And I'm Off...

Are you guys as ready for the weekend as I am?

Hope that everyone has a restful, fun, naughty, eventful, chill... well whatever you're looking to get out of the weekend - I hope you get it!

I'm off to the beach. My plan is as follows:


Eat a lobster...


Enjoy lots of fires....


Enjoy lots of wine...


And listen to lots of David Bowie.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Hilarious... The Unhappy Hipster

I love modern design and Dwell magazine as much as the next gal, but this new blog, The Unhappy Hipster, made me laugh out loud!

Scent for Late Winter... Gucci Flora

I'm loving the earthy floral scent of Gucci Flora right now. I spritzed it earlier today and I can't stop smelling my wrist! It has notes of Citrus Accord, Peony, Rose, Osmanthus Flower, Pink Pepper, Sandalwood.

Farewell, J.D. Salinger

“I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.”

A great is gone. R.I.P J.D. Salinger.

Object of Prippy Desire

Hermes can do no wrong. Like their scarfs, these bracelets are mini works of wearable art. So beautiful and so timeless!

Prippy Getaway... Beach Town in the Winter

One of my favorite things is going to the beach town I spent my childhood summers at in the winter. Fires, wine, movies, seafood in Cape May, and empty beaches with rough seas. It's gorgeous and completely peaceful.


Bryan and I are heading to Stone Harbor, NJ (Jersey Shore, Baby!) to relax before my schedule becomes a bit hectic. Cannot wait!

Farewell, Zelda

She scared me in Poltergeist... she scared me in Teen Witch... but I loved her.


R.I.P. Zelda Rubinstein. Your talent definitely made a big impact on the films you were in!

Pleasantly Surprised... Up In the Air

I checked out Up In the Air last night, and was very pleasantly surprised with how touching and true it turned out to be. Definitely lived up to the hype and I highly recommend it!

Office Decor... The Walls

Yeah, I'm a little obsessed this week with getting ready for my new gig. Today I've been shopping Etsy for a poster to help decorate my new work space.

I'm thinking either the one above... or the one below...


Do you have a favorite? Or any other ideas?

Delicious, Delicious... Truffle Popcorn

I love popcorn, and last night tossed some truffle oil and truffle salt into a batch. Heaven! Prippys love truffles.

Yes... to Oui Earrings

Picked these adorable "oui" post earrings up for $5 at Urban Outfitters. They're beyond cute!

Lunch Box Love

One of my favorite scenes in what can only be considered "One of the Greatest Movies of Our Time," aka Working Girl, is when Jack gives Tess her lunch box for her first day at the new job. I've wanted that lunch box since I was a kid, and it looks just like the one above.


Well, now I'm heading to an office where there are only a few affordable lunch options in the area, and a ton of super swank restaurants that are fantastic to have nearby, but not good for the cheap lunch. So I finally have a reason to pick up the lunch box of my dreams!

Anyone have good lunch box meal ideas? Would love to know them!

Working Girl... Casual Office

I'm super excited to start my new job for many reasons... and I've gotta say I'm pretty thrilled for the casual dress code at the office.

As a girl who had to wear a suit almost every day at my last DC job, I can't wait to throw on jeans and flats and head to work!


While spending money on clothes I can wear in and out of the office is a dream (rather than the big bucks for suits!), I'm still trying to figure it out. This weekend, I hit up some sales to buy some tees, cardis, and statement necklaces. Still on my list are jeans and flats.

Any readers out there have casual dressing tips for the office?

Prippy of Influence... Wes Anderson

If you're talking to any Prippy, and want to get into a heated discussion... forget religion and politics - just name which movie is the greatest Wes Anderson film and get ready for the show!


Wes Anderson's aesthetic has been adored by Prippys since his second big film, "Rushmore." With "The Royal Tenenbaums," he was able to create a cult following of Prippys and Pripsters the world over. His characters are familiar and relatable in an odd way.


Prippys diverge, and debate heats up, when discussing "The Life Aquatic." Personally, this film is my favorite. Perhaps it's the Bowie-laden soundtrack, or the deep burning desire to be on Team Zissou... I've got my reasons and other Prippys love to debate them!


I also love "The Darjeeling Limited" - especially the brilliant soundtrack. Prippys LOVE India, so perhaps that played a part. Every Wes Anderson soundtrack is pretty much phenomenal, and there are entire blogs dedicated to the music... not to mention the movies!


Yesterday afternoon, Bryan and I finally got around to seeing his most recent work, "The Fantastic Mr. Fox." Simply put, it was AMAZING! I loved the book as a kid, and the Anderson-saturated film brought it to life perfectly.


So whether Prippys are looking for Halloween costume ideas or to have a long debate over some Pimms Cups... Wes Anderson will be in our hearts and minds. He is a Prippy icon.

How to Celebrate Great News

How do you celebrate great news? I guess it depends on the news, right!

Well in this case, I got an amazing job offer today! Pretty exciting stuff, and I'm feeling very lucky to get a job I'd dreamed about in this gloomy economy.


I have a tradition when it comes to my career accomplishments - I head to the Ritz in Georgetown and have drinks either by the fire, or looking out at the river... depending on the time of year. You'll be able to find Bryan and me there late this afternoon, sipping on champagne.

To me, treating yourself and celebrating personal accomplishments is incredibly important.

When this tradition started, I was by myself toasting a new job... and the professional possibilities it offered. It's been an adventure since then, and I can't wait for this next chapter and to reflect on what got me to this point over some delicious drinks in a beautiful environment.

Do you celebrate your accomplishments in a special way?

TV Prippy of Influence... Early Serena

Perhaps one of the most recent famous Prippy examples on TV comes in the form of Serena van der Woodsen on "Gossip Girl." This guilty pleasure is as much about the style as it is about the... um well.. substance? Okay - it's all style!


I love her outfit in the first episode... classic stripes, great leather coat, a neck scarf* done right, and dark slim jeans.


With wind-blown hair and pretty simple makeup, her bohemian-meets-boarding school chic works. I really love the white dress below with the crazy braided up-do!


This season, our girl Serena is much more polished as she works her way through avoiding college with jobs in PR. Gotta say, I'm missing her Prippy style!

Decorating Dreams... Bobo

I could move into the restaurant, Bobo, tomorrow... their decor is fabulous - the food isn't too bad either.

My NYC studio (which I couldn't part with and sublet!) has a lot of touches that were inspired by the black, white, antique blue, and red interior. Love it?

In My Library... Coming Through Slaughter

New Orleans and jazz are a potent, and favorite, combination - add to it Michael Ondaatje's (who also wrote The English Patient) poetic prose and you have a dreamy complex story that takes you to another place.

I'd first read Coming Through Slaughter back during my senior year of high school and it made an impression. Recently, I reread it and enjoyed it even more. If you're looking for something a bit different, but brilliant, this book is worth checking out.

A Penny for Your Thoughts...

Hello Reader! I'd love to learn more about you and hear your thoughts and ideas about Prippyness. It makes my day to receive comments and know more about you... so don't be shy!

And most importantly - thank you for reading!

Weekly Reads... NYT What You Get For

This week's "Property Value - What You Get" didn't excite me all that much, although living in Memphis looks pretty sweet!


So I decided to go back to a favorite house of mine for $300,000 on the Hudson River, and about 2.5 hours from NYC and Boston. I love this house - it looks like the perfect getaway!

Plus, there's a backyard right on the river... what could be better than living on the water?

I Love You... Vampire Weekend

Have you guys heard Vampire Weekend's new album, "Contra"? It's AWESOME! I can't get enough of these young Prippy gentlemen.

And it confirms what I had long suspected... Prippys love Horchata and Ladysmith Black Mambazo!

Click on the links to hear the album...

Side Note: My sister is claiming that Vampire Weekend have no hippie in them, and are therefore Pripsters - aka Preppy Hipster... hmmm, it's such a fine line I'll have to conisder!

A Tip From A Lady... Martha Graham

"You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost." - Martha Graham

In My Library... Breakfast at Tiffany's

Truman's novella only loosely resembles the classic film, in my opinion, and I'm of the mindset that the novella is far superior... sorry - I know people adore the movie!

In this quick read, Holly is portrayed as a much darker character than Audrey made us love. She's constantly scamming, climbing, shocking, and hustling the older men of New York City. The story and characters are a bit more complex, and Holly's unstable antics are put in the appropriate environment.

I love this story so much! It's definitely worth the read.

Spring Fever... A Few Months Too Soon

This warm weather in DC is really fooling me into thinking spring is right around the corner... and it definitely is not!

While day dreaming of long walks with the dog on spring evenings, I started looking for spring wardrobe inspiration. And thanks to Navy Bean, I was reminded it's Anthro Sale Season.

This "Soaring the Sea" top might be an early investment for the season!

Update: This shirt was very oddly constructed... but found plenty of other great sale stuff!

Let's Hear It for New York...

PS22 Chorus in New York City makes me so happy! They seem to be having the time of their young lives, and the result is fantastic music.

Check out their blog and definitely click here to see them singing "Empire State of Mind."

Looking Fancy... January Jones

I'm a sucker for Red Carpet fashion at awards shows. At the Golden Globes last night, I was in fashion heaven (and a bit of fashion hell).

January Jones looked spot on... Prippys love headbands, so it's no wonder I was impressed!

Who did you think looked their best?

I'm a Busy Bee

The past few days have been crazy busy!

Hope everyone has lots'o fun plans this weekend.

I'm taking advantage of DC Restaurant Week tonight and checking out a friend's band afterwards at Asylum... Stripmall Ballads. They're awesome - come check them out!

I Need a Remedy

I've been hit hard with a cold (ugh) - though after going to bed at 9:00 pm last night, I'm feeling a bit better. NyQuil and DayQuil and tea... oh my!

What makes you feel better when you're sick? Any good home remedies?

Sparkler Sale

J. Crew is my secret wardrobe weapon! I always get compliments on their stuff when I wear it. Their jewelry can really up the game of any outfit.

This necklace (I love the purple) would be prefect with any simple collar or button down... and it's on sale!

Prippy Athletics... Squash

One of my favorite sports... ever. My Mom encouraged me to play "life-long sports," so that I didn't need a field hockey team backing me up if I wanted a workout when I was 30! Great tip, Mom!

Prippys and squash go way back (think about the hilarious scene in "Trading Places")! I can remember young Prippys in Grateful Dead shirts and tennis skirts at squash camp. Such style statements!

Many sports clubs have courts, and I'd definitely encourage you to check it out. The strategic and physical combination make this a thinking man's game... plus, it's social and great exercise!