Are you a preppie?

Take 3...

2010-07-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

So this is what I am going with for now.. I love the extra details on the surround, I may paint over the drawer stripes at some point but for now its adding something extra to the pretty plain room. Not bad for a $10 piece I found on craigslist!

Preppy Perv on a groping spree...

2010-07-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

This just happened to pop up on my computer somehow when I was searching on google and I just could not resist sharing with you.

Check out the whole story here

Ok so now that you have read it let me just go back and ask this, what makes this guy preppy? Did you happen to catch his outfit coming out of the grocery store? Preppy? I should say not, just look at those kicks... However in the story it says that they arrested him wearing khakis and a polo shirt, so I think that is where they are getting the "preppy" monicker from. He looks decent in his suit at court but I think every financier in boston has the same suit and tie.

What he did is obviously gross and I find it really sad that he has served our country and has now tarnished his reputation with this behavior, but preppy? I think not...

Campaign Dresser Makeover Part 2

2010-07-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

I got a little bored this weekend and decided to try something a little different on the little "campaign dresser" I posted about. I decided to add a little bit of visual interest by adding these gold stripes around the drawers. What do you think? I'm not loving it but then it gave me an idea to possibly add the gold details that are missing for the traditional campaign style? Let me know what you guys think, love it or hate it?

Campaign Furniture

2010-07-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been obsessed with interior design. It has always been my passion and I hope someday to turn my love for design and history into a (profitable?) career... Maybe use that $90,000 degree I have. Anyway, so I have really been itching to spruce up my room, yes I live in a rental with two roommates and we have turned our living room into my bedroom, but that doesnt mean we cant make it feel like a home and look fabulous, right? With very little funds I have gradually been trying to do things to switch up the space. I moved all of the furniture around (I'll post pics later) then I moved it around again, then again, then again and I think for now I like how its looking but I wanted to infuse some more style into this small space.
I have fallen in love with campaign furniture and would love to collect a bunch of pieces. I have seen all over the blog world lots of inspiration and lots of bloggers find great campaign pieces on craigslist. So I popped over there to see if I too could score. I found this.

When I spotted those pulls I was in love. I knew with a little cleaning they could gleam. Now as you will see in my after picture this piece does not have the detail pieces as the corners but it does have the holes where they would go... ahh why would someone take these off! But for only $10 I figured if it is terrible I'll just get rid of it.

I decided to just go ahead and paint it white for now, I was thinking navy because I think it would make the pulls look amazing but I held off because the piece is going by a navy accent wall. So this is how it turned out. I am using it as a TV stand now but liked it as a night stand as well. The drawers are great they are so big! I am thinking I might add a high gloss poly spray to give it a little something extra!

More Preppy Press

2010-06-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Well It looks like the prepsters are getting lots of press lately. Three new additions to the preppy library are slated for release in the coming months. This seems to be the newest addition. Check it out here

More Tag Sale Goodies!

2010-06-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

JCrew Beach Cover-up Size M

This is a medium I would say it fits size 8 possibly 10

$10

Merona Seersucker bermuda shorts size 6

These are just too small for me now

$10

Merona Seersucker Pants size 6

Same too small for me now

$10

Also relisting this lilypod XS madras shirt

I would say this will fit a size 2-4 perfectly

$10

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Dads are so special, I will always remember my dad for all the wonderful things he has taught me and for being the best husband and father a family could ask for.
I was so struck my Ted Kennedy Jr's speech at his father funeral that I thought I would share it here. No matter what you might think of teddy, his family loved him and his sons admired him.

Are you a preppie, tag sale!

2010-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I decided to clean out my closet last night and found so goodies, that I love but just dont fit me so I thought some of you wonderful readers would be interested in them! I have paypal but I am not sure how to set it up on here (if anyone knows, your help would be much appreciated) I will ship everything priority shipping which should be between $5 and $10 and of course I can combine ship. Happy Shopping!

J.Crew Blazer Black with cream trim size 12

$40

This is one of my favorite pieces I own. Unfortunately I bought this right before I lost 40 lbs and now it does not fit.

Lilypod patch madras shirt size XS

$10

Then there are those pieces that you buy thinking you will be able to fit into them when you do loose weight and that just does not happen.

Molly B Tie Back Dress Size 6

SOLD

I love this dress I am just too chesty to make it actually work.

please email me at: areyouapreppie@gmail.com with any questions

Tar-Jay Finds!

2010-05-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

Perusing target this weekend, I noticed these two cuties in the Merona Section. The shorts were only $15 and the dress was $40. I think these totally look so much more expensive than they are! (love that!)

Then fueled by the bargain bug headed over to Old Navy, sure that I could find some other basics. I was right, I scooped up these shorts in this color (marked down to $13, then in purple as well)

and since I am always on the look out for some great khaki pants, I also grabbed these up too, I love the color!

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Drumroll Please...

2010-05-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hi All!
Sorry it has been over a month since I last posted. This is our really busy season at work so that paired with a bad cold and a fractured toe have kept me from posting.
Thank you so much to everyone who commented on my last post about dying the TJmaxx find. Well this past sunday I took the plunge (or rather the dress did) and this is how it came out...

Sorry for the blurry picture but I was actually pretty amazed that this really worked! However, the dress turned out a bit more of a charcoal color then a navy blue, its sort of a dull black. Then the thread used for the hem at the bottom must be polyester because that did not take any of the dye, and as you can see the lining didnt either. I am wondering if the color is darker then I was hoping because of the base color of the dress. So now I am toying with the idea of either bleaching the whole dress and starting over OR just re dying it to see if it turns out more navy them blackish? I think I might actually follow the directions this time and cut a piece of the seam and try bleaching that and see how the fabric does. I could always just leave the dress as it is too and just live with the color, I havent even tried it on yet so, I might just end up loving it.

On another note I am so excited that the official start to summer is almost here! The weather has been amazing so far so I am hoping this will be a great summer season of fun and sun at the beach!

A Daring Feat!

2010-04-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Recently strolling through TJ Maxx I found the most adorable dress. The line is Taylor and they have some really adorable Tory Burch style dresses at about 1/8th of the price. I already have a great dress by the same brand that I bought last summer that I wear all the time and love. So when I saw this one, it was the exact style I was looking for, for a wedding I am going to this summer. HOWEVER, the color is god awful. It looks like a bad couch fabric from the 1970's it really does nothing for me (I'm not into the jaundice look) So, I got to thinking what if I bought the dress then died it to the color I want. It is a jacquard fabric so I think it would take the dye nicely and worst case scenario it was $40... Has anyone ever done something like this? I told my roommates what I was thinking of doing and they said "Just wait till you wear it and it turns your whole body blue" Do you think that could really happen? I mean when we used to do tie dye shirts the dye never come off one us. I am planning on using the Rit Dye Navy Blue. Some websites have suggested bleaching the garment prior to dying but I am thinking, since I am trying to go darker it might be ok not to bleach. Also I hate how bleach makes fabrics feel. So has anyone ever done something like this? I've only ever done it on t-shirts, but I am thinking it might be worth a try, and wouldnt it be so cool if it worked? Fingers crossed it does! Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Broken Hearted!

2010-04-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

The other day I noticed this adorable little girl wearing the cutest flats I have ever seen. I wondered if they were baby ferragamos but, they looked good, but not THAT good. So kinda put it on the back burner thinking I would never figure out what they were. THEN... flipping threw an old copy of In Style the other day I spied a COACH ad that had my lusted after little flats, right there in front of me.
So of course I hopped on the internet thinking I could easily snag them up, but no such luck. Coach no longer has them on their website and ebay only had one pair, not even anywhere near my size. Ohh well, I'll just have to keep dreaming...

Then as the buzz seems to gain momentum on the much anticipated "True Prep" we are finally given a little press in the form of a NYT article on the book. A lovely quote from wonderful Allie @ Summer Is a Verb. Then Mr. Maxminimus was kind enough to share a little you tube clip about the book. However, I was a bit perturbed to see what the content might actually be including, to me it looks like it is kind of going against everything the original version stood for. Ohh well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

In a Tizzy for Tipsy

2010-03-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

So with all the buzz of the new TOPH- True Prep, and the apparent arrival of spring, I am itching to spend the afternoon in an adirondack chair sipping a Bloody Mary and soaking in a view like this.

Of course that is not realistic for me since I will be working all weekend, but a girl can dream, but back to the original topic. So I have been thinking about all of my fav preppy reads lately and realized that my collection is missing one of the cornerstones of prep guides, Tipsy in Madras. As well I was thinking that since my parents own a liquor business it might be a cute gift for them. So I dashed over to amazon to pick up a copy. Wowser, I knew the book was out of print however, I don't ever remember it listed as $60+ especially since the original list price was $14.95, now adjusting for inflation and such, still thats kinda pricey. Man, I should have pounced earlier, I would rather spend that money on actual BOOZE. But I'll have to get my hands on a copy cause I am dying to read it.

2010-03-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Since Miss Tickled Pink and Green has been tantalizing us with her recent home goods tours, I just had to head over to my local one and check out their offerings.

The first thing I spotted was this gorgeous pineapple dispenser. I would love this for a little summer cookout filled with sweet tea.

With this starfish serving dish for little hors d'oeuvres

Then they had these adorable nautical pegs, I would love to use these in a beah house bathroom

With the little shelves to match

Also found these little bins that are the same EXACT fabric as the curtains I made for a friend, I had to snag them for her

Then loved this green lacquer box, I dont really need it but I think it would be a nice gift

There are always such great things a homegoods, TJ Maxx & Marshalls that I fantasize about starting a home decor business where you use things almost exclusively from these stores. I remember when I was designing nurseries I always thought it was so absurd that people were spending a fortune for simple things like bins and baskets and little decorative touches when if they just went to a discount store they would find them so much less expensive. Well that was before the recession so I guess it really didnt matter. I still think it would be a fun idea...

Also wanted to share that I recently received my Lilly agenda, and I LOVE it. It has a great layout and is so colorful it always brightens my day.

Wake Up Muffy, We're Back!

2010-03-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

So time to move on from the somber stuff. I have been itching to write this post since I discovered this new development yesterday! So over a one of my fav blogs Mr. A Tip Down South hosting a vote on which is better, The Official Preppy Handbook or Take Ivy (Of course, I am urging my readers to head on over an vote for TOPH, not that we want to sway the results, do we?) Now what caught my eye was one of the comments on Mr. Trips blog by Classic Curricular Trad which reads:

TOPH's Lisa Birnbach is back with "True Prep":

http://knopfdoubleday.com/marketing/bookseller/TruePrepBlad.pdf

Umm what was that? Did I read correctly? Of course I am all over the link like a fat kid at a picnic. It basically is this. Ok so now we have established that this is real and its really gonna happen, on August 10th to be specific, mark the calendar, check! But I'm jonesing for more, so over to trusty google for a search that yields This. Now, that's what Im talkin' bout. An adobe view of the front a back cover as well as some of the goodies on the inside. I am so excited! I have already popped over to Amazon to pre-order my copy, as well as planned to have my copy signed when Ms. Birnbach does her Boston book signing (and a little confession, I've already thought about what I would wear... don't you judge me!)

Hold the ones you love close, even if they are in your closet

2010-03-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

I have been a very bad blogger! Work/ life has gotten a little stressful so I haven't had much free time, but its no excuse. This post might is a bit of a downer but I was just talking with my mom and she told me that their neighbor down the streets house was on fire. This is immediately sent chills down my spine.

My senior year of college my friends and I were living pretty good, drinking and partying almost every night having the time of our lives, not really concerned about anything else. Real life was on the horizon but it seemed far enough away that we could enjoy ourselves until it was banging our door down.

Well we had, a particularly wild weds night which lead into the wee hours of the morning. I awoke for my 8am art history course at about 7:45 on the couch in our living room still wearing the outfit from the night before. So I get up my throat feels as though I spent the night in the sahara dessert and I may well still have been intoxicated. I wearily went into my room and grabbed the first thing I found to wear to class, this ended up being a pair of black sweatpants (the only sweatpants I owned, but at least the relatively nice gap ones) and a navy blue sweatshirt with our college insignia, which to this day I still have no idea where it came from cause it was not mine. Now, just so you know our school was not the, roll out of bed in your PJs and go to class type of campus. We used to joke that when we went to breakfast in the morning it was like going to a fashion show. However, it was 8am and nobody I knew was up as this ungodly hour as only freshman usually had 8am class. So I figured I could get away with it and I would go home sleep it off and get properly dressed from my next class at noon.

So I suffer through my class and hurry back home, ready for a mid morning nap.

I walked in the house and my roommate was awake, which was completely out of the norm. Her first class of the day was at noon so there was certainly no need to be up a 9am especially considering the night we had. As was normal for us we start into a convo about the night before laughing hilariously about how I ended up on the couch (that's a story for another day). As we are talking, the fire alarm in our apartment goes off, now our school is notorious for fire safety and we were constantly having fire drills (like at 3am, not fun) so considering my state and the fact that it had started snowing out I told my roommate I was not going to stand out there and wait for the firemen to come and tell us it was just a drill. She says, no she is going to go, so I figure ok well if they come in here I dont want to be the only one here and get in trouble for not going out for the drill. So I walk into my room to grab my jacket.

As I walk into my room the door to our bathroom is open and black smoke is pouring out of it. I scream "Oh My GOD!" and my roommate comes running over and says what the hell is going on? My first though was, oh no somebody left their hair straightener on and we are going to get in so much trouble cause it caused a fire. Then I walked to the doorway and noticed that the smoke was coming from the shower. I wondered why would the shower be on fire? So I whip around and as I do I glance at my desk that has my computer, my wallet and my cell phone on it and I remember thinking I don't need to grab them the firemen will be here any minute and they'll put the fire out. So I keep walking and am still wondering why the shower would be on fire. So I walk into the kitchen and there is a door that connects to the back of our apartment leading out to the garage so for some reason I opened it and saw that the wall connecting to our apartment was on fire and that there were wires sticking out of the wall. I yelled to my roommate oh my god its in the garage, then I remembered that there was a fire extinguisher in the house somewhere so I am running around screaming "where is the fire extinguisher, where is the fire extinguisher?" Then as I am looking in the kitchen for it, the boy that lives next door to us comes in and says "Girls you gotta get out this is for real" I said " I know its in the wall."

I remember running to the front door and passing my roommate who had her cell phone in her hand and was running in to grab her bag I said " Call 911" I run out the front door but somehow when I got to the driveway she was in font of my and my back was to the housed and as I looked at her face she had a look of pure terror and started screaming, I turned around as a huge fireball ripped through our apartment and engulfed everything in flames.

That's when I lost it and began screaming "where is the (expletive) fire department?" The kids that lived upstairs from us came running out and everyone was asking if there were anymore people inside. We all assured everyone that there was nobody left in our apartments. Then the fire department arrived and ran to the front of our apartment. I started yelling to them "Its in the garage, its in the garage" Then run to the outside door that connects to the garage and as the fireman opens the door there is a huge explosion and something comes flying through the roof (we came to find out it was the heater for the building, and that when he opened the door it created a back draft)

I dont know how long I stood there for but I was frozen in my spot I could not move I just watched as the flames grew and ripped through the building, they always say you never know how powerful a fire can be and that day I understood. It quickly became very clear this fire was completely out of control. The firemen were yelling that they needed to call all the fire departments in the area and that everyone needed to get out of all the surrounding buildings. One of the firemen walked up to me (I later was told he was the chief) and he said "you have to get out of here this is really bad and the building will come down any minute" I looked right in front of me and realized the only thing I had left was my beloved Land Rover Discovery, Nigel.

I said to him, please can you save my car, he said we are trying but its gonna be hard, you gotta get out of here though. So I walked up the hill and found that everyone who lived in our building (which was an old carriage house) was there and the scene was overwhelmingly heartbreaking. Everyone was crying, and completely devastated. I burst into tears because right at that moment I realized everything was gone, all I had were the clothes on my back. I crumbled, I asked my roommate if I could use her cell phone, and walked outside to call my parents. Its was only like 6:30am in california and I didnt want to scare them but I left a message hysterically crying that said " I'm ok but our house is burning down" My dad called me right back and said "Everything will be ok, as long as you are ok and everyone is out, its all replaceable" I was sobbing "But daddy they said the house is going to fall down and Nigel is parked right in the front, it was destroy it" he said " None of that matters, its just a car there are more out there, it will be fine" I said " I know daddy but, you know how much I love Nigel, and right now he is the only think I have left" (as you can tell I was totally obsessed with this car) he said " Don't worry about it, you are ok and your friends are ok, that's all that matters." I said "You're right, I love you. thank you" just then all our friends who lived off campus were walking up the porch and they hugged me and said "We cant believe this happened to you" I was numb I didnt know what to say, my knees went weak and I just sat on the steps and cried.

Then the fireman from earlier walked up and said " I heard you saw the fire" I said "Yes, its in the wall" He had a blueprint of the house and said "show me where, its a mess in there and we can't make out where anything is" I looked at the blueprint and because I was an architectural history major I had studied tons of these in class and I said to him "This is wrong, it doesn't show the hallway where the wall is" so from there I spent some time talking with the firefighters and explaining to them how the house was layed out. Then the same firefighter came back and said "I'm gonna get your car for you but we can't break the window and put it into gear because Land Rovers, wont let you do that" He said "Do you know where the keys to the car are" I said "They are on the coffee table right as you walk into the apartment, but dont go, its too dangerous." He said "Don't worry, if its, that close to the door they might be able to get it"

At this point I was just standing on the hill watching the house burn in the snow, I remember looking around as pretty much the whole school was out there watching this unfold. I remember thinking, I just want to go home, I just want to go to bed. But I didnt have a home anymore, I didn't have a bed, right now all I had was the clothes on my back. I walked back into the house and said to my roommates, we gotta get out of here, I can't take it anymore. Our friends that were their said "We'll take you to our house, you guys can relax and calm down" So we went and calls were pouring in and people were coming over to comfort us. I will never forget though, one of my good friends coming over to the house and grabbing me in a big hug and saying "Oh my god, all your beautiful clothes, you loved your clothes." Its hit me, my clothes, my identity, gone.

Now, in hindsight I know that I am not my clothes and they don't make me who I am, but I was known for being the preppy girl. That's how people would describe me, "Do you know TWA?" "I'm not sure what does she look like?" "Oh she is the super preppy girl, collar always popped." "Ahh yes, I know exactly who that is" Literally, that is how I was described. And I had worked so hard to find some of my really unique things, and some of them had been passed down to me or given to me a extravagant presents, they were part of me.

That night though when I went to bed, I hugged my roommate/ best friend and said "I'm glad you're still here" she said "Me too, we hurt now but its just stuff, we'll get through it, and we have each other" There is nothing I wouldn't give in order to make sure we are all ok, and if that was the price we had to pay to make sure we all made it out safe, it was a small price to pay.

This is the front of the house, the entire first floor was our apartment

This was our front door

This was our living room, you cant even tell that there was a TV, couch and table there. The room in front of it was BRL's where we were sitting when the alarm went off. The entire second floor collapsed into it.

This was the kitchen, you can see that the door to the garage is still open from when I went into the garage, the wall behind it is where the fire started.

I literally lost everything I owned that day. All my clothes, all my pictures, all my work from college, my birth certificate all my baby pictures, everything. My parents had just decided that they were moving to South Carolina and wanted me to hold onto all my important stuff so it didnt get lost in the move.

So much for that.

However, remember how that firefighter told me he would get my car out for me. He went into the fire and hacked my car keys off the coffee table with his Ax. So I did get Nigel back, which in the end is a pretty happy ending.

I will be sure to return back to more fun posts, tomorrow.

Olymipc Gold- Sartorial Edition

2010-03-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

The olympics have finally completed and while I must say I didnt watch much of it, I did follow a few of the stories. I also happened to catch the men's hockey gold medal game yesterday, just as they went into overtime. Now, if the men's canadian hockey team didnt beat the americans on home ice, I dont think they would have been allowed back home, so well done boys.

Now onto more important matters. I must say, I know the world is all a tizzy in how "cool" the USA snowboard teams "anti" uniform was. I personally am horrified. I know that snowboarders are alternative and not the suit donning crowd, but really JEANS for the olympics. We all know my feelings on jeans and while I am sure the competitors loved them, I'm gonna say I was not a fan. What I will give Burton big props on though is the fact that they were able to make the gore-tex jeans, look exactly like real jeans. How about gore-tex GTH pants? I am envisioning little red white and blue USA with the olympic rings on navy pants? Now thats an olympic uniform I can get behind.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

America's Olympic Wins - Lindsey Vonn

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Skate Expectations

Now while Mr. Colbert is not an olympic competitor (or even an assistant sports psychologist) This funny man was stylin' in his Ralph Lauren olympic duds. I especially love the shawl collar cardigan that he wears in his nightly review. I love that Ralph designs for the olympics and I must say, we americans are lookin ' pretty damn good!
USA, USA, USA!

I'm Back!

2010-02-16T09:09:00.000-08:00

Well, back from cali. It was so wonderful to see my mummy and my little brother (at over 6ft and 250lbs, not so little anymore). I was lucky enough to make it out weds morn (before the big huge snow storm that was coming.....) and totally stoked that I got a direct flight to SFO. The trip overall was kinda uneventful, it was cool to see our old house and downtown Lost Gatos but more then anything it was kinda depressing. I dont think I'll be going back anytime soon. Anyways, one of my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite things about traveling is that it gives me a block of time when I can just sit back relax and READ. Reading is a guilty pleasure that never gets old. My grandmother instilled in me a love of reading that is like a gift of gold. One of my life goals is to spend a whole summer on the beach, just reading away, just the thought of it sends a wave of excitement through me. So I cherish these rare times when I get to really delve into my reading list full throttle. On this trip I read...

Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan (not the kindle edition, as I hate the idea of the kindle, except for the prolific traveller in which it is a great necessity. Otherwise, it is for the birds, in my humble opinion)

This story started off a little slow, but I was intrigued by the characters (one is described as a lilly pulitzer wearing southern bell) however, the all girls college lesbian, feminism stuff was a little too much for me. I keep on with it though because I loved that it was written with the point of view of all four girls, so just when you were getting immersed with one, the chapter ended and you were on to the next. THEN it gets REALLY good and you just dont want to put it down. A very strong finish and in turn an awesome read.

Next up, was Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner (the old fashioned hardcover edition) Now this book was much like so many of the "chick lit" books I have read before but for some reason that even now I dont understand I kept reading it, it was a pretty quick read so I just kept going. Nothing fabulous but it was ok.

Then I started on a wonderful book that I have had on my list for a long time and was so excited to receive this x-mas from fellow blogger and prep extraordinaire (check out her blog Social Climbers) This book is simply a hilarious and fun read. The main character "Elizabeth" is full of vim and vigor and a sharp wit. I can't wait to finish it.

Preppy Porn

2010-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I believe it was The Trad that coined the phrase, but it certainly applies here. First of all Lax Bro is completely hilarious, secondly that kid is devastatingly handsome! The last video I originally saw on A Duck Gets Dressed and
rolled on the floor laughing. I wonder if Frank Lapacone is still available? Just Kidding...

Goin' Back To Cali...

2010-02-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

So I dont know if I've put it out there but I grew up in Northern CA. I say grew up because I was born in upstate New York and lived there until I was 5 then my dad got a big IBM promotion and we moved to silicone valley. Needless to say I absolutely hated living there, Im not a cali girl whatsoever and to make it worse I went to public school, which first of all the education sucks, the kids are terrifying and they are not on the track to get kids to go to anything more than community college.
I remember coming home from my first day of kindergarten and telling my mom "These kids dont even know where New York is..." So that is why I hightailed it to the east coast the moment I graduated from high school and have remained there every since. My parents dragged me home kicking and screaming every christmas break and by the end of the 6 weeks I felt like I was going to die. However, my little bro (lucky enough to have an amazing private school education... he's a genius so the public school could not handle him) is graduating from college on weds. He told me he will never speak to me again if I do not attend. So for the first time in 5 yrs I am making the trek back. Its a short 3 day trip but will include lots of travel between San Fran and Los Gatos and some other godforsaken town I have never heard of. The one thing I am excited about is going to the fast food places that we dont have on the atlantic seaboard. First stop...

Jamba Juice, while a healthier choice then the others, this place has the most AMAZING smoothies! I used to live on these in high school and I have been dying for one lately. (Ohh P.S. when I googled jamba juice it came up that there is one on comm ave in Boston. I'll still be going to the one in Lost Gatos but now I know I can get them right here at home)

Now this is sure to derail any hopes of avoiding weight gain while on this trip but I have not been to a jack in the box in a hella (cali slang word, only used by the nor cal bros) long time so I am excited to get one (hopefully only one) of their awesome (grease laden) tacos and some of the best curly fries I have ever encountered. My friends and I used to spend every fri night hanging out outside of the JITB so its a sentimental stop too.

Then for some of the most awesome pizza ever Pizza My Heart is a must stop.

Baby bro also works there so got show them a little support.

Then the be all end all has to be in-n-out burger. This place is heaven on earth. I would never touch another fast food burger other then these little masterpieces. They have a HUGE following so much so that it is to be expected to wait up to an hour or more to get your order since this place is always jam packed and time of day. I cannot wait!

I am glad to report that chipotle has finally made its way (most conveniently 5 mins from my house) to the east coast so I no longer have to make sure that it is waiting for me at home when I arrive from the airport in cali.

Austin Jeffers

2010-02-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite parts of my job is that I get to custom design all of the Eliza B flip flops, headbands, belts & keychains that we carry in the store. There are probably 1,000 ribbon and hundreds of fabric choices. I have a huge binder that I love flipping through, coming up with new combinations for each season. Sometimes I cheat a little bit and use the Eliza B website for inspiration or to see if there are any new fabric or ribbon choices. So last week as I was browsing through I noticed that they had a new line (Eliza B is part of the original Leather Man company) called Austin Jeffers which is a line of mens (could work for women as well) leather belts. They have some great styles here....

The very popular hoof pick belt

The winchester belt ( I must get this for Dad!)

They also have a selection of needlepoint belts (retailing at $150)

nothing overly creative but cool.

Bean Boots & Life Lessons

2010-01-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

The illustrious Bean Boot will always call to mind one of my greatest childhood memories. I was the type of kid that once I decided I wanted to do something (riding a bike, learning to read, rollerblading) I took it on full speed, which undoubtedly ended in heaps of frustration and loads of band-aids. I remember one day getting ready for school and waiting for my mom to tie my shoes, however she was preoccupied with the little hellion know as my younger brother, having an epic fit. Right then and there I decided that having your “mommy” tie your shoes was for babies, and I was no baby. So I rounded up all the shoes in the house and set to the task of trying to tie them. Well I quickly came to find that tying ones shoes is one of those many things in life that when you see someone else doing it, it looks like a piece of cake, but once its in your hands… not so much. I am also left-handed which complicates things further when right-handed people try to teach you how to do something.

This whole thing really started to tick me off and I started throwing the shoes down the stairs (mom not so keen on that). I went off to my room (by choice of course, not because I was told too) and while I was sitting on my bed, I was so disappointed that I could not tie my shoes, that it was just tearing me up inside. Then, it came to me I would ask the solver of all problems, the fixer of all things broken, the teacher of all essential life skills… my dad.

As soon as daddy came through the door that night I begged him to teach me how to tie my shoes. With perfect patience he sat down on the stairs with me and slipped off his bean boots. I took one and he the other and we sat there as he showed me over and over again how to make the loop, tie it around and pull it through. Every once in a while he would slip in one of his favorite little remarks “ Look I can do it and I’m not even left handed” Thanks dad, you’re hilarious (Not). What I came to later realize was that the bean boot was the key to the whole lesson (which of course he knew) because the laces on them are thinner and they are that wonderful strong woven material so they were much easier for my little hands to manipulate, then simply pull to untie and restart the process. I spent hours sitting on the steps with those boots tying and untying them, then when I perfected it, I demanded that dad let me tie his boots for him every time he put them on.

Bean boots will always remind me of my dad, the consummate outdoorsman, they will always flood me with the feeling of love for him and of all the many things he taught me to do. As I write this I am wearing my bean boots, and even though they don’t have Thinsulate or Gore-Tex and they are a smidge too big, I will always love them because dad sent them to me. In his mind there is no other winter boot worth buying. My first winter in New England on the morning of the first snow storm I opened a package from LL Bean and there they were with a note “Hopefully you still know how to tie these- Love Dad”

GOP & Morning Suits

2010-01-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like we did it. Congrats to the senator elect Scott Brown. This was quite the election and it was nice to have something to get excited about in regards to politics, especially for us republicans. I have also been really blown away by the amount of friends from all over the country who have emailed me thanking massachusetts for electing Scott Brown and hopefully stopping the proposed healthcare legislation, which I found very interesting.
Speaking of the GOP it seems as though they have been sweeping quite a few elections as of recent.

New Jersey and Virginia have also elected new republican governors. I happened to catch the inauguration of the new virginia governor Bob McDonnell on C-Span last week and one thing that I loved and was a little surprised by was that all the gentleman wore morning suits and some even donned gloves ( apparently the gloves are up for much controversy) I love that feeling of tradition and sense of importance of the event that the presence of the morning suit brought. I tried to research if this was something special to virginia but not much turned up, I did however get the impression that this had been a tradition that at one time was customary to all inaugurations whether presidential or state.

Then as I thought back I began to recall that JFK wore a morning jacket to his inauguration. Now I am no expert on menswear but I do read alot of the gentleman blogs that are and I am learning but I do not know what the special tie normally worn with the morning suit is called but I did notice that JFK wore a normal tie with a waistcoat which also seems to be acceptable with the morning suit. I wish the government would go back to this practice or that more states and all president elects would don the morning suit for their inaugurations.
Have a wonderful weekend all!

Well are you?
TWA

Now for a public service announcement...

2010-01-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

Even though politics is one of my great passions I try not to discuss my politics in this blog. However as I am sure you are all aware the commonwealth will be holding its special election for the open senate seat tomorrow. This election is not only very important to the residents of massachusetts but to the entire nation as the current healthcare legislation comes up for vote. I am personally supporting Scott Brown in this election and am very honored to have the chance to vote for him. He has been making great waves here in his position in the state senate and I am confident that he will do so in washington. He is a member of the national guard for nearly 30 years and is not entangled with the lobbyists and special interests of washington. Massachusetts I implore you please vote for Scott Brown tomorrow.
We will return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

The Queens Cashmere

2010-01-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I am a big fan of cashmere sweaters. My standard winter uniform is a button down shirt (collar always popped) paired with a cashmere sweater. Wool is just too itchy and blends just never seem to look right. By far my favorite (and most expensive, OUCH) sweater is my queen of cashmere monogrammed sweater.

OBVIOUSLY I am a huge fan of Navy and Orange and while I love the sweater I have to say that the "starfish" (I mean its called starfish how could I resist) color is not the most flattering on me. I would recommend doing a darker colored sweater and doing one of the more fun bright colors as the monogram. I do have 5 Navy blue cashmere sweaters of different styles so I didnt want to do navy for this most special of sweaters. But hey you live and learn and I love it so who cares. I have picked out my next one though... Navy with Gold monogram!

Anywho I have been struggling lately with my cashmere maintenance. I never ever dry clean and have used several different detergents. The other thing that plagues me are those darn pills. Ahhh the pilling drives me crazy! Up until recently I was using this little guy to depill

While quite effective it was alot of work and I was exhausted after one sweater, and all that pulling cant be good for the cashmere. So for xmas by best friend KWD and her mummy gave me this little puppy!

Brookstone Sweater Shaver and I love it, it gets the job done quite well and with 1/2 the effort. I made quick work of depilling my entire collection.

Now when it comes to washing I find The Laundress products to be the best. They also have this really cute little video to show you how best to wash your sweaters, Cashmere Care.

They also have their Sweater Stone

Which looks really interesting but I have my little sweater shaver now so Ill stick with that.

On an even better note my friend EAS over at one of my favorite blogs

Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore is hosting the most fabulous Giveaway I have seen here in bloggerland.

She and the queen have teamed up to giveaway one of the queens custom cashmere throw pillows, and you even get to choose the colors!

Go check it out and enter to win!

MAC in Lillyland

2010-01-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

MAC Cosmetics has just launched their new "MAC in Lillyland" Collection. When I was walking by the mac store the other day something just caught the corner of my eye and I spied their perfectly preplicious new collection.

I love mac cosmetics but the colors are usually kinda dark and really trendy but this new Lillyland collection is so bright and fun. I am in love with the cream blush and the nail polishes!

Well Are You?

TWA

New Years Resolution- Be a Better Blogger

2010-01-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Ahh friends it has been a while. With the New Year safely rung in I am hoping that I can get back into the habit of posting on a regular basis. So lots of randomness to catch up on here today. Lets start with a great little gift my roommate and BFF gave me for Xmas...

The Barbour Jacket that I wanted! She found it at a thrift shop and said even though it might be a little big for the me, price was so good she couldnt pass it up! I love that this one has the darker lining and I will wear it on causal snow storm days with my navy bean boots.

Speaking of which my boss gave me the bean mocs I have been coveting. I had to switch them for another size which should be coming in Feb. I think they will be so cute with the barbour coat, and in new england you can never have too much foul weather gear!

I headed over to the mall last night because the BFF also gave me a gift card to Victoria's Secret so I wanted to check out the Semi Annual Sale. I found some good stuff and nothing was over $3.99 so it was a super deal. Not a chance Ill be posting a pic of those. Hahah. As I was walking out I walked past Gilly Hicks a store I had posted on earlier and they were also having a sale so popped in and picked up a few more pairs of panties and relished in the amazing decor of that store. Isnt their tartan bag soo cute!
Its brand extension of Abercrombie and Fitch and even though I think the company is pretty raunchy I will say this store is superbly designed and I always love taking it in.

So I was on my way out and determined to walk by the Rugby store without going in and emptying out my bank account but I decided I would just "look" (yeah right...) Lots of wonderful stuff on sale but my favorite was the new button down shirts that have MADRAS ON THE COLLAR. I fell in love. However, I know that these are for spring so I am going to exercise some restraint and wait till then to grab one (or two... probably three) they also had some great socks with bright fun colors (always makes me think of Maxminimus and his love of the horizontal stripe) Thats all for now but more to come in the New Year!
Well are you?
TWA

The Final Curtain

2009-12-31T17:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope you are all ringing in the new decade in style this evening. Yesterday I found out that one of New York and even America's most iconic establishments will be closing its doors for good after the clock strikes midnight. I remember my first dinner at the tavern when I was 5 yrs old. Mummy had taken me into the city for some christmas shopping and to sick the Rockettes. Even though I was sick as a dog with pneumonia I refused to sit this trip out. For dinner mummy took me to Tavern on the Green and I was totally blown away. This was the most magical place I had ever been (at 5) the lights the park the buzz of the city and being all dressed up having a grown up dinner was the highlight of the holiday season. Farewell Tavern, although you will be gone may your magic live in the hearts of all that enjoyed it. Here's to a Happy 2010 everyone see ya next year!

Bye Bye Burgee

2009-12-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a very merry christmas. Mine was busy as always, the retail season between thanksgiving and xmas is a long road, between special orders and monogramming needs I have surely added a few more grey hairs. But all turned out well and everyone is happy. A Merry Christmas to everyone!

I have been craving a dog for the past few years, but living in an apartment and being single doesn't really create the ideal situation for a dog but nonetheless I have been wanting one. Growing up we were never a day in our house without a black lab in residence and at one point we even had two. I miss the love and sweet kindness of their eyes and their abounding love.

My boss has been having the itch for a puppy for sometime and we recently ran into a woman who had the most beautiful golden retriever and asked her about her breeder. She got her little love ball from this great breeder and maine and also knew of someone who was getting a puppy from the same breeders xmas litter. So we looked at some of the pics of the pups online and they were just gorgeous, some of the most handsome goldens we had ever seen. So one night we decided to make the trek up to Maine to check out these little lovies in person.

While of course they were all incredibly adorable we liked this one the best. He was a little redder then the rest and had the sweetest disposition. We decided though that it was a big commitment and we needed to make sure it would work out for my boss and her family. We also decided that we would name him Burgee, isnt that just the cutest! A few days later we called the breeder to say that we would take him and to give her the deposit and she said she had someone coming to look at him in 5 mins and that they we almost certainly going to buy him. We were crushed little burgee was not going to be ours. Well after a day of morning we decided it just must not have been meant to be. I love this picture of him though and yearn for another puppy to come along.

This was the other one I fell in love with but he was already sold. Ahh I love their little baby faces!

Happy 101

2009-12-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Miss Beth over at Social Climbers for tagging me. Even though today has been a sad day (post on that later) I am going to try to be happy and put together a little list of to top ten things that make me happy.

1) The fact that I have a roof over my head and food on the table makes me infinitely happy and grateful everyday.
2) My Friends
3) Going through my list of daily blog reads. It is always a treat to catch up each morning with everyone's latest posts.
4) Golden Retriever Puppies
5) Sliding into my glorious bed each night.
6) Summer
7) Working out and staying fit
8) Coming home to a clean house at the end of each day.
9) Taking a day to go shopping for myself, doesn't happen often but those rare occasions where I get to be very selfish and splurge on myself fill the happy tank (I think we are overdue for one of those trips)
10) Dinner at Zelda's in Newport with good friends. Wine, food and gettin crazy makes life sweet

I encourage everyone to make their own list of the top 10 things that make them happy!

Preppy Androgyny?

2009-12-13T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have always considered the preppy look ESPECIALLY in the winter to be rather androgynous. In the summer I am constantly in bright colored polos with skirts or dresses but, in the winter with the low temps pants must often be utilized. As I mentioned in my last post (P.S. sorry for the infrequency there for the last week work is crazy and I have not had a full day off since thanksgiving.) I mainly opt for brightly colored cords in the winter months and pair them with button down shirts (collar popped) topped with a cashmere sweater and loafers to round it out. Now let me make it perfectly clear that I am by all accounts a "girly, girly" and lover of men (preppy men to be exact) just so there is no confusion. I will admit though that some mornings the only difference between me and my preppy guy crushes are the colors of sweaters, pants or blazers.

I love boys ties and especially a bow tie! However I have just never had the confidence to sport one ( have to say I still dont think I could). But I have been very interested to see some recent gender bending fashion choices.

I first noticed the lady in bow tie look on the Rugby website. Now I get Ralphs look and I understand that in modeling for a brand like this they style the models to really so as much of the collection as possible. I think this outfit it totally adorable so it brought me a little closer to accepting the look.

Then one night one of the guests on some fax news show was a young lady about 25 and she was wearing a Red tie with a white button down with the tie tucked into her high waisted shirt and a cute pair of horn rimmed glasses. While Hannity was giving her a little grief over it, the look once again peaked my interest in the neckwear for women ensemble.

Then on A Curious Monogram a few weeks back he posted on the androgynous photos on Close Up & Private

I think these outfits are totally adorable. I am infatuated with whimsical bow ties so I think the last pic is my favorite. The more and more I see this look popping up the more I am intrigued, but also have a few trepidations. So thats when I decided to consult the manual.

If everyone will open their textbooks to page 99 you will see there that we have a prime example of preppy androgyny.

These two are dressed almost exactly alike. This perfectly illustrates my point preppy men and women are both into well made, good quality, stylish and functional clothing that will last a lifetime. So while I dont think a bow tie is in my future I did branch out this week and wear one of my silk scarves styled as an ascot tucked into the neck of my white button down topped by a chocolate herringbone blazer with suede elbow patches and my hunter green jcrew cords with brown leather loafers. I loved the look so right now I think I'll stick with that and we'll see where we go from there.

I still cant get past my love of bow ties so I started to think how girls could use the idea in a more feminine way. I came up with the idea of having the part that goes around a mens neck made larger and wearing it as a belt with dresses. When you just tie a normal bow you dont get that effect but with a bow tie you would so I think it would be so cute with a solid colored strapless dress. Or how about bow ties made into headbands, could be really cute....

Smathers & Branson vs. That other needlepoint belt company

2009-12-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the week long blogging hiatus. Work is super busy this time of year and I have not had a day off since Thanksgiving, so I haven't even had much time to read blogs let alone post, I'll try to be better though I promise!

This is an issue that has been bothering me for some time now. Right around xmas time last year a new "preppy" needlepoint belt company came on the scene. Initially I was excited with the idea since Smathers belts are generally too masculine for me and I just thought that something new could be cool. I also loved the idea of the needlepoint headband, finally something for the ladies, and the belts were selling at that time around $125 which is quite a jump from the smathers at $165. Of course this was right when the recession was really starting to hit home for people and price is always king. So of course the Tucker Blair belts were selling well. However, then a few months later Tucker Blair started selling the belts exclusively on their website for $80. This is the reason as stated on their website that they decided to move just to online sales.

we decided to pioneer a new type of distribution model where the retailer isn’t the one that gets the value - the customer does! “Brick & mortar” stores are great if you’re strolling through Georgetown on an idle afternoon, but with them come substantial mark-ups, limited selection and other customers trying on what will one day be your belt

Now I am all for a competitive market and fair pricing but I do have a problem with debuting your line in stores, having them promote it for you and essentially being the only way that your target market will be exposed to your porduct, THEN underselling your retailers online. the headbands were originally selling for something like $75 in stores but $50 on the website. Now they list the headbands at $40 and they are on sale for $25. Now this is where when you claim that you have the "best product on the market" at "the best price possible" I find that hard to believe when you have substantially reduced the price 3 times. What that really means is you have a cheap product that you are marking up to mark down.

That is all well and good and I am sure most people will say "well who gives a hoot you are getting essentially the same idea (note not the same product) at a lower price". My real grievance comes on the design level. When you take a look at the belt designs of Tucker Blair in comparison to Smathers & Branson all he has done is copy their designs or the idea of the design and maybe change the colors.
Lets examine the evidence:

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

Smathers

Tucker

As you can see the evidence speaks for itself. Check out each of their websites to compare more for yourself Smathers & Branson Tucker Blair . Every single belt theme that Tucker Blair has done is a knock off of the Smathers & Branson theme. I mean this guy is not even creative enough to come up with his own themes. Then when you look at the quality of the stitches (you can even see it online) the Stitches in the Tucker belts are not as tight so they make the images look a little distorted. As well the thread feels gross, like a bad wool sweater.

It gets worse:

Smathers Key Fob

Tucker Blair Key Fob

Ok so not only is he copying the idea of the key fob AND calling it the exact same thing he is also copying the exact same style with the leather tab AND look at the little SB in script inscribed in the leather that is the same as Tucker Blair's TB logo. Which leads to even more similarities Smathers & Branso, Tucker Blair both companies have two names and smathers is in Bethesda, MD Tucker Blair is in DC. Its just too much!

Smathers & Branson Dog Collar

Tucker Blair Dog Collar

Smathers Headband

Tucker Blair Headband

Now in all fairness I will point out that Tucker Blair did come out with the headbands before Smathers & Branson but once again even though Smathers was late to the gate they have a far superior product.

So as you have seen Tucker Blair is nothing more then a knockoff of Smathers & Branson, buying a Tucker Blair belt is the same thing as buying a knockoff coach bag (expect they arent being sold on the streets of New York... Yet) you know how the C's just aren't right on the knockoff and the lining is a crap nylon, thats the same idea here.

The one good thing that I will say that has come out of the tucker blair brand is that once it came on the scene it gave Smathers & Branson a kick in the ass and they came up with some new themes and products.

Needlepoint Wallet (Daddy is getting this for Xmas)

Needlepoint Flask (Going in Mummy's stocking, believe me she'll use it too)

I think the Mistletoe Cummerbund is hilarious and if I say a guy wearing this at a party I would fall in love immediately

Coin purse

Ladies Belt

I just think that is it really wrong for someone to scope out the success of another business and copy it almost exactly. There was not a hole in the market for fun needlepoint belts so there is really no need for Tucker Blair. He was just not smart enough to come up with his own business model so he stole someone else's. Smathers has done a great job with their brand and continue to make and sell a superior product at a fair price. I know they will outlive Tucker Blair and I hope their sales are soaring as people purchase the original preppy needlepoint belt.

J.Crew Favorite Fit Cords

2009-12-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

As I have alluded to before I am not so keen on jeans. I find jeans to be the ultimate casual wear, you just cant go any lower than jeans. (Well actually there are sweatpants and leggings) Yes I know these are modern times and jeans are everywhere and have become big business in fashion. Whenever we go to market in New York to do the buying for the store I am utterly shocked at the amount of denim lines on the out there as well as the fact that most of these lines are exclusively denim! These people reinvent the wheel in different colors and styles every season.

I know I am very much in the minority here, and that 99.9% of americans love jeans and wear them on a regular basis. I however hate them, have always hated them and will continue to hate them. Jeans are just so easy (many peoples argument in favor of) they require little imagination and to me give this air of "I dont give a s*%&"

I cant think of which is worse in my book, the fact that it has become appropriate for men to wear jeans to work or that women practically live in jeans these days. Lets take point one, I recently posted this article demonstrating how denim has weaseled its way into the workplace. I remember in high school that 90% of my teachers wore jeans to school. Seriously? You are at work, how do you wear jeans to work when you are a teacher. You are supposed to be asserting yourself to a bunch of pimple faced brats, this requires at very least proper pants, may I dare suggest even a tie? (Bow Tie?... No? ok I just had to try) Well I guess thats what you get for liberal california public school. It was a breath of fresh air to go off to a proper New England University where the men wore sport coats and trousers, with the occasional bean boat on a cold day. Have I made my point? Great, let me contiune.

As for ladies jeans are just lazy. I'm not saying they are totally inappropriate as I do own 2 pairs myself (and only 2 it will remain) one pair is the J.Crew matchstick jean which are reserved EXCLUSIVELY to be worn with my favorite Steve Madden riding boots. None of this skinny jeans will ballet flats, yuck. As well might I point out that they are called SKINNY jeans for a reason and that you must be skinny to wear them. I cannot tell you how many women I have seen squeeze there rather large behinds into these ill fitting "skinny" jeans which dont even cover their entire bum, resulting in the the sausage casing look... cute.

Lest I not mention guys who wear skinny jeans... the horror.

The other pair is the J.Crew Bootcut jean which I wear on my more causal days and only in the winter with a cashmere sweater. There are far too many fun outfits for the summer to waste them on jeans. Then sometimes when I am with my less preppy friendly crowds I will wear jeans out to a bar with a fun top or blazer (again only in the winter). Now don't get me wrong I am not saying jeans are a total no, no I just think that our society has become too reliant on jeans and too accepting, even encouraging of causal dress in the workplace.

Not only am I a huge fan of the hit show mad men but I think it might have a good effect on society, given its wonderful 1950's style wardrobes. Just think, would betty ever be caught dead wearing jeans, I think not. Don, jeans at the office? Please he wouldn't dare. Hoepfully this dress code will stay in effect at Sterling, Cooper, Draper & Pryce.

So my alternative to jeans has always been corduroy. It comes in an amazing assortment of colors and gages of wale and in the right cut is quite flattering. My preference has been to the J. Crew favorite fit style (the only "favorite" fit J.Crew pant which is a favorite of mine) Above I have pictured my three pairs in a cranberry color, hunter green and aubergine. Then I have a pair of hot pink Molly B. These are all fun and look great on and pull an outfit together while still looking like I give a damn. However, J. Crew is now making my life that much harder by not offering the favorite fit cords this season. Which I am dying for in this rosy pink color

The alternative being the bootcut cord which features too much stretch so that by the end of the day you have that saggy butt effect, that is just too cute. So back to the drawing board it is.

Bananas for Birkin

2009-12-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite books ever is Michael Tonello's, Bringing Home the Birkin. Such a wonderful story of Michael's european adventures as an accidental Birkin broker. This book made me want to quit my job and take off on a european adventure in pursuit of this gorgeous bag tout de suite.

If you have not read this, it is a perfect fun little beach read as well as a great tutorial on the particulars of the much coveted Birkin.

I am at my wits end with struggling with toting my laptop back and forth to work everyday. I have the monster 17" mac book and even though it is a great computer it is very heavy and there are not any good laptop bags out there for 17" computers. Last year I got the Henry Brown Mimi bag in the light blue color becuase it was the only thing I liked that could fit the computer and was a little different.

It has worked ok but I am still not happy and looking for a replacement. I think I am looking for something in leather or a neutral color nylon.

When I think of leather bags my favorite style has always been the birkin. Of course I know I will not be getting a Birkin anytime soon (that pesky little waiting list... for the waiting list) but a girl can dream.

I am really only interested in the calf skin bags, the exotics are a little too much for me, but god knows if offered an exotic I would snap it up.

The classic hermes orange would be my pick and at the 45cm size I think my laptop would just fit.

If I ever run away from home this would be the get away bag.

I mean if its good enough for Pharrell...

(P.S. I think the whole man purse thing he has goin on here is WEIRD!)

Back in the real world the large Le pliage would be the way to go. I enjoy the khaki color but am a little concerned with staining it.

The chocolate would solve that problem but its kinda a little blah to me

The billberry is a very interesting and fun color so that is up for consideration as well.

any thoughts or suggestions? I also liked the leather barbour bag I posted yesterday but I dont think it is big enough.

This problem is really starting to drive me nuts so I gotta get this figured out soon!

The Great Barbour Debate

2009-11-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

So for a while now I have been lusting after a Barbour coat. Last year my boss was so kind and gave me a Liddesdale coat for christmas. However it did not fit properly so I wanted to simply exchange it for the proper size. Well that was easier said then done. I took it back to the store and they told me no problem they would order me the coat I wanted and give me a store credit for the return. Needless to say that was in january and I still dont have a Barbour coat. So I went back and, of course they still dont have what I want. So I am going to try having them order one for me again (I am ONLY going through them becuase I have a store credit there after this I am never shopping there again!) I am pondering whether I should get the Liddesdale which I personally think looks a little boxy on me or to apply the credit to a Bedale and pony up the difference? In truth I want both (I do live in New England, it is either raining or snowing here more then 75% of the time) So I know I will use them they are classics that will last forever.

Bedale, I like this lining best as well the other one they offer is too masculine

This is the Liddesdale I like in the beautiful olive

This one is also nice

Love the shooting vest

These are nice as well except I hate the lining of the last one

I would snag one of these as well

and I have learned you can never have too many brellies!

Also die for this leather briefcase! I wonder if my monstrous 17" laptop would fit in here?

Where is that rascally rabbit?

2009-11-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

Now that ADG is back and full of gusto and Toad has taken his place back at the hall, so it seems that all is right in the world. HOWEVER, it was about this time last year that my FAVORITE blogger Bunny Tomerlin went silent. Bunny's was the first blog I ever read and opened me up to this whole wonderful world. Until recently the blog was still up so that you could peruse all the good old stuff but alas now it is no more. Every once in a while she will friend me on facebook but then after a few days her profile disappears. I do hope Bunny is well and that maybe just maybe we can persuade her to come back... Add it to my christmas list!

Gratitude.

2009-11-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

I love the day after thanksgiving (especially considering that I was sick in bed all day yesterday unable to even get up for dinner, but feeling fine today) it is the on set of the holiday cheer and I am determined (after a very dismal holiday season last year) that this one will be filled with holly and jolly.
Of course thanksgiving and the holiday season bring to mind all of the things one is thankful and grateful for so this is my list.

-For the health and well being of my family and friends and that all are doing well despite the economy.

-Very grateful to have a job and the ability to support myself as almost all of my friends are unemployed and have been for sometime. I am especially grateful that I do not have to live with my parents (even though charleston would be awesome!) as most of my friends are consequently living with their parents.

- As I lay in my bed on thanksgiving, the house was completely silent (very rare case) and I was suddenly overcome by the enormous feeling of gratitude for all listed, above as well I began to think WOW I am so lucky to even have a bed to sleep in (as there was a short time in my life in which I did not, I will explain later...) My bed has always been the one spot in the world where I felt totally safe. I have had many beds in many places, but no matter what it has always given me great comfort to end each day and begin each morning in a warm cozy bed I can call my own.

My favorite place on earth

Then I remembered this one cold fall night not long after I had moved to Boston when I would take the train out to Wellesley everyday (a horrible task which turned a 1/2 hr drive into a 2 hr train trip). One night totally exhausted, cold, and just generally not feeling so well, I was sitting at the bus stop in the harvard square station anxiously waiting to FINALLY get home. I looked to my left and there was a woman sitting on the bench completely wrapped in bubble wrap. This image is still so vivid in my mind and I remember being so overcome by her that I almost burst into tears thinking, here I am feeling sorry for myself because I am cold and tired, but I have a job to support myself and a warm home and comfortable bed waiting for me. This woman does not even have a blanket or warm coat to protect her from the elements and probably no home of any sort at all. As I glanced back over at her I was struck by her demeanor, she was the most proud looking person I had ever seen. It just oozed out of her, she had perfect posture, she held her head high and shoulders back. No matter what misfortune had brought this woman to her current situation, and the fact that most people might be embarrassed to be sitting at a bus stop wrapped from head to toe in bubble wrap, her pride was unshaken. I was inspired by her, and whenever I think I might have it bad I always think of her. To this day I wished that I had walked over to her and given her my coat and all the money I had on me, but I didn't and I regret it.

So let us all be thankful for the very simple luxuries we are blessed with.

The Thanksgiving Table

2009-11-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

I love the buzz that surrounds the holidays, it is palpable through the air. Everyone is running around preparing for the big day and even though it can be super stressful I love every minute of it. My favorite holiday has always been Thanksgiving, it is the best meal of the year. Mummy went to the Culinary Institute of America so Thanksgiving at our house has always been legendary. The entire family would arrive (I at 5 yrs old required that ladies be in dresses and gentleman, regardless of age a sport coat. Then thoroughly flipped out when my cousins showed up in sweatpants!) Nevertheless, Mummy always prepared am amazing meal and produced a beautiful spread. With the immediate family spread out to three corners of the country, bogged down with work and unwilling to bear the holiday travel scene we have not been together for the holidays in years. Totally fine with me as it just affords an extra day off work and no stress. I do however miss making dinner and preparing the table. So if I was hosting this year this is what I would do.

we know how much I love orange so I would start off with this beautiful William Sonoma tablecloth.

This beautiful flower arrangement I saw at Winston's the other day.

The beautiful Ralph Lauren Pheasant plates (which they don't actually sell on the website?)

These great vintage fabric napkins I found somewhere online (sorry cant remember the site)

Topped with the monogrammed family silverware

I would use the Ralph Lauren Glen Plaid Bowls for serving the dry goods like rolls and such

Then these beautiful silver serving dishes from pottery barn for everything else like mashed potatoes and such.

Of course we need to make sure the wine is properly chilled as well.

One of my favorite thanksgiving dishes is my mothers stuffing so if you are looking for a last minute recipe give this one a try!

Then sit back turn on a little frank and enjoy the evening with your family.

1pkg Jimmy Dean sage sausage

 1/2 onion chopped

3 ribs celery,diced

1-2 cups warm water or chicken stock

 Sautee sausage breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off fat set sausage 
aside.
Sautee onion and celery in 1T. Oil
Put the stuffing mix in a bowl and add the onion,celery and stock or 
hot water. Mix well let cool before stuffing the bird.







Mack the Knife- Frank Sinatra



That's life- Frank Sinatra



The Best Is Yet To Come- Frank Sinatra



Call Me Irresponsible- Frank Sinatra



Somewhere Beyond the Sea- Frank Sinatra



The Best is Yet to Come- Frank Sinatra



Young at Heart- Frank Sinatra




Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I would dumpster dive for Ralph!

2009-11-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

No joke I think you all know how much I love monsieur Lauren (given it would have to be a clean tartan lined dumpster located in a suitable part of town, haha) So not to far from Boston there is a great outlet area, they have Ralph Lauren (duh) J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, Kate Spade, Banana Republic, Saks 5th Ave, Barney's the list goes on and on but this place is pretty awesome. I usually try to have ample amounts of cash on hand before these trips otherwise its just cruel to do that to oneself. However, this past weekend even though I had nowhere near the sufficient funds in hand to make the pilgrimage, I just had a feeling I needed to go!

Well I was right! There were scores of goodies to be had at these places! First stop was of course the house that preppy built. I was greeted by the display you see above. Bamboo polo mallets in ginger jars? I was weak in the knees! Now not only was I dying at all the preppy swag to be had but now I'm in the market for bamboo polo mallets and oversized ginger jars, DAMN YOU RALPH, i'm just gonna have my paychecks directly deposited into his account from now on (like he would even notice)

So after regaining my composure I made my sweeps around and found tons of great stuff. As is obvious with the Ralph look, I am always searching for cable knit sweaters, rugby shirts and OBDs. They had tons and at super great prices as well as some other fun little additions that make the outlets in my opinion more fun then the retail stores (and this stuff is at insanely good prices)

Great cowl neck oatmeal colored sweater that I had to leave behind paired with a buffalo check button down with adorable ruffle detailing and a red wide whale cord skirt (both the shirt and skirt were not so cute on moi)

Two cute turtlenecks the black one has wonderful gold hardware but again not crazy for these.

Loved this OBD with contrasting collar, on clearance so there was no way I could say no, I live in these things.

They had a plethora of richly colored cable sweaters in the most wonderful mossy greens, heather lilac, burnt orange, oatmeal and navy but I'll save those for when bank TWA gets their stimulus check... They also had more OBDs with contrast colors, I already have two of the light blue oxford stripe so I passed on this one. HOWEVER see that little navy shooting sweater with the suede patches, that I am MAD for! I just had to take it home with me. It reminds me of the old ones I used to have that daddy had made for me with the shoulder patch on the left side since I am a lefty.

They also had it in the mossy green but only ONE left in XS... AHHHHH I must have it!

They also have an awesome home section but I'm currently not in need of any home goods but I did spot my fav Ralph sheets I have been eying for years. The moment I have a little boy I am putting these on his bed (too bad if he doesn't like it!)

Then I made a quick stop into banana and found some great black riding boots that I have been on the hunt for, not sure about these though they are a little too wide in the calf (sorry terrible picture, who is this weirdo...)

Kate Spade had oodles of cute things, especially these collegiate silk striped makeup cases.

J.Crew is always hit or miss. I missed but I did find a few cute things to try on. Loved the purple skirt and it is on clearance so I will probably go back for it. The orange cords as well as the blazer were too big and the button down not a must have.

I randomly decided to pop into Liz Claiborne, sometimes these stores have fun little things you might not usually pick up, priced at a steal. I found these very comfortable little tartan pumps for only $24. I didn't get them though cause' I wanted to see what everyones take is on these? Too tarty? or super cute (especially at this price) I think it is the black patent leather detail on the bottom that this throwing me off. I thought they would be really fun though with my Elizabeth McKay Scotland dress with the black plaid embroidery? Thoughts???

Waspy Weekend- Colonial Cup

2009-11-22T19:24:00.000-08:00

I know its a little late for a waspy weekend but I got a little busy and didn't get a chance to get this post up. This saturday was the annual Colonial Cup in Camden, SC. I have been dying to go to but this fall race as well as the spring race, The Carolina Cup ever since mummy and daddy moved to Charleston (I'm still mad at them for not moving there while we were younger so I could have gone to Porter Gaud and had a proper southern upbringing...) Anyway, this year was the first year they have run the race on a saturday in efforts to draw a larger crowd and believe me I would have been in attendance if I could.

I would have hat this hat made with the pheasant feathers and the hat in a nice hunter green color. This is another instance where I could have worn my Orange Tartan Molly B dress I showed you before.

I would have prepared a wonderful tailgate out of this wonderful 1998 Range Rover (its matches the color of the "hat"... its the little details people) with all of my favorite treats from the cheese shop.

Well maybe next year!

P.S. I'd have to have Southern Nights- Glen Campbell playing, of course!

Prepped for School!

2009-11-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

I am totally in love with this new line of preppy backpacks and laptop totes!

The backpacks are just too cute for little girls or anyone with a light school workload.

I am mad for the laptop totes though. I was not much of a backpack girl in school and I love these as opposed to the vera bradley or vineyard vines totes as these are designed with a protective laptop sleeve inside so that your laptop is secure in the bag and separated from the rest of your stuff. The current totes are designed for laptops up to 15". I CANNOT wait for the 17" style to come out because I am tired of lugging this big (and heavy) laptop back and forth to work each day. Here are some of the other great fabric choices.

My fav... Love the navy & orange!

Deal of a lifetime

2009-11-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, sorry I seem to have caught whatever is going around so I have not been feeling so hot this week. Nonetheless, I wanted to share with you the deal of a lifetime that I scored this summer. Since everyone is heading off to the Lilly sale tomorrow (I will not be in attendance, that pesky work thing combined with low funds which I suppose I should reserve to buy food?) Anywho I think I might have scored something even better this summer. A friend of mine turned me onto a local discount store (not a TJ Max or Marshalls) but something that is only in MA. She told me that they had a mother load of Molly B that was at insane prices, I basically rushed over there a quick as I could and stumbled upon something like a preppy girls heaven on earth.
I walked in the door in a fury and made a b-line for the Molly B section... this was off the hook! Dresses, Skirts, Pants, Tops, Shirts, Belts it was amazing. The most hilarious thing to me was the fact that nobody around me had any idea what a big deal this was. I loaded my cart up so high I couldn't see in front of it, I was over the moon because the Molly B samples are made in a size 6... which happens to be the size moi wears. After about 2 hours I widdled my purchases down to these.

Four Dresses

Five Skirts

Four Pairs of Pants and a Seersucker Button Down

(please excuse the plastic hangers, mummy dearest would not be cool with this)

and a partridge in a pear tree... umm no but if they had that, I probably would have bought it too. So you probably thinking this all rang in around $1000 or so, maybe $500? considering the dresses usually retail for $220 each. Well I walked away with all of this for a mere $230!

Insane

I love everything! I got this all right before my trip to the vineyard for my birthday and it was so awesome because I basically took everything you see above and a few accessories and I was all set.

Then a few weeks ago I was still basking in my fabulous finds when I got word that they had received even more, Molly B items at this store and they had CASHMERE... My favorite sweater is a Molly B cashmere sweater with pearl button detail, and I had just taken stock of the sweater situation in my closet and decided we needed to make some new acquisitions.

This is what resulted, I had to hold myself back from buying every color as these were ONLY $40, are these people smoking crack? How do they sell this stuff at these amazing prices? I dont have time to ask questions I just buy... I rationalized that the pink stripe is just too cute to pass up and works well for both summer and winter, the tan is a classic staple and the navy? I mean really? There was no question... I bought two.

I have yet to wear the orange dress and for $20 I really dont care if I ever wear it at all, but I thought it would be so adorable for Thanksgiving.

I would like to wear a cardigan with it and I was thinking something navy? There isnt any navy in the dress but I love navy with orange and I think if I can find some cute little navy shoes it would be so adorable for the holiday. Any thoughts? Do we not like the navy idea? There is a hunter green in the plaid so I could do a cardigan in that color and find some matching shoes or a metallic shoe could work as well.

2009-11-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the infrequent postings this week, it was quite busy at the store (two trunk shows back to back) so I have just been dog tired this week.
After I finished reading "That Old Cape Magic" (which I found to be quite disappointing) last month I decided that I was going to take a little hiatus from reading for a while. I was pretty happy that I had consumed all of the books on my summer reading list and was feeling bogged down by the library due dates so I decided to take a break so that I might FINALLY learn to needlepoint. Well the needlepointing has yet to begin so a few weeks back I was home one night with nothing good to watch on TV and looking for a little something to help me relax. The liquor cabinet was bare (criminal in my opinion) so I found myself perusing the bookshelves. I came upon this book that I picked up at a little second hand store on the vineyard this past summer, "Jackie by Josie" it was only $1 and after reading the backside I was intrigued and figured for $1 I could never read it and I would have lost nothing. So I decided to pick it up and see if it was worthwhile at all. I have to say I have been quite impressed so far, as well as pleasantly surprised that it has very little to do with Jacqueline Onassis at all. The store is of a young mother/ grad student Josie who has stalled in the completion of her dissertation and takes up the offer to become a research assistant to a famous author who is writing a Jackie O biography, it is a great tale of the trials and tribulations of Josie's past and present life along with some sprinklings of Jackie's story. I am rather enjoying it and I will keep you posted on how it finishes out.
P.S This post all came about because Saturday morning here in Boston was quite rainy and bleak and after the long week I wanted nothing more then to stay at home and spend the day in bed finishing this book.

IF I had had the day off I might also like to take this little bad boy out for a ride, ( I miss Nigel most during this time of year) I always loved him better in the rain! This would be the playlist for the ride.
The Kinks- A Well Respected Man
The Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter
The Grateful Dead- Casey Jones
The Doors- Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
The Kinks-Sunny Afternoon
The Grateful Dead- Uncle John's Band
The Rolling Stones- As Tears Go By
(these bands were just some of my favorites this week)

One word... L-O-V-E

2009-11-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

In the short time that we have known one another I think I have made it pretty clear that I have a serious love for quilted riding jackets. Along with that I also have a serious talent for snagging them at AMAZING prices. The one above I happened to find last year as I was walking through the mall and noticed that sears of all places was carrying Lands End. I was intrigued so I went in to look around and found this awesome jacket. I love orange with navy (can you tell?) and so I thought this would go so well with a navy cashmere sweater, and the best part I believe it was like $60 or so. My one complaint is I am not so keen on the zipper closure but for that price I can live with it. I decided to get it monogrammed to give it a little pizzaz, in navy of course.

I also have this little black number which I bought a few years ago (it is actually my first QRJ and still my favorite) at Old Navy of all places, and that one was $20 what a steal. I generally do not wear black clothing (its just not me) but this is very smart with skirts and riding boots. I love this one the best because it has a corduroy collar and cord detail on the pockets and cuffs.

Then this past summer I was perusing the local Marshalls and they had this amazing Vineyard Vines one, original price $300+ Marshalls price $39.99 I think it was like 90 degrees out that day (a rare nice summer day this year) and I put it right on and was walking through my store that show BFF -Gigi (not so preppy, but she respects that I am who I am) and she sees me coming down the aisle toward her and her face drops and she goes "OMG seriously" now for the pink and green crowd this is an AMAZING find at a steal of a price, for the rest of america I look like the preppy a-hole walking around wearing a bright green jacket with the collar popped on a 90 degree day. (I say let them eat cake!)

So none the less I made it mine and I love it, wear it rarely but love it.

So back to the Land End Dory Coat. They have them on sale for like $39 now so I cannot pass that up. The winters are long and cold here in New England so why not weather them in style.

This is the new belted style which I think is super cute just not sure if it would be cute on moi.

Then they also have this pine green and then this color they call light navy (I know it is put the backside,weird) Love the pine and would probably get the light navy as long as it is not royal.

THEN, I went over to friend JM's house the other night to go out for cocktail hour, and look at what she has acquired? I pretty much died over it, it was sitting in her kitchen inside out (the interior is an equestrian print silk) and I gasped and she goes "haha I knew you would find that" I put it on (a little small for me or guess who would be "accidently" "borrowing " it... PERMANENTLY) So lets all just have a guess as to who makes this little bit of heaven. Jcrew? no way out of their league. J. Mclaughlin? wrong again but good guess. Nope my ralphie makes it (of course you all knew that) I must have it, she said she got it at the outlets for $150! yeah even if I have to starve this bad boy will be mine.

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day Everyone!

I think it is always important to take time out and stop and reflect on the gifts that are bestowed on us in this country. One of the largest reasons America is a thriving country is because of the service and sacrifice of those serving in all branches of our military. I have to say I am personally very disturbed by the recent horrific events that took place at Ft. Hood. Apparently not only are our troops in grave danger abroad but right here at home and at the hands of their fellow officers. I pray that the families of those murdered as well as the wounded victims will someday find peace in this terrible event. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve, we appreciate your service and sacrifice to this country!

Zenyatta Takes The Win!

2009-11-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

Of course with the pink & green silks there was no way she would loose!

I happened to catch the running of the 2009 Breeders Cup on Saturday night, what a magnificent race! The Beautiful Zenyatta is owned by Jerry & Ann Moss trained by John Shirreffs. Zenyatta came into the race undefeated with a 13 in 13 record and was the only female to race against the colts. The race started off a little hairy as the horses were loaded into the gate Quality Road decided he did not want to race that day and threw quite a fit which resulted in the first ever scratch in the history of the race. With everyone finally loaded in the gate the race started with a slow break for Zenyatta and her running dead last for the the first part of the race. Then Mike Smith let her loose on the outside and she roared past the boys to take the win on link ahead of Gio Ponti. She is the first female ever to win the cup. She gets my vote for horse of the year, brilliant performance!

Waspy Weekend

2009-11-07T07:19:00.000-08:00

Working 6 days a week does not give me much opportunity to get out of town for the weekend. However, every saturday morning on my way into work I like to think about all the places I could be driving to for a weekend get away, if I had the time and the means (it also helps keep me sane). So this weekend is looking beautiful here in New England and on just about any gorgeous day I always wish I was still living in Newport, RI. There is just something about this place that is so magical to me. Its the only place I have ever really felt at home and the only place I have missed when I left.

I absolutely love to drive, I don't know why but there is something about being in the car that I have always liked. I also love beautiful vintage cars ( I know nothing about them mechanical wise but I love the look and feel of them) So lets indulge for a moment. shall we?

1975 Mercedes Benz 450 SL Convertible

This is an absolute beauty and I love the color.

I am imaging driving down Rt. 24 top down with this little Van Morrison (Love his music!) play list blaring on the stereo.

Glad Tidings

Warm Love

Crazy Love

Into the Mystic

And it stoned me

These are the days

Sweet thing

Gypsy Soul

Caravan

Jackie Wilson Said

Wild Nights

Quack Quack Look What Just Arrived In The Mail!

2009-11-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

I pretty much lost my mind over this bag when I spied them in Nordstrom a few months back. I LOVE ducks they are just very sentimental to me, and not to mention they are a total prep icon. For my birthday this summer BFF Gigi surprised me with this one, which is so perfect. It was so kind of her to remember how much I loved these.

Then look what just arrived from mummy dearest! Isnt she wonderful, she knew that I loved my other one so much that when she saw these on sale she picked up the pink and green to add to my collection. I absolutely love it thank you so much mummy!

Its so funny to me that I now have two Dooney and Bourke bags because when back in high school it was just when Coach bags were getting more mainstream and my friend KWD and I thought that was so funny because when we were younger it was really only our moms and "older" women who carried coach bags. So we said what's next? Donney and Bourke bags will be geared toward 15yr olds? (because those were really more for our grandmothers back then) Now look at how the brand has changed and shifted their target age range. (but the Lindsey Lohan years were just bad, bad, bad) but now I am so glad that they have modified their look and I must say these are very well made bags, so I am excited to see where they go next.

Here are some of my other DB picks...

The sailboats are a perfect summer bag

Love this for the fall with a quilted riding jacket and brown riding boots

This also comes in a deep hunter green. I like this shape for a day bag to throw my laptop in for work

and this one for travel

I had no idea they did apparel. These boat shoes need to be in my closet stat.

and cashmere as well, I am liking this brand more and more.

and of course I am a sucker for a quilted jacket!

Election Day & Preppy Political Pundit-Tucker Carlson

2009-11-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Happy election day everyone! Please go out and vote, local and state elections are some of the most important as they affect us right in our backyards. So exercise that right that so many have fought for!

On the lighter side my favorite preppy political pundit is the every so adorable Tucker Carlson, I mean his name alone is swoon worthy.

Tucker went to St. George's in NPT then on to Trinity. He first came on the scene when he was on CNN's Crossfire, where everyone started noticing him for his love of the bow tie (ohh a boy in a bow tie, be still my beating heart!) then moved over to MSNBC where they gave him his own show Tucker, it is also rumored that MSNBC forced him to bid adieu to the bow tie in favor of the regular necktie (Criminal!) Anywhoooo, I love Tucky for his old school frat boy preppy style. He is a very blue blazer, khaki chino, oxford university stripe button down and whimsical bow tie kinda dude. Why cant more boys realize this look makes the girls swoon (at least this girl) and dont even get me started on the hair! (too cute). Tucker seems to have gone out of the public eye as of late, there was some talk back in may about him starting a blog but I cant find anything on it. So kudos to you Tucker for you classic prep style and spotin' the Bow Tie

Wasik's Cheese Shop Wellesley Ma

2009-11-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Some people like chocolate some people ice cream, for me its cheese. Its weird yes but I love cheese and The Cheese Shop in Wellesley owned by the Wasik family is by far the best. Firstly, I have never in my life met nicer people! Just the other day someone said to me "The boys in there are so nice, their mother has done such a good job with then" They are always smiling and super friendly and not only that but they will pretty much let you sample anything in the store. Their knowledge of pairings is so superb whether you are looking for something to go with a wine or a brandy or an appetizer or spreads for the weekend tailgate, they have go you covered. My personal favorites are the Mexican Dip, a special blend of soft cheeses and spices this dip is heavenly, I like to put it with their special Wasik's brand crackers (in the green box) it is one of my favorite snacks. ( I take everyone that comes to visit from out of town here and they leave begging me to keep a supply of the mexican dip flowing their way)My other favorite is their house brie, once you have this stuff there is no going back, that crap they try to pass off for brie in the grocery store does not even come close to this. I like to pair it with their fresh Poilane bread that they have flown in fresh from paris, just try to eat some crappy "french" baguette from the grocery store after that... I am making myself hungary here but my last recommendation is the canadian cheddar, if you like sharp cheddars this stuff will knock your socks off. I just eat small slices at a time and dont even mess with putting it on anything.

As I mentioned not only are their products FABULOUS but the Wasik family are a wonderful bunch of people. The parents Steve and Carol as well as their two sons Brian and Brad are in the store daily and just the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Whenever I go in there it reminds me of what this world is in short supply of good, wholesome, honest people who love what they do. So if you ever happen to be in Wellesley you must stop in there but beware you will become totally addicted! (but don't worry they ship...)

Oh Dear God...

2009-10-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have been amping up for a post on jeans, waiting until I can give it my full attention, then I just logged onto the computer and found this. Power Jeans . I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

Costume Ideas

2009-10-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

So I have been a little slow in getting my halloween costume together. My friend that I was planning to go out with pulled her back at work earlier this week so I am still waiting to hear if she can even make it out for the festivities. A few weeks ago my BFF- KWD was visiting from california and on our way to dinner one night she made me go into that store American Apparel (you might ask how are we friends, lets just say its proof opposites attract) and it was so hilarious because I went in there and was like OMG this place would be so awesome to get a halloween costume. KWD was like "umm yeah this is where I actually buy my clothes that I wear everyday" it was pretty funny, but seriously this place is a 80's costume jackpot. So since I'm not following the "trend" I though why not do it for halloween. So I could scrounge it up pretty quick but here are some other ideas on my mind.

But what I would really like to be is Betty Draper. I could easily pull off the riding outfit I would just need a blond wig, which I'm not to fond of as they always look so fake. We'll see though looks like this one is going to come down to wire...

Rain, Rain...

2009-10-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

So its raining here in Boston today but this is actually one of those days that I like the rain. You wake up in the morning and the sky is clouded over and all you can hear is the steady rain against the windows. Then you get up and get dressed, I tend to just put on some jeans (we are going to talk about jeans soon...) one of my favorite oxford shirts (we'll be discussing these as well) and a warm cashmere sweater to top it off. Then actually comes my favorite part, the rain gear. I have this great North Face rain shell that I found on sale at Nordstrom about 4 years ago now. It was such a steal at $65. The real reason I love it though is the color. It is pretty much a true periwinkle blue which is a color I had not seen before and have not seen since. Its nice and lightweight so I wear it in the summer (since we had a particularly rainy summer this year, can you tell Im still bitter...) and I wear it in the fall and winter and if its cold just layer up underneath.

Here's my fav rain jacket

Then I know everyone is into the hunter rain boots but never one to follow the crowd I purchased the Peter Beaton boots in the hot pink a few weeks ago and I love them. Firstly they were only $36! which is pretty awesome and they are pink which I think goes pretty well with the jacket and I thought they would be really cute with skirts and dresses too. My favorite part of the boots though is on the tag on the front of the boot underneath the peter beaton it says "Leave a trail worth following" which is basically the jist of my favorite emerson quote “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” (remember Emerson from our trip to Concord?)

On the days where I dont think rain boots are necessary I have this great pair of Tamara Henriques waterproof loafers, which I love. My only complaint is that they dont go with a heck of a lot so I usually throw them on with jeans (ugh) and a navy sweater. I think navy always goes best with red.

When I ordered my boots I also went for the orange peter beaton umbrella to match. Which with the jacket and the boots makes quite a bright little outfit but...

My old favorite though is my burberry umbrella, sturdy and classic mine recently had a little problem with the wind though and snaped one of the arms so it is on the back burner for a while until I can get it fixed. Goes great with the red loafers though...

So sometimes rainy days arent so bad :)

Gant

2009-10-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I was perusing online and came across the Gant website. Does anyone remember Gant? I have always loved their shirts and blazers but very, very rarely see the women's line anywhere, in fact I cannot remember the last time I saw it, and I certainly have not seen it at any of the trade shows in NYC. Anywho they have some AMAZING pieces for fall/winter. Check out the entire collection Here (it takes a bit to load but its worth it)

Here are some highlights

Well HELLO there ;)

I die for this blazer and it looks like the underside of the collar (becuase of course it would be popped) has a contrast

I just came back to life then I died again...

This Rugby shirt needs to be added to my collection.

Oh and the blazer too please

As well I am bananas for Rachel Zoe... I want to be taylor for halloween

Mimi di N Belt Buckles

2009-10-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday my boss received a package from her mom of all her old belt buckles and straps from when she was growing up. These were AWESOME! We have been looking for them for the store for a while and havent been able to find anyone that was still manufacturing them. So this package was a twofold. One she got here amazing belt buckles back and two we could check them out and see if any of the original manufacturers were still producing. Only a few of them had the manufacturers stamp on the back, the first we checked out was Gay Baynor which appears to no longer be in business but you can find some of their great vintage buckles on e-Bay and some other vintage websites. Then the other company was Mimi di N and this is where we FINALLY hit the mother load! To make this discovery even better, they are super affordable- around $60 at most! So I have a call into the company and hopefully we can get some into the store...
P.S. Allie over at Summer is a Verb maybe these could be a TEMPORARY stand in for some of your much lusted after Christopher Ross Buckles. You could probably buy the whole Mimi di N collection for the cost of a Christopher Ross. (However, we all know thats not the point and that a lady wants what a lady wants!)

Love this one... I have a thing for Ducks they remind me of my dad and grandfather

Although we are not springer spaniel people (Labs all the way) I thought this one would be adorable with a pair of chocolate brown velvet pants and a warm orange sweater.

The poodle is just hilarious and I know a few people who would die for this.

Love the parrot with white jeans in the summer. (This has CKB's name written all over it)

Just thought the literal Sea Horse was funny. I think I would pass on this one though.

Seashells once again with white jeans would be super cute.

Again white jeans and a woven rope belt.

For the Fox Hunt

I also thought the Jockey Helmets were very clever

I think the bits are just a great classic that every woman should have. Would look so smart with just about any outfit.

Our stores logo is a bow and I loved the alligator treatment on this one.

Shoe Obsession

2009-10-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful fall day here in New England. We have recovered from the recent snow flurries... and are back on track. I have resolved myself to put away my go to Jack Rogers and am now on the hunt for some new kicks for fall/ Winter. I have found tons of great options, but being a beastly size 10 and having the flattest feet my podiatrist has ever seen does not make the process easy but here are a few of my ideas.

Daddy would LOVE if I had these!

Love the Stubbs and Wooton custom monograms, a good replacement for my monogrammed Jack Rogers. Some people like to play video games I like to design my own monogrammed loafers on the Stubbs Website (dont judge me)

The Ballet flat is not very flattering to the flat feet but I love the navy and white pattern

A little Springy but I think with my hot pink cords and a camel colored cashmere sweater these would be adorable.

Ditto on these as well

these are just to die for

and of course I'll be waiting 4 months for my custom needlepoint monogrammed loafers to come in, but I have to decide which I like first...

Hope everyone has a wonderful fall day!

Well are you?

Wearing Your Collar Down is for Poor People

2009-10-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

As a consummate collar popper, several summers ago the girls I was working with showed me this article and I thought it was absolutely hilarious (this is completely tongue in cheek and is not meant to be offensive to anyone. With the state of the economy we could very well all be in the poor house tomorrow... Nevertheless I would be there in full collar popping glory. Mummy always said I would be the best dressed girl in the poor house. )

Wearing Your Collar Down is for Poor People
By I.M. Adick, III

       When my ancestors came over to this great country 400 years ago, they had a vision for a utopia, free from minorities, liberals, poor people, homosexuals, and immigrants. There are few today who share such lofty ideals, but we're easy to find: Pastel polo shirts, loafers without socks, tucked-in shirts, but most importantly, collars up.
        Call me a douchebag. Call me an arrogant little cocksucking dickhead. Beat the shit out of me if I'm not with fifteen of my B-frat friends (unlikely). But just know this: I interned at Smith Barney this summer. Where did you work? A Blockbuster? That's right you insignificant sack of dogshit; I'm going to be your boss. So take your t-shirt wearing, financial aid, blue-collar ass over to Blockbuster and get me a copy of Old School. Do you even own a tuxedo?
        Look at my girlfriend. You think she'd go for someone who didn't have his collar up? I don't think so. I remember the night I met her. I bought her so many $9 drinks she couldn't even walk. So I drove her home in my BMW 328ci, but not before I took a few "liberties" with her. The next morning I took her to brunch and went to the mall, where I bought her some blouses. You assholes don't know the first thing about being a gentleman. You probably don't even know how to sail.
        When I get out of business school, I'm going to be making $120,000 a year. Add that to my trust fund, and I can buy a country club membership, a ski house, and still have enough money to go barhopping around the city in my designer clothes and shit-eating grin. Maybe I'll offer you a hundred bucks to flip my collar up for me. I earned it you middle-class fuck up. I bet you went to public school.
       You're so predictable. I bet I can guess your political party just by looking at you. My cronies and I range from elitist northern liberals to heartless conservative bastards. I've wasted enough time with you. Get some rich parents, an internship, and a pink polo with the collar up, and then maybe I'll let you hang out with me.

This was prompted because the night before we had all been out and a rather, lets say "alternative" gentleman comes right up to me and folds the collar down on my oxford and says "ahh much better" I hear my friends gasp, knowing that this was not going to be ok with me. However, I merely reach over and pop his collar for him and say "ahh much better" we both burst out laughing and I told him if he could walk around for the rest of the night with his collar popped I would wear mine down and the loser would have to but the winner a drink. Needless to say I lost.

I have long been criticized for my collar popping ways but hey its just who I am. In college we had to take a work out class and everyone thought it was hilarious that I showed up in a pale pink lacoste polo with OF COURSE the collar popped. I just dont feel right without it, in the summer it is a popped polo and in the winter a popped oxford, I think I could break out into hives without it. As one of my friends pointed out recently on a picture of my mother at my birthday party this past summer in her collar popped glory " Oh my God collar popping is genetic" It is and I am a carrier.

Once you pop you can't stop!

article taken from Georgetown Heckler

Head of the Charles is here!

2009-10-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest weekends of the fall is here... it's time for the Head of the Charles here in Boston. It has been a little hairy here in Boston for the past few days (with the sudden onset of winter) but the sun and warmer temps have come out just for this special day! I live literally 5 minutes from Eliot bridge so we have a great vantage point to watch the race. I have to work today but as long as the weather isnt too bad tomorrow I will definitely make it out to the race. Have fun to all those attending today and good luck to Queen Bee Swain in her race, we're all cheering for you!

Grande Dame Of The Day: Eileen Gillespie Slocum

2009-10-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

During my freshman year at Salve we took an introduction to historical preservation course for our major, and the principle project that we worked on was on the library of one of our dorms called Watts-Sherman. The home is named after the man William Watts Sherman for whom the house was built.

Our project was to examine and apply modern techniques and research in which to prepare a restoration/ preservation plan to the university. This room was a rather small but grand space with its deep hunter green walls and gold glint paint highlighting the architectural details. As the project went on we came to debate the original paint colors and how the room had been changed and altered from its original vision. We also wondered about the furnishings (rumored to be original Louis XVI).

Well we went on and on for weeks debating and debating when one day during our research we discovered that the woman living across the street at 459 Bellevue ave, Mrs. Eileen G. Slocum was the granddaughter of the original owner William Watts Sherman and his second wife Sophia August Brown, and that Mrs. Slocum had visited her grandparents during her family's summer trips to Newport. (to have a living relative that experienced one of these spaces in their original condition was a BIG deal to us we were beyond elation.)

HOWEVER, what many of our peers did not realize was that this was THE Mrs. John Slocum one of, in not THE Grand Dame of Newport High Society and that you DO NOT simply walk across the street and knock on her front door and say "Well excuse me Mrs. S but would you mind telling us about your visits with granny?" No, no, no this matter was to be handled with the utmost decorum, to even grant the possibility of a visit with Mrs.S.

So after much work we contacted her personal secretary and after much waiting were told that Mrs. S would be willing to come speak with us. Now much of our class could not appreciate the enormity of this event but my BFF Linnie and I were beyond excitement. We dressed for the occasion and waited with baited breath as the 80 something year old Dame to slowly made her way up the driveway in her vintage mercedes (I mean what do you expect for her to hop over the bushes?) As she entered the port cochere we all waited to greet her. She was the most adorable thing in her Chanel suit with Ferragamo Varinas and Prada Purse (also completely lost on everyone expect Linnie and I)

So, she sits down and we all gather round and she speaks in a very soft voice and we gingerly ask her about 5 questions regarding the interior paints (it was more of a tiffany blue then the dark green of its current state) and the big kicker is yes all of the original furniture was Louis XVI and ohh by the way she has all of it in her sitting room across the street... and why not have us over for tea tomorrow and she would show it to us... (OMFG!!!) Linnie and I looked at each other and our jaws dropped, did she just invite us to her private home for tea? Umm yes she did! This was amazing we could barely contain our excitement. For one of the Dames in the upper echelons of Newport High Society to invite us to her home for a private tour was a VERY BIG DEAL.

The next day we went for the tour and it was absolutely amazing, she was the most gracious host. Her home was filled with the most magnificent family heirlooms from everything to busts of their relatives to original paintings by John Singer Sargent, and personal christmas cards from George and Laura (Bush that is... Mrs. S was the former Rhode Island Republican Chairwoman...I knew I liked her!) From the perspective of a student of history the experience in itself was beyond what we normally do which is either go into spaces that are in a sever state of disrepair or have already been restored but are on exhibition and do not have that "lived in feel." However we were in the Slocum home where she and her husband had raised their children and grandchildren and the home had that distinct warmth of family. You could tell how proud she was of her heritage and her family's place in history and that she loved being the doyenne and sheparding us through their story. It was such a wonderful day and in the years prior to her passing in 2008, when I would see her in town (still driving around in that old mercedes) I would always wave and she would smile back with a little sparkle in her eye. She was a true Grande Dame, a woman that had lived a life of extreme privilege but was wholly human, and they just don't make them like that anymore.

Maxminimus?

2009-10-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

So I went to check out the latest post from my fav male blogger this morning and this is what came up- Maxminimus. I hope this is just a grave mistake, I absolutely love ADG's blog (and maybe I have a little crush on him too... I mean a man with such sartorial savvy as he is a man to love). Coming so soon after the disappearance of Toad (which now appears to be invite only which is promising, also may I please please have an invite?) is just too much so hopefully our favorite gentlemen will be back in our lives soon.

XOXOs to ADG & Toad

Burrr!

2009-10-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Well New England has decided to rear its ugly little head (a bit early in my opinion) it is officially quite chilly up here. I have been reluctantly slowly pulling out my fall clothes but I think the weather is now demanding my compliance. Upon pulling out my much needed coat options for todays outfit

(Nantuckety red J. Crew Cords, Ralph Lauren blue/ white striped oxford button down, Navy Molly B cashmere sweater with pearl button detail and Geox chocolate loafers) I found I didnt have a proper coat to top it all off. I have a bright orange with navy monogram quilted riding jacket, a simple black quilted riding jacket and bright green with turtle lining VV Nancy quilted jacket (do we see a theme here?) but obviously none of those really do with the above mentioned outfit, so I am in need of another to finish off the collection.

Initially I wanted (and still want) the navy Barbour quilted riding jacket but the one I ordered from our local retailer last JANUARY still does not seem to have arrived. In the mean time I think the L.L. Bean one in Navy could be quite a suitable substitute. I love the look of these coats (obviously) and they are easy to move around in, rather warm and most importantly very stylish.

So I guess this means I must bid adieu to my Jack Rogers for now.

When they look like this at the end of the season it means you've had a good summer!

(and that its time for a new pair next year!)

I Heart Rugby

2009-10-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

First of all I consider Ralph Lauren to be the god of preppy apparel. This gentleman just GETS IT. I have always worshipped at the Ralph Lauren alter I believe that everything the man creates is gold and I want to wear it. With all of that being said I find his Rugby store to be in the upper echelons of modern prep apparel. Firstly, this man is a branding GENIUS being in retail myself I can tell you this man knows what he is doing and he does it pretty darn well. That's because what he has done is make is brand a lifestyle. Traditional dressing is not a trend it does not go in and out of style. If trad is your thing it becomes a complete and whole lifestyle, you commit to it and it encompasses your entire life. From sporting to schooling, to where you live, where you summer, your interests, and the people you are interested in, it all just flows together. RL gets that and he has built his entire empire upon that foundation, and I love it!

I digress but my overall point here is that the RL stores, in particular Rugby are so amazingly merchandised that the interiors are something to be admired all in themselves. Each time I go into a Rugby store it makes me want to take up residence, they are a combination of your grandfather's study and your boyfriends dorm room and each is unique. As well the great thing that they have done is not place a rugby store in every stinking mall in america. They have concentrated them on the geographical areas in which their target customer resides; georgetown, boston, NYC, the hamptons...

I'll stop my rant here but the jist is if you haven't gone, Go!

This all came about because I got a chance to pop into Rugby the other morning before work and spied some awesome fall finds that need to find their way into my closet ASAP! I loved this paid shirt (it was a shirt in the store not a tunic... I think) I loved the suede elbow patches, this one is a must have.

I have tons of their Rugby shirts and LOVE them they are a great for relaxing afterwork in the cold winter evenings or for out running errands on the weekends.

Loved this kilt skirt with the big kilt pin, my scottish grandmother would be so proud to see her wee lass in this

This vest is so adorable in person and I love that it is wool instead of nylon like all the other lines are carrying. Perfect for over all of my oxford button downs.

I am mad for blazers, I was the type of kid who always wanted to wear a uniform to school (damn public school) so in middle school I wore a navy blazer with all of my skirts and chino pants as a sort of self imposed uniform ( hey I am who I am don't judge me)

So I am again on the search for a great navy blazer that I can just throw on with my everyday stuff. This old Rugby one would have been perfect. I am not too keen on their new style with the tie silk repp stripe collar but it could work.

Also came across this one from Ivy Sport obviously they don't make one for my alma mater but maybe I could persuade them...

Busy Weekend!

2009-10-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

I feel like this weekend was non stop! I worked on saturday (as usual) but when I got out of work on saturday night I jetted over to Ikea because I have been dying to get a little table and chairs for our apartment so that we have somewhere to sit when we eat.

I had been eyeing the INGO table for a while it is such a steal at $70 and I can just paint it white and get some fun table cloths to spice it up.

I really wanted to find some gold ballroom chairs but didn't find any yet. So, I decided to get the Ingolf chairs to match as this is also my desk chair so if we ever need an extra they will all match. I still need to paint the table and find a cute tablecloth ( I am thinking orange?)

On sunday morning I headed over to the big TJ Maxx in Somerville that has a great Home Goods section in search of the perfect tablecloth (alas I found something that would work but I don't love it) But I did stumble on these ADORABLE navy seersucker throw pillows, I would love to get these when we finally get a couch and put a big Orange Monogram on them (If you havent noticed I am having a big orange moment right now, more to follow on that)

Stumbled on this beautiful matching set of ginger jars for only $20! I would love to have them but I have absolutely nowhere to put them so I passed

These would have been the prefect orange striped sheets that I have been searching for BUT they are flannel, YUCK! but we are on the right track!

Then pooped over to the christmas tree shop and found these adorable photo boxes after much thought I went with two of the bright colored madras like print as if goes with my desk better. I thought these were so cute they reminded me of the Boatman Geller Stationary.

Thats all for now but lots of other cute finds to post on later!

Fall Destination

2009-10-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

One of the many things that I absolutely love about living in New England is the fall. Having grown up in California where it feels like the seasons never change, I have come to love the dramatic weather changes that happen in New England. All the beautiful leaves changing, the chill in the air that makes you reach for your favorite cashmere sweater, just let you know fall has finally arrived. I think one of the most beautiful New England fall destinations is Concord, Ma. Being a historic preservation major in college I had a lot of exposure to Concord, and from the moment I made my first visit I was in love (and this is saying a lot because we went to school in Newport, RI which is breathtakingly beautiful). However, not only is concord gorgeous it is one of the single most amazingly historical places I have ever visited. I was blown away that in this small New England village quite far removed from Boston, there was such a enormous congregation of some of Americas most amazing literary minds. Emerson (a personal favorite, as I double majored in philosophy) Henry David Thoreau who wrote his famous book “Walden” about his secluded life while living in a small shack he built himself on the banks of Walden pond in Concord. Louisa May Alcott (of “Little Women” fame) as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne both resided in Concord as well. All of which are buried in Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Author’s Ridge.

This isn’t all! Minute Man National Historical Park is the site at which on Old North Bridge on April 19^th 1775 the American Colonists had their first engagement with British soldiers and what Emerson called “the shot heard round the world” was fired. As I mentioned before I am a huge history buff and setting foot on this eerily quite site where the American Colonists made their first stand was like arriving at Mecca. I could not believe that I was standing in the place where essentially America was born. It was so moving and patriotic to think that in this sleepy town basically out in the middle of nowhere one of the greatest nations in the world was stared by a few relatively peaceful farmers. I have it say it was one of the most touching moments of my life (I told you I am a history nerd…we all have our vices!)

I can honestly say I have traveled to a lot of places all over America (almost all 50 states) and spent a little bit of time in London, and still Concord remains one of the most fascinating. The fact that some of our nations most gifted literary minds have lived an died there as well as the site of the beginning of the revolutionary war simply amazes me. This really only scratches the surface of the history surrounding this area but if you ever have a chance to visit I truly recommend it, you will not be disappointed.

The Old North Bridge in Minute Man National Historical Park

Home of Ralph Waldo Emerson (like it says in the pic)

Home of Louisa May Alcott (The setting of March Home in Little Women)

The Old Manse home to Nathaniel Hawthorne

Tentative X-Mas Wish list...

2009-10-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

Since it seems that the stores are already getting ready for christmas I though it might be a good time to start composing my list for santa

Barbour Bedale Jacket

L.L. Bean Duck Shoes (these are a total necessity!)

Ikea Ektrop loveseat

(another necessity, as we currently do not have one)

I thought that the matching ottoman was really cute and love that it has some storage inside

In desperate need of a new digital camera!

Now appearing on the nightstand...

2009-10-06T07:28:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love reading, I always have, and I try to read as much as possible. Sometimes I am able to devour several books in a month other times I will go six months without any pleasure reading at all, its just how things work sometimes. However, I just finished one of the books I was dying to read this summer Elin Hilderbrand's "Castaways" this is my first Hilderbrand novel and it was awesome, the perspectives in which the story is narrated makes it a delightful read, full of mystery, intrigue, love, lust and everything in between. (Its also set on Nantucket, a personal fav!)

So keeping with that summer theme I am on to the next with Richard Russo's "That Old Cape Magic" its a little slow going but its only a mere 250 pages so I am sure it will pick up soon. After this one thought I think it might be time to take a break and spend my post workday time at the gym...

P.S. Have to love the Diet Coke on the nightstand, along with the preppy handbook. Shouldnt you start and end everyday with your favorite things!

New Obsession... Miles Fisher

2009-10-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

This one makes my heart race a little bit, a true prep!

Good ole american boy

As Jeffrey Graves in Mad Men

Rockin' Out!

OMFG, I remember seeing Miles Fisher on a recent episode of Mad Men and thinking, "that guy is so freakin' hot, totally Tom Criuse before he went crazy!" His character Jeffrey Graves was one of those uber preppy princeton boys and he had the cockiness to match. So I kinda forgot about him for a bit but upon perusing mermaid in madras the other day came upon her posting of Miles Fisher music video for his talking heads cover of "This must be the place" Boom it hit me right in the face, it was my crush from mad men... and he can sing... and he obviously has model caliber looks, this boy is a triple threat. Ohh P.S. he went to Harvard too and gave the oration for his graduating class... So our boy is also "Wicked Smat" (as the cambridge elite would say) Move over Brad Pitt and George Clooney lets put this boy on a pedestal and worship him for the god that he is.

Here are a few snaps for you to enjoy, all taken from Miles website www.milesfisher.com

Gilly Hicks Interior Design

2009-09-16T14:07:00.001-07:00

I was recently walking through the mall and had always noticed the store Gilly Hicks and knew of its ties to Abercrombie & Fitch but had never ventured inside. On this day I decided to go in and check it out. I will begin by saying that the actual items they sell there are not all that exciting but OMG the interior is by far one of the most amazing store interiors I have ever seen. (and believe me I've seen a lot) This store left me in utter amazement, I loved everything I saw the beautiful dark woods the simple but catching upholstery, the dim sensual lighting everything about this British Colonial Manor House style threw me into a tissy. The attention to detail left me in awe, I really felt as if I had walked into someone's home the leafy green and what I could only describe as burnt watermelon color palette as well as the intimate furniture arrangement are just spectacular. Immense kudos to interior designer Victoria Stuart Burke! My only criticism is that it is a shame that this masterful design is being wasted on unappreciative teeny boppers looking for skimpy thong underwear.

The pictures above do not do the store any justice if there is one in your area you must stop in and check it out for yourself.

Well are you?

TWA

Nigel

2009-09-12T19:19:00.002-07:00

I consider Nigel to be my first child. Nigel was my 1998 Land Rover Discovery that I drove during college. My friends and I had a thing for naming our cars and Nigel just seemed like a snobby, alcoholic old englishman who would not dare be caught roaming the countryside in anything other then this fine example of english craftsmanship, needless to say it stuck. We went EVERYWHERE in Nigel.

He came to be known as the rover of trust, whether we were out galavanting for the night or on our famous ODFD's driving around newport for hours on end it always seemed that we would spill our guts to one another during our drives. The rule was ANYTHING (and I mean anything) that was talked about in the rover of trust, stayed in the rover of trust. If this car could talk we would all be in some big sh*&!

Winters in Newport could get pretty rough and we used to get tons of snow days because you literally could not open the front door to get to class (isnt that why they made windows?... and land rovers) So we would pile into Nigel and head out to stock up on supplies right around midnight (the night was just getting started, I dont think we ever slumbered before 3am!) then drive around admiring the solace that the snowfall would bring to the island.

There were many a wild nights that we would pile in and head downtown for a night out then end up having to walk home and retrieve nigel in the morning. Even when our dorm burned down in college and it was certain we had lost everything the one thing I was concerned about was my nigel. I remember calling my dad the morning of the fire (it was 6am in california and crying to him that I was going to loose the land rover, of course he said who could care less at least we were ALIVE...) Being pretty much indestructable nigel survived but alas I did not have the keys to move him away from the destruction so.... I made the fire fighters go in an they had to hack the melted keys of the coffee table with an axe, but I got them and was so thankful.

The fire took quite a toll on him though and after a few months the time had come to sell him. Of course I couldn't just sell my beloved rover to just any joe schmoe off the street so instead I interviewed people. Yup they needed to prove to me that:

1) They had the same undying love for him as I did (knowing that this would be a substantial financial undertaking testing your patience and pocketbook)

2) They would not just sell him for the parts, but that they would indeed restore him.

3) They had to call him Nigel...

after a few very unworthy candidates one finally called and I put him through the ringer, he proved more then worthy and after meeting and talking for about 2 hours I knew he was the new owner, he bought my Nigel right there on the spot without ever even driving him.

There isn't nearly enough room here to post on all our nigel adventures but the memories will always be in our hearts, and hopefully someday I will either get him back or find the perfect substitute.

Well are you?

TWA

Preppy Handbook

2009-09-12T19:06:00.001-07:00

Growing up in california I didn't have too much exposure to the preppy world. It was just the style I was always drawn to and believe me I caught a lot of flack for it (why is your collar ALWAYS popped?) However, I ended up surrounding myself with people from the east coast that were more like me. My best friends mother was the first person to show me the preppy handbook and when she dug it out of the attic I devoured it for hours. Even though it is a tongue in cheek parody there is still lots of good stuff there, and it confirmed to me that yes, I am a preppy. From that day on I begged my parents to send me to boarding school (which was totally unheard of in our neck of the woods) but alas my dreams never came true and I had to wait until college to really spread my preppy little wings (you can bet your bottom dollar though, my little ones will be packing their bags at 14 and heading off to the hallowed halls of academia). However, I somehow seemed to make it 24 years of preppydom without owning my very own copy of the preppy handbook. Well for my birthday this summer I was so surprised to receive from my best friend, her mothers vintage copy, the one she had shown me when I was 14 and had lusted after ever since. Upon receipt it has somehow ended up living on my night stand which makes everyone who comes for a visit groan and say "omg you treat that thing like it is the bible or something" haha its not intentional, sometimes these things just happen. ANYWAYS... after thoroughly devouring its contents again this summer I came to the conclusion that we are in dire need of a sequel or updated version to this magnificent work. While I do agree that the charm of this publication comes from its authentic 80's context, the modern prep could certainly use a contemporary guide. Maybe we can badger Lisa into it? Here's hoping!

Well are you?

TWA

Well are you?

2009-09-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

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I believe that some people are just born with their collar popped a penchant for sporting their initials, a love for jack rogers, and a pair of pearls around their neck. A true prep is just born that way because they have never thought of themselves any other way. Being a prep does not require the attendance of prep school, or a family member with a ticket on the mayflower (but they do help) it is simply the lifestyle you are most comfortable with. After having joyously read so many other "preppy blogs" I struggled with wanting to put my own preppy little thoughts out there in cyberspace (who is really going to give two hoots what I have to say?) but I decided why not give it a try what can it hurt. So after lots of thought on what the title my blog (Dont we all judge a book by its cover? I mean if you can't come up with a meaningful title why even bother) I was inspired by one of my favorite blogs, Summer is a verb (see what I mean, genius!) posts one day in which allie posted this great vintage poster by Tom Shadyac, and it just came to me that was it, I knew exactly what I wanted to call my blog and it all just came together in my mind. So I am so excited and I hope you will enjoy!