The NYC Take

Like I mentioned last week, I was exceptionally well behaved in NYC but, I still managed to pull a few rabbits out of my shopping hat...

First order of business was exchanging my neon pink Juno dress at Calypso for the beautiful "coconut" pale yellow one that aide-de-camp Lizzie had alerted me to the previous day. Much, much better...

Next trick up my sleeve...a Calypso store credit which helped me snag the Malia dress in navy. Babe was a huge fan of this in store try on and there's a strong possibility it would have sold itself, credit or no credit. I should add that it's much more "navy" and less bright blue than it's showing in my pic.

My sister Julie loved it so much upon my return to the beach that she immediately ordered it in the pale pink. Turns out, in person the "pink" is more of a "dusty rose" sooo...it's headed back to Calypso for a navy swap...

Now, once Babe was safely tucked in for a nap back at the Reeg, I tra-la-la-la-laaa'd it back up Madison Avenue for just a 'lil "ice blue" addition to my Calypso Love Scarf collection...

And, it took some real restraint to NOT buy the long Poet Dress in Navy. I hope Babe appreciates the temporary sacrifice I made. Let's see if he catches that...

Also, accompanying me back to the beach? Many blisters that have required days of medicated patch wearing and a hiatus from running...

The culprits...a hardly ever worn yet pair of hot pink Bonannos and a brand spankin new pair of Rainbows. Rookie mistake a shopper of my caliber should not have made...

A big thank you to Jessica Condatore at The Love List for naming me as one of her favorite blogs. Everyone has just been so darn nice...

HRH of Prep

A little Gwynnie love to kick the week off on an inspirational, preppy note...

Kindness of Lee Anne DeVries, who shares my obsessive love of A Perfect Murder and all things Gwyneth, and just knew I would appreciate this video. Which I do...XXOO

Happy Birthday Hilary

August is a BIG month for birthdays in our family, including yours truly, and tomorrow is Hilary's special day.

And, it turns out CK Bradley sells more than pretty dresses. When I included this picture of Camilla in a recent post I received a BBM bright and early from the Birthday Princess registering her gift order for one pair of yellow Hunter Boots...

Emma quickly followed suit with an order for the Hopsy pink. Since it's not her birthday, and there are no immediate gift giving holidays around the corner, she's breaking down and making the purchase herself...

Not wanting to be left out, and having culled a little inspiration earlier this year while watching Gwynnie trapse around Spain in her navy Wellies, I think I'm going to invest in an early birthday present for myself. What's good for the Princess is good for the Queen...

Happy Birthday to all the August babies in our family! Too many to mention by name...XXOO

Merci to Camilla and Hopsy for turning a blind eye to the picture "lifting"...XXOO

Someone Misses Their Daddy

I opened one side of my clothes cabinet at the beach house and looky who crawled in for a siesta between my Under Armour and Daddy's beach towel? One, George Washington Rockefeller, aka, could eat him with a spoon, the Pilge. Should have had that for dinner instead of big salad tonight. Yummier and less calories...

We ALL miss you Babe! Happy Anniversary and thanks for working so hard for us. We can't wait to see you this weekend...XXOO

Yes Virginia, Mason Pearson Is A Miracle Brush...

Dear Alice,

How are you? I have been following your blog pretty regularly these days, and I love reading about all of the things that you like and also your witty commentary! I am writing because I have a question and thought that maybe you would have some insight. I recently got my hair cut and the guy who was doing my hair recommended the Mason Pearson brush for my rather fine, long, highlighted hair. He said that because my hair is thin that any product would weight it down and that a brush that would distribute natural oils would eliminate the need for product. He also said that he thought that it would eliminate frizz. Well this sounds like a miracle brush! The only problem is that its like 150 dollars (what!) although I did find it on ballbeauty for 100 but still that is crazy. I was speaking to Elizabeth and she said that she thought that you had it so I thought I'd ask, is it really a miracle brush? Does it do all of these things, is it worth it for someone who probably should NOT be spending 100 dollars on a hair brush? And is there anything comparable that is less expensive? I would appreciate any advice that you might have. I hope that you are well and enjoying your blizzard today ; )

Love
Maris

Well Maris, as evidenced by the above picture, you can see that under this beach house roof lie quite a few believers in the miraculousness of the Mason Pearson hairbrush. And, yes, they are quite an investment, but they definitely stand the test of time. Annnd...I would still have my very first one dating back from high school if I hadn't been "relieved" of it by someone. Also, a testament to it's fabulousness...people will take them from you...

One way to ensure against Mason Pearson envy? Engraved monogramming or initialing. Equally valuable if your sister looses hers and tries to claim yours as hers...

And, one is never too young to receive their first Mason Pearson. Quite the contrary! They should be considered requisite Christening gifts with pink for preppy lassies...

And, blue for those prepster lads. Sooo, in a nutshell, yes Maris, I believe...

Kindness of my ole gal pal Maris in NYC whom I haven't seen since one très loud night in Buddakan about three summers ago. And, aide-de-camp Lizzie, who just made the move from Boston to Baltimore. Thanks for sending an all important hair brush intervention my way...XXOO

Weekending in NYC

One of the perks of Babe's job is, that when he's working in some fabulous city, his company will send me there for the weekend, if I so desire. In which case, they pay for my travel expenses and I pick a hotel grand enough to bleed Babe of the majority of his Starwood points.

This weekend I decided to join him in NYC and dragged him out of his digs at the W and over to the glorious St. Regis.

Since he put me in charge of making the reservation, I opted for the "deluxe" room with my own personal butler, natch...Unfortunately, for him, he had trouble getting out of Boston Friday which left me alone for hours with nothing to do on a rainy NYC evening other than visit the spa and order in room dining and cocktails...

Along for the trip? The usual suspects...

First thing Saturday morning we headed to BMOC's office in the city to pick up his suitcase, which had been dispatched from the W the day before. Item of importance? Antiperspirant. Seems my butler could only provide deodorant. "Turbo", as he is sometime affectionately called by his dad, and rightly so, requires the heavy stuff. Once this requisite business was taken care of it was off to Sarabeths for brunch...

Being on my best behavior during the afternoon, I kept a wide berth around my usual trouble inducing haunts, like Hermes and Ralph Lauren, and remembered a little too late that Belgian Shoes is closed on Saturdays. Read sheer disappointment on my face...

But, Babe did amuse me by allowing a "visit" to Van Cleef and Arpels where I graduated from wanting the Alhambra Vintage mother of pearl earrings and bracelet, to the earrings and two necklaces. And, much to my delight, I even left with a coveted VCA bag...

Contents? One bottle of Evian for Babe who is on the verge of pneumonia. Edgar took great pity on Babe, as he was practically comatose in the chair next to me, while I looped yards and yards of necklaces around my neck and gawked at myself in the mirror. But, a VCA bag still the same and a little extra spring in my walk back to the St. Regis...

After Babe recouped a little (while I headed out for some "unchaperoned" shopping) we headed off to Rai Rai Ken in the East Village for a bite to eat.

I had been dying to try this 12 seat restaurant, famous for homemade Ramen, after seeing a segment about it on Martha Stewart.

Per Martha's recommendation, it was Gyoza and Miso Ramen pour deux...

Forever leery of meat, I ate around the chicken...

At this point in the meal I was starting to feel the effects of all the sodium though and watched as my fingers and toes turned to snausages...

Topped off with a good dose of sugar at Crumbs on the way home and I practically desleeved my finger trying to get my ring off that night. But, all in all, a fabulous weekend with Babe.

The other disappointment besides a closed Belgian Shoes? One missing duo, traveling abroad. Next time M & m...

Kindness of a très tolerant and generous, with his hard earned Starwood points, Babe. Loved our weekend together Gorgie...

Great Minds or Just Plain Cultish

Okay, I just caught a glimpse into what outsiders see when they enter my sister's beach house. What must people think of us? What do they say when they leave?

Like, how many pair of Rainbows does it take to shod four gals...

Why let the fact that your sister has the same or similar color Longchamp stand in your way of getting it too? Pshaw, preposterous...

The bathroom I'm sharing with the girls...

And, a peek into Julie's. Tsk, tsk...right down to the Venus razors.

Just the retired arms of the CK Bradley and Vineyard Vines beach bag collection floating around the beach house. Definitely, too short a post to include the monogrammed Bean totes!

At least there's an almost 45% chance we won't have competing scents on any given day...

Salad, salad or salad for dinner??? And, the cereal cabinet...equally as creepy. Multiple boxes of Go Lean, Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats and Yogart Cheerios. Jerry Seinfeld's got nothin on us...

Every single pair the exact same brand minus the lone Nikes. And, this wasn't even all of them. Don't get me started on the matching wardrobes and dress shoes. THAT, would be embarrassing...