When Life Gives You Lemons.

A little classic New York before I head out of the city for the holiday...

The following is an email a girlfriend told me about over drinks at Perilla this weekend. We all sat and listened to the described contents with our jaws on the floor, and promptly repeated it to every girl we came in contact with. There are some fantastic New York dating stories out there...well, probably everywhere, but given the volume of dating here and volume of older (than the national average) bachelors, the numbers of outrageous set ups/blind dates/first meetings, has to be significantly higher in this blessed city.

I changed the name for privacy's sake since I don't personally know either party (thanking my lucky stars I don't know the author). This email was sent after a mutual friend set a pair up on a date - they chatted for one hour over one drink...

Hey Jill.
I was looking over my schedule for the next couple of weeks/months and honestly don't see a single time that we can have a proper date. I did have fun talking to you when we did manage to get together and Nina really seems to think we'd be great for each other (I'm not disagreeing), but the way my schedule is right now I don't see how it would be fair to either of us to push towards any kind of relationship. I may be assuming too much in that this is what you were even remotely interested in, but I want to make sure you know where I'm coming from just in case.
I would still like to meet up with you when I have the time and would be open to something less than a formal relationship (i.e. hook up with each other...assuming you'd want to), but I could only do that if it's something we were completely in agreement on. Who knows what will happen when things finally calm down for me, but for now this is all i can offer. I completely understand if it's something you're not interested in and regardless I'd still like to be friendly with you. I just wanted you to know where I stand before I push forward with anything else with you (which I admit is kind of odd considering we've only been on one "date," but you deserve to know what I'm thinking).
I hope everything's been going well and have fun at the party tomorrow night. I ended up bailing on my trip this weekend, but feel kind of awkward showing up at the party considering what I just wrote and not knowing your stance. Either way, though, let's keep in touch.

"Jill," seeing the humorous side of this horrific email, immediately sent it to a friend in PR and said - " Not sure if you are working on any NYC dating/relationship stories, but the note below was just too good not share. This is one of many dating fiascos, but take a look below at the e-mail I received after 1 date, 1 hour, and 1 drink. Hope you find it as funny as my friends and I did and will write about this to share insight on why so many women are single in New York. Thanks so much!! "

It is wonderful to see such a light-hearted reaction in such a cynical world. Instead of being bitter or sad or thinking this absurdity a reflection of her, Jill clearly recognized that any issues here were on the side of her date's and not her own. Far too many girls fall into the trap of self doubt, but Jill took this lemon of a date and this sour situation and made some sweet lemonade for her friends, and New York women at large. Who wouldn't laugh at this? I think my favorite part is his constant attempt to remain polite throughout the email. I mean, really? Was a side of politeness necessary with this ridiculous request? I hope Jill did not reply, but either way I'm happy she laughed. A teacher in high school had a poster that said "Life is 10% what happens, and 90% how you react" and I always think about it because I don't think there are truer words.

I always loved that Sex and The City was based on stories the writers heard around New York, like a friend calling to tell a writer a doorman had just broken up with her for her boyfriend. Too bad Jill doesn't have SATC to report to, but if nothing else, she's already made a lot of girls in New York City laugh.

Holiday Frocks.

Last month's Bazaar says we need built in necklaces - something we've been providing you with for seasons! So if you're looking forlornly into you closet, distressed about what to wear to all of your festive holiday gatherings, pick yourself up a Laurie Tunic/Dress, and get jewels and dresses in one! Plus stay tuned for new spring colors...

3 Cheers for Miss Allison Mountcastle Dodd

...(or Allisinner, Ashley Doody, Alicat) Who passed the New York Barr today!! We had supreme confidence in her ability to do this, but just the same - what a sweet reward for 3 very long years of a lot of work!

Her mother recently had these words to say about her and we couldn't agree more -

You are the best, the smartest, the coolest, the most beautiful, the most fun and the most wonderful young woman in the world, and don't you forget it - - ever - - no matter what. You will get whatever you want, and life is not a race and there is no deadline on anything you want to achieve! I am supremely confident that you will pass this test, because you did your best and your best is WAY more than enough... Regardless of the outcome, you will be in good company, present and past - - and like good NU grads, we know how to party regardless of the outcome of the game!!!

So raise your glass for our dear dear friend. Congrats Al!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Har Zion Hanukkah Bazaar

I don't think we were dressed up for services in this shot. I'm pretty sure Aunt Ellen wouldn't have let us out of the house in this, as impressed as we may have been with ourselves. My cousin Becky and I did spend a lot of our childhood together at Har Zion, from regular services to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, we put in our time. I am somewhat of a religious mutt -half Lutheran half Jewish (Lujew), Presbyterian Youth Group... But I logged some serious synagogue hours with Beck. In fact I have one distinct memory of playing a hiding objects game in a plaque room. We got a shoe stuck behind a name plaque and were sure we were going straight to hell when the plaque came loose. I dont think I've ever told anyone. I haven't been back to Har Zion in a long time, but tomorrow Shannon and I are participating in their annual Hanukkah Bazaar. Now is my chance to give back for the loose plaque that needed to be re-screwed in the wall because of Becky's and my entertainment.

If you're on the Main Line come see us from 9:oo to 3pm, 5 to 8:30pm or Wednesday from 9am to 2pm.

Nah...

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to be of our generation or a generation above and not know every Seinfeld episode by heart. I still can watch any rerun (which I do on a borderline daily basis) and laugh out loud with my roommates or by myself. And Jerry has a stand up CD that I have more-or-less memorized that still brings tears to my eyes. Every dance floor I am on with my father we still break out the Elaine and think its as hysterical as the first time. Imagine what Elaine, Kramer, Jerry and George could do with today's social norms. Text messaging, facebook, match.com, would be endless episodes of "nothing" topic discussion. Every now and again I have a conversation with a friend or witness a scene where I think to myself what a perfect Seinfeld episode it would be. If only they would come back to us.

Saturday night I had just such a discussion. In preparation for a birthday party downtown I met Shannon and Jen for a drink at Agave (YUM) on Seventh Ave. I pulled up a chair to their table, grabbed a glass of Sangria, and Jen, in her very animated story-telling fashion, began telling me how they had invited a friend of hers from college to join her and Shannon for dinner. His responding text simply said..... "Nah." "Nah?!" She said. "We extend a friendly invitation, and its not no thanks, or stuck uptown, or already have dinner plans, just NAH. WHO SAYS nah?!" Nah, carried us through the rest of the night. Every question got a shrug and a "Nah." I'm pretty sure we would have been appalled (/ really very amused) by this response from a best friend, much less a social acquaintance. Lucky for us the "nah" perpetrator joined us at the birthday party... And he got to hear about it all night.

So this morning when Shannon asked me if I needed anything from the corner store and I unconsciously said "Nah," and she unconsciously responded "Nah?" We both paused and died laughing. Who says nah?? I'm pretty sure we'll never say it the same again. And we certainly won't text it. And maybe we're giving ourselves too much credit in the witty department, but we're pretty sure George, Jerry, and Elaine could have an extended lunch scene at the diner discussing the audacity of a mutual friend who responded to a friendly offer with the written word "Nah."

E-A-G-L-E-S!

I love the EAGLES! I always have and always will. There is nothing better than dressing up in full snow gear (when its freezing out) and going to a football game down at the Linc in Philadelphia. My friend Libby Berlacher has a love for the game as well - we look a little crazy in this picture, but we were warm!

Nothing beats Philly fans either! Lizzy and I just love this picture of Liz Libre - sporting her Birds hat!

Us girls have Philadelphia pride win or loss with the Birds! Yesterday the Eagles pulled through with a win against the Redskins. The Eagles have a (4-5) record, but can still win the wild-card race if they get on a roll.


My personal favorite player is Westbrook - a Villanova alum. Yesterday he dedicated the game to his uncle, William Torney, whose funeral was Saturday. Way to lead the Eagles over the Redskins!

GO EAGLES!

For the Love of Uggs.

We should be ashamed. Or at least everyone makes us feel like we should be. But Shannon and I can't help it. We love Uggs. We're huddled and freezing in our office. I have everything on I walked in in minus my gloves. We're heating water for tea like its going out of style and we're pretty convinced the radiator is for show (so this is why our office rent was cheaper than anything else we saw.... Construction and subzero temps - a ha). Between gulps of hot chocolate and laughing at one-an-others scarves and overcoats we keep coming back to the Uggs. Me in my tall sand, she in her tall black. There is nothing like the warmth and coziness of these puppies. Nothing says a relaxing winter night at home (or day in the office) like slipping into this sheep skin.

And we're not ashamed.

Even if I did get looks for wearing them into my posh Manhattan salon yesterday. In fact we're so not ashamed we'll tell you what DM piece you can pair yours with the be the cutest snow bunny in the lodge. Nothing says winter chic like an Allison mini, leggings, and tall Uggs. On your trip to Aspen, or Jackson, or Sunday River this winter, we dare you. Pop on this ensemble, grab a hot toddy at the bar, and try and tell us you don't feel adorable.