Sloppy Seconds vs. Opal Mehta.

Yes. I understand what it is like to write and create under pressure. I know what it is like to suffer from writers block quite badly. However, I think it is pretty obvious that Kaavya Viswanathan, a Harvard sophomore, did sample passages for her first novel "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life" from Megan McCafferty's novel, "Sloppy Firsts."

I don't condone any writers sampling without getting proper permissions and giving proper credits.

Gray Skies Are Gonna Clear Up...

But only because I'm leaving town on Monday when it is expected to get cloudy and rainy for the rest of the week!

As of now, Weather.com is predicting sunny skies (with partial clouds) the entire five days my husband and I are in the Turks and Caicos.



Yay!!!!!

Determining Bra Size.

So, I recently learned that I was wearing the wrong size bra. The completely wrong size bra. So completely off, it's not even funny. It's actually quite sad. Anyhow, I decided to do some research on how to figure out the proper bra size one should wear, as well as types of bras, and came across this information on Wikipedia.

I didn't realize that someone can look like they are a C cup but really be a D. And, someone can look like they are a C cup but really be a B cup. It's all so confusing. And then, there are so many different types of bras one can choose from to wear for different looks. My favorite are t-shirt bras. I wear them with everything. But I also like shirts with built-in bras for yoga.

The most unattractive type of bra out there has got to be the classic stand-by 18-Hour Bra.



Not only does it look bad, but I imagine it feels bad. Probably very uncomfortable. Who wants to wear a bra for 18 hours? I don't. What woman would want to? How am I supposed to feel girlie in a bra that looks like a bunch of ACE bandages wrapped around my body?

No thanks.

I did it...

As soon as I got home from yoga last night, I hopped on iTunes (Sad, I know. But I'm too afraid to download music any other way.) and searched for Infernal's From Paris to Berlin.

They had four different versions of the song. I decided to download the six-minute "Club Remix" version of the song.

Yes. I will admit it. I do like this song. But I think it's only because I watched DJ Colin Murray's Gay Disco Dance.

Latest Search Engine Market Share Numbers.

I came across this chart while searching online for the latest search engine market share numbers.



There's been controversey lately as to the share of Ask.com. We all know the major players have been Google, Yahoo! and MSN for some time. But it's always been a question as to how many Internet users use Ask.com for their searches. With all of their TV spots lately, I think Ask.com is definitely playing hard to stay in the minds of users.

Bottom line, you can't discount Ask.com.

Watches with Body Thermometers.

I am in need of a watch that has a body thermometer in it. If you know of such a thing, please contact me. I am having trouble finding such a thing.

From Paris to Berlin... The Dance.

I was talking about this song with my friend Brevitt the other day, as he listens to Radio One while at work as well. I was saying that I really hate this song by Infernal... But secretly, I think I do like it.

I was on the Radio One website today and I found this dance video one of the DJs put together for the song. It's funny. Check it out, DJ Colin Murray's Gay Disco Dance.

Seven Days Left...

Till I leave for vacation. A MUCH needed vacation. A vacation where there will be sun... White sugary sand... Caribbean rum... Bikinis... Sleeping... Reading... and Yoga...

Why can't this week just fly quicker?!?!?

From Paris to Berlin.... And Every Disco I Go In.

I'm so tired of this song by Infernal. And yet, it gets played atleast five times during my work day when I listen to Radio One.

Argh!!!! No more disco songs!

60-hour Work Weeks.

I'm supposed to be taking it easy these past few months... De-stressing. (I am not.) Exercising more. (Which I am.) Resting more. (Which I am not.) But last week, I worked a total of 60 hours. Fourteen of them on Saturday and Sunday.

Vacation Weather.

I know it's still a whole week till my husband and I leave... But I am already checking Weather.com for the forecast for the next 10 days.

As of right now, the first two days we are in the Providenciales (Turks and Caicos, British West Indies) will be precipitation-free and with a mix of sun and clouds.

Yay!

Bikram Yoga Harvard Sqaure.

I got my butt out of bed early today and headed out to the new Bikram yoga studio in Harvard Sqaure for their very first class this morning at 9am.

The new studio is fantastic! Totally worth the trip out there. There's so much more space. I don't have to worry about accidentally flinging my arms out into the face of the person next to me.

I think I will do my weekend classes out there.

Got Gas?

It's Earth Day people... You don't need gas. You don't need your car.... Well, maybe you do... But probably not as much as you think you need it.

Now, if you live in the suburbs or a small town where there really is no public transportation, yes, you need your car. If you live in a major city where there is public transportation, you do not need your car everytime you want to go somewhere. Even in the city of Boston (where the subway system is barely convenient) you don't need a car.

What brought the not needing a car thing on today?

I was watching the news this afternoon and saw a piece on how the price of gas has jumped three cents to $2.88 a gallon (on average in the U.S.) in the past few days. The cost of a gallon of gas is now more expensive than the tall caramel machiatto I get at Starbucks. (And Starbucks puts it in a recycled cup for me.)

Now that is saying something folks.

And to be honest, Americans really have little reason to bitch about the cost of gasoline... Not when you compare what citizens in other nations pay.


*All prices have been converted and posted in U.S. dollars.

As of mid-April, Americans were paying far less than the bigger European nations. And I have a feeling the cost of gasoline is going to remain high for good.

Time to think about spending less money on your car and begin taking the T.

The Best Movie of 2005.

Sin City.

I only Netflixed it because there wasn't much else to add to my queue.

If youhaven't seen the movie, and you don't mind gore... I HIGHLY recommend it.

United Flight 93.

It's too soon for this movie.

I know the families of those who died on board Flight 93 nearly five years ago have given their blessing. But I just think this is in bad taste. I don't think it will ever be okay (in my lifetime) to do a movie on this. Hits too close to home for me.

Havaianas.

For the past few months I have been hearing and reading all about the latest rage for flipflops... Havaianas. They're just like any other flipflops... But apparently celebrities are just mad about them.

So I decided I should type them into the white box, click enter and see what the big deal was.



Found a few good pictures of them and visited the Havaianas website to see if there were any retailers in Boston. Turns out they sell them at the shop downstairs from my apartment in the South End. I went and picked some up for myself in Metallic Navy.



They were cheap (about $15) and they will be good for my trip the week after next. They're very comfortable. I highly recommend them.

Technology, You Can Suck It.

I know.. I know... A lady should never say such things like that... But lately I've been using the term "suck it" with a very liberal hand. You know, such as in the following situations:

"Competitor X is trying to convince my client to switch to their service? They can suck it. It ain't gonna happen."

"That Starbucks Jerk Barista can suck it... He's rude and I refuse to even patronize his location."

"Bank of America won't let me log into my account to pay a bill online? Well they can suck it."

"You're too tired to take out the garbage? Well you can suck it." (My husband was confused and worried when I said this to him. He is a gentleman, afterall. Figures it would take him a minute to comprehend.)

So why am I telling technology to suck it? I was in the middle of an email (a very long email) to a client when I hit send and I got an error message instead of a notifcation that the email was sent. How pissed was I??? VERY. I had to rewrite the email and regather the sources and quotes I had used.

Apparently my email key out-synched itself for some un-known reason. Argh!!!!!!

Another Book to Add to the Beach Reading List.

I was at Barnes and Noble yesterday and saw another book I needed to pick up for my vacation... "Debutante Divorcees" by Plum Sykes. I read her other book, "Bergdorf Blondes," two years ago when it came out. This one should be a fun read as well.

Driving and Multi-tasking.

I really have no desire to own a car again.

I came across this article on Boston.com about a new study that shows most auto accidents are due to driver distraction.

The biggest distractions include:

Cell Phones (no surprise)
Adjusting the Radios
Putting on Makeup (mascara and lipstick)
Blackberry
iPods
Entertaining Children

People are too attached to their cars. They spend so much time in them everyday, they're like a second home. So everyone wants to be able to continue with their life while they are driving. People want to continue working. They want to continue that conversation they started. They want their kids to watch DVDs to keep them quiet. They want to grab that CD that slid under the passenger seat; because they can't bear the thought of continuing in the car for another 20 minutes without their favorite music.

This study illustrates that most auto accidents can be prevented. But even so, I'll just take public transportation and walk everywhere. It's silly to own a car if you live in the city of Boston. (It's not silly if you live outside of the city.)

What to Pack.

Because I am a little anal retentive, I like to begin the packing process before I go on a trip somewhere a week or two before I leave. I make out a list of everything I need... From moisturizer and a first aid kit to the jeans and bags that I think I will need. I make out this long list, and I leave nothing off of it. I start making it so far ahead of the trip so that I can continuously add to it whenever I think of something. So far, here is what I have on my list:

3 Bathing Suits
Aerosol Sunscreen (45 SPF)
Umbrella (small black)
1 Pair of Jeans (Paige Denim)
Flip Flops (Black Reef)
3 Tank Tops
1 Coral
1 White
1 Aqua
Black Yoga Capris
Black Cargo Pants
Black Knee Shorts
4 Books
Facial Cleanser
Roses Lip Salve
Moisturizer
First Aid Kit
iPod Nano
Noise Reduction Headphones
Lotion
Toothbrush, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste (I don't use the free stuff you get at hotels... It's always crap.)
Pajamas
Sunglasses
Eyeglasses
Laundry Detergent (There's a washer and dryer in the hotel suite.)
Bubble bath

That's it. I don't plan on bringing anything else. I don't even plan on bringing makeup. No need. I'm on vacation. And the sun will give me any color I might need. The point of a vacation is to get away from everything else.

You're In Your 20s. Time to Grow Up.

Okay... Just read the NY Times Style Section and came across this article on young people who have jobs but are still getting money from their parents.

Now, I don't mean to knock any of you who take handouts from your parents... But here is my story.

When I was 22 and graduated from college, I was working in television news in Tucson. I made about $18,500 a year. (My hourly pay was about $9 an hour.) I had to have a second job waiting tables in the evenings and weekends at the Outback Steakhouse just to make sure I was comfortable and could afford my $550 rent.

When I moved to NYC at age 23, I gave my paid for car to my parents and said "Please just ship my stuff to me in Brooklyn." I had decided to take a job in public relations that paid $28,000. Each paycheck I got was about $800. My rent in Williamsburg was $800 a month. I didn't have any money saved... But used my credit card to buy groceries when needed. I didn't live a flashy lifestyle or carry expensive bags (like I do now.) But I lived mostly within my means, and I did it without help from mom and dad. Eventually I took a second job as a wedding planner on the weekends to help supplement my income. I was young and willing to work hard to buy plane tickets home and nice work clothes. Eventually, I was able to get my own place in Brooklyn near the subway.

But what is happening to today's youth? Seriously! If you have a college degree and are getting paid $30k year... Even in NYC you can do it on your own. You have to learn how to live on your own, without help from mom and dad, especially on a consistent basis. Hands here and there are okay... But every month?!?

Time to grow up people. It's called the real world. Learn to support yourself. Get a part time job. Start a blog and throw AdSense up on it. Wait tables one night a week.

Bikram Yoga Harvard Square.

Yay! After months and months of hearing rumors about this new studio, it has finally opened! Now the intellects across the river can do their share of sweating it out in 100+ degree heat.

Bikram Yoga Harvard Square (owned by the people who run Bikram Yoga Boston) opens this weekend. Can't wait to check out the new studio. It'll be so nice to head out there and take classes in a bigger space. Maybe I won't have to worry about arriving late and running the risk of not getting a space in class. (The Boston studio only has space for 30 people.) This new studio is supposed to accomodate about 70 people.

Working While Playing.

The week after next my husband and I take off for vacation... But we will both likely have to do some working while we're out there. (He will definitely have to... He has like four companies reporting that week. I'll probably be checking email occasionally.)

Anyway, I just called the resort we are staying at and asked about Internet connections. Fantastic news! They have wireless in the resort... And it (on a clear day) extends out to the beach!!!! We can work while drinking Mai Tais and catching some sun.

Why can't work ALWAYS be like that?

BWI Beach Reading List

BWI? That's British West Indies, people.

Anyway... Over the past few weeks I have putting together my list of beach reads, since I will have an entire five days to read.


The Mommy Wars
Interviews with working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. This is good research for those of us looking to get knocked-up in the near future.



Bitter is the New Black
Hilarious historical fiction piece recommended to me by my friend McCrack. I've only delved into the first few pages... But it's about a girl who is a complete know-it-all bi-atch who gets fired.


Girl's Guide to Being a Boss without Being a Bitch
Now that I am managing a team of people, I figured a little reading on being a female manager but not being an aggressive bi-atch would be good.


To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife
A writer for the New Yorker magazine, Caitlin Flanagan gives a commentary on the role of the housewife in today's society. This one has spunned some controversy from feminists. Should be a page turner.


You may think these are a lot of books to read for one person in the span of a week... But you are wrong. I read very quickly. I go through books like my friend ACE goes through women. After a few hours, I am completely done with them.

I can't wait for the vacation to begin! Only 11.5 days left!

This is Irony... Yes?

I find it amusing that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had their baby the same day that Brooke Shields had her baby.

Fo' Rizzle... I Be Flossin'.

I just wanted to share that I only missed one question on the "Teen Slang Quiz" at Boston.com.

Drugstore.com, I Love You.

If you're like me and you just don't have the time to hit CVS every single time you need something, you should be using Drugstore.com.

First of all, you can find pretty much ANYTHING you need there. Looking for Bumble and Bumble Hair Tonic? Yep, it's there. Need Flinstone Vitamins? You can rock them there. Need ovulation tests? (I am going to be tring to get pregnant this summer.) They have those too.

Second, you can get some pretty serious discounts shopping there... Especially if you become a repeat customer. I just bought all of the above items... And now when I log into Drugstore.com, they are offering me a few dollars off of each of these items the next time I need them.

Third, if you spend about $50, you get free standard shipping. now you may be thinking "Standard shipping? That means it will take forever to get here!" Nope. Sorry to disappoint your pesimistic side, my compadre. I ordered all this cool stuff last Thursday, and it arrived to day. that's about four business days. Not bad at all.

It's stuff like this that really helps out the busy professional. My life is so full (because I work a lot) that I need help with daily tasks where I can get it.

Thrashin'.

I haven't seen this movie in about 18 years ... But I remember back in 1986/1987 when it came out that we recorded it onto VHS when we rented it from the local movie rental store.

This is a classic 1980s film! I was searching for movies to add to my Netflix list when I came across it. I used to love this movie. I liked the guy who played "Tommy" in the movie.

I have added it to the Netflix queue. Can't wait!

Bikram Yoga Update - Week Five

I went twice this week. I got sick with a sore throat on Tuesday, so I was out of comission for a little while. Even though I got in only twice, that's still a total of three hours of exercise for the week. That's the minimum you're supposed to have.

My Toes.

Gave myself a pedicure today. That always makes me feel pretty.

Cuffed at H&M.

I went and checked out the new H&M on Newbury Street this morning. I only have one thing to say about it...

It's fantastic!!!!!

It's two floors, immaculately styled and has incredible selection. The best thing about this new H&M is (my favorite thing in most stores) the accessories section. This section at the Newbury Street store is similar to the H&M on 5th Avenue in NYC. Lots of variety, including styles and colors, available.

Of course I may just be partial to this new H&M because I finally found the one spring item I have been wanting for the past two months... The black plastic cut-out cuff!

The one I orginially wanted was from the Luella Bartley limited edition for Target. But this one is just as good, and about half the price of that one.

I can't wait to rock it next week with an outfit for work.

Stupid Netflix.

I was so very pumped to settle in last night and watch Pippi Longstocking, which I Netflixed for the weekend. So very pumped...

So you can imagine my disappointment when I pull out the DVD from the white sleeve and see that it is not Pippi Longstocking they sent me. It was The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking... A very BAD re-make made in the late 1980s.

This is BS. Netflix is really starting to suck hardcore.

First, because I rent a lot of movies, they have me on a delayed delivery list... So when normal people can send movies back and expect to get their next movie within two days, it takes me four days to get. (This is because I am efficient, I watch the movie and I mail it back the next day.)

Also, many of the DVDs I have gotten lately have a number of scratches on them that cause them to "pixel-ate."

And, whenever I try to get the newest releases, I am put on a lengthy "wait list." (So far, it has taken me over a month to get on the short list for Pide and Prejudice.)

Now they send me the wrong DVD! The label on the sleeve was correct. It read "Pippi Longstocking (1974)." But the DVD inside was all wrong.

So Netflix, I am about "86" you from my life.

16 Days and Counting...

Yes.. The countdown clock has begun. Two weeks from this coming Monday, the husband and I leave for the British West Indies for our week-long vacation in celebration of him turning 30.

Yay!

Hee-Ha-Ha-Ha-Hee-Ho-Ho.

Okay... No I'm not going "Tom Cruise" (i.e. "crazy") with my title there. I am just very, VERY excited about a movie I am getting today from Netflix... "Pippi Longstocking." And if you've ever seen the movie, you would know that the title is part of the song from the movie.



It was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I think that was because it involved a young girl living on her own in a big house, dressing however she wanted, eating whatever she wanted and staying up real late. She is also really strong, rich and lives with a monkey and a horse. Plus, her dad is a pirate. A cannibal pirate.

That's so cool.

Need Netflix Recommendations.

I need help! My Netflix queue keeps running down... I can't seem to find any movies that I want to rent. So my queue just sits there empty while I get charged $18 a month to rent DVDs.

If you have any recommendations for movies I should rent (preferably none that star Patrick Swayze) feel free to leave me a comment or shoot me an email at commongroundblog at gmail.com.

Ninjas vs. Pirates.

If there were to be a battle between Ninjas and Pirates... I don't know who would win. I want to say the pirates would win... But let's be real. Ninjas have wicked skillz that pirates definitely don't have. I think they would have the edge over a pirate.

However, I would still rather be a pirate than a ninja. Ninjas lead lives of solitude. Pirates always have people around them and operate in groups.

So yes, it's a pirate's life for me.

The Last Twenty-Something Birthday Flowers.

Because it is my last twenty-something birthday, my husband was inspired* to send me two sets of flower bouquets to work. One bouquet was carnations (one of my favorites). The other bouquet was irises. In addition to this, my parents sent me a bouquet of orchids. So my desk has turned into a mini-flower shop of its own. (I'm so happy!)

Back when my husband and I were dating (circa 2002) I "educated"him on the importance of sending a woman flowers to her place of work. Sure, bringing me home flowers are nice... But girls like to get flowers sent to them at work because there are other people who will see them and say "Wow! Someone was thoughtful enough to send you flowers. Cool!" So now he knows I enjoy flowers the most when he sends them to me at work.

*I planted the thought into his subconsious weeks ago...

The Last Twenty-Something Birthday Horoscope.

From Today's Boston Globe...

Happy Birthday: Believe in your own abilities this year if you want to prosper. You show great potential but, if you take on too much, you may lose ground or head in the wrong direction. You are ready to do your thing so don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Follow your heart and make a new start.

The Last Twenty-Something Birthday.

"The time between 18 and 30 flies by."

That was an "FYI" my maternal grandfather told me the summer before my senior year in high school. He died a few weeks later; and looking back, I always think of the stuff he told me that summer as "life advice." And this particular tidbit was a good piece of advice to keep in mind.

I mean, looking back on my twenties... What have I accomplished in this short time? Anything significant? Well, yes.

I graduated from college.
I moved away from home.
I found a career.
I found another career.
I found, yet, another career.
I met a guy.
I tragically lost a friend.
I got engaged.
I found another career.
I got married.
I got a good job.
I got out of credit card debt.

So, in my last twenty-something year I need to achieve something else significant. Just to wind the decade down.

Here are a few things I brainstormed.

Buy an Hermes Birkin Bag (My husband vetoed this.)
Figure out what LOST is all about. (This will be difficult.)
Hire a cleaning lady. (I keep threatening to do this. Hasn't happened yet.)
Save more money. (This is my husband's idea. Whatever.)

If you can think of anything else I should achieve in my last twenty-something year, please feel free to drop me an email. I am open to suggestions.

Till then, I will enjoy my last twenty-something birthday in typical fashion... Working.

I'm sure if my grandfather were still alive, he would tell me that the time between 29 and 40 flies by quickly too. So I better make my 30s count even more than my 20s.

What I Do in the "Off-Season."

Heck yeah!

I was visiting the Fantasy Fashion League home page today... And they are starting up another round during the fashion "off-season." The "off-season" in fashion just means that there are few or no awards shows. Therefore you are relying on non special events to earn all of your points.

I'm so excited! And they've chosen my birthday to begin the new season! Yay!

Britney No Longer Sexy.

Britney is officially no longer one of the 100 sexiest women alive.

Yeah.. No surprise here. Ever since she married that carny husband of hers, the Brit-ster has definitely gone down-hill in the world of pop-culture. Women no longer want to be her and men (and women) no longer want to be with her.

Bring back original Britney!!!!! She was supposed to evolve like Madonna did throughout her career. I truley did believe (back in the early part of the millenium) that Britney was the new Madonna. I hope someday she proves me right.

Bikram Yoga Update - Week Four

Went once this week. I hit today's 3:00pm class. It wasn't good. Despite downing a liter and a half of water throughout the day, I was still very dehydrated.

So today's class makes 15 classes in 28 days. That's just over half. I have three more days till my birthday; which marks the end of month-long effort. If I go for the next three days, I'll hit 18 times. And I think that is amazing progress. That's 27 hours of exercise in one month. (Each bikram yoga class is 1.5 hours long.)

Holy crap.

The Ritual Guessing. Over or Under.

An addition to my birthday dinner post...

My husband and I have a ritual we do every time we go out to eat together. At the end of the meal, before either of us looks at the bill, we take a guess as to what the total might be. Typically, I win at this game. I have an amazing knack for calculating prices in my head (must come form my shopping habits and calculating the total cost of items before I hit the checkout queues.) In fact, I can't recall a time in the past few years where I haven't won at this game.

Last night I didn't win. At first I said "$$$." My husband looked at me thoughtfully while trying to make his guess. Before he said anything, I changed my guess to "$$$," which was $5 more than my previous guess.

My husband kept struggling to venture a guess, so I told him "Dude, just guess 'over' or 'under' my guess."

He said, "That's the problem. I was gonna guess exactly the range you have guessed. I guess I'll take under."

I flip over the bill, and sure enough, my original guess was what it was.

Damn me for not sticking to my first choice!

The Best View in Boston.

My husband took me out last night to celebrate my last 20-something birthday. We went to the restaurant on top of the Prudential Tower, "Top ofthe Hub."

What a view! However, the place is an obvious tourist trap. We had a table close to a window facing the Charles River, so it was an incredible sight. And the food was quite tasty. Well, most of it. I ordered the braised lamb, and it only comes well-done. Additionally, it was still attached to the bone. (Eww!) I don't like eating meat that is still attached to the bone. Obviously, the description on the menu was quite misleading. Because the place is a tourist trap, I think they pre-make most of the food so they can get people in and out quickly. Because, really, who orders lamb well-done? Most people order it done medium.

We had a three course meal and were in and out of that place in an hour and 15 minutes. That's rather quick. But the meal was mostly good. And the atmosphere was great. I recommend everyone go there at least once, but that's enough. Radius and Sibling Rivalry are much better places to go for special dinners.

Free eMail Choices... No contest.

Seven years ago, when I graduated from university I had to give up my school email address and find a new one. I thought about my choices at the time; which included Hotmail and Yahoo. I decided to get an email address at all three. I think this was because I was just so excited about the idea of having a choice, I got greedy. But that was okay, this was 1999 after all. Greed was everywhere.

Well, a 6-7 years later, I no longer use any of those email addresses. Gone completely are all the Hotmail accounts. I still have the Yahoo email address, but I rarely check it. It's mostly just spam that goes there.

My email system of choice is Gmail, Google's free email system.



About two years ago, Google rolled out their free email system. It was (and still is) by invite only. Not just anyone can sign up for it because it is still in "Beta," like most Google products. I like using Gmail because there are so many cool features in it that you don't get with the other email offerings... Including the "chat" feature where you can "IM" with other people who are logged into their Gmail accounts. There's also (naturally) a search feature within Gmail that allows you to look for specific messages easily by typing into the "white box" and hitting "Enter." One of the best things about Gmail though is the storage space you get. It's huge! I've had my Gmail account for nearly two years now, and I am only using 1% of my storage space.

If you're interested in getting a Gmail account, leave a comment for me. I have about 98 invites to shell out.

Fashion, Fashion Everywhere.

Three years ago when I moved to Boston, I certainly didn't get a strong fashion vibe the city. Sure, Bostonians do have a style... It just tends to be less experimental, quite safe and conservative.

It would be rare to find someone in this city who would spend $200 on a t-shirt. (Unless it was some limited edition Red Sox t-shirt.)

Well, since I moved here, fashion is definitely picking up in this city. Getting less and less are the days where I see women in my South End neighborhood carrying those hideous quilted bags (they're ass-ugly!)... And more and more frequently, women are breaking out of their comfort zones here. And you can see it in the types of stores that are springing up to service our experimenting needs. In the past few months we've gained a Club Monaco, Barney's and now a new H&M... All within walking distance of each other.

The new H&M is opening next Friday, April 14th, on Newbury Street at Clarendon. This is the second location directly in the city of Boston; and it's high time they brought their "concepts" to Newbury Street... The fashion mecca of Boston and Greater Boston.

This new location means I will be able to trot over during lunch breaks and shop to my hearts desire. In need of new accessories? I can find them there. Looking for some punk t-shirts? Hit the men's department. Burlesque-style lingerie for hanky-panky? You get it cheap there.

The best thing about H&M coming to Newbury Street though is (for me) the fact they will be so close; the next time a high-end designer releases a limited edition line there (Karl Lagerfeld in 2004 and Stella McCartney in 2005) I will be able to get there before the racks get cleared out. For the past two years, I was only able to get over to the Downtown Crossing H&M hours after the lines had been put on the racks. And there was only the teeniest sizes left, which are no good for me. So having easier access to the store will be quite good for my fashion experimentation.

Yay!

The view from the outside, 70 stories up.

I work in the tallest building in Boston. The company I work for isn't too high up, only a third of the way. The building has about 70 floors. The outside of it is made up of reflective glass. And until today, I've never really given much thought to how it gets cleaned.

A little while ago I was sitting at my desk, which faces the windows on my floor. I have a view of the Charles River and Downtown Boston. All of the sudden (on a bright day like today) I hear a loud thumping on the window. I look out and I pretty much face-to-face with five guys on a window cleaning contraption. The contraption is like a long iron box, and they are all safety-strapped in. I never knew this building actually got cleaned this way. It's crazy! Like I said, my floor is on the bottom third of the building. This means they have to trolly up 50 floors.

That is a crazy (and scary) job to have.

The lamest song ever.

All through college and my early 20s I was a liar, in a way.

Whenever my girl friends and I would plan "hen-nights" we would inevitably end up watching "Dirty Dancing." And I have always hated that movie with a passion. Always. My mom loved that movie. My sister likes that movie. All of my friends growing up loved it. (I think even my dad enjoyed watching it!)

The movie never struck a cord with me. Couldn't stand it. But I always had to pretend I did like it. But truth is, it bored me to tears. I've never been attracted to a "bad boy" like Johnny. And I never wanted to be Baby and have some guy come and rescue me from my life of mundane activities. (I'd rather rescue myself.)

Well, here I am at work, enjoying illegally streaming radio while at work... And on the radio comes "She's Like the Wind"... a song from the movie. A song that was sung by Patrick Swayze. And because I've never liked the movie, I've never bothered to listen to the song in its entirety or pay attention to the words. But because I was forced to listen to it on the radio, I relized what a lame song it really is.

First it's sung by Patrick Swayze... That is lame enough. But the words... They make the song even worse than it is. Check it out:

She's like the wind through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league

Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs
She's like the wind

[SOLO]
I look in the mirror and all I see
Is a young old man with only a dream
Am I just fooling myself
That she'll stop the pain
Living without her
I'd go insane
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league

Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind

Feel your breath on my face
Your body close to me
Can't look in your eyes
You're out of my league

Just a fool to believe
(Just a fool to believe)
She's like the wind
(Just a fool to believe)
Just a fool to believe
(She's like the wind)
Just a fool to believe
(Just a fool to believe)
She's like the wind
(Just a fool to believe)
Just a fool to believe
She's like the wind
(Just a fool...)
(She's like the wind)
(She's like the wind)
(Just a fool...)
(She's like the wind)
(Just a fool...)

To Kiss or Not To Kiss. Is it even a question?

Six years ago I moved from Tucson to New York City. Not only did I find a new apartment and a new career, I also (of course) found a new group of friends. And this network of girl friends was quite different from my old network of girl friends. We saw each other less often and rarely called each other... When we wanted to plan to go out, it was always done over IM or email. And when we saw each other every week, we would greet each other with a kiss on each cheek.

At first, this was surprising to me. In Arizona, we didn't do this. May be a hug when we saw each other, but a kiss? This was new. And it took some time for me to adjust to doing it. But soon after, I realized that the kiss hello wasn't just for greeting your friends. It became customary to kiss hello when I met up with co-workers outside the office and with clients. "This would never be done back home," I thought.

Turns out, you don't really do it in Boston either. Or anywhere outside of (probably) LA, NYC and Europe.

Kissing anyone who's not family or a significant other can be socially awkward. No one really understands the rules. In an article today in the New York Times Style Section, they talk about the social kiss hello, and the hazards that come with it.

Perhaps this article is the first step towards establishing etiquette for this type of thing.

Learning to Navigate: Tips for Strolling in High Heels.

So Spring is finally here. The days are beginning to get a little longer and the weather is finally thawing out and getting warmer. And you know what this means... We'll all be wearing lighter and less clothing, and we can finally pack up those black winter boots in favor of something more trendy and cute to walk around in.

You know what I mean... It's time to bust out those high-heeled sandals!

But as every Bostonian of the female persuasion knows (and, maybe even some men too) trotting around the streets of this city can really be rough on our shoes. From the bricked streets of the South End to the cobble stones of the North End and beyond... Bottom line: navigating Beantown in heels ain't easy.

So what's a gal to do when it's time to bust out the sandals and Spring pumps? Well, short of signing up for "catwalking" lessons at your local modeling agency (which I've looked into for the sake of saving shoe leather - but it's expensive) the best solution is to turn to this "thing" called the "Internet." There you will find a plethora of resources on how to walk around in high heels.

A few great places where I have come across tips for walking in high heels are eHow and About.com . In general though, the tips for walking in high heels include:

• Taking smaller steps than you normally would.
• When climbing stairs, make sure both the heel and the sole of the shoe land simultaneously.
• When descending stairs, only let the sole of the shoe hit the step.
• Distribute your weight evenly on the foot, not just on the ball.
• Practice walking in new heels around your house before you hit the streets in them.

Happy strutting!

Spring Wrap Dresses - Thy Creator is Always DVF

A few weeks back I wrote about must-have spring fashions. One of the items I mentioned was "anything eyelet." Eyelet pieces are very spring. They are fresh and crisp. And everyone looks great the this type of texture.

Well, today I received an update in my mailbox from Bergdorf Goodman on new items they have available online... And the one thing that caught my eye was the Eyelet Wrap Dress from Diane vonFurstenburg.



Seriously, how cute is this dress? It's pricey ($465) but its is adorable and season-less. You'll be able to wear it for years and years.

I have PageRank?

Woah... Totally going to "geek" out on the search engine marketing front on you for now... So please bear with me.

I was visiting my blog this morning to "QA" the site... Make sure everything is looking good. That's when I noticed that I have finally, after two and a half months of blogging, finally registered a Google PageRank. My PageRank is 3/10.



Exciting stuff. Apparently there's this thing called the "Internet." And on this "Internet" there are "web sites." And these "web sites" are made up of "web pages." And these "web pages" can be assigned a value by search engines. Google has been kind enough to give us an indicator as to what a web site's "value" is with PageRank.

This is just exciting news because it shows that if you optimize a site (even just a little) search engines will find value in what you have out there.

Bikram Yoga Update Week Three - Getting the ROI

Sorry... Had to throw in the finance term. Best way to describe it.

Week three of my bikram yoga commitment was just as strong as last week's... Yep, that means I only hit class four times last week. Which makes 14 times in three weeks. Which means I've done the equivalent of two weeks of straight bikram yoga in the span of two weeks.

And when I think about it like that, I'm still proud of my progress. Very proud. My poses are going very well. And my stamina has built up nicely.

Not only am I proud of my physical progress, I'm also proud of how much this is all costing me.

I subscribe to the annual membership for the Bikram Yoga Boston studio. This means every month my debit card is charged $105. In the month of March alone I went 17 of times. This means each class only cost me a little over $6. That's cheaper than a movie! That's cheaper than a cocktail at a local lounge. Hell, that's cheaper than my regular order at Starbucks.

That's a pretty sweet deal.

"Arrrgh! Time to Swab thy Nails."

That's my impression of a pirate saying they need to paint their nails or (in my case - because I don't paint my nails) toe nails.

One of the quirky things about me is that I have to have my toe nails painted at all times. Now that may not seem like a quirky thing, but the quirky element to me is that I will ONLY paint my toe nails various shades of red or vamp. No pinks. No watermelons. No corals. No blacks or blues.

To get even quirkier, I have three specific brands/shades of nail colors that I will only wear. When I go to have a pedicure at a spa, I bring my nail colors with me in case they don't have one of the three I will wear. These three include:

Chanel's "Pirate" (my favorite!)

Chanel's "Vamp" (a 1990s classic)

OPI's "I'm Not Really a Waitress" (another classic)

I personally believe that once you hit the age of 24 or 25, toe nails should only be painted various shades of red or burgundy and that finger nails should always be the color of a ballet slipper or cotton candy (pink). When you're younger, it's okay to have funky colors. But once you hit your mid-20s, nails should look professional but sexy.

That's just what I believe. That's how I roll.

Weekend Movies.

Every weekend I get three movies courtesy of Netflix. And every weekend, I usually end up hating at least one, if not all three of the movies I chose.

This weekend I had a nice surprise. All three movies I very much enjoyed. My selection included:

Good Night, and Good Luck - Came out late last year. Oscar nominated film about Edward R. Murrow. I think anyone will find this piece very interesting to watch; not just former journalists like myself.

Requiem for a Dream - Wasn't too sure of this film when I first put it in my Netflix queue. I had heard from others that I would either love it or hate it. I very much liked it, even though it is just a movie about druggies in Brooklyn whose lives deteriorate from their addictions.

Taking Lives - Came out in 2004. This film was directed by D.J. Caruso, who is the older brother of a former co-worker of mine from Martha Stewart. He's done some films as well as television shows (like Smallville.) I wasn't sure if I would like this film when I first started watching it, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Excellent film. Surprising twists.

Oh Google. You "Fool" for Romance.

LOL...

I always knew Google was secretly plotting ways to connect lost souls on the Internet to their one true love. And today they released their latest Google offering... Google Romance.



But, as everyone knows, what Google really loves is a good gag on April Fool's day.