The Preppy Picks - Cheers to you!

Many of my good friends have birthdays in August, so you know what that means... I'm about to embark on a gift-giving extravaganza. In honor of their peridot pleasures, I'm making somewhat of a cheat sheet for this weeks TPP. Even though most of these friends aren't necessarily preppy, everyone loves a preppy present. Especially from their favorite JGIWC. Especially if it's cocktail related.

This week's inspiration comes from my dear friend MMM. She gave me a nice bottle of wine and a fleur-de-lis wine stopper for Hanukkah. It was perfect; something to share and something all for myself. Plus, I think of her every time I cork a bottle of vino, which is just the way she would want it! What a great gift idea; I hope she doesn't mind if I borrow it.



I love this monogrammed wine stopper from Monogram Chick. The price point is perfect and with seven different fonts and two types of wood to choose from, there's something for everyone.

My dear friend AMH recommended The Pink Monogram on her blog. I found the most beautiful monogrammed red wine glasses over there.



An absolute steal at $48.

(Also available in white wine style.)

Not all of my pals are wine gals. Luckily, my friends over at Preppy Parade have lots of great "Cheers to you!" gifts that are not exclusive to grapes.



Is it just me, or is it near impossible to find great cocktail napkins that are non-disposable? Stop your search! I found the perfect ones over at Preppy Parade. With 12 different fonts and 21 different thread colors, the combinations are endless! These will pair well with a nice bottle of top shelf spirit.

Have a friend who likes to play bartender?



This embroidered bar towel just may be the perfect thing. Not a Jimmy Buffet fan? Hey, it happens. (Though I sure do know plenty!) Preppy Parade offers two other adorable options.





If you have something else in mind, the lovely T over at Preppy Parade will take requests for custom orders!

Speaking of the lovely T, I want to take a minute to share some beautiful gifts she sent me!

The disk below my badge reel is a monogrammed pocket mirror! Preppy perfection!

The JGIWC does Super Saturday

Every summer, Nova's Ark Project in Water Mill hosts Super Saturday. It's a fundraiser for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and essentially the biggest 'Garage Sale' in all of fashion. Over 200 prestigious designers come out and sell their items for deeply discounted prices. Ticket prices this year were $450 for 17 and over; $150 for 5-16 year olds; and children under 5 are admitted free. You are only guaranteed a goodie bag if you buy your ticket early on. (This year they ran out of goodie bags several days before the event but continued to sell tickets nonetheless.)



The event is entirely outdoors with tents designated mostly for bar and food. It was unbearably hot, but the bottles of Voss and Grey Goose cocktails helped some!



A word of caution to future Super Saturday shoppers: Strike while the iron is hot. (Literally.) I fell in love with an Alice + Olivia dress and couldn't make up my mind. When I went back to buy it an hour later, it was gone.

I did, however, get this fabulous Marc by Marc Jacobs dress:



Celebrity sightings:

Tommy Mottola (Touch my body! Not really. But I love your ex.)
Molly Sims (Adorable!)
Oprah's pal Gayle (My mom spotted her. I wouldn't know who this woman was if I fell over her. I'm sorry. Clearly not an Oprah watcher.)
Christy Turlington (Beautiful!)

Getting gifts for giving to charity certainly aren't necessary, but I'm sure not complaining. Here's what my goodie bag looked like after swapping with Mom, Dad, and the Baby Fashionista:



100% of all proceeds go to the OCRF.

East End Girls...

Here are some fun photos from my recent trip to the Hamptons!


The baby fashionista and I lunching at Cittanuova.


One of my favorite places in all of East Hampton. Best donuts in the whole wide world!


Typical TAG!


J. Crew at the Beach... how typically witty.


Sisters on the beach!


SO JGIWC.


Sand dune!

More to come. :)

The rumors are true...

My beloved AEG of Adventures in Argyle is joining me in the Big Apple!



I couldn't be happier to be reunited full-time with my favorite gal pal. The search for Todd and Alan (the male equivalent of us: a Waspy Jew and a Preppy Catholic) lives on!

The one and only Kappa Prep over at Monograms and Manicures tagged me to do the below Meme. Not only is she a sorority sister, but she's also a fellow Texan!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others that you like and tell why.
3. Tag 5 random people at the end of post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

This is tough as my music taste is extremely eclectic and I don't really apologize for any of it. However, here are 5 of the cheesiest songs I love that I may or may not be embarrassed over.

1. 1-2-3 by Gloria Estefan It was a toss up between this and Reach, which was the theme song for the 1996 Olympics. We did it in sign language as the opening number for our big end-of-the-summer production at the University of Miami theatre camp. That is one cheesy song, but so is this. It reminds me of growing up in Miami, sitting in the backseat of my parents' Mercedes, driving over the ocean on I-95.

2. I Can't Wait by Hilary Duff Yes, I was a slave to Lizzie McGuire. Yes, I bought a bootleg copy of The Lizzie McGuire Movie on Canal Street days after it debuted in theaters. Yes, I went to her concert last summer and loved every minute of it. YES, I AM A NERD.

3. Salaam by Sheva We used to sing this in BBYO. It's sung in Hebrew and only has two lyrics.
They are:
Od yavo' shalom aleinu
Ve al kulam.
Which translates to:
Peace will come upon us
and on everyone.

4. You are Everything by The Stylistics I had to include a Wonder Years moment on this list. From the episode "Double Date", this is the song that plays when Kevin and Winnie each ditch their respective date and search frantically for one another on the dance floor. They go to the cliff (standard makeout place) and are clearly still so in love, even though they have just broken up. Kevin is so riled up that he kisses her on the eye instead of the mouth. She then kisses him on his eye. Meanwhile, I'm sobbing like a baby.

5. For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder This reminds me of the end of Exodus. Ari: "I drove to work in an $80,000 Mercedes, I'm driving home in a prop car from the 'Fast and the Furious'." Then he drunkenly dances with Mrs. Ari outside of their house; it's one of my favorite Entourage scenes of all time.

I would like to tag...
Summertime Beauty
Hello Darling!
Vineyard Girl
Rhymes with Cori
Magnolias, Marriage and Manhattan

A few other important pieces of news...

The lovely people over at Tailor New York wanted me to let you all know about coupon code "luke631" and a 30% private sale with free shipping and a free belt all summer long with every purchase!

The first NYC Bloggers dinner will take place two weeks from tomorrow. If you're in the area and would like to join in the fun, please email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com.

I received a pair of Princess Peach earrings in the mail yesterday and there was no note in the package. If you sent me these, please email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com so that I can send you a proper thank you!

I'm back from the East End! Photos and stories starting tomorrow.

The Preppy Picks

In honor of my pact to send more mail out in July (it's still going strong!) I've chosen to feature these return address stamps from Monogram Chick



I've seen these stamps before, but I've never seen this many choices. I love the first one because it has fleur de lis, and I love the design of the second one. I think I may have to invest in one of these. The stamp is easy to store and takes ink refills which Monogram Chick also stores. The price is reasonable and the choices are endless! This website has a plethora of other fun, preppy items, many, of course, featuring what else... monograms!


One of the many ironies of my life is that I love to entertain but I'm not much of a cook (not to mention that my apartment is somewhere around 400 square feet). I need primo products that can mask the fact that I'm an amateur hostess (for now).


Enter the Cutting Board from Petit Boutique Online. This does double duty as a chopping block and a serving platter, which works great for this NYC resident. My cabinet and counter space is at a premium, so I need all the multi-functioning pieces I can find! This is beautiful and the monogram on the lower right-hand corner is the perfect finishing touch.


One last summer blast?



I know, I know. The time has officially come to begin purchasing Autumn clothing. I was in a state of horror while shopping in J. Crew several days ago; their summer sale section was down to a single wall and Fall was out in full force. However, I'm a firm believer in purchasing a few great last minute things at the end of each season to go out with a bang. After seeing the store in Southampton had closed, I was sure that this little gem had gone out of business. I'm happy to report that I was wrong. For this top and more, visit Tailor New York online.


Also, Vineyard Vines is having a great online sale.

I'm off to the Hamptons, readers! I will be back Monday with lots to tell.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A declaration of love. (And independence.)

I was officially TAGged me to do the Alphabet Meme!

A. Attached or Single? The latter.
B. Best Friend? My beloved AEG, the author of Adventures in Argyle. She is the only person who understands the importance of my crazy family, mac and cheese at four in the morning, and my extensive underpinnings collection. She gets me. She is truly my other half.
C. Cake or pie? You all already know that I eat cookies every single day of my life. It seems cruel to make me pick one. At the end of the day, I love cake (especially in the form of cups - there is currently a big pan of Funfetti sitting next to me) but being the Southern girl I am, I do appreciate a good pie.
D. Day of choice? I love Thursdays and Saturdays the very most.
E. Essential item? BlackBerry.
F. Favorite color? Yellow.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Worms coated in sugar.
H. Home town? Miami, Florida.
I. Favorite indulgence? Pinkberry. Really, anything sugary. I don't have one sweet tooth - I have a mouth full of them.
J. January or July? Don't make me choose! My birthday is in January and my half birthday is in July.
K. Kids? One day! And my dad has already promised to buy each of my children their first pair of Gucci loafers. He probably meant when they're 18, which is when I got mine, but I had a little something different in mind.
L. Life isn’t complete without? My incredible family. They are my everything.
M. Marriage date? Still waiting for the Mensch in Madras, my friends.
N. Number of brothers and sisters? My baby fashionista. She's 15 and the best gift I've ever gotten.
O. Oranges or Apples? I'm sorry Florida; I choose apples...
P. Phobias? FIRE. I always jump backward at that point of the Benihana meal. It gets me everytime.
Q. Quotes? "Go the extra mile; it's never crowded." And anything that Ari Gold says.
R. Reasons to smile? I have too many to count. That's a reason to smile in of itself.
S. Season of choice? I live for Summer.
T. Tag 5 people:
Book Worm Britt
So Cheap Chic (both AMH and Polka Dot)
The Prep-E Girl
Rhymes With Cori
Mom to the Screaming Masses
U. Unknown fact about me? I have every single episode of The Wonder Years on VHS except the one when the neighbor is smoking pot in the basement, because that one is almost impossible to find.
V. Vegetable? Artichoke, Asparagus, Carrots, Snap Peas, Zucchini. I really wish mushrooms counted because they are pretty much an entire food group to me. I literally can eat them out of a bowl (and have).
W. Worst habit? Overanalyzing.
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? I'm not really sure.
Y. Your favorite food? Aside from everything I've listed above?
Z. Zodiac sign? Aquarius. Water woman.
Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Elephant. I hope to ride one someday.

The wonderful Book Worm Britt has presented me with an award! It is now my duty to pass it onto three wonderful bloggers whom I feel are deserving, so without further ado...

Adventures in Argyle
The Preppy Vegan
EuropaFox

Thank you all for providing me with fun reading material! Each of your blogs brightens up my day.

I received my Christmas in July swap last night, and I couldn't think of a better way to top off the already great day I was having. I may or may not have the best partner in the whole wide world. So once again, without further ado...

M is for MONOGRAM!


E is for ESSENTIAL!


R is for RED (PINK for this JGIWC) and GREEN!


R is for REGIFT!


Y is for YOU WANT ONE FOR YOURSELF!


Thank you, E! I am over the moon and so lucky to have you as my partner!

I have to end this post with a small anecdote. During my senior year of college, I was lucky enough to secure an internship with a highly regarded literary publication. I was a poetry editor, which meant rifling through hundreds upon hundreds of submissions and only being able to pick several. One of my first weeks on the job, I sat at the kitchen table and cried, my tears staining the poems. Rejecting 99% of that work was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, and I worried in turn that no one would every truly appreciate my writing the way it is meant to be appreciated.

To everyone who reads Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing... Thank you, thank you, thank you. Words cannot do justice to express how much your support means to me.

I LOVE MY READERS!

XXX
TAG

Brunch with The Lunch Belle

You've all heard me talk (read me write...?) about my dear friend The Lunch Belle. She writes a fabulous food blog based on her dining experiences in New York City. Last week, she invited me to join her for brunch at Icon in The W Hotel. I had several reservations at Icon in the recent past that had coincidentally all fallen through, so this proved to be the perfect chance to try the restaurant that I was so curious about with one of my favorite people!

For my appetizer, I had Chicken Lollipops. They were buffalo style with Maytag Blue. I usually steer clear of Blue cheese, but these were absolutely perfect in every way: size, taste, and texture.



Next to the Chicken Lollipops is a glass of the best strawberry soda I've had since Nintendo dabbled in carbonated beverages in the early nineties and manufactured Princess Peach Strawberry Soda for a very limited time. Does anyone else remember this?

For my entree, I had Brioche French toast with maple syrup and fresh berries. I could've eaten every last bite, but I allowed myself three of the four pieces...



...and it's a good thing, because we were then presented with the "ChipWich".



I am mad at myself for not finishing this dish.

Talk about top notch service! TLB had been invited to Icon to write a review for the New York Post, but I get the feeling that any regular Joe would receive the same outstanding attention that we did. The chef came out and greeted us; what a cute, nice guy and I have the sneaking suspicion that he is a MOT (member of the Tribe, my Waspy dears).

After brunch, we went outside to sit in the courtyard. I was momentarily transported to East Hampton.



Rumor has it that this is a hotspot for after-work cocktails. I do believe I will have to confirm this sooner rather than later.

Thank you, TLB, for yet another spectacular dining experience!

Presents = Preppy Picks bonus

Why am I always two days too early?



I ordered the Whisper lame Zoey tank to go with my white shorts with the silver embroidered elephants. Two days ago. As usual.

Does anyone else feel like sometimes the crewcuts designs are better than the women's designs? Does anyone else wish that they would hop on the Mommy & Me train so that us big girls can get in on the fun, too?

This week has been filled with presents! And most of them have come from the Waspiest Jew I know... ME!

The generous Preppy Princess sent me these towels in red with blue and white whale ribbon and white with pink and green whale ribbon. How fabulous do these look in my bathroom?



I ordered these placemats today. They'll be the perfect touch to my beachy abode.



Order here.

One of the cornerstones of the Preppy Picks is to feature smaller boutiques and online shops that I have discovered. I've been so happy to feature products from Preppy Princess, Preppy Parade, Maine Cakes and Cookies, and CB Stark. I am always open to suggestions for future Preppy Picks. If you own or know of a preppy gem, please send me the information! As fun as it is to gab about some of my favorite mass brands like J. Crew and Lilly, I really like to be able to give free press to some of the smaller guys. They deserve it the most!

I went to Anthropologie yesterday and found a few more Preppy Pick -worthy items. I can't wait 6 whole days to post them.

This will be perfect to drink milk out of.



These Beach Scene hair pins - a bumblebee, a startfish, and a clamshell - by Dominique Duval are the quintessential summer hair accessories.



Preppy lingerie? I live for it.




I think that's enough shopping for now. I need to save my pretty pennies for Restaurant Week(s).

Have a wonderful weekend, readers!

The Preppy Picks

In honor of the Christmas in July swap I'm participating in, I've chosen to feature these cards this week (even though it's about 5 months too early)!



Truth be told, it's always a struggle for me to find holiday cards that fit appropriately into my life. It's not easy to come across cutesy Hanukkah cards (though my dad did manage to find some last year - something to the degree of a Chihuahua wearing a yarmulke) and I don't feel comfortable sending Christmas cards. I usually do the standard Curious George "Happy Holiday!" cards, but even those are a little Christmasy. Enter The Preppy Princess' holiday cards. There is nothing religious about them and they are the perfect degree of preppy. I will be stocking up on these come Winter. Please check Preppy Princess for more superb stationary.


You knew it was coming sooner or later.



We all know about my tired and torrid love affair with J. Crew. I got an email from them yesterday (as I'm sure many of you did) stating that "Summer's Hot Couple" is the long cardi and the skinny pant. It's their "new favorite silhouette". New? Really?

It comes in 11 colors and is featured here in my favorite: Maize. Will be purchasing it in this color (and subsequently, several other colors once it is marked down). In stores tomorrow.


I was thinking recently how the market for cute work badge accessories is basically untouched.



Apparently, I was wrong! I am loving this preppy badge reel I found over at Preppy Parade. Personally, I have my badge on a sorority lanyard, but I'm wishing I had this instead. (Just don't tell the folks over at Key Source!)


And while I'm not able to post photos, I'm simply adoring the Lilly Pulitzer Autumn collection. It has a fresh look to it and I do believe it's their best Fall collection ever. While it's quite reminiscent of J. Crew, it has just enough print and punch to be original.

Oh, Lilly.

I love you truly, NYC (You are the only one for me...)

I'm pulling a Carrie Bradshaw and dating my city.

What I'm loving about NYC this week...

The Treats Truck.


This little gem (appropriately named "Sugar") trucks around Manhattan toting the tastiest treats this side of the Hudson. I recommend the Pecan Butterscotch Bar. My taste buds danced with delight. Check the website for schedules.


Butter.


The NoHo hotspot serves up amazing dishes and drinks, changing its menu frequently. This is one of the most spectacular-looking restaurants I have ever set foot in.


Blue Smoke.


Hands down, the best Southern food I've found in the Big Apple. Their mac and cheese is second to none.

(Another reason I'm loving NYC this week? The Tory Burch sample sale at which AEG and I purchased these tops.)


The Shoe Department at Saks Fifth Avenue.


Forget about the brilliant marketing scheme that encompasses this concept. (The Eighth Floor of Saks has its own zip code: 10022-SHOE. There were also limited edition stamps when it opened.) Those people know how to do shoes. And after a delightful lunch with my dad in Cafe Spa today, he bought me these beauties.

More to come. Restaurant Week starts Monday!

The third time's a charm

This morning, I did what I do most mornings. Hopped out of bed, ran to the air conditioner, turned it off, and got back into bed. It takes me awhile to warm up in the morning so I always try to give myself ample time to do so. I turned on the Today show, checked my BlackBerry, poured a glass of milk, and ate some Teddy Grahams. I was sitting in my morning daze, listening to Mike Murphy and Rachel Maddow bicker and thinking how lucky I am to live in this glorious city even though I constantly complain about its lack of gentlemen and Southern charm, when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Red Flash.

I retrieved my BlackBerry and re-opened my email. The new message was from Barnes & Noble, and it read:

This Week: Curtis Sittenfeld...

Well, there was more, but I stopped right there and let out a small shriek. Could it be? I'd been waiting years for this!

I leaped from out under the covers and was hit by the still-frigid air of my little apartment. I dashed to my desk to grab my laptop and darted back to bed. After logging onto the Barnes & Noble website, I was delighted to see that my suspicions were confirmed: The author of best-selling Prep has finally written another book.



I'm betting that most of you have read this, but if you haven't, RUN DON'T WALK to your nearest bookseller. I'm not going to lie; the cover art was the seller for me. (Not to mention the title. Clearly.) I honestly bought this book without knowing very much about it, and to this day I consider it to be one of the best things I have ever read. I feel that just about anyone on Earth can relate to the protagonist, and it's no easy task to create a character with that sort of depth. Sittenfeld's writing style is similar to that of what I aspire to for my first novel.

After finishing the gem, I knew I needed more. Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long for her second book, The Man of My Dreams.



I couldn't wait to get my hot little hands on this. The main character in The Man of My Dreams reminded me a lot of the main character in Prep. As I writer, I've discovered that you can't always have it all and sometimes a book is more about the writing than it is about the story. This book is more about the writing, which is beautifully poignant. If you appreciate that as much as I do, I recommend you pick this up. It's somewhat sad but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.

I read Man of My Dreams as soon as it was published, in May of 2006. I have been waiting since then for Sittenfeld to come out with a new novel since then. It's been a long two years but I'm happy to say that her third novel, American Wife, will be released on September 2, 2008.



The review from Publisher's Weekly was less than glowing, but I have high hopes. Her work is nothing if not polished. The main character again sounds reminiscent of both main characters from her previous novels. You can read more about the novel here. I've already reserved my copy. I suggest you do the same.

P.S. To briefly return to my love affair with the city as aforementioned in the first paragraph...

Reason 738 I love living in NYC: When I was dropping my gym bag off this morning, I saw a girl wearing a t-shirt with our sorority letters. I asked her if she was a sister and then told her that I was as well. I quickly learned that she was in the same chapter as my pal MBL, whom I know through my Book Club. She sounded interested in joining, so I ended up giving her my card. Curtis and Kappa... all before 9 AM!
(Also Reason 175,132 why I love my sorority.)

Christmas (Hanukkah?) in July Swap!

You all know how much I loved the Preppy Summer Swap I participated in back in May!

Lucky for me, The Prep-E Girl is hosting a Christmas in July swap. And even luckier for me, the hostess herself drew me as her partner! Poor thing, she planned a Christmas in July swap and I'll bet she got the only Jewish girl on the list. Don't you worry, E! I've already got the red and green rolling.

She requested that we post a 20 Questions about ourselves. Here's mine!

Basic

What is your favorite color(s)? Yellow, Navy, and Pink
“Shabby chic” vs. “straight, clean lines” – what’s more you? Shabby chic. My apartment is modeled after a Hamptons beach house.
Where’s your favorite vacation destination (you have to have been there before)? The Hamptons!
Pick ONE: shoes, clothes, purses. Tote bags.
Describe yourself in three (3) words. Preppy, feminine, and classic.

Music (personally, I think you can learn a lot about a person based on their feelings about music):

Favorite song of all time? Bookends by Simon and Garfunkle.
What is one song you secretly really like that no one would believe you if you told them? Patience by Guns N Roses.
What would you consider the “theme song” of your life? I'm sorry to be so nouveau, but "Labels or Love" by Fergie from the Sex and the City movie. Because, really? Labels? Love? I can't decide.
If you could see any concert – what would it be? I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never seen Dave Matthews Band live. I'd love to see something cheesy like Madonna or Gloria Estefan. Billy Joel, of course.
Name the radio station most commonly playing in your car. What’s the genre? I live in New York City and do not have a car. Thank goodness.

Holiday

What is your favorite holiday? Hanukkah.
What food item is your holiday not complete without? Latkas and donuts!
What’s your favorite holiday memory? Anytime I'm with my family, I'm happy.
Is there a holiday tradition that you cherish? If so, what is it? The annual first-night-of-Hanukkah party at my parents' house every year.
Lights: colored or white? JEWISH girl in Wasp's Clothing... ;)

Deep Thoughts

If you could get advice from any woman (dead or alive), who would it be? My mother.
Name three (3) “simple pleasures” in your life. Laughing, reading, and writing.
What is your dream job – be honest! Writer. Always has been, always will be.
If you could play any character on TV or in the movies, which one would you pick? The main character of the book I'm currently writing.
What car would you most like to be the “spokes model” for? 2 of my 3 cars were Jeeps, so probably that. Perfect all-American car for the all-American girl.

"He's a day late and a dollar short."

You've probably noticed that I rarely ever write on a Sunday, and never on a Saturday. This blog is ANYTHING but work to me; it brings me constant joy. I just don't usually get the chance to sit and compose a well-thought out post on the weekends.

Until now.

I was just standing in line to pay; I won't say where because it's a small island and you just never know. There was a mismatched pair standing behind me. Him: beautiful and head-to-toe preppy. Her: not as beautiful and dressed painfully generic. Right off the bat, I'm thinking, "What?" I've heard that opposites attract and while it's a theory I don't subscribe to personally, I'm happy that this seems to work for countless couples. Yet, these two were strangers to me and I could have whipped out a butter knife from my Dior purse and cut the tension with it. She was trying so hard, too hard, making the mistakes that I've seen far too many other girls, myself included, make before. She tried to make conversation and he responded with one-worded answers in a clearly annoyed tone. She went to kiss his cheek and he flinched. She was standing there, grinning goofily, and all I wanted was to pull this girl off to the side and say HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. Instead, he stepped off to the side to use his BlackBerry. Presumably to communicate with a different girl. I'm sorry to be so brutally honest, but the signs were just so clear to me. How could she have missed them?

Her: Totally into him. Him: So not interested.

I found myself wondering if they were official or if she was hoping that they would be. I found myself wondering if she was totally clueless or if she knew and was doing everything she could to salvage it. I found myself wondering how many girls have watched me and some guy and wondered the same exact things.

We like to blame it on them; it's easy to blame it on them. They're jerks. It is inconceivable to imagine why God would create two genders so completely different, so we don't stop to think about it. We say that they're jerks and we hate them and then we move onto the next one. It occurred to me that no one (no one I know of, at least) ever stopped to ask WHY. Why are men jerks? There must be something propelling them. I refuse to believe that the entire male species woke up one day and decided to be this way.

I once knew someone who told me horror stories of what his girlfriend did to him after he broke up with her. This included electronic devices being flushed down the toilet and physical assaults at his place of employment. I sat there, listening, with my jaw dropped. I was horrified.

What came first? The chicken or the egg? Girls acting crazy or guys acting like jerks? Did anyone ever stop to think that if Jacinda Barrett hadn't gone off the deep end and practically pulled a knife on Zach Braff, he may have stayed and tried to console her rather than go and sleep with Rachel Bilson?

I'm certainly not blaming females for the way that the ball is rolling. This is, however, a two-way street. The guy I watched tonight wasn't rolling his eyes for no reason. She seemed so nice and I felt so badly for her; every girl deserves to be with a guy who is just as interested in her as she is in him. But, for whatever reason, she was clearly irritating the crap out of him. I saw it, he saw it, but she, sadly, was blind to it.

As a writer, it's often my goal to say as much as possible in as few words as possible. "He's a day late and a dollar short." My, how I wish I had coined this term. How many of you are out there thinking that about someone? I'd be willing to bet that a lot of you just saw an imaginary light bulb go off.

I'm really looking forward to seeing 'He's Just Not That Into You' and I sincerely hope that every paranoid girl in America will see it as well and that we can all sigh a collective breath of relief as we leave the theatre. Maybe it won't solve all of our problems, but perhaps it will shed some light on the age old question: Why are we are the way we are and why are they the way they are?

I'm tired of just accepting it. This is a vicious cycle and as much as I try to side-step it, I still seem to be affected. Why are the few bad eggs ruining it for the rest of us?

It's not just them. It's us, too.

New Weekly Feature: The Preppy Picks

A long time ago, I said that I wanted to compile a list of all of my favorite things preppy. I have come to the realization that the list is never ending and therefore can never really be written. The truth is, I'm falling in love with new things every day, so why not indulge myself (and all of you) every week?

Which brings me to my new weekly feature: The Preppy Picks!

Each week, I will select all of my new (and sometimes classic) favorite finds. If you sell a preppy product and want it featured here, speak up! Email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com with photos and purchasing info. BONUS! If you send me a sample of one of your preppy products, I will photograph myself wearing it or using it and will post it on here. What better way to get free exposure? This is priceless PR, people! My audience continues to grow everyday.

Without further ado, here are the very first Preppy Picks!

I recently discovered that one of my favorite blogs, The Preppy Princess, also has an online shop by the same name. I'm just DYING for these hand towels.



My NYC apartment is decorated to resemble a Hamptons beach house. I can't think of anything better to put in my bathroom! BONUS! At checkout, you have the option to donate 5% of your order total to one of two charities. Preppy Princess, you are a charm! Please check out her store at http://preppyprincess.com for aprons, belts, note cards, and more!


My parents recently returned from a getaway to Martha's Vineyard. They got me a beautiful pair of sterling silver lobster earrings from a wonderful jewelry shop called CB Stark. I tried to find a photo of them on their website to show you all, but unfortunately these are not featured online. I did, however, find this wonderful charm.



I've never seen anything like this tiny inkwell. It's the perfect edition to this writer's charm collection. If you're not lucky enough to be able to shop at one of their locations in MV, you can check out the entire collection at www.cbstark.com.


Despite what Sesame Street says, cookies are not a sometimes food for me. They are an everyday necessity. Imagine my excitement when I stumbled across Maine Cakes and Cookies.


I would love to give these as party favors at my next soiree!


The 'Perfect Pair' cookies really are the perfect wedding favor!

For a countless selection of the cutest custom cookies, please visit http://www.mainecakesandcookies.com/custom_cookies.htm.


I'm taking a three day weekend so I will be back on Monday with lots of fun photos from AEG's trip.

Have a wonderful weekend, readers!

Pet peeve of the day, brought to you by the former Marissa Cooper.

Why is it only July 9 and everyone is already acting like summer is almost over? I haven't even been to the Hamptons yet! Back off!

I hate how the fashion industry is always three steps ahead of the rest of us, and by three steps I really mean three seasons. Kudos to you for being such overachievers, but while I haven't even gotten my full Lilly fix yet, I just know that boxes of Fall are sitting in the warehouse waiting to be shipped and it makes my skin crawl. Not to mention that Resort was being steamed in the showroom months ago, and I'm sure Spring 2009 is well underway. Why does everyone have to be so damn professional?

On my way to Apple yesterday, I saw a girl come out of the subway in suede knee-highs. For a moment, I thought it was Mischa Barton.



Is anyone else suffering from Middle of Summer Paranoia? This gal hasn't even purchased her Sexy Summer Sandals yet! I tried to do so on the Coach website this morning, but low and behold, the sandal section has been replaced with the boot section. Even J. Crew snuck some cord pants into their new arrivals... don't think I didn't notice!

I can't take it anymore! I haven't finished my carton of lemonade, jumped in a pool, worn my new madras and rope bikini, fallen in love, or about a million other things that are quintessentially summer yet.

There's still hope, however. In two mere weeks from tomorrow I will be basking in the Hamptons glow, and then again a month later with AEG.



Until then... STOP THE MADNESS!

Dear DeAnna...

I really wanted to write an uplifting post after the disgrace that was yesterday's, but you, my dear, have not made that possible.

First of all, I've loved you all along. I have made no secret of this. You're a Southern Belle and I was impressed with you from the start. You're polished and pretty and REAL. I was rooting for you the entire time.



When you gave Jeremy the first rose, that was it for me. I was in love.

Apparently, you didn't feel the same.

However, he was my favorite within a matter of moments. Handsome, in real estate, from Dallas? I'm smitten. Every week I held my breath during the rose ceremony and every week I let it out when you called his name. You gave him the first rose; shouldn't he get the last as well?

In my opinion, you made some more-than-questionable decisions along the way. Keeping "Twilley" around for that long? Are you kidding? I refuse to take that out of quotes. And then there's Graham - the emotionally unattached iceberg. His life is one big fat enigma to me. I want to know what team he is a 'pro-basketball player' for. Really. Because word on the street in good ole NYC is that girls are apparently flocking to the few bars that he part owns here.

Last night, I had to choose between taking care of purchasing my new computer or running home to catch The Bachelorette season finale.

I made the wrong choice.

I blame myself. I should have known. When you chose Jesse last week instead of Jeremy (because that is how I viewed it and now that is how I will ALWAYS view it) I was absolutely beside myself. You sent home the golden boy. The Southern Gentleman who promised you the world and WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU. How could you not be in love with this man? He is a class act and any woman who gets him is a lucky duck.

My belief that you would choose Jason was shaken as soon as you stepped up to that podium. When you said you were sending home someone who you would be 'perfect' with, I just had a feeling. I felt silly for having been so certain when the week before you completely shocked me. Should have known! Poor Jason. To be away from his son for that long and to come home with nothing. I feel for you, pal. That was rough to watch. You are a stand-up guy.

Gotta love Tacori, the token ABC jeweler. I guess you know by now that the diamond Jason chose for you was a classier cut and an all-around better ring? Too late!

Special thanks to BlackBerry messenger. While we may not always get along, because of you AEG and I were able to be in constant contact during the entire excruciating three hours.

Jason began to get down on one knee and you said, "No, I can't." I do believe that I stopped breathing for ten seconds. All I could BBM to AEG was, "NO. NO." What else was there to say? Unless you were picking Jeremy after all in some sort of a surprise twist, this was NOT okay.

I cried. AEG cried. You hear that? AEG. That's a big deal. She's not like two tissues TAG over here who can't hold it together during Moon River. It's actually saying something that she shed tears over this trainwreck. We were upset! MAD, even! And rightfully so.



Look, I will level with you. You've had your heart broken. I've had my heart broken. I've been there; I know what it's like to not want to get out of bed, to put your head on your steering wheel and cry at every stoplight. All I know is that after everything I've been through, I want a sure thing. Security. Not some snowboarding dude who wears a plaid shirt and sneakers to meet my family and whose vocabulary hasn't advanced since 1982.

This is where you lose me.



I'm not going to stop liking you because of the choice you made. I REALLY do hope you are happy. And if I see a People magazine article five years down the road that says it's over, I'm going to be really, really disappointed.



You know, I would have bet money at the beginning of the season that this guy didn't stand a chance. Boy, am I glad I saved a pretty penny.

Apple store, I'm coming to you baby.

Jeremy or Jason for the next Bachelor,

TAG

P.S. Readers, please check Adventures in Argyle for AEG's letter to Jason!

In the immortal words of AEG... "BAH".

I often wonder if anyone else gets the Sunday Blues like I do. It's the first day of a new week and a fresh start, yet Monday morning always feels like a relief to me instead. What an enigma! Yesterday proved to be a particularly bad bout. Annoyed at everyone and everything, I did what I always do to cheer up: scoured Barnes & Noble for a new read. After wandering around for what felt like forever (but seemed like about twenty minutes), I left empty handed and disappointed.

Sometimes things really do happen for a reason. Even the smallest of things.

I stayed at my parents house in Long Island last night. It was the first time I'd seen them in almost two weeks (which is obscene by our standards). They had just returned from a trip to Martha's Vineyard and brought back with them a bag of goodies for their preppiest daughter. Among the presents was a signed first edition of 'What Now?' by Ann Patchett that my dad had picked out for me.



The perfect pick-me-up.

So after the minus of Sunday Blues, here are some pluses:

+ Open Table is back up after a long morning of error messages and I'm making reservations for Restaurant Week like it's my last five suppers.
+ I am doing my best to keep up with my snail mail pact for the month. So far I have sent the following: Cards to 4 sorority sisters who touched my heart at convention, a care package to my real sister, who is at camp, and a paid bill to Neiman Marcus.
+ I am getting a new Mac this week! After all, what is a writer without her computer?
+ AEG COMES ON THURSDAY!

Here's a preview of our weekend:



You can find us at the standard... Dorrian's past 2 on Saturday night slash Sunday morning. We love our readers!!!

Thursday Thoughts

Instead of mixing these up with other posts, I decided to make only one mishmosh of my ideas to share with you all.

One of my favorite things about living in the Big Apple is making friends. I literally dream up different ways to meet new people. I am lucky to live in such a cultural mecca that serves as home to so many different walks of life and I want to take advantage of every second. Currently I am: president of a book club, membership chair for my sorority alumnae association, and a volunteer for Susan G. Komen. It just never feels like enough! Then it hit me: why not meet my cyberspace pals in real life?

So, I am starting a blogging club. It's just a fun way for bloggers to meet one another. We can get together once a month or so for dinner and drinks. If you live in the area and are interested, please email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com. (I'm still thinking of a cute name for this, so any suggestions are more than welcome.)

Summer is in full swing and I can't help but notice that there are a lot of unworn frocks hanging in my closet. There is a whole slew of Lilly in there that hasn't been on this body in at least a year. The thought of selling it on eBay makes me shudder, and I'm not sure if I can find a consignment shop in NYC that would be willing to take it on. Then it hit me: again.

Why not host a blog-wide Lilly swap? What better way to mix up your summer wardrobe at post office prices? If enough girls are interested, I can start a tally of blogs that would like to be included. My site would serve as a home base. I will list all of the bloggers who are interested so you can easily navigate from one to another to see what's out there.

This is how it would work:

Take photos of your gently-worn Lilly items and post them on your blog.
List the name of the print (if known) and size of the item.
Be clear on what you will swap for. Trading a dress for a top would be fine with me, but everyone else may not feel the same.
Agree with whomever you are swapping with what type of shipping you would both like.
ALL items MUST BE properly laundered before the swaps are made.

Please email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com if you are interested. If I hear from at least five girls, I will go ahead and get started next week.

(P.S. If you have a non-Lilly uber-preppy item that you're ready to part with, feel free to put it up 'for swap' as well. You never know! And don't forget about accessories!)

I look forward to hearing from you!


AEG and I at the Palm in the Hamptons last year for July 4 weekend.

Happy Fourth to all of my wonderful readers!

How the Other Half Hamptons Launch Party

Do you all remember when I wrote about the book How the Other Half Hamptons a few weeks ago? Well, I was sitting on my parents' porch a few days later checking my email and to my surprise, I had received a note from Jasmin Rosemberg, the lovely author! She googled her book title and came across my blog! She thanked me for my kind words and said that she would love to invite me to the launch events.

You couldn't imagine my excitement! I had just finished the book and had already made a mental note to find her contact information and send my congratulations for a job well done. I've said it before and I'll say it again; this book is a fun read and I highly recommend it.

Upon receiving the invitation, I invited my good friend The Lunch Belle to come with me. The restaurant aficionado made reservations at Naima. This hidden gem serves up delicious dishes and if you are in the area, you must try it.

After our fabulous dinner, we headed to 1OAK for the party. There was no line and the kind clipboard girls found our names within seconds and we were let right in to one of the most gorgeous spaces I've ever seen.



The open bar presented us with three specialty drink choices, of which this gal tried two. One was a Hamptons take on a Mojito, and the other was a champagne concoction. Both were spectacular. TLB and I sat down on one of the many plush couches after getting our first drinks and soon saw Jasmin approach our area to greet the people sitting across from us. As she walked by us, I jumped up and said, "I'm the Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing." She smiled, knowing exactly who I was, and gave me a hug. I congratulated her and thanked her for inviting us.



TLB took a photo of us, but she was sitting and we were standing, and that's a recipe for disaster. I borrowed this one from WireImage. Is she the cutest thing ever or what?



TAG and The Lunch Belle at the How the Other Half Hamptons launch party.

Upon our exit, we were given gift bags that included beautiful earrings from Jill Jacobson, lip sticks and lip gloss from Bourjois Cosmetics, and bags from the Fergie for Kipling line. TLB and I both left feeling inspired. I can only hope that I will someday have a book launch just as glamorous! Thank you, Jasmin, for a wonderful time! I'm already looking forward to your second novel.

Sorority girls have to rough it sometimes, too.

Greetings, readers!

At last, my long-awaited return! It's a day late but I have a good reason.

Many of you know that I lived in Dallas and that I LOVE it. That city can do no wrong. People who have never been have these pre-conceived notions of rodeos and cowboy hats. Now, I'm not going to lie, people there DO drive like they are ON a rodeo (myself included) but Dallas is a cosmopolitan mecca full of Southern charm. It is completely unexpected. Any city that is the birthplace to NEIMAN MARCUS is okay by me.

(I did consider entitling this post "Dear Dallas", but now is not the moment to write my old stomping grounds a love note. Another time, perhaps.)

Upon landing in Dallas on Sunday, I learned that my flight to New York was delayed. I pride myself on having occasional mild ESP, and I just had a bad feeling. My flight was then cancelled. As I was on the the airline to book me on a new flight, the woman on the other end of the line asked me for a bag description.

My face fell. GULP. My luggage! I gave a detailed recount of my Vera Bradley match set and silently prayed that it was somewhere safe at DFW and a nice attendant would somehow know to get it to me.

I hung up and not five minutes later, I received a voicemail. The flight I had just booked myself on was cancelled as well. I wouldn't be able to get out until Monday.

My dad called to say that he booked me in the DFW Hyatt for the night. I shuddered at the thought. An airport hotel?!

I then checked with numerous people to see if my bags could be located. I was finally told that a claim had been put in for my bags and to check back in two hours.

I took the shuttle to the hotel. I always stay in the Westin Galleria while visiting Dallas and you already know that I have snobby pre-conceived notions about airport hotels. Boy, was I surprised!





I've been fortunate enough to visit a number of luxury hotels. The Ritz Carlton, The Four Seasons, The Waldorf Astoria. I must say though, that this is one of the most delightful rooms I've ever had the pleasure of staying in!

After a trip BACK to the airport to retrieve my luggage, I was informed that although they could not get me on the last flight out to New York, someone managed to get my bags on it. They were already well on their way to LaGuardia.

Special thanks goes out to the DFW Hyatt, for providing me with a small toiletry bag in my time of need, and to their bodega, for stocking Calvin Klein underwear (my favorite). Hands down, best thing I've ever purchased at a hotel gift shop.

Still, I was without makeup or a real outfit to carry me over to Monday. And I took the photo to prove it.



YIKES! Unflattering photo alert! Don't zoom in on that one, people. Jack Rogers with sweatpants? I know. I don't even want to talk about it.

So, after an unexpected night in one of my favorite cities (without a car - torture!) and somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 spent at the DFW airport (Brooks Brothers was having a sale...), my flight on Monday morning went off without a hitch. I was happy to find my long lost luggage on the floor of LaGuardia among 500 other pieces of long lost luggage.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, Life Happens. And to always carry on a toiletry case and extra underwear. DUH.

I leave you with some photos of my convention. It's good to be back. I missed you all!