BHG, NYC, & me

One of these things is not like the other.

Hint: it’s ME.

Thanks to being a BHG insider, I was invited to hobknob with some of my favorite bloggers and Better Homes & Gardens editors last week.

Don’t you look for reasons to use the word ‘hobknob’?

all non-instagram photos are credited to Avi Gerver Photography

There was a problem, though.  The name of the party was a ‘stylemaker’ party.  I’m more of a ‘styleTAKER’.

No, really, I’m a styletaker.  I (accidentally?) took this coaster from the party and found it tonight while cleaning out my handbag.

What on earth do you wear to a stylemaker party?  I AM NOT WORTHY.

Thankfully I found what’s possibly my newest favorite store on the planet and a stylist there worked his magic and picked out a simple black dress with leather trim.  Can you see me in a simple black dress with leather trim?  Did I just make you snort your coffee out your nose?

My buddies on Instagram had my back, and helped me decide that yes, I could get away with a leather trimmed dress.  I love Instagram, everyone’s the best at helping me decide things because I’m the WORST decision maker!  And dress stylist.  But I digress.

Then panic set in the night before, and I ran out at 8pm to grab makeup at Ulta without trying any of it out (that’s a whole other post) and some shoes.  I found about 758 pairs of shoes, but finally decided on these babies peeking out in the photo on 70% clearance at DSW.  $16, baby!

My buddy Sarah lent me her Kate Spade purse, which I thought might be too big but ended up being just right.  She’s a mind reader like that.

Denise from The Painted Home and I figured out New Jersey Transit (yay, us!) and managed to get into the city on our own for only $30 round trip.  Which means I’m doing this WAY more often now that I’ve got the routine down pat.  We did end up making a run to catch our train back, in which we saw someone get hit by a car.  This being NYC, the victim got up and shook himself off and seemed okay.  Not something I see every day, but everyone else was like, ‘sigh. not again.’

I waffled about whether to even share my experience on the blog today, but I love inside peeks at events and such so I thought I’d bring you along.  I tried saving some of these mini-grilled cheeses for you in my handbag but they called security.

We hobnobbed (woohoo, twice in one post!) with the BHG elite and I got to meet my idol Eddie Ross.  He’s now the east coast editor of BHG, but also worked with Martha Stewart and was on the first season of Top Design on Bravo.  Remember him?  Love!

He’s as charming and hilarious in person as he was on t.v., and we chatted for a good 15 minutes before that infamous run for the train.  I’m hoping he’ll call me for a quick jaunt to Adamstown at some point.  {call me, Eddie!}

There was also a panel discussion about design and entertaining.  Spotted: Maxwell Ryan from Apartment Therapy, Kayce Hughes, and of course Eddie.  A few takeaways:

• if you collect something, don’t collect all of one thing.  Collect various pieces along the same lines so it’s not all matching but rather is complementary.
• enjoy your own party.  Make as much ahead as possible.  Instead of 3 cheeses, do one great cheese.  Less fuss, more fun.  Give yourself a few minutes to enjoy a glass of wine ahead of time.
• style repeats itself.  One panelist (Kayce Hughes) was wearing a dress she made from a vintage 1950’s pattern.  It was stunning.

Of course there was more, but I was too busy soaking it all in as we listened to the panel along with the city sounds coming in through the open windows.  Plus sipping vanilla vodka and gingerale cocktails.  Bliss.  You can’t visit NYC and not fall in love with this city, the way it fills your senses.

It was great to see Stacy (Not JUST a Housewife), Laura (Finding Home), Kelly (View Along the Way), Kelly (Eclectically Vintage), Diane (In My Own Style) and Jessica (Four Generations, One Roof).  They’re Haven buddies as well, and this provided a little more time to catch up since Haven was so hectic.  Can you spot the photo booth flunkee?

I mean, it said ‘LOOK HERE’ and I still looked up like a lost puppy.  What’s wrong with me?  They were sending the photobooth images onto the giant billboard outside the Eventi Hotel, so during the party we’d look out and see ourselves 30 feet tall.  That’s how they roll at BHG.

Kelly and I have decided we are only ever taking selfies in the exact same spot.  Apparently my wrinkles disappear in NYC?  Ah, the magic of the city!

Many, many thanks to BHG for a fabulous shindig and for not turning me away at the door (“um, ma’am, this party is for STYLEMAKERS only please).  It was fantastic to meet the editors, soak up ideas and inspiration, and share it all with you.  Sometimes you have to push down the ‘I’m not worthy’ fears and take a leap.  Or a train to NYC.

PS- can you spot me in this photo?  😉  No big deal, just chatting with Gayle Butler (editor in chief of BHG).

I’d never in a million years thought I’d be hobnobbing (WOOT!) at a party with bloggers I admire and editors of such a fabulous magazine. I’m grateful to have been included and enjoyed every minute!  So. Who’s meeting me in NYC next week?  Getting a taste of the city is such a tease.  I’m ready for some serious shopping and dining and Broadway viewing and people watching and…