#96of100

[sparetimestudiosllc]

Daily Doodle Day 96 of 100! Decided to go with a standard potion bottle.

[tsgnorthernnewjerseynewjersey]

96 of 100

TSG Northern New Jersey is 96 out of 100!  Cheers to The Scout Guide on our 100th volume!  We are so proud to be part of the TSG National Network as we launch our first volume this Thursday!

A Yankee with Southern roots, I've spent a lot of time throughout my life with family in Virginia, and have always loved the charm, history, and elegance of the South.  My grandmother was a tastemaker of her time and her love and interest in fashion and interiors rubbed off on her daughters - my mom and aunt.  I have my mother's Saks Fifth Avenue couture hats from the 50's and 60's still in their original hat boxes, and gorgeous dresses from their annual shopping pilgrimages from Virginia to New York City.  After receiving her masters degree from Cornell University in the 60's (the origins of my Yankee blood), my mother became a professor there and taught Textiles and Apparel Design.  She also taught me an appreciation for fine materials and good design, and had me designing my own clothing as far back as I can remember (1st grade?).

I was also greatly influenced from a young age by my aunt's extensive collection of fine antiques, and the multiple homes that she meticulously redesigned.  It was as a child in her homes that I first experienced an appreciation for beautifully and expertly styled surroundings, and her impeccable taste was something I worked hard at mimicking years later when I started my interior design business.

I always dreamed of living in the South, but after graduation landed in New York and then New Jersey, marrying a transplanted boy from Nashville instead - that's halfway there, right?  Two summers ago I was visiting family in Virginia when I first saw a Charlottesville Scout Guide.  I immediately fell in love with the book, the concept, the beauty, and wanted in.  I called Scout headquarters before my trip was over.

It has been an honor to bring TSG and its Southern influence to Northern New Jersey this year, and it has been such a pleasure to work with this area's finest local business owners, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers.  Their passion inspires us at Scout each and every day.  I've learned so much and have been so inspired by working alongside my extremely talented photographer, Jennifer Lavelle, and equally talented stylist Felicia Geller.  

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram today as we celebrate Scout's 100th, and introduce a contest to win a weekend getaway to where it all began - Charlottesville, VA!!