As a young boy, I (allegedly) often played with my parents’ jewelry collection. Yet, despite being transfixed by shiny and expensive things at an early age, I’ve never been “good” at jewelry. The first sign: losing my dad’s wedding ring when I was four. Oy, yoy, yoy! Nor have I ever been good at wearing jewelry (both in the sense of “pulling it off” and also simply remembering to wear it) until last year, when I was given a very special bracelet by one of my best friends. I call it my “bicycle bracelet.” Repurposed from a broken, retired bicycle…

It’s safe to say I’ve rarely met a throw pillow I didn’t like, largely owing to my approach to home décor (and fashion, for that matter): accessorize well and memorably, and you can get away with spending much less on the big things (namely, furniture and clothes). Hence my passion for pillows—they instantly dress up a room, and are a surefire way to “pull” color out of a rug and unify a space. Rarely do I return from a trip abroad without a few fabulous pillow covers, even if I don’t have a place for them (yet). They take up…

I’m a former gym rat. It started under the spell of Jane Fonda and continued for 20-something years with an endorphin high from high impact and step aerobics. Now, I’m a walkaholic. Even on vacations, I like to hoof it—a great way to explore and really get to know a place. I also try to see if there are any interesting architectural walking tours, like I did on my most recent visit to London in October (www.walks.com), enjoying an eye-opening experience that took me through the Jewish Quarter and its reach into the East End, which is emerging as the…

I may be a single 20-something living in the Upper East Side, but the hot new item in my life is my Slow Cooker. Sexy, I know. Still, I’ve fallen in love with the Christmas gift that can cook my dinner while I’m plugging away at the office. This may not be breaking news, but after living in South Florida for most of my life, the need for hearty warm food everyday was non-existent. I mean, who wants beef stew when its 70 degrees in January? Negative. But in the last year and half of living in the Big City,…

My 2010 resolutions are an annual mix of “hmm–let’s try that goal again” (which may or may not include attaining Gerard Butler biceps), as well as those aimed at keeping my artistic skills in shape. Among those in this latter category is taking a sewing class. While I was researching projects a little more advanced than the pillow I made in the eighth grade, I came across a world I didn’t even know existed—stitchery art. Julie Crabtree-Pfannes actually holds a four-year degree in embroidery from Mansfield College of Arts in Nottinghamshire, England. She now lives in western Wisconsin and uses…

Those who know me will tell you I’m detail-oriented. I’m sure there’s a better, more clinical way to phrase this, but it all boils down to an obsessive focus on the little things that you’ll be seeing in future posts. In that vein, I’m getting ready for a business trip and thought I would let you in on my secret for perfectly pressed meeting garb, even if the meeting is across the globe. Step 1: Carefully fold potentially wrinkly item and wrap in tissue paper. I like to reuse the stuff the dry cleaner sends delicates back in. Eco-friendly! Step…

Be sure to check back in early 2010, when V+P will launch its official blog as we kick off the New Year. In the meantime, Happy Holidays!