Shop the Jack Rogers Black Friday Sale!

Ring in Christmas with Tiffany & Co

I'd happily accept any of these under my Christmas tree!

Soleste ring of diamonds in platinum

Schlumberger sixteen stone ring in 18k gold with diamonds

Ziegfeld Collection pearl ring in sterling silver and black onyx

Tiffany Infinity ring in sterling silver

Atlas Open ring in 18k white gold with diamonds

White House Week

The White House

 On Monday, President Obama delivered remarks on immigration in San Francisco. He renewed his commitment to fixing the immigration system- and you can read his remarks here. 

The first ever White House Student Film Festival launched earlier this week, and is open to US students grades K-12 to apply. Here are the rules:

What’s your education story & how does technology and connectivity fit into how you learn at school or on your own? How do you imagine technology will change the educational experience for kids in the future?

Films can be short – in fact 3 minutes tops. The official selections will be featured on the White House website, and shared across the world on White House sites and official social media accounts. In fact, if selected, you may have a chance to attend the film fest yourself at the White House.

Ready to get started? Check out our official page at WhiteHouse.Gov/FilmFest -- where you can learn more, read the official rules, see how to submit your video, and hear from Bill Nye (the Science Guy). And if you're a parent, guardian, or teacher, make sure you spread the word to kids with big ideas!

Here are more important details you should know:

--Every student entry has to have a parent/guardian or teacher sponsor.

--Films can be submitted now through January 29th, 2014.

--If your video is selected as an official selection, you could have a chance to attend the mid-February screening at the White House.

Find out more here.

25% off Special Edition Satchels at Cambridge Satchel Company!

 

Now is the perfect time to snag yourself a gorgeous satchel from the Cambridge Satchel Company! Handmade in the UK, these satchels are adored by celebrities and fashionistas alike!

Cambridge Satchel Company are offering 25% off special edition satchels for a limited time! Click here to get yours today!

In My Bag: The J Crew Goodwin Purse Edition

After months of decision, I finally picked up the Goodwin Purse from J. Crew! It's gorgeously soft and the black and blue is my favorite combination.

So what have I been carrying around in the Purse...

Tory Burch Saffiano wallet
iPhone 5
Clinique Chubby Stick
Pen and Wax Highlighter
Altoids
Apple Earbuds

What are your purse essentials?

J Crew Christmas Jumpers

Christmas will never be dull with these festive jumpers from J Crew!

Vintage holiday sweater

Jeweled cluster sweater

Marled Fair Isle Sweater

What are you thankful for?

Hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving holiday!

What are you thankful for? For me, it's family, friends and the fantastic opportunities I have been fortunate enough to have been granted.

Leave your messages in the comments!

GIVEAWAY: Tee from Amatoria Clothing

Amatoria Clothing

 I'm delighted to be teaming up with Amatoria Clothing to give one lucky reader the chance to win this great 'Organic' tee!


Amatoria Clothing was founded by Monica Rojas. Originally from Switzerland, Monica has lived in Ecuador and moved to the United States when she was 12. Passionate about fashion from a young age, Monica began looking for vintage pieces, and experiencing mixing prints, textures and layering.

As Monica herself says... "I am fascinated by the recent trend of environmental products. I think it began when I purchased a pair of sandals that had a stamp on the leather which said “I used to be a rice bag”. I began researching different brands that offered recycled or “responsible” products. The options were not up to par with my expectations. I began thinking of all the times I have cleaned out my closet and decided that certain pieces were not worthy of resale or donation. I had been buying trendy pieces from stores who make things in bulk, and don’t care about the materials, the quality, or how they treat their laborers. I decided I wanted to make a small difference, and create “responsible” fashion that I want to wear.

My goal is to provide unique, quality garments using natural, organic, recycled or upcycled materials. I named my company Amatoria because it is a Latin word meaning “of love or related to love”. Latin is part of all the languages I have grown up speaking (French, Spanish, English), so in a way it ties in my nomadic background. I feel that my aesthetic is also a mixture of the places I have lived. I like the clean, effortless European style, the earthy, natural feel of Ecuadorian products, and the modern and casual practicality of American Fashion. My product assortment at the moment includes some jewelry that I brought back from my most recent trip to Ecuador. The silver pendants are all 950 silver and feature natural stones. My clothing assortment at the moment includes some pieces that have been made with “upcycled” materials by repurposing vintage pieces, as well as pieces made with natural and organic materials. Everything is made and designed by me. Through an ongoing apprenticeship, I have learned the “old-school” way of making garments with a focus on quality, not speed and cutting costs. I am continuing to add new pieces. My next focus is to create a homogeneous “collection” for Spring."

Enter to win the popular 'Organic' tee from Amatoria using the widget below! You can check out Monica's store here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Review: Marketing in the Participation Age by Daina Middleton

I was recently sent a copy of 'Marketing in the Participation Age: A Guide to Motivating People to Join, Share, Take Part, Connect and Engage.' Written by Daina Middleton, speaker and CEO of Performics, the book discusses and offers solutions for how the marketing industry can adapt to and fulfill the potential of a virtual relationship between companies and their customers.

We've seen a sharp rise in the popularity and influence of social media, with customers engaging with brands through platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest on a daily basis. Middleton is a respected leader who has created innovative approaches to the many changes in the field of digital marketing. She is best known for developing the framework of participant marketing, which shifts the philosophy about how brands and people connect, creating new roles and leveling the playing field between marketers and customers. We've seen a sharp rise in the popularity and influence of social media, with customers engaging with brands through platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest on a daily basis, and Middleton's book offers solutions to embrace this new challenge.

Coming from a journalism background, social media and creating this blog has certainly changed the way I communicate and look at the world. I've a keen interest in marketing, and receiving a copy of this fascinating book has come at a perfect time, especially as I am embarking on several new business ventures!

If you too are interested in marketing and the relationship between customers and brands, make sure you check it out!  You can also find out more about Daina Middleton here. 

-->

The Coach Christmas Gift Guide

There's plenty of fantastic gifts to be found in Coach's Christmas Gift Guide! Here are my top picks!

Bleecker Origami iPad Mini Case in leather

Legacy Slim Clutch in leather

Striped Chesterfield Coat

Signature Metallic Infinity Scarf

Bleecker Leather USB

Top Christmas Dress Picks!

With Christmas parties fast approaching, these are my top picks for your holiday party!

Iridescent lurex fringe elbow sleeve dress, Milly

Neon floral print stretch viscose peplum dress, Milly

Gold sequin dress, Gant

Links of the Week

This week I've been reading...

Crowds flock to Dallas' Dealey Plaza for JFK memorial

Katie Couric negotiating ABC exit deal

The Obamas sit down with Barbara Walters

George W. Bush's artwork up for sale

White House Week

President Obama wrote a handwritten tribute to the Gettysburg Address:

The White House

Earlier this week, Dr. Jill Biden and Labor Secretary Tom Perez visited Cleveland Community College in North Carolina and Broward College in Florida as part of their “Community College to Career” tour designed to highlight innovative workforce training partnerships.

Dr. Biden and Secretary Perez met with students, toured innovative labs and classrooms, and learned more about the Labor Department’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants. These unprecedented investments are helping leverage strong partnerships with local employers to transform community colleges into engines of economic growth across the country.

On Wednesday, the President awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 recipients. These included: Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye (posthumous), Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Loretta Lynn, Mario Molina, Sally Ride (posthumous), Bayard Rustin (posthumous,) Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Cordy Tindell Vivian and Patricia Weld. Find out more here.

Official White House Photo

#JFK50

JFK Presidential Library and Museum

 Much has been and will continue to be written about President Kennedy and the legacy he left behind when his life ended on November 22nd, 1963.

We've all seen the dramatic footage of his last moments, the aftermath that the country faced, and the harrowing pictures and recordings of his funeral. His death touched the whole world, and fifty years on we still continue to be fascinated with the details of his assassination.

I was in my early teens when I became interested in President Kennedy. I borrowed and purchased as many books that I could get my hands on, (and one particular shopping trip on vacation I bought 22- yes 22- coffee table sized books detailing every detail of his life and presidency!) I consumed old newspaper and magazine articles, watched interviews on YouTube and researched the policies and accomplishments of the Kennedy Administration. Every detail and aspect fascinated me, and even though departed from this world, I looked to Jacqueline Kennedy as a role model.

I was fortunate to be accepted as an intern in Congressman Patrick Kennedy's Washington DC office in 2010, an opportunity which was one of the best experiences I have had. There was something about the Kennedy family and their dedication to public service that appealed to me, and it was I feel, in part their influence that encouraged and inspired me to find ways to give back in my own community and area. Whether or not you agree with the concept of 'Camelot,' the same magic could be felt through President Obama's first campaign for the White House. I've never experienced a campaign like it, and I doubt that we will for many years to come.

A period of American history ended when the assassin's bullet struck the President, and a new one began. We have no way of knowing what would and what wouldn't have happened if the events of 22nd November 1963 hadn't taken place, subsequently shaping President Kennedy's legacy as one of achievement, glamor and stolen youth.

I'll always be interested in President Kennedy and the wider Kennedy family, and for the values that they stand for. I particularly look to Jacqueline Kennedy and the example that she set as one to incorporate into my own life- these are the values of resilience, determination and bravery, and of course to be stylish at the same time! Like the torch that sits atop his grave in Arlington, the vision and legacy of President Kennedy continues through his surviving child, Caroline, now the US Ambassador to Japan, and his grandchildren. It's exciting to see what the 'new' generation will do with their lives, and I have no doubt that the world will continue to be fascinated with America's 'royal family.'

Latest Huffington Post Contributions

Regular readers will know that I am a frequent blogger over at The Huffington Post. Lately my focus has been on women in business, so make sure you check out some of my recent interviews with businesswomen from across all industries!

Q&A with Shara Senderoff, CEO of Intern Sushi

Q&A with Elisabeth Rohm, Upromise Ambassador and Actress

Q&A with Sarah Bryar, CEO of Rivet & Sway

Q&A with Daina Middleton, CEO of Performics

Presidents Past and Present honor JFK

The President, First Lady, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid their respects at the grave of President Kennedy yesterday.

Forming part of the commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of his death, they joined members of the Kennedy family at Arlington National Cemetery.



The First Lady wore a deep red a line coat, with black shoulder detailing. She also wore a pair of black suede knee high boots.

Later in the day, President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to recepients including Oprah Winfrey, President Clinton, Gloria Steinem and former Senator Dick Lugar. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established fifty years ago by President Kennedy.



In the evening, the President and First Lady attended a dinner in honor of the recipients at the National Museum of American History.

JFK 50th Anniversary Commemorative Print: Get Yours Today!

Mark President Kennedy and his legacy by purchasing this limited edition print of an iconic photo taken by Mark Shaw. This striking image pictures the President in Hyannis Port, and is ready for framing.

Click here to purchase.

Favourite new arrivals at J Crew

Merino Tippi Cardigan

Berry bouquet top

Etta plaid jeweled toe pumps

Schoolboy blazer in blackwatch

Stripe painter tee with jeweled brooch

Chelsea glitter boots

Plaid Wool Scarf

JFK Library Plans Tributes Marking 50th Anniversary of November 22, 1963

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, the official memorial to President John F. Kennedy, will observe the 50th anniversary of November 22, 1963 with a number of events that celebrate the legacy of the nation’s 35th President. Observances will include a ceremony webcasted by satellite from the Kennedy Library’s IM Pei-designed glass pavilion; the presentation of a selection of artifacts from the President’s State Funeral that have never before been displayed; an interactive documentary and website celebrating the vibrant presence of JFK in the world today; and an award ceremony on November 25 during which Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, will celebrate two young Americans who answered President Kennedy’s call for pioneers of the New Frontier.

“The Kennedy Library seeks to honor the memory of John F. Kennedy every day by serving as a dynamic center for discourse, storytelling, and debate that inspires younger generations to engage fully as citizens of this world,” said Tom Putnam, Director of the Kennedy Library. “Fifty years after his death, we pause to look back at symbolic artifacts from this defining moment in our nation’s history and, looking forward, we hope to draw inspiration from the arts that he championed and from JFK’s timeless words.  By offering our observance and programming to a worldwide audience online, we  pay tribute to our fallen president and to the millions who came together to mourn him.”

“Three years ago, we launched our campaign to mark the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s Presidency,” said Tom McNaught, Executive Director of the Kennedy Library Foundation. “Using new technology and media to reach every corner of the globe, we have sought to inspire today’s youth as President Kennedy did half a century ago. We are grateful for the support of so many, whose generosity has been critical to helping us pass the torch to a new generation and to instill in them the ideals of public service and responsible citizenship.”

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
A Nation Remembers: A Tribute to President John F. Kennedy
November 22, 2013
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET

On November 22, 2013, the Kennedy Library will invite the public to join a special live webcast of a musical tribute in honor of the memory of President Kennedy. Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor; award-winning saxophonist Paul Winter and the Paul Winter Sextext, which was invited by Jacqueline Kennedy to be the first  jazz ensemble ever to play at the White House; and the United States Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club will each perform musical selections including two from the President’s State Funeral. They will be joined by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; Elaine Jones, director-counsel emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and former Peace Corps volunteer to Turkey;  US Naval Commander, Navy SEAL, and NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy, who just returned from six months on the International Space Station; Richard Blanco, poet for the 2013 U.S. presidential inauguration;; and Sarah Groustra, an 8th grade student from the Edward Devotion School in Brookline, Massachusetts that John F. Kennedy attended as a child, who will all read excerpts from a selection  of President Kennedy’s most historic speeches.

There will be no physical audience during these performances – simply the backdrop of the sea that the President loved so dearly as the ceremony is broadcast live at www.jfklibrary.org and via satellite by media outlets that wish to cover the event. The ceremony will include a moment of silence at 2:00 p.m., the time that the President’s death was announced to the nation.

--> A Condolence Telegram sent from Mrs. J.D. Tippit to Mrs. Kennedy.  --> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
A Nation Remembers: A Special Display of Artifacts from the President’s Funeral
Open November 22, 2013 – February 23, 2014

Opening on November 22, 2013, the Museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library will present a selection of artifacts from the President’s State Funeral. Items on display – many for the first time – will include the American flag that draped the President’s coffin and was presented to Jacqueline Kennedy; the saddle, sword, and boots from Black Jack, the riderless horse that followed the President’s horse-drawn coffin in the funeral cortege; the Green Beret left by a serviceman on the President’s gravesite; notes handwritten by Jacqueline Kennedy as she planned the funeral; and historic film footage and photographs of the State Funeral and national mourning.

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
An Idea Lives On Legacy Project
Launches November 18, 2013

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Foundation today announced the launch of AnIdeaLivesOn.org, an online tribute to President John F. Kennedy that aims to create a multigenerational conversation about the many ways in which the legacy of our nation’s 35th president lives on today.

Named for President Kennedy’s poignant observation that, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on,” the project invites the public to participate in the creation of an interactive documentary, putting a modern, human face on the enduring impact of John F. Kennedy. Entries answering the question: “How do the ideals of John F. Kennedy live on in your life today?” can be uploaded as video, audio, photographs or written messages at www.anidealiveson.org, or by using the hashtag #anidealiveson on Twitter.

Stories that will be introduced on the site throughout the week leading up to November 22, 2013 include Congressman John Lewis, comedian Conan O’Brien, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, actor Martin Sheen, House Leader Nancy Pelosi, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, journalist Luke Russert, poet Richard Blanco, among others.

The site is being created in collaboration with The Martin Agency and Tool of North America.

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award Ceremony
November 25, 2013

Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), one of the first two female combat veterans to serve in the U.S. Congress and an emerging leader on veterans’ issues, and Charles Best, Founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, a pioneering online charity that connects individual donors with public school teachers to meet classroom teaching needs, have been named this year’s recipients of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards. The awards will be presented by Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s grandson and a member of the New Frontier Award Committee, at 6:00 p.m. on November 25, 2013 during a ceremony at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards were created by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and Harvard’s Institute of Politics to honor Americans under the age of 40 who are changing their communities and the country with their commitment to public service. The awards are presented annually to two exceptional individuals whose contributions in elective office, community service, or advocacy demonstrate the impact and the value of public service in the spirit of John F. Kennedy.

In remarks delivered on November 21, 1963 at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center in San Antonio, Texas, President Kennedy said:

“For more than 3 years I have spoken about the New Frontier. This is not a partisan term, and it is not the exclusive property of Republicans or Democrats. It refers, instead, to this Nation's place in history, to the fact that we do stand on the edge of a great new era, filled with both crisis and opportunity, an era to be characterized by achievement and by challenge. It is an era which calls for action and for the best efforts of all those who would test the unknown and the uncertain in every phase of human endeavor. It is a time for pathfinders and pioneers.”

--> John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Refresh your desk with Kate Spade

Refresh your desk with these cute accessories from Kate Spade! Which will you choose?

Monogram Card Set

Classic Stripe Notepad

Cross Pointe Clock

Rotating Stamp with Pad

Top Student Entrepreneurs Compete in GSEA’s Global Finals Competition

EO

 Later this week, some of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs of today will compete at  the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA). This premier global competition showcases students that own and run a business while simultaneously taking a full course load in high school, college or graduate school. With the dream of becoming the next Steve Jobs, each student is vying for the title of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year and to win their share of $150,000 in cash and in-kind business services.


The competition will take place at the International Finance Corporation in Washington DC on 20-22 November, and participants will present their companies to world class CEOs, business luminaries and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) members.

United States Finalists:

• Jolijt Tamanaha, Washington University in St. Louis, Farmplicity
• Charlie Dolan, Villanova University, Sequoia Waste Solutions
• Dan Stanek, University of Chicago, Castle Party Rental
• Ben Biron, Wingate University, Alcohoot, LLC
• Daniel Fine, University of Pennsylvania, Glass-U
• Spencer Quinn, Brigham Young University, FiberFix
• Austin Archuleta, University of Texas, Austin, Archuleta Innovations
• Dallas Robinson, Utah Valley University, KISSTIXX, LLC

Entrepreneurs Organization is dedicated to promoting and expanding entrepreneurial ethos and to help transform ideas into realities. EO’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is a catalyst that inspires students and young people to start and grow entrepreneurial ventures. From creating a business plan to turning a profit, each of these students built successful companies during one of the toughest economies, while taking a full course load of classes. Ranging from service provider companies to fashion to green industry initiatives, this event is more than a competition; it’s a look at the future of global business, how the game is changing and the new networks of young entrepreneurs that are re-writing the rules.

The Tory Burch Gift Guide

I've been highly anticipating the arrival of this in my inbox! My wish list includes the following:

Simone Cardigan

Nylon Ella Tote

Classic Candle

Robinson Smartphone Wristlet

Pentier Drop Earring