Giving Thanks

The year is coming to a close and Shannon and I have so very much to be thankful for. We couldn't even begin to list why we are the luckiest girls in the world, so we'll just throw one out there. Recently we offered free t-shirts on the blog. We had a really fantastic response, mainly the kind words people had to say about what we work at every day. So thanks to all of you who we don't know, but have supported us by buying, wearing, and loving Dakota Martin! Here are some of the comments we were emailed --

Please open a store in Pittsburgh, PA! We love you!
A friend of mine gave me a link to your website and blog and I love what I'm seeing! I hope you don't mind I've put a link to your site in my own blog- I love to share new preppy finds
I love you guys! My mom bought me a sweater that I wear pretty much every week.
Your stuff is just too cute for words! My friend posted the link to your site(s) and I just love it all..I want the scarf top for Christmas!
I have one of your Patty Polos and absolutely adore it! [
My friend Kate told me about you guys a while ago, and I love you! My cableknit sweater is so comfy that I find myself wearing it all the time :)
I love your cableknit sweaters! I am definitely putting a few on my Christmas wish list this year.
Saw your stuff, loved it, and hunted down your site! I will definitely go back and blow some Christmas money on it.

THANKS GUYS!

Congratulations Susan and Jonathan!

December 22nd Shannon and I attended our dear friend Susan's wedding. She married Jonathan McEvoy in a beautiful ceremony at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, and we celebrated at the Franklin Institute in Center City Philadelphia. Susan looked stunning (as you can see here), the bride and groom looked like they were floating, the bridemaids were beautiful, and the dancing was non stop.

I just finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and this is one of my favorite passages which I think is important for all of us to think about as we head into the new year: "I keep remembering one of my Guru's teachings about happiness. She says that people universally tend to think about happiness as a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul to hold tight to its good attainments."

May Susan and Jonathan hold tight to their good attainments and keep swimming upward into their happiness forever. Congratulations guys.

Merry Christmas!

Lily - Santa's little helper...

Indiana - Santa's big helper...


Merry Christmas from everyone at Dakota Martin!

Twelve Drummers Drumming...

Seniors girls gathering in the gym!

Sorry for the delay - Christmas shopping took over my whole day and I did not have time to download our grand finally! Lizzy and I went over to our high school - Agnes Irwin yesterday morning to see the Christmas assembly. A favorite day for all Irwin's girls! The whole school gathers into the upper school gym decked into holiday gear. Skits are preformed by teachers and holiday songs are sung by different groups throughout the school. Santa and his reindeer!

Christmas is all around us in the gym! I did my best to tape the 12 day of Christmas...each grade K-12 sings a day... Merry Christmas!

Video coming...

Better late than never...

Our apologies for no post! As a consolation I'm posting this elf yourself video I just made. I know everyone has seen this by now, but I had NO idea you could have multiple elves in one video and all of a sudden I was in desperate need to elf myself and my sisters. I cant watch this enough.

The elfed Sall sisters

11 pipers piping

Do you know I actually just google imaged "11 pipers piping" because it occurred to me that I had NO idea what piping was. I think for the past 25 years I've let the image of Lords a Leaping carry over to the pipers in my mind. But leaping lords do not have pipes and I realized robin hood hats and tights could not be it. I feel like an idiot - they're bag pipers. Obvi. I guess I just had never heard a Christmas carol use abbrevs. I thought that was reserved for 14-30 year old girls circa now, not circa 1700, when the song was first recorded to have been used.

Since we don't have any kilts to put on sale for the pipers to be properly clad, and since the grand finale is fast approaching, we are putting our every popular, ever versatile, scarf top on sale. Another one size fits all, perfect gift, and as always -- the perfect unique party top for Christmas or New Years with fun trousers... Get yours today at 20% off. Cheers!

*photo is of two of our biggest scarf top purchasers: Rebecca Zoller and Julia Hoyt!

I heart New York (again) and the Lords are A Leaping...

I know I've talked about it before, but I love New York. And this week my favorite New York mag came out -- Reasons to Love New York. Sort of necessary at this time of year, and I appreciate their timeliness. It's cold and I think its just about when most New Yorkers wonder why they don't live in California. We're pasty white, freezing cold, still walking everywhere in our 80 layers, and thinking about the fact we have a good 3 months, if not more, of this in front of us. So being delivered a list of reasons why I get a kick out of the city is just what I needed and I wanted to share some of them with you in case you've also been perusing Kayak.com for tickets, well, anywhere.

Posted on nymag.com :

"I love New York because we order pizza from the Italian place across the street and have our laundry delivered. We take a taxi to the gym. We know exactly what we want out of life and careers but can't decide where to eat brunch. We make plans and don't keep any of them. We think a studio for $1,500 a month is a steal , but get pissed when the coffee guy raises his price 25 cents. We fight with cabbies about their driving skills, but we are 35 and have never had a driver's license" - Alexis Desieno

"I love New York. I refer to it as my abusive Boyfriend. It slaps me around a lot but I know Ill never leave it" - Gillian Rocher

"I love New York because in a city filled with 8 million people you can still run into your crazy ex-step mother at a deli in Times Square" - Elizabeth Ozembhoy

"because when your boyfriend breaks up with you at 2am on a Tuesday night, you can always find a bar that is full of hot people with a bartender that will feed you shots and a cute boy you can make out with" -kara Cady-Sawyer.

And the list goes on and on... Any beyond the personal shout outs, NYmag does a superb job at giving reasons we all love it -- #27. because you can find love underground (with real life stories of married subway-meeting couples), #31. Because we can eat warm chocolate bread pudding with bacon creme anglaise out of a truck (loving the MUD truck on my block), #33, because you can party on your way to your party (another subway shout out!), #34. because you can never finish seeing the MET (need to get back there asap), and my two favorite : #49, Because people will argue about anything (see Wash. sq facelift, or any dinner conversation Ive ever had) and #39. Because we're not actually that rude. This is what I always try to convince people of. Nothing thrills me on a day-to-day basis like giving someone directions. I love that I live in one of the more confusing areas of the city because it means visitors are more dependant on locals. I often slow down or take my earphones out when I walk by someone with a map. And I don't think I'm alone. I'm sort of ashamed to admit it, but sometimes i even butt in when I hear someone hesitate in the least giving directions. I've had strangers offer me tissues and give me sympathetic frowns when I cry on the street (who does that?), And Ive chased mothers down the block when a blankie drops out of their stroller. You just don't get these interactions in a non-walking, non-public transportation based area of the country. I look forward to my visits with my dry cleaner, my UPS man, and my newspaper man - all of whom I see more than my family, and I don't even know some of their first names. I smile every time I see a chivalrous man rush to help a woman with a stroller or suitcase up the subway steps and every time I see someone jump off their subway seat for an elderly or pregnant woman. New York is great because we all band together over our abusive boyfriend. Right now He's knocking us around with slush and wind, but in a short time we'll run into an old friend, meet a new one, eat at the BEST new hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or see the most amazing exhibit and our love with make us turn the other cheek for the next subway flood/cabless freezing night/long post office line.

But I digress.... its the 10th day of Christmas, and since the Ladies don't need to leap with the lords we've put the Alana wrap on sale. This adorable holiday skirt is perfect for Christmas eve/night! But since its a wrap, we'd suggest watching the leaping and not partaking...

9 Ladies Dancing To celebrate the newest Macaoine!

This is a family photo (pre-newest addition) of the Macaoine family - Kim, Emma, Luke, Joe and Colby - that Kim passed along to me to show us DM being sported out on a beautiful London afternoon. We LOVE this shot, but have been keeping it to ourselves while we awaited the arrival of the littlest - born December 15th - Miss Hope Macaoine! Congratulations Kim, Joe, Emma, Luke and Colby on your joyful holiday gift!!

And on this ninth day, we're completing the "cruise" sale - check out the Montana cardigans, Hamilton Henley's and Meghan button downs -- all on sale!

Stop milking, start celebrating.

Its Friday, so the 8 maids a milking deserve a rest from the cows. We suggest a night on the town dancing (though 9 ladies dancing does come tomorrow... Perhaps these 8 maids just pick up a friend) So to help these gals ditch the overalls and paint the town red, we're putting our Liza dress - in raspberry and regal purple - on sale for 30% off. Bring some bright cheer into the next few cold months - as you can see here, the Washington Post Express - with our Liza on the model - agreed that it is a good time for that!! Enjoy the weekend!

7 swans, Chiquita Bananas, and Michael Tanks.

I saw this sticker on a banana this morning as I ran some errands before work. It has been a grey grey week. It has been cold, and a little long. So this morning as I left the gym bundled and alone and ducked into Gourmet Garage, it was a quick smile as I read this sticker. Chiquita hearts my heart. How sweet of them to care. I liked it so much, I peeled it off of a banana I was not buying, and put it on one I was. I little ray of sunshine on a grey, cold Manhattan December morning. Instantly my favorite ad campaign of the season. A quiet, understanded heart warmer. Shannon and I have branding on the brain as we rework our logo with the talented help of Vanessa Luchtan and I just had to share this little gem.

And in somewhat related news, we have seven swans a swimming to deal with on this 7th day of christmas. The natural sale? The Michael Tank! Now 50%. The perfect crisp white alternative to the actual wife-beaters we wear to the gym - re-imagined for a formal skirt, or cute shorts... And what does swimming, bananas, and clean cut white tanks have in common??? Resort time! So if youre skipping out on the snow and hail we're being hit with now, and you're destined for sunnier skies - pick up a (cheap) Michael Tank for the road... There aren't a lot left so act fast and bon voyage ;).

Why buy geese when you can get a hat for free?!

A laying goose is definitely a gift that keeps on giving. Whether your in the market for pets or omelets for years to come (Not sure Ive ever heard of a goose omelet though), 6 laying geese should give you ample supply of either. However, we bet geese are difficult to house, maybe dirty and maybe expensive upkeep.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but just wanted to tell you if you want to skip out on the geese, email Shannon and I at lizzyandshannon@dakotamartin.com and we'll send a FREE DM hat or T your way! Just because, and because it is the season of giving.... So drop us a line, say hi, and specify s/m or m/l for hat size, or T size, though We can't promise Ts exactly - it might be whatever is closest.

Here is a shot of a DM Hat bandit at the Hunt that Miss Stephanie Haldy had to track down. We were of course happy to have him keep it - but that's just an example of what a hot item we're giving away - people have stooped to stealing.

Gold or Golden??

Sunday I was showing off that I knew all twelve days of Christmas by heart and singing it to some friends. They actually all looked genuinely impressed - despite my bad voice - until I held the extended gooollllllllld rings. I heard a few ewws, and got a glare or two, and was told that it is Golden. Which I know. But I thought it was a tomato, tomato situation - which ever suits your fancy... Apparently not. Apparently gooollllllld is as offensive as I would find it if someone used the word Tomato-soft a, not tomAto. Or why does Martha Stewart (and I say this with the disclaimer that she is my idol) say Herbs - H pronounced, when the rest of the world says erbs? ApEricot vs apricot? Or what I always get yelled at for - pronouncing won more like juan than one. People are finicky and funny about pronunciation, and my word of advice this month is to belt out GoldEN rings, not gold - if you don't want any Grinch death stares.

And in honor of 5 goldEN rings, we're putting the Laurie Dress on sale for $123.00. If the price tag accompanied with 5 goldEN rings is a little daughting for your bank account, this jeweled piece is the clear answer - for a fraction of the price you can get your true love jewelry and a dress in one. Clear winner.

And for a Quiet 4th day of christmas...

We don't know about you, but with this construction outside our window we're not looking for any calling birds. Our Christmas carols are competing enough for a voice. Instead, might we suggest our favorite DM piece - the Charlie Poncho? Now $100 off?! In any of its three Delicious color combinations? This beautiful plaid Italian wool is perfect for wrapping yourself in on a cold winter night, or into early spring. And the same plug I can never help myself from making... It reminds me SO very much of Mary Tyler Moore. I can just see her spinning in the street as she turns the world on with her smile in the charcoal and pumpkin plaid. And who doesn't want to channel one of the most confident, independent, beautiful and sweet icons of the 70s? A trailblazer for her time, and always dressed to the nines. Look at her here - She could strut her stuff through Manhattan, December 2007. I'll take it any day :).

And instead of french hens..

My true love handed over three snuggly cashmere cable knit Susan sweaters - in harbour green, navy, whisper white or marlin blue. Perfect for cozying up over the long winter months, and far more practical than live animals. Only small sizes left - act fast!

Also, if you live in the Philadelphia area, Shannon and I are participating in the Holiday shops at the Devon Horse Show tomorrow from 5 to 9pm at the Hospitality booth under the grand stand, which benefit the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation. For those of you from the area, we all know how important the Devon Horse Show is. Nothing starts a summer like strolling the dirt path of tiny shops, sucking on lemon sticks, winning stuffed animals, riding the rickety ferris wheel, and watching the horses soar through the air during grand prix from the bandstands. We're happy to support such a wonderful local event that has been around since 1896 and quickly became the largest horse show in the US. We're ready for the end of May just thinking about it. Giddyup!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Well, before we tell you today's sale -- let us, yet again, give a little shout out to our upbringing. You can ask any girl at Agnes Irwin her favorite day in school and 9 out of 1o will tell you its the Christmas Assembly. On the half day before Christmas break the whole school of 500 packs into our very old gym and sits on the floor, lined up down the basketball court, by grade. Kindergartners (in their ADORABLE smocks) closest to the stage, and the seniors at the far end, in front of the alumni. The administrators do a skit (including the head of the upper school prancing around as... Prancer), the Bel Cantos sing gorgeous Christmas carols joined by alumnae bels, and then the grand finale. Arguably the most beloved teacher in the upper school, Dr. Barnett, stands to conduct the 12 days of Christmas, always arms waving like a conductor, and he directs each class to stand and sing their day. A Partridge in a pear tree for kindergarten/first grade, 12 drummers drumming for seniors (the most loud, boisterous, and sad since its their last year). And each grade bounces up and down upon their turn to sing. I'm pretty sure I cried through the silly string my senior year, and I still have a perfect mental image of Dr. Barnett - hovering at what seemed like 6 foot 8, hunching and waving, straight faced, at each class up to bat.

So today, in honor of our polo wearing past, Pattys and Ports are on sale for buy one get one free!! Select what you would like and enter GETONEFREE in the coupon code. Sale runs till next Tuesday - and snap up your Mills on sale till Monday!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Corduroy Mills poncho in carmel or nav - eee! Today begins twelve days of DM sales, express for the holidays. Every day a new item will go on sale and be on sale for a week. First up is our adorable Mills poncho - a whole $100 off. The perfect little gift as it is one size fits all -- no risk of insulting your girlfriend or your sister, and no exchanges necessary! The countdown is on, and the shopping needs to be done - let us help you!!

And the Photo is a tree Shannon and I spotted this weekend at a holiday party - 3rd annual Bourbon and Baked Brie, and we couldnt get enough of this little Charlie Brown christmas tree, thought you might like it too. the burlap bag is much cuter than a stand, and better yet, you can replant it post holiday!