I Got It FOR My Mama
Posted on April 27th, 2015
I do not mean to alarm you all, but Mother’s Day is now less than two weeks away. Lucky for you, I have an idea that’s affordable, thoughtful, and works for each and every one of your mamas: coffee table books!
Here are some pros of coffee table books, just in case you need a little persuading:
- Your mama will look cultured when she has guests over
- You can pick something that really fits your mom’s interests, so she’ll know you were really thinking of her
- A variety of price ranges means you can definitely find something in your budget. Think about it– does your mom really want you spending a million dollars if it means you’ll be eating ramen for a month? No. She wants you to eat produce.
- Many of them are available on Amazon Prime. Free, fast shipping so she’ll definitely get the goods in time.
- If you’ll be seeing your mama in person on Sunday, it would be darling to write a heartfelt note on the inside cover. For a mom, this is really two gifts in one.
Pretty soon, your mama will have an enviable collection!
Not sure where to begin? Try one of these many, many selections…
For the Francophile: Laduree Macarons, French Comfort Food, How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are. Si vous n’avez pas l’argent pour des billets d’avion, ça c’est la deuxième meillure chose.
For her green thumb: The Garden Source, The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World, Daffodil, Forever Green
If she has a hidden Flapper Girl side: Bright Young Things, The French Riviera in the 1920s
…and if she’s really glad Prohibition is over: Wild Cocktails from the Midnight Apothecary, Punch Bowls and Pitcher Drinks
For the fashionista: Tory Burch: In Color, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, American Style
For the Slim Aarons lover (yes, I consider this a personality trait): Poolside with Slim Aarons, Once Upon a Time, La Dolce Vita
If her parties are in a class of their own: Camille Styles Entertaining, Soiree: Entertaining with Style, An Invitation to the Garden
If she’s reminiscing about her college days: The Ivy League, Seven Sisters Style
For wanderlust: everything from the “In the Spirit of…” series– In the Spirit of Seville, In the Spirt of Capri; Beaches: 100 Ultimate Escapes; Beautiful Small Towns in Italy; Kate Spade: Places to Go, People to See (I have this one and love it)
If she’s an American classic: The Big Book of the Hamptons, The Kennedy Years, Preppy, Privileged Life
If food makes her heart sing: Barefoot Contessa: Foolproof, Where Chefs Eat, Food Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe
And for cards… I recommend visiting your local Paper Source, or ordering online! Such a good selection.
Sunday Snapshot- April 26
Posted on April 26th, 2015
This week was fairly nuts. Lots of working late to prepare for a big upcoming week, but lots of play, too. My endless spreadsheets and decks are not very photogenic, so let’s focus on the fun stuff.
My grandparents came to town! They were here Tuesday-Thursday, and while I did feel bad I was not able to spend more time with them, we had two lovely dinners, so good time to chat. The photo above was taken in Times Square, and agreeing to walk through there at all is a true testament to how special they are to me.
On Tuesday night, we saw On the Town on Broadway. Musical theatre has always been a huge part of my life, and I wish I did a better job in taking advantage of that in New York since it is, you know, the best place in the world to see theatre and all. On the Town is one of those classic shows I love. Written by Leonard Bernstein (you may have heard of his other major show, West Side Story), it features incredible ballet and leading men who have to be true triple threats. Above all, it’s a love letter to New York, and a wonderful day on the town. We had amazing seats in the center of the third row, which made it extra easy to enjoy.
I did most of my Lilly for Target shopping in Bryant Park, but I did order this one shift online. It came on Friday, on the same day as my new pair of Jacks. Am I the only one who feels like they need to replace their Jack Rogers every year? This is not a reflection on their quality, it’s a reflection on how often and hard I wear them. Last summer, I routinely walked the four miles home from work in them. I have a few other colors, but the platinum are my go-to. Anyway, the arrival of both of these items at the end of a very long work week reminded me that there are sunnier skies ahead.
Ian was in the city this weekend, and to celebrate his upcoming birthday we got sushi with friends. We have been long distance for much of our relationship, which has made real birthday celebrations pretty tough. Hopefully next year, we’ll get it right.
In other exciting celebratory news, my incredible little brother completed his second marathon in six months today! He has been studying abroad in England this semester, so thought it was a perfect excuse to run the London marathon… and finish in 3:14!! For context, the median marathon finishing time for a man is 4:16, so this is pretty darn speedy. Turner has Type 1 Diabetes, so his accomplishments are extra impressive given the extra physical challenge he faces. I’m sure I’ll write future posts to brag on him in full, but I’m definitely a proud big sister today.
My fingers are definitely crossed for smoother sailing in the week ahead, but I’ll take a little pep talk just in case!
In the Know
Posted on April 23rd, 2015
I think it is the responsibility of every modern woman (and man!) to stay informed and up to date with what is going on in the world around them. It’s a funny thing– we are living in the information era, where we’re constantly overloaded by inputs coming towards us in every direction. Many of us get stuck on hilarious Buzzfeed pieces and heart-warming news stories without knowing anything about Greece’s recent negotiations with the Eurozone.
Right?
I got in the habit of following the news closely when I was a political science and economics student in college and we were required to read various sources daily, but I have really come to value the knowledge. It makes me feel confident and legitimate to be able to contribute to such a wide range of conversations. Keeping up with important events and issues requires a bit of commitment, but I really think it’s worth it, and a part of our civic duty. This is a multi-faceted endeavor, but I have some short cuts to help you stay caught up.
Daily Newsletters- These are delivered to your inbox each morning and summarizing the very basics of the most important news stories. For me, they’re absolutely perfect– I read them on the subway in the morning, which is otherwise unused time. I recommend the following:
- The Skimm: great for general news written in a chatty way– feels like your girlfriend is telling you the latest scoop
- Wall Street Breakfast: financial news covering both American and international markets and climates
- Politico Playbook: it’s only 2015 and already there’s so much buzz around the next election season! Follow along so you’re truly informed when you cast your votes
PS Does anyone know of a good newsletter for sports?
Give Up the Games- I have very few apps on my phone at all, and I have absolutely no games. During that time when some people play Angry Birds, I read CNN. Waiting for the doctor, in the checkout line at Whole Foods… Reading a few articles in depth is better than nothing, and a good way to make use of four extra minutes.
Find a Source You Love- For me, this is Vanity Fair. I remember first falling in love with Vanity Fair when reading the feature on baseball in Cuba in July 2008 on a flight home from Italy, and I’ve looked forward to reading each month. It’s a matter of personal preference, but for me Vanity Fair represents a lovely combination of easily digestible cultural information and more in depth features. How else would I know so much about the collapse of the housing market in Ireland?
Are there other sources you all use to stay informed? Let me know if there is anything else I should keep on my radar!
Procrastination Station- April 22
Posted on April 22nd, 2015
I have read a lot of pieces about being your true, authentic self recently, and I’m really loving the messaging. How you discover what that should looks like is a separate matter, but keeping that in mind as the end goal is fabulous.
Maxie McCoy recently wrote about embracing your differences and leveraging them to help you stand out. A great read if you’re trying to combat insecurities and reframe them in your own perception.
Obviously, I’m just dipping my toe into this blogging thing, but as I’ve followed other people’s blogs over the years, I have given some thought to the topics Julia, the voice behind Lemon Stripes, puts forth in her post On Blogging this week. It was a good perspective, and I love that she tackled this topic.
In the interest of continuing topics of empowerment, I think what 76<100, a new boutique in Pittsburgh, has come up with. The bottom line: to highlight the wage gap, they sell a full complement of goods, but charge women 76% what men are charged. More here!
During my year working at the Lilly Pulitzer Pink Palace, I really drank the Kool-Aid. As a company and brand, it was a really amazing time– the brand was really strengthening its identity in the resort chic marketplace, and its social media presence was growing into the amazing creative powerhouse it is today. It so happens that I was park of the Lilly team when Lilly Pulitzer passed away in April of 2013, and it was in the weeks that followed that I really became inspired by the woman behind the company. We all have a lot to learn from Lilly– some of those lessons summed up here. Particularly good to keep in mind in the wake of the Lilly for Target craziness…
On a more serious note, many of you may have read this widely-circulated New York Times article on the nation’s 1.5 million missing black men. I found this to be a really interesting way to examine the discrepancies in communities across the US. Understanding studies like these helps us understand one another.
Have you all read anything interesting recently? I’m always looking for more things to learn!
Instagram, Straight Flexin’
Posted on April 20th, 2015
Disclaimer: Contrary to appearances, this post is not a shameless plug for you to follow my Instagram. Which, incidentally, you can do here.
Instagram kind of cracks me up. There are so many different ways to curate an Instagram account, but that’s a post for another day. One of the most amusing Instagram phenomena is the disconnect between a post’s significance and the way its received by the public. To illustrate this point, I would like to turn my own account. Let’s countdown my most popular Instagrams of all time, starting with #371, the Easter tree at the Lilly Pulitzer Pink Palace, with a grand total of zero likes:
Just kidding. Maybe let’s just do the top five.
#5: I graduate from an amazing college, and I thank my parents.
#4: I go shopping in Bryant Park.
#2 (tied)- I celebrate my fifth anniversary with my darling boyfriend.
#2 (tied): My little brother, Turner, is a boss and runs the New York marathon on the 10th anniversary of his diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes; he is the 10th fastest person 19 & under to complete the race.
And the most popular post I have made, the thing that people were happiest to see, is…
#1: I eat a bagel.
Granted, it was a special bagel. A warm, fresh french toast bagel with birthday cake sprinkle cream cheese. (Tompkins Square Bagels. Check it out.) But is it really more special than the events that were tied for second? I sure hope not! And I know, geotags make a difference here, and some of the people who liked the bagel shot are unknown to me, but still. Instagram is supposed to be a highly visual platform, and I think this example demonstrates it is succeeding in its purest mission. People like what catches their eye, and from that standpoint, my ooey gooey bagel is more appealing than sappy photos with my loved ones.
Nevertheless… Amusing.
Follow Along
Posted on April 20th, 2015
I’ve been getting a few questions about how to follow A Cultured Pearl…
You can subscribe via Bloglovin here…
Or through Google Feedburner here!
This way, you’ll be kept abreast of each and every one of my crazy thoughts. Lucky you.
Sunday Snapshot- April 19
Posted on April 19th, 2015
I admit that living in New York, I just miss nature. New York is exciting, but it’s just so highly unnatural. I’ve been relishing glimpses of flowers while running in the park and on my walks home from work this week.
Captured a shot of these beauties on Fifth Ave. And who said New York doesn’t like pink?
Speaking of pink… Lilly for Target celebrated its launch in Bryant Park this week, and it was so much fun! I posted a bunch of photos from a fun day here. Watching the girls from the print studio work was also an excellent reminder that I have no artistic talent, whatsoever. For what it’s worth, I can make a mean collage though.
Saturday was the first truly beautiful day of 2015 for Manhattan. Real talk: I LOVE sunshine. Can’t get enough. At this time of year, emerging from a gloomy and difficult winter, I sometimes tear up feeling the sun on my face. It happens? I celebrated the best way I know how: an 8 mile run in Central Park, and taking myself to brunch. The French bistro around the corner from my apartment has such a wonderful vibe, and I got a perfect table on the sidewalk where I camped out with a few of my favorite things: Vanity Fair, crepes, and pommes frites. A rare combination!
As the spring day transitioned to a spring evening, I met one of my absolute best friends, Hannah, for dinner in Soho. This month, we are celebrating our 14th year of friendship! It’s so special to spend time with someone who knows you so well– nothing requires extra explanation or justification. We went to Delicatessen, and because I had had a big brunch I had a salad for dinner…. with a side of macaroni and cheese 
Bonus: This dreamy sight of a fellow diner. He was reading an intellectual piece (Economic Facts & Fallacies), and was super fit but ordered a cheeseburger and fries. You can bet I submitted my stealth shot to Hot Dudes Reading!
And a little dose of perspective as we kick off this week!
Manhattan’s Most Colorful Day
Posted on April 16th, 2015
When I read that Lilly Pulitzer for Target would be having a special pop up shop in Bryant Park to kick off its collaboration collection, I could not believe my luck. I work two blocks from the park. I was amped, but I was also lucky. So for those of you who were not able to join today, I just wanted to share some fun photos! Lilly was lucky on the weather– it wasn’t quite warm, but the sun was shining all day long.
Now y’all, I had to work for my Lilly today. I wasn’t sure how long the line would be, but I knew an early arrival was necessary. Of course, I ended up having a kid-on-Christmas-morning experience, so I completely failed at the whole sleeping thing. At 4am, I was getting up and on the treadmill to blow off some steam. I was in line at Bryant Park before 6:30! I’m not great at estimating numbers, but I think I was about 50th. I passed the time with needlepointing– of course– but at 8am, I was in!
The experience wasn’t as crazy and frantic as I thought it would be, but there were some items I wanted that I couldn’t quite get to on time. Everyone was genial and polite as they fought each other to the death for the cherished size 4 and 2s. After I had grabbed my haul, I took inventory on the quality of the other items. I knew everything had been manufactured by Target, and I wasn’t as familiar with their quality. For the most part, I was really impressed! Here are some of my high level takeaways:
- The cotton apparel is nice quality, but runs a bit on the small side– I sized up from the size I wear in many Lilly shifts
- I wasn’t as thrilled with the quality on the non-cotton apparel, and was particularly disappointed by the shorts. So flimsy! I would never feel comfortable wearing them.
- Most pleasant surprise: the white crochet tank– highly recommended!
- Going into the collection, I was most excited about the home goods since Lilly’s brand offerings aren’t as diverse in that category. It lived up to the hype! Most of it seems like pretty great quality (I got the big white ceramic tray, and it’s downright heavy!).
- The pillows are cute, but I wouldn’t say the fabric is luxurious. Note that this did not stop me from getting a pair
- Phone cases seem like they will break in an instant!
- The pom pom scarves turned out better than the ones with tassels/fringe
As fun as the shopping was, I found the whole setup at the park completely enchanting. I came back during it lunch, and loved seeing New Yorkers, dressed in head-to-toe black, lounging on these amazing beach chairs.
There was also something about watching bankers play Lilly ping pong that really put a smile on my face. If only every day in Bryant Park looked like this…
I did pick up a few things while shopping, too…
So excited about this storage basket! It’s neutral with just a hint of the Lilly we know and love
If only we could always look like this for $38!
Procrastination Station- April 15
Posted on April 15th, 2015
If procrastination were a real crime, the internet would almost always be charged as an accessory before, during, and after the fact. Introducing the Procrastination Series, a weekly Wednesday series. I am actually pretty good at not falling into the procrastination trap (I just really hate having outstanding items on my to-do list), but if you’re going to put off your work or take a little me-time break, you might as well do it with the following quality items:
1. I think Roxy Te Owens is pretty much the greatest. She’s the genius behind Society Social, an interiors company that was born from a series of bar carts. We have the same go-to drinks– a G&T, or champagne– which is probably very important. Her lookbooks are always completely to die for, with pages and pages of perfectly styled interiors. Flip through the latest one, Project Sofa vol. 3, here. This couch will be mine.
2. For some of you who may be on waitlists for college admission right now, 1) I’m sorry because I’ve been there and know how hard it can be! and 2) here are some creative ways candidates have gotten noticed in the past
3. Laura at A Little Bit of Lacquer wrote a post earlier this week on what it’s like to be at a crossroads, or feel like you aren’t sure you’re going down the right path. I think it really applies beyond the world of medicine– these are questions so many of us ask ourselves at one point or another!
4. It’s no secret that social pressures around women’s attire are a lot more burdensome than for our male counterparts. Matilda Kahl explores this idea, and provides a unique solution. I don’t know if it’s right for me, though!
5. I LOVE a good TED talk. Lillian Bustle, burlesque performer, wants to help everyone love their bodies and feel comfortable in their own skin.
What has been catching your eye this week? I’m always looking for new things to read!
Beg, Borrow, or Bling
Posted on April 14th, 2015
I first read about Rocksbox on Lauren’s Instagram, and was highly intrigued. Rocksbox is a monthly subscription based service that sends you three pieces of jewelry, carefully selected by a personal stylist, that you simply borrow and enjoy until you’re ready to return for a new set. When you sign up, you take a style survey so they are familiar with the types of pieces and aesthetic you tend towards (I said nothing too edgy, no rings, etc). Some of the brands I have most admired from a far (Kendra Scott and Loren Hope, for instance) are available through Rocksbox, so I’m really looking forward to trying their pieces. As a bonus, Rocksbox gives you a $10 credit towards any pieces you decide you love so much that you can’t bear to part with– and they’re deeply discounted. For $19 a month, I had to sign up.
My first box came at the end of last week. It did take about two weeks to arrive once I had registered, but I attribute this to cross-country shipping (Rocksbox is in San Francisco, I live in New York). But it was well worth the wait for these beauties!
I already wore the studs today and received several compliments. I’m excited to have pieces with which to experiment to help me break out of my Kate Spade studs/gold monogram necklace/the same three statement necklaces rut. Maybe if I am feeling brave I’ll take some photos modeling my new (borrowed) bling… but no promises
Want your first month completely free, no strings attached (really, you could cancel after the first month)? Register for Rocksbox using promo code HELENBFF51! You’ll feel fancy and thrifty all at once– an elusive combination, to be sure.
