back up and running...

We've survived this crazy Nor' Easter! We were lucky to escape with just the loss of phone, cable and internet for a couple of days while most of our neighbors have lost power as well. Our town's schools are closed until Wednesday as are those in towns surrounding us. It's so bizarre, and yet so exquisitely beautiful, to see the bright, red, orange and yellow leaves poking out beneath the thick white blanket of snow. Snow in October! Have you ever heard of such insanity?

My kids are all concerned because, gasp, they'll have to Trick of Treat in their snow boots tonight. Well, Mother Nature, nice Halloween Trick you played on us! As always my camera was by my side... as much as I had to admit it, the snow was lovely.

The day after tomorrow the temperatures are supposed to climb back into the 60s. Welcome to New England!

Jessica

New York, to that tall skyline I come...

Of All days we picked today to reconvene and have lunch. The city is spectacular this time of year. Autumn in New York is magnificent. Unless it happens to be raining monsoon-like rains! I'm braced with my raincoat (Kenneth Cole black with silver faux fur collar) and my black boots (Nine West but look fancy designerish) and my collapsible Burberry umbrella that I will keep wrapped in a plastic shopping bag inside my black patent leather bag for safekeeping when not in use.) I'm ready with plenty of green in my wallet to keep this girl dry. Ordinarily public transportation is not even a fleeting thought but I really don't want the rain to mess with my hair so this girl will be cabbing it today. In my bag I have my iPhone, my dog-eared copy of  Up at the Villa by Somerset Maughm, my agenda (I prefer paper to iPhone for this) a few pens, lipstick, lip-gloss, some make up for touch-up, a few mints to suck on, a bottle of water, some Kleenex and my sunglasses just in case I'll need them. That last item is wishful thinking, I know!

Where am I going you want to know? Well, I'll be headed to Fred's Restaurant at Barney's.

And I've been pondering over the menu, wondering what on earth I will have... everything looks so good!

It all looks marvelous, does it not? I'll most likely be getting a salad...perhaps the Nicoise...

Who will I be joining? I'll be joining the same group of lovely ladies I lunched with a Bergdorf's last Spring. Liz Lange and her sister Jane Wagman of Shopafrolic will be there, as will Stacy of Quintessence, PR Guru and Ridgely's Rader blogger Ridgely Brode, this time we have the pleasure of being joined by stylist Kelley Moore, PR maven Ruth of the Fashion Office... do I have everyone? Have I unintentionally left someone out? Forgive me, please, if I have! I must be off now to wash my hair and check my train schedules. I'll be taking plenty of pictures and if you're a Tweeter I'll be Tweeting out some pictures as well! Look for my Tweets starting at Noonish!

Have a great Thursday and to my East Coast friends, please stay dry!

Jessica

What's your style?

I most definitely have my own unique sense of style. I like comfort and elegance. I like class and sophistication with a dash of whimsy. I am always put together but I don't take myself too seriously... this season I am mad about the animal print and the faux furs. I've always loved a splash of color. In the daytime I much prefer to dress up a pair of jeans. In the evening a little cocktail dress that I can bejewel is fantastic. You'll notice on each of my looks you'll see pearls in some form. I wear some sort of pearls every day. Everysingleday! I don't think you need a lot of money to have style and grace, and there's nothing quite like the thrill of finding my look for less. My look can be very expensive you see, and I don't even have the budget to look at my look, let alone wear it! So recently I rediscovered Polyvore and oh what fun I have been having. It's like Christmas has come early this year! I've created some fun outfits that I would wear right this very moment if I could. In creating them I've spared no dime. You'll see Christian Louboutain shoes next to a $20 Top Shop ring. That's my style! If only these URL delights would magically appear IRL... In the meantime, I'll go back to being 10 and pretend that I am a stylist and a fashion designer in my pastel bedroom... My 13 year old even has her own a Polyvore account!

Below are a couple of outfits I created over the weekend. These are, and you'll agree if you know me IRL, unequivocally, completely, positively, me!

How would you describe my sense of style?



A splash of red...

Animal Instincts...

Black and Cheetah...

Leather and Pearls...

Black & White...

How would you describe my style?
How would you describe your style?

Jessica xoxo

get Spirited... Halloween's just around the corner!

Halloween is just around the corner and admittedly we have nary a pumpkin in sight. I like to keep in the spirit and fun of the holiday but with as little fuss as possible. I'm simplistic and a minimalist when it comes to adding seasonal touches to my home. Christmas is the only exception to my rule. I like the way simple looks and since I like to create things myself but have limited amounts of time I'm always on the search for little ideas that pack a big wow factor. The following ideas and images inspired me for their fun, whimsy and simplicity.

I love the idea of placing the pumpkins, stacked on top of one another in my fireplace. I think a very similar effect can be created with pumpkins and candles without even having to carve the flames - though it is a fun effect. I also think an arrangement of white pumpkins and white candles would be a sophisticated, elegant and easy alternative.

image via Country Living

I love the simple Jack o'Lantern placed inside the glass jar... add some baked goods on elegant dishes and your table is festive, fun and without a lot of time and effort.

image via Country Living

Again, the arrangement on the buffet is simple, effortless and effective.

These stairs are a perfect example of simple meets whimsy. The mice are simply decals attached to the stairs. Nothing is more simple than the word Halloween hand written on some elegant white pumpkins. If you have a small budget, you could cluster three pumpkins together at the bottom of the stairs and simply write "boo" on them. This would be just as effective.

image via Pinterest

These Jack o'Lantern clementines may just be my favorite find! I love the simplicity of this idea and I love the idea of making a healthy treat festive. I'm bringing snacks in for Halloween parties at school. I was trying really hard to stay away from the junk and I think this is something that my kids of all ages would love!

image via Midwestliving.com

Of course Halloween parties need some sweetness to them. So you're not a baker, or a cake decorator, or perhaps you are but you don't have or really want to spend the time on something labor intensive. These cupcakes are cute, fun, simple and festive!

image via Martha Stewart

We all have leftover plastic Easter eggs at home. What a fun way to recycle them into something creative. (Directions on the Martha Stewart website) These make cute class gifts or party favors.

image via Martha Stewart

This has to be one of my all-time favorite ideas. The Jack o'Lantern balloons can't be more simple to make ... a black Sharpie, some orange balloons et voila!

image via Martha Stewart

I think these are perhaps my best find this year! How clever of Martha. Again, this is so simple. A few small pumpkins, some inexpensive, plastic, vampire teeth and some red pushpins will make your Halloween a hilarious one!

Tissue paper lined votives will add more whimsy to your Halloween home!

image via Martha Stewart

This is a project you can get the kids involved with. Create scary faces using potatoes or apples and let the kids stamp them onto brown or Halloween colored bags stuffed with fun bite-sized treats!

image via Swanky-chic-fete.blogspot

I loved these brightly colored white chocolate covered pretzels!

Another all-time favorite! To make enough of these for a crowd, and a simpler version of Martha's, draw faces on some disposable plastics cups with a Sharpie. The effect is very much the same and the effort level is much less!

via Taste of Home

These spooky strawberries couldn't be any more adorable! Or easier! Simply dip your strawberry in white chocolate and then using a pastry bag fitted with a small tip use melted chocolate or chocolate frosting to draw on the faces.

image via Tumblr

A most egg-cellent idea! My boys love devilled eggs and they love olives as well. What a great after school snack idea!

Ok, maybe this idea is not so simple... but they are beautiful!

image via Martha Stewart

Another fun, simple and creative idea that required little time and effort for a maximum result. Place a glow stick inside a white, green or orange balloon and, using a Sharpie, draw on your spooky faces!

If you're not already in the Spirit of things, I hope this helped! A fabulous Sunday is expected here in Southern Connecticut. A perfect day to visit the apple orchard and the pumpkin patch!

xoxo

Jessica

Fashion Flashback...You've got the look!

I saw this on television this morning... did I have to rub my eyes? Was this really for real or was I in the midst of some terrible sleep-deprived induced flashback?

Will Sergio and Gloria resurface too?

Have a great weekend!

XOXO

Jessica

just watch me!

i hadn't intended to write a blog post today, but I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and, well, i knew i had to share it with you all!

Here's to us all...

happy hump day!

xoxo

Jessica

Mother reads my blog

Yesterday afternoon I received an email from her regarding that day's story.
In the Subject field she wrote: Too late
In the message area she said: I don't think there's room in your closet...

Hilarious!
Mom I can always make room :)

If you didn't see yesterday's post just scroll down a little to see the humor in her email!

Jessica

Fur... from runway to street to home

I remember when my father gave my mother her fur coat. It was black. Mink. The softest thing I had ever seen or felt. Her coat was reversible. During the cold, winter months she would wear her coat to work, as I would refer to it, inside out, so that the fur was against her skin, keeping her warm during some of New York City's coldest days. She walked to work. Always. With her coat she was protected from the mighty winds that one would easily imagine knocking her off her feet. (My mother is a tiny person.) It would take a storm of serious nature to keep her from her walk nearly a mile away.

My parents had a wonderful social life when we lived in the city. A young girl, I remember sitting with my mother has she dressed in her fancy clothes, put on her makeup, her jewelry, and, in the winter months, her fur coat. For dressier affairs she turned her coat fur side out. She looked so glamourous to me as  she walked out of the apartment with my father dressed in his tuxedo. His coat was Paul Stuart. Always Paul Stuart. Funny how I remember that...

A few years ago my mother brought the coat to me. It was a gift if I wanted it. I tried it on and stood in front of the mirror. As much as I loved it, it didn't feel like me. I didn't look glamourous in it. I didn't have cocktail parties and galas and openings to attend. It was comfortable, wonderfully so and I too preferred to wear it inside out. I kept it for a while. Wore it for a while. I always wore it inside out. But it didn't feel like me. I felt too young to be wearing it. And the sleeves, at the shoulders, were a little dated. Maybe I'd wear the coat later, when I grow up, I thought.

My mother asked about the coat one day and I admitted to the fact that it spent more time in the closet than on me. I had two young children, after all. The coat didn't match my lifestyle at the time. She asked if she could take it back. She'd have the shoulders reworked and she did. And she kept her coat. Now I like it! Maybe she'll give it back to me one day... When I grow up, that is!

image via Google

Fur was not always worn by all. It represented wealth and luxury. This is no longer the case with the wonderful faux variations out there. Fur has made a comeback both on the streets as well as in our homes. The soft material can be seen gracing the pages of both decor as well as fashion magazines. Instead of representing almost unattainable wealth, today's fur and fur styles evoke a feeling of stylish comfort. Today's fur styles are chic and, hip and sophisticate. They are worn by our youthful as well as our more mature women. Today's furs are not tucked away in the back of the closet, saved only for the special party or special event. Today's furs can be worn both casually and formally. And in the home, these wonderfully fun fur accessories are an elegant way to invite you inside to cozy up. Fur is another example, this season, of how fashion comes off the street and into our homes.

 images found via Pinterest