Sunday's True Confession: I am Space Cops' Sister

Any of you gals fans of  Kathy Griffin? Well, I’m sorry to say that her Bravo show was cancelled after its second season, but this week’s true confession goes back to Kathy’s first season: I am Space Cops’ sister. Space Cops is a sci-fi movie inspired electronic “band.” My brother’s first live performance (as Space Cops) was on the Kathy Show. Woah. Enjoy the vid!

Daily Read: SBW

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I've always been someone who has admired designer things.  In trying to be smarter with finances, I've become much better with window shopping rather than entering in my (memorized) credit card number.  A main source to see the latest trends and amazing luxury duds is the the blogosphere. 

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This new blog caught my attention a few weeks ago, Shit Bloggers Wear.  These are hand-sketched by the blog author, Cecilia Doan, based out of Portland, Oregon.  As you can see, she is an extremely talented artist!  Cecilia features the "it" item that major "blog queens," if you will, own and are out of reach for us regular gals. 

I would buy one of these in a second when and if she puts them online to sell, any of them would be the perfect piece for a gallery wall.  What do you say, Cecilia, open up a shop so gals like myself can bring luxury home?!

- Meredith

Menu Ideas

This 4th of July bring the unexpected. We all know you can do no wrong with the staple items (hamburger, hot dogs, guac, american flag Bud Lights), but also know that three other people will probably bring the same thing. 

To avoid this fiasco I propose introducing the following change ups to your BBQ menu:

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I have recently discovered that pulled pork sliders are so incredibly easy to make. Also every guy and gal loves them. 

Jalapeño Corn Salad

If you don't have time to prep the pork with all your daytime beach activities I urge you to at least try the corn salad, it is also so so so easy and delicious! I don't want to be a competitive cook, but last year it was the first dish to run out, hehe. 

Blackberry Mojito Spritzer

I actually haven't tried this yet but how could anyone go wrong with the words mojito and spritzer in the same sentence?

What's on your BBQ menu this year? 

- Suzanne

Discussion Questions for Life of Pi

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1. Lets start with a softball: if you had to give the book a letter grade, what would you give?

2. How did Pi's exploration with faith in the beginning of the book affect his journey at sea?

3. Why did Pi feel such a strong connection with all three religions?

4. What is the significance of the floating islands with the meerkats?

5. What does Pi communicate to the Japanese officials through animals?

6. Was Pi a convincing story teller?

7. Which version of Pi's story do you prefer? Which do you believe?

8. What is the relationship between faith and belief?

9. We’ve read a few survival-at-sea novels (Unbroken, Ahab’s Wife) how does this one compare?


Stay tuned! Next month we will be discussing Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

- Cameron

Life's a Beach

This week's heat wave (nope, window AC is STILL not installed yet) has my mind playing tricks on me, and I'm in a constant state of daydreaming about my fantasy beach house (shingled exterior FUR sure).  Won't you join?

 

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- Meredith

More Pics From Alt

Crafts in between speakers, of course Martha would think of that.

Grace Bonney of Design Sponge

Cameron and I caught in the act

Martha! 

Martha's roof deck is insane....

Fantastic panelists

Check out the blog of these lovely gals (they're another trio)! treasuresandtravelsblog

And here's me, caught with a McClure's Pickle, one of the day's sponsors! 

Photos courtesy of Alt's flickr page and the talented Justin Hackworth

Recap: Altitude Summit NYC

Alright gals, we promised we'd dish on Alt Summit so here it is! To be honest I've taken the past few days and still feel as if I am just beginning to digest it all...so bear with me:

First and foremost it was our first Alt Summit and as all the bloggers before us have said, it was an amazing and very educational experience. We met some wonderful bloggers and sponsors and all the speakers were top notch. From Grace (my blogging idol) and her words on Surviving Internet Trends, to Kathleen King's amazing and scary story of Tate's Bake Shop's ups and downs, to the advice on building a relationship with your audience from head of Warby Parker social media, Jennifer Rubio and John Jannuuzzi of Lucky Magazine, they all captivated the audience. And those are just a few of them!

As I'm looking back and trying to put it all together, I think the two most important things I learned from all the speeches were:

1) Build a community
Blogging is a very supportive and community driven industry. The friendships you build will become a safety net and a sounding board for you throughout your endeavors. Seek out people in your same space as well as those you admire or consider way out of your league. Everyone at some point has looked to someone for inspiration, and will probably be willing to lend a hand or send a quick email response. Why not ask that blogger you admire how they got to where they are? Don't be afraid of rejection. Remember, you won't get anywhere without sticking your foot out.

2) Build a relationship with your audience
We as bloggers are nothing without our readers. Find ways to be constantly reaching your readers - yes that means keeping up with technology. We're not saying jump on every tech wave that rolls in, but be conscious of outlets that will make an impact in your sphere like twitter, facebook, pinterest, instagram. Take your readers' input with a grain a salt. That means try and reach their demands but also remember you're human and can't be in 10 places at once.

Those two key points really sum it up for me, though I'm sure we will continue to reference the conference over and over as the summer goes on. We will probably also do another little write up Garance Dore's closing speech soon too, so you won't want to miss that!

Oh and how could I forget Martha! Yes, because the conference was held at Martha Stewart Living's HQ (which was an amazing warehouse space with a roof deck), Martha graced us with her presence. I think my heart stopped for a wee second.

To learn more about Alt and their upcoming events or classes (new!), check out their homepage.

- Suzanne

Week of June 24

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Good morning gals! Meredith, Suz and I are back in Boston after a  whirlwind weekend in NYC to attend the ALT Summit (lots more on that to come). Now that we've recovered from the weekend, its time to see what's up for the rest of the week.

S T A Y C A T I O N

The forecast is looking hazy, hot, and humid. To avoid my 5th floor sauna of an apartment, I'm considering a few post-work respites including the Mirabella Pool (which opened on Saturday), Singing Beach, or the movies (I'm dying to see This is the End).

N E T W O R K

If you want to do something with a little more substance this week, check out Boston Green Drinks at Pasta Beach on Tuesday evening for some eco-savvy discussion. Or, if environmental awareness isn't quite your cup of tea, maybe you'd be interested in Savvy Social Engage, a lecture and networking event on social media marketing.

N O M , N O M , N O M

Slowly but surely the North End is becoming the coffee capital of Massachusetts. Earlier this year The Thinking Cup opened, then Cobblestone Café, and just a few weeks ago, Bread + Butter opened its doors. I have yet to try the latter, but I've heard their truffles are TDF (to die for).

P O P   C U L T U R E

North West. Ummm....what?!!!!

- Cameron



Sunday's True Confession: I Watch Pretty Little Liars as a 20-something

Never thought I'd love something so much on ABC Family, but I'm in my 20s and I (religiously) watch Pretty Little Liars.  The plot is addicting.  The girls dress fashionably.  But, most of all, the dudes are attractive:

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Need I say more?

- A

JUGs Approved Activities in NYC

 

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We're at ALT in NYC!

The day is finally here!  Today we are the much anticipated blogging conference, Altitude Summit.  ALTSummit is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs various events throughout the year in multiple cities.  After reading about ALT via big-time bloggers over the years, we were lucky enough to snag tickets this winter (still in shock about that)!

We are fully caffeinated, have business cards and LePens/notebooks in hand so and are off to network!  Needless to say, we have a very fun and very full day ahead of us!

Here is today's agenda, and we will get to hear some of our favorite blogs such as Design*Sponge (her book is THE coffee table book to own) and Little Green Notebook (I cannot wait for future before/after posts on her new house)!

Any last-minute conference suggestions for us?  Questions we should ask Martha Stewart since we'll be at her brand headquarters?

- Meredith

ALT outfit choices (3 of 3)

Alright gals, on to the last person to help pick their outfit!  What should I wear - the breezy but sometimes annoying to keep tucking in blouse with the nautical shorts, or the easy spandex dress with pockets. The Alt Summit is tomorrow so please help me pick asap!

J.Crew blouse  //  J.Crew shorts  (similiar)  //  Shoshanna dress  //  Linea Pelle bag  //  Sam Edelman sandals  //  Benefit mascara  //  Dior lipstick

- Suzanne

Alt outfit choices (2 of 3)

Deciding what to wear to an event can be stressful, am I right?! After some discussions with Meredith and Suzanne, I've finally narrowed down my outfit choices for Alt. What do you gals think - should I go feminine & floral or clean & casual?

- Cameron

ALT outfit choices (1 of 3)

Today marks the start of a long-awaited week for us JUGs!  Wednesday night, we will be en route to NYC since we have AltSummit on Thursday, held at the Martha Stewart Headquarters (eeeek!).  We obtained these tickets back in the winter, and have been counting down ever since.

Later this week we'll update you on our agenda, but for now, we're focusing on packing.  Thursday will be a full day of networking and intriguing seminars, so we need to dress comfortably.  An outfit that can take us from day to night is also key.  Between today and Wednesday, we'll be presenting outfit options for you to help us choose!

First up...

Which of these jewel-toned inspired looks should I wear?

- Meredith

Sunday's True Confession: I'm a Nail Polish Hoarder

I'm a nail polish hoarder who refuses to throw out old bottles, even when it is blatantly obvious that certain ones have past their prime. Just to give you an idea: I have two extra large mason jars filled to the brim (and color coded) with nail polishes...and I have a pile collecting to the side that could probably fill up a third jar. 

I mean, I just can't part with certain colors! What would happen to me if one day Essie stops making Orange It Obvious...am I right?

T.G.I.S.

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JUGs Approved: The Catalina weekender

Don't forget this party must-have!

 
A few weeks ago, one of my favorite blogs, A Piece of Toast, posted a review of this bag.  After mere minutes, I knew I had to own it.  I had learned about the brand in the fall when I noticed the O.M.G. bag seemed to be everywhere.  In looking at its functional style yet high price tag, I never bit the bullet.  I am SO glad I did with The Catalina, though!  I used it last weekend, am using it this coming weekend and will definitely be using it for NYC this coming week (already did a "dry-pack"... more out outfits next week!).  I really cannot get enough!  I had a very tough time with color choice as both are classic neutrals, but I went with the grey.  My favorite feature has to be the shoe/towel pouch at the bottom.  I can't stand when shoe debris gets onto clothing during travel, keeping this separate was a genius design idea and execution. 

The canvas material allows you to fold it up as a second bag when using a suitcase for a longer trip.  Boom, there is your spacious carry-on!  Clearly, The Catalina is such a great value for your next summer excursion!  There is now a wait list, are you surprised as to why?!

- Meredith

Hubitat Inspiration

How often do you find a room on Pinterest and think you could never achieve the same style? Happens to me everyday. It's obviously because I immediately focus on the bones of the room, which seem to always come from amazing brownstones or country homes, and are not anything like my current living situation. The biggest hump you (and I) have to get over is accepting that its not only about the space, but how you work with it. Believe me, I'm constantly working on this. Above are some of my most recent picks for achieving (and attempting) a living room of eclectic greatness, just like the ones you and I love to pin. Enjoy!

- Suzanne

amazing living room  //  1. surya patisserie decorative pillow  //  2. domusworks lattice decorative pillow  //  3. sukan throw pillow   //  4. cassidy tufted white ottoman  //  5. jonathan adler zebra rug  //  6. hexagon side table

Stomping Grounds: 5 Signs You Live in the North End

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- Cameron

Wedges, please!

1 ($60) // 2 ($71) // 3 ($60) // 4 ($80 ) // 5 ($70 ) // 6 ($70)

Within the last week, I finally made moves in changing over my closet to summer wear.  Sadly, my favorite wedges from last year broke after just one season.  I'm not big on heels, so wedges are great for added height and add some glam to a breezy summer look.  I wanted to spend less than $100, and all of these fit the bill!  Which would you pick?!  Or should I just buy these again?

- Meredith

The Week of June 10th

S U R P R I S E!!! 

Today on this lovely Monday we decided to unveil our NEW blog design! You'll notice we have created a lot more white space, streamlined our categories to a cool list of 13, and added three new pages. Want to know more about how JUGs started? Check out our brand new About page and silly group photo from our wonderful shoot with Anna. Want to get in contact with us or know what activities we're up to? Now you can through our new Contact and Calendar pages.

We hope you like the new design and would love to hear your feedback! Are we missing anything you'd like to see?

Now enough about us and onto the week of June 10th:

W A N D E R L U S T

Have you seen these photos of a real life Mowgli / Eliza Thornberry? She is just too cute and makes me wish I grew up in the wild.

S T Y  L E

On my personal Who's That Gal post I mentioned I consider myself to have a tomboy style and it couldn't be more true this summer. I am constantly stealing items from my boyfriend's closet and am currently on the hunt for the perfect short sleeve striped button down like this one worn by Blair. I can't seem to find it on J.Crew, am I totally missing something? For more tomboy inspired outfits, check out Tory Burch's post on tomboy staples for Summer 2013.

B O O K   C L U B

Want to keep up to speed with our book club? This month we are reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Now that Andrea has past the heat is back. Have any of you checked out Revere Hotel's  roof top pool? It has private cabanas, a bar and with $30 your entrance fee gets you a large plush towel and a bottle of water to start the party. Sounds swanky...might have to check it out before the Mirabella Pool opens.

Game one of the Stanley Cup starts Wednesday. For the best bars to watch the Bruins vs Blackhawks we recommend Remy's in the Seaport, Grand Canal's outdoor patio, Game On and of course our neighborhood favorite, Four Winds. Rumor has it Peverly has been spotted there are few nights post game as well...

W E E K E N D

This Sunday is Father's Day. Haven't picked up the perfect gift yet? Check out Meredith's Father's Day Gift Guide here for last minute helpful suggestions. 

Have a great week, gals!

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True Confession: I Like Star Trek

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Guess why?!