JLS in should be DM

Is it just us or is Jamie Lynn Sigler wearing an imitation Eva Skirt to the SAG awards last weekend?? Sigh.... We'll be on the red carpet some day... (picture courtesy of gettyimages)

"Not Quite What I Was Planning"

This weekend I read about this book due out February 5th compiled by Smith Magazine (an online mag) that asked people to describe their lives in 6 words. It is a pretty daunting task if you ask me, and I'm young. What an amazing mix of responses they got - I just love the idea. I love picturing people of all different shapes, sizes, color, ages, backgrounds and educations putting their minds to this task and slowly (or maybe quickly) tapping out these precise words - on computers set tucked in every corner of the world, facing different directions, on kitchen a counter with a steaming coffee mug nestled next to it, in a dorm room with the Dead playing, in a cubicle with hustle and bustle around, alone in a corner office at midnight...minds churning. Then polishing off their six simple words with a definitive period. Period the end. Six particular words to carve out from so many years of life. So many different lives, same formula. Some are funny, some are sad. Here are some interesting examples -

Not as blond as I look. - Ellen Meister

Nobody comes, but I still cook. - Shari Berkowitz

Catholic girl. Jersey. it's all true. - Mary Elizabeth Williams

I still make coffee for two. - Zak nelson

My second grade teacher was right. - Janelle Brown

Fascinating that one location, trait, action, memory sums you up - to you. What would your 6 say?

Bleary eyed and up to our knees...

Today we have no fun stories, advice or recommendations. Our heads are spinning from figuring out shipping to a big store. Not only do we not usually the shippers, but we're also used to little guys that let us be loosey goosey. Not these guys. Here is what our floor looks like right now.

Friday Night Lights.

In honor of this Sunday and the writer's strike I wanted to give a little shout out to the television Series Friday Night Lights on NBC. Last week on a flight I stumbled upon an episode and am hooked. With so little good tv on these days, I've taken to watching shows online so I was thrilled to find that NBC has Friday Night Lights posted from episode one. I can watch straight through as if it were a new series. In the Pilot a peewee football player asks the star quarterback "Do you think God loves football?" and Jason replies "I think everyone loves football." That could explain why this coming Sunday is the number one at home party day of the year - more than New Years, and more than the 4th of July. Its is also the #2 day for food consumption (second to Thanksgiving) and #2 day for avocado consumption (second to cinco de mayo). If you felt out of step yesterday because you didnt have a game to watch, tune into NBC.com and you'll be geared up for this coming sunday.

Our Buddy.

As we've told you in the past, Shannon and I spend a lot of time at Phoenix Beads in Herald Square - come rain or shine there are scarf top necklaces to be made. We are there so much, we've even been made privy to the private upstairs room with bags and boxes and bags and boxes of beads. Over the course of the last few years one employee in particular has shined above this rest. Meet Renee. Renee has taken care of Shannon and I for two years now. Whether it is making sure we get the best discount possible, special ordering beads, or helping us out to cabs with insanely heavy boxes, he is there with a smile. This winter he even hand delivered one shipment to our office on the coldest day of the year, instead of charging us the expensive UPS bill. Nothing makes me happier or more impressed than someone taking their job very seriously and doing it with pride. He has made scarf top mania that much easier for Shannon and I. So if you are ever in the market for gemstones or beads of any sort - head to 5 W37th street, and look for Renee - he'll take care of you!

Extra + Susan Ciminelli + DM = Made-over!

This past weekend Extra teamed up with skin specialist Susan Ciminelli to showcase her 7 day plan for radiant skin. With a volunteer looking to drop a few lbs and a clearer complexion, Extra Showcased how Susan's plan works. At the end of the week the volunteer had dropped a few pounds, was glowing and felt better about her lifestyle... Better yet - her debut outfit for the new her was the purple Liza Dress! She looked great on both accounts - Susan's and DM's. Here is a quick shot of them panning the newly made over participant.

Official Pics.

A few months ago Shannon posted a few candids from her sister Annie's wedding, with the promise of more... Here is a great shot of the beautiful bride and all of the bridesmaids in our Evas! Sort of nice to see the vibrant colors and tan skin in these frigid temps... A reminder of what is to come. We love the look of the sweet pink and the green and white flowers - good taste Annie :).

"Attitudes Are The Real Disabilities"

I hope most of you are off on Monday. DM overlooks some holidays when there is work to be done, but this weekend I am headed out to Breckenridge to see my sister and friends (and ski if it warms up) and Shannon is headed home to see friends and family. Of course since it is MLK weekend one is theoretically supposed to make Monday a day of service. I am feeling a little guilty that I am not. To make myself feel a teensy bit better, I figured I would take this post to promote the program that my sister works for during the winter - The BOEC (Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center), in Breckenridge, CO. She has the day off Monday, and doesn't need to feel guilty about it because she spends the rest of her days teaching adaptive skiing. She'll kill me when she reads this, but every day is really a day of service for her - I often find myself bragging about her to other people, and I can't help it.

The BOEC is a not for profit organization started in 1976. As they describe on their website they serve "people with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities, people from low-income backgrounds or disadvantaged environments, people looking for more team unity in their workplace, people learning English as their second language. . . the list goes on and on. Courses are custom-designed for specific agency groups and individuals are welcome to sign up for our open-enrollment programs... A wise bumper sticker once read: "Attitudes are the real disabilities." The BOEC endorses that sticker and welcomes all who are interested to become part of a very unique family." They have dedicated employees and interns who work for next to nothing, and a slew of volunteers that come from far and wide in Colorado to assist on lessons. The stories Jen is able to tell me day in and day out about the fascinating people she is able to teach or assist is awe-inspiring. In fact, she is the one who should have a blog because if we all heard about these amazing people and families more often, we would be shamed by our daily trivial concerns. I won't attempt to repeat any of her stories because second-hand and this small amount of space won't do them justice. Maybe she'll be a guest writer on Monday :).

I'm lucky enough to say I wish I was more like my sister and am lucky to have her as an example in my life. Check out the BOEC if you're interested in using this organization as a way to give back, and enjoy your long weekend.

Sub-zero or Not.

I know this is an odd time of year for this post, especially since it is supposed to be the most bitter it has been all season this weekend in NYC, but perhaps that just shows our dedication... I hate jumping on bandwagons. I don't particularly like trends (of course I can't resist when they = great fashion). So I held out on trying Pinkberry for a long time. And then I denied liking it for longer. The fact that Paris and Lindsay are spotted by Page 6 (which I read religiously) there was reason enough to stick to Tasti-d-lite and TCBY. But a girl can only hold out so long. An array of cereals, fresh fruit and frozen yogurt? Literally three of my favorite things on earth. I've caved in recent months and have been a Pinkberry fan ever since - and they're popping up all over the city.

So the arrival two days ago of COFFEE to the limited flavor choices made my week. I already inject the stuff into my bloodstream every morning, and couldn't be happier to add it to my desserts. Its creamy texture and rich tangy flavor remind me of standing on my tippy-toes, pulling yellow and white Dannon cups out of my parent's fridge and peeling back the foil when I was young and thought it was the only good form of the beans (how little I knew).

I do have to add though, Red Mango - the lesser known predecessor of Pinkberry, just opened directly across the street from PB on Bleecker and is great as well. Same exact thing, but now it'll be a struggle to choose between the two - more cereals at Red Mango, Coffee at Pinkberry. So while others have tunnel vision for a piping earl grey or tomato soup in January, I throw on an extra fleece and head for my yogurt.

Silent Bobs

I joke that I'm writing to my mom and 2 friends because we feel like we are. But we are joking a little bit because we can look at our statistics and see that plenty of days 50 or more people check out our blog. We wish more of you would comment! Maybe our subject matter is uninteresting? Then tell us! We thought a t-shirt and hat giveaway might at least inspire people to send us more pictures. Where are you?? We sent out so many!! Write to us, send us pics - be our friends :). And don't make us buy you with gifts again. Here is my dear friend Graham Rives and Rebecca Ginns - Graham made certain to send me pics of him photographed in his DM hoodie in Israel and we couldn't be more appreciative. We're looking for some interaction here, and not just wise-ass comments from little sisters (ahem - Kathryn).

She's Making a List...

I know - Christmas is over and no I'm not talking about Mrs. Claus, I'm talking about myself. I am a list maker. Everything from a run-down of what I need to do in one day, to bullets of what need to be accomplished over the next few months, thank you notes that need to be written, phone calls that need to be made. Come to think of it, groceries are probably the one thing I don't write a list for (though they say its a smart way to keep yourself healthy and focused in a market - oops). Lists keep me on track and on top of what needs to get done. Nothing is more satisfying to me than making a nice big check over "order fabric for D21" or "pick up dry-cleaning." Sometimes its not even about needing a reminder - sometimes I'm just more likely to get something done if I can draw a thick black line through the words "Ship samples back to CA" than if its just a mental note. So it struck a chord with me when in the life coach in February's O Magazine (I know, I apologize for being a nerd) wrote about making lists for life goals, short and long term. She explained that she has seen time and time again, that when someone makes a conscious active record of what they want from this planet that it can miraculously come true. Part of it she says, is weeding out the superficial (or as she calls the shallows - material things) to get to the core of what you want. As if by saying out loud "I want a BMW" you will realize that this want is frivolous. She argues the same thing goes for significant others. That while the infamous craigslist posting is never going to get her "millionaire investment banker from Tribeca" because she is, Martha Beck says, constantly grasping on things she desires and operating as isolated and separate, that those of us who actualize our own happiness and then build on real valuable things we want from there, we can get them. Because once we have found our own inner peace, we know its not dollar signs that are going to compliment us. Perhaps list making is the best way to sort these desires out. When I first started reading, despite my love of list writing, I was skeptical. Lists of what to achieve or want from another person has always seemed somehow arrogant or egotistical to me. But this article made sense to me. Why shouldn't we focus as directly on what we want out of another person or our careers, as we do on what vegetables we need from the produce department on Tuesday? Cause if we don't know what or who we want who is going to know for us? I think its time for me to write another list - maybe not quick as quickly checkable or chuckable as the ones I usually write. Its January - no better time.

Free to Buy Beautiful Handmade Jewelry!

Congratulations to our dear friend Jewelry by Beth Lauren on being carried by Free people! Here is a shot from the January catalog where you can purchase pieces of her beautiful Kalima Collection. Check it out. We think it looks fabulous interspersed with Free People. Happy Monday everyone!

In the Name of Scarf Tops.

I saved this pictures from yesterday's Post because I thought it really said it all as to how the weather we've been having makes us feel. I'm pretty sure I felt like this little one with the pink jacket as I walked around in short sleeves this week. And then today hit. Shannon and I strolled over to our bead supplier - where we spend much of our days with our dear friend Renee - and as soon as the door closed behind us it was dark as night and down it came. So with our pounds and pounds of beads in hand we hoofed it through midtown and sheets of rain.

Thank goodness for Wellies--the only thing that kept us dry. My $4 umbrella certainly did not And as you can see below - Shannon's wellies were her only savior. So we may be drowned rats, but we're back in the office with beads galore. Come hell or high water (or bleeding fingers) stores with have their spring orders, and we were lucky enough to have some gorgeous weather this week and a reason today to appreciate it all the more! So stay dry and TGIF - enjoy the weekend!!

We're Baaaaaack!

Meet Lori and Melissa! These girls rep DM in their showroom - The Great Room, in LA - and they travel all over the country with our line selling it to stores. So this week they were here in NYC for the Intermezzo show, and Shannon and I joined them in their booth - carrying three of their lines - to help out with our goods. We had a great time hanging out with them over at the Pier 92, and Shannon and I count it as a successful show for Dakota Martin.

We took them to Tartine for dinner, and during our non-busy hours Melissa taught us the magic that is Black Berry Messaging. Who knew it existed? Well we do now... And we only wish more people had black berrys. Its dangerous though - IM on your phone. I love my black berry as much as I wish it didnt exist and this is only going to heighten both ends. Next stop with these girls is Vegas in February for the Project show - Look out!

Addicts!

Welcome Dakota Martin Bucks!

Here is a sneak peek of the new DM logo - Shannon and I are very excited about it! Our cute little bucks were designed by the very talented Vanessa Luchtan and we're excited to plaster them everywhere!

We hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, and we apologize in advance that we will be absent at the beginning of next week. We will be joining the girls from The Great Room - our LA Showroom, at the Intermezzo show at the show Piers on the westside highway - we're hoping to drum up some new business so wish us lots of luck, and tell any store owners you know that we're stationed right near the lunch cafe ;). Cheers and TGIF.

She Found Us!

shefinds.com found Dakota Martin again yesterday, while honoring Gossip Girl style... Shefinds thinks you might need a poncho to be as cool as Blair. We agree its a good start - we have the poncho, we love it - but we cannot tell a lie - we still aspire to be Blair. We don't care if she is 8 years younger than us (really only 6-makes us feel better), she's the coolest thing to happen to the Upper East Side in a while. Thanks Shefinds!! We also want to direct your attention to the NYmag blog/recap about each episode. We love it. If you're a fan, and you don't have to be bashful about it--as you can see we're not, check it out.

Cheers to 2008!

Well it's a new year and we're ready for a fresh start. But we do want to be careful of being thankful for what has taken us happily and healthfully into 2008. As we were celebrating Monday night a friend told us she had spent the afternoon making a list of things she was thankful for this past year. Ever since my mind has had a running list of things Im thankful for. Here is a random sampling of the long long lists that Shannon and I have:

Shannon is thankful for in 2007 are the beautiful celebration of her sister Annie Casey's marriage to Drew Milligan this past September. She is thankful that Intermix has placed an order with us that we will deliver this February, and she is thankful for our favorite day of the year - the hunt 2007, which was a ridiculously fun day. She is thankful for the Timbaland remix of Apologize.

I am thankful for office space (no matter how cold it is right now) so that Dakota Martin has a place to hang its hat every day. I am thankful for text messaging -- as annoying as it can be, it can also be quick ray of sunshine letting you know someone is thinking about you when a phone call would be impossible. I am thankful for a certain voice that barked evenly and confidently at me as I ran the last mile of the marathon with everything I had left. I am thankful for 5 days spent in LA to celebrate the wedding of one of my favorite people in the world. I'm not going to lie, I'm thankful for construction men. You can be having your ugliest day of the entire year in sweatpants, and if you walk past a little drilling there is some wave, some smile, some hello to make you laugh and remind you that you are recognizable as a female. Im thankful for sunshine greeting cards with peppermint patties and blowpops when Im down in the dumps. I am thankful for Alicia Keyes new song No One.

And our lists go on and on. I could write novels on why I'm thankful for each member of my family and each of my friends, but I won't put you all through that. Instead, a picture of the girls at Susan's wedding - which was a fantastic addition to the holiday bashes bringing 2007 to a close.