September 30th, 2010
by Jennifer James
Over the past few years everything about me has screamed career woman. I never in a million years thought this would be the case. I envisioned that I would self identify as a stay-at-home mother who blogs until my daughters trot off to college, but that just hasn’t been the case. When I look at my life now, I am a full fledged businesswoman and it amazes me every day. I often look back to see how this all happened. The quick answer is it happened after years of hard work, dedication, and not being afraid to take risks and also seeing myself as a businesswoman.
Seen above: Janice Croze (5 Minutes for Mom), Me, Laurie Smithwick (Leap Design) sharing panel at Type-A Mom Conference. Photo Copyright: Amanda Henson.
When I was approached by Ellen Hart, the president of CareerBags.com I jumped at the opportunity to review one of her bags because everything about the site spoke to me. Not only am I a businesswoman with a great career in front of me, I need a bag that caters to my lifestyle as a woman on the go with a huge need for organization and simplicity in the bag I carry.
Ellen sent the Veronica London Wirkin Bag in red and I love it. It holds my laptop beautifully and has a removable laptop sleeve that is also red.
My Toshiba Satellite laptop is pretty heavy so I am a sheer lunatic about laptop bag straps. They have to be comfortable and not slide down my arm. Bags and purses that aren’t well-made tend to have very bad shoulder straps. I am happy to say the Wirkin Bag’s straps are sturdy and fit my shoulder nicely. Even though my laptop is pretty sizable and on the heavy side, the straps are still comfortable and don’t carry the weight of my heavy laptop.
Inside there are ample pockets for your organizational needs as well as another pocket for folders or your laptop power cords. The only thing I didn’t like about the Wirkin was the faux pocket on the front. There is a buckle on the front of the bag, but it is only there for decoration. I was hoping that when I unbuckled it there would be another pocket, but alas there wasn’t one. Even so, the Wirkin bag is well-designed, sturdy, and stylish. I look forward to traveling with it on my upcoming trips.
On the Net: CareerBags.com; Cost: $120
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September 19th, 2010
by Jennifer James
Labor Day evening my husband and I sat down together and enjoyed a new-to-us wine called Flock by Smoking Loon to really savor the remainder of the holiday weekend. We tried their Chardonnay, although they have several wine varietals including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and old wine Zinfandel.
What drew us to Flock was the bottle and the price. The bottle ran us about $15. I thought the bottle design was quite beautiful with the lone black feather on the front against the mustard yellow label. Right when I saw it, I knew I wanted to take a bottle home and understand the story behind Flock. On the back of the bottle is a brief (only about a few sentences) story about who the Smoking Loon was and why he was important. It’s intriguing if only fictional.
Flock’s Chardonnay definitely has an earthy taste with a bit of a rustic bite going down. I loved the dryness of the Chardonnay coupled with its slight sweetness. Even though we had a glass after dinner, I can see this wine going really well with a chicken or pork dish, or even a very light salad.
From web sites I’ve read, Flock’s Chardonnay is known for its tropical flavors, but since I don’t have a very sophisticated wine palate, I didn’t taste that at all. I guess my husband and I will have to buy another bottle to really pick those flavors up.
On the Web: www.donandsons.com/threeloosescrews/flock
Foodie Tuesday | 1 Comment »
September 19th, 2010
by Jennifer James
Here’s a littleknown fact about me I definitely don’t mind sharing: Over 90% of my wardrobe is fromJ.Jill. I absolutely adore J.Jill! Their clothes fit me beautifully and when I shop in their stores I feel like I am buying clothes for my age. I’m a 35-year-old woman and mom and need great looking outfits that fit my style and my age. J.Jill definitely
mmh
fits the bill.
For me, J.Jill’s wearever collection is a must-have! And the Pure Jill collection is perfect when I am out and about in town or going for a nature walk. I love both. I also have two pairs of J.Jill jeans that I have worn to death. I adore them!
A bit of history about me and jeans: I used to detest jeans. Hated them! Hated them! I never found a pair that fit my body the way I liked. They were always either really tight in the thighs, too low on the waist, or just too long.
One of the things I love about J.Jill’s denim collection is their jeans are instantly comfortable and they hit my curves in all the right places. To be completely honest, I have been pleasantly surprised by how great J.Jill’s jeans have looked and felt on me. When I buy jeans and any of my clothes, I always go to J.Jill because I know putting on their clothes is going to provide a positive shopping experience for me because their clothes are perfect for me!
J.Jill is looking to become the denim destination for women over 35 and I think they’re doing a fabulous job! They currently have boyfriend, slim leg, boot cut, skinny and trouser jeans. And have three new washes, steel, indigo and super dark in addition to midnight, black, heritage and heirloom washes. And here’s what I love most about J.Jill’s jeans: They don’t believe great jeans need to cost more then $89. Love that!
On the Net: www.jjill.com
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September 14th, 2010
by Jennifer James
Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites: Quick and Delicious Recipes from an Italian Kitchen by Mary Ann Esposito
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I used to watch television most Saturdays were filled with watching cooking shows on PBS. I’m sure they probably still come on. They’re not as sexy as Food Network’s lineup, of course, but their chefs and the food they cook and the recipes they share are just as delicious as anything seen on cable.
I remember watching Mary Ann Esposito’s show and salivating at the pasta dishes she prepared. I could almost smell the aroma of sautéing onions and leeks ooze into my own kitchen. I loved watching her show and getting a glimpse at real Italian cuisine that’s simple and traditional, not the overly processed and enriched variety we get here in the States at spaghetti houses.
Mary Ann Esposito’s latest cookbook, Ciao Italia, is everything you would expect from a chef whose specialty is delicious Italian food that hearkens back to the old country. I love that all of the recipes are doable for someone like me who has limited time in the kitchen, but authentic enough to give you real Italian cuisine.
Recipes like Scallops and Fried Tomatoes (pg. 84) and Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Roasted Vegetables (pg. 49) are terribly simple to make, but the flavors blend together beautifully making the meals well worth cooking and satisfying to your palate. I only wish there were more photos of the wonderful dishes. I love to look at the possibilities of a dish before I embark on the journey of making it.
Buy Ciao Italia for occasions when you want to feed your family a simple and classic Italian dish, but don’t want to go to a specialty store to buy never-heard-before mushrooms or gourmet cheese.
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Hi. I am Jennifer James, the founder of 
