Why oh why oh why oh did I ever leave Ohio?

This past weekend I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for a sorority seminar as I was elected to be on the associate ouncil. (I'm the youngest member!) Some of you may remember that the last time I visited this city I've grown to love, my camera broke. Luckily on this trip I was armed with a new camera and the hunger to create Kodak moments. Here are some of my favorite photos.



We stayed at the beautiful Hilton at Easton. As much as I loved bunking in a Christian retreat center last time...



Girls from my home chapter. So glad that there are four of us on council - making our school look good!



Here I am in front of our Headquarters. Isn't it glorious?



With my dear friend AKM, getting our morning fix at Starbucks. I now drink a venti instead of a grande. Yikes.



This one's just for laughs. My friend LMG's shoe got stuck in a grate, and the rest of our group doubled over in laughter while fishing their respective cameras out of their bags to capture this on film. That's my, "NO PICTURES PLEASE PAPARAZZI" face.


Ohio is such a nice place to visit. With the exception of high heat and humidity the day I arrived, the weather was lovely. I met the best people and had an amazing time. I feel continually grateful to be in an organization among such elite women.

Bad news comes to my front door

I was in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend at a seminar for my sorority. This is what showed up at my hotel door Friday morning. Of course, I was already hyperaware of the situation due to numerous text messages and Twitter posts the evening before.

As I have said before, Michael Jackson has always been a huge part of my life musically. Those of you who know me well know that I am just devastated. I didn't allow myself to dwell on it this weekend as I was in happy mode for three days straight, but now that I'm home and watching the tribute on VH1, it's hit me - he's gone. I'm never going to be able to see him live like I always dreamed and dancing to Thriller will never quite be the same. He was truly one of a kind.

I thought about how to memorialize him properly in this forum and have decided the best way would be to share all of my favorite Thriller photos with you. My good friends know that I LIVE for this song. I used to request it at our sorority family every year and when the first few notes blared from the speakers, heads turned. Halloween isn't complete without it. I can't think of a more of iconic song or music video.

You will be missed, MJ. Thanks for being you.

Sorry to eat and run...

Read my recently published article!

Off to finish packing - my preppy pick for today is my new Longchamp luggage. Picture to come!

On the road until Sunday... have a preppy Thursday and wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Chocolate and ear candy

Last night was an unusually busy one in my social calendar. My dad and I attended a blogging seminar with Oz Sultan, the local social media guru. It was both interesting and informative.

Afterward, we headed to Max Brenner for dinner. He's the local chocolate guru from Israel. It is one of my favorite places in the city to get dessert, but I had never actually eaten a meal there. The food was great but the service was terrible. As a token of their appreciation, they gave me a box of bonbons and two hug mugs along with their sincerest apologies.

I then hopped in a cab to head to Shecky's Girls Night Out. This event was an absolute blast. The ticket was $19.50 and included a goodie bag, an open bar with specialty cocktails, and a number of different vendors to shop from.

Upon my arrival, my friend JDS was just dying to show me where she had just purchased a ring. There must have been a hundred or so booths to browse, but JDS found the true gem. Stella & Dot is a darling jewelry company where JDS had lots of fun browsing and chatting with the lovely ladies running the show. I purchased a beautiful pair of hoop earrings that I am very excited to receive in the mail. The prices are fair and the pieces are precious - I highly recommend this site if you're looking for a gift or to spoil yourself without breaking the bank.


Here I am just before exiting the event. My dress is Mint by Jodi Arnold and my coat is Coach. I suggest that anyone who loves a good GNO check out this website to see when Shecky's is coming to your town!

Plea from my heart

Dear readers,

If any of you know of any freelance or otherwise writing opportunities, will you please email me at jgiwc.tag@gmail.com and let me know?

Thank you so much.

Eternally yours,
TAG

Bye bye baby

The baby fashionista was accepted to a very prestigious pre-college summer program for - you guessed it - FASHION DESIGN! I am so proud of her. We spent the day together today as she leaves this week and I will not see her again until August.

Food for thought for all of my readers - do any of you have a LiveJournal account? Sometimes I feel as though I need another outlet. I have things to say that are too long for Twitter but don't quite fit into JGIWC. For months I've been pondering something along the lines of whatican'tsayonjgiwc.com.

Four for Friday

Hello, readers! A fun meme from BeliBlog.

Q1 - Movies: As a rule, when you go out to watch a movie, do you try to make it to the theater in time to watch all of the previews? Related: Do you ever stay all the way through the credits? I've always said that the previews ARE the best part, so yes, I like to be very timely to movies. I only stay through the credits if there is something aside from rolling type (IE bloopers, extras, etc.).

Q2 - Pay For Free: Video calls via Skype, NPR, Facebook, Public Television, MySpace, Twitter, the online edition of The New York Times, and millions of other things in this world are available to you for free. What are some things you now use for free that you would gladly pay to use if charged a reasonable fee? I don't use Skype often but I would gladly pay a reasonable fee for it. I feel similarly about Public Television. I'm a huge fan of PBS and always happy to support it. The beauty of Twitter is that it's SO accessible. I pay an annual fee of $10 for this dot com, and I always say it's the best ten bucks I spend all year.

Q3 - Crime: According to the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, the U.S. experienced a 2.5 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 1.6 percent decline in the number of property crimes for 2008 compared with data from 2007. The report is based on information that the FBI gathered from 12,750 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data to the FBI for both 2007 and 2008. In 2008, all four of the violent crime offense categories declined nationwide compared with data from 2007. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined 4.4 percent, aggravated assault was down 3.2 percent, and robbery decreased 1.1 percent. Does it feel to you as though crime has dropped over the last year, stayed about the same, or gotten worse? It's hard not to feel jaded about this subject. I live alone in a 450 square foot apartment in New York City and not one night in my past two years of residence have I EVER felt unsafe. I'm also from Miami, where drive-bys were invented. I've had my share of living in "unsafe" cities, but I don't honestly feel as though crime has gotten worse. I think the real issue is that we're hyperaware of what is going on around us because of the over-saturated media. It does sometimes seem as though heinous crimes are all around us though - Laci Peterson, Andrea Yates, etc.

Q4 - Bring It!: If you could will any one thing to fall from the sky and harmlessly land in your lap -- aside from money, jewelry, precious metals, or a winning lottery ticket -- what would it be? That Chanel necklace - the double Cs with the bow - that Anne Hathaway wore in The Devil Wears Prada. I guess that counts as jewelry, doesn't it? Okay, an advance for publishing my book.

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Preppy friends are friends for life

Canadian Prep made a wonderful suggestion on yesterday's post that actually ties in with today's post wonderfully. She said that it would be great if I could share my insight and tips for meeting people and making friends. Thanks for asking - you make a great point.

My secret is that I talk to everyone. I strike up a conversation with anyone whose willing. If you are shy and not sure what to say, a compliment is always a good way to get someone's attention. I try to compliment at least one stranger a day.

My other suggestion is to get as involved as possible in your community - or even outside of it. I have made many of my friends through my sorority alumnae association. If you aren't Greek, try Junior League or another social club. I've also met many wonderful people through my blog and through working at the Lilly store once in awhile. My parents have introduced me to some of my friends. Ask people you know if they know anyone great that you should meet. This option is utilized mostly for romantic purposes, but don't be embarrassed to inquire otherwise! People in your life who know you the best may have a friend that would make a great friend for you as well - they probably just haven't thought to introduce you. It's up to you to remind them!

Of course, the other obvious answer is to do charity work. When I first moved to New York, I got involved with Susan G. Komen, which I have endless respect for. Currently I work with Adopt a Soldier, Green Edge NYC, and my sorority's foundation. I'm struggling with what else to get involved with, as none of the above really allows me to get out there and meet people. Perhaps you all have some suggestions for me?

Today's Preppy Pick is much like last week's. It's not something that can be bought - only obtained. Preppy friends are friends for life.

Here's a photo from the birthday dinner I attended last night.
The Foursome, two years later.

Penny for my thoughts

I'm not sure they're worth that much but here you go.

I feel so, so blessed to live in New York. I'm not sure how long I'll last, not to mention I never, ever thought I'd be here in the first place. There are endless stereotypes about the irritability and the neuroses of the residents, but I must step in and disagree. Like an out of town friend commented to me yesterday, there are obnoxious people everywhere. New York is open and welcoming. I have never lived in such a friendly city - and I'm from the South!

I think it is unbelievably easy to make friends here. I meet people almost everywhere I go, interesting individuals who have life experiences far different than my own. I am reminded today, as I am celebrating one of my closest friend's birthdays, that if you can make it here, you can truly make it anywhere. MMM is the first friend I made upon moving to NYC. We met at a sorority alumnae welcoming brunch two years ago and hit it off immediately. We met two other girls, JDS and BEH, at another event three months later, and the four of us have been inseparable ever since!


One of the first photos taken of the four of us.

These three girls will be in my life always. They are kind and loving and I truly believe that fate brought us together. I know there are many arguments to the contrary, but I've come to the conclusion that if people don't have friends in New York, it's probably because they don't want them. I personally feel that life is too short not to be meeting all of these amazing people in this incredible city. To all of my friends and acquaintances alike - I feel so lucky to have you in my life!

Good news for me AND for you!

Sometimes I do something SO New York, that I think to myself, I wish this were available to my other blog buddies scattered across the country. Last night I had one of those pangs, when I checked my jacket and scurried to the main room of Clothingline, a sample sale suite that I have become very familiar with, for the Kate Spade sample sale.

Because of a day-long interview (sorry for the lack of blogging, yesterday was a doozy!), I was unable to make it to the sale until almost 6:30, and it closed up at 7. I knew I had to work fast. I went through every handbag, every wallet, shoe, and makeup bag. I ended up leaving with just the trapeze top in white.



Honestly, the prices are still a bit high. I am going to try to return on Thursday, the final day of the sale, to see if they have knocked them down to move the merchandise out.

Well you readers in the South and elsewhere will be happy to hear that Kate is also hosting an online sample sale! The prices are weird - some higher than the sale here, some lower. But the selection is better. It's also limited so hurry up and shop!

"It's always summer somewhere." - LP

CJM tagged me to tell you all about the five things I love about summer.

1. The possibilities. Summer has a certain air about it. It's mysterious, it's sexy. Even though I'm no longer in school and have summers free, when this time rolls around, it still feels like anything can happen. Summer is my favorite season, and also a reminder of my childhood in Miami, where it's the only season. 2. Lilly Pulitzer. "It's always summer somewhere." 3. The grub. BBQ, fresh fruit, Paula Deen recipes, lemon-flavored beverages. 4. Bikinis. I love to swim, and romping around in a bathing suit is always fun. Even though I look awkward as all get out with my long legs and tiny torso, I still adore being in the water in my cute Lilly two-piece. 5. Relaxing. I tend to be a bit high-strung. The thought of getting a massage stresses me out. I always feel more at ease during this time of the year. Even though I was born in the "Winter", much like the queen of pink and green, I was made for summer.

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Of all the Lilly Love I have to give, I save the most for you

Last night I was reunited with this lovely lady. She doesn't know it, but she's the first person in my life that I have ever considered a true mentor. I wore my new shift in her honor; she is visiting from Florida and she loves Lilly!

I met APB in college while browsing in the local Lilly shop. After much begging and pleading, she invited me to join the team. We became fast pals. She loved my witty banter and I admired the way she looked at life. APB is a free spirit. She views the world through rose-colored glasses and always sees the glass half-full. She is driven, responsible and passionate. She has taught me more than she'll ever know.



APB was always more than a boss or an authority figure. She is also more than a friend. She's an inspiration. She is an incredible mother, and although she is WAY too young to be mine, she always took such good care of me when we were living in the same Central Florida city. I have the kind of respect for her that I reserve for only the most upstanding of women.

APB is my preppy pick this week. Not a conventional choice, but a great one nonetheless. She is a true class act, a real Southern lady. I feel lucky to count her among my good friends. APB, I love you & I know we'll be friends for life.

My girls are pearls

I am fortunate to have a lot of wonderful women in my life. Each is truly a pearl: beautiful, special, and unique. Here are a few reasons why...

I received this gift in the mail the other day...

The ever-lovely Landlocked Mermaid sent me this beautiful Lilly shift! She bought it many warehouse sales ago and found it recently, unworn with the tags still on. She decided to pass it along to this Florida gal, and I was absolutely delighted! I've been looking for this print for years, and now thanks to Landlocked Mermaid, the search is over!

I can't wait to wear this and promise to post pictures! Thanks again - you're an angel!

Speaking of wearable presents...

CJM got me this very much sought-after tee when she went to Reunions! Princeton is my favorite of the Ivies and I just love when she regales me with tales of her school days. CJM, I adore you and I adore this shirt!

Last night, I had a wonderful dinner at Apizz with Preppy in the City and Sunshine in the City. Here's a photo of Sunshine and I.


This evening I look forward to seeing one of my favorite Lilly girls and dear friends, APB! She is in NYC for a few days and I can't wait to catch up with her.

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

Who am I anyway? Am I my resume?

Lately, I've been struggling with the fact that I'm not sure what it is that I'm supposed to be doing. All my life I assumed I'd be a writer. I enjoy writing and it's always come somewhat naturally to me. Some have even told me that I'm good at it, and I truly do feel that there is unlocked potential deep within me and that one day I can be the kind of writer people respect.

If I didn't write, I'm not sure what else I'd do. Sure, I'd find a way to pass the time, but nothing would be quite as enjoyable as the movement of pen on paper, the clicking of keyboard keys.

When I moved to New York, my goal was to be this generation's Carrie Bradshaw. Lord knows I'll never be as cool, fashionable, or gorgeous, but I wanted to believe that I could be an important voice for the masses. If only in real life there was a New York Star with an open column specializing in Jewish gals and Waspy duds.

This blog is a good start, but the real question is... If I wrote a book, would anyone actually buy it? And read it?

Perhaps I'll just write one and find out.

JGIWC playlist

I don't often talk about music because my taste is a bit eclectic and all over the map. Even so, I thought it may be fun to share the variety of tunes in my life and make a little JGIWC playlist. I think you can tell a lot from the songs that have influenced one's life... so here are some of mine.

As Time Goes By by Jimmy Durante My parents' wedding song. I get misty eyed when I hear it.

Bookends Theme by Simon and Garfunkel Many of the musical influences in my life are from The Wonder Years. Simon and Garfunkel was played many times in the show, and while I love a number of their songs, this is my favorite. The words are timeless. It is played during stills of Paul's Bar Mitzvah. I cry every time.

Canon and Gigue in D Major by Pachelbel Again with TWY. Kevin tried to play this on the piano but couldn't quite get it. I also want to walk down the aisle to this when I get married.

Crush by Dave Matthews Band This is the first DMB song I ever fell in love with. Ten years later, it's still my favorite.

Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine Great lyrics. I grew up around Spanish music and this song is very, very Miami.

Give Me the Simple Life by Steve Tyrell Love, love, love him. Fantastic lyrics. I feel like he's one of the last singers left from a generation that I so appreciate. Father of the Bride is probably my favorite movie.

I'll Be There by Jackson 5 Let me tell you, I've been loyal to the Jackson family for as long as I can remember. This song is a nice little stroll down memory lane.

Never Saw Blue Like That by Shawn Colvin I can't listen to this without crying. We sang this at my senior sorority rush preference night. By the time last round came, my face was in my hands.

Non Believer by La Rocca I cannot, for the life of me, explain it. But I love it. It's so right.

Take a Bow by Madonna Come on. I grew up in Miami! That was back in the good ole days, when Miami was the height of cool. M resided in a sprawling mansion in Vizcaya and my great-godparents just so happened to live directly across the street from her. Yes, I used to sell lemonade mere yards from Madonna's front door. This isn't one of her more popular or better known songs, but it always brings me back. To youth. To heartache.

The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan Dylan is one of my heroes. This song applies as much today as it did 45 years ago.

Today I Met (The Boy I'm Gonna Marry) by Darlene Love From Father of the Bride. I've always imagined singing this to my future husband-to-be.

Thriller by Michael Jackson Like I said, very loyal to the J fam. This is MY song. I used to request it every year at my sorority formal and break out my sweet moves on the dance floor as soon as I heard "DUH DUHHH". I also have to hear this every year on my birthday. Best music video of all time. And while I don't yet know the whole dance, I aspire to someday.

We've Got Tonight by Bob Seger Yet another Wonder Years moment. This one is when Winnie breaks her leg and Kevin climbs up the side of her house so he can see her. She's lying in bed and opens her eyes. He mouths "I love you" and she whispers it back. Sobfest.

Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler The song my father and I will dance to at my wedding. Enough said.

It's not easy being green. (Or is it?)

IT IS!


I encourage all of my readers, NYC residents and otherwise, to check out Green Edge NYC. Green Edge is a social network that connects people with the resources they need to build a sustainable future. It's almost like a green Facebook. Best of all, they have asked me to write an article for their website and I have gladly accepted the challenge!

I will let you all know when the piece is up!

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Celebrating a Colorful Cause!

Last night, I went to the Lilly store on Madison Avenue for their Colorful Cause cocktail party. A Colorful Cause is a collection designed by nine celebrity moms. A portion of the sales go towards research for EMBRF, a rare skin condition. Now, I've been to a whole lot of Lilly events (I used to plan them for the Winter Park store!) and this was without a doubt one of my favorites yet. The turnout was incredible, there was a bar and cater waiters, and the pink and green love was flowing. We took a ton of photos; here are a few of my favorite.





As many of you Lilly Lovers know, Brooke Shields was the guest of honor. It was hard to snap photos of her, but here she is just after arriving.





Lilly girls! With LAO, KN, and AK.





With my date for the evening, Miss Sunshine in the City!





With one of our favorite girls and fellow bloggers, Murphy's (New) Law!





With Brooke! She was stunning and kind.

Glossin' and flossin'

A few of you asked what my perfect lipstick/gloss/balm is since mentioning I finally found it.


The answer: Laura Mercier Lip Balm. I came across this as I was browsing the makeup section in Selfridge's. I was intrigued by the color. I tried it on my hand, and it came off incredibly smooth. I noticed lately that while I have countless Chanel lipglosses that I seem to tote around with me everywhere, I never actually use them. The reason? I love the way they look, but HATE the way that feel. So recently, I have dedicated myself to find the perfect lip product that I could take everywhere and actually use. This was the top contender, and Im' never looking back. It feels and looks amazing, and has the best smell. It offers a tiny bit of color. If I'm really getting all gussied up, I use Trish McEvoy's lip pencil in Bare and Nars' lipstick in Belle du Jour. As you can see, I tend not to stray too far from my natural lip color. I tend to prefer more dramatic eyes and more subtle lips.


The other day someone asked me what kind of engagement ring I wanted. Seemingly random, since I am nowhere near engagement, but as I'm sure many of you know, girls chat about these things often. When I answered, I was surprised to hear that she wanted the same exact thing. And here I thought I was the only freak left who wanted a solitaire emerald cut.

These days, it seems the glitzier, the better. But not for this gal. For my graduation gift, I had a choice between a diamond encrusted, trendy watch or a more classic timepiece with no embellishments. I chose the latter. Heidi Montag's wedding look is my worst nightmare. Not that she didn't look beautiful, because I truly think she did, but the term 'bedazzled' (thanks Lauren Conrad) frightens me. I am a minimalist in every sense of the word.


This ring is from my favorite Dallas jeweler, Ylang 23. (It was called Ylang Ylang when I lived there, though. Anyone else remember those days?) Though it's not a solitaire, I think this is a beautiful ring. Picture it without the sides tones, and you have TAG's dream come true.

As an aside, I personally think that society puts too much pressure on men to pick out the perfect ring. That episode of Sex and the City where Carrie's first response to Aiden's proposal is, "It's such a beautiful ring!" always makes me CRINGE. That is not the first thing you say when a man is down on one knee!!! Red flag, anyone?!

I digress. Under the similar category of The Best Gifts Ever, my Nana sent me a vintage Louis Vuitton clutch last week. It's fantastic. I promise to post a picture soon.

Rabbit Rabbit!

Happy June! Have you ever heard that it is supposed to be good luck to wake up on the first of the month and say, "Rabbit Rabbit"? I'm not sure what it means, but I read that somewhere a long time ago and always tend to think of bunnies at the beginning of every month.

Some things I'd like to do this month...




The Big Apple BBQ. Didn't get to go last year. It is a block party in Madison Square Park where the country's top pitmasters come together to serve up their best recipes to New Yorkers. Admission is free and food is $8 a plate. It's happening June 13 and 14.




Read 3 books. The above look of shame is because I have seriously slacked in this category as of late. I would like to finish Street Gang and The Senator's Wife. I am dying to get The Year of Magical Thinking but I won't let myself buy another book until I finish at least 3.




Enjoy Columbus. I will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio at the end of this month to attend a seminar for my sorority. That beautiful building houses our Headquarters. This is a city that I've become particularly attached to and I'm excited to return.



And finally, make new friends! Looking forward to the NYC Blogger meet up this week. If you blog in NYC and would like to join, let me know!