Crew Colors

My sister-in-law Esther started running a fabulous little preschool out of her home in LA, and I recently starting sending Freida there on Mondays. It's an incredible opportunity that I can't pass up; being able to introduce Freida to the concept of "school" while still in the comfort-zone of a home that's familiar to her, her aunt as the Morah, and her cousin to buddy with. It has made for a lovely transition (thanks so much, Esther!!). The concept of having a few hours alone to myself on a weekday morning was the more novel part of the venture... : ) I had a few errands to run today (a quest for those $7 Gap pajamas, a few questions at the Apple Genius Bar etc.), and whilst on my leisurely detour I stopped in to J. Crew and discovered some fantastic boxed-up nail color! Apparently Essie and J. Crew have joined the collaboration party and landed themselves some pretty practical nail options: 4 mini Essie current-colors-of-the-season in a minimalistic cardboard box. Love it. I had been on the lookout for some new nail color (since I missed the Chanel Khaki train!!), and fell for this little $20 box of lovelies.

I find that after a year, nail polish goes bad, and I never use up an entire bottle over the course of a year; these mini bottles are convenient, practical, and won't wind up still full in the trash. Not to mention the fact that these would make for easy, no-fail gifts.  Hat-tip, J. Crew!

(In my box: Demure Vixen, Vermillionaire, BBF Best Boyfriend, and Mink Muffs.)

Foldable Flats

I'm finally caving and thinking of buying my first pair of Tieks... I can't bypass - these shoes were made for me!

I'm sure lots of you are sky-high-heel lovers who prance around comfortably in your stiletto-soles day long (lucky you!!), but I'm not one of those gals! Likely some of you out there can understand the feeling of getting dressed for a night on the town and putting on a great pair of your 3" heels only to find that halfway through your night you're wishing that you had selected another pair of shoes? After a few hours the pain is so bad that walking barefoot in a dirty parking lot seems like a better choice. Happens to me all the time. Check out Tieks - they're hot, chic, and fit in your evening bag (so you can forget forcing your husband to go with you into a random store to buy a pair of gnarly plastic flip-flops)!!

Tieks are great for walking long distances to shul, long days at the office, when dinner turns into dancing, weddings, even under a wedding dress!

Each pair comes with:

Signature Tieks box and flower

Pouch for folded Tieks

Reusable tote for heels

Clear pant clips to pin up heel-length pants/skirt

Clothed in Composition

I'm totally smitten by these tees by E for Effort, from Artware Editions. Don't you just love it when simplicity meets creativity?? For me, these evoke memories of all that back-to-school newness, and scents of freshly pressed loose-leafs.... ahh. The kids sizes are adorable - especially for a new schooler, but I'd love to get my husband to break free of his staple BDG tee's and into that quirky memo pad v-neck! : ) Loose-leaf Tees, from $35.00

Khaki Craving

What a fabulous way to fall into this season: khaki nail color. I'm totally digging these new autumn shades from Chanel; they're in sync with the whole military-inspired theme on the fashion front, and they are screaming "fall". All 3 are lovely, but Khaki Brun looks like a burnt and smokey brown - delicious! Khaki nail color, from Chanel

The Novelty of Nordstrom

I've always said that there are 4 places I can walk into, anywhere in the world, and immediately feel like I'm home: Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Walgreens, and Nordstrom. The reasons are namely, the familiarity, the repetition... the way each and every branch is laid out in the same fashion. The service never wavers, and the selection is akin - no matter where on the globe you may find yourself. Nordstrom is a world all its own, it stands out from every other department store, and never seems to change its goodness. A recent run-in with their fabulous customer service has compelled me to share the shopping-joy!

Nordstrom has an official policy that they do not deal with consumer's Bugaboo issues, rather customers must contact Bugaboo offices directly with problems. Now, after months and months of Bugaboo back-and-forth-ing me without so much as an ounce of actual physical problem-solving, I headed back to Nordstrom. I brought with me a file of printed e-mails (the complete and ongoing dialogue), and stated that this is only item I've ever purchased from Nordstrom that I feel fully dissatisfied with the lack of service to back up their product. The manager (thank you, Kathrine!!) leafed through the e-mails, apologized for my inconvenience, and provided me with an even exchange right then and there. Retail simply just doesn't get any better than Nordstrom!

(Oh, did I mention Freida received her first hand-written post-card in the mail? Nordstrom shoe department checking in if her shoes still fit!)

Keep in mind, as a customer you retain the right to be satisfied. Shop happy, dear friends. : )