Happiness is a warm puppy

As some of you may have caught on, I'm a big Peanuts fanatic and have been my whole life. For me, Snoopy is the end all be all. Was there ever a better dog? He is the reason that I begged my parents for a puppy come holidays and my birthday every year. It was the one present my parents refused to give me.

I was given a dog in college as a surprise gift. I have always wanted a white puppy named Snoopy. I got a black dachshund named Lilly (as in Pulitzer). I liked her anyway because she was soft and smelled good and just look at that face!



Upon becoming a dog owner I realized something very important. Dogs do not fly planes, write novels, befriend birds, or sleep on top of doghouses. They just don't. You can imagine my disappointment.

Lilly stayed in Florida when I moved to New York, but I'm confident that I will own a [white] dog [named Snoopy] again someday.

I mention this now because it's the time of year that I cuddle with my stuffed Snoopy in my sleep and watch Charlie Brown specials on TV. My favorite mermaid turned me onto the 60th anniversary collection of plush Snoopys that CVS is selling. I bought the 1980's one.



Each Hanukkah, I ask for something Snoopy related. This year, I've requested this comic compilation.



Charles Schulz said it best. Happiness is a warm puppy.

Photo of the week - Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are my sister and I being silly on Turkey Day. Did you enjoy yours?

Thanksgiving should be every day!

Well, you're not going to believe this one. The girl who writes hand-written thank you notes and prides herself on thanking everyone at least twice... doesn't like Thanksgiving.

I don't like gravy. I don't like stuffing. I don't like cranberry sauce. I like turkey... sliced thin on a sandwich. Not in the shape of a bird.

I do like saying thank you, which is why I've always thought that Thanksgiving should be every day!

I'm not the only one. My baby sister doesn't like Thanksgiving either!

Truth be told, I think we would both much rather have a Thanksgiving feast Snoopy style, with popcorn, pretzels and jelly beans!


Damn you, Peppermint Patty. You are so ungrateful.

But, our family insists on a traditional meal, so we will live vicariously through the Peanuts gang as we watch and giggle.

This year I am thankful for good family, good friends, and of course, good readers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"I've dreamt of you my whole life. And now I have to wake up."

It was a long weekend. I hosted a guest and stayed out till the wee ole hours of the morning! Tonight I saw "After Miss Julie" on Broadway with Sienna Miller and it was just fantastic. I walked right up to her afterward and told her she was wonderful. Only in New York. :)

Did you love the Curb Your Enthusiasm finale as much as I did? I adore Cheryl. She is so beautiful, elegant and fun. I want to marry a Larry of my very own.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

No Makeup Friday

All my life, I've been VERY meticulous about my skin. I could stumble in my apartment at 4 in the morning, still have a glass in my hand, but you better believe I'm washing my face before I go to sleep.

Today I am not wearing a single stitch of makeup. I know that I have a party tonight and I'll want to have smoky eyes, rosy cheeks and pink lips, so I am giving my face the day off. Does anyone else do this?

I love makeup, but I have to say that I'm very comfortable without it. I absolutely adore getting my makeup done, sitting in the chair as someone else blushes, buffs and puffs. But I don't like the way it looks when I do it. I'm just not good at it - never have been.

Sometimes I feel sexiest with just a tan and lip balm.

Perhaps tomorrow will be No Makeup Saturday.

A Whale of a Sale

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Vineyard Vines sample sale. I LOVE VV! It was the first they've ever had and I walked away with some fantastic things.




I got four dresses and two skirts. How much are you loving that anchor print?




Three button downs. Party shirt on the right!




Two halters...




The top on the right has buttons on the sleeve and little rope loops to bunch them up. The top on the right is a lightweight sweater with anchor buttons on the shoulder.




A daisy trench!




WAH!




Okay. Both of these are mens. The tee on the left is for me; I love lounging in boys' sweatshirts and t-shirts. The sweater on the right... I couldn't resist. It has anchors and it's in my sorority colors. I'm hanging onto this one for a future boyfriend. If I'm not single for the rest of my life, that is.

Waspdate.com

Wouldn't it be SO fun if Wasps had their own version of Jdate?

I have an inactive profile on Jdate. I signed up for a free profile about a year and a half ago. I was really bored and decided to give it a go. After 2 weeks and a few weird encounters, I realized that I hate dating.

I love meeting new people, but I hate the game. I'm a relationship girl. I love being a girlfriend. I love falling for someone. I love spoiling and taking care of my significant other. I'm not a flirt, I don't get hit on, I don't talk to guys in bars. Not a dater.

BUT, if there were a Waspdate.com, and I had a profile (I may hate dating but could never resist such a brilliant platform), I'd combine it with the one I had on Jdate and here's what it would say:

I'm a Jewish girl in Wasp's clothing. Southern belle in Northern hell. Walking dichotomy. Constantly straddling some line. Think Cheryl David in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Total sorority girl who would choose a sundress over a Juicy sweatsuit every time. I wear pearls, hand-write thank you notes and read Town and Country. I'm pretty much the opposite of every Jewish female I know, and I still haven't figured out if that's working in my favor. Basically, if you'd rather be classic than hip, you aren't afraid of madras pants (bonus points if you own a pair) and you summer in the Hamptons... we need to talk.

What do you think?

Photo of the week

Last night I met one of my favorite singers, Steve Tyrell, at the Carlyle hotel bar. Steve Tyrell sang the songs for both of the Father of the Bride movies (my FAVORITE). He performs at the Carlyle during the holiday season, and just happened to walk into the bar and did a single with the piano player. I was at the bar, sucking back vodka gimlets, not really understanding what was going on until he walked up to the gaggle of gals next to us and was chatting them up. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that I was sorry to interrupt, but I'm a HUGE fan. He put his arm around me and I said, "On the Sunny Side of the Street?" and he started singing, so I sang with him.

"Grab your coat, and get your hat
Leave your worries on the doorstep
And just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street"

DREAM. COME. TRUE.

Do you back up?

Remember that episode of Sex and the City? My poor baby sister just lost EVERYTHING. Apple gave her practically a new computer for free, but she lost her entire hard drive. Photos, iTunes, the whole shabang. So I'm here reminding you to BACK UP! You never know what may happen.

What a lovely Thursday night I'm enjoying. I had a great dinner with one of my good girlfriends. I'm watching my boy D. Wade take down the Cavaliers, I have laundry in the dryer, and I just ordered my holiday cards online. Have you gotten yours yet? I agonized for weeks over what to get, and I just now made a snap decision. That's how I'm wired. I think about it for a long time, and then I get it done quickly.

Hanukkah is in ONE MONTH from today, and you know what? I haven't even begun my shopping! To get into the spirit of the season, I'm going to do a JGIWC gift guide. If you have a product that you'd like me to include, feel free to email me!

This Hanukkah, I'm wishing for a Barnes & Noble Nook with a Kate Spade cover. Anything else would be gravy.

What are you hoping for?

GLAMOUROUS (and a Perricone giveaway and discount!)

Tonight at dinner, I laughed when a dear friend referred to me as 'glamorous'. I told her that I am anything but. She smiled and flicked her wrist as if to say, Oh Please.

The truth is that I know who I am. I don't think I'm beautiful or special. I don't have a killer body and I'm not cool. I'm also (if you couldn't tell) my own worst enemy and harshest critic.

I got to thinking that often times I am too hard on myself.


This is my favorite "glamour shot" of myself. I know what you're thinking. This photo is a DISASTER! My bra is showing, my hair is out of place, and I'm too busy doing "Thriller" to look at the camera. But, I like what I see here. It's one of my favorite photos of all time. Why? Because it's SO ME. A nice mess.

I look happy. And happiness is glamorous.

Sure, glamorous to some may be slathering their face with hundred dollar creams and falling asleep in their Pratesi sheets. (I use Clarins that I got from a blogging event and slumber in Nautica bedding.) But to me, this is it.

So, how about we meet halfway?

If you leave me a comment telling me why you think YOU'RE glamorous, I'll enter you in a JGIWC-exclusive giveaway to win the GLAMOROUS Dr. Perricone Cold Plasma Creme.

This creme retails for $150 and stops the ten signs of aging. Read more about it here. If you're interested in discounts, you can visit their blog.

We could all use a little ego boost every now and again.

Windy Wedding

This past weekend, I went to a family wedding in Chicago.

Being recently single and attending a wedding is no easy feat, my friends. Especially when there were comments made about me. That I'm not likely to get married any time soon. Yikes!

Anyway, on to the good stuff...

I wore a gorgeous black Vera Wang dress that does NOT photograph well. It is beaded along the bust and ties into a bow across the back. Quite honestly, none of the pictures are great. I wore my hair half-up which was very unflattering. Remind me not to do that again!




And, photo of the week. My sister and I. She had a great 17th birthday and appreciates all of the wishes that were left here! More tomorrow - I have a headache that just won't quit.

AND THE WINNER IS...

(Courtesy of Random.org)
Min: 1
Max: 96
Result: 42

KLC said...
I love my large tote- the pattern is acorns.. it's an Elon University special edition and that's where my little sister goes!

CONGRATS KLC! Please email me with your info.

Thanks for playing - stay tuned for more fabulous giveaways...

Flying Friday

Hello, dear readers! I'm off to the windy city. Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already.

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Happy birthday to the love of my life, the Woodstock to my Snoopy, the Piglet to my Pooh

Some of you long-timers may remember the letter I wrote to my sister via JGIWC, one year ago on her sixteenth birthday.

I just re-read the letter, and everything I said still rings true. You're STILL the most precious thing in my life, the best gift I've ever gotten, and my best friend.


Thank you for being YOU. Happy birthday baby!

Five things I'd like to accomplish before the year ends

Lose five pounds.

Read Street Gang. Especially since it's been on my list since JANUARY. (But currently, I'm indulging in Straight Up and Dirty.)

Make headway on a big writing project.

Finish ALL of my laundry.

Accept the fact that I'm turning 25, that I'm not exactly where I thought I'd be at this age, and that hiding under the covers all day won't change anything (and isn't really a reasonable option).

So you'd better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changin'

Yesterday, someone asked me how I've changed since I first moved to New York.

I've made mistakes, but I've learned from them.

My friendships are different. I've gained a lot and lost a few. Some have gotten better and some have gotten worse.

I clean more.

I no longer hope that boys will talk to me in bars. No good has ever come from it.

I'm equally as dependent on my family.

I have a thicker skin.

I'm more agressive and outspoken.

My immune system has weakened.

I shop less - quality over quantity.

The novelty of having food other than pizza delivered has worn off. I eat out more or I whip something up.

I've let people go - whether they know it or not.

I do my own nails now.

I know exactly what I want.

And... I'm still single. But I'm hopeful, which is certainly the biggest and best change of all.

A WHALE OF A GIVEAWAY!

Let's kick off November the right way!

It's the giveaway you've been waiting for!



I have, up for grabs, one Vineyard Vines navy with silver trim canvas tote!

To enter, please leave a comment telling us your favorite Vineyard Vines item, past or present. I'll start. It's hard to pick just one, but right now I'm living in and loving my cobalt blue Nancy Coat.

I will draw a winner on Sunday, November 8.

GOOD LUCK!

Photo of the week - Happy Halloween!

My girlfriends and I dressed up as the Peanuts gang for Halloween. Many of you know that I LIVE for Snoopy and so this costume was very fitting.




I hope you all had a safe and super Halloween!