sunshine daydreamin'

Quote of the Day

2011-04-29T09:16:00.001-04:00

With the possible exception of books, I love music more than I love anything in my life that is not a person or a dog.

Things you might like

2011-04-12T10:53:00.004-04:00

I refuse to start another blog post apologizing for how long it's been since either of us have posted, so let me instead cut right to the chase and recommend some stuff that you might enjoy:

1) The Killing on AMC is pretty good. I tried watching a couple of AMC's other apparently great shows (Mad Men and Rubicon) and couldn't really get into either one, but E and I have taken to this one. The show's really dark and a little heavy on the ooooh-scary music, but it works. And don't tell E I said this, but it's a lot more interesting than any of the Real Housewives series, except for the one with NeNe.

2) Ian McEwan is a really good writer. You should read Enduring Love and Saturday. I'm in the middle of The Innocent, which I think is about to get awesome. There's just something amazing about the way the guy can both tell a gripping story and write the prettiest sentences you've ever read. Try this one, from Saturday:

There's a taste in the air, sweet and vaguely antiseptic, that reminds him of his teenage years in these streets, and of a general state of longing, a hunger for life to begin that from this distance seems like happiness.

3) Driving around with your windows down. I like to do it while listening to my new pretty-much-favorite album, but you can listen to whatever you want. This morning I tried it out with some old Louis Armstrong Hot Fives/Hot Sevens stuff I burned a while ago, and it worked nicely.

4) Not having a whole lot of pressing and stressful stuff to deal with. It makes it nice to just hang out with the ones you love. And really, that's the most important thing. If you're reading a blog to tell you that, though, there might be some things you need to think about, right?

Readers, are you still there?

2011-01-30T14:04:00.010-05:00

We're baaack! We apologize for the lack of posts over the last few months (sorry, Mom ;). Not too much and a lot to report all at the same time. Hey, we're newlyweds...give us a break!

What better way to kick off 2011 than with a recap of our weekend in the Hamptons this past fall!

dinner at Nick and Toni's

J's next car...

dinner and drinks at Southampton Publick House
time to go! we heart the hamptons during the off season XO

Happy Thanksgiving...

2010-11-23T16:47:00.003-05:00

...from our family, to yours. XO

This really is my favorite time of the year. I don't even mind it being dark at 4:30 in the afternoon. It's the coziest time of day. I'm at home right now, with my Hazelnut Yankee Candle burning, a load of laundry in the washing machine while I watch Nate, Bodhi is taking a little nap, and we're waiting for J to get home so we can go out to our favorite restaurant, the local Chinese joint.

With the impending holiday, I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I'm really thankful for this year. A lot of amazing things have happened in our family over the last year and I think, at least this is true for me, I never step back and realize how incredibly lucky I am. Everyone has stress in their life, it's only natural. But at the end of the day, I have the most amazing family who support me 100% and have always been my best friends. I have a close knit group of friends that I love and were there to make everything easier and a lot more fun during the wedding planning, and I know we'll be friends for a lifetime. Above all, I have J and B and there's a lot of love, respect, and support in our tiny family. There's something really great about knowing you have a partner in crime to spend the rest of your life with. Things in our life are in limbo right now (i.e. moving, jobs, etc) but I know it will be okay. Actually, it will be more than okay. I have a pretty good feeling that things for us are going to be fantastic....and that's something special to be thankful for.

IT'S HERE!!!

2010-11-16T17:48:00.001-05:00

Our wedding slideshow is up and running and is AMAZING!!! All pictures were shot by the fantastic photographer Kris Rupp. Can't wait to see the rest of the photos!

http://www.krisrupp.com/slideshow/EricaJeffWeddingDay/

Goodbye, songs

2010-11-12T10:08:00.004-05:00

I've commented on this piece before, back when we were shackin' up and I had to edit my media collection, but it's back on my mind now. Without getting into the nerdy details, basically what has happened is this:

1. Back in March, I sat on my old iPod and broke it.
2. I also needed a new cell phone.
3. I spent way too much time trying to figure out if a smartphone was a good idea for me (I need calendar access for arranging tutoring jobs, so as to avoid embarrassing scheduling mistakes), then decided it was stupidly expensive.
4. E and I decided the best move would be to buy an iPod Touch, which does everything I need it to do.
5. I had to upgrade the operating system on my seven-year-old computer to make the iPod work.
6. Somewhere in there, my external hard drive, on which was stored my 90GB of music I'd been collecting, decided it was tired of working and would just stop.

This week has been really frustrating for me--I've spent way too many hours trying to first fix the hard drive, then reformat the hard drive, then reload my collection onto it. Now it's Friday and I've got an iPod with no songs on it and no way to get the songs I have--on CD--onto it. So much for convenience.

But I found myself thinking about that Llewellyn Hinkes essay over and over this week, especially his thoughts about how the digital versions of the stuff we have are so fragile and, ultimately, meaningless:

Having something like this stored digitally, where a single hard drive failure can destroy years of hoarding in an instant, is frightening. It’s as if mother-destroyer can enter your house at any moment, chop off the super-ego, and then throw it in the garbage. For a time, I hoarded gobs and gobs of mp3s of obscure psychedelic music: Japanese-Brazilian lounge albums, avant-garde noise compositions, anything by Gary Wilson. Then one day, I saw it all disappear.

I've been a music packrat for as long as I can remember, pretty much. If I liked an album by a band, I was always the guy who wanted to a)know and b) hear everything else by that band. It got to the point where the 25-year-old me would hang on to a crappy late-period Nine Inch Nails CD because their first album was a favorite of mine when I was 16. Enough already, though. I am ready to edit the last parts of that stuff out. Because you know what? In this digital age, if I ever really need to hear a song again, there are ways to make it happen. It's time to be a grownup (and not a minor character from High Fidelity) and only hold on to the CDs and songs I know I want to hear on a fairly regular basis. The old favorites, the gold standards, and the new treasures, dig? I'm thinking now about how I'm going to get the music I really, genuinely want to listen to a lot onto the internal hard drive of my computer (digital files are where it's at for convenience, especially now that my car's stereo has become destructive and E's folks got me one of those iPod FM transmitter contraptions for my birthday).

To do that, though, I need to clear off some space. The hard drive is full of a bunch of old things I don't need or use anymore--archiving software, multiple copies of grad school assignments, raw recordings of band practices--that will give me absolutely no regrets when I get rid of them. I also have a lot of photos on there, though--I was using the external drive to back them up, but now that that's gone, I need a more reliable system for the time being. We'll be getting a new computer when we move, so that's fine, but I think for now I want to edit the photos that are worth saving (I tend to take a few of each shot, with the intention of only keeping the best, but that self-editing doesn't happen as often as it should), burn the good ones onto CDs, upload them to Shutterfly, and see if I can take advantage of one of their deals on lots of prints.

I know a lot of the readers of this blog are really into decorating and physical stuff--am I missing anything in my thinking that would keep me from doing something really dumb? I want to get this process going ASAP, but I also want to do it right.

Happy Wife, Happy Life

2010-11-11T08:01:00.003-05:00

If you are someone who loves to decorate, look for the next bargain, spend countless hours walking around HomeGoods, redecorate more often than you want to admit, and STILL have someone that supports you, this post if for you! This was written by a husband of a designer's blog. Number 6 is my favorite :)

With this in mind I thought I would give you my two cents on how to be happily married to a designer or to someone who wants their house to look nice. For those of you who are married I thought maybe you can share this with your spouse:

1. Don’t get attached to anything….furniture, prints, paint color, etc.

2. Don’t ask why every lamp in the house is on….and don’t start talking about the peaks in the electricity bill when all the lights are on.

3. Pillows are not for comfort…….if the pillows on the couch are strategically placed, chopped in the middle and fluffed - Sit on the floor!

4. If she asks do you notice anything different?… First look at her hair, then start looking at the wall for new pictures or paint color…. Or in my case, I ask my six-year-old because he is much more observant than I am.

5. If she needs help drawing straight lines, don’t just eyeball it and use a pen to mark on the wall… get a long level and use a pencil…..lesson learned.

6. If she is intently staring at a blank wall, don’t make any plans for the weekend.

7. Be prepared to go anywhere at anytime to retrieve a great Goodwill or Craigslist find and don’t question how ugly it is. You might also want to take some security with you. You should see some of the places Emily has sent me for a bargain.

8. Don’t just invite people into your house without having at a minimum a weeks notice….not even the guys.

9. A garage is not for parking. It’s for goodwill and craigslist finds that need to be sanded and painted.

10. Just go with it…whatever color, whatever frame, whatever idea….because it will again change sometime in the near future.

House Hunting

2010-11-10T07:30:00.001-05:00

J and I are on the hunt for our first home. Not looking too seriously yet, but we've been doing a lot of research and looking into different towns. We want a place new to both of us, where we can explore and learn the town together. We're working with a few different realtors and I'm the one that's going through the listings and sorting out the good and the bad. J trusts me; luckily we have similar taste. We both want something on the older side, a house with great details and charm. Some of my favorites in the past week have been:

this 1740's farmhouse is my hands down favorite.

the shape of this house is so unique! loving all the windows
I'm a sucker for a great porch
J and I may have done a "drive by" of this one. Just sayin' ;)

For all the homeowners out there, how did you know when you found "the one"?

2010-11-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

I found this little guy in my inbox today. So cute, right? Thanks JCW xoxo

Ivy + Piper

2010-11-09T13:04:00.002-05:00

The new online magazine put out by Ivy + Piper is a-mazing. I oooohed and aaaahed over every. single.page. I guess those 54230 other things I need to do right about now will have to wait ;)

Here's a sneak peek, but you definitely must check it our for yourself!
my latest obsession, one can never have enough blue & white porcelain jars

the two pillows on the right almost match the ones we currently have!

Happy reading!
xo, E

Kitchen Inspiration

2010-11-07T12:33:00.004-05:00

This morning, I found the most beautiful kitchen on one of my daily blogs. This photo will definitely go in my inspiration folder. J and I bought ourselves a complete set of blue and white dishes to go in to our next home. But there's a huge part of me that wants to take them out now! This kitchen is so clean and pretty and exactly how I imagine ours to look. (sigh). A girl can dream..

It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-11-05T09:45:00.002-04:00

Here's something you may not know about me. I LOVE Christmas. I love the music. I love the decorations. I love no matter how cold it is outside, the air seems to be filled with love.

The only problem? I'm Jewish. I know, I know. Something weird happened along the way. J is still trying to get used to all the twinkly lights and holiday decorations I put up in December. But seriously, how amazing are these blue and white stockings from plumcushion? I think they would be the right balance between for us....because, hey, it's hard to be a Jew on Xmas ;)

kate spade

2010-10-29T14:35:00.003-04:00

Love everything kate designs! That's why it was no surprise when my "something blue" at the wedding was this GORGEOUS necklace.

kate spade faceted stone necklace

And check out this latest interview with her husband, Andy, at their house in Southampton. Timeless style: http://www.plumtv.com/videos/andy-and-kate-spade-southampton-home/index.html

A Day in Pictures

2010-10-20T17:33:00.011-04:00

How can you possibly describe the most amazing day of your life? Every time I sit down and try, I just hit a wall. So many emotions were had and so many memories were made on September 25, 2010. J and I began the next chapter of our lives and we were surrounded by all our friends and family. And boy, do they all know how to par-tay! Love them all...and most of all, love EWJ. Here's a sneak peek at our day:

My ladies in their lovely LulaKate dresses!

LOVE.

Is that a Jimmy Choo shoe I see?? :)

Tres amazing!
"I never thought I could have it so good,
you were the song that my soul understood."

So...

2010-10-11T10:04:00.003-04:00

...it's hard to believe that our wedding has come and gone. All the hard work deciding what we wanted (okay, that was mostly done through E's magic binder) and figuring out how we'd make what we wanted happen (lots of phone calls, emails, and trips back and forth over the George Washington Bridge) paid off. And despite all our kidding around that we'd have nothing to talk about once the planning was over, we're definitely enjoying being able to "relax" a little now.
I put "relax" in quotes because that's not something that either of us are especially good at. We got away to Woodstock for a couple of days right after the wedding, but came back and hit the ground running. Fall is high season for tutoring around these parts, so we've both been really busy (and it's only going to get worse when my SAT classes start in December). However, I'm happier than I can even explain that we've been able to find time to just kind of chill out. Whether it's been marathon sessions at the dog park with Bodhi or eating a nice Sunday morning breakfast together, downshifting has been fantastic. Of course, I'm writing this with one foot out the door--I have to return my rental tux from the wedding we went to this weekend before meeting one of my tutoring clients for a hectic college essay session, then we're heading out for a crazy afternoon. But that's been our life together since last May, if not before, and it's something we can do.
Eventually, when we have our pictures and video from our wedding, I'll want to relive the day and remember all the hard work we put into it. But right now, I'm loving being done with one big project and getting ready for the next. The rest of our life together begins pretty much now.

Cowhide Rugs

2010-08-23T20:06:00.004-04:00

What I'm lusting after this week...cowhide rugs!

Femmegems on Greenwich Avenue

I wanna rock and roll all night...

2010-08-20T17:57:00.000-04:00

...and party every day!

Uncasville Rock City

2010-08-20T14:23:00.003-04:00

So yesterday, I took E on her mystery birthday trip. My plan was to go to Mohegan Sun, win our entire wedding budget back, and have a nice steak dinner at Michael Jordan's before heading back. I'd neglected to see what was actually happening at the casino before I made our reservation, so what we found ourselves in the the middle of yesterday came as a total surprise to both of us.
Let me say this first: I have nothing against KISS or KISS's fans, except that I totally don't get it. And it took a few minutes for me to connect the seemingly-random sightings we had of people of all ages in KISS makeup to the presence, at Mohegan Sun, of a large arena that hosts a ton of concerts. So, when we were just wandering around the casino taking a break from losing money on the slots, we wandered into the middle of an area filled with KISS fans (and impersonators--E, you need to post that photo), I guess I was a little slower than the average bear at figuring out that KISS would be playing there that night.
The night got better, though. After a lot of really good meat at Michael Jordan's, we again found ourselves in the area outside the arena. This time, there was a huge crowd gathered and a couple of TV cameras and big lights overhead. If you, like E, had asked me what was going on, I would have guessed that they were shooting a commercial or a scene from a movie. Even asking a couple of guys standing around yielded no answers. Finally, a guy decked out in KISS regalia told us that the band was going to come out right before they took the stage and accept their star on the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame.
Awesome.
We waited around for a few minutes and, as promised, the four members of KISS came out to accept their honor. And you know what? We both thought that they seemed like really nice guys, funny and about as self-effacing as you could expect anyone to be in their full rock-star costumes. It definitely was a fun surprise, though it really didn't make me want to listen to them any more than I already do (I like one and a half of their songs--"Detroit Rock City" and "Beth," respectively).
Afterward, we went down to the Wolf Den, which is a bar with free live music every night--mostly cover and tribute bands, but occasionally people like MC Hammer or 10,000 Maniacs, whose careers have kind of left them behind. Last night's show was part of the "Classic Albums Live" series, in this instance a pretty hot reggae band doing Bob Marley's Legend in its entirety. It certainly wasn't KISS, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, either.

This could have been the day...

2010-08-14T09:17:00.003-04:00

It's kind of an odd feeling waking up on the morning that you were originally supposed to get married, especially when it's a year to the day that you made the doubtlessly wise decision to drop the venue because their sales and business staffs were being a little shady. But they were right about one thing: The weather around these parts is absolutely perfect today, and if we were going to have a beach wedding, this would have been the kind of day we'd've hoped for.
Whatever, though. Our wedding is six weeks from today, and I can't be happier or more excited about any of it. Today, we're picking up my suit (even though it was kind of a custom job, they were able to get it done a week before it was promised) and, hopefully, order my wedding band. Luckily, I'm a simple guy with simple tastes, and it should be pretty easy to find a plain gold band that doesn't make my hand look too little. That's really all I'm looking for.

Wedding Wednesday!

2010-08-11T12:45:00.005-04:00

Hey friends! Both J and I have been super MIA from the blogging world lately. The last few weeks have been filled with food tastings, dress fittings, bachelor/ette parties, and last minute plans. Only 45 days to go, can you believe it?! RSVP's are rolling in and we find ourselves running to the box every afternoon. I can not wait to spend September 25th with all my family, friends and loved ones. We're so lucky to have such amazing people in our lives.
J finally ordered his suit! This was a big one to check off the "to-do" list. We opted for the custom made program that Brooks Brothers offers. He is going to look o so handsome the day of. We had a little bit of scare with the ties though. Turns out that we only bought 4..and guess who we forgot about?? THE GROOM!! So we had to contact the Vineyard Vines corporate office and they had to track down the last tie of our kind in production. J is keeping that one from himself, it's our lucky charm :)

My bridal party have their dresses and they are FAB. Lulakate makes a great product and I would definitely recommend their dresses to any brides out there. I have part of the bridal party gifts ready to go (ssssh! it's a secret until our bbq this weekend), but I'm still looking for the second part that will be worn on our wedding day.

We picked our wedding rings and hello, I am so excited to get that baby on my finger. I didn't think it was possible to find something prettier than my engagement ring, but the wedding and engagement ring combo is so gorgeous and I'm in platinum/vintage paradise.

And on that note, I must get back to my to list of 24103120 things to do. When all is said and done, I know September 25th will be one of the best days of my life and I can't wait to become EIW.

Hope you're all having a fantastic summer!
xo,
E

One year ago...

2010-07-25T17:37:00.002-04:00

...this guy came into our life.

:)

2010-07-23T09:40:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read that correctly. We're inviting Barack and Michelle Obama to our wedding :) Because, hey, why not?

PS. Don't the envelopes look superb?? Love. love. love!

Invitations!!

2010-07-20T12:04:00.003-04:00

Our invitations should be arriving today!! I can not wait to see what they look like. For anyone getting married, I would absolutely recommend Michele over at Blush Paperie. She was amazing to work with and her designs are so original and unlike anything else we saw. Blush Paperie can also print place cards, programs, etc. One stop shopping for brides!

Our 4th

2010-07-12T09:43:00.008-04:00

We had an absolutely fantastic holiday weekend. Up next? Dave Matthews show at Citi Field this weekend with a bunch of our buddies :)

Getting away from it all

2010-07-01T15:23:00.002-04:00

That's the idea for this weekend. We're heading up to Maine--it's not quite the middle of nowhere, but at least it's not the middle of here. No computers. No internet. I don't want to carry my phone around. Just me and E. The puppy's going to camp, too--we found a great place for him around here where he'll get to play something like eight hours a day with up to fifteen other dogs. It'll be like living at the dog park, which he'd love too.

It's nice around here, I guess--summers in our part of the world can be great, and you can't beat the easy beach access--but it's just feeling so small recently. There hasn't been anything too new and exciting, and I think we're both ready for a quick change of scenery. So Maine it is, and (hopefully) after just a few hours in the car, we'll be there...

Wave that Flag

2010-06-30T19:40:00.005-04:00

Happy (almost) 4th! Summer is flying by--only 87 days until the wedding--and summer classes start next week (eek!). I'm loving and enjoying every minute of this summer. Gym in the mornings, afternoons at the beach. I've read so many fantastic books so far, seen so much great live music and spent time with the people I love...it makes me so happy :)
We're off to Maine for the 4th of July weekend. Where's everyone spending theirs?

Thought of the Day

2010-06-21T10:46:00.001-04:00

Bridal Shower

2010-06-09T19:58:00.005-04:00

Here are a few pictures from my uber special bridal shower this past weekend. Everything turned out perfectly! (This post is coming at ya from my brand new netbook! Loving this on the go gadget..)

End of a Chapter

2010-06-08T09:25:00.002-04:00

Today's the last day of my teaching program. It's a bittersweet day for sure. I started three years ago, having just moved back to Connecticut from Boston--about to start on my Masters of Elementary Education and not knowing what to expect. Since then, I've made a home for myself in this area. I met J, fell in love, made some great friends, got engaged, made a name for my jewelry company, moved into our new apartment, got my own little puppy and about to get married and get my Masters degree.

I'm not sure where the future will lead me professionally, but I'm going to take it one day at a time. Enjoy my summer, ace my summer classes, spend time with friends and family, and just embrace each day for what it is. I know if I do, everything else will simply fall into place.

Mason Jars

2010-06-02T10:28:00.005-04:00

I stopped off yesterday afternoon and picked up 12 mason jars for 7 bucks. I think they will be beautiful vases for the fresh picked peonies at the shower. And for only $7? Yes, please!

One More Week....

2010-05-29T13:55:00.006-04:00

..until my Bridal Shower! We went to the restaurant this morning to check on things and everything is ready to go. Am I crazy to be so hands on with my own shower? Possibly. But I love parties and couldn't imagine not being able to get creative with this special one. Still working on the pom poms, and the favors are about to ready to go. Ladies, you will totally love the favors. Close to my heart and just so "me"...can't wait to hand them out to all my special guests.

I also love the venue. Right in the heart of Old Greenwich, about a mile from the beach. Pure heaven.

Getting so, so excited for my pink and green fiesta!

Friday Must Have

2010-05-28T10:35:00.004-04:00

Just read about this t-shirt on Hopsy's blog. Another amazing blogger that I follow, Annechovie, created the design. How cute is the trunk up elephant?!

I'm loving that the proceeds go to a great cause:

"Our shirt proceeds will be donated to the Arushi Girls Shelter in Gurgaon. It houses over 47 girls and is run by the Salaam Balaak Trust. "

Sis Boom

2010-05-26T14:30:00.005-04:00

A picture of fabric designer (...and crafty superstar!), Jennifer Paganelli, sporting jewelry without jewels at her home during the Sis Boom Trunk Show.

Thought of the Day :)

2010-05-26T10:38:00.002-04:00

Sex and the City 2

2010-05-25T12:12:00.003-04:00

The ladies looked fab at last night's NYC premiere! I loved the first movie and can't wait to see the second one. Going to catch it on Thursday night with some of the gals :)

Anyone else seeing it on opening day?

Countdown!

2010-05-24T21:24:00.004-04:00

With less than 2 weeks until my bridal shower, I've been uber busy with all the last minute details. Tonight I was busy pom-pomming. They are adorable and will look great in the room, but definitely not as easy as one would think!

Apologies for being MIA. Ahh the life of a bride :)

Grateful

2010-05-05T20:02:00.002-04:00

A little wedding treat!

2010-05-05T09:52:00.006-04:00

We treated ourselves to a little pre-wedding present this past weekend. The rule? We can only use them once we move into our new house :) I'm already daydreaming about what the rest of the place will look like...

Les Fleurs

2010-04-29T15:00:00.001-04:00

We recently found out that the idea of peonies for our September wedding isn't really practical. If we want them, we have to ship them from Holland. $.

Still waiting to hear back from our florist (who also happens to be one of my best friends' mom) and see what she says. So I've started looking for backup ideas and I think I'm loving pink hydrangeas. It will give the look of a full and bushy bouquet (just like the peonies) and I think they make such a statement. I love that we're doing hot pink against the bridal party's navy blue dresses. What a great pop of color! What do you all think?

A Year Later

2010-04-29T08:45:00.002-04:00

A year ago this Saturday, JCW surprised me with a proposal and an after party filled with our friends and family that would have knocked anyone's socks off. I can not believe how quickly this year has flown by. It's been filled with its ups and its downs, but it has made the two of us stronger and we've learned so much about each other. In 5 months I will become a "Mrs." and I couldn't be more excited. In honor of May 2nd--we're heading into the city this weekend to see the new Picasso exhibit at the Met and then checking out a couple of the street fairs.

I can't wait to get my hands on these.

2010-04-28T09:34:00.006-04:00

Written by Robert and Courtney and Robert Novogratz of my new favorite reality show, 9 by Design. I mean, c'mon, these two have 7 kids and still have time to shop for ultra cool finds and design amazing apartments in the city? If only I had the motivation these two have. Saw this book at Homegoods a few weeks ago and now kicking myself for not getting it!

No words--just love. Run to B&N and read this one right away!

I haven't seen this one yet, but according to a few articles online it looks right up my alley. Anyone that knows me knows that I love a good bargain esp. when it comes to decorating. In fact, I'm counting down the days til the Far Hills Rummage Sale. I try to make it there at least once a year and stock up on frames, baskets, and whatever other goodies I can get my hands on. All for next to nothing!

the 19th

2010-04-19T10:03:00.005-04:00

It's the 19th and you know what that means...E & J day! And this morning I was surprised with the best card and a 2 year subscription to Traditional Home. Don't you just love this month's cover?
Gracias, love..

and the winner is...

2010-04-06T09:49:00.004-04:00

Gracias to all who entered our Spring Bling giveaway! I just randomly picked our winner (names in a basket, etc. etc.) and the winner is...

drumroll please...

Entertaining Mom!
Congrats :)

PS. Beth, maybe a fair trade of a copy of Social Climbers for a jwj necklace? ;)

Bee-autiful Day!

2010-04-03T15:32:00.003-04:00

Just a quick reminder! Only 2 more days to enter this amazing giveaway. Could your neck use a little colorful bling for spring? ;)

Giveaway!

2010-03-31T09:37:00.004-04:00

It's time, jwj friends, for another giveaway! I've been working hard to get out all the new goodies made for the Spring shows and want to share it all with you! I went to the Sis Boom show back in December and stocked up on MUCHO fabric. I'm talking serious amounts. I loved every single one of her designs and I was in fabric heaven.

Now onto our GIVEAWAY! To win your very own jewelry without jewels necklace made with Sis Boom fabric, here's what you have to do:

For 1 entry: leave a comment on this post. For 2 additional entries: become a follower of sunshine daydreamin'. For 3 additional entries: become a fan of jewelry without jewels on Facebook. For 5 additional: blog/twitter/FB about this giveaway!

Winner will be randomly picked on Monday, April 5th. Good luck!

jewelry without jewels on fb!

2010-03-27T10:26:00.002-04:00

Are you a fan of jewelry without jewels on Facebook yet? Become a fan and get the latest in jwj news, events, and giveaways!

Help!

2010-03-26T13:21:00.004-04:00

So we're in the process of registering and I'm ready to go monogram crazy. I just can't decide which way I like it better. I know it's "supposed" to go girl, last name, boy--but I'm not completely sold. What are your thoughts?

EWJ

JWE

home sweet home

2010-03-22T10:55:00.005-04:00

We've done some redecorating recently, and I love how "spring-y" our home is looking.

Any suggestions for what to put in these frames?

My new little nook. Since I'll be funemployed as of June, I'm setting up to go full time with jewelry without jewels and I love that I have a space to keep orders and fabrics organized. I'm sure it won't stay this tidy for long :)

Our freshly painted console table! This is my old desk from my 865 home, then when we moved it went up in the "manroom" for JCW to use. It now has a home in our living room and I think it looks fab. Just need to buy 2 or 3 wicker baskets for underneath and we'll be all set!

On my wish list? This adorable Dash & Albert rug. Honestly, I'd take any of their rugs--great quality and designs.

For the Love of Turquoise

2010-03-12T11:49:00.005-05:00

Turquoise was just named Pantone's 2010 Color of the Year. I love turquoise. There are touches of it all over my house, and J and I spent last weekend painting an old console table with the color. We also painted an unfinished bookcase when we first moved in. They are both such great pops of color and having them in my house makes me happy. As for as turquoise jewelry? I have WAY too much, and always gravitate towards it. Love. Love. Love.

"Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing. In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky."

Save the Date

2010-03-07T15:45:00.003-05:00

Our Save the Dates were printed yesterday and they are a-mazing. So happy with the way they turned out. Thanks again to the o so wonderful, Nan Richards. Will post once they've all been mailed to our guests. Can't wait to share the beautiful artwork!

Wedding Registry

2010-03-07T15:37:00.002-05:00

Spent the morning at Pottery Barn and Williams & Sonoma. Went something a little like this: myself running around the store, picking out things for our future home and J following, equipped with the gun, ready to scan. I think we got all the basics, going back to Macy's at some point for appliances--but otherwise off to a great start!

2010-03-03T13:44:00.001-05:00

Snow day...

2010-02-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

The snow came a day later than we wanted it to, but I'm definitely not gonna knock the three-day weekend. Sleeping an extra three (!) hours was absolutely called for, and I've already un-busted the DustBuster and bought Dave Matthews tickets. All that's left is taking care of some wedding stuff (figuring out the printing issues with our Save the Dates) and finishing up the chicken soup I started making this morning.

Life is good, I'd say.

Inspiration

2010-02-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

LOVE this look. Found the "how to" here:
http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2009/07/diy-french-painting-technique.html

Flea Market Style

2010-02-23T14:00:00.007-05:00

We redecorated. Again. Luckily J loves me and doesn't mind moving furniture around and bringing stuff up and down from our basement. I mean, it's only every few months..:)
But I swear I'm in the wrong field. As soon as I'm done with grad school, I'm enrolling in the Interior Design certification program at a local college and I can't wait to have another creative outlet. Design, crafting, color, fabrics--they all make me happy. J and I were meeting with our artist for the Save the Dates last week, and he said that my face totally lit up when I was talking about jewelry without jewels. It's a huge part of my life that I hope to make even bigger in the next few months. I'm currently working on necklaces for a bridal party and just picked up several fabrics for the bride to take a look at. I can't wait to see how it turns out, and I can't wait to share the photos with all of you!
Anyway, the initial purpose of this post was to share this amazing magazine with y'all. What are some of your favorite decorating mags?

Kate Spade Sample Sale

2010-02-23T10:28:00.001-05:00

One of my absolute favorite designers, Kate Spade, is having a super sample sale! Happy Shopping..xo

Rachael Ray?!

2010-02-19T12:19:00.004-05:00

I just got the most bizarre voicemail. A woman from the Rachael Ray show wanting JCW and I to be guests and featured on their segment on newlyweds. Only catch? It's next week! I called her back and told her that we would be newlyweds in September, but that didn't quite work :)

I have no clue where she got my name and info from, but I thought it was pretty exciting. I told her to keep in the loop on potential engaged couple shows and she said she definitely would. The woman was as nice as could be and I told her I'd call her with the info of some friends I have that are newlyweds. Thought I'd pass the info onto all of you too...anyone here want to be on the RR show? Let me know, and I'll send her your contact info!

Making my way through the day...J is coming to visit with my 3rd graders this afternoon and then we have a fun filled weekend of wedding stuff!

have an xo kinda weekend,
E

bridal shower

2010-02-19T11:11:00.004-05:00

Thinking ahead to my bridal shower in June and looking to Lilly P for some inspiration. Never to earlier to start thinking dresses...

my little guy

2010-02-11T13:12:00.004-05:00

We had a little fun during our snow day...:)

love + snow day

2010-02-09T11:11:00.003-05:00

Things that make me happy:
1. We're bracing ourselves for Snow Day 2010. Cookie dough is in the fridge and the DVR is stocked. Bring. it. on.
2. Remember the Save the Dates I posted about below? Well we decided to recreate a similar design with our fabuloso artist Nan Richards, so excited to see the first draft!
3. Trey Anastasio on Sat. night
4. A surprise Valentine's getaway with JCW. I have absolutely no idea where we're headed and I can't wait to find out xo

save the dates

2010-01-26T15:09:00.001-05:00

In love with these invitations that are being featured in the new issue of Real Simple Weddings. Would love to use the same idea as a Save the Date...

currently reading..

2010-01-21T10:31:00.001-05:00

thought of the day

2010-01-20T14:04:00.004-05:00

In addition to dress shopping madness, we also spent Saturday night reuniting with old friends. There's something special about spending time with people that you've known for what seems like forever, and just being able to jump right back in. As I get older, I'm beginning to realize that people that you once had been really close with may eventually just grow apart. I think it's important to attempt to rekindle these friendships (esp. if they meant a lot to you), but if it doesn't work--it doesn't work and you have to walk away knowing you tried. At this party on Saturday, I spent time with someone that I hadn't seen or talked to in almost 4 years. Will I jump right back in and be this person's best friend again? Who knows? But did it feel good to see someone that I had once been really close with and shared a certain comfortable-ness with? Absolutely. We'll see what happens in the future...but for now, I'm thankful for everything around me.

I said YES to the dress!

2010-01-20T09:18:00.003-05:00

That's right, after trying on about 20 dresses--I found it. The one. And it is be.au.ti.ful. We spent the day in the city going to one designer, trying on some, not loving anything we saw. Had a great time at lunch where I asked one of my best friends to be my matron of honor, and the other one already knew she'd be maid of honor. Had the best time catching up with these 2 great girls and my mom. At this point we had about 20 minutes before our appointment at Kleinfeld, but we went over earlier. Girls, this place is magical. Honestly, when I first got engaged I envisioned myself buying a cheap dress at David's Bridal. But I am SO happy I decided to make an appointment at this one stop shop for all things pretty. All around us we saw familiar faces from "Say Yes to the Dress." Our consultant, Jessica, was super sweet and patient with us. It was Sample Sale day, and we tried on a few from the racks. All nice, but nothing special. Then she mentioned that she had one that she thought I'd love. "Is a little over budget okay?" she asked. I told her let's just take a look. Well I tried it on and fell in love. Love at first sight. They brought all of us out to the showroom area, and this woman came over with a veil..and that's where it happened...I cried. And then of course my mom started crying, and my friends started crying. We were all a crying, happy mess :)

So happy that I finally found it. Now I have to wait until July to see it again!

honey, put on that party dress

2010-01-15T09:21:00.003-05:00

Going to Kleinfeld this weekend with my favorite, favorite girls! Fingers crossed I find *the one*

Lilly Pulitzer for Garnet Hill

2010-01-13T11:45:00.003-05:00

New Lilly Pulitzer for Garnet Hill collection. Good thing my house is already decorated...

new year, new website GIVEAWAY!

2010-01-12T08:25:00.003-05:00

It's time for the "New Year, New Website" giveaway! In honor of the new site, you have a chance to win a free jewelry without jewels necklace.

For 2 entries: join the Facebook group, and leave a comment telling us you did so!
For an extra entry: suggest a store that should be carrying our necklaces
(and b.c I heart my bloggers, post about this giveaway for an extra 5 entries!)

The winner will be randomly selected on 1.19.10. Good luck!

crock pot?

2010-01-11T10:30:00.002-05:00

Looks like this week is going to be as cold and blustery as last week :( Would love to use the crock pot for some good ol' comfort food. Anyone have any good recipes?
E-mail me: jewelrywithoutjewels@gmail.com.
Gracias!

we're back!

2010-01-08T12:02:00.003-05:00

Back in the states...back to reality. Bermuda was absolutely beautiful! We woke up to views of the Atlantic Ocean every morning, ate great meals. and had a wonderful, laidback NYE celebration in the town of Hamilton. Stay tuned for photos!

Happy 2010!

2009-12-29T20:14:00.002-05:00

For the next few days, you can find us here :) Wishing you a happy, safe new year and we'll see y'all in 2010 xo

Snow dog

2009-12-20T11:37:00.003-05:00

We wound up with about a foot, I'd say. It started way later than the weatherman said it would--not til way after dark instead of at lunchtime.

None of which really matters. Bodhi was psyched. It was hard getting him to come back in this morning.

We spent yesterday inside catching up on the DVR (extra-manly shows like Bad Girls Club and Real Housewives) and laundry, while I made the whole apartment smell like chicken soup. Somewhere inside of me is a Jewish grandma trying to get out.

I would've been psyched about a snow day tomorrow, but it was good enough to be forced to spend the day not doing a whole lot of anything. Especially on the last shopping weekend before Christmas, spending the day not fighting for parking spaces and jockeying for position in long lines seems pretty much okay to me. I'm sure Erica doesn't entirely agree...

VACATION!

2009-12-18T09:05:00.002-05:00

First day of winter break-woohoo! Just got out of bed (um, hello 10 hours of sleep) and going to take Bodhi for a walk down by the beach. After that, maybe some shopping? I told Jeff the other night that a vacation isn't a vacation until you get new clothes to bring...:) Discuss.

Song of the day

2009-12-17T09:29:00.003-05:00

Via Evil Vince.

Eddie Vedder & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, "The Long Road"

I used to have a copy of the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking, which, among some other incredible songs, had two tracks from Vedder and Khan. I was really psyched to find this track again.

an afternoon at tod's point..

2009-12-14T11:57:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year

2009-12-13T09:50:00.002-05:00

There's Christmas music everywhere, which one of us loves. Parking is a nightmare pretty much anywhere you'd want to go to buy things. It's really cold outside, but no snow days here yet.

Meanwhile, we can bring our puppy to the beach now. We're fortunate beyond belief to live within ten minutes of such a beautiful spot. I'm pretty sure Bodhi agrees.

best.products.ever.

2009-12-09T11:32:00.002-05:00

We've been using EO products since we discovered them at our B&B in Woodstock, NY. They are amazing. The French Lavender hand soap is a staple in our bathroom. I've also been using the body wash and bubble bath. Has anyone else tried these? If not, you must give 'em a whirl!

sis boom

2009-12-04T10:52:00.002-05:00

I'm going to the Sis Boom Holiday Show this afternoon, and I can't wait! I'm ready to stock up on tunics and tons of fabric. LOVE her designs!

you enjoy myself

2009-12-02T13:54:00.001-05:00

Phish.
Tonight.
Madison Square Garden!

The United Church Nursery School Holiday Trunk Show

2009-11-30T11:51:00.002-05:00

our first thanksgiving

2009-11-29T17:45:00.004-05:00

turkey for the girls, turkey for the boys..

2009-11-24T10:23:00.002-05:00

With all the craziness these past few weeks, I haven't been able to update on my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. Our plans this year? Oh yeah, just hosting it for 15 of our relatives. No biggie.

I'm honestly not too worried about it, my grandma is making the turkey, our moms are making a lot of the sides. I just wish I had more time to get stuff done before the day. Luckily, last day of school is today, so I'll have all day tomorrow to clean, shop, and get the house nice and sparkly. Wish us luck!

busy bee

2009-11-17T10:55:00.006-05:00

Just need to get through this week. Just need to get through this week. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Have you ever had those weeks where it feels like everything and anything is going on? All good stuff, but still totally consuming all my time. For all you local folk, come to the Stamford JCC on Thursday night if you're around. The *jewelry without jewels* table will be stocked and ready to go!
When (and if) I get through all the craziness...I will have an awesome road trip a waitin' me :) We're heading up to Burlington, VT this weekend for our anniversary. J has never been there before, and I haven't been up there in a couple of years. I can't wait to just relax, forget about all my work, and spend some QT with my fiance. T-4 days...

ILOVERMONT.

bermuda

2009-11-14T10:14:00.004-05:00

Out the door--headed to the post office--getting a passport! I know, I know--26 years old, and no passport. I've lived a sheltered life ;) We're going to Bermuda in December, where we'll be ringing in 2010! Woohooo

Ben Taylor: I Will

2009-11-13T22:47:00.001-05:00

SingingFool.com - Ben Taylor - I Will - Music Video

This song came up on XM the other day. Hadn't listened to it or thought about it for ages..love the lyrics, and obviously, Ben Taylor. Enjoy!

bling

2009-11-13T22:39:00.004-05:00

After 6 months of being ringless, we finally picked a jeweler and got it restored! I'm now sporting this blingy beauty :)

sample sales?

2009-11-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

Does anybody know a website where I can find listings of wedding dress sample sales? I know Saks and Kleinfeld have them...but a one stop site with dates would be extremely helpful!

In other news, the ring is currently at the jeweler getting beautified! We will be picking it up on Friday :) Can. not. wait.!

A little bit of calm

2009-11-08T14:46:00.003-05:00

It's been a hectic day already. We started Bodhi's puppy lessons today. Luckily, he's a pretty smart dog, and a quick learner, so hopefully we'll be able to get him to be a little more polite, especially when we're inside. The dog's got a really loud bark, which is magnified by being in a place with hardwood floors and a weird floor plan.

On the way home, we tried running errands, including getting a gift for our friends' wedding this afternoon. Erica, who is great at finding things in stores, found a really nice serving set, so we're good to go on that.

Right now, I'm just relaxing for a few more minutes before I have to get dressed. Bodhi's chilling out on the floor and I've got Kiyika Massamba (Flamy) et l'orchestre Kara de Kinshasa going on the ol' stereo. I don't know how long the download link will be up on worldservice, but if you're looking for four songs to make you feel good on a Sunday afternoon, definitely grab this one...

eeeek.

2009-11-04T08:50:00.001-05:00

Been so busy! Lovember is in full swing, and we're keeping busy. Will report back soon :)

god bless america.

2009-10-23T11:03:00.003-04:00

President Obama is coming to Stamford today! Color.me.excited. Unfortunately, we won't be around tonight to be on the lookout. I love me some Barack. Instead, we're going to see Andrew Hoover at the Fairfield Theatre Company. He's the son of the teacher I worked with last year, and his music is AWESOME. Better yet, he's a really nice guy so we're hoping he does really well! His sound is very Ray Lamontagne/Marc Broussard-ish. If you haven't already, check him out.

Other weekend plans? Tomorrow I'll be spending a fun afternoon with my gals at a pumpkin carving party. Nothing says Fall like decorating and carving pumpkins with yummy treats. Then I'll meet up with J and take the train into the city to see David Gray. I've been wanting to see him live for years, hoping he lives up to my expectations.

What are your weekend plans?
xo,
e

a-dorable

2009-10-21T11:35:00.003-04:00

tory burch alexandra moccasins. l-o-v-e.

sneak peek

2009-10-14T13:53:00.004-04:00

Our venue!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

2009-10-07T13:12:00.004-04:00

Thanks to all who kept their fingers and toes crossed for us. We got word this morning that everything went through and....

Jeff and I will be getting hitched on September 25, 2010!!

macys?

2009-10-06T20:31:00.005-04:00

I pretty much never shop at Macy's. But I was at the mall this weekend, popped in for a bit and came out with great finds! For example, this dress from I.N.C.:

Cute, right? We have a November wedding and another event this Sunday and I think it will be perfect for both. I.N.C. also had this little number:

Not purchased, but we'll see....:) After shopping for myself, I stopped by the mens' shoe department and did a little shopping for J. He's been in desperate need of brown shoes for work, and I found a really nice pair that was marked down more than half! Also? A new pair of top siders, which will be perfect for Bermuda.
Anyone else have good luck at department stores? Most of the time I don't have the patience for them, but once in awhile you can pick up a little gem!

luck.

2009-10-05T10:15:00.002-04:00

We might have very, very exciting news to report on in the next few days. Please keep your fingers crossed for us! Stay tuned :)

wherever he is, that's where my home is.

2009-10-01T12:09:00.003-04:00

month o surprises

2009-09-30T14:02:00.002-04:00

J and I decided that October would be chock full of surprises for the other person. The festivities begin this weekend, where I have a little something up my sleeve ;) Next? J's October 17th surprise involving a trip to "Hartford" which I think means New York City. Another hint? He says that I don't have to get too dressed up, but once I figure out what it is I'll have wanted to get dressed up. That doesn't even make sense! This lady needs to know what to wear! Geez, guys know nothin' :)

In addition to weekend mystery surprise, we're (hopefully) road trippin' up to the Big E with friends. Let's do the sunshine dance!

fall'n groovy

2009-09-27T22:09:00.003-04:00

Arts & Crafts Fair
New Hope, PA

Bye bye, summer

2009-09-21T18:09:00.003-04:00

Bodhi & stick
Originally uploaded by One Ping Only

I took Bodhi out on his last longish walk of the summer just now, and he found a gigantic stick to play with on the patch of no-man's-grass just off Rte. 1 in Old Greenwich. It's not what I'd think of as the best place to play, but then again, I'm not a four-month-old puppy with an insatiable urge to put everything in the world in my mouth and fight it.

Watching this dog grow has been amazing. When we took him home a month and a half ago, he weighed fourteen pounds and could sit comfortably on Erica's lap in the car. Yesterday, when we went to visit Erica's grandparents in Queens, we realized that it was probably the last time Bodhi'd be able to sit on the floor of the passenger seat of my car. He's more than doubled in size since we've gotten him, and he's definitely learned a lot--he now runs up and down our stairs at will, has figured out what the fridge is for (for ice cubes, obviously), and can fetch when he wants to.

It's humbling to think that this is the dog that our kids will grow up with. Everything we do with him today will have massive repercussions down the line. The love and discipline we show Bodhi can only help him to learn his role in our family, his new pack. I know this is pretty obvious to anyone who has ever had a dog, but forgive me--this is my first.

I'm looking forward to helping him build a little endurance and tolerance for longer walks--this guy's got a ton of puppy energy that I'd love to redirect into a passion for mile-long (or longer!) walks, maybe even a trip to Sleeping Giant or something at some point this winter. While I'm excited to see how Bodhi turns out as a grown-up dog, I'm enjoying him as a puppy so much now that I can't imagine anything being better than these days.

bhati beads pt. 2

2009-09-21T09:35:00.000-04:00

I talked about my love for Bhati Beads a few months ago. I LOVE this company. What they're doing over there is so smart, and their merch is adorable. Well, guess what showed up on my doorstep Saturday morning?

J surprised me with this little gem, their "i love you" necklace :)

looking to shop this weekend?

2009-09-18T17:33:00.002-04:00

Check out *jewelry without jewels* at The Goody Shop in Westport, CT:

48 Hour Lockdown! Two Local Women are going to war with the recession!
Store owner Rachel Florio & Manager Sue Zaleta are making national new headlines this weekend! Help us lead the road to recovery! We need your support! We are not leaving the store for 48 continuous hours starting this Friday at 10am

*Your support is needed!

*Come see what all the BUZZ is about!

*Pitch a tent! Rally for us!

*$500 Shopping Spree Raffle!

*Free Candlelight Yoga with Erika Miller: Saturday @ 8PM

*DJ during the day on Saturday

These two offers are good during the SUPPORT A-THON:
Road to recovery: 20% off any one item
Midnight Madness: 50% off any one item