Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sunday at Tiffanys

To Me, Time-Change-Sunday is the beginning of Spring.  Last night, our clocks in North America (save a few odd places - Hello Saskatchewan! I wonder if there are US states that ignore daylight savings time, too and I would also love to know if they participate in DST in Europe or Down Under?) "sprang forward" which means that the days are getting measurably more daylight.  Yippee!  It used to not happen till April, but I am frankly glad to have more light at the end of my days!  Now doesn't the last part of that previous line sound very deep?  It was unintentional, but true!  Let There Be Light!  Except When I Am Trying To Sleep!

Well y'all kept me on the straight and narrow.  There were no orders placed at J Crew yesterday!  I am still searching for the review of the bronze moss linen schoolboy describing it looking like grass stains - Louise - if you find it can you send it to me or if you remember where it was send the link??  And I am so happy that Blue Booby is gardening this weekend - I have decided to garden vicariously through her for the next month and half!  And GetFresh went to see soccer/football yesterday!  Spring is surely on the way!

This afternoon, my son and daughter and I are off see the Wizard - the new Oz movie.  I think the reviews are mixed, and apparently some people are surprised to realize that it is a children's movie, but I am most looking forward to the visual delights, my expectations are low and I expect that I will find something to like, if for no other reason, because of Rachel Weisz, whom I am a great fan of!

Last night we watched "The Master" with Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.  While I think that they all acted most admirably and all nominations were justified and I think that the visual aspect of the movie was stunning (The Director seeps you in the 1950s - every scene feels like a photograph visually of the time - the lighting is extraordinary), I found the movie quite long and a bit tedious in places.  But I am glad that I saw it and it should be shown in Cinematography and Set Design 101. 



Okay, I know, I always digress!!!

So Last Sunday, we arrived in NYC VERY early, around 8:30 am, due to our early flight from Portland.  We checked into the hotel, left our bags with the concierge (as we could not check in to our suites until 3 pm) and headed out for a big breakfast.  We have gone to the Brooklyn Diner on 43rd street before and while our meal there had not been awesome, we felt pretty comfortable going there for breakfast.  Our timing was perfect, since within half an hour of arriving the place was standing room only.  My blueberry pancakes were amazing, the rest of the party also liked their meals, so all was good.  The highlight for me was being stopped by an old dandy (we are talking well dressed here - beautifully cut trousers, shirt, tie and suspenders), who looked well into his 90s.  I was wearing my H&M faux motorcycle jacket and black and white giraffe print scarf and black pants and he grabbed my arm and said "You have done a wonderful job of putting yourself together this morning."  Everyone at our table laughed, but I was pretty pleased.  If I am to become a sex symbol for nattilly-dressed octogenarians, bring it on!

The party broke up and the shoppers began their quests.  The men went downtown.  I went with the daughter, the friend and the girlfriend.  I would like to describe the following melee as an epic adventure, but I was trailing behind 3 young women who had come to SHOP.  Here are the lessons I learned last Sunday:

1) They call the store Free People, but you can get trapped there while 3 young women touch, and then try on, everything in the store.  I found myself sitting beside somebody's father and we both kept looking at each other pathetically.  "Forget Free People!" I cried, "Free Wendy!".  Alas, it was not to be.  And trust me, it ain't free!

2) The Uniqlo store on 5th Avenue never ends.  And around every corner, there is another puffy jacket, floral tshirt and polka dot skirt.  If you do not have your cell with you, you need to tie strings between you and your shopping partners.  Almost everything is polyester.  Polyester does not bother 20 year old.  They try it all on.  I get lost.  I wonder "What will the headline look like in tomorrow's New York Post: "Lost Woman found in pile of floral puffers crying inconsolabley?"

3) Don't let them try on Bathing Suits.  They will not like themselves afterwards.  They will not like you.  Do not allow yourself to get in this situation ever.  You have been warned.

4) If it has a print, they will love it.  They were all so sad that the skunk skirt was not at the J Crew store we visited yet.  We bought butterflies, and houses and cats and dogs and bugs and bows.  No embellishment was too much.  And they look good in these prints.  I tried on the larger prints at J Crew - the peony tshirt, the tshirt with the circles inside the square - and they were not flattering.  They try them on and look charming!  Small prints or solids, thy name is Wendy.

5) They do not need to go to the bathroom.  You wonder how they do it, but they do not need to do so.  They stop along the way for a jammin' juice and keep on keeping on.  And then I remembered: I am 30 years older than them.  It all made sense...

Finally, we made our way to Tiffanys!


I must confess - I have never been inside Tiffanys in New York, though I have walked by it many times and done a Holly Golightly and looked in the window.  This time, all of the women on the trip had decided in advance that we would get a momento, a more permanent treasure.

We marched past the diamonds.  I wanted to stay with the diamonds, mesmerized as I was by the shiny objects, but even the clerks could tell that I did not belong on the first floor...


Up the elevator to the third floor: Sterling Silver (AKA the floor that can be afforded).  We knew our price points and were not to be deterred.  And then a lovely chic woman whose glasses I admired greatly (since I am in the market for glasses!) served us for the next hour while we tried on all kinds of goodies.  In the end, we were variations on a theme: Tiffany Blue and hearts and all of the items below can be purchased on their website.



I chose the little silver double heart pendant, one silver, one enamel blue, but which can be worn the other way to simply look like two silver hearts.


It is very delicate and seemed quintessentially Tiffanys to me. 

My daughter chose the enamelled blue heart with the key hole in the center..


Her friend Kate chose the heart and key:


And finally, my son's girlfriend chose a bracelet with the Tiffany heart.

We all left carrying our 4 little Tiffany Blue Bags feeling quite content, a new swing in our steps, since we were now proud owners of Tiffany jewelry!  If I could have put it in my purse, I would have taken the Tiffany Blue Leather Slipper Chair that they had tucked into one of the corners of the store as well....

Getting these relatively inexpensive keepsakes will be a wonderful reminder for each of us of a great trip and for the two girls who had never been to NYC before, it was quite a thrill!

Prior to this, I only had one other Tiffany Blue box, a lovely star keychain given to me by good friends for my 50th birthday!  Now I think I am starting a collection! :-)

So tell me: are you the buyer or recipient of Tiffanys? 

What are you up to this fine Sunday??  Did you remember to set your clocks forward?

Thanks for dropping in and Stay Safe Out There!

61 comments:

  1. LOGISTICS OF LUXE Well WMM, I am happy you all found some sterling souvenirs (wearing my most-days Paloma earrings which I bought with a 21st year paycheque - and ate ramen for a month after - as I type.)

    I think that jacket colour comment Louise noted was on the JCA 5 or 6 days ago under Reviews.

    And your gal pals shop day itinerary desciption, hysterical. I feel that way when cousins' kids come to TO. And I CAN'T believe you braved swimsuits, even shopping for those myself is a stressor, never mind watching angsty teens. Bravo and have a chill Sunday.

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    1. PS Rachel Weisz + Daniel Craig = couple crush (was sad to read Mendes has turned down next Bond, understandable but...)

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    2. Damn that Sam Mendes! Am in Agreement about Rachel and Daniel - they are divine! Thanks for the heads up - will check out the review!

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  2. I thought the Master was OK but not as good as the hype, Joaquin was excellent however, he is good at playing the broodingly unhinged. Clocks go back here two weeks today, I really don't like March, at least it is all dark and cosy in Jan/Feb but March has too much light and no greenery outside, it makes em feel exposed and insecure.
    I loved Tiffany when I was young but not so much now, I don't like any kind of logo, though I have a knife edge gold band which is lovely in its simplicity.

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    1. Tabs, hope your lovely mum has a fine mother's day (ours in May when there actually are flowers to share.)

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    2. Oh Yes Tabs - Happy Mothers day to your mum! Now that I have no mother, am adding her to my list!!!! I hear you on logos, but I don't mind this and it is fun we all got same things. As for broodingly unhinged - my god - that could described me some days!!! Love it!!!!

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  3. I was laughing my head off at the account of your shopping with the girls!
    What a lovely stop at Tiffany's. We went in for 5 seconds, MrBP The Shopper started looking around for something to buy and I did my terrified "Let's Go!"
    I have a sterling silver locket from Tiffany's that was a gift from my sister, it's really beautiful. I have pictures of my kids inside of it. Your necklace is so pretty.
    I am very happy Spring Forward coincides with the beginning of March break, I have a hard enough time getting those kids off to school, it takes them a week to adjust to the new time!

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    1. You are lucky! Mine head back to school tomorrow and it will be a fight for sure! Do you have fun plans for the break?

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    2. Nope we are staying home and relaxing, we have several dvd's of Creatures Great and Small to watch (we're into the second season now, what a great show!) and we'll do some lunches out and a bit of shopping for the girls.
      It's actually a real relief not to travel this year, I get really hectic and anxious before trips, I'm enjoying staying home.

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    3. well since i barely left the house in jan and feb, nyc was a shock! It is nice to stay home some years I find and just be cozy at home.

      I loved that series - used to watch it with my parents many years ago!

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  4. I only have a pair of Tiffany studs that my husband gave me for my 30th birthday, I think he put one or two paychecks on those!
    I have never stepped into Uniqlo, it scares me and now even more!
    I watched The Master last week and hated it, what a waste of talents! I want to start a movement to rescue Joaquim Phoenix, he is such a good actor but he is getting lost.
    Busy weekend here (two birthday parties) but it finally feels like spring!

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    1. Okay I will join that club! I love Joaquin Phoenix - I thought he was brilliant in Walk the Line and I think that he and Mel Gibson were robbed not recieving oscar nominations for Signs. They were both fantastic in that!!!

      Am glad that Spring is in the air - they say it will hit +7 today - that seems balmy to me!

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    2. I think JP is a brilliant actor too.

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    3. Ever since I read about you, Ema, in WMM's blog, I have wanted to read your blog also. I have tried to figure out which blog is yours but haven't found it yet. Would you, Wendy or some other loyal patron of Cheers be kind enough to share the name of your blog so I can find it. Thanks.

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    4. Hi Teacups! You can find our Ema over at:

      http://ema-shoppingmycloset.blogspot.ca/

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    5. Thanks so much for the information Wendy, I am sure I will enjoy it. Looking forward to the rest of your NYC adventures too!

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  5. I have quite a few tiffany pieces,all in sterling,that my husband got me when we lived in atlanta.I own the signature heart bracelet,the elsa peretti bone cuff,two neclaces,twisted rope bracelet and a smaller all-hearts bracelet.

    Did you buy anything at jcrew or try on a few things?

    We are having a quite sunday today,after having a large dinner at our favorite spanish place yesterday:)

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    1. HI Ina, just two things, which I will review on Tuesday. I saw some things I liked, but wanted to wait for a better sale. And then I saw some things I thought ooooooh nooooo! about....But it was fun to be in a store!!!!

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  6. Have you ever entered the pitch black, dark, LOUD, horrifyingly over fragranced worlds of Hollister or Abercrombie& Fitch? OMG- then you really feel like a senior citizen- even if you really are not. Dreadful. Thankfully, I have only been there for returns from gifts or to purchase gift cards for others. Even my boys are repelled. I feel your Uniqlo and Free People pain. I have always tried to keep my travel mementos to the more lasting sort- jewelry, prints, etc. I am glad you got to see the clothes in person at J Crew. Now you have plenty of time to mull until they eventually go on sale. You all picked lovely silver and it will always remind all 4 of you of your wonderful time together!

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    1. Am afraid of Abercrombie and Fitch! I always think it is where they sacrifice virgins to the hipster gods!!! I am like you - I like momentos that mean something!!!

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    2. KnitYarns I actually got a migraine from being in a Hollister store a few years ago with my daughter, what a nightmare! They spray that fragrance everywhere and have all of those flashing lights! My gosh it's horrible.

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    3. I used to love Abercrombie when I was a tourist, we had nothing like that in Europe, it seemed very American to me.

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    4. Here in germany those two brand are "the" ultimate,everybody wants them.
      The funny thing is,germans dont know its a brand for young ones,so i see people 50 and up with abercrombie or hollister written allover their front(or back).

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    5. Oh, that is pretty funny! Does any one else remember when Abercrombie and Fitch was a true outdoors-man store? Rugged hunting and fishing clothing and gear, not skimpy, scanty, revealing pieces, shoved in scandalous paperbags. Although, I must begrudgingly admit that the polos are a very nice weight and quality. However, my boys refuse to wear anything with that logo.

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    6. KnitYarns, yes I do, and A and F was a great store then. And Banana Republic sold safari style clothing.

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    7. Kathy, I loved the original BR's "sepia" catalogs. Still have a couple of them from a former colleague/ mentor of mine.

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    8. I miss those BR A&F days - still mourn them...

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  7. I liked The Master, (although flawed), quite a lot. I'm a big Paul Thomas Anderson fan. Your trip sounds like you all had a lot of fun. Your necklace is very pretty and delicate, love the blue enamel. I don't have any Tiffany jewelry, not quite me, but I think it's so nice that the 4 girls all got something similar - a great reminder of the trip.
    I'm so happy my daughter is almost 30 and prefers (like me) to shop for things for the home now!

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    1. Kathy - I am looking forward to being able to do that with my daughter!!!

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  8. My husband gives me Tiffany's to mark our special moments. When we were getting married, his only request was to purchase our wedding bands from Tiffany's.

    Your necklace is beautiful! I love it! I think I may have to give my husband a hint for he next time he wants to buy me something. Great choice, Wendy. Please post pix of you wearing it along with outfit ideas you ave to compliment this beautiful momento!

    Glad you had a wonderful time in NYC!

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    1. Hi Wendy - will do so for sure and I think it is nice that your husband is so romantic!

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  9. Nope, not Tiffany's. I do add to my charm bracelet and have a statute of liberty to commemorate my trip to NYC. I have only shopped with my kids..never a group of them. Em is great but son you would think I was pulling out his fingernails. Both he and my hubs hate to shop. Because they both have big ol butts they have to at least try on the pants. Em and I will be shopping for bathing suits next week end for the cruise. Her boobs have grown( went from a Barely to a Cupful). Wish us luck.

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    1. BB, this fried egg is doing a good swimsuit juju dance for both of you! (I remember being so happy first time I got to a store that sold separate tops and bottoms.)

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    2. Oh I hate swimsuit shopping now! I do it via Lands End - order 3 and send (at least) two back!

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    3. Nothing makes you feel old and worn out than a perky 17 yo. I'm just looking for something I don't have to tie behind my neck to keep the ol gunney sacks up.

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  10. Uniqlo downtown had lovely stuff from a Jill Sander collab recently, and they also used to be a great source for inexpensive cashmere. Like so much else in life, shopping there depends where you look and who you're with.

    The little blue Tiffany's pouch - there was once an intrepid street vendor who sold "overruns" of these and their Cartier counterparts, as well as empty Tiffany boxes. Naturally I stocked up. The same class of stuff just isn't falling off trucks these days.

    All in, sounds like a wonderful if breathless expedition. How thrilling that your kids will be seen at "cool" places with you!

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    1. WFF, a friend brought me a Uniqlo cashmere shell from Japan (where I think they are big?) years ago and it has worn well. Has that line since gone? One of their C-level folks was just on BBC's big business radio show last week, talking success in global retail expansion, hmmm.

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    2. Thanks Fred! GF - I think it could be very nice - it was just throbbing music and massive size - give me small any day of the week! I think I am getting to hate crowds more and more....

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    3. GF - it's a Japanese company.

      I find Uniqlo completely overwhelming, and most of it doesn't fit me. But, there are treasures in there. I have a black merino cardigan from there that is seriously useful.

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  11. Oh I love those things from Tiffany's, they are perfect mementos. Tiffany's (even the first floor) must have been a salve after Free People, Uniqlo and bathing suits. I am looking forward to your insightful analysis of J. Crew's spring offerings!

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    1. Thanks Cate - not sure it will be too insightful, but it was interesting! I have decided that Ema is the expert there! What I am discovering is that fine balance between not being trendy and not being matronly! Boy it is hard!

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    2. I am with you on that tightrope. I think that is one of the reasons I have loyalty to J Crew. It is still a place where I can shop with my daughters, all twenty-somethings. We can all find things which are age appropriate. The only thing worse than looking unnecessarily older is appearing that you are trying too hard to reenact some 20 year old version of yourself!

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  13. Hi WMM! It sounds like you had an amazing time in NYC! I love your new necklace from Tiffany's, and how special that each of the girls also brought home a momento from there. Definitely keepsakes to treasure for a lifetime. :)

    As for the time change, Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year long. I had forgotten that they had made it earlier this year, so I was quite surprised to find out this past Thursday that we were already 'springing' forward today. I used to hate the time change when my boys were younger, because it messed up their schedules so badly. Today wasn't as bad now that they have gotten a bit older, but I still would prefer that we stay on standard time all year long.

    Enjoy your Sunday! I'm off to catch up on your previous blog posts that I've missed the past couple of days. :)

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    1. Thanks FFM - do your boys have a set get-up and start school time, or is it flexible when need be?

      I always forget when the time will change and it always catches me off guard! I am sure there will be some grumps in my house tomorrow!

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    2. One of the extra nice things about homeschooling is that we are able to be more flexible with our schedule, but I do still like to keep them on a fairly set routine though. I find that they do better with their schoolwork, and also behave better when they have a set schedule (even if it isn't a strict one).

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    3. My kids still do best with routine! We always felt we avoided some if the crazy behaviour by being organized with our routines!

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  14. Totally LOL'd at the shopping experience - FREE WENDY! LOL I actually prefer shopping by myself unless I'm shopping with someone like my sister or someone who has the same taste as me.....and who knows when enough is enough and to call it a day.

    Being complimented on fashion in NYC is a major coup - good job! :) Everyone is so fashionable there.

    I admit I've never ventured into Tiffany although I've gladly taken photos of the outside of it ("we walked BY Tiffany's!"). You've inspired me to take the plunge...to the 3rd floor, that is.

    Being from SK, I hate that we are the only province (well, more like we are the only people anywhere) who do not embrace Daylight Savings time. It makes a HUGE difference, esp. in summer. When I go to my in-laws cottage at Lake Winnipeg in July, it is still light out at 10pm at night and it's lovely to sit on the beach and watch the sunset.

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    1. LR - did I ever tell you that I lived in SK for 6 months in 1985/86? THAT is cold. We don't know cold in the east compared to that kind of cold, although I always liked it that whatever bad weather we had usually cleared up by sunset!

      You should go in. We all had a price point of around $125 and we stuck to it, though i found it hardest as I was seeing things in the $300-$400 range that I liked very much! :-)

      Do you still get the US channels from Detroit? I remember being gobsmacked, watching the tonight show at 9:30!

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    2. We still get Detroit channels!

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  15. I hear yeah about shopping with kids. Taylor and I went to Vancouver shopping and she had a list starting with Japanese hair straightening which takes forever. I thought I 'll her do all her stores first and then she'll ask me if i wanted to check something out. Oh no she was on overdrive .
    So special that you visited Tiffany and the children have a memento. My husband purchased the Victoria earrings for my birthday. Total surprize and I wear them everyday. With my age the cost-per-wear is high but I'm up for the challenge.

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  16. Marsha! OMG - you made me laugh out loud at "at my age the cost per wear is high"! I plan to buy something really nice when I turn 80 and my kids can pay it off!!!!!

    No sign of Goldsign anywhere!!!

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  17. I love all the Tiffany picks. Still waiting on my first robin's egg blue box. I like to shop on vacation for clothes and shoes but I try to bring home a lasting souvenir of my travels. I like to choose jewelry, an ornament for my Christmas tree, art or an accessory for my home.

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    1. Hi Shopping Celle - I usually do art or jewelry, but sometimes ornaments as well. I love having the momentos!

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  18. Hi WMM, for some reason I can't find that comment on JCA re: the jacket, and the Google search function isn't working. It was about a week ago someone mentioned it and it made me laugh at the time, as for once, the colour description "bronzed moss" seemed to be accurate. Now I am wondering if I was imagining it??

    I had such a good laugh at your description of your shopping trip. Your description of the Free People store sounds similar to how I feel when I walk into Aritzia (which is rare these days). So glad to see you and the girls picked up some lovely pieces at Tiffany's! I love Tiffany's. My husband gave me an Elsa Peretti bean locket a couple years ago with photos of our kids inside.

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    1. I saw the same comment as well. You're not going crazy, Louise!

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    2. I'm going to check on last Tuesday's reviews and dig through - thanks!

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  19. Oh my land! Love your discussion of the shopping trip. I can only imagine what I have to "look forward to" when my daughter is older and wants to go shopping. Large chain stores in NYC can be like black holes, you come in but if you ever go out - you're 50 years older! I avoided them like the plague when I lived there. Sounds like you had a blast!

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    1. Thanks OperaRach! I usually avoid the mall with her and she is isn't a huge shopper, but once a year... whooo!

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  20. So glad you had such fun with those girls, a memory for all. I don't have any Tiffany jewelry; we did look at the diamond studs for our 25th, but bought them at one of the many diamond district family places( we had a reference) for way cheaper. I think Uniqlo has a website now too.

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