There'll be golden dust at my feet on the sunny side of the street

I know I have to tell you all about Israel but I couldn't end the year without taking a moment to reflect.

In a very unexpected way, 2011, has probably been my best year yet. I didn't meet the man of my dreams or fall in love, I didn't accomplish all or even most of what I wanted to, but I exit 2011 a far better woman than I entered it. I've never felt happier or healthier. I found myself in a deep, dark hole towards the middle of this year and after several months of living life in a blur, waking up every day and wondering if things would get better, I finally woke up one day and decided to MAKE them better. I didn't crawl out of that hole; I catapulted myself out of it.

When many of you met me back in 2008, I was a young girl stuck in a dead end job and dating jerks. I started JGIWC as a way to escape from everything that was holding me down. Nearly four years later, it still serves as both a safe haven and my favorite creative outlet. This blog changed my life. It is truly the gift that keeps giving.

This year, I decided to be the change. I shed myself of extra weight and insecurities. I realized that happiness is a mood and not a destination. I crossed over to the sunny side of the street.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. I truly believe it'll be the best one yet.

Eretz Yisrael

I don't even know where to begin.

It was life-changing, heart breaking, reaffirming, and everything else I've been imagining for the past 27 years.

Still trying to determine the best way to sum it all up in one or several posts. Stay with me.

(Photo credit to AHC)

The Real World: Israel

Here's an idea for a reality show...

Put 40 strangers aged 22-26 on a plane to Israel. Then stick them on a bus for ten days. Lots of single guys, only a few single girls. Cameras follow as the group takes on endless adventures and Israeli nightlife. The food is strange, the showers require squeegees and there is very little contact with the outside world. Anything could happen. And does.

How has MTV not picked this up yet?

Today's the day

What a life-changing week! Between the Brazilian Blowout (worth every penny and more), the shellac manicure (I'm still in awe) and my brand new iPhone (love at first sight)... I feel like I'm a brand new woman!

Okay... perhaps the above are life-improvers rather than life-changers. The Brazilian Blowout is going to save me endless time and energy... I can now actually spin at 6AM, shower and dry at the gym, and still be where I need to be on time, stress-free and looking good. That's priceless.

I'm not sure how often I'll actually do the shellac manicure but it's comforting to know that I can pay for a manicure that won't chip the next day. This is largely a part of why I've been doing my own nails for the past few years. It seemed cost-effective and I actually find the process relaxing. Plus, I love being able to dry at home.

And the iPhone, oh the iPhone. I can now take outfit photos in which you'll actually be able to see what I'm wearing! What a novel concept!

But perhaps the most life-changing event of the week is yet to come. I leave for Israel tonight.

...and I haven't even finished packing and have about ten errands to run before the car picks me up at 4. So I just want to say this. Thank you all SO much for your support over the past few months. I have no scheduled posts or guest bloggers lined up, so this will officially be the longest hiatus in JGIWC history. I am told that free WiFi is prevalent in Israel so I am going to attempt to tweet when I can. I return to New York on Christmas day and I look forward to catching up with you all then.

I will leave you with these parting words of advice that Nana gave me: "Remember, love. Don't bring home an Israeli! Bring home a nice American man."

I love you all! Happy early Hanukkah!

It's the holiday season...

Well, we're in the single digits of counting down to Israel. I can hardly believe it. Seems like just yesterday I was sitting at this very laptop, filling out my Birthright registration form and holding down vomit.

Tis the season!!!

I depart on Wednesday and return Christmas day and am trying to squeeze in every ounce of holiday joy before the wheels go up. Part of me is a little sad to be away from my family for the first half of Hanukkah, but then again, how many people get to say they celebrated it in our homeland? Much to my delight, I was able to pack this weekend full of tinsel and treats.




Friday night, I attended the University Club holiday black tie ball... so fun! A big thank you to AEG and BCV for including me. Love them so much. I'm so sad/mad that we did not take a standing photo but I wore this dress (I bought it on Black Friday) and I am so in love with it... Definitely going to re-wear. Very soon.




Saturday night, AEG once again played hostess with the mostess and had the girls over for a holiday dinner. The food and decor were so spectacular and I wish I'd caught it all on film but my camera battery was shot.




I did get a photo of our party favors, however... (this was taken after I'd eaten a few) Those cake balls. My God. I had to share them with Mom and Dad so I wouldn't eat them all.

Had gift exchanges with Blair's Head Band and MMM, my holiday cards are in the outgoing mailbox and the ribbon on my wreath has been changed from green to gold. I had my first shellac manicure today so that I don't have to worry about my nails. Appointmentss for Bliss and Brazil Bronze Bar have been made. Hey, if I'm gonna ride a camel, you had better believe I'm gonna look good doing it.

It's almost that time...

Friday smiles

A few things that made me smile today...



This morning my favorite SoulCycle instructor led his last Rooster (6AM) class. To celebrate, we surprised him with special tees (a rooster with his face on it!) right before our 75 minute class. Both the play list and the ride were absolutely epic. He told us little stories about his time in the city while we were spinning and the last songs we rode to were "The Only Living Boy in New York" by Simon and Garfunkel (I cried a bit; this is one of my all-time favorite songs); "City of Blinding Lights" by U2; "Empire State of Mind" by Jay Z and Alicia Keyes and we rode out to the last few verses of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York". Unbelievable.

Roarke is moving out to California to open the new Soul studio in West Hollywood. All my LA readers - you must PROMISE me that you will take his class! He is one in a million and I'm so, so sad he's leaving, but our loss is certainly your gain.




After a looong nap following class, I treated myself to a day of beauty! I had my first ever Brazilian Blowout. So far, so good... I'm so glad I did this before Israel. Everyone keeps telling me their flat irons melted there from the converters! I still feel like I need to bring one, though... Perhaps I'll pick up a cheap one before I go.




My friends at vineyard vines generously sent me a gift card for the holidays... I used it to get this ruffled henley! Will be so cute with my straight leg vineyard jeans!



Wishing you a wonderful weekend! I have a black tie tonight and get to wear my gorgeous new gown! So happy I'm able to squeeze in a few holiday parties before I jet off to the holy land. (By the way, I can't thank you enough for your kind comments and emails. I haven't gotten back to everyone yet but I promise I will.)

Winnah! Winnah!*

Congratulations to...





sl, I have no idea how to get in touch with you so please get in touch with me!

Thank you all for playing and a big thank you to Katie Diamond Jewelry for hosting this generous giveaway!

*TOTALLY stole this title from my girl UGA Bama Belle! It's my virtual way of standing on a porch in a big straw sun hat and announcing the winner!

Curly hair and preppy flair

My Birthright trip is looming. I leave a week from Wednesday. I'm at the point where I'm asked, "Are you excited?" at least once a day.

I hesitate every time.

I was born and raised in a tight knit Jewish community in Miami miles away from where my dad grew up and down the street from where my parents met. Everyone knew everyone. I didn't go to school with or know kids who weren't Jewish until 7th grade, which was the year of my bat mitzvah. Shortly thereafter, we moved to Dallas. Our second day there, I found a KKK notice on our lawn. I brought it inside to my mother; she screamed her head off and said we were leaving. We stayed for five years. I spent the first one crying every night for my beloved Miami until I realized we weren't going back. I gave in, joined BBYO, and again my social life was defined by Judaism. I knew no other way.

I decided to step out of the box in college and join the all-American sorority, in which I was the token Jew and that was always good for a laugh. I dated a Jewish boy whom I truly believed I'd marry (nope) but for the first time, religion did not dominate my extracurricular activities or circle of friends. My best friend was (is!) Catholic and took me home for Easter our senior year. I loved every minute of it. A large banner reading "HE IS RISEN" hung outside of the church which reminded me of living in Dallas because we had a neighbor who put up the same sign every Easter. A month later I graduated college, said goodbye to the guy and moved to New York.

I thought that of all the places I've lived, this would be the easiest place to be Jewish. I was wrong. It's been the hardest. I'm such a different person than who I was in high school and I don't care what anyone says, meeting a good Jewish man in this city is no small feat. I had ten girls at my birthday party last year. One was Jewish. This year I'll have more girls, but the Jew to Wasp ratio won't change much. It doesn't bother me. I love my social life and I'm so comfortable where I am, but my how things have changed.

We don't talk much about the actual title of this blog, so here it is. My clothing isn't as Waspy as it once was, and I'm not as Jewish as I once was. I'm terrified about going to Israel. I've never felt more sure of who I am but I've also never felt further away from my religion. And as content as I am, that just doesn't feel right. I'm really hopeful that this is just what I need to reconnect and find the happy medium between the two that I so desperately crave. And I will be bringing my Brooks Brothers shirt and my Lilly Pulitzer wrap. Because no matter what happens or changes, I still am and will always be the Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing.