Bet you missed this, huh?
Coming to you live from our nation's capital. So without further ado...Five things I love about Washington DC!
1. It's in the Northeast, but it's still pretty Southern. Best of both worlds.
2. The food! I had a spectacular dinner at Art and Soul last night (chef/owner Art Smith is Oprah's former personal chef) that consisted of: shrimp and grits, a carmalized apple and bleu cheese hoecake, and ricotta donuts. Plus, my favorite cafe chain, Corner Bakery, is front and center in Union Station!
3. The sights. I got some spectacular photos yesterday that I wll share with you next week.
4. The history and the preservation. Goes without saying.
5. The all-around serenity, even with all the hustle and bustle. It's a great mix.
As always, wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wah Wah.
Kelly Cutrone says if you have to cry, go outside. Today, I had to cry so I got up from my desk, walked out of the office, and went next door to Starbucks. Because I like a little coffee with my cry, thank you very much.
I'm an extremely emotional person and crying is a big part of me. I feel things very deeply; I take something in and then I let it out, often in the form of tears. When I look back on the past five years at my life and think about big, vivid moments, the first two memories that come to mind are of me crying.
The first was at my sister's Bat Mitzvah four and a half years ago. Most of you know that my little sister is my everything. I was an only child for eight years and my parents were not initially planning on having another child. I begged for a baby sister and my wish was granted. Perri is the best present I've ever gotten. For those of you who have never been to a Bat Mitzvah, the young adult usually makes a speech (in English) towards the end of the ceremony about what they have learned from the experience and acknowledging the people that have guided them through it. When my sister started to thank me, she looked out into the audience, our eyes met, and she started to get choked up - she literally had to stop mid-word. I absolutely lost it. I put my face in my hands and my arms in my lap because I didn't want her to see me crying, and in turn, most of the people in the synagogue began to cry as well. There really wasn't a dry eye in the house and I think in that instant, people felt the connection between the two of us. It was a beautiful moment, one that I will always keep close to my heart and won't ever forget. Words can't do it justice, and I'm honestly surprised that I even tried.
The second is one that I think I've mentioned on here before. It happened at sorority rush my senior year. On the very last night at the very last preference party, we were ushering the potential new members out of the house. It was evening and everyone was in their black dresses. Most of the seniors had been tearing up all night because we all knew that it was the end of the road. As the party ended, we stood in the foyer and sang the potential new members off. As the girls begin to file out, I turned to my best friend. We both knew that it was the beginning of the end and in that instant, threw our arms around one another and began sobbing. I'm tearing up thinking about it - standing in the doorway, embracing my sister, surrounded by dozens of sorority sisters clad in black and singing softly, crying for everything that was and all that was to come.
So there you have it - two of the few crystal clear experiences from my post-adolescence. One is with family, and one is with friends (my second family). And both are about crying. But the tears were happy and the moments, wonderful. Unforgettable.
Today, my feelings were badly hurt. I handled it by taking a deep breath, ordering a vanilla latte, and tearing up while waiting in line. I'm still pretty sad, but here's what I figure: I'm content to have such an emotionally charged life, even if it does mean being super sensitive. Crying makes me feel alive, and at the end of the day, that's not so bad.
Monday, April 26, 2010
A few things I have to get off my chest
Before I say this, I have to state that I do love Lilly Pulitzer. I worked for them for years and it breaks my heart that I've yet to meet the Queen of the Jungle. BUT, I have to oust this New York Times article. It's a bunch of bull. Those "If This Dress Could Talk" tags were NOT written by previous owners while they owned the vintage garments. They were written by me in the stock room!
Does anyone else HATE it when they get stopped by randoms who want to sell some illegitimate salon package? I got stopped this morning by a man who said, "Now don't beat me up or anything" in the middle of his schtick. Do I look that scary? Their opener is always the same, "Excuse me ma'am, where do you get your hair done?" and I ain't buyin' it! Bumble & Bumble and yes I am completely faithful to them. So drop it.
It really, truly bothers me that One Tree Hill never bother to explain where Lucas and Peyton took off to. I don't care that it's fiction; I like to believe and still want an explanation.
Things are so wonderful right now, but it hit me today: I'm not having enough fun. Though I feel both unbelievably blessed and incredibly content, I'm I'm not having enough skip-on-the-sidewalk, dancing-'till-dawn moments. I really need to work on this. I'm 25 - I can afford to be a bit more careless. Because...
...Although I'm sure it doesn't seem like it, I actually DO have a life outside of JGIWC! And it's pretty crazy right now, so please be patient with me. I'm doing the best I can. :)
Does anyone else HATE it when they get stopped by randoms who want to sell some illegitimate salon package? I got stopped this morning by a man who said, "Now don't beat me up or anything" in the middle of his schtick. Do I look that scary? Their opener is always the same, "Excuse me ma'am, where do you get your hair done?" and I ain't buyin' it! Bumble & Bumble and yes I am completely faithful to them. So drop it.
It really, truly bothers me that One Tree Hill never bother to explain where Lucas and Peyton took off to. I don't care that it's fiction; I like to believe and still want an explanation.
Things are so wonderful right now, but it hit me today: I'm not having enough fun. Though I feel both unbelievably blessed and incredibly content, I'm I'm not having enough skip-on-the-sidewalk, dancing-'till-dawn moments. I really need to work on this. I'm 25 - I can afford to be a bit more careless. Because...
...Although I'm sure it doesn't seem like it, I actually DO have a life outside of JGIWC! And it's pretty crazy right now, so please be patient with me. I'm doing the best I can. :)
Thursday, April 22, 2010
When it rains it pours and baby it's teeming
My life lately has been busy, nutty, and overwhelming - but I'm not complaining! I'm tired, but happy. So many things have happened at once and I'm just trying to handle it all, gracefully when possible, with a smile on my face.
There are so many things I would love to write about on here and share with most of you, but I can't. Sometimes, I need to draw lines instead of cross them. There are big parts of me, tragedies and triumphs, that I just cannot publish. And part of me REALLY wishes I could, because I think people would understand me so much better if they knew why I am the way I am, if they were aware of everything I've been through and the circumstances that have brought me to today. I choose to keep a number of things off of this blog and to myself because I must protect myself and more importantly, my family. They are my everything and certain things are just not meant to be posted online. I simply cannot share every single detail of my life nor is it my responsibility to do so. Up until now, I rendered it unnecessary to blatantly state that as I thought it was understood, but lately it seems as though I've angered some people with the information (or lack thereof) I've shared about the recent happenings in my life. While I do try to be as candid as possible (and it sometimes backfires) I also try to choose every single word carefully. It's a difficult balance to achieve and I do the very best that I can.
Thank you for understanding and for being an amazing audience. The response to this blog and my writing has been so far above and beyond anything I could have ever hoped for.
There are so many things I would love to write about on here and share with most of you, but I can't. Sometimes, I need to draw lines instead of cross them. There are big parts of me, tragedies and triumphs, that I just cannot publish. And part of me REALLY wishes I could, because I think people would understand me so much better if they knew why I am the way I am, if they were aware of everything I've been through and the circumstances that have brought me to today. I choose to keep a number of things off of this blog and to myself because I must protect myself and more importantly, my family. They are my everything and certain things are just not meant to be posted online. I simply cannot share every single detail of my life nor is it my responsibility to do so. Up until now, I rendered it unnecessary to blatantly state that as I thought it was understood, but lately it seems as though I've angered some people with the information (or lack thereof) I've shared about the recent happenings in my life. While I do try to be as candid as possible (and it sometimes backfires) I also try to choose every single word carefully. It's a difficult balance to achieve and I do the very best that I can.
Thank you for understanding and for being an amazing audience. The response to this blog and my writing has been so far above and beyond anything I could have ever hoped for.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Ah, when to the heart of man was it ever less than a treason to bow and accept the end of a love or a season?
In the first half of the last episode of The Wonder Years, Kevin left home because he felt like he needed to find himself. He drove to the resort that Winnie was working at and after a hell of a lot of rigmarole, they made love and the promise of forever to one another. And that was it. The show was over and it was the end.
When I first saw this episode, I didn't understand why Kevin felt a sudden urge to find himself, or why he thought escaping was the right way to go about it. I know now that finding yourself is sort of like falling in love - when you stop searching for it, it finds you.
The last time I saw my ex-boyfriend, he was in New York City on business and we had dinner. At that point, we had been broken up for almost two years, but we kept in close contact, literally and figuratively. That night, we sat in the backseat of a cab, crying and kissing simultaneously. Though neither of us realized at the time or dared speak of it, somewhere deep down we knew in that moment it was really over. It had to end.
I haven't seen him since.
It was around then when everything (else) in my life sort of fell apart. My heart felt half empty. For the longest time I was blindly grasping for something, anything to make it feel full again. It was only when I opened my eyes that I truly found myself.
I am candid. I wish for the same exact thing multiple times a day, every day, and I always will. In cold weather, I wear one less layer of clothing than most people do because I'd always rather be cool than warm. It is a rare day when I remember to put on both my earrings and my watch. I always thank people at least twice. I put my right hand over my heart when something touches me, as though I'm pledging allegiance to all things wonderful.
And, for so long, all I felt was the end of something. Somehow, in a whirlwind, the finale is over, and this feeling of newness has slithered toward me and wrapped itself around me, enveloping me in hope.
It feels like the beginning of something good.
When I first saw this episode, I didn't understand why Kevin felt a sudden urge to find himself, or why he thought escaping was the right way to go about it. I know now that finding yourself is sort of like falling in love - when you stop searching for it, it finds you.
The last time I saw my ex-boyfriend, he was in New York City on business and we had dinner. At that point, we had been broken up for almost two years, but we kept in close contact, literally and figuratively. That night, we sat in the backseat of a cab, crying and kissing simultaneously. Though neither of us realized at the time or dared speak of it, somewhere deep down we knew in that moment it was really over. It had to end.
I haven't seen him since.
It was around then when everything (else) in my life sort of fell apart. My heart felt half empty. For the longest time I was blindly grasping for something, anything to make it feel full again. It was only when I opened my eyes that I truly found myself.
I am candid. I wish for the same exact thing multiple times a day, every day, and I always will. In cold weather, I wear one less layer of clothing than most people do because I'd always rather be cool than warm. It is a rare day when I remember to put on both my earrings and my watch. I always thank people at least twice. I put my right hand over my heart when something touches me, as though I'm pledging allegiance to all things wonderful.
And, for so long, all I felt was the end of something. Somehow, in a whirlwind, the finale is over, and this feeling of newness has slithered toward me and wrapped itself around me, enveloping me in hope.
It feels like the beginning of something good.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
More songs that make me...
...smile
"Throwing it All Away" by Genesis; “Chances” by Five for Fighting; “In My Life” by the Beatles; “Always Thinking of You” by Donna DeLory; "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl (The last two are from my favorite movie OFALLTIME, Three Men & a Little Lady.)
…croon
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones; “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin; “Where the Stars Go Blue” by Bethany Joy Lenz & Tyler Hilton; “Gloria” by Laura Branigan; “Now or Never” by Elvis.
…swoon
“Pretty Please” by Estelle; “World I Know” by Collective Soul; “Beautiful” by Flickerstick; “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder; “We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger.
...want to strut my stuff down the streets of NYC
"Click Flash" by Ciara; “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z; “Hot Child in the City” by Pat Benetar; “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse; “Labels or Love” by Fergie. (As you could probably tell, all very inspired by Sex and the City!)
…feel sexy
“Night Moves” by Bob Seger (Sexiest song of all time, in my opinion); “Birthday Sex” by Jeremih; “Cater 2 U” by Destiny’s Child; “Crush” by Dave Matthews Band; “Prophecy” by Remy Zero (The song that was playing while Zach Braff & Rachel Bilson were getting it on in The Last Kiss. SO hot. Is anyone else kind of disappointed that those two didn’t end up together? She’s Jewish!)
…sniffle
“Yesterday” by Paul McCartney; “Take a Bow” by Madonna; “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” by Colin Hay; “Catch the Wind” by Bob Dylan; “Bookends Theme” by Simon & Garfunkle (From the “Birthday Boy” episode of The Wonder Years with Paul’s Bar Mitzvah – I sob every time.)
…lovey dovey
“More Than Anyone” by Gavin DeGraw; “We Are Man and Wife” by Michelle Featherstone (Yes. These songs are from Haley & Nathan’s wedding on One Tree Hill. Loved it.); "Honey and the Moon" by Joseph Arthur; "Somebody Like You" by Keith Urban; “Time After Time” by Margaret Whiting (From the very end of Julie & Julia. This also goes in the "sniffle" category.)
(P.S. Click here to see the original post.)
"Throwing it All Away" by Genesis; “Chances” by Five for Fighting; “In My Life” by the Beatles; “Always Thinking of You” by Donna DeLory; "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl (The last two are from my favorite movie OFALLTIME, Three Men & a Little Lady.)
…croon
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones; “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin; “Where the Stars Go Blue” by Bethany Joy Lenz & Tyler Hilton; “Gloria” by Laura Branigan; “Now or Never” by Elvis.
…swoon
“Pretty Please” by Estelle; “World I Know” by Collective Soul; “Beautiful” by Flickerstick; “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder; “We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger.
...want to strut my stuff down the streets of NYC
"Click Flash" by Ciara; “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z; “Hot Child in the City” by Pat Benetar; “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse; “Labels or Love” by Fergie. (As you could probably tell, all very inspired by Sex and the City!)
…feel sexy
“Night Moves” by Bob Seger (Sexiest song of all time, in my opinion); “Birthday Sex” by Jeremih; “Cater 2 U” by Destiny’s Child; “Crush” by Dave Matthews Band; “Prophecy” by Remy Zero (The song that was playing while Zach Braff & Rachel Bilson were getting it on in The Last Kiss. SO hot. Is anyone else kind of disappointed that those two didn’t end up together? She’s Jewish!)
…sniffle
“Yesterday” by Paul McCartney; “Take a Bow” by Madonna; “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” by Colin Hay; “Catch the Wind” by Bob Dylan; “Bookends Theme” by Simon & Garfunkle (From the “Birthday Boy” episode of The Wonder Years with Paul’s Bar Mitzvah – I sob every time.)
…lovey dovey
“More Than Anyone” by Gavin DeGraw; “We Are Man and Wife” by Michelle Featherstone (Yes. These songs are from Haley & Nathan’s wedding on One Tree Hill. Loved it.); "Honey and the Moon" by Joseph Arthur; "Somebody Like You" by Keith Urban; “Time After Time” by Margaret Whiting (From the very end of Julie & Julia. This also goes in the "sniffle" category.)
(P.S. Click here to see the original post.)
Monday, April 19, 2010
I used to, but now I
I used to… only use Bumble & Bumble shampoo (and occasionally Frederic Fekkai).
But now I… mix it up! I use Dove Heat Defense and my hair feels like silk afterward. I’m a big believer in everything Dove.
I used to… stop into J. Crew several times a week, never leaving empty-handed.
But now I… go in a few times a month, rarely buying anything.
I used to… loathe Sunday evenings.
But now I… revel in the rejuvenation and relaxation.
I used to… hold grudges.
But now I... really think that life is too short.
I used to… dread waking up in the morning.
But now I… practically leap out of bed.
But now I… mix it up! I use Dove Heat Defense and my hair feels like silk afterward. I’m a big believer in everything Dove.
I used to… stop into J. Crew several times a week, never leaving empty-handed.
But now I… go in a few times a month, rarely buying anything.
I used to… loathe Sunday evenings.
But now I… revel in the rejuvenation and relaxation.
I used to… hold grudges.
But now I... really think that life is too short.
I used to… dread waking up in the morning.
But now I… practically leap out of bed.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Getting into the swing of things
Things in my life are kind of crazy right now, and it's no secret that I am easily overwhelmed. Please bare with me while I try to get eveything in order, and forgive me if I skip a day here and there. No Friday Five this week, but I do wish you a wonderful weekend!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I want to fall in love
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I hate dating but I love being in love.
I'm not good at doing the single thing, but I excel at being a girlfriend. I love being able to spoil my significant other emotionally, physically, and materialisticly. When I'm in a relationship, I only want to make the other person happy. I drink in the every which moment when I'm with someone... The falling asleep and the waking up. The nicknames. hand holding. Having my hair played with. My heart quietly leaping at the sight of his name on my caller ID.
Remember the episode of Sex and the City when Carrie says that she wants to feel the weight of the man? I want a guy who can pick me up and feel my weight. I want to be with someone who will hold me and lift me in the air. Someone who will walk into a crowded restaurant and smile when he spots me among the crowd. Someone who actually wants to take photos with me, sans eye rolling. And so far, I just haven't had that. Any of that.
And then I think of having to start from scratch. Lots of firsts. Because whoever he is - I sure as hell haven't met him yet. I know that much.
I'm just not quite there. My heart still has a band aid on it. I like to believe that one day soon, I'll wake up, look in the mirror, and feel beautiful and confident and ready. But for now, I'll tuck my lingerie into my bottom drawer and my heart inside of my sleeve.
I'm not good at doing the single thing, but I excel at being a girlfriend. I love being able to spoil my significant other emotionally, physically, and materialisticly. When I'm in a relationship, I only want to make the other person happy. I drink in the every which moment when I'm with someone... The falling asleep and the waking up. The nicknames. hand holding. Having my hair played with. My heart quietly leaping at the sight of his name on my caller ID.
Remember the episode of Sex and the City when Carrie says that she wants to feel the weight of the man? I want a guy who can pick me up and feel my weight. I want to be with someone who will hold me and lift me in the air. Someone who will walk into a crowded restaurant and smile when he spots me among the crowd. Someone who actually wants to take photos with me, sans eye rolling. And so far, I just haven't had that. Any of that.
And then I think of having to start from scratch. Lots of firsts. Because whoever he is - I sure as hell haven't met him yet. I know that much.
I'm just not quite there. My heart still has a band aid on it. I like to believe that one day soon, I'll wake up, look in the mirror, and feel beautiful and confident and ready. But for now, I'll tuck my lingerie into my bottom drawer and my heart inside of my sleeve.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Starbucks or sex?
I was getting my daily vanilla last Thursday when I stopped to consider something. Do you ever wonder if single straight males feel intimidated by Starbucks? Because I know do.
Think about it. Are you a girl with a boyfriend? Do you love Starbucks? Do you go there with him? If you answered yes to the first two questions and no to the third, I feel ya. I had a boyfriend in college whom I visited during the summer while I was living in NY and he was at home in South Florida. When we woke up in the mornings, he would say, "What do you want to do today?" and I would say "Go to Starbucks." It was my only request and he refused to take me. Mind you that we were in a part of Florida that I consider to be generally boring and lackluster. There wasn't much to do. He claimed he didn't know where Sbux was, and this was before the days of internet & Google maps on cell phones. Instead, he had his mother make me chocolate protein shakes, claiming it was "just like a Frappucino". It wasn't, and we broke up soon after, not because of that, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the instance left a bad taste in my mouth, both literally & figuratively. (That protein shake sucked.)
I would run into a similar problem after college when I visited a different boyfriend in his hometown. Same question (What do you want to do today?), same answer (Go to Starbucks.) Though, he was far more compliant and did finally take me for my venti vanilla, bless his heart. And, come to think about it, though my other college boyfriend (whom I was with for 2+ years) would always go to Starbucks with me, he constantly bitched about it.
Which brings me back to my original inquiry. I am single for a host of reasons, the biggest being that I'm just not quite ready to put myself out there, but I'm working my way back [to you babe] and I can't help but wonder... Is the 'Bucks hurting my love life? Is my daily need and general obsession with pricey flavored coffee beverages hindering my ability to land a man?
Don't tell me that you haven't been with at least one guy who was a dud, and that you wouldn't rather have your lips on a Starbucks cup than on his. No? Just me? Come on.
Starbucks or sex? I want to fall in love, and I'd give up my lattes in a heartbeat if I could find it. And those of you who know me even a little well know that's' saying a lot. But for now, I'll say this... Which drink and whose the guy? You give me your explanation and I'll give you mine.
Think about it. Are you a girl with a boyfriend? Do you love Starbucks? Do you go there with him? If you answered yes to the first two questions and no to the third, I feel ya. I had a boyfriend in college whom I visited during the summer while I was living in NY and he was at home in South Florida. When we woke up in the mornings, he would say, "What do you want to do today?" and I would say "Go to Starbucks." It was my only request and he refused to take me. Mind you that we were in a part of Florida that I consider to be generally boring and lackluster. There wasn't much to do. He claimed he didn't know where Sbux was, and this was before the days of internet & Google maps on cell phones. Instead, he had his mother make me chocolate protein shakes, claiming it was "just like a Frappucino". It wasn't, and we broke up soon after, not because of that, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the instance left a bad taste in my mouth, both literally & figuratively. (That protein shake sucked.)
I would run into a similar problem after college when I visited a different boyfriend in his hometown. Same question (What do you want to do today?), same answer (Go to Starbucks.) Though, he was far more compliant and did finally take me for my venti vanilla, bless his heart. And, come to think about it, though my other college boyfriend (whom I was with for 2+ years) would always go to Starbucks with me, he constantly bitched about it.
Which brings me back to my original inquiry. I am single for a host of reasons, the biggest being that I'm just not quite ready to put myself out there, but I'm working my way back [to you babe] and I can't help but wonder... Is the 'Bucks hurting my love life? Is my daily need and general obsession with pricey flavored coffee beverages hindering my ability to land a man?
Don't tell me that you haven't been with at least one guy who was a dud, and that you wouldn't rather have your lips on a Starbucks cup than on his. No? Just me? Come on.
Starbucks or sex? I want to fall in love, and I'd give up my lattes in a heartbeat if I could find it. And those of you who know me even a little well know that's' saying a lot. But for now, I'll say this... Which drink and whose the guy? You give me your explanation and I'll give you mine.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
On the road
I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the amazing outpour of support I've received over the past few days. From bad comes good and from dark comes light, and my wonderful and crazy life has lead me to LaGuardia airport this morning, as I am taking a last minute trip to Florida today! I have been offered an amazing opportunity and I feel unbelievably blessed. Hold your questions for now, more info to come! I will be blogging from my BlackBerry while I'm away. Even though the weather in New York is lovely, I am inexplicably delighted to return to my home (& favorite) state so soon & unexpectedly!
Friday, April 9, 2010
At a loss for words
It's a rare occasion when I'm speechless. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. Anything I write will be wrong because I can't do justice to just how much I am hurting right now, both emotionally & physically. I'm going to take the weekend and hopefully return to you on Monday refreshed, rejuvenated, and my regular self.
Thanks for understanding.
Thanks for understanding.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Want? Need.
This warm weather (I slept in a Lilly nightie above the comforter and sheets last night) has my wishlist growing.
I must have a sorority sister in the design department at Brooks Brothers, because this blue & blue Fleur-de-lis Embroidered Seersucker Dress just SCREAMS Kappa Kappa Gamma!
This Pass The Shades cotton scarf from Kate Spade has been on my radar for quite some time and I must make it mine. It's on sale!
I found these Prada Perforated Flats in Neiman Marcus last weekend in a canary yellow and it was love at first sight. I left empty-handed but I haven't been able to stop thinking about those damn shoes. What's worse is that the yellow has proved impossible to find online. It's like a designer mirage. When I DO find them, I WILL buy them.
I received the Vineyard Vines catalog recently; those folks just keep getting better and better. There's no other way I'd rather combat rainy days than with this sunny umbrella.
I must have a sorority sister in the design department at Brooks Brothers, because this blue & blue Fleur-de-lis Embroidered Seersucker Dress just SCREAMS Kappa Kappa Gamma!
This Pass The Shades cotton scarf from Kate Spade has been on my radar for quite some time and I must make it mine. It's on sale!
I found these Prada Perforated Flats in Neiman Marcus last weekend in a canary yellow and it was love at first sight. I left empty-handed but I haven't been able to stop thinking about those damn shoes. What's worse is that the yellow has proved impossible to find online. It's like a designer mirage. When I DO find them, I WILL buy them.
I received the Vineyard Vines catalog recently; those folks just keep getting better and better. There's no other way I'd rather combat rainy days than with this sunny umbrella.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
What's in JGIWC's medicine cabinet?
It’s been about a year since I last did this, and being the product junkie I am, I’ve discovered a few new things!
From left to right, top to bottom:
Organix Coconut Milk Split End Mender. I have been using this since last summer and I believe that it works. I don’t use after most washes.
Umitonic. I got a few of these free in a gift bag. This detangler has peppermint oil in it – I love it for the scent alone. Meant for dry, coarse, or color-treated hair.
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Lotion. This is my PM moisturizer. (My AM moisturizer, in case you’re wondering, is on my vanity table because I apply it right before makeup. I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 and I love it.)
TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock. You’ve likely noticed that I very rarely wear my hair any way other than straight. If I want to leave it au natural, I put this in my hair. I bought this nifty little travel size at Ricky’s because I don’t use it too often.
Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion. Still loving this shimmer moisturizer.
Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads. Old faithful!
Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Pads. In case I run out of the Almay before I have a chance to buy more.
Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil. I never met a Bobbi Brown product I didn't like. Wash my face with this every night. Love, love, love it. Great for us dry-skinned gals.
Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Microbeads. Hands down, this is the best exfoliater I’ve every used – and I’ve tried many different kinds. This is gentle but highly effective, and my skin never felt better upon rinsing. I heard recently that exfoliating with oats or other harsh ingredients is basically the equivalent of rubbing glass shards against your skin and it made me CRINGE. Still does. Please please PLEASE invest in a good scrub. This one is $28.50 and I promise it's worth every penny. If you have to do drugstore – choose Aveeno. I use their body polish and it’s a quality product for only seven bucks!
Clinique Sun SPF 25 Body Spray. I absolutely LOATHE sunblock creams. They are messy and hard to apply. I spray this all over – takes less than 30 seconds and makes me feel good.
T3 Orlando Pita Dry Shampoo. Hair powder is one of those things I need to have but hate to spend money on. T3 sent this to me gratis, and it’s not half bad. I’m partial to the Bumble & bumble kind, though.
Dove Heat Repair spray. I use this before flat ironing. I also have the Dove shampoo and conditioner in my shower. I happen to love all Dove products, except for…
Dove Daily Moisturizer spray. It’s sort of like a revitalizer. I spray this on nights that I don’t wash, but it makes my hair look a bit oily. I love the concept of this, but don’t think I’ll be replacing it when I run out.
Clinique Self Sun Body Moisturizer. I like to use this when a spray tan fades to help maintain color. Beware of using it on very pale skin, however. If you don’t blend it in well, it will streak.
Go Smile Flashlites. I like to maintain my pearly whites, but I don’t care for whitening strips. I am a big fan of the Go Smile brand in general, especially these little ampoules. They are easy to use and very portable.
Mario Badescu. Still killing blemishes with this powerful potion.
Supersmile Toothpaste. My parents stock up on this for me every year at Super Saturday. I think I have two extra tubes under my sink as we speak.
Certain Dri Antiperspirants. Like I said to a friend the other day, I sweat in a bathing suit. Hey, I’m a Jew! My people hail from the desert.
Clarins On-The-Spot Brightening Corrector. I haven’t been using this for long enough to give a fair or accurate review, but I’m a big believer in everything Clarins.
So? Do our medicine cabinets have anything in common?
P.S. If anyone needs help finding any of the above products or would like a more in depth review, please feel free to email me!
From left to right, top to bottom:
Organix Coconut Milk Split End Mender. I have been using this since last summer and I believe that it works. I don’t use after most washes.
Umitonic. I got a few of these free in a gift bag. This detangler has peppermint oil in it – I love it for the scent alone. Meant for dry, coarse, or color-treated hair.
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Lotion. This is my PM moisturizer. (My AM moisturizer, in case you’re wondering, is on my vanity table because I apply it right before makeup. I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 and I love it.)
TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock. You’ve likely noticed that I very rarely wear my hair any way other than straight. If I want to leave it au natural, I put this in my hair. I bought this nifty little travel size at Ricky’s because I don’t use it too often.
Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion. Still loving this shimmer moisturizer.
Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads. Old faithful!
Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Pads. In case I run out of the Almay before I have a chance to buy more.
Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil. I never met a Bobbi Brown product I didn't like. Wash my face with this every night. Love, love, love it. Great for us dry-skinned gals.
Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Microbeads. Hands down, this is the best exfoliater I’ve every used – and I’ve tried many different kinds. This is gentle but highly effective, and my skin never felt better upon rinsing. I heard recently that exfoliating with oats or other harsh ingredients is basically the equivalent of rubbing glass shards against your skin and it made me CRINGE. Still does. Please please PLEASE invest in a good scrub. This one is $28.50 and I promise it's worth every penny. If you have to do drugstore – choose Aveeno. I use their body polish and it’s a quality product for only seven bucks!
Clinique Sun SPF 25 Body Spray. I absolutely LOATHE sunblock creams. They are messy and hard to apply. I spray this all over – takes less than 30 seconds and makes me feel good.
T3 Orlando Pita Dry Shampoo. Hair powder is one of those things I need to have but hate to spend money on. T3 sent this to me gratis, and it’s not half bad. I’m partial to the Bumble & bumble kind, though.
Dove Heat Repair spray. I use this before flat ironing. I also have the Dove shampoo and conditioner in my shower. I happen to love all Dove products, except for…
Dove Daily Moisturizer spray. It’s sort of like a revitalizer. I spray this on nights that I don’t wash, but it makes my hair look a bit oily. I love the concept of this, but don’t think I’ll be replacing it when I run out.
Clinique Self Sun Body Moisturizer. I like to use this when a spray tan fades to help maintain color. Beware of using it on very pale skin, however. If you don’t blend it in well, it will streak.
Go Smile Flashlites. I like to maintain my pearly whites, but I don’t care for whitening strips. I am a big fan of the Go Smile brand in general, especially these little ampoules. They are easy to use and very portable.
Mario Badescu. Still killing blemishes with this powerful potion.
Supersmile Toothpaste. My parents stock up on this for me every year at Super Saturday. I think I have two extra tubes under my sink as we speak.
Certain Dri Antiperspirants. Like I said to a friend the other day, I sweat in a bathing suit. Hey, I’m a Jew! My people hail from the desert.
Clarins On-The-Spot Brightening Corrector. I haven’t been using this for long enough to give a fair or accurate review, but I’m a big believer in everything Clarins.
So? Do our medicine cabinets have anything in common?
P.S. If anyone needs help finding any of the above products or would like a more in depth review, please feel free to email me!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
That not everything is gonna be the way you think it ought to be
Since moving to New York, I've only dated guys that are wrong for me. It's been a defense mechanism. My heart was so brutally broken that I've built a brick wall around it. After nearly three years here, I feel like I've finally gotten to a place where I know who I am and exactly what I want. I'm slowly breaking down the wall, brick by brick, but the road here was long and far from easy.
The truth is, I've seen the other side. I lived with a guy whom I very much believed was The One. In a spacious two bedroom with granite countertops and an untrained miniature dachshund. I have a very vivid memory of standing in the bathroom, running a Frederic Fekkai brush through my hair while the boyfriend was yelling and the dog was barking and thinking to myself, "Is this my life?"
Our breakup was heart-wrenching. There wasn't a standout argument or specific incident. No one cheated and there was still an abundance of love. We both knew that it had to end before it began. We came to a crossroads and one path had Lexus sedans and Boca Raton and the large possibility of divorce in the distance and the other was unknown. We did what Robert Frost would've and took the one less traveled by. I moved into the guest room and cried at every stop light. I was miserable. I couldn't comprehend how something that was once so wonderful could completely unravel. I just didn't understand. Honestly, I still don't.
My life is nothing without irony. What I once believed to be the worst thing to ever happen to me has likely been one of the best. I became free, I stepped out of the box and I took chances.
I am eternally grateful for this, for now. That I left Florida and moved to New York City not knowing a soul, and have built an incredible life for myself. I took lemons and make them into lemonade and DAMN, it is sweet.
I shall believe.
The truth is, I've seen the other side. I lived with a guy whom I very much believed was The One. In a spacious two bedroom with granite countertops and an untrained miniature dachshund. I have a very vivid memory of standing in the bathroom, running a Frederic Fekkai brush through my hair while the boyfriend was yelling and the dog was barking and thinking to myself, "Is this my life?"
Our breakup was heart-wrenching. There wasn't a standout argument or specific incident. No one cheated and there was still an abundance of love. We both knew that it had to end before it began. We came to a crossroads and one path had Lexus sedans and Boca Raton and the large possibility of divorce in the distance and the other was unknown. We did what Robert Frost would've and took the one less traveled by. I moved into the guest room and cried at every stop light. I was miserable. I couldn't comprehend how something that was once so wonderful could completely unravel. I just didn't understand. Honestly, I still don't.
My life is nothing without irony. What I once believed to be the worst thing to ever happen to me has likely been one of the best. I became free, I stepped out of the box and I took chances.
I am eternally grateful for this, for now. That I left Florida and moved to New York City not knowing a soul, and have built an incredible life for myself. I took lemons and make them into lemonade and DAMN, it is sweet.
I shall believe.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The really long post you've been waiting for
First of all, thank you so much to all of you who entered my giveaway and shared either memories from past posts or ideas for future ones. Many of you asked me to share more about my personal sense of "style" and what's in my closet. Since I was without internet for the past week and didn't get to do my "What is JGIWC wearing today?" posts on Twitter, I decided to do a hybrid and show you all what I wore while I was away.
I wore this outfit on the first night of our trip. The dress is Lilly Pulitzer, the cardigan is J. Crew, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. I own somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty Lilly dresses, and this is one of my favorites. I find it both flattering and comfortable. I wish they still made this style.
I wore this dress on the formal night, which also happened to be my dad's birthday. The dress is Sue Wong, the clutch is J. Crew, and the shoes are Marc Jacobs. This was my senior prom dress. I hadn't originally intended on wearing this, but decided to pack it at the last minute. It's a beautiful dress but very unflattering. These shoes are gorgeous - suede and snake skin - but hurt like hell. I only wear them once or twice a year. I did my hair in a french twist with a braid on each side. It's hard to tell in the picture, but it came out surprisingly pretty.
This is my "I'm on a boat" outfit. The dress is Lilly Pulitzer, the clutch is Coach, the shoes are Jack Rogers, and the earrings are Kate Spade. This is another one of my favorite Lilly dresses. I borrowed the clutch from my sister. (She has the matching shoes as well. We're big fans of Coach match sets in my house.) The starfish and pearl earrings were a gift from dear friend Preppy in the City.
Here I am in Cozumel, Mexico. The dress is Roxy, the bag is Longchamp, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. I fell in love with the rope detail. Laugh all you want, but Roxy can still crank out a good, well-priced dress in my humble opinion. It's a brand that I've been wearing since high school.
I changed into this for dinner. The dress is H&M, the cardigan is J. Crew, the shoes are Jack Rogers, and the pearls are freshwater that I tied into a knot. This frock is a lot of fun - I love the ruffled layers.
Last night of our trip! The dress is Vineyard Vines, the cardigan is Lilly Pulitzer, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. This photo doesn't do the dress justice. It ties into knots at the shoulders and in a bow at the back. I should've taken off the cardigan. Oh, well. This particular pair of Jacks are falling apart and really ratty, but I wore them the entire trip, much to my parents' disgust. I have seven other pairs/colors, but these are just beyond comfortable and go with everything! As soon as we were back on dry land and near a mall, my father marched me into Nordstrom and bought me a new pair. I'm kind of sad and hesitant to switch over... they're so wonderfully worn in!
Highlight of the trip?
Finding this diamond in the rough in Mexico.
I kid, I kid! While drinking Starbucks in a foreign country is never less than thrilling for me, the best part of my vacation was laughing with my family. We have the best time together. It was great to go and it was great to come home.
One of my favorite parts of the cruise was dinner. Aside from the good food, we were seated at a table with another family and we loved getting to see them every evening. On our previous cruise, the five of us (Mom, Dad, Sister, Me, and Nana) were seated at a table for five. When my dad told me that we were sitting at a ten top, I thought for sure that we'd get stuck with some honky tonk bunch. (Hey, let's be honest. It is a cruise, after all.) I couldn't have been more wrong! These mothers and daughters were simply darling. When we all hugged goodbye on the last night, one of the ladies said to my dad, "I'm so glad we met you. We got lucky." Which was funny, because that's exactly what my dad said to me after meeting them on the first night.
All in all, the trip was a success. Growing up, we never took cruise vacations. I think it's a different way of traveling and not for everyone. Now, it's really the only way we can vacation with my grandmother anymore. It's very easy and she doesn't have to do a whole lot of moving around. My dad turned 55 last week and this was her birthday gift to him. (I got him this and it was the perfect present!) It's not my favorite way of traveling, but we had a great time and I'm so glad we went. I really missed blogging and am very happy to be home!
I wore this outfit on the first night of our trip. The dress is Lilly Pulitzer, the cardigan is J. Crew, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. I own somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty Lilly dresses, and this is one of my favorites. I find it both flattering and comfortable. I wish they still made this style.
I wore this dress on the formal night, which also happened to be my dad's birthday. The dress is Sue Wong, the clutch is J. Crew, and the shoes are Marc Jacobs. This was my senior prom dress. I hadn't originally intended on wearing this, but decided to pack it at the last minute. It's a beautiful dress but very unflattering. These shoes are gorgeous - suede and snake skin - but hurt like hell. I only wear them once or twice a year. I did my hair in a french twist with a braid on each side. It's hard to tell in the picture, but it came out surprisingly pretty.
This is my "I'm on a boat" outfit. The dress is Lilly Pulitzer, the clutch is Coach, the shoes are Jack Rogers, and the earrings are Kate Spade. This is another one of my favorite Lilly dresses. I borrowed the clutch from my sister. (She has the matching shoes as well. We're big fans of Coach match sets in my house.) The starfish and pearl earrings were a gift from dear friend Preppy in the City.
Here I am in Cozumel, Mexico. The dress is Roxy, the bag is Longchamp, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. I fell in love with the rope detail. Laugh all you want, but Roxy can still crank out a good, well-priced dress in my humble opinion. It's a brand that I've been wearing since high school.
I changed into this for dinner. The dress is H&M, the cardigan is J. Crew, the shoes are Jack Rogers, and the pearls are freshwater that I tied into a knot. This frock is a lot of fun - I love the ruffled layers.
Last night of our trip! The dress is Vineyard Vines, the cardigan is Lilly Pulitzer, and the shoes are Jack Rogers. This photo doesn't do the dress justice. It ties into knots at the shoulders and in a bow at the back. I should've taken off the cardigan. Oh, well. This particular pair of Jacks are falling apart and really ratty, but I wore them the entire trip, much to my parents' disgust. I have seven other pairs/colors, but these are just beyond comfortable and go with everything! As soon as we were back on dry land and near a mall, my father marched me into Nordstrom and bought me a new pair. I'm kind of sad and hesitant to switch over... they're so wonderfully worn in!
Highlight of the trip?
Finding this diamond in the rough in Mexico.
I kid, I kid! While drinking Starbucks in a foreign country is never less than thrilling for me, the best part of my vacation was laughing with my family. We have the best time together. It was great to go and it was great to come home.
One of my favorite parts of the cruise was dinner. Aside from the good food, we were seated at a table with another family and we loved getting to see them every evening. On our previous cruise, the five of us (Mom, Dad, Sister, Me, and Nana) were seated at a table for five. When my dad told me that we were sitting at a ten top, I thought for sure that we'd get stuck with some honky tonk bunch. (Hey, let's be honest. It is a cruise, after all.) I couldn't have been more wrong! These mothers and daughters were simply darling. When we all hugged goodbye on the last night, one of the ladies said to my dad, "I'm so glad we met you. We got lucky." Which was funny, because that's exactly what my dad said to me after meeting them on the first night.
All in all, the trip was a success. Growing up, we never took cruise vacations. I think it's a different way of traveling and not for everyone. Now, it's really the only way we can vacation with my grandmother anymore. It's very easy and she doesn't have to do a whole lot of moving around. My dad turned 55 last week and this was her birthday gift to him. (I got him this and it was the perfect present!) It's not my favorite way of traveling, but we had a great time and I'm so glad we went. I really missed blogging and am very happy to be home!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Paper & Perfume Present Winner!
And the winner is...
(Courtesy of random.org)
Min: 1
Max: 58
Result: 18
Comment #18... Plaid Chaos!
Thanks to all for walking down memory lane with me and for all of the great suggestions! I look forward to the day when I can reward each of my readers.
(Courtesy of random.org)
Min: 1
Max: 58
Result: 18
Comment #18... Plaid Chaos!
Thanks to all for walking down memory lane with me and for all of the great suggestions! I look forward to the day when I can reward each of my readers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)