Dear Readers,

You really are the best.

Thank you.

W^3 and love,
JGIWC

Teddi as she goes...

Today's Preppy Pick is ME.

I now have another blog in no way associated with JGIWC. Leave a comment if you'd like an invite.

Have a Preppy Thursday!

Have you...

(Click the image to read. Finally got my scanner to work!)

Be my guest

Over the past two years, I've had a handful of house guests. Some good, some bad. After an awful experience with a guest last year, I kind of stopped inviting people to stay with me. But when EDP said she was coming to New York and needed a place to stay, there was no way I couldn't invite her!



I met EDP last year at my sorority's Leadership Academy program and we've been friends ever since. Yep, there we are. What can I say, you brave the wilderness with me for a weekend and we'll be friends for life. In many ways, we couldn't be more different but we get along so well and I'm glad to report that she's a fabulous house guest!

EDP has brought me back down to Earth in the NYC sense and we've done some great things in the past few days that I have constant access to, but never really do. Last night we had dinner at Virgil's in the Theatre District. It's one of my favorite Southern restaurants in the city. Really brings me back to my time in Texas. Afterward, we saw Altar Boyz. It is an off-Broadway show and absolutely phenomenal. Everyone in the NYC area MUST go see this! We laughed 'til we cried.

Today we trekked down to Century 21 in the Financial District. I had never been to the location in the city. I always think of Carrie Bradshaw on her jewel-encrusted cell phone telling Big that she just found a Dolce kimono.

No Dolce for me, but I did pick up this 'Nautical Knot' Milly dress for thirty bucks.



I know I said yesterday that I'd stop shopping, but I think the fact that I walked out only with this is a triumph rather than a tragedy.

JGIWC's Humble Abode

Have I ever told you about my apartment? I love it. It's my little calm from the storm.

My last apartment in Florida was green and pink complete with Lilly bedding and bath. I decided to go in a different direction with my NYC home. It's decorated to look like a Hamptons beach house. It is light blue and dark blue (my sorority colors!) with some whites and dark woods.




This is my work space. The 'T' and 'Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.' are new additions as of yesterday!




This is a side table in between my bed and living room space. Very beachy with lots of shells and starfish! You can see a pillow on the couch; a dear friend is in town from Ohio and staying with me this week! (I'll show you the living room space another time.)




I've been sleeping in this bed since I was 11. For those of you in the Miami area, it's from the store my mom used to own on Red Road called Housefly (formerly House Dressing). It is vintage and I will never, ever get rid of it. My bedding is Nautica and very comfortable! There is a small dresser in front of my bed with some extra pillows (including my monogrammed pom pom pillow). Snoopy normally lives on the couch, but he's sleeping with me this week!




This white cabinet and mini desk are new additions to my apartment. I use the mini desk as a vanity table and the cabinet to store extra books, sorority materials, and my Wii games. I love this new little corner of my studio; it really makes it feel like home.

I'd show you the closet, but it's a mess. I really need to stop shopping. The door won't close.

Reminder

The monogram swap closes tomorrow at noon OR as soon as we have an odd number of comments so that I can participate too!

JGIWC's MONOGRAM SWAP

I was thinking to myself last night that it's been a long time since I've participated in a good swap... So, I'm going to host one myself!

Here are the rules:

Leave a comment here with your email address if you'd like to participate. I'll assign partners this Friday, July 24.

Spend $15-$20 on a monogrammed gift for your partner.

Send the gift no later than Friday, August 7. (If you are ordering online, you'll probably want to ship the item directly to your partner).

My favorite monogram shops are Chloe Lane, in Winter Park, FL and the Preppy Parade. The owner is fabulous. She sent me this monogrammed badge reel!



I hope lots of you will want to participate!

What's in JGIWC's handbag

I always think these are fun, don't you?

I've been carrying my Longchamp Le Pliage handbag. Here's what's in it, clockwise starting at top center.



The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. I've been wanting to read this for months. It's sort of a bizarre stream of consciousness, but I appreciate it.

Kate Spade small Henrietta cosmetic bag. Mine is in the lobster print from two summers ago. I love this print; I also own the top and handbag in it.

A ten dollar bill. Forgot to put it back in my wallet after hopping out of a cab this morning.

Verizon Wireless gift card. I've had this since buying my phone in November! It has only $2 left on it, but it won't let me use it for anything more than that.

Vera Bradley change purse in Hope Toile. I bought matching ones for my Nana and I.

iPod Nano in pink.Too pretty for a case or cover.

Starbucks napkin. You can always find at least one of these in my bag.

BlackBerry Curve in pink. I don't go anywhere without this.

Ponytail holder. My hair is really too short for a pony these days, but I feel incomplete without at least one of these on me.

Mighty Bright book light. Oftentimes I'll be at my boyfriend's place, and he'll fall asleep before I do. This way, I can read without bothering him.

Kate Spade Tarrytown Taryn wallet.This is my small wallet. I switch between this one and a continental Gucci.

Orbit Strawberry Mint gum. Yum, yum, yum.

Fake mustache from a gumball machine. Long story.

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

Orbit Strawberry Mint gum. It's new, so it's still hard to find.

Real Simple Solutions. I read it cover to cover. It's on my coffee table for reference.

Vineyard Vines Women's Twill Pants. Just got a pair in white. A perfect fit and length.

Super Mario Bros. 2 for Wii. Yesterday, I finally figured out how to purchase classic games on Wii. Remember this one where you have to defeat an egg-spitting dinosaur by throwing the eggs right back at him? What a classic yet bizarre installment of the Super Mario Bros. series.

Anthropologie beaded necklaces.

Preppy Pick yesterday, Peppy Pick today

I always love to see how people decorate their work space. Here's mine! I have a magnetic board hanging over my desk that I like to change up every once in a while. I thought it might be nice to share it with you so that you can see what inspires me.

These days, the board is very sorority themed. I have several photos of me with some of my favorite sisters, and a sign in front of our Headquarters that I love so much, it's also my BlackBerry background! On top of the board is the fabulous card that CJM gave me. We all know that I love mail. I send several letters every week. There are 6 cards in the mail that I've received from sisters over the past few weeks - I love displaying them and reading them over and over again! It makes me feel loved. I also have some name tags up, including the one I got yesterday at the Vineyard Vines Blogger Day! I also have a family photo from London. We love to take pictures wearing our sunglasses because we're in the business. There's also an old-fashioned photo strip of me & Snappy. :)

What's on your bulletin board?

Have a peppy Thursday!

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.

The Secret Life of the American JGIWC

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Normally, my family spends both Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day together, but we often find ourselves scattered for the Fourth. This year was no exception. My parents galavanted off to Geneva and my artsy sis is at her pre-college design program. This left yours truly to her own devices.

Normally I'm not very candid via JGIWC about two very important aspects of my life: love and labels. I recently shared my love of bargain-hunting. And for the record, I have a wonderful boyfriend with whom I will celebrate six months of happiness in three weeks. I figured that you've all been loyal enough that I can let you in on a few secrets.

This past weekend, I traveled with my beau to his Midwestern hometown to meet his family. It was truly a lovely weekend and rather eye-opening for this Southern gal. It's always nice to celebrate America, isn't it? I must tell you that I don't like fireworks. In sixth grade, I was hit by a firework that had been set off upside-down. Can you believe that? Almost ruined my favorite Hard Tail tee shirt! I haven't been a fan since. I don't find them romantic. It sounds like a gunshot which doesn't really feel like freedom to me. I digress.

Yesterday in the airport, I decided to take a stroll around while my significant other sat and watched the luggage. I found myself wander into a Brighton store. Yes, BRIGHTON. Stop vomiting and keep reading.

I have to admit - while most of it is NOT me, I think Brighton makes some cute things. They even made a special edition charm bracelet for my sorority. I think it's pretty but don't own it because it's not my taste. However, I have been on a mission to find new silver earrings. When I saw these, I knew I had to have them.



$29. So there you have it. I'm in love and I wear Brighton.

Are you a Poppy Girl?

Today's Preppy Pick is Coach's "Are you a Poppy Girl?" contest. To enter, design a scrap book page that personifies your inner 'Poppy Girl'. (Think fun, glamourous, hip. Part prep, part punk.)

Prizes include a weekend in NYC and a shopping spree.

Enter here.

My Longchamp luggage is once again all packed up as I am traveling this weekend. Have a preppy Thursday and wishes for a wonderful weekend!