Much Love on Christmas Eve

Another amazing year of blogging has meant making incredibly talented new friends, loads of creative inspiration, phenomenal support, and an opportunity to interact with brilliantly witty people from across the globe. I'm completely grateful.

This Christmas, I hope we all get what we're looking for... even if it is a pony!

I'm so thankful for all of you this year, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve for 2011 that I cannot wait to share!

In My Library... Jay-Z's Decoded

Jay-Z's new memoir, Decoded, is definitely on my "must read" list! He is such a brilliant businessman and artist, that I just know it will be an incredible book.

And what a fantastic last minute gift it would make!

Prippy Gift Guide... The Perfect Red

Ladies... your search is over!

I swear that the greatest shade of red lipstick ever is Illamasqua Red.

Your girlfriends everywhere will rejoice and thank you. It is universally flattering and fabulous... and you can find this British gem at Sephora!

Prippy Gift Guide... Monogram Necklace

I'm trying to get used to the fact that I will soon have new initials after taking me new last name... and it has made me a little obsessed with monogram necklaces like this beauty from Charm and Chain.

I think this beauty in rose gold would be simply perfect for me, Santa!

An American Royal Wedding...

Lauren Bush and David Lauren are American "royalty" in my book, and I'm thrilled that they're engaged!


She will make such a beautiful bride, and he will be an incredibly handsome groom. I'm hoping that her soon to be father-in-law designs something stunning for her to walk down the aisle in!

Best wishes to a goregeous couple that defines American style!

Prippy Gift Guide... Cashmere Snuggie

Okay... so clearly the Snuggies brand hasn't delved into cashmere, but TSE makes for a much more sophisticated look while still enveloping yourself in the worlds best material!

With it feeling like less than zero outside, I'd love to find a stylish way to warm up (or really... who am I kidding... any way to warm up!).

Prippy Gift Guide... Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler is most certainly a Prippy of Influence... but he also makes perfect gifts for just about any lucky duck on your list.


I've already picked up a copy of Happy Chic Color for one of my favorite ladies and it is fantastic! The book is filled with awesome recs on paint colors, combos, and accessories. Such a fun read!


An embroidered pillow would be a dream... as would these nifty dominos.


Oh... and he went to my rival prep school in Wilmington, Delaware!

Tartans and Tidings...

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Bry and I will be joining our friends for an adventure in Baltimore, where we'll be attending the fantastic Tartans & Tidings event benefiting a charity near and dear to my heart, SquashWise. Will I see any of you fellow Prippys there?

'Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry... so I hope you all are enjoying the finer things in life where ever you are!

P.S. Bry has outdone himself and will be sporting plaid tuxedo pants!

Prippy Gift Guide... Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

This is by far one of my favorite toys!

Fuji's Instax camera takes adorable pocket-sized pics that are completely awesome... in fact, my computer monitor at the office is lined with these mini shots!

Definitely the perfect gift for your non-tech loving friends.

Prippy Gift Guide... Cleanly Shaven

Nothing like a straight razor shave for the Prippy man in you life.

I personally love all things Freemans, so for my beau, a stop in their Horatio Street F.S.C. Barber Shop is a must on our next visit to NYC.

Plus, I'll leave a little D.R. Harris Bay Rum aftershave in his stocking as a hint that a nice shave is on the way... compliments of Santa.

Prippy Gift Guide... On the Cheap

Best gift for the ladies and under $3. Who doesn't love a fabulous lipstick case?

Way to go, Pier 1!

Prippy Gift Guide... Boardwalk Empire

Okay... so this gift might be more for Valentine's Day, or whenever the HBO powers that be decide to release the DVD of Season 1.. but Boardwalk Empire is definitely worth giving to someone when it comes out!

Did you all watch it?


The Season 1 finale was last night, and it left me wanting so much more! I fell in love with the first episode and the entire season didn't disappoint.

Having grown up spending my summers about 45 minutes south of Atlantic City, the series has been an amazing fictionalized peak into the boom days of "AC."


When I lived alone, I always skimped on cable and just went with whichever stations came in through my rabbit ears... but I gotta say, watching Boardwalk Empire made me feel like I got exactly what I paid for... amazing television (if you can even call it that!).

Seriously, this show is visually stunning, completely enthralling, and beyond well acted. When it comes out on DVD, snatch it up!

UPDATE: It is already out on DVD!

Prippy Gift Guide... Gummy Bears

Gummy Bears... bouncing here and there and everywhere!

How amazing would it be to find this Fred Flare giant Gummy Bear in your stocking during the holidays? Pretty darn amazing in my book.

Let the Holidays Begin...

'Tis the season for Prippys everywhere to eat, drink, and be merry!

Hanukkah has arrived and so has the holiday party season here in Washington, D.C. Get ready for loads of champagne toasts and finger foods... and my favorite Prippy Gift Guide!

By the way, did you love the Magic Crystal Tree as much as I did as a little wee Prippy? I think it might be a nice festive addition to my office for the season.

Prippy Gift Guide... Essie for J. Crew

On the first day of Prippy Christmas, my true love gave to me... Essie for J. Crew rather than a pear tree.

These four-packs encapsulate the best of the best from this year's nail colors. Pretty much the perfect gift for any of your girls!

'Tis the Season... Beaujolais Nouveau

Nothing kicks off the holiday season like the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. I seriously love this wine and think there is something so special about seeing it on the shelf... because it means Christmas is right around the corner (and it is super delicious)!

One of these years, I'll be in France celebrating the arrival... just you wait and see!

Rub A Dub Dub... Thomas Paul

Thomas Paul really knows how to make a bathroom into something special, don't you think?


Makes me want to fill up the tub right now!

The Perfect Place... Setting

I'm not one to get goo-goo ga-ga over china... that is unless it is Hermes.

How gorgeous is this photo? I would almost be afraid to put food on such beauty. Honestly, I'd probably hang it on my wall... or arrange my food around the perimeter.

Then again, I also wore my Underoos over my clothes so that people could see how awesome they were, so I guess take my china views with a grain of salt!

Tartans, Tints, and Tidings...

My love for MAC makeup knows no bounds recently.

I'm completely in love with the colors and packaging of the Tartan Tale line that those cosmetic geniuses have put out for the holidays.


Pretty perfect for the upcoming Tartans & Tidings Ball, don't you think? I know the event is going to be fantastic, especially after the fun we had at Oxfords & Oysters... and tickets are still available.

Plus the event is raising money for an amazing charity, SquashWise, that involves one of my favorite sports and bringing this game to children who otherwise wouldn't have the chance to play.

Hope to see you there!

I'm Back...

Well hello, there!

It feels like I've been gone for so much longer than a week. We had an amazing time in Ireland, and I have so much to share with you guys now that I'm back!

Looking forward to lots of exciting new posts in the coming days.

And thank you all for the sweet notes regarding my engagement - we are so touched!

Engaged...

I'm ENGAGED!

Thrilled... delighted... glowing... ecstatic... in love... blessed... and all around giddy would be just a few ways I would describe my state of mind since Saturday evening, when Bryan proposed.

I can't wait to share more with you, but for now here is a photo of me taken with Bryan's Blackberry (we couldn't find our camera battery, and only had a disposable we bought at CVS!) after our dinner that followed the perfect and heartfelt proposal.

And I know I've been a total absentee blogger lately... but I look forward to changing that once we get back from Ireland!

Election Day...

Election Day has made me a busy bee... and work has been crazy leading up to tomorrow's vote. Looking forward to getting back to blogging soon!

In the meantime, hope you make it out to vote!

Happy Halloween Weekend...

What do you have planned for Halloween Weekend? I'm headed to parties all weekend... DC is really busy this time of year (Elections + Halloween = Parties)!

Scrapple will be dressing as... you guessed it! Scrapple!

And I laughed so hard when I saw New York Magazine's slide show of "Dogs Looking Depressed in Their Halloween Costumes." So Hilarious.

I hope you guys have an amazing time and I would love to hear about your adventures!

Prippy Wardrobe... Jules Reid

This Jules Reid dress is pretty perfect for winter in Palm Beach.

I can totally imagine wearing it at The Breakers and sipping on a Side Car.

Thanks to Coco & Kelly for bringing it to my attention!

Shipping Off to Ireland...

In just about 2 weeks, I'm shipping off to Ireland!

Bry's birthday just so happens to be a week before mine, so we take a trip to celebrate growing wiser (and older) each year... and this year we're hitting up the Emerald Isle!

We will have a car and be driving mostly north after spending time in Dublin, and I would LOVE any recommendations you may have for me!

Oh... and I also love Black 47's song "Funky Céilí"... I remember buying the CD in high school and playing it constantly.

Prippy Halloween... Coo Coo Ca-Choo

Mrs. Robinson and Ben Braddock might be my favorite couples costume.

Great style on Halloween is never a bad thing!

Scrapple in the City

This weekend, it was cool enough for Scrapple to rock his Kate Spade "Bad to the Bone" sweater during our Saturday trip to Eastern Market, a weekly farmer's market in our Capitol Hill neighborhood.


Scrapple wasn't sure what to make of this bronze bulldog statue...


But rust tasted good in his world, so he considered it friend rather than foe.


Then he encountered Kingsley, a bulldog of the non-statue variety... and got his wrestle on...


But the real bulldog battle left Scrapple a bit tuckered out and he was ready to head home for a nap.

All in all, an excellent Saturday was had by all.

Happy Birthday, Prippy Handbook

A year ago today, I started this blog... Happy Birthday, Prippy Handbook!

Never in a million years did I realize how many wonderful people I would meet and the friendships that would blossom. It seriously makes my day to have this outlet... here's to many more years, and thank you for making this such an amazing experience!

In My Library... Vintage Cocktails

Assouline makes such beautiful books... and Vintage Cocktails is certainly no exception!

Everything about this book is appealing, including the awesome handwritten recipes, gorgeous photography, and approachable classic drinks.


Plus, I think the photos were taken at one of my all time favorite spots, Bemelmans Bar.

Chin chin!

Capping It Off...

I kind of think you either are a Hat Gal, or you're not... and I'm definitely one!

Right now, I'm on the hunt for a leather hat, a la Kate Middleton's (she's a definite Hat Gal!), and think I've found a pretty good match thanks to Orvis.

Are you a Hat Gal or Guy?

Prippy of Influence... Peggy Guggenheim

I've got a quick response every time the question of "name 3 people, living or dead, you would have to dinner" comes up, and Peggy Guggenheim is definitely one of them!

After finding her biography cover, Art Love: A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim interesting while on a trip to the Hirshhorn Museum in college, I bought it and was captivated by every single page.



Her incredible life, impeccable taste, and volatile personality make her a fascinating woman. The history surrounding her collection, and her love life, are full of unbelievable events.

During WWII, she played a pivotal role in helping artists escape Nazi occupied Europe, and she worked tirelessly to smuggle works of art out of the country. And although she often displayed acts of bravery, selfishness was never absent. She was a divisive personality, to say the least, but truly one of a kind.


Peggy's bold and brave taste has definitely influenced my own, and her life story is one I keep coming back to over and over again.


Plus, gotta love her shades!

Well Branded... Beemans and Black Jack

I love Beemans and Black Jack logos and packaging... so classic!

Prippy Wardrobe... Stubbs and Wooten

Now, having been raised a prep, I've long been familiar with Stubbs and Wooten.

There were always those fathers at the Father Daughter Dance that would sport them at the Club, friends who rocked them at prom, and then college buddies who wore them with pride. Even though the company has only been around since 1993 (not long in prep years), they've become a classic.


Which brings me to a recent article I was sent by a Prippy college buddy... telling the story of Kanye West's obsession with the shoes... and how this led to him hiring a Yale student to be his stylist/entourage member. Pretty hilarious, don't you think?

Fall Friday...

Finally, the weekend is here!

I hope you guys have fabulous plans doing fall festive things (pumpkin patch, apple picking, Ocktoberfest beer drinking).

My plans include all of the above and lots of relaxing after feeling a bit under the weather this week... and of course, taking Scrapple for lots of walks around Capitol Hill.

I wanted to thank all of you for reading. Recently, more people have been discovering the Prippy tribe, and I'm delighted. So, a big thank you on this Friday!