birthday love, continued...

When I graduated, some of my siblings got me a new purse from J.Crew. I've been madly in love with it for the last year because it's is of the same quality as many of my nicer purses, but doesn't flaunt a label.

I've fallen for another J.Crew purse. I absolutely do not need it, because it's the same color as a purse I bought last fall.  I think it's a good sign that I found myself wanting an almost identical purse again this year.  A successful investment!

Until I bust out last season's purse for fall, I'll continue to lust over this one. Without further ado, item number three: the Brompton hobo from J.Crew, in henna 

lust list, part deux

The Goops

by Gillette Burgess

The Goops they lick their fingers

And the Goops they lick their knives:

They spill their froth on the tablecloth

Oh, they lead disgusting lives!

The Goops they talk while eating,

And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I'm glad that I
Am not a Goop, are you?

I'm eternally grateful to my dad for two things: his finely-tuned grammar and his devotion to manners.

Between reciting The Goops, constantly reminding us of proper manners, and sending me straight off to cotillion, I feel I have a relatively strong awareness of social graces.  I also attribute my keen interest in etiquette to him. 

One of my recent favorites is "Just like ships go out to sea, I spoon my soup away from me." I love finding little rules like this to add to my artillery.

My second lust list item is one I believe would add greatly to my manner bank: Kate Spade's Occasions, Manners & Style Book Set. I'm fairly certain I could read them from cover to cover in one afternoon.

This just in...

With the temperature hovering around 80 degrees (and perfectly sunny), my flight to Atlanta just hours away, and sushi for lunch, it's been a lovely Friday. And, it officially just got ten times better...

Beginning next month, J.Crew will allow customers to outlet shop online (!!).

Combine that with the factory store coupon they sent today and, voila, J.crew is basically just giving their clothes away.

A special thanks to Emily, who filled me in on this major J.Crew current event.

lust list

My family is made up of people who like to do the right thing.  We have strong, omnipresent consciences that ensure we like to please.

This desire to please makes us very definite gift-list-users.  We take the creation of our birthday/Christmas lists very seriously and distribute them in a timely manner.  This way, as gift givers, we are positive that if we're unsure as to what to give one another, we have a back up plan.

With my birthday being 10 days away, my list has long since been distributed.  However, there are a few items that didn't make the list.  They're either too outlandish or too tardy.  I've decided to use these items to create a lust list. 

Until my birthday, I'll present one gift that I'm not really asking for, but that I feel would be a nice gift, just in case you're in the process of making your own list...

The first item was inspired by my dad.  It's the Holly clutch from the new line of Tiffany handbags, to be unveiled on September 1. Every item in the line has Tiffany blue somewhere on it - whether it's the entire bag or just on the clasp.  I love the light blue one.