an old fashioned girl

Every rose has its thorn.

2011-04-12T09:47:00.007-04:00

According to my BFFs, Kathie Lee and Hoda, donuts are the new cupcake. I really overdid the cupcake thing over the last five years, so I guess it's about time to move on to another high fat empty calorie snack. I write this as I sit in my sweatpants on a Tuesday morning, watching Brett Michaels sing on R&K, obviously having skipped the gym.

One of the last times my dad brought home a dozen was a Sunday morning after my 13th birthday sleepover. While my mom was doing whatever she was doing, my friends and I were gathered around the table, talking about the bad movie we had rented the night before. Then I decided to bet my friends how many donuts I could eat, before my mom came downstairs. I finished four in about five minutes before she entered the kitchen. My future would hold the purchase of only 2-3 donuts by my dad on the weekend.

Now that I'm an adult I can eat all the donuts I want. Oh the perks of being 30. While K&H displayed yummy looking pieces of delight from Doughnut Plant in NYC, we've at least got Doughboy Donuts in Boston. Look for boutique donut shops to be popping up all over. You heard it here first!

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

2011-03-27T18:22:00.003-04:00

I am in love with this sign. Listed at 36" by 36", this hand-painted sign is available from cottage, for the low low price of $300 (I kid). But seriously, I want it for over my bed.

Additional signs from by Kim and Joe include the entire "You are my Sunshine" opening verse, "Keep Calm and Carry On", and various beach house paraphernalia. If you ever wanted to make your home or your person look like you've just stepped out of Newport, this is the spot.

Have a great week!

Cause everybody hates a tourist.

2011-03-25T17:28:00.003-04:00

Hello strangers! School and life have been busy but I keep the idea of blogging alive in the back of my head. One of the biggest events that have happened to Brian and I in a while, we've planned a mega-vacation.

Other than visit with family we really haven't been away the two of us since our honeymoon, and after a lot of saving and planning we've finally got the details down. Our European excursion will include London, Barcelona, Naples, Florence, Palma and Barcelona (I marked teeny tiny stars on the above map). Now that the accommodations are reserved, all that's left is what to see and what to do. London and Barcelona will bookend our trip. Italy is by way of Norwegian Cruise Line (my very first cruise) so our stops will be limited to single day excursions but we'd prefer to explore on our own. Have you ever been to any of these places? What is there to absolutely see and absolutely do?

Happy Friday!

Map courtesy of European Papers.

With fingernails that shine like justice.

2010-12-14T14:58:00.003-05:00

Last week Brian and I were headed to a winter wedding so I decided to splurge for a mani/pedi. It had been so long I think I grossed out the nail tech. Ah well.

I decided to go with a flashy color and lucky me OPI has just come out with their holiday colors/Burlesque-themed "Show Stopping" colors. I went with Bring on the Bling (pictured). It honestly looks like I took a glitter pen to my nails and I love it. Today I stopped into the salon and actually bought the only bottle they have so I can keep it through the holidays.

Here's a tip - ask for extra clear top coat. Because of the gritty texture of the polish it gets caught and chips easily. Or just spring on buying the bottle (it's about $8) and save yourself the cost of a polish change/new manicure.

Come, as you are, as you were.

2010-12-14T14:46:00.004-05:00

Hello friends and strangers! I'm back... but I was never really gone. I decided in September to take a break from blogging (among other things like reading and yoga) to throw myself into school and get the best possible grades. I was successful at the break-ing of hobbies, and hopefully pretty successful with the grades, it remains to be seen after a couple of finals next week.

If you kept checking back, thanks so much. I heard from a few of my friends that they missed checking in and that made me feel good... I'll be back to updating now on a regular basis. Check back (and leave comments!). Cheers!

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

Lights will guide you home.

2010-09-01T12:39:00.002-04:00

Are you looking to do some renovations in your home but want to do it on the cheap? Or just looking to pick up some unique decor items but don't have a lot of money to spend? Look no further than your community.

Habitat for Humanity has ReStore Resale Outlets all over the United States! I have volunteered for Habitat in the past, and it's a great resource for those in need, and found out yesterday they have stores that offer brand new furniture, building supplies, appliances (fridges! washers and dryers!) and decor donated by area companies. There are two sets of prices on everything: a reduced price for they every day person, and a heavily reduced price for shoppers that qualify financially.

The sale of these items pads the pockets of this world renowned charity to help get homes for people that need them, and it saves you a bundle. So click here to find your local HH Restore.

Picture courtesy of Southern Living. After our trips to vacation I become obsessed with everything Southern, from cheese grits and sweet tea, to being uber-friendly, and the way everything looks old and lived in.

My blue heaven.

2010-08-30T14:08:00.006-04:00

I'm back from vacation!! After a nice relaxing nine days away, we're back in Boston after a weekend getaway for the Vanessa & Steve Rando wedding followed up by our annual trip to Georgia. You might remember Vanessa as our OPI Axxium nails tester.

Weddings really are so much fun. Vanessa (and Steve) did an amazing job planning their event at the Belle Mer in Newport. Although the weather didn't feel like playing along, the whole night was a blast.

In no particular order, here are my favorite take-aways from the wedding:

The bride's dress. As you can see it was strapless with a large flower at the waist. Vanessa also had a three tier bustle that just looked fantastic.
The colors: aquamarine, navy and orange. The theme for the wedding was nautical (lots of anchors - appropriate for Newport!) and I was delightfully surprised at the bridesmaid dresses. JCrew halter style (now discontinued) in the aqua, plus navy ruffle satin kitten heels, followed up with an orange bouquet. Stunning.
The bride's shoes: Christian Louboutin satin d'orsay in navy. So cute.
Dessert: MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDAE BAR! I was the very fist person in line (my sundae included: vanilla ice cream, gummi bears, crushed oreos and whip cream).
The fun!! Now that we are all getting a bit older it's harder for everyone weddings and babies and all kinds of grown up events going on to get together. I really looked forward to the weekend and it lived up to the hype!

Congratulations Vanessa and Steve! You did a beautiful job and I know that you'll have a lifetime of happiness together.

It's a cruel cruel Summer.

2010-08-20T09:33:00.004-04:00

Brian and I were in deep conversation when we were laying in the dark the other night and we came up with one undeniable fact about Facebook.

People are using Facebook to make people think their life is awesome.

I'm not saying I don't use FB. I'm on it all the time. I occasionally throw up a picture up of my dog or write a dumb status update. Beyond that I just use it to stalk people. But suddenly I realized that a lot of my "friends" are people I was never friends with before. In fact a couple of people that friend requested ME from high school didn't even acknowledge me at the reunion.

And now when I log into FB I'm forced to read status updates about how awesome pregnancy and motherhood is before I get to anything I really want to read. I don't mind reading about babies, lots of blogs I like post things about being moms but I don't need to know a minute-by-minute update on how much weight you've gained/lost or how much sleep you got last night. I know that I can unfriend people or block their status updates, but honestly I use it for comedic fodder with Erin every day. These people cannot be real. Guess what? As awesome as you think motherhood is, being married AND not a mother is pretty freaking awesome to. Pretty soon I'm headed to Newport then I'm off to Georgia and I tell you whatever I'm going to be doing sure beats changing a diaper and throwing it up on Facebook.

Brian and I also decided how funny it is that people put pictures up and title the album WhAtEvEr HaPpEnEd 2010!!! and throw ridiculous captions up about what they are doing. "This is the life", "Can't wait to do this again next year", "Isn't this view amazing?". We get it, you went on vacation. Or they put up ridiculous and inappropriate personal pictures that I save on my iPhone and show people for laughs but that's for another day. I also DON'T want to be tagged in a bad picture of me dancing at the junior prom, thank you very much.

My friend Melissa is THE BEST about putting up pictures, she discreetly puts them up under one album just titled 2010, doesn't tag them, and the people who were in them know where to look. People should learn from that.

Bri decided he wants to start taking pictures of his everyday life and caption them on Facebook so it looks awesome: Brian on the bus, Brian in his cube, Brian waiting in line at the cafeteria, Brian having to wait for the bus ride home, the crazy people that hang outside the Copley area.

So moral of the story is Facebook is the social networking platform created for people to make their lives seem awesome. And if you are going to be friends with me and put something up that's totally asinine, I will be making fun of you.

Picture of the prom, different prom then the bad picture one which I am not posting and certainly untagged myself. I'm in the pink. The picture I WANTED to put up does not belong to me and would be too mean and my friends know what picture that is.

Hot night, summer in the city.

2010-08-18T11:24:00.005-04:00

Speaking of not shopping... have you heard of Gilt City yet? You've probably heard of Groupon and Buy with Me (both of which Brian is obsessed with). Gilt City is a very similar concept. A limited number of heavily discounted experiential items become available in your area and you have the opportunity to snap them up before they sell out.

Just Sunday Gilt City was only available to New York and Boston, but now it's also available in Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Get a great deal to try out new yoga classes (OmWarrior for $89 in Boston), the desperate cleaning your apartment AND your good clothes need (Slate NYC $142 package for apartment cleaning and laundry), or a three course dinner for two on the cheap in Miami ($120 at Raleigh Restaurant).

Deals change daily and you don't need a special invitation to sign up. Plus the emails aren't super annoying, check in at your convenience. And if you really want, let your husband/boyfriend/whatever know. It's a great way to try new foodie spots and guys always like a good meal deal.

Picture of Tokyo courtesy of we heart it. I think Tokyo looks fascinating.

But you couldn't make my day, hey

2010-08-15T23:09:00.007-04:00

Judy Horacek, Topic of The Month: Yearning (October 2009)

I can't believe it's already about time for school... just three short weeks away. I've been making a mental list all summer long of what I want for "back to school." That's one of the best parts of being a student again.

Top of the list was something I've been saving for for quite a while. I wanted a Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM in Damier Ebene. Talk about preparing a mental list... this has been tops on my list since last winter. And while for the most part Brian obliges me, this was not something that was happening for my birthday last March. In lieu of the bag I received an appropriate gift card to LV and was to save the rest myself.

And so I've been saving. I've had this past weekend marked on the calendar for weeks since Governor Patrick made it a Tax Free Holiday ($45 savings!). So I set the alarm, got myself up early, got a great spot outside of Copley Mall (there was still an hour left in the meter!) and walked briskly toward the Louis Vuitton store just after opening. Thanks nice sales associate for smiling so warmly as you told me this bag was sold out.

I pouted and I whined. I called the Natick store. I called Brian (in the office on a Saturday, no less) to whine some more.

Then I came to this stunning conclusion. Hold your breath. Wait for it. Maybe this was the sign I needed: BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD LOUIS VUITTON. Seriously? What was I thinking? I really planned on emptying out my checking account for another bag. FOR SCHOOL. What message would I be sending?

Hi, I'm a 29-year-old full time student, I work six days a week as a waitress, I'm going to a state school on full financial aid, I haven't been on a vacation alone with my husband since our honeymoon but I just dropped half a month's rent on a tote bag so that you think I can afford this. Sucker!

Sex and the City is NOT REAL. It is not possible to spend hundreds of dollars on fashion items and not risk causing major damage to your bottom line. As much fun as it is to save and dream and ogle other people's bags and think "I can save and buy that" sometimes I like when I step back to reality. It's just not necessary for me to make this purchase right now. I'm glad I got my sign. The gift certificate has been put aside for sunnier days and the money saved has been re-purposed toward much needed bills and savings.

I didn't forget ALL about that back to school list; I did get myself these school goodies I've been eying. They'll look just as nice in my "vintage" North Face backpack (circa 1999).

Lilly Pulitzer for LeSportsac Kevyn bag in Hip Hop Hooray Print ($25)

Lilly Pulitzer 2010-2011 Academic Agenda in White Zin* ($25)

*Considering the amount of White Zin that my mother consumes I find the title of this print hilarious and appropriate - I learned all of my bad shopping habits from her.

Dog Days are Over

2010-08-13T09:13:00.009-04:00

The yellow striped curtain project from High Heeled Foot in the Door is finally fished! I am not a natural when it comes to crafting, that's for sure, but the directions were clear cut and easy to follow and I think the curtains came out great.

After three stores for curtains and three craft stores for paint, the project came to an end three weeks after I decided to start. I had to use a bit more paint than I expected. I used Simply Spray aerosol fabric paint over the Tulip brand used on HHFITD, and it took three cans per curtain. Each can costs about $6, so the paint alone was $36. The cost of the curtains was $16 (Target), tape maybe $3, construction paper $5. Total cost: about $60. I think that's well worth it for window drapes that look nice and I'm proud of.

After I purchased the curtains, measured out the stripes, tape the lines out, I purchased an orange throw rug for the living room spur of the moment from Crate and Barrel (it was $30!). I couldn't pass up the rug, but then I also couldn't wrap my brain around yellow striped curtains, an orange rug, and green flowered chair. Too much.

(That's Brian's ancient IBM thinkpad, NOT mine)

So I decided to throw two of the yellow striped curtains in my bedroom. I think the new window treatments brighten up my otherwise dark room. I decided to go with a chocolate brown for the living room curtains. On paper orange, brown and green sounds very Brady Bunch but I think the colors look nice together. I can open and close the curtains with the gold rope I've tied around the center and the room goes from light to dark in a flash. Plus I really like the intricate detail of the carved window frames and you're still able to see them with the curtains gathered in the middle.

(I offset the striped curtain cost with the living room cost: only $35 for four curtains and gold ropes!)

Moral of the story: I would definitely recommend trying this striped curtain project out if you want to create something for your home and change up the look of a room.

Have a great weekend!

(that's Annie sitting on the green chair. She got her haircut yesterday, and she looks homely as sin but still so cute. it'll grow back!)

Your rhinestone eyes are like factories far away.

2010-08-11T09:02:00.012-04:00

I came across Mod Cloth a few weeks ago when I was searching for the best price on Jeffrey Campbell clogs. I guess the best way to describe the site is an alternative to some of the monotony of Urban Outfitters. Same idea: clothes, shoes, apartment, some vintage. I really heart their vintage page, but the downside is you have to be sitting on the site when something vintage goes up because it is snapped up in seconds.

All I can think about lately is boots and leggings and scarfs and sweaters... I'm dreaming of fall. These are my fave selections from Mod Cloth below. You can follow Mod Cloth on twitter here.

Haiku Scarf ($25)

Optical Phenomenon Jacket ($75)

Felicity Top ($45)

Feeling Vine Dress ($90)

Blowing Breeze Dress ($50)

There's a woman in the kitchen, cleanin' up the evenin' slop.

2010-08-09T00:22:00.011-04:00

If you are ever driving from Boston to Cambridge, Somerville or Belmont, you might get there via Neponset Circle. A hideous rotary only Massachusetts could produce, the highlight of the traffic circle is Sozio Appliances and Furniture. The neon lights that pour out of the two story building scream to be looked at.

Sozio specializes in the reproduction of 1950's-style kitchen appliances and dining furniture. Going against everything HGTV tells me, if I were building a home, I'd want the kitchen outfitted with a vintage style fridge and stove. Probably not practical and definitely not likely to be another buyer's taste according to my man Mike Aubrey. Right now I'm starting small... my vintage tin sugar/flour canisters and vintage-style produce scale add a little flare to an otherwise boring room.

While I'm currently swimming in school loans, a textbook list as long as I'm tall and an apartment decor want vs. need argument, it's fun to dream. What is your imaginary home going to include?

1952 O'Keefe and Merritt Double Oven

Big Chill vintage-style refrigerator

AGA Legacy vintage style stove

Vintage Spice Tins

Vintage Star-Rite Automatic Toaster

Vintage Rooster Salt and Pepper Shakers

Christmas Story kitchen picture courtesy of Hooked on Houses.

So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye.

2010-08-09T00:10:00.003-04:00

I cannot sleep. I never can on Sundays. This on going battle of the sleep-wake cycle probably started when I was working full time and always anxious for Monday. Just because my schedule changed a year ago doesn't mean I'm any more relaxed heading into the start of the week.

It can all really be blamed on my usual cherry coke treat on Sunday nights and little else.

I've got a serious case of internal flight of ideas. I hope it translates into more activity this week. Or not. For right now I'm stuck doing everything you should NOT do when you can't sleep: watch bad tv and hop on the computer.

Who will love you?

2010-08-03T10:29:00.004-04:00

A love letter to my husband.

(sad that I can look at so many crazy things in my school textbooks but can't stomach stirring my peanut butter.)

Hot legs, wearing me out.

2010-08-02T10:26:00.008-04:00

I bought Jeffrey Campbell Snick clogs last week, I'm so excited! I discovered his clogs about two weeks ago when I was catching up on Hang On Little Tomato and I suggested these booties to my friend Barbara. In turn she suggested the Jeffrey Campbell website to me and I was in love.

After checking out his site and seeing how many shoes were on Revolve* (my favorite site to buy from), I came to realize how often I've seen clogs in my beach magazines this summer. I felt these to be the perfect late summer/fall investment.

Love them? Hate them?

Stylehive's Jeffrey Campbell alternative to Chanel Clogs

Mily Cyrus in Jeffrey Campbell (Charli in tan)

Jeffrey Campbell in Life & Style

*Get 20% off your purchase on Revolve with code INSTYLE20; got them for about $92, that's $23 off!

Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

2010-07-30T09:46:00.004-04:00

I fell in love with eBay the summer of 2000. I probably bought five of what I thought were authentic Kate Spade bags. I've since become a pessimist when it comes to buying high end products off of an auction website because let's face it, there are a lot of scams out there.

Last week I was invited to sign up for Lucky Chic. I wasn't sure what it as all about but I enjoy Rue La La, Guilt and the like so why not add one more into the rotation. Lucky Chic is a mix of eBay and Rue with a little bit of Las Vegas thrown in. Here's how it works: you go ahead and buy chips at 60 cents each. Items ranging from Sephora gift cards, Louis Vuitton bags, iPads, televisions and more all get listed at $0, and members use a chip to bid on the item (they don't bid an actual price).

Each bid drives the price up 10 cents and adds 40 seconds on the clock. The last person who gets their bid in gets the item for the last price. Just for signing up you get three free chips to try it out. I went ahead and bought another 10 chips for $6 last weekend to play around. This is serious business. I'm not really grasping a strategy to win quite yet but it sure looks like you can get some great items heavily discounted. Buyer beware: taxes for full value of the item must be paid, plus shipping. But hey, if you get something at 75% off what's another $10?

The discount/bid website is invite only, so if you are really interested you can leave a comment and I'll send you an invite. Have a great weekend!

Las Vegas sign picture courtesy of we heart it.

I got sunshine on a cloudy day.

2010-07-27T11:00:00.005-04:00

I finally decided what I'm going to do with my front windows. I decided I wanted yellow curtains for my windows, so last Thursday I traveled to Pier 1 and Crate and Barrel looking for them.

No luck.

So last Thursday night I googled "yellow striped curtains" and High-Heeled Foot in the Door came up on page 2. HHFITD is an awesome design blog with a lot of DIY projects that I've seen mentioned on Everything LEB. Her projects are well instructed and seem easy to follow, so I'm going to be tackling this one next week: Seeing Stripes, DIY Curtains.

Kate Spade skirt no longer available but picture borrowed from this blog.

He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston.

2010-07-26T11:00:00.003-04:00

I have a few fun things to blog about this week but I had an incident on Saturday that I thought I would share as a PSA. I've lived in the city for seven years, in several different neighborhoods, and have always felt safe (too safe). When nothing ever happens to you it's easy to think that it likely never would.

On Saturday night, in a moment of ignorance, I decided to take the last red line train back to South Boston from Harvard Square (alone). Some people sat around me at the next stop, Central Square. The train quickly filled up over the new couple of stops. The guy next to me was touching my iPod and touching my dress, and the girl across from him was taunting me. Rather than get up and move I made a smart-ass remark back.

Now it looks like a feral cat attacked the left side of my face and I don't exactly have full range of motion in my neck. I will never take the train at night again, no matter what the time.

The MBTA police officers who helped me were SO nice and sympathetic, there couldn't have been a better pair of officers. I felt guilty for a) taking the train alone b) not moving my seat and c) talking back to crazy people. But they made me realize no matter what situation you are in no one has the right to hit you. And the reason those people sat around me could have had ulterior motives when I got off the train, had I not been obnoxious. I think the part that bothers me the most is that the dozen or so people in the train car just looked on and didn't say or do a thing.

So city and non-city friends, here's what I learned:

Avoid riding the train alone. If you have to ride the train alone, try to sit in a car that has more than one person.
If someone gets on a train that is not full and sits directly next to you, get up and move.
Never let anyone touch you or your belongings. If they do, get up and move.
If someone speaks to you on the train, ignore them and get up and move.
Do not be afraid to tell a platform worker or train conductor you want to file an incident report, regardless of how annoyed they look. That is your right.

Picture courtesy of MBTA.com. Song is Charlie of the MTA.

Sail away, sail away, sail away.

2010-07-22T11:26:00.010-04:00

Have you been to the Outnet? I found the website through twitter. The London based Net-a-Porter owned discount designer shop is the more interactive version of Bluefly. While it has a smaller inventory base, the items are all high-end at a deeply reduced price.

How is the Outnet interactive? This is my favorite part! The Outnet offers three types of what they call "Flash Sales": Going Going Gone, Pop Up Sale, and Giveaway.

The Going Going Gone sale is a backwards version of ebay. An item goes up for sale at a particular time at its listed price, and from the start time until the product is sold out, THE PRICE GOES DOWN. Here's the tricky part: while you may want to wait for its lowest price, how bad do you want the product? The Alexander McQueen clutch above, retailed at $1,095, starts off tomorrow at noon. You don't know how many clutches there are, or how many people will skip out of work before lunch, but here's your chance to own a high end bag for a lower-than-high-end price. At what price will the bag sell out?

The Pop Up Sale is a 72 hour sale that you need to be email registered with the Outnet to hear about. Prices usually drop down to almost 85% off the original value. Want to hear about a Pop Up Sale you missed? Back in April for their first birthday, the Outnet offered a $1 sale: everything on the site was $1. A lot of people missed out (including me) but if you could get in, it was worth every second of your precious early morning sleep.

Finally, the Giveaway is no mystery. Enter to get some of the greatest items to grace the inside of Us Weekly. Right now you can enter to win this Herve Leger bandage dres s, similar to the one worn by Lucy Liu at MBFW last fall. I entered!

Special note: I have not purchased anything from the Outnet because while it's deeply discounted, as a full time student I still can't afford these things right now. I just love to window shop. If I win the Herve Leger dress, where the hell am I going to wear it?

Clutch picture courtesy of the Outnet and Lucy Liu picture courtesy of Red Carpet Colors.

You don't bring me flowers anymore.

2010-07-20T11:09:00.011-04:00

This is my awesome front door. The guy upstairs was nice enough to leave all of his old furniture and crusty rugs outside of my steps when he moved out last Thursday. His door is the one that's open on the right. Our trash day is Wednesday. Thanks buddy.

Hopefully this will all be gone tomorrow. After that I'd like to put some pretty potted plants outside to brighten up our entryway. While my thumbs are more black than green, I dream big. To be completely honest, I'm not 100% sure that all of these plants are even pot-able. I plan on visiting some nurseries next week to get my story straight and pick up some front door color.

Rhododendron

Mahoney's Monticello Mix

Gardenias

Argyranthemum (wait, how do you say that?)

French Hydrangeas

I'm still working on my window treatments. Luckily I've got EverythingLEB checking in and handing out decorating advice. Unfortunately I spent a little too much cashola at Target last week and need to recoup some of my loss first.

All pictures have been appropriately credited with the links underneath. Front door picture taken with my new iPhone 4 (not loving it yet) and awesome red circle drawn by me.

Vacation all I ever wanted.

2010-07-20T10:53:00.003-04:00

This past weekend I went to Martha's Vineyard. I had been looking forward to this trip since Erin invited me in May. MV is my favorite place to visit next to our annual Georgia trip. Erin and her husband Brian are the greatest hosts I've ever known and this weekend did not disappoint.

Here's what I learned:

It's not wise to switch purses when you're half asleep. You will forget your wallet. And MV is not home to a BoA or Citizens.
Salt water cures hangovers.
There's a reason people aren't in the ocean. It's dangerous.
If you are busy laughing at someone because waves knocked their top fell off, karma will suck you out into the ocean and over your head.
Come hell or high water, I will have a vacation home at some point in my life. Even if it's a one bedroom no electricity shack.

Thanks buzzard!

South Beach on MV picture courtesy of flickr. Don't let the calmness of the water fool you. We almost drowned.

Streets of Philadelphia

2010-07-13T14:24:00.002-04:00

Summer television is basically terrible. If I am forced to watch another episode of Wipe Out I might cancel DirecTV. I don't normally get to watch a lot of tv as it plays out, I depend on the DVR to record nightly shows for me because I'm normally at work.

And nothing other than The Hills and The City have been worth the time to watch.

A couple of weeks ago I got out of work early on a Monday night and Brian was watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Happy Hour on Comedy Central. This, my friends, is the funniest half hour to two hours on tv right now.

I think I'm a little late on this show, it's been on for five seasons on FX (as I tell people about it they all respond with how hilarious it is). The only household name on the show is Danny DeVito and he's not even the funniest character (I like Sweet Dee). If you like dark humor that's easy to relate to, set your DVR (or watch it "live") for Monday nights from 9-11 on Comedy Central.

I'm looking through you, what did I know?

2010-07-11T09:59:00.005-04:00

I don't pretend to know anything about interior design. At all. In fact I haven't changed anything in my apartment since I decided that I finished decorating January 2008. Nothing. Now I'm in this new place and I have so much work to do and I don't even know where to start. How about we start with the living room windows. We didn't have any window treatments at Beckler Avenue because being on the third floor all of our walls were slanted halfway up and curtains would have looked strange, so we just put up nice blinds.

Now we have this big windowscape in the living room that looks out onto the street with hideous vinyl shades and I have to do something before my brain explodes. Our living room is very neutral: cream couch and white wooden furniture. The main piece is my only cherished furniture buy, the Pottery Barn Arlington Chair from the cover of the August 2007 Catalog (pictured below; the chair is in the picture but there's no flash on my iPhone). What color curtains go with that? I feel like green would be too much and white or cream would be to boring. Colors beyond the olive and yellow of the chair include salmon, burnt orange and mahogany.

Do I get new blinds and drapes? Just drapes and remove the tacky vinyl shades? What color drapes do I get? Should I just get window length or down to the floor? HELP?!?!

Color pictures courtesy of Crayola.com. Proper Arlington chair picture courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com.

*One of my goals this week is to finally purchase a new digital camera battery. I think that's all I need to start taking normal pictures again.

Time is on my side.

2010-07-08T10:59:00.004-04:00

I need a new passport. Now that this has come out, I've finally stopped procrastinating. As I ran about town getting a copy of my marriage license, the pictures, blah blah blah, I started to think about the 10 years in between my first passport and this one.

The girl on the left is 19 years old. She's halfway through her freshman year of college. It's winter and she's wearing her high school boyfriend's hockey fleece. Her mother says she'll regret looking like this for her passport because it's valid for 10 years. She's spending a lot of time on Instant Messenger, ignoring her parents, and dying to be done with winter break to get back to school. She wants to work for a professional sports team and live in Boston when she grows up. She hasn't met the man she will marry yet. She hasn't even met some of her friends that will become her closest. She hasn't discovered make-up and is avoiding the use of bras with under-wire. Her passport will include stamps from Ireland, France, and England (her future credit cards will bear the cost). This 19 year old girl has so much to look forward to.

What would the 29 year old woman on the right say to the 19 year old girl? First she might shake her a bit, tell her she's lucky she made it unscathed through some of the stunts she's pulled. Then she will say that she's proud of how far she's come in 10 years. She accomplished a lot of her dreams, survived some storms, and worked really hard. The 29 year old is finally wearing make-up, definitely wearing an under-wire bra, and knows who her best friends are. She loves her husband very much. Now the 29 year old dreams of becoming a nurse, starting a family, and earning some more passport stamps. The 29 year old woman has so much to look forward to.

What will the 39 year old have to think and say 10 years from now?

I saw her standing there.

2010-07-07T09:40:00.007-04:00

I've been in love with Jackie Kennedy for what feels like forever. I know it's not exactly original but it comes from my Nanny's Boston Brahmin love for the Kennedys. I feel like it was just yesterday that CNN held 24 news vigils outside of her Fifth Avenue apartment before her death when I was 13 years old. Her style is perpetually emulated but never exactly replicated.

Next time your in downtown Boston, take a trip down Charles Street. On the left side you'll find a little shop entirely filled with JBKO-esque fashions. Holiday is a two-store, bicoastal boutique that specializes in brand name labels, vintage labels, and their very own line. When I worked downtown I liked to walk over here at lunch time and ogle all the items. Located in Los Angeles and in Boston, the prices are a little high but worth it if you are looking for something special. I can honestly say with my college student budget I've only been a browser and never a buyer. The sale prices are fantastic and the accessories are priced within an affordable range.

A week or so ago I was out for a bike ride and stopped in, snagging these pictures. Enjoy!

Holiday window scene, 53 Charles Street

Could this dress pictured above be this dress?

A little bit of old style Carrie Bradshaw here.

Skirts part of Holiday's own bridal collection. Beautiful silk material.

A little bit here and there for a gift or treat for yourself.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis picture courtesy of we heart it.

Home is wherever I'm with you.

2010-06-24T11:56:00.012-04:00

Story Street, South Boston

After a couple of weeks of seeing terrible apartments, a few fights, some tears, and a bit of stress, Brian and I have found a new place right on time! About two weeks after we received the letter from our landlord asking us to move, I was riding my bike through South Boston and took a turn down Story Street, a little nook tucked in between the letters and numbers. Halfway down the street I saw a window with an old fashioned "For Rent" sign. I called it up, met with the landlord a half hour later, and fell in love.

Turns out our friends Jenn and Mark below us that are also looking for a new place had seen Story Street but decided to pass and are looking to buy something. After waiting patiently to see if two other people that said they were taking it actually signed the lease, our new landlord let us know that the people ahead of us fell through and the apartment was ours! Hooray!

Here are the highlights: it's recently renovated and has NOT been lived in since the reno (I am spoiled, that is how our Beckler Avenue apartment is now); it's got a private entrance, we're upgrading to TWO bedrooms, and I've taken some pictures to share the rest.

Beckler Ave. is the first place that Brian and I ever lived together, and we picked this apartment out right before our wedding. It's a bittersweet move. But I'm looking forward to creating a new home space for us with a blank canvas (and limited budget!).

The new living room: lots of space, polished up original hardwood floors, very bright.

What's that? Brian and I shared ONE closet on Beckler Ave.? Not only do we each get our OWN closet, I get TWO closets! Brian has conceded both second bedroom closets to my wardrobe. Thanks Bri! xoxo

Pretty eat-in kitchen, complete with sparkly clean new appliances and granite countertops.

The other side of the kitchen, with food pantry in the far right corner.

The back deck (not our white furniture...moving that out asap).

Why am I showing you an old basement? BECAUSE IT'S EXTRA STORAGE! Basements are almost as rare as driveways when it comes to living in South Boston. Goodbye stuffing plastic bins under the bed and couch, and filling closets to the brim.

I'm looking forward to sharing pictures with everyone once Story Street has been set up and decorated. I may be really slow to update next week because we have to wait for our internet to be set up. Perhaps I will update with my iPhone or from the library? We shall see! Have a great weekend!

When I grow up, I wanna be famous.

2010-06-22T11:16:00.003-04:00

I have a long standing love-hate relationship with my hair. I grow it long, cut it super short. Grow. Cut. I've been going back and forth with the length since my early teens. I think it stems from the year I was turning 13... my mother promised I could get a perm for that birthday. Then a couple days before she changed her mind and I never got the perm. I was never allowed to highlight or color my hair either. The only change I've ever really made is the length.

I grew my hair long long long for my wedding... too long so that the updo weighed about 10 pounds and took almost a full pack of bobby pins. Shortly after Kate Holmes came out with her 1920's style bob so I followed suit, complete with bangs. It wasn't my best look (see below). Not totally my fault. The guy who was cutting it at the time thinks he is some kind of hair god and over-charges for an okay job. Side story: one side came out longer than the other and when I stopped in the next day to see if I could have it fixed real quick, he told me it was BECAUSE MY HEAD WAS CROOKED, not because one side was longer. Really?

After watching David Letterman last night and Regis and Kelly this morning, I am absolutely fascinated with Selma Hayek's hair. Obsessed. I want it. I want it 10 minutes ago. The best part is that it's a pretty basic haircut we've probably all had at one point. Shoulder length, a few long layers, the ability of changing up the parts. Since my Katie Holmes hair tragedy two years ago, I've gotten my hair to about just below my shoulder blades. It would be so nice to have lighter hair, shorter time styling, just a different look.

But my mom says I can't cut it this time. Sigh.

My haircut in January 2008

Pictures courtesy of me hitting pause with the remote and using my iPhone. Not quite sure why some look more orange than the others.

It was late in the evening and I blew that room away.

2010-06-21T10:53:00.005-04:00

You know, people like to mock Seaside Heights including our favorite residents, Snooki and the Situation, but sometimes I think the obnoxious characters that give the Jersey Shore its reputation are everywhere, just dressed in Vineyard Vines and flip flops.

Friday night I went out with some friends at a few local establishments and at our last spot the first person I noticed in the bar was a tall guy, displaying his performance for So You Think You Can Dance, pounding Bud Lights and really just working it out. I'm bad at hiding how I feel about things with my face, so I think he noticed me staring and came over. I'm not conceited enough to think he was hitting on me, which is fine, I'm happily married. Here's how the conversation went:

Guy: "Have you ever been to Nantucket?"
Me: (answering honestly) "No, I haven't."
Guy: "Well, Nantucket's my life," and then he went back to dancing and being obnoxious with his friends.

I wish I had counter-replied with "If Nantucket's your life then why aren't you there for the first nice weekend of the summer?" I'm not blaming the Cape and the Islands for developing this obnoxious creature, all are wonderful places to see and stay and have LOTS of wonderful people there. Maybe I'll just stop judging the Shore as a place of juiced up meat-heads and over-bronzed girls with bad accents.

Official Preppy Handbook available on Amazon.com. Jersey Shore Season 2 premieres July 29.

Mothers be good to your daughters too.

2010-06-16T10:27:00.003-04:00

Hooray for heavily discounted designer clothing email subscriptions! I've raved about Leifsdottir here on OFG a couple of times, and I was raving about it this weekend to someone, and much to my delight when I checked in with my Rue La La ap Sunday evening, Leifsdottir is coming up for sale tomorrow at 11 a.m.

I checked out the preview on Rue La La and I compared it to the current Leifsdottir site. So far it seems that the entire preview is already on sale at somewhat reasonable prices (if you really love it), I'm hoping that they will be on super sale on Rue*. The items are from the spring and summer 2010 collection, and last I checked, there's a solid three months left of bare leg skirts and sleeveless tops.

If you don't have a subscription to Rue La La then I'm shocked. If you really aren't a subscriber, it's by invite only from other members. You can leave a comment and I'll send along an invite asap.

For fellow iPhone users, there's also a Rue La La ap that's extremely handy - you get little pop-up messages about 15 minutes before a sale starts that isn't nearly as annoying as I thought it would be (you can turn the reminders off completely).

*In full disclosure, I am a poor college student and only buy nice things on super sale or with a gift card.

Other exciting news: J Brand jeans are also coming up for sale on Rue at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Picture courtesy of couture.com.

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.

2010-06-15T11:32:00.007-04:00

Last Thursday was week one of the CSA Farm Share with Red Fire Farm. I received an email early last week that told me what to expect from last week's share and what to bring with me. I headed out on the rainy dreary day with my large plastic tote bag to collect all of our goodies. Mistakes I made: 1) I attempted to drive to the farm share pick-up site, even though it's two miles down the road (biking this week). 2) When collecting our fresh produce, I separated each product into its own plastic bag rather than sort them into three bags for the people we are sharing. I ended up having to divide at home in my kitchen which was a giant pain.

So here's how picking up our farm share works: every bushel has a sign of what it is and how much each shareholder is allowed to take. For example, we were allotted about a pound of spinach. There are plenty of scales available. Last week's share included spinach, mixed greens, lettuce, carrots, bok choy, green garlic, turnips and dill. I've been making salads this week, along with sliced carrots for snack and we're planning on smoked salmon quesadillas for dinner with a dill sour cream.

All in all it was a successful first farm share!

Carrots, turnips and garlic courtesy of Red Fire Farm in Granby, Mass.

Fresh greens.

The final collection.

Off I go, where I fall is where I land.

2010-05-31T09:21:00.005-04:00

Dear Brian and Katie: Please find this 30 day notice to terminate tenancy for your apartment. Awesome. That's how my Memorial Day weekend started... with a letter from my landlord telling me to hit the road and don't leave anything behind. When we got this letter Saturday morning, I did what most self-respecting 29-year-old women would do: I burst into tears. And I've pretty much been in a bad mood ever since.

While I know this slight inconvenience is just a minor bump in the road (more like a pebble) and people have bigger problems than this, but I just don't want to move. I love my apartment. We've lived here for three years, it's a great location, great little space, and the first place that Brian and I lived together. Plus this is my third move in five years.

I'd like to thank the second floor people for this situation. They are exceptional neighbors. Kind enough to dookie up the place, break their lease, and give our landlord the idea to give the other tenants the boot. While I know it's not exactly their fault, I want someone to blame. I hope they can't really afford their knew condo and end up having to move in with their parents and 12 months.

We've got exactly three weeks to meet with shifty Realtors, dig through all kinds of apartments, and cross our fingers and toes we find something we like...that takes a dog...and has laundry.

Picture courtesy of we heart it. Song title is by Greg Laswell, who is my favorite artist right now. I saw his show last week and he is amazing. Download his music immediately.

Love reign over me.

2010-05-27T16:37:00.004-04:00

So the neighbors below us have moved out. They were a nice couple, moved in last September, and I can probably count on my two hands how many times I saw them. They just bought a condo in a pretty nice building a block away. I'm a smidge jealous.

The best part about living on the top floor is the absolute bliss of hearing nothing above you but the rattling of air conditioners. I've always lived on the top floor mostly out of coincidence but have never really disliked my neighbors because of that very reason. We have the BEST neighbors on the first floor of our building.

There's just one really odd thing about the second floor neighbors habits I'd like to share, just to make sure I'm not a wackadoo. Last February second floor neighbors decided to get a dog. Anytime of year is a tricky time of year to get a dog, but winter is really hard. Especially because they divulged that this puppy purchase was sort of unplanned.

Now I'm not exactly one to complain about dog habits, Annie's been known to bark at the wind, but they liked to let their dog use the deck as a bathroom spot, rather than walk her. I've honestly only seen them walk her TWICE and I am home ALL the time. The dog's bathroom habit didn't effect me directly but made the neighbors next door and the first floor upset. Why didn't second floor walk their dog? That's one of the only major things you have to commit to doing when you get a puppy - walking it (along with feeding, of course). And it's not like we live in a 20 story high-rise and walking is a major inconvenience, it's the second floor of a row house. Instead second floor dog laid deuces along their porch (and left them there) and sprinkled less than heavenly showers on first floor neighbors deck furniture, grill, and even heads (yes, they got peed on). Please tell me this is not normal behavior.

Goodbye to our neighbors with odd puppy habits... good luck to your new building cohabitants. It might have been better for them to invest in a first floor condo rather than the third floor condo that they bought. I see some unhappy patio furniture in their future.

Picture courtesy of we heart it. Doormat available at Coco Mats 'n More.

You can't hide your lyin' eyes.

2010-05-26T14:02:00.004-04:00

Today was the day I was going to really clean my apartment, top to bottom. Instead I went to Bikram, watched The Hills and The City, ate an avocado salad, read a chapter of Chelsea, took a cat nap, then ate a few spoonfuls (okay, about a pint) of mint chocolate chip ice cream (only the green kind, obviously). So I'd say it's a successful day. The messy apartment will still be here tomorrow.

Last Friday Erin took me to a free makeover session by stylists of Laura Mercier at Nordstroms. And since I hate makeup and all, I obliged. To be totally honest, I've probably tried every brand but Laura Mercier so I was excited to see something new and maybe pick up a new trick. In fact I was calling it LaurEN Mercier all week until I got there on Friday afternoon.

I won't bore you with a play-by-play, but my make-up artist was delightful and I did get a very cool new trick. Monique introduced me to lining my lashes. Interesting concept. I'm not a huge fan of putting eyeliner on myself - it never looks straight and I have to smudge it for a "smokey look" but I'm really only hiding my flaws. And forget liquid... the only person who can get that right is Lauren Conrad (seriously, I've Googled: Lauren Conrad + liquid eyeliner + brand + instructions so many times it comes up in Google for me whenever I start with an "L").

Here's how it works (or at least I was taught). After you let your mascara dry, you take your flat eyeliner brush, get it a little wet, and make little circles in your eyeliner pallet. You want to make sure that the eyeliner doesn't get soupy; you want it to thicken up a bit after it gets wet and stains the brush.

Lift your top eyelid and from the outside in you want to rub the brush gently back and forth sort of in your eyelash base and not on your lid (as described to me - where they eyelashes are growing out from) from the inside out. After you are done with one eye, repeat wetting the brush and adding the liner, then go for the other eye. Unless you are into the whole Clockwork Orange thing.

I'm in love with this product and have used it every day since Friday. It's really natural looking and makes my eyelashes pop (in my humble opinion). The color she recommended to me believe it or not is Marine, a dark navy. I have black hair and hazely-brown eyes, so I was surprised at this but you can't tell it's blue when you put it on and I think makes the overall look less dramatic.

So if you are ever in the Burlington area, stop by the Laura Mercier counter in Nordstroms and see Monique for some great new makeup tricks.

I also love love loved the face polish I got in my sample bag. It's a way way way better version of St. Ive's Apricot Scrub and it smells AMA-zing.

Sorry about the lack of picture example, but honestly, it's really difficult to take pictures of your own eyes with an iPhone camera. You're just going to have to trust me on this. Picture courtesy of lauramercier.com. Lauren Conrad picture courtesy of pynkcelebrity.com.

Then you'll spread your wings and you'll take the sky.

2010-05-24T14:20:00.004-04:00

School is officially out for the summer my friends. After a semester of endless hours in the library, days on end spent in sweatpants and Uggs, and a week of exams about topics I can't even mention to Brian or he'll start dry heaving, I'm free until Labor Day.

I have a list as long as Brett Michael's medical chart of things I want to do this summer, INCLUDING blogging more/being better. Unfortunately I had to start today off with important errands like the RMV and picking up Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang*. But starting tomorrow my days will be filled with Bikram, sunning, walks, and whatever I feel like. Before you get too jealous, I spend my nights at work so it's not all fun and games.

The Schwinn is all tuned up and ready to ride, but I'm a little anxious to ride right now. Two people in Boston have died this spring on bikes, and I'm not really a risk taker. Am I being weird?

Happy summer.

I say "unfortunately" about having to pick up Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang because it cost me $74. Why was the book so expensive you ask? Is it gold plated? No. Dumb dumb here accidentally parked in commercial spot and got a $55 ticket. Check- $56, because I had put $1 in the meter that didn't count for anything. At least I had already renewed my registration, so eat it RMV!

She loves everybody.

2010-05-12T12:51:00.003-04:00

That's me, Spring Break in Barbados, February 2003.

I bought 1.5 new bathing suits last week from VS. I decided to go with a simple moderate-to-full coverage bottom in brown, and two triangle tops, one in teal and one in hot pink. Mix it up this year. This was my first time buying swimsuits from VS, so I referred to their size guide before I placed my order. I took out the measuring tape, did up the bust, waist, hips, etc. Matched my sizes to the chart and ordered my pieces.

Well, the tops and bottom arrived yesterday. Oof. I don't think they would have fit Kate Moss even back in her Calvin Klein days. Seriously, if I wore those pieces to any beach in New England, I'd probably get at least a citation for indecent exposure. There was pretty much more coverage of my body in the shower today than there was in this alleged bathing suit. Needless to say I packed them up and shipped them back to Ohio where they came from. VS has a phone-exchange system where you can re-order the suit in the appropriate sizes, have the new suit shipped right away, and send the originals back. They charge you but also said they refund you within 14 days of the phone call (assuming the package is returned right away). I'm not typically a catalog shopper so maybe this is common but I thought the service was pretty neat. The suits are fairly priced (about $15 per piece) so I don't mind the $45 charge/refund.

I know I'm not the first to ask, and I won't be the last, but why are sizes so arbitrary? You can get one size in one place and then go somewhere else and be three sizes larger? Can you imagine if shoes were like this? Disaster. I see the reasoning behind nicer clothing stores having their products appear to be a small size when they are in fact, bigger. Next time you are in a shopping plaza, stop in a Neimans, Nordstroms, BR, and try on a pair of pants and a top. THEN, stop into the Gap, H&M, Forever 21. I guarantee you will go from say a size 4 at the nicer shops to a size 8 or 10 in the cheaper shops.

Next time you want to make a purchase and feel good about yourself, where are you going to shop? The place you're a size 4 or a place your a size 8?

Hopefully when my new suit arrives it'll be appropriate to wear within the continental US. I really wish I could get my swimsuit modeling body back, but the weekly jar of fluff and bags of gummi bears I consume is really holding me back.

Picture courtesy of SI and my Microsoft Paint. If you don't see the funny in this picture then you have no sense of humor.

I want loads of clothes and I want loads of diamonds.

2010-05-09T22:00:00.008-04:00

My friend Melissa has the type of wardrobe that I would die for. I am constantly asking her "where'd you get that?". She knows designers and stores and websites well before the common shopper. Melissa is the ultimate fashionista.

I was delighted last week when she took time out to send me Madison Avenue Spy. We were out for drinks celebrating her ENGAGEMENT a couple of weeks ago and Melissa filled me in on this blog that finds top designer sales on the web, in the stores, and for all those lucky New Yorkers out there, at the Sample Sales. I've been dying my entire adult life to go to a Sample Sale. I'm really reaching for the stars.

You can also sign up for Madison Avenue Spy emails if you can't remember to check on the blog regularly. Think Daily Candy without all the fluff. Happy browsing/shopping! (Anyone headed to NYC on Wednesday?!?!)

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

Pedicure on our toes, toes.

2010-05-02T21:26:00.005-04:00

Here's Vanessa's final update from her Opi Axxium Gel manicure: After 12 days no chips, just growing out at the nail bed which still looks fine because it's a french manicure. She's going to do this along with her toes for her wedding so that it lasts the whole honeymooon. Below is Vanessa soaking off the nails with acetone nail tips she purchased at Rite Aid.

Boston locations doing OPI Axxium Manis:
Beantown Nails (Cambridge Street, Beacon Hill)
Wet Pain Nail Salon (Cambridge)
Paradise Nails (215 Newbury Street)
MiniLuxe (296 Newbury Street)****
Joi Salon (North End, Hanover Street)

***Two years ago when MiniLuxe opened their first location in Newton Center, I tried to book a Monday evening appointment for my mother and I (they are open 7 days a week). I called one week in advance. They told me over the telephone that unless I had already been a customer SIX TIMES, then I wasn't eligible to make an appointment; I was more than welcome to come in and see if they had space. A Monday night?! Do they not realize mani/pedi places are a dime a dozen? Needless to say I did NOT go there six times just to make an appointment, and I will never give them my business, so I'm not recommending them, just listing them.

Waiter I need two more boat drinks!

2010-04-28T14:08:00.002-04:00

Last weekend Brian and I went to the Franklin Cafe in Boston for a little dinner, and while I don't usually drink liquor drinks (I'm strictly a beer and wine girl), the drink menu looked tempting, and I decided to try a Cucumber Collins (cucumber lime vodka, simple syrup, lemon, soda, cucumber slice). It was AMAZING. So I asked the bartender what type of vodka the bar uses, and it's Rain Organic Cucumber Lime Vodka.

My wheels were spinning. Cucumber lime vodka and sodas, cucumber lime mojitos, any way you serve it this could be quite the delicious summer refreshment. When you are headed to a BBQ this summer, pick up a bottle of Rain, some club soda and a lime, and you'll be quite the sophisticated guest. Or pick it up and toss it in the freezer for an after-work drink on those sweltering summer evenings.

Rain also makes Honey Mango, Red Grape Hibiscus, Lavender Lemonade, and Original vodka, all organic. You can find Rain vodkas at your local beverage shop here.

Friday I'm in love.

2010-04-23T16:02:00.006-04:00

Five days later and not a single chip. Vanessa's OPI Axxium nails are holding up pretty well. And as Lindsay mentioned (which I did not even think of), this would be perfect for all those brides out there. Considering I dropped $100 for a mani/pedi at a Newbury Street spa the Friday before my wedding, and it had disintegrated by Monday, I'd say this would be a better dollar spent.

Well you came and you gave without taking.

2010-04-20T09:50:00.002-04:00

I am in love.

(Song choice because I was watching Family Guy Barry Manilow episode last night. Hilarious.)

No colors anymore.

2010-04-19T12:38:00.007-04:00

Have you tried OPI Axxium nails yet? I am absolutely dying to. I've been hearing about this long lasting nail product for a couple weeks and have heard nothing but rave reviews. My friend Vanessa went Sunday to Happy Nails in Norwell, Mass. Due to nursing school clinical restrictions I'm not allowed to have paint on my nails during the school year. Lucky us, Vanessa's going to update us over the next few weeks to see how her french manicure is holding up. She's a good subject because as a Dermatologist she's washing her hands 500 times a day.

Here's how Vanessa said the manicure went down: the manicurist paints a base, followed by two coats of paint and a top coat between each layer. Then V's hands were put under a UV light for three minutes to set, and after three minutes her nails were totally dry.

I've heard varying reports that places are guaranteeing up to three weeks chip free? I've been google-ing for places in Boston but have only found one in the city and three outside the city that are offering OPI Axxium. It's a little pricey, people have reported it's $30+ for a manicure, but if you are a regular manicure gal it's probably worth it.

I really wish that you could get Axxium pedicures but I've also heard places aren't doing that. Anybody out there know? That would be perfect timing for the summer...

OPI picture courtesy of opi.com. Manicure pictures courtesy of Vanessa's iphone.

Kodachrome, you gave us those nice bright colors.

2010-04-14T14:17:00.004-04:00

Besides Facebook, how do you share your digital camera photos? Kodak, snapfish, flickr, webshots, shutterfly?

When I got my first digital camera in 2003, this giant bulky Kodak plastic that barely fit in my purse, I used to share my photos on Ofoto (now Kodak). I'd caption them after a crazy weekend, send them out to my friends. Once in a while I'd actually order some to hang in my room. Through 2007 I continued to put my pictures on Ofoto.... graduations, weddings, parties, when I got engaged. After a while I switched to using snapfish, then shutterly. What can I say, I spread the digital love.

On Sunday I decided to hop onto Ofoto for old times sake, and what did I find? No pictures. No albums, no history. So I called customer service and what did they tell me? I hadn't spend 99 cents with them over the last year so my pictures have been deleted.

Poof. Gone. Goodbye 2003-2007.

They said they emailed me, let me know their terms of service changed and that they'd be deleting my pictures if I didn't act fast. I'm sure it was conveniently tucked into one of the five offers a day I receive from them offering 500 prints for $3. I've spoken to three managers this week and they've all assured me that I am responsible for backing up my own pictures, and these ones are lost and gone forever. I did not back those pictures up. They were spread over various work computers, Brian's computer that's long been to the dump, or sometimes directly uploaded to the Ofoto.

There are two points to my story. 1) Back up your pictures, save them somewhere, on a disk drive, to your hard drive, something. 2) Read terms of service. I believed because my pictures were online they would be there forever. Apparently Kodak doesn't think that's a good business plan.

Maybe everyone else already knows this, and I'm the dumb dumb. Either way... be careful which photo sharing websites you use.

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

Sugar pie, honeybunch.

2010-04-11T09:39:00.024-04:00

Saturday I went on a Cupcake Crawl. I've had a long career of Pub Crawls over the last decade, so I thought I'd give my liver a break and share all the fun with my pancreas. This pastry filled day was the idea of my friend Barbara. One sunny afternoon through Boston, five bakeries, nine cupcakes, one cup of coffee and one glass of milk later, I arrived home with a body overloaded by butter and sugar.

My love of cupcakes started in 2004 when I attended a wedding at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, M.D. The wedding was yellow and white themed, and in lieu of a wedding cake they had a cupcake tree in yellow, white and black. Ever since I've been on a quest to taste every cupcake I see. Sprinkles, Crumbs, Icing on the Cake, Sweet Tooth. I've been near and far and seen a lot.

So we took to the road to try out some bakeries around Boston. Here's how it went down...

Stop 1: Petsie Pies in Somerville

Cupcakes 1 & 2: Coconut (left) and Double Chocolate (right)

Both were equally delicious. The coconut cupcake had actual coconut in the cake part, too.

Stop 2: Sweet Cupcakes, Mass. Ave, Boston

I really liked the old fashioned bakery display.

Cupcakes 3 & 4: Banana Split Sundae (left) and Chocolate Frosted Donut (right)

We had to eat these in the car because parking on Mass. Ave in Boston, well, you're more likely to find a $100 bill on the ground this week. Both cupcakes were equally delicious, and a smidge better than Petsie Pies. They were VERY fresh and moist. The banana split sundae had a cute little spoon sticking out the top and had a banana pudding center. The chocolate frosted donut had a solid ganache frosting and authentic cake donut taste. Yum!

Stop 3: Blue Frog Baker y, Jamaica Plain

Cupcake 5: Double Chocolate

This was the only cupcake that Blue Frog had, so it was a bit disappointing but we bought it and sat on a nearby park bench to indulge. The frosting was my favorite part, it actually tasted like a stick of butter rolled in sugar.

Stop 4: Fiore's Bakery, Jamaica Plain

Cupcakes 6 & 7: Vanilla (left) and Chocolate (right)

Fiore's is very tasty, and known for their bread. The cupcakes were equally as tasty. The vanilla had a suspect chocolate covered topping, I thought it might be a Hershey kiss, but Barbara broke it open and announced it was a fig. (No website available)

Stop 5: Sugar, West Roxbury

Cupcakes 8 & 9: Fluffernutter (left) and Lemon (right)

Considering I've been in love with peanut butter and fluff sandwiches for the last nine months, this stop was very fitting. The frosting on the fluffernutter was so smooth and creamy, and the cake was very fresh. The lemon cupcake tasted JUST like a lemon danish, yum! We washed down the last stop with some milk, and barely got the last few bites (if even) past our teeth. We were cupcaked out.

A sugar hangover is way more tolerable.

Butter and Sugar picture courtesy of we heart it.

You're so vain.

2010-04-07T14:30:00.003-04:00

If you check this blog, apologies for being absent. I have literally been out of things to say. Between school and work right now I've got no inspiration. Sorry. But please continue to visit. I promise something will come to me soon.

I recently heard someone ask why people blog (not at me, directly). Are people's lives that interesting that they think everyone else wants to hear about them?

That's a pretty valid point. I guess blogging is a bit self-righteous with a side of voyeurism. But I'm still going to do it.

So stay tuned my friends. In the meantime, check out my blog roll on the right hand side. Each spot is a great place to check in on.

You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far.

2010-03-30T08:52:00.003-04:00

What's the old saying? March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb? Guess what, friends. This lamb is dressed as the department of public works and is ready to ticket and tow.

April 1 in Boston means street cleaning is back on, which can make for some frustrating evenings for city residents that drive cars (a majority of Bostonians). And for some reason who knows why, South Boston only, has a ticket AND tow policy if you disobey street cleaning signs. That's a whopping $190 bill ($4o for the ticket, $150 to get your car out of the tow lot IF you notice it on the same day. About $100 each additional day.)

I understand that the streets need to be cleaned. I'm tired of looking at broken umbrellas and the trash the can collecting people discarded into the curbs. I'm just annoyed because it'll be that much longer to look for a spot at night. Plus remembering to check the signs, oy vey.

Luckily, Boston has a handy dandy email system to let you know when the streets around you are going to be cleaned. You can access it here (includes surrounding neighborhoods, too). I added some other cities I found with street cleaning reminders or street cleaning information, so share with your friends. Know of one you don't see? Send it along and I'll add it to the list.

May the force, and a driveway, be with you.

Austin
Boston
Cambridge
Chicago
Columbus
Denver
Hoboken (Why not? They clean their streets.)
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New Haven
New York
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Worcester

Lamb picture courtesy of we heart it. Parking Wars picture courtesy of Esquire. If you've ever had a bad day, watch that show. Someone is having a worse one (or thinks they are).

Check your handbook, it's no trick.

2010-03-26T09:44:00.019-04:00

It's Friday, and here in Boston it's half raining, half snowing, fully miserable out. That makes it a perfect day for the Grass is Always Greener.

I just finished up an enthralling Pathophysiology exam about brain bleeds and the effects of liver disease, now it's on to studying Respiratory/Cardiovascular systems and how to make sure I calculate the right amount of medicine before I inject someone. Exciting.

No complaints here, I love school. Just the way the semester calendar works out, all of my classes have exams in the same one week period. Every time. All of my friends have heard me complain about this at least 2-3 times during the last week, sorry if you are hearing it one more time. You guys are the best.

In no particular order, here's what I'd rather be doing. Maybe you can do them for me. Have a great fin de semana!

Saturday brunch in New York

Cafe Du Soleil, UWS

Play with my friendsMonopoly (duh.) available at Toys R Us for $13

See the beginning

Museum of Science, Boston

Listen up

Vampire Weekend, Contra

Visit Bar Bites

Half price appetizers at Morton's from 9 to close, with a glass of red, naturally.

Get baking

Martha Stewart Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

Get reading

Not just a pretty face: the ugly side of the beauty industry by Stacy Malkan*

Blastocyst picture courtesy of flickr. Brunch picture courtesy of we heart it.
*I'm planning to read and review this book in the late spring.

Light up my life, so blind I can't see.

2010-03-24T13:06:00.029-04:00

Dear J. Crew,
Like most 20/30 something women, I like you. Your products are casual yet dressy and look appropriate for most body shapes. I started spending with you in college when you would take your mega-warehouse sale on the road and make a pit-stop at the Mullins Center. I bought great black leather ankle boots one year for $20. I wore them and re-soled them so much over six years the only better decision I could have made in 2001 would have been to invest in apple.

And ever since then I've been receiving your catalogs and emails. No matter where I move, you find me. You are the FBI of capitalism. Sometimes I think you and Potterybarn are in a race to see who can send the most catalogs in the world. You definitely have PB beat on the email front.

But I digress.

I received Who's That Girl catalog at the beginning of the month. I took a few minutes to go through it (a lot of the same suits) but really paused to look at the prices. Really? A $1,195 leather bomber jacket? A "gold plated" necklace for $98? Tweed jacket for $350? J. Crew, who do you think you have become? You are turning into every reason I don't shop at Banana Republic.

Maybe I'm just more money conscious over the last six months (but I'm still spending before I'm earning.) To be totally fair, the bathing suits and chino shorts are a decent price, but that's about it.

Here are some appropriately priced alternatives for those of us making less than six figures.

J. Crew beach gauze agadir dress, $65

Casual Striped Dress, $10.50 (Forever 21)

J. Crew twisted neon magpie necklace, $135

Something Blue Vintage Jewels, $44 (by laurenblythedesigns via etsy)

J. Crew Bisbee Satchel, $268*

Deux Lux Embroidered Satchel, $68 (UO)*

J. Crew Tweed Dauphine Jacket, $350

Cropped Whitney Blazer, Necessary Objects, $55 (FredFlare.com)

J. Crew Belstaff Air Bomber Jacket, $1,195

Members Only Leather Aviator Jacket, $250 (UO)

*I realize the J. Crew bag is real leather, and the Deux Lux is faux leather, but unless it has a logo all over it, who can really tell?

Don't make me chase you.

2010-03-22T12:59:00.005-04:00

If you stopped by here last week, you might have noticed that I went on a week's hiatus from blogging (and twittering). I wish it was because I was spring break'ing it at foam parties, wristbands, and frozen drinks, but unfortunately it was just spent studying and not in front of the computer. When I was in high school, every year I would watch MTV Spring Break and dream of going somewhere wild. Then I went to college and I just never did it.

Here's what I did learn last week:

Some people should not be parents.
If you drink on a Sunday, chances are you will feel bad about yourself on Monday.
Don't answer the phone from work on your day off.
Like Prince and doves, bricks cry.
Crumbs has terrible customer service. Fail.
I will never work in cardiac care.

Happy Monday.

Picture courtesy of flickr.

Well I am just a monkey man.

2010-03-15T11:38:00.007-04:00

Well I promised I would post up the Monkey Bread recipe today, so here it is. The parade itself was a washout, but our brunch and Steve and Vanessa's annual fiesta were a huge hit. I'm still paying for it today - physically and in the kitchen. But now things are cleaned up, I'm shaking off the weirds, and telling you about the patisserie chef I am not.

Here are all (okay, some) of the ingredients. Three cans of Pillsbury Extra Flaky Biscuits, about four tablespoons of butter, cinnamon, white sugar, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and a bundt pan. As you can see no bundt pan is pictured here. At 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning I realized I had left my bundt pan at Erin's house last Thanksgiving. When I called her to see if she would bring it, she laughed and said "I explicitly remember you saying, 'Don't worry about getting it back to me. I won't need it until next Thanksgiving.'". Touche.

I got creative and used my springform pan. I had moderate success with it.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, grease up your pan.

Open the canister of Pillsbury Flaky Biscuits and cut each biscuit into four pieces. The trick is to leave each canister in the fridge until you are ready to cut it, otherwise the biscuits will warm up and it's harder to peel them apart.

Mix up your cinnamon and sugar to whatever ratio you want. You'll notice I don't put any measurements for that, I just mix. Roll each fourth piece of biscuit into a ball, and then roll it into the cinnamon sugar.

Place them evenly around your pan. When you are normally doing this in a bundt pan, you will stop halfway up the pan, or 1 1/2 cans later. Using the springform pan, you stop when the bottom of the pan is completely covered in dough balls.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 1/4 cup brown sugar in the microwave. This takes about 40 seconds. Mix well.

Pour the brown sugar butter mix over the first layer. Layer the remaining biscuit cinnamon sugar dough balls on top, and repeat the brown sugar butter mix when you are finished. Bake in the oven for approximately 35 minutes. Watch carefully! This recipe seems to bake differently in every oven I've made it in.

Here is the final product. As you can see, I only took a picture of one half of the Monkey Bread. We (I) had a slight mishap. I took the bread out of the oven a smidge early (it looked done to me!) but realized it was undercooked and placed it back in the pan and back in the oven. Bad Idea.

The grease on the pan was not happy about this, started to smoke up, and set off our smoke detectors. This is not fun at 9:30 in the morning on a Sunday. But the bread was still edible and delicious minus one little piece I cut off.

Sunday bloody Sunday.

2010-03-11T14:34:00.004-05:00

South Boston is definitely the quirkiest neighborhood in our big little city. We've got lots of recent college grads that pour out of the bars on the weekend, co-habitators, DINKS to the locals (double income, no kids), and of course the pride of South Boston - those born and raised among the letters and numbers. South Boston is famous for many things. Good Will Hunting. Gone Baby Gone. The Departed. Mystic River. The Busing Riots of the 1970's. The oldest public housing in the United States and some of its residents.

Through it all remains a long standing tradition: The St. Patrick's Day parade. Held ever year on the Sunday closest to the actual holiday, our funny little neighborhood is filled with almost one million people who come from far and wide to celebrate. Basically it's an excuse for a lot of people to "sneakily" drink in public. To be totally fair, the parade itself is kind of lackluster. The best part is the Irish stepdancing.

A neighborhood raised on Irish roots, Southie has lost a lot of what lifers consider old charm in the wave of triple deckers-turned half million dollar condominiums, boutique stores, and influx of car parking 20-somethings. Whatever, I like it here.

This weekend Brian (that's him, fourth in from the left with the military style haircut) and I are going to host a brunch in our apartment. We're always looking out for our friends - why not get into the city early, start the cocktails early, and get a healthy dose of carbohydrates before the general debauchery begins (I think I'm getting too old for these shenanigans, I don't recover like I used to.). Although with rain expected (therefore, no roof deck space), I'm not quite sure how 20+ people are going to fit in our teeny tiny apartment. We'll make do.

One of the items I'm going to make is Monkey Bread. It's an easy, no fail recipe that everyone loves. I'll post the recipe along with pictures Saturday night or Monday afternoon.

Slainte!

Je veux ton amour.

2010-03-10T15:04:00.007-05:00

Erin gets complete credit for this one because she told me about it on Saturday and I didn't really research it until today when I got the email.

LILLY HAS GONE FRENCH. LeSportsac that is (and truthfully it's an American company but I digress).

Let me back track my obsession for you. I think that a lot of young women become defined by a) the colors chosen for a wedding b) the colors we frequently wear. Think about it. Our wedding was Lilly themed and inspired (pink, green and gold) and in the 3 years since I started the planning of that soiree, a lot of clothes, accessories and everything else have followed suit. What can I say the colors make me happy.

NOW Lilly has teamed up with LeSportsac to make cute and practical bags. Hooray! I have a LeSportsac Fifi Lapin shoulder bag and I use it EVERY DAY. Best $75 I ever spent - it's so durable and very functional, and I keep from ruining my nicer bags. I'm just dying to get my hands on the 3 zip cosmetic bag to use inside my school bag (I'm a geek, I know. It'll go with my complete set of Lilly pens, pencils and highlighters - all gifts).

So hop on over and get yourself some spring!

Large Weekender ($105)

3 Zip Cosmetic ($20)

Peony picture courtesy of we heart it.

I'll only smile when I lie.

2010-03-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

Back Row (L to R): tarte true love, tarte glitzed, tarte tipsy*
Second Back Row (L to R): Smashbox Quench, NYC Kiss Gloss Clear, Sephora Precious Pink, Sephora Bronzed Beauty, Sephora Nectar Shine, Sephora Precious Pink (right, 2x), VS Beauty Secret Cherry Bomb, Chanel Jaipur
Second Front Row (L to R): Sephora No. 94 (Red), Sephora Glamour, Milani Rose Hip, Revlon Frost
Front Row: EOS Chapstick, Lipsmacker Baja Dragon Fruit, Lipsmacker Strawberry Watermelon, LL Bean Peppermint Stick, un-patroleum orange tangerine

I think I've mentioned it before but I love makeup. Although I didn't start consistently wearing it until my sophomore year of college I've made up for lost time in wearing/spending since 2001. My two favorite face parts of makeup are tied, eyes and lips.

So as you can see, I own a fair amount of lip products. I like to place them in various spots throughout my wardrobe (bags, coat pockets), and then when I use that item it's a nice little surprise to find a new lip gloss/lipstick in there. Which is probably weird.

Lately I've been taking some good-natured ribbing for my choice of red lipstick. I started wearing red once in a while a couple years ago for going out at night. I generally make that the flashiest part of my outfit as to not be too trashy, and it definitely catches peoples attention. I like to think I was ahead of the times (see Sandra Bullock below) but then again, beauty icons like Rita Hayworth were around many years ago.

Are you gloss, chapstick, lipstick, or au natural?

(PS - I don't actually liken my appearance to Sandra Bullock OR Rita Hayworth. They are just examples.)

*I know I've killed tarte as a cheekstain, but they can be re-appropriated as lip glosses and look pretty good.

Sandra Bullock 2010 Oscars Speech picture courtesy of NY Daily News
Rita Hayworth picture courtesy of flickr.

All these places had their moments.

2010-03-04T12:53:00.006-05:00

This Saturday I am presented with the truth: I'm entering the final year of a glorious decade. My 20's. It's been quite a ride from 20 to 29. When I was sitting at the beginning of this rainbow, I thought I'd be a whole different person at the end.

Who knew I had such wisdom?

You know that feeling when you were a kid, and you felt like time moved so slow, and nothing ever happened? It's funny that once you become an adult, it moves fast and something is always happening. These last few years have seen the good: meeting Brian, having our dream wedding, having the best job, realizing my career goals, traveling to near and far places, becoming really close with my friends. They've seen the bad: leaving the best job, losing touch with old friends, finding my first gray hair. And they've seen the ugly: my parents divorce, my Nanny's death, and the dissipation of extended family shortly thereafter.

What can happen in this last year? A lot.

Some people are afraid of getting older. I'm not. What the hell, we all have to do it. Let's just hope I do it more gracefully than some (ha!). Plus, there are things I LOVE about my birthday. March 6 is an excuse to wear my party shoes, get 15% off courtesy of my anthro, spend a Victoria's Secret birthday coupon, and of course the Sephor a surprise gift at my next stop in the store. Plus I'm excited to have the whole weekend to celebrate. Friday Brian is doing something non-surprise/surprise at my favorite Irish stop with lots of Guinness and Irish music to be had (I'm not sure who's going but I hope it's the usual suspects, he won't tell me anything so that's why it's a non-surprise/surprise. I cannot be fooled.). There will be celebrating of our friend Mark's 30th at his party on Saturday, and I'm extra looking forward to some Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

OOOH and I can't forget to say THANK YOU to Vanessa, I promised I'd put it up here but Samantha is looking quite lovely now in her new Middy outfit!

Cupcake picture courtesy of Cupcakes take the Cake.

The farmer and the dell.

2010-02-28T22:11:00.004-05:00

How delicious are vegetables in the summer? Corn on the cob, fresh asparagus, crisp salads, ripe tomatoes with a little salt sprinkled on. You almost feel like you aren't eating something so healthy. I know it's a little early to really be thinking summer, but here's an alternative to heading to the grocer and dropping all that cash on produce that's not always so fresh.

Have you heard of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)? Also known as Farm Shares, becoming part of a CSA is good for you AND good for your local farms. Don't think there are local farms where you are? You'll be surprised to learn how much agriculture is growing just miles from your city dwelling.

Spend a little extra cash up front (Farm Shares usually run $400 to $600) to receive weekly deliveries of produce over a period of about four months. Your money guarantees that a farm can be fully operational for the upcoming season. In return, the farm provides you with fresh (and in most cases, organic) veggies and fruits, and sometimes flowers. A lot of farms will deliver right to your front door, or provide a convenient location for you to pick up your bushel.

Most shares feed a family of four. That's about $25 a week, not bad! Don't think you can eat all those veggies in a week? Team up with some friends. This year Brian and I are teaming up with two friends who both live with significant others or roommates and we're going to split a share. We are down to picking our farm (I like this one the best!).

Even if your green thumb is lacking (I can't even handle basil), you too can be a farmer. Be a local hero, buy locally grown!

CSA Information in your city:

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

Don't call me daughter.

2010-02-26T07:01:00.012-05:00

I stopped by Anthropologie on Boylston Street on Monday to try on two new tops I've been coveting, see below. Anxious and ready to make a purchase, imagine my disappointment when the two blouses pictured at the bottom, Off the Tie Rack blouse (bottom) was sold out in my size AND sold out at every store in the Boston area AND sold out online, followed by On a Wing blouse (top) having 45 eyehook buttons. There were so many buttons that after 10 minutes and only four undone, I gave up and left the store.

FAIL.

Well, yesterday during my health assessment class I had a little better luck in the clothing department. Sort of. I happened upon the Leifsdottir website courtesy of someone who was twittering (sorry I forget who!!). Leifsdottir is rivaling Tracy Reese (Plenty collection) as my favorite Anthro designer and I'm glad to see I can buy right from the source, and also see a LOT more options. In fact, notice anything special about the top on the left? It's the SAME top I mentioned here but in a more flattering color for me, pink! I'm also in love with the Gilded Garden Dress I haven't see out in stores yet, perhaps a good summer wedding piece?

Moral of the story, another website to take up 20 minutes of your work day because you know you won't be doing much today. And, don't come to me with any nose, mouth and throat issues because I just wasn't paying attention last night in class.

Happy Friday!

Leifsdottir Spring 2010 picture courtesy of Life magazine from MBFW in September '09.

"OOOH Pat," said she, "What?" said he...

2010-02-25T11:46:00.005-05:00

I was so delighted and surprised today to see a comment on my dry skin conundrum post from my roommate during my Kappa days. I forget sometimes that a blog is a very public forum that even though I'm pretty sure mostly strangers read, it's WIDE open for anyone to see.

Lindsay is a wildly successful interior design blogger, hosting at Everything LEB. I started following Lindsay's blog last spring and it's just grown in leaps and bounds, very impressive.

She's the one that let me know at 20 years old what I should have known already: posters are tacky. Always a decorating and clothing fashionista, Lindsay blogs about everything from organization to home decor to DIY projects. My very favorite blog post of hers is this chair that she reupholstered, it's just amazing. I have a hard enough time getting the comforter on my bed. So step on over to Lindsay's blog for everything stylish in your apartment or home.

And now I'm inspired to have tomato soup for lunch, even though it's not Friday.

Picture courtesy of Everything LEB.

I've been to the desert on a horse with no name.

2010-02-23T12:33:00.005-05:00

It's ironic that we are going over dermatology information at school right now, because I could use a consultation.

Now normally I have the skin of a teenage boy: oily about 10 minutes after I wash it. And I'm learning as we age, our skin makes a lot of changes. Well somehow my face has gone from its teenage years to eating early bird specials and collecting Social Security.

Here are my two problems. My face is painfully dry, and even after a restful night of 8 hours, I've got bags under my eyes. What gives? For the dryness I've tried night creams, foregoing soap with my morning rinse, extra lotion in the morning. But after I put on my makeup, I see all these dry flakes rise up and taunt me. I actually have to apply MORE dabs of lotion on the dry spots over my makeup, which can make my frightful look even more disastrous.

As for the baggy eyes, I get plenty of rest, I even take naps! Do I need to drink more water? Invest in some kind of eye cream? I already cut out wine.

Here are the products I use:

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash
Olay Complete Moisturizer
Boots Bergamot Overnight Skin Cream
Boots Almond & Pistachio Exfoliant (only 2x per week)

So I pose this to you... people who are read this... what do you use for your skin? Someone please help or I might cry.

That's a picture of my face. But seriously, that armadillo is so ugly it's almost cute. Courtesy of flickr.

They've all gone to look for America.

2010-02-19T16:02:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday! While I'm going to be spending a majority of my weekend studying (two tests next week) or working, I hope that yours is filled with fun and excitement. And wine.

Who knows, maybe I'll be able to sneak a beer in, that would be nice.

Picture courtesy of we heart it.

Take a goooood look at my face.

2010-02-18T22:00:00.006-05:00

MISTAKE 1

MISTAKE 2

Normally I write about things I love but I have to tell you about a boo boo I made in the make-up department recently.

In an effort to conserve cash, I attempted to scrimp on purchasing my normal Bare Minerals foundation in medium and opted to try out Boots No7 Mineral Perfect Foundation in Blonde (looked very similar on the color strip). I usually love Boots products so I thought I'd give it a whirl. The cost of the No7 was only $13.99 (Bare Minerals runs about $25).

I tried it on at home in the bathroom on a Wednesday and I thought it looked okay. Saturday I went out with some friends and one of the guys said "hey, have you been tanning or something?". Now I'm not opposed to bronzer, but I wasn't wearing any. Obviously the foundation was too dark (and I obviously don't get a lot of natural light in my bathroom). After seeing a picture of myself, it looked like you took an August picture of my face and placed it on a January picture of my body. Trust me, these two things do not go.

I then attempted to neutralize the dark color by purchasing Sonia Kashuk Barely There Loose Powder in flesh for $9. Sonia's right... it's barely there. In fact it's not at all, so the powder can't be used alone. I've been mixing it with the Boots No7 to find a happy medium tone. For now I'm getting by because I'm avoiding looking at myself in natural light or taking pictures, but I can't be camerisiphobic forever.

Moral of the story, I spent $22 on something(s) I hate when I could have spent $25 on something I know I like. Ugh. And I'll end up spending $47* in the long run.

*School is really paying off!

Fabulous picture is courtesy of Target.com, but editing job is by me. If anyone is looking for a graphic designer.... (jk, obviously).

Wednesday morning papers didn't come.

2010-02-17T15:02:00.004-05:00

Today is Ash Wednesday. For people not familiar with Christianity, this marks 46 days of Lent (40 days, 6 Sundays) until Easter. Here's how it breaks down: we go to Church mid-week, receive ashes on our foreheads (sometimes obnoxious like mine today), promise that we'll abstain from meat on Fridays (and something else for the entire 7 weeks should we so choose), and overall be good people.

I'm not here to push Catholicism on anyone. There are plenty of things I believe in that don't jive with Rome. I do think the idea of reflecting on ourselves for a month and a half is good for anyone. Every year I struggle the night before Ash Wednesday (Mardi Gras!) with what I want to "give up" for Lent. I weigh the pros-and-cons of each item, whether I think I can really abstain from this particular aspect of my life for all those weeks, and will it make me a better person in the long run. To be totally honest, I never thought of anything last year, so I just didn't eat meat on Fridays. Big deal, I try to keep my carnivorous meals to Saturday ans Sunday anyway.

This year I decided on a "give up" that fits all my criteria. I am going to give up wine. Rather ironical on a few levels (Cana, Black Box), but wine is something that I love. I turn to wine to relax and be social (don't get all CAGE on me). I have wine at least 1-2x per week, so taking it out of the equation isn't going to effect my day-to-day living, but when I do want a glass of wine I'll remember that I'm focusing on modifying my life for the greater good. Maybe it just sounds like a give-up that really doesn't give a lesson, but that's the beauty of Lent. Each person is created differently and has the personal right to give-up or resolve a part of their life to be better.

Even if you aren't Catholic or Christian or anything really, consider this time of year to be a second chance at New Year's resolutions, without the added pressure. The only person you have to answer to is yourself.

(I'm really looking forward though to waking up a bit less groggy on the weekend, and with less puffy eyes.)

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France. Courtesy of Cornell University Library. I visited this Cathedral in 2001 and it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Can't buy me love.

2010-02-14T08:51:00.006-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! February 14 is a day for several people: 1) couples who are all trying to be at the best restaurant and give the best gifts, 2) couples who have been together for a while and kind of ignore it, 3) people who hate valentine's day, 4) and then everyone else.

I (we) are a mix between 2 and 3. Here's why: 2) because I think this is our eighth V-day, we're really on a tight budget, I work on Sundays, my birthday is in three weeks and that's more important to me (wink!), I try to "play it cool" with Brian and hope that he'll do something that blows me away; 3) I'm a cynic who believes that this Valentine's day is mostly about commercialism*, Brian doesn't do anything that blows me away.

Girls are crazy, as Brian always likes to remind me, and guys can't just always know what we are thinking. But we really are making it the perfect day for us. We had some bacon and Bri just went out to buy us some PS Special coffee, and we've got The Wedding Singer on television. Tonight after work I'll bring home burritos like every Sunday, and give Brian his awesome new present and I've already received some beautiful red roses.

It's pretty much the perfect way to remind each other how much we're in love.

*I'm blaming commericalism on Kay Jewelers and their dumb commercials. If I ever receive an Open Heart necklace designed by Jane Seymour there's a strong chance I'll file for divorce.

**Even UMass Boston gets in on the action! The book pictured above, What Was I Thinking? 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories by Barbara Davilman and Liz Dubelman, was for sale along with my nursing textbooks and UMass hoodies. It is the perfect Sunday afternoon read for any cynic. I would have had more stories to share if ANYONE had emailed me (I know people are reading this, I see the stat counter!) or if ERIN had remembered to email me this week, eh hem.

Editor's note! Brian did "blow me away". He surprised me Sunday night when I got home from work with homemade chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and a caramel surprise in the middle. Also included were a bag of Haribo gummi bears (best ever) and a Ghiradelli chocolate bar. He is the best (and I am a brat).

Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!

2010-02-10T12:16:00.006-05:00

This girl has packed her bags and gone to London! JK of course...but I'm the guest blogger today over at The Good Girl Gone Blog. This is my very first guest post, and I am honored to be chosen to put my little blurb on Alana's page. So be sure to stop by and check it out.

Oh?! You want to know what it's about. I'll give you a hint: it's black, red, and I drink it every weekend.

Picture courtesy of are2 on we heart it.

I just haven't met you yet.

2010-02-09T12:40:00.009-05:00

The February catalog for Anthropologie arrived in my mailbox last week! I like the February issue most of all for several reasons. 1) I am SO tired of my winter clothes and buying spring apparel is finally more appropriate time-wise. 2) My birthday is in a month, so obviously I'll have to treat myself with something. 3) I want to look like one of the models in the catalog: gorgeous but simple, out in the sun, wearing amazing clothes. Perfect. (Unattainable goal, I know). I also love the circus theme, Britney doesn't have dibs on that!

Is Anthropologie in my 20's what Abercrombie was to me in my teens? Probably, but like I said about A&F when I was 16, "when I make more money I'll buy EVERYTHING from Anthropologie."

Without further ado, here are my faves from the February edition.

Pictureshow Dress by Tracy Reese ($298, on cover)

Blooming Brilliance Blouse by Leifsdotter ($228, page 29)

Pollen Promise Skirt by Leifsdotter ($198, page 25)

Whorled Roses Tank ($88, page 10)

Cherry Juice Heels ($138, page 13)

PS - big props to anthropologie.com. They now allow you to download and save the images of clothing. In the past I had to steal, so thanks for making an honest blogger out of me!

Back in the USSR (London, really)

2010-02-04T14:58:00.004-05:00

Tonight Brian and I are headed to dinner with our favorite dining out couple, Roof and Ila. It's a celebration of sorts... The Roofs are moving across the pond to London this month for a job relocation. While it's exciting for them, it's sad for us! Who will make the most amazing pre-meal snacks and cocktails, pick out the best food on the menu, and encourage us to try new things?

While I'm so happy for them and this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I'm going to miss one of those couples you magically click with. Selfishly it's a good excuse to hopefully get Brian to go on his first trip out of the US (we aren't counting Montreal and Cabo). When will the extra room be ready?!

So cheers to Roof and Ila, may they be chuffed to bits with this new chapter in their life.

*In case your curious, we are headed out to Douzo, one of the best sushi restaurants in Boston.

Big Ben picture courtesy of flickr.

Don't let me down.

2010-02-01T22:03:00.002-05:00

The best show to ever hit television is starting back up for its final season tomorrow. I can't believe this is it! What will I ever look forward to in the dead of winter? I'm already in mourning.

Don't care if its Chinatown or on Riverside...

2010-01-31T20:55:00.005-05:00

This weekend I went to New York with my best friend from college Melissa to visit our friend Megan. When I told co-workers and friends at school that I would be traveling to New York City this weekend, the usual onslaught of questions came: will you see a show? sight-see? go out to dinner?

None of the above, my friends. The three days in New York were spent eating junk food (including, but not limited to: over six slices of pizza, Crumbs cupcake, bagels, french fries, eggs, assorted pork products, gummi bears, lemonades, cokes, cherry cokes, mozzarella sticks, and candy stolen from a bar), consuming Red Bull cocktails, and being a little over-the-top silly. It was fantastic. Over 22 iPhone videos were made, 300 pictures taken, and my abdominals hurt so bad you'd think Jillian Michaels spent the weekend with us. Trust me, there was no exercise involved.

Everything we did was unplanned, which makes for the very best times. I amaze myself in the fact I stayed up until 4 a.m. both nights. While some people need to see the hottest Broadway show to be entertained, we were simply delighted to see the extensive family planning section at Duane Reade*.

Overall it was a flawless trip and I don't know if I could ever have that much fun again. Even if the cab driver did drop us off at Port Authority today,without us realizing for almost 10 minutes, when we were supposed to be at Penn Station (we made our train with five minutes to spare). New York City has officially taken years off my life, but I wouldn't give a minute of last weekend back.

*Okay so we aren't creepy looking at the Family Planning section. Other items were being purchased (NOT pizza rolls) and this caught our eye. We have the maturity of 15 year old boys. It was about 2 p.m. on Saturday before we went back to Megan's apartment to mow on cupcakes and watch The Notebook. I'm on the left, Melissa is on the right, and Megan took the picture, we were too mesmerized to notice that she was doing this. They certainly are not selling HALF the items that were in that apartment-sized section in Rite Aids or CVS in Boston.

Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start...

2010-01-28T12:23:00.004-05:00

Today in nursing class we discussed the concept of having a "neutral face". Essentially this means having no facial reaction to what you see, smell or hear in the clinical setting. A lot of people can easily do this.

I cannot.

I can't even get halfway through a fib before I start laughing. And when I play any sort of card game I start to giggle if I have a good hand (full disclosure, there's usually some sort of adult beverage involved, too). How am I ever going to keep a straight face, not just laughing, but not passing judgment either? Whatever I'm thinking in my head, regardless of what is actually going on at present time, shouts from across my mug. I've got eye rolls, smirks, raised eyebrows, sighs, and if I think something is funny I've got a swimming pool of a dimple on one side of my face.

This semester is definitely going to be a challenge.

Picture is a film still from Sabrina, courtesy of ffffound. I just love Audrey Hepburn.

Let it out so it can breath.

2010-01-25T12:45:00.005-05:00

Today is my first day back to school. Shortest winter break ever! Feels like it was yesterday I was high-fiving myself for completing round 1. This semester seems a little more daunting. More credit hours, more intense classes, more time studying.

Speaking of schools, Shakira is helping to rebuild Haiti by building a school through her Barefoot Foundation. A mega-supporter of her home country, Columbia, Shakira donates a lot of her money and time to provide an education to under-served communities. So not only does her music (and her body, quite frankly) rock, but her spirit does as well.

Just 15 weeks until summer break! (But, believe it or not, I really heart school.)

New York School of Italian Pupils courtesy of the Library of Congress, via Flickr.

There's two of us, both can't be right.

2010-01-22T10:13:00.004-05:00

My mom is coming to visit me tomorrow. Whenever she comes to visit me, it's a big deal. Nevermind the fact that she lives only 25 miles outside the city of Boston, but a trip to the bright lights big city warrants special occasion status. I'm not really sure why she makes such a big deal about coming to Boston (she comes 2-3x a year), especially because when she was in her 30's we lived in New York and she spent every weekend in the city. On the bright side, there's a limited chance of unexpected arrivals.

What does this visit mean for me? Cleaning my apartment, and thoroughly: floors, hiding things in the closet (literally/figuratively), changing my sheets (yes I know she won't see them but I will feel guilty), getting my reading done for school (guilty, again). Then picking a place for lunch that is city-ish, and good, but not expensive.

Right now she's coming with a posse of 5, which should be interesting for chit chat time in my 700 square foot apartment. I hope there's enough oxygen. And the loudness could cause Brian's head to explode.

My first choice for brunch/lunch is Tremont 647... one of the best (and only) brunch places in Boston on Saturdays... and of course they don't take reservations. But if my mom is extra early like she usually is (11 a.m. sharp!) a table shouldn't be a problem.

Why do moms that we love so much cause us to fret sometimes? Happy weekend.

I found this picture on flickr and I just love it. I want to be this girl in this dress, in 1948. The dress reminds me of a big night in the city... hence why I've paired it with this entry.

PPS - The title is from a Guster song, Center of Attention off of Lost and Gone Forever. I lost and gone forever'd my cd but splurged and bought the album on itunes today. I forgot how much I loved it!

This could only happen to me, can't you see? Can't you see?

2010-01-18T21:55:00.009-05:00

Dating is funny. Not funny like awkward, but funny "haha." Tonight while I was working in the restaurant, a woman from one of my tables waiting in line for the bathroom admitted to me she was on a date. To be specific, a match.com date. I asked her politely how the date was going, and she shrugged her shoulders and replied with an "Okay." When I told her I went to a match.com wedding this summer, she laughed and said aloud that there is hope for her yet.

The whole conversation made me think about all the dates I went on before I met Brian. In all honesty, it wasn't too many, I met him straight after college at 22 and married him at 26....but somewhere between 16 and 22 I squeezed in some funny dinners, movies and uncomfortable silent drives.

I've had a guy pick me up in a leather jacket with Bugle Boy scribbled across the back (in 2000), a guy that came close to getting an elbow in the chest after a wrong move, a guy that turned out to be married (with a baby), MANY guys that expected me to pay or split the check, and so on but I have one dating story that takes takes the cake (for me, anyway).

During what I like to call "the summer of Katie" (2003), I was working at a pizza chain restaurant and was asked out by a customer I considered attractive. We met a couple days later in a parking lot near the restaurant and drove in one car to the place we would eat (we drove matching VW's by the way, mine black, his white). When I was carded ordering a glass of Cabernet (rightfully so), my date, "Mike", laughed that he was too old to be carded. I asked how old he was and he said 33. I knew almost immediately this date was going to be the only one. I mean, what do a 22 and a 33 year old really have in common? That's my thinking anyway. Throughout the dinner he kept over-complimenting me, trying to hold my hand. He asked if I wanted to go out for ice cream afterward, and always a sucker for free food, I said why not. When the date was over, we had that awkward goodbye hug, I nearly broke my neck turning my face to avoid any unwanted contact.

A couple days after the date he called and said he'd like to go out again, and while I knew I didn't want to, I agreed sometime in the future but said I'd be busy for the next few weeks. I thought that would be the obvious sign to him, but no. Mike continued to call me and leave voicemails about our future date, and I continued to ignore him. THEN, a month later, I saw him calling and hit ignore. About 20 minutes later an icon bumped up on my phone that I had a voicemail. When I listened to the voicemail, he was BREAKING UP WITH ME. The message went on and on about how he thought this would work, he really liked me, but I was selfish and immature. Maybe it was my fault that I led him on, but thought this was a little over the top.

Fearing any run-ins at work, I left my waitressing job (I hated that place anyway) and moved on to a new restaurant. That was the last I heard of Mike.

FAST FORWARD to March 2009. While at a friend's surprise 30th birthday party, all of a sudden Mike walked in! He was with his girlfriend, someone in her early 20's that was also a friend of the birthday boy. Clearly Mike's MO is young, I mean he's got to be almost 40 now! I basically hid behind Brian for the rest of the party in case he recognized me. Let's just hope HE's the one that's grown up and realized stalker isn't a quality a lot of girls look for in a guy.

Since I find dating stories HILARIOUS, send me your worst date story and I'll post it on the blog. I'm going to run bad date stories through Valentine's day (if I get any). So send away! (And if you don't my friend Erin has some doozies, I'll share hers.)

No one had more bad dates than George Costanza, marine biologist.

I do my little turn on the catwalk.

2010-01-16T11:11:00.004-05:00

Have you ever rented a dress, a bag, or a puppy (which I think by the way is totally wrong)? Over the last year or two, renting seems to be the new owning. We rent apartments, lease cars, why not avoiding owning our own wardrobe?

The most recent (to me, anyway) rent-to-rent space is Rent the Runway. Brian's cousin told me about this last weekend. The site is member only, and you have to be invited to join. So the minute I got home I signed up to receive an invitation. I finally received my invite Thursday and quickly signed up to see all the dresses. This one above, the Pency dress by Duplex, is available up to four days for $50 (retails at $475). The first time you rent a dress from a designer that you haven't rented from before, you get the option to rent a back-up size in case the size you order doesn't quite fit right. What I think is the best part? You pay $5 for insurance on top of the $50, and your night is worry free from spills, rips, and anything else that could happen (I've been known to get red wine on myself before).

If you're lucky enough to live in New York City, the dress can be delivered to you the very same day (just as I imagine anything can).

So, the question is, would you rent to wear? My budget is tighter than champagne cork right now so I'm not in the position to rent a dress and give a review. I'd love to hear if anyone else has rented from this site or another. If you would like an invitation to Rent the Runway, feel free to email me and I can send one along!

Designer List for Rent the Runway:

ADAM
Alice + Olivia
Badgley Mischka
Bibhu Mohapatra
Brian Reyes
Catherine Malandrino
Christian Cota
Christian Siriano
Diane von Furstenberg
Doo Ri
Foley + Corinna
Frank Tell
Giambattista Valli
Gryphon
Haute Hippie
Helmut Lang
Hervé Léger
Just Cavalli
Lela Rose
Mark & James by Badgley Mischka
Matthew Williamson
Moschino Cheap And Chic
Pencey
Peter Soronen
Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti
Proenza Schouler
Rebecca Taylor
Richard Chai
Robert Rodriguez Black Label
Robert Rodriguez Collection
Tibi
Tracy Reese
Tuleh
Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent
Vena Cava
Yigal Azrouël

Photo courtesy of Revolve Clothing. RTR photos were not copy-able. PS - dress was available for sale at Revolve for $124.

Help me, get my feet back on the ground.

2010-01-13T12:52:00.006-05:00

The devestation that has hit Haiti is unfathomable to many of us. A small country, just slightly larger than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is home to over 9 million people. Haiti is the poorest and least developed country in all of the Americas.

With hundreds of thousands dead and many more missing, this is a chance for Americans to step up and do something for our fellow mankind. If you'd like to do a little part, because a little WILL add up to a lot, here are some reputable charities that could use YOUR help:

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity is working on affordable shelter solutions with low-income families in affected areas.
American Red Cross American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
Unicef Unicef provide children around the world with emergency relief, health care, clean water, nutrition, education and more.

Facts from wikipedia and CNN.

I'd much rather be forever in blue jeans.

2010-01-10T20:43:00.012-05:00

It is time for me to buy new jeans. And while I say time, I mean time for me to begin to think about buying new jeans. The actual process from thinking, to decision, to commitment of purchase, to actual purchase, will probably take about two months.

I wear jeans just about every (school) day. For the last two years I've been wearing my True Religion straight leg jeans in a dark wash and a medium wash. I also have some older pairs of 7 for All Mankind jeans I keep in the rotation for bumming around. All my jeans are stretched and have peach fuzz on the thighs. Attractive.

Now it's time to venture out into a new brand. Pictured below are my early ideas on what to buy. I HATE going to try on jeans. I usually buy them online and return if I don't like. My preferred look is straight leg jeans, I think those are the most flattering on me (5'5", average build). What kind of jeans are you wearing? What style and brand are the most universal (day-to-night wear)? I would love any input.

Levi's Slouch Straight 504 ($35)

Hudson Jeans 14' Straight in Adios ($165)

William Rast core Sadie Mid Straight in Dark ($176)

7 for All Mankind Stretch Straight Leg Jeans ($155)

Paige Denim Montecito in Karma ($123)

AG Jeans The Kiss Straight Leg in 6 Years ($225*)

J Brand Mid Rise in Dark Vintage ($158)

Rich & Skinny Sleek in Funnel Wash ($189)

You'll notice that I picked a lot of jeans from Revolve Clothing. They have great deals and great customer service, so I play a little favoritism there.

*I realize that AG jeans are slightly overpriced. However, they compensate for this buy offering student discounts of 10% in Boston.

Levi's ad courtesy of flickr.

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

2010-01-06T13:43:00.004-05:00

Happy 2010. How fast a decade goes. I like the idea of New Year's Resolutions, each January 1 is like a chance to change your life, and it always makes me highly optimistic. As I'm getting older, I'm steering away from the generic answers (lose weight, go to the gym, save money, all of which are things I should be doing anyway) and find some ideas that will overall improve my life for the next 364-5 days.

Here are my resolutions:

Be a better driver. I suppose this falls under the category of "things I should be doing anyway" but living in the city of Boston, it's easy to get corralled into the finger wielding, horn blowing, maniacal road behaviors that our locals are known for. So I'm going to try and keep both hands on the wheel, be under the speed limit, check over my shoulder before changing lanes and always use my blinker. Amen.
Care more about what I have, and less about what I want. I came up with this because, if you've read this blog before, you know I get caught up in material things, and that's probably never going to change. But I have so many possessions, more than a most, and I should be grateful for everything I have. This resolution also expands beyond material items and into my personal relationships with friends and family.
Act my age. Although Chelsea is giving me a new lease on life, it might be time to act 28 and not 21.

What changes are you resolving to make for the future?

Picture courtesy of glamour.com.

Lady Madonna

2010-01-05T15:07:00.004-05:00

In case I haven't mentioned it enough, I love to read. What I'm really digging about winter break is that I've given myself a chance to not take books too seriously, and to read things that make me laugh. Jackpot!

Maybe I'm the last one on this bandwagon, but I recently purchased Chelsea Handler's first book, My Horizontal Life. During the two days it took me to read the 213 pages, I laughed out loud, to myself, and just even thinking about the stories. Chelsea Handler is a modern day role model for 20-30-something women. I found myself sharing stories with Brian (he was unamused) that made my days at college (ahem, take 1) seem very tame. Chelsea describes numerous stories at various points of her life that involve the bedroom, elevators, and her sister's wedding, to name a few. And each story is not a lurid recap of her escapades; they are true stories of being a single woman and living life to its fullest.

In fact I've blamed Chelsea for my "everything I do is hiliarious after a few cocktails" attitude on New Years Eve.

The funny doesn't stop! Handler has also written Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea and is (I picked it up at Borders yesterday!) and is slated to release Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang in the early spring. So if you're looking for an escape that will not make you smarter but certainly make you laugh, pick up a Chelsea book.

Photo from flickr.

L-page in your history.

2009-12-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

You are now reading my very first blog entry from my iPhone. How techy of me.

Every Christmas the entire family (in-law side) sees a movie together. This year's flick was "It's Complicated."

I really wanted to see this film. All I could imagine was two hours of Jack Donaghy. I saw Jack, but a little less humorous and a tad more annoying. The only part I truly enjoyed was the role of trustworthy son-in-law-to-be John Krasinski. An easily believable character, his simple facial reactions and one-liners stole each scene he appeared.

To be honest, I found this film to be overall insulting. I understood the premise in advance (husband leaves wife for younger woman, remarries, has new family, falls back in love with first wife, wife has boyfriend, hilarity ensues). Not to be martyr-ific, but this is not what happens in divorced families. Ever. There aren't likely stays for everyone at five star hotels in NYC, Louboutins for Mom, gourmet kitchens and extensive home renovations, brand new Prius for the college grad, siblings crying in bed together, praying for a family reunion.

Maybe I'm being a bit negative or jealous or taking fiction too non-fiction, but I either like my movies completely believable or unbelievable... not wishy-washy and full of advertisements.

Either way I give this movie a C-. Watch it on constant rerun next winter when it starts playing on TBS.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

No more pencils, no more books...

2009-12-21T14:53:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I have a final (my one and only) and then the first semester of my college redo is complete. So I'm pre-emptively high-fiving myself. I've sold my college textbooks back and earned enough to get myself a celebratory holiday manicure when the exam is over. Then all I have to do is wrap presents, pack my bags, and head out on an eight hour drive to Maryland Wednesday. Oh don't worry, I'm just the passenger. All others on the road are safe.

And of course, a stop to McDonald's will be on the agenda. Hooray for winter break!

Raised on promises...

2009-12-16T09:51:00.004-05:00

While on the train in Chicago this weekend, I noticed a bunch of younger girls with American Girl Store bags on the train out to the suburbs. Every great American city now has this doll mega-store as part of its consumer landscape.

I received my American Girl Doll, Samantha, for Christmas in the fourth grade. I wanted it SO BAD. I picked Samantha because I thought she looked like me, as a lot of girls did then. My friend Danielle had Molly (the glasses), and I thought my sister would want Kirsten because she is blond, but she really wanted Addy.

Now for girls my age, you know the three original American Girls: Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly. Each came with their own little history book and a beautiful outfit, complete with real shoes and hair bows. Nothing excited me more than receiving the catalog in the mail and pouring over all the accessories. Santa did bring Samantha and I matching pajamas, including bloomers, and in the fifth grade I passed on having a birthday party in exchange for getting Samantha's gold wrought-iron bed.

As I got older, Samantha stayed in the corner of my room, displayed on her bed. Then I went to college, got an apartment, followed by another apartment, and then got married. After three moves by me, and two moves by my mom, Samantha finally found her way to my current home. Pictured in previous posts, she sits in my living room on the stack of blankets. Brian says I'm emasculating him by having a doll in the living room, but she reminds me of the best times of my childhood.

I was sad to find out after my return to Boston that Samantha is actually retired now. American Girl Company has expanded to 12 current dolls (Kirsten is retired, too). While I miss the fact that the company has steered away from the original girls, I suppose the expansion of dolls allows for more girls to find one that looks/feels closer to them.

Now I really want that middy dress I never got!

...with some decorations bought at Tiffany's.

2009-12-14T23:21:00.003-05:00

Ugh I am not even CLOSE to finishing my Christmas shopping. Not to mention studying for my final, cleaning my apartment, doing some sidework, doing my regular work, and finishing the laundry. How will it all get done this week?

Christmas is only 11 days away.... so I'm settling on gift cards for people this year. This will be my least creative gift-giving season yet. My budget and my time are as tight as a pair of jeans fresh out of the dryer.

Have you finished your shopping? What's your favorite gift you are giving this year?

Picture courtesy of etsy, Holiday Ornaments Brownie Pop Favors. They look delicious!

Tres bien ensemble....

2009-12-09T14:34:00.004-05:00

How do you feel about shorts and tights? I'm not sure if I've been spending too much on the college scene but I decided to try it out last Saturday night for dinner. I paired teal American Apparel tights with my denim cutoffs from the summer, my patent Tory Burch flats, a grey tee from the Gap, a no-name black scarf from Marshall's, and giant hoop earrings from Forever 21. Minus the flats, it's a pretty affordable outfit.

(I created my outfit using polyvore!)

Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest.

2009-12-06T20:56:00.004-05:00

I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.

There once was a girl who loved Christmas. The smells, the television specials, the treats and the gifts. Trees covered with homemade ornaments. Buying all the presents at the elementary school holiday bizarre, wishing for Santa to bring a clear telephone, and Dad baking cinnabons in the morning. It was Christmas Eve at her favorite Aunt and Uncles, Nanny's house for Christmas dinner, early evening drives to the Grandparents house for dessert, and a belly filled with lasagna, ice cream and egg nog at bedtime.

Then this girl did not like Christmas anymore. There was no more Santa, no more Dad at home, no more Nanny, no more favorite Aunt and Uncle, and no more Grandparents. Walks to the gymnasium for the holiday bizarre now replaced by dreaded trips to Target. There are long drives to spend Christmas with the new family, and phone calls home to the old family. Christmas vacation week is replaced by using vacation time. Trees and ornaments and decorations are substituted with Christmas Wreath Yankee Candles.

Christmas is not a happy time, it is an oddly empty time.

Then this girl decided to stop sulking. The most special person in her life loves Christmas very much. Holiday music will not be banned from the car. Egg nog is back in the fridge. "It's a Wonderful Life" is set to DVR next weekend. A shopping list has been made. December 25 will inevitably arrive.

Christmas is coming and she's finding the way she's supposed to feel.

Do you promise not to tell?

2009-12-02T11:34:00.005-05:00

A bad thing happened this week. I found my first grey hair. It probably doesn't sound like (and isn't, really) a big deal, but it feels like it to me. I have very black hair, and I've never colored it, and this tiny grey hair at my hairline, in the front, where I'm growing my bangs out, is staring back at me like I just dared it to produce offspring.

UGH so annoying.

(I'm not sure why the picture of the Titanic is relevant but it comes from a cruiselinehistory.com source.)

Paperback Writer

2009-12-02T11:13:00.002-05:00

I've been in love with reading since the age of 8. As soon as I learned to read, I engorged myself with all kinds of books. My very first Nancy Drew, seen above, roped me into two years worth of mystery novels, mixed up with Babysitters Club, followed up by 40+ Fear Street Novels (R.L. Stine), onto Christopher Pike, then the Vampire Diaries, until I settled into classics like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn during high school, and a variety of memoirs in college and thereafter.

Now that I'm back in school, it's harder to pick up a fun read because I feel like the time should be spent studying. School's over in a week though and I can't wait to dive into something new.

This past weekend I attended my 10 year high school reunion. A couple of acquaintances I guess from high school are in a book club (I found this out via Facebook stalking), so I approached them about joining. Much to my surprise and slight embarrassment, I was told it would be unlikely but they'd bring it up at the next meeting.

So, I'd like to start my own book club... I just don't know where to begin. We tried to start one at my office when I worked, but with our crazy schedules it sort of fell apart. I don't know who to ask or what books to get or even how to set up a meeting. I came up with some answers at oprah.com but am curious if there is anyone else in book clubs that would have good ideas about getting started?

(Picture courtesy of Wiki)

Got to get you into my life.

2009-12-02T11:04:00.003-05:00

First off, HOORAY for an up-and-running computer! So far, so good. It almost seems brand new.... now if I could just get a free copy of Microsoft Office...hmmm...

Do you remember playing California Games on Commodore 64? I got my first computer when I went away to college. Brian didn't get his until 2004!

I can do the twist.

2009-11-24T13:39:00.004-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I know it's a couple days premature but I think the computer is going to be in the shop for a few days so this could be the last chance I get until the weekend. What's on tap for your holiday?

I am looking forward to (my) second annual Gobble Gobble brunch with my friend Erin and her in-law family and friends, followed up by a deliciously catered Thanksgiving dinner with my family and family friends. Brian's going to be making a Hazelnut Pumpkin Pie we saw on the Food Network show Thanksgiving Disasters last Friday night (he's an amazing cook but it's his first approach into baking. I'll take a picture for you). I'm going to pick up the wine and the beer.

THEN this weekend is going to be followed up by the MHS Class of 1999 10 Year REUNION. It should be a blast! I should have lots to talk about then.

Lastly, just three weeks left of my first semester back to college. Time has not even flown (word?), but TRANSPORTED over these last three months. Transporters always remind me of driving back from DC, because we love the drive there, but the drive back we always say we wish we had a transporter. But I digress. I'm really looking forward to my six week holiday break to catch up on my favorite blogs, finds, and to practice calligraphy. Wedding season will be upon us soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

(The itchymonkey is for Brian, who loves monkeys dressed as anything. Pilgrim is apropos.)

But tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun.

2009-11-19T14:28:00.007-05:00

12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

Oh....we could start over again.

2009-11-17T10:47:00.006-05:00

How often do you buy milk and it spoils? So annoying. I used to NEVER buy milk because the cost ($2-4 depending on brand and size) never seemed worth having to throw half of it out. And when I baked, I only bought the chug size (you Garelick Farms buyers know what I'm talking about).

But now I'm in LOVE with milk! I'm a big coupon clipper on Sundays, and came across coupons for Over the Moon milk and Simply Smart milk. To be totally honest I've had the Simply Smart before, I was captured by the advertisement for "1% tastes like whole and skim tastes like 2%". The statement was pretty true. Fat free/low fat milk was made even more delicious.

The reason I fell in love ALL over again? The expiration date! I purchased my last half gallon of Over the Moon approximately a week ago (so let's say November 9) to enjoy with my other new love, Special K Almond. The expiration date is DECEMBER 29! How can this be, you say? Milk for six weeks? It'll look like cottage cheese by then, and smell worse than imaginable. Well, perhaps its the ultra-pasteurization. I just don't know. I google searched it and came up with a bunch of annoying pop-ups.

Moral of the story - get this milk, it's delicious! And don't let the fact that it costs $1-$1.50 more than a regular half gallon of milk. Here's a coupon! So get back to eating cereal and having a glass at dinner once in a while. Your liver might thank you for taking a break from the wine.

Do you know what this screen shot picture is from? My fave video from the generic music channel in the dorms during my freshman year in college (the first time). Free pat on the back for anyone that knows the song (because I pretend people read this)!

I hear the train a comin'

2009-11-11T12:37:00.010-05:00

The Boots I Wanted

(Burberry Trench Boots, Retail $625, Sale $348, on eBay for $289)

I've been really slow on the boot-train over the last few winters. I can't help it, I'm just in love with ballet flats. It's not that I'm tall or short, I'm just medium, but once I'm stuck in a style it's hard for me to change. Also, most boots require a commitment to skinny jeans, and I'm just arriving on that trend, too.

So I've been hemming-and-hawing over the last two years about what kind of boots I want. I have wanted to get really nice ones, like Frye or Burberry (see below for my side story), but I waited a bit too long and now I only work part time, so guess what? Target it is! Not that there is anything wrong with Target... my friend got some great pairs and inspired me to get there myself.

What is your boot style? I'm really into flats (a real stretch from the ballets) and although below it's mostly brown boots, I'm more of a black accessories girl. If a boot-genie would appear today in my living room I would say, "Boot-Genie, wish 1: I would like black Hunter rain boots. They are on sale at Zappos for $79. Wish 2: I would like grey Uggs, please waterproof them. My last pair look like trash now. Wish 3: Please get me a nice pair of leather boots. Thanks Boot-Genie, you really made my winter. That lamp is really slimming on you."

But alas Boot-Genie is likely not appearing today (or any day, really). The only thing that is appearing is my reminder to pay my Amex. Goodbye dreams of real leather.

The Boots I Got
(Target, Mossimo Kaley Tall Cuffed Boots, $35)

Casual Boots for the every day or rodeo if you're a rich cowgirl.

(Billy Boot Tall by Frye Simply Soles, $298)

Affordable and trendy boots that aren't quite in my budget yet.

(Who We See Fringe Boots, Urban Outfitters, $78)

Boots for your inner equestrian or skinny jeans.
(Gabriella Rocha Noelle Brown Riding Boots, Overstock, $76)

P.S. Weird or a problem that I noticed I had fluff on my keyboard today?

Hello darkness my old friend.

2009-11-06T21:35:00.002-05:00

I was perusing my usual websites tonight before I shut down the laptop for the evening, and when I hit up boston.com, I came across a tiny link at the bottom of the fold about viewing pictures of the 25 Most Stylish. I was intrigued. My curiosity is always peaked by these lists. How are these people chosen? Who knows about them? What makes them the most stylish?

I'm sure every big city has these lists. They tend to pop up around here quarterly, between the Globe, The Improper, Boston Magazine, Boston Common, and so forth (which all look the EXACT same, just like our bars, but I digress). And for the most part, it's always the same people. The picture above is Erin Gates. She's gained massive popularity among interior design cronies (and non-interior design people like me!) in Boston after her business and her blog Elements of Style was featured in the Sunday Globe Magazine.

That is refreshing to see, but she'll likely pop up in every magazine's list for the next two years. It was also nice to see them pick a high school student, but to no fault of her own, the writer/editors could have found a teen more relevant than one who's parents are dropping more on one year of her high school education than I will after two full rounds of undergraduate education. I'm sure it took a lot of research to find someone "trendy" in the uber-wealthy suburbs of Weston... it's easier than looking down the tips of their noses to maybe Boston Latin (public school) or Boston Collegiate (Boston charter school).

Maybe (nope, definitely) I'm a teensy jealous. I've always dreamed that someday I'd make someone's list of something. I'm also sour because I missed out on a pair of great boots today on Gilt because my better half made me reconsider. Cheers to being a list of one.

Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?

2009-11-06T09:43:00.003-05:00

Alright alright, I know I've been missing. Slow and steady wins the race, or something.

I fully admit I never shop at American Apparel, I never have luck there. Sometimes my imagination just doesn't stretch enough to use pieces from that store in the most appropriate way. But on Tuesday morning I got a spot directly in front when I went to yoga. After my class I had a few minutes left on my meter so I stopped in. This zipper dress was right in the front and it's SO cute. No imagination needed. It's made of 100% cotton (so it'll never see the dryer), and the shoulders zip a-la-1987.

THEN, colored tights were on sale, too! Buy two, get one free. I picked up yellow, teal, and purple. I already have hot pink footless tights so I opted to skip out on that color. The sale is online, too, so stock up!

I'm still needing something for my 10 year high school reunion which is in two weeks. Hmmm.....

Interlock Shoulder Zip Dress

Opaque Colored Tights

P.S. I'm finally getting to Target tonight, and then I will be able to finish up organizing my room. Sorry! (although I'm not convinced anyone but my friend Erin is aware of said project.)

Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me.

2009-10-27T12:11:00.002-04:00

Hey friends! I've been an extremely absent blogger lately. Sorry! Between friends in town, school work, projects, work-work, it's hard to believe I have nothing to say. So, in the mean time... Isn't this picture so neat? It's actually a holiday card, and I think it's going to be mine, I've just not pulled the trigger yet. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is my favorite book, I've read it a hundred times.

The cards are made by Diana who runs a very neat blog City Light and takes amazing pictures.

You can buy some of Diana's items right on etsy.

I'll be back when my brain and my time frees up! (Later this week!)

This Woman's Work.

2009-10-21T11:17:00.004-04:00

Public service announcement today. Life is precious folks.

Picture courtesy of anna melcon bond via ffffound and flickr.

I just can't seem to get enough of... Just can't get enough.

2009-10-20T15:00:00.004-04:00

Okay folks. I have a problem. I'm addicted to Diet Coke. I have to say I'm really embracing the non-problem lately though. This picture is just from Saturday, before 2 p.m. (and I always start my morning with iced coffee, so add that in). I don't know who I'm kidding having cracked open a pony-size can, but that just shows you the variety of DC I keep in the apartment.

I've always had this problem. Just since I started school it has gotten a bit worse. A) I need something to drink besides water while I'm sitting doing school work all day; B) I need more caffeine than I've ever needed before; C) We're saving cans to go on Spring Break in March. I get that it's slightly disproportionate to BUY soda to SAVE five cent deposit, but I figure I'll just spend it on buying extra coffees so why not.

I know what soda does to my teeth and stomach (did you ever see that Bill Nye?) but I don't care. I'm going to keep on chugging down my aspartame and caramelized soda water because hey, at least it isn't a cigarette.

Happy Tuesday.

It's the end of the world as we know it... (or week)

2009-10-16T16:20:00.009-04:00

Today I love:

Having a Shipyard at 4:30 p.m. while cleaning because I can.

Not setting my alarm clock tomorrow.

Eating healthy all week and ALL today to eat bad all weekend.

Wearing my now super ugly embroidered Uggs.

Snuggling up to my favorite blankie.

Having had the best shampoo/blow-dry experience this afternoon.

Breck ad courtesy of flickr.
Ice Cream from FFFFound via flickr.
Alarm clock available on etsy by eureeka.