie? I need booze".

In all seriousness, it has a lot to offer and I look forward to traveling there in March and being reunited with many of my favorite sorority sisters. To all of my readers who live there, enjoy it.

It's not half as bad as I make it out to be.

These are a few of my favorite things... lately.

Brokelyn, a website dedicated to frugal living in the Big Apple. Great tips about how to get designer duds for less - right up my alley.

Green Giant's Shoepeg White Corn & Butter Sauce. The perfect summer snack.

Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, which I'm currently reading.

Essie's Mini How High nail polish. In the words of my mother, "Bat Mitzvah Pink".

Bud Light.

Meet me at the Met

Happy Friday, readers! Here is a [wildly unflattering] photo of me from last night. Snappy and I attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art Young Members Party, which is basically a three hour open bar with good snacks and groovy tunes. Don't you always go to a big party and think, 'what a strange crowd'? This was no exception. It was a third couture, a third preppy, and a third schleppy. We had a fabulous time.

My dress is Calypso and my shoes are Diane von Furstenberg.

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

PEPPY PICKS

Nope - that word isn't missing an 'R'. Today I'm giving you peppy picks - things to make you smile!

Today was the best mail day I've had in a long time. In it I received: my new Stella & Dot earrings (which I plan on wearing to a party tonight), a Starbucks card from Sunshine in the City as a thank you for dog sitting for her the other day, and a letter from my sorority that a dear sister and friend made a donation to our foundation in my honor. (AKM, I LOVE YOU!!!)

Want to make someone's day as good as mine via mail? Why not send a Hallmark card with music. Just look at this one Murphy's New Law gave me yesterday.

Why yes, it IS backwards because I am lazy and used Mac Photobooth instead of a real camera, but check out that little wheel in the corner. When you turn it, SCHROEDER AND SNOOPY DANCE AND THE CARD PLAYS THE LUCY AND LINUS THEME SONG! No, it's not my birthday, but CJM sure gets a gold star for best card EVER (and six months early, too!)




Loving this Cocktail Compass. This and 35 more low-cost, smile-inducing products at Real Simple. (My other favorites are individual wines with bendy straws and computer fairy light bulb strands.)




I thought the tee shirt I'm wearing today may make you laugh as well. I'm not even sure what's going on here. It's like a double decker bus demolishing a red phone booth. It's Marc Jacobs (if that explains anything) and I bought it in London. I paired it with Seven for all Mankind denim cutoffs and black J. Crew flip flops. No glitz here. Certainly not preppy, but this tee sure does make me feel PEPPY!

Don't stop till you get enough

(No, this post isn't about MJ. I just couldn't resist.)


I just have to tell you all about the WHALE OF A DEAL I got this morning!


A little birdy in a tree told me recently that Filene's Basement is in some sort of financial trouble and is therefore having a clearance sale and that she'd gotten a few cute Vineyard Vines steals. Lover all of all things sale (it's my favorite four-letter word, after all), I headed over to NYC's Union Square location, promising myself not to spend over $100.


Here's what I wound up with:



Nancy coat in Cobalt Blue. This was the perfect find for me, because my Burberry quilted jacket is going on six years of wear and tear and has certainly seen better days. No doubt if my mother was in town she'd ask me why in the world I bought a fall coat in light blue and I suppose she's right, but I do think this will look great with dark denim come October.




Margo skirt in Ring Toss. I found this at the last moment and decided to get it instead of another skirt I was pondering because it was far cuter and ten dollars less! Look closely - each of the little life rafts says "Vineyard Vines"!




Riptide Rugby dress in Paradise Pink. I also think this will be lovely come Fall. I love polo dresses. They are so juvenile... just like me.


Grand total of these three items? $99.91.


RUN DON'T WALK to your local Filene's Basement. I'm hoping there is one in your town. Also, for my male readers, there WAS a nice men's VV section as well. There was an amazing pair of turtle-printed swim trunks that I wanted to pick up for my boyfriend. (I call him Snappy - for many reasons that I will not get into now, but suffice it to say, I have always loved turtles and think they represent some of the best qualities in life.) Unfortunately, they only seemed to have XL and up, which he is certainly not.


I did, however, purchase these shoes for myself in honor of him...

Priced-right gift picks

I recently wrote an article on birthday gifts for $100 and under. It inspired me to do a bit more research, and here's what I came up with...





Tiffany & Co. Bow pendant in sterling silver. How fabulous is this?! MUST. OWN. IMMEDIATELY. And for only $100, I think I just may!




Baby Elephant ring holder. How JGIWC is this? I always recommend Red Envelope to anyone in search of a great gift. I have a recently engaged dear friend whom I am sure would adore this as well!




Have I ever mentioned that I LIVE for Target? There you go, I told you a few secrets and now they're spilling out like paint from a tipped can. I was there this weekend and picked up an adorable Shabby Chic frame. I loved this one as well, but mine is a bit different. I LOVE giving picture frames as gifts - with a cute photo of me and the recipient in it, of course.