Category Archives: Sparkles

Random tidbits and bits of glimmer to be sprinkled throughout…

Sunday Afternoon & A Couple of Vogues

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Yesterday Josh decided to play tennis in the afternoon, so I decided to go to the gym. And then I decided to instead give myself an afternoon off and indulge in my greatest dual pleasure–sunshine and fashion. I leashed the dog and headed to our rooftop, getting some much-needed color on my blindingly white legs and flipping through this and last month’s Vogues (it’s been a busy eight weeks!), along with an Us Weekly and the latest Martha Stewart Living. Heaven!

voguecovers

I dog-eared some chic spreads, ripped out a cool recipe, and happily watched my pup catch some sun-soaked Z’s. Sure, I prefer when Josh is around because anything with him nearby is more fun than not. But it was still lovely.

When you have two free hours on a Sunday afternoon, what do you love to do with them?

A lovely thing happened on the way to the beach…

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Crystal Pier, San Diego, California… where this little princess became someone’s fiance.

Devoted readers, friends, family… everyone in Sparkle Land who has been wondering where the Hell I’ve gone… please FORGIVE me. In addition to a glorious full-time job that pushes a tad (or more than a tad) past the normal hourly range of “full-time,” and a blossoming freelance writing roster that keeps me busy, Joshy and I disappeared over the week of July 4th for a little R&R… and a BIG life change.

That’s right. After three and a half years of love, laughter, and even some major tears, the man I picked up in a bar in March of 2009 gave me the surprise of a lifetime of July 5, 2012. I thought it was an evening stroll pre-dinner, until he knelt down and shared some very special (private) words, and asked me to marry him. I’ve never known such joy!

Back to Brooklyn, back to reality. I’ve never known such chaos! Between the job and the after-hours job, the wedding planning, and another big announcement that’s in the works (NO, I’m not pregnant!), we’ve been running around like crazy people. We even ran ourselves right into Sinus Infection Land this week, and it’s been Hell climbing out.

This was taken on our vacation, but pretty much sums up what we look like around here most days. Working from home, wedding planning, and other exciting things lead to lazy haircare routines and sweatshirt re-runs.

In any case, I just wanted to remind you that I am still here, and Sparklier than ever! I have a new bridal blog, Born to be a Bride, which I hope you will check out. And I have new, happier outlook. I will not stop blogging about all things sparkly from summer dresses and lipglosses to the fall collections, as they roll out. But there are some big changes coming for this little bride-to-be, and I can’t wait to take you all along for the ride. Let’s go!

xxx, Jensy

One thing this super-blogger and bride is always armed with: a Venti. Keeps me sane, productive, and creative.

This is what makes us girls

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Rocking out to Lana del Ray’s “This is What Makes Us Girls” with my pink earbuds plugged into my pink-rubber-bunny-cased iPhone is a fabulously girly thing. The song makes me think about all the trouble my little posses of the past got into… in high school we were cruising around in the back seat of older boys’ Jeeps, swigging Arizona iced tea mixed with cheap vodka out of water bottles. In college we were buying clothes on our parents’ credit cards and pretending no one would ever find out. And then there were the parties… but no need to get into all of that now.

Flashback: Pookie’s bachelorette party in March 2010. Oh, what a night!

Last week: Getting trapped in a hurricane en route to pick up Pookie at work. This served as the perfect time to experiment with a deep side part and a navy eye liner that I found in her glove box.

So, what now? I’m in my late twenties (yes, I am at the age that I can still pretend is mid twenties but everyone else in the world says it’s late. I am over it). I live a calm and quiet life in Brooklyn with a wonderful boyfriend and a sweet little cat. We don’t have children but we do make dinner together from scratch. I make the beds and he does the laundry. We take walks to the pier for ice cream and occasionally I convince him to join me for a boozy brunch with friends or a raucous happy hour. It’s all blissful.

Pookie is domestic too. One night while I visited her in CT, she buried herself in this cookbook trying to decide what to make me for dinner. In the end, we settled on Chinese takeout.

But what about the girls? I spent this past weekend with Pookie remembering what makes us girls. We got really corny-chic manicures at a local salon for $15 a pop. We went shopping and tried on a million lovely things, then bought one each. We skipped the maxi dresses and blue plastic bangles we didn’t need. We lunched on Thai food outside and, influenced by the crisp rose, went back and bought the unnecessary maxi and bangle. (Pink wine and sunshine will do that to a girl. Learn it!)

We ate Mexican food for dinner and got dressed up for no one but each other. We straightened our hair and wore sky-high heels (and our new dresses, you guessed it!). We stumbled home, drunk on jalapeno-infused margaritas and laughter. We stayed up too late watching reruns of Teen Mom and dancing around this pristine little Brooklyn apartment like school girls. (Yes, Josh was out of town!)

It was more than a weekend of splurging and laughing. It was a time to reflect on who we are, who we were, and why we ended up friends in the first place. She might be my sister-in-law now (my brother fell in love and married her after we graduated; can you blame him?), but at the heart of it all, there are a few things that never change. Glitter, lip gloss, music, high heels, secrets, laughter, drip coffee, and pink wine. This is what makes us girls.

Years and miles might have brought us farther from the moment that this shot was taken, but at our core, Pookie and I will ALWAYS be these girls.

Worry Dolls

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I am a worrier. It’s evident in my daily life today and it was evident in the video footage of me as a child. It’s my fourth birthday. The dining room of my home has been decorated in glitter and tulle. Little girls surround me in a circle of sweetness, handing me gifts and giggling in two’s and three’s. Pan in on the leotard-clad princess in the middle of the circle now. There is a look of sheer panic on her face.

I remember it well. I was worried about the possibility of opening a gift and not liking it. Would I be able to do a good fake? Would the offending gifter catch on and get her feelings hurt? Even more importantly, was I actually worth all this attention? Did anyone even like me? And so began a journey of worry, one that has yet to end.

Now that I am (quite solidly!) in my twenties, I’ve learned to conceal the worry. I think of my relationship with my anxiety much like the proverb about the duck–calm on the surface, paddling like the dickens below. I am quick to conceal anxious thoughts with a huge smile and a self-confident remark. And, in the big picture I actually am quite a happy and confident person. But often, beneath the surface there lurks a sense of doom. What if…? What if…?

Luckily, Pookie serves as a constant source of positive energy and support. She’s also helped me to create a little trick for easing the worry. We call it the Worst Case Scenario Game. You look at the issue you’re frightened/concerned/stressing out about. Then you play out in your mind (or aloud, with a friend, over a cocktail) the absolute worst thing that could happen as a result of this situation.

Step by step, you make a comprehensive plan of how to deal with that worst possible outcome. Now, you have control. Once you’ve assessed the situation this way and gained control, you will find you’re not as worried as you were before. And, my little worry dolls, it’s almost never as bad as the worst case scenario, so you might just find you have very little to worry about after all.

She's been making things better since the days when I used to dye my hair to look like her...

Resolutions for a New Me

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Do you all feel the pressure? It’s the first week of the new year and it’s time to assess what mistakes we’ve made and figure out how to make better choices in 2012. My personal resolutions follow a new and different trend this year than last. Before, I was very concerned with eating in a healthier way, drinking plenty of water, and spending more time listening than speaking. I’m glad I made those decisions at this time last year, and they’ve certainly paid off. I’ve lost some weight, am feeling generally healthier, and have forged new friendships with amazing people due to my adherence to the listening plan.

But this year–can I say this??–it’s more about me. I am ready to embrace the things about myself that I want to improve for personal gain. I hate to really admit this in a public space, but I have (finally) realized after a slew of downs (yes, there were ups, but mostly there were downs in 2011), that I need to commit to myself or no one else will. It is time to kick that novel into high gear and get it done. It is time to moisturize every single night without making a single excuse. It is time to preserve myself even if it means cutting out people who are not there for the right reasons.

On New Year’s Eve and in the days before, I spoke to many people who were absolutely certain that this year is going to better than the last. Socially, economically, personally. Whichever motivations fuel you, you should follow them. You should believe wholeheartedly that this is your year. I know that this is my year, and I am going to do whatever it takes to shine. Not for anyone else, but for the girl in the mirror. It’s time for me to make me proud. I hope you all are working diligently on your own dreams, and remembering that you owe yourself the best that you have. If you build it, they will come. Let’s build it. This is our year.

A Very Sweetsie Chrismy Season

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Budgets and kittens and deadlines have kept us from purchasing the grand, real tree we might have imagined. But in Williamsburg with my little brother this Christmas, the choice to borrow a neighbor’s white tree and make everything deliciously sparkly is good enough for me. I came home from work on Sunday to find a delightful little Charlie-Brown-esque white tree in a corner of the great room modestly decorated in sequins, lights, and little silvery swirls of aluminum tinsel. Yesterday afternoon we finished our shopping (everyone is getting a little–or huge–blue box this year) and I have to say, I am quite pleased with the result.

Now, I’ve just finished sculpting and painting my nails in Lilacism, my old standby. I’ve come home from a delicious evening with a dear old friend from my magazine days. And as I sit here looking at my little tree, and watching the cats run around over Oriental rugs and through hanging silk scarves, I have to admit things are looking up. It’s been a long and interesting year, and quite frankly, a pretty dismal month. But December 25th holds promise of family and love, and plenty of booze. No complaints here. Happy season, my beloved readers! I hope you all rally around your trees, Menorahs, and/or family with the same type of appreciation and love that I am lucky enough to enjoy.

Add a Little Glitter

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Ready to spice up your day but not quite sure how to do it? A touch of shimmer goes a super-long way. You don’t have to go all out to get into the sparkly season, but you can add bits and bobs to join the trend wagon, while adding some much-needed glitter to your busy, crazy day. Some ideas:

Shadow

A sparkling eye shadow is a great way to brighten up your face. While you might not choose this look for day, it’s a fabulous choice for evenings on the town, a hot date, or a Christmas party. Make Up For Ever is one of my favorite brands, and you can always count on them for eye makeup that has serious staying power. This glittering shadow from the brand, only $13, is a perfect treat you can buy yourself and it comes in a ton of great colors. Sephora.com.

Lips

MAC Cosmetics’ “Glitter and Ice” lipstick is slick and special and works by the light of the moon… or the office. From shimmering silver to a punchy, robust red, there is a hue for you. Swipe it onto well hydrated lips for a perfect shimmer and a pretty smile. $15.50. Maccosmetics.com.

Nails

You know I’m an Essie girl, but I have to give a little love to butter London, one of the best nail polish brands to burst onto the scene in recent years. We knew the Brits had style, but did we have any idea how serious they were about their nails? Now we do. The current collection features some pretty crazy sparkly colors that, when worn with everything from a simple black sweater and jeans to a little spandex dress, will make you stand out in the crowd. $14. Beauty.com.

I Remember… this Day in December

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Cool weather has settled in. We’ve had some snow and there is definitely more to come. As December arrives and winter is starting to encroach, it makes me think of times gone by. December is a beautiful month filled with warmth and good feelings. Whatever the “holidays” mean to you, the bottom line to me has always been family. From my dad’s side to my mom’s, from the friends I’ve made who have become family to the colleagues about whom I care deeply, December is the time to celebrate these special people. We can save ruminations and regulations and resolutions for January, facing reality happens in February, and then depression is sure to set in some time in March.

But on this, the first day of December, I would like to wish everyone in my life all of the warmth that you make me feel every day. And to that end, today is World AIDS Day. If you have been looking for somewhere to pour the overflow from your love cup, the AIDS cause is a great place to do it. You can go here for information and ideas on donating and helping out with this important cause. I personally have lost a very dear loved one to this terrible disease and it is extremely close to my heart.

With lots of good wishes for a warm and healthy December…

xx Jensy

A Long Time Coming

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She might have warned against too many accessories, but even Coco loved to drip in jewels...

Not only have I let you down, my faithful readers, but I have let myself down, too. The rush and constant excitement of freelance writing paired with a full-time job has become a truly fun but never-ending cycle that allows little time for personal rumination and other simple pleasures. I have made the firm decision to NEVER wait this long again to update Sparkles & Fun and I hope I have not lost your love and attention!

For today, a quick trend note that I hope you’ll all enjoy. In working at Tiffany & Co and finding myself purchasing a ton of baubles recently, I find that sometimes it can be extraordinarily satisfying to wear too many pieces of jewelry. Yes, I must apologize posthumously to Coco Chanel who advised that a lady should always remove one thing before heading out the door. I proudly admit that more often than not, I’m adding something rather than subtracting. Elsa Peretti open hearts, Tiffany keys, double hearts, charms, Return to Tiffany… more sterling than one can imagine wanting floats from everywhere possible. Oh, and lest we forget the rings…

The moral is, my cherubs, you can never hold too firmly to the rules. What one person deems unseemly or declasse could just be your next fashion moment, so try to enjoy, indulge, and be merry this season.

xxx Jensy

Light as a Feather

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Today is a very proud day for me and for my esteemed colleagues at new online ‘zine, Feather. We have been working tirelessly for the past couple of months to get all the different bits and pieces ready for our excited readers. The magazine will explore themes that matter to girls our age–from the college-bound to the career woman in her early 30′s. Basically, it’s a survival guide for today’s young woman.

We cover everything from fashion and beauty to relationship drama and finances. I’ve already learned so much from the other Feather girls, and I hope you will too. Please check out the site and contact any or all of the editors with your feedback and questions. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it, and that you are excited, as we are are, to watch this project continue to grow and evolve.

Thank you, dolls, for supporting me in everything I do! More to come! xxxJensy

PS. In other news, my amazing boyfriend has set me up with a new email address. You can now reach me on jensy@sparklesnfun.com. Yay!