• Colorful in California

    socal sunset

    If you’ve ever lived in (or even been to) the South, you’ve probably seen Lilly Pulitzer clothing. The uber colorful brand, which started from uniforms at a juice stand in Palm Beach, Fla., tends to be extra popular at Southern sorority houses and the beach towns south of the Mason-Dixon line. But like sweet tea […]

  • Surfing in SoCal

    newport pier

    Long-time readers may remember that I am somewhat obsessed with the idea of learning to surf. I’ve taken lessons a few times, and while I’ve been able to stand up on the board every time, I don’t think I’ll be joining the pro tour anytime soon. Still, practice makes perfect, so when my parents planned a […]

  • The Kentucky Derby

    jenandtobyderby

    I am so sorry for my extended absence. In the last two months, we moved out of our townhouse in Virginia, I dyed my hair pink and then reddish brown, we went to Michigan, Kentucky, and Disney World, and we moved to the Middle East. I will write more about all of those adventures, obviously, but first, […]

  • Southern summer sipper

    peach bourbon cocktail

    While I’m (obviously) a proponent of drinking cocktails year round, there are some drinks that just taste better in the summer. This is one of those cocktails: fresh peaches squeezed into a pitcher with lemon juice, bourbon, jalapeno simple syrup and a few sprigs of thyme. Perfect for sipping on the screened-in porch. Thank you […]

  • Ladylike

    stripes

    When capri pants first started being a thing, circa 1998, I remember thinking I couldn’t wear them because I am too short. I had read some magazine that said anyone under 5’5″ should avoid them, because the length visually cuts you off mid-calf. I eventually got some anyway, of course, and they were fine. I am short, […]

  • [solidcore]

    solidcore

    After months of wanting to try [solidcore], Toby and I finally made it to the Old Town studio recently. Even after three classes, I don’t think I can adequately describe what it is. They used to have a video on their site, but what I’ll tell you is this: In less than five minutes, there was […]

  • Frosted chocolate animal cookies

    frosted chocolate animal cookies

    One of my awesome co-workers, June, recently had an incredibly adorable baby boy. But before she left for maternity leave, we had a shower at work to shower her with love… and cookies. The decorations for the shower were zoo animals, so I decided that frosted animal cookies — like the pink and white kind I […]

  • Cherry Blossoms

    cherry blossom closeup

    While DC isn’t my favorite place ever, I have to admit it has its moments. Cherry Blossom season is definitely one of those moments, though sadly it is very fleeting. This year, Toby was out of town for “peak bloom” (which is only a few days), but he got back just in time to see the […]

  • Aaren’s Spartan Races (and a giveaway!)

    Unfortunately the universe has been conspiring against me for the past few years, so I haven’t been able to do a Spartan Race yet, but one of my BFFs, Aaren, has now run two (because she’s a bad ass!). I asked her to write about her experience to give you an idea of what to […]

  • Pink and black

    pink and black

    Perhaps it’s all the ballet classes I took as a child, but pink and black is my favorite color combination. So when I was lucky enough to find this super neon pink cashmere sweater on sale at a Lilly Pulitzer store in Hilton Head, I immediately paired it with a black-and-white striped top and so-dark-they’re-almost-black […]